There are many challenges that we are facing in spiritual life. And if we ask ourselves: “What is the biggest challenge that we are facing in spiritual life?” If you really think about it, most people would say: “Material desires! If only I could become free from my material desires then it would be easy – I could fly in Krishna consciousness because I have a taste for Krishna consciousness. But, I have these material desires and if only I was free from these material desires.”
Therefore it seems that the biggest obstacle in spiritual life is our material desires.
But that is not at all the conclusion of the scriptures. The conclusion of the scriptures has a totally different angle on the matter. The scriptures are saying that th-e biggest problem is not material desires because material desires are doomed, they can’t survive.
The one thing that is a problem in spiritual life are offences. Offences made against the Name and against the Vaishnavas. Disrespect for the Name and disrespect for the Vaishnavas. Disrespect for the deities and disrespect for the scriptures. This kind of attitude can cause a delay in spiritual progress. Therefore this is our biggest problem.
This kind of attitude can bring out a tax of material desires which otherwise will automatically diminish. And therefore, this attitude of serving the Vaishnavas and treating the Vaishnavas with the greatest respect is actually the solution in our spiritual life. It will take us to the point where we will begin to experience taste.Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Brisbane, Australia, March 2011)
