Spiritual Lessons From A Dog

An evolving relationship with street dogs inspires thoughts about progress in devotional service to Lord Krishna by Vraja Vihari Dasa

OVER A DOZEN Dogs snarled, ready to gnaw into my flesh.  They barked ferociously, and I had only my bead bag to protect me. I felt helpless. Suddenly from nowhere an auto-rickshaw pulled up and I jumped in. It was a close shave.

It was early morning, and I was walking to the village temple when the dogs surrounded me. I was overwhelmed. I guess they felt threatened by me, an intruder. Or perhaps my dhoti and kurta (rare clothing even in Indian villages these days), the tilaka mark on my forehead, and my loud chanting aroused their wrath.

The following day, I again wished to go to the temple before sunrise. This time I carried a stick, but when I saw the dogs at a distance, I retreated; I felt unsure of its efficacy to ward off the menacing animals. 

A neighbor suggested I carry some biscuits. They were abundantly available at the roadside shops. I bought a few packets and the following morning braved the journey to the temple again. I was nervous, but the technique worked. The dogs wagged their tails in approval. I followed the ritual daily, and soon the dogs became my good friends. One day I tried another route, where earlier a lone dog would bark ominously at me. But I was surprised that even before I took out my biscuits, he ran to me, happily wagging his tail. Maybe his friends told him about me – I was a good man now!

Over a few days, I witnessed another incident that touched my heart deeply. One of the dogs started following me to my house. I threw him a few crumbs, but he wouldn’t nibble them. He kept flapping his tail, rubbing his face on my leg, and jumping up, even as I briskly walked home. I wondered what he wanted. I threw some more morsels. He gave a cursory look at the scraps and insisted on walking with me. I had never liked dogs and could never touch them or allow them to come close to me. But this was a different experience. I suddenly felt this dog wanted me to pat him. Instantly I did that, and he licked me. He lifted his face up; he wanted me to love him and caress him. Grateful, he left after some time. I returned home, humbled and moved by this animal’s love.

Three Levels Of Our Relationship With God

Later that night I reflected on the way my relationship evolved with the street dogs.

First I saw fear and anger in their eyes, then I saw that they were greedy for food, and then I saw that this particular dog wanted only love. The third level – love – at which this dog approached me, had the most profound effect on me. I wondered at how this dog didn’t want any food, but only love.

I realized that this is the way my relationship with Krishna needs to evolve. During my initial days in Krishna consciousness, I was skeptical and challenged every facet of the philosophy. It was as if I barked at devotees and allowed my atheistic propensities to growl at Krishna because I was threatened with losing my enjoyment and independence. In time, as devotees showed kindness and gave me prasada, I saw that they were friends and wanted to give me love. I wagged my tail and was happy chanting and dancing. I often expressed gratitude to devotees and Krishna.

But my interaction with the loving dog reminds me that I need to take my spiritual life to the next level. Just as I was moved to see him reject everything else and only seek my love, Krishna will be moved when I approach Him without any material desires. When I can tell Krishna that I don’t want any of the material crumbs He can throw at me, but only His pat and loving embrace, then He will take my bhakti offerings seriously.

Choosing Krishna Over Material Gifts

History is replete with examples of devotees who chose Krishna’s love over the material gifts He offered. Arjuna and Duryodhana approached Krishna for help before the Mahabharata war. When Arjuna arrived, he saw that Krishna was resting and that Duryodhana was waiting nearby for Krishna to wake up. Arjuna quietly sat at Krishna’s feet while Duryodhana sat impatiently near Krishna’s head. When Krishna woke, His eyes first fell upon Arjuna, and He spontaneously asked how He could serve him. Duryodhana interrupted, saying that he had arrived first and thus deserved the first offer of help. Krishna insisted that He had seen Arjuna first and, moreover, Arjuna was younger and deserved to be asked first.

Krishna then offered two options: His entire army would fight for Arjuna if he wished, or he could instead choose Krishna, who would not pick up any weapon. After Arjuna made his choice, the other offer would go to Duryodhana. Without batting an eye, Arjuna said that he preferred Krishna; he didn’t want Krishna’s army but His friendship, even if that meant Krishna would not fight. Duryodhana couldn’t believe his ears. He got exactly what he wanted – Krishna’s resources. He had no liking for the person Krishna. Arjuna, however, had no desire for Krishna’s material gifts; he preferred His loving association.

Duryodhana represents a typical materialist, who “sits on God’s head”; he wants to play God’s role and seeks to exploit nature’s resources for his own selfish agenda. Arjuna represents a typical devotee, who is happy to situate himself at the Lord’s lotus feet, waiting patiently for the Lord to bestow mercy, seeking only His love.

Duryodhana internally rejoiced at his great luck but externally feigned disappointment and said he’d accept his fate. He gleefully returned home, internally thanking Arjuna for his “foolishness.” But as events unfolded later, Arjuna’s choice proved auspicious, and the Pandavas won the war, largely due to Krishna’s timely intervention at practically every step. Although Krishna lived up to His promise and didn’t fight, he orchestrated events to help Arjuna and the Pandavas.

Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions

Dhruva, a five-year-old boy, was determined to get a kingdom greater than Lord Brahma’s. He performed severe austerities, and finally, when the Lord appeared and was willing to offer him anything he desired, Dhruva did a volte-face – he wanted no material wealth but only God’s love. Remembrance of the Lord had purified Dhruva of his lower desires, and he now offered prayers immortalized in the pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam and other scriptures. He declared that in comparison to the Lord’s personal association, which is like a priceless diamond, all the possessions and positions he had wished for in this world were like broken pieces of glass. He now only wanted the Lord’s loving service.

Srila Prabhupada often said that the residents of Vrindavan are considered Krishna’s best devotees because they desired nothing material from Him. They only wanted to love Him unconditionally. In one lecture, Srila Prabhupada graphically described that when Krishna returned from the pasturing grounds of Vrindavan, the gopis did not check Krishna’s pockets to see what He had brought for them. They wanted nothing but His pleasure and love.

Becoming Krishna’s Dog

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a nineteenth-century Vaishnava saint from Bengal, penned many beautiful songs in his book Saranagati, where, as in the following, he often echoes the mood of a devotee. “O Krishna, now that I have surrendered all I possess, kindly consider me Your dog. Chain me and maintain me, please; I shall forever remain faithful to You. Whatever remnants Your devotees leave after eating, I will relish them. While sitting or lying down, I shall always meditate on Your lotus feet. Whenever You call me, I shall run to You and dance in rapture.”

Srila Prabhupada pointed out that a dog’s best quality is his loyalty to his master. Devotees sometimes compare the neck beads they wear to a dog collar, considering themselves Krishna’s dog. We don’t want to be like an uncared-for street dog that the municipality takes away. Our neck beads may prevent the town officials – i.e., the material energy – from dragging us away to a world of forgetfulness of God. Krishna’s loving protection keeps us happy and safe in this world of persistent suffering and repeated birth and death.

Following the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and our previous acaryas, let’s happily choose to be Krishna’s dogs and love and serve Him unconditionally.

Vraja Vihari Dasa, a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, has served full time at ISKCON Chowpatty since 1999. He has an honors degree in economics and a master’s in international finance. He teaches Krishna consciousness to youth and the congregation and has written four books. You can read his daily reflections