When something upsets us, we can remind ourselves: “Yes, this is the material world, and this is bound to happen. When a stone drops into water, it will get wet. When a soul drops into the material world, it will experience miseries. That is just the way it is; there is no way around it.
At that time, you need some spiritual orientation. You see, most of us act on the social level and add a little Kṛṣṇa consciousness. “Oh yes, I have my friends, colleagues, projects, and so on. To these, I add Kṛṣṇa.” But when you experience a setback, you need to turn it around the other way. Take full shelter of Kṛṣṇa because you are dysfunctional at that moment – you are highly disturbed.
I know of no better way of consciously taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa and entering opening the sacred space where I feel His presence than reciting the Śaraṇāgati prayers of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. You must do this, everyone! It will immediately act as a soothing balm for your misery, pain, and insecurity: “Do I have a future? Does this make sense?” Pray to Kṛṣṇa in the mood of a servant to a great soul like Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and you will see… Kṛṣṇa has been waiting for you the whole time. He is there immediately.
Śrīla Prabhupāda also gave another solution: sit before the deities, look at them, and chant. This is what he told some of his disciples who were disenchanted and suffering. Therefore, my dear devotees, just sit there alone, don’t interact, don’t smile at everyone who enters, just let it be you and Kṛṣṇa and chanting, and the Lord will receive you immediately. Please understand that the only relationship where you can expect no disturbance is your relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Should I say it again? The only relationship without disturbance, without misunderstandings, where you will always be accepted, is with Kṛṣṇa. Really! We all have a God-shaped hole in our hearts because we have left Kṛṣṇa. We have torn ourselves away from Him, so a hole has appeared in our hearts. And now we try to move heaven and hell through this hole to find completion and to heal it but only when we put Kṛṣṇa there, will it be closed. We are missing Him; and nothing and no one else. -By H.H Sacinandana Swami—
