Saturday, July 1, 2017

Chasing Away The Elephants Of Dirtiness Of The Mind

[Sita-Rama]“O noble lady, being full of grief from not having your vision, He is not obtaining any peace of mind, like an elephant distressed by a lion.” (Hanuman speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 36.37)

tava adarśanajena ārye śokena sa pariplutaḥ |
na śarma labhate rāmaḥ simha ardita iva dvipaḥ ||

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How do you tell if someone truly loves you? Keeping aside the truth of the matter, as told by the spiritual science of the Vedas, that real love only exists in a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, when the word is invoked in the general application, what is the proof of its existence?

A test that is both common and easy to facilitate is to see the reaction that separation causes. If two people who are supposedly in love lose connection with one another, what changes are noticed? For the best observation, the separation should be complete. Sometimes physical proximity is lost, but messages are still exchanged. In that case there is still a connection.

If the person who loves you becomes sad upon separation, your association obviously means something to them. They are attached to you. They like to have you around. If you feel similarly upon separation, then the love is on an equal level.

How does this apply to the Supreme Lord? He is a person like you and me, but the best one, Purushottama. He is a living, spiritual being, but of a different and superior nature, Paramatma. Since He never falls down, He is Achyuta. Since He is never defeated, He is Ajita.

Does the above referenced verse from the Ramayana contradict these truths? Here Shri Hanuman is talking about Rama, who is an incarnation of God. Rama is Ramachandra, the moon-like beauty full of transcendental pleasure. He is Raghava, a prince in the Raghu dynasty.

Hanuman is speaking to Sita Devi, who is Rama’s beloved wife. The two are separated at the time. From meeting Hanuman, Sita is getting news of Rama after a long time apart. Hanuman says that Rama is suffering from grief, shoka, because of not having the vision, darshana, of Sita.

The grief is so strong that it is preventing peace of mind, sharma. The comparison is made to an elephant being harassed by a lion. The elephant has no desire to kill anyone for food. The lion is different. The roar of the lion generally drives away the elephant.

[elephant and lion]How can God be affected like this? Shouldn’t He be above attachment and distress? Shouldn’t He know that in the future everything will be okay? The explanation is that Rama shows sadness upon separation for the benefit of His devotees. Though you don’t want people near and dear to you to suffer, it’s a little comforting to know that there is some negative change upon separation, that you mean something to them.

The lion-elephant comparison can be used for material existence, as well. In the mind are many elephant-like desires. These are large stumbling blocks towards peace of mind. The lion to scare those desires away is the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

“I am faithfully engaged in the service of Rama, who is a lion among men [nrisimham], has a broad chest and powerful arms, who treads the earth like a lion and who is like a lion in prowess.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.35)

[Sita-Rama]After all, the same Rama once incarnated in a half-man/half-lion form to do away with a very powerful and evil king. Sita once described Rama to be lion-like, as well. Separation from Sita and Rama can easily be prevented, since the sound of the maha-mantra brings their presence. God and His eternal consort come to the rescue for the souls struggling in the material world, which is compared to a vast ocean that is difficult to cross over. Hanuman literally crossed a large body of water on the strength of devotion, and so the sounds of the holy names can empower a person to do something similar.

In Closing:

Elephant in jungle to stay,

By lion’s roar driven away.

 

Same with desires to find,

Clouding judgment in mind.

 

Sacred sound with potency same,

God’s association through name.

 

Whose presence separation’s pain clearing,

Like when Sita news of Rama hearing.

Friday, June 30, 2017

A Tale Of Two Friends

[Lord Krishna]“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.29)

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Friend1: You ever noticed how parents have different relationships with their kids?

Friend2: You mean in one family or across different families?

Friend1: Well, obviously there is variety as you move from family to family. I’m specifically talking about within a single family.

Friend2: Oh, like how one child is the baby of the family? They can do no wrong. They never get in trouble. They are spoiled. Contrast with the firstborn, who gets the opposite treatment.

Friend1: Exactly. There is the common joke that parents make all the mistakes on the first child. It’s like a guinea pig.

Friend2: There’s a lot of truth in that.

Friend1: It shouldn’t be that way, right? Parents should apply the same amount of attention, love, and affection.

Friend2: It’s due to the different natures. Generally, they love the children the same amount, but the treatment is specific to the personality type. This variation doesn’t necessarily mean the parents love one child more than the rest.

Friend1: Okay, so this is with parenting, where there is a natural bond formed, which is almost unbreakable. What about with friendship?

Friend2: As in you treat certain friends better than others?

Friend1: Absolutely. I’m ashamed to admit it but if two of my friends ask me for an identical favor, the first instinct is to decline one and help the other. In fact, I jump at the chance to help the other friend.

Friend2: Why is that?

Friend1: Because the one friend takes advantage. They expect others to make up for their irresponsibility. They also know that I don’t like being inconvenienced.

Friend2: So that’s why you are hesitant to help?

Friend1: Yes. In addition, helping them doesn’t really do much for the relationship. For instance, if I come through five straight times, on the sixth time there is no forgiveness for customer loyalty. If I fail to come through on the sixth request, they get upset.

Friend2: Yeah. That’s not cool. It’s human nature, though. We forget. Its starts from the time of birth. As soon as we exit the womb we forget the suffering of the past nine months. We forget the experiences of the previous births, also.

[Balarama and Krishna]Friend1: God is different, I would assume.

Friend2: Don’t just take my word for it. Lakshmana once remarked on how Rama was grateful. That was one of the reasons Lakshmana was devoted to Him. Rama is God in an incarnation form. The saguna incarnation gives proof to many concepts simultaneously. With Rama’s pastimes we see that He doesn’t forget even the smallest good deed done in His favor.

Friend1: So He would treat both friends the same way?

Friend2: You mean if one of them took advantage of Him all the time and the other one didn’t?

Friend1: Right. Like I am more inclined to help my second friend. They don’t take advantage of me. They are always thinking about my welfare first. Sometimes they don’t even have to ask. I volunteer to help. I know that they appreciate it.

Friend2: So does God love the person who doesn’t appreciate Him?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: Of course. He stays with everyone as the Supersoul. As Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, says in the Bhagavad-gita, He doesn’t envy anyone. He is the best companion through His expansion of the Supersoul residing within the heart. Paramatma is inside both the priest and the thief. He is inside the lower animal and the tiger ready to eat it.

Friend1: Okay, but isn’t there another stipulation?

[Lord Krishna]Friend2: Someone who renders service to Him becomes a friend. A friend means someone who receives direct support from the Supreme Lord. God is the best friend to have. He provides to the devotees what they lack and preserves what they have.

“But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form - to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.22)

In Closing:

With admission ashamed to say,

That one friend treated different way.

 

Since advantage of my help not taking,

For them immediate the effort making.

 

God neutral, a friend automatically to all,

But rendering service one a friend to call.

 

For them bringing whatever lacking,

And preserving from time attacking.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Four Common Factors That Cause Forgetfulness But Not In God

[Rama darbar]“I am His younger brother, Lakshmana by name. Due to His transcendental qualities, I have taken up service to Him, as He is grateful and very knowledgeable.” (Lakshmana speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 4.12)

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One of the properties belonging to God is that He is the best well-wishing friend of every living entity. He wants only pure happiness for every single living thing. He travels with everything that is alive. This means that God is always close by. He sees everything, hears everything, and remembers everything.

“Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes and faces, and He hears everything. In this way the Supersoul exists.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.14)

God is a person, and sometimes He descends to the material land. It is His creation, after all, so He can come and go as He pleases. With the incarnation of Shri Rama, the younger brother Lakshmana once remarked that there is gratefulness. This was one of the reasons Lakshmana followed the elder brother. One of Rama’s many names is Lakshmana-agraja, which means the elder brother, the one who leads, of Lakshmana.

[Rama darbar]A good way to get confirmation about this gratefulness is to review the common areas of forgetfulness for the people who aren’t God.

1. Moving to a different place

Out of sight, out of mind. The person dealing with a breakup takes comfort from this. If you don’t see a person, it is likely you won’t remember them. Sita Devi once remarked about this. She wondered if the affection, sneha, from Rama had waned since He was separated from her.

“I trust that Raghava has not lost affection for me due to being away from home. O Vanara, I trust that He will release me from these difficulties.” (Sita Devi speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 36.20)

Sita is the beloved wife. She is the eternal consort of God, accompanying Him whenever there is an incarnation appearing on earth. Rama, of course, did not forget Sita. Though He was away from home for a period of time, separated from her, He remembered the time they shared and the amazing love she showed.

2. New desires

This forgetfulness is most obvious in children. You buy them a new toy. They are so excited. They play with it for a few days. Then they get another toy. The old one is set aside, likely to never be thought of again.

Desire in Sanskrit is known as kama. The flaw with kama is that it is never fully satisfied. If you try to meet one desire, another one springs up. The intensity grows, as well, making it harder to reach satisfaction. It is something like the law of diminishing returns.

The Supreme Lord is above kama. Nothing about Him is material. Therefore new desires do not cause Him to forget. He remembers even the slightest kind gesture done in His favor.

3. Time

Time heals all wounds. A person dealing with loss or a painful situation takes comfort in this. Time causes the changing of bodies. It leads the soul from one place to another. Time is the great devouring agent of the world, as it has yet to be defeated.

“The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. With the exception of you [the Pandavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain.” (Bhagavad-gita, 11.32)

In the Bhagavad-gita the Supreme Lord says that He is time itself. Time is one representation of God in the material world. It is the only known interaction the atheists have with the Divine. They can deny His existence all they want, but it just means they will see Him at the time of quitting the body.

As God controls time, He is not influenced by it. It is said that time is present in the spiritual world, but it does not have a negative influence. God is not inclined to forget anything, even after hundreds of thousands of years.

4. Old age

This is a byproduct of time. It’s only natural to start forgetting more things as you get older. The scientific explanation is that the different parts of the brain diminish in ability. Nothing can be done to regain the youthful body.

In His original form the Supreme Lord is known as Krishna. This Sanskrit word means “all-attractive.” One description of Krishna’s transcendental body is nava-yauvanam. This means “always fresh and new.” The Supreme Lord does not get old. The depiction of God as a bitter old man with a long gray beard is a mental concoction. He is actually the most beautiful person whose features never diminish.

As Lakshmana remarked, God is grateful. We forget good deeds done for us rather quickly, especially if the same people suddenly can’t come through for us. With the Supreme Lord it is the opposite. He is the most grateful and thus the most worthy of our affection.

In Closing:

Right now dear is friend of mine,

But let them fail just one time.

 

Then no more their face to see,

Disappointed and angry to be.

 

Forgetfulness not in Rama found,

Since neither by time nor desires bound.

 

Supreme Lord, wishing the best for all,

Greatest friend for everyone to call.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Because They Already Know

[Uddhava with the gopis]“When Uddhava said that he had a message from Krishna, the gopis were more interested in hearing the message than in hearing about their exalted position. They did not very much like being praised for their high position. They showed their anxiety to hear the message which Uddhava had brought from Krishna.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality Of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 46)

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Friend1: You would have to say that Shri Krishna is simultaneously many things.

Friend2: That’s true in more ways that one. There are the different relationships that He has.

Friend1: Oh yeah. I wasn’t even thinking about that. He was son to mother Yashoda.

Friend2: Brother to Balarama.

Friend1: Cousin to the Pandavas.

Friend2: Disciple to Sandipani Muni.

Friend1: Wife to Rukmini Devi.

Friend2: King of Dvaraka.

[Yashoda and Krishna]Friend1: And the list goes on. I was thinking at the higher level, in His role as Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Friend2: Oh, for sure. He is indeed the God of all things. He creates and maintains the many universes and their planets.

Friend1: He enters each one of them through expansions. In fact, He is everywhere around us through the role of Supersoul.

Friend2: The all-pervading witness. The overseer and permitter.

Friend1: While doing all of these things, He is not tired. He does this amazing work, but is not affected by it.

Friend2: “O Dhananjaya, all this work cannot bind Me. I am ever detached, seated as though neutral.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.9)

Friend1: I like how He is the greatest teacher, too.

Friend2: A fact attested to by the Bhagavad-gita, the sacred song of God.

Friend1: The recipient of the instruction is Arjuna, the cousin who is also a distressed warrior about to enter battle. I was thinking more about the conversation they had. It’s so profound.

Friend2: You won’t find information like that anywhere else in the world, spanning the length of time of creation and beyond.

Friend1: Right, and so Krishna is automatically the greatest teacher.

Friend2: He is the original, the adi-guru. The instruction to Arjuna was also given to the sun-god many thousands of years prior.

Friend1: Alright, so here is where my question comes in. Krishna taught Arjuna. Krishna taught Vivasvan. I know that in the Shrimad Bhagavatam we find a section where Krishna taught another cousin, Uddhava. Why didn’t Krishna teach more people?

Friend2: What do you mean? Are you asking why the role of guru wasn’t more prominently displayed?

Friend1: Well, it doesn’t have to be as widely recognized authority on important subject matters or anything. When He taught Arjuna He was first playing the role of charioteer, which is subordinate to the warrior riding the chariot. It’s not like there was a school that Krishna was running.

Friend2: So you want to know why there aren’t more instances of Him providing such instruction?

Friend1: Yeah, like to the people of Vrindavana. He didn’t instruct the father, the mother, the friends. He didn’t instruct the gopis, the cowherd women who spent so much time with Him.

Friend2: There’s a simple answer.

Friend1: Which is?

Friend2: Those people already know. They were already taught.

Friend1: When? By whom?

Friend2: Likely in a previous lifetime. By someone representing Krishna.

Friend1: How do you know this?

Friend2: Living in Vrindavana during that time is a kind of reward. It is the fruit of accepting transcendental knowledge and practically applying it. In Vrindavana there is only sweetness in interaction with Krishna in a variety of moods. There is no need for instruction because the best result of accepting that instruction is already there.

Friend1: So you’re saying devotional service, bhakti-yoga, in direct association of Krishna is superior to knowledge?

Friend2: At that point it’s not even bhakti-yoga. It’s bhava and beyond. It is the very nature of the soul. It is unfettered living. The experience is difficult to explain since we are not in it. We are conditioned at present, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate.

“O scion of Bharata [Arjuna], O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.27)

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: Proof is there in the meeting with Uddhava and the gopis. He came to Vrindavana to deliver a message from Krishna, who had left to become the king of Dvaraka. After seeing their devotion Uddhava praised the gopis as being the best yogis. They were true transcendentalists, since they always thought of Krishna. The gopis responded that they had no use for such praise or instruction. They simply wanted to know how Krishna was doing and whether He was thinking of them.

Friend1: Wow. Interesting.

[Uddhava with the gopis]Friend2: Krishna doesn’t teach everyone because only those interested in knowing the higher subject matter will benefit from hearing. That is why the guru, the spiritual master, uses discretion when offering instruction. That discretion involves adjusting to both location and audience. With the exalted devotees, they have already reached a higher platform of understanding. They have already performed every auspicious yajna, or sacrifice. They have already overcome desire, aversion, attachment, and hatred.

In Closing:

Requiring instruction no more,

Since Krishna they already adore.

 

Every sacrifice and ritual done before,

To reach position of devotion and more.

 

Explaining why limited instruction instilling,

To hear not every audience willing.

 

Like gopis with Uddhava not interested to hear,

Of jnana or yoga, just of one to heart most dear.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Three Questions To Explain What The Theory Of Evolution Really Means

[reincarnation]“Darwin's theory of evolution is but a partial explanation of the transmigration of the soul. Darwin has simply taken information from Vedic literature, but he has no conception of the soul. The difference is that the soul is transmigrating from aquatic life to plants and trees, then to insect life, then to bird life, then animal life, then human life, and within human life he moves from uncivilized life to civilized life, etc. The civilized life of a human being represents the culmination of evolution.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Science Of Self-Realization, Ch 7b)

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It’s the foundation of the science of self-realization. It is a science in that there are laws which exist and persist universally, without prejudice, over a specific jurisdiction. There is realization, which is more involved than basic understanding. You can show knowledge of a subject by correctly answering questions on an exam, but real proficiency is something else entirely.

The realization is of a specific thing. It relates to the individual and their true identity. That identity is described as the “self,” and in Sanskrit the corresponding word is atma. This also means individual spirit soul, which is distinct from matter.

Shri Krishna provides a clear and basic understanding of the science of self-realization through a series of verses in the Bhagavad-gita. This is the foundation, the point from which to proceed further, the gate to the amazing, awe-inspiring, and blissful spiritual existence.

“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22)

One of the verses compares birth and death to putting on and taking off clothes. The self does not change in the process. The body is something separate from an existence. In the modern vernacular the constant changing goes by the name of reincarnation.

This reincarnation, or transmigration of the individual spirit soul, is the real kind of evolution. Based on the spiritual science, the modern theory of evolution can be properly compared to different aspects of material nature. Through a few simple questions, the theory is put into the proper context.

1. Does a clothing manufacturer generate people to wear the clothes?

Shri Krishna explains that the material substance is the cause of birth, and He is the seed-giving father. He glances over the material substance, injecting the spiritual energy. That is what causes the many different living beings to populate this and innumerable other planets.

“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.4)

The bodies are like clothes, and they are crafted by the first living entity, Lord Brahma. He is thus known as the creator. He uses three base ingredients: goodness, passion and ignorance. He combines them in different ways to make up to 8,400,000 body types. Brahma makes the body types, but he does not generate the living entities.

As a comparison for understanding, we see that the clothing manufacturer only makes the clothes. They make so many kinds that no one will be able to try every style in a single lifetime, as fashion changes with time. The manufacturer does not generate people to wear the different clothes.

For the theory of evolution to hold true, the different body types would have to create corresponding people to fit into them. This cannot occur due to the fact that matter is dull and lifeless. Moreover, intelligent output requires intelligent input. Life is the greatest indication of intelligence, and it cannot be generated from something that lacks intelligence, namely the body.

2. Does a pair of pants grow a new pocket on its own?

The evolution theory is based on the concept of adaptability and the survival of the fittest. One group of population sees a specific need, and so it generally adapts to that need in future generations. There could be an extra hand grown or something about the method of digestion changes.

Yet this adaptability would have to be compared to the clothes making changes on their own. Does a shirt suddenly add buttons to itself? Can a pair of pants create new pockets? There is a clothing manufacturer, who is an intelligent being. They implement the changes in the next round of output, and those changes come about through applied intelligence.

3. Does a shirt realize it needs more durability based on how it is being used?

These changes to the body occur through need. Need is assessed based on the processing of information over time. Again, the body is composed of material elements, both gross and subtle. These cannot do anything on their own.

“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego - altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.4)

The clothing manufacturer makes changes based on observation and experience. They observe how the clothes come out. Experiments are in the field, through sales to customers and their feedback. The underlying fabric of the shirt may change in the next iteration. The shirt is incapable of making these assessments.

There is evolution, for sure, but it is of the individual spirit soul and not the body. The ingredients for the material creation already exist. As there can be over eight million different kinds of output, the creativity aspect is already accounted for.

The fitness of the human birth in the chain of evolution is linked directly to knowledge and practical realization, jnana and vijnana. Know your true identity as spirit soul and apply it practically to how you live. The other species don’t have this opportunity. The individual living in those body types must wait for the evolution to continue.

[reincarnation]Thus there is some urgency upon reaching the human birth. The Sanskrit aphorism is athato brahma-jijnasa. “Now is the time for inquiring about Brahman, the spiritual nature, the true essence of life.” Properly understanding the flawed theory of evolution is one way to make advancement. Simply hearing Krishna’s opening remarks to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita is another. The more one is armed in knowledge, the quicker they can proceed towards achieving the ultimate goal of life.

In Closing:

For evolution theory to understand,

Review series of questions at hand.

 

Does manufacturer people also make,

For on their bodies clothes to take?

 

New pocket from pants a pair,

Of the future need aware?

 

Can shirt by itself realize need?

Proof that spirit distinct from matter indeed.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Five Things That Shri Rama Is Simultaneously

[Sita-Rama]“My husband Rama is famous throughout the world. He is pure, truthful, and very gentle. He is mighty-armed, has wide eyes, and is always busy working for the welfare of all living beings [sarva-bhuta-hite-ratah].” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.11)

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God is the most amazing purusha, or person. Though He is above the distinction between spirit and matter, He is spread everywhere throughout prakriti, or the material nature. He hears everything. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, it does make a sound. God’s expansion of the Supersoul is there to hear it.

Resting within the heart of every individual living entity, God is witness to everything. He is within, antaryami, watching what occurs. He remembers, also. In this capacity He is able to hear every call made to Him. No prayer ever falls on deaf ears.

Yet the Supersoul is only one feature. Bhagavan is the complete feature, and in it the Supreme Lord again assumes many roles simultaneously. The incarnation of Rama gives a tiny glimpse into this aspect of Bhagavan.

1. The creator of this and other universes

It is said that Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu. Who came first? Vishnu or Rama? Krishna or Vishnu? There really is no difference. The personal incarnations are identical to one another; hence worship of any qualify as bhakti-yoga, or devotional service.

Vishnu is the personal form of God worshiped typically in the mood of awe and reverence. Vishnu creates this and other universes effortlessly. He lies down in rest, and while doing something considered involuntary, there is creation and annihilation. Vishnu exhales to create and inhales to destroy.

2. The best friend of every living entity

The feature of Supersoul already establishes this truth, but a person may not see it. After all, the Supersoul is more of a passive role, since there is no interference with choice. God is with me right now in the heart, but I don’t take advantage of this close proximity until I know how to connect with Him. The Supersoul is an overseer of actions. He also gives sanction for the different results to manifest.

“Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.23)

Bhagavan is actually the best friend of every living entity. That is to say He wants the best for everyone. Rama’s wife Sita once remarked on this. She said that her husband is the well-wisher of every bhuta, or living entity.

This is true even of the people Rama punished. He played the role of kshatriya warrior, and one of the duties is to protect from injury. That protection, which can involve inflicting pain, is beneficial to both the protected and the punished.

3. The dear husband of Sita

Rama is a kshatriya upholding justice in Ayodhya and throughout the world. He does not turn away a person who seeks His shelter. Whoever that person may be, Rama does not judge. If this weren’t His disposition, He couldn’t be God.

[Sita-Rama]In the incarnation that roamed the earth, Rama also had a wife. He was the whole world to Sita, the princess of Videha. Rama did not abandon His duties to the princess, whose hand He won from the bow contest held by Sita’s father.

4. The elder brother of Lakshmana

Rama had three younger brothers. They all loved Him equally, but Lakshmana was the one who couldn’t bear physical separation from Rama. Rama upheld justice, worked for the benefit of every living entity, maintained His wife, and still found time to be the best older brother.

As antaryami, God knows what everyone is thinking. He knows that people are different; not everyone can tolerate the same situations. Therefore Rama always keeps Lakshmana by His side, knowing that separation is not an option for the dedicated younger brother, who actually embodies the spirit of guru, or dedicated servant in the role of teacher of the spiritual science.

5. The object of service for Hanuman

If you’re unsure about someone, a good way to get confirmation about their character is to judge the people that know them. Shri Hanuman is one of the most amazing people to have ever graced this earth. He is both strong and wise. He is both accomplished and humble. He can fight with the best of them and offer embraces to his friends. He first looks to give credit to others, even when he has done something wonderful.

That person views Rama as the number one object of service. Rama lives up to the role by creating opportunities for further service, which allow Hanuman to shine. The Sanskrit work called the Ramayana has Rama’s name in the title. It is obviously about the incarnation of God named Rama. At the same time, there is an entire section within dedicated to Hanuman and his amazing service. That is another truth about the Supreme Lord. He is always looking to glorify those who love Him.

In Closing:

Many things simultaneously to be,

Shri Rama, Supreme Lord is He.

 

For every living thing wishing well,

As witness of every incident can tell.

 

As Vishnu easily work of creation done,

Husband of Sita through bow contest won.

 

To Hanuman object of service dear,

Keeping devoted younger brother near.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Three Formidable Foes That Rama Can Overcome

[Shri Rama]“There if death itself, demigods, or demons were to stand in Rama’s way, He will destroy them, too.” (Hanuman speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 36.36)

tatra yadi antarā mṛtyuḥ yadi devāḥ saha asurāḥ |
sthāsyanti pathi rāmasya sa tān api vadhiṣyati ||

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Just how strong is God? Is there a way to measure? One of the Sanskrit words used to describe Him is Adhokshaja. This references a person whose features cannot be assessed using blunt instruments. In essence, God’s height is both too large and too small to fathom. He is simultaneously greater than the greatest and tinier than the tiniest. He fits within the heart of both the ant and the elephant. As the Supersoul He expands to reside within both the intelligent person and the animal-like one.

The incarnations help to give an idea about God’s features. A popular animated television series from the 1980s had a tagline of, “and knowing his half the battle.” Knowing God is extremely important. In fact, that knowledge is more worthwhile than the latest news produced by the leaders of state.

That knowledge can shape consciousness, and consciousness is what determines the nature of living going forward. There will always be a future, as the individual, who is spirit soul, can never be killed. If we are going to continue to live, we might as well consider how to make that living pleasurable.

The incarnation of Rama has the name that indicates God’s possession of full transcendental pleasure. Bliss, or ananda, is given to others who interact with Him in the proper mood. Rama assumes the role of protector of the innocent, and in order to protect properly you have to overcome any obstacles encountered. With Rama, some of the most formidable foes are no match.

1. Demigods

The Sanskrit words are sura and deva. These are gods. They reside in the heavenly region; hence they can also be known as celestials. They are individual spirit souls temporarily residing in amazing bodies. Though the first sura, Lord Brahma, lives for billions of years, in the grand scheme even that length of time is not much.

“By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma's one day. And such also is the duration of his night.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.17)

Rama can overcome the devas, should they stand in His way. This is the opinion of Shri Hanuman, Rama’s messenger. The opinion is validated through knowledge of God’s features.

Why would the devas ever go against God? Doesn’t the word sura indicate that they are good guys, on the side of righteousness?

Demigods are still conditioned living entities, so there is the chance that they might succumb to jealousy. This occurred one time with the king of the celestials, Indra. He tested the strength in God by instigating a devastating rainstorm in Vrindavana, intended to kill innocent men, women, children, and cows. The same Rama was there, but in His form of Krishna. God thwarted the attack by simply lifting a massive hill and holding it up as an umbrella.

2. Demons

The Sanskrit word asura is a negation of the word used for demigods. The asuras are already against God, so it is not surprising that they would try to thwart the Divine will. In Rama’s case there were many encounters with the asuras prior to meeting Hanuman. Rama one time handled fourteen thousand asura-like men attacking Him at the same time.

Hanuman knows that Rama will destroy any demons that stand in His way of rescuing Sita, who was held in Lanka against her will by the king of the land, Ravana. Lanka was populated by Rakshasas, which are a special kind of demon, the lowest of the low in terms of consciousness. They had heightened ability in fighting, but they didn’t know how to use it for the highest benefit.

3. Death

In the Bhagavad-gita Shri Krishna says that He is time itself. The Sanskrit word is kala. The word is synonymous with death. Time is the great destroyer. It is undefeated. Every person who takes birth must eventually succumb to death.

As Rama is God, He is above birth and death. If death personified were to stand in His way of rescuing Sita, Rama would win. This is the power of God. He creates the many universes effortlessly. He can destroy them, as well. Though He is time itself, He is separate from it. He does not directly involve Himself with the ups and downs found in the material world.

[Shri Rama]Through offering protection Rama similarly empowers His servants, who are known as devotees. Death still strikes, but it has no influence on the ability to practice devotion going forward. Demigods and demons may get in the way, even powerful sages. Durvasa Muni was defeated by King Ambarisha, just because Ambarisha was a devotee of the Supreme Lord. In the same way Hanuman could not be defeated by Ravana or his men. Such knowledge gives further confidence in the path of full surrender in devotion, which makes the most out of the human birth.

In Closing:

Most power ever in person to see,

Not even formidable enemies three.

 

To have chance in victory over Him gaining,

Like celestials the highest region attaining.

 

Indra in anger sending devastating rain,

Lord lifting hill of Govardhana name.

 

Death or even weapons of asuras showered,

No match, same for devotees empowered.