Amazing perspective...

HH Indradyumna Swami and Sri Prahlad Das recently visited our city in a blur of dancing, kirtan and well, dancing! Maharaja's stories of Srila Prabhupada were super special and one stuck with me.

Maharaja recounted a time when Srila Prabhupada was walking along the beach with several disciples. Upon spotting a bunch of stray dogs and someone taking their dog for a walk on a leash, Srila Prabhupada asked the devotees present, the difference between the dog on the leash and the stray dogs. Many were puzzled and could not answer the question. Srila Prabhupada explained that the stray dogs were skinny because of malnourishment, constantly looking for any morsel food and always on the run. However, the dog on the leash is quite the opposite. This dog has beautiful hair, is healthy and quite satisfied, regardless of being tied to a leash. Why is that? Srila Prabhupada explained that the leash was being held by the master, a master who is able to take care of all the various needs of the dog so that the dog need not worry about his next meal.

What a profound example! If I was presented this scenario outside the context of KC, I would not have understood the link between the well-being of the dog and the master. To be honest, I felt that the dog was kind of "trapped" by being tied to a leash. History has always put emphasis on so-called freedom - that we need to "break the shackles of oppression" and live free and I was kinda' following that line of thinking.

But what is freedom? Is it even possible to achieve and if it is, do I necessarily want it?

I guess the rebel teenager in me (which is still going strong, I might add) still thinks freedom is beneficial in this time and age and will prove to be helpful in the long run. The truth, which is inevitably harder to swallow is that yes, freedom needs to be achieved but not from the simple material shackles of political rivalries, slavery or economic crises but from the all encompassing power of Maya. By freeing ourselves from Her clutches, we rid ourselves from constant anxiety and immerse ourselves in the loving service of the Lord through the chanting of His Holy Names. Now, that's REAL freedom for ya'!

Back to Srila Prabhupada's amazing analogy. It is incredible how Srila Prabhupada could take such a mundane observation and make it transcendental by linking it to a fundamental thought in our philosophy: we as servants are better under the care of our Master - whether it be our spiritual master or ultimately, Krsna - since it is our eternal position. To be in any other situation would be going against what we naturally are and thus, cannot be fully satisfied.

Now, I just gotta' drill this point in my head.