Tag: fear

Air India Dreamliner crash reminds us how life is uncertain in this world

Life is so uncertain. Anything can happen at any moment.  Yesterday we heard the tragic news of Air India Dreamliner crashing in Ahmedabad in which 250 people died. The plane crashed into BJ Medical Collegehostel killing some of the students who were having lunch in hostel mess.

The passengers in the plane would have never imagined that they are boarding a plane which will ultimately end their life. Neither do the students who were having their meal in the hostel. 

It is such a tragic incident. The only thing what you and I can do is to say prayers to the departed souls. We can chant one round of Hare Krishna Mahamantra for them and their family members.

Although its moment of anger and anguish, it’s also a time for introspection.

The government and the aviation industry will try to find the root cause of the crash and will try to work on it so that such incidents do not happen in future. And we should hope that they be successful in their endeavour.

But simultaneously, we should also try to ask ourselves that why do tragedies happen again and again in this material world. Why people have to die?

Anyone who is born in this world has to die. No one knows how death is going to come. And dying is a painful experience.

Any solution to death?

So, is there any solution to death?  Can we have a death free life?

Scriptures say, “Yes.”  In this material world where we are living death is a certainty but if we go to the spiritual world then we will become free from death. This is what Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 8.15. 

In this material world people die and are again reborn. But those who die actually do not die, because as souls we are eternal. The body die but we continue to live.

So, those who died in the plane crash will get a new body based on their karma and will continue to live.   Even though the soul continues to get new body in this world but the process of dying and getting new body is extremely painful.

This is why scriptures, and the reverent sages say that we should do our best to free ourselves from the repeated cycle of birth and death. And for this we should pray to the Lord.

punarapi jananaṃ punarapi maraṇaṃ
punarapi jananī jaṭhare śayanam
iha saṃsāre bahu dustāre
kṛpayā’pāre pāhi murāre 

So, let us use this human life to get a life which is free from the misery of death. This becomes possible when Krishna will award us a spiritual body and take us back to the spiritual world. In Krishna’s abode, no one dies, no one gets any disease. It is free from all the sufferings and there the devotees enjoy continuously with Krishna.  

We will get such a supreme destination when we will engage our life in practicing devotion to Krishna and not waste our life in material sense gratification of eating, sleeping, mating and defending.

Pray for the departed souls

Once when Prabhupada saw that young boys and girls dancing to loud music, drinking liquor, eating non vegetarian food then Prabhupada had tears in his eyes. His disciples who were with him were confused because they thought that these people are enjoying. But Prabhupada said that they are suffering, and they do not know that they are suffering.

Human life provides us an opportunity to practice devotion to Krishna but if like animals we are obsessed with eating food and enjoying with opposite sex then what is the use of this human life.

We should carefully plan our life so that every moment we move one step closer to Krishna. Let us pray to Krishna to give us determination to practice devotion to him.

Prayers are powerful. So let us pray for the departed souls in the plane crash so that in their next life they get an opportunity to practice devotion to Krishna so that they can return back to the spiritual kingdom.

And we should also become serious in our spiritual endeavour because life is uncertain and we do not know how much time is there for us to live in this world.

So, never give up chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra which pleases Krishna and connects us to Krishna.

Three Reflections:

1. Air India Dreamliner crash reminds us how life is uncertain in this world.
2. Even though soul continues to get a new body but the process of dying is painful.
3. When we return to Krishna’s kingdom in spiritual body, we will be free from death.

Ask Yourself?

• Am I am preparing properly to return back to the kingdom of Krishna?

Action Item

• Chant one round of Hare Krishna Mahamantra for the departed souls in the plane crash.

Cause of Fear & Attaining freedom from fear|Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaja at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata|S.B. 11.2.37

On 27^th March 2025, HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj visited Iskcon Newtown Kolkata and spoke ealborately on “root cause of fear” and how to free ourselves from all fear. Maharaj was speaking on Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.37 verse.  Let us see what Maharaj said about the “cause of fear” and the solution he talked about.

Below article is based on HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj’s class.

bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād
īśād apetasya viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ
tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ
bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā

“Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.” Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.37

This verse is quoted quite often by Srila Prabhupada especially the first line. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, spoke on the first verse of Srimad Bhagavatam daily for 30 days and explained it in different ways. His talk was generally 2 hours long.

Fear at every step

The subject of today’s verse revolves around fear, the cause of fear, and attaining freedom from fear.

We learn from this verse that fear is intrinsic characteristic of material living. Suffering is intrinsic to material existence – duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam, Bhagavad Gita 8.15. Everything in this world is miserable and temporary.

There is a good example, I used to give. While living in England, I would see some birds, black birds. They would be sitting on the grass looking inside the hole for little worms. And at the same time, they would be moving their head here and there thinking some living beings like cat can come and catch them.

Fear is typical characteristic of material condition.

“Abhay” means without fear. Its possible to be without fear.

“bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re”

It is by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Nanda Nandana. Krishna is fearless. In this world there is fear at every step – padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām.

At every step in this world there is danger. We may not feel but you may slip and fall down suddenly, bomb could drop at any moment, or you could be attacked while you are walking down on the streets.

Its common in America to be attacked. In America they prefer daytime to attack and in United Kingdom they attack in the night. I had this experience in youth when some people jumped up and started beating me. The world is full of fear.

Why there is fear? Because in this world everyone is turning away from Krishna.

Desire frustrates us

In this material world everyone is born with a desire to enjoy separately from Krishna. And this itself is envy, nastiness. We are envious of Krishna, so we are envious of everyone.

In the course of fulfilling our desire, we become competitive and when our desires are not fulfilled, we become frustrated. We cannot enjoy independent from Krishna. In liberated stage one is friendly. But in the conditioned state it is opposite.

Here, we have opposite way of thinking. Instead of thinking good of others, we think bad. Instead of having good will towards others, we have bad feelings towards others.

But in the liberated state we desire benefit of others.

Taking pleasure in giving pain

Krishna is the dominator, Krishna is the Supreme Controller, all others are servants. Krishna is suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ, Bhagavad Gita 5.29. He is the best well-wisher of all. Srila Prabhupada once explained su-hridya means heart and soul friend. Krishna is friend of all living beings. In material world we have the nature of dominating others. Then we have person like Hiranyakasipu who takes pleasure in giving pain to others. Although for social intercourse, we greet others – we say “Hello” or “Hi” – but everyone is envious. That was seen in nazi Germany.

In western Europe and also in Russia nazi factor looms large. Normal German people would round up Jews and torture them and kill them. There were many such instances. We may think we are not doing anything like this but by the power of bad association, we may become like that.

How one becomes so cruel? An experiment in a school

In 1970, there was one experiment done in a school in USA. The teacher was teaching how cruel nazis were. How they were taking pleasure in torturing Jews and killing them. They were doing all sorts of biological experiments upon Jews. At the end of the class students asked how can ordinary people become like that and get involved in such crimes?  So, the teacher started a psychological experiment.

Next day when he came to the class, he said that in the class we should have discipline. You should follow me what I say to follow. And in 5 days he made them his fanatical follower.  Then the teacher said that this is not just confined to the classroom but it’s a nationwide movement. I will show you a video to prove this. He also gave the option that those who want to leave the class, they can leave but they have to suffer in the exam, they may fail too. Some students left the class, but many remained. And then the teacher showed the video of Hitler.

And Hitler was speaking emphatically. In fact, Hitler was a great motivational speaker. And after watching the video of Hitler the students understood that they are also going into that mood i.e. the mood of Hitler.

In fact, it is difficult to become good but easy to become bad especially in Kaliyuga.

Another cause for fear

We inflict harm on others. Be careful of nice people! They are nice but they are eating meat. They do not think that animals were slaughtered for them to have protein boost. One gets huge karmic reaction for killing animals. In India today lakhs of chickens are killed daily because most people like to eat flesh.

There is another reason why there is fear because at the back of the mind we know we will get reaction for bad things we are doing, and we cannot escape.

Srila Prabhupada says that people in India are generally afraid of meat eating and illicit sex.

People do not know laws of God, so they invent their own laws.

Solution for all our problems is in..

One of the purposes of Krishna Consciousness movement is to make people fearful of doing wrong things. By doing wrong they cause suffering to others and invite themselves tremendous suffering. Such people are fools and rascals.

Foolish because one does not know laws of God and rascal because they think they can get away with it.

India has best culture. But Indians are most foolish because they are following degraded western culture.

We should promote reading of books like Srimad Bhagavatam and ask people to follow it. Preach what is there in the book and not anything else.

In Bangladesh, one person, asked a teacher, “Should we follow you or whatever is there in the book.?” It’s so bad. Those who have understood the essence of sastra will act accordingly and will teach according to the sastra.

People like nice gurus because they say what we like to hear. Such gurus are popular. But sadhus should tell you that you are in a dangerous situation. Now you have got this human body, so you have an opportunity to go back to godhead.

People are committing so many sins daily that they will have to suffer for many lifetimes. People do not know this so Vyasadeva compiled Srimad Bhagavatam. By devotional service to God, we can become free from all the anarthas. People do not know, so Vyasdeva gave Srimad Bhagavatam. Speak on this, let people know the truth.

Solution to all problems (including fear) is in Srimad Bhagavatam.

At the end of the class, Maharaj said, “Your Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga is very beautiful.”

How a devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly

A sincere devotee of Krishna is never disturbed by any kinds of sufferings and lives always fearlessly.  We will never find any instance in the Vedic scriptures where a devotee was fearful of any material situation.

But if we are not Krishna conscious then in this world we will always be in a disturbed state. In spite of our power and position, we will live in fear. Whether we are in the house or out of the house we will be in fear.

Many of us think that we are safe and secure inside the house but what happens when earth starts shaking? Do we remain inside the house? At the time of earthquake house is the most unsafe place to be in. But suppose that the earthquake is accompanied by heavy rain and lightening then where will we go? We will then not be secure in the house and also outside the house. 

Is there any place in this world where we are safe? The answer is no.

This is why Srimad Bhagavatam says that in this world there are dangers at every step – padam padam yad vipidam, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58.

No one can protect us in this world. Even those who loves us the most cannot save us from danger.

A father and a mother cannot protect their child. In fact they can’t even protect themselves.

Even the best doctor and the best medicine cannot save a patient. A boat in the ocean cannot save a drowning man. We all know that Titanic which was said be an unsinkable ship sank in its first voyage.

From womb to tomb uncertainty, anxiety and fear accompany us like a shadow. 

The unwanted suffering

We fear suffering. But suffering comes to us whether we like it or not. 

But when suffering comes, we have a tendency to blame others. We feel that the entire world is conspiring against us. And it is true also that we suffer because of others. But if we study the life of great devotees then we will find that they never blamed anyone for their suffering even though it was very clear that others where inflicting pain upon them.

For example, Prahlada never blamed his father, Hiranyakasipu, who was torturing him mentally and physically and was employing cruel means to kill him. Prahlada said, “I am suffering because of my own activities.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.16

Now, how many of us accept that we are the cause of our own misfortune?

We may be suffering now not because the Lord wants us to suffer but because we had indulged in certain prohibitory activities in the past, which is considered sinful by the Vedic scriptures.

Like a prisoner in this world

As long as we are in this world and as long as we have not got purified of all our sins, we will suffer. This material world is compared to a prison house. Just like in a prison, the inmates cannot be peaceful, similarly, in this material world we cannot be peaceful.

A prisoner cannot complain that why he is not happy in the prison house.  

Similarly, we the spiritual beings who have been exiled from the spiritual world and sent to this material world, which is just like a prison house should not expect that we can enjoy here.

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 8.15 very clearly says that this world is duhkhalayam asasvatam– temporary and miserable. 

The good news – we can live fearlessly.

However the good news is that we are not condemned to suffer forever in this world. There is a solution to all our miseries.

Sometimes seeing the good conduct of a prisoner, the jail authorities may recommend the constitutional authority to reduce his sentence or even recommend to set him free.

Similarly, we the residents of this world also have the chance to get freedom from all the miseries.

The jail authorities of this world may be heartless, biased or corrupt, but the Supreme Lord is unbiased and our best well-wisher.

He has the complete authority over this world and is always eager to take us back to His abode where there are no miseries. And once we return to our eternal home, we will never come back to this world. Free from all sufferings we will live there fearlessly.

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.” Bhagavad Gita 8.16

Now, we do not have to wait to go to the abode of Krishna to live a fear free happy life.

Even in this world, if we always remain under the shelter of Krishna we will attain freedom from all suffering and can life without any fear. 

Showing compassion upon you and me, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “Come to me, I will free you from all sins and you can then live fearlessly”.

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Bhagavad Gita 18.66

How Krishna helps devotee to live fearlessly

In fact, once we enthrone Krishna in our hearts then we can live happily and fearlessly forever, even in this world.  

In fact, a devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly even in this world because Krishna personally and proactively protect his devotee.

Srimad Bhagavatam informs us that if one takes shelter of the Supreme Lord completely then the merciful Lord helps him to navigate through all the dangers which torments us in this world.

“For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.”  Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58

Always absorbed in Krishna

Great devotee, Prahlada says that he is not afraid of material life because he always meditates on the Supreme Lord which gives him unlimited bliss. But he is concerned about those people who try to enjoy this world and forget to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. Such persons are condemned to suffer.

“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.43

A devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly because the Supreme Lord is always with him.

So, if we too want to live fearlessly then we should follow the footsteps of devotees like Prahlada and always remain under the shelter of Krishna, the Supreme Lord.  If we fail to do so, then we will have to face the consequences.

Bhagavad Gita & Srimad-Bhagavatam about fear and how to overcome fear

Vedic literatures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam teaches us how to overcome fear and live fearlessly in this world. This becomes possible and easy if one surreders to Krishna as per the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, this is the guaranteed way to get freedom from all fear.

A personal story

I was sitting in the college library one afternoon. Suddenly I saw my friend and classmate Abhishek run frantically into the building. He was breathless and perspiring. In apparent desperation, he approached one of our teachers and asked, “What if I don’t clear my HSC board exam? How will I face my friends and relatives?”

The teacher patiently calmed him down, advising him to remain positive instead of getting so agitated by something that had not yet happened.

Abhishek, however, could not settle down. I knew him as a studious young man; he had been a hard-working and conscientious student for as long as I’d known him. But peer and social pressures had somehow taken their toll on him everything in his life seemed to frighten him. Even a mosquito could drive him crazy with fear “What if I get malaria and die?” When the results came out after two months, Abhishek found that he had cleared his exam with distinction.

The uncertainty of the future keeps many of us in a perpetual state of fear. The world is so unpredictable we don’t know what is going to happen next. Health crisis, financial collapse, joblessness, death in the family anything can happen, at any moment. Most of us worry about things that have never happened and may never happen to us. Fear is like a noose that gets tighter and tighter until it strangles one to death.

Fear and its Consequences

Bhartrhari explains that there are nine types of fear:

 भोगे रोगभयं कुले च्युतिभयं वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं
माने दैन्यभयम्, बले रिपुभयम्, रूपे जराया भयम् ।
शास्त्रे वादिभयम्, गुणे खलभयं, काये कृतान्ताद्भयं
सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम् ॥

bhoge rogabhayam, kule chyutibhayam, vitte nrupAlAd-bhayam
mAne dainyabhayam, bale ripubhayam, roope jarAyA bhayam |
shAstre vAdibhayam, guNe khalabhayam, kAye kRtAntAd-bhayam
sarvam vastu bhayAnvitam bhuvi nRNAm vairAgyameva abhayam ||

1. bhoge rogabhayam (भोगे रोगभयं): In enjoyment there is fear of disease
2. kule chyutibhayam (कुले च्युतिभयं): In a family there is fear of disgrace or dishonour
3. vitte nrupAlAd-bhayam (वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं): In wealth there is fear of hostile rulers
4. mAne dainyabhayam ( माने दैन्यभयम्): In honor or prestige there is fear of humiliation
5. bale ripubhayam (बले रिपुभयम्): In power there is fear of enemy or adversary 
6. roope jarAyA bhayam (रूपे जराया भयम्): In beauty there is fear of old age
7. shAstre vAdibhayam (शास्त्रे वादिभयम्): In knowledge there is fear of learned opponents
8. guNe khalabhayam (गुणे खलभयं):  In virtue there is fear of wicked vilifying person
9. kAye kRtAntAd-bhayam (काये कृतान्ताद्भयं): In body there is fear of death

Fear of death

The last one, the fear of death, is the most frightening because what happens after death is a mystery to most. And because we fear it more than anything else, we either ignore or downplay death. Masking it under a thick coating of perfumes and cosmetics, we feel secure in the illusory hope that we are still young and death is too far in the future to be of a present concern.

The apparent success of medical science has added to this illusion by falsely increasing the hope that one day we will conquer death completely. Unfortunately, no technological advancement can stop death. The eventuality of death is utterly outside our control. When Srila Prabhupada was once asked why the death rate was so high in India, he replied, “The death rate is the same everywhere 100%.”

It is well known that excessive fear can ruin one’s life. Here are some of its effects:

1.Physical: 

Gripped by fear, the body reacts adversely: perspiration, palpitation, and a rise in blood pressure.

2.Social: 

A fearful person feels lonely and isolated and is often unable to mix with friends and society. To maintain his or her status, such a person may resort to speaking lies. Fear also causes us to hate those persons whom we fear. A child afraid of his father hates his father; an employee afraid of his boss hates his boss.

3.Occupational: 

Over whelmed by fear of failure at work, people often stagnate and stop performing. “If I don’t meet my targets, my boss will fire me.” Such negative emotions completely engulf such people and ruin their lives.

4.Emotional: 

Fear is compared to a stream of deadly dangerous thoughts. In extreme cases, constant fear can lead to suicide.

The Root Cause of Fear

Fear arises when we accept false things as true, the temporary as eternal, illusion as reality. This world of matter is temporary and illusory, and therefore the happiness found here is of the same nature, temporary and illusory. Our body too, being made of matter, has the same nature; it can never provide us everlasting happiness.

Forgetting this, we try to find happiness in this material world through the temporary body and we find ourselves in a fearful situation. Fear of change, disruption, and ultimately death looms behind us, not allowing us to remain peaceful.

However hard we may try to distract ourselves or to forestall the inevitable with artificial technological facades, the jaws of time continue to devour us until we are face-to-face with inevitable death, suffering from the most heightened state of fear.

Quoting the famous Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.37) verse that begins bhayam dviti ya bhini vesatah syat, Srila Prabhupada explains, “Dvitiya refers to matter, which is beyond spirit. Matter is the secondary manifestation of spirit, for matter is produced from spirit.

Just as the material elements described are caused by the Supreme Lord, or the Supreme Spirit, the body is also a product of the spirit soul. Therefore, the material body is called dvitiya, or ‘the second.’ One who is absorbed in this second element or second exhibition of the spirit is afraid of death.”

The fallen souls

Originally, we are spirit souls, different from the material body, and we belong to the eternal, blissful spiritual world. But, for some reason, we have fallen into this world of matter, which is totally foreign to us.

Here we have developed a spirit of rebellious independence, averse to the service of God, Krishna. This has put us in a miserable situation. We are now orphans, who have been left alone in the middle of an ocean to fend for ourselves. We now face fear at every step of life, to some degree or the other.

A Guaranteed Remedy

As soon as we understand that we are not this material body, that this material world is not our real home, and that all our possessions, positions, and relationships are temporary, the door of fearlessness flings wide open before us. We must understand that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, our loving eternal Father, who is eager to have us back home with Him.

All we need to do is sincerely surrender to Him, without reservation. A famous Vaishnava philosopher and poet named Govinda Dasa has sung, bhaja hu re mana sri-nanda-nandana-abhaya-caranaravinda re: “My dear mind, you please worship the son of Nanda [Krishna], who is abhayacarana, whose lotus feet are secure. There is no fear.”

To such a devotee who earnestly prays for help, Krishna awards total fearlessness. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that one can overcome fear if one takes his shelter. “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Bhagavad Gita 18.66)

A step towards Krishna

As easy as it may sound, surrendering to Krishna is not so easy. To break off the shackles of false faith that happiness can be found in the material world takes practice and time. Within our short lifespan, we need to judiciously utilize, not ludicrously waste, every moment to develop the quality of surrender.

If we take one step towards Krishna, He will take thousands of steps towards us. We just need to take the initiative, and Krishna will help us take the next step.

Whatever we achieve in this world does not remain with us forever if not before the final hour, everything we treasure will be taken from us at the time of death. But any effort taken on the spiritual path does not go in vain; those results remain with us permanently, and even the slightest effort protects us from degrading into lower forms of life. Lord Krishna promises that His devotee never perishes. (Bhagavad Gita 9.31)

A Modern Example

The easiest way to become fearless is by studying the lives of great devotees who exemplify the quality of surrender. Srila Prabhupada, at the ripe age of sixty-nine, went to the West to preach the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He had no money or support, no permanent place to stay, no guarantee he would be fed, no source of income.

But he was free from any fear because, as he often said, he had strong faith in the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, in the holy name of Krishna and in the order of his spiritual master. During the journey he suffered two massive heart attacks; the third one would have killed him.

On the night of the second heart attack Srila Prabhupada dreamed he saw Lord Krishna rowing a boat and asking him not to be afraid. The Lord assured Srila Prabhupada that He would be with him. Significantly enough, Srila Prabhupada’s parents had given him the name Abhay Charan, “one who is fearless having taken shelter at Lord Krishna’s feet.” Prabhupada earned that name.

Out of compassion, he shared Krishna’s sublime message of the Bhagavad-gita and transformed the lives of millions of people all over the world. He has said, “To award fearlessness to the common man is the greatest act of charity.”

And Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavagam teaches us how to deal with fear. At various places in his writings, Srila Prabhupada taught us that how by following the teachings of Bhagavad Gita one can overcome fear and remain fearless. Here are some things we can do to conquer fear:

Practical steps to take to overcome fear

1. Chanting Krishna’s holy names: 

Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.11) teaches us, “O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.”

Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada have taught us to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

2. Reading and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam: 

The Srimad Bhagavatam (1.7.7) says, “Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.”

For ISKCON devotees, Srila Prabhupada instituted morning and evening classes in all ISKCON temples to facilitate the study of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita. We should take advantage of this facility as much as possible.

3. Meditation on Krishna’s form: 

“My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are the Supreme Soul. If one meditates upon Your transcendental body, You naturally protect him from all sources of fear, even the imminent danger of death.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.29)

We can meditate on the Deity form of Krishna, at home or in the temple. As we advance in spiritual life, Krishna will reveal to us His captivating form fully competent to dispel all fear.

4. Service to devotees: 

Advanced devotees of the Lord, by dint of their unflinching devotion, acquire godly qualities and always remain fearless. Serving them and following they path they have taken is a guaranteed method of acquiring fearlessness.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.1.17) confirms this: “The path followed by pure devotees, who are well behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the shastras.”

The Best Soluton

Among all the methods described above, chanting the holy names is the best and the easiest way to dispel fear, and this is the religion for this age. If we chant sincerely, it can help us instantly transcend all anxieties of this world.

Chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare will swiftly bring us closer to Krishna and make us feel sheltered. By Krishna’s mercy, we will be able to fearlessly march towards our supreme destination, Vaikuntha, the place where there is no anxiety or fear.

If we too start following the guidelines of Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam then we too can overcome all fear and live fearlessly in this world.

Prahlada: The rebellious son of a rebellious father

The best among the great demigods, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma, were afraid to go near the Supreme Lord. Even Lakshmidevi, Lord’s own consort, was not ready to go near her own husband. This ferocious form of Lord was never seen before by anyone.  He had appeared from a pillar and had the form of half man and half lion and he came to be known as Narasimhadeva.

He had just ripped apart the demoniac body of the evil king, Hiranyakasipu, who had created mayhem in the universe. And was now sitting on the same majestic thrown on which once Hiranyakasipu sat and ruled the universe. 

His humongous body touched the sky. His angry eyes which resembled molten gold was looking in all the directions. His tongue sharp like a sword was moving in all directions looking to slay any miscreants. He had effortlessly killed thousands of faithful soldiers of Hiranyakasipu by his nails.

His hairs which extended in the sky scattered the clouds and forced them to run here and there. The celestial planes which were flying in the sky got thrown into the outer space and upper planetary system by the touch of his hairs. His breathing agitated the vast seas and the oceans. And because of his roaring the gigantic elephants in the world began crying.

Extremely angry he pulled out the intestine of Hiranyakasipu and wore it as a garland.

Even after killing all the demons his anger had not subsided. And all the learned personalities of the universe were not knowing what to do. At that moment, father of the universe, Lord Brahma approached five-year-old little Prahlada and asked him to go and pacify the Lord. 

Prahlada whose heart was inundated with the love of the Lord, who had fearlessly faced the might of Hiranyakasipu and he who had extraordinary faith in the mercy of the Lord humbly approached and bowed his head on the lotus feet of the Lord.

Just as a cub does not fear the lion similarly Prahlada was fearless in front of the half-man-half-lion God.

As soon as Narasimhadev saw his little devotee, his eyes which were burning with anger got flooded with compassion. He raised his blood-soaked hands which had killed innumerable demons to bless the little child. And now he wasn’t roaring in anger but had a peaceful smile on his face which brought great relief and joy to all.

The Lord discriminates none. He envies none. He is not partial to anyone. He is equal to all. But he himself says “but those who renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me and I am also a friend to him.” Bhagavad Gita 9.29.

And Lord Narasimhadev appeared in his never seen before form only to protect his devotee who in spite of facing unprecedented atrocities never gave up his devotion to the Lord.

Prahlada had unquestionable belief that the Lord whom the books of wisdom describe as Supreme will always be there to protect him, to shelter him in every situation and in every circumstance. Even if he is in the midst of a dense forest surrounded by ferocious animals who are salivating to rip apart his flesh to feast upon it the Lord will come for sure to save him. Even if he is in the middle of a turbulent ocean being tossed up and down by the gigantic waves the Lord will come there and extend his hand to rescue him. Even if all human beings of this mortal world turns against him, disbelieves him, try their best to dishonour him, try their best to give him unprecedented sufferings, employs all means to eliminate him but still the Lord who resides in the core of his heart will never abandon him, he will at each and every moment be there to save him, to protect him.

Prahlada’s faith wasn’t blind. He was a fortunate soul. In the womb of his mother, Kayadu, he heard sage Narada reciting the glories of the Lord. The spiritual sound transcending all material limitations penetrated his heart and washed away all material impurities which becomes the cause of forgetfulness of the Lord. 

So, when he came out of the womb of his mother, he did not see the world with material eyes but saw with purified eyes. He saw Lord everywhere. He experienced Lord everywhere.  He understood that the Lord is the cause of all causes.

The sun which never fails to rise in the morning gets its effulgence from the Lord.

The wind which never ever stops its journey gets all its ability from the Lord.

The flower which spreads its aroma far and wide gets the fragrance from the Lord.

The waves of the ocean rise up and goes down at the will of the Lord.

The living beings walk and talk, live and die only by the sanction of the Lord.

A spiritually awakened person experiences the Lord.

A student of the Vedas learns about the Lord.

Spiritually ignorant men and women fail to understand the Lord. And the demons despise the Lord.

Hiranyakasipu, the demon, hated the Lord. He rebelled against the Lord. He thought he is better than the Lord. He wanted to be worshipped like the Supreme Lord.

Prahlada, a spiritually awakened intelligent soul, refused to accept him the Supreme Lord. He rebelled against his own father, Hiranyakasipu. He did not fear him whom even the demigods feared. He did not fear even death because he saw the merciful Lord everywhere.

When little Prahlada was thrown from the top of the mountain, he saw the beautiful Lord who had extended his arms to embrace him.  When he was forced into the fire the huge flames became like the soothing rays of the moon. When he was forced to drink poison, the poison became nectar and nourished him. When the elephants tried to trample him by their gigantic legs then those legs became as soft as lotus petals giving him pleasure and not pain.

When the evil king did not learn his lessons and continued employing many means to kill his own son who was just five-year-old the furious Lord appeared from the pillar to slay the king.  Mere by his nails the Lord ripped apart the gigantic body of the mighty king and crushed the arrogance of all who rebelled against the Lord.

The devotees like Prahlada appears to teach us that Lord never abandon’s his devotee. He is the only shelter in this world. And we should have complete faith in him. In fact, to assure all the doubtful soul’s the Lord has declared boldly that “My devotee never perishes.” Bhagavad Gita 9.31.

We too can live fearlessly amidst any calamity if we practice devotion to the Lord like Prahlada and have complete faith in the words of the Lord like Prahlada.

7 unique features of Bhagavad Gita

 

Bhagavad Gita, one of the most celebrated literary masterpiece, contains pearls of wisdom which has served as a beacon light for humanity since ages.

 

Gita mahatmya 7 says, ekaṁ śāstraṁ devakī-putra-gītam: let there be one scripture only, one common scripture for the whole world – Bhagavad-gita. Eko devo devakī-putra eva: let there be one God for the whole world – Sri Krishna.

 

In Bhagavad Gita there is a conversation primarily between Krishna, the Supreme Lord, and Arjuna who represents the living entities and who is struggling in the midst of a battlefield with his emotions.

 

Arjuna’s Identity Crisis

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita teaches us that even a personality like Arjuna who was the greatest warrior of his time too became helpless when he was just about to  fight the most important battle of his life at Kurushetra.

 

Arjuna had started giving his own reasons to not fight the war, “It’s true that I am a Kshatriya and I should not shy away from fighting but they are not my enemies they are my relatives. If I kill them I will incur sins.”

 

It is true that situations most of the time will not remain in our control but we can chose our responses by controlling our consciousness.  Like Arjuna a situation may arise when we may have the skill to win but may lose the will to fight the battle of life.  

 

Arjuna came to the battlefield as a warrior but upon seeing Bhsima and Drona he started identifying himself as a grandson, as a student and as a brother.

 

• As a warrior he was supposed to fight with Bhisma but as a grandson he was supposed to offer respects to Bhsima.

 

• As a warrior he was supposed to slay Dronacharya, one of the most formidable warriors on the side of the Kauravas, but as a student he started remembering his duty as a disciple.

 

• And as a brother he was supposed to shower love and affection on his siblings and was not supposed to destroy them.

 

This identity crisis made Arjuna helpless so much so that his famed weapon, Gandiva, started falling from his hand and he started quivering.

 

During this difficult phase of his life even a slightest mistake would have destroyed his reputation and the fate of the Pandavas during the epic battle.

 

Fighting in proper consciousness

Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura explains that when Arjuna was reluctant to fight the battle then Krishna, in a chastising mood, said to Arjuna, “Now you are not honoring my words, but later, because you are a great hero, your natural eagerness to fight will unavoidably manifest itself. Then, when you set out to kill Bhisma and others on your own accord, I will laugh at you.”

 

Although Arjuna is giving many reasons not to fight but Krishna knows that since he belongs to a warrior clan so he will ultimately fight.

 

So if Arjuna is anyway going to fight then why does Krishna speak the message of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna?

 

It is because Krishna wanted that Arjuna fights in proper consciousness i.e. Krishna Consciousness. If Arjuna fights whimsically and is driven by modes of nature then he may commit sins and suffer. But if he fights as per the instructions of Krishna he will not just emerge victorious but he will not be subjected to any sinful reactions.

 

Arjuna being learned knew that in crisis it is better to seek guidance from one who is more knowledgeable, trustworthy and best well-wisher.  So without hesitation he turned towards Krishna and petitioned him, “Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.”

 

If we also make friendship with Krishna then when confronted with difficulties we will know where to go and whose shelter to take.

 

Identifying the eternal identity

Krishna first establishes that when we are confronted with many identities then we should rise above all identities and focus on our spiritual identity which is eternal and never changing.  All identities related to this ephemeral world has beginning and an end. Any identity in this world if it is preventing us to do our spiritual duty then we should reject it unconditionally.

 

If we are situated in our spiritual identity as an eternal parts and parcels of Krishna then situations of this world will not bewilder us.  And Krishna like an expert captain of the ship will help us to navigate through the turbulent waves of material miseries.

Action in Krishna consciousness

The nature of this world is that sufferings will come, bewildering situations will arise. But if we purify our intelligence with message of Bhagavad Gita then we will get the strength to tolerate the provoking situations and expertly find a solution to the challenging situation.

 

As long as we are living in this world we have to act, none of us can remain idle and not do anything. But if we do our duties as per our own accord then we put ourselves under the jurisdiction of material laws. But if we do our duties by keeping Krishna in the centre then we will be acting for Krishna and Krishna will always guide us and protect us.

 

Through Arjuna Krishna is teaching two important lessons:

• Human life is meant for hard work and so we should put in our best efforts like Arjuna in any activity we are doing and which is not against religious principles.
• In spite of all our material credentials we should always take guidance of Krishna and not act as per our whims.

 

Unique features of Bhagavad Gita

1. Bhagavad Gita also makes it clear that Krishna is not an ordinary living entity but he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. B.G. 9.10, 10.12,10.13,10.8, 14.4. So, the teachings of Bhagavad Gita is perfect and timeless because it has been spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

2. In Gita it is established that we the living entities are suffering because we have turned away from Krishna. So like Arjuna we should give the reins of our life to Krishna.

 

3. In Gita, Krishna’s love for his devotees is established. Krishna assures that one who takes his shelter is always under his protection, gets delivered from all sins and he never suffers (B.G. 18.66).

 

4. Like a loving father who takes all responsibility of his child, Krishna also takes all responsibility of his devotee and provides him everything which he requires in his life. B.G. 9.22

 

5. In Gita Krishna glorifies bhakti, devotion, (B.G. 6.47) and also explains how practicing it practically is so easy and simple. B.G. 9.26,9.27.

 

6. Those souls who surrender to Krishna finally reaches his eternal and imperishable abode by his grace. (B.G.15.6, 18.56)

 

7. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna continuously establishes through logics and examples that as soon as the living beings who have forgotten his actual identity comes closer to him and start executing his responsibilities as per his guidelines then his life becomes successful. So the concluding verse of Bhagavad says, “Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.”

 

So, Gita mahatmya 1 says that Bhagavad Gita being a transcendental literature should be read carefully and if one follows its instructions wisely then he can free himself from all fears, miseries and anxieties of this world.

Mid – air crisis

Fearlessness is indeed possible!

Why did we abandon Him?

Conquer the “Fear of Future”