“The man who reads and recites this narration of the Ramayana will be blessed with a long duration of life and after death will be welcomed and respectfully received in the heavenly region, along with sons, grandsons, and relatives.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kand, 1.99)

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एतदाख्यानमायुष्यं पठन्रामायणं नर:
सपुत्रपौत्रस्सगण: प्रेत्य स्वर्गे महीयते

etadākhyānamāyuṣyaṃ paṭhanrāmāyaṇaṃ nara:
saputrapautrassagaṇa: pretya svarge mahīyate

1. Don’t have to work

“Everything is taken care of. The endowment spits out a monthly payment. The principal never diminishes, in fact. This is what they mean by ‘generational wealth’. You are part of those generations that will never have to go to an office, travel on commuter transportation, or fear getting fired. Enjoy it as much as you can.”

2. Don’t have to cook

“We have someone here to prepare all of your meals. Just notify them ahead of time. They will do all of the shopping, as well. Just sit down at the table when called. They will have everything ready for you.”

3. Don’t have to drive

“We have someone to take you places. They are both a driver and a tour guide. They know the area well. You can relax in the backseat, stretching out in the comfortable surroundings.”

4. Don’t have to maintain the house

“You might be worried about dealing with household repairs. Don’t sweat it. We have a full-time maintenance crew on hand. They will take care of everything. You might hear some noise every now and then, but you can have the driver take you somewhere else. They will wait outside while you enjoy the library, the bookstore, the coffee shop, or any other public place you prefer.”

5. Don’t have to do anything

“I hope you have figured it out by now. You literally don’t have to do anything. We will even send someone to wake you up in the morning. You simply have to decide what to do each day. Charter your own course. Choose your own adventure. You are in command of your destiny.”

…

In one specific country of the world, there is a general feeling of malaise. If polling the average person graduating from high school, they would not be able to answer basic questions about how the national government works. The founding documents? The various branches and institutions? How laws are made?

Blank stares in response. If asking the question as to national identity, in describing what it means to be a citizen of the country, even more hesitation. They are sort of embarrassed to be part of the country, in fact. They feel that there are too many sins from the past. There is nothing to be proud of.

The above reviewed conditions begin to explain the mystery. For how many centuries has the goal been to make progress? For how long has that progress been defined as economic advancement? Who can be more advanced economically than the person who has no responsibilities?

Perhaps as recently as fifty years ago, a person in a similar position would have had to at least get up. In order to do anything, whether based on an obligation or not, they would have to move from one place to another. That is no longer the case. A person can consume endless video content, from morning until night, without depleting the reserves. Simply watch television. Play video games. Take intoxicants to dull any feelings of depression, of which there will surely be.

Larger than a national identity, how can a person have any identity under such conditions? On one side people are desperately racing to reach a condition of retirement, while on the other side the retired person feels like they are lacking purpose in life. They do not know what should be done and what should not be done. They have rejected the traditions of the past, which they consider outdated, bigoted, or narrowminded. They have to come up with new causes, but those are always limited in scope. Those causes are often led by leaders who are in it only for the money and the fame.

In this regard, Narada Muni has a recommendation. Simply hear. This is the first process in the nine outlined by Prahlada Maharaja for what qualifies as bhakti-yoga. The Sanskrit word is shravanam. Hearing has more potency than watching. Images appeal to emotion, while sound appeals to intellect. It is the intellect which will lead a person out of their confusion, out of their hesitancy, and out of their uncertainty with respect to direction.

Narada Muni recommends hearing about a single man, who appeared in this world at a single time, to be the single heir to the single dynasty, which dates back to the single beginning of time. Hear about Shri Rama, who is the sun of the solar race of kings. Hear about Rama to solve the problems of today and also account for the future wellbeing.

There is justification for the recommendation. Rama is the ideal man, carrying tremendous responsibilities, while facing the greatest hardships. The challenges were not described beforehand. They arose at the worst times, when people were least expecting trouble. Those people cared so much for that kind and compassionate Rama that they could not believe He had to suffer alone. They refused to let that happen; they were willing to follow Rama to the ends of the earth, to make sure He was not in isolation.

किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारै: किं धनेन वा
पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्

kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṃ kiṃ dārai: kiṃ dhanena vā
putrairvā kiṃ sukhairvāpi ye na paśyanti rāghavam

“Of what use are wealth, comforts and pleasures, home, wives, and sons if one is not able to see Shri Rama?” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 48.7)

We should hear whether we have everything or we have nothing. We should hear whether we are within the full vibrancy of youth or on the decline due to old age. Whether we are coming or we are going, we should hear about Rama. That will give us a true sense of identity, one that lasts through the vast time continuum, extending across multiple lifetimes. We will, in fact, revive our original and eternal identity, in the process, as it is our dharma to be aligned with Divinity. In full vibrancy and steady enthusiasm, we will act upon that dharma.

In Closing:

Reserves plenty in store,
Accommodations accounted for.

Literally nothing now to do,
How pass the time will you?

Such that enthusiasm stays,
And not dreaded the days.

Narada recommending everyone to hear,
How Rama in this world did appear.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, god, hare krishna, life, poem, poems, poetry