How Were The Pandavas So Forgiving

“Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhishmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.43)

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सूत उवाच
कृष्ण एवं भगवति
मनो-वाग्-दृष्टि-वृत्तिभिः
आत्मन्य् आत्मानम् आवेश्य
सो ऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत्

sūta uvāca
kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati
mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ
ātmany ātmānam āveśya
so 'ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

“I know that in my experience, forgiveness is difficult. That probably explains the reason people of other faiths tend to harp on it. Forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones. Don’t harbor resentment. Let go of the past.

“Well, that is easier said than done. For me in particular, I have a difficult time setting aside political differences. I follow the news closely. Not necessarily what the corporate media types push upon us, but digging deeper into the issues. I try to be as fair and objective as possible, and then make a rational decision accordingly.

“I see that others around me are consumed by hate. They make up stories to justify their positions. It’s ridiculous, if you ask me. These are grown adults, with children. Some of them are trusted professionals in society, such as doctors and teachers. How can anyone take them seriously after studying the hateful material they post online?

“This brings me to the story of Bhishma. He lay on the battlefield, body filled with arrows, ready to depart this world after defeat against Arjuna, the leading bow-warrior of the Pandava side. By any rational estimation, Bhishma chose the wrong party to support. His politics were off. He aligned with Duryodhana, who was so wicked as to question Bhishma’s loyalty.

“In the famous image, we see the Pandava brothers approaching Bhishma. Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is with them. I’m wondering how the Pandavas could be so forgiving. This was an enemy releasing arrows with lethal intent just moments prior. How could they forgive? Why did they not lose respect for Bhishma, considering that he made a mistake in lead-up to the Bharata War?”

The Pandavas went to Bhishma at the urging of Krishna, who is the well-wisher to the entire species. Though Duryodhana was aligned with adharma, or sinful life, Krishna was also wishing him well. The son of Yashoda tried to avoid hostilities, acting as a sort of mediator between the two parties.

As a reward for that peaceful approach, Krishna learned of Duryodhana’s plan to capture and bind. Krishna could only laugh at the proposal, as who will find enough material to cover the entire universe and more? Because that is one manifestation of that son of Yashoda, who is the origin of the material and spiritual energies.

Despite our turning away from the service to the Divine for countless births, the position as well-wishing friend is fixed. That is to say at any time I can make the turn in the direction of Krishna, who happened to be Arjuna’s charioteer in the great conflict.

Bhishma remained steady in devotion, even if his politics may have fallen on the wrong side. This material world is full of nuance and detail, with the tide changing so rapidly that people get a headache trying to keep track of which way is right and which is wrong.

Fighting nobly for the Kaurava side was not a negative on Bhishma’s spiritual assessment. He was soon to merge into the spiritual energy, associating with Krishna’s four-handed, personal form of Narayana. As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada comments, this is the perfect way to die. Every human being should pass from this world in the way of Bhishma.

As he is one of the twelve mahajanas, Bhishma was able to impart valuable wisdom to the Pandavas prior to leaving the world. That is the reason for the approach. A person may be a bitter rival, an enemy in the ordinary estimation, but if they are devoted to Shri Krishna they have something valuable to share with others. At the very least, they have attachment to the holy name, which others can hold on to for rescue: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

With valuable knowledge to give,
So not necessary to forgive.

That Bhishma improperly aligned,
In him pure devotion to find.

Enough that merging properly so,
Since of Shri Krishna to know.

The consciousness fixed and sure,
For best fate assured.

Passing Away A Winner

“Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhishmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.43)

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सूत उवाच
कृष्ण एवं भगवति
मनो-वाग्-दृष्टि-वृत्तिभिः
आत्मन्य् आत्मानम् आवेश्य
सो ऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत्

sūta uvāca
kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati
mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ
ātmany ātmānam āveśya
so 'ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

“You will often hear others lament when the end is approaching. That is to say when they know they are on the verge of moving on to the next life, they review the one they just experienced. The regrets come to mind, for whatever reason. That which they wanted to do but never got around to. Those places they wished to visit, those people they wanted to see, those words they said but later regretted.

“Heartbreaking it is when such a person reviews their many failures. Perhaps they wanted to succeed at something but were never able to. Now time has run out. There is no future opportunity. How do we avoid such a fate? Is that even possible?

“I look to someone like Bhishma, who lay fallen on a bed of arrows through taking part in the Bharata War. He lost, though no one was able to defeat him previously. He quit his body, though it appeared that he would otherwise live forever. He fought on the wrong side, the one aligned with evil. He went against his own interests, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna, was the charioteer for the leading warrior of the opposition.

“Is not such a passing ignominious? Why is Bhishma celebrated so? Is not the duty of a warrior to succeed? Wouldn’t someone be full of regret if they were conscious of their failures at the time of death, especially with something as meaningful as a great war?”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada states that the human being is meant for dying like Bhishma. This is due to consciousness. We should be fully aware of the Supreme Lord, cognizant of His name, form and pastimes, and desirous to maintain association with Him moving forward.

There will be another life. Nothing can kill the imperishable soul, atma. It was never born and it never ceases to be. What we see as death is merely a changing of bodies, like switching garments in the fitting room of a retail outlet.

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरो ऽपराणि
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णान्य्
अन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro 'parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī

“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22)

To die in any other way is to die like an animal, which means that the next birth depends on the laws of nature. It could be high or low. Moving or nonmoving. In the sea or on land. As a tree or as a bird perched on a branch. As the son of a high court judge or a child in the womb facing a knife.

Though in the material estimation Bhishma was a failure, he actually attained perfection. It is for this reason that his rivals, the ones responsible for the bed of arrows, approached him on the battlefield. They went to seek counsel on all important matters. It was something like a knowledge transfer that occurs in the corporate environment, when an important employee leaves the firm.

Shrimad Bhagavatam describes the travel as merging. One soul into another. The individual soul, atma, merging with the Supersoul, Paramatma. This is the meaning of yoga. The merging here is just a formality, as Bhishma is always conscious of Shri Krishna. He is one of the twelve mahajanas, or authorities on devotional life, mentioned by Yamaraja, the god of justice.

In truth, success or failure is not entirely in our hands. One person tries their best to start a business and break out on their own. Another person attempts the same, within the same industry. One person is successful while the other is looking for work in a few years. They are equally as capable, but for whatever reason the outcomes did not align identically.

Shrila Prabhupada explains that we have the potential to finish as victorious as Bhishma. We don’t need to enter a battlefield or witness Shri Krishna directly. The name of the Absolute is identical to Him, so if we chant the maha-mantra it is just like merging into the pastimes of the eternal one, who is all-compassionate towards His devotees: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

All-compassion giving,
To those devotional living.

So that outcome whatever,
To find something better.

Where Bhishma on battlefield to fall,
But greatest passing to call.

Since of Krishna aware,
A perfect transfer there.

What Is So Bad About Merging Into The Absolute

“Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhishmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.43)

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सूत उवाच
कृष्ण एवं भगवति
मनो-वाग्-दृष्टि-वृत्तिभिः
आत्मन्य् आत्मानम् आवेश्य
सो ऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत्

sūta uvāca
kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati
mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ
ātmany ātmānam āveśya
so 'ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

“You will often hear His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada denounce the achievement of merging into the Absolute Truth. This is a kind of liberation, or mukti. Vedic teachings go beyond blind faith and hoping for an afterlife that is heavenly or good. That is to say there is much more detail into the nature of living moving forward, after this life completes.

“If you are actually realized in the self, in knowing the difference between matter and spirit, you are eligible for mukti. In the simplest terms, this is release from the cycle of birth and death. No more spinning on the wheel of suffering. Like clothes placed into a drying machine, at the mercy of the constant spinning, so the conditioned living entity falling to the material world travels from one body to another, enjoying and suffering commensurately.

“Mukti is therefore important. It is the rarest of achievements. The spiritual science is so nuanced and detailed that there isn’t only one kind of mukti. You can enjoy the escape from reincarnation in a variety of ways. One of those is merging into the Absolute, or Brahman.

“Prabhupada compares this to a hellish existence. It is like losing your identity. He says that devotees never prefer this kind of liberation. The question I have relates to Bhishma, one of the heroes of the Mahabharata story. We read in Shrimad Bhagavatam that he merged into Narayana at the end of life.

“He was lying on a bed of arrows, a fallen soldier in the great Bharata War, waged on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Though he was fighting on the side opposite of the Pandavas, those five brothers approached the dying Bhishma and received counsel on matters ranging from statecraft to life and death itself.

“If merging is so bad, why did Bhishma do it? Is he not considered a devotee of the Lord? He was looking at Krishna at the time of death, so how could he travel into a stateless existence?”

Though the word merging is used, the mukti received is different from that of entering the Brahman effulgence, which the impersonalists seek. Devotees consider that to be a hellish existence because of the lost opportunity to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Real liberation is engaging in this service, which goes by names like bhakti-yoga, bhagavata-dharma, and even sanatana-dharma. As Maharishi Valmiki explains in Ramacharitamanasa, devotees of the Supreme Lord don’t mind going to hell, even. This is because they always see the Almighty standing close by as their preferred deity, ishta-deva.

Bhishma’s departure from this world embodies that truth. He saw Shri Krishna as the four-handed Narayana, who is the source of men. God is one, but He may appear differently based on the time and circumstance and also the role to play within His creation.

Bhishma knew that Krishna is the same as Narayana, yet he still preferred to worship Narayana. This was the merging that took place at the end of life, and it did not signal a loss of identity. The impersonalists worship something like a void, the shadow of the spiritual energy, which is thus lacking any distinguishable features.

Every recommendation from Prabhupada and the acharyas is for giving the highest benefit an existence has to offer. It would be like receiving a kitchen appliance in the mail. One person recommends using it as a sort of coffee table in the living room. The appliance is large enough to hold items off the ground while a person is seated on a sofa.

The wise teacher, however, reveals how the appliance can be used to assist in the kitchen, in preparing palatable food. This is a superior utilization, and in the same way the spiritual master within the Vedanta school advises to use the vibrancy of spirit combined with the superior human form for serving God in a mood of love. This is better than removing an existence altogether through merging with Brahman.

A liberated person is certainly entitled to their preferred way of living in the afterlife. The mukti of merging into the Absolute is real and available to those reaching the rare achievement. At the same time, there is a vulnerability to falling back down, as identity and individuality cannot remained suppressed forever.

Whereas devotional service at the highest levels continues uninterrupted and without motivation. Someone like Bhishma will continue to worship Narayana, wherever he may find himself. He may even be on the losing side of a military conflict, aligning with the worst people in society, but the connection to God remains.

In Closing:

Bhishma leaving on the verge,
Described that then into merge.

With eyes on Krishna attention,
Consciousness key retention.

Not that identity losing,
Service to preferred choosing.

Devotees following this way,
Always with Supreme to stay.

Five Situations Where Time Might Run Out

“As long as one does not inquire about the spiritual values of life, one is defeated and subjected to miseries arising from ignorance. Be it sinful or pious, karma has its resultant actions. If a person is engaged in any kind of karma, his mind is called karmatmaka, colored with fruitive activity. As long as the mind is impure, consciousness is unclear, and as long as one is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 5.5.5)

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पराभवस् तावद् अबोध-जातो
यावन् न जिज्ञासत आत्म-तत्त्वम्
यावत् क्रियास् तावद् इदं मनो वै
कर्मात्मकं येन शरीर-बन्धः

parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto
yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam
yāvat kriyās tāvad idaṁ mano vai
karmātmakaṁ yena śarīra-bandhaḥ

1. Application for a scholarship

“I cannot explain to you the level of sadness. Defeated, and for no good reason. They had announced the timeline on the loudspeaker in the morning at school that one day. There would be scholarships available for those graduating and entering college the next year. We simply had to fill out a form and give it back by a specific date.

“Well, that happened to be weeks into the future. I put the application away somewhere and completely forgot about it. There were no reminders. Then it was too late. By the time I remembered, the deadline had passed. I tried submitting the application anyway, but the school denied me. I was late by one day.

“I couldn’t believe it. They then had an awards ceremony to announce the winners. We were seated on the stage, even if we hadn’t submitted the application. One by one I saw my classmates winning, while I just sat there. Parents were in the audience. It’s a traumatic moment that I seldom intentionally revisit.”

2. Applying for a mortgage

“Record low rates. A way to boost housing sales during tumultuous economic times. With businesses closing down and people losing their jobs, the government wants to make sure that the real estate market doesn’t crash. To help sales, they have lowered interest rates to levels never before seen.

“Well, it took me a while to find a house that I liked. Then there is the process of making an offer, negotiating a counteroffer, signing a contract, and running an inspection. By the time I was ready to apply for a mortgage, the low rates weren’t available anymore. I was quite disappointed, as the only reason I decided to purchase a home was because of the financial incentive.”

3. Visiting a sick relative

“This happened to a friend of mine. They were just with their ailing mother. It was a long distance travel, halfway across the world. When their stay ended, when they had returned home, the mother passed away. Time ran out. They thought she had more time remaining, but things don’t always work out as planned.”

4. Improving my health

“I see so many others with health problems. I see pictures of myself taken by others at social gatherings. I know that something needs to be done. I am on the wrong track. I need to eat better and exercise more. That won’t prevent disease entirely, but it will surely help.

“The problem is procrastination. There is the saying, ‘Start on Monday.’ I know that I have to change my ways, but I keep putting it off. I use the excuse that for now I will continue to indulge, but on Monday things will be different. It doesn’t work out that way, most of the time. I need to change today, immediately; otherwise before I know it time will run out.”

5. Planting a garden

“We bought a new house, and one of the reasons was the extensive land in the backyard. I have always wanted a bustling garden, to eat fresh fruits and vegetables grown from it. Well, I kept putting it off. I was ready to get started, to plant the seeds and everything, but other responsibilities got in the way. Now wintertime is approaching and I missed my opportunity.”

…

In so many ways we put off important tasks until tomorrow, but there is no guarantee that tomorrow will come. Everything could end in an instant, as we are living in vessels that are something like bubbles which float in the air. No one knows for sure to which direction they will carry and how much force will cause the bubble to dissipate.

With the human birth, the clock starts ticking immediately. There is urgency from the very beginning. The Sanskrit aphorism is athato brahma-jijnasa. Inquire into Brahman, which is the spiritual energy. Inquire immediately, because the same chance is absent in births in other species.

This inquiry is worthwhile and brings substantive results. In the material world, there is always defeat. Even soaring to new heights of achievement, there is the eventual crash to the bottom. Shri Rama explains how for the ripened fruit there is no other fate than to fall, so the adult human being has no other fear than death.

यथा फलानां पक्वानां नान्यत्र पतनाद्भयम्।
एवं नरस्य जातस्य नान्यत्र मरणाद्भयम्।।

yathā phalānāṃ pakvānāṃ nānyatra patanādbhayam।
evaṃ narasya jātasya nānyatra maraṇādbhayam।।

“As a ripe fruit has no other fear than to fall, so a man who is born has no other fear than death.” (Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 105.17)

Better to learn about the spiritual science today, even if it is only at the entry level. This is the distinction between body and spirit, becoming aware of my identity as Brahman. I am part and parcel of the collective spiritual energy, and there is a corresponding source, who can be known as Parabrahman.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो
मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते
इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां
बुधा भाव-समन्विताः

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.8)

We are one and the same, and simultaneously different. The Supreme never has to inquire into anything. Parabrahman is never in illusion. Rather, everything emanates from Him, and the wise who know this engage in His service.

In Closing:

Time now running out,
Success endeavor without.

Many cases this way so,
This direction and that to go.

Most urgency on spiritual need,
How in transcendence to proceed.

Discovering my spiritual identity true,
How different and identical too.

Why Can't The Asuras Leave Well Enough Alone

“Then I, resembling a cloud and having molten-golden earrings, made my way into Vishvamitra’s ashrama, for I was very proud of my strength due to the boon given to me by Lord Brahma. As soon as I entered, Rama quickly noticed me and raised His weapon. Though He saw me, Rama strung His bow without any fear.” (Maricha speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 38.16-17)

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ततोऽहं मेघसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।
बली दत्तवरोदर्पादाजगाम तदाश्रमम्।।
तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः।
मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुस्सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार सः।।

tato’haṃ meghasaṅkāśastaptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ।
balī dattavarodarpādājagāma tadāśramam।।
tena dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo’haṃ sahasaivodyatāyudhaḥ।
māṃ tu dṛṣṭvā dhanussajyamasambhrāntaścakāra saḥ।।

Friend1: You know what I was thinking the other day?

Friend2: No.

Friend1: That if the bad people of this world just left everyone else alone, there would be peace and prosperity. Maybe not at a perfect level, but one that is significantly superior to the conditions today.

Friend2: What makes you say that? In what ways are they harassing today?

Friend1: It seems like you are getting attacked from every corner. Since most of the world has these elections to decide who runs the government, the worst of the worst have taken advantage of the opportunity to inject mass control.

Friend2: You mean liars, cheaters, thieves, and so forth are running for office and getting elected?

Friend1: Absolutely. They forgive certain crimes, based on constituency groups, and then criminalize normal behavior, like walking around outside, going to the store, running your business, and so forth.

Friend2: There is a saying going around. “Rules for thee, but not for me.” Something like that.

Friend1: Yeah. They go nuts over a mask mandate, for instance, and then you see that they never wear masks when out in public. They know it’s a giant farce, yet they have so many innocent people fooled.

Friend2: That is a hot-button issue, for sure.

Friend1: They’ve shut down religious gatherings. That bothers me the most. How are people not protesting this? What a huge infringement on the rights of the citizen. Are we going to look at everyone as a set of germs, now? Is that a healthy outlook to have moving forward?

Friend2: I don’t know. We’re living in troubling times, for sure.

Friend1: Unnecessary harassment. Give these leaders some money, send them off to an island to live happily ever after, and we can go about our lives.

Friend2: You will be surprised to learn that this issue has been ongoing since before anyone can remember. In terms of Vedic literature, it is presented as the struggle between the suras and the asuras. In other words, the good guys against the bad guys.

Friend1: Good versus evil. The perennial problem. Dating back to the beginning of the creation.

Friend2: In the Ramayana we find the horrible situation of the sages living in the Dandaka forest. Okay, we acknowledge that civilized society has its defects, which can often be traced to the leaders. But here certain members of the priestly class left everything behind and went to live in areas known as tapo-vanas. Forests conducive to austerity and penance.

Friend1: Isn’t that what every parent within Vedic culture is afraid of? That their children will end up learning Vedanta and renouncing the world as a result?

Friend2: Exactly, but the fear is usually rooted in the missed opportunity for enjoying the senses, earning a lot of money, getting married, and so forth. There is hardly concern over personal safety. The sages should have been fine in the tapo-vanas. The problem is that even there the asuras had to attack.

Friend1: Why? How?

Friend2: Sages perform yajna, which is sacrifice. Pouring oblations into a fire. Chanting sacred mantras. The offerings work their way up to the heavenly region, feeding the demigods, who are known as suras. The asuras cannot leave well enough alone. They seek to diminish the influence of the suras.

Friend1: But why? If someone else wants to be religious, why should I care?

Friend2: Think of it as eliminating opposition. Defeating your competitors. If I want to live a life of sin, stealing and killing, then I can’t have others around who will shine the spotlight on my deeds. Better to get rid of them. Like a society without police.

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: And so these asuras, in this case man-eaters known as Rakshasas, would attack in the night. Without prior notice, in disguised forms, right at the time the yajnas were set to complete. In many cases, they would kill the sages and eat their flesh.

Friend1: What in the world? That is horrible.

Friend2: You’re telling me. This is described in the Ramayana by one of the Rakshasas. Maricha was successful many times, but on one occasion there was a youth guarding the yajna of Vishvamitra Muni. This youth was Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya.

Friend1: The Supreme Lord.

Friend2: Yes. In any manifestation He retains full potency. He successfully protected Vishvamitra and others. Maricha took with him a lesson never to be forgotten.

Friend1: I guess that same spirit of instigation and interference remains.

Friend2: No one is ever safe in this material world. There is danger at every step. Ultimately, we can only rely on the same Rama. He will help us if we really want Him by our side. This desire can be made known through the steady chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Like by Rakshasas shown,
Never to leave people alone.

Who their own business minding,
Forest ideal for yajna finding.

But Maricha surprised one time,
When Rama in defense to shine.

So relying on Lord the same,
Through chanting holy name.

Are Not The Rules For Husbands and Wives Outdated

“Even if I stay with You for hundreds of thousands of years, I shall not feel any loss. Even residence in the heavenly realm is not preferred by me.” (Sita Devi speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 27.20)

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एवं वर्षसहस्राणां शतं वाऽहं त्वया सह।
व्यतिक्रमं न वेत्स्यामि स्वर्गोऽपि न हि मे मतः।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ śataṃ vā'haṃ tvayā saha।
vyatikramaṃ na vetsyāmi svargo'pi na hi me mataḥ।।

“I was recently reading the section in the Ramayana where Sita Devi makes the case to her husband for accompanying Him in the exile period of fourteen years. This was a remarkable decision on so many levels, not the least of which is juxtaposition in lifestyles. The dramatic shift from a royal palace with servants to take care of your every need to a place full of bugs and mosquitos, with barely anything enjoyable.

“The stay would last fourteen years, but there was no doubt in Sita’s mind. Rama could do nothing to convince her otherwise. She made the case that the decision was in line with dharma, which can be translated as ‘righteousness’ or ‘religion.’ It was the wife’s duty to serve the husband. She referenced many such rules supporting the principle.

“I understand that these were not made up, that Sita grew up in Vedic culture and followed it, but just compare to the situation of the world today. People would laugh at some of these statements if they ever heard them. They would get angry and upset, offended that others are telling them to be supportive toward someone they may not even like anymore.

“Don’t you think these principles are outdated? Should we have new rules to match the conditions of society at present? Or is there still some validity, some worth, to the original teachings?”

It must be stated at the outset that Sita’s presentation was more like a lawyer arguing her case in court. Her husband, Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, received a bad hand. Poor luck. An ill-fated attempt from the step-mother to gain a personal favor at the expense of others, all rooted in intense envy instigated by her servant.

Sita would not let Rama suffer in the forest alone for fourteen years. She made up her mind to follow Him, and to support her decision she essentially used the law against her husband. She knew that Rama was keeping attention to dharma, to following duty as best as possible. Her arguments would be ironclad; no chance to refute.

It should also be acknowledged that the material world is one of duality. High and low. Hot and cold. Up and down. Birth and death. A joyous occasion for one person, a solemn moment for another. The farmers are thrilled at the impending rainstorm, while the airline passengers stranded at the airport are seething with rage due to impatience.

This means that even sometimes the rules governing marriage and the ideal roles for the participants can be detrimental. But the recommendations are there to provide guidance in the general sense, to give happiness to society as they hopefully progress towards perfection of the consciousness.

As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada likes to say, the human birth is meant for tapasya. This is voluntary imposition of austerity and penance. Not punishing yourself for no reason. No trying to win the contest of renunciation, to boast in front of others.

Rather, restrict sense enjoyment for the higher interest, paramartha. Keep attention on long-term pleasure, shreyas, instead of the immediate happiness from sense interaction, preyas. The rules within marriage can be considered in this light. A way to restrict sense enjoyment, to be in vairagya, though also in yukta, with the connection to another human being, living together for many years.

The one rule is never outdated; that of devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the real dharma of the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi Devi, who maintains her attachment to her husband, Narayana, wherever they may find themselves. She can live in the greatest palace designed by Vishvakarma, the architect of the demigods. She can also stay in a thatched hut constructed by Rama’s younger brother Lakshmana.

There is no difference to her, since she is always connected in consciousness to the Supreme Lord. This provides visual evidence of the otherwise theoretical principle of true happiness being found only in yoga. We can get a taste today by starting a routine of chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. We initially arrive for the intrigue of a different way of living, and we ultimately stay for the unending bliss provided through the non-different association.

In Closing:

I came here for something new,
I stay for joy and bliss too.

Because always by His side,
Like in Vaikuntha to reside.

The choice of Sita Devi explaining,
From regal life abstaining.

So that with husband to be,
Whose lotus feet to see.

How Do We Defeat The Insistence Based On Credentialing

“The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikshvaku.” (Bhagavad-gita, 4.1)

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श्री-भगवान् उवाच
इमं विवस्वते योगं
प्रोक्तवान् अहम् अव्ययम्
विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह
मनुर् इक्ष्वाकवे ’ब्रवीत्

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ
proktavān aham avyayam
vivasvān manave prāha
manur ikṣvākave ’bravīt

“I hope I am able to phrase this question properly. It is more something I know in my head, based on natural responses to what I hear and see around me, but I have yet to express it to someone fully. But I know that I am right, that there is some defect with the other side.

“For the purposes of this discussion, I will use the label ‘credentialing.’ You see it on television all the time. The experts say this. The experts say that. According to the experts, we should behave a certain way. We should listen to the experts instead of acting on our own.

“Well, I have come to the conclusion that this is a mechanism for stifling debate and suppressing common sense. As an example, from common sense I know that breathing should not be obstructed. In the general case, making exceptions for medical practice and other occupations which can become hazardous.

“There is nothing more healthy than walking around and breathing normally. Yet the experts are now telling everyone that they are diseased patients who need to cover their faces. Not just once or twice, but practically all the time. In some places people cannot exercise inside of a gym without covering their face.

“Common sense tells me that will lead to so many problems. Breathing is fundamental to living. I shouldn’t have to say that, but just see how low we have descended in society. If you raise any objection based on common sense, you will be censored. The other side uses their so-called experts to debunk your idea, even though the experts have admittedly lied and been wrong on so many important issues in the recent past.

“How do we get passed this concept of credentialing? It seems very dangerous to me. If we are choosing spiritual life, which is the most important decision in the human existence, someone can easily bring their expert along to say that it is a bad decision. ‘The experts say that there is no God. Science has disproven the concept of an eternal, supreme living being.’ Do you see what I am saying?”

This proves to be an undeniable reality of life. No matter who you are, what you believe, what desires need to be fulfilled, there is always some trust extended. Faith towards the news-anchor. Trust in the scientists. Faith in the politician.

Genuine spiritual life is no different. Though the science of self-realization stands unique in that blind faith or dogmatic insistence is not the primary mechanism for assimilation, there is still some faith involved.

As an example, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra the bow-warrior Arjuna heard Bhagavad-gita directly from His teacher, Shri Krishna. The principles alone established the validity of the presentation. A person can make up their own mind when hearing, comparing against what competing philosophies teach.

Yet even within that presentation we find some level of credentialing. Shri Krishna explains that the same teachings were given to the sun-god at the beginning of creation. That science descended through the generations, passed down from teacher to student, who in turn became teacher.

If I am to know the highest principles of an existence, I should be able to ask every question there is. Leave no doubts on the table. At the same time, I should approach the right person. This step involves some faith extended, but there is little risk.

If I follow the wrong expert in health and medicine, I could end up diseased. If an expert tells me that placing a hand in fire will do no harm, I will not be benefitted. The king named Pratapabhanu went to a fake spiritual guide and became cursed in a future life, as a result.

This means that we should apply some discrimination. Use common sense. See if the so-called expert is free of defects. Determine what they consider to be the highest objective in life and see if it aligns with what a spiritually minded person would think.

Shri Krishna has the highest credentials, as He explains in detail exactly how the creation comes to be, how it is populated, how the inhabitants fall into illusion, and also how they can be rescued. Simply turn in the direction of the all-attractive one, whose wisdom spans the ages, and be forever enlightened from the pages.

In Closing:

Striking from turning pages,
Wisdom spanning the ages.

In Bhagavad-gita book bound,
This valuable treasure found.

From Krishna authority commanding,
Alone on principles standing.

But still credentials in parampara to be,
So that any suspicion to free.