Krishna sees not just our feelings but also our feelings about our feelings

During our spiritual journey, we sometimes find ourselves assaulted by non-devotional feelings such as boredom or nonchalance or, worse still, by anti-devotional feelings such as gross sensual or even sinful desires.

Such feelings may make us discouraged. And that discouragement may become aggravated by the thought: “Krishna sees my feelings. So what is the use of continuing an external show of devotion?”

However, such thinking is a complete mis-assessment of Krishna’s benevolence. Yes, he certainly knows our undevotional feelings, but he focuses on our feelings about such undevotional feelings. That is, he notes whether we embrace those undevotional feelings or resist them.

If we misidentify those feelings as our feelings, we cede our consciousness to them.

The Bhagavad-gita recommends that when certain feelings come to us unsolicited (14.22), we take on the role of detached observers (14.23). This role helps us to see those feelings for what they are: intruders encroaching on the territory of our consciousness.

If we misidentify those feelings as our feelings, we cede our consciousness to them. Such abdication of our rights makes us the puppets of the intruders who make us act contrary to our devotional aspirations.

By instead seeing the unsolicited feelings with detachment, we resist their aggression – till in due course they depart, for our moods are, like all material things, temporary.

But such unemotional observation is arduous. So, the Gita (14.26) urges us to activate the power of our spiritual emotions by maintaining a steady devotional commitment. By remembering that Krishna is watching and waiting to help if we just show him our devotional intention even amidst such undevotional intrusions, we can pray to him and gird ourselves to resist the intruders. Krishna becomes pleased by our steady devotional intention and reciprocates by giving us higher taste. And as the resulting devotional sweetness spreads through our consciousness, undevotional feelings get quelled completely.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Text 53

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