In Srimad Bhagavatam 11.7.22, Krishna says, “There are many created beings in this universe but among those the human species are very dear to me.” We the human beings have special advantage, we can know Krishna, we can understand the message of Krishna and we can live as per the teachings of Krishna.
Cats and dogs, giraffes and goats, leopards and leeches cannot do so. Do we see dogs or cats or pigeons reading scriptures, chanting the names of Krishna, visiting holy places or fasting during ekadashi or Janmashtami. Animals, birds and reptiles cannot think beyond their bodily needs. Throughout their life they are only busy in eating, sleeping, mating and defending.
But human beings have the ability to think beyond their bodily needs. They can ask the meaning and purpose of life. They can study the wisdom words of Vedic literatures, associate with the devotees of the Lord, chant the names of Krishna and can perfect their lives.
But even after getting a human body if we are not using it to perfect our lives then how are we better than animals?
Krishna our Supreme Father is so concerned for us. He knows that in this material world we all are struggling constantly. “The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.” Bhagavad Gita 15.7
Krishna’s desire
But Krishna says that we can easily free ourselves from our pathetic condition if we readily accept the shelter of Krishna. And taking Krishna’s shelter isn’t difficult. Its not that we have to change our occupational duty or we have to change our house and the place where we are staying, or we have to renounce our family life and become a mendicant.
In whatever situation we are in we have to just begin to live as per the teachings of the Lord which is given in Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In this age of Kaliyuga, the best way to bring Krishna in our life is by chanting his names like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra reverentially. And also, the Lord expects us to lead a sin free life which means that we have to give up meat eating, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex.
Such a life purifies our consciousness which is presently contaminated with material impurities of lust, greed and anger. Once our consciousness becomes pure and we enthrone Krishna in the core of our heart then we will attain complete perfection and Supreme destination.
Krishna wants us to gift such a wonderful life. He is so eager to uplift our consciousness and bring us back to his kingdom that he came as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu along with Nityananda Prabhu 500 years ago to beg us to take his shelter.
Nityananda Prabhu, who is none other than Lord Balarama, was so desperate for our salvation that he would go door to door distributing the gift of the holy name of Krishna.
So, let us make the best use of this human life and fulfil the desire of Krishna and return back to him.
Three Reflections
- Krishna says, “There are many created beings in this universe but among those the human species are very dear to me.”
- But human beings have the ability to think beyond their bodily needs.
- In whatever situation we are in we have to just begin to live as per the teachings of the Lord which is given in Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Ask Yourself
- Am I Krishna conscious or am I always conscious of my body?
Action Item
- Reflect upon three activities which you do daily which will make you dear to Krishna.
