How To Overcome Grief

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 13

Sage Narada pacified King Yudhistira and Sanjaya when they were grieving from the loss of Dhritarashtra. He advised them that they should internalize the knowledge he is about to share to overcome the grief.

He spoke the following words of wisdom:

• Do not grieve for anybody as the whole world is under the control of the Supreme Lord.

• One should focus on spiritual activities and worship the Lord for mental strength

• It is the Lord who unites or separates human beings

• Grief is caused by the restlessness of the mind. The mind says how can someone who is in a miserable condition live without my protection but it is to be understood that the real protector for everyone is the Lord

• The body is made up of earth, air, fire, water, and ether which are all perishable, under the control of time, and suffer reactions to the actions. So, how can a person save another?

• This Universe is the manifestation of the Lord’s energy and consider your situation to be a part of the bigger play in this Universal play

• The exploitation of the weaker living being by the stronger living being is the natural law of this bodily existence. So, one should work towards attaining liberation through self-realization and through devotion to the Lord

• Serve devotees of the Lord because they carry the Lord in their hearts. Serving such devotees is as good as going on a pilgrimage

• The eternal time overpowers those who are attached to the family affairs. So, one should take shelter from the controller of time, the Lord to avoid the influence of bad time

• An intelligent man becomes indifferent to this world which is developed gradually either from within or from serving the saints. Then he subdues his mind by meditating on Lord Hari, who is in everyone’s heart