When things go wrong, our mind often gets filled with negativity. At such times, we naturally need solace, which we may seek by associating with the saintly. During our time with them, we may pour out our woes, hoping to thereby unburden ourselves of our negativity.
It’s natural and desirable to seek saintly guidance on problematic issues. But if that is all we do in their association, we cheat ourselves. Why? Because their association can raise our consciousness to the spiritual level where alone life’s problems can be transcended.
Gita wisdom explains that reality has three distinct levels: physical, mental and spiritual. Just as we deal with physical wounds appropriately, similarly, we need to deal with mental or emotional wounds appropriately. And for dealing with either, we can take the blessings of the saintly. But while associating with them, our consciousness needs to focus on receiving spiritual knowledge and devotion.
We are souls, parts of the supreme soul, Krishna, who is our all-attractive Lord. When we learn to love him, we become joyfully absorbed in him, thereby transcending our problems and ultimately transcending problematic material existence itself. For attaining such transcendence, saintly association is the vital catalyst.
The saintly people delight in loving Krishna and in discussing his glories with others (Bhagavad-gita 10.09). When we associate with them, we have a precious opportunity to enrich our consciousness with their spiritual positivity. What is that positivity? It is their steady focus on Krishna; their strong faith that he will bring good out of the bad; and their firm conviction that devotional absorption in him is life’s ultimate purpose with which all our other purposes need to be harmonized.
When we become spiritually receptive, saintly association enriches us with the supreme treasure of devotional absorption in Krishna.
Think it over:
- By downloading our mental negativity on the saintly, how do we cheat ourselves?
- What is the spiritual positivity of the saintly?
- While associating with the saintly, how does being spiritually receptive help us?
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What a succinct point?
I just loved the lines, “It’s natural and desirable to seek saintly guidance on problematic issues. But if that is all we do in their association, we cheat ourselves. Why? Because their association can raise our consciousness to the spiritual level where alone life’s problems can be transcended.”
Thank you, Radha Damodar P. Happy to be of service.