(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011)
Generally speaking…..a puzzling topic, that vaisnavas consider themselves as most fallen. They spend time in presenting themselves as having no qualifications and so on. But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s song, ‘Bhakti-kalpataru’ is basically clarifying the matter, which is:
‘I have received this wish fulfilling desire tree from my spiritual master, but by my harsh behaviour, I’ve covered its’ potency, and therefore, the full powers is not manifested now from the tree. But the tree itself can be restored in the association of the devotees.’
So that is a very important concept, of seeing how on the one hand, we have received the mercy; how we have something to give; how a vaisnava has a valuable contribution to make to the world, and at the same time can see himself as being totally unqualified; as the most fallen; as a fool; as an ignorant child; as having no intelligence and all these things that he had said in the first opening verse.
It all makes sense if you think: ‘Yes I am absolutely not qualified, but still why? It is from the mercy of the Lord and my guru, that gives me the most valuable jewel!”
That’s a very important point about humility – how vaisnava humility works. How one can see himself as the most fallen, but still living in great happiness, because of the great and unlimited mercy that somehow or other really helps us!
Generally speaking…..a puzzling topic, that vaisnavas consider themselves as most fallen. They spend time in presenting themselves as having no qualifications and so on. But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s song, ‘Bhakti-kalpataru’ is basically clarifying the matter, which is:
‘I have received this wish fulfilling desire tree from my spiritual master, but by my harsh behaviour, I’ve covered its’ potency, and therefore, the full powers is not manifested now from the tree. But the tree itself can be restored in the association of the devotees.’
So that is a very important concept, of seeing how on the one hand, we have received the mercy; how we have something to give; how a vaisnava has a valuable contribution to make to the world, and at the same time can see himself as being totally unqualified; as the most fallen; as a fool; as an ignorant child; as having no intelligence and all these things that he had said in the first opening verse.
It all makes sense if you think: ‘Yes I am absolutely not qualified, but still why? It is from the mercy of the Lord and my guru, that gives me the most valuable jewel!”
That’s a very important point about humility – how vaisnava humility works. How one can see himself as the most fallen, but still living in great happiness, because of the great and unlimited mercy that somehow or other really helps us!
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