I’ve been noticing during my morning walks that there is more fog in the mornings than usual. The thick fog has not appeared yet, but I suspect it will soon come.
During the first part of my morning walks I am facing west. When the sun rises, therefore, it is on my back side. But later, as the sun continues to rise, I am facing the sun.
I was walking along Murari Gupta Road this morning. Just past the Mayapura Institute Campus, looking to my right I became fascinated with the rays of the sun passing through the trees. Looking closely at the droplets of fog, it almost seemed that I was witnessing the sun’s ability to dissipate the droplets of fog by the strength of its rays.
I immediately began contemplating the analogy Sukadeva Goswami gives in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.15. There he says that a devotee can uproot the weeds of sinful desires by discharging pure devotional service just as the sun dissipates the fog by its rays.
I often repeat Srila Prabhupada’s statements about the benefits of analogies. By personally seeing, or witnessing, something within our realm of experience, an analogy can help us to better understand something which may not be so easily perceived by one’s own mind and/or senses.
I decided to take out my mobile phone to take a few photos of what I was seeing in order to help me remember the power of Krsna’s holy names. When I look within, it may not be so apparent, but imperceptibly, by continuing to chant Krsna’s pure names, the fog of ignorance is gradually becoming removed.
namera ye cit svarupa taha nahi jane |
se ajnana kujjhatika andhakara ane (8)One who does not know the true spiritual nature of the Holy Name is plunged into darkness, as though blanketed by a thick fog.
nama-surya svalpa-kale prabala haiya |
anartha-kujjhatika dena tadaiya (19)As the sun of the Holy Name’s rays grow stronger and stronger, they quickly drive the fog of anarthas away. (HNC – Chapter 3)
Remembering Srila Prabhupada’s words gives me this kind of hope.
(…) it is recommended here, kecit kevalaya bhaktya SB 6.1.15. Somebody, without undergoing so much austerities, penances and practice in yoga for controlling mind, the senses… It is not possible for the time being, in this age. People are so fallen that they cannot take to these processes. But they can take to this bhakti process. That is the easiest. Kecit kevalaya bhaktya vasudeva-parayanah (SB 6.1.15). Bhaktya means to become devotee of Vasudeva, Krsna. Vasudeva-parayanah, agham dhunvanti. Agham means all sinful reaction of life. Not only one life. Life after life we have done.
So that can be solved in this human form of life simply by taking to this Krsna consciousness. Agham dhunvanti kartsnyena. In toto, wholesale, kartsnyena, wholesale. How? Niharam ivam bhaskarah. Just like the whole atmosphere is surcharged with fog; nobody can see. The other day we were going from Calcutta to Mayapur, and so many accidents took place. Yes, actually we could not see even five feet away what is there. And two sides motors are running. Nobody could see. There were so many accidents. Even for few hours’ fog, there were hundreds of accidents. Just see. So this is fog. In the sea also… I have got experience when I was coming from India to New York. When there was fog in the sea, then immediately ship would stop and horn, “Onh, onh, onh,” Because nobody can see where is another ship. There may be collision there. Similarly, it is dangerous to fly also. The fog is so dangerous.
Nowadays people are engaged in the sky, in the water, in the land. Everywhere they have got engagement. But as soon as there is fog, everything is calamity, everything is dangerous. So here this same example is that. When there is fog, it is very difficult to move. But the fog can be immediately moved if there is sunrise. Sunrise is there. If this temperature of the sun becomes little more, then immediately fog is dissipated. Niharam iva bhaskarah.
Hare Krsna