As we live in largely materialistic society, we may sometimes hide our devotion to avoid any unnecessary conflicts with others who don’t share our values.

Such strategic downplaying of our devotion may at times be desirable. When we meet people for some specific work, we need to focus on getting the work done. Few things alienate people as much as intrusive evangelization at the expense of competent execution of the work at hand.

Hiding our heart in our devotion means getting our heart so absorbed in remembering and relishing Krishna that it is no longer vulnerable to worldly temptations.

But concealing our devotion may not always be the best way to protect it. Sometimes speaking about it may force us to walk our talk, deploying the power of our honor for the protection of our principles. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (09.14) indicates that serious devotees, being constantly engaged in glorifying Krishna, don’t hesitate to express their devotion externally.

More importantly, what best protects our devotion is neither hiding it nor revealing it, but hiding our heart in it. Hiding our heart in our devotion means getting our heart so absorbed in remembering and relishing Krishna that it is no longer vulnerable to worldly temptations. The Gita’s previous verse (09.13) commends such one-pointed absorption, urging us to stay fixed in him always, knowing him to be the original and imperishable Absolute Truth. When we do our sadhana seriously, applying ourselves to meditation and scriptural study, we increasingly relish the sweetness of Krishna and realize that whatever else attracts us reflects just a spark of his all-attractiveness, as the Gita (10.41) declares.

If our heart is thus fixed in Krishna, worldly temptations won’t jeopardize our devotion, for we will learn to see through their façade. Further, by our detached, principled conduct, we may even be able to help others see through the sham, thereby inspiring them to move closer to Krishna.

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