Terror
It’s so dangerous to walk this way alone at night. Aware of that, I’m taking the risk.
Quickening my pace through the shadowy darkness, my focus is on getting home.
Suddenly I’m conscious of noises around me and stop to listen. Two men then step out of the shadows before me. Quivering in fright, my heart racing, I stare at them. Within moments two more men appear, one on either side.
Now wild with fear, I turn to run, but behind me another two men are fast approaching.
Oh my God!! It’s a gang. This is it. I’m finished…..
Frozen in panic I watch them all moving closer. One holds a rope tied in a noose, another one raises a knife. I grab his arm as he tries to stab me. Terrified I scream for help againand again, then collapse on the ground.
Crash!!!!!
My head hits the floor. I wake in surprise. Finding myself lying beside my bed in the dark, I slowly grasp the fact that my moment of terror was only a dream.
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Within my dream I was terrified, surrounded by armed opponents. Who were they?
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Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami talking to his own mind, shares some insights on what just happened. He says in effect:-
"My dear mind, as you proceed in life you are being attacked by lust and his dangerous companions [anger-greed-envy-madness and illusion] Like a gang of murderers waylay innocent pilgrims, they are strangling you with the strong and terrible ropes of distress, pain,and futile endeavours.
In this danger you must cry out helplessly for the mercy of the spotless devotees of Sri Krsna who is the killer of the demon Bakasura.Those great souls will immediately protect you from all danger."
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Srila Prabhupada gives us further insights:-
"In the Srimad Bhagavatam these six qualities [listed above] take birth as the six sons of Devaki. Formerly they were the sons of Marici who represents the mind.This indicates that these six qualities take birth from a dangerously impure mentality…
Temporarily covered by the influence of maya, the living entity serves his senses, which are represented by kama-krodha-lobha-moha mada-matsarya [lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy]…
Chanting the holy name of Krishna destroys these six mental enemies "
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Still curious, I want to find out more about these highwaymen who have now been identified as the sons of Devaki, and it seems, they are also the "sons of my own mind"!!!
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Srila Visvanantha Chakravati Thakur throws further illumination on this subject. Please listen:-
"While a devotee performs sadhana bhakti in the form of hearing and chanting about Krishna, alongside their practice they also enjoy the six material senses. Gradually however, the devotee laments:
"Oh Krishna! Because of my tendency towards worldly enjoyment I will fall into the dark well of material existence!!"
When a devotee shows such fear of material enjoyment, gradually the tendency to enjoy matter subsides.Then bhakti becomes predominant.
Thus fear of the material world removes the six sense objects [ the dreaded highwaymen] from the "womb" of bhakti. When the desire for sense objects is fully extinguished, Krishna Prem [love for Krishna] characterized by an intense desire for serving the Lord arises.
Then Sri Krishna Himself, who is the ocean of all wonderful qualities, appears within the devotees heart.
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Factually these enemies reside within us.They are the faults which prevent us from seeing everyone as Krishna's servant.And what's more, our uncontrolled mind is the worst enemy!
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Here are some final words of advice from Srila Narottam dasa Thakura:-
" Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya—all have their proper use.I will engage them in appropriate ways.Then by defeating these enemies I will feel great happiness and peacefully worship Govinda.
I will engage lust by offerings in Krishna’s service.
Anger I will direct towards those who are envious of devotees.
I will become greedy to hear about Krishna in the company of devotees.
Illusion may be there without achieving my worshipable Lord.
I will become mad when singing the glories of Krishna.
In this way I will engage these enemies in their proper places."
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Now I have shared with you some reflections on my terrible dream.The confidential meaning is that all of us should direct these urges away from their respective subjects and make them favorable for devotional service. This can only be done by practise and patience.
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