“Ishvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakriti (nature), eternal time and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature and time are eternal.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)

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For someone who follows bhakti-yoga, sanatana-dharma, bhagavata-dharma, or Hinduism, as it is more commonly known, the encounter is inevitable. Especially if there are visible indications that give away the affiliation, someone of a different faith or religious persuasion might object. They present their doomsday scenario, which is not rooted in logic or rational thought. But then again, such people are not known for the ability to think critically or think beyond fear and intimidation. That is the only approach they know and so they offer the following warning:

“You must surrender now. You should abandon those false gods. You should understand that no one else can save you. This is the only chance you get. If you squander it, the opportunity will never come back. What is there to lose? Stop praying for this and that. Ask for eternal life. Admit that you are a sinner. Give yourself over to the savior. Join us and then share your testimony with others.”

A similar appeal might be made by the second highest official in the land, by rank, who laments that their own wife follows an ancient tradition that is rooted in the place currently known as India. In the following hypothetical situation, being on the receiving end of such advice, if you want to call it that, we take the approach of kindness and compassion. You see, it appears that the ones most vehement in their presentation tend to have similar events in their background. Some might call these “blemishes.” We decide to apologize for not having anything similar in our past. Unfortunately, this means that the playing fields are not even.

1. Not having a drug addiction

“Oh, wow, that went on for how many years? The addiction only grew stronger over time. You don’t say? My goodness, you barely escaped doing time in prison. You were even selling the stuff to others? Thank God, you found the Lord. No pun intended, but at least that rescue came just when you needed it. Friends and family even abandoned you. No more possessions. No job. You lost everything. You only gained it back after finding your particular faith. Well, good for you. I am so sorry that I don’t have anything similar in my background. I have never even heard of most of the drugs you were taking. I wouldn’t know where to get them. But at least things worked out for you.”

2. Not having an alcohol addiction

“Oh, wow, so it was every weekend? You even indulged during the daytime, while at work. How did you manage? Wasn’t that expensive? Did your health not deteriorate, as a result? I see, so it was when attending a meeting at one of those support groups that your eyes finally opened to the faith that you now practice. If it wasn’t for that turn, you would still be constantly intoxicated. You haven’t had a drop since? Good for you! I am sorry to say that I do not have anything from my past that resembles an addiction. Not that I have been a saint the entire time, but that stuff never controlled me. But I am happy that things worked out for you.”

3. Being married only once

“Oh, you ran into your ex-wife yesterday? That must have been awkward. But didn’t you say that you ran into her the week before, also? Oh, that was a different ex-wife. I see. You are on your third marriage right now? Well, don’t they say that the third time is the charm? I wish you all the best. I am not here to judge. I believe that marriage is the most difficult relationship to maintain. I am glad you finally found God, as a result of the struggle. Your current spouse shares your same fear, I mean enthusiasm? Well, good for you. I am so sorry that I cannot relate. I have only been married one time, thus far. Fingers crossed, this will be the only one. I wish you all the best.”

4. Having a steady job

“Oh, don’t be embarrassed. A lot of people take a gap year after graduating high school. You just extended that a little. Wow, so you were literally living on the streets? You took a shower once a week and ate whatever scraps you could find? How did you maintain yourself? I see, your parents just kept paying for everything. In that sadness, in that despair, in that hopelessness your eyes were opened up to the Lord. That is how you found faith. Well, good for you! I am so sorry, but I have nothing similar from my past. I went to work as soon as I could land a job. I have been working ever since. I envy those who are more carefree, who are not as afraid of how to pay the next month’s utility bill. I am glad everything worked out. I wish you all the best.”

5. Studying and deliberating

“Thank you so much for enlightening me about how I am destined for hell if I don’t submit to your threats. I really appreciate you looking out for me. I don’t know what I was thinking this entire time. Here I was, contemplating topics like identity, non-identity, action and consequence, time, and the presence of an all-powerful individual who stands above it all. I was studying about the field and the knower of the field. I was contemplating how none of us are actually the doer, since nature must first give sanction for the results of work to manifest.”

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि
गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः
अहङ्कार-विमूढात्मा
कर्ताहम् इति मन्यते

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

“I was studying about how there are 8,400,000 different species and how the concept of a food chain was presented in Sanskrit texts thousands of years ago, long before the advent of modern science. I was considering the implications of unregulated desire, which then leads to anger and wrath. I was focused on rising to the highest level of living, known as the mode of goodness, and keeping the dangers of passion and ignorance at bay.

“Here I was studying, contemplating, deliberating, and choosing for myself, when all I had to do was respond to your intimidation. Thank you so much for enlightening me! I will have to seriously consider your proposal, in shutting off my brain entirely and following like a robot. If only I had a background similar to yours, where we killed innocent animals since childhood and never thought about the history of the universe, I would have been convinced sooner. Well, let me think about it now. I will surely get back to you.”

इति ते ज्ञानम् आख्यातं
गुह्याद् गुह्यतरं मया
विमृश्यैतद् अशेषेण
यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु

iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ
guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā
vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa
yathecchasi tathā kuru

“Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad­-gita, 18.63)

In Closing:

Based on intimidation and threat,
Never in actual knowledge set.

That must follow this way,
Admit fault and fearfully pray.

Apologize that Gita reading,
And with consciousness proceeding.

Where mysteries of the universe to unfold,
And firm grasp of eternal wisdom to hold.

Categories: the five

Tags: bhagavad-gita, dailyprompt, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, preaching