Once there was a wealthy man who requested an old sage to wean his son away from his bad habits.
The Garden Stroll
The sage took the boy for a stroll through a garden.
The Tiny Plant
Stopping suddenly, he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The boy held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out easily.
The Slightly Bigger Plant
The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The boy pulled hard, and the plant came out, roots and all.
The Bush
“Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out.
The Big Tree
“Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a big tree. The boy grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. “It’s impossible,” said the boy, conceding defeat.
The Sage’s Lesson
“So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold, it becomes impossible to uproot them.” This meeting with the old man changed the boy’s life.
Moral of the Story
Don’t wait for bad habits to grow in you, drop them while you have control over them, else they will get control over you.
How to Curb or Wean Away These Bad Habits
While offering the prayers to the Supreme Lord, the personified Vedas say in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 10.87.16:
Srimad Bhagavatam Verse 10.87.16
iti tava surayas try adhipate ‘khila loka mala kshapana kathaamrtaabdhim avagaahya tapaamsi jahuh kim uta punah sva dhaama vidhutaashaya kaala gunaah parama bhajanti ye padam ajasra sukhaanubhaavam
“Therefore, O master of the three worlds, the wise get rid of all misery by diving deep into the nectarean ocean of topics about You, which washes away all the contamination of the universe. Then what to speak of those who, having by spiritual strength rid their minds of bad habits and freed themselves from time, are able to worship Your true nature, O supreme one, finding within it uninterrupted bliss?”
Names and Topics of Krishna
Names and topics of Krishna are “jagat pavitram” and only by taking shelter of these we will be able to get rid of all our bad habits.
Doubts About Devotional Service
Many a time we doubt whether it is possible for devotional service to wean out bad habits from the root.
The Answer
If we are careless about the bad habits, then we will not be able to get rid of them. But when we sincerely want to get rid of those habits, accept our inability and sincerely pray to Krishna and endeavor to get rid of them, then the all-merciful Lord washes away all our sins and helps us to experience uninterrupted bliss.
Assurance from Bhagavad Gita
Krishna also assures in Bhagavad Gita verse 2.49 that only by devotional service can we keep bad habits at bay.
Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.49
durena hy avaram karma / buddhi yogaad dhananjaya buddhau sharanam anviccha / krpanaaha phala hetavah
“O Dhananjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.”
Practice Makes Perfect
The proverb “Practice makes perfect” holds true for all habits—be they good or bad. So it is very important that we have a constant check on ourselves, on whatever things we see, hear, and do in our day-to-day lives.
Bad Habits Are Like Cancer
Bad habits are like cancer. If detected at an early stage, it is easy to get rid of them. If we detect them only at a later stage, then by that time, they would have completely ruined our life.
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