A crocodile once approached a monkey in a tree and asked the monkey if he wanted to go for a ride on his back. The monkey was very happy to accept this invitation. However, after some distance during the ride the monkey asked, “Where are we going?” The crocodile replied, “I am taking you to my wife so that she can eat your heart”. The monkey replied, “But I left my heart in the tree, please return so I can get it”. But on it’s return, the monkey jumped back onto the tree and remained there. According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service. After receiving the seed of devotion, the jiva must sow the seed in the garden of their heart. The devotee gardener must then regularly water that seed with devotional practices, especially hearing and chanting Krishna’s names. In a garden there are always weeds that grow alongside the plants, so in devotional service one must regularly pull out such weeds to protect the seed of devotion. These weeds come in the form of mundane movies, music, books, magazines, idleness and such, which compete and suppress the growth of the delicate creeper of devotion. Be always on guard against the crocodile temptations of this world, that can carry away the heart to again be lost in the ocean of material existence. Better we leave our heart in Vrindavan, where it is safe at the lotus feet of Krishna.
Hare Krishna! Dhirasanta dasa Goswami