Is Krsna Consciousness easy or difficult?
Srila Prabhupada gives the idea that Krsna consciousness is a very easy and natural process in many passages. Why then it is so difficult for us?
We can see that in many passages, Srila Prabhupada would give the idea that Krsna consciousness is a very easy and natural process. The whole presentation of the Vedas by Prabhupada is based on the idea that the soul is eternally a servant of Krsna, and that such love and service to Krsna is the very dharma, or essence of the soul. The material conditioning is, on the other hand, something artificial that is superimposed on it, just like mud can cover a diamond for some time, but it can be easily removed as soon as it is washed away.
If it is so easy, as Prabhupada teaches, why does it appear to be so difficult for us?
There is a verse in the Gītā that he used to quote that brings us the essence of it:
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī, mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante, māyām etāṁ taranti te"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it."
Krsna possesses three principal energies: the internal potency, which includes all spiritual planets, the external potency, that includes the material world, and the marginal potency, the living entities who, although also part of the spiritual energy, have the possibility of coming in contact with the external potency if they so desire.
Although the soul is superior to matter, because we are very small, we are overwhelmed by it, just like a human being is superior to inanimate matter and can move and shape it, but can easily drown when thrown in the ocean.
We can, however, easily get out of this material ocean when we are empowered by Krsna, just as the same person with a boat and a GPS can easily move in the ocean. The next question is, then, how can we get there?
We are empowered by Krsna in the measure we are connected with Him. Even great yogis get their mystic siddhis by connecting to certain aspects of the Lord, as He explains in the 15th chapter of the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Animā (the power of becoming very small) is obtained by meditating in the Lord, as Paramātma, pervading all subtle elements, while mahimā (the power of becoming incredibly big) is obtained by becoming Absorbed in the form of the mahat-tattva, meditating on the Lord as the Supreme Soul of the total material existence, absorbing the mind in the situation of each individual element such as the sky, air, fire, and so on, and thus acquiring the greatness of each.
Similarly, the greatest mystic power of all, however, the power of transcending the material world, is obtained when we fix our minds on the name, form, pastimes, etc. of the Lord. That's why He appeared on this planet 5,000 years ago, and then returned as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, 500 years ago, showing us His transcendental pastimes and giving us instructions. By studying these pastimes and teachings, discussing them with other devotees, etc., we can fix our mind on them and thus acquire this ultimate mystic power, called Krsna Consciousness, uncovering our original nature as souls.
Surrendering to Krsna is the process of becoming absorbed in this natural process of hearing and speaking about Krsna, which makes our minds absorbed in Him. When this meditation is attained, it becomes very easy to avoid material activities and thoughts. We often try to directly control our mind, stop doing this or that, and so on, but restricting the mind in this way is difficult, just is difficult for a person to struggle against the waves of the ocean. To be successful, we need to surrender to this natural process of hearing, chanting, and speaking bout Krsna. By becoming absorbed in it, we can obtain the strength we need to follow Krsna's instructions and get out of this material ocean. Without this support, it is very difficult.
Raw determination in somehow controlling the mind also has its function, but as Krsna questions in the Gītā, what can mere repression accomplish? Repression may work as an emergency measure, but long-term success is attained by fixing our minds on Krsna by this simple process of hearing and chanting. It's easier, thus to gradually try to increase the time and attention we dedicate to it, and just let the magic happen.
That's one of the reasons I publish these daily articles. They help me to think about Krsna by writing about Him and, hopefully, help you to also remember Him.
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Hare Krishna Prabhuji , this is wonderful piece of work , it enables all devotees to get the key idea into perspective , hearing and chanting.Jaya Srila Prabhupad.
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji. We are thankful to you that you write an article daily. So that by reading this article in our busy schedule we also engage our minds in Krishna 🙏