Crime, terrorism, brutality. Whenever we hear about such evil things happening in the world, we naturally feel angry at the evil perpetrators.
While such reactions to evil are natural, contemplation on such evil can make us hard-hearted, incapable of loving and trusting anyone – especially loving and trusting Krishna. If we become thus disconnected from Krishna, then that itself becomes a great evil. In fact, that is the greatest evil, for it is the source of all other evils.
Understandably, someone may protest, “I am never going to do the barbaric things that the perpetrators of evil do. How can my mere disconnection from Krishna be the greatest evil?”
Because this disconnection paralyzes our capacity to effectively correct evil. Correction of evil requires not just better laws, sharper surveillance and stronger punishment; it also requires purer hearts.
While some may scoff at the idea of purification when applied to hardened criminals, the fact is that all of us have a godly side and an ungodly side. When the ungodly side dominates and perverts people’s thinking, they act in evil ways, hurting and killing others as the Bhagavad-gita (16.14) indicates.
Our ungodly side may not be so dominant as in hardened criminals, but if we let their ungodliness harden our heart to God, then we make ourselves vulnerable to our ungodly side. Thus does the very evil that we abhor externally triumph internally within us.
The triumph of virtue has to begin from within, one heart at a time. When we see the power and the gore of evil without, if that inspires us to take shelter of the supreme potency of Krishna to counter it, then and then alone do we become parts of an effective solution to the problem of evil in the world.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 14
"The demoniac person thinks: “So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed. I am the lord of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance."
Hare Krishna,
I don’t think the evil that happens around the globe hardens our hearts – more so, toward Krishna. While we do feel angry with the perpetrators and sad about the whole thing, we must understand this is Kali Yuga, and there are demons amongst us who will eventually pay dearly for their sins.
I have answered here:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2013/10/how-does-evil-harden-our-heart-towards-krishna-how-can-we-prevent-such-hardening/
ys
ccdas
Dear Caitanya Caran Prabhu,
I have been reading your Gita Daily regularly. They are heart fulfilling and very deeply thoughtful. Krishna gave you special intelligence and you are using it to preach to the whole world. I read your other books also and appreciate your kindness.
Your servant,
Samik Rsi Dasa ACBSP
New Jersey, USA