“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.1.6)

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एतावान् साङ्ख्य-योगाभ्यां
स्व-धर्म-परिनिष्ठया
जन्म-लाभः परः पुंसाम्
अन्ते नारायण-स्मृतिः

etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ

1. Childhood

“Do not waste your day sitting in front of that thing. You will learn nothing from the television. Go outside and play. After that, read a book. Do something constructive. You must be prepared for working as an adult.”

2. Youth

“Turn off the television. It is time to sleep. You must have sufficient energy for school tomorrow. There is that important examination. You must score the highest marks in order to gain admission into the top universities.”

3. Adulthood

“You are content staying in that job? You are going nowhere. There is no chance for promotion unless you are friends with people at the top. Better start thinking of alternative places. You don’t want to regret your decision later on.”

4. Nearing retirement

“Are you going to stay here? It is rather cold. But if you move to a warmer climate, you will be far away from your children. These are the issues to consider as you near retirement.”

5. Retirement

“Oh, you are back now? We missed you. How was the cruise? I think you have hit every corner of the world now. This is the way to pass the remaining days. Enjoy as much as you can. You earned it.”

…

A person open to discussing the culture of bhakti-yoga with others has one stipulation. Prior to entering any discussion, in a friendly manner, the parameters must be agreed upon. The foundation of the restriction is focus on one specific range of time.

This person will only discuss the current lifetime. They are willing to listen to advice that pertains to this life. They are not interested in previous iterations of the life experience, in whichever species they may have occurred. They are not necessarily concerned with the continuation of the conceptions of life, in the manner of air carrying aromas.

शरीरं यद् अवाप्नोति
यच् चाप्य् उत्क्रामतीश्वरः
गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति
वायुर् गन्धान् इवाशयात्

śarīraṁ yad avāpnoti
yac cāpy utkrāmatīśvaraḥ
gṛhītvaitāni saṁyāti
vāyur gandhān ivāśayāt

“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, Bhagavad-gita, 15.8)

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has a humorous response to such demands. He rhetorically asks exactly which phase of life the discussion should focus on. He says that life is a continuation, referencing how children receive an education. In fact, this is one of the principal duties of the adult parents. If they are dutiful in their responsibility, they try their best to make sure that the period of childhood does not go to waste.

As we see with the above referenced examples, life is not limited to adulthood. Even within adulthood, there are so many stages. There is always preparation for the future, even if that future is only for one additional day. At every stage, we are focused on “this” life, but the wise person understands that “this” life will eventually come to an end. Does that mean the preparation should stop? Should we focus exclusively on “this” life even when this life is coming to an end?

यं यं वापि स्मरन् भावं
त्यजत्य् अन्ते कलेवरम्
तं तम् एवैति कौन्तेय
सदा तद्-भाव-भावितः

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.6)

Bhagavad-gita acknowledges the continuation of an existence. The conceptions of life move forward. Whatever state of being we have at the time of death, we attain that state in the future. This explains our past, as well. This is one way to understand karma. Action and consequence, with an impact ultimately landing on the consciousness.

Vedic culture focuses on every phase of life, from beginning to end, with an acknowledgment that the existence continues. If I must leave this place, if there is a forced exit on the horizon, should I not prepare? Should I not at least give thought to how I will live moving forward? Since I am living spirit, I have endurance. The circumstances, the environment around me, lack endurance.

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः

nāsato vidyate bhāvo
nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ
ubhayor api dṛṣṭo ’ntas
tv anayos tattva-darśibhiḥ

“Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance, and of the existent there is no cessation. This seers have concluded by studying the nature of both.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.16)

Shrimad Bhagavatam recommends remembering Narayana at the end of life. Narayana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Narayana is a direct identification, and as a concept is less vulnerable to the influence of nefarious commentators, mental speculators, and outright cheaters. Narayana is a person. Narayana is a living being. Narayana is also a destination.

If remembering Narayana is beneficial at the end, it is also beneficial at the beginning. Not surprisingly, that remembrance, narayana-smriti, is also beneficial in the middle. I am alive right now. I have vibrancy. Whether the ability is increasing or slowly declining, I can remember Narayana today. This should be my topmost priority, my highest objective. Vedic culture is for gradually ascending to this platform, which is beneficial from beginning to end.

प्रीति प्रतीति सुरीति सों राम राम जपु राम
तुलसी तेरो है भलो आदि मध्य परिनाम

prīti pratīti surīti soṃ rāma rāma japu rāma
tulasī tero hai bhalo ādi madhya parināma

“Chanting Shri Rama’s holy name with love, faith and according to regulative principles will be beneficial for you from beginning to end, says Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 23)

In Closing:

“Right there stop!
Stipulation I’ve got.

Only on this life to talk,
Not about in future to walk.

Or how in the past to be,
The present right now to see.”

Truth that always in preparation set,
Remember Narayana the best.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, narayana, poem, poems, poetry, reincarnation