What Do You Think Of These Life Coaches

“The duality of the material world is felt in terms of heat and cold, or misery and happiness. A Krishna conscious person is above duality because he does not hesitate to act in any way for the satisfaction of Krishna. Therefore he is steady both in success and in failure. These signs are visible when one is fully in transcendental knowledge.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 4.22 Purport)

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Friend1: Be the change you want to be.

Friend2: Sure.

Friend1: Never give in. Keep your chin up.

Friend2: Am I begging for a pep talk or something?

Friend1: Setting the stage for a discussion on life coaches.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: They seem to resonate with people. Their videos get tons of views on social media websites. They get paid by big businesses to come rally the troops, to speak to the employees, to help increase their productivity.

Friend2: And don’t forget overall wellbeing. It helps to step back for a moment and assess the direction in life. What are you unhappy about? What is good? Maybe you should increase the positive aspects and stay away from the negative.

Friend1: There you go. You sound like one of these coaches.

Friend2: It is not difficult to mimic them.

Friend1: What is your general opinion on the idea?

Friend2: Of a life coach?

Friend1: Or any one of these self-help gurus.

Friend2: Not sure there is anything to think. Good for them. Everyone has to make a living. Some of the advice seems to be useful to me.

Friend1: Okay, but there are some Vaishnava people who get into this business.

Friend2: What do you mean?

Friend1: They read shastra. They accept the shelter of a spiritual master. They undergo training like any other person interested in the spiritual path. They chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Friend2: That’s great.

Friend1: Yes, but when they turn to life coaching, they avoid any mention of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They generalize everything. Instead of sharing with the world the detail behind the abstract that they learned through the Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam, they do the opposite. They take the detail and turn it into generalized principles, in the hopes of coming off as secular.

Friend2: I see. Non-threatening. I mean if it’s a preaching strategy, that’s one thing. Are you saying that some people would criticize these life coaches as being cheaters?

Friend1: More like thieves. That’s how I see them. They steal from the Vedic tradition for their own benefit, to pursue material interests.

Friend2: Okay, but what about the argument that everyone has to eat? They need a way to make a living. What is the difference between a Vaishnava life coach and a Vaishnava database developer?

Friend1: The database developer didn’t learn anything about their field from the spiritual master. The life coach is taking principles from the Bhagavad-gita and twisting them into generic, sometimes contradictory purposes.

Friend2: Such as?

Friend1: “Make life goals and work hard to attain them.” We know that anything material is temporary and miserable. Even if you achieve a life goal, you won’t be happy. Why isn’t the Vaishnava self-help guru explaining that?

Friend2: I see.

Friend1: Duality.

Friend2: That is what I was going to say next. This world is full of duality. What is good for one person is not good for another. It depends on the time and circumstance. With Vedic teachings applying to connecting to and coming closer to the Supreme Lord, upasana, there is no duality. The validity is there in every time period and every circumstance.

Friend1: I know.

Friend2: Not to mention that by becoming a devotee of God the person you automatically acquire life skills. You can tolerate the good and the bad. You remain above the dualities of the material world. No need to become immersed in illusion. By no means should you be teaching someone to stay bound to the cycle of birth and death. This human birth is meant for liberation, for ending the chain of migration that started since before anyone can remember. This existence is meant for service to the Divine; that is the dharma of the soul, which represents the individual.

In Closing:

First from guru learning,

Knowledge of shastra earning.

But then life coach to become,

Making mention of Krishna none.

Only how in duality to stay,

Not considered cheater’s way?

Since of higher purpose to explain,

Of how supreme shelter to attain.

Three Cases Where Removing Distractions Makes An Immediate Impact

“As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.67)

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इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां
यन् मनो ऽनुविधीयते
तद् अस्य हरति प्रज्ञां
वायुर् नावम् इवाम्भसि

indriyāṇāṁ hi caratāṁ
yan mano 'nuvidhīyate
tad asya harati prajñāṁ
vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi

A boat veering off course. The captain no longer paying attention. They had everything going for them. The charter was scheduled to arrive prior to its previously anticipated date. The weather was cooperating. Enough provisions to last an extra few weeks.

But then the attention drifted elsewhere. The captain lost track. Shri Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that the intelligence can get taken in the wrong direction through a similar distraction. The focus goes towards a single sense, and from there everything is lost, including prior discrimination won through intense effort and dedication.

And so the exercise of genuine religion is not a simple and easy affair. The rules and regulations exist for a reason. They are helpful hints descending from authority figures, those who know how to succeed. Indeed, in so many areas of life removing a single distraction is known to make a quick positive impact.

1. Taking a toy from a baby

You didn’t follow what the experts say. You didn’t read the books on parenting. On days like these, you kind of wish you had. They recommend the baby sleep in a separate room. Let them learn to fall asleep on their own, without any extra effort from you.

At the same time, you and your wife could not tolerate the crying. You would rather do whatever it takes to get the little one some rest. And so the nightly routine has been rocking back and forth in the stroller. After a few minutes the baby falls asleep, and then you can transfer her to a bed for the night.

Except this time is a little tougher than usual. She definitely is tired, but there is a distraction in her hands. A toy with which she was playing previously, it maintains her attention enough to keep her awake. You finally realize the problem. Taking the toy away allows her to fall asleep fast.

2. Turning off the television at work

The developers are behind. They are routinely missing deadlines. The complaint is that there is just too much work. This bug fix. This feature enhancement. That rewrite. If they could focus on just one task, they would have better efficiency. At least that is the claim.

As the manager, you decide to try something. Take the television out of the office. No more distractions. Let’s see what happens. Sure enough, the productivity increases. Everyone grumbled about the move at first, but now the projects are up to date.

3. Limiting internet access in the home

The children are behind in their studies. They seem to be looking at their phones constantly while they should be reading books and doing their homework. The mother decides to limit internet access. The wireless network in the home gets shut down for the three hours immediately following school. The kids have no choice but to complete their assignments and stay up to date.

The formula for success in spiritual life is easy. Just chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Think of the all-attractive one, the Supreme Lord, who is a person in the original and complete feature. Remember His lila, apply His teachings to daily life, and never be separated in consciousness.

Yet the implementation is anything but simple. There are problems throughout the day. There is the stress caused by constant uncertainty. There are demands of your time from this person and that. How to succeed when there are so many distractions?

The acharyas say to remove anarthas. These are unwanted things in life. The literal definition is “unprofitable.” Meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex wreak havoc on the consciousness. They are both unwanted and unnecessary. Keep the consciousness clear. Follow some basic guidelines. Adhere to routines which build numerical strength. Then see the benefits, how the boat remains on course for the targeted goal of liberation, which is the culmination to the many previous cycles of birth and death.

In Closing:

Parents knowing the trick,

For baby to fall asleep quick.

That toy within hand playing,

No more in sight displaying.

Or internet access turning dark,

No choice but then homework to start.

Same principle in bhakti to succeed,

Liberation from guru heed.

Three Situations Where Even An Accomplished Person Can Get Frustrated

“O lord, we know that when you simply move your eyebrows, all the commanders of the various planets are most afraid. Without the help of any assistant, you have conquered all the three worlds. Therefore, we do not find any reason for you to be morose and full of anxiety. As for Prahlada, he is nothing but a child and cannot be a cause of anxiety. After all, his bad or good qualities have no value.” (Shanda and Amarka speaking to Hiranyakashipu, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.49)

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जितं त्वयैकेन जगत्-त्रयं भ्रुवोर्
विजृम्भण-त्रस्त-समस्त-धिष्ण्यपम्
न तस्य चिन्त्यं तव नाथ चक्ष्वहे
न वै शिशूनां गुण-दोषयोः पदम्

jitaṁ tvayaikena jagat-trayaṁ bhruvor
vijṛmbhaṇa-trasta-samasta-dhiṣṇyapam
na tasya cintyaṁ tava nātha cakṣvahe
na vai śiśūnāṁ guṇa-doṣayoḥ padam

An accomplished individual even under the analysis of the greatest skeptic. King of the world. Everyone under his control. The subordinates walking in fear. The slightest misstep, the wrong word spoken at an inappropriate time, and the master ruler might hand down the stiffest punishment. Better to tread lightly. Play the prevent defense, in hopes of avoiding careless mistakes.

Such a personality can still find frustration, to the point of wanting to escape from their present way of life. Though they hold so much power, in certain areas they can be rendered completely helpless.

1. Putting together furniture

Haul that heavy box up several flights of stairs. Inside is furniture, but not yet assembled. That is your job. You think that having to lift the item is enough work for the day. Sufficiently tired and procrastination kicking in, you are ready to rest until the time is right.

When you eventually get started, it is one frustration after another. Locate the individual parts. Try to read the instruction manual, which is in multiple languages. It says to insert one screw this way and another screw that way. But every time you try, the first screw falls out. You are so frustrated that you end up punching the nearby wall with your fist.

How do people do this, you ask. There has to be a better way. After all is said and done, you complete the assembly. You think it is done correctly, but you can’t be sure. You vow to never again take on such work. “I will hire someone next time.”

2. Getting a car to start

Ready for a long weekend road trip, the journey gets off to an inauspicious start. On one of the side streets, near a stoplight, the car starts to sputter. You pull over and notice that it simply won’t start up again. Something is obviously wrong.

You’ve seen other people open up the hood in the front to examine further. The issue is that you don’t know how to do that. You search for a few minutes until you finally find the latch. Pulling the lever works, but of course the hood does not open fully. This is not like the trunk. You have to step out to complete the process.

There is a spot in the front where you have to press down in order to get the hood to release. You can’t seem to find it. You have never done this before. Luckily, someone is there to help. They open the hood in no time.

That is just the first step. Now you have to figure out what is wrong. You are not experienced in this area. You usually take the car into a repair shop for maintenance. How are you going to get it started? The only option is to call someone to arrive and examine further.

3. Childcare

You are this big personality in the outside world, but in the home you are nothing. The child runs over you. They pull at your hair. They scratch your face. They never listen to your warnings to avoid this area and that.

To top things off, they cry when the mother is not around. You try everything in your power to get them to stop crying, but nothing works. You wonder how anyone is able to survive with children in the home. Perhaps it would be better to run away, to escape from the pressing responsibilities.

…

King Hiranyakashipu was tremendously frustrated, to the point of feeling morose, but he actually didn’t have any difficult work. He was the ruler of the entire world, with even the demigods in fear of him. There were boons to sufficiently protect; no enemy could mount a successful sneak attack.

Yet he had to get a pep talk one time from the royal teachers, Shanda and Amarka. They tried to lift up his spirits. The king was feeling down because his five-year-old son could not be killed. Hiranyakashipu wanted Prahlada dead due to the devotion shown to Vishnu, who is the Supreme Lord.

The father was more than an atheist. He wanted no sign of genuine religion anywhere near him. Prahlada quietly meditated, but when asked about goals in life and the purpose to living, he was not shy. He shared the wisdom of the ages whenever questioned.

This was unacceptable insolence from someone within the family. Hiranyakashipu could not allow it. The problem was that Prahlada survived every subsequent attack made against him. Nothing could kill him. The king was dumbstruck. He didn’t know what to do.

In truth, every person meets such frustration eventually. If we were God, we would always get what we want. Anytime there is a denial in terms of fulfilling a desire, the event should serve as a reminder of the all-powerful nature of the Supreme Lord.

Vishnu can share some of His amazing potency with those who are devoted to Him. It was through Vishnu’s protection that Prahlada survived, and the same Vishnu would succeed in eliminating the consistent and persistent danger to the world that was Hiranyakashipu.

In Closing:

Of successful ideal illustration,

But not immune from frustration.

Though over entire world the king,

For killing son not working a thing.

Immature at five years old,

Surviving attacks untold.

Vishnu the strength Prahlada’s source,

Arriving for father in due course.

Four Reasons Hiranyakashipu Should Not Have Been Morose

“Thinking in this way, the King of the Daityas, morose and bereft of bodily luster, remained silent with his face downward. Then Shanda and Amarka, the two sons of Shukracharya, spoke to him in secret.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.48)

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इति तच्-चिन्तया किञ्चिन्
म्लान-श्रियम् अधो-मुखम्
शण्डामर्काव् औशनसौ
विविक्त इति होचतुः

iti tac-cintayā kiñcin
mlāna-śriyam adho-mukham
śaṇḍāmarkāv auśanasau
vivikta iti hocatuḥ

He was full of anxiety. The face of the king of the Daityas remained down. It was something like the player in tennis showing everyone his depression over having squandered many opportunities to win the previous set. The coaches give a reminder to remain optimistic, to hold the head up high. The obvious signs of sadness give hope to the opponent, encouraging them that they are doing well and on the path to victory.

An outside observer is puzzled by the situation. Hiranyakashipu had many reasons to feel the opposite way. Rather than be morose, he should have been jumping for joy on a daily basis for the many blessings that came his way.

1. He had previously met Lord Brahma

Deep down the individual understands that there is more to this world. Nature did not simply arrive through a collision of chemicals. Maybe chemicals react in a certain way to create objects and substances, but there is always an instigator. Cause and effect. That which is seen had to be created through an actor. Shri Lakshmana confirms this principle in the Ramayana.

अदृष्टगुणदोषाणामध्रुवाणां तु कर्मणाम्
नान्तरेण क्रियां तेषां फलमिष्टं प्रवर्तते

adṛṣṭaguṇadoṣāṇāmadhruvāṇāṃ tu karmaṇām
nāntareṇa kriyāṃ teṣāṃ phalamiṣṭaṃ pravartate

“Unseen and indefinite are the good and bad reactions of fruitive work. And without taking action, the desired fruits of such work cannot manifest.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 66.17)

Imagine if you could receive confirmation on the creation of this universe. The Vedas explain that at the origin is the Supreme Lord. One way to understand God is to conceive of the concept of the beginning of time and prior to that. Adi and anadi. There is an original time period and there is also the lack of an origin. Both definitions apply to God, who is also known as Vishnu.

Vishnu then empowers people to create. His hands do not get dirty, so to speak, because it is not necessary. Why not put exalted people in charge, who will feel uplifted through some dedicated service? The creator is Lord Brahma, who is also known as the first living entity. He is svayambhu, or one who is self-born. He does not have the typical set of mother and father. Brahma emerges from the lotus stem that grows from the lotus-like navel of Padmanabha, which is another name for Vishnu.

A person may be skeptical in this area:

“Oh, those are just stories meant to give people a stronger belief in God. It is said that Brahma has four heads and uses the three main ingredients of goodness, passion and ignorance to create. That is nice in theory, but no one actually believes this to be possible. Vedic teachings are meant to be understood allegorically.”

Imagine if you received visual confirmation. Hiranyakashipu underwent severe austerities, to the point of getting the attention of Brahma. Not only did Brahma arrive, he was ready to hand out rewards. Hiranyakashipu should have been thrilled over this rare achievement.

2. He received the blessings of the creator

Brahma gave visual confirmation of his existence to someone conducting austerities. He was prepared to grant anything asked for, up to the barrier of immortality. Hiranyakashipu took full advantage. He asked for every protection he could think of, i.e. de facto immortality. Brahma did not deny any of the requests.

If the average person were to receive such protections, it would take tremendous stress out of the daily existence. No having to worry about dying during the day or night. No human being or animal could successfully attack you. Defense is one of the four basic animalistic tendencies, and if that is accounted for without issue there is not as much to worry over.

3. He was king of the world

Hiranyakashipu, of course, took full advantage of those boons. If he were unbeatable in battle, why not challenge the strongest? Why not occupy a foreign territory? Why not make rivals run away in fear, possibly taking disguises so as to not be further recognized?

Hiranyakashipu should have been thrilled to become king of the world. Anything he wanted, at any time, with everyone at his service. No worry about the future of the company. No attention paid to profit and loss. Enough food and wine to consume for many lifetimes.

4. He had the most saintly son

To that king of the demon-race, the Daityas, arrived a true saint. It was in the very home, the same family. Prahlada was one of Hiranyakashipu’s sons, and he happened to be a pure devotee of Vishnu, from the time of birth.

In truth, this was the most valuable benediction the king received. All the money in the world cannot compare to a moment’s association with someone carrying the wisdom of the ages, the timeless teachings and traditions of the Vedic culture.

Hiranyakashipu was even fortunate enough to hear some of these teachings, directly from the son. The child was not shy in sharing. He was ready to liberate the father through a hoped-for turn in the right direction, away from atheism and towards the Divine light.

In spite of these many blessings, Hiranyakashipu was still morose. This sadness was especially prominent after having failed to kill the five-year-old Prahlada. There were multiple attempts, for sure. The king could not believe that the son survived. The teachers within the royal family tried to lift up his spirits, to make the negative not seem so bad.

From that king’s disposition we see that material life is never enough. All the money in the world will not make a person happy. Neither will supposed protection from death, as complete immunity from the attacking forces in this world is impossible. Just one percent mortality is enough for kala to strike.

The son, on the other hand, hardly had anything. There were people persecuting him on a regular basis. Who would actually want to be his friend after hearing the teachings against the ways of royal acquisition? Who would want to live somewhere that you are not welcome?

Yet since he was connected in yoga, there was complete peace. He considered it the greatest blessing to be able to remember the Supreme Lord on a daily basis, which is actually possible for every person through the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

After attempts of outcome bad,

King Hiranyakashipu sad.

Though happy should be,

Since the creator to see.

And amazing boons to receive,

Of power never to conceive.

Son persecuted on other side,

But always in peace to reside.

Are You Sure

“I can see that this boy's strength is unlimited, for he has not feared any of my punishments. He appears immortal. Therefore, because of my enmity toward him, I shall die. Or maybe this will not take place.” (Hiranyakashipu, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.47)

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अप्रमेयानुभावो ’यम्
अकुतश्चिद्-भयो ’मरः
नूनम् एतद्-विरोधेन
मृत्युर् मे भविता न वा

aprameyānubhāvo ’yam
akutaścid-bhayo ’maraḥ
nūnam etad-virodhena
mṛtyur me bhavitā na vā

As far as day-to-day operations are concerned at the firm, this single piece of equipment is critical. It is a server that needs to stay up and running during the day. There are updates, changes, patches, regular maintenance and the like which occur off-hours, but any disruptions during the time period when everyone is at work will cause major problems.

On this particular day you end up arriving late. You work in the IT department. You are intimately familiar with the network topology, of which server is where and what each one of them does. As you open the door to the main call center, wherein your specific desk is located, one of the systems administrators runs up to you in a panic.

“That main server is down. I don’t know what happened.”

You reply, “Did you check on it? Are there any error messages?”

“Actually, I rebooted it. Since then it has not come back online.”

“Why did you reboot it?”

“I don’t know. I was trying to fix an error and then it just happened accidentally.”

“But the machine will actually ask you if you are sure that you want to reboot.”

“I don’t think I saw that.”

“It prompts you three times. It wants to make sure that you know the implications of turning off the machine. There is always a risk in these things. If there is some underlying problem, it might only manifest during the time of booting.”

In this situation the person obviously saw the multiple warnings and proceeded regardless. After the fact the messages are like a distant memory. Then everyone has to live with the consequences.

In a similar manner, the king named Hiranyakashipu had an inkling that something was wrong with the plan to eliminate Prahlada, the menace to society. The devotee of Vishnu happened to be Hiranyakashipu’s own son. The child was only five years of age; this was not like a dependent remaining in the parent’s home well past the age normally considered to be adulthood.

With every attempt made against Prahlada’s life, there had to be a similar warning inside the father’s mind. Was he sure this was the way to go? The son was still alive. Throwing him off a cliff didn’t work. Feeding him to snakes? Nope. Trampling by elephants has a one hundred percent success rate. Not this time.

Hiranyakashipu then described Prahlada’s strength as unlimited, aprameya. This same Sanskrit word also applies to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Vishnu person worshiped by Prahlada. Naturally, that property would descend to the most dedicated servants.

Hiranyakashipu could have had the same unlimited strength, but he was in the other direction. Everything through personal effort, with a little help from divine figures like Lord Brahma, the creator. Still, when matched up against the devotee son the unlimited defeated the limited. Soon the unlimited in the amazing visual would confirm that the wicked king was not guaranteed of remaining in his position.

Every person has a similar inkling deep down, that there is more to this world. There is more to life than simply acquiring possessions and enjoying the senses. Personal effort can only take us so far; there has to be an underlying awesome power behind the workings of nature; something like the power-plant providing enough electricity for a large city to operate.

Thankfully, there are saints like Prahlada who go beyond the warning. “Are you sure” is the question, but where is the explanation as to why there should be doubt? Who is there to resolve? The Vaishnava arrives bringing perfect clarity, should a person be willing to sacrifice a little time to hear. Hiranyakashipu had no tolerance for such words, and so the doubt deep inside could only be resolved by the ferocious vision of Narasimha.

In Closing:

To fix the issue the task,

Server of certainty to ask.

Since with reboot a problem maybe found,

Entire operations to be downed.

Daitya king with warning the same,

When question of son’s survival came.

Deep down knowing beyond to be,

Confirmed when Narasimha to see.

Three Things Life Might Throw At You To Distract From Bhakti

“Hiranyakashipu thought: I have used many ill names in chastising this boy Prahlada and have devised many means of killing him, but despite all my endeavors, he could not be killed. Indeed, he saved himself by his own powers, without being affected in the least by these treacherous and abominable actions.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.45)

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एष मे बह्व्-असाधूक्तो
वधोपायाश् च निर्मिताः
तैस् तैर् द्रोहैर् असद्-धर्मैर्
मुक्तः स्वेनैव तेजसा

eṣa me bahv-asādhūkto
vadhopāyāś ca nirmitāḥ
tais tair drohair asad-dharmair
muktaḥ svenaiva tejasā

One of the reasons the conversation between Arjuna and Shri Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra resonates with so many people, for audiences young and old and from time periods past and current, is that life itself is a difficult journey. The proper decision is not always clear; the path of righteousness, dharma, is not always self-manifest.

Moreover, even if a person should have every intention of doing the right thing, especially with regards to the ultimate purpose of life, there are many obstacles in their path. From the case of Prahlada Maharaja, we have an example of a pillar of strength, fortitude, and commitment. He was tolerant and forgiving at the same time, clearly indicating his connection to the Supreme Lord in a mood of love.

1. A difficult job

It sounds easy in principle. Do your duty, but don’t be attached to the results. Work as a matter of fact; almost because you have to. After all, people must eat. They need a roof over their head. Begging is not for everyone. Even in that situation there is someone on the other side going to work to produce the necessary output to share with others.

कर्मण्य् एवाधिकारस् ते
मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्म-फल-हेतुर् भूर्
मा ते सङ्गो ऽस्त्व् अकर्मणि

karmaṇy evādhikāras te
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.47)

The issue is that work involves activity and thought. If you are at the standard office position of the modern day, the commitment is at a minimum of ten hours a day, five days a week. There is the commute to work and back home. There is doing the actual work, with perhaps a few breaks in between.

How is a person supposed to stay detached in that environment? When they return home they are likely too fatigued to engage in devotional activities, like reading, offering formal prayers, and visiting a house of worship. Their mind might still be on office responsibilities, since they will have to return the following day.

2. A difficult home life

Compounding the problem is responsibility to the family. After you spend the entire day focusing on work, home life provides little rest. Take out the trash. Consider how the dinner will be served. Help arrange furniture and other items. Clean up the place. Spend time with the spouse and children. All the while, maintain an eye on the clock. You have to fall asleep at a reasonable hour since the entire process must be repeated the following day.

3. A horrible father

This was the obstacle thrown Prahlada’s way. The father was upset due to the child’s devotion to Lord Vishnu, who is the personal side to the Divine. Prahlada’s real crime was being open and honest about his preference. He would tell anyone who asked about the science of self-realization. He was not interested in earning money, expanding the power of the empire, or enjoying the senses. He considered accepting a material body to be an embarrassing situation that could only be addressed through proper meditation.

The father retaliated for what he considered to be a rebellious attitude. He committed unspeakable acts of violence against Prahlada, who was only five years old at the time. The child survived, though. The father was surprised to see the outcome; it was not expected.

Certainly a special case, one deserving mention in several Vedic texts, Prahlada’s story offers strength and encouragement to those who may be struggling in their own battle to maintain a link to the Supreme Lord. Yoga is not merely stretching and breathing for a few minutes a day. It is a full shift in consciousness, one that repels attacks that are forthcoming and ongoing.

Fortunately, in the modern day there is a way to stay connected through the difficulties. Simply sacrifice some time to hear. If possible, produce the sounds that are potent enough to rescue anyone drowning in the ocean of misery that is this material world. Hear and say the maha-mantra for immediate relief: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

When on bhakti path deciding,

Not in easy life residing.

Obstacles many to be thrown,

Like worst with Prahlada shown.

Still connected to stay,

In meditation a way.

Rescuing transcendental sound,

Potency in holy name found.

Three Common Practices In Life Where Deep Down I Know Something Is Wrong

“Hiranyakashipu thought: I have used many ill names in chastising this boy Prahlada and have devised many means of killing him, but despite all my endeavors, he could not be killed. Indeed, he saved himself by his own powers, without being affected in the least by these treacherous and abominable actions.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.45)

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एष मे बह्व्-असाधूक्तो
वधोपायाश् च निर्मिताः
तैस् तैर् द्रोहैर् असद्-धर्मैर्
मुक्तः स्वेनैव तेजसा

eṣa me bahv-asādhūkto
vadhopāyāś ca nirmitāḥ
tais tair drohair asad-dharmair
muktaḥ svenaiva tejasā

When first hearing the story of Prahlada and the torture he endured, a person may be skeptical of the validity due to the horrible nature of the crimes. Not that a father has never before been so angry at a son. Not that there hasn’t been mild punishment regretted later on. But the severity seems too much to believe:

“I can’t imagine a father doing that to their son. How could they sit there and watch as Prahlada was being trampled by elephants? Throwing him off a cliff? That is unspeakable. You would hardly want to do that to the worst offender in society, let alone someone in your own family.”

From the verses in the Shrimad Bhagavatam describing the story, we see that Hiranyakashipu was indeed aware of the vile nature of the punishment. It was treacherous and against dharma, the standard codes of conduct.

Instead of being remorseful over what was done, Hiranyakashipu was somewhat impressed by Prahlada. The child survived the wicked deeds perpetrated against him. He was victim to the worst kind of hate, and yet he was still standing there, along with the father.

We can apply the acknowledgment in the father to society at large. Every individual has some idea that the path of material life is not proper. Deep down they know something is wrong with various aspects of modern life, as common as they may be.

1. Meat eating

The same kind of violence against the beloved cat or dog would not be allowed. The offender would be scorned in public. They would likely face punishment from the state. Yet the equivalent, or even worse, continues on a daily basis against innocent cows in the slaughterhouse. The scene is so ghastly that it isn’t shown to children. Living within close proximity to where the killing takes place is also not preferred.

2. Chasing after sense gratification

Wake up early in the morning. Get prepared to head out to the office. Sit in front of a computer, working for upwards of eight hours. Indulge in stimulants to keep you awake, as who actually enjoys being there? Reach home exhausted. Rest for a little bit. Eat something. Then go to sleep early, knowing that the same has to be repeated the next day. Follow the routine for year after year until enough money is saved to retire.

Deep down a person understands that there is something wrong with the picture. There has to be more to life. Increased sense gratification has come with a significant cost. Moreover, it seems like the more money a person earns in this fashion, the less happy they are.

3. Denying the existence of God

Perhaps there is a bad experience within the family. Religion forced upon the future generations. Dogmatic insistence. Irrational allegiance. Blind faith. Applying logic and reasoning, you deny the entire thing. Go your own way. To you, the concept of God might just be a myth.

Hiranyakashipu took this attitude to the extreme. He hated the person everyone acknowledged to be God: Vishnu. He was so against dharma that he made sure to stamp out any sign of allegiance to the Supreme Lord visible in his kingdom. Yet beneath the surface Hiranyakashipu understood that there was something more. The great ability shown by Prahlada had to come from somewhere.

The science of self-realization taught by saintly people of the Vedic tradition explains that every person already has an inclination towards the Divine. This is because the dharma of the individual, who is spirit soul, is to serve that original being. Not merely the shadow copy known as the material world or inverting the tendency through ignorance, but actual association with the personal side to that which is before everything and which will continue beyond the end of existence. A taste of that association can be experienced immediately through the potency of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Religion outright rejecting,

Pleasure from work expecting.

Killing animals to taste,

That worship time to waste.

But deep down knowing,

Like Prahlada ability showing.

To father a heavenly sign,

That Vishnu beyond to find.