Three Things Working Against The Vanaras In Kishkindha

“It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me saying, ‘My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,’ and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.” (Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kand, 18.33)

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सकृद् एव प्रपन्नो यस्
तवास्मीति च याचते
अभयं सर्वदा तस्मै
ददाम्य् एतद् व्रतं मम

sakṛd eva prapanno yas
tavāsmīti ca yācate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai
dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama

A quick look at their home, their location in the world, and especially the form of body inhabited, the thought of receiving the Divine mercy, offered to them through personal interaction, would be laughed at:

“Are you kidding me? Them? I don’t believe it. It must be your imagination running wild. Mythology. Understand the symbolism. No way they would be on an equal footing with Him.”

1. Low-birth

The Vanaras of Kishkindha, as described in the original Ramayana, are of low-birth. Gradations in this respect are based on the potential for understanding the spirit soul, atma. We know that a person who attends school during the childhood years has a better chance of being able to read, write, and get a job in the professional workforce during adulthood. The same could be accomplished by someone staying at home, but success is more difficult due to the environment.

Correspondingly, a high birth carries with it a better opportunity for conducting a sober analysis on the manifest world, i.e. that which I see before me. Unless taught, I will not know the difference between spirit and body, and especially the contrasting natures.

If I do happen to come across someone who can teach me, as a human being there is the potential to understand; hence the high birth. The Vanaras described in Sanskrit literature so ancient that there isn’t an accurate date of composition are something like monkeys with human-like traits. The literal translation of the word is “forest dwellers.” Vanaras are of the “vanas”, the forests.

This group is typically uncivilized. They do not organize formal governments, schools, hospitals, and the like. They do not have ashramas assigned to divide the time spent in life. There is no dharma or adharma. They are animals, after all. It is a type of body which is a stop on the train of transmigration, reincarnation.

2. Comparison to false renunciation

Monkeys are used to describe the false kind of renunciation. One way the human being gets help in their quest to understand the Absolute Truth is vairagya. The lack of attachment, maintain control over eating, speaking and sleeping.

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य
य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्
इन्द्रियार्थान् विमूढात्मा
मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते

karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate

“One who restrains the senses and organs of action, but whose mind dwells on sense objects, certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.6)

The full life of renunciation may involve taking up residence in the forest. The issue is that a person may be a bhogi, a sense enjoyer, in spirit. Despite living in renounced settings, they have not made a shift in attitude. They can be compared to monkeys, who also live in the forest but are anything but renounced.

3. Known for stealing

Always engaged in unclean behavior, monkeys are also known for stealing. They do not respect private property. The Vanaras of Kishkindha one time ravaged a grove. This was in celebration of success in a difficult task. The owner of the grove was quite upset, but the behavior was tolerated since it follows the nature of monkeys.

Such beings were eligible for receiving the Divine mercy to the point that they were placed on equal footing in the end. The future king of Ayodhya, the most important person in the world, made friends with the Vanaras. Through their chief minister, Shri Hanuman, and their exiled king, Sugriva, the Vanaras came into the good graces of the one who notices everything.

Shri Rama is already antaryami. He is the all-pervading witness through the feature of Supersoul. This means that instead of trying to see God, I can act in ways that He will notice me. He will appreciate my behavior, even if I am not directly in His company.

He will not hold my physical shortcomings against me. I could be born into inauspicious circumstances, but I am equally as eligible for constantly thinking of Him and putting a smile on His face with my service. Rama triumphantly returned home to Ayodhya with His wife Sita and His younger brother Lakshmana. Some of the Vanaras arrived with Him, and they were treated like royalty. Only in God’s kingdom.

In Closing:

On equal footing placed,
Idea of low-birth erased.

Since after victory chased,
Engaged in battle with feverish pace.

Where Hanuman eventually found,
Sita again to her husband bound.

What to speak then of me,
Rama only devotion to see.

Three Inadequacies Shri Rama Will Overlook

“It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me saying, ‘My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,’ and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.” (Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kand, 18.33)

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सकृद् एव प्रपन्नो यस्
तवास्मीति च याचते
अभयं सर्वदा तस्मै
ददाम्य् एतद् व्रतं मम

sakṛd eva prapanno yas
tavāsmīti ca yācate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai
dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama

The key is to be in the devotional mindset. Bhakti-yoga. Above bhoga and tyaga; the pendulum of acceptance and rejection. One day I am really into something; it consumes my mind. The next day I am swearing off it. A friend who hasn’t seen me in years still remembers my previous interest. They are surprised to find that I have given that interest up. After some time has passed, I return to the previous interest; forgetting my past experience. The cycle then repeats.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, notices everything. He is the all-pervading witness, antaryami, through the plenary expansion known as Supersoul. God is always with a form, but a transcendental kind. Even the supposedly unmanifest and invisible, alakha, residing within the heart can be visualized. He has four hands and is opulently adorned. He is the same Narayana, the source of men, who eternally resides in the Vaikuntha planetary system.

Narayana’s avatara of Rama proves through behavior that inadequacies are quickly forgotten by God. Provided there is the devotional spirit, the desire to serve and meet the interests of the one who is every person’s best well-wisher, the shortcomings make no difference in terms of future destination.

1. Difficulty in renunciation

“I see people who are able to fast for an entire day. No food or water. I know it is difficult, but they don’t act like it bothers them. They do it as a sacrifice for the Supreme Lord. Following authority and the recommendations on specific holy days, through less reliance on the demands of the senses, the consciousness is clearer in its meditation on the all-attractive one.

“For me, I can’t even give up something basic like caffeine. If I were to try the complete fast, a headache would ensue a few hours into the day. When I go to the office each morning, my first thought is on what to eat for lunch. It is like my reward; the impetus for working hard.

“If I can’t follow vairagya, how will I ever please Shri Rama? How will someone take me seriously in my drive for liberation, the end to the cycle of birth and death? Won’t I get birth in an animal species in the next life?”

2. Not very eloquent

“I see these speakers on bhagavata topics. They can lecture for hours. They use some of the same lines from venue to venue. Like a stand-up comic running through a routine. But still; just see what they are memorizing. They can describe Krishna lila from start to finish. There is proper presentation and modulated speaking; timed intonations, the perfect delivery to enthrall the audience.

“Meanwhile, if someone asks me why I enjoy reading books such as Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam, I’m not sure I could explain it to them. I know how those works make me feel inside, but trying to put it into words is not easy. I know that one of Bhagavan’s names is Uttamashloka. He is described by the best poetry, but obviously I will never be an author in that category.”

3. No claim to distinguished ancestors

“Good parentage. Birth in a respectable family. Generations of high-souled people; mahatmas. Garnering respect at the mere sound of the last name.

“This is not the case with me. My family would have to be considered ordinary. No special certificates or noteworthy accomplishments in the past. That I found bhakti-yoga is a miracle. No one can explain. Maybe I will have to wait until the next life for perfection.”

…

From the Ramayana we see that Shri Rama made friends with Vanaras. These were monkey-like creatures living in the forest. Though they were actually demigods descending from the heavenly region to assist the Supreme Lord, in the present situation they did not have high births.

They were not civilized, even, and yet they were so dear to the Supreme Lord. They lacked renunciation and good behavior. They were not known for following dharma or giving an ideal example of spiritual life to others.

Yet they sacrificed everything to meet Rama’s interest. The chief minister in the group, Shri Hanuman, carried out the most amazing work. He did so without assistance. No internet search engine to research tactics. No GPS device to provide turn-by-turn directions. No sacred text carried along for referencing important verses.

Hanuman and the Vanaras succeeded in pleasing Rama to the point that He insisted they board the plane for the return trip home to Ayodhya. Their inadequacies were overlooked, confirming the promise made to Vibhishana prior. Anyone who surrenders fully gets protection, no matter what features they may possess or lack. For this reason the chanting of the holy names can have the greatest impact for any person: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Once to Rama surrendering,
Moot the inadequacies rendering.

Since only of devotion to care,
Not of which qualities there.

Or from whose parents taking birth,
Or aural presentation of great worth.

See Vanaras basic civility lacking,
Blessed since Supreme Lord backing.

Three Sanskrit Terms To Describe The Eternal Religion

“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)

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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

Go beyond religion. More than something you accept and reject based on personal preference. Far more involved than taking a seat at a designated establishment once a week. Really finding what it is that corresponds to the active propensity within you.

The animating spark is described as soul, which corresponds to the word atma in Sanskrit. Whatever the preferred term, it is the defining aspect for a living being. In other words, its presence is what constitutes life. Take away the soul and you take away life, at least in the affected region.

To help in understanding the broader scope of what life should be like for the soul, there are Sanskrit terms which essentially share the same meaning. They often get translated as “religion” in general conversation, but there is much more to the concepts.

1. Sanatana-dharma

Dharma in this sense is an occupation. Something to do. The individual is active and must therefore find a way to act. Even inaction is a kind of choice, a means of exercising freewill. I choose to sleep in on a particular Sunday. I choose to remain silent when others are having a conversation about politics. I do not eat for a certain number of hours in order to further a specific purpose.

Sanatana refers to infinity, both forwards and backwards. Without beginning and without end. Genuine religion is a timeless occupation. Go back a thousand years and the dharma is the same. It is not part of a larger progression, bent and shaped based on the times and discoveries made in research.

This makes sense because the soul itself is unchanging. The individual does not evolve from one species to another; rather the soul travels through different body types. It is an evolution of movement, with the human birth hopefully the final stop.

Here the individual can learn about sanatana-dharma. They can discover it, but they can never create it. It is always there for the taking, to be accepted and followed, but not until I have the necessary intelligence can I realize the need for it.

मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु
कश्चिद् यतति सिद्धये
यतताम् अपि सिद्धानां
कश्चिन् मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

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

Of the many who endeavor for perfection, hardly one will attain it. The masters degrees still exist, despite the difficulty in earning them. There are still doctors in this world, even though it takes many years of training to become one.

2. Bhagavata-dharma

Sanatana refers to the timeless nature of the occupation, and bhagavata refers to the object of service. There is work to be done. The actor is not the sole beneficiary. Neither is another conditioned living being, though everyone is automatically best served through the exercise of the eternal dharma, in the same way that watering the roots provides the necessary nourishment to the entire tree.

Bhagavata refers to both the Supreme Lord and those serving Him. Bhagavata-dharma can thus have two meanings, but they are essentially the same. One person is engaged in serving God the person in some capacity. If I help that person in their service, I am also helping Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

3. Bhakti-yoga

This term describes how the eternal dharma dedicated to Bhagavan manifests in terms of action. In other words, what does bhagavata-dharma look like? What are the symptoms? What are the immediate results? How can we gauge progress?

Bhakti-yoga is more specific, though its exercise is not limited to one particular area. I could be eating, sleeping, driving, working in the office, worshiping in the temple, or chanting the holy names. The qualification is based on the mood. Yoga is the connection, the linking between atma and Paramatma. The individual soul finding the Supreme Soul.

Shri Krishna advises to become a yogi. Stay connected to Him. Don’t forget Him. The link will stay forever, should we desire it. This link was the way towards transcendental happiness in the past. It is the only way today, and it will remain so in the future.

In Closing:

Bhagavata-dharma to hear,
To sanatana-dharma near.

Bhakti-yoga the actual exercise,
Passed down and not to surmise.

Terms describing eternal living,
Man’s way out of ignorance giving.

Applicable to any period’s time,
So even now Bhagavan can find.

Five Complaints Against God And Their Contrary Viewpoints

“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.” (Queen Kunti speaking to Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.25)

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विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत्
तत्र तत्र जगद्-गुरो
भवतो दर्शनं यत् स्याद्
अपुनर् भव-दर्शनम्

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat
tatra tatra jagad-guro
bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād
apunar bhava-darśanam

It is not a fake kind of optimism. It is not thinking positively simply as a survival technique. It is not burying your head in the sand to avoid witnessing the negative. It is not a way to annoy people who are voicing their concerns.

The person aligned with the Divine consciousness views every circumstance, situation, conundrum, difficulty, moment of doubt, or what have you as a blessing from above. These are opportunities to continue in remembrance of the one whose every aspect is beautiful.

Otherwise, the list of complaints is too long. We can take situations encountered in everyday life to see how quickly a person can turn to the heavens while raising an angry fist.

1. I hate riding on the underground train

“God, why do you hate me so? This train trip in the morning is the absolute worst. I don’t mind traveling. Don’t get me wrong; I am as much in favor of mass transit as the next guy. But does every passenger have to smell? Do people not follow basic hygiene anymore? Because of this, whenever I reach home from the office, I feel the need to take a shower.”

The positive on the same:

“Thank you so much for this opportunity to see other people on a daily basis. The variety to your creation is endless. Different bodily complexions. Different ways of dressing. You hear different languages, but the emotions are the same. Everyone is connected to you in some manner; whether they realize it or not.”

2. I hate having to go to work

“God, why do you make me work on a daily basis? It is not that I am lazy, but this seems too much. I believe one of your representatives refers to it as ugra-karma. These endeavors seem unnecessary to me. I write code for a living. Every few years the same application needs to be redesigned to utilize the latest technology of the day. It’s a never-ending cycle. People should be content with what they have.

“Instead, I have to sit here and refactor everything. Speaking of sitting, that is the worst part. I feel like I am in a prison. No place to hide. No place to relax for a few minutes. I know that I am not the only person in this predicament. Why do you make life so difficult?”

The positive on the same:

“God, this is the greatest blessing. I am so excited to go to work every day. Without this pressing responsibility, where would I be in life? Probably sleeping the day away. Endlessly scrolling through news stories on the smartphone, getting upset over issues that bear no impact on my daily life.

“Through the office environment I am able to appreciate the efforts of others. Only you could bring so many people together like this. In the drive for artha [profit], people from different backgrounds join for a common purpose. It is a beautiful thing to watch. The nature shows tend to focus on animals in the wild, but the corporate office to me is as much a miracle of nature as the penguins marching in the cold.”

3. I hate having limited options to eat

“Not only do you force me to work, but there is hardly anything good to eat. White flour gets stuck in the stomach. Too much salt raises blood pressure. The oils they use in cooking are the worst for the heart. Shouldn’t you be supplying something better?”

The positive outlook:

“God, thank you so much for making food in my area unhealthy and tasteless. Now I am able to better practice austerity. Tapasya is the way towards understanding you. If the food was like from a royal palace, then I would barely be able to control myself. Because of the better focus, I can remember you more often; which is always paramount.”

4. I hate the scorching heat

“How in the world do people live like this? The heat is unbearable. The reason is the combined factor of humidity. I would rather live anywhere than here. You can’t even go outside because of the mosquitos. Why on earth would you place such wretched beings in this world? This is torture in the truest sense.”

The positive outlook:

“You know, I used to have trouble tolerating the excessive heat. I would run towards any place with air conditioning. But recently the power went out completely where I was staying. I had no choice but to accept the heat. To my amazement, it wasn’t so bad after a while. A little austerity to help remember you – always a winning situation.”

5. I hate the bitter cold

“It is like a freezer outside. Seriously, if you stay out there long enough, you will die. Is that something human beings should endure? Why on earth is it like that for several months out of the year? Is this some kind of sick joke? Why would you make us suffer in this way?”

The positive outlook:

“The cold is tough, for sure, but there is a special kind of mellow enjoyed during that season. Enter the home and start a fire with some wood. The comforting heat brings a feeling that cannot be matched from any other situation. That fire is rooted in the Supreme Lord, who is more splendorous than the sun. His teja is brilliant to the point of blinding to the less intelligent, but during the winter I am able to appreciate to some degree.”

…

The key to turning the outlook around is purification of the consciousness. Try to remember the Supreme Lord, who is a person, on a regular basis. Make a routine of it. Keep shastra like Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam close by. Always chant the holy names and soon be thankful for every second spent in this wonderful engagement: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Sources for complaints easy,
Weather extremes making me uneasy.

Working like dog every single day,
Maneuvering through transit’s way.

Positive outlook also can hold,
Where watching God’s creation unfold.

Bhakti chance to serve Him gave,
And from ignorance to save.

Four People Who Had A Special Kind Of Departure

“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)

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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

“Consciousness is everything.” That sums up the philosophy so old that no one can accurately point to its inception. The origin is in someone who is without an origin, anadi. He is also without end, ananta. He empowers certain individuals to carry the torch forward inside of each creation, such as with Lord Brahma diving into the water.

What you remember at the time of death is the state you attain in the next birth. Time is continuous. The living being is steady in this line. The meaning is that you can choose an arbitrary point in the timeline of infinity and be assured that the individual existed in some capacity.

The best completion to the lifecycle is to think of the origin while quitting the body. This is much easier said than done, particularly due to the unpredictable nature of death. Kala can strike at any moment, and sometimes it gives no prior warning.

In rare cases the Supreme Lord arranges a special kind of departure. Many purposes are served simultaneously, not the least of which is a concrete example of the proof of the means of liberation.

1. Hiranyakashipu

He was actually a gatekeeper in the highest heaven. This is beyond the planets of birth and death. The spiritual sky. The imperishable realm. The unmanifest place. He had a specific role, which reveals that liberation is not merely a stateless existence free of the pains rooted in duality.

The gatekeeper got cursed to appear in the material world and remain in an inauspicious form. He subsequently played the role of Daitya to perfection. He was such a bad character that only Vishnu could stop him. The Supreme Lord arrived as the half-man/half-lion incarnation and did away with Hiranyakashipu, who had no choice but to be liberated due to the consciousness at the time of death.

2. Jatayu

This devotee in the form of a bird had the misfortune of losing a conflict against the wicked Ravana. It was hardly a fight. How would a bird survive the violent swaying of twenty arms skilled in battle? Jatayu was trying to stop the abduction of Sita Devi, the goddess of fortune.

Mortally wounded, he ended up seeing Sita’s husband just prior to quitting the body. He gazed upon the beautiful, moonlike face of Shri Rama, the person for whom the efforts were dedicated. Jatayu had the greatest victory attached to what would normally be considered a defeat.

3. Ravana

The person on the other side would get liberation, as well. He was one of the gatekeepers in Vaikuntha. Cursed to appear as the ten-headed Ravana for a variety of reasons, only Vishnu as Rama could defeat him. The action upon which the final battle was predicated was Ravana’s stealing of Sita. This was done against dharma and all standards of human decency. Ravana met his match on the battlefield, and the final blow was one of Rama’s amazing arrows.

4. Bhishma

A passing similar to Jatayu’s, Bhishma was lying on the battlefield defeated. His body filled with arrows, he was remembering Narayana. The Supreme Lord was on the scene as Krishna, who played the role of charioteer to the bow-warrior Arjuna. Bhishma was fighting on a different side, and he had previously received the boon of being able to leave this world at his choosing. He chose the best way, remembering Krishna.

These events further substantiate the claim that real religion should be more than just faith. Not something you accept today and reject tomorrow, dharma is tied to the existence itself. As a religious system, it is a way of living for meeting the highest objective, purushartha. Everything gets tested at the end, and someone who has the pure consciousness focused on Krishna in the days leading up is better equipped to maintain that consciousness moving forward: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Maintained while forward moving,
When pure consciousness choosing.

So that to remember at the end,
And into liberation to send.

Where activity infinitely extended,
Like for Jatayu who Sita defended.

Or Bhishma with arrows in body filled,
And even demons by Vishnu killed.

Five Venues For Testing The Practical Application Of Knowledge

“Bhagavad-gita is also known as Gitopanishad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanishads in Vedic literature.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)

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Book smarts versus street smarts. What you learn in theory tested against the practical application. It’s nice to know that two plus two equals four, but even better to realize that if you have two apples in the basket, acquiring two more will place the total at four apples.

There is jnana in a host of subjects in the ever-changing material world, and with every area of interest there is a corresponding field of activity.

1. The hospital

This person claims to be an expert. They have certificates hanging on the wall. They wear the white coat and carry a stethoscope. Everyone addresses them as “doctor,” but what do they really know? Did those many years of training pay off or did the knowledge never sink in?

One way to test is the hospital. The doctor puts their skills to use. Real patients with injuries ranging from trivial to life-threatening. Called to the scene at any moment of the day or night, the proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary. Book learning will only take them so far; they have to know how to apply the principles and theories.

2. The laboratory

Similar to the situation with the doctor, a person trained in other disciplines of science requires a dedicated place to practice, to test the theories. Witness firsthand the chemical reaction resulting from mixing two compounds. Come up with new ideas and see if they materialize. You can’t achieve a certification without the lab component; memorizing and passing written examinations are insufficient for recognition from your peers and mentors.

3. The playing field

Any professional sport suffices for the analysis. A person watches videos on the internet to learn how to serve in tennis. The proper grip, the way to toss the ball, the combined motion of the shoulders and wrist – they study to the point of being able to repeat the same instruction to others.

Yet the true difference is made on the court. If they can take what they have seen and replicate in a match environment, then the knowledge they absorbed has made an impact. Along the way there can be adjustments here and there. Trial and error. See what works and what doesn’t.

4. The courtroom

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada often uses the comparison to doctors and lawyers to explain the bogus foundation of the degraded caste system, as practiced today. We wouldn’t consider someone to be a qualified doctor based on ancestry alone. You could be the son of a lawyer, but that does not automatically make you qualified to argue a case in court.

That courtroom is where the principles are tested. You could have passed the bar exam and be ready to represent clients, but you have to know which case law to apply and which points to stress in the opening arguments. The expert lawyer has to react to the case made by the other side, as well.

5. The concert

You can study music to the point of being able to identify notes written on paper. You can describe the different scales and chord progressions. But the real impact will be made during a performance. Can you actually play the instrument? Are you able to sing in time, in the proper melody? Are you able to listen to the beat and adjust accordingly?

…

The above analysis provides a nice juxtaposition to the Vedic tradition. The word Veda means “knowledge.” There are different ways to acquire knowledge, and with respect to the Vedas the knowledge passed on is older than anyone can identify. There is no known date of inception.

The knowledge descends in a variety of ways. There are historical accounts of incidents; the Puranas. There is philosophical understanding; the Upanishads. There are Vedic hymns glorifying the Supreme Lord and His closest associates.

One interesting benefit is that the knowledge acquired can be put to use in any area of life. We can use the Bhagavad-gita as an example. This work is also known as the Gitopanishad; it is the essence of all Vedic teachings. Taking a single verse like the one explaining the travels of the conditioned living entity, we have ample opportunity to test:

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

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

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.13)

Birth and death take place everywhere. Living entities are found in every corner of the universe, as well. This is the meaning of sarva-ga. Goswami Tulsidas references this feature in a prayer desiring the proper place of birth.

जल थल नभ गति अमित अति अग जग जीव अनेक |
तुलसी तो से दीन कहँ राम नाम गति एक ||

jala thala nabha gati amita ati aga jaga jīva aneka |
tulasī to se dīna kaham̐ rāma nāma gati eka ||

“There are an infinite number of living beings, both moving and nonmoving, who have many different abodes, with some residing in the earth, some in the sky, and some in the water. But O helpless Tulsi, for you Shri Rama’s holy name is your only home.” (Dohavali, 37)

With every possible circumstance of birth, there is a field of activity, the kshetra. The knower of the field, kshetrajna, can observe and witness. Anyone can apply the teachings to any aspect of life. The entire life experience is like a laboratory setting, and the scrutinizing individual, using the intelligence gifted by nature, can find definitive evidence of both the existence of the soul and the corresponding object of service, Bhagavan.

In Closing:

Knower and also its field,
Tremendous potential to yield.

That every principle to test,
Not forced in darkness to rest.

Like with lawyer and the doctor so,
Ability proven when crisis to throw.

So of God not ignorant remaining,
As scientist in human form training.

Three People We Try To Impress

“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.68)

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य इदं परमं गुह्यं
मद्-भक्तेष्व् अभिधास्यति
भक्तिं मयि परां कृत्वा
माम् एवैष्यत्य् असंशयः

ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ

1. Our colleagues

“Just see how many projects I am on. That person sitting across from me is responsible for only one task. The colleague one seat over doesn’t appear to be as busy throughout the day. No one is bothering them. They get to work in peace.

“I, on the other hand, constantly get interrupted. Different departments contact me, looking for assistance. If there is a big task to handle, the managers know that I can complete it the soonest. And the quality of my work doesn’t suffer.

“This is the way I like it. It’s a competitive mindset, but I can’t help it. I would rather be fully engaged than completely aloof and counting the remaining hours until quitting time each day.”

2. Our bosses

“If I do a really good job on this project, I think the boss will take notice. Then maybe I will get preferential treatment. A promotion down the line? Not out of the realm of possibility.

“My coworkers tell me that is the way towards becoming a manager. Become friends with someone who is going somewhere. When that person leaves the job, they recommend you to take over for them. Thus it pays to be friendly with the managers.”

3. Our friends

“I got this great new job. I am able to purchase a much bigger house to live in. Thousands of square feet. A good neighborhood. A walking trail nearby and a beautiful park. Let me invite friends and family over for a party. I wish to celebrate with them. I want them to share in my happiness.”

…

In truth, those we wish to impress might have their own insecurities. By showing them how well we are doing, they may get envious. Instead of appreciating us more, they look for ways to bring us down. Who wants to be made to feel inferior all the time? Who likes having their inadequacies thrown in their face?

Moreover, that person we are trying to impress may not even care. They are worried about looking good in front of us. There is also the issue of forgetfulness. I have done a great job for the boss on many tasks. But on this latest one I slipped up. I made a huge mistake. Now they are upset. It is as if the past successes do not matter.

The saintly representatives of the Vedic tradition appearing in this world know very well the kind nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. Defects are absent in Him. He remembers just a single good deed done, even if we should forget Him later on.

He is the person most worth impressing, since His favoritism has the greatest impact. It doesn’t take much to win His favor, either. A little fruit or water offered to Him in a mood of devotion gets accepted. He provides so much more in return, including the ability to rise above ordinary happiness and sadness, high and low, success and failure.

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)

He understands the nature of ability in each individual. Every person has a unique set of skills, but whatever is used for furthering the cause of devotion and devotional life is appreciated. Especially dear to Bhagavan are those who pass on the sacred instructions for escaping the cycle of birth and death, for finding liberation through the use of intelligence and proper application of discrimination in action. Such saintly people advise to always chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Perhaps later with raise to bless,
So now that boss to impress.

Colleagues my ability to see,
Knowing that can trust in me.

But envy a possibility too,
Feeling inferior compared to you.

Saint advising towards Bhagavan to lead,
Remembering even a single good deed.