Honesty Is My Only Excuse

“Prahlada Maharaja continued: My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one’s past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.6.3)

Download this episode (right click and save)

“Oh, isn’t that cute? They must have learned that while they were in school. Or perhaps they were taught this by their elders. Their hearing is good, so they must have picked it up while listening to adults speaking about the meaning of life. This precocious child will likely grow up to be a scholar, someone very wise. His parents must be so proud of him.”

Mind you, the people observing the child who surprisingly speaks wisely won’t give much attention to his message. The child can speak the harshest language, condemning a society for ignorantly pursuing material enjoyment that has yet to provide them any happiness, but the elders won’t really listen. They won’t get angry with the child, either, as the child doesn’t know any better, right? When the same instruction is given by an adult, however, others will be offended. “How dare they speak to us that way? Who are they anyway? They should learn to be nicer. We are not all horrible people who need to be scolded in this way.” The truly wise man, who is known as a sadhu, delivers an uncompromising message in a swift way. They are honest; they will not lie to someone else’s detriment. We are indebted to them for this candidness.

Would a child ever offer the same instruction as a sadhu?

Many eons ago this is precisely what occurred. A five-year old boy, the son of a powerful king, would lecture to his classmates during recess. He wouldn’t repeat what was just heard in class from the teachers. That information was limited to ruling over a kingdom. The boys learned the four techniques of diplomacy, namely pacification, gift-giving, dividing and conquering, and using force. They learned what it takes to keep subjects happy and how to maintain your control as a leader.

The young Prahlada was taught something more valuable before he ever entered school. While he was still in the womb, his mother received instruction from Narada Muni, a wise man of the caliber mentioned previously. Narada did not sugarcoat his message. He has never done that in fact. Since time immemorial he has travelled the worlds to give the message of truth and light. That message can be summarized as follows: the meaning of life is to be devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of a form that is knowledgeable, eternal and blissful. Any other use of the material body, whether in a human form or not, is a waste of time.

Prahlada remembered these divine instructions upon taking birth, and so when he heard materialism taught to him in school, he didn’t assign it much value. During recess he would teach his friends about the real meaning of life. It is extraordinary for this kind of information to come from the mouth of a child. The Christmas Holiday is especially important to children today, and there is a reason for this. The children get gifts during Christmas. So many movies are made to this effect, wherein Christmas for a specific child is saved when they are able to get a material gift that they particularly desired. A child has a limited vision, so they can’t foresee that they will get sick of their gifts very quickly. They don’t realize that in adulthood no material reward can provide everlasting happiness.

What to speak of children, even adults have a difficult time realizing this fact. Therefore adults take to gambling and intoxication, ways of forgetting the influence of time. Forgetfulness does nothing to change the reality, however. Only the truth will set you free, and as a young child Prahlada spoke the truth. The father, the king of the land, had a problem with Prahlada. Who would ever purposefully harm a child anyway? What can they do to implement their principles? They are powerless; they are dependent upon others for protection.

Prahlada’s honesty, especially when he was questioned about what he learned in school and what he thought was the most important thing in life, drove his father crazy. Unable to convince the boy otherwise, Hiranyakashipu, the father, tried to kill Prahlada in so many different ways. All the attempts failed. Finally, the person of whom Prahlada spoke arrived on the scene in a ferocious and strange form and killed Hiranyakashipu. The boy never wanted material rewards; just the ability to keep loving God, which included speaking of Him to others. The Supreme Lord granted the boy’s wish. This gift would be valuable not only to Prahlada but to countless future generations as well.

Indeed, the sadhus of modern times take the baton passed on by sadhus of the past like Prahlada. Sadhus are typically adults, though, so the general population may not take so kindly to their critical words. What are some examples of teachings that don’t sit well with others? If you think about it, since the sadhu is honest, pretty much all of their teachings will fly in the face of what is generally taught. The beginning truth is that the living entity in the material world is not their body. All of us are spirit on the inside, and so our body is not that important. It is like a temporary covering. Focusing on what to eat, where to travel, and what to wear is not very wise. Eating, sleeping, and dressing properly are important to remain functional, but they are not the all in all. I can eat the best food in the world and still not find happiness. Food is just food; it is only there to give me strength to maintain my life. Whether I eat broccoli or pizza shouldn’t matter at the end of the day.

The sadhu says that all living entities, not just me, are spirit souls, part of the impersonal force known as Brahman. I am Brahman and so are you. Your dog is Brahman and so is the cow. Ah, so this is where things get interesting. If the cow is Brahman, they are equal to the human beings in quality. Therefore it is not right to kill them en masse for food. The vegetables are also Brahman, and it is also true that all living entities survive off of other living entities. Nevertheless, killing a vegetable and killing a cow are not the same; otherwise meat-eaters would have no problem killing human beings for food. There is always discrimination. The vegetables are provided for the wiser human beings, who refrain from unnecessary violence. The vegetables, grains and milk are also food in the mode of goodness, which is what increases knowledge.

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.26)

Knowledge in the mode of goodness does not relate to how to solve a mathematical equation or translate a language. Real knowledge is the ability to see the essential quality of all life forms and realize the changing of bodies that continues even into the afterlife through what is known as reincarnation. Real knowledge is what sadhus like Prahlada Maharaja speak of, and so it is very difficult for us to accept at the outset. Just hearing such knowledge offends us, for if we are not in the mode of goodness we will automatically not be as wise as those who are.

The uncompromising message of a sadhu, whose only excuse is honesty, is delivered not to ruffle feathers or to gain notoriety. If I care about someone I will instruct them. With a stranger I might not be so keen on providing them instruction, for I don’t know them very well. Since I don’t know them, I naturally don’t care for them as much as I do for my family members. Though it is only natural to feel this way, when in knowledge one realizes that all living entities are tied together through their link to the spiritual world. God is the Supreme Father, and all creatures are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. This extends also to the animals, who can be considered the younger siblings.

“Certainly all these words were spoken by you due to your kind-heartedness and affection for Me. I am very pleased with you, O Sita, for indeed one does not offer instructions and advice to another without caring for them.” (Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 10.20)

Lord Rama, an incarnation of the Supreme Lord, once remarked to His wife Sita that only someone who really has affection for someone else will offer them counsel. If our child does poorly in school, we will scold them and emphatically remind them why it’s important to do better. So many other children do poorly in school, but we’re not going around and telling them that they should improve. The sadhu is like the teacher of the classroom, and so they are interested in the welfare of all the students. Whether the students like them or not, the sadhu will give it to them straight, and for this they are to be commended.

In the modern age, the true sadhu is not one who simply accepts the garb of a mendicant and begs from door to door for food. The genuine sadhu is a devotee of the Supreme Lord, and so they will use whatever means are available to get the right message out. As religiousness has declined greatly, to the point that the mere mention of God invites scowls and frowns, the simplest and most effective method for reawakening the dormant God consciousness within all of us is the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” The honest devotee of the Lord practices this chanting themselves and teaches us how to make our chanting effective. Just like Prahlada Maharaja, they enthusiastically speak to us as their friend, wishing only the best for us.

In Closing:

Try to tell them other message is no use,

For the sadhu honesty their only excuse.

 

They will give it to us straight,

So that we’ll find enlightened state.

 

Like Prahlada who to his classmates spoke,

Despite ire of teachers and father provoked.

 

Due to their message delivery candid,

We can attain wisdom so splendid.

 

As their friend all others sadhus treat,

Their association thus never can be beat.

A Worthy Rebuke

“The Supreme Person [Bhagavan] said: My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the progressive values of life. They do not lead to higher planets, but to infamy. “ (Bhagavad-gita, 2.2)

Download this episode (right click and save)

It’s a big night. You’re going to a gathering where a famous personality will be there. They are known for being expert in the field that interests you. They are considered “senior” because they have been involved in that field for a number of years. They are old enough to be your father, and they started in the field when they were younger than you are now. They have spent an entire lifetime practicing. As you can gain valuable insight through their association, you are very excited.

The event is a small gathering, so you won’t be the only person there. There is anticipation nonetheless, as this kind of opportunity doesn’t come too often. Things start out well, as you make a basic introduction and then listen attentively as they give their talk. During the question and answer period, however, you ask what you think is a harmless question. Instead of giving a typical response, the speaker scoffs at the mere suggestion you make. It’s as if they think you’re antagonistic to the field, like you don’t respect them. But you indeed have just the opposite intention, so this stern rebuke shakes you. You can’t stop thinking about it for the next few hours.

Later on, however, you realize that the rebuke was to your benefit. Your question may have been innocent in your eyes, but it represented a lack of understanding. Rather than take the kind approach, the stern rebuke sends the correct message loud and clear. This is actually an act of kindness from the superior, as through this type of interaction they teach you a valuable lesson very quickly. A similar kind of rebuke was even shown by the greatest teacher of all, Lord Krishna.

The Bhagavad-gita documents this exchange. The setting was a battlefield, and the hesitant warrior Arjuna was the character of principal focus. His army was about to take on the aggressors known as the Kauravas. Arjuna’s side had a rightful claim to the disputed land, but the opposing side unjustly usurped it and refused to give back even an inch of it. Arjuna was famous for his fighting prowess using the bow and arrow, so his side, the Pandavas, expected to ride that strength to victory. More importantly, Arjuna had Krishna for his charioteer. Krishna is the ever well-wishing friend of the Pandavas. He also happens to be the expert teacher, as He is the origin of all knowledge.

Despite his superior fighting ability, Arjuna was initially hesitant to move forward. He didn’t want to win. If you don’t have a will, how are you going to put in the effort necessary for success? A head coach in the National Football League once famously said, “You play to win the game!” If you’re not in the competition to achieve victory, you’re not really competing. If Arjuna had any hesitancy whatsoever, his side was doomed.

Afraid of living a life devoid of the company of friends and family fighting for the opposing side, Arjuna created all sorts of excuses to justify his desire to quit. He presented his arguments to Krishna, who also happened to be related to him as a cousin. Once the concerns were presented, however, the relationship between the two changed. No longer were they friends or close family members. Krishna became the acknowledged superior and Arjuna the pupil requiring instruction.

Krishna was not unnecessarily mild in His initial reaction. He didn’t say, “O Arjuna, you are such a kind-hearted soul. You are truly wise for not wanting to harm anyone else. You have passed the test life has handed to you by choosing the more difficult path of nonviolence. You are to be commended for your intelligence.”

Instead, Krishna said that Arjuna’s attitude was not befitting someone of his intelligence. It also didn’t square with his role in society. In the Vedas, society is divided up into four general categories based on natural qualities within people. The kshatriyas are the second class; their duties involve military conflict for the purpose of protecting the innocent. The kshatriyas are not meant to be unnecessarily nonviolent, as the miscreant aggressors in society will not hesitate to use violence to get their way. If the criminals are going to steal, you better be ready to protect your stuff. If the enemy is going to attack, you better be prepared to fight them off, lest you risk losing your own life and the lives of others.

Krishna’s initial admonishment was beneficial because it got Arjuna’s attention. The doubtful warrior’s attitude did not suit the occasion. It’s not that he should have been overly concerned with victory, either. Rather, when one follows their duties, they should do so out of obligation. The fighting order exists for a reason, and if one does their best job in that occupation, it is better than accepting another occupation that one is not suited for.

“It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though they may be faulty, than another’s duties. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.35)

Krishna immediately touched on the eternality of the spirit soul and how it is transcendental to the changes to the outer covering, which is more commonly known as the body. As the soul never dies, no one can really kill anyone else. The killing we see is the effect of material nature on the temporary covering. Not that one should go on a violent rampage, but it should be known that everyone will have to suffer death eventually through the influence of time and that no one can do anything without the compliance of the forces controlling the material nature. If Arjuna would act on his occupational duty without attachment for the result, he would not incur any sin from fighting.

The wise souls take rebuke from the spiritual master to be a great blessing. The teacher is in an acknowledged position of superiority after all, so if they only compliment us all the time, what is the benefit to their association? It is more helpful to me if the teacher points out my flaws so that I will have something to correct going forward. Krishna pushed Arjuna towards the right choice of fighting on. And it always was a choice. The instruction Krishna offered was not a command; He left the option up to Arjuna.

In the same way, all living entities have a choice in whether or not they want to follow dharma, or duty. The dharma for the present age is the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” It is difficult to decipher material occupational duties due to the lack of qualified teachers and the underlying culture necessary to maintain adherence to religious principles. The most potent method of self-realization for the present age is the recitation of the holy names, which are non-different from God. And through self-realization, one learns how to properly direct their activities.

The spiritual master is the representative of Krishna, and they are an expert in practicing bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. Since they accept the dharma of the present age as their primary occupation in life, they can offer the most valuable instruction to others. When they point out our flaws it is most beneficial to us, as it gives the guidance necessary to move forward on the path to transcendence.

In Closing:

A superior authority I want to meet,

Excited when taking my listening seat.

 

But after a harmless question I say,

A stern rebuke comes my way.

 

At the moment I don’t realize in mind,

That such act was a lesson very kind.

 

Arjuna too rebuke from a wise man received,

When plan to deviate from dharma he conceived.

 

Teacher of his was Shri Krishna who held chariot’s reins,

Told Arjuna to battle, caring not for losses or gains.

 

Same kindness the guru to us gives,

Correcting us so in transcendence we’ll live.

On Your Best Behavior

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 22.54)

Download this episode (right click and save)

“I’m in the clear. The boss just stepped out for the day. Time to party. No one to look over my shoulder now. No more pressure for the rest of the day. I’m at work, so I still have a job to do, but if I take a little extra time for lunch, no one will be the wiser. If I surf the internet a little longer, unless they are monitoring my outbound traffic, how will they ever find out?”

Sure, the absence of the boss brings some relief from the pressure of strict oversight, but if this is the norm rather than the aberration, is that good? Is not there a purpose to the business? In the larger picture, the presence of the boss is actually helpful, provided they know what they are doing.

We can understand the same concept using the example of a school. For the young child, hearing that school is closed is like music to the ears. You don’t have to get up early the next morning. You don’t have to worry about your homework assignment or that big test. At least the pressure is off for one day. It’s an unexpected day off to be used as a vacation. A similar feeling exists when the teacher is out for a specific class. The substitute teacher isn’t as strict, and they’re only there to make sure nothing goes wrong in the class. They’re not really there to apply any pressure to learn.

But if the teacher were absent all the time, it wouldn’t be a good thing. You’re in school to learn after all. And to learn you need a teacher and you need a school that is open. The office exists to sell a good or service for a profit. If it is not open, there is no profit earned. Without profit there are no jobs. If the boss isn’t there, the workers aren’t as diligent, which means that the end product will suffer. The presence of the authority figures is thus ultimately beneficial.

If this is true in work and in school, it is most certainly true in spiritual life. The human mind is incapable of conjuring up the nature of the Absolute Truth on its own. This is because we are illusioned by the external world. The pursuit for sense enjoyment is sort of like dreaming of becoming a king. If you are a king in your dreams, you have all the enjoyment of regal life, but only for a brief period. Once the dream ends, your crown gets taken away. You’re back to being an ordinary person, someone who isn’t a king.

The stay within a material body is like the same dream because it can end at any second. Moreover, it definitely will end. No one can be king forever. While they are king, the range of their sovereignty isn’t that great. I may be the king of one country, but another country has their own leader. Even if I should conquer them, I will have to constantly worry about holding on to my power. Consolidated power is as fragile as localized power; they are both relegated to temporary status based on the nature of the world.

Spiritual life is the way out of the dream. To permanently escape, one should know the cause of their illusion. You enter the dream at night from sleeping, so if you don’t sleep, you won’t dream. As sleeping is required to maintain the body, there is nothing that can be done to stop dreaming altogether. With the dream that is the stay in the material world, the sleeping component is the ignorance of the true nature of the self. This ignorance can be permanently avoided. Aham brahmasmi, which means I am spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. To say that I am spirit is to say that I am not matter. My body is composed of matter, and so my body does not represent my identity.

In ignorance I think that I am my body and that my body is to be used for becoming king. This is considered ignorance because there is only one true king: God. Acknowledgment of this fact keeps one away from the dream; free from the sleep. As soon as there is forgetfulness, the jiva soul falls into the material creation, where the dream begins.

“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, Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

To realize the self is not easy, and so in the Vedas it is advised that one approach a spiritual master who knows the self and learn from them. While this opens the door for many cheaters to pose as spiritual guides when they actually don’t know anything, the requirement to learn from someone else makes sense. We learn from authority figures in all other areas of life, so why would it be any different when trying to learn something that is the most difficult to comprehend?

The spiritual master is also a sadhu, or devotee, and in the Vedas it is said that it is most beneficial to have the association of devotees, sadhu-sanga. A real sadhu knows that they are spirit soul. They also act off of that knowledge by engaging in devotional service, or bhakti-yoga. The bona fide spiritual master is one who follows bhakti-yoga as a way of life. Their presence alone makes a huge difference. If the spiritual master is around to teach, the students pay more attention to their work, which starts and ends with the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

More beneficial than the guru’s presence is his instructions, which other sadhus, or devotees, follow. So if you’re around sadhus, you’re essentially around the guru as well. They are his proxy, and while they may not always be in an acknowledged position of authority, their association is enough to bring a positive influence. With the combination of sadhu, shastra and guru, the sleeping jiva soul ignorant of his position as servant of God can awaken from his slumber and be inspired to serve the Supreme Lord, the king of kings. As bhakti is an eternal engagement, when it is fully rekindled the nightmare of the material existence never has to be experienced again.

In Closing:

Quitting time for boss is here,

No more his presence to fear.

 

The pressures now start to come undone,

In surfing the internet I will have fun.

 

That absence of authority better is the thought,

But forgotten is the discipline the chief brought.

 

In spiritual life find a guru bona fide,

Along the proper path he will guide.

 

Sadhu is devotee who follows guru’s instructions,

With their association begin ignorance’s destruction.

My Big Break

“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.14)

“Wow, I can’t believe how good my life is now. I’m at the top of my profession. I worked so hard in the early years, and through the combination of dedicated work, good timing, and incredible luck, I’m now in a position to say that I love my job. I enjoy going to the office every day, interacting with my coworkers, and producing quality output that I can be proud of. Because of this, I am also able to sustain a happy home life. My wife and kids are a joy to come home to, and we’re always looking forward to doing things together. I’m so happy that I want to repay the debts I owe to so many people, like that person who gave me my first big break. They took a chance on me, and though they weren’t always kind or explicitly supportive, through their tough love I learned the ropes. I’m on the top now and I want to help the people who helped me get here.”

They say that the people you meet on your way up are the same ones you’ll see on your way back down. This notable truth is intended to make sure you treat everyone nicely, for just because you’re in an apparently superior position today doesn’t mean that it will always be the case. At some time or another, the situations might reverse, i.e. the inferior will be the superior. In the Vedas the same truth of changing conditions is presented through the descriptions of the spirit soul, which is the essence of identity. The soul of the ant is the same as the soul of the human being, and in the next life the roles might switch. Today we are a small child, but in the future we’ll be an adult. There will also be other children around then. We never know where we’re going to end up, so we might as well be nice to everyone.

In the above hypothetical scenario, the successful person wants to repay the debts they feel they owe to those who helped them along the way. The question that remains is how to do that. Say, for instance, I feel that I owe a debt of gratitude to my teachers from school. Should I seek them out and give them money? Should I try to get them a better job if I have the power? Should I honor them with my words? Actually, the best way to honor them is to use their teachings for the betterment of my character. If they taught me specifically about the field I work in, I should use those teachings to produce excellence. That is reward enough for the teacher, who takes pride in seeing others learn things about that which they are passionate.

The same can be said of spiritual teachers. In the Vedas it is said that man is born with three debts. He owes something to his parents for giving birth to him. But the parents came from somewhere also, namely the forefathers. Hence the debt is to previous generations as a whole. Then there is a debt to the divine figures in charge of things like the rain, the sun, the water, and the other material elements used for bodily maintenance. These two debts are repaid through begetting a son and performing religious sacrifice.

The third debt is to the rishis, the Vedic scholars of the past who have passed down a wealth of information that stays relevant for millions of years into the future. This debt is repaid by reading the scriptures, the foremost of which are the Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. To learn these works properly, one must practically apply the principles. Think of it like taking lab sections in conjunction with the regular science classes in school. The practical application allows for a realization of the truths versus just memorizing a bunch of facts.

The practical application of the Vedic principles found in texts like the Bhagavad-gita is learned through the instruction of the guru, or spiritual master. The Vaishnava spiritual master, who is a devotee of the personal form of the Supreme Lord, says that we should chant the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, a set number of times each day. We should also avoid meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex. This foundation helps to shape consciousness for the better, making it easier to realize the truth of aham brahmasmi, which means, “I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of the spiritual energy known as Brahman.”

The spiritual master gives us the tools, and if we use them properly we can attain transcendence. The state of transcendence represents the top of the transcendentalist’s field, sort of like being number one in your trade. When at the top, you’ll naturally want to repay the favors of those who helped get you there. But how can you repay the spiritual master? They are devotees of the Supreme Lord, so they don’t require lots of money or palatable food to eat. Indeed, offering such items would likely displease them. Lord Chaitanya, a notable saint who is non-different from the Supreme Lord Himself, would often receive sumptuous food preparations in large supply from His devotees as thanks for His blissful influence. Outwardly Lord Chaitanya accepted the sannyasa order, so He wasn’t supposed to eat a lot of food or dishes that were very nice. Nevertheless, out of kindness He accepted the offerings.

Goswami Tulsidas, a Vaishnava saint specifically devoted to the Supreme Lord’s incarnation of Rama, also had to deal with the same problem. When he was an ordinary sannyasi, or one in the renounced order, he had no problem with begging for small amounts of food and eating just that. But once he became popular through his literature glorifying the Supreme Lord, people kept bringing him so much food to eat, which forced him to reluctantly break his voluntarily accepted spiritual practice of limited eating.

From the spiritual master’s example we can see how best to please him. He lives devotion, always thinking of the Supreme Lord throughout the day. Therefore the best way to repay the debt owed him is to follow in the same line. Stay dedicated to bhakti-yoga, hear the holy names, and kindly distribute them wherever you go. Through glorifying God and teaching others how to glorify Him, both you and the people you instruct will be benefitted. And best of all the spiritual master will be pleased to the heart.

In Closing:

Now that supreme position I’ve reached,

Must repay those who principles teached.

 

Something to them I must certainly give,

So that with satisfaction they can live.

 

But how to do this is the question real,

This burden of debt I don’t like to feel.

 

Vaishnava to God is always devoted,

Bhakti to highest stature promoted.

 

Practical and theoretical to students they share,

That they become lovers of God their only care.

 

In position of prominence their line to continue,

Chant holy names and repay debt to them too.

Teaching from Experience

“Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Shiva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhishma, Bali Maharaja, Shukadeva Gosvami and I myself know the real religious principle.” (Yamaraja, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 6.3.20)

Since we experience so many different things in our journey through life, from our thinking abilities we craft theories on how to succeed going forward. For unmarried men, the ideas relate to how to interact with women, i.e. potential girlfriends and wives. When to call them and when not to and when to be nice and when to be mean are some of the issues addressed. Single women trying to land the perfect guy play the same game. In business, the theories relate to succeeding in the goal of earning a profit. Those who consider themselves successful in these areas often write books about their experiences, wanting to share their wisdom with others. In the realm of spirituality, there are twelve figures deemed authorities in the practice of bhakti-yoga, or divine love. They have shared their experiences through written word and verbal instruction, and interestingly enough they did not start from nothing.

What do we mean by this? If you succeed in creating a profitable business, you likely didn’t know anything about the business world at the outset. You kind of had to learn the ropes on your own. If others did give you advice, it wasn’t entirely applicable. You had to take bits and pieces and then assemble the complete theory on your own. The same holds true in other ventures as well. If the successful were all-knowing from the beginning, they wouldn’t feel the need to share their thoughts later on in life. They want to share their wisdom because they think it will help others and that such information is not known to everyone.

With respect to spiritual life, the proper roadmap existed at the beginning of time. It doesn’t need to be created, as it comes from the chaitya-guru, the spiritual master in the heart. Within every living being there are two life forces. There is the individual soul and the Supersoul. The individual is the perceived enjoyer; he chooses in which direction to go. The Supersoul is like the driver, acting on the decisions made and then distributing the results fairly, but at the same time not taking sides. If the individual wants to place their hand into a fire, the Supersoul knows that it is a bad move, but He doesn’t interfere with the decision. The reaction of a burned hand is ultimately caused by the Supersoul, for He is the one who created the material elements and their properties.

“The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.61)

The turn towards the proper path of spiritual life takes place when the individual listens to the Supersoul. Not surprisingly, the Supersoul is the person most of us refer to as God. He is not an old and angry man, and He isn’t looking to specifically punish anyone. If someone plays the game of American football and then gets seriously injured in a collision while playing, is it the fault of the game? Is the football to blame for the injury? The individual made the choice to play, and with that choice there was knowledge of every possible outcome going in.

In special circumstances, one can take instruction directly from the Supersoul within the heart. This occurred with Lord Brahma, who is the original creator. Every creature in this universe can trace their ancestry back to Brahma. He was put in charge of populating the creation. He didn’t know what to do at first, so he meditated upon the Supersoul within the heart and received the proper direction. He pleased the Supreme Lord Vishnu in this way. We thus know that Brahma didn’t chart out his own course, though at first there was no one else around to tell him otherwise. He followed the original spiritual instruction of devotion to God, and he found a favorable situation as a result. Afterwards, Brahma went through so many experiences and continues to do so right now, as his duration of life is inconceivably long. His experiences are noted down in the Vedic literatures, and any person can consult them and take away valuable lessons on life.

Narada Muni is another authority on bhakti-yoga. He is Brahma’s son, and he travels the different worlds chanting the glories of Narayana, which is another name for Vishnu. Again, Narada did not chart out his own course, but through executing bhakti-yoga, he gathered so many valuable experiences that are shared with others for their benefit. He is the spiritual master of some of the most notable saints in history, including Valmiki Muni and Vyasadeva.

Lord Shiva is the destroyer. He is the worshipable figure for those in ignorance, who don’t know the difference between matter and spirit and how the aim of life is to be God conscious at the time of death. Lord Shiva prefers to only meditate on the lotus feet of God, but he carries out his other duties at the behest of the Supreme Lord. Lord Shiva has had many experiences to share, including one incident with Narada Muni, where he warned the saint not to be too puffed up from his mastery over the senses. Narada didn’t listen to Shiva at the time, and as a result he had to face the heartbreak of losing the association of a woman he fancied. Lord Shiva does not chalk out his own path, but one can follow his example of dedication to chanting the holy names.

In a similar manner, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila, Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, King Janaka, Grandfather Bhishma, Bali Maharaja, Shukadeva Gosvami and Yamaraja all followed devotional service, and in their unique circumstances they implemented them in specific ways. Rather than try to speculate as to the meaning of life or develop our own theories based on ignorance of the laws of the spiritual science, we can consult the life and teachings of these notable figures, who are saints in the true sense of the word.

In Closing:

If myself only of God I think,

Into ignorance’s pit I’ll sink.

 

The entire creation I can never know,

For time and space are infinite so.

 

Look at the notable figures of the past,

Took up devotion to God as primary task.

 

Of Supreme Lord’s glories was their talk,

But never their own path did they chalk.

Backstage Passes

“If someone is able, by chance, to see a great saintly person like Narada face to face, who is always serene and merciful to everyone, then immediately that conditioned soul becomes liberated. This is exactly like being situated in the full light of the sun: there cannot be any visionary impediment.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 10)

You’re going to a concert of your favorite band. Sure, you listen to their music and derive enjoyment from it, but the music moves you so much that you follow other aspects to the people that make it. You read every interview they give, watch every live performance, and follow their daily movements. In this way the connection to them grows, and so by going to the concert, you hope to get even closer to them. The all-access backstage pass is the true boon in this regard, as you get to meet the band members face to face. You get to tell them what their music has meant to you.

Indeed, this tendency towards desiring personal meetings extends to all kinds of celebrities and famous personalities. These people touch so many lives, so it is only natural to try to want to meet them, to get a closer encounter where emotions can be exchanged. The hope is that the fateful meeting will be remembered going forward and that the interaction will further strengthen the bond of attachment. When that same tendency is applied towards the spiritual realm, where there are personalities famous for their ability to heal, the effects can last well beyond the current lifetime.

The saint dedicates their life to serving God. As both “service” and “God” can be vague terms, the saint knows the true definition of both due to their submissive attitude in hearing. They first heard the authorized information from their own teachers, and without a challenging attitude they accepted the principles and carried them out. Through both hearing and the practical application of the principles they reached a state known as God consciousness, wherein the mind constantly focuses on how to please the beloved Supreme Lord.

And He is indeed beloved. To develop that affection for Him, one should know His transcendental features. Another name for God is Bhagavan, which means one who possesses the attributes of beauty, wealth, strength, fame, knowledge, wisdom and renunciation to the fullest degree and at the same time. God is also Krishna, or He who is all-attractive. He is also Rama, or one who gives transcendental pleasure to others. He is Shyamasundara, or the beautiful youth with a blackish complexion. He is Ajita, or one who is unconquerable. He is Vishnu, or all-pervading. He is Achyuta, or one who never falls down. He is Parameshvara, or the supreme controller. He is Govinda, or one who gives pleasure to the cows and the senses. He is Gopala, or the protector of the cows. He is Madhava, or the husband of the goddess of fortune.

There are so many ways to describe God, and notice that the features described point to a personality. These features also never exhaust, so the personality in question must exist eternally. He must have a body and that body cannot be the same as ours. Our features change over time. The male loses hair on the head as they age, and the female develops wrinkles on the face very quickly. At an advanced age, organs that we previously counted on start to fail. The diminishing accelerates to the point that the body itself ceases to be useful, indicating that a new body is required. The changing of the bodies is known as reincarnation.

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.”  (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.13)

God’s body does not change like this. His vigraha, or form, is described as sach-chid-ananda, or eternally full of bliss and knowledge. The saint knows these facts from first accepting them from their spiritual master. They later become firm believers through executing bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. The service is directed at Bhagavan, and it manifests in different activities. There can be hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, serving the lotus feet, or simply honoring. Just as there is variety in the activities we undertake, in the pursuit to change consciousness for the better there are many avenues for travel.

To meet someone who practices bhakti-yoga is considered a great boon. The most exalted saints are so powerful that just by meeting them face to face one’s life can be turned around forever. This has happened many times with people who met Narada Muni, who is a sort of space-traveller who doesn’t do anything but sing the glories of Narayana, which is another name for God that means the source of all men.

Does Narada distribute an electrical charge? Is there something magical about his face that causes a change in others? Actually, it is his position with respect to occupation that brings the change. He exclusively follows bhakti-yoga, which is a unique discipline of spirituality because it seeks nothing but continued devotion to God. In pure bhakti, there is no desire for a temporary reward, a removal of distress, a mystic ability, or the cessation of activity. Rather, the humble prayer is that whatever state Shri Krishna places the devotee in, they still be allowed to practice their devotion.

Someone who follows this line of work is automatically in a superior position, making a meeting with them slightly nerve-racking. Imagine meeting someone who is considered flawless. They are respected by everyone else, so you’re a little hesitant to act in an impious manner in front of them. You also have heard about their past good deeds, so you can’t help but be won over by their presence. When you meet them face to face, if they should offer you any kind instruction, you will likely follow through on it, lest you run the risk of offending them.

The saints of the present age of Kali have been kind enough to extend their influence using recorded words. Instead of having to travel far and wide to meet them, we can consult their books and recorded lectures to get a similar benefit. Their words carry the same weight as their physical presence, if not greater, and those words are easier to consult on a regular basis. Thus spiritual masters like His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada continue to rescue fallen souls to this day, with their influence only growing in the future, increasing their fame and glory all the more.

In Closing:

Rock band that you like so much,

From their music your life touched.

 

Wonderful for at concert to have front row seat,

Even better with backstage pass, members to meet.

 

When face to face they are seen,

Can tell them what to you they mean.

 

Use this tendency for devotee’s presence to get,

Icons of devotion, on pleasing Krishna their minds set.

 

From this meeting ideal example take away,

Follow instruction and in bhakti always stay.

Given For a Reason

“The Lord is the Supreme with all senses, and the servitor, who is part and parcel of the Lord, also has the same senses. Service to the Lord is the completely purified use of the senses, as described in the Bhagavad-gita. The Lord imparted instructions with full senses, and Arjuna received them with full senses, and thus there was a perfect exchange of sensible and logical understanding between the master and the disciple.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.3.20 Purport)

You’re really excited. You finally purchased this brand new piece of furniture that goes perfect with the décor of your living room. You go to the store, pick it up, and then rush home to put it together. The piece is a little complex, so there is assembly required. Not to fear, though, as there are instructions provided. You open up the manual to notice that the instructions are not in English. “Oh wait, let me turn to the other side. Here we go. Okay, now let me follow these instructions and I’ll be all set.”

When you’re finished, however, you have a few nuts and bolts left over. What could these be for? Why weren’t they utilized? Will the finished piece be sturdy enough without them? Ah, but there must be a problem because there would be no reason for extra nuts and bolts to be packaged. They must be there to be used. Thus something went awry during the construction, and though you may not notice the mistake right away, eventually some damage might occur. The problem is that you don’t know when or how severe. If only you had used all of the pieces properly.

This scenario can be used to illustrate a matter of greater importance: namely what to do with our life. The various body parts and their accompanying senses were provided to us for a reason. We use the senses for interaction in every aspect of life already. For eating we use the tongue and the stomach. For watching movies we use the eyes and the ears. For relations with members of the opposite sex we use touch. In fact, just one of these senses diminishing in its capacity to function fully causes a major hindrance to life. Therefore we know that the senses are vital to our existence; they are provided to us for a reason.

The Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India, say that the point of human life is to know, understand, and then love God. There is no other purpose to the existence, in any species for that matter. The difference, though, is that the non-human species cannot make the vital inquiry, athato brahma-jijnasa, which is the opening to the Vedanta-sutra. “Now is the time for inquiring about Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth.” “Now that I have received the precious human form of body, which has the ability to sharpen intelligence and then act off of it, I must meet my true destiny: the spiritual sky.”

That realm is not a void. It is full of variety and nuance. The qualities are transcendental, however, so they don’t have the same inhibiting effect that the matter currently around us does. The matter of our present land is known as maya, or illusion, and it purposefully clouds our intelligence, making us forgetful of our inferior position with respect to the Supreme Soul, the person most of us refer to as God. The spiritual sky does not have the same maya; its energy is of a different nature. In the divine realm, the qualities help to further devotion to God, which is not a fixed pie. Just because you are devoted today doesn’t mean that you can’t be more devoted tomorrow. Just because you take pleasure from the Lord’s association today doesn’t mean that you can’t find more ways to serve Him tomorrow. The more you serve, the more pleasure you feel, and the reservoir for transcendental pleasure can never be filled.

In the material land, the situation is reversed. You try something once or twice and you get sick of it. Pizza today, pasta tomorrow. Beer tonight, wine tomorrow. Exercise this week, parked on the couch the next. All the while there is no progress made in terms of the disposition of the consciousness. The mind can be the best friend or the worst enemy. If you think about it, the pain you feel after being scorned by a paramour is only related to the mind. If you could just make yourself think that you’re not in a troubled state, that everything will work out in the future, you will be just fine.

Devotional service, which is also known as bhakti-yoga, trains the mind in this way, except there is no deception. The focus of attention is on chanting the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, and constantly hearing the sound vibrations that represent God. Through this method the mind learns to stay fixed in the transcendental realm, and thus there is automatic renunciation of negative thoughts pertaining to temporary outcomes. In addition, there is the excitement of knowing that there will be more opportunities to connect with God and serve Him.

These techniques and more are learned from the qualified spiritual master. The real guru does not tell the disciple to give up using their senses. In fact, the transfer of information from teacher to student takes place through the use of all the senses, so what sense would it make to give up interaction once enlightenment is reached? If the guru, who is supposed to be enlightened, gave up using their senses, how would they teach anyone?

Not surprisingly, the best guru is God Himself, who reminded us of this fact one time on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. In His original form of Krishna, the Lord imparted the wisest words of instruction to a hesitant warrior named Arjuna. The transfer of information took place through the use of Krishna’s senses and also Arjuna’s. Krishna is known as the master of all senses, Hrishikesha, so this means that He has transcendental senses that He utilizes when necessary. Arjuna accepted that information with his ears and then used his entire body to act upon the wisdom he took in.

This same type of transfer occurs with all bona fide gurus and their students. The chanting of the holy names is the way to use the ears and the tongue, the worship of the deity the body, the offering and smelling of flowers the nose, and the viewing of the deity the eyes. Morning until night all the senses can be engaged in devotional service, ensuring that all the body parts required for assembly given to us at the time of birth get utilized in constructing the final piece of a perfectly God conscious soul that is ready to return to the spiritual land, the original home.

In Closing:

Finished piece picture on box should resemble,

Must follow instructions for item to assemble.

 

Problem when at end some pieces remain unused,

All seems okay, but then why pieces in box include?

 

Problem to occur eventually, maybe not today,

All pieces vital in construction’s proper way.

 

Know that all senses for utilization meant,

As human to God’s world make the ascent.

 

Guru with his disciples uses senses to interact,

With all your senses bhakti-yoga practice enact.

Sonic Healing

“Spiritual understanding is nothing like an electrical charge from the master to the disciple, as foolishly claimed by some propaganda-mongers. Everything is full of sense and logic, and the exchange of views between the master and disciple is possible only when the reception is submissive and real.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.3.20 Purport)

A person who previously had no educational background in spirituality, who was accustomed to consuming adult beverages on a regular basis, eating animal flesh, and gambling for fun, all of a sudden turns into a spiritual leader, an emblem of devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is known to all that the transformation took place through contact with another spiritual leader, who was kind enough to guide the misguided soul along the proper path. In this way the relationship between the guru and disciple is noteworthy, one deserving of further analysis.

In the cursory review, perhaps it looks like the guru has a magical spark that he can pass on to others through contact. You know, sort of like a power of healing type thing. In the 1980s American film, Fletch Lives, there is a scene where a television evangelist picks out “sinners” from the audience members, guesses their transgressions,and then absolves them by placing his hand on their head. To the audience members, it looks like there is a magical healing power in the minister, but behind the scenes he is fed the information through an earpiece. The members of the audience filled out their information prior to entering, so the special “sinners” were strategically selected and not just randomly healed. Moreover, nothing about the contact with the minister’s hand could do anything to stop the negative reaction from coming, sort of like how if we let go of an object from our hand, it will fall to the ground no matter what anyone says.

The real forgiveness takes effect in the future deeds, wherein the healed party no longer participates in dangerous activity. In the Vedic tradition, the spiritual master has the ability to guide the disciple along this proper path and thus minimize the sinful reactions due them. If you live off of violence to other animals, you are sure to suffer the same fate in the future. If you have lied previously, others will lie to you in the future. If you cheated others, they will cheat you going forward, and so on. To be forgiven means to have the negative reactions removed, and in each spiritual tradition there are certain rituals and penances a person can adopt to try to minimize the damage.

But better than just wiping the slate clean is changing your behavior going forward. This way you’ll avoid doing the wrong things again and filling up your slate with negative reactions. The transformation in behavior cannot take place through any magical touch. The spiritual master’s hand is not like an eraser that can wipe things away. He also does not carry an electrical charge that changes the physiology of the affected party.

What, then, is the secret to the transformation? What makes a person go from constantly lamenting over temporary misfortunes to suddenly being so invigorated with the desire to serve the Supreme Lord that they become aloof to both happiness and sadness? The power is in submissive hearing. Hearing alone won’t do the trick, for if you are in a challenging spirit, how will you soak in the information? Imagine if you had the challenging attitude while learning to read and write in elementary school. Where would that have gotten you?

To be inquisitive is surely beneficial when learning high topics, especially when there are so many different spiritual leaders who claim that their path is the right one. Yet just because there is submission doesn’t mean that logic is absent. The teacher and student must both be qualified. The teacher must have the perfect information, knowledge he is willing to share only with those who will know how to respect it. The student must be submissive and inquisitive at the same time. If he listens properly, he will ask the right questions in response to the instruction.

“Arjuna said: I have heard Your instruction on confidential spiritual matters which You have so kindly delivered unto me, and my illusion is now dispelled.”  (Bhagavad-gita, 11.1)

The ideal example of the teacher-student relationship can be found in the Bhagavad-gita, one of the most famous scriptures in the world. In this work Krishna is the teacher and Arjuna the student. Ironically, prior to the events in question, Krishna and Arjuna were friends and cousins. Arjuna was a famous warrior and on this particular day Krishna volunteered to be his charioteer. But this was not like a golfer getting advice from the caddy. The caddy offers input, but the golfer is always deemed to be in the superior position. For Arjuna to get the right information, he had to assume a subservient role.

That change wasn’t that difficult to accept considering that Krishna is the Supreme Lord. This and many other facts were revealed to Arjuna, who absorbed the information with the proper attitude. At the beginning of the Gita, Arjuna was hesitant to fight in a religious war due to the casualties he might inflict to the other side. This kind-heartedness was rooted in ignorance, and fortunately Krishna was there to set him straight. At the end of the instruction, the illusion was gone, and it had nothing to do with a touch provided by Krishna.

As God Himself, Krishna did show the universal manifestation to Arjuna. For Arjuna to see it, he required special eyes, which Krishna kindly provided. Nevertheless, it was not the vision which changed Arjuna’s perspective; it was his submissive hearing of the highest truths of Vedanta philosophy coupled with a firm confidence in the fact that Krishna was his and everyone else’s well-wisher. Through this type of hearing, along with insightful questions, Arjuna arrived at the proper conclusion, that life is meant to be devoted to service to God. Depending on the time, circumstance, and individual, that service can manifest in different ways, but the common factor is the link in consciousness to the Supreme Lord. The spiritual master holds that link with him at all times, and when he meets a qualified disciple, he kindly teaches them how to create and maintain the same link.

In Closing:

Guru can make disciple change much,

But shift not due to electrical touch.

 

Saves the disciple from path tragic,

Yet the power not anything of magic.

 

Secret is in the student’s propensity to hear,

To listen to guru who in divine surrender lives without fear.

 

Krishna and Arjuna friends in the past,

But now ignorance consuming Arjuna fast.

 

Teacher and student then became the roles,

Highest knowledge Krishna to Arjuna told.

 

Transfer successful because of combination,

Hearing Krishna’s words gave path to salvation.

Short on Specifics

“For spiritual progress in this age of Kali, there is no alternative, no alternative, no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.” (Brihan-naradiya Purana)

“Just tell me what to do. I’m in great despair at the moment; I feel like I’m sinking. I’m going down fast and I don’t know how to get up. Give me something that I can hold on to, some sign of an eventual rescue. Not just philosophy mumbo jumbo either; some tangible exercises, something I can use right now.”

Instances like these highlight the need for a guru, or spiritual master. They also reinforce the fact that there cannot be a singular method that is implemented universally. The properties of the creation and its origin support the same conclusion. If someone creates everything, then how can any aspect of it be off-limits for use in finding the highest pleasure? Therefore when you read Vedic texts, there aren’t many specific recommendations; just guiding principles. If there are specific practices mentioned for people in the various walks of life, they are presented so that the respective people can eventually reach the platform of consciousness where the entire creation turns into their canvas, where they can apply gentle strokes to paint a picture that depicts their unbreakable connection to the divine.

“There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.”  (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.16)

As an example of a guiding principle lacking specifics, in the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna says that a yogi neither eats too much nor eats too little. A yogi also doesn’t oversleep or sleep too little. A yogi is a transcendentalist, distinguished from a non-transcendentalist, who can be likened to a gross materialist. A materialist works solely off of their personal vision, and the immediate one at that. The subtle changes that turn more stark in between larger gaps in time go unnoticed, and instant gratification is the steadily sought after goal. The yogi goes beyond this, seeking higher truths and also a higher taste. They transcend the effects of the material senses, learning to separate spirit from matter.

This is a rather difficult accomplishment when there is so much association with matter already. The association is so commonplace that attachments form. We think that we can’t survive without a certain food or drink, when in reality we most certainly can. To help in achieving their goals, the yogi follows certain regulations, with the primary among them relating to eating and sleeping. If you eat too much, you will get tired and you will also be more prone to sex life, which is a “no no”. Sex exists for a reason; for procreation. Otherwise it just leads to more pain. Sex life devoid of religious principles is also based solely on the illusion that the body is the identifying agent, a mindset the yogi wants to eliminate.

Sleeping too much leads to a greater attachment to the body. Yet both sleep and food are required, so it is not that they should be eliminated altogether. Krishna is another name for God, and as a word it means all-attractive. God gave us food and sleep after all, so they can’t be all bad or all good. The advice for the yogi is likely the same advice we’ve heard from our elders growing up. “Don’t spend too much time playing video games. Don’t eat too much. Don’t worry about the same thing all the time; branch out a little. Keep everything in moderation.”

Notice, however, that Krishna doesn’t say “eat bananas” or “eat blueberries”. He also doesn’t say “sleep eight hours” or “sleep just two hours.” Generally, there is nothing wrong with bananas or blueberries, and sleeping six hours is likely sufficient for most of us, but the specifics are left out because no single practice eliminates one from candidacy for devotional service, which is also known as bhakti-yoga. By the same token, no single behavior automatically makes one a perfect yogi in devotion. Rather, it is the consciousness which determines the connection to the divine. And the principles are set in place to help us shape the proper consciousness.

“Okay, so these principles are nice, but what if I need more specifics? What if I can’t figure out everything on my own?”

This is where the help of the saints is required. They tailor the recommendations to the time and circumstance. Sometimes the immediate purpose isn’t even to bring about full God consciousness in devotion, as the people might be too mired in sinful behavior. For instance, during Lord Buddha’s time, the brahmana community was using the Vedas as an excuse to kill animals and eat their flesh. Thus the pressing need was to stop this animal killing, for as long as the mind is attached to unnecessary violence, there is no question of progressing in consciousness. Lord Buddha’s primary teaching was nonviolence, which is actually just a smaller issue that doesn’t fully address the needs of the soul.

In more recent times, Krishna Himself came to deliver the much needed message with specifics. As Lord Chaitanya, God gave the recommendation that everyone simply chant the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”. “Make this your meditation. The name of God is not different from Him, and so through transcendental chanting one meditates on God, connecting with Him directly.” The validity of the recommendation is supported by the countless devotees who were first introduced to bhakti-yoga through only chanting, not knowing anything of the higher truths presented in the Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam, which are the primary bhakti-shastras, or scriptures.

“But what if we don’t chant? Isn’t chanting a specific recommendation that ignores the nuance and variety of the world around us?”

The effect of chanting is hearing, and in hearing there are no specifics. For instance, Krishna and Rama are just different names for God. One can also hear names like Narasimha, Vishnu, Jagannatha, Janardana, Keshava, Achyuta, Madhava, and so many more listed in the Vedic texts. Each of these names has a specific meaning, and even the word “God” is a sort of name, though it is more of an abstract concept in its present use. Krishna and Rama are considered more complete names because they reference distinct personalities, as God has many different expansions. Lord Buddha is also an incarnation of Krishna, and in each personality there is a purpose to fulfill. Krishna is the reservoir of pleasure; He is all-attractive and so worship of Him satisfies the desire for attractiveness in all of us.

Though the exalted teachers following in Lord Chaitanya’s line established the baseline of chanting the maha-mantra for sixteen rounds a day on a set of japa beads, there are no hard and fast rules for chanting. This should make sense, because God is everywhere. How can we say that He only lives in the temple or that He is only the property of those born in a specific country? Matter and spirit are of the same quality everywhere. In some places the proportion of the material elements may be different, but the underlying spiritual force is always of the same quality. The dharma of the individual soul is to serve God, and since each individual soul is identical in quality, it is every person’s inherent occupational duty to take up bhakti-yoga. Bhakti finds all the missing pieces in life; it plugs all the holes in philosophy and sentiment. Nationalism, patriotism, communism, capitalism, environmentalism, and all the other “isms” lack the required component of service to the divine. Even in many spiritual circles the aim is missed. God is declared to be impersonal, or worse, it is said that everyone is God. Then service to man becomes the motto, except that no one knows how to properly serve their fellow man. A thief’s service in this case is on par with the welfare worker’s.

“One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress, who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me-he is very dear to Me.”  (Lord Krishna, Bg. 12.13-14)

Practicing bhakti-yoga is the highest service to man because a Krishna conscious soul is a friend to all. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita by the Lord Himself. And who doesn’t like having friends? The best friend is the one who is there for you when times are tough, when you really need help. As the root cause of our struggles is the forgetfulness of God, the Krishna conscious soul turns out to be the best friend, as through the sounds vibrating from their lips, the path to the spiritual kingdom enters minds and changes consciousness for the better.

In Closing:

Specifics in worship please tell me,

Through delusion properly I cannot see.

 

Principles of philosophy very nice in theory,

But they don’t answer many a present day query.

 

To stay along proper path I need guidance,

Been scorned too much by mind’s reliance.

 

Shastras the specifics certainly do lack,

So spiritual master there to lay right track.

 

In this age always chant so that you can hear,

Let sounds of the holy name remove your fear.

To Save A Man

“The guru takes the torchlight of knowledge and presents it before the living entity enveloped in darkness. That knowledge relieves him from the sufferings of the darkness of ignorance.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Science of Self Realization, Ch 2a)

The ship ride is getting rocky. You’re not sure what’s going on, but this might be it. The ship might actually sink, in which case some key decisions have to be made in a very short timeframe. Do you make a run for the lifeboats? Do you check on your friends and family on board? What about the people who fell overboard when the ship first started to shake? What should be done about them? The easy option is to save yourself and leave the people stranded in the water, but the more selfless act, which is also the more difficult choice, is to reach over and try to rescue them. You might be risking your own life in this case, but you can’t bear to see other people struggling without anyone there to help them.

The saint chooses this latter route; they try to rescue as many people as possible. To choose this option may not be as easy as it looks. The saint may have friends and family members who want them to stay onboard. Why risk your life when you have others you are obligated to take care of? There is no doubt that there is renunciation involved with saving others. There is only so much time in each given day after all, so if you take up a difficult task, you will have less time to do other things.

For instance, the saint who decides to rescue others may not be able to plan for vacation getaways and nights out on the town. Every day for them is an adventure, as the material land is filled with passengers who have fallen overboard. Just because a few people are rescued doesn’t mean that the work is done. Moreover, time is of the essence, as the sooner people are told of the meaning of life, the quicker they can follow the necessary steps to save themselves. Once you are rescued, you still need to make sure that you don’t do things that will jeopardize your safety. After the difficult rescue, the last thing you would want is to fall back into the water.

In accepting the mission to save others, the saint doesn’t require that much as far as possessions. Just some basic housing, ordinary clothes, and a limited intake of food. That’s it. Nothing else is required, for the saint’s wealth is his knowledge of the mission of life, namely that of becoming God conscious by the time of death. That mission fulfills all other missions. Indeed, every other goal brings but just a small amount of the pleasure that the main objective in life brings. On the outside, the saint may appear to be very renounced, but know that his attitude is based on his love and compassion for others. Renunciation on the highest level is not forced, as when you follow life’s true aim, you automatically give up those things that you don’t need.

The other difficulty with choosing the route to save others is that they may not be receptive to your efforts. You reach out your hand but some of them may not want to grab it. In their drunken stupor they think that they’ll swim forever in this dangerous water. They’re managing just fine, so they don’t require any help. Sadly, that fall from the illusory high of material association will be very painful, and the rescuing hand may not be available later on to save them.

How does the saint rescue others? What is their method of implementation? In the Vedic tradition, the saint is known as a sadhu, who goes hand in hand with shastra and guru. Shastra is the law codes of God, handed down since the beginning of time. The guru understands the principles laid down in shastra because he practices them himself. The sadhu is the saintly man who travels to bring the message of shastra and the teachings of the guru to others. The travel can be with the body in the form of constantly moving around or it can be with the release of information, the mass distribution of literature containing the vital truths of life.

And what are those truths? The identification with the body since time immemorial is the cause for the drop into the dangerous water of the material ocean. Without even referencing any scriptural codes or religious texts, we know that such an identification is flawed. We know this because the body constantly changes. One day I am a child, and the next I am an adolescent. A few years later I’m an adult, and after that I’m an old man. At every point throughout these changes, identification is taken with the body, but the body is known to change. Hence the identification is based on illusion, and if you believe illusion you will be misled.

The real identification is with the spirit soul, the owner of the body. The soul is the constant factor throughout all the changes. It has amazing properties that stay unchanged while the outer covering constantly shifts. In each and every life form the same kind of soul exists, so in essence there is a singular energy that is beyond the duality of the material existence. These facts and more are learned and realized through practicing the principles of brahmacharya, wherein one follows austerity, penance and sacrifice to understand Brahman, or pure spirit.

The person who knows Brahman is a brahmana, which can be likened to a priest. The sadhu is a brahmana because of their knowledge of Brahman, but their saintly character extends beyond just esoteric knowledge of the difference between matter and spirit. They know that Brahman has a source, and it is a personality. The source is already known to most as the abstract figure referred to as God, but in the Vedic tradition much more detail is given about His features, His personality traits, and how one can reach Him. The rescue from the material ocean is one step, but staying in a mood of devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the final piece that ensures that the material ocean will never be an accidental home again.

“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.”  (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.68)

The sadhu is very dear to the Supreme Personality because of the risk they take. Since they look to save the drowning man, they can be considered the kindest worker. It is easy to love our family members and friends. The family members are attached to us in relation. We have known our parents since the time of birth, so loving them is not hard. Our friends are equals who give us pleasure through association. They give us something, so giving them attention in return also isn’t so difficult.

But the saint gives the same level of affection, taking all risk to offer their rescuing influence, without personally knowing the people they save. They would rather not leave anyone stranded, and to help the mission along they train others on how to administer the same emergency treatment. The best treatment of all is to hear about God, and the easiest way to hear Him is to chant His holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

Just chanting this mantra over and over again is enough, but since the material ocean has so many distractions, a routine is required along with an accompanying attention to piety and sin. Avoid pitfalls like meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex and make a steady vow to chant the holy names a set number of times each day, and gradually a new level of enthusiasm will emerge. From that practice the glories of the rescuing saint increase all the more, and the appreciation becomes so profound that the rescued soul looks for ways to repay the kindness originally shown to them. Of course the best way to please the saint is to pass on the holy names, to rescue another soul by taking the risk, ignoring the opposition mounted by others who can’t understand the devotional mindset. The reward of bringing to someone the happiness of God’s association is worth the effort.

In Closing:

Man gone overboard, leave him there?

Forget him, only about myself to care?

 

From heaven the saintly man descends,

A rescuing hand to fallen souls he extends.

 

No matter what reception he receives,

In mission of life he firmly believes.

 

Aim is to think about God at the end,

That objective all wounds does mend.

 

Impossible for kindness of saint to repay,

So just chant holy names every single day.