To the assembled:
Chant the Holy Names!
Having myself been such a rogue and uneducated devotee, i am fortunate to be always finding new stories and more details of stories i had once heard only in passing. The story of Sri Jatayu is one such story.
The Vulture King, the antithetical archetype of Arjuna, my namesake, and a real example, leading the way for us, setting a course of action for us to be able to follow in circumstances the material world might consider less than ideal. (Arjuna fought and "won," Jatayu fought and "lost," but the outcome was identical in both cases, i.e., the Lord was served and the devotee was rewarded with eternal causeless service.) Sri Jatayu simply serves, in devotion, without attachment to outcome, never faltering in defeat, never turning from his mission out of fear, never running from pain in his temporary body, always thinking of his Lord and His Lord's servant.
Imagine if we could be so fortunate to carry this attitude through our daily lives. Knowing that we walk, fearlessly, straight down the path that leads us home. Confident that our actions and thoughts in devotion ARE the correct course, like the river, flowing confidently toward Ananta-Sesa. Certainly, devotees have withdrawn their association from me because i've chosen to live in the world instead of a temple. Is my faith less valuable? Perhaps i have a different form of the mission. There are many i speak to of KRSNA whose faces light because they see that we know ONE GOD. There are many who hear the Holy Names and are instantly attracted, inquiring to me,"what is that beautiful sound?"
Not a proficient quoter, i can't tell you where, but i do know that in the purports of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's books, we are reminded to serve HIM, Think of HIM, speak HIS NAMES, discuss HIS PASTIMES, visualize HIS FORMS, serve HIS servants regardless of our station, our dharma, our material circumstance. The straw in the street is not in the temple, before the DIETY, being jumped on at mangala-artika by the devotees. It is in the street, being trampled by pure, aspiring, and fallen devotee alike, by animal butcher, politician, child and by common men and women, who for some reason or another, are so fortunate as to have found the LORD and are full of various levels of faith in HIM, and by demons who spit on the straw at the thought of a "god" more powerful than themselves. Yet, Sri KRSNA CHAITANYA advises us to think of ourselves at this level, beneath the straw, without discrimination.
One may perform harinam sankirtam on a busy sidewalk, distributing Love of GODHEAD along with a book. Another may work in the computer dept. of a large corporation, performing harinam sankirtam barely audibly, but no less transcendentally powerful, as he/she goes about the day. One may think of KRSNA while trying to propogate the virtues of church structures. Another while explaining whethre their actions are appropriate. The key is to approach one's life with the bravery of Sri Jatayu, unnattached to outcomes or personal, material safety...confident in the final disposition of all action dedicated in devotion to LORD SYAMASUNDARA.
Beneath the straw in the street, ultimately, is the point of reflection of the spiritual reality of that most fortunate straw where, perhaps, the author of Mukunda Mala Stotra can be found if his request has been granted; beneath the straw of the cowheard boys trail, trampled in ecstacy by the feet of of the LORDS friends or maybe even KRSNA HIMSELF. Srila Prabhupada's early devotees were very expert at exhibiting the bravery of Sri Jatayu as they faced a world that often judged them for their newfound culture and their sometimes "blind service" of their teacher. Now as the devotees are numerous enough that we can hide in their ranks or temporarily powerful enough that we can be excluded from their ranks this presents us with even more opportunity to exhibit this bravery, facing death with every step, HIS NAME on our lips, HIS FORM in our minds, serving HIM without regard to the effects of that service (perceived as good OR bad) on our material container and situations.
When a bit of fear or forgetfulness creeps up on you, remember the bravery of Sri Jatayu in his offering of his entire being to the service of the LORD, remember his singleminded focus, let perceived pain bring your mind back to his story again and again.
your servant in devotion
savyasacin
RADHE-SYAMA
Thanks for your contribution to the success of this website, savyasacin, Hare Krsna, your servant, mahaksadasa
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