Two Meanings To The Word Vasudevaya

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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1. The god of the life of all beings

The familiar chant is “om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.” As per tradition, devotees repeat this mantra prior to discussing verses from sacred texts like Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Shastra, or scripture, is the mother of the dvija, who is twice-born.

Every person has the first birth. The mother and the father, but the human being has the unique opportunity to be born again. This second birth is more significant; it really gives life to an individual. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a person who is glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, is actually living. They feel alive throughout the day and night, from young adulthood to old age.

Bhagavate refers to Bhagavan, who is God the person. Om is the sound vibration representation of the Absolute. Find that which lasts beyond the temporary world. That which was here before and will remain afterwards. A single energy which defines everything. Om is one way to understand, and the sound produced brings auspiciousness.

Namo is for namaskara, which is offering obeisances. Preceded by the transcendental sound vibration of the Absolute, I offer obeisances to Bhagavan, which is the more defined term for the same Absolute. He is both impersonal and personal, and this dichotomy is only from my perspective. He is always above any dualities of unseen and seen and without qualities and with features.

Vasudevaya refers to the deva of vasu. Vasu is the life of all beings, and deva is a god. In other words, Bhagavan is the god of what defines a being. He is above the spiritual energy as a collective. He is the source of all energies, in fact.

2. The son of Vasudeva

The Supreme Lord is so kind that He provides real-life examples to help explain these higher concepts. We need not understand the intricate details of soul and matter, light and darkness, and time and energy through philosophy alone. Simply look to the pastimes of Shri Krishna, who appeared in this world in the town of Mathura while His parents were in a prison cell.

Bhagavan appeared as the son of Vasudeva; hence Vasudevaya also refers to God as the son of that father. The meaning is actually identical. Krishna is the god of the life of all beings. He is the reason for living for Vasudeva and his wife Devaki.

We immediately see the amazing impact Krishna has on someone’s life, through the fateful journey of Vasudeva across the Yamuna River. This would otherwise be impossible. How to escape from a prison? How to leave a closely guarded area unnoticed? How to pass a great distance while facing heavy rain and carrying an infant?

Bhagavan makes the impossible possible for His devotees. For this reason and more they blissfully chant om namo bhagavate vasudevaya and other mantras in glorification of Him, who is their sustenance through times of difficulty, who is their reason for continuing on.

In Closing:

The source of inspiration,
And Vasudeva’s determination.

The reason for success to be,
Vivid proof of God is He.

So the name always to chant,
Making possible what I can’t.

Putting all contradictions to rest,
Devoted to Him this life blessed.

Four Ways Shastra Acts As The Trusted Source

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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The Sanskrit word is dvija. This means “twice-born.” The target goal for the human being is elevation; a higher destination. No more a life relegated to gratifying the senses, toggling between indulgence and renunciation. A higher potential for intelligence, which always belongs to the individual, who is spirit soul.

The mother and father facilitate the first birth. There is nothing unique in this case. The first birth reoccurs throughout history, in a host of body types. The second birth is of higher value. The human being has the opportunity to become dvija, after the fortunate encounter with the spiritual master, who serves as the father.

The nurturing agent for the dvija is Vedic literature, shastra. Sometimes the father may be in a distant place on business. Perhaps they have other affairs to tend to. In those times the mother is there to help. Reaching liberation, moksha, is not easy, and during moments of difficulty support is vital.

1. The trusted source for resolving doubts

Is God impersonal or personal? I read about the Brahman energy. We are all sparks in this collective. Amshas, fragments, belonging to the whole, shakti. Brahman is everything. Brahman is what remains past the dissolution of everything. Brahman never took birth and it never dies.

Is God just like us? Is He also Brahman? In many places in Vedic literature, the description is only of the impersonal. If that is the case, how can there be a God? How can there be someone who is both part of Brahman and distinct from it?

The doubt arises through my advancement in the purification of consciousness, and the same shastra is there to settle the doubt. Consulting the sacred text known as Bhagavad-gita, I find consistent reference to the personal, with Sanskrit words like aham and mama.

2. The trusted source for settling contradictions

The concepts of impersonal and personal is one incompatibility. There are more. God is both without eyes and with eyes everywhere. He witnesses everything, though He cannot necessarily see the way that we can.

Through further consultation with shastra, we learn that the personal God witnesses the pain and suffering of His devotees. He is there for them when they call upon Him for help. He is the same witness to sinful activities in the non-devotees. But since they never reach out to Him, He remains neutral, as if He never sees anything.

3. The trusted source of finding relief during a difficult time

The world situation at the moment frightens me. The worst kind of people are rising to power. In countries that boast about the supposed freedom of the people, no one is allowed to speak openly and honestly. Even silence is now taken as tacit approval for some type of behavior that the mob has deemed unacceptable.

I can consult shastra to help get me through. I learn of the situation for Vasudeva and Devaki, the proud parents of an eighth child known as Krishna. They suffered tremendously due to the wicked nature of the king of Mathura. They had to endure the loss of each of their seven children prior. They were stuck in prison.

Yet Krishna still arrived in front of them. The parents received visual confirmation of the personal side of the Divine. They did not simply worship in isolation or without action. Vasudeva made the brave journey across the Yamuna River in the middle of the night. The Supreme Lord helped him to succeed in the mission.

4. The trusted source for inspiration in the continuing fight against illusion

The troubles around me are a product of the illusory energy known as maya. Nothing is fixed. What seems dangerous today will only become worse tomorrow. Today’s issues get replaced with another panic situation in the future.

Shastra helps me to maintain proper perspective. I can see things more clearly, even though time has yet to make the full change for my body and the bodies of others. I can see the past, also, as how I have travelled through different births to arrive at this most important time. I have confidence in what the future will hold if I remain on the path of devotion, clinging to the lotus feet of Vasudeva’s son.

In Closing:

So much already done,
But now with Vasudeva’s son.

Across the ocean to bring,
Like father the son with him.

That birth and death no more,
Eternal living in store.

Shastra today the trusted source,
Guiding along proper course.

Why Do People In The Present Day Have It So Easy

“This age of Kali is not at all suitable for self-realization as was Satya-yuga, the golden age, or Treta- or Dvapara-yugas, the silver and copper ages. For self-realization, the people in Satya-yuga, living a lifetime of a hundred thousand years, were able to perform prolonged meditation. And in Treta-yuga, when the duration of life was ten thousand years, self-realization was attained by performance of great sacrifice. And in the Dvapara-yuga, when the duration of life was one thousand years, self-realization was attained by worship of the Lord.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.21 Purport)

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Friend1: You know, recently I was reading about the series of events that led to the advent of Shri Ramachandra, the avatara of Vishnu.

Friend2: From which work? Is this about the different causes, like Narada cursing Hari or Pratapabhanu making the mistake in trusting an old rival in the forest?

Friend1: This is from the Ramayana. I am talking about Dasharatha’s yajna.

Friend2: Oh, I see.

Friend1: The description is in great detail. No expense was spared. The chance meeting between that ruler of Ayodhya and the brahmana named Rishya-shringa. There was so much history for each person. I guess that is true whenever you speak of people meeting.

Friend2: Think of a marriage. The groom has his own past. The bride may have grown up in a different country. Differences in age. Yet somehow the world decides that they should meet. Higher forces at play.

Friend1: That is a great way to compare. What struck me here is the meticulousness. Everything had to be done properly. There was the head priest, Vashishtha, and also the officiating priest, the ritvik. Pronounce the mantra properly. Give in charity to the brahmanas.

Friend2: In great abundance. Cows and gold.

Friend1: The horse is involved. A certain way that it gets sacrificed. Then the chief queen, Kausalya, has to spend a night with it. I mean you couldn’t make this stuff up.

Friend2: Sure. In the Treta-yuga, the second age of the creation when dividing in terms of the greater timeline, yajna is the preferred way towards self-realization.

Friend1: In the preceding age it is meditation, dhyana. Afterwards, deity worship.

Friend2: Archana. For Dvapara-yuga, the period in which the same Rama appears but as the all-attractive Krishna, who belongs to the Vrishni dynasty.

Friend1: I got to thinking. Don’t we have it so easy, by comparison?

Friend2: Easy in what sense?

Friend1: There is no way we could come close to replicating Dasharatha’s sacrifice. That is what led to Rama’s appearance. That is how the king finally received a beloved son, someone to whom the kingdom would be passed.

Friend2: Those kinds of yajna are neither practical nor possible today.

Friend1: And if you read the history of saintly people, it is full of struggle. Tapasya. Austerity and penance. Friends and family turning against them. Compare that to today, where we get upset over the outcome to a reality television program. Our suffering is not having live sports on television to watch.

Friend2: Though the pain is exactly the same. We may think it is unfounded, in comparison, but the effect is no different.

Friend1: In having it easy, I mean in terms of our path towards self-realization. In this age of Kali, there is no other way except saying the name of Hari.

Friend2: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Friend1: Why do we get off so easy? Why don’t we have to struggle? Doesn’t it seem unfair to you?

Friend2: Well, despite the process being easy, how many people do you see signing up? Who is actually chanting these names?

Friend1: Hardly anyone.

Friend2: Then? Be thankful that there is the opportunity, that somehow you have been made aware. Do not spoil the chance. No need to feel guilty. The people before us have paved the way. They did the heavy-lifting, so to speak. They are more than happy to see countless people rescued as a result. When a king builds a bridge, even the ants are easily able to cross over. Let us find the shelter of the Divine, sharanagati, and never look back.

In Closing:

With raging river crossing we can’t,
But after bridge then even the ant.

So others before me paving the way,
That now only holy names to say.

Straightforward the process should be,
But how many participating see.

Blessing particularly for this time,
More impetus to fall in line.

How To Deal With Injustice From The Authority

“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।।

Friend1: Listen, when something goes wrong, when it is an emergency situation, you call the police.

Friend2: Where?

Friend1: In society, in general. A break-in. A fire. A domestic dispute. Sometimes, they even get called if there is a cat stuck high on a tree.

Friend2: I know they don’t like being on patrol in this way, but you are correct. Their duties seem to expand beyond the general cops and robbers scenario.

Friend1: Of course I am grateful. A civilized society requires law and order. You need a class of people to protect.

Friend2: The Sanskrit word is kshatriya. It is one of the four varnas, which mistakenly gets understood as castes today.

Friend1: What is the difference?

Friend2: Varna means “color.” It is a distinction, and in terms of maintenance of society varna is an occupation. Jati is “caste”, which is something different entirely.

Friend1: Like a status based on legacy.

Friend2: Dependent on birth. An occupation is based on work and qualities, karma and guna. The meaning of kshatriya is “one who protects against injury.” Whether you live in India or not, whether you accept Bhagavad-gita or some other scriptural work as authority, kshatriyas are always needed.

Friend1: As that is firmly established, how do we deal with rogue kshatriyas? The situation where the authority has gone beyond its limits.

Friend2: Where instead of upholding dharma they are following adharma?

Friend1: Dirty cops. Anger and resentment. Targeting innocent individuals. These things happen.

Friend2: Depending on who you talk to, they might believe that the entire system is corrupt, that every person in a kshatriya role is going the wrong way.

Friend1: That is exactly what I was going to say. How do we deal with these injustices?

Friend2: It is nothing new, that is for sure. Parashurama wiped out the entire kshatriya community once because of anger at such issues. Look at King Kamsa described in Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Friend1: The ruler of Mathura?

Friend2: Yes. He put his own sister in jail. She had done nothing wrong. Her husband was forced into that situation with her. Vasudeva and Devaki had to hand over each of their newborn children to Kamsa.

Friend1: He was paranoid about something a voice from the sky had told him.

Friend2: Whatever the case, is it right to put innocent people in jail? Do you know what Kamsa did with those children?

Friend1: He threw them against stone. Abortion in the most violent way.

Friend2: Can there be any greater injustice than that?

Friend1: Makes you feel sad.

Friend2: This is the way of the world, unfortunately. You can’t expect everyone to follow dharma. In Kamsa’s case the Supreme Personality of Godhead eventually arrived to deliver the punishment. Always have firm belief in that.

Friend1: That Krishna will take care of the issue?

Friend2: One way or another. Usually, karma-phala arrives at the appropriate time on its own. Shri Rama confirms this in the Ramayana. The consequence is commensurate with the original act in defiance of dharma. The degree of deviation gets rewarded appropriately.

Friend1: Okay, but sometimes we don’t get to see the punishment. The sinners stay where they are, untouched.

Friend2: Give it time. Be patient. Know that God is antaryami. Everywhere are His eyes. He witnesses everything, including our acts in devotion. Our prayers, our offerings, our heartfelt sentiments, our humble pleas, our noble attempts to remain conscious of Him – none of it goes unnoticed.

In Closing:

Though proper way knowing,
Sometimes cops rogue going.

So that people then to fear,
Of dire situation clear.

Justice how then handled,
Where authority living in scandal?

From Shri Rama’s teaching know,
That fruits in time for sinner to grow.

Two Factors In The Brahmana Community Becoming Poor

“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 not the typical direction following voluntary choice. Usually, a person seeks upward mobility. See the strife, anger and resentment in the world, and at the root will likely be envy of others.

“Just see how much they have. Look at what they have been able to build on the backs of privilege. They tortured my ancestors and now it is time for payback. Yes, I realize many of these people only arrived in this country within the last fifty years, but don’t get too cute. Because of their skin color, they are still enjoying off the privilege established by others before them.”

The brahmana community turns the other way. Poverty, sometimes to the extreme, and voluntarily accepted. They believe wholeheartedly in the recommendation of tapasya established by shastra, that the human life is meant for restricting enjoyment on the senses.

There are a few external causes, as well, involving an incident with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and one of His devotees.

1. Bhrigu’s test

There are three components to this world, as it relates to the effect of time. Creation, maintenance and dissolution. Vedic teachings reveal that there is a presiding deity for each. Three powerful figures are responsible for action at an inconceivable level.

Lord Brahma is the creator. He has many other names, like Svayambhu, Vidhata and Chaturanana. Brahma is something like the painter working on a blank canvas. The paint is supplied to him and he gets to work.

The resulting output is a variety of vessels. 8,400,000 unique types. Brahma’s work stops there. He does not populate the species with living beings. Those are eternal in nature and beyond Brahma’s control.

Lord Vishnu is the maintainer. He has a bluish complexion, is opulently adorned, and remains in complete relaxation. He is the one responsible for placing the living beings into the creation of Brahma. Vishnu maintains, and quite effortlessly. Life is what dominates matter, and Vishnu is the source of life.

Lord Shiva is the destroyer. When the time arrives, he annihilates to different degrees. There are cycles of a particular universe, involving population and the like, and then there is a destruction of the entire cosmic manifestation. Time is infinite in both directions, so there really is no such thing as a beginning and an end.

Bhrigu Muni one time settled upon a test to see which of the three deities is superior. He decided he would insult each of them and then judge the reaction.

2. Vishnu’s chest

Both Brahma and Shiva got angry, but Vishnu did not. In fact, the reaction with Vishnu was astonishing. Bhrigu had kicked the Lord in the chest, and Vishnu was not upset at all. He was afraid that Bhrigu might have injured his foot in the process. It is something like a parent not minding if their small child decides to jump on them in bed, while they are sleeping.

Though Vishnu was forgiving, His wife was not. Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of fortune, retaliated by cursing the brahmana community to be poor. In other words, she would generally not remain in their homes for long.

This is actually a blessing, for the brahmanas do not require much to carry on with life. Asceticism is their wealth. When the brahmana is a Vaishnava, there is even more impetus for eschewing sense gratification.

They may even worship Lakshmi and Vishnu together in the home. In this way, the goddess of fortune has an established presence, but not in the material sense. She is the beloved of the Supreme Lord, and so there is automatic love and affection from the devotee.

To be dear to Vishnu is to succeed in life, for the greatest benefactor is always in the background, ready to support the life in devotion, in whichever way it may turn. In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, the husband of Lakshmi remains a supportive well-wisher.

In Closing:

A voluntary choice for sure,
The brahmanas becoming poor.

Since tapasya recommendation made,
But also from curse long ago stayed.

Where Bhrigu making a test,
With kick to Vishnu’s chest.

Lakshmi not pleased at the time,
But blessing later to find.

Five Reasons Why I Might Feel Like The Entire World Has Gone Mad

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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1. The fake concern for a contagious virus

“Literally, it has been every company I have ever had dealings with. If they have my email address, they have contacted me. After a while it got to be so bad that I could recognize what was coming from the first few lines in the message. I did not have to read further down.

“The thing is, I tend to be rational. I keep a sober mind, dhira. I look at every point of view and form my own opinion by weighing the facts. I know for certain that none of these companies cares one bit about the spread of this supposedly deadly virus.

“I also know that viruses have been around since the beginning of time. Why weren’t these companies concerned six months ago? A year, two years, ten years – the same issue. Why weren’t they cleaning their stores and telling people to stay home if they were sick?

“You can’t talk sense into anyone, either. No use. The entire world has fallen for this hoax. They think that with an injection in the future they will be safe. None of us are! As soon as you take birth there is the steadily increasing risk of dying. It’s like a straight line, going up with time. Learn it. Deal with it. Contemplate it. You are a human being, which means you have a brain. Don’t let it go to waste.”

2. The fake concern for a specific cause

“Officially, our government is not communist. The people are supposedly free to express their opinions. But that is slowly changing. With whatever is happening on the news, public figures are pressured to comment. They must have a certain opinion, lest they be forced to apologize later on.

“If it is discovered that they said the wrong thing in a private conversation years ago, they must repudiate it. Every person must make an official announcement denouncing. The problem is these people probably speak the same way in private. The ones who are outraged are not saints by any measure.

“I know this from personal experience. This sympathy for a cause supporting a particularly affected group within the population is not genuine. A person makes their statement, professing their guilt for having been born a certain way, and then they move on. Nothing else to do. No change.

“How are people falling for this? Where is the outrage for the causes I am interested in? Why not actually do something instead of be forced to apologize? It is like someone has a gun to their head, and you can’t change hearts and minds through coercion.”

3. Widespread intoxication

“Everyone is drunk. Seriously. All the time. If you tell someone that you don’t consume adult beverages, they will look at you with a sympathetic face. They feel as if it is a tragedy. They wonder if something has gone wrong that you would be forced into making such a decision.

“There is so much available already, but they are clamoring to have more forms of intoxication made legal. They break the law to get what they want. They don’t care. To them, there is no other reason for living.

“Try having a conversation with someone on this topic and see how far you get. Actually, try having a genuine conversation about any issue. Something that has people for it and people against it. Everyone is glued to their screens. No manners. No etiquette. The world is descending into madness.”

4. Widespread violence against animals

“It looks like there are sympathizers for this cause, but it is still a small portion of the population. They don’t understand the significance of cows, either. They will not accept any information from shastra, which resolves contradictory principles. We should respect animals, but the cows deserve extra protection. Certain byproducts from living beings are unclean, but with the cow there is an exception.

“It is the cow which is the greatest target of violence. Killed by the millions each year. The same excuse made as was used to keep slaves hundreds of years ago. The animals are considered property, and the owners feel they have a right to do as they wish with their property. They fail to see the guaranteed rebound effects of this grossly sinful behavior.”

5. Widespread atheism

“Even the people that say they believe in God fail to understand Him properly. They think He is the exclusive property of a specific tradition, that only one book, available today after being translated many times over from the original, is the final word. Meanwhile, that book does not teach them the basics of spirituality.

“The hypocrisy and deceit from the popular faiths lead others to atheism. They simply deny what is preached to them. They go the other way. They repose faith in science, which is nothing more than observation and experiment.

“The worshiping tendency remains. This explains the widespread hatred for a particular political leader. The haters are essentially worshiping him. Once he is out of office, they will feel empty and alone. They will need someone else to hate. I don’t know how the world will survive in such bad conditions.”

…

It is very easy to think that there is no hope, that others will never see things our way. Especially, if there is dedicated devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is every chance of losing the support of friends and family, at an alarming rate.

We can look to the situation in Mathura during the advent of Shri Krishna. Vasudeva and his wife Devaki had no support. They were imprisoned for the crime of being mentioned by a voice in the sky, akasha-vani. It told the leader of Mathura, Kamsa, that Devaki’s eighth child would be his doom.

The couple then lost their freedom. Put in jail due to the irrational fear of Kamsa. No support. No outside help. No sympathizers. Yet the origin of everything, the first person, adi-purusha, would appear within their family. He showed His four-handed form of Narayana as confirmation of Divinity.

The baby, known as Krishna, asked to be transferred to the nearby town of Gokula. This occurred in the middle of the night. While everyone was asleep, within the clutches of the illusion that dominated them, Vasudeva managed to escape with Krishna in his arms.

When he reached the banks of the Yamuna River, more trouble. Further obstacles. Nature standing in his way. He could not catch a break. But this time Krishna was with him. The obstacles were cleared. The river provided safe passage. Ananta Shesha Naga protected Vasudeva’s son from the pouring rain.

Those pillars of support remain to this day. Shri Krishna is all-pervading, and during the most challenging moments we have the opportunity to remember Him and rely on Him for comfort, protection, safety, hope, and inspiration. We can reach out to Him through sound: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Leaders to fake being sad,
Events turning on single news bad.

That not even a conversation to have,
Like entire world having gone mad.

With worst conditions so,
Vasudeva’s son to glow.

From effulgence the path to alight,
Support even in toughest fight.

There’s Nothingness Everywhere

“Shri Rama’s holy name is like a numeral, and all religious practices are like zero. When the numeral is not there, zero means nothing. But when it is present, the resultant value increases tenfold.” (Dohavali, 10)

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नाम राम को अंक है सब साधन हैं सून |
अंक ग_एँ कछु हाथ नहिं अंक रहें दस गून ||

nāma rāma ko aṃka hai saba sādhana haiṃ sūna |
aṃka ga_em̐ kachu hātha nahiṃ aṃka raheṃ dasa gūna ||

Friend1: There’s a new trend emerging within society, and I don’t like it.

Friend2: The killing of innocent animals? If that is the case, I have some bad news for you.

Friend1: No; I understand that has been going on since before anyone can remember. I think Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that the practice starts with one generation and then picks up momentum moving forward.

Friend2: Which validates the concern from Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita about family traditions being destroyed:

उत्सन्न-कुल-धर्माणां
मनुष्याणां जनार्दन
नरके नियतं वासो
भवतीत्य् अनुशुश्रुम

utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ
manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana
narake niyataṁ vāso
bhavatīty anuśuśruma

“O Krishna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell.” (Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, 1.43)

It takes just one bad person to set a new trend. Then each successive generation can say they are merely following the ways of their ancestors.

Friend1: I feel that is happening today, but in terms of institutions. Churches. News organizations. Big businesses. They were founded by a particular leader. Someone who legitimately merits praise.

Friend2: They had good qualities.

Friend1: Yes. They were true to their craft. Now, today these institutions are run by the worthless children, metaphorically speaking.

Friend2: People who lack qualifications.

Friend1: To the highest degree imaginable. This trend that bothers me is that something occurs in the news. Then every leader feels the need to respond to it.

Friend2: What kind of news?

Friend1: It could be anything. A contagious disease. Mass protests. The reaction is so fake, to me. These people are only commenting on what they feel others want them to say. I don’t need to hear any of it. Just carry on, like always.

Friend2: There is pressure from within.

Friend1: But no one has sympathy for my issues. The killing of children in the womb. The massive unemployment caused by tyrannical government rules. Sending innocent cows to the slaughterhouses by the millions each year. Where is the solidarity with my concern?

Friend2: Yeah, that is simply not going to happen.

Friend1: That’s why the outrage is fake to me. No one really cares about these issues they are emailing me about. They confess their supposed guilt and then move on. Nothing actually gets done. It’s starting to worry me.

Friend2: Why is that?

Friend1: Because it feels like nothingness everywhere. The entire world has gone mad. Are there not any sane people left?

Friend2: This is the result of forgetting God. Plain and simple. That is the root cause. When you don’t have Him in your life, then everything is like zero.

Friend1: I know that is true, but I would at least like to have some people I can rely upon to be rational. It is like the entire world is under the spell of illusion.

Friend2: The acharyas are there to help us. Think about it. Even if you follow spirituality, you could reach the same conclusion. The Mayavadi sees nothingness everywhere, and they are supposedly immersed in Vedic teachings.

Friend1: Vedanta.

Friend2: The right acharya is required. Goswami Tulsidas compares basic religiosity to a bunch of zeroes. When you add the Supreme Lord Rama, then the zeroes take on a value. Put a one in front of a zero and you have ten.

Friend1: Or one in front of six zeroes. Then you have a lot more.

Friend2: It is a comparison to help us understand God to a degree, but know that the happiness from true surrender to Him, where I realize that He is a person and someone very dear to me, cannot be compared to anything else. That is why noble, honorable and dependable people like Sita Devi, Lakshmana, and Hanuman follow Rama to the ends of the earth.

In Closing:

Upon news opportunity to take,
To display outrage fake.

Commiserate and guilt sharing,
But not for issue really caring.

Nothingness like this everywhere,
Even in spiritual life aware.

But like one to zeroes of value’s length,
When standing on devotion’s strength.