Vyasa Puja 2019

“A few days after the killing of Dhenukasura, people began to come into the Talavana forest to collect the fruits, and animals began to return without fear to feed on the nice grasses grown there. Just by chanting or hearing these transcendental activities and pastimes of the brothers Krishna and Balarama, one can amass pious activities.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 15)

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The male cowherd friends were interested in going to a specific area. It was a beautiful slice of nature, with wonderful surroundings in a peaceful setting. The aroma of the fruits was too enticing to ignore. The friends wanted to have a taste.

The problem was that an asura by the name of Dhenuka was terrorizing the place known as Talavana. Therefore, even with the desire to eat the fruits the boys were too afraid to step foot in that place. They approached Shri Krishna and His elder brother Balarama.

Those sons of Devaki were known for their fearlessness and strength. They could lead the way, take the fruits, and even if Dhenuka and others were to attack, there would be no danger. That is exactly how events played out.

Balarama took care of Dhenuka first. This was a demon in the form of an ass. Balarama embodies the guru-spirit, the representative of the Supreme Lord who always has only a single interest. Balarama protects Krishna from physical harm and through the gurus he inspires the lost souls wandering in the cycle of birth and death can get protection from the asura-like elements they face on a daily basis.

The representatives like His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada can transfer me to places similar to Talavana, which were previously off-limits. Prior to the meeting, there were obstacles in my way, and they seemed impossible to overcome.

1. Peer pressure

Everyone else is drinking. Maybe not on a daily basis, but at least on the weekends. They like to attend parties and pass the time in jubilant intoxication. I’m not judging them, but my interests have always been different. I can understand the occasional indulgence in adult beverages, but regular intoxication to me seems like giving up.

If I should happen to stop eating meat and follow temperance in alcohol consumption, I will ostracize myself from society. There is no doubt about it. People will think that I am weird, that I am punishing myself for no reason. Will not all of my friends abandon me? Who wants to go through life alone?

2. Fear of missing out

I take great joy from hearing about the Supreme Lord’s pastimes, like those described in the Ramayana and Shrimad Bhagavatam. Yet there is this inherent fear that if I devote too much time to that reading, I will be missing out on the fun in life.

The elders have given me warnings along those lines:

“Why do you want to be a sannyasi already? You are young. Have some fun. Save the serious stuff for later. You don’t want to regret having missed out on all that life has to offer.”

3. Fear of the unknown

The devotional way of life seems natural, but the actual transformations which transpire are unknown to me. I don’t know what awaits on the other side. And who can actually be sure of the destination after death? We are all going to die one day, so how do I know for certain that my next life will be superior to the one I have right now?

…

The guru helped me in clearing these obstacles. The taste of the fruits on the other side were indeed as enticing as advertised. I feel more powerful now than I ever have before, even though my physical strength may not be what it used to. I have more enthusiasm each day, where the utsaha seems to steadily grow, like an investment portfolio surging in value from compounding interest.

All of this is due to the protection of the guru and the jewel they offered me in the routine of chanting the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. We honor the representative of the Supreme Lord every day, and we especially remember them on the anniversary of their appearance, where they came to this world to appropriately represent Vyasa, the literary incarnation of Krishna.

In Closing:

Like Balarama to Talavana near,

Engaging Dhenuka without fear.

So that friends the fruit to taste,

And imminent danger to erase.

Guru with the same spirit taking,

And transformed this life making.

So that the bliss of bhakti to share,

On Vyasa Puja especially aware.

Krishna Janmashtami 2019

“In this way, Shri Krishna, along with His elder brother Balarama, passed the childhood age known as kaumara and stepped into the age of pauganda, from the sixth year up to the tenth. At that time, all the cowherd men conferred and agreed to give those boys who had passed their fifth year charge of the cows in the pasturing ground. Given charge of the cows, Krishna and Balarama traversed Vrindavana, purifying the land with Their footprints.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 15)

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In celebration of the auspicious day of Janmashtami, which commemorates the exact moment that the Supreme Personality of Godhead emerged from the womb of mother Devaki in the prison cell in Mathura, we review some of the daily pastimes in Gokula Dhama, the sacred place where Shri Krishna spent the childhood years.

1. Steal butter

If you get past doubting the existence of God, the next step may be to inquire into His features.

“What does He look like? Can the visual be fixed? I will look different ten years from now than I do today. There is even something on the internet called, ‘The Ten Year Challenge.’ You will be happy to know that I failed that miserably, but how does the Supreme Lord fare?”

Since He is without gunas in the way that they bind to the material world, Shri Krishna can manifest any form He chooses. He can be the impersonal Brahman, the awe-inspiring virata-rupa, the boar to lift the world out of danger, or even a half-man/half-lion to literally tear apart a wicked character.

The childhood pastimes of Krishna in Vrindavana are a gift to humanity. They provide sufficient information on what God likes to do. He is certainly more than an abstract. He is not just a theory to be discussed in academic circles.

One would be surprised to learn that in the farm community neighboring Mathura, the Supreme Lord likes to steal butter. This is blatant theft; not simply taking more than is offered to Him at a specific time. The victims are the neighbors, and they wise up to His tricks. They think of ways to hide their stores, but Krishna and His friends seem to outsmart them every time.

2. Ask for milk

First-time parents may be surprised by the behavior. They are amazed that the child knows. They insist on it, in fact. Forget that bottle filled with formula milk. Never mind the food sitting on the table. They want to be fed from the breast of the mother. They become so happy when the mother obliges.

It seems the behavior dates back to the time of Krishna’s advent. He would demand the mother stop what she is doing and feed Him. Yashoda would agree, but if she happened to get distracted by something occurring in the kitchen, Krishna would become upset and maybe break a pot of butter in anger.

3. Tend to the calves

Not simply playing at home all day. No time wasted watching television or remaining idle. The foster father, Nanda Maharaja, gives Krishna an important responsibility. The young child is in charge of the many calves belonging to the family. The neighboring children have similar responsibilities, and so everyone departs for the pristine pasturing grounds together, having endless fun along the way.

4. Tend to the cows

When the stage of childhood changes from kaumara to pauganda, Krishna gets additional responsibilities. He is now in charge of the cows. These are adult animals, and thereby more difficult to maintain. The life and soul of Yashoda has a trick, however. If the cows should happen to scatter about and not listen to calls for returning, Krishna ascends the sacred Govardhana Hill and plays His flute. That enchanting sound gets everyone’s attention.

5. Deal with Dhenukasura

The acharyas say that the difference between the Vrindavana of this world and the original found in Vaikuntha is that only here can the asuras be found. These are quintessential bad guys. They have no qualms about killing innocent women and children. Whatever is needed to fulfill a specific desire, they will do.

One of those asuras is Dhenuka. He set up shop in the forest area known as Talavana. While other asuras specifically came to where Krishna is to attack Him, after receiving orders from the supremely paranoid King Kamsa of Mathura, with this instance Krishna and His elder brother Balarama make the initial approach.

They were petitioned by their friends to go to the area because of the fruits found there. Something like a person smelling the aroma of food cooking in the kitchen and wanting a taste, the friends had an intense desire to have the fruits that were out of reach. Dhenukasura was scaring everyone away.

Krishna and Balarama oblige by entering Talavana and shaking the trees to get the fruits to fall. True to form, Dhenukasura then attacks. Balarama kills him, but then Dhenuka’s friends begin to attack the brothers in retaliation. They are also easily defeated; crisis averted.

In Closing:

On Janmashtami spirits to renew,

So Krishna’s pastimes to review.

 

Where in Gokula staying,

With friends in fields playing.

 

Butter of the neighbors stealing,

Flute sound to cows appealing.

 

Fruits of Talavana first out of reach,

But brothers lesson to Dhenuka to teach.

What About The Idea That The Human Birth Is The Heavenly Reward

“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.15)

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माम् उपेत्य पुनर् जन्म
दुःखालयम् अशाश्वतम्
नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः
संसिद्धिं परमां गताः

mām upetya punar janma
duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ
saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ

Friend1: I know that mental speculation is frowned upon.

Friend2: By who?

Friend1: The acharyas. The exalted teachers appearing within the disciplic succession, parampara.

Friend2: Oh, sure.

Friend1: Use the mind, the gift from nature, but don’t speculate.

Friend2: It is often listed next to the restriction on gambling. The idea is to not let your imagination run wild with respect to the questions of existence and the universe. The reason being that those issues are already resolved. There is authority to consult for proper answers.

Friend1: I understand, but you can’t avoid running into challenges to the Vedic way of living. These counterarguments are majority mental-speculation based.

Friend2: True.

Friend1: One of them says that the human birth is something like the heavenly reward.

Friend2: I’m not sure I’ve heard that one before.

Friend1: It’s an associate of the “life is meant to enjoy” speculation. Basically, don’t worry too much about heaven. No need to contemplate that kind of life in the future. You are living right now. God gave you this chance, of which there is only one.

Friend2: One life? Really?

Friend1: Stick with me here. This one life in the human body. Enjoy to the fullest. Don’t be an atheist, mind you. Lend passive support to the concept of a Deity, but it doesn’t have to be your entire focus. Remain within certain boundaries, but the overall spirit should be enjoyment.

Friend2: I mean, who can argue with that?

Friend1: Hold on. Juxtapose that philosophy with the idea that man should break free of material attachment, that this world is full of illusion, maya.

Friend2: You already have evidence. This mental speculation you mentioned is entirely rooted in maya.

Friend1: Before we get to that side of things, what do you say about this idea of the human birth being heavenly? Why not view this current existence as the reward for past pious behavior?

Friend2: The argument would hold more weight if everyone were happy. If there were world peace and harmony between the different communities, then I could agree. I must say that the objective assessment strongly leans towards the other side.

Friend1: What is that?

Friend2: Everyone is miserable. That is why use of intoxicants is so high, no pun intended. One of the leading issues in America is legalizing recreational usage of marijuana. Apparently there is a shortage of intoxicants, so new ones need to be tried and made legal in the process.

Friend1: Just stop it. I know you are being facetious. Aren’t drinking and smoking part of the enjoyment aspect?

Friend2: I don’t think so. If this were really heaven, you wouldn’t need intoxicants. You would be fine with the reality. You would not need to escape to another dimension. You are missing the most obvious flaw in the argument.

Friend1: Death?

Friend2: Yes. If this were the heavenly reward, you would never have to leave. The Vedas even say that what we typically equate with heaven is actually part of the material world, also. That place has its own intoxicating beverage, soma-rasa. The length of stay is quite longer in comparison, but there is the forced exit at some point in time.

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्ग-लोकं विशालं
क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्य-लोकं विशन्ति
एवं त्रयी-धर्मम् अनुप्रपन्ना
गतागतं काम-कामा लभन्ते

te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ
kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti
evaṁ trayī-dharmam anuprapannā
gatāgataṁ kāma-kāmā labhante

“When they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.21)

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: People are so miserable in this earthly realm that they feel compelled to kill children in the womb. They slaughter innocent cows by the millions. So many great gifts from nature, to further the living condition, and people toss them aside as worthless. How can that ever be compared to real heaven?

Friend1: True.

Friend2: Yes, the human birth is the most auspicious, but only because of the potential. You have to act on it in order to experience a higher way of living. You can turn the illusion into reality prior to leaving, also.

Friend1: What do you mean?

Friend2: The benefits of the afterlife are not reserved for after this life. You can experience the Vaikuntha way, free of anxiety, right now, today. Start by abandoning bad association and chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Another speculation at play,

That enjoyment the way.

Heavenly reward arriving this birth,

So priority concern of immediate first.

But everyone now miserable so,

Means that to higher place can go.

The potential for God-way living,

Precious gift this human situation giving.

Four Puzzling Contradictions From Vedic Culture

“When the gopis saw little Krishna fearlessly playing on Putana's lap, they very quickly came and picked Him up. Mother Yashoda, Rohini, and other elderly gopis immediately performed the auspicious rituals by taking the tail of a cow and circumambulating His body. The child was completely washed with the urine of a cow, and the dust created by the hooves of the cows was thrown all over His body. This was all just to save little Krishna from future inauspicious accidents.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 6)

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Don’t just accept blindly. Apply intellect, which incorporates logic and reasoning. Utilize every advantage afforded the human birth. Don’t simply fall into the ways of the animal, whose primary focus is eating, sleeping, mating and defending.

कच्चिद् एतच् छ्रुतं पार्थ
त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा
कच्चिद् अज्ञान-सम्मोहः
प्रणष्टस् ते धनञ्जय

kaccid etac chrutaṁ pārtha
tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā
kaccid ajñāna-sammohaḥ
praṇaṣṭas te dhanañjaya

“O conqueror of wealth, Arjuna, have you heard this attentively with your mind? And are your illusions and ignorance now dispelled?” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.72)

The grand-teacher, the adi-guru, Shri Krishna, even leaves the choice up to the student. He does not force Arjuna to take the route of pure devotion, bhakti, abandoning all dharmas in favor of service to the Supreme Lord. Sure, that is the recommendation, but the superior option is the one first carefully deliberated upon.

If the mind is to be used in learning and subsequently adopting Vedic culture, how to resolve the many conflicts? Some of them are more puzzling than others.

1. Animal products are unclean and yet cow byproducts are used frequently

Don’t touch the bone of an animal. Especially don’t go anywhere near the waste left by a living being. That is only common sense, but there are strict rules enforced in order to drive the point home. If a person should happen to come in contact during the day, the recommendation is to bathe immediately thereafter.

At the same time, one of the commonly seen items amongst the paraphernalia of formal worship is the conch. This is the bone of a living being and yet it is even used by Shri Krishna to signal the beginning of hostilities on the field associated with religion, Kurukshetra.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो
देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महा-शङ्खं
भीम-कर्मा वृकोदरः

pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo
devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ
pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śaṅkhaṁ
bhīma-karmā vṛkodaraḥ

“Then, Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Panchajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell called Paundram.” (Bhagavad-gita, 1.15)

Devotees blow the conch at the beginning and end of formal worship ceremonies in the temple. The resulting sound is considered auspicious. Everyone is called to attention, to revive their original consciousness and contemplate on the transcendental features of the Absolute. The practice resembles Krishna ascending Govardhana Hill and playing His flute in order to catch the attention of the cows and calves who had gone astray in the fields of Vrindavana.

More extreme in this direction is the use of cow dung and cow urine. In the Shrimad Bhagavatam, we find the story of Putana and Krishna. That horrible witch devised a plot to kill Krishna, but no one can eliminate God, no matter how hard they try. The end result was Putana’s demise, and afterwards mother Yashoda worried that her infant son might have been contaminated through contact with the witch.

In addition to chanting the names of Vishnu for Krishna’s protection, she poured cow urine over Him. Though she did not know it, the mother was actually performing an abhisheka, no different than what occurs in the temple. She was bathing the deity, and with a substance that would be considered grossly impure had it come from any other living being.

2. Told to follow dharma but Krishna is the worst offender

Incorporated in surrender to God the person is abandonment of attachment to the material world. The strongest attachment in that illusion is sex life. In truth, it is nothing more than a dream or false reality, such as that depicted on the large and small screens.

The recommendation makes sense. The more I am free from illusion, the more clearly I can contemplate the purpose of my existence. I am better situated to understand the sometimes complex truths of Vedic culture. I can further tap into the amazing potential of intelligence that is there from the time of birth.

Yet we see from Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavana that He seemingly did not follow dharma to the letter. As a child He stole butter from the homes of the neighbors. Later on He danced with young, married girls in the forest under the brightest moon of the year, Sharada Purnima.

On the one side we are taught to break free of illicit sex desire and on the other the object of worship is seemingly indulging it. Other possible areas of confusion are the fighting in Kurukshetra and Krishna’s fleeing the battlefield against the aggressor named Jarasandha.

3. Devotees should respect life and Arjuna is one of the greatest takers of life

Ahimsa is one of the qualities mentioned by Krishna that signals Divine life. Non-violence; do not unnecessarily cause harm to others. Respect life wherever it is found. From the world-famous politician down to the tiny ant, there is no justification to kill indiscriminately.

At the same time, Shri Krishna advised Arjuna to proceed in a war. The end result was millions of deaths, with Arjuna and his brothers leading the way in hit count. If the successful attacks transferred to a video game, the Pandavas would have the highest score.

4. God is without features and yet His eyes are everywhere

The Sanskrit descriptions are nirguna and saguna. By themselves these words are contradictory. They mean the opposite of each other. As they both apply to Shri Krishna, a person does not have to expend much effort in finding a paradox.

“The Lord is personal although impersonal, He is atomic although great, and He is blackish and has red eyes although He is colorless.” (Kurma Purana)

The idea is that the Divine side is always beyond the material world, which features logic and reasoning associated with mental capacity. Consider time and space. Both are infinite in nature, and infinity can never be properly understood.

The nirguna and saguna descriptions are for helping us understand God. He is always without material qualities, as nothing can bind Him to a temporary world. He is also with transcendental features, such as a face, hands and legs. The difference is that those features extend well beyond the typical limits. Krishna has eyes, but they are everywhere. He has ears that can hear every single prayer offered to Him.

Contradictions will surely be found, as this world is full of complex issues that are difficult to resolve. The mind is a material element, so it can be used for furthering the purpose of human life. At the same time, Divine life is beyond the material elements. The seemingly contradictory teachings get resolved through further immersion in the culture, which can be easily established today through the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

To apply intellect persuaded,

But sometimes logic evaded.

Like bone of animal unclean,

But cow urine on Krishna seen.

Follow dharma for advancement’s sake,

But Yashoda’s son butter to take.

Contradictions in world of duality sure,

Invest in culture for realization pure.

Two Incidents That Might Cause Life To Flash Before You

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.6)

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यं यं वापि स्मरन् भावं
त्यजत्य् अन्ते कलेवरम्
तं तम् एवैति कौन्तेय
सदा तद्-भाव-भावितः

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

Reincarnation. Transmigration of the soul. The changing of bodies. Moving from one destination to another. Today in the residence of a tree, capable of standing for years but not moving. Tomorrow in the form of a fish, living in the water. The potential is there to live in the air, even, such as with the birds.

Shri Krishna provides a brief overview of the process in the Bhagavad-gita. The soul cannot be extinguished. The event which commonly causes lamentation, death, is actually the exit of the soul from the body. Nothing more, nothing less. Like moving from one apartment to another, the past collection of elements gets left behind, ready to merge back into the material energy.

Further questions naturally arise. What determines the next residence? Is there a way to influence the travel? Krishna provides the answers. The simplest explanation is consciousness. Whatever state of being a person has in their mind at the time of quitting the body, they reach that state in the next life.

This is similar to the concept of life flashing before your eyes. In a split second significant moments from the past appear in something like the fastest playing movie ever produced.

1. An aborted landing of a flight

You knew the weather was going to be bad. That was in the forecast. Still, nothing significant enough to cause cancellation of the flight. And for the majority of the journey there was nothing. The captain left the “fasten seatbelt” sign on from the beginning, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

The problems started during the approach to the destination. Lots of shaking. Turbulence like you have never experienced prior, but at least there was a descent taking place. Only one problem. Shortly thereafter the plane starts heading back up. It feels as if the aircraft is absorbing blows from a hostile enemy. A quick motion to the left, another to the right, up and down, the jabs don’t stop.

After finding some calm airspace, the captain makes an announcement. That period of distress just moments prior was the process of an aborted landing. The rainfall was so strong that the operators could not see the runway. They are going to circle around the area for a while and try again.

Something like coming up for air after being underwater, the plane is ready to make the descent. Of course the turbulence is the same the second time around. You can’t help but get nervous. A panic attack setting in. Life flashing before your eyes, promises made to the higher deities, a vow to be a better person moving forward. Eventually, there is the safe landing, but an experience you will surely never forget.

2. An emergency evacuation of a building

Just your typical Monday at the office. These days are the toughest in the week because you are accustomed to the rest and relaxation from the preceding two days. It takes a while to get the momentum in productivity back, but the cycle is the same every week.

Shortly after lunch time, there is a strong movement in the floor. You work in a tall building, and your particular company has just moved to the twelfth floor. Maybe it was a quick and harmless earthquake. Perhaps an electrical explosion outside. You are concerned enough to message one of your friends and make a joke that you are thinking about getting up and running out of the building.

You wait it out, as everyone else seems to be calm. Around ten minutes later an announcement on the PA system says that everyone should evacuate the building. Uh oh! What is going on? This is the same city that saw people intentionally fly planes into buildings in the past, so you can’t help but suspect the worst.

Nevertheless, you are pretty calm: at first. Just take the elevator down to the ground floor. Only problem is that the elevator is packed. Everyone then heads for the stairwell. Okay, a lot of people there too, but at least they are going in the same direction.

The panic sets in quickly thereafter. The movement stops. Everyone is stuck in the stairwell. No idea what is going on down below. You start to feel dizzy and light-headed. It seems as if the body itself will shut down due to the nervousness.

Someone up above was looking out for you, as the door behind you opens up. It’s more people evacuating, but this time from the eleventh floor. You decide to take the opportunity to step out of the stairwell. Maybe just get some air. Reassess the situation. You then think of trying the elevator again, though the entire floor is empty.

Amazingly, the elevator arrives almost instantly. No other riders, and you take it down to the lobby level and quickly leave the building thereafter. You have escaped the situation, but can’t help thinking back to the trauma in the stairwell, where life flashed before you. The incident is on the news; a helicopter had crashed into the roof of the building. No major damage, but still an experience never to forget.

…

The idea from Vedic teachings is that something similar will occur at the time of death. The consciousness will be based on the cumulative experiences. The best end, therefore, would be to have the Supreme Lord on the consciousness. Remember Him and that will actually put an end to the cycle of birth and death.

अन्त-काले च माम् एव
स्मरन् मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्
यः प्रयाति स मद्-भावं
याति नास्त्य् अत्र संशयः

anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ
yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ

“And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.5)

Seems like a promise that can only be validated in the afterlife, but glimpses of deathlessness are available in the present lifetime. That consciousness has the same benefit no matter when it is established. This means that right now I can remember Shri Krishna and His transcendental glories. Doing so purifies the consciousness and keeps it in an always-prepared situation to travel to the next destination, which is then guaranteed to be auspicious.

In Closing:

To safer airspace resorted,

When plane landing aborted.

Building evacuated now in a jam,

When too many in stairwell to cram.

Due to helicopter on roof crashing,

From moment of panic life flashing.

Same principle to death to extend,

Krishna consciousness best place to send.

Three People Brahma Should Have Considered Before Stealing Krishna’s Friends

“In order to convince Brahma that all those cows, calves and boys were not the original ones, the cows, calves, and boys who were playing with Krishna transformed into Vishnu forms. Actually, the original ones were sleeping under the spell of Brahma's mystic power, but the present ones, seen by Brahma, were all immediate expansions of Krishna, or Vishnu.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 13)

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There is the saying that with every convenience there is an inconvenience. As a simple example, if you have the advancement in technology which allows you to make phone calls from any place and to connect with others separated by a significant physical distance, there are the accompanying burdens of carrying a charger and dealing with potential failure of the device, which becomes greatly relied upon.

In the more general sense, there is a consequence to every action. Nothing takes place in a vacuum, but when succumbing to the enemies of intense desire, hatred and envy, it is easy to overlook the impact of a specific choice. This was the case with Lord Brahma many years ago. As the creator receiving the kripa of Bhagavan Vishnu at the beginning of the creation, he should have known better.

1. The elderly gopis in Vrindavana

The incident in question is the stealing of the cowherd boys and the cows under their care. This took place in the rural area known as Vrindavana. The four-faced creator took interest in the place not due to any personal threat. The asuras of the world have been empowered by him before. The creator does not discriminate when distributing material rewards, as even great strength and wealth do not alone lead a person to peace and happiness.

Brahma became interested in the attention Shri Krishna was drawing. He decided to play an innocent trick. At least this was the characterization in his eyes. He would sneak into the forest area and take the cowherd boys and cows from Krishna. They would not know what was going on.

The idea was to see how Krishna would react, if He indeed could provide rescue as He had done countless times before. Brahma did not consider the feelings of the elderly gopis. They were the mothers to these children, after all. They would eventually come looking for their darlings. There would be tremendous grief upon failure, thinking that the worst had happened.

2. Shri Krishna

These were His friends, after all. The jewel of Vrindavana had done nothing to deserve such punishment. He was there enchanting everyone in the town, especially the parents, Nanda and Yashoda. The saintly people of this world delight so much in the pastimes of Bhagavan that simply hearing about the activities after the fact brings a level of joy impossible to match.

Brahma could have derived the same enjoyment, but something got a hold of him. He overlooked the impact his actions would have on others. Indeed, Krishna was already the closest with Brahma. It was the creator who had originally petitioned Vishnu to take an avatara and descend to earth. Brahma’s gratefulness was exhibited in this ill-advised plan that could have gone terribly wrong.

3. The friends and the cows

Would you like to remain unconscious for an entire year? No way to see your friends and family. No way to further progress in life. No connection with the outside world.

This was the punishment Brahma inflicted on the victims of his joke. They did not get to see Krishna, who was the center of their daily lives. The calves were separated from their mothers. They could have been drinking the precious milk, but due to Brahma’s interference they were denied that opportunity.

…

Another name for Bhagavan is Ajita. He is unconquerable. The dastardly tricks of the creator were not significant. Krishna simply expanded Himself to display forms identical to the children and the animals stolen. The parents and the cows were none the wiser. They had the opportunity to worship Krishna as their dependent.

Eventually, the game came to an end. Brahma realized the folly of his ways. The idea is that sometimes even a powerful administrator of the material world can become an enemy. Their desires can get in the way of your service to the Supreme Lord, but Bhagavan is always there to provide sufficient protection.

In Closing:

Just a simple trick playing,

Potency of creator displaying.

That friends and cows to take,

Whereby Krishna baffled to make.

But Lord higher potency commanding,

Replicas through own form expanding.

Idea that even creator can succumb,

A well-wisher enemy can become.

Where Is The Empirical Evidence Of The Mind

“The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.42)

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इन्द्रियाणि पराण्य् आहुर्
इन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः
मनसस् तु परा बुद्धिर्
|यो बुद्धेः परतस् तु सः

indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur
indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir
yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

Friend1: I saw an interesting internet video the other day.

Friend2: Dogs jumping through hoops?

Friend1: No.

Friend2: Babies being kissed by their dad?

Friend1: No, but I did see that one a few weeks ago. Hilarious and adorable at the same time.

Friend2: That is a great one.

Friend1: It’s religion related. These kids are sitting on the front porch of a house. An adult comes by asking about something. The kids end up saying, “Thank God,” or something to that effect, because of an event culminating with a proper outcome.

Friend2: I see.

Friend1: The adult then presents a challenge. He wants to know why they are thanking God. He asks if God can be seen.

Friend2: And the children’s response?

Friend1: They are a little taken aback. The adult then asks if you can touch or feel God. The same response from the children.

Friend2: Have to love it. Reviving the tactics of the old Communist regimes.

Friend1: Yes, but as the adult is walking away, thinking he is victorious, the children come back with their own questions.

Friend2: Oh?

Friend1: The adult had claimed that he uses his sense instead of trusting in God. One of the children asks if that sense can be seen or touched.

Friend2: That’s a good one. I like it.

Friend1: The adult responds in the negative. The child then delivers the punch line: “Then, you have no sense.”

Friend2: Haha. That is great.

Friend1: It’s one of those viral videos that really got me to thinking. The impression stayed with me for a while.

Friend2: Why? Because of the arguments presented?

Friend1: You always hear that challenge.

“Show me God. Prove to me that He exists. I rely only on empirical evidence.”

Friend2: Oh, for sure. Modern science is based on the principle. Unless I can see it, I won’t believe it. Meanwhile, there are four other senses which are used to establish authenticity.

Friend1: Like taste for food and smell for fragrance.

Friend2: I can’t know for sure that I have a flower based on sight alone. It could be an imitation.

Friend1: Right. Anyway, what do you think of this counterargument of asking if the mind can be seen?

Friend2: Well, what do you think the scientist would say in response?

Friend1: Probably something along the lines of, “Well, we can’t see the mind, but we can prove it is there based on symptoms.”

Friend2: They could point to the physical object known as the brain. Actually, that gets me to thinking. How can you prove that thinking occurs within the brain?

Friend1: Where else would it occur?

Friend2: No, I understand the truth, but give me some empirical evidence of the mind, of thinking ability, and the location at which it takes place?

Friend1: I see what you are saying. The response would likely be the same. The evidence is based on external symptoms, which can be perceived. Experiments with control groups.

Friend2: Basically, see what happens when the brain is there and when it is not?

Friend1: Yes. Exactly. You don’t really need a test. It’s common sense. I know, I know, if I can’t touch it, I have no sense, haha.

Friend2: We use the same principle to prove the existence of spirit.

Friend1: How so?

Friend2: When it is there, the body is considered alive. Death is the exit of the soul from the body. Shri Krishna provides the necessary clarity. He says that there are three subtle elements at the individual level: mind, intelligence and ego. With each step, the subtle nature increases.

Friend1: What do you mean?

Friend2: Mind is finer than any of the gross elements. Intelligence is finer than the mind. Ego is the finest of the three, and even more subtle is the spirit soul. The soul is the most difficult to perceive through vision, but just see its potency! The very presence of life shows the amazing nature of the soul, and the soul of the entire universe, Paramatma, is even more amazing. He is the God referenced by the pious and sober-minded individuals.

In Closing:

Only by visual confirmation to receive,

In the concept of something to believe.

Atheist this way to argue against,

On God-less concept bent.

But then issue with the mind,

Since never in hand to find.

Only through symptoms knowing,

Same principle with spirit showing.