An old well gave water to all –
the young, the old, the happy, the sad –
every day without hesitation or delay.
When I first came to him thirsty, I was amazed:
Did giving water again and again
not exhaust him?
So I decided to ask.
“No problem,” he said, “I am only the well,
not the spring, which supplies me
as long as the connection is there.”
Let’s live like the well –
live in the higher connection.
You will be happy to pass on
what the source gives you,
never to be exhausted.
Why am I writing this?
Simply to encourage you. There is good reason to be hopeful. Krishna is very, very kind to and supportive of His devotees. He waits patiently for them to turn to Him, and then He responds immediately. Often He Himself takes the first step toward them. “He is so kind, so very kind,” as Srila Prabhupada used to say.
We have only to accept that Krishna’s kindness follows His own mind and not always our expectations. This means He gives us exactly what we need at any given time.
So now my question these days is, How can I live in relationship with Him? As I ponder this question I look out at the winter night. The stars blink in the distance. Is the Lord as far away as those stars or is He closer? How can I connect with Him?
During the last year I learned some things that help me make that connection. I’d like to share them with you:
1. Become aware that Krishna is the goal of your life.
2. Offer as many acts as you can in His service. Activate your relationship with Him and ask for guidance how to further activate it from those who have an active relationship with Him, like Srila Prabhupada and your other spiritual masters.
3. Train your mind to connect with Krishna through devotional thoughts. Convince your intelligence of the truth of Krishna consciousness.
4. Take full and unreserved shelter in the processes of bhakti – the hearing and chanting and reading the scriptures under the guidance of great devotees.
5. Most importantly, pray, pray, pray. Bring your spiritual heart into your prayer.
Pray like the bird who sits in the nest waiting fervently for its mother to bring it food.
Pray like the thirsty calf who tugs at the rope binding it to a stake so it can run forward to its mother’s udder.
Pray like the morose wife who yearns for her husband when he is away from home.
You will soon find that Krishna is only a prayer away. He is not like the stars in the winter sky, which are distant, cold, and unapproachable. When you reach Him in devotion, Krishna will respond to you in ways beyond your boldest imagination. Yes, the Lord is only a prayer away!