How Were People Saved Prior To Krishna's Time

“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)

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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

 

“I hate to bring other traditions into the discussion, but the questions that popped into my head seemed relevant when applied to the Vedic tradition, which commonly goes by the term ‘Hinduism.’ The idea from the outside is that you must accept a certain person as a savior. Whether they are a prophet, a preacher, an empowered teacher, or related to Divinity itself, the entire basis of the particular organization is affiliation with this person.

“You could be good or bad in everything else, but you are fine as long as you accept the savior. If you are given over to him, then everything will be alright. I am not here to get into an argument of dogmatic insistence. I fully realize that any person can hold up a book, assign Divine status to a particular person, and then denounce anyone who does not share the same point of view. The outsiders would fall into the ‘sinner’ category, while everyone on the inside would be slated for the best destination in the afterlife.

“The contention I have is that everything about that particular religion is based on this one individual. The followers identify themselves with a name linked to that person. The leaders never say that God is for everyone or that every person follows the Almighty in some way or another. They say that if you don’t accept their specific savior, you are doomed.

“The obvious flaw is that this savior only appeared in this world a relatively few number of years ago. You could say that thousands of years is a long time, but in the grand scheme of things it is like a blip on a radar screen. I get it that everything changed after that, but there was certainly time prior, with a separate set of individuals making up the population of earth.

“What about those people? They couldn’t accept the savior precisely because the savior had yet to appear in the world. What were their options for salvation? Was genuine religion not available? If it was, then why wouldn’t the same religion they practiced be applicable today? Do you mean to tell me that the basics of life and death, the afterlife, sin and piety, and so forth are bound to a specific period of time? That doesn’t make sense.

“These are the doubts I have. Do you think there is any carryover to the Vedic tradition? For instance, in Bhagavad-gita we hear the call to surrender, that every kind of dharma will be accounted for if you accept the shelter of Shri Krishna. There was a time in this world prior to Krishna, as well. What was the solution for people who lived prior to Krishna’s advent?”

Shri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, non-different from the original. Although there is only one God, He manifests differently depending on the time and circumstance. How He manifests has no bearing on His identity.

For instance, if we are Markandeya Rishi and see the Supreme Lord as a small child resting on a banyan leaf while the entire cosmic manifestation is being annihilated, it does not mean that God is limited to the diminutive stature.

Similarly, while Arjuna sees God in the virata-rupa, the universal form, it does not mean that God is too large to fit into a temple or into my heart. He is everywhere and anywhere, and He is never affected by the manner in which others connect to Him.

In a verse from Shrimad Bhagavatam, the same Supreme Lord instructs Brahma that God is never absent from a situation. Vishnu exists prior to Brahma’s emergence from the stem of the lotus flower tied to Vishnu’s navel, padmanabha. Vishnu exists while Brahma undertakes the process of creation, and Vishnu will be there after everything is annihilated.

Although Krishna appears at a certain time and place and delivers words of instruction, that wisdom is timeless. For instance, He explains to Arjuna that the same Bhagavad-gita was spoken at the beginning of the creation, to the sun-god.

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

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

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

There is a reason that the best equivalent term for religion in the Vedic tradition is sanatana-dharma. Placing the two words together is significant. Dharma is the essence of living. Dharma can never be removed from the individual. Whether they are a plant, a tree, a flower, a lion, a human being, or a demigod, dharma remains the same.

That dharma is timeless; hence sanatana. There is no beginning and no end to the dharma of the individual, and so at any period of time there is the opportunity for salvation. The people worship Vishnu prior to His advent as Krishna, and in another period of time they perhaps direct their worship to another avatara.

The end result is the same, and so no one is ever shut out from genuine religion. There may be a rise or decline in adherence to dharma over the course of time, which may require empowered representatives to reignite the tradition of allegiance to righteous principles, but connection to God the person is never tied to external factors like language, place of birth, occupation, or stature within society.

In Closing:

“To accept the savior must,
In our future promise trust.”

But what about prior years?
Before of savior people to hear.

Limited applicability then?
Where religion on time to depend.

With Vedas on eternal truth landing,
Where Vishnu always as supreme standing.

What If I Am Embarrassed By The Circumstances Of My Birth

“By remembering Shri Rama’s holy name, even those who are born into a low caste become worthy of fame, just as the wild trees that line the roads in the heavenly realm are famous throughout the three worlds.” (Dohavali, 16)

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राम नाम सुमिरत सुजस भाजन भए कुजाति |
कुतरूक सुरपुर राजमग लहत भुवन बिख्याति |

rāma nāma sumirata sujasa bhājana bhae kujāti |
kutarūka surapura rājamaga lahata bhuvana bikhyāti |

 

“Listen, people make a big deal out of the caste system practiced in India, and how it is racist, bigoted, discriminatory, causes oppression, and the like, but the truth is that the same kind of class designations exist throughout the world, and since the beginning of time.

“It was one of the main reasons people fled to what was called the New World in the 17^th century. In America, everyone was in a similar status of refugee. It didn’t really matter from where you came, who your parents were, how much land they owned back home, and the like.

“If you were still in England, France and other countries in Europe, class meant everything. If you were a printer by trade, you could never dream of meeting with the king and queen. Yet a famous printer from America did just that. He rose to the heights of aristocracy, never once falling back on his name or family reputation to get him places.

“You would have to admit that there is some validity to the scrutiny, or lack thereof depending on the case. For instance, if someone is born into a family of lawyers, it is understandable that others would take notice. There is some distinction based on the line of work, on the reputation established through previous generations.

“On the other side, if someone is born into a family lacking respect based on occupation, there is some embarrassment. What if I should fall into that category? What if I am ashamed of how my ancestors behaved? What if they were unclean in their habits, uncontrolled with the senses, and lacked a moral foundation upon which to stand? Does that not hurt my chances at spiritual life?”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that no matter the consequence of a particular action in material life, the end-result is always misery. If I am so pious that I ascend to the heavenly realm after death, I eventually have to leave. There is a fixed duration of residency commensurate with pious credits. Once the time runs out, you have to find a way to build up the credits again.

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्ग-लोकं विशालं
क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्य-लोकं विशन्ति
एवं त्रयी-धर्मम् अनुप्रपन्ना
गतागतं काम-कामा लभन्ते

te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ
kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti
evaṁ trayī-dharmam anuprapannā
gatāgataṁ kāma-kāmā labhante

“When they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.21)

I may feel a temporary sensation from a successful venture, but since I am still subject to the threefold miseries of life, there is only suffering in my future. This naturally levels the playing field. The person born of a respectable family is suffering just as much as the one who is embarrassed by their family history.

If there is an inferiority complex and a fear that somehow there will be prohibitions on practicing spiritual life based on discrimination, one should remember that the solution to every problem is connecting with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No person is restricted from genuine yoga, as the basis of the connection is the consciousness.

Goswami Tulsidas explains that when a person chants the holy name of the Lord, which is a form of yoga, they become famous throughout the world. It does not matter if they are born into a low family, kujati.

The saint makes the comparison to the trees lining the streets in the heavenly realm. Because of the nature of the place, even the small, insignificant trees are worthy of honor and respect. They are as much desire-trees as the ones standing tall.

Therefore, even if a person does not receive sufficient acknowledgment from the rest of society, if they are known as a devotee of the Supreme Lord there is nothing to fear. Just as His land, His pastimes, and His names are sacred, so are the people dedicated to Him in thought, word and deed.

In Closing:

Dedicated in thought, word and deed,
Worthy of fame and honor indeed.

Even if from low family coming,
High in status becoming.

Since associated with Rama so,
His shelter only to know.

Otherwise everyone suffering the same,
But equally saved by holy name.

Why Does Life Feel Like Trying To Move A Mountain

“Some were excited, but the bow was immovable, like the word of a saint. Looking at the bow, their strength and intelligence were forcefully stolen, like with King Nahusha.” (Janaki Mangala, Chand 11.2)

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एक करहिं दाप न चाप सज्जन बचन जिमि टारें टरै |
नृप नहुष ज्य्ॐ सब कें बिलोकत बुद्धि बल बरबस हरै ||

eka karahiṃ dāpa na cāpa sajjana bacana jimi ṭāreṃ ṭarai |
nṛpa nahuṣa jyoṃ saba keṃ bilokata buddhi bala barabasa harai ||

“There is the saying about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have heard it many times, understood the general meaning based on the context in which it was used, but never gave much consideration to the actual terms.

“You have two options. One is to associate with a rock. Since it is cold and difficult to move, you might not prefer that option. The other choice is the hard place. Basically, not much different from the rock. These are the only two options, by the way. You are essentially stuck; no preferred way to move forward.

“I often feel that way about life. We are stuck between choices that are not optimal. Go this way and something bad will happen. Choose the other direction and it will be the same outcome. It is almost like we are powerless in this world. No matter how much we try, unless higher forces cooperate, we don’t stand a chance.”

The story of the bow-contest in the kingdom of Videha highlights a similar issue. King Janaka made the rules. It was his contest, as it was to determine the suitable husband for his beloved daughter, Sita Devi. A heavy bow with its origins in Lord Shiva had been passed down through the family. The lifter of the bow would win the contest.

To say that this bow was heavy is an understatement. To say that the participants in the contest were attempting something equivalent to moving a mountain would also not do justice to the weight of the object in question. This bow was really heavy, and Janaka knew that only the suitable husband for his daughter would be able to lift it. This was the bride-price that he had established.

Goswami Tulsidas makes a wonderful comparison in describing the failure of the many kings assembled that day. He says that the bow was as immovable as the word of a brahmana, who is a qualified saintly person. The kings were like Nahusha, and it was as if the bow stole their strength.

तावत् त्रिणाकं नहुषः शशास
विद्या-तपो-योग-बलानुभावः
स सम्पद्-ऐश्वर्य-मदान्ध-बुद्धिर्
नीतस् तिरश्चां गतिम् इन्द्र-पत्न्या

tāvat triṇākaṁ nahuṣaḥ śaśāsa
vidyā-tapo-yoga-balānubhāvaḥ
sa sampad-aiśvarya-madāndha-buddhir
nītas tiraścāṁ gatim indra-patnyā

“As long as King Indra lived in the water, wrapped in the stem of the lotus, Nahusha was equipped with the ability to rule the heavenly kingdom, due to his knowledge, austerity and mystic power. Nahusha, however, blinded and maddened by power and opulence, made undesirable proposals to Indra's wife with a desire to enjoy her. Thus Nahusha was cursed by a brahmana and later became a snake.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 6.13.16)

It is said that Nahusha was the king of heaven for a time, full of strength. Because he made a sinful proposal to Indra’s wife, he was cursed by a brahmana. He subsequently lost everything.

The sinful proposal here was to try to marry Janaka’s daughter, who was an incarnation of the goddess of fortune. Lakshmi Devi can only live intimately with her husband for eternity, the Supreme Lord. She serves Him in all righteousness, dharma, and this duty happens to align with her preference, borne of love.

I can be the strongest person in the world, but if I choose the unrighteous path, I could lose everything. Due to the curse of a brahmana, that descent could take place instantly. One second I have control over the entire world, and the next I am penniless and lacking strength.

The genuine brahmana class aligns with the interests of the Supreme Lord, and so their words in favor of dharma and service to the Almighty are just as immovable. If they fervently recommend chanting the holy names in the age of Kali, based on the strength of their recommendation I can be sure that such a connection will bring me complete success in life: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Word of brahmana taking,
For successful life making.

That chanting to do for me,
The best destination to see.

Where Supreme Lord in sound,
True transcendence found.

Such that difficulty no more,
Aligned with dharma for sure.

Three Questions About Krishna's Birth

“’My dear brother-in-law, please consider that you have no danger from your sister. You are awaiting some danger because you have heard a prophetic voice in the sky. But the danger is to come from the sons of your sister, who are not present now. And who knows? There may or may not be sons in the future. Considering all this, you are safe for the present. Nor is there cause of fear from your sister. If there are any sons born of her, I promise that I shall present all of them to you for necessary action.’” (Vasudeva speaking to Kamsa, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 1)

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Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, dharma, and a subsequent rise in irreligion, adharma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends as Himself to handle the situation. It stands to reason that extraordinary circumstances would be necessary; otherwise every minute of every day would feature a new avatara arriving from the spiritual world.

The Supreme Lord is already everywhere. He accomplishes omnipresence through the feature known as Paramatma. This is the all-pervading witness, who is something like a neutral bystander. Residing inside of my heart, He takes note of everything that I do. In this role He does not influence decisions, unless specifically requested to do so.

The time of Kamsa presiding over the town of Mathura triggered the descent of the Supreme Lord in full. The Sanskrit is krishnas tu bhagavan svayam. There are many incarnations of the Almighty, but Krishna is considered God as Himself.

Upon reading of the external events that preceded Krishna’s arrival, there may be some question as to the behavior of the participants. If every action was not performed in the exact, perfect sequence, perhaps the delight of mother Devaki may never have arrived.

1. Why did Vasudeva and Devaki continue to have children?

“The story begins with Vasudeva returning home with his new bride. Since Kamsa was the cousin-brother to the bride, per custom he accompanied the newlyweds. En route to the destination, a voice from the sky suddenly shocked the world. It announced that Devaki’s eighth child would be Kamsa’s doom.

“Kamsa was ready to kill Devaki on the spot, so attached to the temporary body was he. Vasudeva stepped in and ameliorated the disturbance felt by the king of Mathura. Vasudeva promised to hand over every child born to the couple. This way Kamsa would have no reason to fear.

“I like how the saintly Vasudeva was able to think on his feet, to quickly find a solution when time was running out. The larger question is why would the couple continue to have children. If they knew that Kamsa would kill the newborns, in the graphic manner that he was to display, why take the risk? Pregnancy does not carry a guarantee; the ordeal can be quite stressful for the mother. Why not avoid the issue altogether?”

2. What made Kamsa worthy of punishment?

“From the behavior to follow, including the impulse to kill his own sister, we understand that Kamsa was a bad character. He was not a nice guy, even though Narada Muni had no problem visiting and speaking with him. I guess saintly people are neutral in that regard; they are above the dichotomies of good and evil in a material existence.

“The story begins with the voice from the sky, though. It was announcing destiny. Why would Devaki’s son be Kamsa’s death? What had the leader done up to that point to deserve punishment? There must be some history as a precursor.”

3. Why did the voice speak to Kamsa?

“Couldn’t the newlyweds live in peace? Why force them to struggle? If the voice from the sky just kept quiet, there would not have been an issue. Shri Krishna still could have emerged from the mother’s womb and set foot in the path of destruction for the great asura. From what transpired, the akasha-vani only made things worse.”

…

Narada Muni, the great travelling saint representing the Vedic tradition, is known to meddle in affairs in order to further the business of the demigods. The devas, who reside in the heavenly realm, were the ones who initially approached Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to descend to earth and relieve the burden of the influential and steadily rising asura class.

Narada Muni convinced Kamsa to be more on alert than he was. After their discussion, Kamsa decided to imprison Vasudeva and Devaki. Therefore, at that point there was no advantage to not having children. They would stay in prison forever, as long as Kamsa continued to remain afraid. At least with further children appearing, there was the chance that one of them might indeed be Vishnu, who would rescue the parents.

Narada informed Kamsa that in a previous life he was the demon named Kalanemi. Vishnu had killed Kalanemi, and what often occurs is that the rival to the Supreme Lord has to take multiple births to be killed multiple times, prior to achieving liberation. Therefore, it was in Kamsa’s destiny to be killed directly by the hand of God.

The voice from the sky ignited the reaction for the proper chain of events. If Kamsa never knew, then Devaki would never be in prison. If she wasn’t in distress at the time of birth, Krishna would never have been transferred to the nearby town of Gokula. This was done in secret, in the middle of the night by the father, Vasudeva.

These are some of the intricacies to the elaborate production put on by the greatest artistic mind in the universe. The ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the thrill-packed moments are embellishments to the wonderful drama that is associated with the advent of the Supreme Lord, whose appearance is still remembered, honored and glorified to this day.

In Closing:

Accompanying sister sent,
Back on that chariot went.

But arriving voice from the sky,
With message of importance high.

That Devaki’s eighth child to kill,
Terror in Kamsa’s heart to fill.

But destiny unfolding proper way,
Meant for Krishna in Gokula to stay.

Five Questions Ravana Probably Wouldn't Like To Be Asked

“Smelling the fragrance of Rama and Lakshmana, like a dog smelling a tiger, certainly you will not be able to stand.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 21.31-32)

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न हि गन्धमुपाघ्राय रामलक्ष्मणयोस्त्वया ||
शक्यं संदर्शने स्थातुं शुना शार्दूलयोरिव |

na hi gandhamupāghrāya rāmalakṣmaṇayostvayā ||
śakyaṃ saṃdarśane sthātuṃ śunā śārdūlayoriva |

There is the saying that truth does not mind being questioned, while a lie does not like to be challenged. The reality manifests in all aspects of life, but particularly in corrupt institutions. The leader might have cheated their way to the top, stealing the latest election out in the open.

If anyone should challenge their legitimacy, that person will be removed from the institution. In corporate circles, their accounts are cancelled. Without any prior notice, without providing a valid reason, those protecting the cheater will do everything possible to chill and silence the dissenters.

The cheaters fill the void left by the absence of valid criticism by constantly boasting about themselves. It is like listening to state-run media; everything is one-sided. Pile on against the opposition, labeling their claims conspiracy theories and saying that every accusation has already been debunked.

“There is no evidence for this or that. The fact-checkers say otherwise. No credible source will back up their claims.”

If you do happen to question the cheater directly, they are not too happy about it. In this light, we can study the historical figure of Ravana. The ten-headed leader of Lanka was indeed proud of himself, but he was not too thrilled when a certain princess called him out on his cowardice, depravity, and lack of moral character. There are certain things Ravana certainly would not like to be reminded of.

1. Didn’t you steal that plane from your brother?

“That sure is a nice airplane that you fly around in. It facilitates travel to different destinations across the three worlds. No wonder people are afraid of you, and that you are known as the one with the terrifying scream. Credit to Mahadeva for giving you that name, as it matches your character.

“But one thing I wanted to ask. Didn’t you get that plane from your brother? Didn’t you basically steal it from him? Why would you do that? If you are this hugely powerful person that everyone is supposed to respect, shouldn’t you be above harassing someone like Kuvera? Couldn’t you have someone build a similar plane and this way the title to the vehicle would be clean?”

2. Didn’t Vali beat you up?

“You are telling Sita Devi how powerful you are, that she should be honored to be courted by such a king. You are the best catch in the whole world. Why, not even Indra, the king of heaven, could compare to you. Your own son got his name from having defeated Indra.

“But hey, didn’t you get taught a huge lesson by Vali, the Vanara from Kishkindha? You even snuck up on him while he was seated in prayer. It should have been easy. Sure, attacking an enemy from behind is against the rules, but since when do you care about that?

“Anyway, I believe he got ahold of you and then dragged you around for a while. Weren’t your heads stuck in his armpit? I’m guessing that didn’t smell too nice. Remind me again how you are the strongest king in the world.”

3. Didn’t you once get aggressive with a woman?

“Couldn’t find someone your own size? You’re so proud of defeating other kings, but I heard that you once forced yourself on a woman. Because of what resulted, you got cursed for the future. If you ever try something like that again, you will die instantly. What kind of person would lay a hand on a woman who was innocent and blameless?

4. Didn’t you create a ruse in the forest of Dandaka?

“Sita Devi compared you to a dog. That if you were ever in plain sight of her husband, Shri Rama, you would run away instantly. She compared Him to a tiger. That’s a pretty stinging insult, but what can you say in response?

“Didn’t you have to create a ruse to take Sita away? You are so proud of your strength, but you had to use deception in order to take a princess. You couldn’t fight Rama directly because you would have been defeated instantly and soundly.”

5. Don’t you eat people like it’s your job?

“You want others to be impressed by the kingdom of Lanka. It has gold everywhere. The buildings and palaces are beautiful. No one will argue that, but what about the character of the people? They are Rakshasas, which are vile, man-eating ogres. How can you be proud of anything when you are degraded to the point that you will eat human beings? Why would any civilized person want anything to do with you?”

…

On the other side, the acharya is willing to take meaningful and genuine inquiries. There is nothing to hide, and there is an honest explanation for every principle, recommendation, strategy and guidance provided by shastra. Truth does not mind being questioned, and Sita’s husband is Truth personified.

In Closing:

Not like Ravana living a lie,
Where on deception to rely.

Who from others stealing,
And paranoia over future fearing.

Worship Shri Rama ideal,
For higher experience to feel.

Who Absolute Truth and more,
By Sita and Lakshmana adored.

Two Ways The Education System Fails Me

“Clear understanding of material nature, the Supersoul, the individual soul and their interrelation makes one eligible to become liberated and turn to the spiritual atmosphere without being forced to return to this material nature. This is the result of knowledge. The purpose of knowledge is to understand distinctly that the living entity has by chance fallen into this material existence. By his personal endeavor in association with authorities, saintly persons and a spiritual master, he has to understand his position and then revert to spiritual consciousness or Krishna consciousness by understanding Bhagavad-gita as it is explained by the Personality of Godhead.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 13.24 Purport)

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As part of the mission to enlighten the public, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gives a clear conception of God. This is not based on mental speculation or hallucination induced by chemicals. It is an authoritative picture, as passed down through the ages.

The Supreme Lord is so kind that He does not limit Himself to a single manifestation, but this does not mean that He is anything and everything. The Vaishnava prefers to worship God in the personal form, such as with Vishnu, Krishna or Rama.

There is a desperate need for such worship, and sadly the information is lacking within a standard education in the modern day. The resultant outcome is generally along one of two paths.

1. Not to think of God

“Do you remember your years in school? I am talking about ages six to eighteen, roughly. The stages go by different names around the world, but let’s agree that this is the period of primary education. You are learning to read and write. You become proficient at arithmetic. You have a basic idea of science and perhaps some history specific to the country of origin.

“While I don’t remember everything from that period of my life, I know for certain that we never discussed God. I think it is illegal to do so in the public education system. There wasn’t really an alternative explanation. We studied the theory of evolution, for sure, but I never took that to be a threat to the religious way of life. Perhaps I wasn’t paying much attention, but the focus was always on the future.

“You had to think about what to be when you grew up. You have to find a way to maintain yourself. If you get good grades in school, you can gain admission into a top university, which then sets you on the proper career track. That seemed to be the primary and only focus.”

2. Everyone can think of God in their own way

“No one religion is superior to another. Every person is worshiping in their own way. If you have a conception of God, stay with it. There is no harm if you don’t believe in God. We are not forcing anything on anyone. The law prohibits the teaching of religion in the public domain, and for good reason. We don’t want people learning a way of life that is incompatible with their belief system.”

…

Whatever the excuse, there should not be an issue with a person presenting a clear understanding of the Almighty for others to study, contemplate, and even approach. Just because my neighbor does not have an idea on the proper direction of spiritual life does not mean those who do should stay silent.

Without being instructed about something new, how will a person ever learn? How will they learn to decipher right from wrong without someone teaching it to them? How will they even have a chance at happiness if they aren’t provided the different options with respect to worship?

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते
तांस् तथैव भजाम्य् अहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते
मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

“All of them – as they surrender unto Me – I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

Shri Krishna explains that everyone follows Him in all respects. Whether someone acknowledges His standing as the Supreme Personality of Godhead makes no difference. Whether they believe in God or not, they are following Him all the same.

The purpose of removing the veil of mystery is to facilitate a direct approach. Create a relationship with the one who has had my interests in mind since before I can remember. Forge a bond that cannot be broken. Every other relationship severs eventually, due to the influence of time. God is beyond time, and so I can stay with Him eternally, provided I get to know Him.

In Closing:

Education system lacking,
System of connection attacking.

Where otherwise natural to be,
God inside of you and me.

Following all in every respect,
Just different result to expect.

Based on level of understanding so,
Best when directly to go.

The Two Sides Of The Swinging Pendulum Of Material Existence

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.54)

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ब्रह्म-भूतः प्रसन्नात्मा
न शोचति न काङ्क्षति
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु
मद्-भक्तिं लभते पराम्

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

It is more than just dogmatic insistence. The acharyas want us to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, because it will be the best thing for us. Both long-term interest [paramartha] and short-term gain [svartha] will be satisfied.

स्वारथ परमारथ सकल सुलभ एक ही ओर |
द्वार दूसरे दीनता उचित न तुलसी तोर ||

svāratha paramāratha sakala sulabha eka hī ora |
dvāra dūsare dīnatā ucita na tulasī tora ||

“When your personal and supreme interests can be easily obtained from one place, it is not sensible for you in weakness to beg at the doors of others, O Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 54)

Goswami Tulsidas confirms the same, as does Prahlada Maharaja. Approach the Almighty directly. Bypass the impersonal Brahman and even the localized aspect of the Absolute Truth known as Paramatma.

Otherwise, you will be left in a material existence. This is more than a theoretical concept to be discussed only amongst elevated scholars. The existence has two primary features, and since they are opposed to one another, the experience is something like swinging on a pendulum.

1. Lamenting after loss

“The pain is unbearable. I cannot believe how difficult it is to move past this episode. Everyone gives the same advice, to move on, but that is easier said than done. This defeat attacks at my very core. I find it difficult to wake up in the morning. I don’t see the point to living, to moving forward.

“This is due to the loss of the association of a potential paramour. I cannot believe they did not feel the same way about me. It is unrequited love at its essence. They say that it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. I beg to disagree. I am strongly on the other side. This is the most hellish experience ever.”

2. Hankering after gain

“I want this so bad. I can almost taste it. You could call the ordeal the magnificent obsession. Teachers guide us towards our passions in life. They recommend finding one and then indulging it. That will supposedly make us happy in adult life.

“Well, I am right in the middle of the storm. I want this one thing so bad that I can’t think of anything else. I will do whatever it takes. My every waking moment is dedicated to this pursuit. I will leave no stone unturned.”

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that the entire material existence is essentially toggling between these two extremes. Typically, we hanker first. We want something so desperately. If we are lucky enough to get it, we hanker for more. It is like pouring gasoline on the fire; the less intelligent will somehow think this is the way to extinguish the blaze.

आवृतं ज्ञानम् एतेन
ज्ञानिनो नित्य-वैरिणा
काम-रूपेण कौन्तेय
दुष्पूरेणानलेन च

āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena
jñānino nitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya
duṣpūreṇānalena ca

“Thus, a man's pure consciousness is covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.39)

At some point the lust will not be satisfied. That for which I hanker will be taken away from me. Then comes the pain of loss. You could be one point away from winning the match. You could have altered the diet slightly to enable your elderly family member to live another year or two. You could have spent some more time appreciating that important person in your life.

While the ultimate goal of spiritual life is connection with the Divine, one of the instant benefits is peacefulness. This is achieved while at the Brahman-realization level. That is to say I don’t necessarily have to meet God face-to-face in order to be in a state of equanimity.

In fact, Shri Krishna explains that after rising above hankering and lamenting, the individual is ideally situated to worship God the person. They are ready for bhakti-yoga, and fortunately the principles of that discipline are so powerful that even without achieving the proper disposition, a person can make advancement.

This is why the acharya recommends worshiping directly from the beginning. If for nothing else, find some peace in this otherwise turbulent storm of a material existence: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Acharya to warn,
Against turbulent storm.

Where hankering on one side,
And later lamentation to preside.

Swinging back and forth,
Material life in course.

Through God find peace and strength,
Power of yoga even without Brahman ascent.