Where have you invested your emotional currency..?

Everyone of us in life has different facilities and comforts based on our past Karma but there is one asset that is equally distributed to all souls with material bodies: TIME & CONTEMPLATION.

Although each individual has different lifespans, the freedom to use the time and contemplation is equally given to all in whatever circumstances they are in and especially in Human beings, this opportunity is even greater with a wide variety of options to INVEST them in.

Thus let’s understand this concept with an example in the modern world.

In the 21st century, modern man has devised many ingenious ways of making money and in some cases, they are fraudulent and in some cases they are legal but simply genius.

One such avenue is the stock market, where people put their money in the shares of various companies and based on whether the company makes profit or loss, the investor of money is affected.

Similarly, based on WHAT OBJECT or PERSON, one chooses to invest TIME & CONTEMPLATION, one is actually investing his EMOTIONAL CURRENCY and as in case of the stock market one naturally expects returns in this case, the returns being RECIPROCATION from loved one’s OR FACILITIES & RECOGNITION from things.

But one sad part of stock market is RECESSION where market collapses and one loses all money invested in the shares. Similarly irrespective of what OBJECT or PERSON in this world one chooses to invest his emotional currency, our connection with those objects and people are TEMPORARY as mentioned in Bhagavad Gita 8.15

mām upetya punar janma
duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ
saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ

Translation:  After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogés in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.

Hence when death or separation happens, which it will, then we become like a person who has lost all his investments in the shares and feels betrayed, lonely, frustrated and even contemplates suicide.

So if all “shares” of this world are temporary and are doomed to collapse, then what to do with our emotional currency? Where to invest them in?

Bhagavad Gita 9.33 implores us that we better invest our emotional currency in that share which will never collapse: Devotional Service.

kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā
bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā
anityam asukhaṁ lokam
imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām

Translation: How much more this is so of the righteous brähmaëas, the devotees and the saintly kings. Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me.

Because we as souls are eternal, the Lord who is the object of our love is eternal and the process of Devotional Service is also eternal and even if we ran out of time & could invest only a little, still there is no loss as mentioned in Bhagavad Gita 2.40

nehābhikrama-nāśo ’sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt

Translation: In this endeavor, there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.

And what about the debts or sinful reactions we carry due to past bad investments in temporary things? That also Krishna assures to take care in Bhagavad Gita 18.66.

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Translation: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.

Thus by the simple process of remembering Krishna and giving one’s time for Krishna one is assured to getting guaranteed returns for all our emotional currency that we invest as promised by the lord in Bhagavad Gita 18.65

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

Translation: Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.

**************************Hare Krishna***************************