Traveling to other places is always exciting, but it comes with an additional cost: the responsibility of taking care of our luggage. Not only taking care of it, but constantly being conscious of it. During international travels, we check in our luggage and receive it only after landing. Imagine if we had to carry all that luggage on our shoulders and heads throughout long airport terminals. How difficult would that be? Not only difficult, but exhausting and tiring.
That is why, in the modern age, we prefer to be hands-free. Hands-free earphones, hands-free devices – everything light, minimal, and convenient.
We as living entities are also traveling through millions of lifetimes. We have checked-in a lot of our baggage, which is received by us when we land in different species of life. Yet, even with our carry-ons, we continue to lift and heavy mental luggage with us.
Mental Baggage of Trash and Negativity
The first kind of mental baggage we carry is nothing but trash or garbage, comprising of negativities, grudges, resentments, and anarthas. Do we ever like to keep garbage in our homes, or do we want to dispose of it as soon as possible? Interestingly, when it comes to the mind, we often love to hold on to garbage.
Sometimes, we purchase the trash from other’s houses! Kaikeyi purchased the mental baggage of malice towards Lord Rama from Manthara. That mental baggage later made even her life difficult.
Dhruva Maharaj was deeply afflicted by the harsh words spoken by his stepmother, Suruci. Suniti advised him not to carry that mental baggage, as it would only cause him suffering. Later, even Narada Muni advised Dhruva to give up his baggage.
Later in his life, Dhruva wanted to destroy the entire Yaksha community because his stepbrother Uttama was killed by one Yaksha. He was carrying a heavy mental baggage of anger. Svayambhuva Manu then advised him, “Why do you want to carry this useless baggage? It is only taking Krishna away from your life.” Dhruva realized his mistake and disposed of that mental baggage.
Mental Baggage of Misconceptions
Another kind of mental baggage we carry is misconception, which weighs heavily on the mind and makes our spiritual journey difficult.
Gadadhara Pandit carried the mental baggage of misunderstanding when he externally judged Pundarika Vidyanidhi, seeing him as a materialistic person, without understanding his deep devotion. When Mukunda Datta understood what was happening in Gadadhara’s mind, he sang a verse from Srimad Bhagavatam. Hearing that verse, Pundarika Vidyanidhi went into ecstatic symptoms for nearly six hours. Seeing this, Gadadhara Pandit was both amazed and ashamed. His mental baggage was removed, and later he took initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.
Daksha carried the mental baggage of misconception towards Lord Siva. It led to his downfall, and he even had to face seeing his daughter leaving her body in front of his eyes.
Mental Baggage of Attachments
Another common mental baggage is attachment. Attachment itself is not bad if it is dovetailed in Krishna’s service, but unhealthy attachment is nothing but trash in the mind.
Dhrtarashtra carried the mental baggage of attachment for his sons, especially Duryodhana, which made his entire life miserable and finally, he even witnessed (although he was blind!) the death of his hundred sons.
Arjuna was carrying the mental baggage of attachment to his relatives and cousins. He was ready to live as a beggar rather than act in a way that disturbed those attachments. Krishna spoke the entire Bhagavad-gita to remove Arjuna’s mental baggage of material attachment.
Even Mother Kunti prayed to Krishna to remove her mental baggage. She prayed:
atha viśveśa viśvātman
viśva-mūrte svakeṣu me
sneha-pāśam imaṁ chindhi
dṛḍhaṁ pāṇḍuṣu vṛṣṇiṣu
O Lord of the universe, soul of the universe, O personality of the form of the universe, please, therefore, sever my tie of affection for my kinsmen, the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis. SB 1.8.41
Exchanging One Mental Baggage for Another
If we are carrying a bag full of trash, and we exchange it for another bag that is also full of trash, does it make any sense?
Something similar happened in the life of Bharata Maharaja. Bharata Maharaja gave up his entire kingdom with complete detachment, as one would easily give up waste. However, after going to the forest, he became attached to a small deer. His mental baggage simply transformed from one form to another.
Becoming Free from Mental Baggages
Mental baggages make our journey of spiritual life troublesome. Because of our attachment to the trash, we may lose a day, a week, a month, or an entire lifetime in simply fostering our mental baggages.
When mental baggage becomes zero, spiritual life becomes effortless. The spiritual baggage we carry is very light. It does not create anxiety in the mind or disturbance in the heart. Rather, it helps us move smoothly through life and through our spiritual journey.
Chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra everyday is a prayer to Krishna to remove the burden of mental baggages from our hearts and make us light and free for His service. Every single day we take up many kinds of mental baggages. If we do not endeavor to remove them, the stockpile of baggages keeps on increasing!!!
When one comes closer to Krishna, realizes the superficial nature of material existence, and develops attraction for Him, all mental baggages lose their importance. The only goal that remains is to serve Krishna and to love Krishna giving up all other inhibitions.
