Tirtha in Prison The Vaisnava Cure

It is not unusual for me to regularly meet people who have been placed under a doctor's care to receive treatment for various mental aberrations. As it happens, on occasion one of the patients will either forget or decline to take their prescribed medication. Naturally, the doctor will not approve, since such persons are generally incapable of deciding or judging a course of treatment for themselves. In many instances, once they are no longer medicated, their mental state deteriorates markedly. In certain cases, if allowed to continue unchecked, they may even pose a danger to themselves and others.

If we analyze our tenuous situation in the material world we can readily understand that everyone caught up to any degree in material consciousness is more or less crazy. This marks the entire world as a large prison for the mentally disturbed.

In truth, the devotees are the only residents of the asylum taking their prescribed medication, coming in the form of the holy name and sadhu-sanga. Everyone else has either refused their proper medication or has not yet learned such medication exists.

If we think in these terms we can perhaps better appreciate our fortunate position as devotees and the sane association of our fellow devotees. Anyone else we happen to meet will essentially be, to a certain degree, crazy. They may speak clearly, articulating their knowledge of various topics, understand many things about the world we live in. Still, unless their activities are focused on finding the means to stop the repetition of birth, death, disease and old age, they are simply living an illusory existence. Anyone who willfully accepts such an illusory, fantasy existence as real can hardly be considered sane.

The devotees understand that without their medicine, they too, will quickly manifest symptoms of the material illness. However, this is no ordinary medication. It is something like a honey cure. A person takes it to become cured of his illness and once cured, relishes the honey ever more.

It is quite appropriate then for us to understand in depth how our medicine, chanting and sadhu-sanga, are inexorably linked. Mistakes or inattention in one aspect of either practice will affect both simultaneously. Should we disrespect the devotees in our midst we immediately become offenders to the holy name. Chant inattentively and we will fail to properly appreciate our sadhu association.

It is a dangerous position to take our devotee association lightly. To do so opens the door to an entire cascade of Vaisnava aparadhas that will destroy one's devotional creeper. Worse still, one runs the risk of becoming isolated from the association of the devotees. Without such spiritual association, we become cut off from our much needed medicine.

If we look at the nature of Krsna consciousness we will see that it is all about associating with other devotees in a spirit of love and trust. While it is true we have to ultimately think for ourselves and make our sincere commitments on a personal level, the practice of Krsna consciousness is performed in the association of other devotees.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura says, "Krsna's names are invested with all potencies. One should have attachment for bhajana by taking shelter of the holy names in the association of sadhus..." (Sri Bhajana-rahasya)

The greatness of this particular cure is that once we are firmly within its shelter, we too, may distribute the same cure to others. Imagine such an event in the material world where the patients suddenly take over the asylum!

Our preaching efforts to distribute this medicine will have greater effectiveness when done cooperatively with our fellow Vaisnavas. We accomplish far more for guru and Krsna when v/e understand and apply the principal of reciprocal cooperation in our daily activities. Imagine for a moment being cut off from all devotee association. You have your japa beads, some books, but little else. You are alone, isolated from all devotees. Your only association, patients from the mental asylum.

You are, however, a sincere preacher, and begin by praying to guru and Krsna for the strength to continue on. You then proceed to formulate and execute a plan for preaching to whomever your audience may be. A compassionate devotee will go out and bring another person into Krsna consciousness, again making the connection with new devotee association.

We will realize that this medicine is unique in many ways. It is not a material prescription, but comes from the pure spiritual realm. Its effect and potency increase when we distribute it to others!

Indeed, not only does our sensitivity to the medicine increase through its distribution, but the quantity as well. The first prayer of Lord Caitanya's Siksastaka confirms this, "Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Krsna expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step."

When we preach Hari-nama we affirm, let there be all victory for the holy name of the Lord, and invite people to take advantage of its medicinal effect of cleansing the mirror of one's heart and stopping their miseries coming from the blazing fire of material existence. We have proof in ourselves that the cure indeed works. Now we proceed to bring the cure to others, to grant spiritual sanity into their lives.

This potent medicine awakens us to our actual good fortune. We see and feel it in our daily lives. We feel encouragement to share this wondrous cure with others, to let their dismal material fortune change to spiritual awakening. Such good fortune awaits all who will but take to the cure.

The material conditioning has made everyone here crazy. They do not know who they are or what their purpose in life is. They constantly seek knowledge to improve their lot in life, but only meet with failure at the time of death. This medicine affects such a cure that we awaken to our true education and vital interests. Thus, it is known as the life and soul of all education.

In our insane condition we sometimes imagine the world to be shrinking, with everything closing in on us. Sometimes taking the wrong medicine, we hope to avert our anxiety by becoming numb to our senses, obliterating our small spark of consciousness.

Again, this medicine is more potent than a magical tonic or mystical elixir. Its potent effect soothes our soul, giving rise to the realization of unlimited varieties of spiritual attractions, all working together to serve Krsna's desire. Each day becomes a wondrous event, unlimited possibilities dawn with each new day.

The nectar of the medicine brings great happiness that knows no bounds. Having tasted it, we constantly hanker for more, hoping to dive deeper into the amazing cure.

What is more, this medicine is freely available to one and all. We may partake of it freely, but the medicine is not free .

Everything comes with a price. For this wondrous medicine to have its full effect we must take it according to the great physician's instructions.

In the beginning we take the medicine because we are quite desperate to escape our insanity. We take it and quickly feel its initial effect, working to allow us to catch our first glimpse of sanity since untold eons ago. Now we must acclimate ourselves to the richness of the medicine. We are not simply patients waiting for our daily dose, but have become centered, fully focused on simultaneously taking and serving the cure. We are soon addicts of the first degree.

The Vaisnava cure is ever sweet and always relishable. Upon chanting the Lord's holy names we desire to share our realizations with fellow devotees. Being with devotees increases our propensity for hearing and chanting. The insanity of material conditioning fades forever. Our goal now to become mad for Krsna consciousness. The sweet medicine to make us ever mad for Krsna.

Your worthless servant,
Tirtha dasa