Three Nonnegotiable Requirements From Different Paths Of Spirituality

“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)

“That’s fine that you accept bhakti-yoga. It is a mechanism, just like the other ones. It is a means to an end. In my opinion, it is for the less intelligent. That is because eventually you have to cast aside the devotion. The worshipable form, the archa-vigraha, merges into the spiritual nothingness, Brahman. Everything will become one. Whatever way a person arrives at that destination is bona fide.”

This conclusion based on mental speculation misses one key factor. If the Almighty is truly for everyone, then He cannot be limited by requirements. Bhakti-yoga is the constitutional position. That is to say while it is a specific discipline of spiritual life in the material world, designated from others, it continues in the liberated state. The only difference is that the designation gets removed.

Since it is for everyone, there are no hard and fast rules. There are no strict requirements. Indeed, in other paths there are certain attributes which must be present. The corresponding qualification is nonnegotiable.

1. Intelligence

The opinion from the hypothetical person referenced above is borne of slight arrogance from following the path of jnana. This is more than just knowledge. Real jnana is about the individual, who they are and what they are not. Specifically, they are not maya, which is the illusory energy. They are atma, spirit soul.

The realization takes place through what is known as jnana-yoga. Connect to the Divine through knowledge gathering. Obviously intelligence is required. There is no way around it. A child is limited in their ability. They cannot practice jnana-yoga fully precisely because they lack the intelligence. Even in adulthood, after maturation, the presence of the ability is not guaranteed.

As an example, not every person is qualified to become an engineer. They may be gifted in the study of mathematics, but physics would be a different story. A person good at physics might not be so at medicine. The different elements covering the soul create variations in appearance, height, weight and also intelligence.

2. The ability to work

This bears close resemblance to bhakti-yoga. Known as karma-yoga, there must be the ability to work. Continued action and reaction, which is karma. Go through activities that are known to bring consequences relating to a future deha, or body.

The difference is the attitude. As Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, we can work but we don’t have the right to enjoy the fruits. There is a temptation. The allure of the enjoyment of the senses, brought about by personal effort, keeps a person trapped in the cycle of birth and death.

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

Work in a detached way. Carry out the duties prescribed for your particular order in a matter of fact way. Do not be so focused on the outcome. If you earn a lot of money, give it away in charity to proper recipients. If you don’t earn a lot from your work, don’t be so eager to increase the yearly income.

While it seems karma-yoga would apply to every person, there has to be the ability to work. If you are disabled, if you can’t do much, how to practice? How to connect to the Divine through this path?

3. Bending the body

No matter how much I try, I can’t do it. I can barely sit down on the floor with my legs crossed. After a few minutes I have to change positions. When I get up, it is difficult to walk. Yet in this path I am supposed to become more advanced. Eventually, I have to place the feet on top of my thighs in what is known as the lotus position.

There are many other such positions. The immediate benefit is enhanced health. The airs within the body will be able to flow unobstructed, thereby eliminating the potential for so many diseases to manifest. The long-term benefit is less reliance on the senses. It is something like being bitten by a snake that has no fangs.

This is hatha-yoga or ashtanga-yoga. Become spiritually realized through meditation that eliminates the negative influence of the body. While extremely effective and authorized, what if a person simply cannot do the postures? What if their body is damaged to such a degree that they can barely sit down? Are they forever prohibited from connecting to the Divine?

…

Bhakti-yoga is for everyone, and it is readily available. That which is relatively inexpensive and abundant in quantity is what will really be of value to us. While bhakti-yoga seems easy, just see how difficult it is to make the decision in that direction. The promise is there that simply by hearing Krishna-katha, discourses about God the person, liberation will come. Don’t do anything else; just hear.

There are other outlets, as well. Pray. Worship in a formal setting. Become friends. Offer service. Or you can just chant. Describe the glories of God or sing His holy names, such as those in the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The requirements aren’t as strict, and so devotional service is known as the universal and real religion, sanatana-dharma. It matches the soul’s desires, and so the connection to God, yoga, continues even after the present life completes.

In Closing:

As universal religion is known,

Since lack of requirements shown.

Such as not much intelligence when,

With disability how to work then?

Body not possible this way bending,

Better consciousness to Him sending.

Shri Krishna, the one attractive to all,

Easily with holy names called.

Two Miracles Associated With The Beginning

“The Causal Ocean is created by the Lord as the mahat-tattva, as a cloud in the spiritual sky, and is only a part of His different manifestations. The spiritual sky is an expansion of His personal rays, and He is the mahat-tattva cloud also. He lies down and generates the universes by His breathing, and again, by entering into each universe as Garbhodakashayi Vishnu.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.6.39 Purport)

The what

Before everything came into existence, when there was no man and no animal, when everything existed in a potential state, what was there? If someone could paint a picture, what would it look like? Is there an image to satisfy the curious mind?

The where

If such an image were generated, what location would it reference? Where exactly did everything exist? Could we find it on a map? Are there precise coordinates?

The when

How many years into the past are we talking? Five thousand? A million? Billions? It would be nice to know exactly how long it took to reach the modern day. That might provide insight into the changes to occur moving forward.

…

These questions have arisen throughout the course of man’s history on earth. In Vedanta there is the aphorism, athato brahma-jijnasa. This applies only to the human species. The spirit soul inside the body, after spinning on the wheel of reincarnation for so long, finally reaches a body type where they are capable of making an inquiry into higher matters. Not just enjoying the senses. Not just pursuing a temporary post in a temporary world. Now is the time to find out the true meaning of life.

With respect to the origin of the creation, there is a key component often overlooked. How. In this regard there are associated events that could be described as miracles.

1. Creating

Vedic culture provides the most clarity on these issues. That is to say there is only a certain amount that the human mind can understand. This is proven based on a simple review of time and space. Both are infinite. There is always a beginning to a beginning and an end to an end. There is no stopping point in space, since any place that someone erects a boundary wall, there is always something on the other side.

Given these two limitations, the questions into the origin relate to a specific time frame, namely this cycle of creation. The Vedas describe that there is an endless cycle, dating back far before anyone can remember. For analysis purposes, the origin is attributed to the only person who is forever deathless in His transcendental body. The common name for Him is God, but there are many superior and more descriptive names.

The what is answered based on evidence available at present. There are three modes of nature: goodness, passion and ignorance, which are visible in the gross and material elements of nature. These are earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego. Appearing in different proportions and combinations, we have the manifest world, with its seemingly infinite variety.

The how took place through Vishnu, which is one name for God. The when is billions of years before, enough to make the precise number insignificant. The miracle relates to the how. The amazing complexity, with the different elements leading to the different species - how did everything come to be?

It is said that Vishnu simply glanced over the unmanifest material substance, known as pradhana. Think of sitting in an art class and being given a ball of clay by the teacher. The assignment that day is to get to work crafting a sculpture. Vishnu takes such a lump of matter and just looks at it. This gets the process of creation going.

2. Engineering

Vishnu creates. That is nice to know. It is certainly a miracle, since no one else can do the same. What about the subsequent engineering? How does the lump of matter turn into the universes, planets, trees, bodies of water, and inhabitants?

This also must be considered a miracle. It is said that Vishnu does this work while lying down. In rest, without expending much effort, through an act understood to be involuntary in nature, the universes come into being, remain for some time, and then get dissolved. Vishnu creates through exhaling and destroys by inhaling.

The engineering at each field is left to empowered beings. Lord Brahma is known as svayambhu, meaning “self-born.” He has no father and mother in the typical sense. He appears through the lotus stem growing from the lotus-like navel of Vishnu. Through meditation He understands the truth and he subsequently gets to work in his service to God.

Brahma acts as the creator. He takes the three types of ingredients and crafts the different body types. He is empowered by Vishnu with the ability to expertly engineer. Still, the individuals populating those body types do not emerge from him. They are spirit souls, just like Vishnu, but with an opportunity to fall into illusion, should they choose.

The processes of creation and engineering are for their benefit. Something like a parent creating a playground in the backyard for their children. A good parent will eventually put a priority on studies and maturing into adulthood, and with the material world the emphasis is on returning to the spiritual world immediately. This is the purpose of real religion, regardless of its exact implementation. Those who know the miraculous powers of Vishnu with respect to creation move one step closer to clearing their doubts about the meaning of life. If they continue to be conscious of Him, through to the time of death, liberation is guaranteed.

In Closing:

Since seeing everything now,

Wondering about the how.

Also what existed then,

To answer question of when.

The creation to Vishnu attributed,

Engineered through energies distributed.

In that world not forever to stay,

Made for eventually finding the way.

What Is Wrong With Speculating

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, and His plenary portions cannot be understood by mental speculation nor by the nondevotees. If anyone wants to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he has to take to pure devotional service under the guidance of a pure devotee. Otherwise, the truth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will always be hidden.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 18.55 Purport)

Friend1: I’ve heard it said that there is actually a fifth regulative principle.

Friend2: You mean in addition to the prohibitions on meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: I know what it is.

Friend1: So do I. But it only gets mentioned some of the time.

Friend2: I think there might be a loose association with gambling.

Friend1: Really?

Friend2: Yes.

Friend1: It is mental speculation.

Friend2: Don’t do it. You’ll get in trouble [laughing].

Friend1: You know I will have to delve deeper into this issue.

Friend2: So you want to speculate about mental speculation?

Friend1: Not general conversation, where there is a back and forth and no conclusion reached; the way of the muni. I want the final word. What is the authoritative explanation for the restriction?

Friend2: I see. First, do you know what it means?

Friend1: To let the mind wander. Put in a bunch of “what if” scenarios. Kind of letting thoughts run wild.

Friend2: Well, it could be controlled thinking, as well. Ultimately, there is a specific topic for which the prohibition really applies, but you have the general idea.

Friend1: I will put one argument in favor. Using the mind in this way is good. There is something in school called “creative writing.” Let the student use their brainpower. Write stories. Create settings and characters. Develop a narrative. Maybe even have a message to convey at the end.

Friend2: That is combining imagination with skills in communication. You are learning to put different tools to use for a specific purpose. I wouldn’t necessarily call that speculation.

Friend1: Okay, but what is wrong with guessing about things, then? I don’t know specifically what happened in a certain situation. Let me put forward different potential ideas. Isn’t that a good way to use the brain? Is that not better than having no curiosity?

Friend2: Let’s work through an example. Say that you want to guess what your ancestors did. Go back maybe three of four generations.

Friend1: Okay.

Friend2: Maybe they were rulers in a distant land. Maybe they owned a farm. Perhaps they were members of organized crime.

Friend1: Interesting. See, you’re using your imagination. I like it.

Friend2: The thing is, in this situation there is a way to get a clear understanding. You ask people in your family.

Friend1: But how would they know? They were not there to personally witness.

Friend2: They heard from their immediate elders, who heard from the previous generation, and so on. That is a chain of information transfer. You don’t need to speculate.

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: The prohibition really deals with the origin of the universe and the purpose of life. Every sober person eventually ponders these questions. Most likely the religion they inherited from the family will not provide satisfactory answers. The other option is to speculate, to try to guess. According to shastra, authorized scripture that is the Vedas, this path is very dangerous.

Friend1: How can it be harmful to question important issues like those?

Friend2: Because you will never reach the proper conclusion through speculation alone. It is simply not possible. The wrong conclusion here means continued rebirth. So in a future life you will have to ponder the same issues. If you are not in a human species, there won’t be enough brainpower to even ask the questions. That is why the human birth is so auspicious. Athato brahma-jijnasa.

Friend1: “Now is the time for inquiring about Brahman, the spiritual energy.”

Friend2: Yes, and the inquiries should be made to an authority figure. I understand that there are cheaters everywhere and that the risks are many, but that doesn’t mean the effort is guaranteed to be fruitless. Learn what existed in the beginning, how time is infinite in both directions, and the purpose of the body provided by nature. Learn the essence of identity and what kind of work matches its qualities.

Friend1: These issues really are too complicated to understand through guessing.

Friend2: You may approach the shadow. You may skirt around the edges, but only the original teacher, the adi-guru, who passes on the information in a chain of teachers, can provide the clear explanation.

In Closing:

From descending teachers chain,

Knowledge of real truth to gain.

That foggy picture clearing,

Away from speculation steering.

Only possible way to know,

That to authority figure to go.

Since Almighty beyond the mind,

Through Vedas way to find.

Four Things That Could Go Wrong Approaching A Pretender Guru

“A person who is wallowing in carnal pleasures and material comforts, who is confused about the human goal of life and is devoid of bhakti, and who poses as a guru, such a depraved charlatan must be rejected.” (Mahabharata, Udyoga-parva, 179.25)

“A guru is compulsory. Not only do you need to approach a spiritual master, but you have to obey their commands. Render service and inquire submissively. Do not be challenging. That does not mean there are no doubts. Bring them to the table, but like you would in a classroom setting, where the teacher is the established authority figure. You can’t achieve perfection by consulting the books directly, as they were compiled thousands of years ago. You don’t know how to transition the lessons to the modern day, how to adjust for time and circumstance.”

These recommendations certainly are valid and based in authority. The Bhagavad-gita makes specific mention of the need to approach a bona fide spiritual master. That occurs within the context of a discussion between teacher and disciple. The example is set and the instruction is there for future generations to follow.

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

At the same time, there are some risks. The problems arise when the guru is not qualified. By following such a person in the aforementioned submissive attitude, things can go wrong, and rather quickly.

1. Feeding human flesh to brahmanas

They are the priestly class. The guru likely comes from this group. Not armed and ready to defend. Not always thinking about business and how to increase the profit margin. Not engaged in manual labor, helping the other classes.

The brahmanas are supposed to be the brains of society. More than just an intelligentsia, the wisdom is based on ancient teachings passed on in a chain of disciples. This is called parampara, and a brahmana who appears within such a succession is likely safe to approach.

Yet in one well-documented incident, they were fed human flesh. The host was innocent enough. He followed the guidance of a supposedly saintly person he met in the forest. This was actually a meeting between two kings. The person living in the forest was formerly vanquished by the visiting monarch. However, only the wandering king did not properly recognize his former enemy. The king took the man to be saintly, accepting him as guru.

On that fake guru’s advice the king hosted brahmanas and fed them nicely. The only problem was that the food was contaminated with human flesh. This was again the work of the rival king. Brahmanas typically don’t eat any meat. If they do partake, such as in previous ages, the flesh is of animals killed during yajna, or sacrifice. There is no such thing as indiscriminate satisfaction of the senses in true spiritual life. Eating and sleeping are limited to as much as needed and no more.

2. Get cursed to take birth as a Rakshasa

Needless to say, when the brahmanas found out what was in the food, they were not too thrilled. The host, King Pratapabhanu, was cursed to take birth as a Rakshasa in the next life. The idea is that if you want to serve human flesh to us, why not assume a species that is known for man-eating? That punishment is befitting.

This is a curse in more ways than one. The species is sinful by nature, and compared to a saintly king the next life is a major downgrade. It generally means that a person is farther from liberation, which is the end to the cycle of birth and death.

3. Have your faith in a genuine spiritual path ruined

The punishment was clear for Pratapabhanu, and he realized his mistake. There would be birth as a Rakshasa, who would be named Ravana. There was liberation anyway, as the Supreme Lord Rama would be the subsequent instrument of death. The real-life historical incidents serve to show the dangers of the sinful path and how purification can come from consciousness of God.

In other cases, approaching a pretender guru can shake a person’s faith in the purported goal of life. That is to say they may stop believing in God and any type of organized religion altogether. While the bona fide teacher can give you the world, rescuing you from the ocean of birth and death, a similar meeting but with a pretender can have you do a 180, running in the opposite direction. This is tragic since it keeps a person further away from the finish line of not having to take birth in the material world again.

4. Become complicit in criminal activity

Sometimes the pretender guru is more than just a sense enjoyer. They might resort to illegal means to maintain their prestige, honor and stature. If another person figures them out and threatens to go public with the information, the pretender might resort to illegal violence in order to avert the damage to reputation.

Of course the guru will be too cowardly to take any action themselves. The unsuspecting disciples will be drafted for the job. If they follow blindly, not applying any discrimination, they could be implicated in criminal behavior. Their lives can be ruined, all to protect someone who wasn’t worth protecting to begin with.

For these reasons discrimination is important. In ideal circumstances, the guru and disciple study each other for several months before entering into a teaching relationship. The idea is to see if the spiritual teacher is indeed in control of their senses and dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The guru also observes the disciple, to see if they are serious about going down the path of real dharma, of serving with a purpose.

“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 5.18)

Does the guru insist on payment before rendering services of instruction and revealing of sacred mantras? Do they look at everyone equally, seeing the spiritual equality mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita? Are they free of attachment to sinful behavior, like intoxication and gambling?

The risks are there that the teacher may not be what he presents himself as, but such cheating takes place already in various aspects of society. Just because there is a bad experience doesn’t mean that spiritual life should be abandoned altogether. In one way the bad make the good look even better. When the real thing is found there will be even more appreciation, and the chanting of the holy names can then take place unimpeded: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Of consulting guru need pressing,

Books only not addressing.

Someone to circumstance and time,

Teaching real identity, yours and mine.

But risk when pretender to find,

Loss of faith or complicit in crime.

Still on with search better to live,

Since true servant Supreme Lord to give.

Krishna Showing That Cute Face

“When mother Yashoda thought to chastise her boy after hearing all the complaints, she saw His pitiable face, and smiling, she did not chastise Him.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 8)

People tried to warn you, but you didn’t listen. Let everything play out on its own, you thought. No need to stress at the moment. Everything is in the future. There will be people to help. Your involvement will be minimal. The mother is there, after all.

Of course the experience of being first-time parents is never easy. Especially in the modern day, the likelihood is that you have to go it alone. Family members live elsewhere. Friends have their own lives to manage. This new child is solely your responsibility, twenty-four hours a day, into the foreseeable future.

As the father, the primary issue of concern is crying. You can’t really enjoy the association of your child, since there is always this lingering fear that they will become upset at any moment. Then you have to take the steps to troubleshoot the issue. It’s like having a support job in the IT department of a company that requires its systems be up and running constantly, with no downtime. At any moment you can get a call that a server is down. You have to be ready to diagnose the problem and put in a fix quickly.

As much as the crying upsets you, there is always something that quickly erases any negative emotions. The baby shows this cute smile as soon as they see you. They could have been crying moments prior. Likely for no reason, just not feeling totally comfortable, they voiced their displeasure in a manner designed to penetrate through walls. This is God’s way. He allowed the baby to communicate in such a manner that others would be able to hear their pleas for help.

The child cannot verbally communicate yet, but the smiling seems to convey a very clear message.

“Oh, hey Dad. How are you doing? What crying? Who, me? No, I was just hanging out here, having a good time. Sorry that I tumbled off the play-mat and into an area that is restricted. It’s just me exploring. Anyway, how are you doing? I’m so happy to see you.”

It is interesting to note that similar behavior is shown by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. When He appears in the sacred land of Vrindavana as the child of mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja, He plays the role of naughty child. His violation of choice is stealing butter. Sneaking into the homes of the neighbors with His friends, Krishna dips His lotus-like hands into areas they shouldn’t go. Straight from the pots and into His mouth. He scatters away quickly if there is a chance that He will get caught.

In the times that He is apprehended, the mothers of the homes into which He intrudes have a quick change of heart. They first complain to Yashoda about her child’s behavior, but then they later ask that Krishna not be punished. Seeing that cute face is worth the slight agitation of their stock of butter reducing.

That smiling face is to be enjoyed by every single person. This is one of the reasons Krishna has His name. He is all-attractive. In any transcendental form in which He appears, there is something to which to be attracted. That childhood form is adorable, and meditation on it is not restricted to only those born in Vedic culture or living in a specific area of the world. The pastimes are kept safely in sacred texts like the Shrimad Bhagavatam, and the position of Krishna with respect to other living entities is explained in summary in works like the Bhagavad-gita. In every respect God is attractive, and thus every person has a way to connect with Him. The same attractiveness is in the sounds that represent Him; thus so effective is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Baby whole responsibility new,

Coming to you as father too.

Worried that baby to cry,

Then in troubleshooting to try.

But making it worthwhile the smiling face,

Like Krishna memory of stealing to erase.

After from the gopis butter taking,

Beautiful pastime for ages making.

Is It Alright To Homeschool

“The proof of Prahlada's natural devotion is that even when he was a small child he did not play with his playmates, but was always eager to preach the glories of the Lord. Instead of joining in their sportive acrobatic feats, he remained as an inactive child because he was always in trance, meditating on Krishna. As such, there was no possibility of his being touched by the external world.” (The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 38)

Friend1: A little off-topic today, but what is your opinion of homeschooling?

Friend2: Real quick, what would be considered “on-topic”?

Friend1: Issues relating to devotional service, bhakti-yoga. How to make people Krishna conscious.

Friend2: You mean reawaken. Everyone has love for God the person in the heart. At present that love is likely in a dormant state. Just give people a nudge, such as through chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Friend1: Right, so I was just soliciting an opinion on the preferred method of schooling in the modern day. In a case where the gurukula, the school of the spiritual master, is not available, what should a parent do?

Friend2: To be clear, in this hypothetical case the parents want to free their dependents from the cycle of birth and death, which is the actual duty of any leader responsible for the wellbeing of others?

Friend1: Yes. Sorry, I should have mentioned that at the beginning.

Friend2: Then this is most certainly on-topic. You’re asking how to a handle a specific issue of devotional life, namely parents educating their children.

Friend1: I know that homeschooling is an option growing in popularity. If one or both parents can do it, they tend to rave about the benefits.

Friend2: I’ve heard it said that there is no typical homeschool. That is to say even if both parents work outside the home fulltime, there is a way to provide a home-based curriculum that the children can follow.

Friend1: That is one side of things. The other is the criticism that follows.

Friend2: From outsiders.

Friend1: Could be within the family, even. They will say such things like, “You will ruin the social lives of the children. They have to get out there and interact with others. It’s part of growing up. You see these weird kids on television that win the national spelling bee. They’re almost always homeschooled and you can tell there is something wrong with them.”

Friend2: You also have the religious angle. People don’t like that. Forcing the children to believe a certain way, without giving them other options.

Friend1: So many criticisms, really. I know the rational person would point to the troubles in the traditional schools. You can cherry-pick any bad character here and there and exploit the problem to tarnish the institution as a whole.

Friend2: Absolutely. I’m sure you’ve met adults who were homeschooled and they are absolutely fine in social settings.

Friend1: That is the counterargument. The homeschool parents say that their children socialize all the time. They say that it’s good socialization, and that the children generally have much more respect for elders.

Friend2: Yes.

Friend1: What is the solution? Is that socialization necessary? Should children tough it out in school, to learn life lessons?

Friend2: There is the example of Prahlada Maharaja. He was forced to go to the school run by the state, namely that in the kingdom ruled by his father, Hiranyakashipu.

Friend1: I’m assuming there was no bullying then.

Friend2: It came from the father later on. The children were fine. The teachers taught traditional subjects. As Prahlada was the son of a king, he received instruction on the ways of diplomacy and how to influence foreign powers, both friendly and hostile.

Friend1: But there wasn’t much interest, right?

Friend2: None. He would use recess as an opportunity to teach his classmates about bhakti-yoga, which he learned while in the womb. He would reveal to them the futility of trying to advance materially. The teachers and the father did not like this.

Friend1: What about socialization?

Friend2: It is said that Prahlada basically kept to himself. He did not take part in sports. Today he would be considered inactive. He was always absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Lord. He was meditating long before it was cool to.

Friend1: In a sense he was homeschooled.

Friend2: Before taking birth. That’s how powerful the devotional culture is. Even a little exposure, whenever convenient and safe, makes a huge difference. In this case Narada Muni taught without Hiranyakashipu’s knowledge. Who would believe that talking to a womb would really make a difference, anyway?

Friend1: Yeah.

Friend2: But it did. To answer your question, if there is a devotional culture created, whether at a traditional school or at home, then there is every opportunity for the dependent to grow up to be conscious of God and remain so until the time of death. The straightforward way to solve problems that arise is to list the different choices and assess based on which will have the greatest impact on the consciousness; a positive impact. If going to school and teaching bhakti-yoga at home works, then it is possible that the child will stay clear of material life, even while living within it. To create that culture, the chanting of the holy names is most effective, as the sound generated is not ordinary.

In Closing:

Homeschooling an option today,

But risk in socializing they say.

Is not that interaction needed?

But just see how Prahlada proceeded.

Of sporting activities not partaking,

Already material life forsaking.

Rather to meditation focus sent,

Time in thoughts of Hari spent.

Two Things Parikshit Was Without Towards The End Of Life

“Even at the risk of death such a devotee is never bereft of the transcendental loving service of the Lord. A glorious example of this ecstatic love was exhibited by King Parikshit when he was at the point of death. Although he was bereft of his entire kingdom, which spread over all the world, and although he was accepting not even a drop of water in the seven days remaining to him, because he was engaged in hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Lord from Shukadeva Gosvami, he was not in the least distressed.” (The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 37)

Loss is an inevitable part of life, but who actually has an easy time dealing with it? Death and taxes – they are assured. As soon as there is birth, there must come an end to the life that started. That is simply the way things are. Nothing can be done to change how nature operates. And as long as there is a government of some kind, taxes will be levied.

“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)

Attachment is what makes loss more difficult to cope with. Along the journey through life attachments form to people, places and things. Part of this is due to gratefulness. A wise person appreciates the help that others offer them. For an individual, the first people to whom attachments form naturally are the parents. They provided the vital support in the immediate aftermath of birth. The infant can barely do anything on their own. Milestones like turning over, sitting up, crawling and walking for the first time are moments of great joy. It is already known that through maturity every person will most likely be capable in these areas, but just seeing the first time is a moment of appreciation and pride for the parents.

The appreciation is for the Almighty. It is His amazing artistry and intelligence that goes into the formation of nature to begin with. Interestingly, attachment to Him is the one way to gain victory against the struggle of loss. That is to say if you are attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you can go without things that were previously very important to you. Maharaja Parikshit is an ideal example in this regard.

1. His entire kingdom

His sovereignty included the entire world, which was known as Bharata-varsha. Today the name Bharata is synonymous with the space of land known as India, but previously the jurisdiction spread across the globe. The king not only ruled, but he protected. He had the greatest responsibility.

On the verge of death, Parikshit renounced the kingdom. He had a mere seven days to live. He did not want to go out enjoying the senses. That was already possible in the past, and surely again in the future through any kind of birth in the material world.

He chose to spend his entire time hearing about Bhagavan, which is a Sanskrit word that very nicely describes the Almighty. Since there is so much to Him, Parikshit could sit for seven days straight and continue to hear.

2. A drop of water

The topics were so pleasing to the ears that the king did not require even a drop of water. There was a complete fast, and it wasn’t torturous. Through continued hearing there was increased attachment. Interestingly, beginning from childhood Parikshit was known to be fond of God. It was in the womb of Uttara that Krishna Himself intervened to protect life. The well-wisher of the Pandava family counteracted the brahmashtra weapon headed straight to destroy the future of the dynasty, who was in the womb of the mother.

Parikshit was a special case, and so his story is highlighted in the Shrimad Bhagavatam. The question and answer session with Shukadeva Gosvami essentially forms the basis of the sacred text. The king went without his kingdom and water, and for every person a similar level of detachment is possible. At the minimum level, the most harmful sinful activities of meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex will be given up. To renounce such things individually and independently is not so easy. The individual thinks that they won’t be able to survive, that life will become too boring.

From Parikshit’s example we see that there is a higher taste to be experienced, one that loosens the knots of previous attachments. This transformation is one of the reasons parents are afraid of incorporating the Vedas into their child’s instruction. The oldest scriptural tradition of the world is so philosophically sound that it will question the way everyone else does things. Even a child can become renounced, and on the positive side they will be happier than ever before, enjoying the shelter of the words describing Bhagavan and His pastimes.

In Closing:

Through journey attachments to make,

But not possible to next life to take.

Parikshit ruling over world entire,

But now in seven days to expire.

The kingdom and even water casting aside,

Seat in presence of guru to reside.

Only of Shri Krishna and His lila to hear,

Neither attachments nor death to fear.