At times, things are expressed in various devotee circles in such a way that it seems as if it is 'impossible' to attain the goal (Srila Prabhupada has said that 'impossible' is a word in the fool's dictionary); that there is no hope for we fallen jivas. Some devotees are even giving up following the process of Krsna consciousness (for whatever length of time in this life) due to losing their sense of hope.
I've always found hope despite my fallen condition, in the (always) encouraging and reassuring words of Srila Prabhupada. In this light, I'm submitting the following, where Srila Prabhupada, after His May 22, 1975 Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.3 lecture in Melbourne Australia gives His reply to the following question:
Devotee: "If we've been here lifetime after lifetime performing impious activities, does it mean that we have to be here lifetime after lifetime performing pious activities to balance out our sinful reactions?"
Madhudvisa prabhu (repeating question to Srila Prabhupada): "We have been here for many lifetimes performing sinful activities. So is it possible to counteract all those sinful activities in one lifetime, or does it require many…?"
Srila Prabhupada: "One minute. That is Krsna consciousness movement. One minute. You are not reading Bhagavad Gita? What Krsna says? sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami (BG 18.66) 'You surrender unto Me. Give up your all business. I will give you relief from all sinful reaction immediately.' So it requires one minute. 'My dear Krsna, I was forgotten. Now I understand. I fully surrender unto you.' Then you become immediately free from all sinful reactions. Without any reservation, without any politics, if you fully surrender, Krsna is assuring, aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. He reassures, 'Don't worry whether I will be able to give you relief from all reaction'; ma sucah, finished, guaranteed. You do this. So how much time it requires to surrender to Krsna? Immediately you can do that. Surrender means you surrender and work as Krsna says. That is surrender. What Krsna says to do? man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru (BG 18.65); four things: 'You always think of Me, and you become My devotee, you worship Me, and offer your respect, full obeisances unto Me' You do these four things. That is full surrender. Mam evaisyasi asamsaya: 'Then you come to Me without any doubt.' Everything is there. Krsna has given everything fully. If you accept it, then life is very simple. There is no difficulty. Yes?"
Your servant,
B. Radha-Govinda
Hare Krsna
