Dear Ray,

It is the service of Maya-devi to keep the insincere
living entity from getting too close and causing
disturbance to the Lord. The material nature will
continue to act even after we have begun the process
of surrender. It never stops. The material world is
not a comfortable place. No matter how much immediate
comfort,or discomfort, we may have in this world, it
is always temporary.

I found this quote in the Vedabase to show you that
Maya even tests very advanced devotees.

"When Haridäsa Thäkura was a young devotee of the
Lord, he was similarly allured by the incarnation of
Mäyä-devi, but Haridäsa easily passed the test because
of his unalloyed devotion to Lord Krnsa."

This is from the Caitanya Caritamrta.

Haridas Thakura is setting the perfect example of how
we should respond to all of the distractions that
Maya-devi puts before us. Whatever increased material
problems or pleasrues are happening to you, should be
seen by you (or any devotee) as a test of your
deterimination to continue on your devotional path.

YS
JayaLalita dd


vanca-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namaha