We are often plagued by deficiencies of some kind or the other. And given our materialistic culture that glamorizes idealized specimens of various material attributes, feelings of insecurity and inferiority may haunt us: “I am not beautiful enough, smart enough, rich enough, fluent enough, cool enough, … nothing enough.” If we obsess over our shortcomings, we may sink into the pit of depression, even feeling that our life itself is unlivable.
Gita wisdom offers a devotional counter for such negative feelings.
It reveals an all-attractive, all-merciful God, Krishna, who loves all of us as his eternal children, irrespective of our material deficiencies or proficiencies. His inclusive love is evident in the Gita declaration (09.32) that even those conventionally considered unqualified, the lowborn, can gain his shelter and thereby attain supreme destination: eternal ecstatic existence with him.
Our disadvantages can become advantages if they help us realize our need for Krishna as our supreme object of love. Only when we redirect our heart from material things to him can we attain life and love eternal.
However, most people, especially gifted people, hardly feel the need for Krishna – they assume that by their strengths alone, they will conquer and prosper in the here-and-now. Even if they are materially proficient and even if they become materially successful, still being devoid of devotion for Krishna, they will stay stuck in unfulfilling and fleeting material existence. In fact, their strengths may well increase their material infatuation and concomitant incarceration.
In contrast, our deficiencies by providing us impetus to turn to Krishna can become launching pads for our devotion. The resulting devotional enrichment will, our deficiencies notwithstanding, provide us fulfillment even in this world. And focused devotion will eventually propel us to Krishna’s eternal world, free from all deficiencies and depressions.
As parts and parcels of Lord Sri Krishna we are perfectly equipped with abundant happiness but, covered by the cloud of Maya, we are in the illusion that happiness is something that we have to become. The very concept of ‘becoming happy’ is always ahead of us and never reachable. It also implicates that we are currently not happy by overlooking our inherent abundant happiness. This covering cloud that suppresses our happiness instantly dissipates when we connect from our hearts with Krishna by chanting or singing His all merciful Name.
This message was one filled with hope. I felt very much included rather than excluded. Even though Medical doctors have given me the label “schizophrenic,” I could visualize Krsna extending his arms and embracing me. When tough times try my patience, this passage of Gita wisdom will lift me up towards that which is spiritual and eternal. JKH