In2-MeC

Groningen, the Netherlands
15 December 2004

Krsna! KRSNA! K R S N A !!!!!

There's this cartoon figure that American kids of my generation loved. Tinkerbelle is her name. She's a little golden fairy who darts through the air leaving a trail of magic dust behind her as she goes. She has a magic wand with which she does wonders.

It's a big mistake to think of Lord Krsna, His holy name, in "Tinkerbelle terms. " He's not a busy little magic helper of the so-called needs of the conditioned soul. He's not a mystic of the type that is popular in India today, who smiles benignly and with a gesture or a nod makes everything all right. (The popular mystics don't really make everything all right either. They help a foolish soul misunderstand what his real problem is. )

In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna blesses Arjuna by making clear to him where the grief that overcame him at Kuruksetra was rooted. The quick answer to where grief begins is ignorance. But ignorance grows deep roots in the heart in the form of attachment. And attachment, as we can see from Arjuna's arguments to the Lord given in the first chapter, takes on the guise of virtue in material existence. Hence Arjuna's "compassion" for those about to die on the field of battle. Hence his "nonviolence. "

Arjuna lamented because he was attached by ignorance to the unreal. Even Srila Vyasadeva lamented when his son Sukadeva abandoned his home immediately after his birth.

Krsna is the Dark behind the dark behind the dark. What I mean by that is, life is made dark with misery because of attachment. Behind that attachment is the darkness of ignorance. And behind ignorance is Sri Krsna Himself. Not that He forces ignorance upon us. But He does grant the desire of the living entity who, wanting to go the "easy way" (which is really the way of misery), wishes that Krsna was not always there within him. No, this living entity wants to be alone in the heart. He wants to decide for himself, take credit for himself, and enjoy by himself.

So Krsna's blessing to Arjuna was to point out the cause of his grief. This knowledge relieved Arjuna but also annointed him with a duty. Once the Lord shines His light of divya-jnana upon ignorance and attachment, the duty of the soul so instructed is to fight and overcome this same ignorance and attachment under the Lord's guidance. That is the next step.

Srila Prabhupada once explained that a devotee who receives in sincerity this knowledge of Krsna consciousness is fortunate, even if he is weak and falls down. Prabhupada explained that he is weakened due to misusing the instruction of his spiritual master. I think this means that, for whatever personal motives, this devotee does not take the next step.

Knowledge of where ignorance and attachment lies in the heart gives relief and answers for philosophical and psychological problems. But if it does not quicken into action that proves beyond all doubt that ignorance and attachment are defeated, then this knowledge is theoretical. And theory that does not go beyond the mental plane is certainly weak. Anyway, Srila Prabhupada assured that even this stage is fortunate because sooner or later the knowledge will act.

So there's hope.

The Dark behind the dark behind the dark. In the material world, death is the ultimate Dark that swallows our ignorant attachments. Death is Krsna, as He declares in Gita. It isn't morbid or somehow distasteful to meditate upon Krsna in this way. We hurtle closer to death at every moment. It's Krsna consciousness to face the fact that this ultimate meeting with Him is getting closer and closer as we breath.

I think of Dronacarya as a man of knowledge who forgot this truth. He was learned enough to be Arjuna's teacher, but he remained in the employ of the forces of ignorance and attachment--the Kurus. It was a comfortable material situation. So comfortable that Drona chose to fight against Krsna and Arjuna. Thus he became an obstacle for Arjuna to overcome by surrendering to the uncorruptable knowledge spoken by Sri Krsna.

Arjuna did it because he loves Krsna. That is important. Success is gained by something more than just knowing about the darkness that covers the heart. Success is had in pure bhakti. It is the higher taste that insures that those strong attachments, like Arjuna's fealty to Drona, are renounced for good.

Yes, is is not magic. It is transcendental knowledge, practical action, and pure devotion.

Being far away from this, yet at the same time so near, I am depressed. Well, enough of that. There's always hope. Srila Prabhupada assured it. Krsna! KRSNA! K R S N A !!!!

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