Devotee: ...withdraw that independence, can we request Kṛṣṇa to force us to surrender to Him, due to our conditioning? Prabhupāda: Yes, you can request Him. And He sometimes forces. He puts you in such circumstances that you have no other way than to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Yes. That is special favor. That is special favor. Yes. My spiritual master wanted me to preach, but I did not like it, but he forced me. Yes. That is my practical experience. I had no desire to accept the sannyāsa order and preach, but my spiritual master wanted it. I am not very much inclined, but he forced me. That is also done. That is special favor. When he forced me, at that time, I thought that "What is this? What...? I am committing some mistake or what is that?" I was puzzled. But a little after, I could understand that it is the greatest favor shown to me. You see? So when Kṛṣṇa forces somebody to surrender, that is a great favor. But generally, He does not do so. But He does so to a person who is very sincere to Kṛṣṇa's service but at the same time he has got slight desire for material enjoyment. In that case He does, that "This foolish person does not know that material facility will never make him happy, and he is sincerely seeking My favor. So he is foolish. Therefore whatever resource, little resource he has got for material enjoyment, break it. Then he will have no other alternative than to surrender unto Me." That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, er, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Yasyāham anughṛnāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ sanaiḥ. Kṛṣṇa says that "If I do somebody special favor, then I make him poverty-stricken. I take away all his means of sense enjoyment." You see? That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Because here in this material world everyone is trying to be happy by earning more money, by business, by service, by this way or that way. But in special cases Kṛṣṇa makes his business or service unsuccessful. Do you like that? (laughs) At that time he has no other alternative than to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. You see? But sometimes, when we are unsuccessful in our business attempt or earning attempt, we become sorry that "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is so cruel upon me that I could not trust in this." But that is His favor, special favor. You should understand like that. Yes. (end)
Comments
Yes, Krsna makes so many arrangements, as according to the devotees' positions. for example, a brahmacary dependent upon Him, He will watch very closely, while a householder acting quite independently, well, He may allow one enough rope to hang oneself if that is what you want and demand!
Krsna is very strong, and His actions may sometimes seem hard to understand for a conditioned being. I have always found, because as a young person i devoted myself to Srila Prabhupada's service, that somehow or other, Krsna repeatedly saves me from myself. I rarely or never actually do the best thing, but half-steps, but somehow Sri Krnsa tolerate, and i imagine He is glad to be able to use me for even a little service, semi-surrendered willfull demon that i normally am.
One should take shelter of the Panca tattva mantra, otherwise, so many offenses are committed in chanting Hare Krsna. One may also pray to Krsna always to help one advance. He does not force Himself upon others, so your requests and prayers for His kind intercession and help actually go a long way to help! When given permission, Krsna will take control of a devotee's life if and when necessary or if He sees fit, but one must be willing to accept this and request it also. Chanting Hare Krsna, all this occurs.
When one realizes that one's actual eternal and real self-interest lies in alliance in service of Sri Krsna, then one can act with surrendered determination and renunciation. Otherwise, we are subtly holding back too much, and this lack of one-pointedness can be a big slow-down for spiritual advancement. One has to make a solid commitment in one's heart, take initiation, and actually do the necessary things.
Thinking on that logically; request to force; we can assume the degree of force, as ever with Godhead, is reciprocated according to the degree of pure surrender, therefore, it is contradictory to say request to force, as the request is determined by sincerity and hence purity, and so there is then no further force required.
Anyway, we know what you mean, despite my word jugglery!
Better to request help to be sincere and steady, rather than extreme and forced ? Just my cheap two cents advice. When running a marathon, it is best to set a pace for oneself sometimes. We have no time, and also forever, i know...
HK Pamho! Hows things at the summer house?
Yes, things are alright Prabhu. I'm following the orders of Srila Prabhupada as far as I can. Hari bol!