“My whole body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end. My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.” (Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, 1.29)

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वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ।
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्च‍ैव परिदह्यते ॥

vepathuś ca śarīre me
roma-harṣaś ca jāyate
gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt
tvak caiva paridahyate

“I see that you worship Radha-Krishna. I will acknowledge that the temple has a peaceful atmosphere. You feel something different while inside. The arrangements are nicely done. The beauty is breathtaking at times.

“I can see why people follow. I can understand how there is a longstanding tradition, dating back thousands of years. I do not dispute any of the claims. Neither am I against religion, in general.

“The thing is, I already have my sentiments. When analyzing as a composite, consisting of the people around me, we have allegiance to the dog. There is the cat. The significant other. The young children. They are everything to us.

“We are not limited to the realm of reality, either. Do you see these people dressing up when attending the premiere of a new film of a certain series? That is allegiance. That is a preferred sentiment. People like all sorts of things.

“Sports teams. Actors. Actresses. Politicians. Businessmen. The list is endless. We are not desperate for an object of worship. We have plenty to choose from. There is no shortage.

“Do you understand what I am getting at? I hear what you are telling me about bhakti-yoga, devotional service, but my plate is already full with sentiments. I think I am good, for now. I am not forcing this on others, either. You won’t hear me insisting that you follow my preferred sentiment or be forever condemned to a terrible place.”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that because people have become hardened by material life, they no longer have much interest in religion through sentiment. They have enough interests to occupy the mind.

If the caged bird already sings, why should I whistle? In the same way, if there is already so much available without practicing religion, what is a particular faith going to really do for me?

The appeal from the genuine implementation of sanatana-dharma is to apply the intellect. Do not follow blindly. Do not accept out of fear. Do not be irrational, following just to get along with others around you.

Rather, even with every attachment available, there are still gaps. There are issues that arise. Are you ever unhappy? Are you ever unsure of yourself? Do you ever get upset to the point that you can’t understand why? Do you wish to not be so envious of others?

Do you ever wonder what will happen after death? Do you ponder the meaning to it all? Do you question the purpose to your existence? Do you ever wonder what your real identity is, given the constant of change?

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते ।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥

dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ
saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ
kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate

“While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.62)

We can use the example of Bhagavad-gita to understand the need for following intelligently, to not casually lump bhakti-yoga in with other known allegiances. There is a scientific basis to the approach. There is an explanation for anger, lust, wrath, and bewilderment. There is identification of the individual at the factor of a constant. This means that through the changes there must be one identity, and to know that identity is to know something significant.

Arjuna has been following religion his whole life. Other people can relate. Perhaps they have sentimental attachment based on the tradition they inherited from previous generations. Maybe they are already attached to people, places, and things.

Arjuna still comes upon doubt. It is at the worst possible moment. Right when people are counting on him to stand up, to assertively lead a party to victory in an important military conflict, Arjuna is unsure of what to do.

He does not know how to proceed. Though he has displayed his dexterity with the bow and arrow on countless occasions, in this moment the uncertainty is so great that he can no longer carry what is needed. He requires assistance. He asks for guidance.

That guidance is itself religion, in the true sense. It is the necessary knowledge for every living being. Whether they are firmly within a relationship of sentiment or the most renounced person. Whether they are entirely sure of the path moving forward or wandering aimlessly from one endeavor to the next.

The external worship that resembles sentimental attachment is one possible end-result to receiving the vital instruction. At the same time, we see that someone like Arjuna carried out dharma by following through in a military conflict.

सर्व-धर्मान् परित्यज्य
माम् एकं शरणं व्रज
अहं त्वां सर्व-पापेभ्यो
मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

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

Give up every other kind of religious system and follow the guidance of Shri Krishna. He offers full protection. There is nothing to fear. There is no reason to abruptly give up the world, discard affection for others, or be as sedentary as the rock.

इति ते ज्ञानम् आख्यातं
गुह्याद् गुह्यतरं मया
विमृश्यैतद् अशेषेण
यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु

iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ
guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā
vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa
yathecchasi tathā kuru

“Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.63)

Arjuna heard the instruction directly from Krishna, but there was no compulsory follow-up. That is to say, it was Arjuna’s choice as to how to proceed. Krishna placed the various outcomes on the table, so to speak. A wise and honest person could analyze the consequences to the different choices and proceed accordingly.

In Closing:

Attachments there already,
Fixed in allegiance steady.

Why another one to take?
With bhakti life to make.

As knowledge gathering exercise treat,
Where higher intelligence to meet.

Such that to deliberate fully and true,
The instruction Shri Krishna through.

Categories: questions

Tags: bhakti, god, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, religion, yoga