Isn’t It Convenient For The Guru To Insist On Humble Submission

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

Friend1: We all know about the Bhagavad-gita verse recommending the approach to a spiritual master.

Friend2: Which is interesting for so many reasons.

Friend1: Such as?

Friend2: Krishna is already the teacher. He is the adi-guru. That is one definition to Bhagavan, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has to know everything. In that situation He is also in the middle of a lecture, i.e. He already has a student who is learning.

Friend1: So Krishna is advising to approach a guru while in the middle of acting like one.

Friend2: Exactly. Have to love it.

Friend1: Well, I guess this ties in to my question today. Though I didn’t want to use Krishna as the example, since His position is already set. There really is no doubt about His knowledge, abilities, potencies, etc.

Friend2: Umm, it depends on who you talk to.

Friend1: Just go with me here. I’m getting somewhere. Let’s take the example of someone else pushing forward the same Bhagavad-gita.

Friend2: You mean someone who is not God?

Friend1: Yes. Anyone besides Krishna.

Friend2: Okay. If they are representing Krishna properly, then the potency of the message should be the same. That is the meaning to parampara. The same teachings, unchanged, unadulterated, passed on from generation to generation. You might need to alter the presentation based on time and circumstance, but the principles and ultimate conclusion should not change even one degree.

Friend1: Thanks. I get that. Here is the issue. Isn’t it kind of self-serving for a spiritual teacher to demand submissive behavior?

Friend2: Why? How else is someone supposed to learn? You’re talking about real truth here, tattva. This is not just learning how to swim or teaching driving to a new student. This is the highest subject matter. After hearing, tremendous sobriety is required just to have the chance to reach the ultimate conclusion with strong conviction.

“Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.3)

Friend1: Hold on. Let’s say I’m giving a lecture somewhere. I tell the people that they have to submit to me. If they challenge me, they won’t learn. I mean come on, you don’t see a problem? This is how people have been duped by charlatans and imposters since the beginning of time. The behavior is the origin of the saying, “Drink the Kool-Aid.”

Friend2: The teacher is not saying to submit to them necessarily.

Friend1: Yes they are. They are a spiritual teacher. They have followers. Obviously those followers don’t challenge.

Friend2: Again, how are you supposed to learn? You’re mistaking humble submission and rendering service for blind allegiance. The idea is to use your intellect. Bring every doubt to the table. Ask questions. Don’t leave any issues unsettled.

Friend1: Yes, but then you get accused of challenging, of being rude to the teacher. The Gestapo-like followers will remove you from the group. 

Friend2: Not necessarily. Genuine disciples ask all sorts of questions. It is the intention that matters. There is a way to bring queries to the table. There is a proper way to behave. There is something called etiquette. That’s what “humble submission” refers to. If you don’t follow etiquette you will never learn.

Friend1: I am to understand that what the verse is really saying is that you need a spiritual teacher in order to realize the truth, tattva, and in the dealings with the guru, the etiquette is such and such?Friend2: Right. The genuine spiritual master does not consider themselves worthy to have even a single disciple. They accept the responsibility because they know the benefit it will bring to others. If no one had the courage to teach properly, how would anyone learn the difference between matter and spirit and the true aim of living? The real guru will never say, “You must follow me.” They will ask the prospective student to observe, to make a sober analysis. Behave properly and try to judge for yourself who is the right person to take you across the ocean of birth and death. When you have found that person, treat them nicely and the benefits coming in return will be too great to fathom.

In Closing:

Approach guru of submission deserving,

How that not for teacher self-serving?

Since “follow me” the implication,

And soon large flock in replication.

Idea that only from another the truth to know,

And in approach proper etiquette to go.

No reason for doubts to conceal,

Of this world and others guru to reveal.

Four Truths About Time Extracted From The Ravana Example

“Indeed, Ravana is not agreeable to the idea of returning me. Ravana has come under the influence of time, who is seeking his death in battle.” (Sita Devi speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.10)

The claim is that a picture says a thousand words. A single image. No motion. No change. No enhancements in the background. A still photo, a snapshot in time, can speak so much.

The obvious is what is going on in the image. If there are characters, each person is involved in some sort of activity. Even inactivity, such as sleep, accomplishes something. There is also the backstory. How did the people get to this point in time? Where were they before? Perhaps further time spent with the image will provide more details.

What may get overlooked is the future. The image has something to say about that, though the details aren’t as clear. In the still image a person can be holding a hammer, suspended in air, targeted at a nail in the ground. The good guess is that a short time later the hammer will fall and strike the nail.

Yet that outcome is not guaranteed. As so many actions take place, it is difficult to decipher exactly what the situation will look like in the future. In the case of the king of Lanka many thousands of years ago, the still image showed victory, sensual enjoyment and security. The future would paint an entirely different picture for Ravana.

1. Deeds do matter

Actions have consequences. Miss the mark just slightly with that hammer and you could strike your finger instead of the nail. The resulting pain is real. We cannot say that improper use of the hammer will do no harm.

In the same way, Ravana’s sinful deeds would catch up with him. Stealing another man’s wife, using underhanded tactics, and running away seemed to have no negative influence in the short term. But the king of Lanka couldn’t run away from the law, which would eventually find him.

2. Karma is real

Action and reaction. Do something and then wait for a consequence. The reaction may not manifest immediately. Neither is it guaranteed to stay forever. Insult a person in a high position of power and you may never live it down. Eat too many slices of pizza without thinking and the resulting indigestion might go away after a few hours.

Ravana and his men committed atrocities. They killed innocent people living in various places in the world. The people of Lanka were Rakshasas, which are like man-eating ogres. This means that Ravana and those working under him had no problem eating the flesh of the slain victims.

The actions were karma. That is to say there would be a future consequence, delivered at the appropriate time and matching the intensity of the crime. The comparison is made to the flowers blossoming on trees during the proper season.

3. Pious activities pay dividends in the future

Again, with studying only the still image this truth may not be evident. Ravana was enjoying in Lanka, with many beautiful queens. The pious sages in the forest were living in fear. They were living simply, not bothering anyone. Just worshiping God, helping to give strength to the residents of the heavenly region.

Ravana had a saintly younger brother named Vibhishana. The good counsel offered to Ravana was ignored. Another instance of pious deeds not paying off. Vibhishana felt compelled to leave his brother’s side from there. He would not tolerate Sita Devi being held against her will, which was also a great insult to Shri Rama.

The end result was Ravana’s demise and Vibhishana’s ascent. The ultimate pious activity of publicly choosing Rama’s side eventually earned him the throne of Lanka. This was not the brother’s intention, but service offered to the Supreme Lord always gets reciprocated in some way.

4. The negative consequences to sinful behavior eventually emerge

The appropriate time was the arrival of Shri Rama’s army, consisting of monkeys and bears. Sita Devi knew this would be the outcome, as it seemed to her that death was looking for Ravana, waiting to defeat him on the battlefield. Rama is death personified, as He is time and more.

For the present age of Kali, the dharma, or pious activity, to follow for every person is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Whatever thousand words the current picture has to offer are nothing in comparison to the beautiful, bright and auspicious future created through the shelter of the Divine, whose personal association arrives through the calls made to Him in love and devotion.

In Closing:

Truths from Ravana story revealed,

Like fate from sinful behavior sealed.

Picture telling something else though,

That enjoyment likely forever so.

Consequences to stealing none,

Remorse not for harm to others done.

But coming to him at appropriate time,

Shri Rama on battlefield to shine.

Four Things Crushed Under The Wheels Of Time

“Indeed, Ravana is not agreeable to the idea of returning me. Ravana has come under the influence of time, who is seeking his death in battle.” (Sita Devi speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.10)

The king of Lanka wouldn’t listen to good advice. It came from close by, within the same family in fact. The words weren’t agreeable to him, however. Why change course after so much effort for an investment in the future? A famous person stays with a lie for many years. They were defiant at first, angry to be questioned. Later on they feel like repenting, wanting to come clean. But they spent so many years lying that it wouldn’t make sense to suddenly tell the truth.

The ten-headed Ravana was in a similar predicament. He took Sita Devi a while ago. This was another man’s wife. A capable fighter himself, Ravana was accustomed to accumulating earnings through victories. With Sita he chose the cowardly route. He continued to lie to himself that he was the most powerful fighter in the world, when in fact he was too afraid to take on Sita’s husband in battle.

What he didn’t know was that the husband was a manifestation of time. Shri Rama is time itself. Showing special favor to Ravana, Rama wiped away so much that was earned through great effort. These things are already crushed under the wheels of time, and Ravana’s case is a more gruesome example of an aspect of nature that has operated long since before anyone can remember.

1. Possessions

Wine. Women. Animal flesh. Gold. Jewels. Ravana had it all. There was actual wealth in Lanka; not some bank statement reporting a number that translated to a specific net worth. These were real commodities, and any person would be in awe at witnessing firsthand.

2. Name

Feared throughout the world, Ravana received his name from the respected Lord Shiva. The name struck fear in the hearts of others, especially those who might come in the Rakshasa’s path. Ravana and his men were man-eating ogres, and they would attack the most innocent in society specifically to curb the influence of dharma, or righteousness.

3. Stature

Plenty to enjoy. Expert ability in fighting. Ravana also held a high stature. He was king of Lanka. He could basically get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. There were many powerful people working under him. The advisor Maricha was both evil and cunning.

Ravana even boasted of his stature to Sita, but she was not interested. She compared him to a dog and a jackal. Her husband was like a lion, and so was her husband’s brother.

“Smelling the fragrance of Rama and Lakshmana, like a dog smelling a tiger, certainly you will not be able to stand.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 21.31-32)

4. Fame

With the qualities came fame. Ravana’s abilities and accomplishments were broadcast throughout the world. Even if such a feature were to remain into the future, how would Ravana enjoy it? There is no immortality. The devas worshiped by him couldn’t offer that as a benediction.

The truth is that everything gets wiped away at the time of death. Death is the most visible instrument of the force known as time, which can be compared to a chariot riding through an area, crushing everything under its wheels.

If the destination for every person is destruction, what is the point to living? What should be done every day? What is the objective of working, of expending effort? While the temporary material body gets destroyed, the soul within does not. Moreover, the soul travels to another destination after quitting the body for good.

Works in devotion help to purify consciousness, which accompanies the individual soul to the next life. As bad as Ravana was, his consciousness was on Rama at the time of death. This was the special benediction for playing such a worthy adversary, whose example would be studied by countless future generations, exhibiting exactly what should not be done in life.

Rama’s associates stay with Him in the spiritual world, and those who follow devotion to them have their consciousness purified even before all-devouring time arrives. That is to say they don’t need to wait until the afterlife to experience the true ananda, or bliss, that living has to offer.

In Closing:

Principles of dharma as useless brushed,

Not knowing how everything under crushed.

By wheels of undefeated time,

Demise despite at present to shine.

For Ravana, city of Lanka’s king,

Soon to be left without a thing.

Name, fame, stature and possessions too,

But for devotees of Rama not true.

Five Different Meanings To The Word Dharma

“The stringent laws of nature, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot be altered by any living entity. The living entities are eternally under the subjugation of the almighty Lord. The Lord makes all the laws and orders, and these laws and orders are generally called dharma or religion. No one can create any religious formula. Bona fide religion is to abide by the orders of the Lord.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.4 Purport)

Is Hinduism just another faith to put into the basket? Is it something exclusive to people from a specific region? Can you only be born into it?

In fact, the proper term is Vedic culture, as Hindu is a word produced by outsiders to explain something they barely understand. Within that culture there isn’t even a corresponding word for “religion” or “faith” in terms of an identified spiritual practice. The best matching word is dharma, and it has different meanings based on the context of use.

1. Religion

It’s not religion exactly, but in discussion dharma suffices. The less intelligent will say Hindu-dharma, but again the Hindu word is not found anywhere in the Vedas; whereas dharma is listed practically everywhere. If religion means a way of understanding the Almighty, of thinking beyond this life, then dharma certainly has a similar connotation.

2. Religiosity

It might not have been explained to us before, but religion is not just about a particular institution and doing certain things and avoiding others. Real religion should bring about four specific qualities: honesty, compassion, cleanliness and austerity.

Dharma is also translated as religiosity since as a religious system it is a way to get these qualities to manifest. If the opposite occurs, or even if a person remains static in their lack of good qualities, then the practice of religion isn’t having much of an effect. The people are no different than the supposed atheists they condemn to eternal damnation.

3. Piety

This is where dharma produces an appropriate corresponding term. As piety is tied to sin, so dharma and adharma go together in philosophical discussions. There is a reality to it, of course. Turn the screw to the right side to make it tighter. If the objective in the particular situation is to get the screw on, this method is considered pious.

To turn the screw to the left is to make it looser. Again, based on the current objective, this choice would be considered impious. Another word is “sinful.” There is sin because a negative reaction is guaranteed to occur. The ideal situation will not be reached.

Dharma is basically the right way to do things. Tell the truth. Respect people and property. Be straightforward in your dealings. Give protection to those who are not as capable. Adharma is the opposite. Lie, cheat and steal to get whatever it is you want. It makes sense that genuine atheists would gravitate towards adharma as a way of life. This is because they don’t believe in future consequences. They think that this lifetime will be the only one. To them, a person is a bag of chemicals who will be no different in nature once death arrives.

4. Duty

This is where the complexities of the word dharma really come into play. It is religion, pious behavior and so forth, but dharma can also be refined based on occupation. The Sanskrit word is varna, which is a kind of coloring or classification. In terms of occupation, the varna is determined by guna and karma.

“According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.13)

Qualities and work put a person into a specific occupation by nature. Generally, there are four divisions. Let’s say a person is a kshatriya by guna and karma. They are brave, chivalrous, and not afraid to take on any person in battle.

Within that specific occupation there are rules and regulations. There is a way to live. The identification is kshatriya-dharma, i.e. the duties of a person in the warrior class. There are similarly duties for a priest or a businessperson. Dharma extends to phases of life, as well, such as family life and the renounced order; hence another translation for religion in the Vedas being varnashrama-dharma. Indeed, there are recommendations of dharma based on the time period as well, known as a yuga.

5. Essential characteristic

This is the root definition. Dharma is what defines a particular object. A common example given is fire. The dharma of fire is heat and light. Those two properties cannot be removed from the object. If light and heat are lacking, then fire is not present.

Dharma for the individual is service. The individual here is defined not by their varna, their gunas, or their karma. The individual is spirit soul at the core, atma. The essential characteristic of the atma is service, and the only ideal match for that service is another deathless, material bodiless individual.

He is actually within already. His expansion is known as Supersoul. The knowledge of the essential nature of the soul unifies all the definitions of dharma. That is to say religion, religiosity, piety and duty all have the purpose of bringing the individual closer to their true nature, which is beyond this temporary existence.

Since the soul is eternal and so also its dharma, the real definition of spiritual life, given exclusively in the Vedas, is sanatana-dharma. Real religion is forever. It is applicable in heaven and hell. It is for men and women. It is for the tiny insect and the famous king. The Almighty, the Supreme Soul, the person with the greatest attributes that are spiritual in nature, is to be remembered while living and also while dying. Dharma and its different manifestations are meant for bringing a person closer to this consciousness, which is actually the original one.

In Closing:

Dharma with different meanings so,

Like religion others familiar to know.

Also duty for occupation found,

Pious principles to ground.

Religiosity into the mix thrown,

Best as essential characteristic known.

When connected to God meanings the same,

To find Him again to this life came.

Three Aspects Of Vedic Culture That Have Variations

“In the system of the varnashrama institution there are many principles of religious traditions to help members of the family grow properly and attain spiritual values. The elder members are responsible for such purifying processes in the family, beginning from birth to death. But on the death of the elder members, such family traditions of purification may stop, and the remaining younger family members may develop irreligious habits and thereby lose their chance for spiritual salvation.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 1.39 Purport)

Christian. Muslim. Buddhist. Jewish. Does Hindu follow the same model? Is Hinduism an actual thing? The origin is the Vedas. As a Sanskrit word the meaning is “knowledge.” Real knowledge is about the self. Everything else is ancillary, temporary in nature and therefore disqualified from consideration as the ultimate objective. Even a complex subject like physics or mechanics pales in comparison to the travels of the individual spirit, whose size is compared to the tip of a piece of hair divided into ten thousand parts.

Mind is one of the subtle elements covering the soul in the conditioned state. Mind is more subtle than any of the five gross elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. Subtler than the mind is intelligence, and ego is more so. The soul is beyond the gross and the subtle. Therefore the science of the soul, which is the actual subject of the Vedas, is more complex than the human mind can fathom.

Followers of the Vedas may object to the identification of “Hindu.” To begin, the naming is improper. The proper identification is based on the Sanskrit word, while the more modern usage is through outside observation. That is to say those who are not familiar with the culture give it a specific name, without the proper understanding.

Secondly, within Vedic culture there are variations in different departments. If someone is Hindu or following the way of life passed on from the Vedas, they are not necessarily following the same path as everyone else grouped into the same classification.

1. Rituals adhered to

In one family the wife observes a complete fast one day a year. This is supposedly to help her husband. The wife sacrifices so much for the benefit of her protector, who is known as pati.

In another family the tradition is to observe a specific kind of worship on a specific day in the annual calendar. The purpose is to raise auspiciousness. Purify the atmosphere. Sacrifice time for something besides personal interest.

The variations are due mostly to family tradition and occupation. The Sanskrit word varna describes a person’s natural proclivity towards a certain kind of work. The classification is based on material qualities, guna, and the type of work performed, karma. For example, it makes sense that the priestly class would have rituals different from the businessmen and laborers.

2. Objects of worship

The elephant-god. The monkey-type person holding a mountain in his hand. The guy with poison in his throat. The many-armed lady seated on a tiger. The bluish figure with a peacock feather in His hair. The goddess seated on a lotus flower.

Hinduism is known for its many gods. The less intelligent say to worship any one that you choose. Indeed, there are many objects of worship amongst followers of the Vedas. These are divine figures, empowered by a higher authority to deliver rewards, when worshiped properly.

3. Objectives of life

It would make sense to have different deities, considering that desires are not uniform. One person wants wealth. Another wants ability in reading and writing. Some are willing to sacrifice for a while in order to get what they want, while others need quick reciprocation. The desires may change within the same individual during the course of a lifetime, leading to different gods worshiped at different times.

The Vedas describe four primary objectives of life. Dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Today I want to be religious, while tomorrow I’m looking for progress in economic pursuits. I need to satisfy my senses, and when everything is finished let not the cycle repeat again.

Whatever the objective sought at the moment, the ultimate aim is always the same. Come closer to God the person. The many deities are empowered by Him. Worship is authorized since it is a way to break free of the mentality in ignorance, where the individual thinks they can do everything on their own. Genuine religion is what separates the human being from the animal. As it is difficult to purify the consciousness quickly and completely, there are so many rules, regulations and rituals passed down. This allows for a gradual progression towards perfection.

That is to say perfect consciousness of God the person can be achieved in a single lifetime or after many. The idea is to keep progressing. Vedic culture is based on achieving this goal. The different aspects begin to make more sense when understood in this context.

Why fast on a certain day? It helps to break free of the dependence on food for happiness. Why get married? It helps to curb the appetite for illicit sex life. Why worship this person for money? Better to go to a higher figure than to think the complexities involved in economics can be figured out by you alone.

A way to save time is to approach the Almighty directly. In this respect not all devas are the Supreme. Vishnu is the soul of an existence, and that same Vishnu expands into different forms. In His two-handed form He is known as Krishna, the all-attractive one. That Krishna can be approached directly by calling His names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

The benefit of the direct method is that purification occurs in the process. If there are other desires, objectives related to a temporary existence, that is not immediate disqualification for worship. Indeed, the only necessary quality is sincerity. Be honest and truthful in the approach towards Bhagavan and help will arrive that no other deva can provide.

In Closing:

What a prototypical Hindu to be?

Since many variations to see.

Like when fasting on particular day,

And which mantra for desire to say.

Deities honored also not the same,

But in background a singular aim.

That closer to Supreme Lord coming,

Easier when His devotee becoming.

The Seven Mothers According To Vedic Injunction

“There are seven kinds of mothers according to Vedic injunction: the real mother, the wife of a teacher or spiritual master, the wife of a king, the wife of a brahmana, the cow, the nurse, and the mother earth. Because Putana came to take Krishna on her lap and offer her breast's milk to be sucked by Him, she was accepted by Krishna as one of His mothers.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 6)

Not chosen randomly. Not merely a corresponding regulation, similar to what other spiritual traditions follow, with just a different animal put in place. Not a spot reserved for protection, rotating based on the time and circumstance.

The protection of cows in the Vedic tradition is based on a simple identification. Due to the cow’s importance from providing milk, it is treated as a mother. Any civilized person would protect their mother. They would never think of killing her, and in this light there are seven kinds of mothers according to Vedic injunction, each worthy of protection.

1. The real mother

Like her or not, she gave birth to you. That wasn’t easy, even if the surgical route was taken as opposed to natural childbirth. Keeping a living being inside of you for nine months is no picnic. Then there is the love and attention provided immediately after. The newborn only knows one way to communicate dissatisfaction: crying. They wake up constantly, need to have their diapers changed, and require feeding.

The real mother should be respected. That is the way of civilized people. There may be arguments or disagreements, but that is only natural in a family. The seed-giver is the father, and the mother provides the space in which to grow. The parents are the first teachers; hence they are also known as guru.

2. The wife of a teacher or spiritual master

In ancient times school took place at the home of the spiritual master, who is known as guru because of the weight of teaching and example they carry. Children would stay with the teacher and carry out daily responsibilities. Life was rather austere, but children can handle such situations better than adults.

The guru belongs to the brahmana order of life. This is the priest or intellectual. They are realized in Brahman, which is the impersonal spiritual energy visible everywhere through the very presence of life. The second of four stages of life in Vedic culture is marriage. It is possible for the guru to be in the grihastha-ashrama, living with a wife. That wife should be treated like another mother.

3. The wife of a king

In America she is called the First Lady. It is an honorary title, a way to give respect. The President is considered the most important person due to their responsibility. They have to protect the entire country, even people that disagree with them on the issues. The wife of such a ruler is considered a mother due to the close proximity to leadership.

4. The wife of a brahmana

The application is similar to the example of the guru. The spiritual master is a brahmana, but not all brahmanas are officially recognized as teachers of students. They may follow a different engagement, such as performing sacrifices, reading the Vedas, or teaching others how to perform sacrifices. The wives of such saintly people should be viewed on the level of mother, as well.

5. The cow

An animal identified to be different, unique and auspicious specifically by the Vedic tradition, the cow should be both respected and protected. The justification is obvious based on the output alone. Milk and milk products are enjoyed by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Is it proper to repay that kindness by killing unnecessarily, when so much other food is available?

The cow produces this milk out of love. It is said that in the holy land of Vrindavana, during the time of Shri Krishna the cows would produce so much milk simply upon seeing Him. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, after all. Several of His names reference His affection for cows. He is Gopala; their protector. He is Govinda, the one who gives them pleasure. In so many pictures He is seen with cows. There is never a thought to kill them unnecessarily. It is said that in places where brahmanas and cows are protected auspiciousness and happiness abound.

6. The nurse

Though in modern times with the identified occupation the gender may not always be female, the idea of respect remains the same. The nurse provides vital assistance, and many times without appreciation. The patient can be grumpy, grouchy and non-cooperative, but the nurse has to push through with their responsibilities.

During Shri Krishna’s time on earth, the identification of nurse could go to someone who provided milk from the breast. There is the example of Putana. She came to Vrindavana in disguise to feed poison to baby Krishna. She was able to enter the house of Yashoda because the people were generally very kind to each other. It must be assumed that it was not out of the ordinary for mothers in the community to nurse children who were not their own.

Though she was actually a witch, and though she came with ill-intent, Krishna still gave Putana liberation. She was killed because Krishna sucked the very life out of her, rendering the poison smeared on her breast ineffective. Since she died while conscious of the Supreme Lord, she attained liberation. Thus there was indeed respect shown to the nurse, who is on the level of mother.

7. Mother earth

Known as Bhumi Devi, the earth is a goddess. That is to say there is an intelligent being presiding over the planet consisting of material elements. Equating earth to a mother is not exclusive to the Vedic tradition, as it is not out of the ordinary to think that the earth, which gives everything, should be respected. She is the symbol of tolerance, as she accepts so much suffering and yet still provides ample output of grains. All the seeds necessary for continuing life come from the earth, so in this way she is a life-giver on the level of mother.

In Closing:

Not just the mother birth giving,

Also teacher’s wife of spiritual living.

In earth found every seed,

Cow highest animal indeed.

Also one to ruler of kingdom married,

Nurse like Putana who poison carried.

Liberation to her Krishna to send,

Showing way respect to extend.

Enthusiastic For Darshana

“That mighty one, anxious to see you, is seated on the ashrama like to Indra on the summit of Mount Meru.” (Hanuman speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.23)

tvat darśana kṛta utsāham āśramastham mahābalam |
puraṃdaram iva āsīnam nāga rājasya mūrdhani ||

Break away from the daily grind. A change of pace. Something new. Something different. Why not take a trip? Visit an exotic destination. Tour a famous landmark. Soak in the beauty of this creation, found in something as basic as the tree and as complex as the expansive mountain range.

Something is considered attractive precisely because it attracts. Different tourist destinations bring in people from around the world. There is interest due to the attractiveness. It would make sense, then, that a person would want to have a meeting with the Almighty. This is known as darshana, or a vision. He is supposed to be the most attractive person. Hence one name for Him is Krishna. There are many other names, which describe different features, accomplishments, and interests.

It is understandable for the spiritual seeker to be desperate for such a vision. There is enthusiasm, utsaha, to make the meeting a reality. Seeing is believing, is it not? There will be attractiveness for sure, but also confirmation that a supreme person does indeed exist.

Another option to consider is altering behavior to the point that Krishna takes notice. Be more eager to have God see you instead of wanting to meet Him. The meeting is only the beginning. With Shri Hanuman, there was darshana in the Kishkindha forest, but life did not end there. A magical touch to the forehead did not take place that vanquished all troubles. Rather, Hanuman took up service from that day forth.

In the above referenced verse from the Ramayana the same Hanuman is describing how Sita will see Rama. She is the Supreme Lord’s husband. She is also known as the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi Devi. Hanuman proposed to take her on his back and return her to Rama.

He is staying in an ashrama on a mountain. The comparison is made to Indra, the king of heaven, sitting atop Mount Meru. Rama is the king of kings, so the comparison is appropriate. Rama will be enthusiastic for the meeting with His wife, who was taken away from Him in secret, through trickery and deceit by the king of Lanka, Ravana.

The idea is that for the devotees the Supreme Lord is just as enthusiastic to meet them. He is attracted by their devotion to Him, and with Sita the devotion is at the highest level. Those who chant the holy names are not only guaranteed to one day have the face to face meeting with Krishna, but they will surely catch His interest, as well.

He already sees everything through His expansion of Supersoul. With the exercise of devotion, there is a break from the position in neutrality. The Supersoul comes to life, so to speak. It becomes visible to the eyes, though He was there the entire time. The Supreme Lord takes great pleasure in sitting in on the chanting of His names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Vacation from beauty attracted,

To appreciate without work distracted.

Reason for seeing God the same,

For strong enthusiasm not to blame.

Secret that Lord Himself also to see,

When situated in devotion to be.

Like Sita-Rama deeds of Hanuman observing,

Who of highest stature deserving.