Five Things I Could Remember At Anta-kale

“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

The truth is not presented to be accepted as dogma. It is not a “my religion” against “your religion” concept. Being the origin of this universe, the source of both the material and spiritual energies, Shri Krishna is quite familiar with how the death process takes place.

Quitting the body is not easy. While it may occur quickly, it is anything but seamless for the spirit soul, the animating spark inside, to leave the home to which it has been attached since the time of birth. As soon as the exit from the womb occurred, the paired event was a guaranteed outcome.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्माद् अपरिहार्ये ऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmād aparihārye 'rthe
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

“For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.27)

In the Bhagavad-gita, the charioteer to the bow-warrior Arjuna promises that anyone who thinks of Him at the time of death never has to take birth again. Naturally, this has the corresponding benefit of no more death.

The mention is intentional. At the moment of quitting, there are so many other things that could be on the consciousness, which would then divert the spirit soul away from the imperishable realm.

1. My family

They are dear to me. Prior to entering this world, I had no knowledge of their existence. Some of them, like the children, appeared after me. Through association I became attached. Through their kindness and compassion, their steadiness in lending support, I feel eternally grateful.

When the time comes, I will be concerned over their future. How will they manage? Will they be alright? Will they remember me? Was the time spent in their association meaningful? Are they better off for having known me?

2. My friends

In a similar category, the difference is the lack of a direct relation. The attachment is strictly through association. We met up because of a shared interest, such as college, work, sports, and the like. We remained connected and helped each other out when necessary. Now I am leaving them behind. I should only hope to find such friends again in the future.

3. My job

There is so much responsibility on my plate. I am taking on quite a burden, but I enjoy it. If I leave everything behind, how will the company manage? The projects will have to stop. Not that I am so much smarter than everyone else, but it will take a while for a new person to learn everything.

4. Past mistakes

I wish I hadn’t yelled at my child when they were crying too much. That comment made to that person in school, it wasn’t very nice. I hurt so many people, knowingly and unknowingly. Many regrets, but what can you do? The past is the past, but I can’t seem to shake off these regrettable incidents.

5. Hope for future enjoyment

Maybe this isn’t really the end. Perhaps I will get to live on a little longer. I should enjoy as much as possible. Make plans today to travel the world, to leave behind the pressure. Try new food. Learn to ride a motorcycle; perhaps even jump out of an airplane. Throw caution to the wind.

…

Thinking of Shri Krishna at this crucial moment indicates real surrender. When you are totally helpless, when everything is officially out of your control, in which direction do you turn? Do you leave everything in God’s hands or do you continue the struggle to maintain the false sense of proprietorship in a temporary world?

The extra benefit is that the connection in yoga will automatically take care of any other issues that might tax the mind. The friends and family benefit since they played a role in my attaining liberation. The office responsibilities were always on shaky ground to begin with. The past mistakes are corrected, immediately, since the final outcome is a positive one.

In Closing:

Not needing apology directive,
Since bhakti itself corrective.

Friends and family to see,
That Krishna consciousness in me.

Example on solid ground sitting,
So no worry when body quitting.

Bhagavan of everything taking care,
Of genuine surrender aware.

Five People Shri Rama Helps

“My husband Rama is famous throughout the world. He is pure, truthful, and very gentle. He is mighty-armed, has wide eyes, and is always busy working for the welfare of all living beings [sarva-bhuta-hite-ratah].” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.11)

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रामेति प्रथितो लोके गुणवान्सत्यवान्शुचिः
विशालाक्षो महाबाहुस्सर्वभूतहिते रतः

rāmeti prathito loke guṇavānsatyavānśuciḥ
viśālākṣo mahābāhussarvabhūtahite rataḥ

Need help with that pothole down the street, the one that only seems to be growing in size as the weeks pass? Upset that your great health insurance plan got suddenly yanked from under you, now made illegal through legislation passed in the dark of night, without anyone reading it?

The politician can show you favor, but you have to give something in return. Even if they would like to be universally benevolent, there are just too many constituents to deal with on an individual basis. The person with the issue needs some way of standing out. If they can make a sizeable donation, someone in the higher office might sacrifice the time to hear.

As the leader of a community is a flawed human being, the limitations are understandable. The behavior is only natural. It is also not surprising that Bhagavan, when descending to earth and playing the role of king, is on the other side. He helps so many people and does not require anything in return.

1. Brahmanas

In the Vedic tradition one prayer to the Divine addresses Him as brahmanya-devaya. He is the principal object of worship for the priestly class; those who know Brahman. The status is not based solely on heredity. There have to be accompanying qualifications in terms of attributes and exhibited behavior.

An example of Rama’s favor in this area occurs when He is ready to leave home for fourteen years. He is a wealthy prince, but through the help of His wife Sita the family gives away their riches to the priests. As much as the beneficiaries would prefer, even though they generally don’t require much.

2. Female ascetics

Men and women are different. If one complains about a double-standard in treatment, the reason is the difference in nature. The Sanskrit words of relevance are purusha and prakriti. One is the enjoyer and the other enjoyed. Just as spirit combines with material nature to produce the manifest world, so the union of a man and a woman leads to the population of human beings.

Rama is not partial to either side. He will help female ascetics, as seen in the interaction with Shabari. She is favored by her spiritual guides to such a great extent that she has the honor of receiving Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana as guests.

Being in the renounced situation, Shabari does not have much to offer in terms of hospitality. A few wild berries are greatly enjoyed by Rama, as He looks at the sentiment instead of the material value.

3. Vanara-kings

The Sanskrit is sarva-bhuta-hite ratah. Rama works for the welfare of all living beings; not just humans. Every living thing is a spirit soul at the core. The same kind of soul, but in different kinds of bodies.

Rama is related to them all, so it makes sense that He would extend His mercy to Vanara-kings like Sugriva. Bhagavan did not look down at this species, which gets its name from the habitat. The monkey-like creatures are dwellers of the vana, which means “forest.”

4. Younger brothers of Rakshasas

These are man-eating ogres. The lowest of the low. The worst of the worst. Even within that community we can find saintly people. Rama does not reject them. If they humbly approach Him for shelter, He will accept, as was the case with Vibhishana. That younger brother of Ravana could no longer tolerate the injustices and sinful life pervading Lanka.

5. Birds

Dasharatha’s eldest son is favorable to the bird named Jatayu. He was actually a good friend of Rama’s father. Rama grants the ultimate gift of liberation through direct interaction at the time of death. Jatayu quits his body while gazing at the beautiful, moonlike face of Sita’s husband.

What this means for me is that my bad qualities will be overlooked. An employer may not behave the same way. They are seeking expert qualifications, after all. The politician will ignore me because of my lack of significance within the business community. My family might turn me away after I cannot produce enough to maintain an expensive house and car.

But if I sincerely chant the holy names, there is one person who will notice: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The whole world might abandon me, but never the elder brother of Lakshmana.

In Closing:

For the welfare of beings all,
Even monkey a friend to call.

Shabari’s berries accepting,
Vibhishana ogre not rejecting.

Should bode well for me,
As most merciful is He.

My bad qualities to ignore,
And devotion remembered for sure.

Getting Banned From The Temple

“Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge, you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.36)

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अपि चेद् असि पापेभ्यः
सर्वेभ्यः पाप-कृत्-तमः
सर्वं ज्ञान-प्लवेनैव
वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि

api ced asi pāpebhyaḥ
sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛt-tamaḥ
sarvaṁ jñāna-plavenaiva
vṛjinaṁ santariṣyasi

Friend1: I think one of the more controversial topics from the Bhagavad-gita is this idea that a saintly person can still be transcendentally situated even if they have committed the most despicable acts.

Friend2: The reason it’s an issue is because someone could use that teaching as an excuse to commit crimes. Adharma on the strength of bhakti. That isn’t really devotion, though.

Friend1: Same thing I was thinking. You are chanting the holy names with a material purpose in mind. You were never saintly to begin with.

Friend2: The real meaning is that someone may accidentally slip up. It’s part of being fallible. The human birth has four principal defects. Committing mistakes is one of them. Nobody’s perfect. The idea is that you get a chance to square yourself. You can correct the situation.

Friend1: And someone on the outside shouldn’t be so judgmental. I think this is controversial because we have a difficult time discerning if someone is accidentally falling down or if they are bad to begin with and their misbehavior is a visible indication of that lack of purity.

Friend2: Right.

Friend1: I bring this up because I think there is a related issue. Banning people from the temple.

Friend2: Which people and which temple?

Friend1: A house of worship. Where the Supreme Personality of Godhead lives as the chief resident, in His deity form.

Friend2: The archa-vigraha.

Friend1: Like the mailbox collecting letters and packages to be delivered to the appropriate address, the deity isn’t any ordinary statue. It is an authorized place for accepting prayers. It is a way for the person in illusion to understand transcendental features belonging to the Almighty. Otherwise, they may be prone towards Mayavada, which says that even God has association with maya [illusion].

Friend2: Deity worship is so important in this regard. God certainly lives outside of the temple, as well. Not a blade of grass moves without His sanction. The many universes are rooted in Him. The material and spiritual energies are sourced in Him. Yet the temple is a fully distinguished place to better focus on spiritual life. I spend the week forgetting about Bhagavan, but through a single meeting in a dedicated place, one familiar to me over time, I can remember Him again.

Friend1: And so people sometimes get banned from these places.

Friend2: By who?

Friend1: The temple president.

Friend2: Okay. What is the cause?

Friend1: That’s the thing. Most of the time there isn’t any good justification.

“Oh, I see you’ve been posting things online that are critical of our institution. You have disturbed the congregation, so now you are banned.”

Friend2: Are you serious with that? Just from something said online?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: They aren’t causing a disturbance when they visit the temple?

Friend1: No. It could be something else. The temple president is secretly conspiring to sell the temple. Millions of dollars going straight into their pocket. They promise a new temple will be built, but there are no concrete plans.

Friend2: There we go. The classic thief. They set up shop in a place built on the hard work of others and then suddenly think they own the place.

Friend1: If anyone within the congregation tries to stop the sale, they are subsequently banned from entering the temple.

Friend2: Oh, sure. Don’t let anyone be witness to the criminal activity.

Friend1: This is my problem with the whole thing. They hide behind the “Vaishnava-aparadha” accusation.

Friend2: That you are offending another person on the path of devotional service to Vishnu, which is one name for God the person?

Friend1: Not to mention that banning someone who wants to worship is offensive to the person being banned. The authorities are hurting someone else’s devotion. All because they can’t handle a little criticism. I know someone who was banned simply because they asked to see the monthly financial statement of the temple.

Friend2: Oh, wow. Yeah, thieves. What else can you say?

Friend1: What can be done?

Friend2: I don’t know. This is a difficult experience, birth in the material world. Working for a living is especially taxing. People are always looking for a way out. If you can set up shop in a temple and live off the work of others, you are set. Then it is difficult to give up, especially if others are wise to your scheme. Then you ban any critics to make sure that only your supporters are with you. They can share in the laziness.

Friend1: Really a horrible situation. What will happen to these people? Are they part of the saintly class that is forgiven even if they commit horrible acts?

Friend2: I don’t know. That is up to the Supreme Lord to determine. I would think crooks like these are not saintly to begin with. Maybe they get some pious credits for devotional acts in the past. If you look at Indra, the king of heaven, he has done some of the worst things imaginable. Shri Krishna forgives and leaves him in that high post.

Friend1: I guess that’s true. The vivid example is the first Govardhana Puja. Indra tried to kill so many innocent people. The thing is, he eventually came to his senses. He apologized.

Friend2: Right. You just have to hope that the modern-day offenders have their awakening at some point. No use dwelling on the subject. Just focus on your own efforts and try to learn from the mistakes of others. Try to avoid corruption and don’t offend innocent people who are always chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Forgiven is the offender?
When in devotion a pretender.

Objections to power not hearing,
Temple of dissidents clearing.

When in this way to behave,
How by Krishna to be saved?

Hoping that one day made right,
For now keeping my bhakti in sight.

Three Settings For Anta-Kale

“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

“I know that an important verse from the Bhagavad-gita is the one with the promise of liberation through thinking of Krishna at the time of death. Anta-kale, the end. Remembering Him alone. Nothing else. No attachment to the temporary. No focus on this objective or that. No holding onto a glimmer of hope of living an extra few years in order to enjoy the senses.

“All the verses from the sacred text, passed down in the parampara system and preserved in the original Sanskrit language, are important, but this one has tremendous practical value, both in the immediate and long term durations.

“One thing to consider is the context. We are sent to a battlefield where two massive armies have gathered. Arjuna is the leading warrior for one side, and he is hesitant to commence hostilities. Krishna begins as the charioteer, but He seamlessly shifts into the role of guru, which is not unfamiliar to Him.

“Isn’t it possible that the promise of liberation through thinking of Krishna only applies to Arjuna? The warrior needed encouragement, after all. War is an uncertain business. Krishna is giving assurance. ‘Proceed and you will not have an issue. Just think of me. Even if you die, everything will be alright.’”

The truth is that the setting of the battlefield was not necessary. Bhagavan happens to possess the most artistic mind. He understands irony, subtlety, nuance, contrast, the dynamics of emotion and so forth.

What better place to present the timeless Vedanta wisdom than a battlefield? What is typically understood to be inaction associated with renounced ascetics, spiritual life thrives in someone fully engaged in work.

War gives a clear reminder of a condition that is actually a constant. It is always the case that death can strike at any moment. The same danger that Arjuna faced is the situation for every single person.

शोच्या शोचसि कं शोच्यं दीनं दीनाऽनुकम्पसे।
कस्य कोवाऽनुशोच्योऽस्ति देहेऽस्मिन् बुद्बुदोपमे।।

śocyā śocasi kaṃ śocyaṃ dīnaṃ dīnā’nukampase।
kasya kovā’nuśocyo’sti dehe’smin budbudopame

“Whom are you lamenting for when you yourself are pitiable? Why do you pity the poor when you yourself have now been made poor? While in this body that is like a bubble, how can anyone look at anyone else as being worthy of lamentation?” (Hanuman speaking to Tara, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 21.3)

In youth we don’t consider the frailty, but Shri Hanuman compares the body to a bubble. Like the ones that rise from the surface of the ocean, they can burst at any moment. Sometimes without external cause. The immediate reason may not be known, but kala is always at work. It has yet to be defeated.

1. Outside of war

Anta-kale can take place away from the battlefield. Krishna’s instruction would hold just as much value were it delivered to Arjuna in a more peaceful setting. The battlefield has added significance since we tend to be amazed at victory which occurs in difficult circumstances.

The television networks do feature stories of athletes and celebrities who rose from poverty into stardom. They are not as much interested in those people who grew up in comfortable surroundings, with supportive family members. The difficulties of growing up make the turn into good fortune seem more unlikely.

2. Living at home with family

You could be living the exact same day, year after year, and think that everything will remain that way into the future. The reality is that the living entity, purusha, is not the doer. They think they exert complete influence over outcomes, but nature must first agree.

3. Walking in the park

Arjuna was on a battlefield full of soldiers with weapons at the ready. One wrong move and a targeted strike from a swiftly coursing arrow can take you out. Be on guard at all times.

Yet the same danger of imminent death is present in a more peaceful setting like a park. You could slip and fall and badly hurt yourself. Something within the body might go wrong. The forces of nature could decide at that moment to present a vivid example of an adhidaivika category of misery.

In rare circumstances, such as with Maharaja Parikshit, the individual gets advance warning of anta-kale. Usually we don’t know, so the better option is to think of Krishna right now, today. This is an enjoyable experience; it does not need to be forced. The sound of His name is identical to Him, so we can realize His full protection without having to wait until the end: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Kala at any moment can strike,
Battlefield with Arjuna like.

Or in quiet home setting,
Weather even in park getting.

Better to think of Him now,
Chanting holy names how.

So that always prepared for end,
Mind towards Krishna to send.

Three Ways The Liberated Soul Can Take Happiness From Within

“A liberated person enjoys happiness by factual experience. He can, therefore, sit silently at any place and enjoy the activities of life from within. Such a liberated person no longer desires external material happiness. This state is called brahma-bhuta, attaining which one is assured of going back to Godhead, back to home.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 5.24 Purport)

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“In bhakti-yoga we are encouraged to participate in activities. Don’t renounce everything outright. The example to follow is Arjuna. He heard the Vedic science from the person who is the compiler of Vedanta study. Arjuna was in direct contact with the adi-guru, the original spiritual master.

“The immediate impact was continued action. Arjuna did not retire. He engaged the senses, but in a renounced way. Yukta-vairagya. Connected but disengaged at the same time. The secret was to stay in consciousness of Shri Krishna, the Supreme Lord. Krishna was there before as the charioteer, became guru for a time, and then returned to the role of servant of His dear friend and cousin.

“At the same time, one of the verses sung in the instruction to Arjuna describes how a liberated soul takes happiness from within. He is active inside of the body and he rejoices there, as well. The two concepts seem contradictory to me. On the one hand we are told to engage, and on the other we see the qualifications of a liberated soul pertaining to inaction.”

The simple explanation is that when a person is beyond the influence of the senses, they no longer require outside engagement to feel happiness. This does not mean they shut off the outside world altogether. They neither hate to do prescribed duty, nor do they feel excessive attachment to it.

A simple example we can use to help understand the concept is a long-haul journey. We take a flight that is over ten hours in length. There are no stops in between. The passenger makes this journey on a regular basis; say every few months or so.

For the first few flights they are terrified at the thought of being stuck in one place for that long. They load up on entertainment options. Movies. Books. Video games. Backup batteries. They plan on trying to forget time while the plane is flying across the globe.

After some practice in bhakti-yoga, immersing themselves in the Vedic culture passed down through the parampara system, the same person is able to tolerate the flight without extra help. In fact, they sit there quietly in the seat the entire time. The options of in-flight entertainment are there, but never utilized.

1. Contemplating Krishna’s activities from the past

The joy from within is through contemplation. The person striving for perfection in Krishna consciousness can remember the Supreme Lord at any time. They can transport the mind to distant places, in previous ages.

For instance, they can fondly remember Shri Krishna crawling on the sacred ground of Gokula Vrindavana. They can remember Him breaking into the cowsheds of the neighbors and taking a ride on the tail of one of those sacred animals. They can remember how He broke a pot of butter in anger and then fed some of the butter to the monkeys.

The pastimes are many, and there are varying presentation styles, all for the consumption and benefit of future generations. The original sound of the Sanskrit language is preserved, and the spiritual master ensures that there is no deviation to the meaning.

2. Being grateful for the bhakti-life at present

The person sitting in that seat can chant the holy names quietly: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. They can feel blessed at their great fortune, at having been saved from the depressing material life, which never leads to lasting happiness.

They see the spirit souls seated around them, who also represent sparks of the Divine. Everything is working together, without a master coordinator. Ah, but there is the origin in the background. He is both within everything and simultaneously outside of it.

3. Plan future activities in devotion

The passenger looks forward to when they land. They will continue to serve the Supreme Lord and those dedicated to Him. They will find ways to glorify. They will try to stay connected in yoga. Blissful anticipation.

Since at every moment they are contemplating the Absolute, they rejoice from within. Though they are supposedly on the path towards liberation, the attempt at pleasing Krishna alone brings liberation. That is to say simply from the constant contemplation they become liberated, free from the cycle of birth and death.

In Closing:

Towards liberation to proceed,
But already there indeed.

Confusion to work or not,
Same from either has got.

Simply from contemplation,
Creating the yoga connection.

Joy from Krishna-lila therein,
Or chanting holy names within.

Three Mistaken Directions Attributed To Habit

“In Kali-yuga, the duration of life is shortened not so much because of insufficient food but because of irregular habits. By keeping regular habits and eating simple food, any man can maintain his health. Overeating, over-sense gratification, overdependence on another's mercy, and artificial standards of living sap the very vitality of human energy. Therefore the duration of life is shortened.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.10 Purport)

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1. Typing in the same password

This is really annoying. The administrators in IT implemented a new password policy for all users. We have to change it once a month. Oh, and your new password can’t bear any similarities to something like the previous ten that you’ve used.

How is anyone supposed to navigate this? Whenever the change goes in, I have to think long about a new password. Then I usually write it down somewhere, which is another security violation. But that’s just between you and me.

The biggest issue is that after the change I still keep typing in my old password when logging in. Force of habit. It takes a while to break free. I hate it. I don’t see a way around it. Every month, the same routine.

2. Taking the old exit

The employer recently shifted offices. The new building is in the same city, but my autopilot mode while driving is still programmed to the old place. For the last week I have been taking the wrong exit off of the highway. Then I have to turn around to get to the new office. It is really annoying. I wish I could remember, but the habit controls me.

3. Reaching for that soda

I have read the studies. I know the impact, especially a few hours later. I get jittery. I get annoyed. I feel like screaming at people. Then there are the withdrawal symptoms. If I don’t have a soda during the day, I get this terrible headache at night. It is the absolute worst.

What can I do? It is a force of habit. While dealing with the stress at work, I reach for a can of soda. The caffeine supposedly keeps me going, but I know that the sensation is short-lived. Later on, I will pay for the mistake. I keep swearing off the stuff, only to find more excuses to stay with the addiction.

…

These situations can transition very well to bhakti-yoga practice. In the highest stages the engagement is spontaneous. There is the concept of bhava. This is Divine ecstasy not tied to any motivations. There are no expectations of reciprocation and neither is there a specific goal in mind for the future.

The devotion to the Supreme Lord essentially becomes the meaning of your very existence. The issue is that the bhava stage is difficult to reach. There are rules and regulations implemented in the beginning for a reason.

They are for breaking the worst habit of reliance on maya, which is illusion. Follow the four regulative principles so that the new normal, the standard operating procedure, is free of anarthas. These are unwanted engagements. They are not profitable to the spiritual seeker.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य
ग्लानिर् भवति भारत
अभ्युत्थानम् अधर्मस्य
तदात्मानं सृजाम्य् अहम्

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion - at that time I descend Myself.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.7)

The most important routine to create is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Make this the go-to activity. Get in the habit of reading sacred texts such as Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. Hear God’s direct instruction as well as descriptions of the various times He has descended to earth in the personal form.

At least on a weekly basis try to visit a place of formal worship. Have a regular appointment with the Divine in His archa-vigraha, the worshipable form. These new habits will bring so much benefit. The person in bhakti-yoga will be well on their way towards liberation.

In Closing:

Habits difficult forsaken,
So my direction mistaken.

Like at wrong exit turning,
Back to other office returning.

The new password forgetting,
Required again resetting.

Better with bhakti routine made,
An appointment for obesiances paid.

Two Outcomes If The Perfect Day Should Repeat

“Thus, a man's pure consciousness is covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.39)

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आवृतं ज्ञानम् एतेन
ज्ञानिनो नित्य-वैरिणा
काम-रूपेण कौन्तेय
दुष्पूरेणानलेन च

āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena
jñānino nitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya
duṣpūreṇānalena ca

The director in the office decided to inaugurate an annual retreat. Take everyone employed and send them to a different setting. Make a weekend out of it. Get to know one another. Bond over sharing similar interests. Hopefully create a strong team dynamic that later reflects in boosted efficiency and cohesiveness.

At the retreat destination, as a way to break the ice the host starts a game. Each person takes their turn, going around the room. They must describe what their perfect day involves. It could be based on present reality or entirely made up. A fantasy. Fiction. Whatever would make you happiest.

As one of the participants, you take an interest in hearing the different presentations. There are common themes. No one says that they wish to spend the entire day on the internet, speaking with random people. No one wants to be outraged over what a politician says. Hardly anyone wants to be alone, either.

Still thinking of the event a week later, you come upon an interesting revelation. The tie-in is the Bhagavad-gita. There are teachings related to kama, which is material desire. The follow-up question to ponder is what would happen if a person’s “perfect day” were repeated.

1. Diminishing returns

If my perfect day involves waking up early, getting exercise outside, enjoying nature, then if the same should happen the next day, it won’t be as perfect. After all, the contrast diminishes. If every day is identical, how I supposedly want it to go, pretty soon it turns into the normal.

Not only will it take more to satisfy me, but any hiccup in the equation becomes a quick source of anger. The Sanskrit word of importance is kama. This is material desire, particularly related to the body and the senses. Kama is like a raging fire; the more a person indulges it, the stronger the urge becomes.

This also means that my perfect day isn’t really so. The conditions are based on the temporary situation. For instance, someone who suffers from loud neighbors living in the apartment upstairs defines the perfect day as peace and quiet in the home.

If those neighbors should move, it is not that peace automatically results. New desires will arise, and meeting them will become the immediate goal. The process repeats, without end, through to the time of death, where kama carries the individual forward to another situation based on its influence on the consciousness.

2. Renewing nectar

An obvious solution is to stop kama altogether. Douse the flames of desire with the flood of detachment. This is easier said than done, for it is entirely possible for a person to become proud of how renounced they are. Maintaining that situation then becomes the central focus, which is also a kind of material desire.

If the same tendency towards desire gets shifted in the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, then the entire nature changes. Instead of diminishing returns, it is like a renewed feeling of excitement, anticipation, joy and bliss.

A simple example is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. A person following bhakti-yoga can chant this mantra repeatedly. They follow a routine of soft repetition on a set of beads. This is known as japa.

They also engage in congregational chanting, with call and response singing. This is sankirtana. The same activity. The same song. The same words. And yet no exhaustion. No question of stopping. The meditation is amazing; an out of body experience.

Chanting is but one outlet, as others have the same affinity for repeated hearing. King Parikshit heard for seven straight days. No food or water in between. No fear of impending death; just increasing bliss in hearing the glories of the Supreme Lord, who is known as Hari, the one who takes away distresses in the devotional path.

In Closing:

Kama controlled and also wrath,
Removed obstacles from devotional path.

So that daily the bliss to renew,
Where again glories to review.

Unlike with perfect day so,
Since with new expectations to go.

More easily feeling frustration,
Better when in blissful duration.