There is no medicine in this world which can heal a broken heart. Only devotion to Krishna heals the broken heart and nothing else.
Recently one family invited me for a spiritual program at their relative’s house. Their relative’s daughter had committed suicide couple of yeas back. During that time also we had gone to their house, and we had kirtan and discourse on Bhagavad Gita.
They wanted similar spiritual program at their house again. The purpose was to create auspiciousness in the house and remove negativity. The family is materially well to do. But by seeing their face, one can easily understand that how much torn apart they are internally.
When I arrived, they wished me “Hare Krishna” and when I left after the program they said “Hare Krishna.” Except that they did not say anything else. Two years have passed but they are not able to come out of that tragic incident.
Kirtan for auspiciousness
The devotee who had requested for the program wanted to have kirtan for a long period of time. So, we had a long kirtan. I am not a good singer, but Krishna is so merciful that he makes a terrible singer like me sing.
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha — transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the mercy of the Lord.” Sri Chaitanya Charitamṛta, Madhya-lila 17.80
So, by Krishna’s mercy we all sang the beautiful Hare Krishna Mahamantra. It is the mantra which attracts people, not how nicely it is sung. There are some professional singers who have sung the Mahamantra, and we should appreciate it. But what attracts me the most is when it is sung by a devotee. Even if a new devotee who has just started practicing Krishna Consciousness sings, then that is also melodious. And the best kirtan is that which has been sung by Srila Prabhupada. His singing of the mantra directly touches the heart.
Kirtan has many benefits. It calms down the agitated mind, brings us at peace and also makes us happy. The holy name of Krishna pierces all material boundaries and directly touches our heart. It connects us to Krishna, the source of all auspiciousness and bliss.
We had kirtan for an hour and everyone was absorbed in singing the Hare Krishna mahamantra.
Our obsession with flickering happiness of this world
Later I spoke briefly about the importance of practicing Krishna Consciousness. In this material world, if we live with material consciousness then we will always be miserable. The little happiness we get in this world is flickering and it hardly satiates our heart. But still we are obsessed with it.
Most of us have this notion that if we perfect our material life then everything will become perfect, we will attain happiness. So, we put aside Krishna Consciousness and start focussing on our material activities. We think that once all our material or worldly responsibilities are properly taken care then we will take out time to practice Krishna consciousness.
But the truth is that our worldly responsibilities are never going to come to an end. Material problems will keep on coming and going just like the waves in the ocean keeps on coming and going. Can we stop the waves? No. Similarly, we cannot stop material problems and material responsibilities.
The most important purpose of human life
The most important purpose or rather the only purpose of human life is to free ourselves from material consciousness and start practicing Krishna consciousness. If we are not doing so, then we are just wasting our precious human life. None of us know when we are going to die. 99% of the people who die do not know they were going to die. Some people suffering from terminal disease may know that they may die in few days or few weeks.
A heart wrenching incident
I remember an incident. A man called his wife from the office and requested her to prepare something special for the dinner. Wife immediately started preparing the delicious recipe. While cooking, she was constantly thinking that today they both will enjoy the dinner together. She cooked the food which her husband liked a lot and then she waits for him. Time passes by, but her husband is not back home. She tries his number. Mobile is not reachable. She thinks it could be network issue.
She opens the door and waits for him. After some time, her phone rings, she picks it up. From the other side, someone informs that her husband met with a fatal accident, he is no more. The hot delicious dinner lying on the dining table slowly turns cold.
Krishna protect us from all calamities
Everything else can wait but not Krishna Consciousness. In spite of our busy schedule, we should take out time to practice devotion to Krishna. Devotion to Krishna means chanting the holy names of Krishna i.e. the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. And also it is important that we associate with sincere devotees of Krishna. Why? Because in their association we will also become serious and sincere in our practice of Krishna Consciousness. Also, such devotees can also guide us in our Krishna conscious journey.
One of the wonderful results of practicing Krishna Consciousness is that our life becomes auspicious. Although in this world there are lots of suffering but once we take shelter of Krishna then he protects us from all miserable conditions of life. Also, Krishna purifies our consciousness and once we become pure, we do not indulge in any sinful activities.
The Supreme Lord gives intelligence and determination to a devotee to deal with most difficult situations which may come in his or her life. And if the situation is beyond our capacity to handle then Krishna, the Supreme Lord, personally intervenes and save us. Once, we take his shelter, then he protects us from all calamities.
Only devotion to Krishna heals the broken heart and nothing else
If the family members, where we had program, would have been practicing Krishna Consciousness, then I am sure that the daughter of the family would have not committed suicide. I understand that the person who decides to give up his/her life goes through tremendous emotional pain and because of that they commit such an act.
However, if we are practicing devotion to Krishna and reading books like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam then we get the inner strength and intelligence to deal with even the most difficult situations of our life.
I am saying this because I have heard the stories of devotees who had once decided to commit suicide but somehow, they got in touch with the devotees and started practicing Krishna consciousness and then they gave up the thought of ending their life. Nothing material could have cured the disease of their heart but devotion to Krishna did. So, it is verily said that devotion to Krishna heals the broken heart. Now they are happy and are spreading happiness everywhere. Krishna has completely healed their broken heart.
