Five Things Over Which My Mind Becomes Agitated

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.42)

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शमो दमस् तपः शौचं
क्षान्तिर् आर्जवम् एव च
ज्ञानं विज्ञानम् आस्तिक्यं
ब्रह्म-कर्म स्वभाव-जम्

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

1. When will the sun shine again?

“It’s been days. Cloudy. Gloomy. Rain, on and off. No one really wants to go outside during this time. In some parts of the house we leave the lights on from morning until night. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?

“I don’t mind the rain. We need it. It is a vital part of life. But what kind of area of the world has rain consecutively for an entire week? That is ridiculous. If I don’t see the sun soon I am going to lose it.”

2. When will they open the restaurants?

“The lockdown has been going on for too long. People are this afraid of catching a virus? That expensive tuition paid to the university obviously did nothing for them. Your average village person realizes that this world is dangerous, that there is always some kind of disease lurking around the corner.

“But, no, we are forced to stay at home until the authorities tell us it is safe to go out. I don’t think I can last much longer this way. I want to know when the restaurants will be open again for people to sit down in. Just so I can have a change of setting and read a book. I am not asking for much.”

3. When will I be able to sleep peacefully?

“In childhood there was no issue. I never remember hearing the term ‘insomnia.’ Probably because it didn’t apply to us. We were more than happy to wake up in the morning and start playing. Go to school? That was a different story, but it had nothing to do with wanting to sleep more.

“Now it seems like every night is a struggle. I know diet and exercise can play a factor, but it is mostly concern on my part. I fear the pressures of the upcoming day. I am worried that I will not have enough rest to function optimally. That concern then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I long for the day when sleep will come easily.”

4. When will I have enough money?

“I realize this concern is not exclusive to me, but I feel as if I am so close to the finish line. Just a little more and I will be able to retire. That would be terrific. Then I could concentrate on the real business of this human life, that activity which gives me more happiness than I could ever imagine.

“Seeing the way things are going in the world, it looks like that dream will never become a reality. Work well into old age. Never leave the responsibilities behind. I see other retired people and I wonder how they did it. It seems impossible to me.”

5. When will the people become wise to their government?

“This shouldn’t bother me, but it does. You could call it political correctness. You could label it as covering one’s rear. I think it is just Administration 101. It is the basics of being in charge of a committee.

“I am saying that these people don’t really have anyone’s best interests at heart. The primary concern of a bureaucracy is to make sure the bureaucracy continues to exist. Thus they keep making predictions that are wrong, but there are no consequences. They are not experts on health in the least, but they continue to act as if they are.

“I just wish other people could see through the farce like I do. It bothers me that people just accept what their government tells them, without questioning. How can they be so foolish? Do they not notice the deceit? Why are they so trusting?”

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada recommends advancing to the brahmana stage of living. Not that every person will have the necessary qualifications, but at least a certain class of people should be trained to fulfill this role.

One of the qualities of a brahmana is shama. One English translation is “peacefulness.” The idea is to not be easily agitated. A steady mind. Focused on the bigger picture, the end-goal, instead of getting distracted by issues that are not so relevant in the long-term.

From the review conducted above, we see that there are many sources of distraction. If everything else is going well in life, I could be upset over the outcome of tossing a coin. In other words, I could invent distresses if they should be lacking. Take the trivial and elevate it to vital.

योगिनाम् अपि सर्वेषां
मद्-गतेनान्तर्-आत्मना
श्रद्धावान् भजते यो मां
स मे युक्ततमो मतः

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

“And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.47)

It is much more difficult to remain free from agitation. Fortunately, there is yoga, and in Bhagavad-gita we learn that the best yogi is the one who always thinks of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This yoga can be established and maintained through chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Through connection maintained,
Higher state attained.

Where on temporary not dwelling,
Or mind agitation’s quickly swelling.

Since towards Krishna to reach,
Finally finding peace.

This life for yoga is meant,
And in Divine’s company spent.

For What You Have Put Others Through

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

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अवश्यं लभते जन्तुः फलं पापस्य कर्मणः।
घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमाः पुष्पमिवार्तवम्।।

avaśyaṃ labhate jantuḥ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ।
ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam।।

“Is karma real? I know most people think of it in terms of placement at birth. For instance, in a metro area there is competition over high schools. Prospective students take a test. Depending on their score, they can enter one of the more prestigious high schools. The students with lower scores do not have this option; they are forced to attend an institution not as well-respected.

“We certainly notice the differences in human society. When the governments around the world institute a lockdown order to supposedly prevent the spread of a virus they know nothing about, certain people are not affected. They can either work from home or they have enough saved to survive rainy days.

“But there are those who have no choice. They suffer through misery and torment to collect what amounts to table scraps every day. There is no large bank balance to serve as a safety net. The leader of the nation seems to have no empathy for them. It is like they were eagerly anticipating a mass genocide of the poor.

“Karma would help explain the difference in circumstances, but how do we tell for sure? We can’t travel into the past, prior to this lifetime. We don’t know for sure where the individual will end up in the future, after death. Is faith the only recourse?”

From Vedic teachings we get the accurate definition of karma. Beyond its vernacular use, karma is simply fruitive activity. Action and reaction. Choice and consequence. A decision to make and a certain expectation with the outcome.

In that sense karma occurs in a continuum. Something basic like assembling a piece of furniture is karma. A new chair arrives in the mail. This is the only way to purchase during a nationwide stay-at-home order. The problem is that the chair is only in the potential stage. You have to put the pieces together.

If you follow the instructions, which would be symbolic of dharma, then the proper outcome is there. A nice chair to sit in, with few issues. If you fall into adharma, karma still applies. The correlation is that if you incorrectly assemble the furniture, you will face the consequence.

A person should keep in mind that the consequence does not have to manifest immediately. If a person drops a full bottle of a cleaning agent into a large dumpster, the resulting fire may not happen the next day. It could take some time before the vulnerability gets exposed.

In the same way, it might be years before I go to sit in the chair and it breaks apart. It could be after I have sold the chair to someone else. The buyer may not even be able to detect the faulty construction. They might attribute the demise to wear and tear, old age.

The Vedas do provide the confirmation we are looking for. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself explains the way karma works. In the Ramayana, Shri Rama tells the Rakshasa named Khara that the sinner’s fruit is something like the trees blossoming flowers.

This statement is so powerful because Khara thought that karma did not apply to him. He and his band of Rakshasas had been harassing innocent priestly men in the remote forests for a long time. This was the worst kind of harassment; killing and then eating the flesh.

Rama was there to deliver the consequences. In front of Khara, on the battlefield of Janasthana, was the appropriate time. The punishment would fit the crime. What Khara had put others through, he would suffer the same. This is nature’s way, vividly illustrated in this wonderful pastime of the Supreme Lord.

There is a way to stop karma, or at least to transcend its effects. From direct connection with Shri Rama, through the yoga process, the fan of reaction unplugs, so to speak. When we turn off the power to an electric fan, it may still spin for a while. This is the momentum carrying over from the previous work.

When we surrender to Bhagavan in full devotion, our past karma may still affect us, but it is mitigated. The pain of suffering is less, but this is not the primary impetus for accepting the shelter of the Divine, sharanagati. That connection is the true meaning of dharma, and for all the suffering we have endured in the past, we can finally taste eternal happiness.

In Closing:

Meant for His direction,
Finally that connection.

The yoga process for,
No more to endure.

Karma’s consequences where,
Sometimes of not even aware.

Like Khara on battlefield learning,
Strike of Rama’s arrow earning.

Four Ways Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Could Have Responded To Ramadasa Vipra

“Indeed, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu eagerly tore this page from the Kurma Purana, although the book was very old, and He later showed it to Ramadasa Vipra, whose unhappiness was mitigated.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 1.119)

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सेइ पुरातन पत्र आग्रह करिऽ निल
रामदासे देखाइया दुःख खण्डाइल

sei purātana patra āgraha kari' nila
rāmadāse dekhāiyā duḥkha khaṇḍāila

Sometimes we can judge a person based more on what they don’t do than the actions they actually take. For instance, we can see the supremely kind and munificent nature of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatara, based on the choices He had when one time meeting a lamenting brahmana named Ramadasa.

1. You aren’t living in the Treta Yuga

This vipra, an honorific which also refers to an intelligent person, was living in the mood of the Ramayana. This is a Sanskrit work composed by another vipra, Valmiki. The Ramayana focuses on the central character, Shri Rama, who is also an historical figure. Rama is one of the principal avataras of the Almighty. God is everywhere, but sometimes He descends to the mortal realm, displaying a specific kind of visual.

Rama is the bow-warrior who appears to be an ordinary human. Rama is amazing in His marksmanship, which is used to protect the saintly class and deliver justice to those who are deserving. Shri Rama, the eldest son of King Dasharatha, is the most beautiful to behold, as is His chaste and dedicated wife, Sita Devi.

In one of the more disturbing incidents described in the Ramayana, Sita gets forcibly taken away from Rama by a Rakshasa demon named Ravana. This occurs in secret; despite Ravana’s amazing fighting prowess, he would be no match for Rama in battle.

Fast forward thousands of years into the future and you have the devotee of Rama named Ramadasa. He is living in the mood of the Ramayana, and he is greatly disturbed that such a sinful person could even lay a hand on Sita.

In His travels, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu meets Ramadasa and appreciates the sentiment. At the same time, Mahaprabhu does not like any devotee to lament when there is no reason to. He could have tried talking some sense into Ramadasa:

“You are here, today, right now. You are not living in the Treta Yuga. Wake up, man. Stop pretending. As an intelligent person, you cannot go on like this. It will do you no good.”

2. You can’t change the past

This is advice we might offer to a friend who is stuck reliving a traumatic event from their childhood. Mahaprabhu could have said:

“What has happened already happened. Neither you nor I can change that. We don’t understand why bad things occur to good people, but that is the way of the world since long before you and I were here. Better to move on.”

3. Take my word for it

Mahaprabhu knows that the Rakshasa class can never actually touch the goddess of fortune. He was well aware that the form Ravana touched was that of maya. It was not actually Sita Devi, and this is confirmed in works like the Ramacharitamanasa of Goswami Tulsidas.

Mahaprabhu is the ultimate authority on Vedic teachings, so His word on a subject is sufficient. He could have told the brahmana to simply trust Him. No need to doubt such an intelligent scholar, who defeated every visiting challenger to His city during His youth.

4. Show evidence

Lord Chaitanya is so kind that He will go to extraordinary lengths to increase the devotion of devotees of the Supreme Lord. He later came across a page in the Kurma Purana confirming His explanation, with the maya version of Sita. He then actually tore the exact page and showed it to Ramadasa Vipra.

शुनिया प्रभुर आनन्दित हैल मन
राम-दास विप्रेर कथा ह-इल स्मरण

śuniyā prabhura ānandita haila mana
rāma-dāsa viprera kathā ha-ila smaraṇa

“Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very glad to read about the false Sita, and He remembered His meeting with Ramadasa Vipra, who was very sorry that mother Sita had been kidnapped by Ravana.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 1.118)

Mahaprabhu’s word was enough. His explanation would calm any doubter, but a saintly person goes to extraordinary lengths to bring the truth to others. It is no surprise, then, that we have the wonderful maha-mantra handed down to us, which brings safety and protection from the dreaded condition of material life: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

No wonder that to us came,

Sacred mantra of holy name.

Because the extra mile going,

Heart of devotees knowing.

Like for Ramadasa tearing,

Page of Purana sharing.

Opportunity for vipra seized,

For doubting tension eased.

Five Ways To Know That Advanced Societies Are Still Suffering

“My dear father, O great sage, I know that your feet are very soft, like a lotus flower, and that My chest is as hard as a thunderbolt. I am therefore afraid that you may have felt some pain by touching My chest with your feet. Let Me therefore touch your feet to relieve the pain you have suffered.” (Lord Vishnu, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 34)

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It is only natural for a person to view others differently. Growing up in a single area, knowing everyone in the community, following a certain culture, when introduced to a different part of the world the way of living will seem new.

There may even be feelings of superiority, such as the “my religion is better than yours” attitude. When viewing followers of the Vedic culture in a less industrially developed part of the world, it is not surprising to hear the following attitude expressed:

“Just see what these people get. Following a false religion with their made up gods. What has Vishnu done for them? They are stuck in poverty, forced to be treated like animals by the government. This is the lower end of the gene pool. Nature will take care of everything.”

The derision is due primarily to the supposed difference in development. One society is advanced, while the other is lagging behind, but we see that even in the superior economic climate there are many signs of significant suffering.

1. Widespread use of anti-depressants

“If you have so much money, why do people need pills for everything? You are proud of the ability to travel first-class on an airplane, but many of the passengers are so afraid that they require anti-anxiety medication in order to tolerate the turbulence. Otherwise, they suffer from panic attacks.

“Then there are the people regularly taking such medication in order to feel better. Shouldn’t your ability to sit comfortably in the air-conditioned home and stream endless hours of television programming solve the problem? You are not in the third-world, so why are there any issues, at all?”

2. Widespread intoxication

“Driving while drunk is so common in your community that they are installing these devices into the automobile to help with the problem. The idea is that a drunk person will first have to pass the test with the breath in order to start the vehicle.

“One of the most popular ballot initiatives in the different states is to legalize the consumption of marijuana. As if smoking and drinking weren’t enough, you need to find another outlet for intoxication. Why is sobriety not cutting it for you? Aren’t you in the higher end of the gene pool? Yet you act like fourth class human beings and lower.”

3. Widespread animal killing

“A peaceful person doesn’t need to interfere with the lives of others. They are happy with what they have, satisfied in the ability to maintain life without strenuous effort. Yet in your area they round up the animals and kill them by the millions. This is civilized life? This is a sign of advancement?

“If you were advanced you would at least notice the similarities in the different classes of living beings. You would not be concerned with what others are doing. You would know how to properly prepare food that satisfies the taste buds and stomach and doesn’t stand on the foundation of cruelty.”

4. Widespread disagreement

“You are supposed to be advanced, in a higher status of living, but no one is happy. People argue all the time. Over how to deal with the spread of a supposedly deadly virus. Over how much in taxes a person should pay. Over what a celebrity commented about another celebrity. Over how much the internet provider charges for monthly service.

“An advanced state of living should carry less disagreement. People living in harmony. Supporting one another. Empathy for the various struggles. Volunteerism to offer assistance. Instead, it seems everyone in your community is out for themselves. Earn as much as they can right now, not concerned with the afterlife.”

5. Widespread debt

“The government just borrows money to pay for things. Even when that limit is reached, they just print additional currency. The purpose is always to give to those in need. If everything were running smoothly, then there would be honesty in dealings.

“Then there is the issue of personal debt. This is a kind of dishonesty. Borrowing money and then refusing to pay it back. Petitioning the government to forgive the debt, to essentially cancel out the negative reaction to the initial intentional action.”

…

From this review we see that economic advancement is not the sole indicator of who is suffering and who is not. From Vedic literature we learn that the devotees of Vishnu, who is the personal God, tend to be poor.

This is attributed to an incident involving Vishnu and the brahmana named Bhrigu. There was a test conducted to see how Vishnu would react to an offense against His transcendental body. Bhrigu offered a swift kick to the chest of an unsuspecting Supreme Lord.

The target did not mind. He was concerned if Bhrigu had injured his foot or not. But Lakshmi Devi, as a devoted wife to Vishnu, did not take too kindly to the incident. In an emotional response, she cursed the brahmana class to remain poor.

That is the underlying cause for the widespread poverty, but there is the additional reason rooted in behavior and attitude. Devotees of Vishnu do not require much. They tend to live simply, and they tolerate the different life conditions. Asceticism rooted in their devotion is their wealth. This is more valuable than any floating balance based in an easily manipulated currency printed by modern governments already under a large mountain of debt.

The human condition involves suffering. No one is truly free. Liberation is the only option, and those who know God as a person and subsequently devote everything to Him become free even prior to quitting the body. They have the powerful ability to withstand any economic condition, windfall or hardship. They always see the beautiful smile of the source of men, whose eternal consort is the goddess of fortune.

In Closing:

Seeing smile on the source of men,

Everything is alright then.

Because Lakshmi by His side,

Vishnu in Vaikuntha to reside.

A place also where I can return,

When favor through devotion earned.

No that by temporary wealth distracted,

And its tasteless enjoyment extracted.

Five Things To Know About Shri Hanuman

“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)

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

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

1. He knows the difference between body and spirit

The mature human being should learn this integral principle of an existence. It explains so much. It is the foundation of education. It explains how to see properly. Otherwise, there is vulnerability to illusion. Mistaking a rope for a snake. Accepting an outcome as pleasurable when the long-term consequence is detrimental.

The most basic result of the illusion is to lament over that which is not worthy of lamentation, such as with Tara in the Vanara kingdom. This incident is described in the Ramayana poem of Maharishi Valmiki.

She had just become a widow. This was the result of direct intervention by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Rama. Tara was caught in the middle of two feuding brothers, Sugriva and Vali. Sugriva became exiled from the kingdom in Kishkindha, fleeing in fear for his life.

He later formed an alliance with Rama, who was searching for His missing wife, Sita Devi. Sugriva did not accept Rama’s ability on faith or on the truthful word of that eldest son of the pious King Dasharatha. Rama had to prove Himself first with a test in marksmanship.

Then having full confidence that Rama could get the job done, Sugriva baited Vali into a physical conflict. This resulted in Vali’s death, succumbing to one of Rama’s arrows released from behind. Tara lamented that her husband had been killed. He had been vibrant and full of life just moments prior.

Hanuman showed his intelligence by rhetorically asking why Tara was lamenting. The idea is that every person is actually equal. We consider this person to be poor and that one to be wealthy, but these are just temporary situations.

Nothing illustrates the dangerous condition of accepting a material body, dehe, like a bubble. It forms and maintains it shape, but it can burst at any moment. Every living being suffers the same vulnerability, so no one should be considered superior to another.

2. He is loyal to his friends

The alliance between Sugriva and Rama materialized because of Hanuman’s efforts. Hanuman was Sugriva’s chief minister, and so he inherently understood the leader’s interests. He first intercepted Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana on their way in the forest, seen from the perch on Mount Rishyamukha.

Hanuman determined that an alliance would be beneficial to both parties. A paid minister would get the job done as long as the payment continued, but Hanuman considered Sugriva and the Vanaras to be like family. He would do anything to meet their interests and keep them happy.

3. He is loyal to the Supreme Lord

The greatest risk was taken for Shri Rama. We can see from the Ramayana that the period of familiarity was short. Hanuman barely knew Rama, and yet he understood everything about Sita’s husband. His loyalty skyrocketed to the highest level, to where he continues to be dedicated in devotion, serving as the gatekeeper to the spiritual kingdom presided over by Sita and Rama.

4. He is willing to accept any challenge

Even if he is not prepared, Hanuman will dare to risk defeat. He had to cross the ocean to reach Lanka after it was determined Sita had been taken there against her will. He did not know how to make the journey until Jambavan reminded him of the special ability to increase in size.

With an enlarged stature, the safe passage across was not guaranteed. Neither was there a roadmap when inside of Lanka, as the inhabiting Rakshasas would not welcome an ally of Rama. Hanuman continued forward, doing whatever was necessary to succeed in the mission.

5. He can fly like the wind

He is the son of the wind, after all. The demigod in charge of air, Vayu, is his biological father in terms of the experience on this earth. If a person can control the different airs inside of the body, they can become very strong. This is one of the benefits achieved through meditational yoga.

Hanuman can fly like the wind via the aerial route across the vast ocean to reach Lanka. He swiftly finds the mountain area to search for a healing herb to bring back to Lakshmana. He wastes no time in bringing back the entire mountain so as to avoid any mistakes.

In Closing:

Most trusted minister is he,
Rewarded with success to see.

Difference of body-spirit knowing,

Intelligence in difficulty showing.

Swiftly coursing through the sky,
Returning with mountain to fly.

All done for Sita-Rama’s sake,

Nothing for himself to take.

Two Things Required To Prove God Through Empirical Evidence

“But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.40)

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अज्ञश् चाश्रद्दधानश् च
संशयात्मा विनश्यति
नायं लोको ऽस्ति न परो
न सुखं संशयात्मनः

ajñaś cāśraddadhānaś ca
saṁśayātmā vinaśyati
nāyaṁ loko ‘sti na paro
na sukhaṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ

It’s not a simple task. The burden of proof is on the doubting side. This might surprise observers, but with the physical evidence that is supposedly lacking on the believers’ side, the opponents must prove that if such evidence did exist that it would be sufficient to make their case.

1. Infinite perception

Computer models will not work. It may fool the people into believing a supposed pandemic is occurring or that planning commissions can somehow alter the climate of the world moving forward, but the stakes are higher here.

We are trying to prove the existence of the Almighty, the one person who is always beyond birth and death, who is the controller to the nature which controls everyone else, who can never be defeated and who shows no indication of being under the grinding wheel of destructive time.

In order to prove through empirical evidence we would need to be able to perceive infinitely. Not just into the future, but also the past. Backwards and forwards. Personally witness what occurred at the beginning of creation, which is really an arbitrary point in time.

We would need to maintain our perception moving forward. Some wiggle room allowed for staring at our smartphones every now and then, but at least the record button should be on. The great destroyer known as death cannot interfere with our experiment.

2. Flawless recall

In the hypothetical case that we could achieve infinite perception, we would need an accompanying ability. Run a query for any parameters of time and return the results immediately. No issues with caching could interfere. On a desktop computer the result set is limited by the amount of memory installed. Bring back too much data and it won’t render properly on the screen.

With the empirical evidence route, we would have to be able to recall anything at a moment’s notice. Take the data, both large and small, and make sense of it. Then we could begin to put the pieces together, to show that the person claiming to be God, to be Divine, is actually so.

…

A quick analysis reveals that neither of these abilities is possible. We have already lost out on the infinite perception due to the past. We don’t remember the time spent in the womb. We take the experience on faith, on the word of our parents and the common sense truth that no one else enters this world without undergoing the same process.

If we could achieve infinite perception and flawless recall, we would be God, which we are not. This means that no amount of empirical evidence could exist to satisfy the staunch doubters. Some faith is needed, but luckily we already extend faith in every aspect of living.

Spiritual life is beyond living and dying, so the requirement of faith should not be a barrier. Hear from a trusted source, listen attentively, ask questions, raise doubts, and then implement some of the principles. See for yourself if it makes sense for the individual spirit soul to live. Ration and reason to believe the truth that something superior must exist, since there is so much intelligence embedded into nature.

Another option is to simply believe and practice devotion. Arrive at the proper conclusion through blissful activities which appeal to the consciousness, which clear the illusion and reveal the reality of the all-attractive youth standing by, smiling, ready to welcome and protect into the infinite future.

Is there some danger with this path? Can we be led astray by charlatans? What if we invest faith in someone who turns out to be a cheater? Such risks are always there, no matter which path we chose in life. The father dedicates everything to the wife and children, only to have them renounce him at a later time, after he has turned old and can no longer meet the family’s growing and ever-changing needs. The dedicated employee gets let go by the firm after decades of faithful service.

The Sanskrit word vijnana is important in this regard. Jnana is the knowledge itself, the principles and truths, spoken or written down, which can subsequently be remembered. Vijnana is the practical realization of the same principles. This is being firmly convinced of the existence of Divinity, of the imperishable nature of the soul, and the need for bringing the transmigration evolution to a successful completion.

Fortunately, both jnana and vijnana are accounted for in the bhakti process. Simply hear from the right source and you will know. Stay connected to the holy names and achieve a level of certainty that surpasses what physical perception could ever bring: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

If insisting on evidence’s direction,

Then first required perception.

Backwards and forward going,
Through infinite timeline knowing.

Also recalling with ability,

Like top computer with stability.

Possible only when vijnana at play,

Accounted for in bhakti’s way.

Is It Wrong To Lament For Others

“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)

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

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

Friend1: I know that at the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna was lamenting over the potential fate for the other side.

Friend2: Explain the setting. Where are we? Who is Arjuna? What is this “other side”?

Friend1: The Bharata War, staged at Kurukshetra. Some five thousand years ago, well-documented in the Sanskrit work of epic length, the Mahabharata. Arjuna is the leading fighter for the Pandava side. For all intents and purposes, these are the good guys. In reality, there is no such thing as good and bad.

Friend2: How can you say that? If I’m trying to lose weight, sugar is bad for me. If I’m training for an upcoming marathon, proper rest the night before is good for me. I doubt anyone would challenge these assertions.

Friend1: Good and bad in the bigger picture. One side follows dharma, or the way of righteousness. The other side is committed to adharma. The end result for both is death, i.e. quitting the body and leaving everything behind. In that sense it doesn’t really matter what you do.

Friend2: Are you making the case for atheism? This life is everything, so enjoy as much as possible, carrying over into lying, cheating and stealing, if necessary.

Friend1: I am saying just the opposite, in fact. The spirit soul is the essence of identity. It is eternal in its existence. It never takes birth and it never dies.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतो ऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

“For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.20)

Friend2: If we exist, if we persist into the future, shouldn’t good deeds make a difference?

Friend1: Only temporarily. That is what I am saying. Good and bad in the relative sense have the same destination of rebirth. The pious enjoy in heaven. The sinful get punished in hell. Eventually, the time expires and there is a return to the situation of karma. Action with consequences.

Friend2: If good and bad are the same, why was Arjuna lamenting?

Friend1: He had temporarily forgotten the truth of the spirit soul as identity. He was concerned over the material wellbeing of those on the other side.

Friend2: But hadn’t the bad guys, in this case, harassed Arjuna and his family for such a long time? Didn’t they deserve the punishment they were about to receive in battle?

Friend1: Absolutely. That is true. Just shows you the saintly character of Arjuna. He knew his side was with dharma, but he made excuses because he lamented for those about to lose.

Friend2: Which sets the stage for the Bhagavad-gita conversation.

Friend1: And the transition to my current dilemma. I feel the same kind of lamentation. Not necessarily for thieves who have stolen a kingdom. Just people affected by worldwide emergencies. Businesses closed down forever. People financially ruined. Massive unemployment.

Friend2: You don’t feel any pleasure at their pain?

Friend1: Absolutely not. I am doing okay, but I worry so much for them.

Friend2: That is understandable. It is amazing what is happening.

Friend1: Is my lamentation misplaced? Should I be above it all and relegate everything to karma?

“These people are getting what they deserve. So much sinful activity that nature had to step in and stop it, for a while. They won’t learn their lesson, either. Once this panic calms down, people will be back to living the same way they used to.”

Friend2: A lot of people think that way.

Friend1: Even if it is their fault, so to speak, I feel for them. I don’t want others to suffer. What should I do?

Friend2: There is a great teaching from Shri Hanuman in this regard. He told a person who had just become a widow that there was no reason to feel sorry for others. This is because everyone is living in a vessel that is like a bubble. It can burst at any moment, as we’ve just witnessed.

Friend1: That is true.

Friend2: Which means that rich and poor are also relative circumstances. We should always feel distress upon seeing others in difficulty. This is the impetus for the saints of the Vedic tradition to travel from place to place and describe the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They know dharma is the way to happiness for every person. Dharma is sanatana, and so it is eternally the way for every person to live.

In Closing:

That dharma the way to live,

This gift the saints to give.

Not considering that poor is he,

Since my own condition to see.

Where destructible body sharing,

And in same way eventually faring.

Better towards Divine holy name,

And helping others know the same.