13.23 – Are we conscious that Krishna is conscious of us?

We express love for a person by being mindful of that person. By being conscious of that person as we go about our various duties in life. And our love rises to a higher level when we come to know that it is reciprocated, that our beloved is also conscious of us.

The same applies to our love for Krishna. By being conscious of him always or at least as much as possible, we express our love for him. However, the world with all its temptations and tribulations constantly intrudes and competes for our attention. Struggling amidst all such worldly distractions to stay conscious of Krishna can be tiring and disheartening.

We can energize and hearten ourselves by contemplating how Krishna always reciprocates our love, no matter how faltering and feeble it may be. We may fail to be conscious of him, but he never fails to be conscious of us.

The Bhagavad-gita (13.23) indicates that Krishna is present in our heart and he lovingly observes us from that vantage point. The thought that Krishna observes everything – even our slips and falls in our moral standards – can be unnerving, even frightening. But it doesn’t have to be.

Krishna is present in our heart not to judge us, but to help us. He can help us by protecting us. Protecting us most of all from ourselves, from succumbing to our lower selves. The awareness that Krishna is watching and waiting to help us if we just call out his help can not only give us greater impetus to persevere in our struggles but it can also give us the ability to access his strength and win the war for our heart. Win the war for his sake and for the sake of our own eternal well being.

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Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer, who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul.