Srimad Bhagavadam 7.8.34
Elderly men are supposed to be wise because they have been faced with life. An elderly person in spiritual life has become familiar with the process of devotional service therefore knows what to do and what not to do. He has tried to do the right thing and has encountered human limitations and has found that it is not just a matter of decision. We know that it is a culture. The essence of our culture is that we are chanting Hare Krsna and trying to develop good qualities and trying to control the lower qualities. We try to commit more to qualities like tolerance, humility, gratitude and service attitude. Humility is related to gratitude and service attitude. So we try to cultivate these good qualities and understand them better, while fighting with the lower nature. Sometimes the lower nature comes out and we are confronted with our own envy. We are envious of others... we are unduly acting negative towards a person. We have to actively control it by not acting in an envious way and act in the opposite way. This is all part of the culture of overcoming the lower qualities and we chant Hare Krsna. Through that culture we hope to bring about a change and one day become pure devotees.
Kadamba Kanana Swami
20 December 2010
