Five Solutions To Concurrency Issues

“Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes and faces, and He hears everything. In this way the Supersoul exists.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.14)

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सर्वतः पाणि-पादं तत्
सर्वतो ऽक्षि-शिरो-मुखम्
सर्वतः श्रुतिमल् लोके
सर्वम् आवृत्य तिष्ठति

sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādaṁ tat
sarvato ‘kṣi-śiro-mukham
sarvataḥ śrutimal loke
sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati

You have this great resource in technology.  Everybody loves it. They want access to it. It is like a gift from above, something they’ve been waiting on for a long time.  They can’t believe it is finally here.

The big issue now is concurrency.  Many points of access, which could occur simultaneously.  Something like the denial-of-service attack employed by hackers, the potential for a bottleneck is real. The manager of the resource has different proposed solutions for prevention.

1. Locks in a database management system

No matter the size of the application or where it is located, it likely involves some type of data storage and access.  Help in that area arrives through the database management system. Organize the data into tables that are somewhat related to one another.  Enforce referential integrity, check verifications, and the fidelity of transactions.

Since many people might be accessing the application at the same time, there are locks granted, released and shared.  This is an intricate mechanism designed to ensure data integrity, while also limiting bottlenecks.

Of course, no solution is perfect.  If one person takes out an exclusive lock on a table and forgets to complete their transaction, another user could be waiting on that resource…forever.  The more people waiting, the slower the application gets, and the more frustrated the end users become.

2. Stoplights

The people of the town have wanted this highway built for a long time.  It helps in clearing the congestion during rush hour. No more having to traverse tiny roads in small towns.  This highway bypasses everything through ramps and bridges.

Since people travel in different directions, to help in concurrency there is the stoplight.  One side has the opportunity to proceed forward, while the other has to wait. Without respect for the red, yellow and green indicator lights, there would be chaos.

3. Queues

The airlines try to board flights in an orderly manner.  The common practice is to call passengers seated in the rear of the aircraft first.  This only makes sense. If it were the other way around, those on board might block those trying to board, dealing with luggage and so forth.

In some places there is little respect for the queues.  Every man for himself. Never mind the color-coded boarding group signs or the seat numbers.  Better get on first before the overhead bin space runs out.

4. Greater bandwidth

If a website receives more traffic than it can handle, one option is to increase bandwidth.  Something like widening a tunnel or roadway, alter the physical infrastructure itself. The plan has to be carefully handled, for if more space is allocated than is needed, money goes to waste.

5. Replicas

Similar to the increasing bandwidth option, just make extra copies of the resource.  For a website, create a server farm and then add a load-balancer on top. Some intelligence will be used to direct new requests to a server that is not bogged down.

If an apartment complex is full, build another one nearby.  Same amenities. Same location. Same look. Just more people will be able to access.

…

As there is no single perfect solution, a person gets an idea of the vast complexity of this world.  The analysis thus far is only on man-made creations, but consider the various aspects of nature that are vital to the continuation of life.  Sunlight, rain, fields, rivers, and trees get accessed by the entire human society.

The Supreme Lord handles the bottlenecks automatically; without effort.  Concurrency is built into His material nature. The same applies to requests made directly to Him.  The phone line to the spiritual world is never busy. The most important person in the world can be accessed at any time, by any person.

One method is the chanting of the holy names:  Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.  Another is hearing about Him through works such as the Puranas.  A further option is to take His direct instruction from works like Bhagavad-gita.

The common element is a link in consciousness.  This is known as yoga, and the human being is ideally suited for this achievement.  The entire world can practice yoga simultaneously and Shri Krishna will easily be able to accommodate.

In Closing:

Awesome new app to make,
A look everyone wanting to take.

Concurrency resolving a need,
Since so many to proceed.

Imagine nature’s working then,
With so many beings when.

Krishna without effort overseeing,
Never busy for devotees being.

Five Reasons We Offer A Flower Garland To Krishna

“Krishna, the reservoir of pleasure, blowing His flute, accompanied by His elder brother Balarama and other cowherd boys and cows, entered the beautiful forest of Vrindavana to enjoy the atmosphere. They walked into the midst of newly grown leaves of trees whose flowers resembled peacock feathers. They were garlanded by those flowers and decorated with saffron chalk.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 18)

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One aspect to the image of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the two-handed manifestation of Shri Krishna is the flower garland.  The same is seen on most forms of the original God, such as with Shri Rama in Ayodhya and Vishnu in the Vaikuntha planets.

The image is neither imagined nor solely symbolic; it is based on the authority which is beyond the defect of the imperfect senses.  Since He is the most important person wherever He goes, and since devotees are always close by, Krishna wears this beautiful decoration.

1. Natural beauty

The offering of flowers is simple and yet elegant.  The lotus flower perfectly illustrates nature’s beauty.  No human intervention needed. Forego hiring a talented artist or taking bids among those with different interpretations of beauty or expressive ability.

To take a flower and to offer it to Krishna is to also pay homage to His ability.  He is the original creator, after all. Though Lord Brahma uses the three modes of nature [gunas] for crafting body types and environments in the universe, he is only capable of doing so after being empowered by the Supreme Lord.  The potential is there to begin with, and someone has to be behind that potential.

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)

Krishna gives confirmation that a flower offering will be accepted by Him.  The mood of the offering is what matters. Why wouldn’t He accept a flower delivered to Him with a smile, for the sole purpose of His satisfaction?  It is not like the devotee becomes poorer in the process. It is not a debit to their bank account, as the flower is often times returned to be shared with others.  This is known as prasadam, and it is amazingly potent in the way of purifying consciousness.

2. It takes some effort to create

While the flower is typically not in scarcity and easy to retrieve once sighted, to make the garland requires effort.  This is a benefit. Any reward worth achieving requires some work. While Bhagavan is accessible to each person through the close proximity of the expansion known as Supersoul [Paramatma], to actually move towards Him with sincere purpose is rare.

बहूनां जन्मनाम् अन्ते
ज्ञानवान् मां प्रपद्यते
वासुदेवः सर्वम् इति
स महात्मा सु-दुर्लभः

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

The time spent making the garland is equivalent to association with Krishna.  This is the meaning of Absolute. Typing translations of Vedic texts glorifying Bhagavan is identical to chanting His holy names on a set of japa beads:  Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

3. It looks nice

The garland looks nice on Him.  It further underscores the importance of the personal form.  Many schools of spirituality, some even linked to Vedic culture, vehemently oppose the concept of God having a form.  Either out of ignorance or sheer denial of the realization that man cannot be God, they will not approach the Supreme Lord in person.

The tendency towards individuality and personal association will remain, however.  Therefore, it is better to take the authorized approach and learn what exactly the Divine looks like.  His form is not in duality like ours, and He is not limited to a single manifestation. The important thing is that God lives and we can live with Him, as His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada says.

4. His wife’s name is Padmini

The lotus flower is one of the symbols representing Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of fortune.  One of her names is Padmini, as she is always around such flowers. Lakshmi is the wife of Narayana, which is another form of Krishna.  This means that the flower garland automatically has association to the person most dear to Shri Krishna.

5. He is always victorious

This kind of flower garland is sometimes known as a jaimala.  It is the garland of victory.  Vishnu received this one time when a beautiful princess chose Him over Narada Muni.  Shri Rama received it directly from Lakshmi Devi’s incarnation of Sita after winning the contest of the bow in Janakpur.

Bhagavan is Achyuta and Ajita.  He never falls down and He is never conquered.  Thus it is proper for the garland of victory to always be around His neck.  The same properties descend to devotion. Bhakti is ever-glorious and one indication of its presence is the offering of beautiful items to Krishna and those devoted to Him.

In Closing:

Glorious the process known,
By pure devotion shown.

That Krishna garland to wear,
In Gokula and Vaikuntha there.

Some effort making required,
But rewarded when inspired.

Since in victory position’s commanding,
With transcendental features understanding.

Five Cases Where We May Ask Where Was God

“Having heard all these words said to Me, I promised to give full protection to the rishis of Dandaka-aranya, O daughter of Janaka.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya-kanda, 10.16)

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मया चैतद्वचश्श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन परिपालनम् |
ऋषीणां दण्डकारण्ये संश्रुतं जनकात्मजे ||

mayā caitadvacaśśrutvā kārtsnyena paripālanam
ṛṣīṇāṃ daṇḍakāraṇye saṃśrutaṃ janakātmaje

The aim of the human existence is to connect with God. The process is known as yoga, and as Shri Krishna recommends in the Bhagavad-gita, always be a yogi.

तपस्विभ्यो ऽधिको योगी
ज्ञानिभ्यो ऽपि मतो ऽधिकः
कर्मिभ्यश् चाधिको योगी
तस्माद् योगी भवार्जुन

tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogī
jñānibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikaḥ
karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī
tasmād yogī bhavārjuna

“A yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.46)

Don’t get bogged down by the ups and downs of life. Don’t let the illusion created by maya bewilder you into sadness, hopelessness or despair. Realize that there is a reality to the temporary, ever-changing situation.

This is at the foundation of the teachings from the Vedanta school, which often goes by the term “Hinduism” in common conversation. It is much more than another faith to be put into the basket, as evidenced by the explanations during instances where a person may doubt the existence of an Almighty figure.

1. After a mass shooting

“What a terrible tragedy. People were at the store, shopping as usual. That should be a safe place. Sure, you get upset if you can’t find the particular item you want. Maneuvering through the crowds is no picnic, but generally everyone keeps their cool.

“Then this mass shooting takes place. I can’t believe it. Why does this keep happening nowadays? What is wrong with people? We try to blame the guns, the leaders, the videogames, the television programming and so forth, but everything was similar twenty and thirty years ago. Yet there weren’t these frequent attacks.”

2. After a natural disaster

“Really goes to show you that no one is safe in this world. You can be in the best place, with a steady and secure source of income, everyone living happily in the community, and then the worst occurs. A tsunami. An earthquake. A ridiculous heat-wave. So much suffering.”

3. After environmental destruction

“The dichotomy is striking. You visit one area of the city and it is pristine and beautiful. Parks, hills, trees, long stretches of thick, green grass. You go to another and it seems like the great war has just ended. The roads are bombed out, the shops are dirty, and there is pollution everywhere.

“Where was God through all of this destruction to His nature? Why didn’t He prevent the worst from happening? If He exists, why does He just sit idly by, allowing the suffering?”

4. After saintly leaders get harassed

“The Sanskrit term is rajarshis. There are many to be found in the documented history that are the Puranas. One family of note is the Pandavas, whose complicated story is interwoven throughout the epic work known as the Mahabharata.”

“They are saintly leaders. Though they are rajas, they have the mindset of rishis. They are detached while connected to the physical world. The process is known as yukta-vairagya. They don’t have to renounce the entire world in order to stay spiritually aware. The ideal example is King Janaka.”

“Yet the Pandavas faced untold harassment. Getting fed a poison cake. Intentionally sent to a house ready to be set on fire. Exiled from their community for a long time. Forced to live like paupers. How could God allow this? Where was He the entire time?”

5. After saintly people get attacked

“This situation is even worse. Described in the Ramayana poem, these were actual rishis, not bothering anyone. They had already renounced civilized society in favor of the tapo-vanas. These were forests conducive to austerity and penance.”

“In that quiet, secluded place they would get attacked by night-ranging ogres known as Rakshasas. These were not random acts of violence. The Rakshasas knew what they were doing. They would pounce right at the moment of fruition of a particular yajna. To translate to modern day life, it would be something like a terrorist blowing up a church during the time of a sermon.”

…

In that last instance the rishis petitioned the Supreme Lord directly. The avatara of Shri Rama happened to be roaming the forests at the time, carrying His sacred weapons with Him. He was like the best bodyguard, proven through past interactions with the venerable Vishvamitra Muni.

In the aforementioned situations, the answer is that God is always there. He is in the heart of both the sinner and the saint. The person committing the most heinous crime has God inside of them through the feature known as Supersoul. He actually provides the perpetrator the intelligence necessary to carry out their work, in the same way that He gives guidance to the other side on how to avoid harm.

This may be difficult to understand, for why would the all-benevolent one allow for such tragedy? The reasoning is that the entire material existence is illusion. The pain and pleasure experienced are real, but the duration is temporary. It is something like going through a dream.

The land exists to facilitate the dreamlike experience, and so every outcome is possible. The underlying, hidden truth is that the individual can never be killed. The soul is never in danger of being annihilated, no matter what happens to the associated body.

Thus the tragedy isn’t really so, but only in the viewpoint still suffering from illusion. Moreover, the effort in yoga always gets protected. The Pandavas had Shri Krishna supporting them throughout the harassment offered by the Kauravas. The rishis in Dandaka-aranya had Rama there to give protection from the Rakshasas.

In the same way, the Almighty manifests through the sacred sounds of the holy names to give protection from the perils caused by illusion: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This mantra awakens me to the reality and helps me see clearly in a world that otherwise fools me at every turn.

In Closing:

Myself fooled at every turn,

Illusion’s pattern can’t discern.

So when at tragic news aware,

Wondering Supreme Lord where.

So could have been prevented,

That situation greatly lamented.

Truth that world’s way up and down,

God through pure devotion found.

Why Didn’t Krishna Save Draupadi Directly

“My dear Krishna, Your Lordship has protected us from a poisoned cake, from a great fire, from cannibals, from the vicious assembly, from sufferings during our exile in the forest and from the battle where great generals fought. And now You have saved us from the weapon of Ashvatthama.” (Queen Kunti, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.24)

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विषान् महाग्नेः पुरुषाद-दर्शनाद्
असत्-सभाया वन-वास-कृच्छ्रतः
मृधे मृधे ऽनेक-महारथास्त्रतो
द्रौण्य्-अस्त्रतश् चास्म हरे ऽभिरक्षिताः

viṣān mahāgneḥ puruṣāda-darśanād
asat-sabhāyā vana-vāsa-kṛcchrataḥ
mṛdhe mṛdhe ‘neka-mahārathāstrato
drauṇy-astrataś cāsma hare ‘bhirakṣitāḥ

Friend1: One of the more sympathetic characters from the Mahabharata is Kunti Devi, the mother of the Pandavas.

Friend2: We should be clear that by saying “character”, we are referencing a historical personality whose story happens to be told in a beautiful poetry style format in the Sanskrit language.

Friend1: Yes, of course. There is symbolism to the factual events, especially since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is involved.

Friend2: Who is the well-wisher to the Pandava family, though He is actually neutral towards everyone roaming the material world.

समो ऽहं सर्व-भूतेषु
न मे द्वेष्यो ऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या
मयि ते तेषु चाप्य् अहम्

samo ‘haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo ‘sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.29)

Friend1: Krishna favors the Pandavas because they are devotees. He would have shown the same kind of favoritism to the Kauravas, the rival family, if they were similar in nature.

Friend2: In fact, some of them were. Vidura was on that side of the family, but he was always with Krishna in spirit. Bhishmadeva actually fought against the Pandavas in the subsequent war, but he meditated directly on Krishna at the time of death. This was arranged by the Supreme Lord.

Friend1: At one time Kunti remembers the various times of distress and danger, where Krishna intervened. One of those times was when Draupadi was in danger of being stripped naked in front of an assembly.

Friend2: This was not her fault. Draupadi was the collateral in an unfair wager lost. A beautiful princess who was small in comparison to the warriors on the other side.

Friend1: She tried her best to hold onto the sari, but she eventually realized it was a losing battle.

Friend2: Calling out to Govinda, He saved her by extending His ananta property to the garment.

Friend1: That is where my question lies today. A casual observer may wonder why Krishna didn’t intervene directly.

Friend2: What do you mean? Instead of the magic with the sari, just show up?

Friend1: Yeah, exactly. Tell the Kauravas to cut it out. Lecture them on the proper etiquette to be observed towards females. Show your might.

Friend2: But He did show His might. The sari could not be removed from her.

Friend1: Okay, but no one except the Pandavas knew that it was Krishna’s work. Why be so secretive?

Friend2: No higher purposed would be served by intervening directly like that. The Kauravas would not learn a lesson. There is ample evidence of the existence of God. Based on the existence, a sober and rational person chooses dharma over adharma.

Friend1: Right over wrong. Piety over sin.

Friend2: A mere show of strength is not going to change things. In fact, later on Krishna did reveal the universal form, the virata-rupa, to the leader of the Kauravas. Duryodhana had an idea to bind Krishna, who was acting as an ambassador to prevent war between the parties. The Supreme Lord laughed at the proposal and invited the mastermind to go ahead and give it a shot.

Friend1: If intervening directly wouldn’t make much of a difference, then why intervene indirectly?

Friend2: We’re talking about the incident today, aren’t we? Kunti Devi never forgot it, did she? It adds to Krishna’s glory. He protected the devotion of the devotees. That is His promise, and He is always true in this regard.

In Closing:

Perhaps one day for me,

Since like ananta is He.

When princess to Govinda calling,

That sari never from her falling.

Asuras even if seen not knowing,

Since with inimical spirit to going.

For devotees intervention reserved,

So their saintly life preserved.

What About The Idea Of Borrowing Happiness From Tomorrow

“O best of the Bharatas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress. That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.36-37)

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सुखं त्व् इदानीं त्रि-विधं
शृणु मे भरतर्षभ
अभ्यासाद् रमते यत्र
दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति
यत् तद् अग्रे विषम् इव
परिणामे ऽमृतोपमम्
तत् सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तम्
आत्म-बुद्धि-प्रसाद-जम्

sukhaṁ tv idānīṁ tri-vidhaṁ
śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha
abhyāsād ramate yatra
duḥkhāntaṁ ca nigacchati

yat tad agre viṣam iva
pariṇāme 'mṛtopamam
tat sukhaṁ sāttvikaṁ proktam
ātma-buddhi-prasāda-jam

Friend1: I think one of the funnier t-shirts I have seen related to drinking talks about borrowing happiness from tomorrow.

Friend2: Oh, I have seen those. It’s a rare admission of a problem. The person going on a binge understands that there will be a price to pay. The happiness that would otherwise arrive on a given day gets substituted for pain and misery.

Friend1: Nausea. Headaches. Potential vomiting.

Friend2: The classic hangover.

Friend1: This certainly highlights the instruction from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for avoiding intoxication.

Friend2: That is one of the four regulative principles. There is joy from vairagya. Goswami Tulsidas has a work entitled, Vairagya Sandipani. Any genuine saintly person has an affinity for detachment.

Friend1: That is kind of a contradiction right there, but I know what you mean.

Friend2: They like to be aloof from this world. Not for dry renunciation. Not to merely stand out from others. Not to hold yourself on a pedestal, looking down at others. There is bliss, for sure, but there is also the increased ability to focus on and contemplate spiritual topics.

Friend1: Makes sense to me, but could not the skeptic raise an argument here? The drunkard knows that they are getting happiness today in lieu of tomorrow.

Friend2: Sort of like the payday loan.

Friend1: In spiritual life, it is like the reverse situation. Borrow happiness from today for something better tomorrow.

Friend2: There is some confirmation in the Bhagavad-gita. Shri Krishna says that happiness in the mode of goodness is where something feels like poison in the beginning but is nectar in the end.

Friend1: Like, “No pain, no gain.” Struggling to reach a milestone. Expending effort for an achievement.

Friend2: Follow regulative principles today, create a routine of accompanying positive engagements, and see the happiness eventually follow.

Friend1: Okay, but how can you promise the future? At least with drinking you know that there will be some happiness today. If I sacrifice so much for spiritual life, I don’t know exactly what the future will hold.

Friend2: There is some validity to that concern. If you say that the only time to receive happiness is in the future, then you will surely miss out. Genuine spiritual life is not like that. It is beneficial for you at the beginning, middle and end, as confirmed by Tulsidas.

प्रीति प्रतीति सुरीति स्ॐ राम राम जपु राम |
तुलसी तेरो है भलेआ आदि मध्य परिनाम ||

prīti pratīti surīti soṃ rāma rāma japu rāma |
tulasī tero hai bhaleā ādi madhya parināma ||

“Chanting Shri Rama’s holy name with love, faith and according to regulative principles will be beneficial for you from beginning to end, says Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 23)

Friend1: If I follow the restrictions on meat eating and gambling, how is that helping me in the beginning? It will feel like torture.

Friend2: For a little while, but the feeling won’t stay forever. The new normal will eventually settle in. Talk to people who have done it. See if they will ever go back to the old way of life. They have found the real truth and they are staying there. They don’t mind going to hell in the afterlife, for they understand that Shri Krishna will always act favorably upon them. That is the strength accompanying devotional practices. You will not only feel happy but you will be firmly convinced that nothing else can compete. You will know that God lives and you will enjoy living with Him.

In Closing:

Stealing happiness from now,

But assured for future how?

When no one can explain,

Until time machine to gain.

Idea that like nectar in the end,

With time sacrifice now to spend.

With those in bhakti path talk,

And see if reverse again to walk.

Four Things I Swore Off Without Much Success

“The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.60)

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यततो ह्य् अपि कौन्तेय
पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि
हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः

yatato hy api kaunteya
puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ
indriyāṇi pramāthīni
haranti prasabhaṁ manaḥ

1. Drinking

“Never again. I mean it this time. I don’t ever want to have this experience repeat in the future. Standing over the toilet bowl last night for hours was not fun. I would rather just vomit and be done with it. Why does the stomach have to hurt for so long?

“And what did I really gain? Short-term sensation. Some relaxing of the tensions brought on by daily responsibilities at home and at work. But as the t-shirt reads, I borrowed from tomorrow for happiness today. My head hurts so much right now. I can barely function. I have officially quit drinking. Did you hear me? I mean it this time.”

2. Owning a car

“I can’t believe we finally reached our destination. I thought we left at a reasonable time. A few hours prior to the evening rush, but the trip was insane. Traffic the entire journey. No letting up. What normally takes one hour was tripled in length. I’ve got one word for you: unacceptable.

“On top of that, the baby in the car was crying. I can’t blame her. Who wants to be strapped into a car seat for that long, with stop and go traffic? That was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. I think it is better to simply sell the car. I’ll take mass transit and ride-sharing to get around.”

3. Eating unhealthy

“You never really know how much you have let your physical wellbeing slide until you see a picture. Looking in the mirror is not enough. My God have things changed. There is that game on the internet called, “The Ten Year Challenge.” Basically, you take a picture of yourself today and compare it to one from ten years ago.

“Let me tell you that there is no contest. I failed miserably. I just can’t stop thinking about eating. Every time I am ready to give up unhealthy foods, at the next opportunity I don’t decline. I tell myself that I am taking a break. I will resume the diet in the future; start on Monday.”

4. Caffeine

“Okay, so last night was something I never want to repeat. I was so darn tired, but I couldn’t fall asleep. It’s because I had too much caffeine, especially after dinner. It was an obvious mistake, but somehow I couldn’t help it. After eating a large meal, I feel I need something to trigger digestion.

“If you can’t fall asleep on time, the pressure starts to mount. You wonder if you will ever fall asleep. You start to analyze the sleeping cycle itself, how the mind finally drifts away and the subtle body takes over. You know that you have to wake up in time for work, and if you don’t get enough sleep you will be unable to function the rest of the day.”

…

While we may have taken solemn vows in one or more of the aforementioned areas, success after the fact is difficult. Shri Krishna explains the reason in the Bhagavad-gita. The senses are a strong force, and they can overpower a person who is otherwise discriminating. This means that I can try my best at removing a particular attachment, but the odds are stacked against me.

There is a solution. Connection to the Divine consciousness. Be attached to something higher in order to relinquish something inferior. The benefits do not stop at the renunciation of sense attachment. That is to say the Divine consciousness itself is conducive to the highest happiness.

In the modern age the easiest way to develop such a consciousness is to chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Using a mantra to give up bad habits? A routine in repeating and hearing a sound vibration to cure problems that the entirety of humanity struggles with?

Personal wellbeing should not be the impetus for devotion, but the solution is viable because of the person on the other side. The mantra references specific personalities, namely the source of the Divine energy. A regulated routine of repeating the mantra, under the guidance of someone who is already free from attachment to the sense objects, guarantees success. In addition, the attention to such conditions gradually diminishes. In other words, I will have a higher objective to correspond with the higher consciousness.

In Closing:

Over future behavior commanding,

Rather not over toilet standing.

So to drink no more,

Sobriety now in store.

But aftermath a different story,

Failure triumphing in all its glory.

Reason the senses difficult to overcome,

Through Krishna’s favor easily won.

Five Games A Father Might Indulge With Their Children

“Sometimes mother Yashoda used to ask Krishna to bring her a wooden plank for sitting. Although the wooden plank was too heavy to be carried by a child, still somehow or other Krishna would bring it to His mother. Sometimes while worshiping Narayana, His father would ask Him to bring his wooden slippers, and Krishna, with great difficulty, would put the slippers on His head and bring them to His father. When He was asked to lift some heavy article and was unable to lift it, He would simply move His arms. In this way, daily, at every moment, He was the reservoir of all pleasure to His parents.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 11)

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The Vedanta scholar tends to look down at the bhakti process. To them it is just that: a process. A means to an end. A tool to reach a higher level. Once ascending the mountain successfully, so to speak, you cast aside whatever helped you get there. No hard feelings, but the summit is Brahman realization, which is devoid of active engagement.

At least that is their opinion. They consider preparing and offering pure foods in front of a deity and singing and dancing to a mantra to be reserved for the less intelligent. Those who cannot comprehend the high topics of Vedanta, covering the distinction between matter and spirit, accept the devotional path.

The object of service is the one who makes the final determination. Whether he considers a specific activity done in his favor to be childish or indicative of lesser intelligence makes no difference in the long run. If He is not pleased with the effort, then it is more or less a waste of time.

We see from the common interactions between a father and his children that on the other side the person in authority is more than willing to engage. They do not mind descending from their higher position in order to provide reciprocal happiness.

1. Tying a shoe

Your daughter just started wearing shoes. She has been walking for a long time, many months in fact, but everything is reserved to inside the house. She doesn’t go outside much. Lately the mother has been putting on shoes, to which the child is slowly getting adjusted.

Rather than wear the shoes, she has more fun picking them up and playing with them. After a hard day at the office, while lying in bed you get a warm reception from your daughter. She is carrying one of those shoes in her hands. She places it into your hand, essentially asking that something be done.

Not knowing exactly what to do, you decide to tie it. This shoe actually has a Velcro strap, so you simply attach it. After you give the shoe back to your daughter, she decides to remove the strap. Following that she returns the shoe to you. You reapply the strap, and the process repeats.

This goes on for almost ten minutes. The child is so happy playing this game. You would rather rest, but at the same time the look on her face keeps you engaged.

2. Stacking blocks

A similar interaction but this time in the living room. You gave her toy blocks a while back, but she was too young to take an interest. Now she likes to stack them up, but only if you are around. She lays them on top of one another and then disassembles the same.

She hands the blocks to you one at a time. You pretend to stack them, but then she interrupts, completing the job. Afterwards, the cycle repeats. At least she is not watching television, you think.

3. Staring contest

This one really has you amazed. How does such a young child know how to do this? It’s almost something out of an adult comedy routine. You can’t remember how or when it started, but the game is a lot of fun.

What happens is that you stare at your daughter with a serious face. After a few seconds, either one of you starts laughing. Then she immediately goes back to the serious face. You are both trying to see who can maintain the face the longest, knowing that it won’t take much time to break into a smile. This game continues for a long time, with neither side getting bored.

4. Hide and seek

This is an age-old classic. You don’t need any fancy or expensive toys. Not even much furniture. Simply hiding behind you is enough to qualify for a round of the game.

Here again your daughter amazed you. She picked up the game even before she learned to walk. You tried playing peek-a-boo with her once, and a few minutes later she was doing it to you. Hiding behind the sofa and then emerging with an oceanic smile.

Now she likes to hide in another room, in the closet, underneath the blanket – whatever area she can find she will use. This game starts up spontaneously, but it always draws a laugh. Even when you are tired, you can’t help but engage and pretend to not be able to find her.

5. Moving a box

The big toy companies hire advertisers and market researchers to help in the process. It is a large industry, after all. Constant competition. Adding to the complexity are the ever-changing preferences of children. You can give them the best toy in the world, but they may only play with it for a few minutes.

Who would have thought that a plain shipping box could give them so much joy? You only found out accidentally. Upon opening a package and leaving the container on the floor, the child started playing with it immediately. They love to pick it up and move it to different places in the room. Sometimes they stand on it for use as a makeshift ladder.

Compared to time spent in front of a smartphone screen or television screen, this is great. You are more than happy to engage. Let them have as many shipping boxes as they like. No need to recycle, for now.

…

In these instances the father neither looks down at the child nor feels the time is going to waste. Rather, they will remember those interactions for many years, even if the child should forget them.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the same way. He is atmarama, which means “self-satisfied.” He is in need of nothing. No one can bring Him down since He is full of ananda [bliss]. He can eat with His eyes, if He desires. He never has to go hungry.

Therefore, what can our offerings really do for Him? He has the best friends in Goloka Vrindavana. He has the beautiful and dedicated Lakshmi Devi by His side in the Vaikuntha realm. I am nothing compared to those people, so my bhakti efforts have to be a waste of time.

Krishna will engage me in the same way that the father happily sacrifices time for their children. Shri Rama, an incarnation of the Supreme Lord, once explained to Narada Muni that those devotees who are viewed as helpless children by Him tend to be the dearest. Rather than left to fly off and become independent, Rama looks after them constantly. He might even interfere on their behalf, when their desires will lead them in the wrong direction.

The Vedanta path does not feature this oversight. By definition there is no interaction, as Brahman is not a thing. Brahman is more of a concept, a way of viewing the spiritual energy. There is always a source, and through devotional love a person can connect directly with that source, and He will be more than happy to oblige.

In Closing:

With child happy to engage,

Father like equal to behave.

Blocks back and forth stacking,

Hidden daughter’s path tracking.

This way and that to move,

Box preferred toy to choose.

Supreme Lord situated similarly so,

With same endless love to show.