Big Sur, Ca
Astute gardeners daily collect seemingly useless scraps from the kitchen – fruit and vegetable peelings, corn husks, avocado skins, and so on – and place them in a backyard compost box. After a few months when the scraps decay, the aggregate becomes a rich fertilizer, that when spread about, nourishes the entire garden.
A wise bhakti yogi similarly gathers his or her life experiences, especially mistakes and missteps, carefully saving them as valuable lessons learned.
Every aspect of one’s life – including (or especially) errors – become an enriching substance for one’s bhakti garden when the gardener considers and corrects them according the instructions of guru, sadhu and scripture.
Sri Isopanisad says:
“Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality.” (Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11)
Bhakti gardeners waste nothing and are never disheartened by change, disappointments, or even catastrophes.
In the Light of the Bhagavata, Srila Prabhupada writes:
“One should not be discouraged in the discharge of devotional service. Failures may not be detrimental; they may be the pillars of success.” (LOB 43)
Om Tat Sat
With gratitude and affection,
Vaisesika Dasa
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