Stop worrying start living

Had another occasion of listening to discourse by the Head Priest of ISKCON, Juhu His Grace Swami Ramkrupa Prabhuji.

Addressing the congregation in his inimitable, humour laden but deeply effective style, he says that one of biggest evils of the modern days affecting mankind is worry. He uses beautiful context of the Internet acronym www by saying that a student worries about www i.e writing writing written ( test papers, assignments, projects) that converts into wealth wealth wealth in young age before becoming worry worry worry in the old age for all the time wasted! He adds that hurry ( young age), worry (middle age) and sorry (old age) can be overcome if we bring Hari (the lord) in our lives. Research has proven that 60% of the incidents we worry are not worth worrying and in real life only 8% events should cause us to worry!

He cites a beautiful example of a leaking boat, that requires someone to constantly drain water using a bucket as worry enters us in a similar fashion through a hole in our minds that needs to be plugged. Another example he gives is of a brick, which is very easy to lift for a few minutes, but becomes increasingly weighty and burdensome if held in hand for a prolonged period. Similarly, a small worry if clung on to for a long period can become a big mental problem affecting the very survival. He says that the main cause of worry is gap between the expectation and reality.

Thereafter, he also crisply provides the solution to get over the worries:

(1) Mind the mind. Our mind has the power to make a mountain out of molehill or vice versa as far as our problems and worries are concerned.

(2) Power of interaction, participation and non-intervention are three powerful tools as these help us clear our mind and thoughts.

(3) Chant the name of the lord. He cites some beautiful examples of how worry leads to depression and depression leads to suicidal tendencies. But all this could be overcome if the company of the lord is solicited.

Like always, he ends his discourse with the simple yet holy chant:

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

This discourse by Swamiji coming immediately aftermath the tragic suicide by CCD owner V G Siddhartha couldn’t have been timed more appropriately. I place on record thanks to the hosts Vidhi and Sushil and heartfelt gratitude to Swamiji for liberating the audience from worries and teaching them the art to live life!