Are Intolerance and Nervousness affecting devotion? Great Tips!
Two male devotees (Name hidden) with the similar problem:
(1) hare krsna prabhuji. my mind has led me to very awkward situation. i m very much intolerant. even when small things happens like someone says something to me jokingly which i don’t like, then my mind starts to trouble me. it says to me that in future he will say even more than that. its necessary to fight or say something in return to him. in this way it troubles me a lot and then i m not able to chant japa properly, to eat and remain in complete anxiety. please help me bcoz this is troubling me a lot.
(2) Hare krishna……..due to family i sometime become very nervous n downfall in spiritual life to maintain but sometime i try my best but i complete failed to follow the rules………pls guide me.
REPLY:
Intolerance and Nervousness affecting devotion is the effect of sensitivity.
Sensitivity comes because of two reasons:
(i) Oscillation between material and spiritual aspirations may cause intolerance and nervousness affecting devotion.
(ii) The MIND SETTING with a particular expectation of results. You will expect a particular result only. Only positive results. You like to be always perfect and expect others also perfect.
Practically it is not possible. No two men can be alike. Everyone is unique in thoughts and actions.
(Are Brahma, Vishnu and Siva also affected by anger and emotions? READ HERE!)
So, if you expect the similar approach like you from all others, you will have to live only with disappointments.
Then what to do?
First recognize that all the people have different strengths and weaknesses. Accept others along with their weaknesses. Expect that others may tend to deceive you if they get an opportunity. Thus, understand the nature of people.
The Scriptures (Eg.: CC Adi 2-82) say that every conditioned soul (People) has a TENDENCY TO CHEAT. This is one of the defects of conditioned souls. So, if you expect that no one should cheat you, that means you have not understood this material world.
So, remember: PEOPLE HAVE THE TENDENCY TO CHEAT.
(Reasons for even experienced devotees getting affected by anger! READ HERE!)
So, if anyone cheats you (or) upsets you (or) speaks harsh words (or) misunderstands you (or) deserts you, never feel for that. Because, this is the universal trend.
I usually advice that one should not expect even his married life should be free from issues. There will be some issues in everyone’s life. No one is exempted. Even if you walk on the pedestrian path following the rules, if a drunk driver is driving a vehicle, he may even cross the lines and cause accident in the pedestrians path. So, the nature of material world is that IT IS RISKY. There will be risks everywhere you go.
Can we go out of this world till we die?
No.
(Is showing anger on Krishna right or offensive? READ HERE!)
So, we have to live here. Even if we prepare ourselves to go to Goloka, we can go only after leaving this present body.
So, we are destined to live here WITH the NEGATIVES.
So, we have to learn to accept negatives.
Only the negatives teach us lessons in life.
If there are no negatives, we will never attain maturity.
By facing negatives, you can become a fully matured person and thereafter you can face any kind of problems in life.
Another aspect is that when we have expectations, we will have disappointments and hence we will have tension, nervousness, anger, etc.
(Remedy for insulting Krishna out of frustration for silly reasons! READ HERE!)
So, simple solution for this is to live without expectations.
How to live without expectations?
By trusting Krishna and by taking all the incidents as the blessing from the Lord. Even negative happenings must be welcomed and tolerated considering that they happen to clear your karma.
If you live with this mindset, ie, expecting negatives also in life, these incidents will not disturb you and you will never get a chance to show your anger and you will live peacefully.
If you do chanting and other sadhanas with this matured mindset, you can perform them comfortably. So, first understand the reality of this world.
Hope now you are able to deal with the Intolerance and Nervousness affecting devotion.
(10 TIPS TO CONTROL ANGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE DEVOTEES! READ HERE!)