Obstacles Bhakti - Kunjeshwari Home

Obstacles in Bhakti
Meaning- "O Daityas! All Creation is the expansion of Vishnu. Therefore, we
must consider everybody as our own. This sort of perception is ‘God
adoration’.”
- (Vishnu Puran)
Having embarked in bhajan, if we are not aware that “God exists in every
element.” we shall mete out differential treatment to others. This will lead to
envy and violence. We shall lose concentration in bhajan. When we envy
someone we envy Sri Bhagavân; for is not everyone within Him? And is He
not within all? This means we are worshiping and envying the same Person!
Sriman-Mahaprabhu has said –
“Forget hurting a Vaishnav, the lowly man who hurts any being, adores
Vishnu and tortures His subject, His worship is in vain and he eventually dies
miserably. He is not aware that Vishnu exists in every element. This means,
he thinks Vishnu is a material being! It is as if he massages a Brahmin’s feet
with one hand and bangs a stone on his head with the other one.”
– (Sri Chaitanya Bhâgabat)
So, let us realize that He exists in every element. If we do not respect each
and every soul, we are hurting Him Whom we are worshiping. This sort of
bhajan is futile. Srimad-Bhâgavatam too says –
“I dwell in every being as the Witness. The one who ignores Me, thus
situated (in all beings), and worships Me in various forms such as Deity, is
embarrassing. If you ignore Me –as situated in all elements - the Witness and
Controller of every being – and worship Me in various forms such as Deity,
you are only pouring ghee 1 in ashes. If you disregard living beings and
worship Me, albeit with many ingredients, I am not pleased. So it is your
duty to be aware that I am present in all elements, be impartial and friendly
to all, and adore everyone with hospitability and respect.”
This does not mean that we should not worship Deity. Of course, we must
worship Deity, but at the same time, we must be aware that He is present in
all elements. We should love and respect every being. Otherwise, our pujâ 2 is
‘lost labor’.
So now, you see, we started out to love God, and we are committing a
grave mistake right at the onset. It is indeed unfortunate! I love God -
yet I envy and hate the ones in whom He resides! Does this not imply that I
have not succeeded in loving Him? If someone asks us, “How much does this
mango weigh?” - shall we weigh it after discarding its seed and peel?
Similarly, whenever we consider God, we have to consider all living beings
along with Him.
1 Clarified butter
2 Honor, worship, respect, revere, venerate, pay homage, adore –
(Pancharâtra)
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