Burlingame, CA
Although a spiritual soul is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge, when he becomes attached to a physical body, he is obligated to work hard to maintain it. Feeling incomplete and incompetent due to identifying with a limited and decaying material body, one instinctively makes up for his inadequacies by embellishing his accomplishments and rationalizing his faults.
Trying to be something that you’re not is hard work.
On the other hand, by surrendering to Krishna as His eternal servant and admitting one’s foibles to Him, one feels relief and satisfaction.
In a scripture called, Aparadha-bhanjana, a pure devotee demonstrates this mood of sweet surrender:
“My dear Lord, I am ashamed to admit before You that I have carried out the orders of my masters named lust, anger, avarice, illusion and envy. Sometimes I have carried out their orders in a way most abominable. Yet in spite of my serving them so faithfully, they are not satisfied, nor are they kind enough to give me relief from their service. They are not even ashamed of taking service from me in that way. My dear Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, now I have come to my senses, and I am taking shelter of Your lotus feet. Please engage me in Your service.” (NOD 36)
With gratitude and affection,
Vaisesika Dasa
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