Why Get So Worked Up Over What A Kid Prefers

“Prahlada Maharaja admitted frankly, ‘My dear teachers, you wrongly think that Lord Vishnu is your enemy, but because He is favorable toward me, I understand that He is the friend of everyone. You may think that I have taken the side of your enemy, but factually He has bestowed a great favor upon me.’” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.13 Purport)

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Friend1: Do parents really mind if their young children are into silly things?

Friend2: What do you mean?

Friend1: Let’s say that your kid is suddenly into listening to songs from a particular band on the internet. Putting that music on is the only way to keep them satisfied. Otherwise, they are morose or running around without any control.

Friend2: You obviously are aware that this sort of thing occurs quite frequently. Who doesn’t remember having to play the same video, over and over, for one of their children or younger siblings? It’s a reality of modern-day life. There aren’t so many people around to provide care. There isn’t so much room outside to play for hours and hours.

Friend1: Yes, and so the grownups are understanding. They don’t get upset that their children aren’t behaving a certain way.

Friend2: Why are you mentioning this? Have you come across someone who isn’t tolerating?

Friend1: I’m thinking of the Prahlada story from the Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Friend2: Oh.

Friend1: The kid just wanted to worship Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At just five years old, this was not a threat to the adults.

Friend2: Prahlada was open about it; that was the issue. As you have probably noticed, in this world you can talk about pretty much any like or dislike and not encounter issues. As soon as you mention God, devotion to Him, questioning the life in sense gratification, the meaning of life, and so forth, you run into opposition.

Friend1: Well, Prahlada certainly found that. The teachers tried their best to “deprogram” him.

Friend2: First, they wanted to know from where the programming took place.

Friend1: At one point Prahlada explains that even the demigods have a difficult time understanding the principles of dharma.

Friend2: The proper course of action is not easy to decipher. What is pious in one situation might not be so in another.

Friend1: Okay, but I revisit the fact that this is just a kid. Who cares what he thinks? He’s not interested in material life, for now. Maybe it’s just a phase. Let him go through it.

Friend2: Okay, but the words he so freely speaks are like the greatest weapons attacking the elders. Hiranyakashipu couldn’t stand to hear anything good about Vishnu. It was like the boy took the side of the enemy.

Friend1: When in fact Vishnu is every person’s friend. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita:

भोक्तारं यज्ञ-तपसां
सर्व-लोक-महेश्वरम्
सुहृदं सर्व-भूतानां
ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिम् ऋच्छति

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 5.29)

Friend2: You tell that to the teachers in Hiranyakashipu’s kingdom and that only makes them more upset.

“Stop saying that the greatest threat to our power is really our friend. That is a bunch of nonsense. Tell us who poisoned your mind. If you don’t, then other measures may be required.”

Friend1: We know what attempts happened next. Still so baffling to me. It’s just a kid. Who cares?

Friend2: Think about it this way: By Hiranyakashipu attempting lethal punishment for the crime of showing devotion to Vishnu, it sets the example for others to take note of.

Friend1: What do you mean?

Friend2: The king is sending the message:

“Any other wise guys out there? You see what I did to my own son. Everyone else better stay in line or the same will happen to them.”

Friend1: Wow, I didn’t think of it that way. Good for the entire world that Prahlada endured. That is a lesson every person in the world can take.

Friend2: For all three time periods, as well. Just as Krishna is the beginning, middle and end of everything, devotional service to Him pays rewards at every point in time.

प्रीति प्रतीति सुरीति स्ॐ राम राम जपु राम |
तुलसी तेरो है भलेआ आदि मध्य परिनाम ||

prīti pratīti surīti soṃ rāma rāma japu rāma |
tulasī tero hai bhaleā ādi madhya parināma ||

“Chanting Shri Rama’s holy name with love, faith and according to regulative principles will be beneficial for you from beginning to end, says Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 23)

Goswami Tulsidas confirms this.

In Closing:

Desires from just a kid,

Response from kingdom to rid.

Since message to others sending,

Lesson on tolerated path extending.

That Hiranyakashipu to reject,

Any the bhakti life to accept.

Good that Prahlada endured,

Devotee’s protection assured.

Four People Who Probably Shouldn’t Have Been Granted Asylum

“Then the ten-necked one, who was hiding nearby, quickly assumed the form of a wandering mendicant and approached Vaidehi.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 46.2)

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तदासाद्य दशग्रीवः क्षिप्रमन्तरमास्थितः।
अभिचक्राम वैदेहीं परिव्राजकरूपधृक्।।

tadāsādya daśagrīvaḥ kṣipramantaramāsthitaḥ।
abhicakrāma vaidehīṃ parivrājakarūpadhṛk।।

“I know you don’t like discussing politics, but a major issue in the news recently had me considering the spiritual equivalent. Actually, I’m not sure there is one, but here is the presentation. There is a heated controversy over what the government’s policy should be about admitting people from other countries, i.e. immigrants. More specifically, those that cross physically from a specific border. So many checks and security measures are already in place for those arriving by flight from around the world.

“One side says to not implement any added measures. Allow the people to enter. Why the same people insist on security measures for airport travelers and not those coming by foot at the land border is beyond me, but that seems to be the policy. It is called compassion. The people entering this way officially seek asylum. They claim that there is danger in their home country. Political disputes, poverty, persecution for beliefs – the new nation will give them the much needed protection.

“The other side says that more physical barriers are needed. That exact system is already in place in many areas of the border. This side wants to expand the existing protections to cover the entire border. They say that the asylum system has turned into an easy scam. People claim asylum on entry, receive a notice to appear in court some two years later and then never show up. It is a trick to gain entry into the country, bypassing the standard route. In addition, the majority of the asylum claims get denied since sufficient evidence is lacking.

“In essence, people can game the system. Those entering illegally could be drug dealers, human traffickers, murderers, rapists and the like. There is no way to know. That is why the border wall is necessary. Let everyone enter in a legal way, as if they were arriving from an international flight.

“I’m not asking you to choose sides, but I do find the concept of a fake asylum seeker interesting. Is there any carryover to spiritual life? Namely, can a person try to seek the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and have ill intent at the foundation? Does Krishna discriminate? Is He able to pick out the pretenders? How can others properly decipher, as someone identified as a saint is known to be followed for their example?”

1. The old rival of Pratapabhanu

This story is described in the Ramacharitamanasa of Goswami Tulsidas. It is part of the background to explain the appearance in this world of the wicked character named Ravana. The Vedic science reveals what no blunt instruments, primitive or modern, can show: the presence of the soul. Known as atma in Sanskrit, it is interminable in its existence. As it is known to be present at the moment based on the visible, living being, so it existed in the past.

This means that the leader of Lanka infamous from the Ramayana poem had a history. Being an eternal spirit soul, he did not just randomly appear in the form of a Rakshasa. Since the universe goes through cycles of creation and destruction, the initial cause is not the same every time around.

One time there was a mistake committed by a king named Pratapabhanu. Getting lost in the forest while travelling, he mistakenly accepted the shelter of a person believed to be a holy man. Actually, this was one of Pratapabhanu’s old rivals. The king did not recognize him, but the rival sure knew what was going on.

In essence, Pratapabhanu granted asylum to someone who deserved to be viewed skeptically. The mistake led to Pratapabhanu doing something to offend brahmanas in his community. These spiritual leaders were so angered that they cursed him to appear as a man-eating ogre, Rakshasa, in his next birth.

2. Ravana

Born as Ravana, he eventually rose to power through boons granted from higher authorities. At his peak, Ravana had ten heads, twenty arms, and control over a beautiful kingdom full of gold. His senses were not under control, however, and so he took to evil ways.

He heard of a beautiful woman residing in the forest of Dandaka. Ravana already had many qualified queens living with him, but he could not resist the urge. Though Sita Devi was married and living happily with her husband, Ravana felt compelled to interfere.

He created a ruse to lure the husband Rama away from the home. Ravana then assumed the form of a wandering mendicant, parivrajaka, to approach Sita Devi. She was kind to him at first because of the physical appearance. The fiend never deserved any kind of asylum, but the saintly people of this world are known to be kind-hearted, even to potential enemies.

3. Jarasandha

This story is somewhat analogous to modern times, as the end result was a new city built with gates on every side. In fact, the city was named for this feature. Dvaraka is still visited today, as it is the site of the original ancient city described in books like the Mahabharata and Shrimad Bhagavatam.

In the previous incarnation the Supreme Lord appeared as Rama, the husband of Sita. Ravana’s offense against Rama’s wife led to the demise of the evil king. This time around Bhagavan appeared as Himself, as Shri Krishna, who eventually overthrew the wicked ruler of Mathura, Kamsa.

Jarasandha, who was the king of a neighboring province, then mounted an attack on the city. Krishna easily emerged victorious, and in the aftermath He set Jarasandha free. The hostile enemy received a kind of asylum, though he didn’t deserve it.

The embarrassment from the defeat did not last long. Jarasandha continued to attack, each time unsuccessful. Finally, on the eighteenth attempt Krishna and family decided to leave the area and set up a city in the sea. Dvaraka had gates all around so that Jarasandha and others could not enter illegally. Jarasandha’s demise was slated for a future time, at the hands of the Pandava warrior named Bhima.

4. Ashvatthama

Later in Krishna’s pastimes there was the great Bharata War. This involved the Kauravas and the Pandavas, and though Krishna was officially neutral, He was on the Pandava side through the guidance He offered to the leading warrior named Arjuna.

Towards the end of the hostilities, a character named Ashvatthama murdered the sons of Draupadi in cold blood. She was the shared wife of the Pandavas, and therefore punishment was set to arrive. Krishna even advised that the later captured Ashvatthama be given death as the appropriate punishment.

Despite the tragedy to her family, Draupadi insisted on forgiveness. She granted a kind of asylum to Ashvatthama, who didn’t deserve it. The same brutal murderer also sent an amazing weapon into the womb of Uttara, who was pregnant with the future of the Pandava dynasty at the time. Krishna entered the womb and saved the life of the child, who would go on to become king.

…

Everything worked out in the end, but from so many cases documented over the course of human history we see that not everyone is straightforward and honest. Things are not always as they appear on the surface.

The Supreme Lord does not ever mistakenly grant asylum. He is not obligated to give anything to anyone, in fact. A wicked person can approach Him for a boon, carrying ill intent, and Krishna does not have to agree, no matter how much He is worshiped. This is in stark contrast to the dealings with the demigods, who have many times provided protections to people who intended to cause harm throughout the world.

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

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

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

As a person surrenders unto God the person, they are rewarded accordingly. If they seek His shelter in earnest, they are fully protected. Their devotion will continue, into successive lifetimes, whereas the deceptive applicant will only stay in illusion, never properly recognizing God, though He be standing before them.

In Closing:

Debate that wall to need,

To prevent criminals to proceed.

For asylum seekers compassion shown,

But some to cheat system known.

From Vedic history many a time,

Where forgiveness leading to crime.

But Krishna never tricked by deceiver,

Appropriate reward for receiver.

Three Aspects Of Material Life Which Make It Difficult To Practice Bhakti

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.10)

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तेषां सतत-युक्तानां
भजतां प्रीति-पूर्वकम्
ददामि बुद्धि-योगं तं
येन माम् उपयान्ति ते

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

Bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is the way to transcendence. In fact, it is the state of liberation itself. Though in the beginning viewed as a series of recommended practices and accompanying stages of enlightenment, any person who brings a dedicated effort is guaranteed of perfection. This is due to the help received from the other side, from the object of devotion. Other paths of spiritual life do not carry the same benefit.

It looks like an easy decision. Why wouldn’t everyone follow? Safe for both the afterlife and the present. The mistakes of the past corrected, in an instant. No more having to dwell on that regrettable incident, over which nothing can be done.

बिगरी जनम अनेक की सुधरै अबहीं आजु |
होहि राम को नाम जपु तुलसी तजि कुसमाजु ||

bigarī janama aneka kī sudharai abahīṃ āju |
hohi rāma ko nāma japu tulasī taji kusamāju ||

“The many past births you spoiled can be rectified right now, today, if you start chanting Shri Rama’s holy name and renounce bad association, says Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 22)

The material world is known to be a place of illusion for a reason. Maya gets in the way, and her potency is especially visible in the typical day of the modern worker.

1. Job uncertainty

I would love to follow bhakti-yoga, to chant on a set of japa beads every day, but I can’t seem to get past the worry. The job situation is uncertain. Though I am confident in my abilities, knowing that my skillset should match with an employer looking to hire, there are no guarantees in life. I’ve heard some stories where it took a person years to find a new job.

This concern is ruining my meditation. My heart is not in it. I chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. But the mind drifts elsewhere. Shri Krishna is correct when He says that the uncontrolled mind can carry away the intelligence.

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां
यन् मनो ऽनुविधीयते
तद् अस्य हरति प्रज्ञां
वायुर् नावम् इवाम्भसि

indriyāṇāṁ hi caratāṁ
yan mano 'nuvidhīyate
tad asya harati prajñāṁ
vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi

“As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.67)

2. Long commute to work

Mine isn’t so bad, in comparison. Half an hour in and half an hour returning. That is the average. Sure, sometimes I get stuck in traffic. You can’t predict accidents on the road. I don’t mind the distance, since most of it is highway. I don’t even pay attention. I sit back and concentrate on what is playing on the stereo.

But for others it is much worse. More than an hour each way. By the time they reach home they are too tired to do anything. How will they spend time reading Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam? There is the recommended practice of chanting the maha-mantra for sixteen rounds a day, but what full-time employee will be able to set aside adequate time?

3. Family responsibilities

In most households I see that both husband and wife work. This is a necessity, as housing costs are skyrocketing. This includes the taxes that must be paid on homes that are owned outright. Childcare is a massive, but almost unavoidable expense. Still, that is only during the daytime.

The two exhausted parents return home from work only to see a mountain of responsibilities. Take out the trash. Clean the dishes. Sweep the floors. If the children are young, they are essentially a fulltime responsibility. The mother barely has time to sleep, and the father needs his rest in order to perform optimally at work the next day.

…

The task of succeeding in spiritual life may look impossible, but the potency of the holy name particularly matched for the present age of struggle brings the necessary help. A person need only concentrate on this name, repeating it and hearing it as often as possible, to achieve the same kind of success people of ages past saw, when there was more opportunity for standard meditational and worship practices.

Shri Krishna provides the understanding by which a devotee can come to Him. There is no qualifier with respect to the conditions of society, the difficulties with maintaining a job and family, or the amount of free time available each day. The promise is there, and those who follow the advice know the truth.

In Closing:

So much over which to care,

Like potential job loss scare.

Commute to work tiring,

Requests from all directions firing.

Urgency certainly now,

But to practice bhakti how?

Holy name for this age concession,

Hold on as most valued possession.

Three Objections A Young Person Might Hear Upon Taking Up Bhakti

“Being beyond the range of limited sense perception [adhokshaja], You are the eternally irreproachable factor covered by the curtain of deluding energy. You are invisible to the foolish observer, exactly as an actor dressed as a player is not recognized.” (Queen Kunti speaking to Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.19)

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माया-जवनिकाच्छन्नम्
अज्ञाधोक्षजम् अव्ययम्
न लक्ष्यसे मूढ-दृशा
नटो नाट्यधरो यथा

māyā-javanikācchannam
ajñādhokṣajam avyayam
na lakṣyase mūḍha-dṛśā
naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā

Kunti Devi, the mother of the Pandava family described in the Mahabharata and other works of Vedic literature, once praised the Supreme Lord for His great acting ability. He is able to appear in the manifest world and somehow hide His Divine status from so many.

अव्यक्तं व्यक्तिम् आपन्नं
मन्यन्ते माम् अबुद्धयः
परं भावम् अजानन्तो
ममाव्ययम् अनुत्तमम्

avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ
manyante mām abuddhayaḥ
paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto
mamāvyayam anuttamam

“Unintelligent men, who know Me not, think that I have assumed this form and personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is changeless and supreme.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.24)

Devotees notice this amazing ability and appreciate it. They continue in their devotional path, bhakti-yoga, without hesitation. They do not fear they are missing out on other aspects of life, which form part of the opposition a young person is likely to hear when first making the choice in favor of the transcendental light.

1. Don’t you want to enjoy more

The idea is that genuine spiritual life has vairagya at the foundation. This is the lack of attachment; renunciation. Giving things up. The objects and people which are renounced typically generate attachments easily.

Take caffeinated drinks, for example. A child likely has no exposure to this. They are fine on their own. Enough energy to carry out what needs to be done, they are so engrossed in play that they forget to eat and sleep. The parents have to give reminders and set boundaries.

In adulthood things change. Just a few drinks with a stimulating substance as an ingredient are enough to create a habit. The addiction is so strong that foregoing the indulgence for a few days can bring unwanted health side effects, like headaches and lethargy.

Vairagya in the complete sense is that much more difficult. If a young person is seen giving up eating meat, smoking and drinking, illicit sex, and gambling, others may start to worry:

“You are supposed to enjoy. What is this renunciation going to do for you? It’s torture for no reason. Don’t try to be different just for the sake of being different. Give normal life a chance.”

2. You have your whole life ahead of you

This objection ties into the first, adding the time component.

“If you are going to take away the fun in life, at least wait until later on. You are so young. The world is in front of you. There is a lifetime’s worth of experiences to shape your thinking. Just don’t throw everything away already. I ask that you not give up so soon.”

3. Bhakti is for old people

Every person in the opposition party deep down understands the tentative nature of the stay in the present body. They know that death is on the horizon and that something will need to be done at an appropriate time. They may not know exactly what to do or to where the body will go next, so the easier choice is to simply postpone the inevitable.

“I get it that you believe in God. So do I, okay? I just don’t see why you have to engage in all of this stuff right now. At least wait until you are already established. When everything else is settled, that is a good time.”

As Narada Muni was cursed by Daksha for supposedly spoiling the minds of the future generation, so the person spreading the glories of Bhagavan and devotion to Him is considered to be ruining the fun. It is something like watching a television program and having conscious awareness throughout that the depiction is fake, that the characters are hired actors carrying out rehearsed lines and scenes.

While the enhanced understanding may spoil the experience of life in maya, there is an endless ocean of bliss awaiting the person who attaches themselves to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather than lament the situation of guaranteed death, they become liberated within this very lifetime, jivan-mukta. They appreciate so many aspects of life, with the notable distinction being the dovetailing of the work with Shri Krishna, who is indeed the most expert actor.

In Closing:

By naysayers to be told,

That bhakti only for the old.

Entire lifetime in store,

What all this renunciation for?

Life in maya spoiled indeed,

But for something better proceed.

An endless ocean of bliss,

That opportunity not to miss.

Four Issues Over Which Rivalry Might Develop

“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another's service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaishnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuntha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.12 Purport)

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“I’ve reached the conclusion that the spirit of rivalry cannot be avoided in life. This is based on my personal experience, both in receiving outside opinion and noticing the behavior in myself when hearing news, good or bad, about others. I wish this weren’t the case, but I think there is no way around it. It seems like envy will emerge upon word of any change in situation.”

1. Job

My colleague got a new job. We were both in the same situation. The company we worked for was going south, and fast. The employees had to scramble to look for something else. I certainly wish well for everyone, especially people with whom I am friendly, but with this particular person something strange occurred.

They got a new job at a different company, and part of me is jealous. I wonder, “How did they land that job? They are not that smart or capable, at least in comparison to me. Perhaps I will never find as good a situation.”

If I had moved on first, probably no issue. I would be settled and in the clear, free to be concerned about others.

2. House

I live in a small apartment, while others I know have a large house. Their situation is different, for sure. There is only one income in my household, while the spouses in the other situations have their own careers. In the end, my preference is for simple. Less to maintain, leaving more time for higher pursuits.

At the same time, there is a hint of envy. Others I know can host friends and family for parties. They have enough room to give the children their own living spaces. I am crammed in every direction, and sometimes it seems like I have no privacy at all.

3. Car

Again, I opt for inexpensive and simple. It’s a car, after all. How much time do I really spend in there? I need it to be reliable, good on gas mileage, and long lasting. The prestige aspect is of no issue to me. It’s a hunk of metal, in my opinion.

At the same time, if I see someone driving an expensive car, I feel slightly threatened. I make excuses as to how they could have afforded something so luxurious. I shouldn’t have this opinion, since their experience has no bearing on my way of life.

4. Family

In another person’s household, the wife takes care of everything. The husband works, earns the paycheck, and relaxes while at home. In other households, there is shared responsibility. No matter how much the husband tries to help out with raising the children, the wife seems to think he is useless, that he does nothing.

Things are not always as they seem. Behind the scenes there could be major problems with that family that looks like they have it together. Still, there is constant competition. I have no reason to envy someone else since their situation has no influence on my day to day issues, but there always exists some sort of rivalry.

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that the Vaishnava spirit is something entirely different. As an example, a person can be well-respected for their understanding of Vedic principles. They regularly speak in front of gathered assemblies consisting of hundreds of people. They have their own dedicated followers, who travel the world in order to provide assistance.

This same person can look at the sweeper in the temple and appreciate their service:

“Oh, look. See how dedicated they are. Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be so pleased with their service. I, on the other hand, am very proud of speaking words that I have trouble following on a day to day basis. We are so fortunate to have these other Vaishnavas around, as they show the way towards transcendence for fallen souls like myself.”

On the other side, the sweeper considers the world famous preacher to be superior. If the rivalry spirit should happen to grow from within, it is used to effect a positive outcome. That is to say when I see someone else excelling, I use that as impetus to work harder myself. Not to tear the other person down, but to try to keep up, to properly serve the Supreme Lord in order to achieve liberation.

Vaishnavas like Prahlada Maharaja are already liberated, even prior to death. Neither do they seek any type of reward for the service rendered. The chance to connect with Bhagavan in what is known as yoga is enough to maintain the enthusiasm, which continues to grow. Such saintly people become even happier when they see others following that path and subsequently thriving in their connection.

In Closing:

Seeing others to strive,

Likely past me to arrive.

Not envy with job like so,

Or when in bigger house to go.

Since the Supreme Lord pleasing,

Any jealous tensions easing.

Maybe now I should do the same,

With more faith in holy name.

Why Did Arjuna Fight If The Vaishnava Does Not Delineate Friends And Enemies

“Demons think of everyone as a friend or enemy, but Vaishnavas say that since everyone is a servant of the Lord, everyone is on the same platform. Therefore a Vaishnava treats other living entities neither as friends nor as enemies, but instead tries to spread Krishna consciousness, teaching everyone that we are all one as servants of the Supreme Lord but are uselessly wasting our valuable lives by creating nations, communities and other groups of friends and enemies.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.12 Purport)

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Friend1: I know there is the teaching from Prahlada Maharaja about not drawing distinctions between friends and enemies.

Friend2: Found in the Shrimad Bhagavatam?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: Do you know the context?

Friend1: I know the story in general. Prahlada is one of four sons to the king named Hiranyakashipu. The father gets upset when he sees devotion to Vishnu in Prahlada. The boy is not afraid to speak his mind.

Friend2: Yes, that is the basic story. The teachings about friends and enemies is in response to a question from the two teachers, Shanda and Amarka. They want to know from where Prahlada has learned the science of self-realization. None of the other children in school spoke that way. No one else was around who would openly declare allegiance to a being higher than the king.

Friend1: There must have been a spy. Prahlada should turn state’s evidence.

Friend2: Like a promise for immunity. They will go easy on him; just finger the culprit.

Friend1: It is an interesting principle, for sure. The entire existence is based on drawing this distinction. Friend and enemy, like and dislike, association and avoidance.

Friend2: To make a friend is easy. Just find someone who has a common interest. If they treat you nicely, you will like them. The enemy is the opposite. If someone is in competition with you over something, like a job, naturally they are your foe.

Friend1: In truth, we are all servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. Some may be lagging behind, so to speak. They are forgetful of their nature as servant, which is their dharma, or essential characteristic.

Friend2: Such as with Hiranyakashipu and the teachers he sent to work in the school. They should have been pleased upon hearing Prahlada’s words. To reach such a mature understanding is not easy, and neither is it guaranteed from a human birth alone.

Friend1: Here is the question I have. The Vaishnava tends to think this way, right?

Friend2: Which way?

Friend1: About seeing everyone as equal on the platform of service to Bhagavan.

Friend2: Yes.

Friend1: And Arjuna of the Pandavas would be considered a Vaishnava?

Friend2: Absolutely.

Friend1: Then why did he carry on in the Bharata War? If the Vaishnava does not consider anyone to be an enemy, how could there be such a massive military conflict, with each side taking targeted aim?

Friend2: Well, the Bhagavad-gita as a book is there precisely because Arjuna did not consider others to be his enemy. He was hesitant to fight because he had no enmity with anyone, despite he and his family being the victims to envy and unnecessary competition for many years.

Friend1: I understand that. I know that Arjuna was not really into the fight. Yet the truth is the truth. He went on to victory. He released many amazing arrows to defeat his opponents. The other side, led by Duryodhana, certainly did draw distinctions.

Friend2: Yes, they had the mentality of the asura, who always thinks in terms of friend and enemy.

Friend1: Then what is the difference? Both Arjuna and Duryodhana fought. How can you say that one was better?

Friend2: Just because I understand the spiritual equality of all beings doesn’t mean that I will treat everyone the same.

Friend1: Please explain.

Friend2: I know that a tiger is a spirit soul on the inside, yet I will not behave friendly with it. That would be a grave folly on my part. The reality of the situation is that the pure spirit soul temporarily resides in a covering that creates confusion and illusion. The wise person draws distinctions, vishesha, when executing prescribed duties, but they don’t maintain any lasting enmity.

Friend1: You have to carry out your work anyway, even though you know better.

Friend2: Do your duty, but don’t be attached to the results. Make everything an offering to Shri Krishna.

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

“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)

Prahlada did not use the spiritual vision as an excuse to avoid responsibility. The Vaishnava and the asura can assume identical roles, but the result of the actions is entirely different. The asura becomes further entangled, remaining far away from liberation. The Vaishnava is already liberated, jivan-mukta, and so they simultaneously maintain society while staying above in consciousness.

In Closing:

From spiritual equality to realize,

Vaishnava not for distinctions tries.

Like Prahlada treating as one,

Considering an enemy none.

Then Arjuna why into battlefield came?

With amazing arrows taking aim.

Idea that friend and enemy for duty’s sake,

But in spirit qualifications to forsake.

Questionable Interrogation Techniques

“When Prahlada Maharaja's teachers and demoniac father asked him how his intelligence had been polluted, Prahlada Maharaja said, ‘As far as I am concerned, my intelligence has not been polluted. Rather, by the grace of my spiritual master and by the grace of my Lord, Krishna, I have now learned that no one is my enemy and no one is my friend. We are all actually eternal servants of Krishna, but under the influence of the external energy we think that we are separately situated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead as friends and enemies of one another. This mistaken idea has now been corrected, and therefore, unlike ordinary human beings, I no longer think that I am God and that others are my friends and enemies.’” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.12 Purport)

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A questionable tactic, but certainly widely employed, law enforcement officials are known to tell lies during interrogation of subjects. The Supreme Court in the United States has determined that this does not violate the law. Support is on the side of the government, which has liberties in carrying out its work not available to others.

The questioning of a suspect may go something like this:

“Oh, your friend over there, we apprehended him, too. He confessed to the entire thing. In fact, he said you were the mastermind. You might as well tell the truth, since all eyes are on you. Tell us what actually went down.”

You could be entirely innocent of the charge and your friend may have never spoken to the police. The idea is to get some information out of you. Even if the confession is not exactly what took place, at least the law enforcement officials will be able to stop the chase and tell everyone that the case is solved.

The teachers in the kingdom run by Hiranyakashipu during ancient times tried something similar. The crime, so to speak, was a child speaking the science of self-realization. This was not allowed. The ruler was in maya, or illusion, and so everyone else was expected to follow that path.

Prahlada revealed his startling level of intelligence through responding to a question the father thought was innocent enough. If Prahlada had said that his favorite subject in school was the art of war, statecraft, earning money, or apprehending criminals, everything would have been fine. If he had reached the conclusion that the Supreme Lord did not exist and that the person known as Vishnu was actually the enemy of the world, there would have been no issue.

The answer which was forthcoming made no sense to anyone. Prahlada considered material life to be completely embarrassing. A person working so hard for a temporary gain would be better suited going to a remote area, a vana, and engaging in meditation on the Almighty.

The immediate priority was to find out the culprit. Who had polluted the mind of Hiranyakashipu’s son? The two principal teachers went to work. They were something like the law enforcement officials asking supposedly innocent questions, but with a hidden motive.

They wanted to know who had taught Prahlada this philosophy. The goal was to find the offenders and punish them. Make sure no one else would be affected. The other boys in school did not speak this way, so an outsider must have infiltrated.

In his reply, Prahlada maintained the saintly position. He did not consider people to be enemies or friends. There is a oneness created through the link to the Supreme Lord, Bhagavan. The distinctions get drawn when the illusory energy of the material world takes hold.

Hiranyakashipu and others lived off that mentality, and soon enough Prahlada would be categorized as an enemy. The direction away from God is so dangerous that a person could be influenced to the point of attempting to kill their own child, who has done nothing wrong by speaking truthful words.

This is the risk saintly people have faced since the beginning of time, and if they had all remained silent due to fear then no one would carry forward the timeless tradition of pure devotional service. As such, saints are celebrated, again and again, for the debt to them can never be properly repaid. Their satisfaction comes when even a single person turns away from the mentality of distinctions and begins to see the personal God in every time and every place.

In Closing:

By law enforcement official addressed,

That your friend already confessed.

Now the same for you might as well,

The truth or something similar to tell.

Prahlada in this style interrogated,

But saintly principles not abated.

Devotees in this way align,

Through amazing strength to shine.