The Protector Of The Protector

“The child of the protector of Koshala, who is the protector of the devotees, the most merciful one, Shri Rama, lives in the holy lake-like mind of Tulsi in the form of a beautiful and auspicious swan.” (Dohavali, 122)

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bālaka kosalapāla ke sevakapāla k।rpāla |
tulasī mana mānasa basata mangala manju marāla ||

Politics and religion. Avoid these two topics, lest you are ready for a brawl. Strong opinions, fanatical support, illogical points of view - the general conversation soon escalates to a heated argument. Why bother? Live peacefully amongst your fellow citizens.

Nevertheless, the topics do come up. With politics, there is a sort of illusion with the leader of the nation, at least in democratic-style governments. The leader is followed like a king, like the top person in charge, who makes every important decision. The good is attributed to them, and so is the bad.

The reality is something different. The leader is elected, and he serves in one of the branches of government. There is also the legislature, which reaches a consensus amongst its perhaps hundreds of members, each with their own opinions. There are also the courts, which can strike down actions the leader and the legislature take. Not to mention the factors of state and local governments, the leader in truth has little power to do anything significant on their own, besides having their message heard by a wide audience.

In the above referenced verse from the Dohavali, Goswami Tulsidas mentions a leader who actually does hold a lot of power. In ancient times the kings had counselors and deputies to carry out various work, but they were the final decision-maker. Whatever they said went. With that power came awesome responsibility, the foremost of which was to protect against foreign aggressors.

King Dasharatha was the protector of Koshala. He was so good at fighting against enemies that he could handle them coming from the ten directions simultaneously; that is how he earned his name. The king was also pious, which contributed to receiving the blessing of having the Supreme Lord appear in the family as his eldest son.

Tulsidas says that Rama is sevakapala. This means “protector of the devotees.” The child is dependent on the parents, especially in the early years. For the newborn, the experience is something like a nonstop car race, where the parents and guardians are the pit crew. Every few hours, they feed, clean, clothe and put the newborn back to sleep. This continues for several months.

Though appearing as the eldest son, Rama was actually Dasharatha’s protector. In any form the Supreme Personality of Godhead retains full potency. He can protect with both objects of peace and those of aggression. With the bow and arrow Rama protects in youth and adulthood, fighting off enemy night-rangers who attack innocent sages.

At all times the peaceful image of Shri Rama protects, as well. It is a beautiful image and also auspicious, mangala. Tulsidas compares that image to a swan. The swan stays in areas of purity. It swims on the surface of the pond and goes towards lotus flowers, whereas the crow associates with weeds and garbage.

That swan-like Rama swims in the holy lake of the poet’s mind. That is one of the reasons the great Hindi work describing Rama’s life and pastimes is titled the Ramacharitamanasa. Every person can create this same lake, provided they have the desire. The attribute-less one, the nirakara Brahman, stays in that lake in the personal form, giving protection through just His beauty.

In Closing:

A swan-like vision to win,

In mind’s holy lake to swim.

Rama for the poet appearing,

Of charming features endearing.

Protecting from beauty alone,

Like in king’s courtyard shown.

Any person possible the same,

For that worshipable form to claim.

Three Important Aspects To The Devotee’s Vision

“For a devotee, the Lord is the supreme spirit soul. Since He is supremely powerful, His various powers are also spiritual. For a devotee, there is nothing material, for material existence only means forgetfulness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.24.61 Purport)

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What is perfect vision? Is it reading off the numbers and letters correctly on an eye exam? Is it being able to watch television without the help of glasses? Is it noticing something about to take place from a distance, in one way predicting the motions of other independent beings?

The bhakta has a unique way of looking at things. Their vision is perfect, even if it is sharpened only through sound. The daughter of King Bhishmaka had her heart set on marrying a specific person. She knew Him very well, though she had never seen Him. She was not to be denied, as Rukmini Devi sent a letter to Shri Krishna and even gave Him instructions on how He would be able to marry her.

The bhakta sees in a different way, and the various aspects to their vision are important for helping to guide life in the proper direction. After all, who doesn’t want their time on this earth to be saphala, or successful? A life well lived is valuable time well spent.

1. They see God as the supreme spirit soul

That brand new person that entered your world, who in a matter of seconds emerged from the womb and into your heart - they are actually a spirit soul. The body is used for identification purposes throughout the various stages of life, but the constant factor is the atma. That atma is individual, and it is not the same from person to person. The qualitative makeup is identical, but each soul is still unique.

The devotee sees God as the supreme spirit soul. That is to say they notice the Almighty inside of every person, as well. This feature of God sits alongside the individual soul. The primary distinction is that the supreme spirit soul is a singular identity. This greater soul, Paramatma, is distributed throughout the entire known and unknown space, while not dividing.

2. They see that God’s various powers are also spiritual

The earth, the sun, the moon, the clouds, the rain, fire, the mountains, the hills - these are different aspects of the material world. They are different energies in a sense or different ways that a specific energy manifests. The different aspects carry potency. The sun has a particular power, as does the moon.

The bhakta sees that these powers are spiritual, since the supreme spirit soul is present in the background. I may decide to arise from bed in the morning. I make the choice, put in the effort, and see the successful outcome. Despite these associated factors, I am not the doer. Paramatma had to give sanction for the result to arrive; otherwise no amount of willing would be able to produce a successful outcome.

That sanctioning power is spiritual, since it comes from God. In this way, the devotee sees God everywhere, even if they don’t necessarily have the personal form standing in front of them. They know the powerful through His powers.

3. They don’t see anything as material

The first truth taught to aspiring transcendentalists in Vedic culture is that the individual is not the body. Atma is the eternal spark of energy inside, and the covering is matter. Material life is associating with this covering instead of what is on the inside.

The bhakta advances to the stage where they no longer see anything as material. They know that both the material and spiritual energies come from God. They know that when used properly, the body can be a valuable vehicle for bringing positive change.

This doesn’t mean the bhakta is naïve. They still have an opinion on the material energy. They know that it exists. The difference is that they understand material life to be simply a kind of consciousness. Forgetfulness of God is material life and remembering Him is spiritual life. This simple formula translates to the dedicated practice of chanting the holy names, which helps to maintain spiritual life in the face of so many objects of illusion: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Everything from God to say,

But distinguished in one simple way.

Material when His presence forgetting,

Spiritual when into remembrance setting.

So that soul in every living being found,

His energy too that dirt on the ground.

Knowledge to devotion translated,

Finally that bliss long awaited.

Three Realizations From Experiencing Childbirth

“For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.27)

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You heard other people talk about it, but it was nothing like you ever experienced. No way to properly prepare. Watching the videos, reading about case studies, exercising - each time a new person enters this world it is a unique experience.

This time you got to stand close by, as an observing and encouraging witness. The wife did all the work, but you were there to support. You can’t believe how she tolerated so much pain, how she reached down to find strength that no one thought she had. The reward at the end is a brand new child, and from such an experience realizations there are many.

1. Something this amazing can’t come from nothing

Full offense to the atheist, something so wonderful can’t be the result of randomness. There is intelligence in the child after being in the world for just a few minutes. The baby latches onto the mother’s breast to drink milk. She is already close since having been in the womb for forty weeks.

As the days go by, it now has crying, eating, and sleeping patterns. The features of the baby are a combination of the parents’. Interestingly, some of the relatives make their mark, as well. The eyes are like the grandmother’s. The lips are like the younger brother’s. While the design wasn’t intentional, there is no way that nothing, a void, or a single cell could create something this amazing.

The hand of God is evident throughout. This particular outcome was not guaranteed, by any means. Sometimes the sanction of the highest authority is not there, and so the results are different. Whatever the case, you are now more sure than ever that God exists.

2. So much distress just to enter the world

The Vedas constantly reference the cycle of birth and death. Indeed, birth is listed as one of the four miseries of life. There is old age, disease, and ultimately death, but everything starts with birth.

And that birth can be just as stressful as quitting the body, when there is pain from time serving its final notice. In this experience the mother was in labor for almost an entire day. That is to say she was feeling pain every few minutes for hours straight. There was an amazing amount of pain, but she tolerated it. Now you know that it is not easy to bring a new life into this world.

3. Time to make this birth the most worthwhile

God’s hand is behind the successful delivery, and the presence of spirit is behind the existence of the life itself. That spark of spirit, known as atma, was in a previous form in what is known as the previous lifetime. It is not certain that the previous birth was a human one, but there was an existence for sure.

The cycle of birth and death continues for as long as the consciousness is in illusion, or maya. The human birth is the most auspicious because there is the best opportunity to fix that consciousness. As guardians to this new bundle of joy, the most important responsibility is to do whatever possible to make that change in consciousness a reality.

As with every gift from God, the benediction of becoming a first-time parent should be used for pleasing Him. He is the ultimate benefactor, after all. In every aspect of life His presence is felt, and in this new child let there always be a connection to Him. Let the child always hear the holy names and hopefully one day they will repeat them spontaneously, with love and affection: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

An unforgettable experience for sure,

How labor for so long to endure?

Credit entirely to the wife,

For bringing to world new life.

From nothing never could come,

Work of higher authority done.

Time now for final birth to make,

Advantage of this life to take.

The Four Auspicious Names Of Dasharatha’s Sons

“Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, of such beautiful and auspicious names - remembering those four sons of King Dasharatha and worshiping them fulfills all the desires of the mind.” (Dohavali, 121)

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rāma bharata lacimana lalita satru samana subha nāma |
sumirata dasaratha suvana saba pūjahiṃ saba mana kāma ||

God has no name, since He cannot be limited in any way. There is not a single sound vibration, exclusive of every other, used for calling Him, for sending out prayers from the distressed, the saved, the satisfied, the grateful, or the inquisitive. As He is accessible to everyone through the expansion residing within the heart, He can understand any language.

“An old woman in Vrindavana, present at the time of Krishna’s pastimes, once stated in surprise: ‘How wonderful it is that Krishna, who owns the hearts of all the young girls of Brajabhumi, can nicely speak the language of Brajabhumi with the gopis, while in Sanskrit He speaks with the demigods, and in the language of the animals He can even speak with the cows and buffalo! Similarly, in the language of the Kashmere Province, and with the parrots and other birds, as well as in most common languages, Krishna is so expressive!’” (The Nectar Of Devotion, Ch 21)

While there is no single name, there are many names. In Vedic culture there is the Vishnu-sahasra-nama, or the chanting of the thousand names of Vishnu, who is the personal form of God. Vishnu is so kind that He appears on this earth from time to time in the incarnation form. Those forms have characteristics and activities, and so many names for the Divine arise as a result.

King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had the good fortune of seeing Vishnu appear in his family as four sons. After being without an heir to the throne for a long time, Dasharatha’s desire was finally fulfilled. Those four sons have many names due to their lila, or pastimes, but even taking just the four primary forms of address brings great auspiciousness.

1. Rama

He is considered the direct avatara of Vishnu. God in the complete form; non-different from the original. Rama means one who holds all transcendental pleasure. That bliss and joy was shared with the parents and well-wishers in the community, who held so much affection for the darling child.

Even prior to growing up Rama had auspicious characteristics. In Vedic culture the astrological signs at the time of birth are calculated soon after the child is born. From this study different names for the child are suggested, and the future is predicted, as well.

When the incarnations of Vishnu appear, they bring with them all auspicious indications. The sound of Rama’s name relieves distress, it provides comfort and support, and it transforms the consciousness from material to spiritual. That is to say the mind goes from succumbing to the illusion of the material nature to seeing things as they really are, with the hand of God visible in every aspect and corner of living.

2. Bharata

Dasharatha had more than one wife, which was not uncommon for pious rulers at the time. Rama appeared through the womb of Queen Kausalya. From Kaikeyi’s womb came Bharata. The three younger brothers are considered partial incarnations of Vishnu, as described in authorized works like the Shrimad Bhagavatam.

The three younger brothers each can go by the name of Ramanuja. They follow the lead of the eldest, who is Rama. They are loyal supporters, which means that nothing can break their love for the Almighty.

In Rama’s pastimes one distinction that Bharata holds is that he gets everything from renouncing. The Vanara named Sugriva received a kingdom as a reward for helping Rama. The same for the Rakshasa Vibhishana. Bharata is famous today for not wanting a kingdom, which was handed to him in an improper way, through the temporary jealousy of his mother against Rama’s mother.

Bharata maintained the kingdom during a fourteen year absence of the beloved Rama. He did so by meditating in a simple dwelling. The object of focus was Rama’s sandals, which were on the throne to symbolically represent Rama’s claim to the head title. As he was a son of a king and trained in the military arts, Bharata was also a great warrior who could adequately defend the innocent.

3. Lakshmana

He is one of the twins born to Queen Sumitra. Lakshmana’s distinction is that he cannot tolerate physical separation from Rama. He is also Ramanuja, but he doesn’t take anything, either. Lakshmana does not look for Rama to solve his problems or for Rama to do everything for him.

Quite to the contrary, Lakshmana views himself as Rama’s personal bodyguard. The younger brother will forego sleep if it is necessary to keep Rama happy. If bad things happen to the eldest son of Dasharatha, Lakshmana is ready to fight the entire family to right the injustice.

“Rama’s younger brother, Lakshmana, has reddish eyes and a voice that resounds like a kettledrum. His strength matches that of Rama’s, and his face shines like a full moon. Just as wind gives aid to a raging fire, Lakshmana has joined forces with his brother. It is that best of kings, Shriman Rama, who has brought down the Rakshasas fighting in Janasthana.” (Akampana speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.16-17)

He is also a terrific fighter. The enemies describe Lakshmana to be like the wind that fans the flames coming from the fire that is Rama. Together, the brothers protect the sages residing in the forest. They are personal bodyguards at a very young age to the venerable Vishvamitra Muni.

Lakshmana is one with auspicious marks or indications on the body. He is also considered an incarnation of Ananta Shesha Naga, who is the serpent with unlimited hoods serving as the resting surface for Lord Vishnu in the spiritual world.

4. Shatrughna

His name means “the killer of enemies.” He is the twin-brother of Lakshmana appearing from the womb of Sumitra. From the time of birth, the brothers split into pairs with respect to association. Lakshmana is always with Rama and Shatrughna with Bharata.

Shatrughna is just as eager to offer service to Rama. He gets sent by the eldest brother to defeat a wicked character name Lavana. Not afraid of the enemy, having the kshatriya spirit inside of him, Shatrughna accepts the sacrifice of separating from his beloved brothers in order to carry out assigned duties.

In his Dohavali, Goswami Tulsidas says that those four names are auspicious and beautiful. Any person who remembers those names and worships them will have all their desires fulfilled. The secret is understood through practice, the same as with the magic of the maha-mantra, which is easily said one time and millions of times thereafter: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

For fulfilled desires to make,

Just four names take.

Sons to Dasharatha the king,

Immortal glories to sing.

Rama the eldest, to Vishnu exact,

Bharata looking nothing to extract.

Lakshmana always by the side,

Enemies from Shatrughna to hide.

Creating One Worry Point After Another

“Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, of such beautiful and auspicious names - remembering those four sons of King Dasharatha and worshiping them fulfills all the desires of the mind.” (Dohavali, 121)

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rāma bharata lacimana lalita satru samana subha nāma |
sumirata dasaratha suvana saba pūjahiṃ saba mana kāma ||

Just solve this one problem. Then everything will be alright. It keeps me from being at peace right now. There is the saying, “Sell the horse” to get good sleep at night. If you are having trouble falling asleep, pretend as if you have sold away something of importance. Now you no longer have to worry about it.

Yet even when there is a successful outcome, another problem arises. It is like the mind looks for something to focus on, lest it be lost. As Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, while the mind can be a friend, it can be a powerful enemy, also.

“A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.5)

One of the reasons yoga practice is beneficial is that it aims to control the mind. The mind is like one of the senses, and those senses drive the individual in every which direction. The soul, the atma, is neither the senses nor the sense objects. These are temporary associations, with no lasting impact other than the potential for continued residence in the material world.

Goswami Tulsidas has a solution. Instead of worrying about how to control this desire and that, know that there is a way to get fulfillment. This is for all desires; not just one.

The proposed method is remembering and worshiping the four sons of King Dasharatha, who ruled over Ayodhya many thousands of years ago. Why jump to the past? Why not pick some other period of time, if even at random? What is so special about that particular king and his sons?

The first justification is that the names are auspicious. The eldest son is Rama. The next is Bharata. The final two are twins: Lakshmana and Shatrughna. These are the protectors of the Koshala kingdom, and they subdue the enemies.

In even the most civilized society there will be some bad actors, people who don’t play by the rules. To curb the negative influence a strong, protective force is needed. Otherwise adharma, irreligion, will win. Then lying, cheating and stealing will be the proper way to do things, instead of the other way around. Even the thieves don’t prefer to be lied to or stolen from, so how can their way of living be good for society at large?

When the mind becomes an enemy, those four sons are there to protect in the same way they defended against aggressors during an ancient time period. They offer protection through their names alone. Desires will be fulfilled because peace will finally arrive. Those harmful desires, like weeds in an otherwise fertile field, will be uprooted and removed.

Tulsidas says to remember those brothers and worship them, too. The names are beautiful, which means there is a transcendental taste to the interaction. This is where bhakti-yoga stands apart from other kinds of mysticism, religious rituals, and systematic methods for self-improvement. Bhakti is love and devotion, and there is a corresponding taste to the interaction with the Almighty.

Indeed, those four sons are God and three partial expansions. Even if there isn’t belief in the beginning, the association is still auspicious. The sound has the same potency, whether ignored, chanted with impure desires, or remembered fondly for an entire lifetime. The last group gets the most benefit from the sound, and so Tulsidas hopes the same for every person, that they find the shelter of surrender to God the person and enjoy the subsequent active and varied life in liberation.

In Closing:

With love and attention adore,

From Ayodhya the brothers four.

To the king sons long awaited,

Whose glories in Vedas stated.

Best way for controlling the mind,

And no more tension to find.

Potency from repeating just the sound,

Solution for all problems found.

Five Aspects Of Shri Rama That Are Charming

“The name, pastimes, form, clothing and ornaments of Shri Rama are all very charming and beautiful. Together with His brothers the children are playing.” (Dohavali, 120)

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nāma lalita līlā lalita lalita rupa raghunātha |
lalita basana bhū।sana lalita lalita anuja sisu sātha ||

Before technically starting life, while within the womb, there is struggle. Bunched up inside of the mother’s stomach, exiting is no picnic, either. Some women can be in labor for more than twenty-four hours straight. How to sleep when there is the pain of contractions every few minutes? How to see the finish line when the present is such a struggle?

Later on there is the difficult end: quitting the body. No one gets out alive. As soon as there is birth, there must be death. In between attachments form, and there is happiness mixed in with sadness. A material existence is such that there must be misery. The body is not what identifies the individual.

For the Supreme Lord things are a little different. Every aspect to His body is transcendental. There is no such thing as forced misery for Him. Goswami Tulsidas says that for God in the form of Shri Rama, there are many aspects that are lalita, which is charming and beautiful.

1. The name

Just say “Rama” over and over. Use the exercise as a form of meditation. There is an immediate benefit. The reason is that the sound is not ordinary. It describes God in one of His personal forms. The word means that the Almighty possesses all transcendental pleasure.

He is atmarama, which means “satisfied in the self.” He does not need others around for avoiding boredom and loneliness, but He is so kind that He accepts an unlimited number of devotees. There is no quota. Millions of people can simultaneously pray to Him throughout the universes, and He will hear. The easiest way to reach Him is through the sounds that represent His glories, such as those produced by the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

2. The pastimes

Known as lila in Sanskrit, Rama puts on a sort of drama while roaming the manifest world. From beginning to end these pastimes are charming. Some choose to focus on only a specific area, like with Kakabhushundi and bala-lila. He enjoys watching Rama playing as a child in the courtyard of the royal palace. There Rama is with His three younger brothers, and the scene is amazing to behold.

3. Form

Start with the lotus feet and work your way up. According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam this is the proper way to meditate. Forget focusing on nothing. A void cannot interact with you. There is no sweetness to something that has no identity.

Rama’s form is beautiful from head to toe. Man and woman alike are attracted, though in different ways. The all-attractiveness is one reason why God has another famous name: Krishna. The rupa is not temporary, either. Right now in some place in the universe Shri Rama is in the childhood form, delighting the parents. Also, there is some area where Rama is heroically defending Sita, Lakshmana and Himself against fourteen thousand of the wickedest characters in the world.

4. The clothing

Rama’s childhood form is nicely dressed by the parents. He wears a yellow cloth, pitambara. He has a beautiful belt around His waist, and the general sense is that He is someone special. Rama is the king’s eldest son, after all. He will one day succeed the father as ruler of Ayodhya.

5. The ornaments

Along with the clothing the mothers place beautiful ornaments on Shri Rama. He wears a special necklace for the purpose of warding off evil spirits. Rama is Himself like a lion, Narasimha, but the mothers feel so much love that they don’t view Him as God.

As beauty is appreciated, God is the ideal person for everyone to worship. He is honored in an external way through appreciation for the beauty found in His creation, in the nature we see around us. The direct interaction has a higher benefit, as it can bring liberation from the difficult and troublesome cycle of life and death.

In Closing:

Rama, beautifully dressed is He,

By mothers wanting to see.

His lila also in that way,

Same with holy name to say.

Charming from head to toe,

One for each of us to know.

So that liberation becoming real,

Pain of rebirth no more to feel.

How Do I Know If I Have A Relationship With God

“Arjuna said: What are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in Transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?” (Bhagavad-gita, 2.54)

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Friend1: I agree that life is meant for connecting with God. I believe in Him. I don’t think everything came together through a random collision or that evolution from a single cell led to the amazing intelligence we see embedded throughout nature.

Friend2: Sure.

Friend1: Let’s get down to business. I want to connect with God. Even outside Vedic culture there is mention of this. Spiritual traditions throughout the world, throughout history, talk about the need for having a relationship with God.

Friend2: Make sense. We have relationships with so many things. People. Cats. Dogs. Locations. Bosses. Subordinates. Why not the Almighty?

Friend1: Here is where the complexity arrives. How do I know if I actually have a relationship?

Friend2: You mean from the philosophical perspective? As in, how do I know that I am connected to God? The answer is the Supersoul. Paramatma is inside of me and also you. He is everywhere. Though appearing divided, it is a singular identity. Unlike with you and me, the same spirit soul is expanded everywhere, with the same consciousness.

Friend1: I get all that. I am individual soul and He is Supreme Soul. The idea is to connect the two. That is the real meaning to yoga. I want to know how to tell that a relationship has been formed. What is the evidence? What are the indications?

Friend2: You mean like with the cases where someone is obviously engaged in sinful behavior but will tell you that they are doing everything for God?

Friend1: Exactly. I decide to do nice things for people. I am charitable. I don’t make disparaging remarks. Does that mean I have a relationship? Is that enough evidence?

Friend2: The short answer is consciousness.

Friend1: Right, but how do you measure consciousness?

Friend2: Are you constantly thinking about God? Is His pleasure foremost on your “to do” list every day?

Friend1: Even if it was, how do I know that what I am doing is actually pleasing Him? People kill in the name of God. They blow up buildings. They cause senseless destruction.

Friend2: It’s an overall mentality. There is authority to consider, as well. Fortunately, the Bhagavad-gita reviews symptoms of a person who is God conscious. Arjuna asked the question so that we wouldn’t have to be in doubt.

Friend1: Based on the answer, then? I know there are certain qualities. You have to be free from attachment and anger. You are the same in victory and defeat, honor and dishonor. I get the qualities aspect, but I’m looking more for an answer to satisfy the different spiritual traditions, something the various factions will be able to comprehend.

Friend2: Which is what you always focus on, for whatever reason. Can you be more specific here?

Friend1: Let’s say that someone has the good qualities. They feel like they are in a relationship with God.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: How are they different from a person who thinks specifically of Krishna all the time? Not the generic God. Not viewing in the abstract or just appreciating His presence in all things. Thinking, worshiping, honoring, remembering the darling child of mother Yashoda, the delight of Vrindavana.

Friend2: There is no difference. They are both equally God conscious. You could say there is a difference in rasa.

Friend1: Transcendental mellow?

Friend2: Yes. Without knowing Krishna specifically, or one of the personal forms, the mood of interaction is known as shanta-rasa. This is neutrality. Worshiping. Honoring. Respecting. It’s different from other rasas, where there is a more intimate connection. But make no mistake, shanta-rasa is still bhakti. It is still devotion to God. It still is equivalent with liberation.

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: To summarize, yes, the relationship with God is the most important thing. Study a little deeper to make sure the relationship is legitimate and not just some mental concoction. Exhibit the proper qualities. If you slip up, just keep going. No need to dwell too long on the mistakes. If there is a genuine desire to be connected to Bhagavan, success will come.

In Closing:

Different religions to God praying,

That to make relationship saying.

Since varying definitions then,

How to know established when?

Arjuna from Krishna this inquired,

Reply that certain qualities required.

Above all consciousness the key,

The Lord’s interest primary to see.