Hanuman s journey through the cave – Persevering through life s obstacles – Hindi

Hare Krishna. Today, I will discuss, based on the Ramayana, how adversities in our lives can actually present opportunities. How to see adversities positively. The challenges we face in life always have a purpose. Whenever we encounter a situation, at some point in everyone’s life, problems arise. And in reality, we don’t hate problems as much as we hate meaningless problems.

For example, imagine you are walking on a path, and a thorn pricks your foot. You feel angry, questioning why the thorn was there or why you didn’t pay attention. On the other hand, consider going to a hospital where a doctor gives you an injection. Here, too, you feel pain, but the context is different. When a thorn pricks us, it seems meaningless, but when the injection hurts, we know it has a purpose. That’s why not only do we accept the injection, but we even pay the doctor who gives it to us.

Nobody likes pain, but if the pain has a meaning or purpose, we are willing to accept it. Similarly, the problems in our lives are easier to face when we understand their purpose.

In the Ramayana, when Lord Ram sent the Vanar (monkey) messengers on a mission to find Sita, they encountered numerous challenges. In life, many of our problems are beyond our control. For example, while driving here this morning, there was a lot of traffic, which caused delays. But what can we do about traffic? It’s beyond our control. Similarly, some challenges in life are beyond our influence.

The Ramayana teaches us that even in such situations, if we see a higher purpose or learn something from the challenges, we can handle them better.

Now, as mentioned in the Ramayana, the term “Vanar Doot Prashak Ram” refers to the messengers of Lord Ram. “Prashak” means “to send.” So, when I recite this name, please repeat it after me:

Vanar Doot Prashak Ram, Doot Prashak Ram.

Thus, when Lord Ram sent the Vanar messengers, they faced difficulties on their journey, much like the challenges we face in our lives.

But imagine there are two paths, and we choose one thinking it will have less traffic. If that very path ends up being more congested, what happens then? In such a case, we hold ourselves responsible for the problem, and this leads to even more frustration.

So, there are two types of problems: some are beyond our control, and others arise due to our own wrong decisions. When faced with problems, what do we do?

Now, as we were coming through traffic, the Vanaras (monkey warriors) were walking through vast areas, traveling in all directions from Kishkindha to search for Sita. It was known that Ravana had taken Sita to the south, so the main search party headed in that direction.

The group going south was led by Angad, and it included Hanuman and Jambavan as the key members. Although Jambavan was much older and Hanuman was highly experienced, Angad, being a young prince and the son of Bali, was made the leader.

As they traveled south, they kept searching for a long time but found no clue of Sita. They wandered into dense forests and barren regions where there was neither food nor water. Exhausted and struggling, they reached a point where they saw a mountain in the distance. They debated whether to continue beyond the mountain or to stop there.

Sugriva had given them a strict instruction: return within a month, whether they succeeded or not. Searching for Sita could take a lifetime, but they had been given a time limit. They were determined to give their best efforts, but as the end of the month approached, they were faced with hunger and thirst.

At this critical moment, they noticed birds flying out of a cave on the mountain, and the feathers of these birds were wet. This led them to believe there might be water inside the cave. They decided to investigate.

The cave was pitch dark, and nothing was visible. They discussed how to proceed safely. Finally, they came up with a plan: each Vanara would hold onto the next one, forming a chain, and they would all enter the cave together. Leading the group was Hanuman, who took the first step into the darkness.

As they continued to move forward through the cave, they ventured deeper and deeper, surrounded only by darkness. Often, when we embark on a path or make a decision, we set out with conviction, but when the desired outcome doesn’t materialize, doubts creep in. We begin questioning ourselves: “Should I continue? Should I have chosen differently?”

Our mind keeps second-guessing us. Thoughts arise like, “Maybe I shouldn’t have done this.” Some people are so confused that they joke, “I was confused earlier, but now I’m not sure if I’m still confused or not.”

This reflects how, even in our confusion, we can become confused. The mind can be likened to a dark cave. For instance, some people resolve, “I will not get angry anymore.” But when anger arises, they respond defensively: “I’m not angry!” Then they get angry about the fact that they’re angry.

Similarly, some resolve, “I won’t worry anymore. I will trust in God and let go of anxiety.” Yet, when worry returns, they begin to worry about their worrying: “Why am I anxious? Does this mean I don’t have faith in God?”

Our mind is like this—a maze or even a black hole, as modern science might describe it. It traps us in cycles of thoughts, making it hard to discern what is inside, what is outside, or even where we stand.

As the Vanaras debated whether to go deeper into the cave, Hanuman kept moving forward. He had unwavering determination. They hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for a long time, and fatigue weighed heavily on them. Despite this, they resolved to keep going.

Hanuman, leading the group, silently prayed to Lord Ram and sought guidance, saying, “Lord, we are here in Your service. Please guide us. Show us the right path.”

In the Ramayana, it is said that progress is often accompanied by obstacles, but these obstacles are destroyed through devotion and faith in Lord Ram. It is through His grace that even the greatest challenges can be overcome.

This is beautifully encapsulated in the chant:
“Tadanshak Rama, Nadwansak Rama.”
This means: the one who destroys obstacles is Lord Ram. Their journey, guided by this faith, continued despite all challenges.

As they kept moving forward, there was only darkness, endless darkness. Sometimes in life, we also face moments like this, where it feels like there is no light, no hope, no way out. It seems as though the situation is so overwhelming that nothing can be done. Some of you might have experienced such moments in your lives—times when you felt utterly helpless, as though everything was unbearable, and you could do nothing to change it.

Has anyone here ever felt this way? Perhaps not everyone, but for those who haven’t raised their hands, such moments may come someday. I don’t wish it upon anyone, but this is the nature of material life. We all face challenges, and while some problems seem manageable, there are times when we feel utterly powerless. During such times, hopelessness takes over, and we lose the will to act.

I have a friend in America who works as a mental health counselor, particularly focusing on suicide prevention. He told me about a young girl who came to him and said, “Last night, I was about to end my life.” She was deeply troubled, and her situation was so dire that she saw no other option.

When someone is in such a state, it’s important to tread very carefully. Even in spiritual practices, mental struggles persist. For instance, when devotees meet each other, they humbly offer greetings like, “Please accept my humble obeisances.” But sometimes, when someone is deeply depressed, their despair can even come through in their words. My friend shared an incident where a devotee once wrote to another, saying, “Please accept my final obeisances.”

This shows how deeply sadness can impact someone. It’s essential to handle such situations with utmost care and compassion.

When my friend spoke to the young girl, he gently asked her, “You were about to end your life last night. What stopped you?”

Her answer was profound, and it’s something that teaches us all a lesson.

Because even in the darkest times, there might still be a reason to live, a spark of hope. If that reason can be nurtured and encouraged, it can bring light back into someone’s life. My friend told me that the girl responded, “I was too depressed to commit suicide.” She was so drained and overwhelmed that she didn’t even have the energy or will to go through with it.

This illustrates how the mind works—it can entangle us so deeply that we feel completely trapped. In such moments, when it feels like we can do absolutely nothing, we need to challenge our own minds. How do we challenge it? By asking ourselves, “Is everything in my life truly so bad that I can do nothing? If I can’t make the situation better, can I make it worse?”

This question shifts our perspective. Of course, the answer is, “Yes, I can make things worse.” Even in the worst situations, we still have the power to make poor choices and worsen our condition. For example, imagine someone has a fractured leg. They might feel helpless because they had many plans, but now the doctor has ordered them to stay in bed for six weeks. Yet, while lying in bed, they could still make the situation worse—they could pick up a hammer and fracture their other leg!

This thought experiment has a purpose: it shows us that if we have the ability to worsen a bad situation, we also have the ability to make it better. We are not as powerless as we think. And if we take shelter in God, even if we cannot immediately change our circumstances, we can still endure them with strength and hope.

So what should we do when facing such challenging situations? Don’t think too far ahead. For instance, if a family member is diagnosed with a serious illness, or you lose your job, or a close relationship is falling apart, it’s easy to worry about what life will look like five or ten years from now. But that’s not the time to think so far ahead. There are too many uncertainties and variables in the future.

Instead, focus on the present moment. Take one step at a time. Narrow your focus to what you can control right now. It’s like being handed a large coconut or a watermelon and being told to eat it whole. You can’t! What do you do instead? You break it into smaller pieces.

In the same way, when life hands you overwhelming challenges, break them down into smaller, manageable steps. Take one small action at a time, and gradually, you’ll find the strength to move forward.

So, when we face difficult situations, what should we do? The question to ask ourselves is: “Can I perform at my best for just one day?” And if even one day feels overwhelming, break it down further: “Can I perform at my best for the next one hour?”

If we hold this thought, we can say, “I can do it for one hour.” Even if I am feeling angry, frustrated, depressed, or anxious, I can still try to focus and work well for just one hour. Whether it’s interacting with someone or completing a task, I can give my best for one hour.

What happens then? By performing well for that one hour, we’ve faced the situation for that duration. Afterward, we can express gratitude to God, saying, “Thank You, I managed to live through this one hour without worsening anything.” This gives us encouragement to keep going: “I did it for one hour, now I can do it for another hour.”

This is what happens in life too. For example, when the Vanaras (monkeys) were walking through darkness, they didn’t think about how vast the darkness was or how long it would take to reach the end. They simply took one step at a time, then another, and another.

The darkness in our lives is like a tunnel. It is not like a dark prison where we are permanently trapped. No bad time lasts forever. If we keep moving one step at a time, eventually, we’ll come out of that tunnel. It takes time, but during difficult circumstances, it’s important not to think too far ahead.

Just take one step forward, and then another. As the Bhagavad Gita teaches, when situations become overwhelming, we must endure them with patience. And how do we endure? Through a step-by-step approach. For one hour, for one day, ask yourself: “Can I endure this situation? Can I work well for this time?”

If we follow this approach, what happens? Just like the Vanaras kept moving forward, step by step, eventually, they began to see light. The dark times in our life are not a destination, they are a tunnel. It’s not a dark prison; it’s a passage through which we can move forward.

At times, some of the Vanaras said, “No, we can’t go any further. We’ve had enough; let’s go back.” But Hanuman Ji encouraged them, saying, “No, we’ve come this far. Keep going, step by step.”

And eventually, they saw light and realized it was coming from a beautiful palace inside the cave. There were gardens, flowers, fruits, and a grand palace awaiting them.

As for the Vanaras, well, they are Vanaras after all! The word Vanara has several meanings. One meaning is Van-Nara—humans who live in the forest. Another interpretation is Vaa-Nara, meaning “Are they humans?” because they look somewhat like humans but aren’t fully human. So, they’re not exactly monkeys.

This is a different species that combines certain human traits, some qualities of monkeys, and some qualities of apes. People who see these beings often wonder, “Are they really monkeys or humans?” That is why they are called Vanara. These Vanaras displayed behaviors similar to those of monkeys. For example, upon seeing fruits, they immediately exclaimed, “Let’s grab them and eat right away!” Their instinct was to consume without hesitation.

This behavior mirrors our own inclination to indulge immediately whenever pleasure is presented before us. We want it now. Once, two years ago, I was in the UK giving a lecture on Science and Spirituality at Cambridge University. While there, I visited the very tree under which Sir Isaac Newton famously sat, and legend has it that an apple fell—some say it hit him on the head. The tree is still preserved to this day and is considered a shrine by scientists who come there for inspiration.

Many people had seen apples fall before Newton, but he thought differently. Instead of simply eating the fruit or ignoring it, he asked, “Why did this apple fall?” From that simple observation, he developed the laws of gravity. Now, if a monkey had been in Newton’s place, it would have eaten the fruit, and the story would have ended there. But humans have a unique ability to delay immediate gratification for the sake of future progress.

This ability to trade the present for the future is one of the most remarkable traits of humanity. For instance, when students choose to focus on their studies instead of indulging in pleasures during their youth, they are sacrificing the present to secure a brighter future. Animals cannot make such sacrifices. Imagine a cat seeing a mouse on a day of fasting—will it think, “Oh, it’s a fasting day, I should not eat”? No, it won’t.

This capacity for self-restraint and planning is essential not only for material success but also for spiritual growth. We often have the opportunity to indulge in immediate pleasures, but when we choose to restrain ourselves, we pave the way for higher progress.

Returning to the story, when the Vanaras saw the abundance of fruits in the cave, they were ready to pounce and eat them. However, Hanuman Ji intervened, saying, “Stop! We must first find out whose place this is. We cannot simply eat without understanding where we are.” As they explored, they noticed a radiant figure and approached respectfully. It was a yogini named Swayamprabha.

Hanuman Ji, with great humility, asked her who she was, what she was doing in the cave, and how this magnificent palace came to be. Swayamprabha explained that the palace had been built by Mayasura, a brilliant architect of the asuras. Indra, the king of gods, had destroyed the palace in a battle, but Swayamprabha remained as its caretaker and devoted herself to penance.

The Vanaras were skeptical at first, wondering how one woman could protect such a grand palace. But Hanuman Ji realized that her spiritual powers were immense. He respectfully explained their mission to find Sita Mata and asked for food and water. Pleased by their humility, Swayamprabha granted them permission to eat and drink.

The Vanaras, tired and hungry, became jubilant and satisfied after their meal. Their physical strength was restored, and with it, their mental clarity. This is a reminder of the close connection between the body and mind—when physical needs are met, mental tranquility often follows.

Once refreshed, Hanuman Ji asked Swayamprabha how they could exit the cave, as it was designed in such a way that no one could leave once inside. Swayamprabha revealed that Indra had created this system to prevent anyone from misusing the palace’s resources. However, she assured them that she could guide them out using her divine powers, but only if they trusted her and kept their eyes closed. The Vanaras complied, and within moments, Swayamprabha used her powers to lead them out of the cave to the open skies, where they could hear the ocean waves.

This part of the Ramayana is not just historical but symbolic. The dark cave represents the material world, filled with illusions and attachments. The Upanishads describe two types of darkness: the first is where we are aware of our ignorance, and the second is where we are deluded into believing illusions as reality.

This story teaches us to rely on wisdom, humility, and self-restraint when navigating through the “darkness” of life, so we can move toward the “light” of higher truths. Just as Swayamprabha guided the Vanaras out of the cave, spiritual wisdom can guide us out of the illusions of the material world toward liberation.

When the light next to you goes off and another light turns on, where does it go? As you move forward, you see that all the lights around you are off, and the light in front is shining ahead. This means your attention is directed towards it. People go to the theater to watch movies because they want to enjoy the illusion without any distraction.

To experience this illusion of attachment, no person is needed; there should be no distractions. If only one light goes off and everything is dark, people would start wondering, “What’s happening? I need to go somewhere; where is the light, where can I go?” But when one light goes off and another light turns on, they sit for three hours in one place, wondering what happened.

In that situation, we may feel like we are in darkness, but it doesn’t feel like true darkness because we see something, and what we see is not the truth; it’s just an illusion. And if someone doesn’t understand the technique or technology behind it, they may perceive that illusion as truth.

In India, around 1950, the first movie based on the Ramayana was made. When the audience saw Lord Ram on the screen for the first time, they all got up from their seats and bowed to him. The culture at that time was such that people believed it was real, and they paid their respects to Ram. This wasn’t just in 1950, but even in the 1980s, when the Ramayana series was shown on television, people would often keep plates with them for performing the Aarti as soon as Lord Ram appeared.

So, what is happening here? The emotion of seeing Ram’s image and bowing to him reflects that people felt it was real, but if someone doesn’t know the technology behind it, they may mistake that illusion for reality. In the same way, in this material world, attachment can often make us believe in illusions as truth.

We are in darkness, we don’t know who we are, where we are going, or what the purpose of our life is. But we remain in darkness, and what we have is an artificial light, a material light.

We live in this material darkness, believing that we need to do this or that, go here or there. However, sometimes in our lives, real darkness strikes, and we no longer know what to do. This is similar to what happens in a movie like “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.” When there’s sorrow, it feels like true darkness, and then we must move forward. Eventually, happiness comes, and we continue moving forward.

Just like the monkeys in the Ramayana, when good things come, they pass away, and we think that a big problem has arrived. However, we realize that the problem is temporary, and we have to keep moving forward one step at a time. Eventually, the darkness will end. But sometimes when we go through a drought in life, that too can be a problem.

How can this be a problem? In two ways: One is when something is dried up in front of us, and we see something that could bring pleasure, we get so tempted that we forget right and wrong and chase after it. For example, when the monkeys saw the fruit, they immediately wanted to jump and eat it, but Hanuman Ji told them, “No, we must seek permission before eating it.”

In the material world, when we desire pleasure or happiness, we must acquire it according to dharma (righteousness). If we forget dharma and focus only on growth for the sake of growth, it becomes harmful, like cancer. Cancer, too, is growth but it is excessive and uncontrollable, and it destroys everything around it. Similarly, our desire for happiness, wealth, and position in society is not wrong, but if we forget dharma in this pursuit, it becomes destructive.

Lord Krishna says that desires are not bad in themselves, but they should be pursued in accordance with dharma. Hanuman Ji followed dharma by seeking permission before eating the fruit, and in the same way, we must follow dharma in everything we do.

When the monkeys were told they could not go outside, some might have thought, “Why go outside? There’s everything here, we can enjoy it here.” Sometimes in life, we feel content with what we have, but we must remember that the happiness of this material world is temporary. Just like being in an ocean, the calmness of the sea doesn’t last forever, waves and storms will come. So, while peace is important, we shouldn’t settle in it and forget that we need to move beyond this material world.

So, when the monkeys were told they could not go outside, they didn’t think to go outside because they were content with what was here. This is how we sometimes get lost in the pleasures of this world, forgetting the ultimate purpose of our life.

What is happening in today’s society? People are being tempted in many different ways. Nowadays, there is TV. There can be hundreds of channels on TV, but even with hundreds of channels, no one channel will give you lasting happiness.

You may get some entertainment, but after some time, you will get bored. We all want happiness, but as we mentioned at the beginning, we want meaningful happiness, not meaningless suffering, and we do not want meaningless happiness either. What does it mean to not want meaningless happiness? For example, if someone tells you that from tomorrow, you will have no financial responsibilities, no family obligations, and from morning to night, you can just sit and watch comedy on TV all day long, will we be happy?

Fine, one or two hours, okay, one day, fine. But will you feel that you’re achieving anything in life? Do we need to do something in life?

We want happiness, but what we need is meaningful happiness. Imagine watching comedy – is that real happiness? There are small children who sometimes come to a relative’s house, and to entertain them, we might tickle them. When we tickle them, they start laughing.

But is laughing from being tickled real happiness?

It’s a kind of happiness, but if that were the ultimate happiness, scientists could invent a machine that tickles us forever, and then we would be happy. Would anyone want that? No, that’s meaningless happiness.

So, we need meaningful happiness. What was the purpose of the monkeys in the Ramayana? Their purpose was to serve Lord Ram, and that’s why they didn’t get trapped in worldly pleasures. In the material world, even happiness can become a problem, because happiness can make us forget our values or even our spiritual lessons.

If we find happiness in life, we should acknowledge it as a blessing from God and continue progressing toward God. Just like Hanuman moved forward from the dark cave and the palace, and always served Lord Ram, we too should move forward in our lives, regardless of whether the circumstances are good or bad, and keep progressing toward God.

The ultimate purpose of life, the supreme goal, is that we are eternal souls, and God is the eternal supreme soul. When there is love, affection, and devotion between the two, that relationship is eternal, and in that relationship, eternal bliss exists. Through that connection, we can attain the eternal world, just as Hanuman ji, in his service, progressed.

Similarly, we also have the strength to sacrifice the present for the future, and with this strength, we can make our future bright. This sacrifice becomes even more meaningful when we do it in the spirit of spiritual progress, and then after enjoying the worldly pleasures, we can move toward the divine.

The monkeys did not indulge in pleasures when they saw fruits in the cave; instead, they asked for permission to take them. This is how we should approach the material world—enjoy it according to dharma, not merely for selfish reasons.

In life, when we face challenges, we need to keep moving forward one step at a time. Life may seem like a dark cave at times, but even when we encounter difficulties, we should keep progressing. The darkness is temporary, and we can reach the light if we keep moving forward, just like Hanuman reached the light after crossing the dark cave.

In life, when we face challenges, it’s essential to keep moving forward, step by step. If we remain focused on our values and our purpose, we will overcome difficulties. Like Hanuman did, we should keep our devotion to God at the forefront and face challenges with faith that God will guide us through.

Thank you. Hare Krishna.

“I like to see beautiful views. So, in devotion, seeing the beautiful form of God is also part of it. We can see that the things we like and the things in devotion have some coordination, they are related. So, doing those things will be comparatively easier for us. By doing those things, we can push our minds towards God more easily and bring about the changes needed in the mind.

For example, after wearing a Tulsi mala, we might feel we shouldn’t speak lies or say anything bad about others, but we may fear that we will fail and might feel like we shouldn’t wear the Tulsi mala at all. But fear is not a bad thing. If something harmful might happen, and we fear it, that is healthy fear. Fear of something bad happening is a good kind of fear. But if that fear stops us from doing something necessary, it is not a good thing.

What can we do in this case? We need to understand the purpose of the rules and standards given in the scriptures. Their purpose is to inspire us to rise and not discourage us. God resides in everyone’s heart, and God sees our intentions. If we have a pure intention but sometimes due to circumstances or past tendencies, we make mistakes, God doesn’t punish us for them. God sees our intentions, just like Sugriva didn’t intend to not follow Lord Ram’s instructions. But after living in the palace for a long time, he got distracted by luxury, and after a while, he forgot. Lord Ram didn’t punish him right away. He reminded him and gave him a chance to correct himself.

Sometimes, due to circumstances or the state of mind, we might get distracted from doing the right thing. In such situations, we need to stay in good company. Sugriva was reminded by Tara and Hanuman to stay focused. If we keep good association, even if we go off track, we will be reminded of the right path and come back to it.

We should not focus too much on what we should avoid but on what we should do. If we focus on doing the right thing, the negative things will naturally fade away. We need to focus on what is good and positive. Just like a ship’s anchor keeps it in place even when waves try to push it, our connection with God, through prayer and good deeds, will keep us safe from distractions and guide us in the right direction.

When we take shelter in God, He helps us in our progress. Just as a mother runs to catch her child when they are about to fall while learning to walk, God doesn’t enjoy punishing us when we make mistakes. His purpose is to lift us up when we fall and help us get back on the right path.

So, if we engage in positive activities with the right mindset, over time, the wrong habits will fade away. The key is to stay focused on God and keep progressing positively in our spiritual journey.

In modern life, many people confuse real life with the life shown in movies or entertainment. People sometimes expect real life to be the same as what they see in films. This creates unrealistic expectations, especially in relationships. We may expect things from our relationships that are impossible to fulfill. I have a friend who is a marriage counselor in America. He was telling me that there are two types of couples he has seen.”

This is the continuation of the story or text, and it appears to focus on understanding spiritual life, relationships, and how we should engage in positive, purposeful actions aligned with God’s will.

What happens is that when two people are living together, disagreements are inevitable. But in today’s life, due to imagination, expectations can rise. And when expectations are not met, we begin to question: “What’s the point of this relationship? Why should we continue? What should I do about this?”

However, it’s not like that. All of us have shortcomings in our lives. We are all moving forward with our imperfections. So, having expectations is not wrong, but being attached to them is. What’s the difference? In any relationship, if I do something for you, it’s natural to expect something in return.

For example, if parents are giving good education and facilities to their children, they naturally expect that the children will study well and lead a good career. But sometimes, there may be other reasons why a child doesn’t do as expected. Parents’ expectations are natural, but they shouldn’t be attached to the fulfillment of those expectations.

What if the other person is not meeting our expectations? Then, we might ask, “What’s the point of this relationship?” If we are not holding on to expectations, what happens? We shouldn’t depend on the fulfillment of our expectations to validate a relationship. If the expectations are not met, we can still maintain a good relationship at a distance.

For example, when people talk in different parts of the world, they might have different personal space norms. In some cultures, people stand further apart when talking, while in others, they stand closer. This difference in proximity is not wrong; it’s based on different cultural norms.

Similarly, if we are feeling disappointed because our expectations in a relationship aren’t being met, we need to understand that the relationship might not be as close as we expect. That doesn’t mean we should end it, but rather we can accept the relationship as it is, and our needs might be fulfilled elsewhere.

Sometimes, relationships are horizontal (in this world), and others are vertical (with God). God is our ultimate parent and protector. If our needs aren’t met in relationships here, we should recognize that those needs may be fulfilled through God. The love we receive from others is actually God’s love working through them.

So, if we don’t get love from someone, we should not feel disappointed. We should understand that God is the source of all love, and whatever love we receive, it’s God who provides it through others.

When we face dissatisfaction or frustration in relationships, we should reduce our expectations and focus more on our relationship with God. This can bring us peace and satisfaction, and help us move forward in life. In turn, we’ll know how to handle these relationships better.

Expectation itself isn’t bad, but being attached to those expectations can lead to suffering. So, by reducing our attachment to expectations, we can make progress in our spiritual journey. And God can fulfill the deeper needs in our hearts, either by sending us peace, sending someone into our lives to help us, or transforming someone in our lives.

In this Kali Yuga, the knowledge and spiritual progress that was once common is now very rare. Only a few are pursuing the ultimate spiritual goals. But the grace of God is still available through the devotees who embody it, like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, whose mercy can help us transcend the effects of Kali Yuga.

Thank you very much.