Wait for the Nectar (Part 1)
by Krsnanandini devi dasi
“Valuable nuts like almonds, macadamias, walnuts, coconuts, etc., take a long time to fructify. Anything valuable takes a little time to come into existence. Therefore there is no harm in waiting for the best thing.” Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Syamasundara, July 15, 1969.
In the material world, we are all playing the waiting game. We wait our entire lives for freedom and happiness. We wait for that special someone. We wait for “our ship to come in’ – a colloquial American expression meaning waiting for our success.
How many of us wait in line at the bank or the dentist office or at the grocery store or the amusement park?
So many people, who have worked hard for many, many years, wait to retire—when they will have a steady income without having to work so hard. Many, with the false hope of getting a large sum of money for an insignificant investment, wait to win the lottery.
Long ago, at the dawn of creation, there was a fight in the heavens between the demons and the demigods (heavenly pious beings). The demigods had lost their powers due to neglecting or disrespecting their guru. Their heavenly spiritual master disappeared and was not available to give them instructions or empowerment.
One’s power comes from the blessings of divine authorities (God or His representatives) and following divine, universal laws and when those authorities and laws are disregarded, the blessings dissipate. Because the demigods are actually servants of the Lord, they were repentant and approached the Lord for help.
The Lord advised them that there was a need to obtain the Nectar of Immortality, the “amrta” in order for them to regain their heavenly powers and bide the time it would take to appease their guru. The Supreme Lord further instructed the devas (demigods) that they would have to work with the demons to churn the ocean of milk from which the nectar would appear.
“Work with the demons!!? The demigods were stunned. Never before (or since) had righteous beings been told to work with unrighteous beings for a righteous objective. But in this very unusual case, the instruction was given, by the Lord Himself.
One might ask, “why would the Lord tell His favorable servants to work with those powerful rebellious souls who made the choice to neglect Him?” The ways of God are often inscrutable and He generally accomplishes many things at one time. (Stay Tuned for Part 2)
“Valuable nuts like almonds, macadamias, walnuts, coconuts, etc., take a long time to fructify. Anything valuable takes a little time to come into existence. Therefore there is no harm in waiting for the best thing.” Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Syamasundara, July 15, 1969.
