The real problem

We may think that our biggest problem, our one obstacle on our spiritual path are material desires. That, we may feel, is the one thing that is making it a little difficult. We want to be devotees, we are attracted to Krsna but the problem is that we are not only attracted to Krsna but we are also attracted to Maya! And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta wrote this letter and said that Hiranyakasipu was looking everywhere and could not see Krsna anywhere, whereas Prahlada, wherever he looked, he saw Krsna. And we are in between! So that’s the situation, we are sometimes seeing Krsna, sometimes not seeing Krsna, sometimes seeing Maya and then we are attracted to both! Therefore what sometimes causes doubt in us is that we are attracted to both and we feel that, ‘can I make it? Can I actually make it? And some people think, ‘it was a mistake that I took initiation. I shouldn’t have done it. I actually wasn’t ready for it and I realise that actually I cannot make it.’ But the truth of the matter is that no one can make it. It is only by Krsna’s mercy that one can overcome the material energy. Therefore material desire is not the issue, that’s not the problem, the problem is the offenses against the holy name because the process of devotional service is so powerful it will purify the material desires and if we just get absorbed in service, the material desires will go. They will gradually become less and less but if you commit offenses in chanting the holy name then you delay the material desires from going away. And not only that, we can create new anarthas….