Learning to be kind, like Kṛṣṇa
Often we equate personal qualities, material position, or seniority in years with advancement or status and feel ourselves better than others. Here is an instructive passage in this connection.
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Learning to be kind, like Kṛṣṇa
Often, we become proud of good qualities we may have and become dismissive of others. We may equate personal qualities, material position, or even seniority in years of spiritual practice with advancement or status and feel ourselves better than others, creating a sense of entitlement. This passage can be very instructive in this connection:
“Lord Kṛṣṇa’s gentle behavior before His so-called superiors such as His father, grandfather and elder brother, His amiable behavior with His so-called wives, friends and contemporaries, His behavior as a child before His mother Yaśodā, and His naughty dealings with His young girlfriends cannot bewilder a pure devotee like Uddhava.”
How nicely Kṛṣṇa deals with his superiors, as well as his friends! He is a little naughty with mother Yaśodā, but this is just part of the vātsalya-līlā, since a child being a little naughty is a source of joy for the parents. In all other pastimes, as when he deals with the Pandavas, with the senior Yadus, with his fathers Vasudeva and Nanda Maharaja, his wives in Dvārakā, and even His servants, Kṛṣṇa always shows the highest degree of politeness.
Although Kṛṣṇa is God and therefore all-powerful, He doesn’t take offense easily. Śiśupāla had to offend Kṛṣṇa one hundred times before He decided to take action, and even so, Kṛṣṇa cut his head more out of concern that the kṣatriyas in the assembly would start a fight and spoil the sacrifice of Maharaja Yudhiṣṭhira. Personally, Kṛṣṇa was not disturbed by the speech of Śiśupāla, just as a lion is not disturbed by the howl of a jackal.
Kṛṣṇa is also extremely considerate in dealing with His friends. Although He is God, He agreed to become the charioteer of Arjuna just to help him in the battle of Kurukṣetra. Kṛṣṇa had promised not to fight, but still, He found a way to protect His friend by becoming his charioteer and keeping him out of danger by expertly moving his chariot.
When Sudhāmā Vipra visited Kṛṣṇa’s palace, He immediately recognized him and treated Him like the most respectable guest, even though Sudhāmā was just a poor brāhmana, and they had not seen each other for a very long time. Although Sudhāmā did not ask for anything, Kṛṣṇa gave Him all opulence in exchange for just a morsel of broken rice he brought with him. This shows how Kṛṣṇa is generous.
Kṛṣṇa is also an extremely caring and affectionate husband. He takes incredibly good care of all His wives and never raises His voice or chastises them. They follow Him not because of fear but out of love. He also takes very good care of all affairs and treats His servants like His own children. He is a “Vedic husband” in the real sense of the term.
This contrasts with the way we often behave, being harsh and close-minded with others, treating others with prejudice, failing to offer respect to our superiors, mistreating our spouses, neglecting our children, and so on. Srila Prabhupada explains that as souls, we are qualitatively one with Kṛṣṇa; therefore, all these good qualities are also present inside of us to some degree. However, under the covering of the material modes, such divine qualities manifest in a perverted way as lust, anger, ignorance, and so on. As we practice the spiritual process and gradually become cleansed of the influence of the lower modes of nature, these negative qualities gradually fade, showing our real, divine nature.
In His different pastimes, Kṛṣṇa gives us the best example. We can always meditate that if Kṛṣṇa, who is God, acts in such a meek and charming way with everyone, what excuses do we have not to do the same? If we could meditate more on this humble conduct of Kṛṣṇa and try to follow His example in our day-to-day life, our communities and our spiritual society at large would undoubtedly be very different.
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