Bhakti Wisdom

To chant the maha mantra and follow the four regulative principles is a standard that all of us are expected to follow as committed devotees. Our acaryas promised us that just by following this simple instruction we can achieve perfection.

Because of our desires, having no taste for holy name, or because of hidden motives, we often have weak sadhana which disables our ability to face challenges and deal with them in the proper way.

Some years ago when I promised to chant 16 rounds of the maha mantra every day for rest of my life, I also indirectly with that promise made myself available for the necessary purifications that come along with performing sadhana and maintaining vows.

While reflecting on challenges that I’m facing daily in my spiritual life, I often remember the promise that I gave to my spiritual master.

Remembering the vows that I gave to my spiritual master makes me aware how difficulties that arise in the spiritual life are not ordinary difficulties, but are actually personally designed by the spiritual master for our benefit so that we can learn necessary lessons and escape from this material situation.

When I meditate like this, then these same difficulties turn into opportunities.

Then these same difficulties became perfect tools for the spiritual advancement in the service of my spiritual master.

B.G.2.14-O son of Kuntī, the no permanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.