Truth Does Not Mind Being Questioned

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

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तद् विद्धि प्रणिपातेन
परिप्रश्नेन सेवया
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं
ज्ञानिनस् तत्त्व-दर्शिनः

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

“I have found that if someone has engaged in criminal activity, be it an individual, an organization, or even an entire government apparatus, they always balk at any calls for transparency. I will give you one example: a stolen election.

“People have a good idea about the funny business since so much of it was carried out in the open. One particular candidate was leading by a significant margin on election night. This was around the same time that elections in previous years were called. In other words, there likely weren’t many ballots left to count.

“Some statisticians ran the numbers. For the other candidate to turn things around, to overcome the deficit with the number of outstanding ballots, would be one in a quadrillion chance. In other words, it was impossible.

“Nevertheless, that is exactly what took place. The cheaters obviously brought in fake ballots. To make sure no one got a good eye on them, they blocked observers from the polling places. It was laughable, in a sense, if the consequences weren’t so serious.

“After the fact, the perpetrators don’t want anyone to see the evidence. They are living a lie, and that is why they refuse to even be questioned about it. If someone raises an objection, they will be fired from their job, de-platformed from the internet, and possibly even face jail-time.

“It is sad to say but I have seen similar things occur in spiritual societies. In a church-like organization, if someone blows the whistle on criminal activity, they are banned from the establishment. They are stripped of their high status within the organization. Shunned for life, the followers get warned to stay away from such a person; the guilty are referred to as ‘offenders.’

“How does this square with spiritual life, in general? If we go up to a genuine spiritual master, can we ask them anything? Is it disrespectful to be too inquisitive? I would rather not follow blindly. If they are unwilling to answer certain questions, it seems to me that they are hiding something.”

As Vedic culture is equivalent with the Absolute Truth, as it descends from Him originally, the people pursuing excellence are advised and encouraged to have all of their doubts settled. Since the human brain has limits in ability to think logically, to comprehend infinite time and space, certainly there are questions that cannot be answered.

For the important issues, though, for the topics that matter to the success in ending the perpetual cycle of birth and death, the spiritual master is always open for questions. They are ready to repeat and reiterate as many times as the disciple needs. They take the role of guru seriously; they are not in it for themselves.

The guru follows the lead of Shri Krishna, who engages in the ideal back-and-forth session with Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita. Not at any time does Krishna prevent Arjuna from putting forward additional inquiries. He does not punish the disciple for going to a forbidden area or for not understanding things properly in the beginning, though Krishna does jokingly refer to Arjuna’s initial attitude as anarya, which means not aligned with the disposition of a wise person.

श्री-भगवान् उवाच
कुतस् त्वा कश्मलम् इदं
विषमे समुपस्थितम्
अनार्य-जुष्टम् अस्वर्ग्यम्
अकीर्ति-करम् अर्जुन

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṁ
viṣame samupasthitam
anārya-juṣṭam asvargyam
akīrti-karam arjuna

“The Supreme Person [Bhagavan] said: My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the progressive values of life. They do not lead to higher planets, but to infamy.” (Bhagavad-gita, 2.2)

Transcendental knowledge will not self-manifest, though it lies dormant within us. A teacher is necessary. We need someone to show us the way. If there is an instructor, we cannot get to the truth unless there are questions. Even if we are not the ones directly asking, if someone else should highlight some of our concerns, that is as good as receiving the clarification ourselves.

Vedic literature is vast and comprehensive, and the spiritual master so kind and willing to go the extra mile to rescue as many people as possible, that simply through reading enough translated literature and commentary, every doubt a person may have gets resolved.

The enlightenment may not take place immediately. I may require years of repeated hearing and deeper assimilation of the principles before I finally understand, but never am I told to go away. Rather, the true spiritual master makes such an impression that they manage to always stay with us, guiding us in our dedication to the Supreme Lord: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

From him the truth be told,
Standing to opposition bold.

But for serious inquiry meant,
Meaningful such time spent.

That question the same repeated,
Answers until ignorance defeated.

A heavenly gift with knowledge light,
From guru Divinity shining bright.

How To Deal With People Who Don't Want To Work

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.47)

कर्मण्य् एवाधिकारस् ते
मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्म-फल-हेतुर् भूर्
मा ते सङ्गो ऽस्त्व् अकर्मणि

karmaṇy evādhikāras te
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi

Friend1: When we are explaining the science of self-realization, Krishna consciousness, bhakti-yoga, or whatever the preferred term, we assume a certain baseline from the audience.

Friend2: What do you mean, exactly? A physical baseline, as in they are holding an object?

Friend1: Ability. For instance, if we are publishing a book on the subject, we expect the target audience to be able to read.

Friend2: I see. Literacy in the language of publication.

Friend1: I guess you could also add interest to the list of qualifications. The people with whom we are speaking must have some sort of interest in the subject matter.

Friend2: As in searching for more to life, a curiosity for spirituality, wanting to know more about karma, and the like.

Friend1: Then there are the more subtle requirements; ones that we don’t necessarily talk about.

Friend2: Such as?

Friend1: We assume that the people consuming the content have a general desire to work, that they want to be a good person. They have a certain level of respect for their fellow man.

Friend2: Hmm, I never thought about that one before. I guess that applies to when you discuss the different kinds of work and how to deal with the fruits of the labor.

Friend1: For sure. There is a direct quotation from Bhagavad-gita. We have the right to work but not to enjoy the fruits.

Friend2: Yes, that is a popular one.

Friend1: Okay, so we assume people understand that verse, that they apply the teaching to their own life, but what about people who don’t want to work?

Friend2: What do you mean? The unemployed?

Friend1: That might be someone who is looking for work but doesn’t have a job at the moment. I am talking about someone who has made the conscious decision to stay out of the workforce.

Friend2: Okay, but then how will they survive?

Friend1: Their parents.

Friend2: But people eventually move on. They die. Death is guaranteed as soon as you have birth [another teaching from Bhagavad-gita].

Friend1: You sound surprised to hear this, and so was I in the beginning. These people have essentially gamed the system. They don’t have to work because of the wealth of their parents. If they try employment somewhere, as soon as they have a negative experience they quit.

Friend2: Okay, but then you find another job.

Friend1: To them, there is no need. Why take the risk? Stay home, instead. Live off their parents.

Friend2: But not everyone can do that.

Friend1: Who cares about everyone else?

Friend2: Yes, but you are still asking others to make a sacrifice that you are not. They are going out into the world, getting yelled at by their bosses, developing chronic fatigue and illness, just so you can sit around and do nothing.

Friend1: Okay, that is not my problem. My parents have money. I don’t need to work.

Friend2: Alright, let’s say there is a population that meets that description.

Friend1: An ever-increasing population, I might add. How do Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam apply to them?

Friend2: Whatever mode of nature a person lives in, there is always a connection to the Almighty. The science of self-realization is for every person, even if they are mired in the mode of ignorance.

Friend1: How will such a person understand, then? None of the teachings apply to them, based on the lack of life experience.

Friend2: In Kali-yuga people are generally unfortunate and lacking intelligence. They cannot be expected to follow the strict rules and regulations passed down in Vedic culture. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu still rescues them. He has made possible the full and complete perfection of an existence simply through association, such as with transcendental food [prasadam] or the chanting of the holy names [sankirtana]: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

“Working not for me,
Many difficulties to see.

Employment not the way,
Instead at home I’ll stay.”

How then teachings to apply?
On assumption of work to rely.

Mahaprabhu rescuing all,
Even in laziness holy names call.

Is Not Krishna A Foreign God

“Transcendental loving service for the Supreme Lord is the natural inclination of every living being. The instinct is dormant in everyone, but due to the association of material nature the modes of passion and ignorance cover this from time immemorial. If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.5.28 Purport)

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“I appreciate everything about the bhakti culture. When I first came upon works of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Shrimad Bhagavatam, the information was earth-shattering. That is to say the life I was living, the depressing material existence, came to a screeching halt. Everything I previously thought to be true was now revealed to be a lie.

“The conclusion was supported by the highest authority figures. A swami who dedicated his life to glorifying the Almighty and bringing others into the light of transcendence. Teachers appearing prior to him in the same line of disciplic succession, both instructing and showing through personal example.

“Everything made sense to me, though I certainly have not achieved perfection myself. I have a long way to go, but I at least acknowledge the defects in the alternative lifestyles, in assigning anyone other than God top priority for satisfaction, sacrifice and dedication.

“I am one of the lucky ones. No doubt about it. The problem I see is that people will be unwilling to hear the message due to the imagery and associated practices, which are foreign to them. They will consider Krishna to be a ‘Hindu’ god. They will think protecting cows and limiting sex life to be unnecessary, burdensome, and not in line with a loving God, who wants His innumerable children to enjoy.

“How do we bring others into the light? How do we convince them that this is the only true universal brotherhood, wherein everyone carries out their prescribed duties, befitting their internal qualities, while working together for the same goal: pleasing the Supreme Lord?”

The teaching is that Krishna consciousness lies dormant within everyone. Krishna is just one name for addressing the Almighty. There is only one God, and since He is certainly all-attractive, the name of Krishna suits Him well. Though He is never tied down to a single name, devotees choose to address Him in different ways based on His features, activities, and relationships.

A common comparison is to a match. There is already fire within the match. No one has to intentionally add the property or work any magic. The match simply requires striking in a certain way and the fire will manifest.

We see the same with interpersonal dealings. One person is down on the world. They are depressed after hearing the experience that others go through in life. They have decided that they will simply sit on the sidelines. You can’t fail a class that you never enroll in. You can’t get fired from a job that you never accepted.

At the root is distrust, dislike, hatred, or just a general negative opinion of others. Yet the same person can certainly transform. They may one day switch entirely, wherein they love others and appreciate the struggles they go through. That love was always inside of them; it did not need to be created.

In the same way, Krishna consciousness is entirely natural. The material consciousness is unnatural; it is forced and fueled by illusion. When a person comes in contact with real knowledge, they slowly creep out of the darkness. The illusion no longer applies to them, and they can live the natural way, wherein they love God.

This is like watering the roots of the tree. The water applied automatically carries nutrition to the component parts of the tree, such as the leaves and branches. If we love God first, we will naturally extend that feeling towards those connected to God, which include everyone and everything.

Therefore, whether foreign or native, whether inherited from family traditions or going completely against the way of life lived by the ancestors for countless generations, bhakti-yoga is entirely natural. The fortunate who find their way into that culture never look back.

In Closing:

Never looking back,
Since nothing to lack.

Fortunate that I have found,
To bhakti culture bound.

Material life depressing,
Natural love suppressing.

Seeming strange at first it may,
But spontaneous soon the way.

Make Your Plate Bigger

“There is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. As such, the holy name is as perfect as the Lord Himself in fullness, purity and eternity. The holy name is no material sound vibration, nor has it any material contamination.” (Padma Purana quoted from The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 13)

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“Let me describe a certain situation to you. It applies to the workplace, but I wanted to see if there was an equivalent in spiritual life. I found it interesting enough, especially considering the manager’s point of view.

“You have an office. This is a small team consisting of several employees, who then report to a manager. There are regular meetings, wherein each person discusses what they have been working on and what they plan to accomplish moving forward.

“The purpose is certainly understandable. This keeps every person engaged. The manager has an idea of what everyone is doing and there is less of a chance of slacking. Also, if one person sees what another person is doing, there is the tendency to compare and contrast. Healthy competition is an easy way to boost productivity.

“Invariably, the manager will see that one employee is doing more than the others. They may be the most responsible one in the lot. They take on one task after another. They juggle many responsibilities at the same time. They are not flustered. They do not buckle under the pressure. They can even handle irrational criticism hurled their way from those who are inferior in terms of work ability.

“Then, there is another employee who does much less, except they don’t view it that way. They think that they are doing a lot for what their position calls. Their plate is full, so to speak. The manager must accommodate for both employees. They must be able to guide and help all kinds, in fact.

“Is there an equivalent in spiritual life? We know that certain people are capable of doing more. They accomplish so much, like Shri Hanuman leaping over the ocean, burning Lanka to the ground, and heroically searching for Sita Devi. Then another person might offer something basic, like living accommodations for a night, to Shri Rama in His travels to the forest.

“What is the viewpoint of the manager, in this case? Does the Supreme Lord value every employee? Is there a grading system in terms of output in devotional service?”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that the sweeper in the temple is as much appreciated as the person seated on the vyasasana. One person performs a menial task. They clean the area on a regular basis. This does not require an advanced degree. Perhaps a little training, but it is not like such a skill is in high demand.

On the other side, the person in the renounced order of life, sannyasi, warrants respect wherever they go. As soon as they enter the temple grounds, the residents and guests hit the deck, in a manner of speaking. They descend to the floor and fall flat in front of the wandering ascetic. This is a form of respect, offering obeisance.

As highlighted above, not every person has the same level of ability. For this reason, there is no distinction in terms of the spiritual world. The person generally considered lower is as much loved and adored as the person speaking to thousands and instructing them on the ways of spiritual life.

At the same time, one tactic a manager might employ is to ask one of the people on their team to strive for higher goals. If they claim that their plate is already full, make the plate bigger. This certainly correlates to spiritual life, as one of the tools especially useful in the modern day is the chanting of the holy names.

The acharyas recommend repeating a certain mantra relating to the Supreme Lord. Chant the mantra for a certain number of rounds each day. This builds what is called “numerical strength.” The exact number is not very meaningful in the larger picture; though there is a connection to the honor and respect shown to the spiritual master, who is the one providing the mantra. The guru gives the seed of the creeper of bhakti life.

It is not possible to bust down the doors of the spiritual world and force your way in. It is not that after repeating a mantra a specific number of times I automatically qualify for entry. If I say the name of the Lord a single time in a pure way, that is enough to achieve liberation.

The numerical strength is a way to stay on the path, to not lose focus, to not get distracted by all that the life in illusion has to offer. The more strength we have, the more protected we are; both by the Supreme Lord and those in the chain of disciplic succession.

If possible, if I can make my plate bigger, if I can handle additional responsibility, if I can find more ways to stay connected to the all-attractive one, then I am better off for it: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

The travelling sannyasi came,
To temple’s sweeper the same.

Since Supreme Lord judgment making,
Account of level of ability taking.

But not excuse for suppression still,
More items on plate to fill.

So that always in devotion to stay,
And not with dangerous maya to play.

Three Things That Might Happen If I Stay With Hari

“I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.21)

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यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः
श्रद्धयार्चितुम् इच्छति
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां
ताम् एव विदधाम्य् अहम्

yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ
śraddhayārcitum icchati
tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ
tām eva vidadhāmy aham

“I have learned from Bhagavad-gita that Shri Krishna strengthens a person’s faith in other gods. If, for some reason, I approach a devata other than Him, Krishna does not reject the appeal. He is neither angry nor vengeful. He will increase my faith to the point that I will have an attachment. I will think that the other god has helped me, when it has been Krishna the entire time, working in the background.

“Along those lines, I was wondering if the same applied to people who do approach Krishna directly. I understand that worshiping Vishnu, Rama, or Narasimha is essentially the same thing. These are non-different manifestations of the same Supreme Personality of Godhead. Will my faith be strengthened? Will my desires be fulfilled in the same way the devatas help their devotees?”

1. He might remove everything that is currently dear to me

“Since I have worshiped Hari, I have lost my job and the home that I lived in for over thirty years. Seriously, is that supposed to happen? The things that were most dear to me, now vanished, into thin air. In that sense I have become the poorest person in the world. Someone else might be more destitute, but I think the sting of losing something you once had is worse. If you grew up with nothing, you can’t very well understand the pain and suffering from having things snatched away from you.”

2. He might bring me to my knees in hopeless desperation

“Since I have worshiped Hari, I am known to curse at the entire world, on a daily basis. I have lost the association of those dearest to me. Members of my own family and people that I connected with through friendship, understanding, exchange of emotions, and listening.

“What a cruel place we live in. Why are we even here? I feel like it was a waste to even take birth. I would rather not have met these people. If I knew that one day the pain of separation would be this severe, I would not have taken the risk. Better to leave home right away and live in a forest somewhere. Yet no one presented that option to me during youth, so I didn’t find out until it was too late.”

3. He might cripple my attachments to the point that I no longer have any

“I don’t think we ever notice the big transitions in life while they are taking place. We think of our daily life a certain way, based on how we lived in the past. But I noticed recently that since worshiping Hari everything has changed for me. I used to be so attached to several things which are no longer in my life. They are not even important anymore.

“It is like someone took them away by force. I had no choice in the matter. I was trying to survive, so I had to make difficult decisions. It was either this way or that way. The way I went meant severing those attachments. I always thought that one day they would come back, that I would live the old way again, but now I realize that will likely never happen.”

…

Shri Krishna is also known as Hari since He takes away from the devotees, if necessary. Unlike with the devatas, in His role carrying superior standing He employs oversight and discrimination. It is not a business transaction with Vishnu, no matter how much we try.

I can pray as hard as I want to have that person want to marry me, to live happily ever after. If the desire will ultimately do me harm, Vishnu will have other ideas. He might reject the proposal, causing me untold pain and heartache, in the short term. If I find out that Hari was responsible, I might even curse Him to His face.

Yet the devotion remains. The connection is still there. Through the removal of attachments and obstacles, the relationship becomes stronger. I begin to see more clearly and I soon regret not having made the approach sooner in life. He is currently in my heart and has always been there. He is my greatest well-wisher, birth after birth.

In Closing:

When towards devatas directing,
Krishna that attachment protecting.

The same to apply,
When towards Hari to try?

Discrimination the difference,
Demigods mostly indifferent.

Lose everything I might,
But to Lord attachment tight.

Why Is Vani More Important Than Vapu

“There are two ways of association-by vani and by vapu. Vani means words, and vapu means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vani continues to exist eternally. Therefore we must take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence. Bhagavad-gita, for example, is the vani of Lord Krishna.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Concluding Words)

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“I have heard it said by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that it is more important to follow the words and instruction of the spiritual master than it is to serve him directly. The two Sanskrit words are vapu and vani.

“You can serve the body, vapu, and that is certainly appreciated. Offer a massage. Prepare a nice meal. Set up comfortable living arrangements. As the sannyasi is known to travel, to not stay in a single place for too long a time, these kind gestures may seem insignificant, but a grateful and kind person remembers for a lifetime.

“Another person may not ever have physical contact. No face-to-face meeting. No direct conversation. They are related through subsidiaries and associates. It is a network set up by the guru himself, so there is no disqualification in terms of being a disciple. It is simply the way the ball has bounced, how life happened.

“Prabhupada says that it is more important to follow the instructions, that the physical contact is not so important. Help me to understand this logically. In every other important relationship we remember the direct contact. The care and attention offered by the mother during childhood. The support from the father. The memories through adventures with the friends. Why is it not the same with the guru, who is considered the second father, combining with shastra to provide the second and more important birth?”

The system of parampara is to accept the information in a chain of descending knowledge. There is the original teacher, the adi-guru. This is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was there in the beginning, before everything. He was present when the creator, Lord Brahma, set about to populate the universe. He will be there at the end, when everyone and everything else is gone.

अहम् एवासम् एवाग्रे
नान्यद् यत् सद्-असत् परम्
पश्चाद् अहं यद् एतच् च
यो ऽवशिष्येत सो ऽस्म्य् अहम्

aham evāsam evāgre
nānyad yat sad-asat param
paścād ahaṁ yad etac ca
yo ‘vaśiṣyeta so ‘smy aham

“Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.33)

As the living entity is full of defects [to err is human], there should not be much talking back in the process of assimilating the information. That is to say we should accept on faith at first, carry forward the principles in our daily lives, and then slowly everything will be revealed to us.

Nevertheless, with the issue of vapu versus vani, we can attempt to understand through our encounters in situations requiring authority. If we somehow become parents, what would we prefer? Would we want our dependents to serve us day and night, to make sure that we are comfortable as we transition into old age?

That would certainly be nice. It would make the transition easier. We would certainly be grateful, as children could be doing their own thing, living life to the fullest, however that is defined. They would be considered loyal and honorable human beings.

Or would we rather they grow up to be good people? If we knew that they could stand up on their own two feet, perhaps raise children of their own, would not that bring more pleasure than if they were constantly tending to our every need?

Shrimad Bhagavatam explains that a person should not enter a position of authority, where they have dependents, unless they help release those under their care from the cycle of birth and death. This is the ultimate goal of the spiritual master. The direct contact and support from the disciples is not for their own comfort. It is for instilling the value of respect, and everything offered gets moved up the chain. The guru honors their own guru, who honors their own guru, and so forth, until you reach the origin, Vishnu.

If I am able to become conscious of the Almighty, thinking of God the person, always steady of mind, controlled in my habits, and respectful of other living entities, then the guru has done their job. They have succeeded and been honored to a sufficient level, though in my eyes I will never be able to truly repay them for what they have given me. Whilst chanting the holy names and connecting with the all-attractive one, I will certainly remember them as well: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Never opportunity to meet,
For physical presence to greet.

But instructions seriously taking,
For success in dharma making.

Latter more important so,
Reason guru travelling to go.

Same with Gita to us brought,
Even today by Krishna taught.

Four Cases Where The Glaring Flaw Will Come To Light

“Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.63)

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इति ते ज्ञानम् आख्यातं
गुह्याद् गुह्यतरं मया
विमृश्यैतद् अशेषेण
यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु

iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ
guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā
vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa
yathecchasi tathā kuru

1. Whether someone is rich

“More money than you or I could ever imagine. We think that if the house is paid off, if the kids make it through college, if we can live sufficiently off interest, staying where we are, then we have succeeded. No more struggling through the difficult days at the office. No more waking up prior to the sunrise and rushing to catch a commuter train. No more concern over the company’s balance sheet, over profit and loss from quarter to quarter.

“Well, this person has so much money that they could spend tens of thousands of dollars on hosting parties, week after week. They could fill their bathtubs with champagne and not lose any sleep. They are insanely wealthy and have not a care in the world, though they seem to be upset over what happens to other people within their social sphere. They gossip about the goings on at the latest parties, but to the average person there is really nothing to worry about.”

2. Whether someone is poor

“They beg, borrow and steal to make it. They are not ashamed. They grew up with this mentality. They saw the rich kids who live across the train tracks. Those children always purchase the latest model of popular tennis-shoe. They wear fancy clothes and some even get dropped off to school in style.

“But these other people have it tough. They have to survive in dog-eat-dog territory. They wear clothes handed down from the elders in the family. They can’t spend hours each day watching television shows precisely because there is no television. Both parents work long hours, and the children stay at home unsupervised, in run-down housing.”

3. Whether they are respected and adored by millions

“The highest esteem you can imagine. If they ran for public office, they would likely get elected. Whatever work has been done previously will not be so easily forgotten. Who wouldn’t want such a reputation? This person works to carefully maintain it. They act responsibly, understanding their duty to the public.”

4. Whether they are held in the lowest esteem

“This person has a difficult time showing their face. They are notorious for bad behavior. The latest transgression became national headlines. It is really embarrassing, especially to the family members. The parents have given up trying to justify the behavior. They simply stay away, not commenting on the latest mishap.”

…

In whatever situation a person finds themselves, if there is a lack of connection to the spiritual way of living, then there is a glaring flaw. Nothing can be done to mask that blemish. Whether they are rich or poor, the outcome is the same. Whether they have the love and support of millions or feel completely isolated, the future is of the same nature.

शरीरं यद् अवाप्नोति
यच् चाप्य् उत्क्रामतीश्वरः
गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति
वायुर् गन्धान् इवाशयात्

śarīraṁ yad avāpnoti
yac cāpy utkrāmatīśvaraḥ
gṛhītvaitāni saṁyāti
vāyur gandhān ivāśayāt

“The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.8)

The onslaught of time continues. Undefeated to this day, kala has our number. This is the Sanskrit word for time; also applying to death, it has already removed so much. We will never return to the period of childhood. Elders in our family have departed for another world. We will never see them again.

The same fate awaits us, and there is an ability to alter the destination. Based on the consciousness at the time of death, the next birth is of the same nature. If I am missing spiritual life, if I skipped it in favor of temporary interests, then there is a major vulnerability that must be exploited. That is to say the guaranteed end is rebirth.

On the other hand, if I take full advantage of the amenities and benefits associated with the human birth, I have the opportunity to plug the hole immediately. Rather than wait for it to get better on its own, I can fix the problem immediately.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada teaches that three issues in daily life should be dealt with immediately: debt, disease and fire. If these are ignored, they only grow in magnitude and severity. For the entirety of the human experience, the forgetfulness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the issue of utmost urgency.

Through the fortunate and chance encounter with the spiritual master, I have the opportunity to fix the mistake. Bhagavan, the personal God, is so amazing that by connecting with Him everything I have done wrong in the past changes in nature. That time in forgetfulness becomes part of the story, of the glorious achievement of finding the shelter of the Divine, who is our friend to stay.

In Closing:

Whether rich or poor faring,
Vulnerable flaw glaring.

That at time of the end,
Misery to extend.

Since to another birth sent,
Away the opportunity went.

That gap today I can fill,
Through lessons guru to instill.