The Devoted Grandfather
An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Every morning, the grandfather would be up early, sitting at the kitchen table, chanting on his beads and reading his Bhagavad Gita. His grandson admired him greatly and tried to imitate him in every way.
The Grandson’s Doubt
One day, the grandson asked, “Grandfather! I try to chant and read the Bhagavad Gita just like you, but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does chanting and reading the Bhagavad Gita do?”
The Grandfather’s Response
The grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The First Attempt
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
The Second Attempt
This time, the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket and he went to get a bucket instead.
The Grandfather’s Insistence
The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. Determined to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house, the boy tried once more.
The Third Attempt
The boy dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandfather, it’s useless!”
The Lesson Revealed
The old man said, “Do you think it’s useless? Look at the basket.” The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket into a clean one, inside and out. “Son, that’s what happens when you chant the Holy Name and read the Bhagavad Gita. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you chant or read, knowingly or unknowingly you will be changed, inside and out. This is how Krishna works silently in our lives.”
The Strength of the Holy Name
There is a beautiful shloka from Srimad Bhagavatam (6.2.18) on the strength of chanting the holy name of the Lord:
ajnaanaad athavaa jnaanaad / uttamashloka-naama yat sankirtitam agham pumso / dahed edho yathaanalah
“As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one’s sinful activities.”
The Potency of Chanting
This is the potency of chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna. We are gradually cleansed of all anarthas (unwanted things) from our heart (ceto darpana maarjanam). All that is needed is patience. The important translation by Srila Prabhupada to note is the word “dahed” – “burns to ashes without fail.”
Faith in the Holy Name
We need to understand that the holy name will never fail us; we need to have full faith in the holy name and our spiritual master, as the cleansing process is very subtle. Once we realize that we are relishing our devotional service, especially chanting, it is an indication that the anarthas are being cleansed and austerities automatically follow. Nobody needs to be forced to carry out the prescribed rounds of chanting.
The Blessing of the Holy Name
We need to understand that we are not doing a favor to the Lord by reciting His names; rather, by His mercy, we benefit by getting rid of all the sinful tendencies in our heart. Let us pray to Lord Krishna to shower His mercy upon all of us so that we develop a taste for chanting the holy name of the Lord.
Lessons to be Learned
- Transformation through Practice: Just as the coal basket became clean through repeated attempts to carry water, our hearts and minds are purified through consistent chanting and reading of sacred texts.
- Faith in the Process: Even if we don’t immediately understand or remember everything, faith in the process and continued practice will lead to inner transformation.
- Subtle Cleansing: The purification process is subtle and gradual. We must be patient and trust that our efforts are making a difference, even if we don’t see immediate results.
- Power of the Holy Name: Chanting the holy name of the Lord has the power to cleanse us of all impurities and sinful tendencies, as emphasized in Srimad Bhagavatam.
- Gratitude for Divine Mercy: Recognizing that our spiritual practices are a blessing and mercy from the Lord helps us remain humble and devoted.
Let us embrace the power of the Holy Name and the wisdom of the scriptures with full faith and dedication, knowing that they will lead us to spiritual purity and divine connection.
