Built By Karma

"The Personality of Godhead said: Under the supervision of the Supreme Lord and according to the result of his work, the living entity, the soul, is made to enter into the womb of a woman through the particle of male semen to assume a particular type of body." (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.31.1)

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श्री-भगवान् उवाच
कर्मणा दैव-नेत्रेण
जन्तुर् देहोपपत्तये
स्त्रियाः प्रविष्ट उदरं
पुंसो रेतः-कणाश्रयः

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur dehopapattaye
striyāḥ praviṣṭa udaraṁ
puṁso retaḥ-kaṇāśrayaḥ

“This person looks completely different now. Granted, I haven’t seen them in ten years. But still, it is not like going from youth to adulthood. They were in their twenties before and in their thirties today. They are so fit. The face looks more attractive. Muscles bulging in the arms and legs. A complete transformation.”

“This person also looks different. It is the reverse situation. They used to have a full head of hair, a single chin, and clear skin. Today everything is in shambles. Less hair, extra fat on the face, and blemishes here and there. The belly is protruding. What happened?”

Such commentary applies only to physical appearance, but so many changes are known to occur throughout life. In these examples there is an external cause. While we assume that there is no intelligent configuration that goes into the makeup of the body, we see that the application of an influential force is possible.

What we may not notice is that the same ability to influence goes into the makeup of the body type accepted at the time of birth. In Sanskrit the word is karma. In general conversation the word has the connotation of reactions to good and bad deeds. Accumulate good karma by behaving piously and bad karma in the inverse situation.

The root definition is “fruitive activity.” The Sanskrit word for fruit is phala, and it is applied to karma, as well. Action and reaction. Good and bad are essentially relative. If I get my clothes wet, that is not necessarily a bad thing. I may need that to occur in order to clean properly. On the other hand, if I am stuck out in the freezing cold, the wet clothes will only make the situation worse.

The action and reaction sequence is not exclusive to this lifetime, which is defined as the duration between accepting the body and subsequently giving it up; i.e. birth and death. There was karma in the past. There was karma before that. Most likely there will be karma moving forward, but we have a say in that.

It is not only the action that leads to the consequence. There has to be a sanctioning power, someone who created the playing field and instituted the rules. The Sanskrit word is daivi. This refers to Divine forces. The Supreme Lord, God, Bhagavan – whatever the preferred name, someone beyond the cycle of birth and death assures that the proper results arrive to action.

The past is the past, so the time is proper for influencing the best future. Karma can stop. In fact, if a person follows the karma in the meaning of prescribed duties, the reactions are not on the bodily plane, either. There is advancement to a more auspicious future condition. The spirit soul remains unaffected, as it is always distinct from the body regardless.

Bhakti-yoga is known to be free of karma. While we can work to influence the type of body we inhabit in the present birth, and our work combined with consciousness influences the next kind of body we receive, through efforts in devotional service the cycle of action and development ceases.

Not that the individual becomes bodiless. Rather, they receive a transcendental form, known as the svarupa. This is the proper vessel in which the spirit soul should reside. Reassuming that state a person becomes free of the distinction between body and spirit. They become fully transcendental, just like the person they are serving. He made karma, after all, and He can help others escape from it, should they have the desire to.

In Closing:

Just like configuration tried,

And bodily effort applied.

For change in situation to see,

But sanctioning force must be.

Who in the first place created,

Principles in Gita clearly stated.

That easiest way forward to cease,

Bhakti-yoga for karma’s release.

Karma-Free Work

“Anything done for personal sense gratification is a cause of bondage. The conclusion is that everyone should be engaged according to the particular mode of nature he has acquired, and he should decide to work only to serve the supreme cause of the Supreme Lord.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 18.47 Purport)

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Question: I’ve heard it said that if you follow your occupational duties, your work doesn’t carry any sinful reactions. What does that mean exactly? Isn’t all work the same?

Prasadam is known as karma-free food. Karma is a Sanskrit word that means “work.” The more elaborate definition is any action taken that has a subsequent reaction related to the body. Elaborating further, the body is the material covering to the soul, which represents the identity of the individual. If I say that I see someone, it means that I see a spirit soul. Though the soul is finer than the subtle elements of mind, intelligence and ego, its presence can still be noticed. Just as we know that it is windy outside based on the movement of the trees, we know that soul is within our vicinity by the autonomous motions of the material covering known as the body.

The development of that body happens through karma. First there is the appearance. Time facilitates this with the event known as birth. Then there is subsequent growth, the release of byproducts, and eventual decay. Death is the end, the refreshing of the cycle, if you will. Death doesn’t have to wait for decay. It comes immediately after birth sometimes. In the modern age, the knife of death even comes at the child within the womb.

Prasadam is food that is free of the consequences to fruitive work. Does this mean that there won’t be any effect on health? If I eat pizza from a restaurant, isn’t that the same as cooking at home and offering it before a picture of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? The nature of the reaction is different. The physical makeup is no different and the health ramifications may be the same. But the difference is with the future development of the body. One side has karma, while the other is free of karma, i.e. there is no rebirth.

Work is the same way. If you follow your occupational duties, you are free from sinful reaction. An easy way to understand this is to see what happens to a soldier fighting for one’s nation. A soldier must kill. They do so reluctantly, but nevertheless with full vim and vigor. Killing is part of the job. If they don’t defend against aggressors, who will? It is easy to sit back in the comfort of one’s living room and pretend like the world is a safe place, but the reality on the outside is quite different. Aggressors are everywhere, and they are eager to make subjects out of the weaker, innocent members of the community.

The soldier does not get punished for killing, provided they follow the orders of the commanders in the military. A thief who kills, however, does get punished. The act is the same in both instances. One person ending the life of another. Yet the reaction within the society is different.

Work according to one’s occupation can be thought of in the same light. If you do your duty as a laborer, you aren’t implicated. The implication is known as sin, and the definition of sin is anything which continues rebirth. Thus even pious deeds can keep one implicated. The pious receive ascension to the heavenly region, but eventually they return to earth, where they must take birth again. Thus there is still a trace of sin. The work is considered pious, but there are implications.

If one follows their occupational duties with detachment, even if they do a poor job they are not negatively impacted. This is because they are following their nature. They are not driven by false ego into the occupation of someone else. Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that a person should not take on an occupational duty foreign to them, even if they can do it perfectly.

śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ

para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt

svabhāva-niyataṁ karma

kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam

“It is better to engage in one's own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than to accept another's occupation and perform it perfectly. Prescribed duties, according to one's nature, are never affected by sinful reactions.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.47)

Prasadam is karma-free because the effort put into it is free of sinful desire. The work is what determines the nature of the outcome. The best course is to always work for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. He is above karma, and so naturally any work done for Him would be above karma as well. The devotees go to the office, serve others, defend against aggressors, and perform priestly duties. They can be found in any occupation, but since they are always Krishna conscious, they do not develop any further karma. Regardless of the type of work they do, rebirth stops for the soul who is always conscious of God the person.

In Closing:

One from restaurant, other prasadam the name,

But is not food in each instance the same?

 

From the nature of work difference comes,

Rebirth when with sinful desire done.

 

Like soldier killing under higher orders went,

Absolved, not like thief who to prison sent.

 

Devotees of the Lord in any occupation to find,

Not implicated since keeping Krishna in mind.

Karma Yogi

“A person who works very hard, no matter in what occupation, and who offers the result of the work to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is called a karma-yogi.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.20.34 Purport)

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Imagine a person who seeks to be good. Perhaps you are this person or it is someone you know. Maybe it is someone who lived a very long time ago. Their goal is to always do the right thing; never any sin. If the word “sin” offends you, think of anything that invites censure. The mindset of such a person is to reach ultimate perfection as a human being, doing no wrong in the process.

This is indeed a worthy goal, as the good people among us are those who try their best to lead a virtuous life. The issue, of course, is which authority to take in determining right and wrong. The thief who steals from others considers their behavior to be virtuous. They make up whatever excuse they can. “Oh, I need these things for my sustenance. The world has been very cruel to me. Everyone else has plenty anyway. They don’t really suffer from my theft. I am therefore justified. I am virtuous.”

Similarly, the person trying to do good, who doesn’t steal, will justify certain things that they do. Hearing bits and pieces of information about virtue and truth, they may consider a typical life in sense gratification to be pious:

“I have heard of the term ‘karma’. In Sanskrit, this means work. I have also heard of yoga, which is the linking to the supreme consciousness. Karma-yoga is my religion; I don’t blindly follow any sect. I do good and honest work, and since I am of the right mind, it is called karma-yoga. I don’t cheat anyone. I don’t lie unnecessarily. I don’t spend too much money on enjoyable things for myself. I take care of my spouse and children. I earn an honest living and entertain guests in the home. Thus I am following karma-yoga.”

In the Vedic tradition there are different paths offered for reaching the ultimate truth. These are not borne from speculation; rather they are passed on in a chain of dedicated teachers. The multitudinous activities and desires of human beings are grouped and sorted into four basic categories: karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti. Karma is work, jnana is knowledge, yoga in this context is meditation, and bhakti is devotion. You can attach the term “yoga” to any one of these. Thus you have the choice of karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, meditational-yoga, or bhakti-yoga as your path for reaching a truth that is absolute.

Jnana-yoga is pretty straightforward. You seek enlightenment through knowledge. You learn of the difference between matter and spirit and commit yourself to living with that knowledge. Let’s say that one of my children doesn’t know that boys and girls are equal human beings. They believe that the sexes are completely different. I then point out their flaw, and in an effort to correct the errata they always keep in mind that boys and girls are the same at the core; they are both human beings. In the same way in jnana-yoga one tries to see with the vision of Brahman, where one knows that every living entity, human and animal alike, is a spirit soul, eternal in its existence but temporary in its present manifestation.

Meditational yoga is also rather straightforward; you meditate in the recommended positions and at the appropriate times and places. You fix your mind on the Absolute Truth in hopes of having the same nature, merging into that truth.

Things get tricky with karma-yoga and bhakti-yoga. In the works of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the terms are often both translated to “devotional service.” This is not contradictory based on the fact that karma-yoga eventually turns into bhakti-yoga when the resulting rewards are no longer considered. Think of going to work every day and not caring what’s in your paycheck. Think of doing all of your assigned tasks and not even remembering what day you get paid. This is sort of how karma-yoga turns into bhakti-yoga.

Karma is work. So when we work, we get a result. When we seek to enjoy that result, it is basic karma. When we sacrifice that result for the service of the Lord, it is karma-yoga. The definition is very simple, and it is not concocted on anyone’s whims. If it were, then someone could go outside, kill any stray animal, cook it, think that God is great for providing such a hearty beast for consumption, and then categorize the entire episode as karma-yoga.

What makes the karma eligible for yoga is the sacrifice in service. Service is bhakti, so when the results of work are sacrificed for the sake of another’s or one’s own devotion to God, then it is karma-yoga. Understandably there is confusion between the two terms, and the reason is that bhakti-yoga can include just about anything. Bhakti-yoga is full devotion. The attitude of the person is always the same. They are always of the mindset of “how can I please my beloved Lord, who is not the exclusive property of any particular sect, and who wears a beautiful garland of flowers and presents an enchanting smile sure to defeat any person’s pride?” In this mindset, the person can work, study, or meditate; they are not restricted.

As we live with constant duality, there is no such thing as “the perfect being in virtue.” What is good to one person may not be so for another. What is appropriate for this situation may not be so for that. The karma-yogi is on the right track, as they are headed towards the Absolute Truth, the author of this world of duality. Working diligently and honestly sacrificing their results for the pleasure of that great author, their work eventually merges into bhakti-yoga, which is the handsome reward for the treasure seeker finally grown weary of a life of doubt in speculation.

In Closing:

World of duality, suffering in illusion,

Between karma and bhakti a confusion.

 

When dispassion for results to earn,

Karma-yoga into bhakti to turn.

 

Not some concoction of the mind,

Passed on from chain of teachers kind.

 

When only in devotional mindset to stay,

To bhakti karma eventually to give way.

Free From Oppression

“Each and every one of the living entities within this universe has this minute independence, but Brahma, being the chief of all living entities, has a greater potential of independence than any other. He is the representative of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and has been assigned to preside over universal affairs.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.18.20 Purport)

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When delving into the annals of the history of the world, the theme of “liberty versus tyranny” is peppered throughout. It’s a common story:  some government became too powerful and started to oppress its people. Those people then hoped for liberation, to be free from the iron fist of tyrannical rule. This theme is present in religious works as well, which often describe historical events from ancient times. Freedom is certainly what everyone desires, but actually that freedom is always checked. Moreover, the issue becomes how to make the best utilization of that freedom once it is gained. From the person who is the freest, who has the most ability in using their independence, we see what the best use of it is.

Imagine that you had no one telling you what to do. No nagging wife in the home. No domineering husband to check your behavior. No kids that warranted attention. No job denying you vacation time. You had the ability to do whatever you wanted, whenever you desired. What would you do? Would you take up a hobby? Would you travel the world? The travel option seems appealing. You could visit place after place, experiencing new things every day. Even without physically moving from their home, so many follow this path already. Television and film allow an individual to escape from their present surroundings, to be part of different settings. It is nice to go to a new place every now and then.

Though we may not know it, freedom is always checked, even after there is so called liberation. One nation goes to war with another and uses the justification of wanting to liberate the oppressed. “We must free the oppressed people. If our nation doesn’t do it, then who will? Who will come to their rescue? Man should not have to live under the rule of a dictator. Man should be free to choose his own destiny.”

But what happens after the liberation? Does strife suddenly vanish? Are there no arguments anymore? Is everyone fully content all the time? Actually, without knowing how to properly use that freedom, there will always be trouble. The person living in the purportedly free country has constant worries. They are concerned with the deteriorating conditions of the public schools. They walk around knowing that at any moment a medical catastrophe could leave them bankrupt. They worry over paying the credit card bills, the mortgage, and taxes.

This is not to mention the physical limitations every person has. We have some independence, but we can’t live forever. We can’t stay awake for an entire week. We can’t go without eating. We can’t keep the body from aging. Therefore our independence is very limited. The animals even have some independence, but their exercise of it is more limited. They cannot make as many conscious decisions as the human being can. The human being has more intelligence to use in how they will act.

From Vedic literature we learn of a character who is the most independent of the conditioned living entities. We also learn how he acts. This person is the creator of all creatures. Depending on your point of view, you will think that this person is God Himself or a series of chemicals that randomly collided. In either case, the original entity is understood to be very powerful.

“By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma's one day. And such also is the duration of his night.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.17)

By approaching someone who has seen the truth, who is self-realized, we learn that the creator is godlike but not God Himself. He is known as Brahma by name, and his duration of life is very long. His one day consists of billions of years. As he has the power to create, his independence is as great as it can be. It is still not complete independence since he has to leave his body eventually, but from our perspective we could never imagine having that much independence.

From works like the Shrimad Bhagavatam, we can get an idea of how he uses that independence. On one occasion, he went to the place where a great fight was taking place. This conflict was between a powerful living entity named Hiranyaksha and a boar. Was this like watching a wrestling match on television? Was it like going to a sporting arena? Actually, the boar was the real attraction. He had a transcendental form and was previously engaged in holding up the earth from a flood. Hiranyaksha was the aggressor, desirous of battle against this boar who wasn’t bothering anyone.

Since this boar was an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it was beautiful in every way. A person looks their best when they are offering love to someone else. Here Varahadeva was loving His devotees by dealing with a shameless aggressor. Lord Brahma, the most independent living entity, decided to go to the scene to witness the event. No one told Brahma to go. He could have used his independence for vice, but he chose not to. He was quite selfish in this regard, as he knew that witnessing Varahadeva’s fight against Hiranyaksha would make him happiest.

His choice is quite insightful. In the absence of God consciousness, the living entity looks for personal success, some kind of achievement in a material field. Be it the accumulation of wealth, the strengthening of the body, or the association of an attractive partner, the independence is used to reach a place where there is more happiness. Brahma is the most independent, and so he can do whatever he likes to be happy. He already has the greatest ability in populating the creation with creatures. Technically, he is already the most successful. He has no longing for anything. No one tells him what to do. Thus his use of independence is the model for the rest of the world.

His independence is used in voluntary surrender to the Supreme Lord. That surrender is in consciousness, where all actions are done out of love. He makes the choice to always serve the interests of the Supreme Lord, who reciprocates by displaying wonderful transcendental forms and activities for the pleasure of the surrendered souls. Dependence on God is the greatest use of any independence we have, as was shown by Brahma himself.

In Closing:

In independence to act I’m free,

In Brahma the proper use to see.

 

His creative powers make him foremost,

In actions he has freedom the most.

 

Went to watch demon most immoral,

Against boar an epic quarrel.

 

Varahadeva protecting a pleasurable sight,

Victory over demons, removing demigods’ fright.

Food For a Crow

“Asuras do not know that their bodies consist of the five elements of material nature and that when they fall they become objects of pastimes for dogs and vultures.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.17.31 Purport)

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One who doesn’t know their true identity is less intelligent, or even unintelligent. This is the consideration of those who do understand their true identity. When lacking this most vital knowledge, one takes the appearance of their body to be very important. Fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, so many pairs of shoes - these things don’t determine who a person is. Indeed, they are coverings for a body that will one day be food for the vultures. As such, what wise person would assign so much importance to the body or decorating it?

We have to look at our body in the mirror. We have to feel the discomfort of wearing clothes which are too tight. These clothes fit just fine a few weeks ago, but since there hasn’t been much attention paid to diet and exercise, now they are not the right size. In addition, if we don’t watch our fat and salt intake, we could be forced to suffer from heart disease and high blood pressure later on. In this sense the body is important; it’s what keeps our consciousness intact in the present life.

However, there isn’t much significance to the body beyond the ability to maintain life. One person is heavy and another slim. One person is tall and another short. The differences don’t make the person. The heavy person could be very mean and the slim very nice. The tall person could be very stupid and the short intelligent. More importantly, at the end of life the bodies will no longer matter.

Do we give much importance to dog food? Do we see it and anticipate how wonderful it will taste? Do we go rummaging through garbage looking for scraps from last night’s dinner? Do we eat food that was prepared two weeks ago and accidentally left out on the kitchen counter? Obviously not, as these things are rotten; unsuitable for human consumption. And so the covering of earth, water, fire, air and ether surrounding the soul is destined to rot as well.

What keeps it from decaying right now? The spirit soul. When the soul is present in the body, the vultures stay away. There is heat within the living body. There is the ability to move, to autonomously act. There is life. Death is the absence of the soul only. The rest of the body may remain as it was previously. However, with a single flight of the soul from the body, that previously living body then immediately transforms.

The wise person can see into the future. Not that they necessarily predict the winner of this year’s Super Bowl, but the lack of immediate vision does not preclude them from seeing the destiny of their body. They know that one day the hands, legs, eyes and ears will either be burned to ashes or buried in the ground. Therefore they act without delay for securing the best future for the soul.

The soul ended up in its current situation based on karma. Karma is work. There is an action and then a subsequent reaction. This isn’t very difficult to understand. I eat too much food for dinner and I get heartburn and indigestion later on. I work out constantly and don’t eat very much, and then the weight of my body decreases.

The reaction for the soul goes through the conduit of the consciousness. The lasting reaction to any work is the effect on consciousness. Whatever state of being one remembers at the time of death, that state they will attain without fail. This is the statement of Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita. This answers the questions of “before” and “after.” We were somewhere before because we are somewhere right now. We will be somewhere after because we are here now and were somewhere else before. The soul is the constant, and it chooses where to go based on consciousness.

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.6)

While this body is not yet food for a crow it can be used to remember God. It can be used to understand Him, learn His qualities, figure out how to think of Him at all times, and serve those who are dear to Him. The entire suite of devotional activities, from start to finish, is provided by the kind souls who are already wise enough to see beyond the temporary body. They see God all the time through their work. As they see Him now, they will see Him at the time of death. This means that they will be with Him in the future.

They have no prejudice for travelling alone; they are more than happy to bring so many others along with them. They catch the interest of the sincere spiritual seeker by spreading the sound of God. They always chant, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” They defeat the arguments of the asuras, who either purposefully ignore the destiny of the body or are not yet wise enough to see it. The servant of Krishna gives this most insightful vision, and having seen it other wise souls make the best use of the temporary body by always serving the Supreme Lord Krishna.

In Closing:

Though right now with body to live,

Back to nature eventually to give.

 

After death body soon to be rotten,

By vultures and beasts to be eaten.

 

Destiny for the soul rather make,

By transcendental wisdom to take.

 

For spiritual destination let me strive,

While with this body I am now alive.

Who Is Fortunate

“It is by great fortune that one comes to Krishna consciousness on the path of bhakti-yoga to become well situated according to the Vedic direction.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 6.47 Purport)

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“By some way or another they managed to chant ‘Hare Krishna.’ Never mind their personal circumstances. Whether we consider them intelligent or not doesn’t matter also. They may not know the law of the conservation of energy or the price of tea in China, but at least they know that they are not God. At least they know that there is a supreme controller. From knowing these things they’ve decided to chant His name and also the name of His energy. This will benefit them greatly. All others are most unfortunate, despite what they may think.”

We all have seen instances of good luck. Someone who gets this luck constantly is considered fortunate. If they failed to study for a test in school, somehow school gets cancelled the next day. Or the teacher gives the test but only puts questions that the particular student knows the answers to. Then another person finds money on the street, wins the lottery, or matches up with the person of their dreams. They are considered fortunate because they seem to always get what they want.

This definition of “fortunate” is based on the short-term view. There is immediate enjoyment, which is known as preyas in Sanskrit. Long-term gain is actually more important. This is known as shreyas, and it makes sense that it would be more important. If I do something that earns me five dollars today, I think I am happy. If I instead forgo that action, with the objective of earning a much larger annual salary in a few years, that is better. In that scenario, earning five dollars will be much easier. In achieving the higher goal, the lower goal seems so trivial that it will go unnoticed when earned.

In the short-term, it’s difficult to think of the long-term. As they say, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. For life’s most important goals, we are given the eyes of scripture, shastra-chakshu. These eyes have a vision perfected through both personal observation and divine intervention. The divine intervention came first. The divine is responsible for the existence of shastra. The Supreme is one who can see infinitely into both the past and the future. As such, He has perfect knowledge of events.

Knowledge of the outcomes to actions is one thing, but knowledge of the qualities of the individual is another. Of course the Supreme has this knowledge as well, which He incorporates into His scripture. The shastras are lengthened by the teachings of those who are devoted to the Supreme. They realize the original truths passed on to them by practical application. They then note down their observations for the future benefit of mankind. Think of it like having a book written by your parents which tells you of all the pitfalls to avoid in life. The pitfalls are listed from their experience, which in this case is limited. Even so, the information will be helpful, as our parents have lived longer than us.

The past sages know of all desires. How can a sage from thousands of years ago know that I want a new video game? How can they know what a smartphone or tablet PC is? Actually, both of these desires fall into the category of fruitive activity, or karma. More specifically, they are desires in the mode of passion, which leads to a neutral state. All such desires for personal sense gratification are in the mode of passion, which is a concept the past sages are quite familiar with. They also know the modes of goodness and ignorance, and the divine mode of goodness reserved specifically for those devoted to God in a pure way.

This last mode is the most important. The infinite wisdom of shastra aims to teach everyone that this objective is the most worthwhile. Thus one who somehow realizes this objective is considered most fortunate. They are the luckiest person in the world because despite all odds against them they found true gold. Even if they stumble upon this knowledge by accident, without knowing what they are striving for, since the process to achieve the stated objective is so powerful, they are guaranteed to eventually reach the best destination.

One who is considered fortunate in the standard definition may actually have their “fortune” work against them. The wealthy businessman is accustomed to getting what they want through hard work. What need do they have for worshiping God, then? The person with beauty finds it easy to attract members of the opposite sex. Why should they worship someone else, then? The person who is expert at mystic yoga can bend and shape their body in amazing ways. Why need God, then?

Devotional service, or bhakti-yoga, is for meeting shreyas, or the ultimate long-term benefit. Prahlada Maharaja, a famous teacher of bhakti-yoga, says that the personal, short-term interest of the living entity is also met through the same bhakti. He says that the best destination is Vishnu, which is a name for God. One who gets too much preyas can easily forget the time factor and how it erases everything. On the other hand, the poorest man, who has less distractions, can require less convincing to take up devotion, for what else do they have in life?

Bhakti-yoga is best practiced through the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” There is nothing lost in this chanting. There is no reason for anyone to refuse to chant. If they have a specific allegiance that they don’t want to break, they can still chant this mantra and think of their worshipable personality. Sounds are repeated all the time, so what is the harm in repeating an ancient Sanskrit mantra?

Despite its innocuity, the chanting process will likely not be taken up in earnest, even with so much cajoling. Therefore one who does take it up should be considered most fortunate. They hear God through chanting, and since God is the greatest, the ultimate, what can be better than hearing Him? He has everything, so why couldn’t He share that with those who want to be with Him? All other fortunes quickly vanish, but the priceless gift of devotion remains forever.

In Closing:

Person with good luck always to see,

Think they are more fortunate than me.

 

Shreyas only a temporary gain,

But preyas repeatedly to bring the same.

 

Even though a person may be poor,

Know they are fortunate for sure,

If holy names always to say,

Towards God’s realm on their way.

On To Bigger and Better Things

“After one enjoys the results of virtuous activities in the upper planetary systems, he comes down to this earth and renews his karma or fruitive activities for promotion. This planet of human beings is considered the field of activities.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 15.2 Purport)

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“You ask, ‘What have I been up to? What’s new in my life?’ Well, I’ve started this new job. It’s way better than the previous one I had. The pay is better and so are the benefits. It’s closer to home, and the hours are great. On the home front, we’re looking to move to a bigger house, one that has more rooms. I want a bigger yard also. That way I can host parties. If my wife and I keep working this way, we’ll be able to retire with plenty of money to spare. Then we can really enjoy.”

This is the basic sentiment of the fruitive worker. And why shouldn’t it be? Who wants to be stuck in mediocrity? If you don’t make plans for the future, why get out of bed each morning? You need excitement and anticipation in order to make life fun. In the Vedas, such action and reaction is known as karma, and those who engage in it exclusively are known as karmis. If they follow the proper path, their destination is the higher planets, where material enjoyment is increased. Whether one believes in the afterlife or not, it is seen that within the present life the same kind of destination is desired.

We can think of the higher planet as the bigger house. In the bigger house, there is more room to maneuver. There is more space for the kids to roam around. For material enjoyment, you need a spouse, a home, children, and friends and relatives. These components fill out the picture. Enhance the quality of each component and you apparently increase your level of enjoyment as well. “Bigger and better” is the motto. It works with the common worker and also with the businessman. The athlete and entertainer think the same as well. “My last album went gold, so my next one has to go platinum. During the last tour I played arenas, so the next step up is to play the large stadiums.”

While success is not guaranteed in the least, if it should happen to come the result is actually an increase in wants. In this model, I am basically working so that I can increase my desires. I may not realize it at the time, but it is most certainly true. I work today at my job so that I can get a better car. That desire is a want. Once that car arrives, I will want something better. Again I will work for it; thereby keeping the relationship of working to increase wants.

Is there another way? Should our work decrease our wants?

Desire is fundamental to an existence. It only makes sense to want things, but work itself shouldn’t automatically lead to more work that is more difficult. It shouldn’t increase the burdens. Moreover, it shouldn’t bring only temporary satisfaction. In the same Vedas it is said that once the karmi who follows Vedic principles reaches the heavenly planets, they eventually have to fall back down to earth. This occurs when the merits they accumulated from their pious work expire. Think of it like reserving a room in a fancy restaurant for an hour. When the hour is up, you have to leave. In the same way, when the time allotted for your stay in heaven is up, you have to go back down to earth. Even in the earthly realm, the same is seen. If you are the most successful person in the world, at the time of death you are forced to exit your body. The same applies to the least successful person in the world.

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

Karma is purified when there is a specific term attached. That term is yoga, which means a linking. Work so that you can link your consciousness to the Supreme Consciousness. Work so that you’ll always think of the origin of matter and spirit. Work not to promote yourself anywhere, but to instead elevate your way of thinking. Your consciousness goes with you. If you move to a different area to escape bad experiences or to look for a better climate, your consciousness comes along for the ride. If it was filled with negative thoughts before, those don’t automatically vanish with the move.

In karma that doesn’t have yoga, the consciousness is set on promotion. Bigger and better. This mindset stays with the individual wherever they may go. Just because you go to the top of a building doesn’t necessarily mean that your way of thinking has changed. When you reach the area of promotion, if the mind is set on more promotion, the eventual fall will be more painful.

In the elevated consciousness the desire is to serve more and more. When the motives are pure, no outside factor can inhibit this. To tell how pure the motives are, one sees how desirous they remain of material promotion. If I desire a big house or a fancy car, so many things can get in my way. The strongest inhibitor is time; which is the greatest subduer. The car manufacturer can cease production of the vehicle of choice. I could lose my job. I could get into an accident with the car.

“Although the Lord was present in Vaikuntha, He was present also in the heart of the brahmana when he was meditating on the worshiping process. Thus, we can understand that things offered by the devotees even in meditation are accepted by the Lord, and they help one achieve the desired result.” (The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 10)

If my desire is to serve the Supreme more and more, all I need is my mind. It is said in the Nectar of Devotion that a priestly man once only contemplated making an offering to the Supreme and somehow had it accomplished. He was lacking the means, so he could only daydream of the possibility of making the offering, which would be the best. He would come to find out that the offering was as good as made. In this way, nothing could stop him from serving.

What is the benefit to the elevated consciousness?

If on one side I need constant promotion to receive temporary satisfaction and on the other the mind alone is fully capable of meeting objectives, wouldn’t we say the latter is superior? Thus the elevated consciousness not only constitutes as spiritual life, it also relates to real and lasting happiness. These claims and more are supported by the vast Vedic literature left by those who had reached this consciousness themselves. They learned the art from their teachers and then kindly passed on the teachings to future generations.

As this present age is filled with so many souls who only want more and more in the chase for promotion, there is rampant quarrel and hypocrisy. Therefore just hearing of the need for transcendence is rare, and more rare is finding a situation where it is practiced. As mentioned before, only the mind is required, though to train the mind we can implement various physical practices. In times past, an entire culture of spiritual life, which was supported by knowledge and renunciation, could be created without issue. In today’s environment, the best physical practice is the constant chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,” coupled with abstention from meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex. Through a little sincerity and a concerted effort at the beginning, the elevation in consciousness quickly begins, leaving behind the life of unending wants.

In Closing:

How bigger and better to get,

On this my mind is set.

 

Once cherished items I do receive,

On improvement then ideas to conceive.

 

In heaven enjoyments stand tall,

Eventually back to earth must fall.

 

In devotional service defect not the same,

Mind alone required for pleasure to gain.

 

Chanting and hearing tradition from Vedas take,

And quickly into peaceful home your mind make.

Blame Birth

“The miseries of life, namely birth, death, old age and diseases, are present everywhere within the material world. But one who understands his real constitutional position as the eternal servitor of the Lord, and thus knows the position of the Personality of Godhead, engages himself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 2.51 Purport)

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“It’s not fair that some children in school have friends and others don’t. Do you know how demeaning it is to have everyone else in the class invited to a student’s birthday party except you? How would you feel? No, this should never happen. The stigma from that omission can have lasting negative effects. It is better if we just outlaw any birthday invitations from within the classroom. Also, no more making friends with only certain kids. No one should feel that rejection in the early years.”

“It’s not fair that one team loses and one team wins. These are just kids after all. Sports is meant to be fun. Why should one team feel good after the day and the other feel bad? What are we doing to our children? It is better if we don’t keep score. This way no one’s feelings get hurt. Everyone has a good time and we don’t cause any long-term mental trauma.”

“The tobacco companies need to pay for what has happened to so many smokers. Sure, the consumers made the decision to smoke, knowing full well that the habit wasn’t good for them. But still, the tobacco companies knew what they were doing. They are responsible for so many deaths. They caused so many diseases. Through a class-action lawsuit, there will be some redemption for the victims. The companies owe this money to them.”

“Don’t eat saturated fat. It clogs your arteries and leads to heart disease, which is a leading killer among adults. Don’t fail to exercise properly; otherwise you will become obese, which is another leading cause of death. Eat enough fruits and vegetables every day; otherwise you will be in bad health. Stay away from the fast food restaurants, whose only objective is to earn a profit. They don’t care what they put in their food. If you get cancer and die, they won’t have any concern. They should be forced to be more responsible with their marketing. If it weren’t for them, people would live so much longer.”

In all of the above referenced situations, there is surely some truth to the claims, but the glaring omission is the inevitability of death. If there is really any blame to go around for negative outcomes in life, with the worst outcome being death, then it should lay squarely on the shoulders of birth. As soon as one takes birth, they are guaranteed to die. This is assured. Nothing can be done to stop the eventual death once the birth takes place.

“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)

Can we sue birth? Can we put birth on trial? Can we stop birth from taking place?

Delving into this last question will actually get us somewhere. All other attempts will only fail. In professional sports, in the past players often got injured in the head through collisions with other players and with the object of interest, such as the ball or puck. Helmets were then introduced, with the hope that this would solve the problem of head injuries. The result today, however, is that with the added protection players more liberally attack the game, flying at high speeds and colliding even more violently with other players. Concussions are now a major problem, so much so that the behavior in the games is being policed in such a way that there is strong restriction, inhibiting the natural flow of the games.

In human interaction, there are guaranteed to be unpleasant situations. Not everyone will be nice to us. Not everyone will have many friends. Not everyone will be liked. So many will be mocked, ridiculed, made fun of, and belittled. Policing the behavior of others will do little to stop this, as in any human interaction there are bound to be varieties. Have we never belittled someone? Have we never made fun of someone else? Surely we have, and so we are assured to be on the receiving end of the same behavior from time to time.

No matter what foods we eat, we are guaranteed to die. This is just a fact. If you eat carrots your whole life and nothing else, you will die. If you exercise all the time, watch your cholesterol, don’t overexert yourself, and stay level-headed, you will still die. Birth is the real culprit in this death. Others may form the immediate cause, in which case there is just punishment slated for them if they are guilty, but ultimately it is birth in the material land that causes the death.

Only in the spiritual science is there any attempt made to stop birth. It isn’t necessarily recommended that one act like a tree either. “If you don’t want to get hurt, just sit in your room all the time and say nothing. This way you’ll never experience defeat and you’ll never have anyone to blame for your problems.” As this goes against the nature of spirit, there is a better way to end birth and death. It involves tolerating the different situations in life.

“O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 2.14)

Summer and winter come and go like clockwork each year, and they each have their pros and cons. The living spirit must tolerate both seasons, in spite of the complaints. I can complain all I want about the heat of the summer, but I still have to live throughout. I have no other option. The same applies to the interactions with other living entities. It must be tolerated; there is no avoidance of the interaction.

How to tolerate it becomes the question. What is the tolerance supposed to bring? Should we all purposefully suffer?

The spiritual consciousness puts an end to birth and death. The spiritual consciousness is the original consciousness, so there is no harm in finding it again. In that pure state, one tolerates heat and cold, happiness and sadness, and praise and ridicule. They more than tolerate it; they are unaffected by it. If you have a higher purpose to fulfill with your actions, the unwanted elements of life will be like little distractions that you won’t want to pay attention to.

How do we regain the spiritual consciousness?

There must be connection with the Supreme Spirit. Only the human being has the ability to connect with Him through conscious action. The animals reach their limit with eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The nonmoving creatures can’t go anywhere. They are stuck where they are. The human being can find God through consultation with authorized works. In those works, the nature of the material land is explained, as well as the certainty of birth, old age, disease and death.

The purpose of birth is also explained. Birth is a way to try our hand at competing with God. As there is no way to surpass God in areas of opulence, birth is guaranteed to bring misery. The time factor erases everything eventually, and so whatever is gained is temporary. The body itself is not permanent, so its degradation and eventual destruction are causes for sadness for the person ignorant of the true nature of spirit.

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 8.16)

The spiritual world is eternal and full of bliss. There is no birth there. Death does not take place either. Since there is no birth, there is no cause for sadness. There is no blame to go around, because the cause for blame is absent. Seems like a utopian idea based only on faith, but actually a replica of the spiritual atmosphere can be created in the temporary land. This gives a glimpse of the eternal life spent in the association of the Personality of Godhead, the origin of all life.

Nature is nature, there is nothing we can do to change it. We can escape it, however. We can work within its laws to find the best end: residence in the spiritual plane. The spiritual consciousness is best created today through the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” It is then strengthened through avoidance of meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex. Through such a simple formula all good things are found.

In Closing:

So many problems, like games losing

Disease and friends others choosing.

 

With such things blame to go around,

Plenty, but initial cause not found.

 

Birth is what came first,

Then death, condition the worst.

 

Question then of birth to stop how,

Chant holy names and find answer now.

Actions Have Consequences

“The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.17)

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“How can God let this happen to me? I’m alive, but why should I be in such pain? Only a sick and twisted person would create a world where something like this were possible. A really compassionate person would save me and others from such a fate. This is a terrible place. These people who believe in God are only kidding themselves. There’s no way a Supreme Lord would sanction such terrible conditions.”

These laments are understandable given the tragedies we encounter on a daily basis, either to ourselves or to others. Yet if we break down the situation a little further, it is seen that the circumstances are merely the result of actions. Actions have reactions; that is the basic law. Without the reaction, there is no purpose to the action. The only way to prevent the reaction is to avoid the action. So when the above laments are voiced, the underlying message is: “Please God, let me stop all action. Take away my ability to act. Do this for others as well.”

We may not realize that that is what we are saying, but it is indeed true. Think of the political situation after a major downturn in the economy. The politician in power promises to never allow something like this to happen again. But what exactly happened? Bankers and financiers didn’t all of a sudden become greedy. They have been around since the beginning of time, so it is not like in a specific isolated period they suddenly discovered greed and then engaged in feverish economic activity to turn a profit.

Indeed, their economic activity in modern times is already highly regulated. All such risky behavior, which was blamed for the ensuing downturn in the economy, was monitored by governing authorities, who not only sanctioned such behavior, but encouraged it as well. And then when the crash occurs, when the reactions to the unwise behavior bear fruit, there is the call to prevent such a situation from reoccurring. And what is the solution? Obviously, it is to put tighter controls on the actions. “Government will regulate more. They will keep a watchful eye on the bankers, financiers and speculators.”

This is all well and good, but there is a reaction to this action as well. If there are tighter controls, there is less activity. And with less activity, there are less economic transactions. Think of it like telling a land owner to grow food but then declaring seventy-five percent of their land off-limits to farming. And by the way, the farmer is expected to produce more crops than they did previously. Of course, the two edicts are incongruous. In the Vedas, it is revealed that the key to economic success is to allow activity to occur. The analogy is made to the cow, who when allowed to roam free will produce much more milk than when it is locked down and tied up.

Economics is only one area where we see bad results occurring from action and then unwanted results from the prevention of action, but the same applies to all areas of life. If you really want to prevent all bad situations from occurring, you have to lock yourself up in a room and do absolutely nothing. Is this what you really want? Is this the pinnacle of an existence? Anyone who tells you that you can avoid all pain in life without taking this course is wrong. There is no other way to avoid heartbreak, disease, financial misfortune, anger through interactions with friends, and other such unwanted conditions.

As the complete end to all activity is not desired in the least, we understand that God is not to blame for our tragedies. Surely He creates the playing field, but the resultant reactions follow actions. The key is to learn the nature of prescribed actions and how one should be aloof to the reactions. If someone gives me a hammer, I have the potential to cause harm. I can throw it at someone, hit someone over the head with it, or even drop it on my foot. But does this mean that the hammer is useless? Should I throw away the hammer since it is so dangerous? Actually, the hammer is meant to be used for punching nails into boards that will be used to build things. The hammer can thus be very useful. When used properly, the negative reactions do not manifest.

In the same way, our potential for action has an ideal target. The target is described in books like the Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. One can argue that these are works of the Hindu faith and that other faiths have their own books. But there is still only one God, though He is described in varying levels of detail in the many faiths. The Vedas, which are the real origin of Hinduism, are considered a faith by those who don’t know any better, but they actually represent the science of spirituality. In works like the Bhagavad-gita, the nature of action and inaction is explained in scientific terms, where there is both observation and experiment. Fortunately, neither of these are required since the teacher is the origin of everything. He knows the laws of spirit and matter, so we don’t need to test His hypotheses. Nevertheless, since the truths presented represent a science, we can see for ourselves whether they are valid.

“One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.18)

With respect to action, the Vedas say that a wise man sees action in inaction and inaction in action. This seems like a clever play on words, but it makes sense if you think about it. You can realize this truth without referencing spirituality. For instance, if you’re allowing paint to dry on the walls in a room, you are essentially not acting. But actually, there is action in that inaction, for you are working towards a finished room. Then there is the instance where you are going through the motions, acting with your body but not really paying attention. Perhaps you are like this with your household chores. You are doing the laundry, which is action, but you are thinking about something else. You are thus not affected by the work you are doing; your consciousness is attuned differently. Thus there is a kind of inaction with your action.

The same concepts apply on a larger scale when you work towards transcendental knowledge. That is the goal to your potential for action. If you are sitting in a room and not doing anything, it is considered inaction. But if the mind is actually thinking about spirit and matter and how the essential characteristic of spirit is to serve God, you are actually acting. By the same token, if you are working at the jobsite to earn a living, but the whole while you’re reciting the holy names in your mind, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,” you are actually not acting. In that action there is inaction.

Many other such profound truths are found in the Bhagavad-gita, which is the guidebook for human behavior. Its truths apply to all people, regardless of the faith passed on by the family, the country of origin, or the language spoken. God is truly universal; He transcends all designations created through ignorance of the spiritual science. More than anything, our potential for action is meant to be used for connecting with Him; this is the result of attaining transcendental knowledge. In the absence of that connection to Him, which is known as yoga, there are so many calamities faced. The nature of the world we live in is such that forgetfulness of God is very easy, and so harmful things like disease, old age and death are guaranteed to happen. One who acts properly, though, gets closer to Krishna, the Supreme Lord. Such a reaction is welcome, making one appreciative that they are allowed to act, free to show their love to the one person who truly deserves it.

In Closing:

“How a loving God can there be,

When so many calamities I see?

 

Earthquakes, hurricanes, economic disaster,

Even after calm they come again after.”

 

In such lament for stoppage you ask,

To end all activity thus becomes the task.

 

Is this really what you want, no more motion?

From Gita learn real purpose of action: devotion.

Fuel Is Pumping Engines

“The work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature and who is fully situated in transcendental knowledge merges entirely into transcendence.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.23)

“Should I move to the electric car? I’m not happy with the carbon footprint I’m currently leaving. The office I work at is thirty-five miles away from my home, so I could use a car with better gas mileage. In addition, I’d be comforted knowing that my trips to work aren’t using up valuable resources, that the burden upon the fragile economy is lessened to a degree by my smart decision. Perhaps this new hybrid car, which requires an electrical charge, is the answer. And if I take this bold move, perhaps others will follow suit. In this way, we can all change the world for the better.”

With the torchlight of knowledge shone brightly from the Vedas and their bona fide teachers, the many flaws in the above logic are exposed. This isn’t pointed out due to jealousy or miserliness. It is the easiest thing in the world to criticize someone else. It takes no intelligence whatsoever, just observation. “Oh look at that person! Remember when they yelled at that little kid the other day? Sure they were having a bad day, and they only snapped for a second, but still, how could they act like that? Oh, and remember when they didn’t say ‘hi’ to you when you walked by them. I tell you, they are not nice at all. They have so many flaws.”

The fault-finding of the truly wise souls has a purpose, and a positive one at that. If you correct real mistakes, you can find real answers. The electric car and other inventions that look for alternative sources of energy are themselves a type of correction, an attempted one at least. But when the real problem is unknown, how can the right solution be found? To tackle the issue head on, the properties of the spirit soul must be known, along with its tendencies when encased in matter. Combine the association of other similarly encased souls and you have similar tendencies followed by an unimaginable number of autonomous creatures.

In the above hypothetical scenario, shifting to a new type of vehicle is for easing the burden on fuel when driving to work. We see that the trip to the office is the constant factor. That issue is not being addressed; we still have to travel such a great distance to earn a living. From the constant factor we see that the fuel problem is but a symptom of a larger issue. Whatever mode of transportation we adopt, if the objective we are supporting is the same, we will require a source of fuel. And if that objective requires daily indulgence, refueling is a must.

You can think of it in even simpler terms. You can change what you eat every day, but regardless you must eat. Food is required to keep the body moving. No matter how you alter your diet, the energy within the body must be present. Therefore whatever it is that is producing the food needs to keep working. Whether I eat a banana every morning or a bowl of yogurt, that food must be produced through some other work. And as long as my body continues to act, that food must appear before me every day.

The long distance trip to the office is a common symptom of the modern advanced economy, or that which is also known as progress. “How can you be against cars, computers, cellular telephones, airplanes, and other such wonderful inventions? Think of how much they have improved our lives. Why would you want to stop progress?” There is certainly progress in terms of ingenuity. The standard of living is also increased. Living with an air conditioner is much more comfortable than sitting in your steaming hot room in the summer months. Relying on the oil truck to deliver home heating oil to you in the morning is much easier than going out to the forest in the bitter cold to find firewood.

But each new invention is two-sided, as duality is par for the course in the land we inhabit. Sure, the automobile is terrific at what it does, as it allows us to now travel great distances in a short amount of time. Because of this new ability, we can live far away from the office, the place where we earn a living. Ah, but the living is the more important factor. The advanced lifestyle must be supported. No longer will a simple farm cut it. You have to either start your own business or work for someone else. That someone else must produce a good or a service for a profit; otherwise they will not stay in business long. Despite what the less intelligent might think, people don’t start businesses to create jobs. There is a passion to produce something, and if it can be produced and sold for a profit, the jobs come automatically, as the extra labor helps to increase production, which thereby also increases overall profit.

As the buying habits of the consumer are ever-changing and difficult to predict, it is rare for a business to stay continuously profitable for a long time. Since there is open competition, not only can the consumer choose between different products, but the workers can choose between different companies to work for. The result is constant shift in employment, adding further reliance to the trusted mode of transportation.

What all this means is that regardless of the fuel source, it is the trip to work, the desire to sustain “progress”, that will keep the engines pumping. Whether I drive my car to work or take a bike is really of no concern when the aim is to satisfy the senses. The spirit soul is a lover of God at the core, but without confidence of this fact, the conditioned soul will seek to satisfy the senses first. In this area satiation is short-lived, so repeated indulgence on an increasing scale of magnitude is required.

The concept of progress itself validates this fact. In days past you could live on a farm, get milk from the cows, have many children and relatives for companions, and be at peace. Why travel so far to work when you can get up and produce the food you need with your own hands? Why have your family separated from you when they can all live on the same property, with enough elbow room to keep everyone happy? Why require the cell phone to talk to someone so many miles away when all the important people in your life can be in close proximity?

Through progress in technology, the human being turns into a less efficient machine, requiring more energy to reach the same level of happiness that can be found through a simple lifestyle. And the problems never stop either. The car is great, but then there are the oil and pollution problems. You get the electric car, but now you need to charge it in your home. And that charge is not simple either. Some cars require a complicated charging system, and the charging must take place regularly, as the total mileage available from a full charge is pathetic compared to what gasoline can provide.

And of course new problems would be introduced should everyone switch to electric cars. The reliance on energy would still exist, as nothing is changed with respect to fruitive activity, which is known as karma in the Vedic tradition. Karma is an engine that requires fuel, and the human being desperately seeking cherished fruits will find some way to get that energy. If they should be pricked by the many thorns on the trees providing the fruits to feed karmic activity, the pain is considered worth it.

The Creator provides more than enough fuel to meet life’s basic necessities. If you don’t believe this, just look at how much food is produced in the United States alone. Other areas of the world have much more area available for farming, but in America the desire for profit and the advanced machinery allow for enough food to be produced to feed the entire world. The original source of that food is the seeds in the earth, which comes from the Creator. The rain is also necessary for food production, and no nation is responsible for producing that.

Just as the worker is given the fuel required for karmic activity, so the transcendentalist seeking true ananda, or bliss, is given the necessary energy to complete their tasks. Karma is shunned by three types of transcendentalists, namely the jnani, the yogi, and the bhakta. The jnani is a philosopher who speculates on the meaning of life. The yogi is a mystic who looks for enhanced personal abilities through meditation. The bhakta is the devotee who can follow the actions of any of the other three classes. The devotee can seemingly engage in fruitive activity, mental speculation, or meditation, but since their acts are dovetailed with service to the Supreme Lord, the results are not the same. And neither are the same pitfalls borne of duality present.

“One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.19)

In bhakti-yoga the divine master kindly offers His personal intervention. The neural network of reactions attached to karma are guided in the right direction, along the path towards emancipation in devotional surrender. As the aim is changed, no longer is the fuel required only for maintaining sense enjoyment. Instead, all the dependencies focus on worshiping God, which means that the negative turns to positive. The burden becomes a source of pleasure. The philosophical speculation turns into a fruitful mental exercise on how to find new ways to glorify God, whose wonderful attributes are limitless. The meditation turns into a way to better focus on those attributes, to feel the pleasure of knowing that there is a Supreme Lord and that He is on the side of those who are devoted to Him.

The real treasure of that devotion is the ability to constantly think of Him, which automatically produces good qualities in the worshiper. The devotees become good stewards of the environment, and through their example they show others the way out of the doldrums of material existence. And the best model they set is through the regular recitation of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

In Closing:

To the electric car should I make the switch,

Do good for the environment without a hitch?

 

Less gasoline to be used by my hybrid,

My massive carbon footprint I will rid.

 

But know that fuel required for karma’s engine,

Reliance on work for pleasure real tension.

 

Take same energy and use for God worship,

Then becomes a time for yoga your office trip.

 

Supreme Lord gives devotee all that they need,

Do good for all when this lesson you heed.