FW: [granthraj] Become Dheera
Rammohan G
Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.7.18 Suta Goswami while narrating to the sages of Namisharanaya about brahmastra released by Ashwattama
tam aapatantam sa vilakshya duraat
kumaara-hodvigna-manaa rathena
paraadravat praana-paripsur urvyaam
yaavad-gamam rudra-bhayaad yathaa kah
"Ashvatthama, the murderer of the princes, seeing from a great distance Arjuna coming at him with great speed, fled in his chariot, panic stricken, just to save his life, as Brahmä fled in fear from Shiva."
In his transcendental class on above verse Srila Prabhupada very nicely brings out the practical point which we need to learn from this verse. He makes a nice comparison with how devotees like Ambarish Maharaj, Prahlad Maharaj etc reacted when they faced disturbing situations. They were all dheera. Dheera is one who is not disturbed even when put in disturbing situations. But most of us in this world are adheera - we become very disturbed when we face some challenging situation. His Divine Grace says, "One may not be disturbed when there is no cause of disturbances. Just like we are not, now at the present moment, we are not afraid of death. But as soon as we find there is earthquake, and we are afraid of this building may fall down, the cause of disturbances, then we become very much disturbed—sometimes screaming. So one who is not disturbed, even there is cause of disturbance, he is called dheera."
Many years ago in the year 2000, when there was massive earthquake in Bhuj area our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj was staying in old-guest house building in Dwaraka in third floor - chanting and discussing Bhagavatam. When the people began to experience the tremors, everyone wanted to rush out of the building - But being a dheera, Maharaj did not rush out. Nor did he allow others to go out. Instead he asked all of them to sit down and chant Mahamantra nicely. Due to his transcendental faith on Holy Names, Srila Prabhupada and Supreme Lord, Krishna stopped the earthquakes after a while. With undaunting faith and determination, within 2 hours of this incident, Maharaj proceeded with bhumi pooja of the stone temple for Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarakadish. All glories to Maharaj.
Srila Prabhupada says that most of us are in the bodily concept of life and therefore we are all adheera. But it is important that we come to the light of knowledge and not remain plunged in darkness of ignorance. His Divine Grace says that the best way to become dheera, in this age of Kali-yuga is to simply follow the method prescribed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and six Goswamis - Loud chanting of Holy Names..
krishnot-kirtana-gaana-nartana-parau premaamrtaambho-nidhi
dheeraadheera-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau
sri-caitanya-krpaa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhaaraava-hantaarakau
vande rupa-sanaatanau raghu-yugau shri-jiva-gopaalakau
So may we follow the footsteps of acharyas like Srila Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada and sincerely take to loud chanting of the Holy Names - 'krishnot kirtana'.
Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much,
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi
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