“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

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यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

1. A gym

“Why are we placing those giant circle things onto that bar? My dear child, this is called ‘weightlifting.’ It is a way for people to both increase their fitness level and show off their strength. Rather than go outside and carry sandbags or try to lift a car, it is easier to show up inside of a gym, where everything is already laid out for you.

“These people are indeed strong. You are correct. They want a way to show off that strength. This is like their playing field, to exercise their qualities. You guessed correctly that due to their large muscles they would be able to push heavier weights, but that is not always the case. Sometimes looks can be deceiving.”

2. An arena

“Why are they skating around like that? My dear child, this is known as a hockey rink. In many places around the world, during the winter season the local bodies of water known as lakes freeze over. People attach metal blades to the bottom of shoes and can thus maneuver across the ice in what is known as ‘skating.’

“Over time, in addition to gliding across the ice, people invented games to play. Ice hockey is one of them. These players are gathered here today to exercise their ability. They have talent both to skate and to handle a puck. Yes, not all of them are moving around. Some are covered from head to toe with protective equipment. They are known as ‘goalkeepers.’ Their special ability is reacting to pucks that are targeted for the net. The keeper maintains the goal; they try to stop pucks from going in.”

3. A laboratory

“Why are they in this special room and why are they wearing those strange glasses? My dear child, these are scientists and this place is known as a laboratory. It is where researchers get to act out their different theories. They conduct experiments. That is like running a test against what you think might happen when chemicals combine.

“Or perhaps someone is changing the temperature, to see if there is a corresponding change in state for the elements involved. You know how when we get ice cream in the summer you have to eat it really fast before it melts? Imagine if you could find a place to run experiments to see just how fast that ice cream melts. What if you change the temperature of the room? What if you add different elements to the ice cream? Scientists are curious in this way, and the laboratory is where they can indulge that curiosity and record their findings.”

4. A concert hall

“Why is that chair placed in the middle of the stage? Why are all of these people gathered here to look at that stage? My dear child, this place is known as a concert hall. We are going to hear an expert musician tonight. They have specific talent at playing music on their instrument of choice.

“Yes, they could certainly stay in their home. That is likely where they practiced for so long. But since they have exceptional ability, they wish to play in front of others. It is like a challenge to them. It is a way to also prove to themselves just how good they are.”

5. An area of worship

In a hypothetical situation, there is an election taking place. Voting will occur in different stages, across different regions of the country. The first place is a small town known more for its large fields which produce corn. The political establishment has given this area “first in the nation” status when determining the candidates for the next general election, which is to determine the leader of the land.

Within this particular cycle, there is one candidate who shines. They are articulate in stating their beliefs. Their message resonates with the voters. This candidate is not afraid to field questions, from supporter and challenger alike. They were not previously known, but their youthful exuberance and positive outlook have won many potential voters over.

Except there is this one criticism which appears to be widespread enough to cause concern. A local pastor tells this candidate directly to their face that the barrier holding many people back is religion. Though the candidate hardly mentions religion when speaking on matters of public policy, the religious leaders of the area offer the following criticism:

“I agree with everything you say. We love having you here. The problem is that we cannot support you. This is because of your religion. All those false gods. All that strange worship. The preferential treatment offered to the cows. It is like you are a member of a demonic cult. Your culture has no basis upon which to stand. Its origins are not in the right place. You are a great person, but we cannot accept your religion. It will not be tolerated in this part of the country.”

The above review of different playing fields begins to explain the practice which is as old as time itself. If there is a God, then certainly there must be a way to identify Him. Surely, He is all-pervading. He is omnipresent; otherwise there would be no purpose to prayer. He is everywhere, in the manner of the greatest fire spreading its heat and light across the universe.

एक-देश-स्थितस्याग्नेर्
ज्योत्स्ना विस्तारिणी यथा
परस्य ब्रह्मणः शक्तिस्
तथेदम् अखिलं जगत्

eka-deśa-sthitasyāgner
jyotsnā vistāriṇī yathā
parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktis
tathedam akhilaṁ jagat

“Everything that is manifested within this cosmic world is but the energy of the Supreme Lord. As fire emanating from one place diffuses its illumination and heat all around, so the Lord, although situated in one place in the spiritual world, manifests His different energies everywhere. Indeed, the whole cosmic creation is composed of different manifestations of His energy.” (Vishnu Purana, 1.22.52)

If people can offer kind words of support to their local leaders, then why not to the highest leader of all? This is not worship of “false” gods, but rather prayer manifesting in a legitimate sense. That worship is actually a culture, rather than a fad. It is more than showing up to a credentialed institution on a weekly basis. It is more than affiliation with a particular religion made known in a public sense, to keep the authorities off your back.

Rather, this worship is the byproduct of the very nature of the individual. Of every individual. From every period of time. Across every phase of the typical experience through life. This nature is known as dharma, and since that dharma has no beginning and no end, the corresponding culture is known as sanatana-dharma.

Indeed, to not worship in such a way is to go against that dharma. It is to divert the innate tendencies towards areas of temporary significance. A person criticizes worship of gods they consider to be false, while at the same time dutifully following their dog in the morning and picking up the excrement left at the side of a tree. They bow in front of a significant other in a proposal to maintain association throughout life. They consider offerings of fruit, flowers, and water before the archa-vigraha to be demonic, while at the same time intentionally rounding up adult female animals and killing them, but only after giving a vision of their children so as to produce milk that is then consumed by the human population.

“There is no difference between the thumblike Vishnu in the womb of Uttara and the full-fledged Narayana in the Vaikuntha-dhama, the kingdom of Godhead. He accepts the form of archa-vigraha (worshipable Deity) just to accept service from His different incapable devotees. By the mercy of the archa-vigraha, the form of the Lord in material elements, the devotees who are in the material world can easily approach the Lord, although He is not conceivable by the material senses. The archa-vigraha is therefore an all-spiritual form of the Lord to be perceived by the material devotees; such an archa-vigraha of the Lord is never to be considered material.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.12.9 Purport)

The person following sanatana-dharma within the playing field of the area of worship, which can be a large temple or a simple corner of a room within the home, has nothing to apologize for. They are following the recommendations of authority. They are trying to make the entire life experience yajna, which is sacrifice for the benefit of the highest god, who is the single Supreme Lord that the entire universe follows, whether they know it or not.

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते
तांस् तथैव भजाम्य् अहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते
मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

“All of them – as they surrender unto Me – I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

In Closing:

As demonic you say?
Since with deity to stay.

Towards object to pray,
Following the wrong way?

But tendency in everyone found,
Drawn from dharma bound.

An honest attraction embarrassment without,
Supreme Lord revealed both within and without.

Categories: the five

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