“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)

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ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते

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

1. No one-day shipping

“You have to be kidding. Well, I am not buying from that seller. They have the item we are looking for, but they are charging for shipping. Moreover, the item will not arrive for another week. That is so ridiculous, I am almost insulted.”

2. Buffering for the video

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” src=”https://krishnasmercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Ways-to-Fix-Video-Buffering.jpg” border=”0″>“You have to be kidding. I cannot watch this. Why is the video buffering at this very moment? Probably lots of other fools trying to access the servers at the same time. Do you people have nothing better to do? I work hard all week just so I can watch these movies and relax on the weekend. I don’t need your interference.”

3. Food not yet delivered

“You have to be kidding. We placed the order over an hour ago. The tracker shows their delivery car stuck in a certain spot. Well, I don’t know if they are stuck or if something is wrong with the tracking. I am seriously hungry. In this amount of time I could have driven to the restaurant and picked up the food myself.”

4. No one picking up the phone

“You have to be kidding. You call me five times a day, during the worst possible moments. Whenever I am busy, whenever I am doing something, whenever I need focus and attention, you find a way to bother me. And then whenever I call you, you don’t pick up the phone. Just ridiculous.”

5. The tire pressure warning in winter

“You have to be kidding. I have done nothing wrong. Parking the car in the garage should not be causing additional problems. Every time I leave to go run some errands, that stupid warning light comes on. How have the tires lost pressure? I get it that it is cold outside, but that should not make a difference.”

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that people have become hardened by material life, and due to this condition they are not so interested in religion. It is not difficult to understand, especially with philosophical support from shastra.

The more objects the senses dwell upon, the more potential points of distress there will be. A single object of attention can cause me to lose my mind, as shown in the above review. If I am angry, if I am upset, if my attention is on something causing me frustration, why will I have interest in something philosophical?

Life and death. The elements of nature. The different modes of living. The history of the universe and the predicted future condition. Who cares about any of these things? I am upset right now over something trivial, except I feel that it is the most pressing issue of all-time.

The solution is always the same. Perseverance in the path of dharma. At least making an attempt, as self-improvement is one of the benefits. That over which I am upset now, that tendency towards anger, that hardening of the spirits – these will be corrected with alignment with dharma.

The recommended way to find dharma today is chanting the holy names. Stay with transcendence through sound. Produce that sound on a regular basis, through a routine in japa, and focus on hearing that sound which is produced.

At a minimum, the result is nivritti through this pravritti. Through the positive, active engagement of chanting the maha-mantra there is simultaneous negation of unwanted behavior. There is slow detachment from the objects of the senses.

If we fail to make the attempt, then the potential points of distress will only increase. For every convenience there is an inconvenience. With every inconvenience, there is more over which to be upset. Whereas the conveniences get taken for granted. I come to expect the facilities moving forward, and any disruption will further harden me to the life experience.

That experience can be blissful. That is the potential. The individual is ananda in its composition. It seeks this ananda, but without guidance it goes to the wrong places and focuses on the wrong things. Transcendental life is that very needed realignment and it can soften even those strongly hardened by the difficult conditions of modern living.

In Closing:

I want it now,
I don’t care how.

I want it all,
Whether large or small.

When in this way hardened,
By living experience disheartened.

Still should try to find a way,
For holy names in routine to say.

Categories: the five

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