In our spiritual journey maya tests us to see if our heart is completely purified and we are qualified to return back to the kingdom of Krishna. Her tests are not easy but often quite difficult.
During a game, a player does not focus much on the strength of his opponents, but he focuses mostly on his opponent’s weaknesses. The player who effectively capitalizes his opponent’s weak points finally emerges victorious.
In our match with maya (Krishna’s illusory energy) we also face similar challenges. Maya does not focus much on our strengths but mostly on our weaknesses. We often find ourselves placed in a situation where we are most vulnerable.
For e.g. if we had the habit of getting angry very often then we may be put in a situation where we get to work with people who are short – tempered. If we had been lusty then sometimes, we find ourselves in a surrounding buzzing with people of opposite sex.
Since we are aiming for the best, so we have to be always ready for these tests. Krishna through maya tests our eligibility at each and every moment to ascertain our suitability to be part of the spiritual world.
In the spiritual world all the souls are joyfully and selflessly serving Krishna. There is no greed, no pride, no anger, no lust, no envy, no illusion and no false ego. So, unless we cultivate these qualities we won’t be allowed to be part of Krishna’s abode.
While practicing devotion to Krishna, we have to be careful and if our goal is to go back to Krishna then we have to be extra careful.
Never leave the shelter of Krishna
Our senses can knock us down at any moment.
Bhagavad – Gita (2.67) warns us “As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence”.
So, we need to guard our senses very carefully and work diligently to purify it. Any sort of material impurities will jeopardize our chances to return back home back to godhead. We need to thoroughly cleanse ourselves so that even a spec of material desire and filth does not remain in our heart.
If we have a desire to enjoy candy, then we will have to remain here, in this material world, to satisfy our desire to enjoy candy.
Spiritual world is meant for fulfilling Krishna’s desires, not our desires. In the kingdom of Krishna, devotees continuously work in this direction.
Maya will again and again test us to find if our heart really longs for Krishna or we are still obsessed with ourselves. Sometimes she will expose us to an environment where there will be great opportunity for sense gratification. Other times she will put us in difficult situations which will tear us apart.
But whatever the circumstances may be, we should not succumb to it.
We should take a vow to never take shelter of maya and we should take a resolve to never leave the shelter of Krishna.
If we pass these tests with flying colours then our chances of being part of the spiritual world will increase significantly.
Three Reflections
- Krishna through maya tests our eligibility at each and every moment to ascertain our suitability to be part of the spiritual world.
- If we have a desire to enjoy candy, then we will have to remain here, in this material world, to satisfy our desire to enjoy candy.
- We should take a vow to never take shelter of maya and we should take a resolve to never leave the shelter of Krishna.
Ask Yourself
- Is my heart free from all material desires?
Action Item
- List down three material desires which are troubling you the most.
- Discuss with senior devotees how to give up these desires.
