Everyone is looking for shelter. There are two primary aspirations – pleasure and shelter. People want both physical and emotional shelter. Physical shelter refers to the maintenance of life and the facilities for sense gratification. Emotional shelter is our false ego with its want to be loved. A conditioned soul wants to be respected and adored which is simply a distorted way of trying to find love. The false ego just distorts it into the idea that the experience of love will come through adoration and respect. To the degree we are not experiencing real love we may need those things. Humility is the natural symptom of one who loves God. If you love God and feel His love, you just don’t need any of those things. Humility is not just the process but the symptom of one who has obtained the goal of life. We only need those external shows of respect and adoration because of an emptiness within. If one is finding fulfillment, whether one is praised or blamed, it really doesn’t matter because we are experiencing God’s love.
Often times we take shelter of God in the time of need. But we also should take shelter of the beauty and sweetness of God. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada balanced his books so nicely by describing the sweet eternal pastimes of the Lord and the loving reciprocation of the Lord’s devotees but always along with truth of the suffering and miseries of material existence.
After practicing for many years one may ask, “Why am I not tasting the nectar of Bhakti after all these years?” Because you are taking shelter of material things and this feeling may go on for many births until you humble yourself and understand that you are not taking shelter of God. In the blazing sun when you go under a tree you get shade and shelter. Its not that you have to ask the tree for shelter – you immediately get it. But you have to actively take the shelter of the tree. The problem is that when it is a cloudy day we don’t even look at the tree, just walk by. Similarly, and unfortunately, when there is no crisis in our lives, we practice our spiritual life merely as a routine. But when there is a crisis we truly call out, “Krsna save me!” But whether the situation is distressful or happy, a devotee sees the auspiciousness in any situation to the extent it helps us to take shelter of God.
Therefore, we should become humble and beg for the Lords shelter. Respect all living beings, be kind to everyone, give up all your sinful activities and take shelter of the association of devotees and always chant Gods holy names.
His Holiness Radhanath Swami
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