Why Are There Multiple Versions Of The Same Story In Hari-Katha

“Devaki was very much afraid of her brother Kamsa because he had already killed so many of her children. She used to remain very anxious about Krishna. In the Vishnu Purana it is stated that in order to pacify Devaki, all the demigods, along with their wives, used to always visit her to encourage her not to be afraid that her son would be killed by Kamsa. Krishna, who was within her womb, was to appear not only to diminish the burden of the world but specifically to protect the interest of the Yadu dynasty, and certainly to protect Devaki and Vasudeva.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 2)

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“For me, the most enjoyable aspect of bhakti life is Krishna-katha. Also known as Hari-katha, these are discourses about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How He appears in this world. When and where the magical moments take place. The reaction of the fortunate participants. The countless life lessons to be gleamed through the narratives. The reward awaiting the attentive listener at the end.

“I don’t know of any other tradition which is comparable. Ordinary stories are nice to hear; of that there is no doubt. Our parents and grandparents told us many while we were growing up. Some of them we asked to hear repeatedly while falling asleep.

“Krishna-katha is of a different category. Everything seems fresh and new, like Krishna Himself, who is nava-yauvanam. How many times have I seen a painting of young Gopala reaching His lotus-like hand into a jar of butter? I have heard the associated story many times, and never was I bored. It fails to be tired and old; at least to me.

“One thing I’ve noticed, though, is the variation to the stories. You have what is written in the books, like Bhagavata Purana. They say such and such occurred and then something happened afterwards; beginning, middle and end. In other books, equally as authentic within the Vedic tradition, you have a slight variation or two. Maybe the sequence is different. Something extra added.

“With the famous Ramayana history the variation is so great that people argue endlessly as to which version is the correct one. Is this the case of the telephone game extending out hundreds of years? An original incident, passed on through an aural tradition, where there is a slight deviation with each person in the chain? Otherwise, how do we reconcile the differences?”

The idea is that the Divine descents occur simultaneously in the unlimited universes. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada makes the comparison to the clock. It is a certain time of day, locally. Yet across the globe, it is a different time of day. Whatever time of day we choose, it is always that time somewhere in the world.

In the same way, Shri Krishna is appearing from Devaki’s womb at this very moment somewhere. The primary accounts we find in Bhagavata Purana and other similar works, but there is additional information from other universes and other witnesses. Harivamsha may provide additional details. Maybe the Vishnu Purana has a slightly different version of events.

We should also consider the cycle of time. The creation appears and disappears. Maybe in the most recent appearance, Shri Krishna did things a certain way, and in the next one there will be a different ordering to the events.

There is no reason to stress over the disparities. Sometimes the same author will give multiple versions of a single event, such as with Goswami Tulsidas. In his Janaki Mangala poem, the events are more aligned to the Ramayana of Valmiki, while in the Ramacharitamanasa, there is stronger similarity to what is described in the Adhyatma Ramayana of Lord Shiva.

This should not surprise us. Shri Krishna is unlimited, or ananta. There are countless ways to describe. One person pays special attention to His stealing of butter in Vrindavana, while another focuses on the timeless wisdom presented to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the work to be known as Bhagavad-gita.

The Supreme Lord never leaves us in the dark, to only imagine over His features, His disposition, and His whereabouts. He provides as much information as we need, feeding the insatiable appetite of the devotees to always have His association.

In Closing:

Urgent desire the need,
Please more pastimes to feed.

So Harivamsha can also read,
Where sometimes different event to lead.

So discrepancy arising,
But not actually surprising.

Since everywhere and all the time,
Krishna in many universes to shine.

Can I Be Taught To See God

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.6-7)

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ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि
मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्-पराः
अनन्येनैव योगेन
मां ध्यायन्त उपासते
तेषाम् अहं समुद्धर्ता
मृत्यु-संसार-सागरात्
भवामि न चिरात् पार्थ
मय्य् आवेशित-चेतसाम्

ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi
mayi sannyasya mat-parāḥ
ananyenaiva yogena
māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate
teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt
bhavāmi na cirāt pārtha
mayy āveśita-cetasām

“I understand that the believers can see all the time. Never for a moment do they feel that He is absent from their lives. They laugh at the challenge from the atheists to be able to prove the existence of an Almighty figure through sight. The concept that He would be invisible seems silly to them.

“But what about for the non-believers? Those who have yet to reach a revelation, who may not have even thought about what lies beyond, who aren’t necessarily spiritual – how do they see? Is it something you can be taught? Or it is based on your character, how you were born?

“How is someone who is down on their luck, struggling through life, going to believe that God will save them? What if they keep waiting and nothing happens? Won’t they be drawn towards atheism, as a result?”

Just as we can be taught to drive a car, to read words on a page, to repair a broken cooling system, to construct a house, to recognize different bird calls in the wilderness, we can certainly learn how to see God everywhere.

First learn the truth. Someone must inform me that God is everywhere. Someone has to explain the concept of God, beyond an imaginary figure living above the clouds, old and angry while looking down at the population of sinners on earth.

सर्वतः पाणि-पादं तत्
सर्वतो ऽक्षि-शिरो-मुखम्
सर्वतः श्रुतिमल् लोके
सर्वम् आवृत्य तिष्ठति

sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādaṁ tat
sarvato ‘kṣi-śiro-mukham
sarvataḥ śrutimal loke
sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati

“Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes and faces, and He hears everything. In this way the Supersoul exists.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.14)

The guru fits the role; they are happy to do it. They do not discriminate between language at birth, country of origin, or the occupation of the ancestors. In other words, the guru understands that anyone can be taught to see God everywhere, that every living being is eligible for receiving the Divine vision, of being lifted up to soaring heights.

The Almighty is everywhere through His expansion of Supersoul. He is not absent from any space. This is a fixed position, which means that in spite of the changing condition of the world, wherever we see life we should know that God is there.

Until we receive proper training, we continue to lack the eyes to notice the presence of Supersoul. We mistake a rope for a snake, our temporary happiness for lasting achievement, and this lifetime as the only one we’ll ever have. The misassumptions are rooted in illusion, and the guru helps to dissipate the false reality.

After I learn to properly see, I have the potential to realize that the omnipresent God is also a person. That individual is the most powerful, having the most potency at His disposal. Through His unlimited mercy, He uses ability to rescue me. The delivery is quick. It is like I am on a sinking ship and He arrives with an extended hand, ready to pull me up to safety.

Just as the vision is there for everyone, so is the hand of rescue. The distinction is in making the attempt, in looking up, in realizing that the all-attractive one is standing by, ready to end the cycle of birth and death and take us back to His imperishable kingdom, where He enjoys in His transcendental form of Shri Krishna.

In Closing:

Always closely standing by,
Not necessary difficult to try.

For this reward and that,
Or perfection at craft exact.

Just inward turn,
After training earned.

Guru teaching this to me,
How Divine everywhere to see.

I Got Revenge And Now I Feel Bad

“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: Have you ever wished ill on someone?

Friend2: You are basically asking if I am a human being. I would hope so.

Friend1: Seriously. Think back to a time. Maybe it was yesterday or a week ago. Perhaps many years into the past.

Friend2: Was this a case of revenge? Hoping that some bad luck would come back the way of someone who was deserving?

Friend1: Yes, that could be one of the cases. You maybe had some proper justification. They did something wrong and you wanted them to receive the proper punishment.

Friend2: Okay, I can relate to that situation many times, as can most people.

Friend1: Was there ever a case when the revenge arrived?

Friend2: Of course. Too many times to count.

Friend1: And how did you feel?

Friend2: What do you mean? How was I supposed to feel?

Friend1: Did it make you happy to see the other person suffering?

Friend2: Oh. I see where you are going with this. An interesting life lesson, for sure. I definitely didn’t feel great. I was more surprised that the karma came back.

Friend1: Something you may only think about but never thought to be true.

Friend2: More like I thought it was true, but it was just interesting to see the events play out. Are you interested in getting revenge on someone?

Friend1: No, but I had a similar experience. I was dumbfounded that a specific person was doing so well in life, considering they didn’t deserve it.

Friend2: Why wouldn’t they deserve it?

Friend1: That was just my opinion. I know it was silly. Envy played a large factor. A comparison in terms of life situations.

Friend2: Assessing based on where you are compared to them?

Friend1: Exactly. Anyway, I bring this up today because that same person now had something bad happen to them.

Friend2: Oh, really? Are you happy?

Friend1: Not in the slightest. I feel doubly awful. One, I don’t think they deserved to have such misfortune fall their way. Second, I regret ever wanting something bad to happen.

Friend2: Do you feel as if it was your fault?

Friend1: Not that. More like I am disappointed in myself for falling so low as to be jealous of someone else. I should be better. I should know better.

Friend2: If you were a celebrity, you could use the line, “That’s not who I am.”

Friend1: There you go. I like that. What do we do in such cases? How do we resolve the issue, from beginning to end?

Friend2: Shri Hanuman makes the comparison to a bubble. In the Ramayana, he is speaking to a newly-turned widow, who is strongly lamenting the loss of her husband. Hanuman says that in this world in which we live, where every person resides in something like a bubble, no person is really poor or better off.

Friend1: Because the fragility is equal.

Friend2: Vulnerability to death. The bubble is the perfect comparison, because it can break so easily.

Friend1: Sometimes accidentally.

Friend2: And so fortune is the same way. Almost by chance, someone is doing well today, and tomorrow they are down on their luck.

Friend1: We know that it isn’t chance.

Friend2: Yes, there is the foundation of action and reaction. Work and consequence. The comparison to chance is based on the unexpected nature of the arrival, which is due to the influence of time.

Friend1: As everyone is living in a bubble, there is no reason to be envious.

Friend2: My bubble isn’t any stronger than yours. It may seem that way from time to time, but it’s not. Complete everything in this life. Finish the evolution of the soul’s travels through different bodies. Make this stint inside the bubble the last one. Reach for liberation, the release from the cycle of birth and death, with the subsequent travel a return to the spiritual body living in the eternal, imperishable realm.

In Closing:

That person finally earned,
After revenge for yearned.

Not feeling so great,
That now in desperate state.

Hanuman to bubble comparing,
That equally as vulnerable faring.

So in that short amount of time,
Way towards transcendence should find.

Isn't There A Glaring Flaw With Viewing God As An Order Supplier

“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.” (Queen Kunti speaking to Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.25)

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विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत्
तत्र तत्र जगद्-गुरो
भवतो दर्शनं यत् स्याद्
अपुनर् भव-दर्शनम्

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat
tatra tatra jagad-guro
bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād
apunar bhava-darśanam

“Something I was contemplating the other day. I’ve noticed that the people pushing religion, the belief in God, the reason to look above instead of only around, tend to have the justification rooted in personal experience. Moreover, it is a positive one.

“Let me try to explain. They believe in God because they can’t understand how so much good fortune fell into their life’s experience. If they were blessed with comfortable living, fame, positive notoriety, wealth, or just general happiness in day-to-day life, they feel support from a higher power.

“They want others to believe on the same basis, that God will benefit them immensely, if they only were to allow Him into their lives. The issue I see is that this tends to push away those in the reverse. I think Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura mentions this, as well. If God is great because He benefitted me, does that mean He is not great to those who are struggling?

“Not everyone is pleased with how life turned out. If there is struggle, turmoil, chaos, tumult, difficult times, or despair, wouldn’t that provide a person sufficient justification to go against religion? Would that not then invalidate the first position, where a person believes only after receiving, where they attribute the honors to the man upstairs?”

It is only natural to look to higher authorities for meeting desires. We think we are in control. We think that through human effort, paurusham, we can completely effect outcomes, directing them for our benefit. Shri Krishna confirms in the Bhagavad-gita that we are indeed not the doer.

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि
गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः
अहङ्कार-विमूढात्मा
कर्ताहम् इति मन्यते

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

As we quickly learn that outside help is necessary, why not turn to someone who can make anything happen? If God were to exist, He could surely assist. He would be able to hear my prayers and answer them in a timely manner. He would be kind upon me based on my allegiance, on my having approached Him for help.

The problem is that God is meant to be much more than an order supplier. Prayer is not for conducting business. Worshiping is not for a temporary benefit, one that will be erased with the unstoppable passage of time.

In the bhagavata tradition of spirituality, the Supreme Lord is known as Hari. One of the meanings to this word is a person who takes away. That is correct, if I worship Hari, I might actually lose everything dear to me. This is for my benefit, as I don’t really know what is good for me. How can I, since I have been in illusion since before I can remember? If I can mistake a rope for a snake, I am surely vulnerable to misappropriating priority to that which will cause harm.

In Shrimad Bhagavatam, we have the wonderful prayer of Kunti Devi. She and her sons have been through a lot. Being close to the avatara known as Krishna did not pay off for a while. Following dharma only made them sitting targets for those following adharma. They lost home, honor, prestige, and control of a kingdom that was rightfully theirs. They came close to losing life, as well.

Despite the difficulties, Kunti looks back on the story fondly. This is because the distress increased her devotion to Krishna. She was more with God during those times than she could remember otherwise. She prays to continue in distress, if it means further remembrance and reliance on the Supreme Lord.

Whether good or bad, in times of abundance or scarcity, in total freedom or forced captivity by a tyrannical government, Hari is our greatest well-wisher. The association is enough to purify, and whatever He chooses to do is accepted happily, with the situations used for further worship, which is blissfully performed.

In Closing:

If only for my benefit to be,
Then just the fortunate to see.

Others not then to believe,
Since gifts never to receive.

From Bhagavata better understanding getting,
That God not just for our orders setting.

Whether falling low or reaching high,
Best on Him to always rely.

Is Hanuman’s Heart The Same As Everyone Else’s

“O sinless one, certainly, how can any king accomplish his objectives if he doesn’t have such a messenger working for him?” (Shri Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 3.34)

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एवं विधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत्पार्थिवस्य तु।
सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतियोऽनघ

evaṃ vidho yasya dūto na bhavetpārthivasya tu।
siddhyanti hi kathaṃ tasya kāryāṇāṃ gatiyo’nagha

“You see many images of Shri Hanuman if you are living within Vedic society. This could be at a temple environment or someplace where everyone is naturally devoted to the principles of sanatana-dharma, as passed down through the generations.

“The mistaken assumption is that the tradition is polytheistic, but in truth there is only one Supreme. The distinction is that He is described in countless ways. The recounting of His past achievements, His endless glories, and the promise of His future mercy delivered to the surrendered souls continues to this day, and so the volume of published Vedic literature is ever-expanding.

“Within that tradition, those devoted to the Supreme also receive ample glorification. Hanuman falls within that category. He is known as the greatest devotee of God’s incarnation on earth of Shri Ramachandra, the prince of Ayodhya.

“One image I am particularly fond of shows Hanuman down on one knee, tearing open his chest with his hands. Inside are the Divine couple, Sita and Rama. I understand this is meant to be symbolic, but is it not the same for everyone? Is not God within the heart? Why this image only for Hanuman and not others?”

The truth cannot be denied. It is as basic as any other law of science which man has discovered. The core of living lies within the heart. The battery, the power supply, the spark, so to speak, of any living thing is the spirit soul. This fragment of the original and total spiritual energy has tremendous potency.

The same sized soul powers both the human being and the elephant. The tiny ant and the large tree standing in the forest for thousands of years. The person equipped with expert intelligence to solve complex math equations and the elephant of tremendous strength.

The soul is responsible for the vibrancy; its presence is what indicates life. The soul is within the heart, and close by is another instance of spirit. This is the identity of the Supreme Lord. In this feature He is known as Paramatma. Supersoul. He expands for every living thing, but His identity remains one. He is not divided, though it appears that way.

Another distinction with the Supersoul is interest. In this feature God is a neutral observer, which explains how one person can take to criminal activity and another chooses to defend the innocent. Both the burglar and the police officer have Supersoul inside of them, sanctioning the choice to behave in a certain way.

The image of Hanuman shows explicit devotion to the personal feature of the Almighty. Beyond Supersoul, someone who does take an interest in affairs. In the personal form, Supersoul is known as Bhagavan. He always has His pleasure potency next to Him. This is the goddess of fortune.

Hanuman worships Bhagavan as Shri Rama, who is accompanied by Sita Devi. The devotion is pure, steady, and without motivation. Hanuman is always ready to serve, and reciprocation does not factor into his decision. He gives rather than takes. He wants nothing for himself. His life and soul are Sita and Rama.

The image serves as inspiration for others, who want to be liberated in the same way, who are seeking a well-wisher without flaws, who maintains His companionship from lifetime to lifetime. Hanuman has the best qualifications, as confirmed one time by Rama to His younger brother Lakshmana. Hanuman was in the role of chief minister to the Vanara-king named Sugriva.

Rama rhetorically questioned how any king could get their work accomplished without having a trusted aide like Hanuman in their corner. It is quite difficult, but thankfully that fearless servant is still in this world to provide guidance, for helping us to cross the finish line in the battle against repeated birth and death.

In Closing:

Not for chance to await,
Hero in perpetually ready state.

Whether from mountain to descend,
Or part of platoon to send.

For the earth searching through,
Propelled ocean over Lanka to.

Always in same way to proceed,
Hanuman our inspiration indeed.

Five Things My Supposedly Satanic Leader Taught Me

“Ishvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakriti (nature), eternal time and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature and time are eternal.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)

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The arguments are unavoidable. The conflict is inevitable. The competition is bound to occur. The differences are real. The Sanskrit word is vishesha. A distinction in the tradition of spirituality, in the manner of worship.

One side has their savior and the associated book. They are of the firm belief that anyone not subscribed to their ideas is destined for a hellish existence. A fate impossible to be rescued from, after the fact. Eternal damnation. No second chances. You either accept right now, today, within this lifetime, or miss the chance.

Your side worships differently. There are tall statues colorfully decorated and surrounded with pleasant aromas. There are corresponding lifestyle changes. Abstinence outside of the marriage institution. Non-violence towards all animals, to the best extent possible. A repetition of prayers, not out of fear or the need for something gained, but rather for the pleasure of the person to whom they are directed.

Total and complete happiness, both inside of the worship space and outside. A change in consciousness. A culture covering life completely, from beginning to end, from morning until night. A resulting happiness from knowing the connection every living being has to this almighty figure.

As the culture stands out from others, of course there will be disagreement. Some members of the first side cast aspersions. They try to reduce the credibility of the tradition with which they are unfamiliar. In the harshest assessment, they declare everything to be satanic.

“You are worshiping these false gods. You will pay dearly for that. Don’t accept these statues as saviors. They are nothing. Do not be led astray. God will not forgive you for this mistake.”

As a natural response, a wise person can only chuckle at the differences as to what is gained. This supposedly satanic leader, who happens to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, covers five topics in one of the most famous books associated with the culture. If another tradition even offers an attempt at explaining similar issues, then perhaps there could be a debate on equal footing.

1. Ishvara

The book of reference is Bhagavad-gita, but in Vedic culture there can never be only one book. This is because the person worshiped is unlimited in His glories. The Sanskrit word is guna, and right away we notice a distinction. There is a description of who God is, rather than a focus on whether He exists.

Ishvara is the most generic term for describing the Almighty. It speaks to His position as great controller. In the most basic understanding, knowing that God is in charge. He is the boss. What He says goes. No one is above Him. He cannot be compelled to do anything.

2. Jiva

Bhagavad-gita covers these five topics and more, and other Vedic texts reinforce the same truths, with variations in presentation. Sometimes there are historical accounts. They give examples to support the ishvara description. They show how God is great. Even Bhagavad-gita could fall into that category. It is the song of God. Shri Krishna speaking the wisdom of the ages.

Jiva is not ishvara. These are the living entities, and they belong to their own category. They are controllers at the local level. I made the decision to rise out of bed this morning. I will volunteer to run errands during the day, such as picking up milk, juice and bread from the store. I sit in front of the computer and tackle problems from work.

It is easy to get fooled by the repetition of success in the exercise of control. Just because I am able to command the body in so many ways does not mean I am ishvara. The events of birth and death provide the most obvious evidence.

I had no choice as to where I was born. It just occurred, as it does for everyone else. Similarly, despite my best efforts to avoid the end, one day I will be forced to leave this world. The body stays behind, and the entity that continues forward is jiva.

3. Prakriti

The jiva is the individual living entity, and the body they temporarily inhabit is prakriti. This is the material nature. The association is not permanent. I could not remain in my mother’s womb forever. I no longer have the body from childhood. To those who say you only get one life to live, we could respond that there is only one childhood, then. It has since passed, and where are you now?

You and I are still here. We will continue to exist, as that is the nature of jiva. The differences and distinctions will be due to prakriti, which is an inferior energy. Matter is dull and lifeless; it cannot do anything on its own.

अपरेयम् इतस् त्व् अन्यां
प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्
जीव-भूतां महा-बाहो
ययेदं धार्यते जगत्

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ
prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām
jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho
yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat

“Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.5)

4. Eternal time

The Sanskrit word is kala. This also means “death.” Kala is the agent for change. I look different today compared to ten years ago. I appeared in my mother’s womb because of kala. Time will be the cause of my eventual departure.

This time is eternal, and it operates on the creation. It has yet to see defeat. There is the fantasy to one day be able to stop time, but everyone inherently understands that is not possible. Kala is an important truth to learn; hence its inclusion in Krishna’s presentation.

5. Karma

This is the missing piece. We know that ishvara is in charge of everything. The jiva souls interact with prakriti, and there is constant change through the influence of time. Karma is the specification. It is because of karma that we have the changes that we do.

This explains why certain people never reach the age of rational thought, where they can make a decision one way or another with regards to a savior. Some people are born poor, while others have a silver spoon in their mouth. Some people live for a long time, while for others life is cut short.

These topics alone warrant a lifetime’s worth of study and more to fully understand. Let others bring similar knowledge to the table; lest they be accused of following blindly, of lacking intelligence, of living like animals, of not knowing anything about the Almighty. The followers of Bhagavad-gita can continue to be happy in their connection in yoga, always chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Wealth of information bringing,
Through Bhagavad-gita singing.

That not first birth of mine,
Operating undefeated is time.

That boss above and over me,
Influence in all spheres can see.

Karma for variety manifesting,
Liberation potential in everyone resting.

How To Win The Game Of Dogmatic Insistence

“Ishvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakriti (nature), eternal time and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature and time are eternal.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)

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Friend1: If someone were to say to you that Vedic culture is satanic, that it is a mark of the devil, what would your response be?

Friend2: Laugh in their face.

Friend1: It is something the itinerant preacher faces. Strong opposition. People who are firmly entrenched in their position.

Friend2: Dogmatic insistence. That is the term used by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I love it.

Friend1: But the people making the argument don’t think it is dogma.

Friend2: Consider it this way. Any person can pick up a book, read it, like it, and then declare any other person who doesn’t follow that book to be a heathen.

“You are going to hell unless you follow me. What is my justification, you ask? Well, I have my book. What do you have?”

Friend1: I could have my own book, I guess. My own savior.

Friend2: There you go. Then it is a competition amongst preference. It is like debating which sports team is better.

Friend1: Which has no resolution.

Friend2: Because it is rooted in duality. We should be on the same team here, so to speak. God is not the exclusive property of any single group, ethnicity, country, gender, etc.

Friend1: Because God is all-pervading. He is the Almighty for every single person.

Friend2: The other side offers no explanation as to the fate of the people who never get the opportunity to make a conscious decision.

Friend1: What do you mean?

Friend2: A small child, the one who has yet to learn to read. They can’t choose in favor of that particular book. They don’t know what books are. What if life ends prematurely, before that decision can be made?

Friend1: I don’t know.

Friend2: Well, are they condemned to hell? After all, they didn’t accept the savior.

Friend1: I wish I had an explanation for you. I’m sure people speculate as to a destination, but they are more or less guessing.

Friend2: Moreover, why did the child end up in that position to begin with? Why weren’t they allowed to make the choice?

Friend1: You mean, why do some people live a long time and others do not? Those are great questions.

Friend2: Yes, and so you dare call some other tradition satanic? What does that say about your intelligence?

Friend1: I am not here to judge. I am just reporting on what occurs out in the field, so to speak.

Friend2: That supposedly satanic tradition is older than anything else. The original language, Sanskrit, is preserved. Every type of material analysis into history agrees that Sanskrit is the first language of this world.

Friend1: That’s true.

Friend2: There are too many sacred texts to count. The voluminous nature is accounted for, since the Almighty is unlimited. You could glorify Him until the end of time, and the number of recorded impressions would only increase.

Friend1: Okay, but people do have certain texts that they hold on to as most dear, like Bhagavad-gita.

Friend2: And what does that text teach?

Friend1: It is the spoken word of God, directly. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna.

Friend2: More than that. From that supposedly satanic culture you will learn who you are, where you stand in relation to the Almighty, how material nature operates, the influence of time, and the science behind action and reaction.

Friend1: You mean karma?

Friend2: Yes. Can anyone else offer a comparable level of understanding?

Friend1: Oh, there is no dispute here. The others are completely lacking. They likely wouldn’t even ponder such questions. They are not allowed to dig too deep.

Friend2: Then why is man gifted with the ability to think? Why would God give us enhanced intelligence? To torture us? To keep us in the dark?

Friend1: I don’t know. Doesn’t make sense to me.

Friend2: Yes, then sit back and listen to people who do make sense. Arrive on the playing field with some answers; otherwise better to keep quiet and rethink what is actually satanic, like the killing of innocent animals in the slaughterhouses, the erosion of the marriage institution, and the total suppression of rational thought and genuine inquiry into higher topics.

In Closing:

That Vedas as satanic to claim,
Insisting their tradition not the same.

Better now the savior to accept,
Or eternal hell in afterlife expect.

But of variety in life no explanation forthcoming,
Why differences in stay of going and coming?

Bhagavad-gita with answers and more,
Providing most understanding sure.