“O best among the glorious ones, all of this has been achieved by me through the divine grace of You and Your brother. One who does not repay the favors offered to him certainly is considered a disgrace among men.” (Sugriva speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 38.26)

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तव देव प्रसादाच्च भ्रातुश्च जयतां वर
कृतं न प्रतिकुर्याद्यः पुरुषाणां स दूषकः

tava deva prasādācca bhrātuśca jayatāṃ vara
kṛtaṃ na pratikuryādyaḥ puruṣāṇāṃ sa dūṣakaḥ

1. The open-source software creator

“I wrote this utility myself. Frustrated with the built-in apps that ship with the operating system, I placed the burden on my shoulders. I hope the entire community of users benefits from this. If you feel so-inclined, you can donate on my website. I am not charging money directly. We are not motivated by profit.”

2. The recorder of concerts

“I filmed the show myself. Don’t ask how I got in; that is my secret. I ask that no one sell copies. Also, please do not try to reauthor and pass off the recording as your own. This is my work, and it is only right to give proper credit. Yes, this is technically pirated material, based on the copyrights held by the artists playing the music, but I feel there is some respect that should be shown to people like me, who go into the trenches and record for the benefit of others.”

3. The torrent host

“Listen, I have an announcement to make. There are too many takers in our community. Your share ratios are completely tilted. You download way more than you allow others to upload. This community cannot survive for long in this way. People have been kind enough to share these videos, which would otherwise cost so much if purchased on the open market. The least you can do is repay the favor by keeping your computers open to others downloading.”

4. The government

“Roads. Bridges. Schools. Tunnels. Facilities for the needy. The police and fire departments. We do so much for you. The least you can do is pay your taxes on time. And be honest when determining how much you owe. Why should you get everything for free? It costs money to run the government.”

5. The servant of the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

There is a criticism that religion is not necessary, that it causes more harm than it does good, and that if there were an Almighty Being, He certainly would not insist upon loyalty. He would not keep a close eye on attendance such that one or two absences would immediately invalidate the future entry into the imperishable realm. He would not be petty and miserly, and He would not interfere with the enjoyment of others.

In some respects, the criticism aligns with the principles of the Vedas. The living beings are living, after all. Life involves choice. Moving this way or that. Sleeping a little longer in the morning or waking up. Drinking that cup of coffee for a burst of inspiration or staying calm and steady. To consume animal flesh or to live off milk, fruits, and grains. The choices have consequences. The collective system of action and reaction is karma. The living entities flow through different experiences, in different bodies, across different periods of time due to this karma.

गुणदोषकृतं जन्तुस्स्वकर्म फलहेतुकम्
अव्यग्रस्तदवाप्नोति सर्वं प्रेत्य शुभाशुभम्

guṇadoṣakṛtaṃ jantussvakarma phalahetukam
avyagrastadavāpnoti sarvaṃ pretya śubhāśubham

“Driven by a virtuous or evil purpose, each living entity performs some work, which has consequences associated with it. After death, the same person steadily reaps all those auspicious and inauspicious results.” (Hanuman speaking to Tara, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 21.2)

As if to clear the confusion on the many potential choices, to give clarity on the path forward, the Vedas recommend yajna. This is specifically for the living beings in the human population. They should follow yajna, as much as possible. Yajna will bring them everything they want. Yajna will make them happy. Yajna will be like planting a seed to yield a forever-green desire tree that has the tastiest fruit always in the ripe condition, ready to be plucked and enjoyed.

अन्नाद् भवन्ति भूतानि
पर्जन्याद् अन्न-सम्भवः
यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो
यज्ञः कर्म-समुद्भवः

annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rain. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and yajna is born of prescribed duties.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.14)

Bhagavad-gita explains that the fields produce grains because of rain. The cause of rain is yajna. Therefore, to follow yajna is to follow a higher way of life. Alignment with yajna indicates the finest culture. The sober, rational, and intelligent human being keeps an eye on sacrifice.

Another viewpoint into yajna is appreciation. Sacrifice is for appreciating what others are offering. In the case of rain, it is a blessing from the celestials. And yet there is someone higher. That is the standing of God. He is above the material world. He produces everything. He is the origin. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end.

अहम् आत्मा गुडाकेश
सर्व-भूताशय-स्थितः
अहम् आदिश् च मध्यं च
भूतानाम् अन्त एव च

aham ātmā guḍākeśa
sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ
aham ādiś ca madhyaṁ ca
bhūtānām anta eva ca

“I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.20)

When viewed as a systematic way to show appreciation, religion begins to make sense. The more appropriate word is dharma. We see that there is dharma in all aspects of civilized life. This is because people expect some kind of appreciation. They are working, after all. When that work benefits others, the people on the receiving end should at least acknowledge what is being done for them. The Vanara leader named Sugriva explains that a person who does not repay favors is a disgrace amongst men, dushaka.

The person following dharma in the traditional implementation shows appreciation. They try to make everything an offering to God. They first offer to their spiritual guide, who showed them the way. The spiritual guide is a servant of God, and so the worshiper is like a servant of the servant. They urge others to have a similar attention to appreciation. This is not mandatory. There is not an immediately visible punishment for negligence. A person should follow because appreciation aligns with their nature. Their dharma matches the system of dharma that otherwise goes by the term ‘religion.’ Dharma is for bringing happiness. We are happiest when we show our appreciation for the Supreme Lord.

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

“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)

In Closing:

Rather various speculations to scatter,
Religion just a simple matter.

That some appreciation show,
In upward chain to flow.

To one who everything made,
Vow His instructions obeyed.

In this life and future ones occurring,
With interests of spiritual guide concurring.

Categories: the five

Tags: appreciation, dailyprompt, gratitude, life, poem, poems, poetry