Four Devotional Services That Can Be Offered In Meditation

“Although the Lord was present in Vaikuntha, He was present also in the heart of the brahmana when he was meditating on the worshiping process. Thus, we can understand that things offered by the devotees even in meditation are accepted by the Lord, and they help one achieve the desired result.” (The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 10)

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I don’t have time to visit a temple. There isn’t one near me. I can’t drive yet. My car is on its last legs. There was a massive snowstorm over the weekend, so the roads are closed. I’m too tired to get up. I ate a significant meal last night and I need more time to digest.

In a material existence there are plenty of miseries, and each one can serve as an impediment to doing important work. Nothing should take higher priority to devotional service, bhakti-yoga, which automatically incorporates realizing the self. But life happens. Other factors are at play, which makes it difficult to practice as desired.

The beneficiary of such service is so merciful that He allows for the fruit to result from just contemplating the activities. That is to say meditating on devotional activities can be just as potent as doing them in real life. The tale of a brahmana described in the Puranas is evidence.

1. Washing the temple

This is an otherwise menial task. Who wants to clean? It’s not straightforward work. If you haven’t tidied up in a while, the mission is daunting. There is the saying that you have to make a mess in order to clear a mess. You might have to pick everything up from an area, move it, and then work on organizing from there.

Cleaning for the Supreme Personality of Godhead qualifies as bhakti since the mood is right. There is the saying that cleanliness is next to godliness. Purity, both inside and out, helps to increase the potency of devotional practices.

This brahmana simply meditated on cleaning the temple of the Lord on a daily basis. He understood that though the deity representation resides there, it is just like God being at home in a palace. This should be the mood, which helps everyone involved.

2. Collecting water from the sacred rivers

Vedic literature identifies several important bodies of water. They each have some relationship to God, such as the Ganga emanating from His lotus feet, safely brought to this world by Bhagiratha, helped by Lord Shiva.

In rituals aimed at purification of the individual, water from these rivers is required. In ancient times people would physically travel to these places and collect the water in pots. Mantras can also suffice. During his meditation this particular brahmana imagined going to the different rivers and collecting the water necessary for offering to Bhagavan.

3. Offering fruits and flowers

You don’t have to be an expert cook. You don’t have to read cookbooks or watch reality television shows hosted by acclaimed chefs. Some fruit and water suffice to put a smile on the face of the Supreme Lord.

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.26)

This brahmana imagined that he offered nice fruits and flowers to God. They say that some type of offering should be made when visiting the temple. Offered in the proper way the resultant items become prasadam, or the Lord’s mercy.

4. Preparing sweet rice with milk and sugar

Devotional service is ever increasing in scope, in terms of the bliss derived and also the level of the practice. Such as with this case, the meditating brahmana wanted to do more and more for Bhagavan. He was not looking to reach an end, where a benediction comes and then everything goes back to the ways of the past, i.e. material life.

He imagined preparing sweet rice with milk and sugar. The best taste is when the dish is cold, so the brahmana touched the rice with his finger to judge the temperature. It was still hot and there was a resultant burn. Upon breaking his meditation, the brahmana noticed that his finger was burned in real life.

In the Vaikuntha realm the Supreme Lord Vishnu took note of this worship and had the brahmana brought to His side. The devotee won liberation, just from meditation. The idea is that God can be seen face to face through meditation, provided the motives are sincere. Outside factors can help, such as good association and residing in a holy place, but when there is a will Vishnu helps the devotee to find a way.

In Closing:

Vishnu helping to find a way,

For devotee desiring to stay.

Even if far away from temple living,

Still chance through meditation giving.

Like brahmana fruits and flowers collecting,

Sacred waters too, Bhagavan not rejecting.

Testing sweet rice the finger to burn,

Spot in Vaikuntha immediately to earn.

The Three Modes Of Nature And Their Corresponding Conditions

“The living entities conditioned by material nature are of various types. One is happy, another is very active, and another is helpless. All these types of psychological manifestations are causes of the entities' conditioned status in nature.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 14.6)

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A jiva is a conditioned soul. The binary understanding, the simple yes/no switch, if you will, relates to a connection to the Divine. When there is purity in consciousness, which is a symptom of living, the presence of spirit, then there is liberation. In that state there are no conditions in duality, such as birth and death and everything in between.

In the conditioned state there is one misery after another, and the cause is forgetfulness of the Divine. It is something like entering the movie theater and intentionally ignoring what is readily acknowledged and known: that the film about to be shown is a scripted performance, produced with intelligence in such a way as to entertain.

The jiva is conditioned by material nature to continue in the forgetfulness of God. The conditioning itself can be further broken down: namely into three categories. These are the modes of nature, and they have corresponding conditions.

1. Ignorance - helpless

The influence of the modes includes the type of body given, the activities followed after birth, and the state of mind. The three modes are like colors used in a painting. Not everything is pure white or pure black. The colors can be mixed together in different combinations.

The mode of ignorance corresponds to helplessness. The ideal example is the person consumed by intoxicants. They start out dominant over an inanimate object. The bottle of liquor can’t do anything to me. It is just matter, after all. The same with cigarettes.

Yet the effect of overindulgence is so potent that these objects develop a kind of magnetic force, where it is seemingly impossible to step away. The person in ignorance is helpless, as they don’t know what to do. Common symptoms are large stretches of sleep, laziness, and doing things that produce no tangible benefit.

2. Passion - active

Practically every human being begins in this mode. There is a desire, most often to acquire something. I want a toy. I want to go to Disneyworld. As maturity takes place, the desires change. I want a good grade on the test. I want a car. I want a wife. I want to retire.

The mode of passion involves the pursuit to achieve these desires, leading to an active state. Passion is considered a step above ignorance since there is something tangible produced. The glaring drawback, however, is that desires rarely diminish. They increase in intensity, in spite of success.

3. Goodness - happy

The mode of goodness corresponds to intelligence. I realize that buying the most expensive car won’t really do much for me. I don’t need to work so hard, since at the time of death everything will be taken away regardless. I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Divine energy known as Brahman.

I am generally happy, as it is a relief to be free of the traps of passion and ignorance. The athlete works so hard to win a championship, but that memory is quickly erased thereafter. If the next season they lose in the final round, sadness follows. In passion a person basically stays in the same position, win or lose.

I am even more pleased to be free of ignorance. Sleeping the entire day away is no fun. Intoxication didn’t do me any good. The bottle of whiskey lied to me; there was no advancement as a result of indulgence.

From this review goodness looks like the winner, the height of living, but goodness is a mode of nature, after all. This means that the jiva is conditioned by that happiness. A person in that mode may start to feel they are better than others and then fall into activities that keep them conditioned. A person in the mode of goodness is in line to reach heaven in the afterlife, but residence there is not permanent.

“When they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.21)

In the liberated state the mode of living is known as shuddha-sattva. This is pure goodness. There is no feeling of superiority to the point of taking part in activities to remain conditioned. There is happiness for sure, but of a different kind. There is activity, but not for the purpose of a temporary, personal result. Sometimes there may be a feeling of helplessness, but it doesn’t last, nor is helplessness actually the case.

In pure goodness there is only service to the Divine, who is actually a person. Since He is all-attractive, one name for Him is Krishna. I may feel helpless in being able to serve Krishna properly, but He appreciates that sentiment and ensures that I will continue to have the opportunity to serve. I am active because I want to please Him. Even if outside conditions inhibit so strongly to the point of preventing me from moving, I can at least chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

I am happy because I get to stay with my best friend, who is the greatest well-wisher to every person. I feel the pain of separation, but that is also auspicious. I feel others are superior to me since they have a better ability to serve and please Krishna. They simply need to be made aware of their potential, and from there they will quickly pass me by.

In Closing:

From modes of nature three,

Conditions of living to see.

Helpless in ignorance to feel,

In passion like on spinning wheel.

In goodness some happiness got,

But even from heaven to drop.

Only in bhakti, pure goodness the mind,

Lasting happiness, help of God to find.

Why Does Krishna Wait So Long To Descend

“Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.6)

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Friend1: The yada yada hi dharmasya verse from the Bhagavad-gita is very significant.

Friend2: For sure.

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion - at that time I descend Myself.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.7)

Friend1: Whenever and wherever. This implies that God keeps an eye on what goes on in the material world. Though time and karma combine to produce the just results at the appropriate time, there are special occasions that warrant a visit from the Divine Himself.

Friend2: Yes. When He sees fit to appear, He does. Krishna does everything at His own will.

Friend1: I’m sure you’ve come across this question. When people read that verse, they immediately assess the situation in the world at present. They most likely notice that irreligion, adharma, is rampant. They know that the saintly class of people requires protection. They wonder why doesn’t Krishna appear right now, to save the day.

Friend2: Reading the descriptions of His past descents, the avataras, is like connecting with Him directly. Even easier is chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Friend1: That’s fine. I understand that. Krishna is around already, everywhere. The very existence of life is proof of His presence. I will further refine the question. I know that God the person appears occasionally.

Friend2: In the personal form. The foolish mistake Him for an ordinary being. They fail to realize that His form is changeless and supreme.

Friend1: Got it. Why only occasionally, though? He says in every millennium, sambhavami yuge yuge.

Friend2: And you think that is too long a time, that the gap is wider than it needs to be?

Friend1: You nailed it. Appear more often, please. Occasionally isn’t cutting it [smiling]!

Friend2: Here’s the thing. To you and me, thousands of years is a long time. To the Supreme Lord occasionally can mean even a billion years. He looks at time on the grandest scale, which we should as well. He says that the person who really knows time understands the length of Brahma’s day and night. Brahma is the creator, the first living entity of the material world. He lives for an inconceivably long time. His day is billions of years. Imagine that.

Friend1: By comparison, a day to us is nothing. Twenty-four hours.

Friend2: Exactly. For Brahma, billions of years is like twenty-four hours for us. Imagine, then, what Krishna considers billions of years to be. Due to being conditioned by material nature, we are tricked into thinking that the present manifestation of time will stay forever. Things are bad now, but they could be worse. They will inevitably change. We assign top priority to this lifetime, which we should, but there were many previous existences. There will be lifetimes in the future, too. Properly understanding time is one component of knowing God. The fact that He appears occasionally is great mercy, and He makes sure that those moments don’t get forgotten or lost. That is why there are books like the Puranas, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Hearing from those works is like Krishna appearing immediately. You and I have the ability to change occasionally to constantly.

In Closing:

In shastra described as occasionally,

Through bhakti changing to constantly.

By works like Ramayana reading,

That message man desperately needing.

Living for upwards of one hundred a year,

But consider countless lifetimes in rear.

For Krishna billions compared to the same,

But can arrive immediately through name.

Didn’t Janaka Take A Huge Risk With The Rules Of The Contest

“The men and women of the city are staring at the lamp of Raghu’s family with love, while they give a bad look to the king of Videha.” (Janaki Mangala, 65)

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Friend1: If you collectively study Shri Rama’s lila, His pastimes, which incident do you think is the most famous?

Friend2: That’s like asking which of your kids do you love the most.

Friend1: I’m not asking about preference. This is not personal opinion, but rather popularity. Think of it like asking someone who they think is going to win the election versus who they are voting for.

Friend2: Oh, I see. Still a tough question, but I’d have to go with Rama’s breaking of the bow.

Friend1: At Janaka’s contest. To win the hand of Sita Devi in marriage.

Friend2: Yes. It was an amazing accomplishment. It literally could not be matched by anyone, even those who were supposedly feared throughout the world for their strength. Consider this. The king of Lanka at the time had twenty arms. Taking each one of them together still wouldn’t have moved the bow, let alone lift it and apply string to it.

Friend1: And Janaka decided upon the contest because his daughter was special.

Friend2: Yes. He found her in the field one day, while preparing it for a yajna [sacrifice]. He immediately developed affection, and a voice from the sky confirmed that this was his daughter in all dharma [righteousness].

Friend1: Why the contest, though? He wasn’t confident in being able to find a suitable match?

Friend2: Well, the bow was in the family for a long time, passed on through the generations. It originally belonged to Lord Shiva. The story goes that as a child Sita once moved the bow without effort. Amazed by this, Janaka decided that her husband should be a person who could also move the bow.

Friend1: I’ve heard that, too. But I don’t remember seeing it in the Ramayana or Ramacharitamanasa.

Friend2: I think that story is found in another telling of Rama’s life. There are several books out there that go by the Ramayana name in informal conversation.

Friend1: I see. Okay, so let’s discuss the contest itself. Princes from around the world arrived.

Friend2: Yes, and Rama was only there by chance. The Supreme Lord knows how to create the perfect setting. He not only lifted the bow without effort, but there was a lack of investment, as well. It is not like He arrived in Tirahuta specifically for the contest.

Friend1: Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana were like bodyguards to the venerable Vishvamitra Muni.

Friend2: He brought the two brothers there. Rama made the attempt at Vishvamitra’s urging, and this only after everyone else had failed to even move the bow.

Friend1: Okay, so that is where I see a slight problem. It sounds like this contest was first-come, first-serve.

Friend2: Yes.

Friend1: Like sudden-death overtime in hockey. First team to score wins. In this case, the first prince to lift the bow gets to marry Sita.

Friend2: Yup.

Friend1: For starters, it doesn’t seem like a fair contest. If the first person lifts the bow and wins, no one else even got to try.

Friend2: You could say overtime in the NFL is similar. A team wins the coin toss, marches down the field, and scores a touchdown on their first possession. Game over. The other team never got to touch the ball. In fact, this just happened in the biggest game of the year, the Super Bowl.

Friend1: Okay, I’m glad you mentioned that. Football is a product of the material world, a game invented and managed by flawed people. King Janaka is one of the twelve mahajanas described in the Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Friend2: That means he is a great devotee of God. A devotee doesn’t do everything perfectly or fairly or to everyone’s satisfaction. There is duality in the material world, after all. What is fair to one person is unfair to another. The mahajanas are always in the good graces of the Supreme Lord, which is more important.

Friend1: I came at you with the fairness angle, but there is the risk aspect, as well. What if a bad character stepped up to the bow and lifted it before someone of good character could make an attempt?

Friend2: Listen, you’ll be happy to know that the people of the town had similar concerns while the contest was unfolding. Their primary worry was that Rama would make the attempt and fail, thereby immediately disqualifying Him. Once they saw Rama, they knew that He was perfect for Sita. Some people worried that Janaka had screwed up royally, no pun intended.

Friend1: I’m with them [smiling].

Friend2: Their concern is another kind of interaction available in devotional service. It is one of many tastes in bhakti-rasa. When interacting with God, it is not that you simply admire from afar, too afraid to say or do anything. There can be moments of intense worry, such as when the cowherd women thought that Shri Krishna’s arm would get tired holding up the massive Govardhana Hill for so long. In Janaka’s case there was confidence that destiny would sort everything out. By holding a contest, the proper match for Sita would arrive, which He did.

In Closing:

In youth by her moved,

Something special to her proved.

So father the bow contest to make,

Winner the first into air to take.

Not a risk by that decree,

Such as bad husband to see?

Some in crowd with that worry involved,

By prince from Ayodhya resolved.

Five Things To Do When Entering A New Dwelling

“May Indra protect you on the East, may Yama protect you on the South and Varuna on the West and Kuvera on the North.” (Sita Devi speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 16.24)

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It’s moving-in day. It was a longtime coming. Enough of living with others. It was nice to have close friends and family around, but you needed some space. You have your own family to start, so it’s nice to get a little privacy, some separation.

When you enter the new dwelling, you are thankful. You appreciate the ability to live in such a place. The wise person is grateful for every day they remain alive, because no results in life are guaranteed. Under the influence of ahankara, the false ego, the individual thinks they are the sole doer, but that is not the case. The modes of material nature must give sanction; they must cooperate.

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

On the day of moving in, you realize that nature has cooperated with your desires. What to do now? Who to thank? Whose favor to seek? A long time back the prince of Ayodhya, Shri Rama, was called to the royal palace by the father, King Dasharatha. Before He left, the loving wife Sita offered some nice words for the protection of her dear husband.

1. Seek the favor of Indra

Indra is the guardian of the eastern direction. There are the four directions that we typically consider, but there are in fact ten in total: north, south, east, west, the four corners, and up and down. Interestingly, the name of Shri Rama’s father references these directions. Dasharatha means one who can fight against chariots coming in the ten directions simultaneously. The king earned the name through exhibiting this ability on the battlefield, heroically in defense of dharma, or righteousness.

2. Seek the favor of Yama

Yama is the god of justice, and also the controller of the southern direction. Sita sought the favor of this deva, or god, who is part of the picture commonly referred to as “judgment day.” Yama looks at the balance sheet of pious and sinful deeds and determines the next destination for the just-departed soul.

3. Seek the favor of Varuna

He is the guardian of the western direction. He is also the god of the oceans. With each of these devas there is tremendous potency. They not only grant benedictions to their worshipers, but they have responsibility over important aspects of the material creation.

4. Seek the favor of Kuvera

In addition to guarding the northern direction, Kuvera is the treasurer of the gods. The suras are the good guys; they are associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One aspect to the name Bhagavan is aishvarya. This refers to great opulence or fortune. Whatever God has He shares with those close to Him. For the suras the treasury is managed by Kuvera, who is an elevated soul.

5. Seek the favor of Sita-Rama

This is one manifestation of the combination of male-female Divinity. God is one, but He has different aspects. The male side is the enjoyer, and the female the enjoyed. Together they are the best object of worship for every person. Indeed, seeking the favor of Sita-Rama is paramount; no other gods need be approached. They can be respected, but the favor of Bhagavan alone brings everything necessary in life. There is full protection as well, even from demigods who might turn envious, such as in the case of Indra and the first Govardhana Puja. Shri Rama, in His form of Shri Krishna, lifted Govardhana Hill to provide protection from all directions, superseding any authority the devas may have.

In Closing:

Into new home making way,

Towards different directions to pray.

Like to Indra and Yama,

Varuna and Kuvera.

Sita this way when husband called,

Eve of on throne to be installed.

Needed only to that Divine pair,

Like with Govardhana protection there.

How Does Bhagavan Deal With The Mother-In-Law Problem

“Living in the kingdom of the Ikshvakus for twelve years, I enjoyed every delight imaginable to human beings and had all my desires fulfilled. Upon the thirteenth year, the king invited all his ministers to an assembly to discuss the installation of Rama as the new king. When it was thus decided in that assembly that Rama would succeed His father as king, my respectable mother-in-law, Kaikeyi, begged for a boon from her husband.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.4-6)

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Friend1: You ever have someone say bad things about someone that is important to you?

Friend2: What happened?

Friend1: I’m asking you first.

Friend2: Is this about politics again? I told you to let it go. Don’t get so attached.

Friend1: How did you know? Well, it’s not politicians, exactly. It’s people on the radio. I listen to them every day. It’s difficult to not become attached. I don’t like hearing negative things said about them. The ones criticizing don’t even listen. They take whatever story is pushed by some astroturf group and then believe it.

Friend2: It’s the old problem of, “I can say bad things about my family, but you can’t.” It’s one of the great things about having siblings. You can make fun of your parents together.

Friend1: That makes sense. It’s not a new problem, if we think about it. Here’s a question. How does the Supreme Lord handle this?

Friend2: You mean, what is the reaction if someone says something bad about His family?

Friend1: Listen, I understand that He protects the devotees. He is non-envious by nature. Everyone is close to Him; otherwise He wouldn’t expand as the Supersoul.

Friend2: Yes. He is neutral, until someone takes to devotional service, bhakti-yoga. Then that person becomes a friend.

“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)

Friend1: What about within the family?

Friend2: Like with Prahlada Maharaja and the father Hiranyakashipu? Bhagavan incarnated as Narasimhadeva and chose sides. He protected Prahlada by killing the father. Prahlada did not protest.

Friend1: Okay, but not quite what I am getting at. Here we go. Take your classic mother-in-law problem.

Friend2: There are tons of jokes on that subject.

Friend1: I know, since the problem has been around forever. You have the mother and the attachment to her son. Then a new person enters the picture, the wife of the son. She is now taking care of the person the mother was looking after since birth. There are bound to be conflicts.

Friend2: Sure, and in modern times there are issues between the husband and the mother of the wife. These are people meeting in adulthood. There is no prior familial affection. That’s why the word “law” is included.

Friend1: With conflicts you are bound to get harsh words spoken. The wife will inevitably complain about the husband’s mother. She will lodge these complaints directly to the husband.

Friend2: That’s not a fun situation. It’s not the same as if the brother were the one complaining.

Friend1: I know. Who wants to hear bad things said about your parents? How does Bhagavan handle this? Has it ever happened to Him?

Friend2: There are a few instances I recall offhand. There is the incarnation of Shri Rama, who had three mothers in the kingdom. Imagine marrying into that!

Friend1: Sita Devi had the mother-in-law problem times three.

Friend2: Exactly. She was the model wife and daughter-in-law, but she had plenty to complain about later on. Because of Dasharatha’s youngest wife, Rama was banished from the kingdom. Sita insisted on accompanying Him. Husband and wife were essentially homeless because of Queen Kaikeyi.

Friend1: Okay, and we know that Rama considered Kaikeyi just as much His mother as the birth mother, Queen Kausalya.

Friend2: Right, and so even Lakshmana complained about Dasharatha and his giving into the demands of the wife. Rama did not take sides. He respected everyone, but I don’t know of any place where He admonished Sita or Lakshmana for the harsh words they spoke. God is the Supersoul, after all, so He understands what every person is going through.

Friend1: Any other examples?

Friend2: When Krishna descended to earth His chief queen was Rukmini Devi. Their union occurred in an amazing way, with Krishna kidnapping her right before her scheduled marriage to a person named Shishupala. Rukmini’s brother had arranged that marriage, and so he wasn’t happy that Krishna came and took his sister away.

Friend1: Yeah, and wasn’t there a battle after that?

Friend2: Yes. Krishna spared the brother’s life due to affection for Rukmini Devi. Anyway, sometime later there was a disagreement between Krishna’s brother Balarama and Rukmini’s brother, which led to the brother being killed. Afterwards, Krishna did not take sides, because He didn’t want to anger Balarama or Rukmini.

Friend1: Interesting. What lesson should we take away?

Friend2: That in every family there will be disagreements, sometimes to the extreme. The Utopian idea of everyone living in total happiness all the time is ridiculous. Try your best to understand everyone. Keep a level head. Always remain attached to the Supreme Lord and devotional service. Remember that even in Sita’s case the enmity didn’t last forever. When speaking with the dreaded Ravana one time Sita still referred to Kaikeyi as a respectable lady. That should tell you something. In saintly people there is no such thing as a grudge. They wish well for everyone, and in turn those aspiring to follow in their path should tolerate as much as possible, in a way that will help them progress in their quest to please Bhagavan.

In Closing:

Complicated picture to draw,

When in house with mother-in-law.

Having three imagine then,

Like Sita entering Ayodhya when.

Difficulties but grudge not holding,

Like after Rama’s exile unfolding.

Bhagavan different sentiments to know,

Not to this side or that to go.

Is Life Meant For Suffering

“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.15)

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Friend1: Have you been watching any of the hurricane coverage on television?

Friend2: Some of it. I don’t want to, but other people keep it on and it’s difficult to avoid.

Friend1: Pretty crazy stuff.

Friend2: Absolutely.

Friend1: You probably get this question a lot. How does the spiritually-aware person behave during such events?

Friend2: What do you mean? Are they supposed to behave any different? Bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is a full-time occupation. Night and day, asleep or awake, working or relaxing - there is a connection to the Divine consciousness. In the Ramacharitamanasa, Maharishi Valmiki says that a devotee of Shri Rama doesn’t mind being in heaven or hell, because wherever they are they see the Lord standing in all His glory, holding His bow and arrow, ready to offer protection. This is also one of the reasons for the Divine descents to the mortal world, which can never touch Him.

“In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.8)

Friend1: Sorry, I should have been more clear. How does such a person behave towards others? Should they lecture about what is going on? Should they be compassionate? Obviously, the root cause is karma. These events don’t happen randomly. There is a cause for everything.

Friend2: To immediately bring up the karma angle is a little insensitive, if you ask me. Just offer your sympathies. Wish well for everyone involved. That’s how the saintly person would behave in any situation, regardless.

Friend1: Okay, but what if someone asks you why these things happen? Should you tell the truth?

Friend2: Of course. That is the most wonderful opportunity, to enlighten someone on the difference between spirit and matter and how in the material world there is one misery after another. Duhkhalayam ashashvatam. This is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita. The two significant traits of the material world are misery at every corner and temporary duration of existence.

Friend1: Alright, I’m glad you mentioned that. Let’s focus on the misery part.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: Some people speculate that life is meant for suffering. In that case misery would be a good thing.

Friend2: Life is meant for enjoyment, ananda.

Friend1: But then why is there misery in a material existence?

Friend2: To show the proper way. My hand burns when I make contact with fire. This teaches me not to touch fire. Similarly, there is misery when focused only on the body. That should teach me to go towards spiritual life instead.

Friend1: These people will say that spiritual life is about suffering. Events such as these win a person the kingdom of God.

Friend2: You mean enduring them?

Friend1: Right. Suffering and not complaining. Don’t enjoy so much.

Friend2: This speculation comes close to the truth, but not quite there. Human life is about tapasya. This is austerity. Live a regulated life. Don’t go off the deep end. Every person understands this to some degree. That’s why the weight loss business is huge. Gamblers and drinkers can become addicted. Too much indulgence is bad for you.

Friend1: Okay, but why tapasya? Isn’t that suffering?

Friend2: It’s voluntarily accepted temporary hardships. It has to be done in an authorized way, though. You can’t just go on a hunger strike in order to get a raise at work. That’s material and carries the same defects. Tapasya for pleasing the higher authorities, as outlined by Shri Krishna, wins their favor. On a higher level, tapasya for pleasing the Supreme Lord Himself is bhakti.

Friend1: There is suffering involved, though. You can’t deny that.

Friend2: In the beginning, perhaps. It’s uncomfortable for sure. The person training for a marathon suffers so much in running a single mile. After a while, the same training is easier. Bhakti-yoga is like that. The austerity is a nuisance in the beginning, but with less reliance on material life there is more bliss found in spiritual life. Think about this for a second. Chanting the maha-mantra is a kind of austerity. It requires time, energy, and focus. People who have matured in the process, having put in thousands of hours, take so much joy that they continue to chant. They don’t consider the routine to be suffering at all. In fact, no amount of money will get them to stop saying and hearing the holy names, which are so dear to them: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Austerity in meditation’s seat,

When names by thousands to repeat.

Since with bhakti aim effective,

Follow spiritual authority’s directive.

Not suffering just of any kind,

Where hoping for heaven to find.

Temporary and miserable world’s character traits,

Different nature for Krishna devotee awaits.