Krishna and Uddhava

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One morning, the Krishna and Uddhava went on a walk and they come across a rich man's mansion. Krishna said he was thirsty and asked Uddhava to fetch him some water from the rich man's house. Uddhava went to the house and asked for water. The man of the house invited them in, received them with respect and offered them cool refreshments. Krishna was pleased and, once they went out, he blessed the man with prosperity and even more riches.

 They continued on their walk and came across a small hut, with a cow grazing in the background. Krishna again said he is thirsty and asked Uddhava to ask for water. Uddhava was suspicious that Krishna was up to his usual tricks but was reassured by Krishna that there was nothing amiss. Uddhava went and knocked on the door. An old yogi opened the door and invited them in. When Uddhava told him that his friend is thirsty, the yogi said regretfully that there was nothing in the house to offer them. Just then it occurred to the yogi that his one dear possession, the cow, will not let him down. He milked the cow and offered fresh milk to his guests. Krishna drank it with enjoyment and thanked him.

 They walked out and Krishna's hands moved up in blessing, "May the old yogi's cow die!" A shocked Uddhava found this difficult to understand. He questioned Krishna, why he blessed the rich man with more riches and the yogi with the death of his cow, when both were kind and hospitable. He found it unfair to the yogi that the cow, which was his only possession should die, particularly when he had offered them the best he could.

 Krishna replied that the yogi is so close to me, he has almost entered my heart. The only thing that prevents him to enter it is his attachment to the cow. Once that is broken, he will be one with me. Krishna added that the rich man will become even richer and it will take him many lives to come to me because he is still caught up in his things, like worldly gains and material pleasures.

 One would naturally question the fairness of Krishna's pronouncements, but you will see the workings of a divine will here. So often we see good people suffering, but it is the divine plan at work which has the sole purpose of spiritual evolution. Through the unfolding of the plan, situations arise that are most suitable for one’s progress. Once a person is under the influence of the divine will, he will be guided at every step to follow the path through his inner mind or conscience. However, a man is not without choices and free will.

 To give an example, a rich and distinguished man may be in his final stages of evolution, by clearing in some previous lives his karmic debts with suffering and hardship, but also importantly by exercising his free will wisely and working hard towards right actions. But because he still has some desires left for material enjoyment, he has been granted them in this life as part of the divine plan, so he is left desireless, without any attachments, as a pre-requisite for completing the final journey. 

 The man in the example above may use his free will and choices to enjoy material pleasures which he has been granted this life as per the divine plan. But if he does so without any moderation, while giving into pride, greed, egotism, slander, deceit, arrogance, dishonesty, he then falls into the worldly trap that may drag him down to many more lives. We may feel, the man is enjoying a good material life and getting away with it with his wrongful actions, but there also comes divine justice to play here, that will set him back by several lives, before he finally achieves ultimate peace.

 In comparison, a forced life of hardships, as part of the divine plan, or a simple, austere life by choice, they both present a splendid opportunity towards advancement at whatever stage on the path towards realization.

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