Full Sobriety

“When one’s intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 5.17)

“I can drink you under the table…Boom, Boom! I can handle shot after shot of the hardest liquor and not be fazed in the least bit…After drinking so many beers within a few hours, I don’t even get slightly drunk.” Oddly enough, in social circles the ability to hold one’s liquor is considered a sign of manliness, a skill or ability that should be sought after. This mindset is a little strange because the whole aim of intoxication is to escape from the senses. One who has trouble reaching the state of illusion after much intake of alcohol surely shouldn’t be praised for their ability, for they have difficulty in achieving the end-goal. Being capable of holding large amounts of liquor within the body is akin to being able to withstand multiple blows to the head by a hammer. If we said, “I’ve tested that it takes about 10 hard blows from a hammer to my head before I get knocked out”, would that be considered an accomplishment? Irrespective of how long it takes, isn’t the final state, that of unconsciousness, a detrimental one? The ego, which is part and parcel of the material body, would be better served finding a more tangible accomplishment or ability to hang its hat on, a skill which not only represents true strength and advancement, but also gives others a proper example to follow.

Delving further into the realm of social drinking, the tests for fitness tend to focus on the individuals who do drink regularly and how long it takes them to reach inebriation. The formula for comparison is fairly straightforward. Whoever can handle the most liquor without becoming intoxicated is deemed the best drinker. But when we apply a little logic, if the ultimate objective is to escape from the senses, shouldn’t the individual who gets drunk on say one beverage be considered superior? Let’s apply the same concept to a work environment. Say we have one worker who constantly needs attention, time off, and cajoling from the boss to get their work done. Then we have another worker who doesn’t require any supervision at all. They not only get their work completed on time, but they are barely even noticed by the boss due to their quiet demeanor and high level of confidence.

Obviously the second worker is superior because they are more efficient. The ability to produce at equal or higher levels with a minimal intake of resources equates to a higher efficiency. It is not surprising that amongst those who regularly take to drinking the rules for efficiency get reversed. The man who requires more intake of alcohol to reach the stated objective somehow gets superior status, while the truly efficient drinker is deemed a lightweight. The Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India, describe this entire material world and its varieties of engagements and allures as coming from a tree whose branches are inverted. The root of the tree is at the top and the growth continues downwards. The top is considered the divine heavenly realm, a place that knows no loss or diminution. There are also branches that extend upward, and they represent the transcendental realms where the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His various Vishnu forms and also His original form of Shri Krishna, resides alongside His eternally liberated associates.

“The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the three modes of material nature. The twigs are the objects of the senses. This tree also has roots going down, and these are bound to the fruitive actions of human society.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.2)

When In Krishna’s association there is no need for intoxication, as the spiritual senses are constantly energized through acting out roles choreographed by the Supreme Director Himself. In one area of the imperishable realm, Krishna is playing with His cowherd friends on the pasturing grounds. They play games familiar to normal school children, except at the center is Krishna. They even play the pass around game, where one boy’s lunch is taken away and then passed around amongst the other children, leaving the boy fearful that he will not get his lunch back. Then there are wrestling matches with Krishna, who is so kind that He allows His friends to win and feel as if they are superior to Him.

But the most beautiful aspect of the spiritual world known as Goloka Vrindavana, which is the topmost upward branch of the inverted tree, is the sound that permeates the land, an audible vibration that emanates from the magical flute of Krishna, who is thus known as Muralidhara, or the wielder of the flute. If the cows are going astray or if there is any temporary disturbance, Krishna can simply play His flute and all His dear friends will be enamored and satisfied to their hearts’ content. There is no sound in any world, mundane or spiritual, higher or lower, that compares to the intoxicating notes produced by Krishna’s flute. This sound is the essence of spiritual life; it carries the sublime bliss that comes with the direct association of the most attractive, original and ever-merciful form of the Supreme Spirit.

But upon the living being’s descent to the material world, the inverted tree springs downward branches that bring attachment and a reversal of sound logic and reasoning. Rather than enjoy the natural highs that fill the air in Krishna’s realm, man is left to search for illusory escapes from the senses. To play on the field that manifests on the lower side of the tree, the soul requires a dress, a sort of temporary spacesuit. This body is composed of the material elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. The body can have fire? Science has established that the living human being has an internal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. For this temperature to be maintained there must be natural heat within the body, for when the environment takes on the same temperature, we consider it to be very warm. The element of fire can also be absent in some forms of body; hence the existence of cold-blooded species.

“The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 15.8)

But even more important than the gross elements surrounding the conditioned soul are the subtle elements of mind, intelligence and ego. Due to the inverted nature of the material world, the ego of the embodied being is considered false; something the drinking example very nicely illustrates. The subtle elements subsist from life to life, as the outer coverings are discarded in favor of new ones at the time of death. As long as the predominant desires are similar to the nature of the lower realm, that of being opposite to reality, bodies are continually composed and discarded.

Since the ego is always present, there is no reason to attempt to artificially eliminate it. The key to finding the root of the inverted tree is to purify desire, which can be facilitated through directing the ego to the proper area. In the conditioned state, man takes himself to be the ultimate enjoyer. Hence he takes pride in accomplishments related to the personal self. Yet even the drinker who can hold their liquor must eventually renounce their ability at the time of death. Indeed, they had no say so in the type of body they received at the time of birth, who their parents were, or what type of surroundings they grew up in. Even their ability to drink large amounts of alcohol was acquired through much endeavor. They had to have money to purchase liquor, find ways to get to the drinking saloon, and be fortunate enough to remain alive after repeated nights of drinking.

Developing an ego off of these abilities is silly because another person can follow the same course of action and reach the same destination. In addition, many people are knocked down during their pursuits by outside forces. The Vedas are so nice that they have correctly identified the three primary sources of misery in this world. One force comes from the demigods, or celestial beings. Known as adhidaivika miseries, these are the pains inflicted by natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. Then there are adhibautika pains, those emanating from other living entities. We may try to remain as peaceful and kind as we want, but there could always come an outside force, either a terrorist or a deranged lunatic, that rolls into town and wreaks havoc. The third category of miseries is known as adhyatmika, or injuries that are self-inflicted. Not only can the mind cause us great distress by dwelling on miserable experiences and unwarranted fears, but fatal diseases can also crop up from within the body.

Even with the pride of having a certain ability, man is still unable to escape the three sources of misery. Another man may try just as hard in the same field of endeavor, but due to outside forces, an internal disease, or a natural disaster, he is unable to succeed. Would it be correct for the successful individual to attribute his greatness to his ability to escape forces which are so powerful that no man can control them? Obviously this sort of thinking is not very intelligent; hence it is not very wise to develop the ego on abilities and accomplishments that are subject to the three sources of misery.

But the ego exists for a reason. The spirit soul craves individuality, as independence is built into its makeup. When the ego is solidified through proper consciousness and activities geared towards pleasing the Supreme Lord, it becomes legitimate and worthy of praise. Taking the same drinking example, if we were to apply the tolerance practice to chanting, the ego could become our best friend. Though there are varieties of prescriptions for achieving spiritual salvation, the ultimate objective is to shift consciousness, to attain a state of mind where all thoughts are dovetailed with the interests of the Supreme Lord through a loving attitude. Though the exact methods can be complex and require expert supervision from a bona fide guru, or spiritual master, the simplest and most effective spiritual practice for the fallen souls of this age is the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

The effectiveness of chanting this mantra lies in the potency of sound. Just as the wonderful sounds emanating from Krishna’s flute in the spiritual sky enrapture the kind associates residing in Vrindavana, the non-different forms of the Supreme Lord in the shape of the sound vibrations of His names can quickly and effectively dissipate the false ego and reignite the original consciousness. As a developed consciousness is the true sign of elevation, one who can find their original state of mind, that of pure Krishna consciousness, will achieve success and find pleasure at every corner in life. The recommendation is that we chant the Hare Krishna mantra as often as possible, but at least through a regulated system known as japa, or quiet meditation.

Japa is performed on a set of beads that are aligned on a string. There are 108 beads, with one head bead representing Krishna, or God. One round of japa consists of chanting the specific mantra one time on each bead; hence one round equates to 108 recitations of the mantra. To really attack the contaminated consciousness, a dosage of 16 rounds per day of japa is recommended by the spiritual doctors, the Vaishnavas who themselves are always thinking about Krishna and how to please Him. Adhering to this regulation will be difficult, especially in the beginning stages. But the same ego that led to consuming large portions of alcohol can be utilized for developing a strong chanting regimen. While being able to hold your liquor causes negative effects like money lost and the final state of total inebriation, the ability to increase the chanting routine to a large number of rounds each day not only satisfies the ego, but it leads only to a better condition, one where consciousness is forever satisfied.

With intoxication comes a short-term escape from the senses, followed by a period of great misery. Only in the period of escape can there be any enjoyment, temporary or otherwise. With bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, since the conditioned consciousness is directly attacked, the resulting benefits are felt at all times. Not only does the ego become firmly attached to the practice of chanting, but other aspects of bhakti take hold as well. Those who chant regularly are better equipped to renounce the four pillars of sinful life: meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex. With every new ability comes further solidification of the ego, as it forms an attachment to something worthwhile and praiseworthy.

The pinnacle of spiritual life is reached when the ego is so far advanced that not even Krishna can shake the individual from their desire to perform bhakti. Indeed, such a level of devotion is only found in the gopis of Vrindavana and other select exalted figures. Nevertheless, the potential for success is always there. When the ego is firmly attached to Krishna, not even the Lord can stop the devotee from performing their service. The residents of Vrindavana are always tied to Krishna and His satisfaction, so their pride and sense of self-worth come from their confidence in always being able to think of Him. Because of their spiritual tunnel-vision, they never even see the lower portions of the inverted tree that only yield branches and leaves of misery nourished through improper attachment. The perpetually intoxicated man is deemed “wasted” because he loses all faculties in the inebriated state, but one who is always feeling a natural high through Krishna’s association automatically becomes the most capable person, as the purified ego ensures that deviation from the sublime mission of devotional service will never occur.

Ideal Leadership

“People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by practical behavior. A leader cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. Lord Chaitanya said that a teacher should behave properly even before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called acharya, or the ideal teacher. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of shashtra (scripture) to reach the common man.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita 3.21 Purport)

U.S. President Barrack Obama recently signed legislation aimed at curbing the consumption of cigarettes. By allowing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have enhanced power in regulating tobacco companies, and the products they produce and sell, proponents of the legislation hope that less people will take to smoking as a result. Though he has been a smoker all his adult life, who may or may not have quit recently, President Obama said the new legislation was necessary due to his belief that tobacco companies were actively recruiting young adults to take up smoking:

“Kids today don’t just start smoking for no reason. They’re aggressively targeted as customers by the tobacco industry. They’re exposed to a constant and insidious barrage of advertising where they live, where they learn, and where they play. Most insidiously, they are offered products with flavorings that mask the taste of tobacco and make it even more tempting.”

Anyone who has been around smokers for any length of time, knows that smoking is a very nasty habit. Second-hand smoke and the smell that cigarettes leave aren’t very pleasing to smokers and to those around them. Aside from having many health risks associated with it, the act of smoking is a form of intoxication which is one of the four pillars of sinful life (intoxication, gambling, illicit sex life, and meat eating).

Intoxication is considered sinful not only for the negative karma associated with it, but also because it causes one to become bound up in material life. If one is attached to material pleasures, then God kindly facilitates by allowing that person to repeatedly take birth in the material world, whereby they are given ample opportunity for sense gratification. Thus the cycle of karma perpetually repeats, since one’s senses can never become completely satisfied. It is not until after having lived many lives that one becomes aware of this situation.

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita 7.19)

For the past twenty years or so, there has been concerted attack mounted against the tobacco industry. Not wanting to take responsibility for their actions, disgruntled smokers have banded together with lawyers to blame tobacco companies for the harmful side effects of smoking. After winning billions of dollars in lawsuits and levying excessive taxes on tobacco, anti-smoking leaders have failed to get people to quit smoking. In the state of New York, a single pack of cigarettes can cost upwards of $9, yet people still are willing to buy them. The addiction to nicotine is so strong, that the President himself may still smoke, though he has tried to quit many times.

Any attempt made to limit the practice of intoxication is surely a noble one, but such attempts will never be successful unless the leaders themselves adhere to the same restrictions. According to Vedic principles, a leader should lead not only lead by word, but by example as well. Kings of the past would always take counsel from brahmanas, the priests of society. Even if they themselves weren’t well versed in the proper code of conduct, they would unhesitatingly abide by the counsel of the brahmanas. In modern society, such a system doesn’t exist. The shudras, those unfamiliar with any religious tenets, serve as leaders, while true brahmanas are almost impossible to find. A leader must be very pious, for the other citizens will naturally follow his lead. A president is on television all the time, with the press corps following and recording his every move. Whether they like it or not, the president and other world leaders serve as role models for the rest of society since they are constantly in the public eye.

Not just President Obama, but most leaders in society suffer from the same defects. This is the sign of Kali Yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy where dharma exists at only one fourth its original strength. Leaders preach one thing to their subjects, while they act in totally the opposite way. Government leaders are constantly telling people that they need to sacrifice for the common good and that it’s only fair that they, the citizens, give upwards of fifty percent of their income to the government. In the meantime, Senators and other politicians in high offices are some of the wealthiest people in the country, not sacrificing anything for anyone. People are very in tune with this reality. Knowing that their leaders aren’t very pious, they feel free to act sinfully themselves.

It is most important to have leaders who adhere strictly to the laws of dharma as enjoined in the shashtras, or authoritative scriptures. Lord Rama was one such leader. An incarnation of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Rama served as the king of Ayodhya, one in a long line of highly respected kings known collectively as the Ikshvaku Dynasty. Lord Rama was completely dedicated to dharma, and was the ultimate renunciate. He never asked His citizens to do something that He Himself wasn’t willing to do. He spent fourteen years as an exile in the forest, surviving on fruits and roots, simply to maintain the good name of His father. Towards the end of His life, He renounced His wife Sita, the purest and kindest woman who ever lived, simply to show favor to a citizen who had complained about the Lord’s behavior. The citizens were well aware of the Lord’s dedication to them and for this reason Lord Rama enjoyed universal love and adoration. The ideal society that existed during His reign was known as Rama Rajya, and many today hearken for a return to it.

In the Vedic system, the government is to be run by the warrior class of men, known as kshatriyas. The government’s job is to protect its citizens and administer justice fairly and equally, so brave and pious warriors are required. In today’s society, the system is quite different, where leaders are elected directly by the people. Since elections are essentially popularity contests, leaders are elected based on their speaking and arguing abilities verses their capacity to provide protection to their citizens. As a result, today’s governments consist mostly of lawyers instead of military men. All hope is not lost however. Instead of dharma trickling down from the top, it can be introduced at the grassroots level first. If enough of the voting population becomes Krishna, or God conscious, then inevitably some of them will run for political office and hopefully win. In this way, with pure devotees serving in government, we can hopefully return to the days of Rama Rajya. In such a situation, everyone will easily be able to break all their bad habits, including smoking.

The Four Regulative Principles

The Mahabharata tells us that addiction to hunting, dice playing, women, and wine are the four things that lead to a man’s downfall. These four activities translate into the pillars of sinful life; meat eating, gambling, illicit sex, and intoxication.

We usually associate the idea of sins and sinful life with holier than thou preachers pointing their fingers at people telling them they are going to hell or what not. In truth, sinful life doesn’t have such a direct correlation. Sinful activity really means anything that will keep us bound in the material world. According to Vedic philosophy, we are all spirit souls, who are part and parcel of God. We have entered the material world due to our desire to enjoy it and to think of ourselves as God. Our souls are constantly transmigrating between different bodies in different lives due to our desires and the work we perform in this life, or our karma.  Lord Krishna, or God, states that our next life is determined by our consciousness at the time of death in our current life.

“In whatever condition one quits his present body, in his next life he will attain to that state of being without fail” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita).

Committing sins really means performing activities that will cause us to be attached to the material world and to cause us to return as human beings or other species in our next life. Lord Krishna also states that one who thinks of Him at the time of death is guaranteed to permanently return back to Godhead, or back to Krishna’s spiritual abode.

On a material level, meat eating is bad for our karma since it involves the killing of innocent animals simply to satisfy the tongue.  God is very fair, so if we kill unnecessarily, we are bound to suffer for it eventually. On a spiritual level, meat eating binds us to this material world since we become addicted to satisfying our senses, namely the tongue and the stomach. The best way to purify one’s eating habits is to eat Krishna prasadam as much as possible.

Gambling is bad for us since it entangles the mind in the mode of passion. When playing dice or betting on sporting events, we are constantly on edge. We anxiously await the result of the next game to see what our potential payout might be. If we lose a bet, we are quick to wager again, hoping for a different outcome. If we win, then our egos get puffed up and we wager again, raising the stakes in order to increase the excitement. In this way we get bound up into material activities which are in actuality a waste of time. We can achieve an even greater thrill simply by constantly chanting the Holy name of God in a loving way.

Sex life is the highest material pleasure and also the root cause of most of our grief. Illicit sex life, namely any sex outside the bounds of marriage or for any purpose other than to create progeny, leads to the most trouble. Teenage pregnancy, single parenthood, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, divorce, domestic violence are a few of the common problems that are rooted in illicit sex life. God knows that the desire for sex is very strong, so that’s why he gave us marriage. Marriage is God’s institution where regulated sex life is allowed, so that the husband and wife can focus on their primary duty of serving God together.

Intoxication is one of the more obvious sinful activities because so many people develop addictions to it. Whether it be alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, or caffeine, addiction to intoxication is very common. Considering the fact that our senses are impossible to satisfy, it is no surprise that many take to intoxication in an attempt to break free of the senses. Instead of trying to escape the senses, the Vedas tell us to purify them through practicing devotional service to God, or bhakti yoga.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the foremost teacher of Vedic wisdom in our time, instructs us to completely abstain from the four pillars of sinful life. This seems like a very difficult regulation, but it is not meant as a punishment. In Sanskrit, these penances are referred to as “tapasya”. Tapasya doesn’t mean ordinary everyday penances. It means austerities performed with the intent of improving spiritual life. Success in spiritual life requires training and austerities from us just like in any other discipline. In order to attend college, we had to suffer through twelve years of grade school. Practicing medicine is not allowed until one undergoes the long training and passes many exams. Olympic athletes train rigorously for four years in order to perform at their peak.  Similarly, we have to train ourselves now so that we may think of God at the time of our death.

These regulative principles may seem difficult, but why not give them a try? Don’t be discouraged if you are not successful right away. The easiest way to refrain from these activities is to always keep yourself engaged in God’s service wherever you are and whatever you may be doing. Keep chanting “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare” and you will be guaranteed of success.

 

Krishna’s Mercy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering Krishna prasadam to one and all.

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