“Excessive attachment for material things puts a man in such a bewildering condition of existence.”
Let’s analyse this sentence:
- “Excessive attachment for material things”: “attachment” means a desire to use the things or people in our life for our sense gratification; and “excessive” means doing this to the point where it impedes our service to Krishna.
- “…such a bewildering condition of existence.” means Arjuna is experiencing mental distress and anxiety about the future outcome.
In summary, we understand that if our desires for material enjoyment hinder our service to Krishna, we will feel overwhelmed by the problems we face.
“Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.” Bg 9.12
Question: What does it mean to neglect our service to Krishna?
Our light: The most important service is to hear, chant and discuss about Krishna. This includes His holy names, as well as books like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. If we stop doing these two things, the problems of life will overwhelm us.
Evidence that these two activities are the most important services is as follows:
“When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rāma, Kṛṣṇa (or systematically the sixteen names Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare), but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of devotees. The primary practice of bhakti-yoga will cause the seed already sown in the heart to sprout, and by a regular watering process, as mentioned above, the bhakti-yoga creeper will begin to grow.” Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.30 purport
“But out of all the nine different methods, the first one, namely hearing, is the most important function in the process of bhakti-yoga. Without hearing sufficiently and properly, no one can make any progress by any of the methods of practice. And for hearing only, all the Vedic literatures are there, compiled by authorized persons like Vyāsadeva, who is the powerful incarnation of Godhead.” Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.36 purport
Our summary understanding of this sentence:
If we prioritise other things to the point that we neglect hearing and chanting the Holy Name and discussing books like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, then life’s problems will overcome us.
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