Let Go and Let God...Punch You In the Face

 

“Everyone is bound up by the resultant action of his karma. It cannot be changed. So sastra says don’t try to change your karma-phala. Better utilize that energy for becoming advanced in Krishna Consciousness. You cannot change your destiny. That is not possible. “Then shall I not endeavor for improvement of my economic condition?” No! Why? Because destiny, automatically you have your destiny, you will get it. “How shall I get it?” Suppose if you are put into some unwanted circumstances, you do not want it. You are forced to accept it. Similarly, as a distressed condition comes upon you without your wanting, the position of happiness will also come to you, even if you don’t try for it.”

- Srila Prabhupada (conversation with Gurudas – Vrindavan, India, Feb. 6^th, 1974)

It seems that every time I listen to an audio recording of Srila Prabhupada he is saying the above statement is various ways. Is it Paramatma/Sri Guru (Krishna in my heart) trying to tell me something? Undoubtedly.

It’s a very interesting point to reflect upon that we cannot change our destiny. Our destiny is “fixed up” (as Srila Prabhupada has said elsewhere on this topic). We are already given a certain quota of happiness and distress based on our previous karmic reactions. This is why sometimes we may endeavor so hard to get some kind of happiness and yet no matter the intensity of our effort it never comes to us. We may think if we endeavor to obtain some material possession, like a piece of clothing or a collectible that we will be happy in the end. Usually what ends up happening though is that after getting the object of our desire, we do not experience the kind of happiness we had hoped for.

Happiness and distress are all about our karma. We cannot experience happiness unless it comes as a result of our previous karma. We also do not experience misery and distress unless it is also a result of previous karma.

When you really ponder this it makes you wonder, “Well then should I just not bother trying to avoid misery and pursuing happiness?” The answer here, from Srila Prabhupada and the satras, would be, “Do not bother!” We may wonder then, “Won’t this make a bunch of lazy, unmotivated people sitting around doing nothing?” The point is that we don’t stop all activities. Instead we perform activities that further advance us along on the path of devotional service. That’s why Srila Prabhupada said above that we should use our energy for becoming Krishna Conscious. Don’t bother trying to be materially happy here, because it’s a waste of time. A) You can’t change your destiny and B) everything here is temporary. The pursuit of material happiness is futile on both counts.

I am far from actually realizing this knowledge. I have terrible obsessive compulsive behaviors that stem from my fear and anxiety of experiencing migraine headaches. I think that if I follow certain patterns in my daily routines that I will somehow circumvent and avoid migraine attacks. It’s completely irrational and I know it is. Logically I know that I cannot control what is happening to me by repeating the same daily routines, but emotionally it’s hard to stop.

I imagine what it would be like if I lived in this detached, care-free, anxiety-less world where I just accepted whatever happiness and distress came on their own accord. It would definitely allow my mind and consciousness to be more focused on Krishna. Somehow I have to let me fears and anxieties go. They are an impediment to my developing genuine, transcendental consciousness.

This body I am currently in is already destined to experience a certain amount of pains and pleasures. I should stop trying to avoid the pain (and being in anxiety about when it may come) and stop trying to pursue happiness in the things of this world. The power of the Holy Name and remembering Krishna and my true, spiritual, eternal identity can help me get to that place. It’s the only process that will work in this kali-yuga.

There comes a point in our life when we truly have to live the saying “let go and let God”.