by Srila B.B. Tirtha Goswami Maharaja
Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!
Devotee: How does one change the heart? Because even sometimes you can chant many lifetimes – chanting Hare Krishna, worshiping and taking prasadam. Still, the heart is not changing. What one has to do to get heart?
Srila Guru Maharaj: For this one has to have company of suddha-bhakta because we have got difficulty inwardly – we are uttering the name Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna – but we have got this conception of self, “I am this body” and bodily interests predominate our heart. We are chanting the name and thinking, “I am having difficulty, I require another 50,000 dollars, please rescue me, Hare Krishna”. He will see in your heart – according to your heart’s desire, He will see. You are not wanting Krishna from your heart. You are trying to remove your problems. If sincerely anybody wants Krishna, immediately he will get. But because we can’t sincerely utter – we are habituated here, “I do not want to leave this Honolulu.” Where we will be taken we do not know? And if Krishna comes, “Go with Me. I’ll take you to Vrindavana, it is a hot place, but it is a very good place.” So you will leave this place and there will be great difficulty there. I shall have to beg alms. You won’t be able to go with Krishna in Vrindavan. You are uttering the name of Krishna and when Krishna comes, “I have come-now, come along!”
“No, No – I have got this nice hog family responsibilities. Many obligations – many. I have got wife, children, etc. Who are you? I don’t agree with you. I won’t leave! I won’t leave! I won’t leave this Honolulu.”
