Gaura Purnima 2021

“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Shri Krishna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 7.128)

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यारे देख, तारे कह ऽकृष्णऽ-उपदेश
आमार आज्ञाय गुरु हञा तारऽ एइ देश

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

It is something we may not realize. The understanding is always in the explicit sense. Outgoing, directly interacting with others, with a purpose. Teaching them this lesson or that. Instructing others in a way to improve their standing in life, perhaps even touching upon the afterlife.

Often overlooked is our ability to influence by simply being who we are. Living life a certain way. Waking up at a certain time. Carrying out specific duties. The eloquence with which we speak. The way we treat others, especially those who cannot do anything for us. The things we value most, and those things we don’t consider to be of utmost importance or relevance.

On the occasion of Gaura Purnima we celebrate the golden avatara of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left a lasting legacy in His short travels in this realm of birth and death. Unlike previous incarnations of the Supreme Lord, He instructed mostly through example.

His life was hari-kirtana, from start to finish. While still an infant, He induced others to chant the holy names of Hari, which is one way to address the Almighty, specifically referencing His feature of removing obstacles and distresses from the path of devotion.

Baby Nimai, as He was known then, would only stop crying when others would engage in kirtana. As struggling parents will admit, they are willing to do practically anything to pacify an infant who is upset. Whether it be rocking them to sleep, placing them in the car seat and driving around the neighborhood, placing the bassinette next to a humming appliance in the home, or simply singing lullabies.

In the home of Jagannatha Mishra, Nimai would only respond to the holy names. He did not yet have the ability to speak, yet He was still able to communicate an important message. This proves the truth that bhakti-yoga is ahaituki and apratihata. Unmotivated and uninterrupted, nothing can check the outpouring of pure devotion.

This is because God Himself is in control. A life dedicated to Him may find ups and downs, bumps along the road, but reaching the destination is guaranteed. The mode of transport could be something as simple as repeating those holy names, which Mahaprabhu chose to make prominent.

Gaurahari, as He was also known, gave others the formula for becoming a guru in the explicit sense. Wherever you go and to whomever you meet, simply explain Krishna and His transcendental instructions, such as found in Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam.

His verbal instructions were brief by comparison, as Mahaprabhu taught mostly through example. The way He lived, always chanting and dancing, showing endless compassion and mercy to others, not judging based on circumstances of birth, but at the same time adhering to the basic social etiquette of the time.

Through His example, we know that we similarly have the ability to influence. If we are always chanting the holy names, others may not immediately follow, but at least the example will be set. The surrounding walls and non-human life will hear the transcendental sound: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

I may try to instruct others directly, but no one is listening. I may see everyone around me mired in sin, but if I remain pure then there is a higher standard for someone to compare. One day they might take an interest, and when they do the subsequent liberation they achieve will be due to the grace of Shri Chaitanya, who is the most munificent avatara to ever appear in this world.

In Closing:

Out of mercy came here,
For holy names to hear.

And my life to save,
Showing way to behave.

That always in devotion immersed,
Holy names widely dispersed.

Mahaprabhu getting credit all,
For my future standing tall.

Five Things That Can Be Destroyed In An Instant

“He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.31)

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क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा
शश्वच्-छान्तिं निगच्छति
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि
न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā
śaśvac-chāntiṁ nigacchati
kaunteya pratijānīhi
na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati

1. A car

“You have no idea how long I had my eye on this. I was thinking about this car for months. I wanted it so bad that I saved up money. I declined lunch invitations from colleagues at work. I cancelled cable television at home. I wore shoes that had holes in them, since I didn’t want to purchase anything else unless I absolutely had to.

“My diligence, resourcefulness, and frugality paid off. I eventually bought the car I wanted, in the color I preferred, just in time for my birthday. No candles needed for me; this brought more happiness than I could ever describe.

“Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending. One day, while stopped at a red light, a series of collisions involving other cars led to severe damage of my own. I escaped the ordeal safe and sound, but I could not say the same for the vehicle I was in. I am still devastated, to tell you the truth.”

2. A house

“It is where I grew up. I had my room, with every cherished possession. I felt most comfortable there. Whenever I travelled someplace else, I missed my house. I wanted desperately to return. I was there in the beginning, when the lot was empty. I saw this place from beginning to end of the construction.

“Sadly, a recent weather event destroyed the entire place. Nothing on the block was spared; my home was not the only one part of the devastation. There was literally nothing that could be done to save it. This is what they refer to as, ‘An act of God.’ I don’t know why God would want me to suffer like this, but I have the rest of my life to figure that out.”

3. A business

“This is really unbelievable. You have these smartphone manufacturers and they invite people to develop and sell applications on their store. It is a tremendous business opportunity. Make money without having to directly engage with a customer. No physical storefront necessary.

“Well, we built a really popular app. It recently exploded in sales after a much larger, established company started removing customers due to political differences. We really had nothing to do with this company, yet in one of the most brazen moves in collusion, our app got banned from the store.

“We can still survive without people using the app, but then the company that hosted our data decided to shut us down, also. No prior notice. We hadn’t done anything wrong. We were simply doing too well, threatening that larger company with a competing business. This is a sick world that we live in, where high paid actors are really no different than thieves that enter the home and steal everything that you have.”

4. A political regime

“The leader of the country can be sitting pretty. They are doing a good job and they have mass approval from the population at large. The election comes and they start pulling away, winning big on election night. Then in a few states they intentionally stop the counting. What follows are massive dumps of votes, which are almost one hundred percent for the other candidate.

“Everyone sees the stealing; it is done in broad daylight. Yet the opposition party has control of the media, the courts, and even members of the current leader’s party. Despite doing everything right, they are ousted. The country boasts of its freedom and the free and fair elections, but it is really no different than a banana republic.

5. A friendship

“We go back years and years, since childhood almost. We talk on the phone regularly. We have each other’s backs. We have disagreements every now and then, but they usually don’t last. I would define a close friend as someone you can make fun of. You can say anything to them and it won’t matter.

“Well, my definition was obviously invalid. Recently, the friendship crumbled. Over political differences, of all things. I don’t really care how someone else votes, but we had a discussion about certain issues. I brought up specific facts challenging the friend’s assertions. That seemed to upset them. They ran away from the argument and then from me, entirely. Oh, well.”

…

It is the business of saintly people to build a life of devotion, instead. This is their primary focus. They are well aware of the dangers lurking in every corner in this material world. Nothing will remain fixed; not even well-established masses of land. Mahadeva, the great destroyer, has the scheduled appointment to annihilate everything at the appropriate time.

The life in devotion does not perish. The Supreme Personality of Godhead passes along this truth to Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita. The life may and certainly will end at some point. Arjuna did not remain in this world forever. He fought valiantly in the Bharata War and eventually won. His brothers then ruled the world through control of the kingdom of Hastinapura.

That did not mean they would stay here forever. The consciousness they built through that devotion to Krishna is what remained moving forward. This can never be destroyed. No intruding force can move my thoughts away from the all-attractive one, who has had my interests in mind since before I can remember.

He will always protect my devotion, provided I have the desire. Saintly people following in the Vaishnava tradition do not take chances. They follow routine practices to support and stabilize their goal of a purified consciousness. If I simply chant the holy names and avoid bad association, I will be able to withstand the attacks of this dreaded world of illusion: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Illusion of world dreaded,
To only dispair headed.

Constantly psyche attacking,
Vulnerable when knowledge lacking.

But saintly people rescuing me,
Enabling clearly to see.

And life of devotion to build,
Where days blissfully filled.

Why So Focused On Where To End Up

“The Blessed Lord said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!” (Bhagavad-gita, 4.5)

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श्री-भगवान् उवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि
जन्मानि तव चार्जुन
तान्य् अहं वेद सर्वाणि
न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
bahūni me vyatītāni
janmāni tava cārjuna
tāny ahaṁ veda sarvāṇi
na tvaṁ vettha parantapa

Friend1: One of the more profound verses from the Ramayana relates to the greatest fear in the human being.

Friend2: A Sanskrit shloka?

Friend1: I am referencing the Ramayana of Maharishi Valmiki. A historical work of epic length set into beautiful poetry. Every verse is profound, but I am speaking from personal observation. In other words, this verse resonated with me the first time I came across it.

Friend2: I see.

Friend1: I could look up the exact context to be more accurate, but from what I remember there is a conversation between Shri Rama and His younger brother Bharata.

Friend2: They are two of four sons to King Dasharatha of Ayodhya.

Friend1: I think this is where Bharata is trying to convince Rama to return home, to go back to Ayodhya. Never mind the fourteen year exile period. Forget the words of the father, who wouldn’t break the promise made to Queen Kaikeyi.

Friend2: Dasharatha had already left this world by then. Bharata was mortified, as this was the scheme of his mother, Kaikeyi, for his benefit. Yet Bharata wanted no part of what he viewed as an illegal coup attempt.

Friend1: In discussing how easy it is to discard dharma and the principles of righteousness, Rama mentions how the greatest fear for a human being is death. The comparison is to the ripened fruit.

Friend2: That hangs off a tree.

Friend1: There is no other fate than to fall. The growth has already taken place. Similarly, for the mature human being the only thing to contemplate is the end, which is inevitable.

Friend2: Or at least try to forget what you know will happen. It is the guaranteed fate for every person who takes birth.

Friend1: One thing I was thinking is that people fear the future so much, but what about the past?

Friend2: What about it?

Friend1: Where were we?

Friend2: Somewhere.

Friend1: But how do we know?

Friend2: In the same way that we will exist in the future, know that we existed in the past. As we know we were in the womb based on the trust extended to the word of the parents, we can take it on faith from the spiritual guides that we existed somewhere in a previous life.

Friend1: Okay, but where exactly? Do you, I, or anyone else know?

Friend2: We cannot remember. Shri Krishna makes the stipulation in Bhagavad-gita. Arjuna, the disciple, has lived before. Many prior births, in fact. He cannot remember them, but Krishna can.

Friend1: Which would make sense. God has perfect memory. He is omnipresent. He knows what is occurring in every corner of the universe at every second. He is witness to the good and the bad. He sanctions results to activity, without being an active participant.

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)

Friend2: As He gives permission for the results to action to manifest, so He is in charge of the transmigration of the soul within material nature. We know for certain that we existed prior.

Friend1: My point is that we don’t freak out over the past. A million years ago, I was somewhere. Does anybody lose sleep over that?

Friend2: No.

Friend1: Then why be so concerned about the unknown future? Why make death the primary fear?

Friend2: You are speaking logically. Your words are rooted in intelligence.

Friend1: I understand that we should try to influence destiny. There is nothing wrong with that. But if a person is so afraid of dying, they should be equally afraid of having lived before.

Friend2: Makes sense.

Friend1: I will invest full faith in the Supreme Lord, instead. If I have to be somewhere, either now or in the future, I want to be by His side: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Wanting to be by His side,
Wherever in future to reside.

Already many births passed,
Thousands of years moving fast.

So why of future to fear?
Or of end drawing near.

Consciousness fixing today,
Transcendence the only way.

Why Didn't Lakshmana Mount A Coup

“O Rama, You should know that just as fish cannot survive when taken out of water, neither Sita nor I can live without You for even a moment.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 53.31)

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न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव।
मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविनोद्धृतौ।।

na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāhamapi rāghava।
muhūrtamapi jīvāvo jalānmatsyāvinoddhṛtau।।

Friend1: After reading the Ramayana story enough times, you sort of get used to the events. You accept what happened without challenging anything.

Friend2: What would you challenge? That it isn’t actual history, that it is made-up?

Friend1: Oh, no. Not that. I certainly believe that Rakshasas exist and that you can be favored by the demigods to the point of dominating the world through devious tactics. I certainly believe in God and His ability to defeat these wicked characters through just bow and arrows.

Friend2: Then what is there to challenge?

Friend1: Maybe that is not the right word. For instance, when Rama gets banished from the kingdom of Ayodhya for fourteen years, we just accept it as a tragic event.

Friend2: We understand the lamentation of the people. We can relate with King Dasharatha, who had to make the tough decision.

Friend1: Okay, but can we relate? Why did the king have to agree to Kaikeyi’s requests, which were rooted in envy?

Friend2: He had previously promised her any two boons of her choosing. There were no conditions. He didn’t stipulate, “In the future, you can ask me anything, except having to do with my favorite son, of course.”

Friend1: Right, but if Dasharatha reneged, if he welshed, that would make everyone happy.

Friend2: It wasn’t the proper thing to do. If a king loses his word, if the people cannot trust him, then there is no leader.

Friend1: Let’s look at Lakshmana, Rama’s younger brother. He actually proposed mounting a coup. He asked Rama, “Who should be killed first?” I am more on that side of the argument. Something should have been done.

Friend2: Rama wouldn’t allow it. The eldest son accepted the wishes of the father. Nothing to fight against. The kingdom would be in good hands under the control of Bharata, who was Kaikeyi’s son.

Friend1: I don’t know. I would rather someone stand up and fight. Isn’t it sinful for everyone to allow injustice to take place?

Friend2: It’s a tragedy, for sure, but I don’t know if any laws were broken. Dasharatha was technically following dharma. Anyway, Lakshmana would not stick around. He decided to accompany Rama to the forest for fourteen years.

Friend1: So did Sita Devi, Rama’s wife.

Friend2: The comparison is to fish taken out of water. They cannot survive for long in that situation.

Friend1: Does that mean we are free to give up the world and follow Rama to wherever He goes?

Friend2: That is the true embodiment of dharma. Pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At least at the consciousness level, renounce that which is temporary. Renounce in the sense of interest.

Friend1: Which means that even some of the people who stayed behind in Ayodhya could be equally as devoted to Rama.

Friend2: That’s a good way of looking at it. They never forgot. They moved on with life, but never in spirit. They continued that devotion until the fateful day when the group returned. There is a reason the celebration of Diwali continues to this day, though the original meaning may not be at the forefront of the festivities.

In Closing:

When terrible news to receive,
Lakshmana too the kingdom to leave.

Since like fish out of water taken,
If Rama’s association forsaken.

But same also if there to stay,
Devotion through consciousness way.

Like with Diwali celebrating,
Lasting faith demonstrating.

Two Keys to Engaging With The World

“O Rama, You should know that just as fish cannot survive when taken out of water, neither Sita nor I can live without You for even a moment.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 53.31)

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न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव।
मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविनोद्धृतौ।।

na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāhamapi rāghava।
muhūrtamapi jīvāvo jalānmatsyāvinoddhṛtau।।

1. Detaching from that which is insignificant

Someone who is dear to you just got cheated out of their job. It was blatant. No hiding it from anyone. It was almost as if the theft was live-streamed on the internet, for the entire world to witness. The majority of the population understands the truth, but if you ask anyone in power, they deny.

“You have no evidence for that. That claim has been widely debunked. You better show some serious evidence if you want to continue with such accusations.”

The end-result has been extreme sadness. You are devastated at how the world operates. You could not be more disappointed in your fellow man. If this is what happens to innocent people, then why should anyone follow the law moving forward? It is a society of animals.

Yet the perspective from shastra is to detach from that which is temporary. Avoid association, asat-tyaga. It is difficult to implement, for sure. We have invested so much in these outcomes. Our outrage won’t subside so easily. We reached our boiling point a long time ago.

2. Never letting go of that which is the most important

The corresponding teaching favors sat-sanga. Stay with that which is permanent. Though the experience in this world is something like a dream, there is a reality. The living entity is sat, or eternal. Other living beings are the same way, though through the temporary coverings and their component changes we lose sight of that truth.

Those who understand the eternal nature of the living entity are sat, and these are the people with whom we should remain. The sat individuals are dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the only person with a steady non-divergence in identity. His body and soul are always the same; there is no distinction with Him.

We have the division at present, and we will continue to remain in duality for as long as the sat association is not pure. Thus spiritual life is a serious business; the most important, in fact. To simply become detached from asat is not enough; that will only take us so far.

…

A vivid illustration of these principles is the real-life history of the Ramayana. We have the situation of Sita Devi and Lakshmana. They could harbor extended resentment over the affairs in Ayodhya. Shri Rama, the eldest son of King Dasharatha, was preparing to become the next king, as previously announced by the authority.

Suddenly, everything changed. Rama had done nothing wrong; He was cheated from a post He rightfully deserved. To make matters worse, He was treated like a criminal. He was sent to jail for fourteen years, except instead of incarceration, it was banishment from the kingdom.

Lakshmana, one of the dedicated younger brothers to Rama, was outraged over the treatment. He could have stayed in Ayodhya and fought for justice, but he decided to accompany Rama to the forest. Asat in the control of a kingdom was not important to him.

Sita Devi, Rama’s wife, did the same. Lakshmana later explained that to both of them Rama was dear as the water to fish. When taken out of the water, fish cannot survive for long. Devoid of Rama’s association, neither Sita nor Lakshmana could go on with life.

यं यं वापि स्मरन् भावं
त्यजत्य् अन्ते कलेवरम्
तं तम् एवैति कौन्तेय
सदा तद्-भाव-भावितः

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.6)

Their behavior embodies pure devotion. The Supreme Lord is the only way. Sita and Lakshmana chose to stay with God for the purpose of service. They were not taking anything from Him; only giving. This outlook on life will be most beneficial to me in the long-run, which involves leaving this world and moving to someplace else, based on the state of being at the time of death.

In Closing:

Shri Rama the only way,
So not in Ayodhya to stay.

Following wherever to go,
As life and soul to know.

Relevant also for me,
Since death ultimately to see.

Consciousness when fixed at time,
Most auspicious destination to find.

It Seems Like The Demigods Are Always Getting Into Trouble

“Lord Brahma said: O son of Kashyapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.3.17)

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श्री-ब्रह्मोवाच
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते
तपः-सिद्धो ’सि काश्यप
वरदो ’हम् अनुप्राप्तो
व्रियताम् ईप्सितो वरः

śrī-brahmovāca
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṁ te
tapaḥ-siddho ’si kāśyapa
varado ’ham anuprāpto
vriyatām īpsito varaḥ

“There is a shared experience among parents of young children. You want to find the right balance between oversight and freedom. They are new to the world, after all. The children need to explore. They should engage in the time-honored tradition of trial-and-error. This is one of the best ways to learn. In fact, it is the foundation of the scientific method, on which society relies greatly today.

“At the same time, some things are too dangerous to be attempted. I don’t want my child to learn about the dangers of fire by placing their hand inside of a raging flame. It is better to warn them against the practice. Put some faith in the words of the superiors. Don’t risk obvious danger.

“There is only so much you can do. Inevitably, the child will find harm. It is up to the parents to then fix the situation. It is not uncommon for the situation to repeat. As an example, the child jumps off the sofa onto the living room floor. They get hurt. You help to alleviate the pain. The next day the child does the same thing. They should have remembered the previous incident, but they forget.

“I bring this up because from reading Vedic literature it seems like the demigods are always getting into trouble. In each case the root cause is the same. They offer a boon to someone who is not deserving. Maybe a better way of putting it is to say that the demigods are favorable to people who do not deserve favor.

“If you ran a hardware store and someone comes in to purchase items to fix their car, it is usually no big deal. However, if as the owner of the store you know that the customer is planning to use their car for illegal activity, there should be some responsibility. You will have to think twice before allowing the purchase to go through.

“To me, it looks like the demigods never think twice. Lord Shiva favors Vrikasura with a boon. The demon can then kill anyone simply by touching their head. The asura returns the favor by chasing after Mahadeva, in the hopes of having Parvati as a wife.

“Brahma and Mahadeva favor Ravana, the king of Rakshasas. Brahma, the creator, gives boons to Hiranyakashipu, who soon becomes the terror of the world. These are a few examples out of many. After a while, wouldn’t they start to wise up? Wouldn’t they change their ways?”

It should be remembered that there is no fraud in the process of worshiping the demigods. The rules are set, and anyone is eligible to approach. If they worship sufficiently, and the rewards they seek are in the hands of the benefactor, then the exchange will take place.

In the business world fraud is commonplace. For instance, one technology company allows developers to write applications to be used on their smartphone. There is a lot of time and money that goes into the process. A major investment, with people sometimes leaving their old jobs in order to start a new company based on the application and its potential sales.

Then one day, due to political differences, the smartphone manufacturer decides to ban a certain application. They give a false justification; they make one up. They really don’t need to say anything, as the application maker is now helpless. If they had known from the beginning that the hosting company would pull a move like this, they never would have invested the time.

The demigods are completely honest in their dealings. If Ravana asks for a boon, he will get it; provided the worship is proper. Hiranyakashipu went to extreme lengths to catch the attention of Brahma. These were not ordinary austerities.

Because of the rules of the game, mistakes will happen. These aren’t necessarily mistakes, but they appear as such based on the subsequent situations. Danger. Threat to life. Eradication of dharma. Saintly people forced to hide in fear.

It should be noted that there is always a remedy. Usually, all-devouring time takes care of any enemy. You don’t need a tactical strike to hit a bad guy who is otherwise closely guarded. You don’t need a massive army to start a war in order to overthrow a tyrant.

Rather, kala knows how to find every person. It approaches at different moments, but the arrival is unstoppable. Nothing can be done to erase the effects of time, and kala as death rears its ugly and fearful face for those who thought they could continue with sinful life indefinitely.

In special cases the Supreme Personality of Godhead devises a solution. This was so with Hiranyakashipu and Ravana. Vishnu always favors the demigods, since they are aligned with Him. The same favoritism is available to the asuras, but they are intent on trying to remove God from the picture entirely.

समो ऽहं सर्व-भूतेषु
न मे द्वेष्यो ऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या
मयि ते तेषु चाप्य् अहम्

samo ‘haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo ‘sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.29)

These supposed mistakes by the demigods, who can be viewed as dependent children of the Almighty, lead to some of the most memorable pastimes. We still celebrate Narasimhadeva to this day, and His appearance would not have been possible had Brahma not intervened and helped in the rise to power of the evil Hiranyakashipu.

In Closing:

Seems like to pressure to bend,
Asuras outsmarting the trend.

When towards demigod to approach,
Where otherwise character of reproach.

Boons to them liberally giving,
Then saintly in terror living.

The Almighty causing to descend,
Sacred honor of dharma to defend.

What If God Loses Everything

“O Rama, You should know that just as fish cannot survive when taken out of water, neither Sita nor I can live without You for even a moment.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 53.31)

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न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव।
मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविनोद्धृतौ।।

na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāhamapi rāghava।
muhūrtamapi jīvāvo jalānmatsyāvinoddhṛtau।।

“I heard something interesting recently from a pretty famous person. The video clip is from years ago, but it has some relevance to the modern day. This person is speculating that it would be nice to one day lose everything. From riches to rags. From powerful and important to an ordinary person. Worse than that; a failed leader. Someone who was rejected by everyone.

“They want to lose everything for the express purpose of seeing who is loyal. The tendency is for people to hang around the powerful. They want a piece of the action, so to speak. You can always try to raise your stature by association. ‘I am the close confidante of such and such person. I am one of their top advisors.’

“But how many people would stay close once the leader has lost everything? It is a good test of loyalty, for sure. Is there anything analogous with the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Does He ever conduct tests to see if we are still loyal to Him?”

We often speculate that the test is during times of difficulty. It is easy to thank the man upstairs when everything is going well. Nice home. Beautiful family. Steady source of income. No pressing threats, other than the onslaught of time, from which no one can escape.

प्रह्लादश् चास्मि दैत्यानां
कालः कलयताम् अहम्
मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रो ऽहं
वैनतेयश् च पक्षिणाम्

prahlādaś cāsmi daityānāṁ
kālaḥ kalayatām aham
mṛgāṇāṁ ca mṛgendro ‘haṁ
vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām

“Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlada; among subduers I am time; among the beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuda, the feathered carrier of Vishnu.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.30)

Do you maintain the same belief when you have your back against the wall? Nothing is going right. More pressure than you ever considered. No one is happy with you, no matter how much you do for them. They think you are weak from the destitution, that you cannot fulfill any outside obligations.

Is God the same person to you? Is He still the source of your strength? Do you still believe in Him? Or have you abandoned any fidelity to the path of righteousness? Is dharma just an idea now, rather than a way of living?

As the Supreme Lord holds original claim to the property of the entire universe, He can never be made poor. Yet the pastimes described in the Ramayana are interesting in the temporary situation of destitution. Shri Rama, an avatara of Bhagavan, goes from royalty to asceticism. One moment He is about to become the next king of Ayodhya. The next He is forced to wander the forests like a poor man, with no rights to land, army, or the stock of provisions.

The younger brother Lakshmana shows his loyalty by simultaneously abandoning the kingdom. He would rather not stay where Rama has been insulted. His first inclination is to mount a coup. Wage war against the father and other brothers, if necessary. Like an expert attorney, Lakshmana poses the question to Rama of who should be killed first.

Sita Devi is equally as loyal. Her decision to accompany her husband to the forest is striking considering that Rama suddenly cannot do anything for her. She is a beautiful queen with delicate features, who was born into royalty, grew up in it, and later married into it.

Lakshmana speaks to Rama comparing to the fish taken out of water. Neither Sita nor Lakshmana can survive when disassociated from Rama. This automatically implies that nothing else means anything to them. The greatest power in the world, more riches than anyone can imagine, a safe and comfortable living establishment, adulation from an adoring society – nothing compares to having direct association with the Supreme Lord.

More important is the nature of that association. Service. This is the real business of the living entity. The individual is atma. The dharma of atma is service. This is the essential characteristic. We are always serving someone. Better to serve God directly than to satisfy the senses. The senses will never be pleased, while the master of all senses, Hrishikesha, keeps forever with Him the memory of even a single good deed done in His honor.

In Closing:

Which way now to choose?
When God everything to lose.

Attachment maintaining the same?
Or now the other way in shame?

Lakshmana to the fish comparing,
Impossible out of water faring.

Because service always to maintain,
Rama’s association greatest gain.