Re: Will, lack self-esteem and spiritual life

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances.

I believe Hadai made a lot of good points above. I would like to add some of my thoughts as well. I think that pure and complete dependence on Nitai is the most important requirement to be successful spiritually. Complete faith and trust in Nityananda is required for us. Could Draupadi fight off a horde of men trying to disrobe her? Could Haridasa Thakura protect himself from all the king�s men who were beating him? Could the cowherd boys and calves rescue themselves from the forest fire? Of course we have to make our own intelligent plans but ultimately when it comes down to it, we cannot fight with Maya on our own. We have to put all our faith in God just as great devotees do. Did Srila Prabhupada make extensive plans when he came to America? No he just let the Lord lead him from within and wonderful things happened, but he had full trust and dependence that the Lord would help him fulfill his spiritual masters order, that is all he could do as he had no material assets whatsoever.

Swami Gaurangapada replied to a question a couple weeks ago that when we are feeling weak we must cry out the holy names of Nityananda and Gauranga.  But if we don�t obey this instruction and sincerely cry out to the Lord even within our mind then who will save us? Who will be to blame for our falldown? Our fault is that we sometimes put faith in friends, or our own endeavors, or whatever else, but ultimately they  can�t help us against maya.

I must say that I definitely can feel where you are coming from and have felt similar things to what you have felt as have most people in this world. It can seem difficult how to act and respond in this world to different situations, but I find it best to get away from non devotees completely except when necesssary and even then remaining aloof if talking with them. I don�t believe that arguing or quarrelling with people is the answer either because that doesn�t lead anywhere and may lead to even bigger problems. It is best in my opinion to not put ourselves in a situation where we will be disrespected; to me just being around gross materialists is indecent.

I would also like to say that taking care of our physical and mental health is something that is often overlooked by Vaisnava societies. I believe to be sound mentally and physically can make devotional service much more productive.  I have noticed much improvement by eating very healthy foods, though not eating too much, and getting enough exercise. Not becoming obsessed with these things but just enough to keep our mood happy and able. Ayurvedic herbal formulations http://www.favorfinesse.com/index.shtml can surely help with mood and other health problems to assist our gross and subtle coverings as needed. To me Ayurveda is the only way to go for health care as it came directly from the Lord and is perfect, complete, and completely deficient of any speculation or error.

These are just some of my thoughts and I am surely not even close to being expert but I have found these things to be true

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna
Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

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