On this sacred fortnight after Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s appearance, I welcome you to the very first issue of Kṛṣṇa is the Centre.
In each edition of Kṛṣṇa is the Centre, I’ll share a few of my own reflections from Srila Prabhupāda’s words and learnings from other ISKCON devotees, and close with a question for you to contemplate and, if you wish, share back with me.
This edition turns on a single word that has been shaping my heart lately—tolerance.
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
A sadhaka’s mood, He teaches, must be steeped in humility, tolerance, and freedom from false prestige, so that we can chant the holy name constantly.
Unplanned Provocations
– Krsna Book Ch.89
Provoking situations are those we never plan for—where no plan B exists.
Think of Draupadī: something she could never have imagined, even in her worst nightmare,
unfolded as she was dragged into the Kaurava court in a single piece of cloth. Yet she displayed astonishing wisdom,
strength, and poise in that unbearable moment.
In our lives the scale is smaller, but the principle is the same — uncertainty:
- The gas cylinder runs out just when you are expecting guests.
- Your child falls sick, and the school calls minutes before a crucial client meeting.
- An unexpected word of criticism pierces when you least expect it.
These moments test our inner steadiness. And our reaction in unexpected situations represents our real greatness. True tolerance is not passive suffering; it is reminding ourselves that we have our plans, and Kṛṣṇa has a master plan!
The Illusion of “Fixing Everything”
– Bhagavad Gita 2.14
We often rush to fix every disturbance, convinced that once today’s problem is solved,
our spiritual life can resume. But this is a subtle trap.
“I will chant peacefully after I finish my office presentation.”
“I will study the Gītā once the family tension ends.”
The result? We become busier and busier, while the ultimate goal—loving service to Kṛṣṇa—waits.
Tolerating a problem does not mean ignoring it.
It means recognising our smallness—that we cannot control and fix everything—and refusing to be sucked into endless firefighting.
It means keeping spiritual life the priority: continuing our seva and sādhanā even amidst inconvenience, trusting that such steadiness leads to perfection.
The waves rise and fall, but our chanting and remembrance anchor us amidst the roughest storms.
The Holy “Intolerance” of the Gopīs
– Krsna Book Ch.82
What an astonishing love!
A simple blink—something we hardly notice—was unbearable because it interrupted their vision of Kṛṣṇa.
Now that is inspirational; the depth and intensity of their love!
This is the intolerance we should aspire for: not born of anger or ego, but the sacred restlessness of longing for the Lord.
If I must be “intolerant,” let it be toward forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa.
May my heart one day ache, even for the briefest separation, as the gopīs’ hearts ached.
This is my prayer.
Reflective Question for You
“If I could not bear even a blink away from the Lord, what would my day look like?”
May the gentle glance of the Supreme Lord guide us to cultivate true tolerance—
to stay steady in trials, remain unmoved by temporary waves,
and grow a love so intense that even a blink away from Kṛṣṇa feels intolerable.
In service of Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Sukirti Madhavi Devi Dasi
