Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!

Wait to Serve - Part 1 Date: 2014-01-14 Author: Kalacakra Krsna das Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept our humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev! In Bhagavad Gita Krishna says, devotional service is joyfully performed - susukhaṁ kartum avyayam. When our body and mind are in good condition and when circumstances are all favourable, we find it easy to perform service joyfully. But the real test of our unmotivated bhakti, comes when our body and mind does not co-operate and circumstances are also unfavourable. When we are suffering from some chronic illness or when we have some problem which is just prolonging for years, we get dejected and demotivated. We lose faith in bhakti and lead a remorseful life. The following pastime in Ramayana very nicely teaches us how to handle such situations. When Sugriva sent his army of Vanaras to different directions in search of Sita, Angada and Hanuman were sent to South. After vigorous search for over 6 weeks, they were still not able to find Sita. Angada and few other monkeys thought that they should sit and fast to death. As they sat there roaring in dismay, they suddenly saw an enormous vulture approaching them. Looking at the vulture come near them Angada told Hanuman, "Surely this is Yamaraja come in person to punish us for failing to serve Rama's purpose. This bird reminds me of Jatayu, about whom we have heard from Sugriva. That glorious bird laid down his life for Rama in a fierce battle with Ravana. We shall also now give up our lives in Rama's service. Alas, like that heroic vulture we too have failed to save Sita". On hearing Jatayu's name, the bird inquired them about the whereabouts of Jatayu as he was his brother Sampati. When Anagada narrated the story of how Jatayu had died protecting Sita from Ravana, Sampati cried out in anguish. His eyes filled with tears and he said to Angada how Jatayu was dearer to him than life. Sampati told them that he had seen Ravana kidnapping Sita to Lanka. Sampati also recollected the good times he had spent with Jatayu and how once when they reached the track of that fiery globe of the sun, they became over-powered by its heat and they fell back to earth, where they became separated. Sampati fell onto the Vindhya mountain, with his wings completely destroyed by the scorching rays of the sun. There he met Rshi Chandrama and related his sad tale. Weeping, Sampati had said that he wished to throw himself from the mountain peak and end his life. The Rshi restrained him, telling him that in the future some monkeys would arrive at that spot, searching for Rama's divine consort. "Although I am able to give you your wings back, I will not do so, as you are destined to render a service to Rama through those monkeys. You must remain here and tell them where to find Sita. At that time your wings will again be restored." The Rshi further said that bodily sufferings must be borne by everyone as a reaction to their own past deeds. One should nevertheless reallize that the real self is different from the body. Without being overly attached to the body one should try to fix the mind on the Supreme Lord, with whom all beings have an eternal relationship. Thus Sampati should not lament for his broken body. He should live there patiently, thinking of Rama and waiting for his chance to render him some service. Sampati concluded, "That was eight thousand years ago and I have survived here all this time, being brought food by my son. Now at last I have performed my service to Rama". Even as Sampati spoke a beautiful pair of wings sprouted from his body." Krishna willing, we shall continue to meditate on the lessons to be learnt from the above pastime in subsequent offering. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Kalacakra Krsna das & Sudarshana devi dasi..

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