Founder Acharya His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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COMING OF AGE #22 – The Change from Worm to Butterfly
By Yudhisthira Dasa   |  Dec 16, 2024
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In 1976, Michael Cassidy (Mangalananda Dasa) wrote and recorded a song called “A Change of Heart,” which captivated tens if not hundreds of thousands of listeners. I remember playing it again and again, singing along to the lyrics. Fond memories. Here is a link to the song and lyrics which say:

A caterpillar changed his mind, and woke to find himself defined

His old self had to die for him to be a butterfly.

He tired of walking on the ground, and so around himself he wound

A screen of silken strand, a veil untouched by human hand.

Then something subtle changed within, reflected by his changing skin

He had a change of heart, and wished to play another part.

He changed from worm to butterfly, and if he could then so could I.

I want to free my mind and rise above the waves of time.

Beyond this burning dark abyss, up to that land of love and bliss

Where grows a flower sweet, I’ll fly to Krishna’s lotus feet.

And there to live eternally, my soul at last from matter free

A song will fill the sky, the love song of a butterfly:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Almost 50 years have passed since that song was first recorded. One question to ask ourselves is whether we are still partially or fully in our cocoon, OR have we emerged from that protective environment to be part of the rest of Krishna’s creation. After all, we are all connected.

We all know that life in the cocoon offers a nurturing and protective environment, essential in the beginning stages of our spiritual lives. However, this “bubble of protection” does have a downside after prolonged use. The risk of staying too long in the cocoon is that we can become isolated from the “world.” Our spiritual progress can be slowed by avoiding the innumerable opportunities for growth this human life offers, both emotional and spiritual. It all comes down to our consciousness, which inevitably pulls/pushes us toward our eternal connections or toward our material desires and attachments.

This explains why Lord Jesus and Srila Prabhupada, fully aware of the cocoon’s intrinsic need and purpose, made the following (extreme) statements to their potential disciples:

  1. During his physical time on Earth, Lord Jesus is recorded in the Bible as saying, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14.26).
  2. Srila Prabhupada is recorded to have said, “After fiftieth year, voluntarily one must commit civil suicide—no family” (January 7, 1977, Bombay evening darshana). He also said this is the meaning of taking sannyasa (the renounced order of our tradition). Of course, these statements are not in their cultural or historical context, just as Jesus (Luke 14.26) is speaking about full surrender.

While detachment from worldly affairs is certainly an essential ingredient in the recipe needed to turn one’s life over to God in full saranagati (devotional and loving surrender), that detachment can quickly become the “fool’s gold” of renunciation when it devolves into disconnecting from personal relationships which can and should be part of our human learning and growth experience. It’s one thing for the rare soul to isolate themselves and live alone in a cave, but for us humans we generally seek relationships and a sense of community.

While we should use discernment with whom to associate with our full heart and soul, recent history has taught us that disconnecting too much from other people can catch up with us, both emotionally and spiritually. Yes, the transition from cocoon to butterfly sounds romantic, but it is more challenging than it sounds, especially for the caterpillar. After all, the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly survival rate is only one or two percent!  

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of ISKCON or ISKCON News.

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