Five Pep Talks For The Person Afraid To Try In Bhakti

“Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further advised the brahmana Kurma, ‘If you follow this instruction, your materialistic life at home will not obstruct your spiritual advancement. Indeed, if you follow these regulative principles, we will again meet here, or, rather, you will never lose My company.’” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 7.129)

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कभु ना बाधिबे तोमार विषय-तरङ्ग
पुनरपि एइ ठाञि पाबे मोर सङ्ग”

kabhu nā bādhibe tomāra viṣaya-taraṅga
punarapi ei ṭhāñi pābe mora saṅga”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada refers to it as numerical strength. The reference is particularly to the recommended routine of chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Try to build up, in succession, to a routine that does not diminish in value. If you can hit steadiness at completing sixteen rounds a day, with one hundred and eight mantra recitations per round, you are in a solid position.

As with any task that is new, often the most difficult part is getting started. Getting the new venture off the ground. Putting it in the air, so to speak. Giving it shape. Making substance out of something that starts as nothing.

The underlying cause of procrastination is fear. Some sort of reservation that is holding you back. You are afraid that if you start, you will not hit the mark. You will not be able to measure up. As the science of self-realization is everything, our reason for living, to succumb to fear in following the culture passed down by the mahajanas is a tragic miss. The opportunity should not go to waste.

“According to Shrimad-Bhagavatam, there are twelve mahajanas, or great souls, and these are: (1) Brahma, (2) Lord Shiva, (3) Narada, (4) Vaivasvata Manu, (5) Kapila (not the atheist, but the original Kapila), (6) the Kumaras, (7) Prahlada, (8) Bhishma, (9) Janaka, (10) Bali, (11) Shukadeva Gosvami and (12) Yamaraja.” (Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Ch 21)

In this regard, there can be several reminders we can offer to the mind, on a daily basis. When we are feeling like an imposter, thinking that we don’t measure up. When we are too afraid to even try, a pep talk from a calm, rational, and intelligent mind can do wonders.

1. You are not Vyasadeva

“Seriously, stop putting it off. No one expects you to be Vyasadeva. You are actually honoring him. You are paying respect to his tremendous body of work, of which we only have access to a small sample. Remember that the son of Parashara kept everything in memory. That amazing Mahabharata, which continues to guide people to this day, was held within the amazing hard drive of human memory belonging to the island-born one.

“You can never match that, nor should you try. Just write something. Any sort of genuine realization from your time in associating with Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavata Purana, Ramayana, and other works of authority. You know the principles. Trust yourself, for a change. Pick a concept or two and explain it in a way that you can understand.”

2. You are not expected to attract a large following

“Can you relax a little? Pretend that no one is in the audience. You are in an empty room. You are talking to the walls. If there are people listening, they are not paying attention. They are not hostile. Sure, some will certainly be, but so what? If they are kind enough to point out flaws, that is a blessing for you. It will keep you humble.

“It is not like you need a large audience. Have you not read Vedic literature? They pass on accounts of isolated conversations, usually between two people. Krishna and Arjuna. Bhishma and Yudhishthira. Narada and the hunter. The crow named Kaka and the eagle named Garuda. If only a single person hears what you have to say, you are making a positive impact.”

3. You don’t have to go on television

“If you don’t feel comfortable on camera, then don’t worry about it. It is seen that the community of television stars has the largest concentration of cheaters. At least that is my opinion. Perhaps it is something about the added scrutiny that turns the genuine people into pretenders, the followers into frauds and fakes.

“Obviously, television will have greater reach. Anyone can go on television now. Anyone can make their own channel, so to speak. But you are not compelled to follow others. You do not have to be a famous influencer. Start small. Start with something. Just start.”

4. You don’t have to go into the food business

“There is the recommendation from Krishna to make offerings, like fruit or water. You can follow this recommendation on a daily basis, multiple times in a day. Take a modest approach. Pick one time. Choose one item. Don’t compare yourself to others. Do what you can manage. You can increase as you go, as a way to challenge yourself.

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं
यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तद् अहं भक्त्य्-उपहृतम्
अश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.26)

“No one expects you to make a business out of this. The prasadam is the mercy you will receive, on your own, in your own home. You can share that mercy with others. Isn’t that nice of the Supreme Lord? Is that not kindness personified? Any person can associate directly with Him, and you will have played a hand in bringing that sukriti.”

5. You don’t have to be a sannyasi

“You feel bad about not repaying the blessings bestowed upon you. You marvel at the courage of past leaders, in the decision they made to leave home and live like a mendicant for the rest of their time here. Not bound to a job, home, or family, they could travel from place to place and distribute the causeless mercy of Bhagavan. They created followers in the process, thereby increasing the range of influence.

“There is nothing wrong with appreciating those efforts without necessarily imitating them. You are not expected to do the same, especially if it is not possible. In this day and age just see how corrupt those travelling leaders have become. They have taken sannyasa with the facility of indoor plumbing, digitally controlled climates, and business-class airplane travel. In many cases, the householder actually endures more hardships; they are the true tapasvis. They have a more difficult time.

“Always take comfort and strength in the recommendation of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He once advised a brahmana to remain at home. In that particular instance, it was better to maintain the current position. They could be equally effective in distributing the message. This was through sharing Krishna-upadesha. You always have that option. Follow the way of the brahmana and share the Divine instructions with people that you meet. On the order of Lord Chaitanya, you will be a guru in your own right.”

In Closing:

Feeling incapable to give,
How as devotee to live?

A daily pep talk take,
That some meager effort make.

But one with steadiness through,
Inspiration from Chaitanya who.

That with Krishna-upadesha sharing,
A guru in your own way caring.