Rama Navami 2018

“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)

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Life giving you trouble lately? The pack mentality striking against you, when deep down you know they are wrong? Need some courage in dealing with belligerent people, who can be found in the oddest of places, like the doctor’s office, the supermarket, or even the car dealership? Let the occasion of Rama Navami lift you up.

As since time immemorial the downtrodden, the distressed, and the helpless have put their faith in God, so the Vedas describe Him in many ways that point to His amazing strength. Since His transcendental attributes, gunas, are beyond comprehension, comparisons are used to objects with which we are familiar. This is for our understanding only, as even the objects in nature have limitations.

As one example, Bhagavan is compared to the sun. He is more than just God, which is a generic term that can have many definitions based on the angle of vision. It is a concept up for debate and interpretation, whereas the Sanskrit word Bhagavan has a more specific definition.

Being like the sun, Bhagavan has tremendous potency. He distributes His energy everywhere, and in one sense He doesn’t play favorites. The sunshine won’t alter its course based on the disposition of the recipients. The sun doesn’t take into account how many previous days of sunshine there were. It simply goes to where it is targeted. There isn’t much intelligence to the distribution of energy; only in its original constitution, regularity and predictability in function.

The sun is not known to speak or hear, and so Bhagavan is more than the sun. He can actually move to anywhere He likes and take on enemy combatants. The enemies here are identified with respect to hindering the spiritual practices of the saintly class. Bhagavan not only defends, but He does so fearlessly.

It is in this regard that many times the comparison is made to the lion. Known as the king of the jungle, the lion wins contests simply from its sound. The roar of the lion can scare away the much larger elephant, and the lion is not known to be timid or afraid.

The avatara of Shri Rama accepts anyone who surrenders to Him, be they a man, woman, child, former enemy, or even non-human living entity. Rama accepts and He subsequently defends. He protects the devotion of the devotees, bringing to them what they lack and preserving what they have. Rama Navami celebrates the day He appeared in this world.

When there is trouble, when there is a struggle that requires fortitude and perseverance, Shri Rama can be remembered. The Ramayana is the Sanskrit work that best describes His features and His time on earth, and in those verses composed by Maharishi Valmiki are found several references to Rama being lion-like.

1. When Ravana first tried to take Sita

It shouldn’t be surprising to learn that Bhagavan has the most beautiful consort. She is eternally by His side, and she is known as the goddess of fortune. When Bhagavan descends to earth from time to time as an avatara, the goddess of fortune accompanies Him. In the Rama avatara the goddess of fortune is on earth as Sita Devi, the princess daughter of King Janaka of Mithila.

She was very beautiful, and everyone around the world wanted to win her hand in marriage at the bow contest that Janaka held. Only Rama was worthy, and so only He exhibited the necessary strength and skill to lift and string the bow.

The king of Lanka was there at that event, having failed to win. This did not stop him from trying again, after Sita was already married to Rama. He visited her in disguise, while she was living in a hermitage in the Dandaka forest.

The ten-headed one, the leader of the Rakshasas in Lanka, Ravana assumed the guise of a mendicant. He knew that Sita and Rama are naturally affectionate to the saintly class. Sita was hospitable at first, but Ravana eventually revealed his true form and his real intentions. Ravana had created a diversion that took Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana temporarily away from the group’s home.

Ravana made advances, but Sita rejected them. She boldly declared that she was following Rama as a vow, anuvrata, whom she described to be lion-like. Ravana should have taken the warning, for that lion would not tolerate any harm befalling His dedicated and faithful wife.

2. When Ravana tried again in Lanka

The fiend was too consumed by lust to listen to anything that went against his desire. Ravana took Sita by force onto an aerial car and headed back for Lanka. Separated from her husband, Sita continued in her devotion. Physical association is not a requirement in bhakti-yoga. The sound of Bhagavan is as good as His presence. Remembering Him, smaranam, is enough to bring the strength necessary to persevere through even the worst conditions.

“O vile one, you entered that ashrama only when those two brothers, lions among men, were absent from having gone out to the forest. Only then did you take me away.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 21.30-31)

And bad they were for the princess of Videha. Ravana again tried his advances, but they didn’t work. He tried to show off about his strength and accomplishments. Sita kindly reminded him of how he had acted cowardly in the forest of Dandaka. Ravana didn’t fight for her fairly. Ravana waited until the lion-like brothers were away before striking.

3. When Hanuman gave Sita good news

As Bhagavan is courageous, so those devoted to Him are fearless in their service. In addition to Sita, another example is Shri Hanuman. He bravely travelled to Lanka, by himself, without any directional guidance. There were no GPS devices or smartphones for communication. At the last phase of the mission given to Hanuman by Rama, the messenger had to go it alone.

“Hearing of the well-being of those two lion-like men, that divine lady felt a thrill of joy in every limb and she spoke to Hanuman as follows:” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.5)

After a lengthy battle with time and false positives, Hanuman eventually found Sita. He gave her the news about Rama and Lakshmana, that they were working hard to find and rescue her. The brothers were again described as lion-like, which they would prove again later by defeating Ravana in battle and removing the burden of sorrow from Sita.

Rama’s representatives display the same courage in boldly declaring the supremacy of God and devotion to Him over the futility of material pursuits. They meet so much opposition but remain undeterred. They get their courage from the lion-like one Himself, and so they have no fear when chanting the holy names and encouraging others to do the same: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Shri Rama lion-like is He,

From battle in Lanka to see.

Also from Sita wife told,

To Ravana brash and bold.

Who her affection tried to win,

But no effect from life of sin.

To devotees on that trait passing,

For strength sufficient surpassing.

The Threefold Miseries Of Life And Corresponding Examples

“The threefold miseries are (1) those miseries which arise from the mind and body, (2) those miseries inflicted by other living beings, and (3) those miseries arising from natural catastrophes over which one has no control.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.2 Purport)

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Read enough Vedic literature and certain patterns start to emerge. Similar phrasing. The same terminology referenced by a host of sources. As lists are always a good way to get creativity in writing started, so many kinds of enumerations are provided for understanding the world around us.

Indeed, there is a common reference to “three worlds.” Those are upper, middle and lower. The middle is where we sit at present. It has both misery and joy, heartache and elation. The dualities fit between the bookends of two events contrary in nature: birth and death.

At birth the individual spirit soul enters a body consisting of three modes of nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. The exact makeup is not the same for each person, though patterns develop to provide the groupings known as species.

Death is when the same soul leaves the body. At birth there is joy and happiness at the gift of life, and at death there is sadness over losing the association of the departed. Yet the person who really sees understands that the spirit soul is the same throughout. It is untouched by the changes to the body.

The suffering that occurs while in a material body in the earthly realm comes from three sources. These are often described as the threefold miseries of life, and examples are all around.

1. Adhibhautika

The source here is a bhuta, which refers to a living thing. You are going through the day just fine. Everything is alright. The weather is nice. There is no work. Finally, time for some relaxation.

You take a trip to the store. In the parking lot you prepare to enter a spot. After parking in the spot and walking towards the entrance of the store, someone starts yelling at you. They wanted that parking spot. You didn’t see them, and neither were you in a rush to snatch anything from anyone.

In your mind you don’t even care. You would have gladly parked somewhere else to accommodate. But this person is not rational. They yell and scream, cursing along the way. The incident just ruins the rest of your day. This is one example of many kinds of pain inflicted by others, with whom we share the material existence.

2. Adhyatmika

You used to be able to eat bread without a problem. In fact, you never really paid attention to what you ate. Everything went smoothly in life. You didn’t worry so much.

Through advancing a little in age, the change is sudden and drastic. Now eating bread causes a breakout on the face. There are rashes along the body. You have to carefully watch what you eat now. So many other problems inside, as well. It’s not the same as when you were twenty.

Adhyatmika miseries come from the atma, the self. Mental and physical ailments have the potential to arise within. After birth, there is old age. Disease is present, as well. These are contributing factors to death, which is inevitable.

3. Adhidaivika

You have relatives coming to visit. It is their first time leaving home. They are coming to a new country. You are excited to have them, but at the same time nervous about everything going smoothly. Let there not be any problems.

Sure enough, right away there is an issue with the weather. There is a snowstorm locally on the day of their expected arrival. You monitor the progress of the flight, as it took off despite so many earlier flights getting cancelled.

It ends up being diverted to another city. Now your relatives are arriving two days later. No problem, as you head to the airport on the day of the scheduled arrival. The issue here is that there is a jam on the runway from planes landing. These were the flights cancelled from the snowstorm two days ago.

You end up waiting at the airport for hours and hours. By the way, it is the coldest day of the year. You haven’t experienced this kind of cold in a long time. You have no way of communicating with your relatives, as their phone service only works in their country of origin.

This kind of misery is caused by the higher powers. In insurance policies the reference is to “acts of God.” Hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, heat waves and the like are due to the influence of the devas. These are the residents of the heavenly realm. They have material bodies, also, but consisting mostly of the mode of goodness. Therefore the duration of life is longer.

Whether living higher, lower or in between, some kind of misery will be there. The spiritual world is a different story. One name for it is Vaikuntha, which means “free of anxieties.” The Supreme Lord resides on the different planets in different expansion forms. His body is full of bliss and knowledge, and for Him there is never a distinction between material and spiritual. He is not subject to the threefold miseries of life.

When He descends to the earthly realm, He maintains His transcendental position. Through incidents like swallowing the forest fire in Vrindavana and thwarting the rain attack from king Indra, Bhagavan proves that He also protects His dependents from the common miseries of life. Therefore the wise choose His shelter instead of trying to overcome the miseries themselves. They get protection through the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Protection from miseries to seek,

But never full safety to reach.

Since rain or disease coming,

Friend an adversary becoming.

But like Krishna the hill holding,

Safe despite whatever unfolding.

Since above nature standing tall,

Bhaktas with love His name to call.

Four Criticisms Of The Group Travelling With The Camel

“In the Shrimad-Bhagavatam it is said that anyone who hears the story of the Syamantaka jewel or describes it or simply remembers it will be free from all kinds of defamation and the reactions of all impious activities and thus will attain the highest perfectional condition of peace.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 2)

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One of the many points made in favor of bhakti-yoga is the position above duality; an elevation of sorts. The material world is full of flaws, starting with the issue of limitations. Time and space are beyond the scope of understanding for the human mind, which means that even the smartest person in the world is held back in their potential. While the infant starts at a point of full dependence, there is the expectation that some sort of independence will be reached later on. Still, there is a threshold, a place at which further progress cannot be made.

Bhakti-yoga is spiritual; it targets the needs of the spirit soul. Though miniature in size, the ability of the soul is amazing. Take the tip of a piece of hair. Then divide that tip into ten thousand parts. One of the parts is comparable to the size of the individual soul, which animates every kind of living species. Both the elephant and the ant have the same kind of soul within. The infant and the adult, though with different kinds of bodies but a singular identity, have the same soul inside.

Spiritual life transcends the limitations of material life. The soul has the potential for boundless bliss. In the higher realm one minus one can equal one. This law is illogical to us, but such conditions can exist in a place without limitations.

Material life lacks perfection from the very fact that death must occur. Whatever gains are made must be erased at some point in the future. Moreover, with duality no single condition is universally auspicious or applauded. The story of a father and son travelling with a camel is an example.

1. Why aren’t they riding the camel

At first the pair is pulling the camel along. Father and son walking together, and the camel behind them. A group sees this and starts to snicker. They think the pair to be fools. There is a camel with them, so why are they walking? Even worse, why are they pulling and thereby expending more energy unnecessarily? The suggestion is that the father, the elderly person in comparison, ride on the camel while the child walks and pulls.

2. Why is the father letting the son suffer

A change in situation has not brought a change in level of acceptance. Another group sees what is going on and has their own criticism. They wonder how the father can be so cruel as to take service from the son. The poor child is walking and pulling, while the father is doing nothing. The suggestion is made for a role reversal. The child should sit on the camel while the father pulls.

3. Why is the son torturing the father

Another group sees the new orientation and wonders how the son could torture the father like this. Youths are known to have more energy. Their body hasn’t begun to break down yet. The father might do serious damage to himself by working so hard. The son should know better.

4. Why are they torturing the camel

The last change is to have both father and son ride the camel. This way no one is being shown favoritism. Of course this doesn’t please everyone, either. Another group sees this and is concerned about the welfare of the camel. They wonder how the father and son can torture the poor animal in that way. The suggestion is that it would be better if they both got off and walked alongside the camel.

Thus in every situation there was something positive and something negative. Those striving for perfection in reputation can also look to the incident of the Syamantaka Jewel, described in the Shrimad Bhagavatam. This occurred within the kingdom of Dvaraka, ruled at the time by Shri Krishna, who is God Himself, appearing in the material world as an avatara. Though blessing the eyes of the devotees and demons alike, there was still no contact with the material nature. Bhagavan is above the dualities with which we currently contend.

“Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.11)

A person named Satrajit received this amazing jewel from the sun-god. Called the Syamantaka, it could produce so much gold on a daily basis, when worshiped properly. The wealth got to Satrajit’s head, and through a series of events the jewel became lost. Rumors began to circulate that maybe Krishna had stolen it due to jealousy.

Though the acting energy is different when in the direct presence of God, the illusion from that case is very instructive. No one is completely safe from defamation except the devotees, who escape the material world due to their fixed consciousness on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. They become liberated even before death, and so the dualities of material nature don’t have the same influence on them.

In Closing:

Father and son with camel to go,

First both pulling it so.

From outside criticism to find,

Then father on top to climb.

Later still positions to reverse,

Desperate for ideal solution search.

Ways of duality in material world showing,

Solved only when spiritual world to going.

Three Interesting Facts About The Akshaya Patra

“When the devotees are put into difficulty, they have an opportunity to recollect the Lord with rapt attention. So Draupadi was thinking of Lord Krishna in that dangerous position, and the all-pervading Lord could at once know the dangerous position of His devotees. He therefore came there on the scene and asked Draupadi to give whatever food she might have in her stock.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.15.11 Purport)

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One of the four pillars of sinful life, gambling can take down any person, even someone who is typically sober-minded. Maharaja Yudhishthira got tricked into wagering with the wicked Duryodhana and his clan. The result was not pretty. The leader of the Pandavas, Yudhishthira basically lost everything. He and his four brothers had to live in exile, in the forest, for twelve years. The thirteenth would have to be spent incognito, and if they happened to get discovered, the initial punishment would reset.

Though without a kingdom, Yudhishthira was still a king. He was a good householder intent on upholding dharma, or religiosity. He had people visit him, even though the home was now a small cottage instead of a palace. He wanted to receive guests properly, but where to get sufficient food?

1. Worshiping the sun-god

From wise counsel Yudhishthira decided to worship the sun-god, Surya. Doing so properly, the gift in return was an amazing vessel. Known as the Akshaya Patra, it would produce a sufficient amount of food to properly receive one or up to thousands of guests. As many as would arrive, there would no longer be an issue. Surya is an important figure in this way, as he provides the necessary sunlight for grains to be produced. This is one of the reasons respect for the demigods is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita.

“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rain. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and yajna is born of prescribed duties.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.14)

2. Rule about Draupadi eating

The shared wife of the Pandava brothers, Draupadi’s chastity was always protected. Duryodhana’s group tried to have her shown naked in front of an assembly one time, but Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, saved her. He took the form of her sari, and since He is ananta, or without end, the same property extended to the sari. No matter how much the enemies pulled, Draupadi could not be shown naked.

In the home Draupadi would properly receive guests by offering food. She would take her meal last, as is custom in Vedic culture. Through service in the proper way all good things come. For a householder, to properly feed guests is one of the pillars of dharma, or righteous behavior.

The rule with the Akshaya Patra given to Yudhishthira was that once Draupadi took her meal, the vessel would stop producing food for that time. It made sense; it didn’t seem like a hindrance. Draupadi would eat last anyway, so what problems could arise?

3. The incident with Durvasa Muni

While the Pandavas were in exile, the enemy Duryodhana couldn’t leave them alone. He plotted a scheme to make them victims of the notorious wrath of Durvasa Muni. Duryodhana arranged so that Durvasa would pay a visit in the forest, bringing many associates with him.

There was a problem this time. Draupadi had already taken her meal. Yudhishthira bought some time by having Durvasa and his men first go nearby and take bath. They would return to eat after that. In the meantime Shri Krishna showed up as a guest. Draupadi lamented that there was no food, but Krishna asked for a closer inspection. He saw a single morsel left in the bowl, and He happily ate it.

Since the food came from devotees, Krishna accepted the offering and was satisfied by it. Suddenly, Durvasa and his men felt too full to eat. Rather than return and feel embarrassed in front of Yudhishthira, they simply fled. Crisis averted. Another Duryodhana plot foiled.

While the benedictions of the demigods are significant and valuable, the influence of the Almighty Himself is of greater importance. Food offered to Him has more potency, enough to satisfy many others simultaneously. The practice is something like watering the roots of a tree instead of tending to the branches individually. The Pandavas practiced this kind of devotion, and thus they were always protected by the greatest well-wisher, Shri Krishna.

In Closing:

By worshiping god of the sun,

To Yudhishthira bowl to come.

Food for thousands could produce,

But after wife to nothing to reduce.

Potential trouble with Durvasa to await,

Averted when Krishna last morsel ate.

His presence to nullify even exception,

To devotees giving full protection.

Three Instances Of Krishna’s Munificence

“When Krishna and Satyabhama were returning from the capital city of Indra, Satyabhama remembered Krishna's promise to give her the plant of the parijata flower. Taking the opportunity of having come to the heavenly kingdom, she plucked a parijata plant and kept it on the back of Garuda.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality Of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 4)

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Perhaps you tried on your own. You gave it the old “college try.” “A for effort” would be the grade, if there was a person providing an assessment at the end. “It just wasn’t meant to be,” you tell yourself.

Not giving up, you turn to prayer. Approach the person who is beyond everything experienced thus far. It’s like He is behind this giant curtain, just waiting to reveal Himself. For now, a little help will do. Increase the fortunes. Something is desired. It couldn’t be accomplished through personal effort alone, so some Divine intervention at this time wouldn’t be rejected.

The desirer of wealth is one of the four categories of people who initially approach God the person. The list is provided in the Bhagavad-gita, which as a spiritual text is unique in one way because it is spoken directly by God. There isn’t a conduit or a messenger. The work is like a direct transcript of a conversation. Previously, the two participants were just friends and relatives, but when the stakes were highest, the one friend decided to reveal His true identity, helping the other friend cross the ocean of nescience.

Though people have approached Him for meeting desires since time immemorial, the Supreme Lord, described as Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, is not obligated to deliver. Otherwise, the interactions would be like business transactions. At the store if you offer sufficient payment and the desired object is in stock, the store hands it over. They don’t ask questions, such as what you intend to use the object for. They don’t make a character assessment and neither do they concern themselves with the future impact of the purchase on the customer.

Though Krishna is not compelled to give wealth whenever it is asked, He is known to be the most munificent towards His devotees. That is to say they are never in total poverty, to the point that they can’t practice what is most important to them: devotional service.

1. The fruit vendor in Vrindavana

The man behind the curtain revealed Himself to the world in the most attractive form, which had the complexion of the dark raincloud and lotus-like properties in several areas of the transcendental body, like the eyes, the feet, the hands and the navel. He was the darling child emerging from the womb of Devaki, but He quickly got transferred to the town of Gokula, where He would spend the childhood years as the foster child of Nanda Maharaja and his wife Yashoda.

In the farm community a fruit vendor was known to stop by the house on occasion. Watching the exchanges with the parents from previous instances, Krishna one time decided to make the payment Himself. He took some grains in His lotus-like hands and went towards the vendor. By the time He reached her, Krishna had dropped most of the grains.

The vendor lady did not mind at all. She was ready to take a huge loss, as she placed as many fruits into Krishna’s hands as He could hold. The small child was delighted and so was the vendor. She later noticed that the contents of her basket had been transformed into gold and jewels. She was not seeking this, nor did she need the gift, but Krishna would not leave her empty-handed for her kind gesture towards Him.

2. Sudama Vipra

Later on in the manifest pastimes, Krishna was an adult and ruling as king of the city of gates, Dvaraka. One time a friend from childhood came to visit. Though a poor brahmana, Sudama Vipra only made the trip at the urging of his wife, who knew the relationship to Krishna. She thought that maybe the king could help out their financial situation.

Sudama was too ashamed to ask for anything, especially after he was greeted like the most important guest in the palace. Krishna lived there with the chief queen, Rukmini Devi, who is an incarnation of the goddess of fortune. There was pure devotion from Sudama, and once again that sentiment did not go unnoticed. Rukmini Devi transformed his meager dwelling into a palace, solving the poverty problem. Sudama did not ask for this, but Krishna is known to be overly generous in this way towards His devotees.

3. The parijata flower for Satyabhama

One of Krishna’s other queens wanted a specific flower. Satyabhama desired the parijata flower, which is found only in the heavenly world. Though in Vedic culture it is considered improper for a wife to command her husband, for Shri Krishna the sentiments of His devotees are never suppressed. As He chased after the deer for Sita Devi in the incarnation of Shri Rama, Krishna did not hesitate in travelling to the heavenly realm to get the flower for His wife.

He ended up promising an entire tree, so that Satyabhama would be happy going forward. Indra, the king of heaven, was not happy about this. He put up violent opposition, but Krishna easily defeated the attackers. The demigods should know better, that God is the original proprietor of everything. But the modes of nature are such that even the wise lose the proper vision from time to time.

Taking the plant for growing a tree of flowers was not necessary, but it is in Bhagavan’s nature to be overly generous when the devotion is pure. This is because He knows the change in material circumstances will not have a negative influence. At other times He lives up to the name of Hari by taking certain things away. The devotee may cry and become angry, but like children who eventually mature and appreciate everything their parents did for them, the love for Krishna only increases.

In Closing:

Krishna, most munificent is He,

Evidence from several pastimes to see.

Like with the fruit from vendor taking,

And gold contents of her basket making.

For Sudama the home into palace turning,

Satisfied wife of brahmana’s yearning.

Parijata for queen from heaven’s way,

The surrendered never in want to stay.

Three Questions The Spiritual Teacher Doesn’t Ask Attendees

“O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.16)

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It’s starting to bother your friend. They like the idea of Krishna consciousness, which is one of the translations provided by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for the Sanskrit term “bhakti-yoga.” It’s a new way of life, focusing on the spiritual and abandoning interest in the material. Things seem to be working out okay, and especially enjoyable is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

The friend has one issue, though. To them it seems like everyone they meet at sadhu-sanga, gatherings of spiritually minded individuals, has a similar trait. They previously were heavy into alcohol and drug use. They went straight to the bottom, and now God has rescued them.

Your friend wonders why other people aren’t as interested. Also, is not the subsequent practice a little tainted? These people were after something. They needed rescue. Now they are practicing bhakti, which is supposed to be love and devotion. How can there be love when something is desired of the other person, who in this case is God?

Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, explains in the Bhagavad-gita that four kinds of people make the initial approach to Him. One of the categories is the distressed, into which the rehabilitated drug addicts fall.

Krishna does not apply favoritism or fatalistic judgment to those approaching Him, and the same applies to the teachers of that ancient science. Some of the questions they don’t ask of newcomers are just as insightful as what is inquired about.

1. Who did you vote for?

It’s a sadhu-sanga gathering, and the person leading has been practicing bhakti-yoga for years. They learned from their own spiritual teacher, the guru, and now they are keeping the succession going. They hope to inspire others to follow the same line of work, which is a fulltime occupation for sure.

At this meeting the guru doesn’t inquire about the voting preferences of the audience. There was recently a contentious election in the country, and emotions are still high on both sides. Yet the omission is not simply to maintain peace. The spiritual master seriously doesn’t care what votes were given or held back in the past, current, or future elections.

2. Do you eat meat?

Mlechcha and yavana. These two words are used to describe those who have gone astray from the principles of dharma, righteousness, passed on since time immemorial. The most obvious signs of the fall are meat eating and consumption of alcohol.

The idea is that the two practices work best at perverting the consciousness. The meat eater does not see that there is innocent life taken, and without purpose. There is plenty of other food available to eat which does not require such violence. For sure there is the law that one living entity lives off another, jivo jivasya jivanam, but the human being has the ability to apply discrimination. If eating a cow were the same as eating a vegetable, then any person could eat children, dogs, or cats under the same justification.

Intoxication attacks sobriety, and to understand the spiritual science requires constant attention to detail. How can we see that we are not the body if we can’t even get it together to operate a motor vehicle? The highs from intoxication will be left in the dust once the bliss of devotion is tasted.

3. Do you drink or do drugs?

The guru does not take a survey in these areas. If a person voted a specific way, the guru will not kick them out of the meeting. If there was drug addiction in the past, that is not an immediate disqualification. Maybe for succeeding in other paths, like knowledge, meditation or mysticism, but not with bhakti.

Every person is eligible, as the focus is on where the person is going, not from where they have come. If the friend complaining about the demographics of the people in attendance were to put out such a survey at their own gathering, not only would the numbers diminish but people would question the authenticity, as well. If you are a sincere seeker of the truth, how can you discriminate based on material characteristics?

“O son of Pritha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth-women, vaishyas [merchants], as well as shudras [workers]—can approach the supreme destination.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.32)

Shri Krishna says that those who are in body types typically considered sinful, papa yoni, are eligible for reaching the supreme destination. That is to say every person has the chance to go back home, back to Godhead, in this very lifetime. All saints have a past and all sinners a future, and with bhakti-yoga the future is as bright as it can be.

In Closing:

So many from drug addiction to fall,

Now His lotus feet home to call.

Why not others also to come,

So that variety in attendance some?

Guru such questions to ask never,

Like drugs or eating meat in the past ever.

Since focus on where now forward to go,

How more and more Shri Krishna to know.

Four Contentious Questions About God That The Vedas Easily Answer

“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)

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You did it. Actually, your wife did it, but you were there to coach her along. The due date was more than a week into the future, but no one can truly predict these things. It was a struggle, for sure. So many unexpected twists and turns. So much pain and suffering. Intense worry over everything turning out alright.

In the end, the only way to describe it is a miracle. Out of nowhere a brand new person. Helpless and innocent, and at the same time drawing the attention of everyone. Cute and smiling, the newborn has many servants. All it takes is the slightest hint of crying and people jump into service.

After this experience you wonder how any person can be strongly against the idea of God. He must exist; otherwise how did what just happened happen? Nevertheless, it is not difficult to find people who are strongly against the idea. They raise contentious questions, but thanks to parampara delivering the wisdom of the ages, there are answers which are straightforward, honest, accurate, and effective in removing doubts.

1. Where is He?

Alright, so you believe in God. Great. You say that His presence is especially evident during the amazing events of birth and death. Coming and going. In one case new life appearing and in the other leaving. If God is so important, where is He? Why can’t I see Him right now?

The answer from the Vedas, the world’s oldest scriptural tradition, whose very name means “knowledge,” is that God is everywhere. He is omnipresent. There is not one place where He does not exist. The question about the tree making a sound when falling in a forest devoid of witnesses is not valid. This is because the all-pervading witness is everywhere.

This is His feature of the Supersoul, known as Paramatma. The individual soul is atma. Birth is the event where the individual soul appears in the world inside of a particular body. Death is when that same soul exits the body, in favor of a new one. In between changes take place constantly. The person who is dhira, sober, is not bewildered by such changes.

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.13)

There is the philosophical explanation and then there is also historical evidence. A powerful king named Hiranyakashipu once taunted his son on this issue. The father sarcastically asked if God were in the nearby pillar, since the son claimed that God was everywhere. Sure enough, an amazing form of the Almighty soon appeared. Narasimhadeva was there all along, but He manifested in that special circumstance to show the world that the boy Prahlada’s words were true.

2. Does He exist?

Of course He exists. The very existence of life proves it. Not a blade of grass moves without His sanction. Indeed, the living entity is not the doer of actions. The modes of nature must first 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)

The living entity acts, but the outcomes are not guaranteed. This limitation means they are not God, and at the same time any ability they have is due to Him. It is like talent on loan from high above.

“O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.8)

A person goes outside and sees the situation in the sky. Partly cloudy, with the sun shining bright at times. They go back inside and record their observations. That weather report is accurate and valid at the present time, one day into the future, one week, and even one thousand years. The amount of time elapsing from the original event has no bearing on the validity of the testimony.

In the same way, so many people from the past have interacted directly with Bhagavan. Some of them saw the virata-rupa, which is the image of everything. All the planets, stars, controlling deities, rivers, mountains, population - everything put into a single vision. This usually suffices as evidence for the non-believers, while the devotees don’t require such a vision.

Moreover, even if God were to appear directly in front of someone today, there is no way to prove one important property: deathlessness. That is because eventually the individual must move on to another body. How, then, can they prove that God will never have to quit His body? As with so many other aspects of life, the information has to be acknowledged on faith in the beginning, with the conviction strengthened through further practice in the science of self-realization.

3. Why isn’t He here right now?

Hiranyakashipu asked a similar question. Not only is the existence questioned, but a particular vision is demanded on the spot. The question itself is invalid, since God is indeed everywhere. He is past, present and future.

He never had to become God, nor does He ever cease to be. He is within the heart as the Supersoul. He is seen in the abstract through the singular energy pervading the entire creation. This is the spiritual energy and it is known as Brahman. For those advancing further He is seen as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has a transcendental form that is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge.

4. Does He hear our prayers?

Not only can He hear prayers, but there are no bandwidth issues. A server hosting a website starts to slow down if it receives too much traffic. The internet service provider might begin to throttle for customers using too much data.

With Bhagavan there is simultaneous worship occurring throughout the world. When He descends from the spiritual world, it is not like a post becomes vacant somewhere else. He defies the limits of time and space. In the spiritual world one minus one can actually equal one.

He hears sincere prayers, and He especially takes note of devotion practiced in His honor. Therefore when there is chanting of the holy names, auspiciousness abounds, in the immediate space and also reaching to other realms: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

“Show up, why not come near?

Our prayers does He hear?

Existence understood not clear,

Or God just concept for fear?”

Doubts in man surely to exist,

But from Vedas not to persist.

As Supersoul everywhere already,

Revealed to those of devotion steady.