Three Reasons Krishna Deserved Punishment From Mother Yashoda

“She gathered more ropes from the house and added to it, but at the end she found the same shortage. In this way, she connected all the ropes available at home, but when the final knot was added, she saw that it was still two inches too short. Mother Yashoda was smiling, but she was astonished. How was it happening?” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 9)

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1. He broke a pot of yogurt

It was for turning into butter. The mother worked hard. She did not have a machine capable of doing the same. Nothing like “set it and forget it,” there was manual labor involved. Take yogurt, put it in a pot, and then begin the churning process.

By the way, the purpose this time was to feed her son directly. Yashoda had heard complaints. Her darling Krishna was sneaking into the homes of neighbors and stealing their butter. The neighboring mothers utilized their ingenuity to protect from subsequent attacks, but the clever jewel of Gokula kept finding ways to succeed.

He didn’t have an external lighting source, but the jewels adorning His transcendental body were enough. He didn’t have a ladder, but with the help of friends heights no longer became an issue. Sometimes to add to the fun, to almost increase the severity of the injury to the victims, Krishna and His elder brother Balarama would pinch the sleeping children in the homes so that they would wake up.

“If by chance They cannot find the hidden butter and yogurt, They go to our little babies and pinch their bodies so that they cry, and then They go away. If we keep our stock of butter and yogurt high on the ceiling, hanging on a swing, although it is beyond Their reach, They arrange to reach it by piling all kinds of wooden crates over the grinding machine. And if They cannot reach, They make a hole in the pot. We think therefore that you better take all the jeweled ornaments from the bodies of your children.”  (Mothers complaining to Yashoda, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 8)

Yashoda considered that perhaps the butter in her own home was not sufficient. Therefore, she took aim at the best cows in her possession, who ate the sweetest grass. From their milk this butter would be produced, if only her child were patient enough to wait.

As young children are known to do, one day Krishna asked to be breastfed. Even before they learn how to talk, they have a way of communicating this desire. The crying or whining sound is distinct. There are no reservations, either. No concern for what the mother is doing. “Feed me now,” is the message communicated.

Yashoda remembered that there was something cooking on the stove in the kitchen. She then put down her son for a moment to check on the situation. That small amount of time was enough for Krishna to become upset and act. He intentionally broke the pot of yogurt that was being churned into butter.

2. He ran away

Knowing that He did something bad, Krishna ran away. This was not necessary. The mother had tremendous love. She would be slightly upset, enough to wield a whipping stick, but there would not be any retaliation. After all, she never did anything after hearing the complaints from the neighbors. She found her son’s ways to be quite amusing.

3. He fed the butter to monkeys

Such hard work to make butter, and here was Krishna taking some of the product and giving it away. Not to His friends. Not to the neighbors. Not to be stored somewhere to eat later. Rather, monkeys were the recipients. In the Bhagavad-gita spoken many years later by the same Krishna the different kinds of charity are discussed. It is mentioned how charity in the mode of goodness goes to proper recipients and without expectation of reciprocation. Monkeys are not mentioned as needing charity.

दातव्यम् इति यद् दानं
दीयते ऽनुपकारिणे
देशे काले च पात्रे च
तद् दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्

dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ
dīyate 'nupakāriṇe
deśe kāle ca pātre ca
tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam

“That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 17.20)

…

For these reasons and more Yashoda was justified in offering punishment to her son. Since He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, things didn’t go so smoothly. The mild punishment of choice was to bind Krishna to a mortar. This was after Yashoda finally caught up to Him.

The problem was that no matter how many ropes she joined together, the mother was always two finger-widths short. Finally, through Krishna’s agreement and arrangement, the connected ropes became long enough. He was bound by the belly to a mortar, thus earning the name Damodara. That special pastime is especially celebrated during one particular month of the year.

The significance is that the Supreme Lord can only come under the control of His devotee; no one else. In fact, with forgetfulness of Him the individual always comes under the control of the grueling and seemingly unconquerable material nature. The threefold sources of misery attack constantly, leading to chaos, fear, despair, heartache and a general feeling of malaise.

On the other side, in the light of Divine love, there is eternal hope, optimism and appreciation. A person can be transported to that realm even prior to quitting the body. Remembering Yashoda and her butter-pot breaking son is one way. That special area of Gokula can be easily recreated through something as simple as chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

That special area creating,

Through holy names stating.

Krishna quickly away scurrying,

Yashoda right behind hurrying.

Finally the ropes long enough,

After adjoining process tough.

For many reasons the response required,

By that pastime so many inspired.

You Don’t Think There Is Progress Made Towards Permanence

“Nothing within this material world can be permanent, although scientists, philosophers, workers and everyone else are trying to make things permanent. One foolish scientist recently declared that eventually life will be made permanent through science. Some so-called scientists are also trying to manufacture living entities within the laboratory. Thus in one way or another everyone is busy denying the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and rejecting the supreme authority of the Lord. However, the Lord is so powerful that He destroys everything in the form of death.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam. 4.24.65 Purport)

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Friend1: A teaching from the Bhagavad-gita that really stands out for me describes how this world is miserable and temporary.

Friend2: Duhkhalayam and ashashvatam.

Friend1: Not something you would be consciously aware of, otherwise. At least in my opinion. Some would say it is a pessimistic view.

Friend2: Only if you believe there is no other place to live. Or if you think that there is no way to change the situation.

Friend1: Umm, hasn’t mankind been trying to change the situation since before we can remember? Otherwise, what is the purpose of science and technology? Progress means going from a place that was defective in some way towards a better position.

Friend2: I was addressing your characterization of the teaching as pessimistic.

Friend1: Let’s stay with this other idea for a moment.

Friend2: Alright.

Friend1: Couldn’t you say that man is progressing towards reversing those two conditions?

Friend2: You mean that this world is becoming pleasurable and permanent? Seriously? Is this part of your new stand-up routine?

Friend1: Look at the advancements in science. Open-heart surgery is now much easier to perform. There are treatments for so many diseases.

Friend2: Ah, yes. A pill for every ill. Offer a score of injections to your children before they reach the age of two. That is working out really well, isn’t it?

Friend1: They say that the life expectancy is increasing.

Friend2: I’ve heard that the statistic is misleading.

Friend1: How so?

Friend2: Because the real advancement is in infant mortality. Meaning that people aren’t necessarily living to a larger age in number, but that the average is increasing because less people are dying right after birth.

Friend1: Oh, interesting.

Friend2: Secondly, even if people were living up to one hundred years on average, what does that really mean in the grand scheme of things? Take twenty years. That is a significant improvement, right? Divide twenty into a million and what percentage do you get?

Friend1: Too small to matter.

Friend2: I’m using a million as a randomly chosen high number. The earth is many more years older than that. How, then, can you say that things are becoming more permanent?

Friend1: That is the trend. Scientists say that one day they will eradicate death.

Friend2: Let them say whatever, but you and I know the truth.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्माद् अपरिहार्ये ऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmād aparihārye 'rthe
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

“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)

Friend1: Okay, but what about the living experience being more pleasurable? Automobiles. Indoor plumbing. Supermarkets. Smartphones.

Friend2: Is anyone able to enjoy these things? If they were, no one would take to intoxication. Everyone I know is high or drunk half the time. I mean, you can’t blame them. There is so much stress just to maintain life.

Friend1: Complex living, low thinking.

Friend2: Or even no thinking. No contemplation on what the purpose to it all is. Just try to reverse the properties that are ingrained in the nature around us.

Friend1: What is the alternative, though? Wait for heaven? That’s a tough sell.

Friend2: For sure there is a way out of the cycle of birth and death. Consciousness is the determining factor. The same process that stops reincarnation also changes the nature of living in this world.

Friend1: How so?

Friend2: The reason the world is temporary and miserable is because kala acts. This is time. Kala is one rupa of the Supreme Lord. It is one way that every person, regardless of their religious inclination, sees the Divine. For those surrendered to Him, kala becomes a sort of friend. Time increases the auspiciousness of the surroundings, bringing more opportunities for devotional service, which is performed blissfully, susukham.

राज-विद्या राज-गुह्यं
पवित्रम् इदम् उत्तमम्
प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं
सु-सुखं कर्तुम् अव्ययम्

rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ
su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam

“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.2)

While engaged in such service the ocean of suffering which was previously so difficult to overcome becomes much easier to deal with. This is because of the helping hand of Bhagavan, who is the controller of the nature to begin with.

In Closing:

Temporary and miserable you say,

But scientists hard at work and play.

Reversing situation to try,

But laws of nature can’t defy.

Since Krishna as kala to act,

Devastating toll to exact.

Better with devotional path taking,

Everlasting benefit making.

Three Things Worked Really Hard For But Not Enjoyed Properly Due To Time

“In this material world there is a great illusion which covers real intelligence. A man in the mode of passion wants to work very hard to derive some benefit, but he does not know that time will never allow him to enjoy anything permanently. Compared with the work one expends, the gain is not so profitable. Even if it is profitable, it is not without its distresses.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.25.4 Purport)

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1. Houses

They say you should put down at least twenty percent. Otherwise, there is the penalty known as PMI. This is the bank’s way of hedging their bet. If they lend money to someone who has too much debt to steadily pay it off over time, then they want some way to recoup the losses. If you have at least twenty percent of the purchase price in a down payment, the bank feels more comfortable with the transaction.

With the typical thirty-year fixed mortgage, there is a considerable length of time before the house is yours. Even then, it’s not really. There are property taxes. Miss one of those payments and the government will seize your house and put it up for auction. Never mind how much you paid into it. They have no sympathy for the thousands of dollars in interest you spent over the thirty years.

The house is a kind of achievement. Usually, a person has to work very hard to get one. There is a period of saving up. Then during the time of the mortgage there is constant distress over having to make the payment each month.

2. Cars

A similar process, but with less time dedicated. Here the issue is with the rapidly changing world of technology. The car you purchased five years ago was state of the art, at the time. Cruise control. Power steering. Power windows and locks. A DVD player in the back for the children to use on long trips.

The newest cars have a camera in the rear, to help with parking. There is “lane assist,” which warns you if there are cars in the lanes that you want to turn into. The entertainment system integrates with your smartphone, which makes it much easier to listen to music and communicate with others.

That first car you worked so hard to purchase is now an ancient relic. Time to upgrade. The interest from the bank loan is money lost. The monthly payment is around the same, no matter what kind of car you drive.

3. Electronic gadgets

Smartphones. Tablets. Notebook computers. Similar to the cycle of purchasing and selling automobiles, the newest technological gadget only stays relevant for a certain period of time. You can try holding on to it for as long as you can, but eventually the manufacturer stops supporting it. They have moved on, and they want you to do the same.

…

This review is one way of noticing the folly of material sense gratification. With so much effort invested, the return is not very good. How much time is there to really enjoy the house? Most of the time at home is spent sleeping; meaning you are not even consciously aware of your surroundings. The time in the car is likely stressful, especially during rush hour commutes.

The gadgets work fine for a while, but with an upgrade to the software the entire layout changes. Your previous habits cannot be maintained. While you used to pull up the music app to quickly listen to songs you liked, now it takes three or four times the effort to do the same. The options are now to either complain or search for a third party app which will replicate the previous layout.

Narada Muni asked King Pracinabarhishat what the purpose of activity for material gain was, since happiness and the removal of distresses are the goal. With karma there is actually always some kind of misery. Since there is little peace, there is no chance of true happiness.

नास्ति बुद्धिर् अयुक्तस्य
न चायुक्तस्य भावना
न चाभावयतः शान्तिर्
अशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम्

nāsti buddhir ayuktasya
na cāyuktasya bhāvanā
na cābhāvayataḥ śāntir
aśāntasya kutaḥ sukham

“One who is not in transcendental consciousness can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.66)

Therefore the wise person takes a different path. Known as nivritti-marga in Sanskrit, it is the way designed for the rational and intelligent human being. Every person has the potential to reach this standard, which distinguishes the type of birth from animal life. That is to say the animals know only pravritti-marga, which is enjoying the senses.

Implement some sort of restriction. Not for punishing yourself. Not for winning a contest of vairagya, to show off to your friends. Rather, follow a disciplined way of life in order to experience the highest bliss. Along with the restrictions are the recommendations for activities. These resemble karma, or fruitive activity, but are in fact spiritual in nature.

The bhakti way of life is karma-free, as the development of a future material body ceases. The results to the activities are dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose happiness means everything. The same work output for enjoying homes, cars and other such things yields a much higher benefit when directed towards Bhagavan. The distresses are less, and the influence of time is not a factor, since God and devotion to Him are themselves timeless.

In Closing:

Benefit to efforts made tireless,

Since God and bhakti themselves timeless.

Not with other objectives so,

Since with great difficulty to go.

Not allowing enjoyment’s time,

Soon another upgrade to find.

Since happiness itself the goal,

In bhakti worth the toll.

Five Activities To Dedicate To Krishna

“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

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यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

Everyone has to do something. Even sleep is a kind of activity. No one can refrain from working, not even for a moment. Concomitant with vitality, if something is living there is some sort of continuous operation. Movement. Start to finish. Something as basic as fluid travelling from one destination to another, like blood-flow triggered by the heart.

Bhagavad-gita explains that the beneficiary of work should be the Supersoul, known as Paramatma in Sanskrit. The individual, atma, is the starting point, the actor, but not every decision results in the same outcome. You could line up one hundred people at a table to eat the exact same dish for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a week. Afterwards, the bodies will look different. One person will be fat, another will be thin, another might have problems with the skin, and so forth.

The aim tends to be the same, to satisfy the self. Shri Krishna mentions to Arjuna five different activities that should have a transition in terms of interest.

1. Austerities

The Sanskrit word is tapasya. The general connotation is restriction based on some kind of religious guidance. Fast today because of spiritual significance. After someone in the family passes away, cut your hair. Don’t celebrate any festivities like birthdays or anniversaries for seven days; a period of mourning.

Yet the same principle is there even within material life. An athlete follows a restrictive diet in order to boost performance. A student studies for hours at a time to increase the score on an upcoming examination. A new mother forgoes sleep in order to tend to her beloved child.

Krishna says to make Him the object of tapasya. Follow restriction for His benefit. Then the tapasya will not only be easier to implement, but the reward will be the best possible and also the most enjoyable.

2. Giving away in charity

Too many clothes in the house. Not enough closet space. So many shirts and pants that you no longer wear. The reason does not have to be the same. Some are just worn out and maintained due to sentimental value. Others no longer fit. After all, the size of the body does not stay the same throughout life.

One option is to give away in charity. An old car can be of use to someone else. People devastated by a recent storm to hit the area need help in rebuilding.

Krishna says that charity should be in His honor. This seems antithetical, since the Supreme Lord is the wealthiest person. He lives with Lakshmi Devi, who is the goddess of fortune. Narayana is always the most fortunate; hence one name for Him is Bhagavan.

Though we may not understand the principle at first, the implementation will prove beneficial. Giving things away for the Supreme Lord is the best use of the charitable spirit, as it fosters renunciation and also creates spiritual items of value with which others can afterwards interact, prasadam.

3. Offering

A husband is so pleased with the love shown by his wife that he spontaneously decides to buy flowers. He arrives home after work in the typical fashion, but today he is carrying something in the hand. A beautiful bouquet of bright, red roses, presented as an offering to the wife. She is very pleased by the gesture.

The same kind of offering can be made to the Supreme Lord. He doesn’t ask for much. A simple flower will do. Maybe some water, as that is easy to procure. The benefit to the worshiper will be tremendous, though the reciprocation may not manifest immediately.

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं
यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तद् अहं भक्त्य्-उपहृतम्
अश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

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

4. Eating

As water or a flower can be offered to Krishna, so can food. The subsequent process of eating can be done as an offering to Him. Similar to the concept of saying grace, there is the acknowledgment that something so vital could not be produced through human effort alone. The Supreme Lord explains to Arjuna that grains come about through rain, which is produced through nature, which is managed by higher authorities known as devas.

अन्नाद् भवन्ति भूतानि
पर्जन्याद् अन्न-सम्भवः
यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो
यज्ञः कर्म-समुद्भवः

annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

“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)

5. Doing

To simplify the complex, just make every activity an offering to Krishna. I woke up today so that I can engage in bhajana. I go to work in order to get money to purchase a television. I use the television to learn more about Hari, to sing songs about Him, to hear the sound of the holy names.

I dedicate a room in the home to worshiping. I use the legs to fold in order to sit on the floor. I use the hands to hold a string of beads. I use each bead to repeat the maha-mantra, which makes the vitality within completely worth it: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

With accompanying vitality within,

Dedicated for a person or thing.

Bhagavad-gita lesson stating,

That for Krishna all dedicating.

Like austerity or charity too,

Offering and eating to do.

Just everything for only His sake,

Best use of this life to make.

Don’t You Feel You Are Fighting A Losing Battle

“Everyone is inclined in this age to eat meat and fish, drink liquor and indulge in sex life, but according to the Vedic injunctions, sex is allowed only in marriage, meat-eating is allowed only when the animal is killed and offered before the goddess Kali, and intoxication is allowed only in a restricted way.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.26.6 Purport)

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Friend1: Don’t you feel that the odds are stacked against you?

Friend2: In what?

Friend1: I mean people are addicted to so many unhelpful things. They are so upset over politics that they are willing to invade restaurants and disrupt otherwise peaceful situations. They cry over the results to elections. They can’t accept something as basic as marriage and gender. They develop these mental illnesses and then look for remedies through the political process.

Friend2: Again, what are you talking about here?

Friend1: With that backdrop you are trying to get people to give up the pursuit of sense gratification and instead take to spiritual life. Athato brahma-jijnasa. “Now is the time for inquiring into the spiritual, Brahman.” The principle applies to the human being. The “now” references the fact that in previous lifetimes the opportunity wasn’t there. But how is anyone going to act on the now if they don’t even realize the urgency?

Friend2: They don’t see anything wrong, so why try something different?

Friend1: One of the basic changes you’re looking to implement at the beginning is no meat eating and no illicit sex life. Good luck with that, pal. Do you see what happens when you tell someone that you don’t eat meat? They look at you funny. Sure, there are movements gaining momentum, but even they have stigmas attached to them.

Friend2: No one said this would be easy [wink].

Friend1: The sex life thing is the entire reason for an existence. You take that away and what else is there? I get that the four regulative principles are important.

Friend2: Sobriety for understanding higher topics. A person who is dhira can understand the changing bodies and not be bewildered upon learning the foundational principle of spiritual life.

देहिनो ऽस्मिन् यथा देहे
कौमारं यौवनं जरा
तथा देहान्तर-प्राप्तिर्
धीरस् तत्र न मुह्यति

dehino 'smin yathā dehe
kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir
dhīras tatra na muhyati

“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)

Friend1: You are supporting my argument. Sobriety is required. Let me ask you, who out there is actually sober? Practically everyone is addicted to behaviors that will keep them further away from liberation.

Friend2: What is your point, then?

Friend1: That you might be wasting your time.

Friend2: What exactly am I trying to do?

Friend1: Make people Krishna conscious. Have society understand the real peace formula, as explained in the Bhagavad-gita.

भोक्तारं यज्ञ-तपसां
सर्व-लोक-महेश्वरम्
सुहृदं सर्व-भूतानां
ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिम् ऋच्छति

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 5.29)

Friend2: That is not what I am trying to do.

Friend1: Then?

Friend2: Bhajana. Glorification of Shri Hari, God who takes away the distresses of His devotees. One aspect of that devotion is prachara, or popularizing the teachings. This is not a required component, but one that many people happily take up. Whether one person agrees or one thousand makes no difference to the person practicing. Their liberation is assured, since they can easily cross beyond the vast ocean of suffering that is the material world.

दैवी ह्य् एषा गुण-मयी
मम माया दुरत्यया
माम् एव ये प्रपद्यन्ते
मायाम् एतां तरन्ति ते

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.14)

Friend1: Shouldn’t you try a different approach? Maybe water down the principles at first, just to lure people in.

Friend2: The Bhagavad-gita already does what you want, without any compromise. You can’t get any more basic than the difference between body and spirit. There is no need to water anything down, in fact. If you want me to lie to people, to enter the realm of duality, where I promote sense gratification through successful business endeavors and the like, it’s not going to happen.

Friend1: Okay, but then the number of followers will always remain small. You see some of these guys taking my approach and they have close to a million subscribers on video hosting websites.

Friend2: In truth, the majority is always with Shri Krishna. They live in the spiritual world, however, so we don’t see them. We are in the minority already, so even if one person escapes the cycle of birth and death that is a tremendous victory. Anyway, this is not about winning or losing. Follow bhakti yourself, do your best to convince the inquisitive as to the proper way, and let the Divine will sort out the rest.

Friend1: Alright, but sometimes I lament taking birth in this age. In previous time periods the conditions were more auspicious. People might have been more receptive to the message. No one was tethered to an electronic device that they couldn’t resist peeking at every few minutes.

Friend2: But the advantage today is that simply through chanting the holy names you can achieve liberation. No need to understand the principles thoroughly. Stay attached through sound: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

To convince others how,

When attached to sinful now?

Like drinking and eating meat,

Not happily Vedas to greet.

For bhakti not about winning,

Assured that stopped rebirth spinning.

If successful convincing only one,

Then already the amazing done.

How Do You Get People To Buy Into Restrictions On Eating And Sex Life

“Regulations are meant for human beings, not for animals. The traffic regulations on the street, telling people to keep to the right or the left, are meant for human beings, not for animals. If an animal violates such a law, he is never punished, but a human being is punished. The Vedas are not meant for the animals, but for the understanding of human society.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.26.6 Purport)

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Friend1: You get this perspective even from people who are so-called religious.

Friend2: Define that, please.

Friend1: They believe in God. They are not foolish enough to consider that everything came to be through randomness or collisions of chemicals.

Friend2: After all, if such collisions could create something amazing like the sun, why not reproduce the result?

Friend1: Oh, they are on their way. Trust them. Give it some time.

Friend2: Haha.

Friend1: Anyway, the perspective of which I referenced is that life is meant for enjoyment.

Friend2: How do you define that?

Friend1: Specifically in the areas of eating and sex life.

Friend2: Oh.

Friend1: They raise this principle as a kind of objection.

Friend2: As a response to your claim that life is meant for tapasya, austerity?

Friend1: I don’t even have to go that far. Just explaining the four regulative principles is enough.

“You mean you don’t eat meat? Why? The animals are under the jurisdiction of humans for a reason. We have dominion over them. You are aware that they eat other animals themselves? We are just the highest on the food chain, so to speak. There is no benefit to showing unnecessary compassion.”

Friend2: I love that line of reasoning. We are indeed different from the animals. Shastra, whichever one you choose to follow, is meant for the human society. Every book of importance mentions some kind of restriction on eating and sex life.

Friend1: Do they, though? I don’t see other people following any of the regulative principles, except for maybe abstaining from intoxication.

Friend2: Marriage is a restriction on sex life. There is no other purpose. Otherwise, remain as boyfriend and girlfriend. Better still, don’t make any artificial designations. Go the way of the animals, who have no such emotional attachment related to satisfying sex desires.

Friend1: How do you respond to the idea that God gave us this life to enjoy?

Friend2: As opposed to following tapasya?

Friend1: Yes. And I know you can reference shastra. The Bhagavad-gita has enough shlokas discussing this issue.

Friend2: Look to the verses describing proper meditational yoga. Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mentions the vow of brahmacharya. This is avoiding sex life entirely; not even for the purpose of begetting children. Sita Devi, the goddess of fortune, makes a similar mention when arguing in favor of following her husband into the forest. She says that she will follow the vow of brahmacharya and not be a burden to Rama.

शुश्रूषमाणा ते नित्यं नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी।
सह रंस्ये त्वया वीर वनेषु मधुगन्धिषु।।

śuśrūṣamāṇā te nityaṃ niyatā brahmacāriṇī।
saha raṃsye tvayā vīra vaneṣu madhugandhiṣu।।

“Always engaged in serving you, keeping my senses under control and observing the vow of brahmachari, I shall be with you, O great hero, in the forest fragrant with honey.” (Sita Devi speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 27.13)

Friend1: I certainly subscribe to the same ideals, but with shastra references you get into this game of dogmatic insistence. “My religion against yours,” sort of thing.

Friend2: Again, you can go back to the animal example. These works of higher knowledge, with principles that are applicable to every time period, are specifically meant for the human beings, who have higher intelligence. Why mention eating and sex life at all if not for the purpose of restriction? No one needs to be taught how to eat or enjoy the senses. That is natural.

Friend1: I see. What about the enjoying idea, though?

Friend2: Tapasya is for the purpose of enjoyment. Real religion is dharma, which matches the characteristics of the atma, the spirit soul. Sense enjoyment by itself is artificial. It corresponds to the needs of the body, which does not really identify us. Tapasya is the way towards eternal happiness.

Friend1: Won’t people object that they don’t want to wait for the afterlife to see evidence, that there is too much faith involved?

Friend2: Who said anything about the afterlife? Tapasya brings bliss right now, today. The objective of austerity is restricting the bodily senses in order to please the master of all senses, Hrishikesha. In this age the best austerity is to follow the routine of regularly chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Then every good quality will automatically arise. What seemed like enjoyment before will be spat upon at the mere thought. This is due to having found a higher taste.

In Closing:

In God too I believe,

But for enjoyment to receive.

In this specific life sent,

Not for in suffering spent.

But truth that tapasya configured for,

Nectar after trouble to endure.

Otherwise purpose for mention none,

For yoga shastra’s substance and sum.

Doesn’t Ravana Show That Sadhus Should Be Viewed With Skepticism

“Then the ten-necked one, who was hiding nearby, quickly assumed the form of a wandering mendicant and approached Vaidehi.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 46.2)

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तदासाद्य दशग्रीवः क्षिप्रमन्तरमास्थितः।
अभिचक्राम वैदेहीं परिव्राजकरूपधृक्।।

tadāsādya daśagrīvaḥ kṣipramantaramāsthitaḥ।
abhicakrāma vaidehīṃ parivrājakarūpadhṛk।।

Friend1: Among the many heinous acts of Ravana is the deceit he employed in the forest of Dandaka.

Friend2: This was where Sita and Rama were staying. Rama’s younger brother Lakshmana was there, too. There is a history to the area, described in the Ramayana. I think Danda was a king descending from the Ikshvaku dynasty. Through some series of events the place came to be named after him. As a forest area it was known to be conducive to tapasya; hence a tapo-vana.

Friend1: A forest area where austerities are practiced. Just like it is not easy to stick to a diet while seated at a table full of food, it is easier to limit the interactions of the senses while in a place that doesn’t have much.

Friend2: And the two most difficult restrictions are on the tongue and the belly. The tongue speaks and tastes. The less you speak and the less you are concerned about taste, the better off you will be. The less you listen to the belly, which fools you into thinking that you need to eat more than you should, the better the health will be. At least that is the general case.

Friend1: I understand there are always exceptions. Anyway, it was like Ravana kept with the tradition of the place by showing up in the guise of a wandering mendicant.

Friend2: The Sanskrit word is parivrajaka. The person who has renounced the world in a formal way is known as a sannyasi. There are different stages to the spiritual institution, ashrama, and one of them is wandering from place to place. The opposite of the hoarding mentality. Intentionally don’t save for tomorrow. Leave it up to the will of the Divine.

Friend1: Leave what up?

Friend2: Eating. Shelter. The basic necessities of life. Survival. The parivrajaka visits different places and begs. They don’t take more than what is needed for that day. They are not supposed to go somewhere they know to be overly generous. It is not like choosing your favorite restaurant and asking that they give you a free meal.

Friend1: Yeah, so we’re talking about a fake mendicant here. Really the worst kind of cheater, if you think about it, because it makes others less apprehensive. Who can turn down a beggar who is trying to advance spiritually? This is not like the homeless person addicted to drugs and alcohol. This is not the person who simply doesn’t want to work because they are lazy.

Friend2: Ravana had other intentions. He was controlled by the senses, instead of the other way around.

Friend1: Okay, so I was thinking about this. Doesn’t that interaction, the historical incident described in the Ramayana of Valmiki, show that sadhus shouldn’t be trusted?

Friend2: Because they might be a fraud like Ravana?

Friend1: They don’t necessarily have to be at such a level of intent. I’m just thinking of how easy it is to transform. This guy was grim-visaged. Ten heads and twenty arms. He wasn’t innocent looking, at all. Through the kama-rupa-siddhi he was able to quickly change his shape, while hiding nearby. It’s much easier today, I think. Just shave your head, put some markings on your body, wear a certain color robe, and beg from place to place.

Friend2: Speak some platitudes, with a hint of Vedic principles mixed in, and you might attract many followers.

Friend1: Who have money and will keep your belly full for the rest of your life. These sadhus will fool so many innocent people, in the same way that Ravana did.

Friend2: I wouldn’t say that Sita Devi was necessarily fooled. She is generally nice to everyone. Ravana’s false guise worked for an introduction, but the ruse quickly ended.

Friend1: Okay, but others may not be so discerning. They might give up everything to serve a cheater. Their lives get ruined.

Friend2: And you want to condemn all sadhus, then?

Friend1: I’m asking what is the benefit of the institution if it can be so easily infested with frauds.

Friend2: Just because something fake exists doesn’t mean that the real thing diminishes in value. You have fake jewelry. Imitation gold and silver. In one sense this is a compliment to the real thing. Genuine spiritual life is so valuable that others want to use it to their advantage. We are supposed to discern between Brahman and maya. The material world is like a shadow copy of the spiritual world, a perverted reflection. Just because there is illusion doesn’t mean that the real thing is flawed. If you find a genuine saint then your life will become perfect. The meeting with them is so valuable, like the case of Parikshit sitting at the banks of the Yamuna River and hearing Hari-katha from Shukadeva Gosvami. This was how the last seven days of the king’s life were spent, and so just imagine the benefit of spending every day in the same way.

In Closing:

Finding cheaters many so,

That genuine difficult to know.

But not meaning for all to condemn,

Since highest benefit meeting when.

That saint of Hari’s glories speaking,

Giving exactly what everyone seeking.

Like Parikshit at banks of Yamuna seated,

Seeing liberation as life’s days retreated.