Is It Worse To Think I Am Body Or That I Am Nothing

“Birth, death, old age and diseases affect this material body, but not the spiritual body. There is no birth, death, old age and disease for the spiritual body, so one who attains a spiritual body, becomes one of the associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engages in eternal devotional service, is really liberated. Aham brahmasmi: I am spirit. It is said that one should understand that he is Brahman-spirit soul.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 7.29 Purport)

Download this episode (right click and save)

Friend1: Obviously, someone who reads the works of the bhakti school of Vedanta understands that there is a difference between body and spirit.

Friend2: I will take issue with something. Bhakti and Vedanta are identical.

Friend1: But you know what I mean.

Friend2: I do not.

Friend1: Sometimes Vedanta, which translates to “the conclusion of knowledge,” focuses on the impersonal side of the Divine. Well, not so much focus. They simply don’t address the personal nature.

Friend2: Why not?

Friend1: Perhaps the teacher does not know. No one has taught them. Maybe they do know and they vehemently deny it. Subtle atheism.

Friend2: There you go. That’s why it’s important to say that bhakti and Vedanta are really the same thing. Another word for bhakti is yoga. Linking the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. Vedanta study is also known as jnana. The results of yoga and jnana are the same.

साङ्ख्य-योगौ पृथग् बालाः
प्रवदन्ति न पण्डिताः
एकम् अप्य् आस्थितः सम्यग्
उभयोर् विन्दते फलम्

sāṅkhya-yogau pṛthag bālāḥ
pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ
ekam apy āsthitaḥ samyag
ubhayor vindate phalam

“Only the ignorant speak of karma-yoga and devotional service as being different from the analytical study of the material world [sankhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 5.4)

Friend1: Yoga is the key term. It implies two components. Union, but what are we joining? There is the individual. That is me. Then there is the Supreme. That is the concept of God.

Friend2: Yes. You cannot join to nothing. Two distinct entities.

Friend1: Aham brahmasmi is one of the aphorisms to learn. I am Brahman. I am spirit. Particularly, I am not the body.

Friend2: Which is maya, or the illusory material energy.

Friend1: The identification with illusion begins from the time of birth. I wanted to ask you. Which flawed conception is worse? Thinking that I am the body or completely denying the personal side of God?

Friend2: Explain that second one to me.

Friend1: It’s what we touched on before. It acknowledges that body is maya, but at the same time it doesn’t consider there to be anything beyond. I am not body. I am really nothing. Something like nirvana is the goal. Merge into a stateless existence.

Friend2: Or Mayavada, which considers everything in this world to be maya. Even if the Divine should descend, He becomes subject to the same illusion.

Friend1: Right. Which one is worse?

Friend2: Honestly, who cares? That is like saying one person thinks two plus two equals five and another person thinks that two plus two equals six. They are both wrong.

Friend1: Okay, but isn’t one person closer to the truth? Isn’t it easier to correct one side versus the other?

Friend2: You will get differing opinions on this. The side of nothingness might be more dangerous since they have a bit of knowledge. They may even quote from Bhagavad-gita and the Upanishads. At least the side with bodily identification can have their minds opened about the true nature of living.

Friend1: That is where I wanted to go with this. Thank you.

Friend2: I will reiterate, both conceptions are flawed. Better to find the right way. Shri Krishna explains that studying the impersonal side is difficult and advancement takes longer. Better to worship directly.

In Closing:

With flawed bodily conception,
But also another direction.

That spirit exists but nothing at source,
Everything merging again in course.

As to which is worse the debate,
No point since neither straight.

Better to avoid impersonal side,
Where bumpier, longer ride.

How Do I Know What Krishna’s Interest Is

“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.34)

Download this episode (right click and save)

मन्-मना भव मद्-भक्तो
मद्-याजी मां नमस्कुरु
माम् एवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवम्
आत्मानं मत्-परायणः

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

Friend1: This question relates particularly to the modern-day situation. I get that in the past you could be a real sannyasi.

Friend2: What does that mean?

Friend1: Take to the renounced order of life. Formal entry into the fourth and last ashrama designated for the human being.

Friend2: What is an ashrama?

Friend1: A spiritual institution. The human being should belong to one at all times. That is another point of glorification for the Vedas. They want the best for people. They never leave a gap, where ignorance can take hold. Always be progressing towards the higher goal. There are four ashramas assigned. Sannyasa is the last one, the final step.

Friend2: And what do you mean by “formal entry”?

Friend1: It means that everyone will identify me as a sannyasi. I have renounced the world. I no longer work for a living. I am something like a homeless beggar, except by sober and rational choice. I don’t stock up for a rainy day. I don’t make plans for the future. I don’t have a bank account or a luxury apartment. I can’t go begging in places where I expect to receive a lot of charity in return. The most important rule: no intimate association with women.

Friend2: Those are a lot of stipulations. How are you supposed to follow so strictly?

Friend1: That’s why I’m saying it’s difficult in the modern day. You can’t really be a sannyasi; at least not in an industrialized nation. You need some way to support yourself. To set up shop in another’s home, to park yourself on their couch while they go to work and put food on the table, is not an option.

Friend2: It violates the rules of sannyasa.

Friend1: My main question is about meeting someone’s interests. We know that the human life should be about God consciousness. Take advantage of the intelligence that nature gifted us. Go beyond the life of the animals, who know only eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The idea is to meet Bhagavan’s interests instead of my own.

Friend2: If you even come to that realization, if you are aware of the need, you have made significant advancement.

Friend1: The question is how to know what the interests of the Almighty are. He is the all-attractive one, Shri Krishna. God is a person. The impersonal side is there, but to make advancement in contemplating that aspect is difficult.

क्लेशो ऽधिकतरस् तेषाम्
अव्यक्तासक्त-चेतसाम्
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर् दुःखं
देहवद्भिर् अवाप्यते

kleśo 'dhikataras teṣām
avyaktāsakta-cetasām
avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ
dehavadbhir avāpyate

“For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.5)

Friend2: I would think that it’s not so difficult to figure out the interests.

Friend1: Okay, let’s list a few activities. Is my going to work every day meeting His interests? Is my shopping for clothes, calculating appropriate vacation time, taking care of children, buying a new car, or renovating the home meeting His interests?

Friend2: Could be.

Friend1: I don’t want to deal with “perhaps” and “maybe.” I want to know for sure.

Friend2: This isn’t too difficult. Krishna advises Arjuna to always think of Him. Become Krishna’s devotee. Work in a renounced spirit. That is the same as sannyasa, you know.

Friend1: But who can actually do that? We work with cause. I want money. I need a place to live. My spouse has certain expectations and desires.

Friend2: You follow the first recommendation to achieve the second. Always think of Krishna. Become His devotee. Then you will automatically be renounced, no matter what you are doing. The Bhagavad-gita is spoken on a battlefield. Arjuna serves Krishna’s interests by fighting in a war. Win or lose, Krishna is pleased.

Friend1: Right, but can I do the same? If I take up arms against a hostile force, am I pleasing Krishna?

Friend2: You could be. It all depends. The action has to be sanctioned. There has to be a link in consciousness. Material desires have to be absent. The spiritual master, the sanctioning authority for the present time, reveals that the simplest way to meet the Almighty’s interest is to always chant His names in a mood of surrender: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

For a second let’s be real,
That not working sannyasa appeal.

Because who renounced can be,
Without utter poverty to see?

Then in work interests should meet,
But maya’s illusion to cheat.

When spiritual master to confide,
On proper solution to guide.

Two Takeaways From The Story of Vatapi and Ilvala

“The sage Agastya is of such a purified nature that in his hermitage a liar cannot live, nor a deceitful person, nor a wicked person, nor one that is committed to sinful activity.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 11.90)

Download this episode (right click and save)

नात्र जीवेन्मृषावादी क्रूरो वा यदि वा शठः।
नृशंसः कामवृत्तो वा मुनिरेष तथाविधः।।

nātra jīvenmṛṣāvādī krūro vā yadi vā śaṭhaḥ।
nṛśaṃsaḥ kāmavṛtto vā munireṣa tathāvidhaḥ।।

Rakshasas were doing what they are known to do. They are so degraded that they have no problem eating human flesh. Cannibals who cannot very well mix amongst human society with their tendencies displayed out in the open. They cannot wear their desires on their sleeves, so to speak.

The case of Vatapi and Ilvala. These brothers had a game. One would transform into a goat. The other would then supposedly kill the goat and cook it for offering as food to guests. The unsuspecting priestly person would then consume the flesh of Ilvala, except the Rakshasa was not actually dead.

Vatapi would call out to Ilvala. The brother would then burst through the stomach of the person who just feasted. It was a game of sorts, with the ultimate objective of satisfying the senses.

Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, one time retold this story to His younger brother Lakshmana. The context was Agastya Rishi. Known as the jar-born one, he is very dear to the protector of the saints. Though a brahmana by occupation, he is not entirely helpless against enemy attack.

Vatapi and Ilvala tried the same game on him once. That was the last time. Vatapi was indeed dead inside of the sage’s stomach. When Ilvala rushed in anger to attack Agastya, the sage burned him to ashes through a simple glance.

1. Sinful behavior sticks together

If a person is bad in one area, it is likely they are the same in others. As an example, if someone is known for being unfaithful to their wife, through having multiple affairs, it is not surprising to learn that they also cheat customers and clients while running the business. Dishonesty is rarely exclusive to one area.

If Rakshasas are known to eat human flesh, it is not surprising that they would take deceptive measures to attain their goals. From the Ramayana poem of Valmiki, we learn that Rakshasas display false images, something like the illusion employed by magicians, to dispirit would-be attackers. Something analogous in modern-day life is the newspapers and television news stations piling on a particular person about a supposed transgression, calling it “racist” and “hateful”, when no one thought so previously, when they first heard the same words.

2. Take food from a trustworthy source

Shri Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that the saintly people avoid sin in the eating process since they take what remains from yajna, which is sacrifice.

यज्ञ-शिष्टाशिनः सन्तो
मुच्यन्ते सर्व-किल्बिषैः
भुञ्जते ते त्व् अघं पापा
ये पचन्त्य् आत्म-कारणात्

yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo
mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ
bhuñjate te tv aghaṁ pāpā
ye pacanty ātma-kāraṇāt

“The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.13)

Otherwise, the karma of the preparer enters the food and can have a deleterious effect on anyone who consumes thereafter. The meat-eating practiced in ancient times had a link to yajna; and so brahmanas were generally absolved of the sin involved with killing an animal.

In this case we see that the source was not trustworthy. The saints were fooled into eating something worse than meat. They were tricked through the allure of the senses.

Sometimes a person is helpless; the food they receive is out of their control. Those who stay connected in consciousness to the Supreme Lord get protection. Agastya’s piety is so high that the most sinful in society cannot make an impact on him.

Saints like Agastya do not protect just themselves. They work for the overall welfare of society. They glorify Shri Rama and pass on recorded observations for future generations to relish. They foresee the bleak conditions of the Kali Yuga and therefore understand the importance of chanting the holy name for staying above the dark influence of Rakshasas and those like them: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Rakshasa brothers game to play,
One the other’s name to say.

Then out of the stomach to burst,
With this routine well-versed.

But when on Agastya to try,
Who of piety high.

Then forever stopped,
He with one glance dropped.

Is It Necessary To Visit Houses Of Worship

“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraj [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.” (The Nectar Of Devotion quoting the Skanda Purana)

Download this episode (right click and save)

Friend1: Let’s talk about cruises.

Friend2: Why? What about them?

Friend1: Have you ever gone on one?

Friend2: No, but I did watch one recently.

Friend1: How can you watch a cruise?

Friend2: It was a Bhagavata-katha, a discourse on the Shrimad Bhagavatam and Shri Krishna. I guess people paid to go on this Alaskan cruise where the speaker dedicated a number of days to these discourses.

Friend1: That is interesting. Were there a lot of people?

Friend2: Enough to fill a conference room on the ship. I know you probably think it’s silly. Mixing sense gratification with religious life. At the same time, wherever there is such discussion, the place automatically becomes a tirtha.

Friend1: Sort of how it says in the Padma Purana that any house with a tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage.

Friend2: There you go. Not every cruise-goer is interested only in eating and drinking to the limit.

Friend1: Don’t forget the sleeping afterwards. There is no office to go to. The daily commute is nonexistent. Plenty of time to recover from the previous day of fun.

Friend2: Yes.

Friend1: What always seemed odd to me is the necessity to pay so much money to do things that you could normally do.

Friend2: What do you mean?

Friend1: Like eating and drinking. Why would I need a cruise for that? One of the appeals in the modern day is to be able to break free of the attachment to the smartphone. No constant checking of information. No worries about passing the time.

Friend2: It’s difficult to get cellular connectivity on the cruises. They make it expensive for a reason.

Friend1: Enjoy the surroundings. Anyway, do you see my point? I could ditch the cell phone any day of the week. I could take a walk outside instead of needing to board the deck of a ship. I could visit a nice restaurant to relax and eat. Why would I want to force myself to leave land to accomplish the same?

Friend2: There has to be a reason that people do this.

Friend1: What is it?

Friend2: Because it’s a forced vacation. You have no choice but to enjoy nature. You can’t go to work, even if you wanted to.

Friend1: But we shouldn’t need that, no?

Friend2: There would be no reason for houses of worship, otherwise. You could just connect with Bhagavan at home. Watch the cruise katha, like I did [smiling].

Friend1: You sure saved a bunch of money.

Friend2: It’s the same concept, though. Sort of how the alarm clock forces me to wake up in the morning. The office environment compels me to leave the house and work during the day. Schedules. Deadlines. Take that concept and transition to venue. Different places. A change of setting. A place where you are not comfortable enough to be distracted.

Friend1: Where discourses are taking place.

Friend2: At least the people are conscious of the Supreme Lord. They may not be fully realized. They may still live in duality. They may be thinking about household responsibilities, but at least they are making the effort. They are at a different location. For a few hours they get to focus on something more important.

Friend1: If you could only make that time last longer.

Friend2: Credit to the acharyas for helping us. They publish books so that we can maintain the same connection at home. They pass on the japa process, whereby sound delivers the mind from distress: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Laziness in me so,
Despite better to know.

That to bhakti dedication make,
Impetus right now should take.

But towards illusion instead,
Needing by acharya led.

For practice like temple visited,
To break from habits prohibited.

Why Should I Behave Piously If Reputation Can Be So Easily Destroyed

“The false rumor that Krishna had killed Prasena and had taken away the jewel was spread everywhere like wildfire. Krishna did not like to be defamed in that way, and therefore He decided that He would go to the forest and find the Syamantaka jewel, taking with Him some of the inhabitants of Dvaraka.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 1)

Download this episode (right click and save)

Friend1: I think there is a verse in the Dohavali of Goswami Tulsidas where the poet tries to convey the idea that reputation is nearly impossible to maintain.

Friend2: Well, reputation can be good or bad.

Friend1: I’m referring to the positive side. The two examples cited are Shri Krishna and Sita Devi.

Friend2: You mean because of dancing with the gopis, and the like?

Friend1: As king of Dvaraka. The people one time suspected Krishna of stealing a silly jewel.

Friend2: Syamantaka? You think that is silly?

Friend1: In the sense that Krishna would not need it. Yes, it was important because it could produce endless amounts of gold each day. Something like unlocking the back of an ATM machine and withdrawing cash each day.

Friend2: Except this time there is no debit to someone’s account. It’s not stealing; this is a gift from the sun-god.

Friend1: Whatever it is, Krishna sure doesn’t need it. He wouldn’t go around stealing it from people. Butter? Now that’s a different story.

Friend2: True.

Friend1: With Sita Devi, it’s even worse. There is a reason for the term “slut-shaming” today. For a woman, chastity is important. The last thing she wants to be known as is a prostitute.

Friend2: The corresponding feature with men would be manliness. Would rather not be seen as a coward or someone who can’t stand up to bullies and the like.

Friend1: I don’t need to go into the full details there, as Sita Devi is the most chaste woman in the world. She is devoted in thought, word and deed to her husband, who is actually the Supreme Lord.

Friend2: It’s just the way of the world. People will say anything. You can’t have a one hundred percent approval rating, even if you cure the deadliest disease in the world.

Friend1: I was going to get to that. A sports commentator says the wrong thing during a segment on live television. It is not properly worded, but any decent person can understand what he was talking about. There was another broadcaster in the segment sitting next to him. No issues when it was first aired.

Friend2: And then afterwards, when social media got to work, fireworks?

Friend1: The usual meaningless and baseless charges. Racist. Bigoted. Anti-immigrant. Hate-filled. That other commentator even publicly apologized. Honestly, I was more offended by that. You can say things that I may strongly disagree with, but I respect you as long as you honestly hold those beliefs. But if you sit there and lie to me, trying to tell me something is offensive when it isn’t, then I have no respect for you.

Friend2: It’s known by the acronym CYA. That is the corporate world. Do whatever it takes to hold onto your job.

Friend1: Okay, but the “offender” in this case stuck to his guns. He did not apologize. He knew he didn’t do anything wrong. He went out with honor and dignity, while the other guy is still in the spotlight.

Friend2: Sadly, that’s how things go sometimes.

Friend1: My question is, what is the point? Why behave piously if people can tear you down regardless?

Friend2: You can look to Rama’s wife’s situation. Her reward for pious behavior was sitting in Lanka surrounded by female ogres threatening to eat her. The leaders, the Rakshasas, considered her to be the worst person for not giving in to Ravana’s advances.

Friend1: I think that is a good analogy. You have the bad people running the show. Isn’t that more justification for taking to adharma?

Friend2: Why? To rise to power? You are not trying to impress them. Who cares what they think? Let them sip their expensive wine and eat their overpriced food. They live in a false reality, anyway. You are trying to please the man upstairs. Act in ways that He will notice. We chant the holy names for this reason: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Why for reputation caring,
By outside opinion scaring?

When never all to please,
Cast aside with ease.

Since Krishna notice to take,
And never supporters to forsake.

Dharma for Him alone,
Can rescue and call me His own.

Three People Who Could Not Maintain A Spotless Reputation

“The false rumor that Krishna had killed Prasena and had taken away the jewel was spread everywhere like wildfire. Krishna did not like to be defamed in that way, and therefore He decided that He would go to the forest and find the Syamantaka jewel, taking with Him some of the inhabitants of Dvaraka.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 1)

Download this episode (right click and save)

1. Sita Devi

You would think that sacrificing regal comforts for supporting her husband in a time of difficulty would win some acclaim. Especially during that time period the chastity of a wife was highlighted. When a member of the family exhibits certain admirable traits, the guardians share in the glory.

“Oh, look at this child. They were raised right. Their parents must be of such good character. Rare it is to find someone of that quality. Looks like there is still hope in this world.”

Sita Devi was from Videha. Her father was the venerable King Janaka. There was qualification based on ancestry and then marriage. She was the patni in all dharma to Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. She carried herself with the utmost grace and composure, while enduring three mothers-in-law from her new family.

Despite withstanding a test of fire after being rescued from the home of another man, Sita could not maintain a spotless reputation. There were rumors that perhaps she wasn’t faithful to Rama while under duress in the kingdom of Lanka. Maybe Rama made a mistake in accepting her after being separated, though it was no fault of her own. Some of the townspeople spoke in this way.

2. King Nriga

You try to do everything the right way. Maintain peace and prosperity. Keep everyone happy. Do not violate the all-important property rights of others. Keep everyone engaged in the occupation that best suits them. Maintain equality in the sense that every person receives the same amount of protection from the government.

Even with so much careful attention, maintaining a watchful eye, King Nriga slipped up. He accidentally donated a cow to one brahmana. That cow happened to belong to another brahmana, but the king did not know. The priestly class can lose their temper every now and then. Supplication from the king did not help. He was cursed to suffer in the future.

Fortunately, the curse turned into a blessing. Though in the form of a lizard and stuck in a well, he was eventually liberated through direct contact with Shri Krishna.

3. Shri Krishna

Bhagavan Himself. His expert capability demonstrated many a time. Protecting His friends and relatives from danger. Escaping the constant and annoying attack of the rival king named Jarasandha. Ensuring that everyone was safe and protected in the community of Dvaraka.

Yet even He was defamed. A rumor once spread that Krishna had stolen a jewel. Known as Syamantaka, it could produce endless amounts of gold when cared for properly. As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada says, where there is gold you will find lying, cheating and overall adharma [irreligiosity]. Thus it is not surprising that the jewel turned into something like a hot potato.

When it went missing and one person previously holding it was found dead in the forest, the rumor started that Krishna had taken the jewel for Himself. He is already more splendorous than the sun. Material wealth means nothing to Him. As Yogeshvara, the master of all mystic potency, He can create hundreds of Syamantaka jewels just by thinking of it.

…

The ways of the material world are such that no one is entirely safe from defamation. No one can maintain a completely spotless reputation, no matter how much they try. Moreover, the viewpoint of other flawed human beings should not be impetus to drastically alter behavior.

It is the opinion of Shri Krishna that matters most. He is the judge, the ever-watchful eye taking the assessment particularly at the time of death. The consciousness while quitting the body determines the next kind of birth, and so one who is remembering the king of Dvaraka automatically reaches the most auspicious destination.

In Closing:

Reaching auspicious destination,
When faithful determination.

That for Krishna alone,
Consciousness my own.

My fate then protected,
Not from criticism projected.

Where ruined even best reputation,
From flawed envy fixation.

Three Instances Where The Concept Of Helping God Seems Invalid

“This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.2)

Download this episode (right click and save)

एवं परम्परा-प्राप्तम्
इमं राजर्षयो विदुः
स कालेनेह महता
योगो नष्टः परन्तप

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa

1. Sugriva

The situation: two people ostracized from their respective communities banding together. Separated from their beloved wives. Rama from Ayodhya. A respectable family, maintaining dharma in the human race. Sugriva in the Vanara kingdom of Kishkindha. Not so civilized people. Monkey-like, but with the ability to talk and govern affairs in a somewhat orderly way, not following the mentality of the animals entirely.

The Ramayana poem describes the episode in great detail. For the spiritualist, for the one aspiring for salvation, which is also known as liberation when accounting for the repeated births, the primary lesson to extract is that others get the chance to help the Supreme Lord.

Not that everyone will merge into an energy of nothingness. Not that the solitude of the remote cave is the only respite from the daily grind. You can be actively engaged, outside of the human community even, and get the opportunity to connect with Bhagavan, who in this case appeared as Shri Rama.

The argument from the skeptic is that Rama should never need such assistance. If He is antaryami, He should know where the missing wife, Sita Devi, has gone. He should be able to lay claim to any kingdom, including Ayodhya. He should not be subordinate to the ways of dharma. What is a group of monkeys going to do for him, anyway?

2. Hanuman’s brave service

If we read further in the Ramayana, we see that the alliance is mutually beneficial. Rama helps Sugriva to win the kingdom back. Sugriva assigns his massive army of monkeys a search mission spanning the entire world. They are to look for Sita Devi and report back on her whereabouts.

The most capable within that group is the minister known as Hanuman. It was through Hanuman’s efforts that the alliance materialized in the first place. In meeting Rama, the minister understood that Sugriva would be helped if a friendship were formed.

The counterargument is that Rama should not need someone to cross over the vast ocean and go searching inside of Lanka. All alone, Hanuman had no telephone communication with home base. He could not look up the map inside of Lanka. He had no friends to help. He had to search, and without being recognized, at that.

Rama supposedly creates the whole world. He does so effortlessly. Why couldn’t He figure out that Sita was in the Ashoka grove in Lanka, taken there against her will by the evil king named Ravana? Why did he have to let Hanuman take the ultimate risk by such a dangerous journey?

3. The acharya keeping parampara alive

From the Bhagavad-gita we learn of a concept known as parampara. This is the disciplic succession. Though Krishna is teaching Arjuna, the information existed prior to their meeting. It was spoken to the sun-god at the beginning of the creation and then passed on through a line of highly exalted personalities.

Krishna was there to revive the succession. The knowledge appeared to be lost. Arjuna was a rajarshi, which is something like a combination of saintly person and military leader. The information would be in safe hands in that devoted soul. He was a friend to Krishna, after all.

Today, the acharya is the latest link in the chain. They present the identical information, but in a way best suited for the time and circumstance. If we listen attentively, if we serve without expectation of reward, if we inquire submissively, then we actually get to connect directly with Krishna. There is no difference between the origin and His representative, in this regard.

The counterargument is that Krishna could appear today and do as He did on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Give us the information directly. Why send a representative? Why not save us with His dazzling effulgence, both in terms of visual brilliance and spotless wisdom?

…

The mysteries of the behavior of Bhagavan are known only to Him, but in each of the above mentioned cases there is great service performed. There is success matching the desires of the real ego, which understands the identification with spirit soul. Not only am I soul, but that spark of spirit is linked to the source of all energies.

Therefore, when I get a chance to serve the Supreme Lord, I find the corresponding outlet for the service propensity within me. In other words, I find the engagement that brings the most happiness. Sugriva helping Rama and Hanuman risking everything are examples of Bhagavan’s unmatched kindness.

He does not simply do everything Himself. He certainly has the prerogative, but when He sees us taking the effort in chanting the holy names, He knows that we will feel increasing bliss throughout the process: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Why the meeting needed,
And Hanuman alone proceeded?

Or to acharya passing,
When Krishna all others surpassing?

Idea that propensity in me,
From idleness to free.

Towards service to direct,
And with best friend to connect.