From Impure To Pure

“Tulsi says that if someone respects Shri Rama, they have good value even if they are of bad character, like when the black ash from a lamp is put on the head to drive away evil spirits, it becomes fixed.” (Dohavali, 106)

tulasī rāma jo ādar yo kho।to kharo kharoi |
dīpaka kājara sira dhar yo dhar yo sudhar yo dharoi ||

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Ash is the unwanted residue from the lighting of a flame. The fire has some value when it is wanted. Without fire, man would not be able to survive. Indeed, there is a flame inside of the body, indicating life. When that fire exits, the body turns cold, which is one sign of death.

If there is a fireplace in the home, after it is used residue builds up inside. This is known as soot, and it is a byproduct of the flames. The substance is considered impure, and so it should be removed. There is a cleaning process. For every convenience there is an inconvenience. For everything useful given to us by the Almighty, there appears to be one or many things not useful accompanying it.

Goswami Tulsidas uses ash as an example to show how even the person of the worst character can be purified. We have met such people. We may have some of these bad qualities within us, as well. Lying. Cheating. Stealing. Thinking only of personal interest. Causing needless pain and harm to others. Taking great joy in another’s sorrow and becoming despondent when witnessing their success.

“One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress, who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me-he is very dear to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.13-14)

In the Bhagavad-gita, Shri Krishna lists some of the reverse qualities. The purpose is to show one way that a person becomes dear to Him. He is the one most worth impressing, as His favor means everything.

Just how potent is His influence? If a person respects Him, then even when they have bad qualities they are considered to be a good person. Not that lying, cheating and stealing are worthwhile endeavors, in most cases. Not that others should be put into difficulty to satisfy personal desires. It is just that these bad qualities get cast aside. The power of the respect shown to Krishna is enough to fix such a person. Eventually those bad qualities will go away.

Tulsidas gives the comparison to kajal. This is a black-colored ointment, which in past ages was created using the ash that developed within lamps. There was the flame, the positive aspect. It served various purposes. Perhaps it was dark at night. In the home of a cultured person, on a daily basis the lamp was waved in honor of the Supreme Lord, in this case referenced through the name of Rama.

The ash was impure, but when used in kajal it served a viable purpose. If one looks at baby pictures of those growing up in Vedic culture, this kajal is often seen around the eyes and on the forehead. The mark on the forehead is to drive away evil spirits. Something impure becomes pure because of a relationship.

In the same way, even the worst person can become fixed, sudhara, through association with Shri Rama. That association can be something as basic as showing respect. This is one of the reasons deity worship is so prominent. Enter the designated dwelling, see the merciful form of the Supreme Lord, and offer a little respect. A simple process like this can do wonders.

Another way to show respect is to hear and say the holy names, like from the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. From just a little respect everything can turn around. The bad becomes good, and that good goes on to do so much real benefit for others.

In Closing:

From just a little respect,

Transformation to expect.

Where ignored the qualities bad,

Since connection to Rama had.

Like kajal produced from fire’s way,

On child’s forehead driving evil away.

So with Supreme Lord a little connected,

Soon to be right, in future protected.

Am I Wasting My Time

“Shri Rama does good for everyone; through His love everyone is benefitted. Therefore, it must hold true that Rama will always do good for Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 105)

rāma nikaii rāvarī hai sabahī ko nīka |
jauṃ yaha sā'cī hai sadā tau nīko tulasīka ||

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It’s an important question to ask. There is so much effort invested to begin with. There is faith that the end result will be something never before experienced. The promise is to remove the greatest fear a person can have: death.

“Just as the ripened fruit has no other fear than falling, the man who has taken birth has no other fear than death.” (Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 105.17)

The mature fruit hanging from the tree has no other fate than to fall. Growth is finished. There is no more potential in that area. For the mature human, the only guaranteed outcome remaining is death. Everything that was experienced, the attachments formed, the worries and fears, the concerns about future wellbeing - nothing except the subtle body carries forward into the next life.

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

Therefore this bhakti-yoga thing better be the real deal. It cannot fail to deliver; otherwise so much time is wasted. The truth is that the life outside of bhakti, enjoyment of the senses or seeking some high stature through renunciation and mysticism, is the real shame. Especially in the valuable human form of life, the potential to sharpen intelligence is not used wisely.

The person on the path of bhakti monitors their progress. This is a prudent thing to do. There is the other side, with the saying, “A watched pot never boils.” If you know something is going to take a long time to complete, checking how far along you are is fine once or twice, but repeatedly it can make the process seem more difficult than it is.

In bhakti-yoga the questions to ask are rather straightforward. Is my attachment for God the person increasing? By extension, is my detachment for everything material decreasing? Am I less concerned with eating and more concerned with practicing devotion? Is the confidence in my spiritual master growing? Am I more confident in the path today than I was when I started?

Hearing about the life and pastimes of Shri Rama gives reassurance. He is the Supreme Lord appearing before the eyes in a special, attractive, and completely transcendental form many thousands of years ago. God is not limited to one specific place or kind of people. He is already within the heart of every single living thing through the expansion known as Supersoul.

There is so much to study from Rama’s deeds described in works like the Ramayana, Puranas, and Ramacharitamanasa, but one thing is clear: He does good for everyone. No matter the stature, gender, level of intelligence, or particular difficulties of the recipient, the meeting with Shri Rama brings the ultimate benefit afterwards.

Goswami Tulsidas uses this truth to gain assurance that everything will work out for himself. The celebrated saint had nothing to worry about. Anyone truly devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is assured liberation. It may not manifest immediately, but they are on the path. Bhagavan brings to the devotee what they lack and preserves what they have.

“But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form-to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.22)

Rama does good for everyone who comes in contact with Him, so why not for a person who thinks only of Him day and night, for years on end? In this way every person can be assured that only in devotion is the work guaranteed to provide lasting benefits. The house I spent years building may crumble at any moment, but the house of devotion built within the heart, where the chief guests are Shri Rama and His wife Sita Devi, remains sturdy and intact from lifetime to lifetime.

In Closing:

Sturdy the bhakti house I built,

Not by time or death to wilt.

Sita and Rama the chief guests,

In whom all power and mercy rests.

Worrying that possible effort a waste,

That not yet liberation to taste.

Tulsi the guarantee from this understood,

That God for everyone already doing good.

Don’t The People Preaching Usually Require The Most Help

“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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Friend1: Do you ever get tired of hearing the message?

Friend2: Which one? I do keep getting calls from these people who want to sell me solar energy.

Friend1: Robocalls?

Friend2: There’s not even a person on the other end. They buy up a series of similar phone numbers, too, so it’s not like you can simply block their number.

Friend1: That should be made illegal.

Friend2: One would think.

Friend1: I’m talking about the bhakti message, science of self-realization, in general.

Friend2: What exactly is the message?

Friend1: Take advantage of this human life, which is rare. Follow devotion to God, who is a person. Give up attachment to other things.

Friend2: You don’t think that’s an important message?

Friend1: It’s the most important.

Friend2: What is the problem, then?

Friend1: At first it was great to hear. It opened my eyes. The receptive ears helped me to see things completely differently. The thing is, after a while it gets to be too much. I’m thinking to myself, “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just leave me alone already. Stop bothering me. Don’t pound me over the head with it. I’m doing my best to reform. Give me some space.”

Friend2: The idea is to pass on the same message to others. Help to open their eyes. Wake them up from the slumber of ignorance, which has held sway for too long.

Friend1: I get it, trust me, but here’s one thing to consider. Have you noticed that people who preach so vehemently about a particular subject often are the ones that need the most help?

Friend2: What do you mean?

Friend1: Someone tells me over and over not to take drugs. They explain how harmful drugs are for the body. Later on we find out that they are addicted. They don’t follow the message themselves.

Friend2: Hypocrisy, that certainly happens.

Friend1: They like to stand up and show everyone how good they are. They love to lecture others. When you scrutinize them, when the tables are turned, you find out the truth. Is there any carryover to the realm of spirituality?

Friend2: You mean are there any cheaters? Are there any hypocrites? You shouldn’t have to ask.

Friend1: Sure, there is a lot of duplicity, but does that hurt the message at all?

Friend2: Even in the cases you cited, the message does not change. It is always valid to avoid drug and alcohol addiction. There is still a benefit. Maybe a guy pounding you over the head with the message raises some red flags, but that is their problem, not yours.

Friend1: Okay, let’s stick with the red flags. Should we assume that the person who daily talks about the science of self-realization and the need for practicing bhakti-yoga is flawed to a greater degree than someone of the same mindset who doesn’t speak so much?

Friend2: Now I see what you are getting at. There’s no general rule. It could be so, but it could not be, as well. Look at the acharyas of the past, the trend-setters, if you will. They dedicated their whole lives to prachara, to propagating the bhakti culture. Their entire existence was public information. Nothing to hide. That’s why they rose to the stature they did; people couldn’t believe how sinless they remained.

Friend1: Are you saying that it doesn’t matter so much who the message comes from, as long as the message is valid?

Friend2: A valid truth is a valid truth. Sure, the hypocrite hurts the cause. The cheater will drive people away, but that has nothing to do with the message. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would make the comparison to universities and doctoral degrees. There are many less doctorate holders than there are students. A doctorate is considered the pinnacle, reaching the highest achievement. Does this disproportion mean that the disciplines of chemistry, biology, physics and such are themselves worthless?

Friend1: Of course not.

Friend2: To succeed in bhakti is very difficult, as attachments to the material world are many. As Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, overcoming the material modes of nature is easy for someone who has His favor, and practicing bhakti-yoga brings exactly that.

In Closing:

When preachers most vehement acting,

That likely something themselves lacking.

Hurting the message sometimes for sure,

But valid still bhakti, of benefits to endure.

Through His holy names singing,

Krishna’s endless favor bringing.

Making success easier much more,

No birth and death, higher purpose for.

Everybody’s Working For The Weekend

“All people are deeply involved in working to achieve something, but there is no use without subsequently protecting. According to Tulsi’s thinking, every religious practice is similarly useless without love for Shri Rama.” (Dohavali, 104)

loga magana saba jogahīṃ joga jāya' binu cema |
tyoṃ tulasīke bhāvagata rāma prema binu nema ||

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You have the situation of a person from an underdeveloped nation. Keep in mind, everything is relative. What is poverty to one person is abundance to another. A miserable day for one person is when their favorite sports franchise loses the big game, while for someone else it is the loss of a loved one for good.

This person goes on a foreign trip, to a nation considered more developed. They keep a keen eye. Not that they are specifically looking to criticize or praise. There is genuine interest in how others live. After staying in that foreign land for a few weeks they make the following assessment:

“The standard of living, as it is called, is certainly enhanced. In my country we don’t have machines for everything. Not that technology is absent, but most people don’t keep a tiny robot in their home that does the vacuuming. They don’t have dishwashers, either.

”At the same time, I find it remarkable how much stress people are under. It’s like they never stop working. And don’t even talk about getting to and from work. Traffic is unbelievable. They have to drive themselves; no one to help them. Even in cities where many people use public transportation, everyone is in a rush. It’s as if there is no end to the difficulties. When do people relax?”

There is the famous song that has the chorus line, “Everybody’s working for the weekend.” Taken literally, there are two meanings. One is that no one has a break from their job, even on Saturday and Sunday. Professional life is so difficult that skipping one day causes so much trouble.

The other meaning is that each person is working very hard during the week simply so they can enjoy on the weekend. Terrible distress, heartache, pain, pressure - all to meet the great bliss that is rest and relaxation on the two days comprising the weekend. The Bhagavad-gita even says that sometimes there is poison in the beginning to taste nectar at the end.

“O best of the Bharatas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress. That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.36-37)

Goswami Tulsidas says that such work is actually useless without protecting the assets gained in the process. In fact, the reward at the end isn’t really nectar; it just seems that way juxtaposed with the distress in the beginning. It is nectar in theory; the reality is something different.

Such rewards are in the mode of passion, which leads to indefinite longing. The desires keep coming back. Even the nectar tasted through work in the mode of goodness doesn’t last forever; it can’t be protected in perpetuity. The mode of goodness can be equated with general pious behavior. Religious vows, procedures, practices and such typically fall into this category, as well.

Tulsidas says that such practices are as useless as working for rewards that can’t be protected. This is when love for Shri Rama is lacking. What am I really seeking? Residence in heaven is not temporary. It is a place of enhanced material comforts, but when the entire material world goes through cycles of creation, maintenance and annihilation, how can I stay in that resort in the sky forever?

“But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form - to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.22)

Include devotion to Shri Rama, love for Him, and everything changes. This is because Rama directly intervenes. He protects what the devotee has and brings to them what they lack. This is not to say that a house or car belonging to the person who loves Rama will stay forever. The most cherished possession, the bhakti itself, will be protected for lifetime after lifetime. That jewel shines so much that others can benefit from that protection at the same time.

In Closing:

Work now to enjoy later on,

But soon the weekend’s gone.

Then into same cycle repeat,

Again to feel pressure’s heat.

If fruits of labor not protected,

Then lamenting loss, state dejected.

Bhagavan most valuable asset securing,

Continued practice in bhakti assuring.

Three Examples Of Life In The Mode Of Passion

“One in the mode of passion is never satisfied with the position he has already acquired; he hankers to increase his position. If he wants to construct a residential house, he tries his best to have a palatial house, as if he would be able to reside in that house eternally.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 14.12 Purport)

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The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as Shyamasundara, amongst many other names. Like the cloud reaching its full potential for water, about to pour down on earth, to nourish the crops, to give life - that is the complexion on the transcendental body of Bhagavan. The color is shyama, or dark. Since this complexion is so beautiful, with attractiveness in every other feature, as well, on the same person, another name is Krishna.

The existence, the life of the living being, the jiva, is meant for service to Shyamasundara. That service is in the very nature of the individual, its dharma. There need not be a term to describe it. There need not be a specific exercise to acquire the taste or relinquish interest in other areas. That service is the true state of existence, bhava.

Unfortunately, material existence brings a covering of ignorance. That force is so strong that interests go in every which direction. The default mentality for the human being fits squarely in a mode of living known as passion. From a brief study of a few instances of that way of life, a defect immediately stands out.

1. Constructing a residential house

I now have some money. I’ve saved it up for some time. I was fine living where I was, but everyone keeps telling me to buy my own house. I shouldn’t waste money on rent. Also, a house is a real asset. Though on taxes I get to deduct for depreciation, in most cases the value of the property appreciates with time. I won’t lose anything in the long run.

Something I had no interest in before suddenly consumes my time. I have decided to build a new house instead of purchasing an existing one. Every decision is in my hands. The type of flooring, the number of rooms, the kind of heating and cooling, the length of the driveway - stuff I never considered before.

I’ve decided that this house must be like a palace. I will spare no expense. Rather than regret decisions later on, I’m going to go for it. As they say, “Go big or go home.”

2. Competing in a sport

I’ve played this sport since I was a child. It used to be a way to pass the time, but then gradually I developed ability, so much so that others have taken over management. They say that the natural talent shouldn’t go to waste. They want me to play professionally.

That is what I have done. I worked so hard that I became champion of the world for one year. It wasn’t easy, at all. When others were out enjoying with friends and family at night, I had to sleep early. I had to get up before others went to work and start my exercise and training routine.

Now that I am champion the pressure has only increased. I must repeat the performance the subsequent year. If I stay on this path, one day I could become the greatest of all time, in the opinion of the experts.

3. Enjoying with the opposite sex

It wasn’t easy to attract this person. I had to go all out. I had to try my best. They had to notice me first. Then I had to impress them in some way. It worked out in the end. I succeeded. The same passion remains, however. The chase was wonderful, the catch is okay, but I need another chase. I am not fully satisfied.

In this way the mode of passion brings intense desire, which only increases with time. Success is no cure. Sometimes the more success that follows the stronger the fire becomes. Moreover, the results are not permanent. The person in the palatial house will not be able to live there forever. One day the greatest of all time will not even be good enough to compete with their children. The person jumping from one partner to another will continue to remain unsatisfied in their conjugal desires.

The original dharma of the soul is not like this. Service to Shyamasundara goes by the term bhakti-yoga in the material world. It is above the mode of goodness, even. There can be a strong desire to serve, and there is satisfaction as a result. The desire remains, however, and the impact is not negative. The more one serves, the more they appreciate Krishna, who is the Supreme Lord. The more they appreciate Him, the closer they come, ideally reaching the point where they are never separated from Him. Firmly linked in what is known as yoga, not only is escape from the material world guaranteed, but the consciousness is so strong that birth in any place is of no concern, as bhakti will continue.

In Closing:

After saving money to try,

A new house to buy.

In sport professionally competing,

Desired now the victories repeating.

Chased after conjugal desire strong,

But now for something similar to long.

Mode of passion in this way defective,

Only goodness of bhakti lasting effective.

If A Sadhu Is Recognized By Their Qualities What Is The Purpose Of The Dress

“Arjuna said: What are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in Transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?” (Bhagavad-gita, 2.54)

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Friend1: So many cheating sadhus out there.

Friend2: You mean officially renounced saintly people?

Friend1: Yes, but I know what you’re implying. That will be the topic of the discussion today.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: I think this is one of the reasons sannyasa is forbidden in the age of Kali, the present time period, noted for the increase in quarrel and hypocrisy.

Friend2: Think about it. In certain parts of the world you put on a specific outfit and immediately people give you respect. They give you enough money in charity that you’ll never have to work again. You can live like a king.

Friend1: If people question your realization of the self, the soul within, you tell them that it’s a personal experience. You tell everyone that you are God. Everyone else can become the same way if they follow you.

Friend2: There you go. That’s exactly what happens.

Friend1: And I know that some people take sannyasa anyway. It’s a risk, but there is a purpose. It is to help propagate the real message, Divine love. To strike down the cheaters, to give people something genuine to both have faith in and gain confidence from, saints like Ramanuja, Madhva and Chaitanya took to the renounced order.

Friend2: And aren’t we so much better off because of that sacrifice? Imagine where we’d be today.

Friend1: I know. Here’s the question, though. Obviously, a real sadhu is determined by their gunas, qualities. It’s the old saying of not judging a book by its cover.

Friend2: Right. It’s only common sense, but sometimes we need to be reminded.

Friend1: I think Arjuna even makes a query into the qualities to look for, in the Bhagavad-gita.

Friend2: That was for the benefit of future generations. Again, it shouldn’t be difficult to think of the qualities. A sadhu should be even-minded. They should not get angry very easily. They should look at everyone with compassion. They should have no attachments, except to loving service to God, who is a person. They should be equal in happiness and distress. They should take peace from within; stuff like that.

Friend1: What you are saying is that the gunas are more important than the external dress. The question is why the dress exists in the first place.

Friend2: You mean why not skip the formality? Why have an official name for the renounced order? Why have the term “sadhu”?

Friend1: Don’t have to go that far; stay with the outfit. The saffron colored robe, the mark on the forehead, the shaved head. What is the purpose if these things can be used to cheat people?

Friend2: There is a twofold benefit. For starters, if a genuine sadhu accepts such a garb, they immediately stand out from others. The public eye is on them. This extra attention helps the sadhu to stay on the pious path.

Friend1: Sort of like if no one is looking, it’s easier to do bad things. No one will know.

Friend2: Something like that. The second benefit is helping others to identify a saintly person. There are some bad police officers. The uniform doesn’t mean that a person is necessarily good at protecting against rogues and thieves. Yet the uniform still has value. It helps to identify the police officer, to distinguish them from others.

Friend1: Doctors, too. In a hospital the doctor stands out. You know they can help you more than anyone else there can.

Friend2: The tilaka mark can immediately remind someone of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The string of tulasi beads around the neck is very auspicious. The clean-shaven head helps to maintain simplicity in lifestyle. I know what you are saying, and they are valid points. The dress is not everything, but it can be very helpful. Like the saints we mentioned previously, they were identified in such a way. They made such a huge sacrifice, and they held to the principles of the order. One moon can brighten an entire forest, which is otherwise dark.

In Closing:

Sadhu maybe cheater on the inside,

More important which qualities reside.

Since dress possible to deceive,

Used for food in belly to receive.

Still benefit from dress and outfit to assume,

True seekers found a holy man to presume.

Like Chaitanya and others sacrifice making,

For consciousness of entire world awaking.

Three Comparisons For Explaining The Feeling Of Thankfulness In Bhakti

“There is a proverb in Sanskrit which says, ‘Disappointment gives rise to the greatest satisfaction.’ In other words, when one’s sentiment or ambition becomes too great and is not fulfilled until after seemingly hopeless tribulation, that is taken as the greatest satisfaction.” (Shrila Prabhupada, The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 31)

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The men and women of the town saw everything. They experienced a full range of emotions. It began with anticipation. The great contest to determine the rightful husband for the daughter of the king. Janaka took a vow, and in this time period the word of the ruler meant something.

The daughter was so amazing that the marriage wouldn’t take place in the typical arrangement. Sita would marry whichever prince would first lift an amazingly heavy bow, passed on in the family for generations. It was practically impossible to lift, but Janaka’s daughter Sita once moved it without a problem, when she was a child.

There must be a man in the world who could do the same. Janaka’s contest would hopefully bring such a person. The people of the town looked on, as there was a great assembly of contestants. The men and women saw one prince in particular that caught their eye. Shri Rama from Ayodhya, He was perfect for Sita, they thought. Now that dreaded contest was getting in the way. Janaka’s vow would do him in.

Fortunately, Rama lifted the bow and won the contest. No other prince could even move that bow. Janaka was so thrilled at heart that he arranged for the marriages of Rama’s three younger brothers to take place simultaneously.

Eventually, the bridegroom party had to leave. They had to return to Ayodhya. Goswami Tulsidas says that the people of the town felt so blessed to have seen Rama and His three younger brothers. There is no accurate way to explain the emotion, since bhakti, pure devotion to God, transcends the material world. Still, some comparisons are provided to help convey the feeling of thankfulness for having received such a blessing for the eyes.

1. A dying man finding nectar

The Sanskrit word is amrita. The literal meaning is “not death.” The word usually references nectar, as amrita emerged when the demigods and the demons were one time churning an ocean. Such nectar is certainly appreciated if you have found it, but the value to the individual increases when there is imminent death. Such an experience is similar to a dying man being cured; except a cure is only temporary, while amrita is supposed to grant immortality.

2. A poor person who finds a heavenly desire tree

One word used is surataru. This means “tree of the demigods.” It is a wish-fulfilling tree. Go up to it and get whatever you want. Again, who wouldn’t be thrilled at meeting such a tree? Imagine, then, if a person who has been poor their entire life gets the meeting. They don’t know what it is to eat on a regular basis. They’ve never dreamed of being rich; all they know is poverty. Suddenly, they can get whatever they ask for, at a moment’s notice.

3. A person suffering in hell gaining elevation to Hari’s realm

The Vedas describe three primary regions in a material existence: heaven, earth and hell. Residence in each place is temporary, though it may be long under our current estimation. If you go to heaven, you can fall back to earth once your time commensurate with pious deeds runs out. The same goes for hell, as eventually the sentence reaches its end, leading to birth on earth.

Just getting to heaven from hell is difficult; it takes time. Imagine, then, if a person condemned to hell were to find Hari’s region. This is the spiritual world, beyond anything we remember experiencing. Heaven and hell are simply extreme instances of varieties of life we already experience on earth. Hari is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so residence in His place equates to liberation. It is difficult enough for a person in heaven to reach that region, let alone someone condemned to hell.

This helps to explain how fortunate the people of Tirahuta felt. The joy of appreciating the Supreme Lord in bhakti is beyond description. The people had worried that Sita would not find a suitable husband, and instead they got more than they ever dreamed. That victory in the end was made sweeter through the fear of a potential disappointment.

Despite being stuck in the cycle of birth and death, with one misery after another, with danger at every step, if a person is fortunate enough to find the shelter of the lotus feet of Shri Rama, then the joy of that victory is too beyond description.

In Closing:

Rama’s bow victory seeing,

Worries of the people freeing.

Now Sita with Him to wed,

Moments prior a failure to dread.

Like amrita after death almost to see.

Or poor person at heaven’s tree.

Or finding Vaikuntha after suffering in hell,

Bhakti’s joy beyond words to tell.