Prajalpa: Not just a luxury, but a grave danger

HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj:


One gets determination from submissively hearing about Krishna, from sincerely endeavouring to chant the holy names of Krishna attentively. By performing our service in the spirit of working hard whether you feel determined or not, if you act as if you are determined, when you associate with those devotees who are determined, that is the process by which you will get determination.


If you are associating with devotees who are determined to perform their sadhana beginning with hearing and chanting, who are determined not to waste time with idle talk which has no reference to anyone’s well being spiritually, by that association you will get determined naturally. Krishna will see who you associate with and what you do, will show Krishna what you want. If he sees you practicing these principles very carefully, he will say, oh this devotee wants determination I will give. If you associate with lazy people and you become lazy, you discuss the faults of others, talk all nonsense, that association, Krishna will see that you don’t want it, then he will simply allow Maya to steal away all your determination.


Essentially sense gratification is the power of Maya that she uses to steal away all your determination. And austerity is what attracts Krishna to give you more determination. Simple formula, the more you engage in unnecessary material sense gratification, less determined you will be for Krishna consciousness, the more you perform tapasya according to the order of guru, sadhu and shastra the more your determination will grow. And what is that tapasya, chant 16 rounds attentively everyday, read Srila Prabhupad’s books, hear Srimad Bhagavatham and associate with nice devotees and work hard that is tapasya, that tapasya will attract Krishna to give you more and more and more determination and when Krishna gives you that determination nothing can divert your attention.


Maharaj Prathapa Rudra such determination, to get an interview with Lord Chaitanya he was willing to give up his family, he was willing to give his palace, he was willing to give up all his riches and power of a king and become a beggar. How much do we want Krishna, how much are we willing to compromise our principles of Krishna consciousness just to achieve something mundane, we have to consider this.


One very important principle of determination: How willing are you to throw all your spiritual advancement out of your life because you want to misuse another devotee. You abuse devotee, you blaspheme devotees, you do everything are you determined? Although you may have a desire or inclination to blush out at some one or tell them your mind in an angry and envious way. Are we determined to say no to our tongue and no to our mind because I don’t want to waste my whole life in Krishna consciousness? We should be determined to be humble in all circumstances, we should not offend vaisnavas, and we should be determined to perform our sadhana carefully. If you exercise that determination Krishna will give you more determination, and if you don’t then Krishna will just let Maya take all away, whatever you have.


Just like a father, father sees that the son is investing money properly he gives more and more and more money gradually. He may not give everything at once, he sees; he gives you 10 rupees. If you invest it properly, he will give you 100 rupees, if you invest it, he will give you 1000 rupees, he will give you a lakh, he will give you a crore, he will give you 10 crore, he will give you his whole fortune. He sees that you are utilising it properly, but if he sees that you are wasting it he wont give you anything, soon everything will be used up and you will have nothing.


So same way, you already have some determination. If you use it for the right thing, according to the proper guidance Krishna will give you more and more and more and more determination, unlimited determination, like the Ganges, nothing will stop you. If you misuse the little determination you have, Krishna will just let take Maya all away.