“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.15)

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माम् उपेत्य पुनर् जन्म
दुःखालयम् अशाश्वतम्
नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः
संसिद्धिं परमां गताः

mām upetya punar janma
duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ
saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ

The modern-day preacher of the Vaishnava tradition, which is like a specific carveout of the eternal way of living known as sanatana-dharma, travels from city to city, from town to town, crossing national boundaries, spanning various cultures, traditions, and languages. They want everyone to awaken from their dormant state, to turn their life around by focusing on spiritual life instead of the material, which is temporary and miserable. They reference teachings from Bhagavad-gita, which is like a summary presentation of eternal truths, relevant across all places and circumstances.

Aside from the difficulty in getting people to take notice, to sit down and listen, to even contemplate bhakti-yoga as a way of life, some of the recipients share their reservations by comparing to the settings in which the teachings first propagated. They offer the following concerns:

“Are you not familiar with the rishis of the past? These sacred texts were safeguarded by them, for thousands of years. Those rishis lived vairagya. Renunciation wasn’t just a theoretical concept to them. These teachings are meant for people who are renounced.

इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन
न चाश‍ुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति

idaṁ te nātapaskāya
nābhaktāya kadācana
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṁ
na ca māṁ yo ’bhyasūyati

“This confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.67)

“You are going into the cities and expecting people to practice real yoga. That is a crazy idea. You will never succeed. You need peace and quiet in order to meditate. That meditation, dhyana, is one of the key limbs, angas, of yoga. How do you expect to make a dent when dealing with people who are swarmed by passion and its endless desires?”

सत्त्वात् सञ्जायते ज्ञानं
रजसो लोभ एव च
प्रमाद-मोहौ तमसो
भवतो ऽज्ञानम् एव च

sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ
rajaso lobha eva ca
pramāda-mohau tamaso
bhavato ‘jñānam eva ca

“The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti, and because of this one is bound to material fruitive activities.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.7)

Before we take a look at the setting of the Bhagavad-gita conversation, to show the contrast between peace and chaos, we present the following hypothetical review. These are different engagements that people have no problem finding time for, at least based on personal experience.

1. To have a few pints

“Oh I cannot wait! Count me in. This has been one of the roughest weeks of my life. We should get there a little early, as the place tends to fill up quickly on Fridays. It is when everyone else has a similar desire to unwind. Let’s try to get a good seat, near our favorite bartender.”

2. To watch the big game

“I took the day off. We are bringing the entire family. This event only happens every four years. It does not reach our area that often, either. It is probably the most followed event around the world. Sure, I spent thousands of dollars on this, but I think the sacrifice is worth it. This is a memory to keep for a lifetime.”

3. To doomscroll

“Have you been to the gym lately? I mean one of those public facilities, where you have to pay a monthly membership fee. Well, the people going there are the worst. They do a few reps on a machine and then sit down. To rest? Nope. To scroll on their phone. They are looking at news, but only briefly. They must not be finding anything worthwhile, since they keep scrolling. They hog up machines that other people might want to use.”

4. To complain about others

“Who was I talking to? My friend. Why? Is that not allowed? This is my house. I should be able to talk to whoever I want. Why did the conversation last two hours? Well, they were complaining about someone. Actually, it was multiple people. They need that time to properly vent. Once they get it out of their system, they can move on to something else.”

5. To vacation

“We are going to travel the world next year. I have some time off that the office is forcing me to take. We will find one exotic destination after another. My favorite thing is to visit a warm place during the winter months. I wish I could find colder destinations during the summer, but that is not as easy. People try cruises, since the breeze from the ocean tends to be refreshing. Anyway, I am sure we will figure something out.”

…

The reality is that even while living in a busy city people find time to do things which are not entirely productive. They could do without some of these activities. This means that spiritual endeavors make an ideal replacement. Thanks to the efforts of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in following in the tradition of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, it is easy to implement a routine. Simply start chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bring your offerings to Him on a timely and regular basis. Find ways to always think of Him. In this way, you will surely move closer to Him. That is the meaning to upasana, after all.

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)

Can a person succeed if they are living within the capitalistic world? Can they find renunciation when they have the option to buy one item after another through gestures on their digital device of choice? Can they live without clutter when all of those items start piling up around the house? Can they dig out of their memories, which now live through objects that most people would consider junk?

Bhagavad-gita shows that the recipient of eternal wisdom does not have to live in a specific setting. Nothing can be more alarming in nature than dodging accurately targeted arrows released by warriors skilled in their craft. If you don’t move out of the way, it could be the end. You have to locate your enemies before they locate you. In a task requiring the height of focus and attention, how can someone concentrate on God?

This is precisely what Arjuna was advised to do. Shri Krishna, who was the teacher in that situation, did not recommend withdrawal, in moving to a forest. Arjuna should continue doing what he was doing. The only thing to change was consciousness. In surrendering concern over the outcome of events to the Supreme Lord, Arjuna was free to carry out his prescribed duties. It was done in the spirit of renunciation, but also devotion.

तस्मात् त्वम् उत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वम् एव
निमित्त-मात्रं भव सव्य-साचिन्

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin

“Therefore get up and prepare to fight. After conquering your enemies you will enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasachin, can be but an instrument in the fight.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 11.33)

In Closing:

Keeping on attention’s light,
Urged to stand up and fight.

As instrument of destiny’s will,
As warrior but in yoga still.

Meaning that applicable even today,
Not just for when in forest to stay.

In steadiness the holy names to chant,
Progress in transcendence to grant.

Categories: the five

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