Question: I have taken to Krishna consciousness as a last resort. I have looked into many religions and philosophies, but was not happy with any of them. Nor am I happy here, my spiritual practice seems simply like yet another source of misery. But I am afraid I have nowhere else to go, no other religion or philosophy that would seem worthy enough to me to even just give it a try. After distancing myself from Buddhism, I have come up with a list of criteria of what “my ideal religion” would be like, and Gaudiya Vaishnavism seems to fit best. Am I aiming too high, should I try to settle for a lesser religious philosophy?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
I would like to share with you a general principle that I feel would address this and many other of your concerns — that Krishna Consciousness or Bhakti Yoga is essentially a *joyful* process. The essence of Bhakti Yoga is to link ourselves in a *loving connection* with God. The deep unhappiness you feel is due to a deep sense of frustration — caused by the long neglect of this connection, perhaps for lifetimes. Dry philosophical and intellectual exercises cannot fill that vaccuum in the heart and bring happiness. I would like to encourage you to approach Lord Krishna in this joyful attitude.
Try to consciously appreciate the merciful and attractive qualities of the Lord. When you study the Bhagavad-gita, try to understand and appreciate the Lord’s glories, His boundless love and His gifts in your life personally; glorify Him from your heart and try to feel your personal connection with the Lord. Allow me to suggest to you to not focus too much on your struggles and issues in spiritual progress – depend on the Lord to help you with those in course of time. He is Omnipotent, the master of material energy, the giver of knowledge and remembrance… Invest your thoughts fully in this way in praising the Lord and serving Him — try to do even one thing daily to please Him to whatever capacity and understanding you have, no matter how little. Feel spiritual contentment in that devotional activity. By this change of attitude, you will find everything working differently around you. You yourself will become a joyous person, free from the tendencies for depression, stress, anxiety and so on. And the way you interact with others and they with you will also mysteriously change.
Krishna consciousness is a *personal* process, and a *descending* process — that is to say that Krishna is a Person, and He personally and actively orchestrates situations around those who try to approach Him and sincerely want to love and serve Him. Spiritual progress is based on Mercy, and if you try to attract Krishna’s mercy, then what your own seemingly insurmountable obstacles and personal disqualifications, whether social or emotional or philosophical, will be easily surpassed. Whereas in other processes, one has to work very hard to deliver oneself, in bhakti yoga, the devotee simply shifts his focus to Krishna, and Krishna gives us the necessary intelligence to come closer to Him, He will arrange circumstances around you and carry to you whatever you lack. Trust in this sublime principle and you will find a great difference to all your difficulties.
