Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Dark Knight

Silent guardian, watchful protector, dark knight...sounds like a line from a movie. Actually, it is! It is a line from the movie Batman Begins. I thought the line perfectly suited the supersoul Krishna. Krishna is silently seated in our heart as our witness guarding us. However, we fail to heed to His warnings. In fact our cry for passion is so loud, our mind shouts so loud, Krishna's protective voice is but a bare whisper. No doubt Krishna is that enigmatic dark knight who is dark as the rain cloud and knightly as the prince of the soul. I wish I can submit to this prince!

Hare Krishna

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Demystify one's self

Science is defined as a systematic study of the natural and physical world around us through observation and experimentation. If we apply this definition to the process of Krishna consciousness, we will find a match.

Bhagavad Gita is an exposition on Krishna consciousness. It gives a detailed psychological presentation of what it means to live and work in this world of pain and pleasure. Then, it gives a systematic guideline to the metaphysical side of things and then it integrates both the worlds. There is no doubt in mind that Krishna consciousness is a systematic psycho-metaphycial analysis of reality as a whole.

The difference in observation and experimentation between modern science and Krishna science is location. Modern science observes and experiments things and people on the outside. Krishna science does the same on the inside. In other words, when we demystify our own internal self with the help of literature, advice from a teacher and daily training, we can prove or disprove the process of Krishna science.

In my opinion, it is no less scientific than mainstream science!

Hare Krishna







Monday, January 25, 2016

Global warming

Unless we address the ecology of our hearts, it is not possible to change world ecology. Greed of corporations and hedonistic lifestyle of humans lead to exploitation of fauna and flora to the point of natural imbalance which we see manifest as global warming. Along with environmental moratoriums, a spiritual awakening is necessary among the masses to control and prevent global imbalance of nature.

Hare Krishna

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Need for a mentor

I always had an attraction towards individuals who live a principled life - principles of growth and well-being. This attraction I think is because I wanted to be like them with principles. I have had this tendency of attraction since I was very young. Growing up, during my adolescent years, I did not have anybody personal I knew to whom I can look up to. I believe every young adult requires a mentor. Typically it is one's own father or uncle or some senior family member. Unfortunately, we live in a world of economic necessities that families by and large live apart from one another. As a result, there is little to no knowledge transference from generation to the next and this negatively impacts young children since they lack mentors rooted from their culture.

In my own life, this was true as I constantly was moving from one location to the next rarely could I find a mentor who was willing to spend quality time with me. Regardless, I sought inspiration from individuals in the public domain such as gurus, teachers, politicians, sport stars, movie celebrities etc Unfortunately, that did not last long as it was not a personal relationship.

When I got introduced to the idea of Krishna Consciousness, the first thing that struck me was of course the clarity of the message of the Gita but more was the persona called Prabhupada. His character, compassion, and principles he imbued was such a powerful example I simply could not stay away from him. I felt like I found the "best" human being in the world. What more could an aspiring young individual ask for - getting guidance from the "best" person on the planet...at least this was my impression. While the philosophy was appealing at many levels, it was Srila Prabhupada's personal character that motivated me to commit to practicing. Prabhupada has said several times that he lives in his books. For me, this cannot be any truer because I always felt his connection in a personal way through his instructions and books. This feeling of being connected to him had such profound impact that I decided to change my ways even though it was difficult.

Young children need such quality interactions with adult mentors whom they can rely and trust. They need to be taught on dealing with challenges of this world but with the principle of connecting back to their spiritual identities - as servants of God and not servants of their minds.

Bhagavad Gita is not a belief system but a quality of life based on values beyond the here and now. If we want our children to be successful materially and spiritually, we need to be there when they need our help. We need to teach by example that challenges in life are actually opportunities to become closer to Krishna - learning to convert challenges into blessings. Such optimism in the face of adversity can only raise the desire to live life to the fullest - that is - to be connected to Krishna at all times, in life and in death!

Hare Krishna

Monday, January 11, 2016

Krishna wants us to depend on Him

Last week, I was asked to present to a big group of about forty people on the importance of data quality. I was planning to use a spreadsheet I created a month earlier for this meeting. So I was confident about the presentation since I already knew what was in the spreadsheet and all I needed to do was do a last minute inspection before the actual meeting. About 20 minutes before the meeting, I opened the spreadsheet and reviewed what I had done earlier. To my utter dismay and shock, I could not understand the spreadsheet fully. I could understand parts of it but the idea I wanted to convey using the spreadsheet seemed elusive. I had written down definition of variables and I tried to decipher what I had originally done, given few more minutes I probably could have figured it out. But unfortunately I was woefully short of time and as the clock was winding down to the start of the meeting, my heart rate was increasing because I could not remember what I had done earlier and irony was my own data quality of the spreadsheet was in question. Anyways, I tried everything I could but still I was little stressful since I wasn't sure what I will be speaking.

I looked at the screen, looked at the clock, and with a confused mind I simply took shelter of Krishna asking me to give me the intelligence to speak properly. My prayer was perhaps 2 seconds. Anyways, I did the best I could in cleaning my spreadsheet and headed to the meeting room five minutes late. There were about forty members waiting for me to speak. I turn the computer on and it wouldn't work. It was my responsibility to have checked everything ahead of time. Anyways, after fiddling with the gadgets and after ten minutes of delay, I started the meeting.

Despite all the confusion in my mind, I breezed through the presentation in thirty minutes with everyone satisfied. Unlike myself, my opening (which is the weakest) was the strongest and I did not falter from there. With everyone satisfied, my manager and other staff members happy, I returned to my desk. I instantly recognized the mercy of Krishna. Even though this is an apparently mundane event, Krishna so kindly reciprocated to my short prayer. He gave me the intelligence and the words to speak just enough to complete the presentation. Of course this event is a matter of faith for others. But knowing my skills in public presentation, and my ability in tense situations from past, I can safely say whatever happened was the intervention of Krishna's kindness.

I simply depended on Him and did not so much worry about the outcome. If Krishna wanted to embarrass me, I cannot control it but at the same time if He wanted me to do well, also I have no control. For my part, I took shelter of Him in a mood of dependency and prayer. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that He is the ability in man and simply by acknowledging that fact by taking shelter of HIm can take us closer to Him. I pray to the Lord that I always take shelter of His Lotus Feet at all times and let Him be my master and I His instrument of His servants.

Hare Krishna