07.03 – Accepting that we are ordinary is extraordinary

We all like to think that we are special.

And Gita wisdom agrees that we indeed are. Spiritually, each one of us is a unique soul, a cherished child of Krishna who has a distinct place in his infinite heart.

Unfortunately however, we don’t know about our spiritual specialness. So we try to carve out a special niche for ourselves at the material level, somehow trying to make our mark on the world.

Materially, we all have our distinctive characteristics. But these are temporary, lasting at the most for a short lifetime. And materially we are all subject to the same set of failings and frustrations. We all are prone to worldly temptations – lust, anger, greed, envy, pride and illusion. We all are sentenced to old age, disease and death. Ultimately at the material level we all are ordinary. Just a tiny tottering speckle in the parade of material life, where billions like us have preceded us and billions like us will succeed us.

Accepting that we are ordinary is an extraordinary step forward in our spiritual evolution.

Extraordinary because so few people take this step; most people are so caught up in the hope of doing something special at the material level that only one among thousands explores the spiritual level, as the Bhagavad-gita (07.03) indicates.

And extraordinary also because it starts the journey that enables us to reclaim our spiritual specialness. When we use whatever material assets we have, be they ordinary or extraordinary, in the devotional service of Krishna, we purify our hearts and help bring out the real person – the spiritual me – who lies buried within us. The real me who relishes the supreme joy in loving and serving Krishna, and enables others to relish that joy too.

That is life’s most extraordinary achievement.

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Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.