All of us have a public life where we interact with the world and a personal life where we interact with our loved ones. Additionally, we also have a secret life where we live and relive our fondest dreams. This secret life underlies and shapes our public and personal lives. We may be addressing a thousand people or talking to a family member, but in both cases we may be in our secret life if our thoughts are dwelling on that which we hold dearest.

One way to understand what resides in our secret life is to evaluate what thoughts occupy us when we have nothing to do; or when we seek relief amidst boredom or distress; or when we contemplate our greatest joys. To make spiritual advancement, we need to place Krishna at the center of our secret lives by making him the stuff of our dreams. This doesn’t imply that we equate him with a character of our night dreams or that we fantasize him performing intimate pastimes with us. It essentially implies that we make the desire to serve him the deepest, most intense and most cherished longing of our heart. Our dreams will then naturally revolve around him as the planets revolve around the sun.

The Bhagavad-gita (10.09) characterizes exalted devotees using the phrase mac-cittah. This phrase conveys not just that they always think about Krishna, but also that their consciousness becomes offered to and absorbed in him. In other words, he reigns supreme in their secret life.

To emulate their example, we need to consciously desire Krishna at all times and especially at the times when we are exposed to devotional stimuli. This will gradually ensure that he permeates, pervades and possesses our secret life, thereby enriching us with the highest happiness.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 09

“The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.”