Krishna helps those who help themselves

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Mathajis,Please accept our humble pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev.In Srimad-Bhagavatam the material world is compared to a great ocean. Within this material universe there are millions and billions of planets floating in space, and we can just imagine how many Atlantic and Pacific oceans are there. In fact, the whole material universe is linked to a great ocean of misery, an ocean of birth and death. In order to cross this great ocean of nescience, a strong boat is needed, and that strong boat is the lotus feet of Krsna. We should immediately get aboard that boat. We should not hesitate, thinking that Krishna's feet are very small. The whole universe is simply resting on His leg. For one who takes shelter of His feet, it is said that the material universe is no more significant than a puddle of water found in the impression of a calf's hoofprint. There is certainly no difficulty in crossing over such a small puddle.Krishna conscious person knows that devotional service is a purification process, since we have taken a shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna we may cross the ocean of birth and death depending on our sincere endeavor and mercy of Lord Krishna. Only requirement is we have to remain steady with determination in our sadhana. Our beloved Guru maharaj says that to remain steady in devotional service we need constant hammering. Srila Prabhupada also gives us many punches through his writings. In Ramayana, Hanumanji could cross the ocean because he took the shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Rama. While crossing the ocean to find out where Sita mataji is, he was stopped by 3 demons Sursa, Singika and Lankini at different places but he could cross all the hurdles because he was under protection of Lord Rama. When Hanumanji was caught by the demons he gave them a punch and due to the touch of a pure devotee, their bodies got purified and they became devotees and started preaching and glorified Lord Rama. Our condition is also like the demons. We tend to live in ignorance and that is why continuous hammering is required to remain steady in devotional life.In Srimad Bhagavad Gita verse 6.24, Lord Krishna sayssa nishcayena yoktavyo / yogo 'nirvinna-cetasaasankalpa-prabhavaan kaamaams / tyaktvaa sarvaan asheshatahmanasaivendriya-graamam / viniyamya samantatah"One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind."Srila Prabhupada quotes the powerful example of a sparrow in his transcendental purport to highlight the point of determination - "As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Vishnu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuda was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuda at once asked the ocean to return her eggs last he himself took up the work of the sparrow. The ocean was frightened at this, and returned the eggs. Thus the sparrow became happy by the grace of Garuda."Srila Prabhupada explained that bhakti-yoga in Krishna consciousness, may appear to be a very difficult job. But if anyone follows the principles with great determination, success is sure for the rigid practitioner. Lord will surely help. God helps those who help themselves.We pray at the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev to bestow Their mercy upon us so that we can perform devotional service with determination and remain steady in Krishna consciousness.Thank you very much.Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev,Tusta Krsna Das and Suniti Devi Dasi.Sharjah.
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