Fear, The Barrier Between You And God🔗

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THE SPH NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

Just as moths hurriedly rush into the fire for their own destruction, So too these creatures rush hastily into Your mouths of destruction

The primal energy that the master is, has to be experienced in whatever manner it is presented, without expectations and fears.

Swallowing all worlds on every side with your flaming mouths You lick in enjoyment. O Viṣṇu, Your fierce rays are burning, filling the whole world with radiance

In every one of these moods, in each bhava, Krsna is still lovable, still reachable.

POWERFUL COGNITION

Krsna can be the friend, the master, the beloved, the child, the mother, and all combined.

The truth is that Arjuna is not in control.

He has no clue about what is happening to him and around him. He is in the presence of a primal force, before which all that is obvious is his own insignificance.

Victory and defeat seem to make no difference.

The vision of destruction implies that he too is mortal.

Arjuna is terrified.

Death is the ultimate fear.

Even the great warrior Arjuna trembles when faced with death. It is not that Arjuna is not aware of the inevitability of death or the nature of death.

Yet Arjuna is petrified. What is Arjuna so afraid of?

One thing, Arjuna does not expect the cosmic form of Krsna to be anything but loving and compassionate.

In every one of these moods, in each bhava, Krsna is still lovable, still reachable. However, in the form that Krsna has presented now, the all-devouring monster as it were, Arjuna is unable to comprehend any aspect of Krsna that he has known.

For the first time, Arjuna realizes that the master cannot be predicted! The primal energy that the master is, has to be experienced in whatever manner it is presented, without expectations and fears. It is so easy to fall in love with a handsome master.

Krsna is the most beautiful of all the gods. He is so easy to fall in love with! To fall in love with a terrifying Kali or an impassive Siva is far more difficult.

But anyone can love Krsna, and everyone does. No one expects Krsna to be terrifying. So when Kṛṣṇa presents another form to Arjuna, the ground literally slips from under Arjuna's feet. He has no support. He does not know where to turn for help. So Arjuna pleads, 'Please have mercy upon me. Tell me who You are. Tell me why You are here. I would like to know. I bow down to You.'

1. Why is Arjuna so terrified?

2. Why does Arjuna feel like he is not in control?

3. Why do you think death is considered an ultimate fear?

MATERIALS NEEDED:

PROCEDURE

Encourage the children to draw the cosmos.

INFERENCE

Arjuna sees the cosmic form of Krsna

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. Pen, pencil, chalk paper

PROCEDURE:

Encourage the children to use pen or chalk and draw a picture in the air. Then ask them to draw the picture on paper or on the board.

INFERENCE:

The primal energy that the master is, has to be experienced in whatever manner it is presented,

VAAKYARTHA SADHAS

Topic for discussion is "Arjuna realizes that the master cannot be predicted!" Encourage the children to discuss • What did Arjuna expect from Krsna ? • What do they expect from Krsna ? • How do they relate with the Krsna they heard about today: the cosmic, primal energy?

VAAKYARTHA SADHAS

Conclusion: In his heart he knows that what he is about to do is correct. But when faced with the reality , Arjuna loses his will. Why? Arjuna was afraid. Only a courageous person will have the confidence to open himself up so transparently and expose his innermost fears and seek help. Arjuna is courageous.

BOOK XI, VOLUME IX