I’m a Big Kid Now

“The human form is a special gift of material nature in the course of her enforcing stringent laws of miseries upon the living being. It is a chance to achieve the highest boon of life, namely to get out of the entanglement of repeated birth and death. The intelligent take care of this important gift by strenuously endeavoring to get out of the entanglement.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.16.9 Purport)

For those having grown up recently, there was a time when big purple dinosaurs could provide entertainment for hours on end. Indeed, one could watch the same animated film over and over again and not be bored in the least bit. The sound of the ice cream truck coming down the street would bring thrills and excitement, and the prospect of eating candy on Halloween was well anticipated. With adults, however, the activities and interests are different. Why is this? Why can’t a person go their whole life enjoying the same pursuits and interests? Why must there be advancement in terms of occupation? The reason for the shift is the development of the consciousness. The more intelligent a person gets, the more they abandon previous activities that were reserved for those with less intelligence. As the human form of life is the most auspicious, the highest state of intelligence within that form also has a corresponding set of activities. The highest discipline is known as bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, and once the intelligent person reaches the state in life where bhakti is adopted wholeheartedly, every other engagement, even instruction on a subject taught by the scholarly professors in academia, becomes dull and tasteless, like the childhood cartoons and activities that were abandoned at the turn into adulthood.

Wouldn’t it be great to be easily pleased? For the child, running around a playground is the source of endless fun. Your parents let you go, and you run around until you can’t anymore. You play on the swings, the monkey bars, the slides and in the sandbox for hours on end. In between eating and sleeping, you follow other enjoyments like watching television and reading children’s stories. Why can’t the fun last forever? For the child there is no concern over impending death, scorned love, or how to pay the bills. If anything, the biggest worry is over why there must be rules and regulations imposed.

We see that as education increases, as further knowledge about life around us is acquired, the childhood enjoyments are steadily renounced. Instead of eating sweets by the bowlful, there is regulation imposed in eating. A balanced diet, consisting of vegetables, grains and proteins is followed so that health can be maintained to a satisfactory level. Knowledge of mathematics, science, geography, reading and writing is gathered to be able to earn a living as an adult. With financial independence comes the relief over how and where to procure life’s necessities. All of these concerns are absent in children, as they do not have the intelligence to understand the finer points of life.

Though higher education focuses on topics not studied by children, there is still another level to be ascended to. The Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India, describe animal life as consisting of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. This is true in both child animals and adult ones. In the human form, the penchant for these activities is introduced at the time of birth. The human child is actually not much more intelligent than the mature animal. Therefore when education does take place, the real area of concern should be on how to transcend the four primary animal instincts.

For this to happen, there must be a corresponding set of instructions, teachings and pearls of wisdom that target those who want to reach the full potential for activity found within the soul. In fact, full allegiance to eating, sleeping, mating and defending can only take place when intelligence has not yet fully developed. This is similar to how children enjoy television programs and movies that adults would never want to sit through. Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers are meant for very young children, for even elementary school students and teenagers would never think of watching such programs.

To dedicate life to repetitive activities like drinking wine, eating sumptuous food cooked for one’s sense gratification and enjoying illicit sex in abundance, one must remain ignorant of the eternal nature of the soul, its marginal position with respect to the two primary energies, and how it is inherently linked to the Supreme Soul, or God. With children we want them to mature and get a good education so that they can advance beyond childhood activities. Otherwise we would just tell them to remain children their whole lives and enjoy material amenities without cessation. Education is therefore given for a reason. With advancement in intellect come new activities.

For the mature human being looking to go past the immature activities that imitate the animals, there is bhakti-yoga. Yoga is the linking of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. Yoga studios and classes are popular because they instruct students on how to use gymnastics postures and breathing exercises to curb the influence of the senses. Our troubles in life are caused by the senses, for the consciousness is actually the key to happiness. As an example, by eating too much, we get diseases and discomfort in the stomach. But overeating is simply the result of the influence of the senses, which can be controlled by the mind. Therefore a consciousness that is fully purified can make proper decisions in life that lead to favorable conditions.

“From whatever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.26)

Gymnastics yoga helps to limit the influence of the senses; thus it provides health benefits. Aside from being very difficult to practice perfectly in the modern age, this type of yoga is incomplete, for it does not address the needs of the soul. Once the influence of the urges of eating, sleeping and sex life have been curbed, the soul needs an active engagement, something to do. The educated adult is given a degree to show their completion of specific courses, but after graduation they need an occupation to make use of their skills.

Bhakti is the corresponding set of activities for the liberated soul, he who wants to make use of liberation from the influence of the senses. Unlike yoga with gymnastics, bhakti-yoga is a fulltime engagement, one which directly addresses the consciousness. The quintessential act of bhakti is the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”. Krishna is the word for God that means “all-attractive” and Rama means “He who gives transcendental pleasure to others”. The secret with chanting this mantra is the effect it has on consciousness. What we hear plays a major role in our thought processes. If we hear about sumptuous food, fine restaurants and beautiful women, our mind will be turned over to those areas. Similarly, if we hear about God, our mind will be transported to the spiritual realm, the place where there are no such things as education and development of consciousness. Temporary situations and growth cycles are only present in a land devoid of God’s personal association.

This is where the marginal position of the individual soul comes into play. Each one of us has a choice as to where we want to live. If we want temporary association with matter, we get to live in the material world. Here there are different species and corresponding levels of intelligence. The pig has a certain type of behavior, as does the dog. The human considers the pig’s activities low and base, disgusting behavior that should never be imitated.

In a similar fashion, the spirit souls in the Lord’s company consider the choice for association with matter to be the incorrect one. Therefore the souls in the spiritual world have the perfect consciousness, intelligence at its highest capacity. Their activities correspond with their level of intelligence. They spend their time constantly chanting Krishna’s glories, thinking of His beautiful form, worshiping both He and His servants, and never forgetting Him for even a moment.

Through chanting, hearing is automatically created for the sincere individual looking to choose in favor of spiritual life. With constant hearing of Krishna’s names, the consciousness gradually elevates to the point where the animalistic activities previously patronized become dull and tasteless. Indeed, constant indulgence in intoxication, gambling, meat eating and the like can only take place when consciousness isn’t fully developed. Therefore whoever teaches that life’s ultimate aim is to find these activities in abundance does not know the real mission for the human being. Any person they teach will remain dedicated to activities reserved for the immature.

Through humbly approaching a spiritual master, one who lives only in pure goodness, or shudda-sattva, the necessary elevation can take place. Krishna has not been so unkind as to leave everyone in the dark about His glorious nature. He gave us the original Vedas, which were followed by supplementary literature like the Ramayana, Puranas, Mahabharata and many other books and poems. Those who take these works for what they are, treatises on spirituality that are actually not different from Krishna Himself, will be able to make full use of them.

On the flip side, those who look at these works as mythology or subjects of only scholarly relevance will never be able to derive the full benefit. It’s similar to how a young child can never understand the value of something like an ancient painting or expensive vase. Children are told to keep away from valuable decorations in the house because they will never appreciate them. A child has no idea what expensive even means, for they have never earned a living. Therefore if such valuable items were to be placed into their hands, the items could get damaged or destroyed. The appreciation for the object itself would diminish as well.

Similarly, the scholars lacking any devotion to God who write commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita and try to explain them using their personal worldviews lead themselves and their readers astray. Vedic wisdom is the most valuable commodity in this world, and it should be treated as such. The spiritual master, or guru, understands this fact. He doesn’t just disclose Krishna’s teachings to anyone. He first assesses whether someone will be able to understand the concepts and accept Krishna with the proper attitude. Even in the translations and commentaries authored by the spiritual master, the subject matter remains far above the heads of the mundane scholars and non-devotees. In fact, the guru makes sure to address all bogus philosophies and commentaries that are in existence, so as to convince the open-minded person of the validity of the right teachers and the unworthiness of the unauthorized commentaries.

Becoming an adult shouldn’t be a bad thing. Though it’s more difficult to find enjoyment and entertainment, the source of the increased difficulty is an increased intelligence. As intelligence shouldn’t be harmful, the ascendency in consciousness is completely worth it, as being a child for all your life doesn’t really help the plight of the soul any. Correspondingly, for the adult human being remaining attached to matter doesn’t stop the cycle of birth and death, or reincarnation. If there is not a distinguishable choice made in favor of association with spirit by the time death arrives, the soul is placed into a material body again in the next life. Thus the development from childhood to boyhood to adulthood must start again.

“And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 8.5)

From the Bhagavad-gita, we learn directly from Krishna that anyone who thinks of the Lord at the time of death doesn’t have to take birth again. To think of God while we’re quitting our body requires practice in remembering Him in our everyday life. To practice remembering, one must become a student and follower of bhakti-yoga. Otherwise there will be no chance of Krishna consciousness being fully developed by the end of life. Though immersion in bhakti is aided by renunciation from sinful behavior, by steadily increasing our knowledgebase of both Krishna and His energies, all of the previous activities regularly performed will eventually be viewed as dull and lifeless. Just because they were enjoyable before doesn’t mean that they should continue perpetually. The most valuable human form of life is the reward for having spent many lifetimes in inferior species. By trying to understand Krishna, or the personal nature of God, and following the discipline that corresponds to the highest level of intelligence, we can find our way back into the spiritual world’s welcoming arms.

In Closing:

In youth amusement from simplest things you will find,

But as you grow up, to follow same behavior you will mind.

Adult adopts activities which to their intellect does match,

Watching children’s programs and movies them you will never catch.

In same way, advanced is the human being,

To find higher pleasure is life worth living.

Eating, sleeping, mating and defending animals do follow,

If human imitates this, in despair and pity will they wallow.

Of identity in everyone the soul is the essence,

Being is alive only when graced with spirit’s presence.

Education in animal behavior does waste time,

Higher taste is the human being meant to find.

That topmost engagement is bhakti, divine love,

Just one requirement, God you must always think of.

Chant the name of Krishna, the Lord who is all-attractive,

At purifying consciousness this is most effective.

Follow service to someone you must, futile is resistance,

So make bhakti your way of life, taste the fruit of existence.

Doomed To Repeat It

“Modern stories, fiction and histories are different from the transcendental pastimes of the Lord in that one will tire of hearing mundane stories, but one never tires of hearing about Krishna. It is for this reason only that the history of the whole universe is replete with references to the pastimes of the incarnations of Godhead.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 10.18 Purport)

There is a famous proverb stating that those who don’t learn from history will be doomed to repeat it. The saying has a double meaning, with one side being humorous. When taught to history students, the warning is that if they don’t study the material presented, they will have to learn it again in the following year. The same rule applies to pretty much any class, but with history the statement has a deeper meaning, as lessons can be taken away from historical events. In addition to the potential for acquiring knowledge on what to do and what to avoid, history is studied as a discipline to learn about great men, to honor them, and to delve into their characteristics. Lest we think spiritual life is lacking such detailed information, the Puranas, and most notably the famous Mahabharata, give us all the history we could ever absorb in one lifetime. The men documented within these texts are the greatest of the great, and their journeys through life provide the most valuable lesson of all, namely of how to escape from the clutches of material existence.

How history is eligible to be an academic pursuit can be revealed through studying any time period, so for this example we’ll take the recent Revolutionary War. The men who founded the United States of America are referred to as the Founding Fathers, and their lives have been well documented, studied, honored and even criticized in the two hundred plus years of the nation’s existence. The notable personalities of this group, like George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, are quoted from regularly by politicians and historians, for their statements carry much relevance even today. But if we delve a little deeper into the matter, what do we actually learn from the examples set by these great men? For having founded a nation which has been the most materially prosperous in recent history they are certainly noteworthy personalities, but what are the real lessons to take away from their behavior?

The result of their hard work was the Constitution, which was preceded by the Declaration of Independence. Both of these documents represent an abject rejection of the style of government endured by the colonists prior to the founding of the country. The British ruled over America, with different colonies having their appointed governors. The issues of taxation without representation and control and command coming from far overseas were eventually unbearable for the colonists. Therefore when they finally gained independence, they crafted a style of government which was unique, or so they thought. All of the issues previously encountered were addressed in such a way that the same situation would hopefully never repeat itself.

The Constitution strictly limited the powers of the central government, essentially making the largest governing body in charge of just the military and seeing to it that foreign enemies did not break up the union. The central government wasn’t even given the authority to tax citizens’ income. Add to this the first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and what you get is a framework document that explicitly prohibits Congress from doing so many things, such as infringing on the freedom of religion, press and protest, and the ability to carry firearms. The individual colonies, now known as states, were given almost full autonomy, essentially making them smaller countries. This style of government was known as federalism, and it was intended to ensure that the same policy mistakes made by the British wouldn’t be repeated.

Fast forward to today and it’s understandable why the Revolutionary War, the Constitution, and the men responsible for them are studied and their works often cited from. The style of government was certainly unique, but it definitely wasn’t free of flaws. The most obvious indication of this is that the government today bears almost no similarities to the country that was originally founded. The prohibition on levying income taxes went by the wayside in the early 20th century, and federalism now is virtually absent. The issues today don’t revolve around what activities government will be allowed to undertake, but rather on how the government will spend the trillions of dollars that annually pour into the treasury.

Since over two hundred years have passed since the nation’s founding, obviously modern politicians and their voters can’t be blamed for the stark contrast, but if we delve a little deeper into the matter, we see that with a framework document and a system of government put into place, there is every chance of all possible outcomes occurring in the future. Therefore in one sense today’s massive government is a direct byproduct of a system enacted by famous men who are studied and honored. The Constitution was crafted after much compromise, debate and consideration made by flawed human beings. Whatever document they would have come up with would have had issues. After all, the government of England did not start out hated by the colonies. It took a sequence of events to raise the ire of the colonists to the point that they demanded independence.

Since the flaws from the Constitution and other famous governing documents haven’t been permanently addressed, it’s safe to say that the history classes and the attention given to past notable figures haven’t really been fully learned from. History as an academic course is meant to provide education after all, so if the subject matter and the people studied are themselves flawed, the potential for knowledge is immediately limited. The same goes for the study of any historical personality, be they a famous politician, singer, inventor, athlete, etc.

A human being is naturally inclined towards honoring others, towards heaping praise upon their fellow man, which includes historical personalities. Therefore the interest in history is completely understandable. Even if there is no one around in the house, sometimes it is seen that a dog or cat is brought home so that the lonely person has someone they can direct their loving sentiments towards.

When it comes to the bona fide discipline of spirituality that is the Vedas, every single issue known to man is addressed, including that of wanting to offer praise. With historical personalities devoid of full God consciousness, the praise offered to them is always checked. But with personalities fully dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their glories are never ending. Studying about them from famous texts like the Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata brings endless joy and renewed thought, concern and care.

Out of all the Vedic texts, the Mahabharata is the most inclusive in terms of history. In one sense it can be considered the greatest history book, for it contains details of events that are found in many other books. Even the events documented in the Ramayana, the famous Sanskrit poem composed by Maharishi Valmiki many thousands of years ago, are included in summary in the Mahabharata. Every kind of person, from political leader to yogi, from child to dedicated wife and mother, is accounted for in the Mahabharata.

Since the work focuses on history tied to spirituality, the lessons that can be learned are unmatched. For starters, there is the main subject line of the work: the plight of the five Pandava brothers to regain their kingdom. They were the rightful heirs to the kingdom in Hastinapura, but their cousins, known as the Kauravas, had unjustly usurped control and tried to kill the Pandavas on many occasions. Through the travels of the five brothers, much can be learned about Vedic culture, how to deal with political enemies, how children should be raised, how to treat elders, when violence should be used and when it shouldn’t, and, most importantly, what the meaning of life is.

How do we figure out the meaning to our existence by studying about warriors roaming the earth some five thousand years ago? How is reading about people who fought with bows and arrows going to help us solve today’s problems? Aside from the obvious lessons learned from the different activities documented, the hidden jewel in the Mahabharata is the one very small chapter describing a conversation between Arjuna, the lead warrior for the Pandava side, and his charioteer. The chariot driver is a subordinate, someone who takes orders from the fighters. Similar to a caddy in golf, the driver makes helpful suggestions every now and then, but they are certainly not as skilled in the task at hand as the person in charge is.

Yet in Arjuna’s case, his charioteer happened to be Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord, Bhagavan, the person most of us call God. How the Supreme Lord, the most worshipable person in the world, the one entity who never has to listen to anyone or succumb to lowly tasks, could take on the role of a subordinate in the face of a massive opposing army is a mystery known only to those who practice the ancient art of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. A yoga studio is a classroom-like environment where an instructor demonstrates different postures and helps their students attain a similar level of ability. These studios are very well patronized today because they deliver tremendous health results.

Bhakti-yoga, however, is so powerful that if a person were to practice it during these same sessions in the studio, they would find benefits applicable to every part of life, not just to their physical wellbeing. Meditational yoga leads to benefits in health, flexibility, and longevity in life, but bhakti tackles the very consciousness of the individual, allowing them to be fit, ready and in shape for any type of mental condition, both peaceful and distressful.

Unfortunately, the massive array of bhakti-yoga studios doesn’t exist. There are no regular classes given to teach paying students how to practice divine love, how to surrender their thoughts and desires over to God in a mood of pure love. Fortunately, we can just consult the one small part of the Mahabharata to find out all we need to know about bhakti. The conversation between Arjuna and Krishna would go on to be known as the Bhagavad-gita, or the Song of God. Since the Mahabharata stores this wonderful keepsake, it is known as the fifth Veda, or the supplement to the four primary Vedas, which are the divisions of spiritual knowledge passed down from the beginning of time by Shri Krishna Himself.

What is so remarkable about the Bhagavad-gita? What can we learn from that short conversation that we can’t find anywhere else? Reincarnation, the true position of the soul, the identity of the individual, the temporary nature of loss and gain, how to deal with distress, elation, heartache, pain and misery, and so many other issues are addressed in the advice given to Arjuna. Lord Krishna is the fountainhead of knowledge after all, so when He speaks the whole world should gather around with their recording devices and take notes.

Though there wasn’t such technology around back then, the wonderful Vyasadeva, the most prolific writer of spiritual works in history, documented what went down on the battlefield that day. The Mahabharata was compiled by him, so anyone who is fortunate enough to hear from the sacred work can be supremely benefitted. The words spoken by Krishna that day have been studied by many since that time, but only the devotees, those who either follow in the line of Arjuna or reach the same conclusion that he did, will be able to make full use of Krishna’s words.

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.66)

The final conclusion of the Gita is that Arjuna should simply surrender unto Krishna and abide by His orders. This would eliminate his doubts and any chances of incurring sin as well. Krishna protects the surrendered soul. Therefore this recommendation applies to every single living entity, existing past, present and future. One who accepts the conclusion of the Gita and makes it their way of life follows bhakti-yoga. They can also teach others how to follow the same art. From studying the history of the Mahabharata, and the most wonderful Bhagavad-gita contained within, the enthusiastic listener of Vedic wisdom constantly shines light on an otherwise dark universe, which is filled with so much information that bears no impact on the spirit soul, the essence of identity.

Just as the Bhagavad-gita is glorious for its profound wisdom, so its speaker is forever worthy of praise and adulation. His position as Partha-sarathi, or Arjuna’s charioteer, was not Krishna’s only pastime enacted during His brief time on earth during the Dvapara Yuga. The crown jewel of Vedic literature, the Shrimad Bhagavatam, highlights the many important pastimes Krishna enacted, especially those from His youth in the farm community of Vrindavana. While the skeptics may take the accounts found within these works to be mythology, we know that fictional superhero movies and novels are well patronized. Glorifying the characters in these works doesn’t help us in any real way, for at best we can learn that material existence involves a constant struggle with evil elements lurking around every corner.

But even if one isn’t apt to believe in the reality of Krishna’s existence, just hearing about His exploits and His teachings on a regular basis can provide so much clarity of vision. The Pandavas were devotees of Krishna, so their being the main subject matter of the Mahabharata proves beneficial to anyone interested in sincerely studying the work. Shri Krishna knows man’s propensity to learn about great men and to offer praise to their fellow man. Therefore He kindly gave us the voluminous Vedic literature to ensure that we would always have something worthwhile to hear about and learn from. Even if there is no interest in studying Vedic history, simply reciting Krishna’s names on a regular basis through sacred mantras like, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, is enough to keep the bhakti spirit alive.

From mundane history we can learn why perseverance is important, what types of government to avoid, where and when certain colonies and countries were founded, and why past notable figures are worthy of praise and attention. Studying Vedic literature, however, can teach us about how to perform bhakti and make the most out of the valuable human form of life. In this way not only will the mistakes of the past be avoided, but so will rebirth. Reincarnation stops for the Krishna conscious soul, thereby eliminating the chances of ever having to take to knowledge gathering again. Arjuna found sublime wisdom by tapping into Krishna consciousness, which happened to be right next to Him in the form of the Lord. Similarly, by dovetailing our thoughts and desires with Krishna’s interests, everything we could ever want in life, including an object of praise who never leaves our side, can be found very easily.

Furthering a Purpose

“From all points of view, if we make an analytical study of the Vedic literatures, we will find that the ultimate summit of knowledge is to surrender unto Krishna.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Raja-vidya, Ch 7)

The jigsaw puzzle starts off as a conglomeration of disjointed pieces, a seemingly difficult to understand mess that is supposed to finally fit together to reveal an image, a resting place for the eyes that is the result of the mental effort expended. The numerous conclusions reached by the human brain are similarly meant to further a purpose. When the individual points of fact are stacked on top of one another, further progress is made towards the ultimate conclusion. Unless and until that final stage is attained, the pieces of the puzzle will be viewed as just that, individual pieces that don’t have any relation to one another. On the other hand, when the final conclusion is revealed and properly understood, all the individual aspects of life – including the difficulties, trials, tribulations, heartache, tumult, despair, chaos and even the good times – will be seen in the proper context and appreciated for what they are: steppingstones in the path towards final salvation.

To see how smaller conclusions can further a larger purpose, let’s review the typical lifespan of a human being. The spirit soul placed inside of a human form starts off as an infant, not knowing how to do anything except maybe cry. Through trial-and-error and accompanying instruction provided by authority figures, or gurus, the infant learns how to crawl, walk, talk and follow sound advice. The crawling and walking lead to much bigger and better things later on in life. With further maturation comes schooling, which can take upwards of twelve years to complete. The school system is the most obvious example of how different conclusions are specifically sequenced to further a higher purpose. In each grade level, different pieces of information are taught, foundational building blocks towards acquiring the target knowledge system, the possession of which indicates the student’s worthiness to graduate. Graduating high school requires proficiency in certain subjects. In this regard, schooling is not actually required, as all that is needed is information and the ability to demonstrate knowledge of it. But the twelve years of schooling is there to reinforce concepts and allow for a slow accumulation of intelligence, as cramming the information necessary for graduation into the mind in one fell swoop is difficult. It is better to gradually acquire, remember and exercise information instead.

School is just one example, but once the individual takes to the work force, they have to similarly train themselves in whatever discipline they follow. A medical man has to go through years of training before he is certified to practice healing patients. The lawyer similarly must learn the ropes and work their way up the ladder towards success. So in virtually every field of activity, wherever some type of conclusion is made, there is a higher purpose to be fulfilled. One logical deduction leads to another, with hopefully the final conclusion bringing a most palatable situation.

“The Supreme Lord said, The indestructible, transcendental living entity is called Brahman, and his eternal nature is called the self. Action pertaining to the development of these material bodies is called karma, or fruitive activities.” (Bhagavad-gita, 8.3)

When it comes to understanding the truths of spiritual life, the same pattern can be followed. The first instruction taught to students of the Vedic tradition is aham brahmasmi, which means “I am Brahman.” What is Brahman? The light of truth, the spiritual energy that is beyond duality, illusion and temporary changes is Brahman. Every individual life form, irrespective of their outward dress, is Brahman. This information is important to understand at the beginning of instruction because once we know who we are, we can both decipher and follow the proper path in life. If we hit a fork in the road and don’t know where to go, we’ll consider many factors before deciding which path is the correct one. For the human being, which is a species that represents the most advanced in terms of potential for intelligence, there are more than just two paths; there are many such forks in the road of life. If we don’t know who we are, we will never know the right path to take.

If someone doesn’t know that they are Brahman, how will they identify themselves? Is there such a thing as a wrong identification? Well, let’s think about a similar situation involving individuals on a team. In an office environment, a worker serves at the pleasure of the boss, who guides the employees along the proper path. The aim of the establishment is to turn a profit selling their good or service. Every person, even the most insignificant worker, is a vital piece of the puzzle, meaning they have a hand in the success of the company. If one of the workers should misidentify themselves, taking their personal whims and desires to be more important than the company’s, the attainment of the end-goal will suffer. In a more egregious deviation, if the worker identifies with another company instead of their own, obviously this faulty identification will lead to an unpalatable condition in the future. The company will suffer, because the worker will take to the wrong activities, engagements which won’t further the end-goal of turning a profit.

If the human being doesn’t understand that they are Brahman, they will follow all the wrong activities in life, especially once they reach an age of maturity. A small child can be guided in their behavior by elders and spiritual authority figures, but once the same child becomes old enough to make their own decisions, it becomes much more difficult to persuade them to remain on the proper path. Moreover, if the guides don’t know how to correctly identify themselves, they will lead others astray.

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

Without understanding that we are Brahman, our behavior will mimic the animals. An animal is a life form just like us, but it doesn’t understand anything significant about spirit, birth, death, old age, disease, or the temporary workings of nature. Rather, the animal is driven strictly by sense demands, as it associates completely with its temporary body. The human being, without proper education of Brahman, will adopt a similar mentality. Indeed, the preponderance of meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex can be attributed entirely to the lack of knowledge of the proper identification. If we think we are our bodies, which are lumps of matter that are ever-changing and ultimately discarded at the time of death, when it comes time to make choices in life that can have a significant impact, we will make the wrong ones.

The conclusion that reveals that we are spirit souls thus allows us to make further progress towards the ultimate goal. It should be noted that aham brahmasmi is not the last instruction, nor is it the final conclusion. It is the first piece of the puzzle, though it is one that almost no one has, especially in today’s day and age. From the understanding of Brahman, one can shape their activities to actually realize their position as spirit. Knowing how a computer works doesn’t necessarily mean we can fix a broken one. Rather, practice and real life experience with fixing malfunctioning computers will help us make use of the theoretical information acquired. In a similar manner, knowledge of Brahman is only one aspect of self-realization. There must also be vijnana, or the practical application of theoretical concepts.

Activities in Brahman differ from animal activities because they maintain the knowledge of spirit and the essence of the individual. From knowledge of Brahman, other conclusions can be reached that will help the further progression towards full enlightenment. For instance, after learning that we are Brahman, we can make inquiries into the nature of spirit. From further study, we learn that the soul is immutable, unchangeable, and primeval. The soul is not slain when the body is slain. Moreover, the soul is sanatana, or without a beginning and without an end. No one can destroy the soul, change its properties, make it wet, burn it, or create it. The soul is always there.

“The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 2.23)

Unearthing these conclusions then leads to other inquiries. “If the soul is eternal, what happens to the human being after he dies? Moreover, where was the soul before my present birth?” From further study in Vedanta, or the ultimate knowledge system passed down since the beginning of time by the celebrated rishis living in what is today known as India, we learn that just as spirit has certain properties, so does matter. The outer covering of the soul consists of an inferior energy known as prakriti, or matter. The soul, or purusha, is superior to matter, but due to delusion it thinks otherwise. The false identification accepted at the time of birth is rooted solely in ignorance of the properties of matter and its ability to foment delusion.

In the deluded condition, the spirit soul, unaware of its nature as Brahman, puts itself under the jurisdiction of guna and karma. Gunas are material qualities, or different gradations of matter. There are three primary gunas [goodness, passion and ignorance], which can be mixed up in so many different proportions; thus resulting in the seemingly unlimited number of unique species. The Vedas top the count off at 8,400,000 different distinct species, or bodies consisting of combinations of the three modes of nature. Karma manages cause-and-effect for life forms that are tied to matter. The spirit soul is aloof from the temporary manifestations of matter, but when placed inside of a material body, the soul becomes subject to the cause-and-effect system of karma, which is supremely fair in its workings. Just as we know that an object will fall to the ground if we should let go of it from our hand, the spirit soul must take on another body after it exits its current one. The type of body assumed in the next life is determined by the work that was performed in the previous life. Work is driven by desire, which is shaped by the qualitative makeup of the body assumed. Thus so many factors go into what type of body is received and what type of lifestyle is enjoyed or suffered.

These factors make it all the more important to understand Brahman and take to activities that please the soul and not the body. Therefore whatever engagements we can take up that will keep the mindset of aham brahmasmi alive will be beneficial in the long run. Conversely, anything we do that keeps us attached to our body and under the jurisdiction of karma will be to our detriment, even if there are temporary gains and fleeting periods of happiness along the way. A sober person does not overly rejoice over good fortune or lament too much over bad times, because they understand the temporary nature of life in a material body. The soul is eternal, so what use has it to invest so much emotion in fleeting happiness and experiences?

Once we know about Brahman, matter and karma, the next question that may be asked is: ”how did we get trapped in this cycle of reincarnation, wherein bodies are always changing through the workings of karma? Is it possible to break free from this cycle? Is there an entity more powerful than Brahman? Where did Brahman come from?“ Now we’re getting closer to the final conclusion. Indeed, anyone who even asks these questions just once in their lifetime and sincerely looks for answers will be guaranteed of finding them. The Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India, declare that there are two distinct powerful entities, Brahman and Parabrahman. Both are the same in quality, but one is vastly superior in quantitative powers. Parabrahman is the fountainhead of all energies, both spiritual and material. Brahman’s qualities are due entirely to Parabrahman, as the supreme source of energy simply expands into tiny fragments that are similar in quality to His nature. In this sense, we are all God, but small “Gods”. There is a much larger God, who is a singular entity and never subject to the influence of any of His energies. He can expand as many times as He wants and still remain completely whole in His form and potency.

To understand and realize Brahman, the Vedas recommend various practices. Those who know that they are not matter but spirit and wish to be cognizant of this at all times take to reading the Vedas, teaching Vedic wisdom to others, performing sacrifices and rituals enjoined in the scriptures, teaching others how to perform the same rituals, accepting in charity and giving in charity. Such activities belong to the mode of goodness, and if one is able to transcend even this mode and remain situated in Brahman up until the time of death, they no longer suffer through birth and death or association with matter. The brahma-bhutah stage, the platform of enlightenment where one learns and truly realizes that they are Brahman, is above the material consciousness. As such, when the time of death comes, the choice made by the individual is for spiritual life; a decision which is fully respected.

But what happens when birth and death stop and the Brahman platform is maintained? After reaching Brahman, one has almost made it to the end, the ultimate conclusion. The last step that remains is researching Parabrahman and understanding His nature. For this the Vedas have provided much information, as Parabrahman has too many names to count. His original and most complete name is Krishna, which means “all-attractive”. Based on this description, we understand that Krishna has a form and is thus a personality. Unlike the deluding matter of the temporary world, prakriti in the spiritual land is divine. Those who stay stuck on the Brahman platform have a difficult time understanding this; therefore they remain far away from the association of Parabrahman in His original blissful form.

To aid the sincere souls in their understanding and in reaching the final destination, the Supreme Lord personally descends to earth and enacts pastimes periodically. Some of His most important and remembered pastimes relate to His providing of instruction, especially that given on the battlefield of Kurukshetra some five thousand years ago to the Pandava warrior Arjuna. In this series of teachings, which are collectively known as the Bhagavad-gita, or the Song of God, Krishna delves into the topics previously covered, such as the nature of spirit and the workings of matter. But since the message comes from Krishna, who is the fountainhead of everything matter and spirit, the final conclusion is ultimately reached. The Lord declares that anyone who thinks of Him at the time of death immediately attains His nature, which means they are granted residence in His eternal kingdom of Goloka Vrindavana, which is situated above the Brahman effulgence, the destination for those who are only Brahman realized.

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 18.66)

Not only does Krishna reveal this secret information about liberation, but He also provides the simplest path towards achieving that highest goal. His final instruction to Arjuna is that he should just surrender unto God and be delivered of all sinful reaction. This call for surrender is the most important instruction, the final conclusion if you will. Indeed, one who understands this and then acts upon it immediately surpasses the need for all other instruction. One who surrenders to Krishna wholeheartedly through a shift in consciousness automatically gains a higher level of intelligence and knowledge than the person studying Brahman and the workings of karma. The smaller conclusions are meant to eventually reach Krishna, so obviously one who goes directly to the Lord without any ill motive and in a mood of pure love will have no need for understanding smaller conclusions, which by themselves don’t bring Krishna’s blissful association.

So how does surrender take place? The simplest way is to remain focused on God through consciousness, which can best be achieved by regularly chanting, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”. What’s even more astounding is that once perfect Krishna consciousness is attained, the other important pieces of information presented by the Vedas become much more appreciated. Just as the final jigsaw puzzle reveals the utility and importance of the individual pieces, knowledge of Krishna, His pastimes, His forms and His bliss-evoking names reveals the true importance of understanding Brahman, the temporary nature of life, the need to refrain from attachment, and the eternality of the soul. The highest purpose in life is to understand Krishna. This is the conclusion of all Vedic scriptures, and anyone who knows this will never be denied admittance on the boat travelling across the ocean of nescience and reaching the supreme destination.

Instilling Discipline

“The standard of material education is sense gratification, but the highest standard of spiritual education is knowledge of the science of Krishna.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Ch 31)

The immature child can be likened to a skull full of mush; their mind can be molded and shaped into pretty much anything through proper training and education. Therefore the nature of the instruction they receive becomes all the more important, as when the ultimate objective in life is properly identified the necessary steps can be taken towards meeting it. Otherwise the education given to young children simply enhances their ability to eat, sleep, mate and defend; activities which are already prevalent in the animal community. As the human being is the most advanced species in terms of intelligence capacity, the instruction given to impressionable youths should be aimed at enabling them to transcend the basic demands of the senses through strict austerity, penance and adherence to regulative principles. This instilled discipline will ideally allow the soul to have freedom in the future.

Stating that a child should be taught austerity and penance is necessary because the modern system of education fails to provide this instruction. There is certainly some type of discipline and regulation instilled simply based off the schedule of a school system. If the child has to wake up early to catch the school bus and remain in each of their classes for an allotted period of time, there is some discipline automatically built in. But in the larger picture, the nature of the information presented and the exercises recommended to realize that knowledge are what are at issue.

In any basic primary educational institution, young children are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, science and maybe some history. Such knowledge and understanding are essential if one wants to be a productive adult, as reading and math skills are necessary for landing decent paying jobs that allow the individual to maintain a home and family. But when you delve further into these activities, you see that they focus primarily on the ability to eat, sleep and mate on a higher level in the adult aged years. After all, working to maintain a living that sees sense gratification as the most important driving force for activity must, by definition, be aimed at increasing the comforts of sleeping, eating and sex life.

Is this focus harmful? Is it detrimental in some way? What should the focus of education be? In the Vedic tradition, the ancient system of spirituality emanating from India at the beginning of time, the first instruction taught to aspiring transcendentalists is aham brahmasmi, which means “I am Brahman.” Brahman can be thought of as the all-pervasive aspect of the Absolute Truth, or God, but in reality it is simply the beam of transcendental light emanating off of the inconceivably large, transcendental body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brahman realization is stressed from the very beginning because understanding that one is not their body, which is temporary and destined for destruction, is the most difficult task in life.

The equality movements focusing on breaking barriers erected through prejudices formed off of race, class, religion and gender all try to tackle the same issue that is dealt with right from the very beginning by the Vedic teachers. He who is looking for racial equality tries to compare the black man and the white man and show that they are equal, and she who is looking for gender equality espouses the belief that men and women are equal in all respects, but only the spiritual master, or guru, of the Vedic tradition presents the most inclusive definition for equality, wherein all life forms, even the ants, cows, birds, beasts, etc., are considered equal to the human being. This understanding is absent in society today due to the influence of Kali Yuga, the age known for its rampant quarrel and hypocrisy.

When the young student learns that they are Brahman, or pure spirit, they can take the necessary steps to truly understand what that means and then act off of that disposition. If we learn that we are gifted in music, sports or writing, naturally we will then take the proper training to hone in our skills in that particular discipline, thereby making the best use of our talents. In a similar manner, since every individual is a spirit soul, when they learn how to act off of their constitutional position, they can achieve the highest gain in life, a condition of eternal felicity that simultaneously brings alleviation from all distresses rooted in the activities that currently take precedence in importance.

The strongest inhibiting factor in understanding that we are Brahman is the influence of the senses. In this respect the animals have no chance at ever realizing their equality in spiritual makeup. A dog, cat, pig, or bird cannot be given instruction on the wisdom of the Vedas, nor can they be guided along in spiritual practices. Young children, however, most certainly can. Therefore along with the first instruction comes a set of procedures aimed at allowing the influence of the senses to be transcended. Since eating is the most difficult of the material sense urges to control, a required austerity for children is to regulate food intake. In the classic Vedic system, students would attend the gurukula, or school run by the family spiritual master, who is considered a bona fide representative of the Supreme Lord. The guru is not equal to God, but he is to be treated on the same level. The idea is that all the obeisances offered to the guru eventually make their way up the chain of disciplic succession back to the Supreme Lord Himself, who is the fountainhead of all knowledge.

In addition to taking instruction daily from the guru, the students would go out and beg for alms from the householders. Through this system so many issues were solved without any outside help needed from government bodies. The food for the students was taken care of, as well as the well-being of the guru. Therefore no tuition was required, as the member of the brahmana class, the priestly order, lives a very simple lifestyle dedicated to serving God and preaching His glories to others. The food procured by each student would not be partaken of directly; it would first be handed to the guru, who would then distribute it as he saw fit. If the student didn’t get any food from his guru, it was understood that he had to fast that day. Obviously there wasn’t an overabundance of food to go around, as through begging the food intake will be limited. So, automatically students were taught tapasya, or austerity, in their eating habits.

There was also complete celibacy throughout this time. A student attending the gurukula is known as a brahmachari, or one who is following the principles that allow for the understanding of Brahman, the Absolute Truth. Restraint in terms of association with women is vital in this period, as the sexual urges will only distract the student in their pursuit for higher knowledge. Indeed, it is seen that when there is trouble in relationships or when love goes unrequited, the scorned lover can be thrown into a tizzy, where they lose motivation for work, school and life in general. Therefore in the critical student years, association with women would be strictly prohibited, thereby instilling another form of restraint.

“Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.9)

The secret to this ancient system of instruction was that once students would finish their studies, they would have a solid foundation on which to base their life’s activities. There was regular practice of austerity, penance and sacrifice. The yajna, or religious sacrifice, is meant for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord, who is known as the enjoyer of all sacrifice, Yajneshvara. In this age especially, the only recommended sacrifice is the sankirtana-yajna, wherein the holy names of the Lord found in the maha-mantra, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, are recited regularly. When the student is taught that they are Brahman, they are also made to understand that the Supreme Spirit is Parabrahman; hence there is an inherent relationship between the two. One is superior and the other is inferior. When the inferior voluntarily acts in the interests of the superior without any motivation and without interruption, the resultant transcendental link becomes the greatest source of pleasure. The bond of pure love established with the Supreme Lord becomes the most valued possession. It is the rekindling of this relationship that forms the foremost mission for every single life form, but especially for the humans.

Education has no other purpose than to instill the understanding of Brahman and Parabrahman in students. Surely there will be different departments of instruction, with specific courses only focusing on a certain discipline, but the glue that holds everything together should be this mission of instilling sense control in the students so that they can go on to make the most of the valuable human form of life. The human being doesn’t need to be taught how to eat, sleep, mate or defend any better. These activities will take place even without explicit instruction. Though there may be sex education courses offered, no one needs to teach a man how to be attracted to a woman and vice versa. Though health and nutrition courses focus on the latest scientific studies pertaining to which foods to eat, man does not have to be taught how to look for food and enjoy it. It also should be noted that these scientific studies constantly contradict themselves, as they reach ridiculous conclusions that certain foods can prolong life while others cannot. There is no magic pill to living long, as the effects of karma, which manage cause and effect, determine the results of all action. Karma is another important concept ignored in modern education, as there is no thought given to the spiritual laws governing the actions of man. If one violates the laws of the state, they will surely be punished, so why should it be difficult to comprehend that violating the laws instituted by God will similarly bring negative consequences?

When the instruction of aham brahmasmi is taught to adults, the recommended practices become much more difficult to employ. Eating meat, gambling, taking to intoxication, and enjoying illicit sex can occur periodically or for one or two days, but as soon as the activities start to repeat, they turn into habits. These habits then become very difficult to break, regardless of how enthusiastic the spiritual instructor is. Therefore the acharyas, the exalted spiritual masters who lead by example, have recommended the sankirtana-yajna over any other practice. The tradition of strict austerity and proper education given in times past is very difficult to implement today, especially when the modern education establishment is focused more than ever on teaching about sense gratification and how to secure more of it.

When the senses are starved of association with maya, or material nature, there is a better opportunity for taking to bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. Bhakti is a natural engagement, as the spirit soul is charged with energy just waiting to be released in a service attitude. Indeed, in the absence of knowledge of bhakti and the need for it, the individual takes to serving so many other entities. When austerity is coupled with spiritual practice, the transcendental love found within the heart comes to the forefront and leads the enthusiastic soul towards finding more and more ways to serve their beloved Lord, who is known as Krishna in His original form due to His all-attractive nature.

Austerity and penance are the focus of instruction for human beings in their youth, but the ultimate objective is to find felicity in an active engagement, one that never fails to provide pleasure to the sincere worker. Therefore it is seen that the bhaktas, or devotees, not only take to chanting and refraining from sinful activities, but they will also read about Krishna, visit His temples, hear stories about Him, offer service to the devotees engaged in preaching the Lord’s glories to others, and participate in so many other transcendental activities. Armed with the proper education, which already exists within the soul, the devoted individual makes the best use of their valuable human form of body by remaining purely God conscious all the way up until the time of death, after which they return to the imperishable spiritual sky, where everyone not only realizes that they are Brahman, but also that Krishna is their ultimate source of pleasure.

Potential For Intelligence

“Indeed, human life begins when religion begins. Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating are the four principles of animal life. These are common both to animals and to human beings. But religion is the extra function of the human being. Without religion, human life is no better than animal life.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.2 Purport)

The true benefit of human life lies in the area of intelligence. The key distinction between the animal species and the human being is that man has the potential to acquire intelligence that far surpasses that of any other species’. Yet if this potential is not realized, the valuable human form of life goes to waste. Therefore it is vital that we take the necessary steps to acquire the right type of knowledge through hearing from the right source. This knowledge leads to the maximum realization of intelligence, a condition which results in the maximum benefit in the afterlife.

What separates the exercise of spirituality from any other endeavor is that it is forward thinking. In other pursuits, there is an end-goal, a specific time when our work will be completed. While this time may be one week into the future or even one hundred years, the time span is relatively small in the grand scheme of things. Spirituality deals with the plight of the soul – a soul which is ever-existing, unchangeable, and undying. In the Bhagavad-gita, the famous discourse on spirituality given by the great master Himself, Lord Krishna, we learn that the soul never takes birth, nor does it ever die. After each life is over – when a living entity is deemed dead- the soul remains unchanged. The future destination of the soul is the area of concern for the discipline of spirituality. Since the soul exists forever, the destination it can reach can also exist eternally.

What does this mean exactly? The conditioned individual souls are currently residing in a temporary realm. Similar to how a life form develops from a fetus to a child and then to an adult, the world we live in goes through cycles of creation and destruction. Since there are set times for the birth and death of the universe, the realm must be considered a temporary place. Yet this doesn’t square with the idea of the eternal soul. Therefore we can deduce that there must be a more permanent home for the soul, a place where it can remain forever. This is precisely the area of concern for spirituality, or at least it should be.

“O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.16)

Can spirituality be practiced incorrectly? As we all know, not every religious system or leader is the same. People take to religion for different reasons. For example, one person may have an ultimate objective of cleaning up the environment. They are distraught over the constant pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels, the chopping down of trees, and the overall advancement in technology. While on their own they may be able to convince others of the possibility of an environmental utopia, the message would be much more effective if it was presented through the prism of religion. Therefore such people may take to religion, finding the set of scriptures and beliefs that substantiate their claims about the environment. This example only applies to a select few people, but the principle can be expanded out to pretty much anyone who takes to spirituality. One person is looking for benedictions such as wealth, beauty, and fame, while another is looking for ascension to a heavenly realm where there is a heightened level of sense enjoyment. Another person may be sick and tired of the repetitious nature of life, so they take to religion in the hopes of ending all activity.

“…Due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who directly support atheistic viewpoints.” (Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 11.14.8)

While there are various religious systems which have different ultimate objectives, the Vedas inform us that the true mission for all spirit souls is to return back to the transcendental realm where God resides in His personal form. This realm is different from the common conception of heaven. The world we live in is generally portrayed in a negative light; it is seen as a temporary and miserable place. Therefore heaven automatically becomes a place where just the opposite situation is seen. With these two polar opposites, what wise person wouldn’t choose heaven over earth? While there are certainly other planets which are considered heavenly, i.e. places where there is a heightened level of enjoyment, any planet that gets created and destroyed must be considered on the same level. The realm of the Personality of Godhead, the person many of us refer to as “God”, is the only place where birth and death of any kind do not occur. Therefore this realm, the place where God resides alongside His liberated associates, is the only permanent home for the soul, the ultimate destination for the seekers of the Truth.

Discovering the return path to this realm is the true mission for all souls residing on earth and any other heavenly or hellish planet. Yet not everyone will realize this goal right away, since not every form of life possesses the same level of intelligence. Vedic information is so nice because it provides both comprehensive and summary level information. On the comprehensive side of things, we are informed that there are 8,400,000 different species in the world, with each specific body type determined by an individual’s qualities and their desire for work. On the summary level side of things, we are informed that the species which mainly take to eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, can be categorized as animals. Out of all of these species, the human being is considered superior due to its level of intelligence.

If an animal focuses its time on eating and sleeping, and at the same time is considered less intelligent than the human being, it must be concluded that the human beings aren’t meant to spend all of their time eating and sleeping. The Vedic seers, the great saints of the past who put the transcendental sound vibrations of the Vedas into written word, inform us that the true benefit of the human form of body lies in the area of intelligence. It is through the development of intelligence, which comes about through experience and the acquisition of knowledge, that the human being realizes that there is more to life than just imitating the animals. Moreover, the ultimate objective is not to simply shift the focus away from animalistic activities. Rather, a higher level of intelligence is meant to benefit the plight of the spirit soul. Only the most intelligent are capable of taking the necessary steps towards realizing the ultimate goal of returning to the imperishable spiritual sky.

It should be noted here that the difference between human beings and any other species really relates to the potential for intelligence. For example, at the time of birth, an infant is less intelligent than many adult-aged animals. A small child cannot walk, talk, or feed itself. It is completely dependent on its parents for these essential activities. On the other side, we have the animals who can eat, sleep, mate, and defend. Even though they have no understanding of God or the existence of a soul, an animal knows how to find food, how to erect a dwelling, how to take rest, and how to defend itself from attackers. The human being is considered superior because, in a mature state, it has the ability to surpass the level of intelligence of the animal’s.

Intelligence is acquired through education, but not all instruction is the same. In a typical university, there are different departments of knowledge which are tailored to the different interests of the students’. One student may take an interest in chemistry, while another focuses on music. While this sort of education certainly has its place and value, the end-result is simply a heightened level of enjoyment in animalistic activities. The brain may be stimulated a little more, but the only tangible result is a more comfortable way of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. While this kind of education essentially keeps a person on a neutral footing with animals as far as intelligence goes, there are other kinds of education which can actually be detrimental. For example, through bad association, taking education from the wrong source, a person can learn how to make bombs, kill innocent people, and even steal from others.

Our true potential for intelligence cannot be realized simply through any form of education. Rather, we must gather the right set of facts, absorbing those vital pieces of information that will help the plight of our soul. In order for this to happen, we must hear from the right source. Our teachers must already possess a heightened level of intelligence, being fully cognizant of the differences between species and the ultimate objective in life. These teachers are known as Vaishnavas, or devotees of Vishnu. God is one, but He has different names and forms based on time and circumstance. In the imperishable spiritual realm, the original form of Godhead, Lord Krishna, resides. In another planetary system in the same realm lives Krishna’s four-armed expansion of Lord Vishnu. Since there is no difference between Vishnu and Krishna, devotees of either are referred to as Vaishnavas.

Whether one refers to the Almighty as Krishna, Vishnu, or some other authorized name, the ultimate objective remains the same; that of returning to the Lord’s spiritual realm. The Vaishnavas possess the highest level of intelligence because they learned the imperishable science of devotional service from their own teachers who were Vaishnavas. If we ascend this chain of teachers all the way to the top, we’ll eventually reach the original source of knowledge: God. The science of devotional service, or bhakti-yoga, is the topmost education, the only discipline worth learning about and taking up. This sublime engagement helps the individual soul realize its true potential, putting the final pieces of the puzzle into place.

What separates bhakti-yoga from any other educational discipline? Devotional service deals exclusively with God. The perfect execution of devotional service also allows a person to acquire all the knowledge they need to be able to eat, sleep, defend, and mate comfortably. The necessities of life are still met, while the highest level of intelligence is acquired. The quintessential act of devotional service is the chanting of the holy names of God, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

The animals aren’t able to chant this sacred mantra. They aren’t able to conceive of a God or realize the futility of the pursuit for sense gratification. They can’t understand the concepts of reincarnation and the eternal nature of the soul. Animals aren’t able to comprehend the existence of an imperishable spiritual sky where the level of enjoyment is a million times greater than that experienced in the perishable universe. Only the human being has the ability to understand these higher concepts. Therefore we should immediately take the necessary steps to acquaint ourselves with our best friend, Lord Krishna. An exalted Vaishnava can be approached in person or through consultation with their written and recorded instructions. Regardless of the nature of the interaction, the humble approach must be there on our side. Through adopting the discipline of devotional service, our true potential for intelligence can certainly be realized.