Ramanand Rai is revealing a very essential aspect of Vaishnav thought. That It is due to a great devotee’s love for God and their good wishes toward you that you can receive the mercy of Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Srila Prabhupada was asked what was our qualification to receive the highest consciousness of Krishna Consciousness? at least the opportunity to attain it? Srila Prabhupada told us you have no qualification, I made your qualification. What does that mean? Because of his surrender to Krishna and his good wishes to our fallen selves, Krishna is giving his mercy to us. That is the process of Krishna Consciousness, to somehow or other get the mercy of a Vaishnava, and anyone who thinks that they can approach Krishna directly, is very unfortunate, because it is impossible. But when we get the favour of those who have surrendered their lives to Krishna, Krishna will naturally shower his blessings and give us every opportunity to perfect our lives. But then after getting this fortune, which may take millions and millions of births, we have the free will what we will do with this opportunity? Will we accept it for some time and then reject it? Or we will cherish it and treasure it for our whole life? Krishna Consciousness is a lifetime process. If somehow or other before the moment of death we can one time chant the holy name of the Lord purely, without offense, we have achieved the ultimate goal of life.
But Krishna does not give that fortune so easily. Relatively in this age of Kali, by the mercy of Lord Gauranga, he does give it easily, but what’s easy is very difficult for us. Treta yuga, you would have to fast in complete celibacy, concentrating your mind on one particular object, the super-soul in your heart for 60 thousand years of unwavering mind for you to get love of God. How many of us could do that? So comparatively following the four regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds, humbly serving Vaishnavas, not committing offenses, trying to sincerely do our service in this short life span may be 50, 60, 70 years, at the most may be 80, 90, if we can get one mantra out of our mouths purely, then we perfect our lives. So easy. But the tendency in the age of Kali yuga is maya is always trying to drag our consciousness away from Krishna. yato yato niscalati manas cancalam asthiram tatas tato niyamyaitad atmany eva vasam nayet from whenever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, we must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the self. So, Krishna Consciousness is a constant battle, but somehow or other if we just don’t offend Vaishnavas and stay in the association of devotees and keep trying honestly, earnestly, sincerely, Krishna will save us, however fallen and difficult it may be, and we are.
