12.06 – When we do what we can do, Krishna helps us to do what we can’t do

Spiritual life sometimes presents us with standards that seem impossible to meet. For example, we may feel that thinking of Krishna constantly is impractical.

Certainly, many spiritual standards are too lofty to be reached by our solitary efforts.

But our efforts don’t have to be solitary. We can have assistance, the best assistance, Krishna’s personal assistance. Because Krishna is omnipotent, he can enable us to do that which we could never have done otherwise.

Krishna wants to help us, but he doesn’t want to infringe on our free will. That’s why he doesn’t force his help on us. He waits till we show him unambiguously that we want his help.

How can we show that to him?

By trying our best to do the very activity for doing which we need his help.

We may not be able to think of Krishna always, but we can surely think of him sometimes. We may not be able to chant all our rounds attentively, but we can surely chant some mantras attentively. At the very least, we can definitely avoid consciously seeking distractions during our mantra meditation.

By thus taking baby steps towards Krishna, we show him our desire to come closer to him. And when Krishna sees the sincerity and the intensity of our desire, he not only empowers us to take giant leaps towards him, but also comes personally to carry us back home to him.

This, in fact, is the proclamation of the Bhagavad-gita (12.6-7), wherein Krishna declares that he becomes the swift deliverer of those who strive to fix their minds on him.

Meditating on this promise of Krishna can give us undying, unfading hope.