Journal with Krishna
Many people journal regularly but stay stuck in their negative beliefs. That’s because they are unable to access the deep, spiritual layers within themselves.
Usually we write about what’s happening in our lives. We improve awareness of our own inner state; we dive deep into our experiences; and we express gratitude for the gifts we receive in life. Yet, there is a reality higher than our own mind and intelligence. When we access this principle beyond our tiny selves, our journaling catapults us to the next level.
And how do we do that?
When we hear wisdom from scriptures and then write our reflections, or see our problems and situations from the prism of sacred texts, that’s called introspective journaling. And this is strikingly different from speculative writing. Our journaling is speculative when we worry and analyse our situations from different angles, and we think we’ve figured out the cause of our misery. However, if the patterns repeat ad nauseam, and we fail to improve our situation, it means we are stuck. We need to take help from a source beyond our tiny brains.
I recently heard a class by Srila Prabhupada and then wrote my reflections from the class. As I typed the summary of the class, a realization dawned upon me: Krishna has come in the form of Shrimad Bhagavatam and Krishna’s pure devotee (Srila Prabhupada) is speaking on this subject. When I hear his class, I am accessing the Lord through the heart of His pure devotee. Then, if I write down my understanding of Shrimad Bhagavatam, I am taking a step closer to Krishna – who has appeared in the form of this book. And when I come closer to Krishna, He takes care; He reveals Himself to me. Krishna has seen that I have approached Him through His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada.
Instead, if I chose to not connect with higher wisdom, then it’s my mind and contaminated intelligence that guides me in my sojourn in this world. And journaling or no journaling, I am still in the world of my own mind and intelligence. I haven’t accessed the divinity that lies within me.
In simple words, introspective or scriptural journaling means: go to Krishna and then Krishna comes to us. Practically speaking it means study scriptures regularly, and then see life and its myriad situations from the eyes of these sacred books. Then everything auspicious will begin to happen. Your journaling is no longer speculative; it’s driven by Krishna’s touch.
Therefore journaling needs the preparatory work of connection to the Shrimad Bhagavatam /Bhagavad Gita. Otherwise, the mind’s hegemony prevails. Basically, it’s Krishna versus the mind. Even without accessing higher powers, just the act of writing slows down the mind, and that improves awareness. However, my journaling-induced self-awareness can be indulgent at best, and delusional at worst. Therefore I need to choose Krishna – through a culture of hearing or study of scriptures- and then my journaling will be effective.
That’s when we are allowing ourselves to be influenced by Krishna. That’s when we enter Krishna space – Krishna’s loving arms.
“The mind is not to be killed. Mind or desire cannot be stopped, but to develop a desire to function for spiritual realization, one has to change the quality of engagement by the mind. The mind is the pivot of the active sense organs, and as such if the quality of thinking, feeling and willing is changed, naturally the quality of actions by the instrumental senses will also change.”
– Srila Prabhupada (Shrimad Bhagavatam, purport 2.1.17)
