Five Desperate Pleas For Connection

“Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.41)

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व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिर्
एकेह कुरु-नन्दन
बहु-शाखा ह्य् अनन्ताश् च
बुद्धयो ऽव्यवसायिनाम्

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca
buddhayo ‘vyavasāyinām

1. Can we hang out tomorrow?

“Wow, that was so amazing to finally catch up. How much fun was that game? I hadn’t been following for the last several years. Thanks for getting me up to speed. This reminded me of old times. It had been way too long. What do you say we do it again tomorrow? Same time and same place.”

2. Can we hang out once a week?

“That was amazing yesterday. The kids really took to one another. The weather is turning over just in time. You live in such a great area. I think everyone had a wonderful time. What do you say we do it again next week? Better yet, how about making this a recurring appointment? Every week, I will show up. We can thus avoid drifting apart.”

3. Can we hang out every six months?

“It is too bad that we live so far away. It is difficult to make friends in my area. The parents of today are different from when I was growing up. There is no eagerness to look out for one another. Everyone is so isolated. The irony is that they feel they are more connected than ever, since they are always on their smartphones. Anyway, what do you say we make a habit out of this? Once every six months or so? I can put in for leave from the office. I think it’ll give us something to look forward to.”

4. Can we hang out once a year?

“Listen, you are busy. I am busy. Everyone is busy. At the same time, getting together is so much fun. It rejuvenates the spirits. It lifts people up. We are meant to stay this close. What do you say we make an annual tradition of it? We can rotate the location. One year at my place, the next year at yours. I think it is a great idea. Let’s do it!”

5. Will I ever see you again?

“Let’s be real, this isn’t going to be a regular occurrence. It was fun while it lasted. It was great to see you, but who knows when the next meeting will take place. Can you even guarantee that we will see each other again? You say that it will happen, but when, exactly? Can you give me a date or time?”

…

In a formal setting, in a program dedicated to furthering the goal of going back to Godhead, in returning to the spiritual world of Vaikuntha, the questions posed to the leader tend to be the same. The exact words or topics might be different. The individuals have their own situations, their own shortcomings, and their own concerns. But everything boils down to whether or not they are doing the right thing. Are they pleasing the Supreme Lord with their efforts? Are they on the right track or on the wrong track? If things aren’t going well, how can the problems be corrected? What can the leader advise that will turn the situation around?

If ever there were a doubt as to what might please Bhagavan, who is God the person, the above review gives the answer. Presence. Any sort of meeting, at any sort of cadence, will suffice. Sure, the acharya of the Vaishnava tradition, in the line of teachers descending from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, recommends the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Implement a fixed routine, such that the mantra will be repeated for the same number of times each day. Maintain a standard, to keep a minimum count that translates to what His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada refers to as “numerical strength.”

The recommendations may be adjusted for the time and circumstance, but the foundation for success is presence. Any cadence will do, as long as it is maintained. If a person at least thinks of God, tries to become His devotee, and attempts to offer service, they are making progress. If it is once a minute, once a day, or even one time in a year, there should be steadiness. Those on the path of transcendence have a single purpose. Those who are in karma keep jumping from this interest to that. They are not steady. They are firmly grounded in the material world, due to the lack of connection that is yoga.

मन्-मना भव मद्-भक्तो
मद्-याजी मां नमस्कुरु
माम् एवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवम्
आत्मानं मत्-परायणः

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.34)

The complaints and excuses will be many. I can’t chant because of my job. I can’t visit the temple because of the distance. I can’t remember Krishna because my mind always gravitates towards the negative. I am more like the crow than the swan. I am without hope. There is nothing I can do. The truth is that there is a lot I can do. I can turn the situation around right now, today. The choice is always mine.

सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां
यतन्तश् च दृढ-व्रताः
नमस्यन्तश् च मां भक्त्या
नित्य-युक्ता उपासते

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate

“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.14)

In Closing:

The choice in my hands,
Over where future lands.

In karma here and there,
Then better or worse to fare.

Meanwhile the chance to miss,
For transcendental bliss.

Better any cadence to instate,
For proper consciousness to create.