Does God Favor Some People Over Others

“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)

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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

“We know that in the Bharata War, the side with Shri Krishna as the charioteer for the leading warrior ended up victorious. Though technically a neutral participant, this was no ordinary servant taking direction from the person in charge.

“We know so based on the conversation which is today called Bhagavad-gita. The roles reversed. It was Arjuna who asked the questions. The guru gave the directions. Recommending which way to turn, what traps to avoid, how to assess progress, where to place priority.

“This historical event, which took place in real life, is also symbolic of the general doubt. Man has intelligence, but they still require guidance. There is the potential to rise to CEO of the most valuable company in the world, but you still need training. Learning the ABCs. Trial and error. Overcoming hardships.

“Would it be fair to say that Arjuna was favored by Krishna, who is also known as the Supreme Personality of Godhead? I hope you realize that many people turn to religion and have their faith strengthened based on what they perceive to be Divine intervention in their life, favoritism from above.

“If that is the case, then wouldn’t the opposite condition indicate lack of favoritism? Going back to the Bharata War example, were the Kauravas devoid of Krishna’s assistance? If so, does that not invalidate the greatness of God, who should be kind towards everyone?”

There are many ways to explain the distinction and the difference. It is certainly true that the mercy of the Almighty is available to everyone. We find confirmation within the conversation itself, between Arjuna and Krishna.

The Supreme Lord does not envy anyone. He has no need to. He is Bhagavan for a reason. Enumerate the basic opulences that would be desirable in life. Then understand that God possesses those opulences to the highest degree and also simultaneously.

Proof of the non-envious nature is the all-pervading distribution of Bhagavan in His expansion of Supersoul. In simpler terms, God is within everyone. Not a single space is lacking His presence. When that tree falls in the forest, it most certainly makes a sound. This is because Supersoul is there to witness, to vouch for the reaction within nature, where the two objects collide.

With respect to favoritism towards Arjuna and the Pandavas, the symbolism of the image provides further clarity. Krishna was available to both sides in the war, but only the Pandavas took advantage. It was Arjuna who asked the questions. He made the inquiries that changed God’s stance from neutral, disinterested observer to well-wishing guide.

It would be something like two hungry people approaching a counter at a restaurant. The owner sets out two piping hot pizza pies, which are fresh out of the oven. One pie for each. The hunger should cease.

Except only one person takes advantage. They dig into the pizza and soon their hunger is gone. The other person is distracted first by their smartphone. They are busy checking the news. Soon the pie has gone cold and is less appealing. Though still hungry, they refuse to eat the pizza given to them.

Would it be fair to say that the proprietor has shown favoritism? Could any rationally thinking adult blame anyone except the individual for their predicament of continued hunger?

In the same way, the Supreme Lord shines His transcendental effulgence everywhere. Both the burglar and the home owner have God inside of them. Supersoul was with Duryodhana and the Kauravas. It was with Hiranyakashipu in his attacks against his innocent son, Prahlada Maharaja.

Those who approach Bhagavan directly take advantage of assistance already available to everyone. Such a person becomes a friend in the eyes of the Almighty, who then breaks from His position of neutrality and offers direct assistance. Since He is Ajita, or unconquerable, anyone who is so fortunate will always be protected in their endeavors moving forward.

In Closing:

Krishna with Arjuna to align,
Favoritism not to find?

Since other side bereft,
With little protection left.

Idea that universally available to all,
But only approaching friend to call.

Where Krishna from stance breaking,
And control over outcome taking.

Two Venues Where A Person Can Worship God In Their Preferred Manner Of Speaking

“An old woman in Vrindavana, present at the time of Krishna’s pastimes, once stated in surprise: ‘How wonderful it is that Krishna, who owns the hearts of all the young girls of Brajabhumi, can nicely speak the language of Brajabhumi with the gopis, while in Sanskrit He speaks with the demigods, and in the language of the animals He can even speak with the cows and buffalo! Similarly, in the language of the Kashmere Province, and with the parrots and other birds, as well as in most common languages, Krishna is so expressive!’” (The Nectar Of Devotion, Ch 21)

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“What about this issue with people who have difficulty pronouncing Sanskrit words? Sometimes I see something happen in real life that I want to relate to a story from shastra, but I hesitate to bring it up to others since they will have a hard time following the names of the characters. I end up substituting terms and titles in place of the names, because I think the stories have that much relevance to the situation.

“Since we are focusing on chanting the holy names, on the non-difference between transcendental sound and the person they represent, is not this a significant hurdle towards success? What about proceeding further and wanting to glorify the Almighty? How do we properly approach the Supreme Personality if we are lacking education, skill in composition, and so forth?”

1. Appearing on Firing Line

We can look to two extremes to see how this operates. In the first, we reference a television program that used to air on public broadcasting in the United States. The host was known for his intelligence, scholarly nature, and erudition. He would host guests in what would hopefully turn into an adult discussion on the major issues of the day.

A person with such intelligence can certainly worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They can use everything they know to both understand and explain the science of self-realization. In such a setting, the questions could be highly-relatable, as well.

In other words, the knowledge gets challenged, and from there the stature of the proponent only increases, provided they produce satisfactory answers. Everything is rooted in Bhagavan, after all. If we are blessed with education, we should view it as a gift from above, to be used in the same way as fortune itself, who is Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Narayana.

2. Living within the firing line

Here we are in a polar opposite situation. Certainly no time to have a faculty-lounge type discussion. Poverty. Decay. Gangs running wild. Too unsafe to leave the house at night. Alcohol and drug addiction everywhere. In turn, the education system completely substandard. If you ever make it out of this place, it is a miracle.

Even in the most dangerous condition, a person can worship God properly and perfectly. We have the story of Prahlada Maharaja from Shrimad Bhagavatam. Though he lived in a royal palace, with his father as the king, Prahlada faced every kind of danger imaginable. He worshiped properly through perseverance, and he showed his intelligence when later meeting God directly, in the amazing manifestation of Narasimha.

If education were a barrier to success in spiritual life, that would limit the reach and scope of the Almighty. It would invalidate His position as well-wishing friend of every living entity. Though the lower species are not as blessed in terms of potential for intelligence, they are still equally as eligible for receiving Krishna’s mercy and approaching Him.

With whatever condition we find ourselves, in whichever land in the universe, through whichever language spoken within that land, we always have the opportunity for devotional service. Shri Krishna Himself speaks many languages, and He is expert at communicating with others. He can certainly hear the prayers incoming from a variety of places, detecting the level of sincerity and the eagerness for devotion: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

On television talk show seated,
Ignorance of challengers defeated.

Or with danger at every step,
Relief not for second to get.

Equal eligibility in the two,
Connected to Him me and you.

Since languages many to know,
Everyone towards Him can go.

Four Reasons You Can't Scare Me With Eternal Damnation

“Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 6.17.28)

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नारायण-पराः सर्वे
न कुतश्चन बिभ्यति
स्वर्गापवर्ग-नरकेष्व्
अपि तुल्यार्थ-दर्शिनः

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve
na kutaścana bibhyati
svargāpavarga-narakeṣv
api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

“Does not the threat of eternal damnation concern you in the slightest? No one can validate with visual evidence; I will concede that. We do not have video confirmation of the suffering in the hellish region for ignoring the call to accept a certain savior. We won’t even cover the people who never get the chance to make that choice, where life gets in the way and they don’t live long enough to even contemplate the opportunities available to them.

“Yet I can certainly understand why people might capitulate. What do they have to lose, is the thinking. Sit in a specific house of worship for a few hours, on one day in the week. The ceremonies usually take place before any other engagements would interfere. In other words, you can still watch the big game on television. Religion is not completely ruining your life.

“What is the corresponding teaching to the people who have given in? The ones that are following out of fear, who have a healthy respect for the man upstairs. They can’t describe what He looks like, but they would rather not risk a meeting with Him in this lifetime; lest there be locusts, floods and famine.”

1. Birth

From the point of view of shastra, the simplest refutation is to consider the horrors we already experience. There are four miseries, in particular, and one would be surprised to learn that the first is birth.

For the people already in this world, it appears to be a joyous occasion. A brand new person, extending the family. A repository for love and affection. A way to meaningfully pass the time. Repaying the debt owed to the people who came before us, the ancestors.

The truth is that birth is miserable. The experience is so dangerous that sometimes the mother does not survive. Science and medicine take every precaution necessary, but the reality is that pregnancy always carries a threat to the life of the mother.

Shastra explains that the person taking birth suffers inside of the womb. It is not a natural state to be forced to curl up into a ball. This is worse than incarceration, as there is barely room for movement. The soul inside promises to remember devotional service, but the birth process is so traumatic that they forget the entire experience that preceded their arrival into the world.

2. Old age

One day a person is doing just fine. They play sports. They drive a car. They speak on the telephone with friends. They cook dinner. They read books.

Over the course of time, their abilities diminish. They can do less and less. Pretty soon, they can barely make it up and down the stairs in the home. They require constant supervision. This change is neither expected nor welcome, but it is a harsh reality of life.

3. Disease

Accompanying old age is the increased vulnerability to disease. There could be such a strong attack within the body that a person no longer remembers who they are, what they are doing in this world, and who the people around them are.

In many cases, it is more difficult to take care of an afflicted adult than a small child. The adult may wander here and there in the house, touching electrical outlets, walking in the middle of the road, using scissors in places that aren’t necessary.

This is one of the horrors of disease, which every person is vulnerable to. Contagious respiratory illnesses with the potential for lethal damage didn’t magically appear within the last year. They have been around since the beginning of time.

Those people locking themselves in the home for months on end to avoid a virus should know that there is always some kind of disease lurking. If every person were tested for every virus in the asymptomatic state, the number of reported “cases” would be breathtaking.

4. Death

After having gone through one misery after another, there is the final blow. This awaits every person. No one can avoid it. The only way of prevention moving forward is to stop birth altogether. Death is harsh and cruel and it plays no favorites. It does not care what work needs to be completed or how much longer a person wants to remain in this world.

…

In the face of these four miseries, what can a threat of eternal damnation really do? We face the horrors right now, today. If a certain kind of religious system wants to appeal to me, it should bring a change in consciousness. That is to say, I shouldn’t have to wait on a future promise, where I can’t validate until after death.

Shrimad Bhagavatam explains that a person who has found genuine religion no longer cares about a future destination. They are fine living in heaven or hell. If they gain liberation from the cycle of birth and death, which is a reward superior to even finding the heavenly region of the material world, they are not overly concerned.

This is because they always see the smiling face of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are always ready to serve Him, to continue in devotion. They follow dharma to satisfy His desires; not to avoid punishment. This superior state of living is available to every person, and it meets every inquiry or doubt a person may have.

In Closing:

With inherited faith obeyed,
Since by threat made afraid.

Of eternal damnation finding,
Daily this potential reminding.

But the wise seeing already,
Suffering’s presence steady.

Better an alternative how,
Spiritual bliss giving now.

Three Destinations That Are The Same For Devotees

“Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 6.17.28)

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नारायण-पराः सर्वे
न कुतश्चन बिभ्यति
स्वर्गापवर्ग-नरकेष्व्
अपि तुल्यार्थ-दर्शिनः

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve
na kutaścana bibhyati
svargāpavarga-narakeṣv
api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

1. Heavenly planets

Known as svarga-loka in Sanskrit, this collection of planets within a specific region is the slated destination for the pious. A reward of sorts, the final stop after the travel from this life to the next. The individual does not cease to exist after death. They simply move on to another place, in the same way that they arrived here from somewhere else.

The distinction with svarga-loka is the living experience. Compare to an arcade or amusement park for children. It is the opposite of school. No one forcing you to stay and learn. Fun, only. Just like those places for children, there is an allotted time of enjoyment. Often there is a way to measure.

However many points you purchase on the card determines how long you can keep playing. With svarga-loka, the equivalent is the accumulated pious credits from the previous lifetime on earth. This explains the many yajnas performed within Vedic culture. Follow this ritual on that day, instituting this restriction, with that intention in mind.

Each observance has associated punya, or pious credits. As Shri Krishna explains in Bhagavad-gita, while the enjoyment is enhanced, with the desire trees, desire cows, and the intoxicating beverage known as soma-rasa, eventually a person has to leave.

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)

2. Hellish planets

Follow pious behavior and reach svarga-loka. Dying and going to heaven. There is an equivalent on the reverse side. Insist on impious behavior and be condemned to naraka. The large accumulation of papa, demerits, guarantees such a fate.

Shrimad Bhagavatam goes into vivid detail about the variety of suffering enforced within the hellish planets. Each corresponds to the particular sinful activity indulged in while on earth. While the punishment seems harsh, each one fits the crime. Karma is entirely fair.

Like svarga-loka, a person does not stay in the hellish region forever. There is no such thing as eternal condemnation. It may seem that way to the person undergoing the stress, but since these planetary systems are part of the material world, they are themselves destined for destruction at a future date in time.

3. Liberation

Known as mukti in Sanskrit, this is the enjoyment of release from the cycle of birth and death. We also find variety corresponding to this achievement. That is to say there isn’t only one type of mukti. You can be free of reincarnation and live in a truly spiritual way, with a spiritual body instead. Liberation is preferred to heaven, hell, or earth.

…

Yet pure devotional service, bhakti-yoga, is so wonderful that the person immersed in it loses interest with specific destinations. They could live in hell, even, as long as they get to continue to chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Shrimad Bhagavatam explains this in terms of devotion to Narayana, which is a name for the personal God. Maharishi Valmiki confirms in the Ramacharitamanasa, in a direct conversation with God, in His personal form of Shri Rama.

Assessing the different options, the wise person chooses the path where they no longer have to keep an eye on the hourglass of time, where they don’t have to be in a fool’s paradise or seek temporary enjoyment. Better to stay with the one who has limitless glories and who shares His transcendental greatness in a way that we will never run out of justification for being devoted.

In Closing:

Heavenly planets to find,
From yajna credits in kind.

Or to hellish region to fall,
Where pain and suffering tall.

Liberation possible to see,
But devotee content to be.

Since Bhagavan always standing,
Protector no matter where landing.

They Think This Saves Us From Our Hell

“For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Mukunda or the giver of mukti, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoofprint. Param padam, or the place where there are no material miseries, or Vaikuntha, is his goal, not the place where there is danger in every step of life.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.14.58)

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समाश्रिता ये पदपल्लवप्लवं
महत्पदं पुण्ययशो मुरारे:
भवाम्बुधिर्वत्सपदं परं पदं
पदं पदं यद् विपदां न तेषाम्

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ
bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ
padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām

“What would you say to the people that don’t want anything to do with religion? They are happy with life, as it is. Whatever it is they are doing, they are content. Plenty of enjoyment around. Home, job, family, wealth, nature, adventure – you name it and they have it.

“They think that you are giving up on life, imposing restriction for no reason. Taking the fun out of the amazing experience and boundless potential for opportunities in this world. You are worshiping some imaginary person in the sky, using that as authority to tell everyone else how to live.

“In other words, they think they are enjoying right now. What is your appeal to them? What case can you make to change a way of life that someone doesn’t want to leave?”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada accurately remarks that people only think they are enjoying. In truth, every moment within that experience is suffering. There is danger at every step in this world, a truth underscored through the recent developments in the world.

If they were truly enjoying, they would never think to lock themselves in the home for months at a time. They would never consider using a piece of cloth to try to protect against viruses that travel through the air. They would realize that they faced the same level of danger a week ago, a year ago, ten years ago, etc.

At any point in the timeline of existence, whether at home or outside, there is never full assurance of protection against the three sources of misery. These are from the heavens, from other living entities, and from within. In the age of Kali, which has the notable indication of increased quarrel and hypocrisy, not even the child within the womb is safe.

Another indication of the suffering is the widespread use of intoxicants. I think that I will enjoy at the end of a hard day at work by indulging in adult beverages. This is a way to enjoy, but actually the signs point to suffering. If I had a truly wonderful day, if I liked what I was doing, if I were blissful, there would be no pain to dull upon completion.

If I think that I am enjoying in the material world, there is the constant factor of time lurking in the background. I will not get to stay here forever. A wise person identifies this as suffering. Keeping an eye on the clock. Watching the hour glass as the sand falls from the top to the bottom.

Spiritual life is for finding true enjoyment. It is the only way a person becomes happy; no exception. Shri Krishna explains that when engaged in devotional service, bhakti-yoga, there is joy within the work itself.

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

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

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

In the material realm we get offered one remedy after another to deal with the suffering. Get a new job and you will be happy. Purchase that larger home and the problems will vanish. Start exercising to feel better. Take a vacation and the problems will go away. Shoot up the latest concoction from the medical community and you will be immune from illness.

None of these remedies saves us from the hellish experience of knowing that everything we have worked for will vanish in due course. My relationships will not last, but in spiritual life the consciousness carries forward. If I am conscious of the Divine today, it does not have to dissipate tomorrow.

शरीरं यद् अवाप्नोति
यच् चाप्य् उत्क्रामतीश्वरः
गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति
वायुर् गन्धान् इवाशयात्

śarīraṁ yad avāpnoti
yac cāpy utkrāmatīśvaraḥ
gṛhītvaitāni saṁyāti
vāyur gandhān ivāśayāt

“The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.8)

When immersed in the bhakti culture, the perils of a material existence remain, but the degree of the suffering decreases. It is something like turning off the electric fan. When released from the power supply, the fan still spins for a short amount of time. This is the effect of the previous work.

In the same way, my past karma may come to hurt me, but when under the shelter of the Divine energy I will not suffer as much as I otherwise would have. More importantly, I will experience a newfound bliss each and every day, and no one can offer me a better alternative to the life of strong connection to the transcendental realm: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Life blissful and affirmative,
None better alternative.

Since in other ways losing,
Blessed this opportunity choosing,

Danger here every step,
Never peace of mind to get.

Finally the suffering to stop,
From nectar of devotion a drop.

How Were The Pandavas So Forgiving

“Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhishmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.43)

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सूत उवाच
कृष्ण एवं भगवति
मनो-वाग्-दृष्टि-वृत्तिभिः
आत्मन्य् आत्मानम् आवेश्य
सो ऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत्

sūta uvāca
kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati
mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ
ātmany ātmānam āveśya
so 'ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

“I know that in my experience, forgiveness is difficult. That probably explains the reason people of other faiths tend to harp on it. Forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones. Don’t harbor resentment. Let go of the past.

“Well, that is easier said than done. For me in particular, I have a difficult time setting aside political differences. I follow the news closely. Not necessarily what the corporate media types push upon us, but digging deeper into the issues. I try to be as fair and objective as possible, and then make a rational decision accordingly.

“I see that others around me are consumed by hate. They make up stories to justify their positions. It’s ridiculous, if you ask me. These are grown adults, with children. Some of them are trusted professionals in society, such as doctors and teachers. How can anyone take them seriously after studying the hateful material they post online?

“This brings me to the story of Bhishma. He lay on the battlefield, body filled with arrows, ready to depart this world after defeat against Arjuna, the leading bow-warrior of the Pandava side. By any rational estimation, Bhishma chose the wrong party to support. His politics were off. He aligned with Duryodhana, who was so wicked as to question Bhishma’s loyalty.

“In the famous image, we see the Pandava brothers approaching Bhishma. Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is with them. I’m wondering how the Pandavas could be so forgiving. This was an enemy releasing arrows with lethal intent just moments prior. How could they forgive? Why did they not lose respect for Bhishma, considering that he made a mistake in lead-up to the Bharata War?”

The Pandavas went to Bhishma at the urging of Krishna, who is the well-wisher to the entire species. Though Duryodhana was aligned with adharma, or sinful life, Krishna was also wishing him well. The son of Yashoda tried to avoid hostilities, acting as a sort of mediator between the two parties.

As a reward for that peaceful approach, Krishna learned of Duryodhana’s plan to capture and bind. Krishna could only laugh at the proposal, as who will find enough material to cover the entire universe and more? Because that is one manifestation of that son of Yashoda, who is the origin of the material and spiritual energies.

Despite our turning away from the service to the Divine for countless births, the position as well-wishing friend is fixed. That is to say at any time I can make the turn in the direction of Krishna, who happened to be Arjuna’s charioteer in the great conflict.

Bhishma remained steady in devotion, even if his politics may have fallen on the wrong side. This material world is full of nuance and detail, with the tide changing so rapidly that people get a headache trying to keep track of which way is right and which is wrong.

Fighting nobly for the Kaurava side was not a negative on Bhishma’s spiritual assessment. He was soon to merge into the spiritual energy, associating with Krishna’s four-handed, personal form of Narayana. As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada comments, this is the perfect way to die. Every human being should pass from this world in the way of Bhishma.

As he is one of the twelve mahajanas, Bhishma was able to impart valuable wisdom to the Pandavas prior to leaving the world. That is the reason for the approach. A person may be a bitter rival, an enemy in the ordinary estimation, but if they are devoted to Shri Krishna they have something valuable to share with others. At the very least, they have attachment to the holy name, which others can hold on to for rescue: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

With valuable knowledge to give,
So not necessary to forgive.

That Bhishma improperly aligned,
In him pure devotion to find.

Enough that merging properly so,
Since of Shri Krishna to know.

The consciousness fixed and sure,
For best fate assured.

Passing Away A Winner

“Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhishmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.43)

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सूत उवाच
कृष्ण एवं भगवति
मनो-वाग्-दृष्टि-वृत्तिभिः
आत्मन्य् आत्मानम् आवेश्य
सो ऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत्

sūta uvāca
kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati
mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ
ātmany ātmānam āveśya
so 'ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

“You will often hear others lament when the end is approaching. That is to say when they know they are on the verge of moving on to the next life, they review the one they just experienced. The regrets come to mind, for whatever reason. That which they wanted to do but never got around to. Those places they wished to visit, those people they wanted to see, those words they said but later regretted.

“Heartbreaking it is when such a person reviews their many failures. Perhaps they wanted to succeed at something but were never able to. Now time has run out. There is no future opportunity. How do we avoid such a fate? Is that even possible?

“I look to someone like Bhishma, who lay fallen on a bed of arrows through taking part in the Bharata War. He lost, though no one was able to defeat him previously. He quit his body, though it appeared that he would otherwise live forever. He fought on the wrong side, the one aligned with evil. He went against his own interests, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna, was the charioteer for the leading warrior of the opposition.

“Is not such a passing ignominious? Why is Bhishma celebrated so? Is not the duty of a warrior to succeed? Wouldn’t someone be full of regret if they were conscious of their failures at the time of death, especially with something as meaningful as a great war?”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada states that the human being is meant for dying like Bhishma. This is due to consciousness. We should be fully aware of the Supreme Lord, cognizant of His name, form and pastimes, and desirous to maintain association with Him moving forward.

There will be another life. Nothing can kill the imperishable soul, atma. It was never born and it never ceases to be. What we see as death is merely a changing of bodies, like switching garments in the fitting room of a retail outlet.

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरो ऽपराणि
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णान्य्
अन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro 'parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī

“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22)

To die in any other way is to die like an animal, which means that the next birth depends on the laws of nature. It could be high or low. Moving or nonmoving. In the sea or on land. As a tree or as a bird perched on a branch. As the son of a high court judge or a child in the womb facing a knife.

Though in the material estimation Bhishma was a failure, he actually attained perfection. It is for this reason that his rivals, the ones responsible for the bed of arrows, approached him on the battlefield. They went to seek counsel on all important matters. It was something like a knowledge transfer that occurs in the corporate environment, when an important employee leaves the firm.

Shrimad Bhagavatam describes the travel as merging. One soul into another. The individual soul, atma, merging with the Supersoul, Paramatma. This is the meaning of yoga. The merging here is just a formality, as Bhishma is always conscious of Shri Krishna. He is one of the twelve mahajanas, or authorities on devotional life, mentioned by Yamaraja, the god of justice.

In truth, success or failure is not entirely in our hands. One person tries their best to start a business and break out on their own. Another person attempts the same, within the same industry. One person is successful while the other is looking for work in a few years. They are equally as capable, but for whatever reason the outcomes did not align identically.

Shrila Prabhupada explains that we have the potential to finish as victorious as Bhishma. We don’t need to enter a battlefield or witness Shri Krishna directly. The name of the Absolute is identical to Him, so if we chant the maha-mantra it is just like merging into the pastimes of the eternal one, who is all-compassionate towards His devotees: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

All-compassion giving,
To those devotional living.

So that outcome whatever,
To find something better.

Where Bhishma on battlefield to fall,
But greatest passing to call.

Since of Krishna aware,
A perfect transfer there.

What Is So Bad About Merging Into The Absolute

“Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhishmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.43)

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सूत उवाच
कृष्ण एवं भगवति
मनो-वाग्-दृष्टि-वृत्तिभिः
आत्मन्य् आत्मानम् आवेश्य
सो ऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत्

sūta uvāca
kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati
mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ
ātmany ātmānam āveśya
so 'ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

“You will often hear His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada denounce the achievement of merging into the Absolute Truth. This is a kind of liberation, or mukti. Vedic teachings go beyond blind faith and hoping for an afterlife that is heavenly or good. That is to say there is much more detail into the nature of living moving forward, after this life completes.

“If you are actually realized in the self, in knowing the difference between matter and spirit, you are eligible for mukti. In the simplest terms, this is release from the cycle of birth and death. No more spinning on the wheel of suffering. Like clothes placed into a drying machine, at the mercy of the constant spinning, so the conditioned living entity falling to the material world travels from one body to another, enjoying and suffering commensurately.

“Mukti is therefore important. It is the rarest of achievements. The spiritual science is so nuanced and detailed that there isn’t only one kind of mukti. You can enjoy the escape from reincarnation in a variety of ways. One of those is merging into the Absolute, or Brahman.

“Prabhupada compares this to a hellish existence. It is like losing your identity. He says that devotees never prefer this kind of liberation. The question I have relates to Bhishma, one of the heroes of the Mahabharata story. We read in Shrimad Bhagavatam that he merged into Narayana at the end of life.

“He was lying on a bed of arrows, a fallen soldier in the great Bharata War, waged on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Though he was fighting on the side opposite of the Pandavas, those five brothers approached the dying Bhishma and received counsel on matters ranging from statecraft to life and death itself.

“If merging is so bad, why did Bhishma do it? Is he not considered a devotee of the Lord? He was looking at Krishna at the time of death, so how could he travel into a stateless existence?”

Though the word merging is used, the mukti received is different from that of entering the Brahman effulgence, which the impersonalists seek. Devotees consider that to be a hellish existence because of the lost opportunity to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Real liberation is engaging in this service, which goes by names like bhakti-yoga, bhagavata-dharma, and even sanatana-dharma. As Maharishi Valmiki explains in Ramacharitamanasa, devotees of the Supreme Lord don’t mind going to hell, even. This is because they always see the Almighty standing close by as their preferred deity, ishta-deva.

Bhishma’s departure from this world embodies that truth. He saw Shri Krishna as the four-handed Narayana, who is the source of men. God is one, but He may appear differently based on the time and circumstance and also the role to play within His creation.

Bhishma knew that Krishna is the same as Narayana, yet he still preferred to worship Narayana. This was the merging that took place at the end of life, and it did not signal a loss of identity. The impersonalists worship something like a void, the shadow of the spiritual energy, which is thus lacking any distinguishable features.

Every recommendation from Prabhupada and the acharyas is for giving the highest benefit an existence has to offer. It would be like receiving a kitchen appliance in the mail. One person recommends using it as a sort of coffee table in the living room. The appliance is large enough to hold items off the ground while a person is seated on a sofa.

The wise teacher, however, reveals how the appliance can be used to assist in the kitchen, in preparing palatable food. This is a superior utilization, and in the same way the spiritual master within the Vedanta school advises to use the vibrancy of spirit combined with the superior human form for serving God in a mood of love. This is better than removing an existence altogether through merging with Brahman.

A liberated person is certainly entitled to their preferred way of living in the afterlife. The mukti of merging into the Absolute is real and available to those reaching the rare achievement. At the same time, there is a vulnerability to falling back down, as identity and individuality cannot remained suppressed forever.

Whereas devotional service at the highest levels continues uninterrupted and without motivation. Someone like Bhishma will continue to worship Narayana, wherever he may find himself. He may even be on the losing side of a military conflict, aligning with the worst people in society, but the connection to God remains.

In Closing:

Bhishma leaving on the verge,
Described that then into merge.

With eyes on Krishna attention,
Consciousness key retention.

Not that identity losing,
Service to preferred choosing.

Devotees following this way,
Always with Supreme to stay.

Five Situations Where Time Might Run Out

“As long as one does not inquire about the spiritual values of life, one is defeated and subjected to miseries arising from ignorance. Be it sinful or pious, karma has its resultant actions. If a person is engaged in any kind of karma, his mind is called karmatmaka, colored with fruitive activity. As long as the mind is impure, consciousness is unclear, and as long as one is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 5.5.5)

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पराभवस् तावद् अबोध-जातो
यावन् न जिज्ञासत आत्म-तत्त्वम्
यावत् क्रियास् तावद् इदं मनो वै
कर्मात्मकं येन शरीर-बन्धः

parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto
yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam
yāvat kriyās tāvad idaṁ mano vai
karmātmakaṁ yena śarīra-bandhaḥ

1. Application for a scholarship

“I cannot explain to you the level of sadness. Defeated, and for no good reason. They had announced the timeline on the loudspeaker in the morning at school that one day. There would be scholarships available for those graduating and entering college the next year. We simply had to fill out a form and give it back by a specific date.

“Well, that happened to be weeks into the future. I put the application away somewhere and completely forgot about it. There were no reminders. Then it was too late. By the time I remembered, the deadline had passed. I tried submitting the application anyway, but the school denied me. I was late by one day.

“I couldn’t believe it. They then had an awards ceremony to announce the winners. We were seated on the stage, even if we hadn’t submitted the application. One by one I saw my classmates winning, while I just sat there. Parents were in the audience. It’s a traumatic moment that I seldom intentionally revisit.”

2. Applying for a mortgage

“Record low rates. A way to boost housing sales during tumultuous economic times. With businesses closing down and people losing their jobs, the government wants to make sure that the real estate market doesn’t crash. To help sales, they have lowered interest rates to levels never before seen.

“Well, it took me a while to find a house that I liked. Then there is the process of making an offer, negotiating a counteroffer, signing a contract, and running an inspection. By the time I was ready to apply for a mortgage, the low rates weren’t available anymore. I was quite disappointed, as the only reason I decided to purchase a home was because of the financial incentive.”

3. Visiting a sick relative

“This happened to a friend of mine. They were just with their ailing mother. It was a long distance travel, halfway across the world. When their stay ended, when they had returned home, the mother passed away. Time ran out. They thought she had more time remaining, but things don’t always work out as planned.”

4. Improving my health

“I see so many others with health problems. I see pictures of myself taken by others at social gatherings. I know that something needs to be done. I am on the wrong track. I need to eat better and exercise more. That won’t prevent disease entirely, but it will surely help.

“The problem is procrastination. There is the saying, ‘Start on Monday.’ I know that I have to change my ways, but I keep putting it off. I use the excuse that for now I will continue to indulge, but on Monday things will be different. It doesn’t work out that way, most of the time. I need to change today, immediately; otherwise before I know it time will run out.”

5. Planting a garden

“We bought a new house, and one of the reasons was the extensive land in the backyard. I have always wanted a bustling garden, to eat fresh fruits and vegetables grown from it. Well, I kept putting it off. I was ready to get started, to plant the seeds and everything, but other responsibilities got in the way. Now wintertime is approaching and I missed my opportunity.”

…

In so many ways we put off important tasks until tomorrow, but there is no guarantee that tomorrow will come. Everything could end in an instant, as we are living in vessels that are something like bubbles which float in the air. No one knows for sure to which direction they will carry and how much force will cause the bubble to dissipate.

With the human birth, the clock starts ticking immediately. There is urgency from the very beginning. The Sanskrit aphorism is athato brahma-jijnasa. Inquire into Brahman, which is the spiritual energy. Inquire immediately, because the same chance is absent in births in other species.

This inquiry is worthwhile and brings substantive results. In the material world, there is always defeat. Even soaring to new heights of achievement, there is the eventual crash to the bottom. Shri Rama explains how for the ripened fruit there is no other fate than to fall, so the adult human being has no other fear than death.

यथा फलानां पक्वानां नान्यत्र पतनाद्भयम्।
एवं नरस्य जातस्य नान्यत्र मरणाद्भयम्।।

yathā phalānāṃ pakvānāṃ nānyatra patanādbhayam।
evaṃ narasya jātasya nānyatra maraṇādbhayam।।

“As a ripe fruit has no other fear than to fall, so a man who is born has no other fear than death.” (Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 105.17)

Better to learn about the spiritual science today, even if it is only at the entry level. This is the distinction between body and spirit, becoming aware of my identity as Brahman. I am part and parcel of the collective spiritual energy, and there is a corresponding source, who can be known as Parabrahman.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो
मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते
इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां
बुधा भाव-समन्विताः

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.8)

We are one and the same, and simultaneously different. The Supreme never has to inquire into anything. Parabrahman is never in illusion. Rather, everything emanates from Him, and the wise who know this engage in His service.

In Closing:

Time now running out,
Success endeavor without.

Many cases this way so,
This direction and that to go.

Most urgency on spiritual need,
How in transcendence to proceed.

Discovering my spiritual identity true,
How different and identical too.

Why Can't The Asuras Leave Well Enough Alone

“Then I, resembling a cloud and having molten-golden earrings, made my way into Vishvamitra’s ashrama, for I was very proud of my strength due to the boon given to me by Lord Brahma. As soon as I entered, Rama quickly noticed me and raised His weapon. Though He saw me, Rama strung His bow without any fear.” (Maricha speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 38.16-17)

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ततोऽहं मेघसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।
बली दत्तवरोदर्पादाजगाम तदाश्रमम्।।
तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः।
मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुस्सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार सः।।

tato’haṃ meghasaṅkāśastaptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ।
balī dattavarodarpādājagāma tadāśramam।।
tena dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo’haṃ sahasaivodyatāyudhaḥ।
māṃ tu dṛṣṭvā dhanussajyamasambhrāntaścakāra saḥ।।

Friend1: You know what I was thinking the other day?

Friend2: No.

Friend1: That if the bad people of this world just left everyone else alone, there would be peace and prosperity. Maybe not at a perfect level, but one that is significantly superior to the conditions today.

Friend2: What makes you say that? In what ways are they harassing today?

Friend1: It seems like you are getting attacked from every corner. Since most of the world has these elections to decide who runs the government, the worst of the worst have taken advantage of the opportunity to inject mass control.

Friend2: You mean liars, cheaters, thieves, and so forth are running for office and getting elected?

Friend1: Absolutely. They forgive certain crimes, based on constituency groups, and then criminalize normal behavior, like walking around outside, going to the store, running your business, and so forth.

Friend2: There is a saying going around. “Rules for thee, but not for me.” Something like that.

Friend1: Yeah. They go nuts over a mask mandate, for instance, and then you see that they never wear masks when out in public. They know it’s a giant farce, yet they have so many innocent people fooled.

Friend2: That is a hot-button issue, for sure.

Friend1: They’ve shut down religious gatherings. That bothers me the most. How are people not protesting this? What a huge infringement on the rights of the citizen. Are we going to look at everyone as a set of germs, now? Is that a healthy outlook to have moving forward?

Friend2: I don’t know. We’re living in troubling times, for sure.

Friend1: Unnecessary harassment. Give these leaders some money, send them off to an island to live happily ever after, and we can go about our lives.

Friend2: You will be surprised to learn that this issue has been ongoing since before anyone can remember. In terms of Vedic literature, it is presented as the struggle between the suras and the asuras. In other words, the good guys against the bad guys.

Friend1: Good versus evil. The perennial problem. Dating back to the beginning of the creation.

Friend2: In the Ramayana we find the horrible situation of the sages living in the Dandaka forest. Okay, we acknowledge that civilized society has its defects, which can often be traced to the leaders. But here certain members of the priestly class left everything behind and went to live in areas known as tapo-vanas. Forests conducive to austerity and penance.

Friend1: Isn’t that what every parent within Vedic culture is afraid of? That their children will end up learning Vedanta and renouncing the world as a result?

Friend2: Exactly, but the fear is usually rooted in the missed opportunity for enjoying the senses, earning a lot of money, getting married, and so forth. There is hardly concern over personal safety. The sages should have been fine in the tapo-vanas. The problem is that even there the asuras had to attack.

Friend1: Why? How?

Friend2: Sages perform yajna, which is sacrifice. Pouring oblations into a fire. Chanting sacred mantras. The offerings work their way up to the heavenly region, feeding the demigods, who are known as suras. The asuras cannot leave well enough alone. They seek to diminish the influence of the suras.

Friend1: But why? If someone else wants to be religious, why should I care?

Friend2: Think of it as eliminating opposition. Defeating your competitors. If I want to live a life of sin, stealing and killing, then I can’t have others around who will shine the spotlight on my deeds. Better to get rid of them. Like a society without police.

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: And so these asuras, in this case man-eaters known as Rakshasas, would attack in the night. Without prior notice, in disguised forms, right at the time the yajnas were set to complete. In many cases, they would kill the sages and eat their flesh.

Friend1: What in the world? That is horrible.

Friend2: You’re telling me. This is described in the Ramayana by one of the Rakshasas. Maricha was successful many times, but on one occasion there was a youth guarding the yajna of Vishvamitra Muni. This youth was Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya.

Friend1: The Supreme Lord.

Friend2: Yes. In any manifestation He retains full potency. He successfully protected Vishvamitra and others. Maricha took with him a lesson never to be forgotten.

Friend1: I guess that same spirit of instigation and interference remains.

Friend2: No one is ever safe in this material world. There is danger at every step. Ultimately, we can only rely on the same Rama. He will help us if we really want Him by our side. This desire can be made known through the steady chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Like by Rakshasas shown,
Never to leave people alone.

Who their own business minding,
Forest ideal for yajna finding.

But Maricha surprised one time,
When Rama in defense to shine.

So relying on Lord the same,
Through chanting holy name.

Are Not The Rules For Husbands and Wives Outdated

“Even if I stay with You for hundreds of thousands of years, I shall not feel any loss. Even residence in the heavenly realm is not preferred by me.” (Sita Devi speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 27.20)

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एवं वर्षसहस्राणां शतं वाऽहं त्वया सह।
व्यतिक्रमं न वेत्स्यामि स्वर्गोऽपि न हि मे मतः।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ śataṃ vā'haṃ tvayā saha।
vyatikramaṃ na vetsyāmi svargo'pi na hi me mataḥ।।

“I was recently reading the section in the Ramayana where Sita Devi makes the case to her husband for accompanying Him in the exile period of fourteen years. This was a remarkable decision on so many levels, not the least of which is juxtaposition in lifestyles. The dramatic shift from a royal palace with servants to take care of your every need to a place full of bugs and mosquitos, with barely anything enjoyable.

“The stay would last fourteen years, but there was no doubt in Sita’s mind. Rama could do nothing to convince her otherwise. She made the case that the decision was in line with dharma, which can be translated as ‘righteousness’ or ‘religion.’ It was the wife’s duty to serve the husband. She referenced many such rules supporting the principle.

“I understand that these were not made up, that Sita grew up in Vedic culture and followed it, but just compare to the situation of the world today. People would laugh at some of these statements if they ever heard them. They would get angry and upset, offended that others are telling them to be supportive toward someone they may not even like anymore.

“Don’t you think these principles are outdated? Should we have new rules to match the conditions of society at present? Or is there still some validity, some worth, to the original teachings?”

It must be stated at the outset that Sita’s presentation was more like a lawyer arguing her case in court. Her husband, Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, received a bad hand. Poor luck. An ill-fated attempt from the step-mother to gain a personal favor at the expense of others, all rooted in intense envy instigated by her servant.

Sita would not let Rama suffer in the forest alone for fourteen years. She made up her mind to follow Him, and to support her decision she essentially used the law against her husband. She knew that Rama was keeping attention to dharma, to following duty as best as possible. Her arguments would be ironclad; no chance to refute.

It should also be acknowledged that the material world is one of duality. High and low. Hot and cold. Up and down. Birth and death. A joyous occasion for one person, a solemn moment for another. The farmers are thrilled at the impending rainstorm, while the airline passengers stranded at the airport are seething with rage due to impatience.

This means that even sometimes the rules governing marriage and the ideal roles for the participants can be detrimental. But the recommendations are there to provide guidance in the general sense, to give happiness to society as they hopefully progress towards perfection of the consciousness.

As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada likes to say, the human birth is meant for tapasya. This is voluntary imposition of austerity and penance. Not punishing yourself for no reason. No trying to win the contest of renunciation, to boast in front of others.

Rather, restrict sense enjoyment for the higher interest, paramartha. Keep attention on long-term pleasure, shreyas, instead of the immediate happiness from sense interaction, preyas. The rules within marriage can be considered in this light. A way to restrict sense enjoyment, to be in vairagya, though also in yukta, with the connection to another human being, living together for many years.

The one rule is never outdated; that of devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the real dharma of the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi Devi, who maintains her attachment to her husband, Narayana, wherever they may find themselves. She can live in the greatest palace designed by Vishvakarma, the architect of the demigods. She can also stay in a thatched hut constructed by Rama’s younger brother Lakshmana.

There is no difference to her, since she is always connected in consciousness to the Supreme Lord. This provides visual evidence of the otherwise theoretical principle of true happiness being found only in yoga. We can get a taste today by starting a routine of chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. We initially arrive for the intrigue of a different way of living, and we ultimately stay for the unending bliss provided through the non-different association.

In Closing:

I came here for something new,
I stay for joy and bliss too.

Because always by His side,
Like in Vaikuntha to reside.

The choice of Sita Devi explaining,
From regal life abstaining.

So that with husband to be,
Whose lotus feet to see.

How Do We Defeat The Insistence Based On Credentialing

“The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikshvaku.” (Bhagavad-gita, 4.1)

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श्री-भगवान् उवाच
इमं विवस्वते योगं
प्रोक्तवान् अहम् अव्ययम्
विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह
मनुर् इक्ष्वाकवे ’ब्रवीत्

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ
proktavān aham avyayam
vivasvān manave prāha
manur ikṣvākave ’bravīt

“I hope I am able to phrase this question properly. It is more something I know in my head, based on natural responses to what I hear and see around me, but I have yet to express it to someone fully. But I know that I am right, that there is some defect with the other side.

“For the purposes of this discussion, I will use the label ‘credentialing.’ You see it on television all the time. The experts say this. The experts say that. According to the experts, we should behave a certain way. We should listen to the experts instead of acting on our own.

“Well, I have come to the conclusion that this is a mechanism for stifling debate and suppressing common sense. As an example, from common sense I know that breathing should not be obstructed. In the general case, making exceptions for medical practice and other occupations which can become hazardous.

“There is nothing more healthy than walking around and breathing normally. Yet the experts are now telling everyone that they are diseased patients who need to cover their faces. Not just once or twice, but practically all the time. In some places people cannot exercise inside of a gym without covering their face.

“Common sense tells me that will lead to so many problems. Breathing is fundamental to living. I shouldn’t have to say that, but just see how low we have descended in society. If you raise any objection based on common sense, you will be censored. The other side uses their so-called experts to debunk your idea, even though the experts have admittedly lied and been wrong on so many important issues in the recent past.

“How do we get passed this concept of credentialing? It seems very dangerous to me. If we are choosing spiritual life, which is the most important decision in the human existence, someone can easily bring their expert along to say that it is a bad decision. ‘The experts say that there is no God. Science has disproven the concept of an eternal, supreme living being.’ Do you see what I am saying?”

This proves to be an undeniable reality of life. No matter who you are, what you believe, what desires need to be fulfilled, there is always some trust extended. Faith towards the news-anchor. Trust in the scientists. Faith in the politician.

Genuine spiritual life is no different. Though the science of self-realization stands unique in that blind faith or dogmatic insistence is not the primary mechanism for assimilation, there is still some faith involved.

As an example, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra the bow-warrior Arjuna heard Bhagavad-gita directly from His teacher, Shri Krishna. The principles alone established the validity of the presentation. A person can make up their own mind when hearing, comparing against what competing philosophies teach.

Yet even within that presentation we find some level of credentialing. Shri Krishna explains that the same teachings were given to the sun-god at the beginning of creation. That science descended through the generations, passed down from teacher to student, who in turn became teacher.

If I am to know the highest principles of an existence, I should be able to ask every question there is. Leave no doubts on the table. At the same time, I should approach the right person. This step involves some faith extended, but there is little risk.

If I follow the wrong expert in health and medicine, I could end up diseased. If an expert tells me that placing a hand in fire will do no harm, I will not be benefitted. The king named Pratapabhanu went to a fake spiritual guide and became cursed in a future life, as a result.

This means that we should apply some discrimination. Use common sense. See if the so-called expert is free of defects. Determine what they consider to be the highest objective in life and see if it aligns with what a spiritually minded person would think.

Shri Krishna has the highest credentials, as He explains in detail exactly how the creation comes to be, how it is populated, how the inhabitants fall into illusion, and also how they can be rescued. Simply turn in the direction of the all-attractive one, whose wisdom spans the ages, and be forever enlightened from the pages.

In Closing:

Striking from turning pages,
Wisdom spanning the ages.

In Bhagavad-gita book bound,
This valuable treasure found.

From Krishna authority commanding,
Alone on principles standing.

But still credentials in parampara to be,
So that any suspicion to free.

What If Tomorrow Never Comes

“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)

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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

“I recently heard someone try to explain the concept of procrastination. They said it wasn’t really about mismanaging time or being lazy. It was more about certain feelings that a person is trying to avoid. Whatever it is they are supposed to do, what they know should be done, has accompanying feelings that they would rather not experience.

“In the realm of spiritual life, what would that be? It seems we all procrastinate in this area. When I first learned of the principle of bhakti-yoga or sanatana-dharma, my eyes were opened. It was like someone was finally speaking honestly with me. No sugarcoating. No expensive twelve-step program that you had to purchase after the fact. No gimmicks.

“Just the hard, cold realities of living. I really appreciated the bluntness from acharyas like His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. But let me be honest with you. After having purchased a copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, it sat on my bookshelf for months, unopened. I kept putting off reading the entire thing.

“What would you say is the reason? I am not lazy, otherwise. I am responsible at home and at work. There must be something I am afraid of. Not asking you to play psychologist, but perhaps there is an explanation in the general sense.”

In that very same book, Bhagavad-gita, Shri Krishna explains that a person finally surrenders to Him after many births. This is due to knowledge, jnana. The births, janma, are many, bahu. In other words, more than one. It could be two or two thousand. We’ll never know for sure, because perfect knowledge is out of reach. To fully trace the history of the living entity, the jiva soul, is not a wise use of time.

This surrender is worthwhile, as Krishna is all-attractive. He is the greatest leader, and He is always on duty. He provides perfect protection and without prejudice. That is to say anyone can approach, no matter what they have done in the past. Wherever they were born, however they appear, to whichever gender they belong – every living thing is inherently connected to Krishna.

We put off important duties until tomorrow, but there is no guarantee that tomorrow comes. A Vedic aphorism specifically applicable to the human birth highlights this urgency. Athato brahma-jijnasa. Now is the time for inquiring into the spiritual subject matter, Brahman. Not tomorrow. Not in one hundred years. Not in the next life.

Begin today, even if you are an infant. No one is excluded from connecting with Krishna. If you are living in any way, if you have vibrancy within the body-spirit combination, there is the potential for yoga. Krishna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can be known through any of the senses. We are not restricted to only the visual.

If there would be any negative emotions that we might be avoiding, it is the inherent knowledge that increased attachment to Krishna brings an accompanying sense of vairagya. This is renunciation. I won’t be as interested in the upcoming elections. Those sporting events that I lived on watching and attending before will be insignificant.

I might even lose attachment to family and friends. Many of them will turn away, not accepting my choice of dedication to bhakti life. Prahlada Maharaja lost the affection of his own father, the king of Daityas. Shrimati Radharani and the gopis were always under suspicion in Vrindavana. Poor Vibhishana was alone in Lanka in his dedication to dharma.

Who is actually ready to accept such drastic changes? Who would welcome the potential of the entire world turning against them? Yet the same rules apply. There is no guarantee of a tomorrow, but without a pure consciousness there is the guarantee of another birth, where the same vulnerabilities exist. Better to take advantage of the chance right now by chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Tomorrow may never come,
Today’s work to be undone.

Towards another birth to take,
Where again Divine to forsake.

Better the opportunity now,
Steering destination how.

Where on transcendence side,
No more from reality to hide.

Bhoga and Tyaga

“As the director of different kinds of clouds, Indra called for the samvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The samvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vrindavana and inundate the whole area with an extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful supreme personality.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 25)

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“One of the many teachings within bhakti-yoga that I find interesting is this identification of the constant toggling between enjoyment and renunciation. The Sanskrit words are bhoga and tyaga. The first side is quite easy to find examples of. It does not take much effort.

“We seek sense enjoyment beginning from birth. The toddler learning to speak approaches the parents and requests different items for their satisfaction. Chocolate. Bananas. Strawberries. Sometimes they may even say ‘pizza,’ to the delight of the father, as this matches his preference in eating.

“Tyaga is a more intelligent decision, it seems. Swearing off of things. Understanding that too much enjoyment is not wise. Stay up the entire night playing video games and you will be tired the next morning. Eat that extra slice of pizza and physical discomfort is sure to follow.

“The comparison I particularly like is to the pendulum. We swing from one end to the other. Bhoga today, tyaga tomorrow. Eating well for a month, and then acquiring a gym membership the next (provided the government allows such establishments to open).

“While this comparison to the pendulum is accurate, isn’t it also a system of torture? Why would someone want to repeat the experience, which is really no different than the waves washing over the shore and then retreating?”

The constant toggling between enjoyment and renunciation is surely torture, but only for the person who identifies it as such. The illusion of maya fools me into thinking that in either side I will find true and lasting happiness.

If only my family had a bigger house. If only I get that promotion. If only we could move to that city with the superior climate. If only my party wins the next election. Then everything will be fine. No more worries.

On the side of tyaga, if only I could remove that car and its blaring alarm from the close vicinity. If only this virus finally goes away. If only I watched less television. If only I cleaned out the basement and had less possessions.

From the incident of the first Govardhana Puja, we see that even if we reach the height of bhoga that a material existence has to offer, it might not be enough. That would be ascending to the post of king of heaven. Not just reaching svarga-loka, but being the top person in that amazing realm.

You have wish-fulfilling trees and cows. You have the intoxicating soma-rasa. You have an extended stay, full of every comfort imaginable. And yet one time Indra was so lacking in satisfaction that he became enraged over what some people down on earth were doing.

They were in a village community called Vrindavana. They were simple people who had a great affection for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu. They were unaware that the Krishna before them, the small child of Nanda and Yashoda, was an avatara of Vishnu, within their midst as a reward for that affection and love.

Despite living within the extreme of bhoga, Indra could not tolerate the people of Vrindavana skipping worship in his honor. Despite a track record of loyalty, this single act of negligence warranted a lethal strike as retaliation. At least this was Indra’s thinking.

At Krishna’s direction, the people had chosen worshiping the nearby Govardhana Hill, instead. They brought the most amazing food preparations as offerings, in great variety and abundance. This would normally be considered bhoga, but since it was for the pleasure of Krishna, there were no negative consequences.

The subsequent rain of devastating proportions could be considered an unwelcome result, but the effect was mitigated. Shri Krishna held up the just worshiped hill and used it as an umbrella. While a person may be tortured while swinging on the pendulum of enjoyment and renunciation, they find true happiness and satisfaction at Krishna’s lotus feet. He protects such a person from all dangers and calamities, and rewards them properly with His eternal association.

In Closing:

Wanting now but later not a thing,
On pendulum of bhoga and tyaga to swing.

Torture only when knowing,
Otherwise in ignorance going.

Where even if heaven to find,
Thoughts of revenge in mind.

Because eye on earth keeping,
Not transcendental benefit reaping.

Why Should We Not Make Judgments Based On Arbitrary Lengths Of Time

“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)

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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

“You seem to be on this kick lately of downplaying the importance of heaven. The idea that reaching there, svarga-loka, isn’t so great, that the achievement can be surpassed in other ways.

“I must say a few words in defense of the other side. I think our society needs a little more attention to dharma. Never mind the motives. If someone maintains fidelity in marriage in order to accumulate pious credits, isn’t that a good thing? Does not the community benefit? Shouldn’t we be encouraging householders to worship the devas, the demigods in the heavenly region?

“After all, rain doesn’t appear out of nowhere. We think that it does, but there is intelligence to the system of nature. This explains why some places are devastated with hurricanes and others are spared. We have out of control wildfires burning down a specific area, and someplace else the homes are safe year after year.

“Yes, I acknowledge that the motivations may not be pure. Someone wants good health. They want money for the family. Children want to do well on upcoming exams. But isn’t it good that they look for support from higher authorities, that they do not foolishly attribute success to human effort alone, paurusham?

“Let’s be clear about one thing. People do enjoy in the heavenly region. It is for a significant amount of time, enough that they forget they will be forced to one day leave. Why would you deprive people of that enjoyment?”

To understand, we can study the situation of a person working in the technology field. They are in charge of one of the most expensive pieces of hardware in the company: the database server. While the general policy at the firm is to tackle performance issues with improvements in memory and disk space, lately the application using this server has been getting slower and slower.

The person in charge of the database decides to seek outside help. They hire a consultant to come in, look at the system, and make recommendations to solve the problem. The person at the company tells the consultant that the database is rather large, that there are certain tables which host a considerable amount of data.

When the consultant learns of the actual size of the database, they laugh out loud. Since they work with so many companies in emergency situations, they have seen every kind of problem. They have also seen databases that are ten and twenty times as large based on disk size. They tell the person who hired them:

“Moving forward, instead of using words like ‘large’ and ‘big’, just provide an estimated number in terms of size. The person working on the issue can then judge for themselves if that is significant or not.”

The acharya of the Vaishnava tradition could be considered a kind of consultant to fix the emergency situation of repeated birth and death. When they hear that a person wants to enjoy in svarga-loka in the afterlife, because of the many years of material enjoyment, they can only laugh at the proposition.

This is because even a million years is nothing in comparison to the timeline of this specific creation. A person actually understands time when they consider the one day of Lord Brahma, the creator.

सहस्र-युग-पर्यन्तम्
अहर् यद् ब्रह्मणो विदुः
रात्रिं युग-सहस्रान्तां
ते ऽहो-रात्र-विदो जनाः

sahasra-yuga-paryantam
ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ
rātriṁ yuga-sahasrāntāṁ
te ‘ho-rātra-vido janāḥ

“By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma's one day. And such also is the duration of his night.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.17)

A thousand ages together is only a single day for Brahma, who lives for one hundred years according to that calculation of time. This means that so-called enjoyment in heaven is nothing. In a split second you are back on earth, the place known as martya-loka, subject to the spinning wheel of suffering, the samsara-chakra.

The better proposition is to go for full and complete transcendence. Reach a place from which you never have to return, that provides enough satisfaction, bliss, excitement, encouragement, enthusiasm and overall enjoyment that you will never be worried about falling back to the land of birth and death.

There is such a place, and it is known as Vaikuntha. We reach it through consciousness, which the human being has the unique opportunity to shape and purify. We begin the process through connection with the personal side of the Divine and we hopefully conclude with a link to Him that never breaks: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

If eager for spot in heaven to earn,
First of Brahma’s day learn.

That thousand ages to take,
A single day for him to make.

So enjoyment flickering to be,
Since earth once again to see.

Better on the path of bhakti stand,
Where in transcendence to land.

Christmas Is Cancelled

“As the director of different kinds of clouds, Indra called for the samvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The samvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vrindavana and inundate the whole area with an extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful supreme personality.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 25)

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“Is there anything comparable in Vedic culture to the Christmas holiday, as it is celebrated today? I know there are the appearance day anniversaries of the Supreme Lord and His many avataras, like Krishna and Rama. I know that there is Diwali, but I guess I am looking for something where people exchange gifts. A holiday children can look forward to.”

There is a commonly invoked comparison to Mr. Scrooge. This is a reference to the main character from the Charles Dickens short story, A Christmas Carol. The person starts off as stingy, not even wanting to celebrate Christmas, which is an annual occasion that the society around him warmly welcomes. Through a series of events, Scrooge eventually changes his mind.

The moniker lives on, however. Sometimes business owners are proud to be identified in the same light, as it conveys the importance they hold to turning a profit, of commitment to hard work and earning an honest living. They take great joy in joking with the employees, “I am Mr. Scrooge. Christmas is cancelled! Be prepared to show up to work.”

A fitting comparison could be made with the king of heaven, Indra, and what happened to him one time because of the cunning plot of a small child known as Krishna. As the Christmas holiday tends to center on giving and receiving gifts of the material variety, so Indra was expecting to be honored by the residents of Vrindavana, as per tradition.

Except Krishna managed to convince the head of the town, who also happened to be his father, to worship Govardhana Hill instead. The child was not acting on a whim or showing a lack of intelligence. He presented fair and reasonable arguments for the decision, that Govardhana was dear to the cows and that the cows were the most important commodity and dependents to the people of the village.

It would be a grand celebration. Every kind of food preparation imaginable, to satisfy the five kinds of taste, to have a visual to match the outpouring of love, would be presented to Govardhana. At the end of the celebration, Krishna revealed to everyone that the hill was the same as Him. Though a seemingly inanimate object, Govardhana was Krishna’s land, and hence non-different from Him.

"One who neglects the worship of Govardhana Puja, as I am personally conducting it, will not be happy. There are many snakes on Govardhana Hill, and persons neglecting the prescribed duty of Govardhana Puja will be bitten by these snakes and killed. In order to assure the good fortune of the cows and themselves, all people of Vrindavana near Govardhana must worship the hill, as prescribed by Me." (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 24)

Indra did not take kindly to his version of Christmas being cancelled. Where were the gifts? Where was the attention to duty? Where was the appreciation for the abundance of rain provided to nourish the crops? Where was the memory of the past successful observances?

Indra could only see in one direction: revenge. Seething with rage, he directed the samvartaka cloud to inundate the area around Govardhana Hill. Wash away the people and their precious savior, Shri Krishna. Teach them a lesson never to be forgotten.

It ended up the other way around. Indra was humiliated in defeat, as the child was actually more powerful than any demigod. Shri Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill and used it as an umbrella. The samvartaka could do nothing. The people were safe. A new tradition was born, one that people celebrate to this day, showing their love for God in ways that He always appreciates.

In Closing:

Indra the yajna expecting,
Not for people rejecting.

Instead towards Govardhana to go,
Now his revenge to know.

But Krishna easily protecting,
With hill in air projecting.

So that best tradition to make,
Advantage every year to take.

Handicaps and Assets

“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)

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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

“I do particularly like the Vedic aphorism that describes the urgent need for making an inquiry into spiritual matters. As a human being, learn about Brahman. Ask about that which lasts beyond the temporary world. More than just this single lifetime, but spanning the beginning to end of creation itself.

“What exactly is spirit? Where does religion fall into the picture? The human birth is a gift; not a sentence. It is auspicious, not a way to punish. We did not have the same opportunity in other births, which had their variety but a notable commonality.

“Namely, there was a lack of potential in intelligence. Today we have the chance to understand spirit and the source of it. What a blessing. I concur with the assessment of the acharyas that we should not spoil a single second. As soon as we become aware of the need for transcendence, go for it.

“At the same time, we cannot deny that there are both handicaps and assets associated with birth. Just because I have the potential for maximizing intelligence does not mean there will be fulfillment. One person is born with a silver spoon in their mouth; another with nothing to their name. There is the saying that an empty sack cannot stand up straight.

“His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada says that no one listens to a poor man. These sayings highlight the actual difficulty so many face. We are not even touching upon the subject of a sinful birth, papa-yoni. Some people are more prone towards material life than others.

“In the face of the disparities, how does athato brahma-jijnasa still apply? Why are we stressing spiritual life to people who may never develop an interest for it? It may not even be their fault; the limitation is based on the way they are born.”

In Bhagavad-gita, Shri Krishna confirms that a person only knows Him in truth after many births. To find a being perfect in knowledge in consciousness is rare. At the same time, a single sun lights up the entire universe. One object gives heat to people living across the globe, in different time zones, with different weather.

There may not be many holders of doctoral degrees in a particular field of science, but the teaching does not cease. The degree is still there to be awarded. The teachers are still standing by, ready to enlighten students.

In the same way, the acharyas hope that every person reaches their full potential in understanding the Almighty. Even a little progress is worth it, as it can protect against the greatest type of fear.

नेहाभिक्रम-नाशो ऽस्ति
प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते
स्व्-अल्पम् अप्य् अस्य धर्मस्य
त्रायते महतो भयात्

nehābhikrama-nāśo ‘sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.40)

Whereas on the other side the progress gets erased at the time of death, washed away by the current of the ocean of time, which is undefeated. Any effort to purify the consciousness, even if ultimately unsuccessful, carries a lasting benefit into the future.

There may be severe handicaps associated with birth. My entire family is against me. They scoff at the idea of showing compassion to innocent animals. They are appalled at my lack of interest in acquiring money and enjoying the senses. They think my bowing before a qualified and featured depiction of the Supreme Lord is akin to worship of the devil.

तस्मात् त्वम् उत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वम् एव
निमित्त-मात्रं भव सव्य-साचिन्

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin

“Therefore get up and prepare to fight. After conquering your enemies you will enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasachin, can be but an instrument in the fight.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 11.33)

I can succeed in the face of every obstacle in the same way that another person may fail despite everyone around them giving encouragement. Shri Krishna looks for sincerity and genuineness of purpose. He is the ultimate deciding factor in success, as even the great bow-warrior named Arjuna was but an instrument in the hands of the Divine during the Bharata War.

In Closing:

To whichever circumstances came,
Still with objective the same.

That into spiritual inquire,
For something lasting desire.

Whether succeeding or not,
This opportunity got.

Superior choosing this way,
Krishna with ultimate say.