How Can Something Not Be Krishna

“Everything has a cause, and that cause or seed of manifestation is Krishna. Without Krishna's energy, nothing can exist; therefore He is called omnipotent. Without His potency, neither the movable nor the unmovable can exist. Whatever existence is not founded on the energy of Krishna is called maya, that which is not.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 10.39 Purport)

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“I know that the Mayavadis have a preference for the term, ‘neti, neti’. They like to point to different aspects of the nature around them and make a proper identification. They say that this is not Brahman and neither is that. Brahman is the spiritual energy. We are all Brahman, since we are spirit soul at the core.

“None of this is speculative. We find ‘neti neti’ sprinkled throughout Vedic literature. The exception the Vaishnavas take is that the Mayavadis, the impersonalists, only tell half the story. Of course the body we accept is not Brahman. The leaves falling to the ground in autumn, devoid of life, are not Brahman. Neither is that pebble bouncing along the road, nor the road itself.

“The full understanding is that ‘neti neti’ says that whatever is around us is insufficient in fully explaining the spiritual energy. Just because I have found the tree does not mean that I have found God. If you ask me to show you the Supreme Lord, He is indeed ‘not this and not that.’

“Both sides agree that the proper word to use is maya. The root definition is ‘that which is not.’ Brahman is the true substance; it is everlasting. It never dies. It never takes birth. The Mayavadis say that the entire world is false, while the Vaishnavas say that it is only temporary, like something from a dream.

“My question relates to the position of the Supreme Lord in all of this. How can something not be Krishna? He is the source of both material and spiritual worlds. I understand the identification of maya, but not completely. It is not Brahman, but how is it totally separate from God the person? How can anything have an independent existence?”

The explanation His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gives is that maya’s influence causes Krishna to be covered. We can review something basic like the sky. On a clear day, we see the sun. We already notice its presence early in the morning, due to the daylight. We assume correctly that the sun is out, only to confirm the suspicion later on through a direct vision.

यच् चापि सर्व-भूतानां
बीजं तद् अहम् अर्जुन
न तद् अस्ति विना यत् स्यान्
मया भूतं चराचरम्

yac cāpi sarva-bhūtānāṁ
bījaṁ tad aham arjuna
na tad asti vinā yat syān
mayā bhūtaṁ carācaram

“Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being-moving or unmoving—that can exist without Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.39)

On a cloudy or rainy day, we cannot see the sun. The entire atmosphere is darker as a result. The cloud is part of the sky, and the sun is still there in the background. The only difference is that the cloud covers the sun from our vision.

In the same way, maya covers Krishna to such a degree that we might think that He does not exist at all. This is the worst mistake, accompanied by smaller errors such as identifying with the body, accepting the land of birth as everything, and thinking that we will maintain our position in life permanently.

Maya can be understood as a way of thinking. It is an illusory energy sourced in the Supreme Lord. He is working like the expert actor on the stage, wherein the audience in attendance intentionally forgets that they are viewing a scripted performance; the events are not really taking place.

The more a person advances in spiritual life, the more they begin to properly understand maya. They may even develop a significant appreciation for her, for the dedication shown to the Almighty, for facilitating the desire to be in illusion by the conditioned living entity.

In the end, everything has its cause as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is thus described as sarva karana-karanam. Should I eventually win the coveted position of eternal life in His association, He is also the cause, and therefore worthy of my allegiance in devotion: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

If spiritual residence winning,
And no more on reincarnation spinning.

Then one person responsible for,
Ultimately for opening that door.

Not this and not that,
Maya clouding vision exact.

The Supreme Lord showering His grace,
Blessed opportunity ignorance to erase.

What Is A Bona Fide Source For Spiritual Knowledge

“Shri Narada Muni personally experienced that the most feasible and practical way to open the path of salvation or get relief from all miseries of life is to hear submissively the transcendental activities of the Lord from the right and bona fide sources.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.5.32 Purport)

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“I don’t mean to sound dismissive or offensive, but I am having a difficult time finding a trusted source for information or explanation of the spiritual variety. I am struggling in this world. I am not alone in that regard. I need help.

“One day I am suffering from the dreadful routine of commuting to and from work. The office is a distance away, due to the only affordable housing being available in another city. Enough people commute that distance that there is public transportation infrastructure set up. But you have to wake up early to make it to your desk on time, and when the day is finished you don’t feel like doing anything at home.

“Then one day everyone is forced to stay at home. Bring the computer with you and create a makeshift office. At first they say it is only for two weeks, to hide from a mysterious virus, though man has never successfully employed this mitigation method prior. Next thing you know, we have been working from home for over a year.

“Then the higher ups in the company, the people with brains, decide that everyone must abruptly return to the office. Forget the routine forced upon the staff for the last year, which brought reduced stress, increased flexibility and productivity, and a generally happier workforce. Return to the misery immediately; no excuses.

“I have heard from Shrimad Bhagavatam that the only recourse to the suffering is hearing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. We can’t hide from disease forever. We can’t wish away pain and suffering. Connecting with God through shravanam is a form of yoga, and yoga is the best way to live.

“As I mentioned in the beginning, the people I see available, who are supposedly trusted sources, are not of a higher caliber. This is based on my personal assessment; I am not judging for others. If they think that guy over there is a real guru, good for them, but something doesn’t sit right with me.

“These leaders seem more like branch managers or faculty advisors. Their primary obligation is to the institution. As long as they stay in line, not criticizing the management, they are golden. They can run around having trysts with secretaries, one illicit affair after another, or putting out hits against dissenters. Some of them have admittedly fondled young children in the past, and yet they are still in the position of guru today.

“What hope is there? I want someone who is honest, but that only lands you in trouble these days.”

The genuine saint is immune to cancel culture precisely because they have cancelled everyone else already. They are fully dedicated to the Supreme Lord in thought, word and deed. They do not mind offending anyone since they have full faith and trust in the message disseminated.

The source of their strength is the connection to their own guru. This chain of connection is known as parampara. If described in scientific terms, it would be the descending process of knowledge gathering. Rather than learn for myself through trial-and-error, the truth descends to me from higher authorities.

If the authorities are corrupt, then the message received might not be proper. The spiritual leader might only be speaking in a certain way in order to avoid punishment in their institution. They want to maintain a large number of followers, and the easy way is to steer clear of controversial statements.

The entire situation of material existence is dangerous. Cheaters are not exclusive to spiritual institutions. Even amidst the tremendous risk, there is the ray of light emitted by Vishnu Himself, who is the Supreme Lord. He passes down His sacred wisdom, channeled through the eyes and ears of witnesses. They describe what they have seen, and the record is preserved for future generations to consult. At the very least we can sacrifice some time to hear this information and be saved from the calamities around us.

In Closing:

Just of activities hear,
For understanding clear.

On cheaters certainly keep an eye,
Not fully for guidance to rely.

But blemishes everywhere found,
Still available the sacred sound.

Wisdom to empowered beings gave,
God for our future to save.

Four Ways I Can Deliver The Truth

“Shrimati Kunti Devi has prayed to the Lord just to enunciate a fragment of His glories. All His devotees worship Him in that way, by chosen words, and therefore the Lord is known as Uttamashloka. No amount of chosen words is sufficient to enumerate the Lord’s glory, and yet He is satisfied by such prayers as the father is satisfied even by the broken linguistic attempts of the growing child.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.44 Purport)

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The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the most important message to deliver. The target audience is every living entity, since He is the original seed-giving father. This extends to every type of being, as the animating spark inside, the spirit soul, is identical, regardless of the species.

सर्व-योनिषु कौन्तेय
मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः
तासां ब्रह्म महद् योनिर्
अहं बीज-प्रदः पिता

sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ
tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir
ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā

“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.4)

The message is relevant to the three time periods: past, present and future. These are unique to each individual. For instance, my grandfather lived prior to my appearance in this world, in the current iteration. His past, present and future were all in the past for me, whereas for my children and grandchildren, everything will be the future as it relates to me.

Based on the standing of the teacher, Bhagavan, who is the adi-guru, the message to be delivered is the most important. In this regard there are different approaches one can take, to speak the truth to someone who is in desperate need of hearing it.

1. Yell at you

I could start screaming. Make the most impact, using volume as a way to grab attention. Others might also take notice, even if I am not speaking to them directly. It is assumed that the tone of voice is linearly related to the importance of the message.

I will force the truth into you. It will be difficult to ignore me while I am yelling at you. Your feelings might get hurt. You might run away in fear. At least I will get the message across.

2. Call you names

Another approach is to belittle you. Call you every name in the book. Really make an impact based on intended offense. Who prefers to be compared to an animal, to an unintelligent person, to a dishonest person or one who has no regard for the feelings of others?

I can go through different derogatory terms until I find one that hits the mark. That one word you would never want associated with you. The names used will be intentional; that is to say after referring to you in a negative sense, I will explain what the positive is. The truth, the message delivered, is to call for a change. Learn the truth, accept it, and live by it; otherwise you will remain whatever stigma I have tagged you with.

3. List your past mistakes

The parents have a particular advantage in this area. If they wanted to get the truth across to their children, they can dip into the memory bank of mistakes. Even if the children think they are perfect, there at least was a time when they were in diapers. They didn’t know how to do anything; they relied on the parents for everything.

The Supreme Lord has the highest advantage in this regard, since He remembers the infinite past. He explains to Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita that both of them have appeared in the world before, but the distinction is that Krishna remembers those births, whereas Arjuna does not.

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

“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)

Therefore, God can recall every time that we messed up. If we are obstinate in defiance, refusing to hear the message, He has the opportunity to bring up our past transgressions, highlighting how we are not perfect and indeed require instruction to correct harmful behavior.

4. Speak in a palatable way

As mentioned above, the reception does matter. While the teacher could castigate the prospective students as being unworthy of the truth, that does not help things. My children eventually have to learn to read and write; it is to their benefit. If they have difficulty in these subjects during youth, as the parent I have the responsibility to try new ways to help them learn.

In the same way, the Supreme Lord is so kind that He delivers the most important message in a palatable manner. It can be sweeter than we ever thought possible; hence His name of Uttamashloka. This Sanskrit word says that God is described in the choicest poetry.

The best composers string words together that can be easily sung and memorized. This explains how devotional culture was promulgated during ancient times, when there was no written word. Simply by hearing a series of verses a single time, an expert poet could remember and pass on the information.

सत्यवादी मधुरवाग्देवो वाचस्पतिर्यथा।
रूपवान्सुभग श्रीमान् कन्दर्प इव मूर्तिमान्।।

satyavādī madhuravāgdevo vācaspatiryathā।
rūpavānsubhaga śrīmān kandarpa iva mūrtimān।।

“He speaks the truth, has a sweetness of voice like the Lord of speech, possesses a handsome form, is highly fortunate, is resplendent in everything, and is like Cupid incarnate.” (Hanuman speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.30)

Shri Hanuman reveals that God has a sweetness of voice that resembles the lord of speech. As the Supreme Lord is the origin of everything, this makes sense. His words matter, and the people who are in audible range benefit.

We are so fortunate to have the original sounds passed down to us, through the generations via the parampara system. We can connect directly with God through His vani, as found in works like Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. He is directly revealing the truth to us, which we so desperately require. That message can turn fortunes around, inspiring us to new heights in achievement, culminating in eternal living.

In Closing:

Different ways to teach,
For message properly to reach.

Yelling one approach,
Upon ego to encroach.

Or vile names to call,
Past transgressions to recall.

God speech pleasing to ear,
Uttamashloka the best to hear.

How Did Arjuna Know That Krishna Wasn't Bluffing

“Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.” (Bhagavad-gita, 10.12-13)

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अर्जुन उवाच
परं ब्रह्म परं धाम
पवित्रं परमं भवान्
पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यम्
आदि-देवम् अजं विभुम्
आहुस् त्वाम् ऋषयः सर्वे
देवर्षिर् नारदस् तथा
असितो देवलो व्यासः
स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे

arjuna uvāca
paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma
pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān
puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyam
ādi-devam ajaṁ vibhum
āhus tvām ṛṣayaḥ sarve
devarṣir nāradas tathā
asito devalo vyāsaḥ
svayaṁ caiva bravīṣi me

“I have realized that nothing in this world is as it seems. For instance, whenever a public figure makes a proclamation that a new medical treatment is entirely safe, you can assume that there is nothing to back up that statement, that there are a whole host of side effects and negative consequences to be discovered in the near future, as more people partake of the experiment.

“If Congress passes legislation claiming to increase choice for people in the workforce, you can safely assume that it does just the opposite; that people will have less opportunities for employment, that they will be forced to choose between working with joining an association and not having a job at all.

“The leaders of nations are the biggest bluffers, it seems. This is a tale as old as time itself, but seemingly more prominent in the modern era, with corrupt politicians cheating their way into office and rigging the game so that they stay at the top.

“Something as simple as a world leader driving a car is not what it seems. The astute observer notices that the car actually has a steering wheel on the passenger side, as well. It was the other person driving the car the entire time; the whole thing was just a show to make it look like the leader was fit and strong, when he is just the opposite.

“I bring this up in relation to Bhagavad-gita. How did Arjuna know that Krishna was not bluffing him? It is a rather bold declaration to make, to say that you are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. We have heard that the same was said to Lord Brahma, the creator, at the beginning of time, but no one is around to vouch for the conversation. As Brahma creates, there was no one else there but Vishnu, who claimed to be God.

“How was Arjuna so sure that everything Krishna was saying was true? Where were the fact-checkers? Yes, I understand that those people are agenda-driven, as well, that their supposed checking of the facts is as prone to error as the original reporting. But it seems like a giant leap of faith to put your full trust in someone who makes an elaborate show.”

The suspicion is warranted. During Krishna’s time in this manifest world there were cheaters who would display false images. Sort of like projecting a movie onto a screen, the bad characters had the mystic ability to show a scene in the sky. There would be motion to the image, and the intention was to dispirit the side of good and righteousness. They would feel defeated knowing that someone dear to them had been killed, based on the projected image.

The Rakshasas of a previous age were expert in the same illusion. As described in the Ramayana, man-eating ogres of augmented prowess would show false images on the battlefield to dispirit the Vanaras, who were fighting to rescue the distressed princess of Mithila, Sita Devi. Shri Rama acted unilaterally to both figuratively and literally put an end to the illusion. He shot an arrow towards the image and thereby dissipated it.

In Arjuna’s case, there was more to go off than just the image. Indeed, the great bow-warrior of the Pandu dynasty only asked to see the virata-rupa in order to handle skeptics. Arjuna was already convinced, having known Krishna since birth.

In seeing the universal form, Arjuna praised it as best as he could. This was an image of everything. The entire cosmic manifestation, with both detail and abstract. The many planets and their component populations. The guardians of the galaxy, the demigods of the celestial region, the many species – Arjuna saw everything. There was even a time component; Arjuna could see the future, of what was to occur in the aftermath of the war at Kurukshetra, which was moments from commencing.

Arjuna was already convinced, but to assure others that Krishna was not bluffing he cited various authority figures. That is to say there is no need to simply take Arjuna’s word for it. Vyasadeva, Narada, Devala, Asita and others confirm that Yashoda’s son is indeed the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the one from whom many have come.

These references are of impeccable character. They are above reproach, completely sinless, and a model of behavior in spiritual life. More importantly, the teachings themselves are a basis for judgment. Krishna delivered Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, but He did not force the disciple to accept the principles. Rather, Arjuna should deliberate internally and see if everything made sense.

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

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

“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)

Because of the endless compassion, sacrifice and mercy of the spiritual master, we have the same opportunity. We hear directly from Krishna, associating with God through vani, and then make up our own mind. We can attempt the principles in the practical space of daily life, through meditating on the Divine and chanting His names to witness the effect: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

From witnessing the effect,
Confirmation to get.

That principles real,
Not my mind to steal.

As happens with illusion fake,
Where advantage to take.

Arjuna making up his mind,
After Gita wisdom to find.

Four Ways The Seasons Attack Me

“O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.14)

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मात्रा-स्पर्शास् तु कौन्तेय
शीतोष्ण-सुख-दुःख-दाः
आगमापायिनो ऽनित्यास्
तांस् तितिक्षस्व भारत

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ‘nityās
tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

1. The transition to cold in autumn

“Some people like seeing what is described as fall foliage. The leaves turn different colors. Not that each leaf is unique, it is that they die at their own rate. Therefore, the colors on a single tree will not be uniform at a specific time. You would notice the same with regrowth later on, if you paid attention.

“At first it seems like autumn is nice. No more scorching heat from the summer. Less humidity. The problem is that the daylight hours decrease. The sun sets at an earlier time. In addition, where I live there is a steady period of rain at some point. You will go almost a week straight without seeing the sun.

“It is difficult to put into words, but because of this rain and cloud cover you feel colder than you would on a typical winter day. Something about the sudden change in weather makes you want to blast the heat. It is not an enjoyable experience.”

2. The bitter cold of winter

“I personally refer to it as the season of ice. It is not just colder temperatures. I think any person could handle that. It is not only a few months of bare branches on the trees and nothing growing in the garden. It is not just dealing with snowfall every now and then.

“Rather, if you stepped outside and remained there for too long, you would die. Seriously. If a toddler accidentally got out of the house and couldn’t find their way back in, you have a big problem on your hands.

“Nothing about the snowfall is typical, either. I remember one year there was a blizzard that dropped feet of snow. This was immediately followed by severe cold. The snow basically turned to ice immediately. To go through the parking lot of the nearby supermarket was to drive through a tunnel, with these huge walls of snow surrounding you. That snow didn’t melt for months.”

3. The hay fever of spring

“Everyone is supposed to be happy. Finally, the cold went away. It will not return for many months. Time to enjoy everything that nature has to offer. The trees will have leaves again, and the grass will grow on its own. The sun will be prominent in the sky.

“The problem is I have allergies. I will never forget my first day in the workforce, as an adult. Let’s just say my career did not get off to an auspicious start. While sitting at my desk in the office, I could not stop sneezing. The entire day, from beginning to end. My eyes were so watery that I could barely read what was on the computer screen.

“Fortunately, there is a temporary remedy. Take medication to decrease histamine in the body, but the accompanying side effects are severe. It is like you are totally asleep throughout the day. The heat inside the body from the allergies makes it feel like the hottest summer day. The itchy eyes, the difficulty sleeping – this is by far the worst season God invented.”

4. The humidity of summer

“This is always the most anticipated season, but that is an illusion. I think that summer will be better, since the allergies will subside. No shoveling snow and no concern that certain events will be cancelled because of a storm that disrupts travel. Granted, that does take place with thunderstorms and flights, but at least you can drive through most rainfall.

“Of course those thunderstorms are there for a reason. The increased humidity is ridiculous. For a large part of the summer it feels as if you are living inside of an enclosed shower. There is no escape unless you have air conditioning. Even with such an amenity, sitting inside for that long with the artificially conditioned air does not feel right.

“Summer can be downright unbearable in some parts of the world, as it is difficult to breathe properly with the extreme temperatures. There is the desperate hope that time will pass quickly, that everything will cool down in the subsequent season.”

…

In this way, we see there is good and bad throughout the year. Shri Krishna compares happiness and distress to the summer and winter seasons. There is nothing we can do about nature in this regard. To try to stop the changing of seasons is as foolish as thinking man can intentionally alter the climate.

Happiness and sadness will arrive on their own, as if on schedule, but the life in maya is full of misery. Maya is the illusory energy which suppresses the natural inclination towards the Almighty and service to Him. Krishna is never affected by maya, but our perception of Him is, or lack thereof.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead advises that we tolerate the ups and downs of life and remain dedicated to our duty. To push forward in dharma is to show dedication to the principles passed down for our benefit. The highest of those principles, the single dharma for all of humanity, is to serve the Supreme Lord in a mood of love and devotion.

Arjuna followed that dharma through firing arrows on a battlefield in a war, and we can follow the splendid example through simply repeating a mantra and meditating on the kindness of Bhagavan: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Summer heat too much to bear,
In autumn rain sun never there.

In winter season to freeze,
Spring to coughing and to wheeze.

Nature this way attacking,
Peace and tranquility lacking.

Wise advise to push forward and tolerate,
At same time on Krishna to concentrate.

Three Instances Of Acts In Frustration

“Arjuna said: O descendant of Vrishni, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?” (Bhagavad-gita, 3.36)

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अर्जुन उवाच
अथ केन प्रयुक्तो ऽयं
पापं चरति पूरुषः
अनिच्छन्न् अपि वार्ष्णेय
बलाद् इव नियोजितः

arjuna uvāca
atha kena prayukto ‘yaṁ
pāpaṁ carati pūruṣaḥ
anicchann api vārṣṇeya
balād iva niyojitaḥ

1. How many times have I thrown the golf clubs in anger?

“They are quite expensive. I had saved up for this last set. I had my eye on a specific driver, and I decided to go for a replacement on all of the clubs. Custom-fitted, adjusted to my size and reach, I received compliments on the golf course when my playing partners saw the new gear.

“Knowing the time and effort that went into the purchase, consciously aware of the sacrifice in terms of hours spent at the office, I still could not help myself. I have been practicing the stroke from the sand-trap for a long time. I thought I finally got the technique down.

“During the latest round, I found myself in trouble early on. I immediately tensed up while preparing for the stroke. It was like the practice sessions increased my nervousness. Not surprisingly, I messed up the shot. If I was carefree, if I did not have so much invested in the outcome, it would not have been a big deal.

“Anyway, I lost it. Nothing new for those who know me well. I broke the wedge that I was using. But then I proceeded to pick up the entire bag of clubs and throw it into the water. If you watched this going on from afar, you would get a good chuckle, but to me it was anything but funny.”

2. What was the point of kicking that wall in frustration?

“I seriously cannot stand this one person who I work with. I am fairly easy to get along with; I don’t cause unnecessary arguments. This is probably why I am not in a management position, where you have to yell at people and sometimes behave irrationally. No one is going to listen to a weak and feckless leader; you have to be tough.

“This other employee is so annoying because they are careless in their work. I have to correct them in order for things to get done, and whenever I do I receive resistance. They don’t even feel bad about how terrible their work is. I have adjusted my mentality to simply ignore most errors, as I perceive them to be. It would be like a quality control person passing most changes because they are not interested in dealing with the headache associated with a failing mark.

“Of course this came back to bite me. When the product went to release, there was an issue. Not a major one, mind you. Nothing bad happened; we caught the problem early on. The error was due to this employee, however, and I got so mad about the situation that I kicked the wall in frustration.

“My big toenail came off, as a result. I was bleeding and my foot hurt. That only made me angrier. I should have known better, but what could I do? It was like an outside force compelled me to behave irrationally.”

3. Why did I yell at someone when they had done nothing wrong?

“We are talking top-level screaming here; enough so that people in other rooms in the building could here. It caused a scene, but I was not letting up anytime soon. The recipient of these harsh words was not phased in the beginning, so I continued to increase the pressure until they finally buckled.

“They were crying profusely. They ran away from the scene, taking shelter in another room. I was still seething to the point that I had trouble breathing. Later on, after cooling down, I regretted the incident. I don’t know why I lost my composure so quickly. I should not have spoken that way to them; no person deserved what I handed out.”

…

As to err is human, we find such incidents occurring in every person’s life. We know better. We use sound logic and reasoning to discern a pattern. Certain behavior led to trouble the last time around. It was that case for many iterations, in fact. The smart person will put a stop to the cycle; no more endeavor within that specific category.

As Arjuna asks in Bhagavad-gita, why do we keep going down the same road? It is like we have no control over ourselves. We should know better, but that part of the intelligence gets suppressed. It is only for the time being, as we regret the incident later on. Yet that short amount of time is enough to cause the guaranteed damage resulting from the improper behavior.

Arjuna’s teacher explains that the root cause is kama, which is material desire. The human being has the opportunity to control kama. The pursuit begins from childhood, if we are lucky. Parents instill discipline and a structure to daily life so that the children will not become accustomed to doing whatever they want, whenever they want, to the detriment of their future wellbeing.

In adulthood the best way to control kama is to meditate, and the ideal object of meditation is Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Shrimad Bhagavatam describes how proper meditation in this regard begins at Vishnu’s lotus feet and then moves upward.

It may seem like a mechanical process, but since the Supreme Lord is all-attractive and always our best, well-wishing friend, such meditation is entirely natural. The difficulty is that one may not even be aware that this is the real meaning to meditation, dhyana. It takes several lifetimes to even know the Supreme Lord in truth.

As during Kali-yuga, the current age of quarrel and hypocrisy, man is generally short-lived and unfortunate, to conduct proper meditation, and thereby control kama, is difficult. Fortunately, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has passed on the timeless practice of sankirtana-yajna. Chant the holy names, focus on sound, and receive the same benefits provided through direct sight concentration.

Any valid name for the Almighty will do, and any authorized mantra is sufficient to create the link known as yoga, but Mahaprabhu particularly recommends the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Repeat this sacred formula on a regular basis, with as few distractions as possible, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, and quickly enjoy the many benefits, one of which is increased control over kama, the all-devouring enemy of man.

In Closing:

Know that I should not throw,
But into water clubs to go.

That wall kicking with force,
Pain resulting of course.

Like by higher power compelled,
Who knowledge repelled.

From meditation’s seat to find,
In yoga a controlled mind.

Krishna Is Still Teaching Today

“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. Although Krishna was personally present five thousand years ago and is no longer physically present from the materialistic point of view, Bhagavad-gita continues.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Concluding Words)

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Friend1: You hear this lamentation sometimes. At least I do, anyways. It’s in relation to finding a spiritual master.

Friend2: A bona fide guru, the person who provides the second birth, making you a genuine dvija.

Friend1: Twice-born. That is the specific advantage of the human birth. While it is nice that you find a way to defend against wild animals using advanced weaponry, the vulnerability to death is the same.

Friend2: Known as kala in Sanskrit, time is the all-devouring agent. You are correct, though. The human birth is not auspicious because of the intelligence applied in survival. Otherwise, the tree would be considered the superior form in the evolutionary cycle. The tree can stand in the same place for thousands of years, unaffected by severe weather conditions.

Friend1: The lamentation is that someone else has found a guru they can trust. My friend is set; their spiritual leader did not fall down. They were a “pure devotee,” if using that terminology.

Friend2: That means there are no hints of material desire mixed in. That guru wasn’t interested in advancing to a higher planetary system or perfecting mystic yoga practice. They don’t even want liberation; they are ready to serve wherever the Supreme Lord places them in the future.

Friend1: Obviously, if you read the history documented in Vedic literature you will find that hardly anyone is a pure devotee. To become a perfected being is rare; requiring many lifetimes to even take up the endeavor:

बहूनां जन्मनाम् अन्ते
ज्ञानवान् मां प्रपद्यते
वासुदेवः सर्वम् इति
स महात्मा सु-दुर्लभः

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

Friend2: The illusory energy of maya is known to be strong for a reason.

Friend1: If I can’t find someone today, who will guide me along the path of eternal life, I will feel dejected. I might curse at my misfortune. Others were able to be saved, but not me. I might even be jealous of Arjuna.

Friend2: Why is that?

Friend1: Because he heard directly from Krishna, who is Bhagavan. The Supreme Personality of Godhead spoke directly to him on the battlefield. Arjuna had no room for doubt, though he was kind enough to reassure everyone through the request of the visual of the virata-rupa, the universal form.

मन्यसे यदि तच् छक्यं
मया द्रष्टुम् इति प्रभो
योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं
दर्शयात्मानम् अव्ययम्

manyase yadi tac chakyaṁ
mayā draṣṭum iti prabho
yogeśvara tato me tvaṁ
darśayātmānam avyayam

“If You think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord, O master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that universal self.” (Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, 11.4)

Friend2: Okay, but there is no reason to be jealous.

Friend1: Why is that?

Friend2: For starters, you know about the incident. You are aware of what took place. You have access to the exact same words used. The original language remains intact. The Sanskrit shlokas that you can memorize and sing were repeated by spiritual leaders hundreds and also thousands of years ago.

Friend1: Through the parampara system.

Friend2: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that Bhagavad-gita is the vani of Krishna. That instruction is eternal, though the physical presence may no longer be available. In that sense, Krishna is still teaching to this day.

Friend1: Because of the vani.

Friend2: Yes. The relationship with the spiritual master is the same way. One person may have direct contact, through vapu. They may serve in a way to offer physical comfort. But there will eventually be separation. The vani, however, remains. It never dies. The great spiritual leaders of the past continue to rescue countless souls through their Divine instructions, which are ultimately rooted in the teacher of Arjuna, who is complete knowledge personified.

In Closing:

Arjuna the wisdom heard,
When for guidance deferred.

To Shri Krishna before standing,
Authority as guru commanding.

Though ages ago occurring,
Still to that dialogue referring.

Meaning others too can connect,
Through vani contact direct.