Be not allured by the blame game or the claim game – stay focused on Krishna

Blame game usually involves pointing the blaming finger outwards to others whenever things go wrong.

The blaming finger can also point upwards or inwards. When it points upwards, we blame God for being unintelligent or uncaring or even non-existent. When it points inwards, we beat ourselves down with self-recrimination, “I am good-for-nothing,” ending up unnecessarily with inferiority complex.

To solve the problem, we need not a blaming finger, but a helping hand

Whichever way the blaming finger points, it doesn’t help in solving the problem. For that, we need not a blaming finger, but a helping hand. Krishna being forever present in our heart is always ready to offer us that hand, even when we are to blame and even when we blame him. But we don’t accept his hand because the ego keeps us seduced in playing the blame game. Even if we succeed in pushing off the blame elsewhere – and there’s no guarantee of that – still we end up having done nothing tangible to rectify the situation or to even learn from it.

When things go right, the ego makes us play the claim game, seeking all the credit. Though the claim game seems pleasant, it too disappoints. Even if we are praised for the success – and there’s no guarantee of that because others too are playing the claim game and competing for praise – still the ego is insatiable. It always finds whatever praise it gets inadequate, thereby leaving us dissatisfied.

Pertinently, the Gita (18.58) urges us to ignore the ego and instead stay focused on Krishna. If we strive to serve him to the best of our capacity, then he will guide us from within, amidst both failures and successes, to choose the best course of action. We will learn and grow from every situation, progressing steadily towards life’s ultimate success: eternal ecstatic love for Krishna.