How Can You Say That Vedic Literature Has No Final Chapter

"In time, great scientists may be able to count all the atoms of the universe, all the stars and planets in the sky, and all the particles of snow, but who among them can count the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He descends on the surface of the globe for the benefit of all living entities." (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.14.7)

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गुणात्मनस् ते ’पि गुणान् विमातुं
हितावतीऋनस्य क ईशिरे ’स्य
कालेन यैर् वा विमिताः सु-कल्पैर्
भू-पांशवः खे मिहिका द्यु-भासः

guṇātmanas te ’pi guṇān vimātuṁ
hitāvatīṛnasya ka īśire ’sya
kālena yair vā vimitāḥ su-kalpair
bhū-pāṁśavaḥ khe mihikā dyu-bhāsaḥ

Friend1: I like the idea that sanatana-dharma is not limited to a single book.

Friend2: Which goes by the term “Hinduism” in common conversation.

Friend1: Yes, but I will not use that. Might as well be accurate when discussing with like-minded individuals.

Friend2: We couldn’t be called “thumpers” of any kind since there are many different books. God is one. The objective is one. The nature of the connection to Him is singular. There is only one original destination. One way towards understanding the Absolute Truth.

Friend1: And yet still variety, almost infinitely so.

Friend2: Unity in diversity. We see diversity everywhere already. Know that every person is actually connected, part of a singular energy. This is described as undivided in the divided, the vision in the mode of goodness.

सर्व-भूतेषु येनैकं
भावम् अव्ययम् ईक्षते
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु
तज् ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम्

sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaṁ
bhāvam avyayam īkṣate
avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣu
taj jñānaṁ viddhi sāttvikam

“That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all existences, undivided in the divided, is knowledge in the mode of goodness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.20)

Friend1: We do tend to emphasize one or two books, at least in our discussions.

Friend2: Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Friend1: The Song of God and the spotless Purana, or set of ancient stories, describing God.

Friend2: Either book is fine. You could hold on to the Ramayana, too, and you would be set.

Friend1: What do you mean by that? “Set” refers to okay, sufficient, and the like?

Friend2: You would be on the right path. The works describe God the person. Not that there is sole reliance on faith. No reason to be blind about it. The works, originally passed on in sound through the Sanskrit language, which is spoken amongst the devas [gods], give ample justification for the devotional path.

Friend1: Bhakti.

Friend2: Learn who God is. Learn about the nature around us. Learn your relationship to Him. Understand how the association can never be broken; only forgotten.

Friend1: As it is now.

Friend2: Which defines the state of conditioned life. Spinning on the wheel of suffering, samsara-chakra. Forgetfulness is the spark to start the engine of karma, which is fruitive activity that is tied directly to reincarnation.

Friend1: Great conversation thus far, but I want to shift gears to a specific aspect of Vedic literature.

Friend2: Sure.

Friend1: I hear you sometimes say that not only is there not reliance on a single book, but that Vedic literature continues to expand.

Friend2: Absolutely. The Vedas are identical with God. One aspect to our understanding of Him is knowing that He is infinite. This includes His glories. There is no final chapter on the book that describes Him.

Friend1: Okay, but when we’re talking books, we know of beginning and end.

Friend2: But He is the beginning, middle and end of everything.

सर्गाणाम् आदिर् अन्तश् च
मध्यं चैवाहम् अर्जुन
अध्यात्म-विद्या विद्यानां
वादः प्रवदताम् अहम्

sargāṇām ādir antaś ca
madhyaṁ caivāham arjuna
adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāṁ
vādaḥ pravadatām aham

“Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the Self, and among logicians I am the conclusive truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.32)

Friend1: You just said there is no end.

Friend2: The final stage, as we understand it. Bhagavan speaks our language. This is to help us understand Him. In truth, we can never get a grasp on infinity. Reverse or forward. Small or large. Short and tall. We can think in terms of relative differences, but infinity in any of these areas is too much.

Friend1: Okay, but if you tell someone that there is no final chapter to the Vedas, they will get confused. They will have a difficult time understanding.

Friend2: Just study Anantadeva.

Friend1: The serpent bed upon whom Lord Vishnu lies in rest? The Divine entity responsible for what we refer to as gravity?

Friend2: Yes. He has an unlimited number of hoods. With each one He is glorifying the Supreme Lord. He has been doing this since before anyone can remember. He will continue well beyond the life of Lord Brahma, who lives for billions of years. This is how we know that Vedic literature can never have a cap on the number of books. The books are nothing more than recorded glorifications, and the eternally existing devotees continue to glorify Him, turning time, kala, into an auspicious, well-wishing friend.

In Closing:

Time not enemy to me,

Since allowing to see.

With each new day,

The holy names to say.

With love and attention so,

For attraction to grow.

Like Anantadeva who very well knows,

Vedas with never a chapter to close.

The Three Sanskrit Terms Defining The Spirit Soul

“Bhagavad-gita also confirms that when the Lord appears He appears as He is by His internal potency. He is not contaminated by the material energy because He is the Lord of material energy. In the Vedic literature we find that His whole embodiment is spiritual. He has His eternal form called sach-chid-ananda-vigraha.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 13.15 Purport)

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As a set of literature, the Vedas are unique because they go beyond basic faith. Not just one book, nor one specific person of interest, and neither a single institution, the aim is to connect with the origin of everything. Understand His position, the different ways He manifests, and His energies.

The best Sanskrit equivalent for the English word “God” is Ishvara. This refers to a great controller. Someone who controls over something or someone else. God is Ishvara because the material nature works under His direction; not the other way around.

The definitions and glorifications continue in many directions precisely because an existence as we know it is multi-faceted. From every angle of vision a person can understand Ishvara; no one is shut out from knowing Him in truth.

Three specific Sanskrit terms help to better define Him. Interestingly, the same terms apply to the individual. This means that we are all like Ishvara in a way, though we may not know it.

1. Sach

We are eternal, nitya. The many eternal spiritual beings are supported by the chief eternal.

“The Upanishadic verse runs as follows: nityo nityanam chetanash chetananam. The purport is that amongst all the living entities, both conditioned and liberated, there is one supreme living personality, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who maintains them and gives them all the facility of enjoyment according to different work.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 15.17 Purport)

How can someone be considered eternal if there is the birth-death dichotomy? If there is a beginning and an end, in what we refer to as a lifetime, where is the question of eternality?

न त्व् एवाहं जातु नासं
न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः
न चैव न भविष्यामः
सर्वे वयम् अतः परम्

na tv evāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ
na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ
na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ
sarve vayam ataḥ param

“Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.12)

Ishvara in the transcendental form of Shri Krishna explains. He says that there was never a time when any of us came to be. Go back infinitely into the past. We may not know the precise location. We may not know what kind of material covering was worn, but we certainly did exist.

The same holds true moving forward. Death is merely the final changing of bodies. The eternal spiritual being moves on to a different location. The exact details are determined by a combination of consciousness and results to fruitive activity, karma.

2. Chid

Ishvara is the most knowledgeable. Without much effort He creates the many universes. The image of Vishnu lying down in rest and doing the work of the world while breathing is both accurate and symbolic. Ishvara can take any spiritual form He chooses, including a bluish figure with four hands who is opulently adorned.

The resting gives us a slight idea of how easy it is for Him to accomplish difficult tasks. He does not require blueprints. No GPS device is necessary to figure out where exactly to create. He can see into the future, as well, knowing precisely when the time for destruction is necessary.

This supreme knowledge extends to the spiritual beings. We may not believe that every person is thus equipped, but evidence is everywhere. A child knows how to suck on the breast of the mother moments after birth. Certain animals can move and gather food right away. Even those abilities earned through training and instruction are predictable beforehand. No one can program a human being with the ability to talk; it is already there since birth.

3. Ananda

The Supreme Lord is bliss personified. He is full of pleasure, all the time. In the personal form of Shri Krishna in the spiritual land of Goloka, Ishvara is always enjoying. He has no responsibilities. No one tells Him what to do. There is no concern over setting a proper example. Every day brings another opportunity to spend time with the people who love Him the most. Playing the flute He enchants everyone.

The living entities have the same bliss inside, though in conditioned life there is a covering. Sort of like putting a shade on a lamp, the intensity gets diminished to varying degrees. Bliss is tied to the loving propensity, and hate is nothing more than love inverted. Thus every activity, every desire, can be traced to ananda.

The key distinction between the sach-chid-ananda in Ishvara and the same in the living entities is that the Supreme Lord never has these properties diminished or masked. Because of these three features existing simultaneously and all the time, He is also known as Bhagavan. This Sanskrit word is superior in describing His attributes.

Meanwhile, the living entities can fall so deep into the trap of illusion that they forget the sach-chid-ananda properties that belong to them. For this reason the spiritual master arrives, sent from above, representing Bhagavan. His association and instruction trigger the much needed reawakening, to where the individual reclaims what is rightfully theirs from the start: connection with Bhagavan, yoga.

In Closing:

Right now difficult to see,

But eternality in me.

Not a time created ever,

And ceasing to be never.

Knowledge from the start already there,

And blissful tendency guiding me where.

All actually from Bhagavan coming,

Through guru aware becoming.

Five Indications That You Are Totally Helpless In This World

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.14)

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दैवी ह्य् एषा गुण-मयी
मम माया दुरत्यया
माम् एव ये प्रपद्यन्ते
मायाम् एतां तरन्ति ते

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

It’s natural to be proud of accomplishments. Those are successful outcomes, and who goes into a project hoping for failure? That is the easier option, always, since it involves the lack of effort. Want to fail? Just sit back and do nothing. I assure you that success has little chance of materializing.

On the other side, after overcoming struggles I find a way to reach the desired destination. Be it large or small, I am sure to take some satisfaction in the result. This serves as future impetus. If I have succeeded before, perhaps I will be able to accomplish difficult work again moving forward.

Despite the feeling, the living entity is actually quite helpless in this world. A few experiences from everyday life illustrate the principle quite clearly.

1. A plane ride

I really have no control at all in this situation. Everything is in the hands of the pilot. The turbulence experienced at 30,000 feet in the air is supposedly normal. It’s just the plane moving around because of wind. The difficult landing from last time? That was also expected, according to the experts.

Air travel is practically a necessity in modern-day life, and so millions of people become completely helpless for periods of time. To get from New York to London, you have to take a flight. On that trip the passengers put their trust in the pilot to succeed in the task.

2. Driving on the road

Here the illusion fools me into thinking I have more control than I actually do. I am the operator of the vehicle. I am in the captain’s seat, so to speak. I determine how fast to drive, which roads to take, and how to maneuver around other cars.

The issue is that I am still relying on the vehicle. It must function properly. Something could go wrong at any moment. A nail on the road will puncture the tire. The engine might stop working. The car could run out of gas.

Then there are the other drivers. I trust that they will obey the traffic laws. As I pass through an intersection with a green light, the drivers going across must obey the red light that they see. Otherwise, there will be trouble. Given that so many others are travelling at the same time as me, I am really quite helpless. The age of the smartphone has only made this mode of travel more dangerous.

3. Surgery

This operation is required. There is no other way around it. The heart is in such bad condition, due to many factors. If left alone, another heart attack could strike at any moment. The unanimous consensus among medical professionals is surgery.

During that time I am completely helpless. I have to hope that the years of training pay off for the doctor. I can only wish that the machines function properly and that the recovery goes smoothly. In this case I have absolutely no control over the outcome.

4. War between nations

I was living peacefully in my home. The neighborhood was known to be quiet. Every visitor would remark as such. Now suddenly there is great danger. A bombing nearby. Planes flying overhead. The sirens of emergency vehicles travelling up and down the road.

The cause is war. The leader of my nation got into it with the leader of another. I’m not exactly sure what they are fighting about, but the citizens are caught in the middle. There is nothing I could have done to prevent the situation. Nor did I have any prior warning of imminent danger.

5. Bad weather

Just yesterday I had the air conditioner on. The humidity was unbearable. It seemed like for two months straight we were living in a swamp. One of the most brutal summers I have ever experienced.

Now today I am searching inside the closet for the space heater. It got cold out of nowhere. Nothing in between. I need my autumn jacket, as well. What is going on? Who could have predicted this?

…

Such a review of daily living conditions is not necessary if a person has contact with the Bhagavad-gita, an ancient Sanskrit work which loosely translates as, “The Song of God.” In one of the verses Shri Krishna says that the living entities are overcome by the dualities of attraction and aversion.

Like and hate. Preference and avoidance. I want this today and tomorrow I want something else. I should be happy in either condition, knowing the swinging pendulum of emotions, but I still struggle.

Krishna says that the material nature, though being an inferior energy, actually takes hold over the living entity, who is superior in nature. The material nature consists of three modes – goodness, passion and ignorance. These modes are very difficult to overcome. The fact that one thinks they can act independently and influence outcomes entirely through personal effort shows just how strong the force of illusion is.

The special benediction is that a person who has earned Krishna’s favor can easily overcome the difficulties. He is the highest authority, after all. He is the Supersoul within the heart, and it is actually His sanction which allows any result to manifest. If He decides in favor of the living entity, for escaping the cycle of birth and death and returning to His imperishable realm, then success is guaranteed.

In Closing:

Sign of illusion overtaking,

When of my own effort making.

For outcomes delivering through,

But actually on those like pilot who.

Plane flying and others driving,

Their attention for safe arriving.

Hard to overcome nature’s modes three,

But easy when Shri Krishna to oversee.

Four Different Kinds Of Mistakes I Commit

“Shastra is without the four principal defects that are visible in the conditioned soul: imperfect senses, the propensity for cheating, certainty of committing mistakes, and certainty of being illusioned. These four principal defects in conditioned life disqualify one from putting forth rules and regulations. Therefore, the rules and regulations as described in the shastra-being above these defects-are accepted without alteration by all great saints, acharyas, and great souls.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 16.24)

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The admission is, “To err is human.” Everyone makes mistakes, do they not? No one is perfect. What may not be acknowledged or properly understood is to the depths to which this defect takes hold. In many areas, in many places, in many stages of life, for every kind of person there is the tendency to commit mistakes. The Vedas say that this is one of the four principal faults in conditioned life.

1. I eat too much

The formula for good health is rather simple. Eat right, exercise a moderate amount, and get enough rest. Of the three eating should be the easiest to control. Just don’t eat what you are not supposed to. Compulsion is almost always absent in the situation.

Despite no one forcing me, I can’t help myself. When the family orders pizza, I make excuses as to why I should eat more than the normal amount.

“The pie may not get finished. Pizza tastes best when fresh out of the oven. I don’t eat it that often, so might as well enjoy right now.”

The effects of the mistake of eating too much are obvious. Increased weight. Difficulty breathing. The earlier onset of disease. Trouble with blood sugar levels. Heart problems. The mistake in this area can have dangerous consequences.

2. I succumb to lust

I should know better. Too much indulgence of kama, which is material desire, is not a good option. Better to have self-control. Balance bhoga and tyaga, enjoyment and renunciation. Don’t keep consuming adult beverages without limitation. Don’t sleep the entire day away. Be happy with a single spouse; no need to have many partners at a single time.

Yet despite knowing better I fall into the trap repeatedly. It is like a higher force is at play, compelling me to act against better judgment. In the Bhagavad-gita, Shri Krishna says that kama alone is the great-devouring enemy of this world, as it combines with krodha [wrath] to take down a person of otherwise proper discriminating ability.

श्री-भगवान् उवाच
काम एष क्रोध एष
रजो-गुण-समुद्भवः
महाशनो महा-पाप्मा
विद्ध्य् एनम् इह वैरिणम्

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa
rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā
viddhy enam iha vairiṇam

“The Blessed Lord said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material modes of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.37)

3. I forget things

The wife told me to pick up a few things from the supermarket. Since the list was so short, I didn’t bother to write everything down. When I reach home and unpack the bags, she asks if I remembered to get a certain item. I did not. She is not happy. Neither am I, as the mistake could have been avoided.

In school, despite acting responsibly and completing homework assignments on time, I forget to do one particular thing. The next day the teacher asks everyone to hand in the work that I failed to complete. The omission is costly, and the excuse of, “I forgot,” doesn’t sit well with anyone.

4. I recite verses from shastra incorrectly

Here I am trying to connect with a different consciousness. Travelling to a different realm without physically leaving the present one. Shastra is scripture descending from above. Originating with a person who is perfect and who never falls down, Achyuta, these works now preserved in written form are above the four defects in conditioned life.

Yet I am still flawed, and so when reciting the Sanskrit verses I make mistakes. This could be in a public setting, where I have just heard others pronounce the words correctly. When my turn arrives, I make a mistake here and there.

Fortunately for me the book I am reading is not about advancing materially. Therefore mistakes in recitation are not held against me. If I were engaged in a special yajna [sacrifice] for attaining the favor of some Divine figure other than the Supreme Authority, then I would need to follow every procedure exactly. Otherwise the phala [reward] would not manifest.

Since the vulnerability to mistakes is everywhere, the better option is to stay with the most forgiving person. He passes on the principles for genuine spiritual life in works like Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. Following these principles simultaneously pleases Him. Though I may have so many faults, the spotless wisdom of the ages can still rescue me, provided there is some genuineness of purpose.

In Closing:

If coming with genuineness real,

Then process my fate to seal.

Every mistake and fault not to consider,

Shastra’s transcendental sound to deliver.

With proper spirit material renouncing,

Accepted if verses improperly pronouncing.

Since principles implanted for living,

Supreme Lord transgressions forgiving.

Shouldn’t Every Person Retire Immediately And Live In A Sacred Place

“Shukadeva Gosvami imparted transcendental knowledge to Maharaja Parikshit during the remaining seven days of his life, and Maharaja Parikshit heard him properly, just like an ardent student. The effect of such a bona fide hearing and chanting of Shrimad-Bhagavatam was equally shared by both the hearer and the chanter. Both of them were benefited.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.12.3 Purport)

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Friend1: The Bhagavata Purana, also known as the Shrimad Bhagavatam, is so glorious because it teaches both how to live and how to die.

Friend2: With living there is plenty of advice already available. If unsure, visit a bookstore or library and read the volumes of published works categorized as “self-help.”

Friend1: “How to be successful in business. The key things necessary for avoiding depression. What not to say to your spouse.” I’m making these titles up, but I’m sure there are similarities to actual works.

Friend2: For sure. Philosophy exists for this reason. Study the world around you. Reach conclusions on how to make the most out of an existence.

Friend1: Yet rarely do we get any information on how to die. If you only had a certain number of days left, describe the best way to spend the remaining time.

Friend2: From the Bhagavatam we see that King Parikshit took a curse as a blessing. He used the knowledge of death’s arrival as impetus for renouncing the kingdom and sitting on the banks of a sacred river.

Friend1: To listen to Krishna-katha. Active participation, as well. Not just enduring through a boring lecture, with the mind drifting here and there.

Friend2: A detailed explanation covering so many intriguing topics, too. Birth, death, life, misery, despair, chaos, tumult, the creation, the different species, the influence of time, the merging of elements to cover what is known as spirit, the source of everything and His different manifestations.

Friend1: Culminating with the lila of the Supreme Lord in the form of Shri Krishna.

Friend2: From Vraja to Mathura.

Friend1: And Dvaraka. From fighting bad guys as a child to leading a chariot placed in the middle of the greatest military conflict in history.

Friend2: Krishna on the consciousness while quitting the body assures the best end to life.

Friend1: Pleased you mentioned that. Listening to Krishna-katha or Hari-katha is a great way to finish off a set amount of time in a temporary body. We come to learn that doing the same while living is just as beneficial.

Friend2: Yes. You don’t have to wait until death to experience liberation. We are not investing everything in a hope and a prayer here. Not even one book, either. Know God the person. That is the purpose of the Bhagavatam.

Friend1: The thing is, life is uncertain. No one knows when tragedy will strike. The weather changes by the day. There is little financial security. You think the country is headed in the right direction, when suddenly the leader’s party does very poorly in the lower-ballot elections. Divided government. Nothing to really count on.

Friend2: Yes, this life is known to be miserable and temporary.

Friend1: Then shouldn’t every person follow Parikshit’s example?

Friend2: What do you mean?

Friend1: Quit everything and move to a sacred place. I mean today; don’t wait for the uncertain future.

Friend2: Okay, but that is not necessary. The saintly person gets compared to a travelling tirtha for a reason. They bring the sacred places to others; extensive travel is not required.

Friend1: Alright, then take the same concept. I understand that the spotless nectar that Parikshit heard is today available in written form. Should not every person give up everything and simply read Shrimad Bhagavatam?

Friend2: Yes.

Friend1: You agree with me? I thought you would challenge that there is no need to abandon personal responsibilities.

Friend2: I’m not saying that anyone should, either, but definitely find a way to include Krishna-katha as part of the daily routine. If there is no routine, make one.

Friend1: Yes, a little bit of devotion is nice, but let’s get back to the uncertainty aspect. If I have to go to work or school, doesn’t that leave me vulnerable? What if something happens to me and I don’t remember the Supreme Lord?

Friend2: Live your life in such a way that you can remember. Put in enough time. There is something known as numerical strength. Parikshit had the special fortune of staying in shravanam, hearing, for seven straight days. You and I can do the same by listening regularly. Even better is to chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Repeat the mantra a set number of times each day. Don’t skip the routine. Develop strength through consistency. Augment the process with regular hearing. Then even if you are called away for some other duty, you won’t forget. Keep in mind, Arjuna fought on a battlefield having the same consciousness as one would hope to get through hearing Krishna-katha.

In Closing:

With consciousness the same,

As of from hearing holy name.

All while on battlefield fighting,

Tumult of arrows skies alighting.

Great indeed by Parikshit inspired,

But for today retire not required.

Just hear in way consistent,

Soon the transformation subsequent.

Bringing The Right Medicine

“O best of the monkeys, bring here soon my husband along with Lakshmana and the army troops. O chief of the monkeys, I have been suffering grief for a long time because of Rama, so in this way bring happiness to me.” (Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.66)

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स मे हरिश्रेष्ठ सलक्ष्मणं पतिं सयूथपं क्षिप्रमिहोपपादय।
चिराय रामं प्रति शोककर्शितां कुरुष्व मां वानरमुख्य हर्षिताम्।।

sa me hariśreṣṭha salakṣmaṇaṃ patiṃ sayūthapaṃ kṣipramihopapādaya।
cirāya rāmaṃ prati śokakarśitāṃ kuruṣva māṃ vānaramukhya harṣitām।।

As the Vaishnava presents the challenge of giving up sense gratification, vairagya, in favor of experiencing a higher taste, param drishtva, they are bound to meet opposition. The rational human being does not accept philosophies blindly. They have their own experience to use as a foundation. They know of the many cheaters encountered, how someone may have an ulterior motive.

The initial argument of the proponent is to not waste time in a futile search for permanent happiness in a temporary world. Avoid the regret sure to be felt later on in life. Make the best use of vitality at the present moment, for no one can guarantee the future.

Take to spiritual life instead. It is something different, for sure. There was ample opportunity for sense enjoyment in previous births. If there is skepticism about past existences, just look to the population visible at present. There are dogs, birds, bears, insects, and so forth. They enjoy in certain ways. Perhaps not the same as the human being, but a taste is there.

Human life is something different. There is the added gift of intelligence, which can be used to apply discrimination. Progress is already a vital force acting within society. Avoid the mistakes of past generations. Move forward in a way that benefits everyone.

In fact, the human birth is ideally the last stage in a progressive march for the individual, who is spirit soul. The Vaishnava says to complete the maturation by engaging in bhajana, which is worship of the Supreme Lord. More than blind faith in a single institution or book or leader, learn about the identity of the person being worshiped and how they transcend temporary designations. Really get to know Him and His creation.

This bhajana will bring more happiness than ever previously experienced. The destination is logical. The spirit soul is meant to be in connection with the Divine. Dharma instead of adharma. More than simply following righteous behavior, bring to life the intrinsic characteristics of the spirit soul.

One of the arguments against is that mankind will be neglected:

If I only worry about myself, working on attaining the best destination in the afterlife, paramartha, then what will happen to everyone else? If every person left home and went to live in a temple, would not society suffer?

The corresponding option is called “service to man.”

Help the poor. Give service to the elderly. Take care of those less fortunate. This will please God more than simple expressions of faith and allegiance. Give respect to His children; through them reach the proper destination.

While the sentiment is often rooted in genuine concern for others, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada often cites a story to illustrate the folly. The situation is of a sick patient. They are on the path to recovery, provided they follow the doctor’s instructions. In addition to rest, the sick person must refrain from certain foods.

Another person, seeing the helpless condition of the patient, decides to implement the “service to man” ideal, with their own interpretation. They bring tasty food to the sick person, but everything is from the restricted list. Though the intention is good, by accepting such service the patient will die.

In the same way, if someone doesn’t know how to properly help mankind, then what good will their service do? Keeping a person bound to the cycle of birth and death, when they otherwise have a great opportunity at escaping, is not very nice. Though presented as service, any effort made will end up being a disservice.

In the above referenced verse from the Ramayana, we get a similar dichotomy, except on a much higher level. Here Shri Hanuman offers service to Sita Devi, the wife of Shri Rama. Hanuman wants to carry Sita on his back and return her to the side of her husband, from whom she has been separated for too long.

This is the nicest sentiment, since Hanuman has nothing but love for Sita and Rama. Yet she declines the offer, explaining that the act in kindness would actually diminish the glory of her husband. This is not intended by either party in the situation.

As she is the goddess of fortune, and thus supremely magnanimous and charitable, Sita does not leave Hanuman without other options. She gives the way towards making her happy. She asks that Hanuman bring Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana to Lanka quickly. Come with the members of the army. Just the news of their arrival will bring so much happiness to her.

In the same way, Sita and Rama are most pleased when people engage in their service, always thinking of them and honoring them. Shri Hanuman is their eternal servant, and he recommends others for service. Thus those who honor him are supremely blessed. Their efforts in bhajana never go to waste, and they provide the best example for mankind to follow. Those on the side of Sita and Rama end up victorious in life, while those actively against them perish in the way of the evil Ravana.

In Closing:

When sick patient to see,

Desire for suffering to free.

Bringing something palatable to eat,

But if restricted only calamity to meet.

Same way for “service to man” action,

Better first from authority sanction.

Like Hanuman from Sita idea getting,

Goal accomplished without regretting.

Five Things To Do If You Only Had Seven Days To Live

“Maharaja Parikshit, just after receiving the news of his death within seven days, at once retired from family life and shifted himself to the sacred bank of the Yamuna River.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.19.6 Purport)

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The news is terrifying, but at the same time not totally unexpected. As Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, for the person who has taken birth, death is certain.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्माद् अपरिहार्ये ऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmād aparihārye 'rthe
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

“For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.27)

As Shri Rama says in the Ramayana, for the mature human being there is no other fear than death. The comparison is to the ripened fruit, which has no other fate except to fall off the tree.

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

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

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

You only have seven days to live. That’s what people of authority tell you. The good news is that you can spend it however you wish. You are not confined to a bed in a facility. Complete freedom of motion. There are different options available.

1. Eat and drink as much as you like

No concerns about health. Whether the vital signs are good or bad, the end is near regardless. Why not take the time to enjoy your favorite dishes? Eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Go out to a restaurant and spend whatever is necessary to satisfy the taste buds.

Intoxication is also a possibility. Drink as much as you like. No worries about tomorrow, since in a few days there will be no future. Actually, in the back of your mind you are aware that something must be in store, that beyond this life there is some other kind of living, but right now you don’t know for sure.

2. Binge watch your favorite television show

As intoxication brings an escape from the senses, so too watching television takes the individual to a different time and setting. Choose your favorite television show and watch it from beginning to end. Nothing else to worry about. Laugh, cry, get caught up in the drama – there are no consequences at this moment, or so it seems.

3. Spend time with family and friends

They have meant so much to you. Your parents were everything in childhood. When you were little and just starting school, you would hold your mom’s hand while walking and crossing the street. One day an onlooker said, “Young man, you are growing up. You won’t be able to hold your mother’s hand forever.” In response, your mother said, “Today he is holding my hand, and tomorrow I will hold his.”

It turned out to be true. When your parents were ill, you had to help them to walk, move around, and eat. You are forever indebted to them, along with siblings and well-wishers. Now that the time is short, you would rather spend every moment with them than do anything else.

4. Travel to different places

Because of daily responsibilities, you couldn’t do this before. Just flying away and not caring about anything else was a fantasy, an idea never given serious consideration. Though seven days isn’t much time, there is still the opportunity to see different places, to go where you have never gone. Maybe bring a different perspective on things, escape the bad climate and take in some sights.

5. Sit down and hear Hari-katha

This hypothetical exercise is inspired by a real-life experience of a saintly king several thousands of years ago. He knew the exact end based on a curse applied to him by a powerful priest-like person. Parikshit was essentially the ruler of the world, so he had everything at his disposal. He could have consumed as much wine as desired. He could have travelled to any place and spent time enjoying with friends and family.

Instead, he chose to sit down at the banks of a sacred river and completely give up food and water. He simply heard. The teacher was Shukadeva Gosvami and the subject matter Shri Hari, who is the Supreme Lord. There was question and answer mixed into a narrative. The king learned the position of God with respect to the universe and the living entities. He learned the history of the rulers on earth and how to behave piously.

At the end of life he tasted the nectar of what is known as the Bhagavata Purana. He heard about the lila, or pastimes, of the Supreme Lord in the visible manifestation of Shri Krishna. This was not only the best way to spend the end of days, but also for living in general. It was the genuine eternal life, for central to the teachings was the deathlessness of the spirit soul.

The king would move on to someplace else, just as every living entity does after death. The consciousness at that most crucial moment, of quitting the body, determines the next state of being. Therefore, Parikshit taught everyone not only how to die, but also how to live. His choice benefits every kind of person, in any stage of life. Since most don’t know the precise moment when kala will strike, to have Krishna on the consciousness, through hearing Hari-katha from a bona fide source, will provide the most auspicious passing.

In Closing:

In renounced spirit to sit,

After kingdom to quit.

To spiritual master coming near,

Now topics of Shri Hari to hear.

With only days remaining seven,

Parikshit on path to heaven.

Eternal, the one of Krishna so,

Best way for everyone to go.

How To Practice Bhakti When In Difficulty

“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)

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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: Alright, I know we’ve discussed this many times. It is likely the most common question posed to the speaker after a Hari-katha lecture.

Friend2: A discourse on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Hari, who takes away the distresses of His devotees.

Friend1: By sometimes removing objects to which they are attached.

Friend2: Might be people to. What is this common question to which you refer? How to find a spiritual master?

Friend1: I think that is a little more advanced, further down the line. At the programs I have attended, people always ask how they can be spiritual while maintaining a job and family. They seem scared at the prospect of having to renounce everything.

Friend2: Oh, for sure. Then you get the verse from the Bhagavad-gita about renouncing attachment to the fruits of work.

Friend1: Which a person may not properly understand at the beginning.

Friend2: Yeah. They think it means just keep doing what you’re doing and try to be detached. Keep a level head, but specifics as to a direction in life are lacking.

Friend1: Let’s take a more specific instance extracted from that question. Let’s say that a person is in the hospital. They have just undergone grueling surgery.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: They are in recovery, but right now they can’t do much. There is barely any movement, tubes in so many parts of the body.

Friend2: Can they watch television?

Friend1: There is one in the hospital room, but it takes too much effort to look up.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: How does someone practice bhakti in that situation? Do they have to wait until being fully healed?

Friend2: No.

Friend1: Then?

Friend2: That is the beauty of the holy name. In this situation a book would do wonders. Just read Bhagavad-gita, Shrimad Bhagavatam, or Ramayana. Yet since that is not an option, there is still the ability to chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Friend1: Okay, but this person can barely speak.

Friend2: Doesn’t matter. Repeat the mantra in your mind. That is why consciousness is everything. There is still vitality, which means that consciousness can be influenced. Chant the holy names. If that is too much, then just remember, vishno-smaranam.

Friend1: Go back and review what you’ve heard previously, shravanam?

Friend2: There you go. Remember how great Shri Hanuman is, how he overcame fear, doubt, foreign enemies, physical barriers, the race against time, and a large body of water. Remember how he stayed dedicated to Sita and Rama, the Divine couple who kindly descends to this earth now and then. Remember how he had no one helping him while in Lanka. Remember how he stayed in yoga despite inauspicious conditions surrounding him. Remember the servants who travel the three worlds helping to awaken people from their slumber, to bring them back into the eternal engagement that is devotional service.

Friend1: Nice.

Friend2: All of this can be done anywhere, under any circumstances. You could turn the lack of mobility into a positive. It means there are less options available to distract the mind. Now is your chance to focus. Athato-brahma-jijnasa, now is the time for inquiring into spiritual matters. If you have already made inquiries and are ready for implementation, know that remembering is sufficient.

In Closing:

After operation on cart to wheel,

From medications numb to feel.

Can speak or even move barely,

Know that such chance to come rarely.

Since easier to focus on Bhagavan now,

Chanting and remembering through how.

Meaning that at any time opportunity there,

Renewed chance from medical scare.

How Do You Deal With Health Emergencies

“O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.16)

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चतुर्-विधा भजन्ते मां
जनाः सुकृतिनो ऽर्जुन
आर्तो जिज्ञासुर् अर्थार्थी
ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ
janāḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna
ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

Friend1: Alright, so I understand that bhakti is supposed to be love and devotion. Juxtaposed with other kinds of worship to show a clear contrast.

Friend2: Where even what we refer to as “atheism” is a kind of worship.

Friend1: Because there is respect of the reflection. Paying honor to the illusory energy of maya, the living entity thinks that there is no controller behind the amazing nature.

Friend2: Or they worship nature itself. Taking the senses to be paramount, they are still connected to the Divine in some way.

Friend1: In bhakti you are not supposed to really ask for anything. By chanting the maha-mantra, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,” you are asking God the person and His direct energy to let you engage in their service.

Friend2: Yes, and nothing else. Bhakti for bhakti. Devotion for devotion. That is the highest stage, which is not easily achieved. Just knowing that God is a person comes after considerable time.

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)

Friend1: Let me ask you this. Say a loved one is in trouble. They need a lifesaving surgery.

Friend2: Like a heart operation?

Friend1: Sure. Should we not pray for their wellbeing? Should we not ask Bhagavan to make everything go smoothly?

Friend2: I’m surprised you have to ask. What makes you think it is wrong to pray in that way?

Friend1: It’s not bhakti. It falls into the realm of material life. Praying for someone’s health is asking the higher authorities to ensure that the sick person remains in their body, which is known to be temporary.

Friend2: What is the alternative? You want that person to suffer from bad health?

Friend1: I think you shouldn’t do anything. Let the higher forces governing this world take over.

Friend2: That will occur regardless. Praying or not, the proper outcome will arrive.

Friend1: Okay, so then prayer is meaningless. People shouldn’t approach God in such circumstances?

Friend2: Just the opposite. They should approach God in all circumstances.

Friend1: You are confusing me.

Friend2: I’m sure you are aware of that Bhagavad-gita verse describing the four kinds of people who approach Krishna initially.

Friend1: Yes. The distressed. The person who wants wealth. The inquisitive and the person who already has knowledge, jnana, but wants to go further.

Friend2: Then? The distressed fits this situation, do they not?

Friend1: We should advance past those four categories, though.

Friend2: I’m saying there is no harm. You should be the same in consciousness no matter the outcome, but this does not mean you throw away all emotion. Praying for their wellbeing is a good thing. In fact, the Vaishnava, the devotee of the personal side of God, offers prayers for every person suffering. That is why they engage in prachara, in popularizing the teachings of the Vedas. They know that every person can benefit, irrespective of their health condition. Whether recently entering this world or close to their way out, connecting with Krishna will provide the best benefit.

Friend1: What about praying to someone like Shri Hanuman?

Friend2: What is wrong with that?

Friend1: He is not Bhagavan.

Friend2: He is just as good. The dedicated servant, who is like a spiritual master, is simply a different side of God. They are the Divine in service, while Krishna or Rama is the Divine accepting the service.

Friend1: Hanuman is amazing.

Friend2: Absolutely. Anyone who remembers him, especially during times of distress, is eternally blessed.

In Closing:

Hanuman so dedicated is he,

Most amazing servant to see.

Especially in times distressing,

His memory fortunes blessing.

Like when family member ill,

Time for God remembrance better still.

Since purification from the move,

His shelter best option to choose.

Should Someone Feel Guilty About A Supposed High 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 streets 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 ||

Friend1: I know that we have discussions on how someone of low birth can rise to the status of liberated devotee.

Friend2: It’s just a circumstance, if you think about it. Maybe that person will never be accepted into circles that base their judgment off birth alone, but outside opinion is of no issue. We’re talking about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, here.

Friend1: He is the ultimate arbiter.

Friend2: He can override whatever happens on judgment day, so to speak. Look at the case of Ajamila. The messengers of Yamaraja, the god of justice, arrived to take him away at the time of death. They were intercepted by the messengers of Vishnu, who is the personal side to God.

Friend1: Because Ajamila had uttered the name of Narayana at the time of death. Therefore, he was immune to sinful reaction. There was nothing to judge; Vishnu considered him a devotee.

Friend2: Think of the many past sinful deeds. Poor guy was immersed in papa, though he was originally a brahmana.

Friend1: That is an instance of high birth, followed by a descent into the life of someone of typically low birth, with a conclusion of redemption.

Friend2: Salvation. Liberation. Whatever you want to call it, the fall was only temporary. Thus even if you don’t respect someone of a low birth, kujati, know that they can rise to the top. Goswami Tulsidas compares them to the insignificant trees lining the roads in the heavenly realm.

Friend1: That is interesting.

Friend2: On the morning commute to work, how many trees do we pass on the road?

Friend1: Too many to count.

Friend2: They aren’t even noticed. Yet even the weakest looking trees in the heavenly realm are honored. They are suratarus; they can grant desires. The person who is supposedly of low birth receives a similar elevation. They become highly honored. The reason is association. It matters not from where you came, but to where you are going.

Friend1: Alright, so no argument from me on that point. The principle is clearly understood.

Friend2: Just one further reminder. Think of how prasadam works. This is ordinary food, but because of the association in offering to Vishnu, it becomes sacred. You enjoy bhoga, but you honor prasadam. If food and tracts of land can become sacred due to connection with God the person, then the same is true of people who are connected.

Friend1: Let’s take the opposite condition. We have someone of high birth. Their parents are devotees. The ancestors set up traditions where someone like Shri Hanuman is held in the highest esteem.

Friend2: The dedicated servant to Vishnu’s incarnation of Shri Rama.

Friend1: It is almost like Hanuman watches over the family. The children develop a natural affinity to him because of the songs and stories shared by the parents.

Friend2: That is certainly an auspicious birth.

Friend1: Yes, and so those people are fortunate. They are on the right path. Will they not feel some guilt, though? When interacting with others who are not as fortunate, how to handle the situation?

Friend2: Why is there a “situation”? You can’t treat people with respect? You can’t deal with every person the same, regardless of their birth?

Friend1: I’m not talking ordinary, informal dealings here. What about with friends? You tell your stories about how great childhood was, how awesome a mom you have since she always quoted Goswami Tulsidas. Then your friend doesn’t have similar stories to share. Will they not feel inferior? Is that not putting someone else down for no reason? You see how guilt can arise here?

Friend2: I mean that is one way to look at it. Another viewpoint says that the other friend is just as fortunate. They are connected to the parampara. Perhaps they don’t have similar stories from childhood, but they can start their own disciplic succession.

Friend1: Because they are friends with the devotee.

Friend2: Yes. It’s not like things suddenly stop once you have an auspicious birth. It is not a final destination. There is some responsibility. Share the wisdom of the Vedas with others. Make sure that the tradition continues in the future. Remember that there was activity from past lives which had an influence. No reason to feel guilty, since you probably had so much punya accumulated from work in previous births.

Friend1: Pious deeds.

Friend2: That accumulate sukriti, or good fortune. Use that to benefit others. Then they will become auspicious and help others. Whatever the circumstances of birth, know that connecting with God in consciousness is the best way forward. Stay connected to Him through chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Since childhood towards deities to kneel,

Person of high birth not guilty to feel?

Since friends maybe with same tendency not,

How you then this auspiciousness got?

From good karma and deeds of past,

Now help others in finding the path.

For their own parampara to start,

Wisdom to generations to impart.

What Is Wrong With Service To Man

“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

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यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

Friend1: You’ve heard it many times.

Friend2: What is that?

Friend1: It arrives with a specific attitude. Defensiveness. Though no one is specifically challenging them, they feel they need to retort, to present a counterargument.

Friend2: Who is “they”?

Friend1: The people who push forward this philosophy.

“Service to man is service to God. Be kind to the poor. Elevate the downtrodden. That is more important than opening a temple and worshiping a deity. In fact, without such service the offerings to God are not accepted.”

Friend2: Ah, yes. We certainly do hear this quite often.

Friend1: What is your response?

Friend2: Do I have to give one?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: There are so many ways to address this.

Friend1: You mean “refute.”

Friend2: Not necessarily. If I choose the approach of agreement, then I can point to an incident in the Ramayana. Prior to leaving for the forest for fourteen years, Shri Rama explains to His wife Sita Devi that the parents are something like the living deities. If we worship God and godly figures properly, then why not the people who are before us right now?

अस्वाधीनं कथं दैवं प्रकारैरभिराध्यते।
स्वाधीनं समतिक्रम्य मातरं पितरं गुरुम्।।

asvādhīnaṃ kathaṃ daivaṃ prakārairabhirādhyate।
svādhīnaṃ samatikramya mātaraṃ pitaraṃ gurum।।

“How can we worship in various ways the Divine, who is not within our reach, if we neglect mother, father and guru, who are within our reach?” (Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 30.33)

Friend1: Meaning?

Friend2: You have the opportunity to show your true character. Shri Rama’s father gave the order for the son to leave, to abandon the throne that was rightfully going to be His. Rama obliged. He did not fight. He accepted because there was honor of the father, who was pious in every way.

Friend1: And disobeying that order would be like going against a living deity.

Friend2: Right. Only in special cases do you get reciprocation from the object of worship in the temple. Normally, you realize the benefits in other ways. Most often there is the change in consciousness. Rama did not even need to worship, as He is the Supreme Lord Himself, but He did so to set the proper example.

Friend1: Okay, but what if you wanted to refute the original argument?

Friend2: What exactly is “service to man”? Is it simply giving people food to eat? That is noble, for sure, but what happens if the recipients grow up to be criminals? You are then complicit to some degree.

Friend1: They will say that such service pleases God the most.

Friend2: Actually, that is another flaw in the argument. You have to reference authority. You cannot just make stuff up. Shri Krishna advises Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita to do everything important in life as an offering to Him. Whatever gets consumed, whatever gets sacrificed, whatever charity is given away, whatever austerities are performed – tat kurushva mad arpanam.

Friend1: Okay, so wouldn’t the person doing “service” to mankind be doing that as an offering to God? Let’s say that I open up a hospital. I name it after an avatara of Vishnu. Is that not an offering?

Friend2: Again, it should be authorized. It should be with the proper consciousness and also the proper understanding of the Almighty. Another person could feel like they are doing service by killing hundreds of people at once. They use the “offering” excuse. Will that work?

Friend1: Of course not.

Friend2: Then? The truth is that worship in the temple, singing songs in glorification, spreading the virtues found in Vedic literature – this is actually the best service to mankind. It brings a lasting benefit to everyone affected. King Parikshit learned he had only seven days to live. He did not spend it eating his favorite dishes. He did not open a hospital. He sat down on the banks of the Yamuna and heard Shrimad Bhagavatam. He did not eat or drink anything. There was austerity. There was charity in giving up the kingdom.

Friend1: You could probably say that he was being selfish. He wasn’t necessarily concerned with others.

Friend2: Yes, and who is expected to be at such a time? Yet look what happened. That decision to hear the glories of Shri Krishna, without cessation, benefitted the entire world both at the time and moving forward. We are still benefitting today through that choice. He performed the best service to man because he followed authority. He did not make up some method of service and then try to invoke God at the tail-end.

In Closing:

Made up service time to spend,

Then invoking God’s name at end.

Argument commonly of this kind,

That superior to deity in mind.

But like Parikshit decision key,

Benefit entire world to see.

That simply glories to hear,

To guru and Krishna coming near.

Mr. Reliable

“O chief of the Vanaras, who can withstand Rama, the destroyer in battle, fixed in determination like the elephants of the quarters of the earth, whose arrows resemble the rays of the sun at the end of a yuga, along with Lakshmana?” (Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.65)

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सलक्ष्मणं राघवमाजिमर्दनं दिशागजं मत्तमिव व्यवस्थितम्।
सहेत को वानरमुख्य संयुगे युगान्तसूर्यप्रतिमं शरार्चिषम्।।

salakṣmaṇaṃ rāghavamājimardanaṃ diśāgajaṃ mattamiva vyavasthitam।
saheta ko vānaramukhya saṃyuge yugāntasūryapratimaṃ śarārciṣam।।

It is said that nothing is as forgiving as the earth. It bears such a burden based on the moving population alone. There are also the nonmoving beings, achara, who at the very least add weight to the total. There are earthquakes from time to time, but the earth does not give in. She is a mother who is tremendously forgiving.

या चेयं जगतां माता देवी लोकनमस्कृता।
अस्याश्च चलनं भूमेर्दृश्यते सत्यसंश्रव।।

yā ceyaṃ jagatāṃ mātā devī lokanamaskṛtā।
asyāśca calanaṃ bhūmerdṛśyate satyasaṃśrava।।

“O Lord of Koshala, even the Earth, who is the mother of the world and respected by everyone, suffers distress in the form of earthquakes.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 66.10)

It is easier to have a generally pleasant disposition towards everyone when there isn’t trouble. Yet the earth has to suffer so much, including during times when the sinful, the asuras, rise in strength. Their impious behavior adds to the burden, but again the noted planet in the region of birth and death remains steady.

One of the reasons is that there is support from underneath. The Vedas describe that the four quarters have these amazing elephant-like beings standing in support. This ensures that such a massive collection of matter stays in place, that it does not simply fall out of the sky. These pillar-like elephants can be relied upon. Whether accepted as truth or discounted as mythology, there is no denying that a stabilizing force exists ensuring the proper continuation of life on earth.

As Sita Devi describes in the Ramayana, Shri Rama is the same way on the battlefield. He cannot be moved. The enemy can have many capable fighters attacking simultaneously, but Rama will not budge from His position. This is because the arrows released from His bow are like rays of the sun. An enemy once compared those weapons to heat-seeking missiles, which chase their targets until a strike is realized.

नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा।
शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्रिणः।।
सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान्।
येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्शिताः।
तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम्।
इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ।।

naiva devā mahātmāno nātra kāryā vicāraṇā।
śarā rāmeṇa tūtsṛṣṭā rukmapuṅkhāḥ patatriṇaḥ।।
sarpāḥ pañcānanā bhūtvā bhakṣayanti sma rākṣasān।
yena yena ca gacchanti rākṣasā bhayakarśitāḥ।
tena tena sma paśyanti rāmamevāgrataḥ sthitam।
itthaṃ vināśitaṃ tena janasthānaṃ tavānagha।।

“Neither the demigods nor any exalted personalities were there helping Rama, for He acted alone. You should not entertain any doubt on this matter. Indeed, Rama shot feathered arrows, plated with gold, which turned into five-headed serpents that devoured all the Rakshasas. The Rakshasas were oppressed with fear, and wherever they went and wherever they turned, they saw Rama in front of them. In this way, O spotless one, have your Rakshasas been destroyed in the forest of Janasthana by Rama.” (Akampana speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.18-19)

In times of distress it is nice to have reliability. The journey through life is indeed a struggle. At the very minimum there is the influence of time, kala, which guarantees change.

Even if a person is living seemingly worry free, there could be issues for friends and family. One day the father has a health problem. That gets compounded by another, in a series of attacks over the span of a few years. The mother suffers a traumatic event. They can no longer take care of themselves. You need help, as you have other pressing responsibilities on a daily basis.

If someone within the family steps in and helps out, it is a tremendous benefit. This person can be relied upon. They are not phased by danger or uncertainty. They have concern for the future outcomes, but they are not crippled by fear. They cannot be shaken in their resolve.

As Rama is that way on the battlefield, so are His dear servants like Hanuman. In addition to being an individual of extraordinary ability, Hanuman is completely dedicated to the Supreme Lord. He is in constant yoga, though he may not necessarily be found in the seat of meditation. He may be leaping over an ocean, contemplating strategy on how to proceed forward, becoming diminutive in size, or proposing an idea for rescue to a princess in great distress.

Who wouldn’t appreciate such a friend? Moreover, who would ever think of relying on anyone else when Hanuman is there to offer service? It is no wonder that Sita and Rama hold him in such high esteem. He continues in that devotion to this day, and the souls struggling in the material world can count on him to deliver the end result of pure devotion. Just remembering him and honoring bring so much auspiciousness, and he is obliged to stay with those who desire his association. Hanuman is as reliable today as he was when risking everything for the safety of Rama’s wife, who was otherwise suffering so much.

In Closing:

Like elephants at directions four,

Posted holding earth planet for.

A pillar Rama in way the same,

Steady in battle with arrow’s aim.

Extending to servant Hanuman,

Who taking every risk for Bhagavan.

No wonder held in such high esteem,

Dedication to a level never seen.

Three Amazing Things Moms Are Known To Do

“Mother Yashoda was firmly convinced of the Vedic injunctions about the importance of cows and the holy name of Vishnu; therefore she took all shelter in the cows and the name of Vishnu just to protect her child Krishna. She recited all the holy names of Vishnu so that He might save the child.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 6)

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The child is crying in the middle of the night. It won’t go to sleep. The labor was intense enough. What man could survive painful contractions, five to ten minutes apart, straight through for twenty-four hours or more? The experience creates a bond like no other between mother and child.

The mother to the newborn can do amazing things. Change diapers, feed at odd hours, go without sleep, and still maintain the household. They have super-strengths, which are on loan from above. Though the Sanskrit word purusha has one meaning of male, it can also refer to the individual person in general. Their strength, paurusham, comes from a higher source.

रसो ऽहम् अप्सु कौन्तेय
प्रभास्मि शशि-सूर्ययोः
प्रणवः सर्व-वेदेषु
शब्दः खे पौरुषं नृषु

raso 'ham apsu kaunteya
prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ
praṇavaḥ sarva-vedeṣu
śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu

“O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.8)

Because of their dedication and sacrifice, the parents are known as the first gurus. These are respected personalities who are also able to teach. Taking a few examples from history documented in Vedic literature we get a glimpse of the amazing things mothers are capable of.

1. Chant the names of Vishnu

Escaping the cycle of birth and death. That is the ultimate destination, and the starting point is inquiry into spiritual matters. Known as brahma-jijnasa, only the human being has this ability. The same animating spark, the particle of spirit, the purusha, can live in different kinds of bodies, which are identified as species.

The human birth should be sujata, auspicious in nature. Yet in the beginning the ability for inquiry into spiritual matters is not there. The child can barely say a word or two, so how will they be able to ask questions on higher topics?

This does not mean that progress cannot be made towards reaching the ultimate destination. The sound of the Almighty is as good as His association. One reason that the bhakti path is supreme is because it lacks limitations. While jnana and vairagya, who are like two sons to Bhakti Devi, the goddess of devotion, can be acquired only after maturation, bhakti is available at all times. Brahma-jijnasa is important, but upasana is paramount. This is coming closer to God the person.

One simple way to bring the child closer to God is to chant His names. Mother Yashoda did this one time for her darling child named Krishna. She recited different names of Vishnu, who is the personal side of the Divine, for protecting her son. The amazing thing is that Krishna is Vishnu Himself. The mother was not aware, but her behavior was exemplary. She knew towards which direction to turn for the ultimate benefit for her dependents.

2. Check the mouth for dirt

A group of parents discuss which stage of childhood is the most difficult to deal with. One person says the first three weeks, since the child needs to eat all the time. This makes sleeping through the night very difficult.

Another parent says the most difficult time is when the child begins to crawl and walk. They require constant supervision, because they will put anything into their mouth. The guardians cannot allow this, for obvious reasons.

Mother Yashoda one time checked Krishna’s mouth for dirt. This was following an accusation made by Krishna’s friends. The reward for this motherly supervision was a vision of the entire universe. She saw something amazing inside the mouth of her son, who then quickly took back the vision, so as to not confuse the mother into His true nature.

3. Give an idea of where to find God

Can any instruction be more important than this? Teaching me to walk, talk, and read helps tremendously, but if sense gratification is the end-goal, then the life closely resembles previous experiences, of which I don’t remember. These were in other kinds of species, where satisfying the senses is the only interest.

If my mother can show me the way towards transcendence, then the debt is impossible to repay. She may tell me that the Ramayana is the most important book to read, that if I want to really know about duty, devotion, honor, piety, the meaning to life, and the way to persevere through the many challenges, the person to understand is Shri Hanuman. My mom tells me to consult the writings and songs of Goswami Tulsidas.

Afterwards, the bliss I feel is incomparable, and I become forever indebted to the person who showed me the way. Though I may not be able to understand the language precisely, my mother helps me again. She understands the verses in their original form, as the language spoken in her family for many generations is quite similar. Her ability to translate for me is something like giving functioning eyes to a blind man. Even that is not an accurate comparison since ordinary vision is defeated in importance by direct association with a saintly figure.

The mother can give hints in an indirect way, also. Dhruva Maharaja was a young child and he was set on revenge. He wanted to get even with his step-mother, who had insulted him. Suniti, the birth-mother, advised Dhruva on where to go for resolution. Vishnu was the person to approach, even if there were material desires. His association is purifying, as He would prove in the later meeting with Dhruva.

In Closing:

Vishnu approach best to choose,

Since material desires to lose.

Association itself to purify,

In surrender solely on Him to rely.

Mother in this way idea can give,

Creating foundation for best way to live.

Wisdom of ages with immeasurable size,

Like to blind man giving eyes.