Somewhere over the rainbow..

The great identity problem..

Many times, you’ll hear someone say ,” I can identify with that “

But who or what should we identify with ?  Our childhood, our youth , our middle age , or old age ?  Or how about our political leanings  ?  Which  political movement  suits us  ? left leaning,  right leaning, or centre ground ? Persons are forever  changing who or what they identify with . Sometimes someone is our friend sometimes the same  person becomes our enemy , sometimes someone is very attractive as a partner to us , and a short time  later we reject them , and find someone else . The Vedas indicate that the minds   business is forever accepting and rejecting the sense objects . This world of ever fluctuating duality has to be understood , and the real observer should learn to advance the consciousness to a state beyond the duality of material life . When we examine the disturbances of dualities  , we  begin to realise such states  occur because of excess and our own  selfish motivations , we , at that point  can climb higher in consciousness and begin to contribute real  happiness to others , without  selfish calculations .  Ultimately, it is undertaking  sacrifice as the utmost principle in contributing  happiness centred on  Divinity that the Vedas point us all to , no more local or provincial interests , but the satisfaction of Krishna . Such actions are like watering a tree , necessarily all the leaves are satisfied. Sacrificing for the  sake of others without considering my own feelings is an elevated state .  You’ll be pleased to hear such a sacrifice becomes very rewarding as the universal material and spiritual energies work in such a way that nothing goes in vain .

The Vedas encourages us to dive deeper into states of consciousness and explore a different sorts  of happiness , a happier  state of mind , beyond  sense satisfaction that even animals can easily obtain . The Vedas encourages us to consider whether we are boy , a  girl , young , old , black , white , rich, poor, intelligent, or not so  , or are we just an  observer of such external conditions that are thrown upon us? And are we becoming overly  affected , because of selfishness and misunderstanding who we are .

Let’s see what Sastra say .

nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ

Translation

“ ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ ”

This verse , with Vedic terms for our  different social positions and stages of life , offers an insight into the permanent identity of a soul in a  specific relationship with Divinity , This may be a little esoteric for many to understand,  but the principle is given , you are not the body , not the changing mind , not a  deteriating and frustrated intelligence , but something beyond material calculations , and this super subjective realm is understood by sacrifice,  and the ultimate sacrifice is one of pure service to Divinity , in a  cooperative spirit , with others who have similar goals. 

The Vedas delineate many other permanent relationships that have nothing to do with atoms , elements, or compounds or an ethereal ever-changing mind and intelligence.

The original consciousness belongs in a permanent identity, which is ever new and ever enthusiastic to exchange love and as the song goes

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

There’s a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby

Maybe your fairy tale child hood imaginings have something to them

Read the Vedas to find out yourself,  literally.

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Unless one understands the conclusions of Bhagavad Gita, which is “Man mana bhava mad bhakto “
“Think of me and  become my devotee.” These  are the words of Krishna.

How to think of Krishna ? Absorbed in the topmost levels of pure love in deep meditation is  demonstrated by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu in his absorption of the mood of Srimati Radharani , damsels of Vraj and their young assistants the Manjaris. This truth of the life that  Mahāprabhu experienced was  taught  the Goswamis of Vrndavana  , headed by Srila Rupa Ragganatha, and  they and their followers record and delineate everything in their writings . One may miss out on the essence of Mahaprabhu’ purposes for appearing and get caught up in the  many peripheral aspects of a progressive path of spiritual life , things that Mahāprabhu recognised in his conversation with Ramananda Roy , but kept saying ” this is good but is there more “or ” that is also  good but is there more”

Everything of this conversation is in the Caitanya Caratamrita and Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has translated it to English along with explanations to all the peripherals and the essence of Bhakti yoga

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The very  deepest  states of a mind and its working are stemming from deep  impressions  grom long long ago  previous lives and not easily given up . Our everyday day and recently accumulated impressions fluctuate much  more regularly in the consciousness but are intertwined with the long-lasting events caused by either good or bad previous interaction.

These deeper states of the mind are called  Prarabdha karmas . As before said they are connected to either previous spiritual searching or deeper cultural aspects connected to consciousness development or they can be troublesome reactions and attachments to self-centred ignorance in all its forms that  cause  reactions , ie.  previous negativity we have inflicted on others .

The Gaudia Vaisnava movement under the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His leading  followers Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Ragganatha das Goswami have given  remedies to remove both types of Karma in all  subtle forms that lead to  either gross attachments to the material world or the  striving for impersonal liberation . They have  replaced it with Suddha Satva pure Krishna consciousness free from all types of  karma and all types of jnana as well as the  desire for mystic powers.

By engaging positively in Bhakti Yoga one removes recently produced karmic synchronicities and by engaging in deep Bhajan of Chanting the Holy names and crucially studying and reading the books of the Rasika acaryas , their descriptions of Radha Krishna Nitya Lila will throughly remove much deeper previous  karmic impressions even though extremely deeply situated within the most negative and conditioned mind .

The regular Hindu followers do not understand these prarabdha and aprarabdha  aspects of karmic reactions that Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu movement is eradicating , and that is the full  glory of teachings and the unique benedictions offered . That is the potency and magnanimity  of Mahaprabhu and  His special mercy , which is causeless and  offered to one and all

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Absolute truth , according to the Vedas , is  unlimited , as we all know the limited can  only know something of the unlimited , its  undeniable, and a  self-evident truth we as humans are limited .  Limited minds , limited senses , limited intellectual capacities . Yet an  atheistic scientific materialism follower , with their obvious limited capacities convince themselves  in a very unscientific way , that their limited experiences are the sum total of life , although at least some add the phrase ” as we know it ” . But who knows it ? Why assume everyone knows in the same way ?

There are numerous ways to talk about and to research  topics . The Vedas indicates someone who doesn’t accept an absolute truth has at their disposal an unlimited array of discussions having objectively veiwed a particular topic and then applied subjective speculations that can continue ruminating on and on within a seemingly endless process . IF someone comes up with a truely original idea , they are considered scientific geniuses. Such is  the power of the  illusory energies that  cover an  absolute truth , the Vedas say . So  either way , whether a theological or an atheistic discussion, plenty can be said and thought of .  The greatest of all trancendental intellectualism, which  brings one to the point of discarding all  mundane intellectualism , and  replaces it for something far greater is what the Vedas call  Rasa . An artistry of ever new exchanges of pure love with  unlimited ranges of emotions that  pure consciousness  beyond the limits of matter are able to experience in connection with God , Divinity, or Krishna  the Vedas say . The unlimited speculations of  the material energies can be experienced within cyclic movement of the fourteen planetary systems of our material universe. ,  seven higher , seven lower , and the earthly plane situated mid way .

Bertrand Russell and others are quite wrong when they say  someone who accepts absolute truth  limits themselves , the  truth  of the matter is quite different . Unlimited discussions can be had based on the unlimited nature of the unlimited . Atheists  can have unlimited discussions within the relatively unlimited but limited material energies that cause perceptions of the unlimited to become limited , covering  the potential of  a pure  consciousness and  causing even  more extreme forms of  limitedness .

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Quantum entanglements.

Albert Einstein found it very difficult to accept that what one part of the universe was doing could affect another part billions of miles away simultaneously ,  spooky action at a distance he called it .

But in the Vedic understanding of the universe all energies are emanating from one conscious source,  that Krishna is directly and indirectly conscious of all living beings , and also situated in every atom simultaneously is recorded , another Vedic term is the all prevading Brahman energies . Just as you know what one part of your body does and how it affects other parts , so the great incalculable expansions of the universal form of Divinity are His conscious energies.  He is equally conscious of the workings of the classical , atomic  quantum , and ethereal planes along with their  various actions and reactions , the  repercussions which ripple throughout the universe,  as the endless possibilities of karmic synchronicities play out . This Vedic  reality is  defined as the brahman , the oneness, and the innumerable differences that occur in all things , at all times and  in all places throughout not just this universe but many many thousands of others.

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What is sin ?

Taking something from this material world that is legitimately allotted to you by your karmic synchronicity or fate, and that’s according to your social station in life is not sinful but will be entangleing . Although thoughtful  and careful consideration of our activities should  never left to the realms of speculations or whimsical choices , rather soley based on the science of consciousness , i.e . how consciousness is elevated  or degraded . Information about  the scientific movements of the human psychological self is the  science contained fully  in the  Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Thus, in Vedic culture, whatever you naturally take or acquire that has been alloted by fate having acted according to specific duties t  is perfectly fine , but it’s also recommended certain portions  should be offered back to Divinity or His agents , or in charitable acts , in that way  actions become less entangleing and more elevating . Although piety is elevating , we should be careful not to neglect something even greater than piety , namely developing a direct relationship to Divinity Himself , that is the perfection of our short time we spend in the current body we find ourselves in .Thus , Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita,  one who sees action in inaction and inaction in action is in knowledge , and everyone should unpack the mysterious nature of that statement.

Sin is defined , when someone encroaches  on others’ territories or  exploits other persons  for selfish reasons , that will cause harm in many  different ways ,  it can always be defined as  something that goes against morality , ethics , and expected duties . It will  cause all sorts of  pain to the others . One should know any physical or emotional pain one inflicts will be  alloted back to the perpetrator and with interest , sinful activities cause greater entanglements,  all the persons involved are entangleing themselves,  a future will play out with the same actors,  but differently situated.

According to ones station in life and the specific duties associated with it comes different calculations of the degrees of sin and their reaction . An educated man with  social responsibility ,  or a leader role  has to pay a heavy price if he or she performs the wrong actions . The example of a state leader issuing orders for war comes to mind , if women and children are killed or the whole basis of the war is based against the natural moral and international laws , the leader and his country will pay the price as well as the people who gave him power .

Thus, it behoves everyone to understand how to carefully act in this life ,and ultimately how to raise one’s consciousness and awareness.

This great science of action reactions and the systematic universal responses are discussed fully in Bhagavad Gita.

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Homelessness was a blessing in some parts of the Vedic societal systems.

For those persons preparing for leaving this world , which is  obviously  very entangleing for the mind and senses , with wives  , children ,  housing , bank balance  , careers ,  social status positioning and the like , even in older age there is no escape ,  as the whole process starts all over again with  the grandchildren and their lives ,  its ever entangling  . And so it was ,  that the Vedic cultures encouraged complete renunciation from material affairs and a leaving of homes to live wherever might be convenient ,  no fixed abode was favoured towards the end of life . An absorption in the spiritual dimensions was developed particularly in Gaudia Vaisnavism ,  which meant meditations on the eternal affairs of Krishna ,  Radharani , and the village life of Vraj . The Goswamis of Vrndavana , in their literature ,  having been instructed by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu , have  left so  much to meditate on as the activities in every detail of Krishna and Radharani’s life has been revealed by them .

So leaving everything behind of materially entangleing affairs , taking up the activities of the spiritual world , because after all , at death , there is no choice,  everything of our material affairs are taken away . There is no escape from death , it’s imposed upon us all . In order to prepare and to absorb thd mind in spiritual affairs , its was recommended to live a life of a beggar with no fixed abode . Because the mind and senses could then  became fixed with no deviations ,  fixed in a   spiritual realm by  the constant practice of spontaneous and unmotivated devotional service through meditation and entering the pastimes of Radha Krishna with attitudes of service and friendship . After some time of fixed practice and meditation , ones  spiritual position and services were revealed , even though situated supposedly in the material world.

In a life of  strict renunciation , one learned to become fully dependent on Krishna,  the mind and senses no longer engaged in the matters of the material world that immediately grab everyone’s attention.

This kind of life would be totally abhorrent to the western thinker , who in old age cling on to their memories and families right to the last moments of life . However preparing for the inevitable change is better than hoping against hope that a little more family pleasure might  be aquired….actually the destination of the soul for those absorbed in family life is to once again return to the material world , to take up another family for those so absorbed , and thus samsara , the repeated births and deaths . Lord Krishna Himself in Bhagavad says, “Think of Me ,”  I will rescue you from repeated births and deaths.

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All purposes served by a small well can at once be served by a great reservoir of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is said that there is an imperishable banyan tree that has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

Just see how Lord Krishna is using those above examples from  nature to help drive home some important philosophical points in the descriptions within the Vedas . Frequently, the Srimad Bhagavatam  uses nature  to illustrate key lessons to be learned.

The Vedas is extremely broad , it can be applied  in different ways at all times in all places with a variety of persons within societies. Whatever their status or current conditioning, they all can all find the benefits

The expert book Bhagavat , those who are  Vedic pure scholars and pure devotees ,  know the art of Vedic application . The pure Gaudia vaisnava who is completely familiar with the purposes of the Vedas , should be sought after and  approached by those seeking to familiarise themselves ,  any question can be put to them and naturally a complete and balanced  relative answer will be given . Ultimately, the pure sounds of the Vedas are revealed within the heart of someone who is sincere and who is 24 hours exclusively engaged in the services of Divinity , there are no deviations in the hearts of the pure representatives , thus Krishna or God is revealing Himself  to them enabling such persons to become intimately united with Him and His family and friends.

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It is a perfectly natural position for an  individual to practice devotional service and have  a personal relationship  experiencing  life to the full in  relation to Krishna, who also possesses qualities as well as  emotions ,which He  is eager to exchange and share  with others .

An  impersonal path of merging in a  spiritual light or the yoga astanga  path of simply being a witness of Divinity within one’s heart is not as natural  for individuals ,  actually its the personal position and not the impersonal position that we  experience in our  daily  lives, hence the vedas  say this life  is a reflection of the spiritual realm . But in that spiritual realm, there is a  full display of blissful varigatedness, a  full display of  blissful relationships, and a full display of beauty in every respect along with an unlimited display of  trancendental artistry .
There are many benedictions offered by all the great teachers for those who have a set of Bhagavatams in their house for the ultimate well-being and protection for those who reside there , alongside this great literature which decends from the finest realms of consciousness . Indeed, the Bhagavatam is the book Bhagavat, and our leading acaryas are person Bhagavats, who are the personification of the Srimad Bhagavatams teachings , both purely represent Divinity.

The famous scholar of classical eastern Vedic philosophy  Srila Jiva Goswami also divided the Bhagavatam into six parts .

Here is an overview.

. Jīva Gosvāmī’s Sat Sandarbhas consist of six parts, each delving into a different aspect of the Bhāgavatam philosophy.

First is the Tattva Sandarbha, which has two divisions. In the first division, Śrīla  Jīva Goswami  sets forth  the epistemology of the personalist school. Here, he tackles such questions as: What are the means of attaining knowledge? And, what is the evidence or proof in support of those means? In the second division , he explains the object to be realized by knowledge.

In the second book, Bhagavat Sandarbha, Jīva Gosvāmī speaks about the Divinity His abode, and His associates. He demonstrates with conclusive evidence that Divinity is the complete and indivisible Absolute Reality and that all other manifestations are dependent on and thus inferior to Him.

In Paramātma Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami  tells of the three manifestations of Divinity  and describes how the Immanent Being is related with each individual self in the material world. Śrī Jīva Goswami  also describes illusion or the external potency of God.

In Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha, he shows that the form of Kṛṣṇa is the original form of Divinity and explains why He is the object of loving devotional exchanges. Then, in the Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami establishes the path of devotion as the sole means to direct God realization. Finally, in Prīti Sandarbha, he analyses prema-bhakti, devotional service in pure love of God, and shows how it is the supreme goal of life for all living beings.

The Bhagavatam shows clearly how chasing down mere material goals ,  opulences of all kinds ,  material education , prestige , fame and recognition , etc etc , can become a great stumbling block to ones real self  interests , although anything done in connection with  Divinity  increases ones spiritual realisations . Duties  of all kinds that  are carried out in balanced ways and that lead  to a full and satisfying life with progressive spiritual steps and culture of knowledge should never be given up . Everyone has something to offer within the various social systems that are referred to in the Vedas as Varna Ashram social structures . Everything , including one’s very self , can be offered in a devotional sacrifice , in many number of ways , that boost one inner energies and well-being, bringing one ultimately to pure God consciousness. Many  directions are given in the Bhagavatam,  which links one to Divinity and please Divinity . When Divinity is pleased, one automatically becomes pleased , such is  the dealings of love .

Although modern societies currently teach satisfaction of our material mind and senses are the goal of life , and  helping others do the same , currently super liberalism is in vogue , it  teaches …what ever the mind and  senses demand , serve them immediately and without question. But  the  Bhagavatam  disagrees and  condemns such irrational, unregulated behaviour . it rather teaches such unregulated materialism is a great whirlpool of degradation and entrapments . Such entrapment actually operates ultimately under the full control of Divinity and is within the realms of the  given free will , along with  determinism , i.e., reactions within a  supreme justice system . The material world is a  prescribed rehabilitation centre . It’s a self-imposed  prison , instigated by an individuals own conscious actions  , and  engineered by Divinity . The Bhagavatam explains  how such  actions within matter are connected to the  universal order  automated in  both the macro and micro worlds . The  Vedas call this the great Maha Tattva , the great  universal form of Divinity consisting of millions of galaxies as well as  the 1000’s of nano machines working  in every cell of a body  coded with specific information .

THE 4TH CANTO CHAPTER 22 DESCRIBES THE ADVICE OF THE FOUR KUMARAS .TEXT 23 INDICATES AVOIDING OVERLY ATTACHED MONEY MEN AND AMBITIOUS MATERIALISTS ,INSTEAD ONE SHOULD TASTE THE NECTAR OF LOVE OF GOD .