We are Residents of the Age Of Kali!

Kadamba Kanana Swami

It is paticularly in the combined efforts of the Vaishnavas that we can overcome our conditioning......
We should not forget that we are residents of the age of Kali, there is no doubt about it (Sanskrit) slow intelligence. Slow intelligence! Why slow intelligence? Because although we know that we should surrender to Krishna we don't do it - that's why we are slow in intelligence! Although we have heard of all the arguments, although we accept it is true still we are not doing; so this is unintelligence, still we are not acting upon it - therefore slow in applying our intelligence.

Lazy, misfortunate, this is the age where the whole world is misfortunate. It is amazing how many people are suffering from disease, deformation and all kinds of afflictions upon their bodies or minds - the whole world is just full of it! ...


If you look around it is quite amazing - it maybe shows a little more with the poor than with the rich - but yet no one is exempt! In India of course you see graphic illustrations of this point. You see someone hobbling around with a stick and you also see how some very wealthy cripple is having two servants to bring round a fancy wheelchair but it is the same thing! Same thing - the same afflictions.
Our family doctor when we were kids, our family doctor had a glass eye, right?! So I was always starring at it you know, wow a glass eye! It was really scary! Yes that also happens!

So what can we say - the afflictions in this age are very very intense. That is the nature of the age of kali. Unfortunate. So we are residents of this age of Kali (Sanskrit) - always disturbed! It is not that any of us are above these influences!

Srimad Bhagavatam gives an interesting description of when Kali Yuga began. It is said that Kali Yuga began five thousand years ago when Lord Krishna left the planet and at that time Arjuna was returning from Dwarka and meeting Yudhistira Maharaja. Yudhistira Maharaja does not want to ask the question and Arjuna does not want to speak the word, but all the signs are there, that Krishna must have left the planet - because there are everywhere inauspicious signs.
It is said that father and sons are fighting, even husband and wife are fighting it is said - unheard of, symptoms of the age of Kali and so many other symptoms are being seen.
Yudhistira Maharaja could understand that Krishna must have left the planet. Arjuna knows and is depressed, he can not tell his brother what has happened because it is too painful! So the symptoms of the age of Kali sat in and suddenly all kinds of faulty behaviour came in. So here we are residents of the age of Kali! We should never consider that we are beyond that, very important to really realise that we really are from this paticular era, contaminated with all the limitations!

Weakness is our second nature. Therefore Sankirtan is essential. We see that in the Sattya Yuga the sages such as Saubari muni would enter under water for a period of ten thousand years to try and meditate deeply on the Lord. In other words they were really going for a secluded place, he was looking for a place where he would not be disturbed so he decided to go underwater and by his mystic power he was able to do so - But in this age how long can someone go underwater! Not only that but even Saubari muni was distracted by some fish who were having a love affair - and this fishy love affair captured his mind!

So what to say - for us we don't need to see any fish because our mind is just naturally inclined to illicit sex! We do not need any stimulants, right? Just when we are on our own we can easily find that subject matter and dwell on it! It is very natural. So this is our problem, the residents of the age of Kali, naturally contemplate on all the sinful activities, somehow or other! So what to do - Our mind by nature being sinful. Somehow or other by engaging it in devotional service in the associations of the Vaishnavas. It is the dynamics of serving Krishna together that gives us the strength!