Framework for ascertaining non-sectarian dharma

Steps to understand that the process of Bhagavad dharma is non-sectarian.

For example, let us say I am sick. Below are the steps I would take;

1. I have fever, headache and body-ache
2. I will go to the doctor 
3. Take the medicine as prescribed by the doctor
4. No fever, headache or body-ache (healthy)

The above is a real world example every one of us have experienced. It is the same for a muslim, christian, hindu or atheist. 

The above steps can be categorized as follows;

1. Problem
2. Method or process
3. Solution
4. Problem solved

Using this four-step framework, we can apply this to Bhagavad dharma;

1. Problem - Human's false identification with the body and mind (experiences duality/birth&death or samsara)
2. Method/process - logical deduction, instructions of the sages, and vedic literature
3. Solution - Surrender to Lord Sri Krishna who is seated within the heart
4. Problem solved - No false identification with body and mind, hence does not experience duality/birth&death or samsara.

Now, people in general (majority) do not even accept they have the problem of mis-identification. However, we simply have to be sober and introspect our own self to ascertain that it is a problem. There is ample evidence from scientists also suggesting the same (if we have the will to research, we will find evidence). Through some personal effort, certainly we can ascertain the problem. 

The method or process requires faith. This faith is not blind. When we see self-realized sages who are not attached to their body and mind, we want that. We want a state where we are not attached to enjoyment or renunciation (duality) like the sages. We can gather that evidence by simply studying the sages. If a sage is not interested in the duality of  enjoyment or renunciation, then we can conclude he or she is not attached to the body and mind. We approach them like we go to the doctor and inquire from them as to how they reached that stage. According to great sages like Ramanuja and Madhwa, we learn that by taking shelter of Krishna and surrendering unto Him we will also reach that state of existence non-duality (advaitam).

We practice with due diligence and realize the truth for our self.

Anyone regardless of their political, economical, and religious biases, if they take to this process, they will realize the truth and this is the essence of non-sectarianism. Anybody regardless of background will get the same results. 

Hare Krishna

How to have a peaceful mind?

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna many times talks about the equanimity of the mind. He says we have to treat success/failure, honor/dishonor, pain/pleasure equally and such equanimity of mind is called yoga or mind control or mindfulness. 

To do this, 

1. We have to learn to tolerate both good and bad. If we become too happy then naturally we will also not react well when things go wrong.
2. We also have to refrain from interpreting incidents in our life as gain or loss. When we qualify something or someone as favorable (gain) or unfavorable (loss), then invariably we will fall in the trap of duality of happiness or sadness. 
3. We have to spend time understanding that my life, my family, my job and my assets is a result of something more than just me or my efforts. No doubt, because of our hard work, we reach a certain socio-economic status but it is incorrect to think that I am the sole reason for my success or failure. There are other moving parts that we do not control and those parts either assist or desist our progress. So having a broader vision for life is necessary to understand our own progress.
4. We have to be grateful not as a matter of political correctness but genuinely from the heart understanding truly the assistance we received. In this way, we must be grateful to mother nature as she is providing our needs, great sages who have given us spiritual wisdom,other beings such as animals who help us with our needs,family and friends,other humans who participate in our life,and parents/grand-parents/fore-fathers without whom we cannot be where we are. We have to acknowledge and be anxious to return the favor we receive.
5. Finally, like it or not, this creation exists due to a super intelligent being whom many call God or universe etc. Whatever superlative we want to use, we have to accept there is a grand design in this universe and without that we cannot do anything. To the ultimate designer, with a pinch of affection and love, we doff our hat!

By having an all-encompassing thought process (aka mature) about life with all its variety, we will only be centered and not skewed one way or other. This centeredness or equanimity is essential for having a peaceful mind. 

Hare Krishna

God of Abrahamic faith?

In the Bible (old and new testament) and Koran, we find that God volunteers to talk to man. The stories begin with God talking to Abraham in the old testament and an angel talking on behalf of God to Mohammed in the Koran. There are similar stories connected to Moses as well. In all of this, God takes the first step or at least that is the impression we get reading the Abrahamic scriptures.

In the Srimad Bhagavata purana, we find the opposite. For God to appear, the great devotees of the Lord undergo severe austerities. Devotees like Dhruva, Kardama muni, Prahlada,Prshni & Sutapa etc undergo tapasya (austerity) to see Krishna face to face. We all know the caliber and quality of such exalted souls. They were in full control of their body and mind, were peaceful and completely focused in the service of the Lord for many many years.

If it takes such austere practices and conditions to see the Lord, then how come Abraham or Moses or Mohammed had contact with the Lord without tapasya? We do not have information that they practiced severe austerities. In fact we learn that they were just regular householders. Krishna Himself proclaims in the Gita (BG 7.3) that even amongst perfected beings, rarely one can know Him. Certainly, I do not think Abarham or Moses or Mohammed were perfected beings at the time they were contacted by God.

Considering all of these points, it is difficult to comprehend for me that Krishna is the God mentioned in the Abrahamic faith that He would have contacted the patriarchs of the Abrahamic faith. So if the God of the Abrahamic faith is not Krishna, then perhaps it may be some demigod giving instructions to elevate the consciousness of the people outside Bharata khanda?

Hare Krishna

Guru Nishta

Guru nishta is a principle that is important for one to advance in Krishna consciousness. Without the blessings of the spiritual master, progress towards Krishna is practically nill. In the Hari Bhakti Vilas (not sure where) i think there is some language on how to select a spiritual master. I believe there is some room for sentiment when it comes to getting diksha from a specific guru. However, sentiment goes only so far. If we truly want to serve guru, then we must serve per principle and not sentiment. Because in daily life, there will be struggles internal and external. There will be doubts and temptations on the position of guru thrown at us by media, people, family and material opulence. If we simply serve based on sentiment, such service can be volatile (up and down).

We should not trust our mind because as the mind vacillates so does our  emotions and sentiments. Therefore, our service, convictions, and emotions should be rooted in principle that stems from the pages of Bhagavatam or Bhagavad Gita. Our vision of the spiritual master and his instructions should be seen through shastra and not our sentiments. When we strictly approach the person Bhagavad through the shastra Bhagavad, no amount of external forces can shake our faith in guru. Sentimental faith on guru is like house on sand, will crumble eventually!

Hare Krishna

struggle for existence

Our existence is filled with struggles. It is because nature is designed in such a way that we are dependent on other beings for sustenance. Dependence requires cooperation and where there is no cooperation, there will be struggle. Struggle to align body and mind with health and well-being. Struggle to work as a community and prosper economically and socially. Struggle to ensure I am happy and everyone is happy in this world. As hard as we may try, unfortunately, mankind has never made everyone happy at all times. Therefore, we can say struggle for existence is a constant in this world.

As practitioners of bhakti, struggle takes a different meaning. It is not so much meant to conquer nature, and people and man-made systems to make ends meet but rather a struggle to tolerate the ever changing mind and try to fix the mind unto the Lotus Feet of Krishna. While it is necessary to do the needful in terms of satisfying the demands of the mind and body, however, it is more necessary to practice indifference to the movements of the mind and practice taking shelter of Krishna. This practice of seeking shelter will help us tame the turbulent mind and the more we humble our self to Krishna, the easier it will be to tame the mind or in other words be indifferent to the mind.

Struggling to take shelter of Krishna is the permanent solution that puts a full-stop to all struggles for material existence!

Hare Krishna

Lessons from Narada's travel to the North

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, first canto, chapter six, Narada Muni describes his own journey to spiritual emancipation. What do we learn? Below are few of my thoughts;

1. From the death of the mother of Narada, we learn that the Lord is the Supreme controller and we the insignificant jivas are but like puppets under a puppet master. All activities good and bad that happen in my life happens by the will and sanction of Krishna.
2. Because Narada as a boy served the great Bhakti-vedantas, when he was alone wandering he had the know-how to approach that which is invisible. In other words, his association with the Lord actually was possible because the Bhakti-vedantas taught Narada how to approach the Transcendent Lord. If not for them, he would be lost and not be realized himself. Therefore, without the mercy of a pure devotee, Krishna will not manifest.
3. Krishna is all independent and not subjected to anyone's thoughts or prayers yet He reveals Himself to Narada thus confirming the idea that He is the eternal well-wisher of all Beings.
4. Krishna is non-material thus He is approachable ONLY if we become non-material or spiritual. That is why Narada muni was advised by Krishna that He cannot be seen by anyone who has material desires. If we want to serve Krishna, we have to become pure of material dualities of gain and loss.
5. Nama-Sankirtan is the essence of Vedanta and Narada after losing sight of Krishna decided to chant the Holy Names of the Lord constantly with no material attachments. We also have to follow in his footsteps. 
6. Patience is a virtue. From the first contact of Krishna to becoming His eternal associate took more than 4.3 trillion years for Narada so we also have to become patient and wait for the mercy of the Lord (we should not feel entitled).
7. After a long wait, Narada successfully became Narada. Krishna does not abandon His bhakta therefore Krishna as Bhakta-vatsal always protects His devotees and delivers the devotee to Himself. We should have this confidence that at the end of it all - Krishna never disappoints!

Hare Krishna

why the Bible and Koran fall short

Someone asked me a question when I was distributing books the difference between Bhagavad Gita and the Bible and why the Gita is any different. It was sort of a challenging question. I thought about the question more and below are some of my points. This logic can also extend to the Koran.

The Bible and Koran although existing for the past 2000 and 1500 years respectively, have not been recognized as authoritative scriptures by the great acharyas like Sri Ramanuja and Madhwa. In fact, none of the saintly teachers give lot of credence to the Bible and Koran. A few of them have commented on some of its value, however, it is not accepted as a spiritual authority.

Bible and Koran was spoken for a different audience at a specific time and place. Following are, in my opinion, shortcomings that to me invalidate it as a scripture.

1. God is anonymous - If a book is meant to be the word of God, then the least the reader should be aware of is the identity of God? In fact, even the name of God is not properly revealed. There are suggestions, certainly, but the name, form, and pastimes of God is anonymous. 
2. The early reciters are anonymous - The Bible and Koran was transferred from one generation to next mainly through oral tradition. The stories were told and re-told to this day. However, we do not have documentation of the identity and qualification of the story tellers. In the Bhagavad Gita, the speaker is very clear and later on, through the chain of disciplic succession from Maha muni Vyasa, the speakers are clear and their qualifications known. The same cannot be said of the Bible or Koram.  
3. The authors are anonymous - The Bible and Koran were heard and written by scholars of unknown origin. The old testament, however, especially the first five books called the Torah were written by Moses and the later books were written by some known people. However, as for the New Testament, the stories in the Gospel, the authors are under question. Luke, Mark, Mathew and John are said to be the disciples of Jesus but this is not universally accepted by all. Anyways, the issue of authorship of the Gospels is a deeper subject and is beyond my knowledge but the bottom line is that the identity and qualification of the authors of the Gospels is not revealed. The there are letters by St. Paul but these are not direct words of God. Similarly, the Koran originally was written by members in the audience Prophet Mohammed was speaking but as for their identity, it is not known.

So with God, the reciters and authors being anonymous, it is difficult to consider these books in par with books like Bhagavad Gita and or Srimad Bhagavatam. Approximately 60% of the world population read either the Bible and or Koran and we respect the book and the people who consider it sacred. But in my opinion and under stringent scrutiny, the Bible and Koran are books on ethics and human morality but cannot be taken as a book about the form, nature and pastimes of God!

Hare Krishna

Please chant - there is certainly no loss!

Chanting

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

daily will eliminate fear, anxiety, depression,sadness,despondency,anger,and hopelessness. Instead, chanting will give mental strength, spiritual strength,freedom from anxiety,hope,equal-mindedness,positive feeling and above all inner peace and joy.

The only condition is to chant with sincerity of heart and take the effort to hear the sound clearly and distinctly in a mood of dependence on Krishna (not independence)!

Please chant!

Hare Krishna

Giving credit to the idea of 'yadraccha'

Frustration is something we all have experienced. The opposite of that we can say is peacefulness or tolerance. Peace and tolerance are topics discussed by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. In the mundane world, peace is sought somewhere outside and tolerance is seen as a sign of weakness. However, in my opinion, frustration is a result of lack of tolerance and lack of mental peace which comes from a sort of entitlement of results (provided we put the work).

But in the Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, there is an indication that beyond our work and desire, there is a third cause which is destiny. Destiny or time seems ambiguous in lay perspective. The fact is the jiva or soul according to the Vedic understanding is not independent as modern society leads us to think. We are dependent on nature and God. Only God is independent but as for us we are not. We are bound by our previous actions which chalks our future destiny. Therefore, when things do not go our way, instead of getting frustrated we should step back and appreciate the bigger picture. The reverse is also true, if things do go our way, instead of punching the fist in the air, we step back and appreciate the bigger picture.

The best way to counter frustration is to be happy or content with whatever comes of its own accord by performing one's duty with due diligence. We will not be frustrated if we understand that time and destiny dictates our activities and that we are instruments of them. We should perform our duties with this thinking in mind.

Krishna says to Arjuna;

yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo
dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ
samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca
kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.- BG 4.22

Vamandev tells Bali Maharaj;

yadṛcchayopapannena
santuṣṭo vartate sukham
nāsantuṣṭas tribhir lokair
ajitātmopasāditaiḥ

One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds. - SB 8.19.24

In both verses, the word 'yadrccha' is used meaning some thing which is beyond our control. Something that comes accidentally or without much endeavor or by destiny or randomly etc. However, we want to interpret that word, 'yadraccha' indicates that there is something more beyond my control and we are not fully independent.

When we take shelter of this knowledge or idea of 'yadraccha', we will always be happy or content in any circumstance of life.

Hare Krishna

My motivation

The process of Krishna bhakti is a struggle, I will not lie to you. But then so is everything else in life. What is the difference you ask? The difference is in Krishna bhakti, there is no failure where as material endeavors despite the struggle, there is chance of failure. In Krishna bhakti, there  is no failure, only success and victory! That gives me motivation to continue my struggle!

Hare Krishna

A true social reformer will speak the truth

Social reformers, politicians and welfare workers etc talk about eradicating social ills but they do so comparing to the woes of today. But we have never reached that absolute utopian state, why? Because we live in a world of duality. This is an axiomatic truth -  a self-evident one. But we do not accept it and we cannot accept it because if we accept a world with duality, then we have to accept always there will be good and there will be bad. There will be richness but also there will be poverty. There will be security but also there will be crime. As a politician or any social reformer, this sort of 50-50 condition is unacceptable and hence for all their life, they struggle in the name of upliftment and service to man to change human condition.

As long as man exists and time exists, we will have two sides to a coin since this is a relative world we live in. This desire for an absolute good world, however, is an indication of something deeper. Therefore, a true social reformer will speak the truth. He will point to man the futility of a relative world and that true absolute freedom from social ills is possible only in an absolute setting and not in a relative setting and that absolute setting is the Spiritual world or Vaikunta!

Hare Krishna

There is no better alternative!

There are times when spiritual practice feels like a routine and feels like we are neither in the material nor in the spiritual. At times of plateau, it is important to realize that our process of spiritual practice is coming down through the ages through great yoga masters and it takes patience and perseverance to sustain a steady practice. We should also have an objective and unbiased understanding of the material reality we live in. Though material life on the surface always looks glossy, we have to look past the veneer and appreciate the true meaning of materialism. Honestly, there is nothing worthy to mention. Therefore, we may feel less enthused by the routine of spiritual practice but still if we continue with faith on the great yoga masters and the insightful instructions of the scriptures, certainly, one day we will experience a higher taste. I do not think there is any better alternative!

Hare Krishna

Seek Krishna - The Person

A friend is one who is related to another person for the cause of having a personal relationship regardless of the social and economic status of the friend. If a person is rich and famous, typically his friends and family also become famous on account of their relationship with the celebrity. So a celebrity is always connected to his or her opulence. Nevertheless, a true friend will associate with a celebrity not for his opulence but for his personal relationship. In the adult world, unfortunately, such friendships are rare because we only seek alliances if there is some level of social, economic, political or religious benefit. We live in a benefit-driven world, no doubt (true even amongst close family members)!

Duryodhana will be proud of this world since he was very much like that. Krishna is most richest and famous person in the entire cosmos. Not only that, He is also very attractive, powerful, strong etc. So who would not want alliance with Krishna. Duryodhana actively sought Krishna’s alliance for His riches and power. When Duryodhana went to see Krishna before the grand war, he asked Krishna’s favor for His power. Duryodhana asked for Krishna’s Narayani Sena so he can use them in the war. Duryodhana like modern man was a numbers person. He thought “what can one Krishna do? If I get His grand army, I can win the war”.

On the other side, Arjuna was a true friend. He did not care for Krishna’s majesty or opulence or power or how much he can benefit from Krishna. Rather, Arjuna’s only request was to be by-the-side of Krishna, that’s all. Arjuna only sought Krishna’s personal relationship without all His opulence. Arjuna was not benefit driven.

Today, we go to God for only one reason – to seek some benefit in the form of physical or mental or emotional support or even spiritual emancipation. We do not go to God just to express our friendship and love to Him. It is always purpose or benefit driven. When we approach God with no purpose but to only share our feelings of love or friendship, then we will realize God!

Great souls like Arjuna or Narada etc have shared their heart with God sans His opulence and have realized that Supreme Divine Being to be Sri Krishna.

Seek Krishna the Person and not His riches!

Hare Krishna

Balance is the force

All said and done, we need this material life to spring-board us to the spiritual world. Even though we are pure spirit (devoid of matter) still we have been here since time immemorial, hence we are as good as matter. Therefore, we have to use this matter (not relinquishing it) in such a manner that we become liberated from it and launch our self into the spiritual realm. It requires intelligence, practice, guidance and above all a deep willingness to enter the spiritual world.

To balance matter and spirit is the force!

Hare Krishna

this is happening all around us...

Sometimes I think we are too cloistered from the real world like a world inside another world. We have our gadgets, car, home, insurance, etc. We get information sanitized by vested interests. Our education system is rigged towards science. So like this, the real world which is operating on its’ own terms is not visible or at best tainted to our understanding.

As I was taking a break and casually looking out through the window, I saw a small tiny bird mercilessly following an insect and slowly devouring it. Yet the insect is trying to get away. At that point, if you think about it, a soul just left an insect body to take another one. This all happened in one or two seconds tops. So yes death and birth is happening ubiquitously and yet we are not in-tune to see this part of reality. But somehow when a human or when a person we know dies, we suddenly feel the surge of loss or feel how this world is temporary etc.

Factually speaking, it is happening every second all around us. Unfortunately, we are just too preoccupied with our own thoughts about success and failure and joy and fear. This reminds me of a verse from the Bhagavatam;

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ
bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ
padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām

For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step. 

- SB 10.14.58

Certainly, the insect took its dangerous step and perished. I pray that when my dangerous step arrives, that I am able to focus my internal mind at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Murari!

Hare Krishna

Seeking Benefit

We all seek some sort of benefit or favor. There are two distinct ways.

One way is solely by using our physical strength, mental acumen. intelligence quotient, money, resources, relationships and networks. In this, there is no trace of Krishna.

The other way is primarily taking instructions from Krishna (through shastra and guru) and accordingly use our strength and intelligence.

I think both are mutually exclusive. It is a matter of choice and depending on the way, our benefits are substantive or marginal.

Hare Krishna.

Mental strength – how to?

We can be mentally strong in this world only if we are neutral (not hating or liking) to the idea of enterprise, success and opulence from this world. Instead, we work hard but happy with whatever Krishna provides because of our work.

This is the only way for mental toughness – to work hard and be detached (vairagya) while simultaneously content with Krishna's provision proportionate to our work.

Hare Krishna

Prabhupada was a master who never stopped learning

Srila Prabhupada was a deeply compassionate soul where he put his life to spread the message of Krishna. He did that till the very end without stopping or slowing down. He still woke up in the dead of night to translate Srimad Bhagavatam as a service to his guru even when he was in his last days on earth. But such determination and durability in preaching is possible only if we know when to be fast and furious and when to slow down. When to pat the person in the back and give a moral instruction on material grounds and when to give a deep philosophical exposé. It requires intelligence with compassion.

At times, Prabhupada did not speak to his guests but letting his tape recorder speak instead. Sometimes, he just played the harmonium and sang bhajan and in that way preached and sometimes he was fast and furious like the lion going for its kill. Srila Prabhupada was a master of preaching who never stopped learning from his disciples and the environment around him. Otherwise, how else can we explain the impact an old Calcutta man had on the hearts' of misguided youth of America. We have to learn from him, take lessons from the memories given by his disciples and try to humbly follow.

But one thing is for sure, if Prabhupada showed anything, he showed us blind following or blind talking about Krishna will not change the heart of the person listening. He used his intelligence and presented Krishna philosophically, critically, musically, jovially, silently, cynically etc fitting the person, time and circumstance. He did whatever it took to bring the person into the fold!

To do this, requires for us to understand our own capacity (strengths and weaknesses) and depending on our capacity, we assess the environment around us and accordingly present. This takes time because we will make many mistakes, not being hard on our self or feeling discouraged, we should continue to learn from our mistakes and other's as well and gradually cultivate the art of being a good judge of time, person and circumstance. When we are in-tune with our self and surrounding, we will have the confidence to navigate the turf. Having said all this, it is our duty to be a devotee of integrity, practice what we preach and not compromise on the principles of bhakti as given in the Bhagavad Gita. When we are aligned internally and externally, always practicing the art of shelter to Krishna, our effort to present Krishna will never go in vain!

Hare Krishna

Love for God's sake

Many times Srila Prabhupada says that in this world love is but lust. Below are a few examples;

Lust is only the perverted reflection of the love of God which is natural for every living entity. But if one is educated in Krishna consciousness from the very beginning, that natural love of God cannot deteriorate into lust. - BG 3.41 Purport

If we become attached to this narration, we will experience the bliss of spiritual love and thus reject the perverted reflection of that love, which is called lust. - SB 10.33.39

This material life is simply based on lust; we want to enjoy this world, and we love this material world because we want to gratify our senses. This lust is a perverted reflection of our love of God. - On the Way to Krishna, Ch. 5

Here we love -- a man loves a woman, or a woman loves a man -- but there is frustration. After some time they are divorced, because their love is a perverted reflection. There is no real love in this world. It is simply lust. - Journey of Self-Discovery, Ch. 4

On the surface, it sounds like we should not love anyone since it is lust anyways and that we should just try to love Krishna or if we see two people who say they are in love we discredit or discourage them or the idea of love in this world. We can, as devotees, also become cold and without feelings towards one another in the name of love vs lust and justify our cold-hardheartedness towards others' with these verses. If we do this then we are doing a disservice to Srila Prabhupada.

We hear so much about love and compassion and sometimes we can get into a frame of mental rigidity in the name of following guru and shastra and miss the point. So let us examine these verses little carefully.

Certainly, love in this world is lust if not properly applied. Love becomes lust 'primarily' if we love someone to satisfy me (my senses only). The key word is 'primarily'. However, if we love someone in such a way that it 'primarily' pleases Krishna and then that pleasing of Krishna pleases me, then that is not lust but a path towards pure love. In other words, to the degree we love someone to primarily please Krishna versus pleasing myself, then that love becomes pure.

Bhakti yoga or Krishna consciousness is actually all about loving God and loving all living beings so to say love in this world aka lust is predominant is correct but the solution is not "not to love" but purify our love from loving for my sake to loving others' for Krishna's sake.

When we see everyone as part and parcel of Krishna, and in that mood we love someone and serve that someone, then such love and service centered around Krishna will actually nourish us internally and help us traverse the path towards God quicker.

Hare Krishna

Instant connections

“In physics class I learned how sound waves propagate into our ear. It was mind-blowing. Those waves create emotions that make us happy, that get us pumped up”

This is a quote from a student from a polytechnic college in the US doing research on helping endangered species using sound. His comment about sound creating emotions may sound correct to the untrained ear but actually sound in itself does not create emotions. If that were so, a dead body also has ears and if you play music to a dead man, he will not express any emotions. So why is that sound only creates emotions in a living person?

The soul seated inside the body is the actual sentient receiver of the sound (not the ear). The soul gives life to the body. This soul influenced heavily by the modes of nature (there are three - goodness, passion, ignorance) uses the mind and body to satisfy its desires. Because of the soul's willingness to be influenced by material nature, the soul desires things connected to this world otherwise typically the soul's desires' are non-material.

The sound enters the ears and the signals are processed by the brain. The influenced soul activates the device called mind which is like the software. The mind reacts to the sound either favorably or unfavorably and sends the signals back to the hardware - the brain. The soul is the user (beneficiary) of the software and hardware.

The brain, influenced by the mind, releases chemicals according to the signals from the mind resulting in a positive or negative sensual feeling. Finally, these feelings are expressed as emotions through the face and or other gestures. All of this happens instantly as if there is no gap in time between the time you hear the music to the time you emote.

All of this mechanistic process is even possible because the Supersoul (Krishna) activates the tiny soul (just as the soul activates the body) to interact with material nature (three modes) , mind and body. As a result, the soul can continue its illusion of enjoyment in this world perpetually in different bodies!

The three modes, mind and and body is provided by Krishna to the soul and the soul is an amsa or a tiny separated expansion of Krishna. The soul is so tiny that on its own the soul cannot do anything so the Supersoul has to assist the soul to enjoy. What type of mind and body the soul gets and its interaction with the modes depends on the karma of the soul. Like this, Krishna forever in time continuously churns out different bodies and scenarios for the soul to enjoy!

Nothing is accidental or whimsical. Krishna is so perfect and precise that this material nature is a seamless process. Pretty deep if you ask me!

Hare Krishna