Nothing Like A Kick To The Chest

“My dear father, O great sage, I know that your feet are very soft, like a lotus flower, and that My chest is as hard as a thunderbolt. I am therefore afraid that you may have felt some pain by touching My chest with your feet. Let Me therefore touch your feet to relieve the pain you have suffered.” (Lord Vishnu, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 34)

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As a first-time father, you are always on call, ready to offer service when necessary. There is no schedule; everything is unpredictable. At any moment an accident can occur. The baby’s sleeping patterns might be steady for a few days, but growth changes everything. The rule is there are no rules. Whenever called upon there has to be love offered.

Another aspect to keep an eye on is milestones. The baby grows, which means that they learn how to do new things. One day they suddenly turn over. Now they prefer to sleep on their stomach. No matter how much you try to straighten them because of what you’ve read for safe sleeping, they will return to the preferred position soon after.

After turning over for the first time, the baby loves to do it. It is almost instinct. Sometimes they are sleeping and they still move around. The latest milestone has been crawling. Not the typically understood movement, where they scamper from one place to another in a matter of seconds, this is something like a snail moving. They put the head down and then push forward with their legs. However the motion is technically described, there is movement nonetheless.

One day while lying down on the bed next to the baby, you see that they are moving towards you. An endearing behavior, you are watching to make sure they don’t get hurt. The baby comes close enough without any harm done. For a few seconds your attention drifts elsewhere when you suddenly feel a sensation. You look down and the baby is trying to eat your leg. They are sucking on the skin.

This isn’t particularly odd behavior, as teeth are coming in. The baby tries to put everything in their mouth. This incident is humorous because who else would try to eat your leg? If any other person were to attempt this, you might get upset. Actually, any recipient would be unhappy. Among adults it would perhaps lead to physical conflict.

Yet since it’s your child, there is the opposite feeling. It tightens the bond. Instead of getting upset, you are proud that the child is able to push itself up and feel for different objects.

The incident helps to explain the amazing reaction from Lord Vishnu when one time meeting Bhrigu Muni in Vaikuntha. The respected saint was conducting an experiment. Who says that science didn’t exist in ages past? Through observing behavioral patterns, responses to certain stimuli, a wise person could deduce the natures of different people. A certain kind of nature would be considered superior, and other kinds inferior.

In this case the superior nature would be the mode of goodness, sattva-guna. Though Vishnu is beyond all gunas, as they are typically understood, the test for Bhrigu was to see which of the three presiding deities of the material creation possessed the mode of goodness in full.

Bhrigu first insulted his father, Lord Brahma. Then he insulted Mahadeva, the great god. Both became upset as a result. Bhrigu reserved perhaps the worst insult for last. He kicked an unsuspecting Vishnu. The husband of Lakshmi Devi was lying down in rest at the time.

Imagine the same happening to you. For no reason, mind you. Not like the wife kicking you to get up and take out the trash. Not like your parents waking you up out of bed for going to school. Not like the child still upset over punishment received a few weeks back.

This was without cause. Of the three victims of offenses, Vishnu had reason to be the most upset. And yet His reaction was amazing. He asked Bhrigu if everything was alright. Surely the muni’s foot must be in pain, as Vishnu’s chest is known to be hard.

The saint was surprised by the reaction. He then understood that only Vishnu possesses the mode of goodness in full. In truth, the reaction was due to the relationship. As a qualified brahmana, Bhrigu was viewed as a cared-for son. The devotees of the Lord are able to come close to Him in this way. They are not in the challenging spirit, after all. They have surpassed the stage of fearing God. As seen in Vrindavana, with Bhagavan it is possible to wrestle with Him, to carry Him on your back, or to even have Him carry you. These are glimpses into the life of liberation, mukti.

In Closing:

Bhrigu Muni conducting a test,

Where last a kick to the chest.

Of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha living,

To offense amazing reaction giving.

Worry for the brahmana’s feet,

And that failed properly to greet.

Like father child’s climbing not minding,

Most merciful nature in Bhagavan finding.

The Symbolism To The Reality

“It is said in the Vedic literature that innumerable universes issue forth when Maha-Vishnu exhales in His yoga-nidra, and innumerable universes enter His body when He again inhales. We have to imagine that these universes, which, according to our limited knowledge, are expanded unlimitedly, are so great that the gross ingredients, the five elements of the cosmic manifestation, namely earth, water, fire, air and sky, are not only within the universe, but are covering the universe in seven layers, each layer ten times bigger than the previous one.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 32)

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“Give me a specific project to do and I’m okay. Straightforward and matching my skillset. It doesn’t necessarily have to be simple. I’m not asking for the easy road. The only issue I have is with distractions. Different components, where you can’t gather momentum in any direction. I have trouble seeing the big picture from the beginning. Let someone else design and I will help build.”

Indeed, projects can become complicated rather quickly. For instance, how to build a skyscraper? A person may know how to lay down concrete, put up walls, cut glass and so forth, but these are different components to a larger model. A person has to have the vision of the final product and how the different tasks help towards meeting the objective.

Just imagine the complexity to creating the entire universe. Take something like the sun. A giant ball of fire, suspended in air, diffusing heat and light without burning out. No external power source and no sign of letting up. If the idea were to go to different places and collect the necessary energy, that by itself would be a nearly impossible task, with success not guaranteed.

The sun is only one piece. Take the different planets and how they are populated. So many kinds of living entities, sustained in different ways. Some moving, some nonmoving. Some living in the water, others on land. Some can fly, while others cannot.

Who could design such complexity? Who would have the strength necessary to do the work? Everything has to be held in place, through the force man has identified as gravity. Then everything has to be maintained. That is to say the work does not end with creation.

From consulting Vedic texts, whose authority is established through the validity of so many principles put into place that meet their stated objective, we learn that everything is generated through a single person. Not a new concept, as other spiritual traditions give similar attribution. The most common name used for addressing this person is God.

The Vedas give more detail. It is indeed a person, but interestingly there isn’t much effort. God in this feature has four arms and is beautifully adorned. He is not angry at anyone. Rather, He is always kindly disposed towards those who prefer His association. The ones who ignore Him are left to the ways of karma, which is fruitive activity. That karma is a component of the material creation.

That creation is due to Vishnu, but there isn’t much effort expended. Vishnu simply lies down to rest, and through breathing everything manifests and dissolves. By exhaling there are so many universes generated.

The reality is also highly symbolic. The most difficult work the mind can comprehend is accomplished effortlessly by the Supreme Lord. He is not agitated in the least. The fact is confirmed through so many other pastimes. When Bhrigu Muni kicks Vishnu’s chest as a test of supremacy, the Supreme Lord does not get angry at all. Instead, He is concerned that Bhrigu might have hurt his foot. Vishnu’s avatara of Shri Rama easily defeats fourteen thousand of the most powerful fighters all by Himself. As Shri Krishna, the Supreme Lord lifts a massive hill and holds it on His pinky finger for seven days to act as an umbrella.

The one who effortlessly creates, maintains and destroys can also just as easily rescue the conditioned soul from the cycle of birth and death. The starting point is desire. Then a little effort is required. If the sentiment is genuine, if there is some attempt made, then the Supreme Lord takes it from there. This is why the chanting of the holy names is so powerful: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Okay with task simple and clear,

But the complex ones to fear.

To juggle this thing and that,

Never keeping focus exact.

How then the universe came to be?

One intelligent designer to foresee.

From Vedas truth of Vishnu lying,

Creating while barely trying.

Taking Narayana As The Supreme

“Vishnu is beyond the range of the material manifestation, and He is not within the control of the material energy. He is the supreme independent Personality of Godhead. This is even admitted by Shankaracharya: narayanah paro 'vyaktat (Gita-bhashya).” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 20.311 Purport)

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The Shrimad Bhagavatam lists Lord Buddha as an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, meaning that He is identical to God Himself. This is interesting considering what Lord Buddha taught. In the Vedic tradition He is not worshiped in a formal way. Indeed, Buddha started His own religion: Buddhism. Similarly, there are other great personalities of spiritual life who are not necessarily known for the practice of bhakti-yoga. Upon further study, we see that there is actually no contradiction.

There is the concept of time and circumstance. You can’t teach everything to all people at all times. It is something like that of instructing children in the alphabet before moving on to grammar. You teach basic addition and subtraction before introducing higher concepts like calculus. In this way we can see the need for variation in systems of religion, even though the ultimate objective is always the same.

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhokṣaje

ahaituky apratihatā

yayātmā suprasīdati

“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.2.6)

The Shrimad Bhagavatam says that the highest dharma, or system of religion, is that which teaches love for God. Love is directed at a person, so this means for the religion to qualify it must acknowledge the personal aspect to the Divine. Love is also selfless, wanting more for the object of affection than for yourself. Therefore the qualifying dharma must be free of outside desires, such as for material gain, renunciation, and mystic perfection. Lord Chaitanya puts all outside desires into three categories: bhukti, mukti and siddhi.

'hetu'-śabde kahe--bhukti-ādi vāñchāntare

bhukti, siddhi, mukti--mukhya ei tina prakāre

“The word hetu [cause] means that a thing is done for some motive. There can be three motives. One may act to enjoy the result personally, to achieve some material perfection, or to act in such a way that one may be liberated.” (Lord Chaitanya, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 24.27)

The same Shrimad Bhagavatam goes into detail about the form, qualities and pastimes of Shri Krishna. He is non-different from God as well. Krishnas tu bhagavan svayam means that Krishna is Bhagavan Himself. Bhagavan is the full realization of God, superior to that of Paramatma and Brahman. God is a person full of opulences. He takes to activities beyond the neutrality exhibited by the Supersoul. He is more than the undifferentiated spiritual energy that is Brahman.

The purpose of the Buddha avatara was to stop the degraded system of animal sacrifice prevalent in Vedic culture. To effect this change, He had to reject the Vedas, teaching almost a kind of atheism. Lord Shiva descended as Shankaracharya centuries later to diminish the influence of the atheism of Buddhism. Then other famous acharyas followed who worked to invalidate the impersonalism taught by Shankaracharya.

Ramanuja and Madhva fearlessly propagated the philosophy of dualism, wherein the living entity and the Supreme Lord are identical in spiritual nature but also different based on quantification of potency. Ramanuja worshiped Narayana, or Vishnu, as the Supreme Godhead. So did Madhva. Those following in Ramanuja’s line tend to worship Narayana in His incarnation of Rama, who is accompanied by the eternal consort Sita. In Madhva’s line, the worship is typically of Shri Krishna, who is accompanied by Shrimati Radharani.

Lord Chaitanya later taught that Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead, with Vishnu being an incarnation. His philosophy is achintya-bhedabheda-tattva, which also describes simultaneous oneness and difference. Does this mean that Ramanuja and Madhva were wrong? Were they fools for accepting Narayana as the Supreme? Did they not know the glories of Krishna?

In reality, there is no contradiction. The difference is merely in mood of worship. Lord Chaitanya gave emphasis to madhurya-rasa, which is worship in the mood of sweetness. Previous acharyas shed light on other rasas, but not so much on madhurya. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of their work cannot be denied. No effort in devotional service, bhakti-yoga, ever goes in vain. There is no loss or diminution on that path, and it saves one from the greatest fear.

nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti

pratyavāyo na vidyate

sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya

trāyate mahato bhayāt

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.40)

Whether one accepts Vishnu, Krishna, or Rama as the Supreme, if there is pure devotion then the result of continued association with God is guaranteed. Some worship Lord Shiva, who is almost like God Himself. Shridhara Svami, the famous commentator on Shrimad Bhagavatam, though a worshiper of Vishnu in His form of Narasimhadeva believed that ultimately there is no difference between Shiva and Vishnu. There is benefit even from realization of Brahman and Paramatma only. The rule is that the worshiper gets the association of the object of their worship. Those who worship Narayana go to His realm, where there is a specific kind of interaction. Those who worship Krishna go to His planet, where they can engage in several different moods of worship, all the way up to madhurya.

In Closing:

One person Narayana supreme taking,

Another offerings to Shiva-linga making.

 

Worship of both Vishnu and Shiva there,

Of contradictions in shastra aware.

 

Difference just in the mood to know,

Determining destination future to go.

 

With Vishnu or avataras devotion to exist,

Service in mood of choice forever to persist.

Not Getting What You Want

“Lord Shiva's worshipers sometimes appear more opulent than the worshipers of Lord Vishnu because Durga, or Sati, being the superintendent in charge of material affairs, can offer all material opulences to the worshipers of Lord Shiva in order to glorify her husband, whereas the worshipers of Vishnu are meant for spiritual elevation, and therefore their material opulence is sometimes found to decrease.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.4.21 Purport)

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Bhakti-yoga, which is equivalent with the concept of Vishnu worship, is unique amongst all styles of religion. Indeed, it really has no comparison with any popularly practiced faith, since the discipline is both scientifically based and constitutionally sound. In other words, the soul’s real business is devotional service, performed without interruption and without motivation. The practice sometimes brings unexpected results in the beginning.

“Oh God, I have no one else to turn to. I don’t ask for much. Can you help me out this one time? I promise to be good. I won’t do bad things anymore.”

Who hasn’t found themselves in this situation at least once? The scene is commonly inserted into storylines of movies and television shows. When all else fails, turn to the man upstairs. He is the Almighty for a reason. He can do anything. He can fix any problem. He can provide anything to any person and take away anything that might be causing them trouble.

In the Vedic tradition, Vishnu-worship certainly involves prayer. Vishnu is one name for the Almighty. It means “all-pervading.” There is a personality to go with the attribute. There are identifiable features that accompany the personality. In other words, you don’t have to speculate as to what God looks like, where He lives, or what pleases Him.

In bhakti-yoga, you can certainly approach Vishnu and offer the same prayer as that mentioned above. The interesting thing is that He might not come through. It is not that He is mean. He is not vengeful and old and bitter at the many sinners living in this world. Rather, He is full of sweetness and compassion. He has nothing to do, and so He is always taking rest on the serpent bed known as Ananta. While resting, He is getting massaged by His beautiful wife, Lakshmi Devi, who is the goddess of fortune.

Why is the wife in control of fortune and not Vishnu Himself? Why doesn’t Vishnu always come through for those who worship Him?

Indeed, there is another divine figure who is known for being easily pleased. His primary name is Shiva, and the secondary name of Ashutosha speaks to his tendency to quickly deliver on prayers. If you want wealth, he can grant it very quickly. He doesn’t even take into account the character of the person. Just do the worship in the right way and you’ll see results fast. In the historical incidents described in Vedic literature, it is often the case that the Shiva worshipers are wealthy and prosperous, while the Vishnu worshipers are poor.

Vishnu is the Supreme Godhead due to the very fact that He sometimes refuses requests. Material opulence can be like poison if not utilized properly. The mind itself already has this dual-sided nature. It can be the best friend of the living entity, but also its worst enemy.

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ

nātmānam avasādayet

ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur

ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

“A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.5)

Lord Shiva is Ashutosha for a reason. He knows that material opulence is not that important. He himself is a Vishnu worshiper. He doesn’t keep much around him; just the bare essentials. In ability he is amazing, but he doesn’t misuse that ability. His worshipers often don’t know any better. Caught in the fever of acquiring this thing and that, they approach Shiva and forget to study his characteristics, his way of life.

But then why is Shiva-worship authorized? Isn’t approaching him a trap?

Worship of a divine figure is better than rejecting spiritual life altogether. The hope is that one day the person will realize that material opulence is not everything. The true definition of progressive life is the advancement of consciousness. The consciousness pervades the entire body, and so one who is conscious of the right thing will feel pleasure throughout. They will experience a level of bliss that money and power can never bring. Vishnu’s association automatically purifies the consciousness, so through His mercy one makes advancement very quickly. In bhakti-yoga, which is dedicated to God the person, the worship never stops, since there is nothing temporary or miserable to seek after. Just as Vishnu is eternal, so is the worship that maintains the link to Him.

In Closing:

Shiva known to be easily pleased,

Character of the person not he sees.

 

His worshipers sometimes with a lot,

And those going to Vishnu much not.

 

Because Supreme Lord prayer to assess,

And whether in consciousness to progress.

 

Personal God merciful in this way so,

Highest benefit whenever towards Him to go.

When The Questions Continue

“The Lord [Maha-Vishnu], although lying in the Causal Ocean, came out of it, and dividing Himself as Hiranyagarbha, He entered into each universe and assumed the virat-rupa, with thousands of legs, arms, mouths, heads, etc.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.5.35)

sa eva puruṣas tasmād

aṇḍaṁ nirbhidya nirgataḥ

sahasrorv-aṅghri-bāhv-akṣaḥ

sahasrānana-śīrṣavān

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The journalist’s mission is straightforward. Get answers to five key questions. Ask about who, what, where, when, why and how. If those questions get satisfactorily answered in a story, the journalist has done their job. It is the nature of the human being to be inquisitive. This inquisitiveness is addressed in Vedanta philosophy with the aphorism athato brahma-jijnasa. This means that the human birth is the wakeup call to the living entity. After having spent so much time in various other species, in this human life there is an urgency to be inquisitive. Ask about the Absolute Truth, Brahman.

The skeptic may argue that there is no need.

“I already have my religion. Others have their own as well. We acknowledge that God exists. What more do you want beyond this? My religion says that as long as you acknowledge such and such as the savior, and you admit that you are a sinner, you are saved. What need is there for all the detailed knowledge of which you speak?”

These are good questions. The response is that especially in modern times the human being is very inquisitive. The religions of the world acknowledge the same God, though they may address Him through different names. Through dogmatic insistence the people practicing may not know that the religions refer to the same Almighty, but the fact cannot be denied. If there is one God, He has to be for everyone.

Those who acknowledge God’s existence understand that He created everything. This is the line dividing the theists and the atheists. The atheists rely on conjecture. They guess that perhaps a series of collisions between chemicals led to the amazing variety and predictability of the universe and its population of creatures. They attribute the collisions to randomness, as they don’t know any better. The theists say that an intelligent being, the Supreme Lord, is responsible for the creation.

What if someone wants to know how God created? What if they want to know why there are creatures on earth, and why there is variety? Where will they go to get such information? The Vedas are unique because they can answer such questions. They are an ideal match for the inquisitive mind of the human being.

If man weren’t inquisitive, there would be no such thing as paparazzi and entertainment media. Entertainers sing songs, perform on stage and on screen. The entertainment value ends there. Yet the people want to know more. They want to know how such greatness was achieved. Therefore they listen to the entertainers in interviews. They read the books authored by famous people.

God is the most famous. His glories are sung in the original Vedas and also in their derivative works. There are plenty of quotes from the Supreme Lord, and each one of them can be studied for many lifetimes. The most famous transcript of His words is the Bhagavad-gita, where the setting is a conversation between God in His form of Shri Krishna and a distressed warrior named Arjuna.

That work is short in length, so it provides a brief overview on the creation. The Shrimad Bhagavatam is more detailed. It explains how the universes came to be, what effects change in the world, why the individual spirit travels through various species, and what can be done to stop the cycle of birth and death. It explains what God looks like, what He prefers to do, where He chooses to descend, and with whom He prefers to associate.

Of course the starting point is understanding that God exists. To have firm belief in that fact, one should know the difference between matter and spirit, the fundamental truth of spiritual life. From there they can better understand the topics of the material nature, karma, the living entity, time and the Supreme Controller. After being firmly established in the detailed knowledge of how things work, the situation becomes ideal for hearing about God the person and His pastimes. That hearing alone can bring liberation, the end to the misery of a material existence.

In Closing:

My religion is already there,

Why of yours should I be aware?

 

I worship and so do you,

And everyone else in world too.

 

Inquisitive nature for the human mind,

Detailed knowledge in Vedic texts to find.

 

Like Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavatam reading,

Hunger for more information feeding.

Kshanti

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness - these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.42)

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śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ

kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca

jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ

brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

You’ve prepared yourself for this trip. From past experience, you know that you get frustrated quickly. The reason you prefer going by automobile is that then you’re not attached to fixed times. There isn’t as much pressure to meet a deadline. Alas, what can you do for overseas trips? You have to take an airplane. This means arriving at the airport at least two hours early, then waiting on a series of lines, showing your identification card multiple times. This is all while carrying heavy bags.

Since you know the process is stressful, you’ve told yourself to relax this time around.

“Just be tolerant. Everyone else is going through the same thing. They are just as stressed as you are, if not more. Do you see these mothers travelling with several small children? Imagine what they are going through. You couldn’t deal with that. So just chill out.”

Your patience is tested at the very outset. You think the seat next to you on the plane will be clear, freeing more space, but right as they close the cabin doors someone occupies the seat. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world normally, but this person smells very bad. As the journey starts, you settle in. The flight attendants bring out the beverage cart, and they don’t have the drink that you want. Then later on you go to use the restroom, only to find a giant mess in there.

As has happened to you many times before, the person seated directly behind you seems to have no problem pressing forward against your seat. They do it constantly, as if on purpose. You can’t stand it, yet you realize that getting angry is not going to help things. After a while, though, the person next to you starts to really get on your nerves. It’s bad enough that they smell, but they make their presence felt as well. They are constantly moving around, bumping into you. At one point they decide to try to sit down Indian style. That doesn’t work, as their feet overflow into your seat. At this point you’re ready to lose it. You want to scream out in frustration.

In the Bhagavad-gita, Shri Krishna mentions various qualities associated with the brahmana, who is the person in the mode of goodness. Goodness leads to enlightenment, passion to a neutral state, and ignorance regression. Activities, people, charity, body types - basically anything in the material world can be described by these three categories. The brahmana is in the mode of goodness to advance in consciousness. One of the qualities necessary for that advancement is tolerance. This applies to every person, but especially for one who is seeking enlightenment.

We can get the ideal example of tolerance from the Supreme Lord Himself. Not only can all good qualities be found in Him, but they exist at the highest levels as well. The Shrimad Bhagavatam describes the time Bhrigu Muni wanted to test who was supreme amongst the three presiding deities of the material creation. His method of testing was to insult. He first insulted his father Lord Brahma, the creator. Brahma got angry that Bhrigu did not offer respects when greeting him. Bhrigu next insulted Lord Shiva by speaking harsh words to him. Shiva got angry and had to be restrained by his wife Parvati.

Finally, Bhrigu went to visit Lord Vishnu, who is also known as the maintainer. The sage saved the best insult for last. With Brahma the insult was with the mind, and with Shiva with words. Here Bhrigu insulted with a deed, a pretty bad one at that. Seeing Vishnu lying down and resting, Bhrigu kicked the Lord in the chest. Lord Vishnu got up immediately and asked Bhrigu if he was alright. Vishnu said that His chest was known to be very hard and so such a kick would likely cause injury to someone’s foot.

Lord Vishnu was not offended since Bhrigu was from the brahmana class. In other words, when a devotee does something like that to God, there is no offense taken. Vishnu possesses full tolerance. In fact, based on knowledge of the spiritual science, we know that God must be the most tolerant person. He lives within everyone as the Supersoul. Through this expansion He acts as the all-pervading witness. By extension, He automatically witnesses every sinful deed. He knows everything that we have done since time immemorial.

He still accepts our service when we sincerely make the turn towards Him. To accept us, He must forgive every mistake we have made. The original sin, if you will, is turning from His shelter and looking for supremacy in the shadow land known as the material world. This mistake causes great harm, and though we remain obstinate for so long, Vishnu does not hold a grudge. He is the most tolerant, and so that quality is passed down to those who aspire to remain forever in His service, chanting the holy names with full humility: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Kid behind you kicking the seat,

On airplane tolerance difficult to keep.

 

Frustrated so easily to become,

How true enlightenment then to come?

 

Example of Lord Vishnu take,

How when Bhrigu Muni test to make.

 

Tolerating that swift kick to His chest,

Those in bhakti with same quality blessed.

Forms for Meditation

“Even if one concentrates his mind on the boar form of the Lord, that is also yoga. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, one who concentrates his mind constantly in meditation upon the Personality of Godhead in one of His many varieties of forms is the first-class yogi, and he can very easily attain trance simply by meditating upon the form of the Lord. If one is able to continue such meditation on the Lord's form at the time of one's death, one is liberated from this mortal body and is transferred to the kingdom of God.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.19.28 Purport)

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“How was my weekend, you ask? It was okay, I guess. Now that I think about it, I’m feeling pretty good today. I tried to block out so many other distractions and just meditate. The weekends are a difficult time for me to relax. It seems like it should be the opposite, no? Since there is no pressure to go to work, I should be able to chill for two straight days, right?

“But what ends up happening is that I can’t stay focused on any one task. There’s always something to clean. All those responsibilities I neglect during the week start to mount. I have to do laundry for sure; otherwise there will be no clean clothes for the upcoming week. I have to pay bills, run to the supermarket, fill the car with gas, and prepare meals. All of this makes it very difficult to relax.

“What I did different this weekend was set aside some time for meditation. I’ve realized that the more I can stay away from my bedroom, the more I can concentrate. I’m actually more relaxed when seated upright, even if it’s just to watch television. So I found myself a comfortable chair and took out my tablet computer. That device in itself invites so many distractions, I know. I can check my email, preview the weather for the upcoming week, watch videos, and even exchange instant messages with friends.

“This time I focused on a specific photo that I had in the camera roll section of the tablet. This photo is of a boar. I meditated upon that photo for hours on end. No, I’m not lying to you. I basically meditated on a pig this weekend. I can’t tell you how happy it made me feel. Where did I get the idea? In an ancient Sanskrit work called the Shrimad Bhagavatam there are descriptions of this boar. One can find out about its activities and appearance. It is also said in that work that mystic yogis, people who renounce the urban lifestyle for the wilderness, try their best to meditate on the personality who is that boar.

“It is said that the yogis have a tough time staying fixed in concentration on that same person who once manifest as a boar. And here I was, in the modern day, where no one has time for anything, meditating on that beautiful form. While meditating I kept thinking about how wonderful that boar was. It held up the earth after it had fallen into the water. While nobly saving the population of this world, it was verbally attacked for no reason.

“The attacker was envious. He was also very powerful, having the name of Hiranyaksha. He was golden-eyed and also golden in his ability to fight, and so he thought no one was there to properly challenge him in this world. He heard of this boar, named Varahadeva, and thought he could get a good fight from it. In the ensuing conflict, the boar absorbed all of the enemy’s blows without being disturbed. He let Hiranyaksha use his full arsenal of weapons. And then at the end Varahadeva took aim at victory. In a swift turn, Hiranyaksha lost his life, and the world of saints rejoiced, for they knew a terrorizing figure was gone.

“Actually, describing this to you right now has been a sort of meditation as well. So you’re wondering if you can pick any pig to meditate on and feel the same way? Can you meditate on just anything and get the benefits of peace and tranquility? Actually, no. There is something special to this boar. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which is the more descriptive term used for the entity we typically refer to as God. He is the sum total of everything, and yet He is not directly everything. The tree and the dust on the ground are part of His definition, and yet He is not the tree nor the dust. He is a distinct spiritual entity who can appear in any time and place and in any form He chooses. His personal appearances are always in transcendental forms. This means that the mystics looking to connect with God are actually trying to meditate on the person who appears in various forms, such as the boar.

“I can do the same meditation by focusing on Varahadeva’s original form of Shri Krishna. Krishna is an attractive male youth who holds a flute in His hands, sports an enchanting smile, and happily plays in the sacred land of Vrindavana. His complexion is dark blue, like the raincloud, and He is beautifully adorned with jewels, a flower garland, and a yellow garment around His waist. His activities are also described in the Shrimad Bhagavatam, and setting aside time for meditating on them is most worthwhile.

“I got this idea for meditation from the works of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He has actually translated and commented on the Shrimad Bhagavatam in English, which is a huge plus for me. I don’t know Sanskrit and so being able to learn these timeless truths in the language I am most familiar with is such a blessing. We all have this tendency to serve, and we like to contemplate on wonderful people and their attributes and activities.

“Shrila Prabhupada says that this tendency is purified when it is directed at God. He not only sanctions meditating on Varahadeva and Shri Krishna, but wholeheartedly recommends it. He says that the same meditation can be done through just chanting the names of those respective personalities. And the potency of saying the names of all the incarnations of the Supreme Lord comes with chanting just the names of Krishna and Rama. Therefore He recommends chanting the maha-mantra, ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.’

“You should give this a try, as it removes all doubts. We don’t need to speculate anymore as to how to find true happiness in life. We don’t need to wonder what God looks like or what He wants from us. If we are truly devoted, He will lift mountains for us, as He did with Govardhana Hill. If He sees us in trouble, He’s willing to bear the burden of the entire earth, as He did as Varahadeva. And just by meditating on Him, we become dear to Him, which shows that the path of devotional service is both the easiest and the most effective.”

In Closing:

With attention more and more,

Meditate on picture of a boar.

 

From strange practice what to gain?

Know that to object of yogis the same.

 

In variety of forms the Lord to come,

Though differently looking, of personality one.

 

On Krishna, Boar, Lion, or Vishnu lay eyes,

Success guaranteed for one who this path tries.

Unanswered Prayers

“Demons have lost all intelligence because they do not know what is actually their self-interest. Even if they have information of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they decline to approach Him; it is not possible for them to get their desired boons from the Supreme Lord because their purposes are always sinful. It is said that the dacoits in Bengal used to worship the goddess Kali for fulfillment of their sinful desires to plunder others' property, but they never went to a Vishnu temple because they might have been unsuccessful in praying to Vishnu.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.19.1 Purport)

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The natural partner of a belief in God is prayer. If you have firm faith in the existence of the highest power, the author of everything good in this world, you will surely seek benedictions from Him. Put more simply, you will ask Him for things. “O Lord, please give me the strength to fight through this. O God, please grant me the ability to succeed in this venture. O father, please hear our prayer.” What if the thing requested doesn’t arrive? What if fate takes a different turn? Does it mean that there is no God? This is a common reaction to the unanswered prayer, but from the Shrimad Bhagavatam we get the accurate understanding.

A famous recording artist of recent times authored a song that praises the Lord for having not answered one of his prayers. This person later on realized that they wanted something different. They were in ignorance the first time, and they saw the light later on. Not necessarily relating to the true identity of the soul or the nature of this temporary world, but their knowledge increased on some level during the process. Therefore they were thankful that their first prayer was denied. They were glad that the man upstairs didn’t agree to their initial request.

The occasion and purposeful denial of requests makes the Supreme Lord unique from all other worshipable entities. If you simply ask God for things, you’re essentially viewing Him no differently than you would an order supplier. Like an online retail outlet that features a shopping cart, next day shipping, and one-click payment, the Supreme Lord is seen as the person who can provide any goody. You simply kneel down in front of your bed, compose some heartfelt words, and voila, you get what you want.

By definition things cannot work this way. For starters, there is the issue of duality. There is only one television set left in a store. Two people want it. Both go home at night and pray to God to grant them their wish. Since there is only one television, one person must be denied. This doesn’t indicate a flaw on God’s part, but rather in the request itself. If one person gets the television, the other person does not. This means that one person’s happiness comes at the expense of another’s. Is this an issue for God to resolve? If He is considered all-loving, why would He make decisions that are guaranteed to make someone unhappy?

From the Shrimad Bhagavatam, we see that the Supreme Lord Himself stands above this. There are other divine figures who can grant rewards. Their interactions with their devotees are similar to business transactions. First come, first serve. If you have enough cash, you’ll get what you want. They don’t take into account the nature of the person. If you’re purchasing a new smartphone, the retailer doesn’t do a background check to see if you have a criminal history. If you’re buying groceries at the supermarket, the cashier doesn’t ask you if you plan on eating all the food and not throwing any leftovers away.

One of the many names of the Supreme Lord is Vishnu. This addresses His personal form, which is the original. Personal references a personality, a distinct entity who can hear, taste, touch, see and smell. As Vishnu is the highest being, He is free to do as He wishes. Therefore He doesn’t have to answer a prayer if He thinks the request is inappropriate. Those who know of Vishnu inherently understand this behavior of His. Therefore they won’t go to Him to fulfill their material desires. They know that Vishnu will sometimes say “no.”

And actually, these occasional denials show real mercy. Only Vishnu is kind enough to look into the future to see the ramifications a specific reward will have. In our ignorance during youth we think that our parents are mean for not giving us so many presents for our birthday. But actually, the more requests they deny the more good they are doing for us. They are loving us so much more by controlling our behavior and curbing our material enjoyment.

Vishnu acts in the same way for His devotees. He sometimes takes away everything from the devotee if it helps them to become more attached to Him. Vishnu takes the helm and brings the devotee towards a point where their attachment for Him can only increase. Attachment to Him is the greatest boon in life, for then one has complete reliance on the only all-powerful and all-benevolent being. Vishnu is without flaw, and He is all-pervading. He can hear prayers from any place, coming from any person. In His original form He is all-attractive, and so attachment to Him automatically brings unending pleasure.

As attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead increases, so does the purity of the requests made to Him. Therefore, in one sense the pure devotees never have their requests denied. This is because they only wish for good things for the Supreme Lord. They desire to remain in His association in thought, word and deed. They wish for Him to display His transcendental strength when the occasion calls for it. They ask that He reveal to the world His unmatched potency and splendid beauty. They pray for His victory, and since the pleas are heartfelt and serve the ultimate good for everyone, they are never denied.

In Closing:

Despite all sincerity applied,

Sometimes prayers denied.

 

This by Supreme Lord is done,

Unique behavior, like others none.

 

With business served who first initiative took,

Winner takes it all, loser elsewhere to look.

 

Despite motive, with Vishnu all to gain,

Since with outcome attachment to attain.

Unshakeable

“The example is given that small lamps may become agitated by a little breeze, but the greatest lamp or the greatest illuminating source, the sun, is never moved, even by the greatest hurricane. One’s greatness has to be estimated by one’s ability to tolerate provoking situations.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 34)

The sages hearing the report from Bhrigu Muni were astonished to learn that Lord Vishnu couldn’t be angered by what seemed to be the greatest offense committed against His transcendental body. The anger aroused in Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva resulting from similar unkind behavior shown them was certainly understandable; such information wasn’t shocking in the least bit to the sages discussing Vedic philosophy. Indeed, who among us wouldn’t become agitated upon being offended, especially if our position was that of an object of worship? Based on the reactions of Brahma and Mahesha, Vishnu’s behavior firmly established His superior position as the almighty spiritual sun, the one entity incapable of being supplanted or removed from His position. Due to His causeless mercy, the same unwavering determination is bestowed upon His greatest lovers, those who know no other business in life except bhakti.

The Vedic tradition identifies Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu as the three presiding deities of the material universe, figures who are essentially the face of Hinduism. Just as we see different species in this world who each behave differently, the activities of the human being can take on various degrees, or modes. We can think of the three modes of nature as classes of activity: first class, second class and third class. Since every life form is equal on a constitutional level, the distinctions between modes relate to the temporary and destructible outer coverings assumed. First class activity is that which leads to higher knowledge, second class activity leads to a neutral state after much endeavor and third class engagements result in further ignorance and misery.

“From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness and illusion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.17)

The human being is unique in its ability to choose which mode to enter. The animal species is completely in the third class category; their potential for intelligence is zero. A fish doesn’t even know that it is wet, and a pig is satisfied rolling around in its own stool. Though the human being generally takes part in the second class mode, it can jump from one mode to the other. Since there is an opportunity of advancement for the members of the different classes within one lifetime, or even many lifetimes, there are different deities, or spiritual objects of worship, tailored to each class of human being. For those in the third class, the mode of ignorance, the worshipable figure is Lord Shiva. Known as Mahadeva, Lord Shiva takes on a strange appearance, wearing ashes on his body and hanging around crematoriums. He is also known as the destroyer, for the end of creation is ignited by his efforts.

Though Mahadeva is the deity for the man stuck in third class behavior, he is not tainted by any of the flaws found in the mode of ignorance. In fact, he always worships the deity of the mode of goodness, Lord Vishnu. Nevertheless, Lord Shiva is also known as Rudra, so he has a penchant for anger and agitation. He doesn’t bother anyone, but others are always asking him for benedictions. Since he only wants to meditate on Vishnu’s lotus feet, he quickly grants whatever boons an individual asks for, provided that the gifts relate to material nature. Because of the speed in which he delivers rewards, Shiva is known as ashutosha, or easily pleased.

Lord Brahma is in charge of second class activity, the mode of passion. Most of us live in the mode of passion, so it is the easiest to understand. We take to some activity with a desired benefit in mind. The common trait of passionate activity is that the desires relate to the outer covering of the soul, the temporary and perishable body. The mode of passion is compared to activities which bear fruit, actions which are akin to planting a seed for the purpose of enjoying the plant and its flowers. Passionate behavior is considered second class because the individual is ultimately left in the same position after all the work is performed. For example, say that we spend hours preparing an elaborate meal in the kitchen. Much effort is taken to find the necessary ingredients and cook them in just the right way. But once we finish eating the meal, we’re essentially right back where we started from. The stomach was satisfied and our time was spent in constructive activity, but the end result is a position of neutrality.

“My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.” (Queen Kunti speaking to Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.22)

Lord Brahma is known as Svayambhuh, or the self-born. He took birth from the stem of the lotus-like navel of Lord Vishnu. From him the entire world was created, including all the creatures. Hence Brahma can be known as the great father, the grandsire of humanity. Since sex life, which leads to reproduction, is the quintessential act of the mode of passion, Lord Brahma is the perfect person to manage this mode. He too is a great devotee of Vishnu, for he has on many occasions offered very kind prayers to the Lord. Those in the mode of passion worship Brahma for various boons, and depending on the nature of the reward sought, Brahma will grant it. Since he is involved in creating life and giving benedictions, Brahma still sometimes can get shaken from his firm position as servant of the Lord.

Lord Vishnu is considered above Brahma and Shiva because He is a non-different form of the original Personality of Godhead. There are in fact many different Vishnu forms, each responsible for a different aspect of the spiritual and material worlds. Lord Vishnu is in pure goodness, so He is incapable of mixing with the material world, which represents a manifestation of the Supreme Spirit’s external energy. Vishnu’s position of managing the mode of goodness, first class activity, is aimed at elevating the worshiper to the highest platform of understanding, the position where they comprehend that they are constitutionally spirit souls meant to be in the loving company of the original, personal spiritual entity.

Though Vishnu’s supremacy is mentioned in many Vedic texts, including the Ramayana - a poem which highlights the exploits of one of Vishnu’s most famous incarnations to appear on earth, Lord Rama - sages will still hold debates as to which deity is superior. Such was the case a long time ago when a collection of brahmanas gathered around and discussed how to properly decipher which of the three presiding deities was the most pure. They decided that whoever would tolerate the greatest offense without becoming agitated would indeed be the deity most fixed in goodness. Bhrigu Muni, one of Lord Brahma’s sons, decided to administer the tests by approaching each of the three deities. Though it may seem like these experiments were tightly controlled, they actually weren’t. The levels of offense weren’t equal, as Vishnu was offered the greatest offense, one committed by the body. Bhrigu Muni failed to offer his respects upon meeting Brahma, and he verbally insulted Lord Shiva, but when he met Vishnu, he kicked the Lord in the chest.

Brahma and Shiva were angered by Bhrigu Muni’s behavior, but Vishnu was not in the least bit. He apologized to Bhrigu for possibly hurting his foot, as Vishnu’s chest is very hard and powerful and the muni’s foot must have been very soft. The Shrimad Bhagavatam, the crown jewel of Vedic literature, in describing this incident points to the example of how a small lamp can be faded out by a strong wind, but the powerful sun can never be bothered by anything. In the same way, Vishnu, as the Personality of Godhead, can’t be agitated by anyone, especially a brahmana, one who is devoted to Him in thought, word and deed. A brahmana engages exclusively in first class activity, wherein they study the Vedas, teach Vedic wisdom to others, perform sacrifices, teach others how to perform sacrifices, and accept charity.

More than just an order supplier and source of pleasure, God’s position is that of best friend of every living entity. He is incapable of being angered, offended, hurt, punished, etc. His position is fixed forever; there is no shaking Him. Whether we love Him or not, His promise of providing shelter to the surrendered souls never expires. Whether Vishnu is insulted or praised, His deep love for His devotees never wanes. From this information we can understand that the only worthwhile spiritual activity is to lovingly engage in the service of such a sweet and caring Person. All other manifestations of spirituality, be they of the formal religious variety or something as simple as meditation, are meant to elevate one to the stage of pure loving service, which is known as bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. If Vishnu’s position never changes, then the ideal yogi’s position will be similarly as sturdy. Therefore it is not surprising to see that the greatest lovers of God can never be cajoled into renouncing their vow of performing divine service to the exclusion of all other engagements.

The gopis of Vrindavana, the female cowherd residents of the sacred town, embodied and exemplified the highest form of spiritual practice this earth has ever seen. Around five thousand years ago, Lord Vishnu, in His original form of Shri Krishna, descended to earth to enact wonderful pastimes. Vishnu has four hands and is opulently dressed, so He is the ideal object of worship for those in the mode of goodness seeking to connect with God. Krishna is all-attractive, so He is perfectly suited for those bhaktas desiring transcendental sweetness in their spiritual activities. The gopis, though “uneducated” women who essentially worked for a living, loved Krishna with all their hearts. Just as the sun is never agitated by a hurricane, the gopis could never be swayed from the mood of bhakti, even when urged to do so by Krishna Himself.

“I cannot repay your continual love for Me, even throughout the lifetimes of the demigods in the heavenly planets. It is impossible to repay you or show gratitude for your love; therefore please be satisfied by your own pious activities. You have displayed exemplary attraction for Me, overcoming the greatest difficulties arising from family connections. Please be satisfied with your highly exemplary character, for it is not possible for Me to repay your debt.” (Lord Krishna speaking to the gopis, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 31)

On a few occasions, Krishna asked the gopis to stop loving Him. Most of them were young married girls, so their intimate connection with Krishna was against the established codes of conduct. Plus, Krishna did not want them to love Him so much if He was unable to return the favor. So what did the gopis do? Did they stop loving Krishna? Did they devote themselves to dharma, or established religiosity, in lieu of bhakti? The gopis love for Krishna is so strong that not even Krishna can take it away from them. Ordinarily, when the object of our affection starts to behave in ways that are unpleasant to us, our love gets severely tested. Indeed, if we loved our spouse very much and they one day decided to leave us for another partner, our love would gradually diminish. After all, the object of our affection has committed a great offense and proved that they no longer love us.

In pure bhakti, there is absolutely zero expectation of reciprocation. Lord Chaitanya, the beautiful, kind, supremely knowledgeable and most merciful preacher incarnation of Godhead, prayed that Krishna could do whatever He wanted to Him, but that He would never stop loving Krishna. Indeed, this was the method of worship subscribed to by the gopis. This level of devotion is very nicely explained by Goswami Tulsidas, a favorite Vaishnava and exalted poet. In his Dohavali, Tulsidas describes his devotion to Lord Rama, another incarnation of Vishnu, by pointing to the behavior exhibited by the Chatak bird towards its beloved raincloud. The Chatak only drinks rainwater, so it constantly stares at the sky, with its eyes and beak pointing directly at the dark blue raincloud, which has a complexion identical to the bodily hue of Shri Rama, and Krishna and Vishnu too for that matter. Tulsidas says that the Chatak’s love for the raincloud cannot be accurately measured because the Chatak completely ignores any and all faults of the raincloud. Continuing with the comparison, the celebrated poet says that for the Chatak, or pure devotee, it is actually better if it doesn’t rain too often, for then the transcendental lover might become spoiled and feel that the raincloud is offering its rain in reciprocation of the attention shown it.

The Vishnu-bhaktas on the highest level of consciousness always love the Lord no matter what. Whether Krishna provides immense riches or leaves the attentive onlooker standing poor, the level of affection shown does not decrease. It is for this reason that the association of the Vaishnavas is considered the greatest possible benediction one can receive in their lifetime. The sun is all-powerful and the giver of life, and similarly, the Vaishnava is the empowered servant of the Lord and the giver of eternal spiritual life, a system of worship which reawakens the sublime consciousness that is currently lying dormant within the heart and just waiting to be made active and set free. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden sun for the people of this age, inaugurated the sankirtana movement and specifically empowered one prayer to grant supreme bliss and ecstasy to anyone wise enough to memorize and recite it. Whether one is engaged in third, second, or first class activity, by chanting, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, the spiritually enriched life experienced by Tulsidas, the gopis of Vrindavana, and countless other Vaishnavas can be quickly had. The fixed position of Vishnu and His bhaktas is the beacon of light for the fallen souls of the mundane world.