The Tale of The Two Wolves

A grandfather is talking with his grandson and he says there are two wolves inside of us which are always at war with each other. 

One of them is a good wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed, hatred and fear.

The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?”

The grandfather quietly replies,

"The one you feed."

Source

Which wolf are you feeding? 

Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Ask yourself. What if the world around you reflects who you are? Are you happy with the kind of energy you're putting out there? If you want to see more love in the world, send out more love. Be more loving. That's the only way it will happen. What do you think would make the world a better place? Change starts from within. Everyone has a good side and a bad side, and like the story of the two wolves, the side that comes to light is the one that we nurture.

“The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25)

Gratitude

The best and quickest way to lift your spirits is to count your blessings.

There are days when I am hard on myself, when I feel down and like I have drawn the short straw. I let myself grieve. I let myself mourn. And then when I have unloaded the burden just enough, I ask myself:

"What about this situation can I be grateful for?"

I try to list 3-5 things that I am grateful for. It turns my whole perspective around. Gratitude doesn't mean becoming complacent. It is a way to make peace with your current situation, and it puts you in a better mindset to achieve more. Every cloud has a silver lining. Make an active effort to look for the good in things.

A few months ago, I read the book The Magic - Rhonda Byrne. It is a 30-day workbook, where each day, you list 10 things you are grateful for in your life. I experienced so many wonderful things happening over the course of 30 days. I felt happier with my life, I reached a level of peace and zen, to the point where I almost felt like I was too happy. Lots of good news came in, lots of wonderful happy things happened.

The book's principles work in accordance with the law of attraction - like attracts like. The more good feelings you put out, the more good things come to you.

Kind of like karma on a microscopic scale.

Gratitude is a widely acknowledged concept in religion. It's a very huge aspect in spirituality. It keeps us humble. Krishna shows us by example:

"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit a water, I will accept it." (BG 9.26)

Interesting, isn't it? Krishna, god of the universe, does not need very big offerings. He is grateful for the littlest of things. We should do the same.

I am grateful for the air that I breathe, for the food that I eat, for the world that I see. I am grateful for ability to speak, to read, to write. I am grateful for this mind.

Express your gratitude some more, count your blessings. And be like a sunflower, that turns to face the sunlight. Try it out yourself. Make a list of 5 things you are grateful for, and try to really feel gratitude for it. Only good things will come out of it :)

Freedom of Choice

What I have always loved about Hinduism and Buddhism is the freedom of choice. There are so many different paths to follow, and you can choose what works best for you. Back in high school, our Hinduism teacher explained the concept with this analogy:

"Different beliefs are like taking a different path to get to the top of a mountain. The path is different but the destination is the same."

In the Gita, Krishna says:

"As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā." (BG 4.11)

I don't deal well with rigidity and exclusive systems. I don't understand groups who say that only their path is the correct path, and all others lead to hell. I like the freedom that Eastern philosophies provide, and I love the peace that comes with it. You can choose the methods that suit you. In my own case, chanting didn't work well for me. I wanted to do it, but I was finding it very hard to concentrate, and it started to feel like a chore. I didn't look forward to it. So I stopped for a minute and asked myself, "What would God want? Would he want you to come to him with a smile, and talk to him for a couple minutes with sincerity, or would he prefer that you chant for 2 hours but feel like it's a chore?"

I'd pick the former. So I dove into different forms of connecting with Krishna. Reading about him was one way, listening to devotional music, writing about him, thinking about him, etc. I think that people should adopt whichever method works best for them, as long as it's in line with the main principles. Being a good person and causing the least harm is always the way to go, and if you are acting in accordance with that principle, it doesn't matter to me which religion you identify with. The core of all religions is the same - love. There is no reason we can't take the best parts of all religions and apply it to our lives. We don't have to be at war with each other just because our idea of God differs from one another.

My Hinduism teacher taught us that different people respond to different things. Some people find it easier to connect with Krishna, some with Ganesh, some with Jesus. In line with this idea, God created different ways for people to approach him and learn about him in a way that they can best understand. And so we have the freedom to choose what resonates with us the most, and in this way, Krishna shows us his mercy and compassion.

It's Been A While

I haven't logged on to this blog for a very long time, as you can tell. I had forgotten about it. Somehow today I randomly remembered that I used to maintain this blog on a regular basis. I logged in, and saw a few unapproved comments asking where I'd been, messages leaving words of support and encouragement. That was all I needed to push me to write this post. Thank you to everyone who wrote to me! Even if I haven't approved/replied to your comment yet, I will definitely read them.

I apologise for not maintaining this blog and following through with the plans I had for it. The direction my life was going in had changed, and thus my lifestyle had changed. Let's pick up where we left off :)

My spiritual beliefs have matured over the past few years. I found Krishna at a very dark time in my life, and he was the hand that pulled me out of the mess I was in. Back then, I was feeling a lot of pressure from people around me to convert to a different faith. I dove deep into study about Hinduism, which led me to Krishna, and I began to appreciate all that I learned about him.

After a while though, I felt like I was being influenced by some of the devotees around me. I felt like in some little ways, I was lying to myself and pretending to be okay with things I didn't necessarily agree with. I felt like I was starting to get brain-washed, and it started to feel very cult-like.

In Psychology, this is called ingroup-outgroup bias. I started feeling like other devotees and me were better and more superior than others. I was going down a path I didn't like and it was all happening so subconsciously. I slowly started to distance myself from them. It felt like I was leaving my group meetings with questions, dissonance, and doubts, rather than happiness.

Fast forward to today. In the months I spent away, I studied spirituality and religion, focusing on the essence of it, on the goodness of it. Judging teachings for myself based on ethical values and benefits. I have been meditating, turning inwards, and reading about spirituality in my spare time. I don't chant anymore because I found that it was more detrimental to my spiritual growth. It wasn't working for me and I felt like it was more of a chore than a pleasure.

These days, I am studying about the Law of Attraction and vibrational energies. While I do not engage in traditionally devotional activities anymore, Krishna still holds a very special place in my life, and I often feel wonderment when I think about him. The Bhagavad Gita is still my favourite scripture. I always said that if I were of a different faith and wanted to convert, I would pick Vaishnavism or Buddhism without a doubt.

Do you have any ideas about topics you would like me to cover? This blog is not going to be as reverent as it used to be, but it will be incredibly appreciative of Krishna, because let's face it, he's really cool :) If you have any ideas, share them in the comments! 

Life Lesson #1: "Everything Is Temporary"

Like I said in earlier blog posts, I wanted to share some of the life lessons I've learned in the past year. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that everything is temporary. Nothing lasts forever. Some things may seem promising but we wrongly romanticise and idealise things, believing in our heads that things will always be the same. Whether it is love, friendship, a job, happiness, they are all fleeting in most cases. It's so rare to find loyalty right until your last breath.

"O son of Kuntî, the interaction between the senses and the sense-objects produce the sensations of cold, heat, pleasure and pain. These feelings are temporary, always appearing and then disappearing. Thus, O descendent of Bhårata, you must learn to tolerate them."      - BG 2.14

The Gita, from the very beginning, talks about how this world is temporary, how everything in it is temporary, even our bodies, but our souls live forever. 

What I learned from all of this is that in the material world, you need to be independent. You need to be enough for yourself. You never know when you're going to lose your job, or when your body might stop functioning, or when the friends/family you care about leave you or damage your trust in some way. You never know when these things might happen. Some of us are a bit too trusting of others and we end up getting mistreated in the end. Let it pass. It probably just ran its course and has now come to an end, so ride the wave. Over the past couple of months, I was abandoned by my supposed life partner, and then I was abandoned by a close friend who had promised to stick by me. It was then that I realised that loyalty in many cases does not last forever. These things come and go. But when you find someone who proves to you that they will be loyal and will stick by you no matter what, then do whatever you can to keep such a person in your life.

I guess out of this understanding of the temporary nature of things, there is one aspect of it that stands out to me:

There are two sides to everything and there will always be pain along with pleasure.  If everything is temporary, then so is the sadness, which means that this too will pass. 

I am of the opinion that one should never suppress their feelings. Feel whatever you want, be it jealousy, anger, hatred, or envy, but don't act on it. Suppressing feelings only leads to more pain, but be in control of your actions. Don't hurt someone because of your feelings. Over time, as you mature and learn to let things go, as you learn that you are above certain things, the intensity of such feelings will gradually diminish. I think it also makes life a little bit interesting to feel all these things. Of course, in excess it's really frustrating, but a little bit adds some variety to life.

Nothing is permanent, so don't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't trust someone so completely that you sacrifice yourself and your well-being for them. Don't trust people too soon, don't trust too easily. Learn to be enough for yourself. Put yourself first. Take care of your own needs and your own security before putting your life on the line for someone else. You know how when you're on a plane and they tell you that in case of emergency situations, put on your own mask first before helping the person beside you? The same applies. You can't help others if you don't look after yourself first. Nothing lasts forever so don't expect it to. Learn to let things go. And remember: this will pass. Whatever you're going through in life right now, it will pass and it will get better. If everything is temporary, then that means so is this sadness. Ride the wave.

Prayer Request for Sunayana

"Please pray for my sister Sunayana she is suffering from anxiety and panic attack and feeling dizzy since last 1.5 years and no doctor can find out whats going on, she started praying to Krishna recently after I said because you know how people become when nothing good happens to them, she is really in need of Krishna as her problem is no doctor is able to find out whats going on, please pray for her from Krishna atleast Krishna will listen to you if not me or her. Atleast if doctor can find out whats going on then she can work on it from there. Thanks."

I'm sorry your sister is having trouble. Having experienced anxiety and panic attacks myself, I know it is not at all easy to live with.

May Krishna give your dear sister Sunayana comfort and strength to overcome any obstacles that may be in her path. I pray for Krishna to help her and give her the feeling of safety and to look after her. May Krishna bless her with better health and peace of mind.

In my experience, anxiety comes about when one is worried about something. It might be the lack of something, or an inability to control situations. Sometimes, it is due to how the individual's brain is wired and the chemical make up of it. If there is in fact something that your sister feels is lacking, I think this verse might be good for her to think about:

"But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form--to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have." (BG 9.22)

It would be worth taking your sister to a psychologist to figure out what's causing the anxiety. If doctors have been unable to figure it out, maybe it is an emotional thing. I hope you find out what the problem is. This might be a long shot, but in my case, food allergies/intolerance caused anxiety and brain fog/loss of mental clarity. If you want to talk further, please feel free to email me at bloggingupthedrainpipe@gmail.com. 

A Blog About Krishna :)

Hi everyone :)

I'd like to share a blog here that has lovely posts about Krishna :) Give it a read!

http://krishnasdivinegrace.blogspot.com

Prayer Request for Lost Gopi

Lost Gopi said:

Drainpiper , i feel like crying. Okay, i am. Right now, i am so upset about something at work. It hurts when people turn out to be so different from who I thought they were.. And being misunderstood makes me feel like.. :( These few months thats all I have been - Misunderstood - I am actually amazed at how everything I do or say seems to go horribly wrong somehow. And people do these seemingly harmless things that lands me in the most awkward situations. I am shocked at the double standards of people at work, the backstabbing ...and people acting like so immature..and yet I am the one left feeling dumb. I know its like that at most places. But when it completely ruins my chances at some good thing that had a possibility of happening ..I am so deflated..and sad.
While I sit there feeling dazed and amazed I feel like suchh a naive little girl !! I come across as such no doubt . Ugh! And I hate that feeling! 
The one main thing that Krishna says in the Gita , about doing your best and not desiring the results..Wow thats hard! Not material things, but I still find it hard to accept that when it comes to people ! I wish Krishna was real , like really here real :( and would just be my friend for once. I havent felt close to Krishna in ages. I wish people like him existed now . I can never be annoyed at him..or blame him . I believe that what we get depends on our past karma and on our reactions to life . I kind of wish I was different so that at least the second part would make me feel worthwile and happy about myself. 
Thanks for listening and can you please pray to Krishna to just tell me what I want and who I am,coz I freaking dont know! I am SO thankful for everything he has blessed me with in this life..so many things that I take for granted..but I would love some clarity right now. I am going to have such fun crying myself to sleep tonight!! Yay!

I know EXACTLY how you feel! It's crazy - you think the workplace is going to be so much better because people will be more responsible and more mature but it isn't! In fact, it's worse than high school! The backstabbing, cheating, trampling on people because they're hungry for more power... It just never ends! I went through so much shock when I graduated and started working. The real world is just so cold and so different from what I expected. So far, it has been a huge disappointment. Like you, I used to come home crying everyday after work. I wouldn't have time to take my lunch breaks or even bathroom breaks! The corporate world is just cruel and it's all about money. There is no value for ethics or social responsibility whatsoever! There are verses in the Gita which say that a learned person is not disturbed by either happiness or distress, that a learned person looks at everyone with an equal eye. I think you know these things already, and I think you also know that these things are quite hard to do, especially when the heart or mind is troubled. But nevertheless, we must keep trying. If it helps, try to think of it as Krishna wanting you to be there and working for him. You are not working for your boss - you are working for Krishna. This used to help me get through my bad days.

I'm so sorry that you're going through all of this. I really hope and pray that Krishna gives you the strength to face this and to overcome it. I pray for his guidance in your life. I hope that Krishna helps you to remember that you are there to perform your duties and those who try to sabotage you shall never prosper, for you are on Krishna's side. Dear Krishna, please give your devotee clarity and help her to rise up above these trials. Please change and make her work environment better so that she can fulfil her duties to the best of her ability. Most of all, please stay close to her and be with her always, giving her your guidance and offering her your loving friendship, as only you can.

If you want to talk a little more, feel free to send me an email. Hope things get better for you!

He Is Everything You Need Him To Be

There's just something about Krishna. Sometimes, I stand in front of the poster I have of him up on wall, and I start to pray, and while praying I just look at his sweet face and I feel like everything is going to be alright. I feel like he's really listening, and that he is smiling right at me as if to say he's always going to be there for me and he's going to sort everything out in time. I really just love how I can talk to him like I would to a friend.

There are different types of relationships people can have with Krishna: Some see him as a parent, some as a child, others as a friend, master or lover. I have mostly seen him as a friend. I think that the way people see Krishna reveals what they want from life. For instance, women often tend to see Krishna as a child. Over the past few years, I have lost many many friends and I have lost the ability to confide in people. I have lost my confidence and often feel like no one is able to accept me as I am or even understand me. I have often felt like I had no one to talk to. During these times, I talked to Krishna and poured my heart out to him. My relationship with him is like that of Arjuna and Krishna - one where two people can exchange conversations and always be there for each other. It's interesting how Krishna manifests himself in our lives and becomes what we need him to be, just like he promised in the Gita in one of my favourite verses:

But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form--to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.         BG 9.22

Because I have felt this a lot over the past few years and feel it so strongly right now, I know that there are many of you out there reading this who feel like you have lost yourselves. To those of you who are feeling empty and feel like you are lacking, remember this verse. Whenever those feelings come back, think of this verse and remember that Krishna will be everything that you need him to be and he will carry whatever you lack and make you whole. 

Welcome!

Hey guys!

Welcome to my new blog! Hope you like the look of this one! Please update my new blog address in your bookmarks folder and be sure to follow! The button is on the right side of my blog.

I haven't updated my blog in a long time. I owe you guys an update.

A couple of months ago, I was really busy with some work. I was out of the house pretty much all day and was exhausted so I didn't have the time to update my blog. After that, I made a trip to the doctor. Many of you know that I have OCD and several food intolerances which mean that I have a very restricted diet. It turns out that I have a parasitic infection which is a result of food poisoning I had 3 years ago, when these problems began. From 2008 - 2011, there were 3 incidents where I got either food poisoning or a stomach virus. After the third time it happened, the stomach troubles began. The doctor said that it was not treated completely and is the reason I'm always in so much pain. The inside of my stomach and lower intestine is inflamed as well, which means that they are super sensitive now and makes it harder for my body to digest food well. Because of this, I have had to start eating eggs. My bones have become very weak and I am unable to get the protein I needed due to food intolerances. The doctor was trying to persuade me to eat meat but I can't do that!

Oh yeah, and she also said that I have way too much anxiety and stress which only makes matters worse.

So the past few months have been spent in treatment and concentrating on getting better. I'm still unemployed. I'm not even thinking about work right now. With all these medicines I have to take and so many doctor's appointments, I wouldn't have time to do both. Just as well, it's getting difficult in Dubai now. Things are becoming more expensive, jobs in my field are hard to come by, and I find that companies just seem to have no proper values. The more people I meet, the more I see how exploitive companies can be. Oh well, I'm going to concentrate on writing and try to build a career in that. Maybe with Krishna's blessings I will be able to build a career doing something I love!

Prayer Request for Mira

Mira said:

Hello

since March this year ..i became illusioned and distracted from Krishna consciousness. As a result i was always disatisfied with something or the other. I had a very important exam in june which i failed and was very disheartened.I tried to do everything to stay positive.Tried to figure things out as so many things were not going my way. I thought a lot about everything and as a result had a mental disorder . I was not able to relax and
concentrate on my studies anymore ……then yesterday i dnt knw how i came through your blog and had tears in my eyes when i read ur posts as if Krishna is telling me to believe tht he is with me
I am having the same exam again from 24th..please pray that i get Krishna’s love and success in exams this time 

I am sorry to hear about how difficult things have been for you. I would suggest that when you have time, perhaps you could consider seeing a doctor about your mental state. You could talk to me privately if you like - I might be able to assist you with mental disorders since I suffer from it myself. I wish you all the best for your exams. I know that sometimes it is difficult to concentrate but in moments like those, remind yourself of the end goal. What do you want out of this? Why do you want to pass the exam? To get the certificate perhaps, so you can get a good job? Think about the goal and think about how good and proud of yourself you will be once you accomplish it. Nothing comes easy. Dedicate your efforts to Krishna and do everything that you do for Krishna, even if that means studying for him to make him happy :) I wish you all the best!

Dear Gopinath, please help your devotee feel close to you once again. Like children sometimes we wander away from you but you never fail to find us again and you are always waiting nearby with open arms. Please help Mira do well in her exams and please be close to her. Let her feel your presence and fill her life with your love. You never forget especially those who have thought of you in their lives and thus we know that you will never forget us. Plant the seed of devotion in Mira's heart and give her the knowledge that she needs to pass these exams. Give her the wisdom that she needs to succeed in life. Be her guide and may her faith in you grow with every passing day. Please help her find her balance and help her to concentrate on the things that are important in life. Fill her heart with acceptance and gratefulness and especially with love and faith in you.

Prayer Request for Hari Krishnan

Hari Krishnan said:

I am amazed by the prayer requests over here. I am praying for all of them sincerely.

I am 23 year old guy trying to attend interview for the designation – Software Developer next week. Recently i learnt in Bhagavad Gita that designations are illusions in material world that drives away from Lord Krishna.

This company which i m attending interview is near ISKCON Temple..I want to get selected in this company for the sake of supreme personality of Godhead – Lord Krishna. This is my ultimate happiness to do devotional service to the Lord. I am unemployed right now. I m trying to study hard for the interview. Hope Lord Krishna helps me to gain lot of Hard Work, will power and curiosity to learn things quickly. I wanted to feel confident about my knowledge in programming and answer all questions in interview successfully.

I want to get selected in this company in the will of Lord Krishna.
Please do pray for me..

Will Dedicate the fruitive results to the Lord,
Hari krishnan.

First off, I am so sorry for getting back to your comment after such a long time. Your interview date has passed by now but I hope it went well. I don't know what your current status is but I pray that Krishna will pave the way for you to build a good stable career that will help you to provide for yourself and your family. Krishna sees your desire to be close to him and his places of worship. No matter where you are, I pray that Krishna will always make his presence felt in your life. Let Krishna steer your chariot the way he steered Arjuna's and let him guide you always. I pray that Krishna will help you find a good job and that he will help you develop deeper faith in him. Krishna says in the Gita:

"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."  BG 10.10

So remain devoted and try to spend some time with him. He will surely fulfil his promise and give you the understanding you need.

Forgiving Those Who Wrong You

This morning, I remembered the story of Jagai and Madai. To give you a quick summary, Jagai and Madai were two brothers who possessed qualities that were not admirable - drinking alcohol, disrespectful, thieves, etc. On one occasion, they physically assaulted Nityananda, which angered Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya was ready to end their lives as he was very angered by this. Jagai and Madai repented and sought his forgiveness, and Chaitanya said he would spare their lives if his devotee Nityananda forgave them.

So what do we learn from this?

We learn two things:

1. The importance of forgiveness

Many of us often hold things in our hearts against those who have wronged us. I am guilty of it as well. I forgive people and I don't hold a grudge against them, but at the same time, I begin to avoid spending time with them. If I care about the person deeply, I will try to mend the relationship, otherwise I let it fade. But by not forgiving others, we fill our hearts with unnecessary feelings that just occupy space and cause us grief. By being forgiving, we exhibit the qualities of devotees. We exhibit compassion and understanding, and these qualities are pleasing to Krishna. As in the case of Jagai and Madai, by forgiving others, we may also prevent them from suffering further. Imagine for a minute that you are the offender and you have done something to anger your best friend. If your friend chooses not to forgive you, you suffer a lot, don't you? You feel hurt and upset and are filled with regret for making a mistake. In this way, forgiveness mends those who are wrong and those who are wronged. Forgiveness needs to be practiced. It is most certainly not easy but it is absolutely freeing. We must learn to forgive because after all, Krishna forgives us, doesn't he? Why shouldn't we forgive others, then?

Forgiveness is a virtue of the weak, and an ornament of the strong. Forgiveness subdues (all) in this world; what is there that forgiveness cannot achieve? What can a wicked person do unto him who carries the sabre of forgiveness in his hand?     (From the Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva Section XXXIII, Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli). [Taken from Wikipedia]

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.    Matthew, 6.14-15

Needless to say, if someone is continuing to wrong you without truly repenting or feeling sorry for it, there is no reason for you to tolerate it. Simply let it slide and free yourself from the clutches of this person.

2. The authority God gives devotees

This incident of Jagai and Madai shows that as devotees, Krishna has given us certain authorities. Krishna is the ruler of this universe. He doesn't need permission to take away someone's life, yet he left the decision up to his devotee Nityananda. Even during the Mahabharat war, Krishna agreed to be Arjuna's chariot driver. Again, giving his devotee the power to make decisions. Krishna steers the reins and guides the devotee's from within, as he promises in the Gita:

"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."    BG 10.10

I always find this incredibly amazing to think about. It fascinates me how the Creator of everything that exists sometimes follows the instructions of his devotees! It's a lot like the way parents sometimes follow the orders of their children out of love. They don't have to do it, yet they do because of the love that is shared. This is exactly why Krishna sometimes agrees to carry out the loving requests of his devotees. Isn't he just the sweetest?

Frustration

There are these moments in life where you feel frustrated and disillusioned. You don't know whether to run or hide or whether you should take the bull by the horns or just let things fall where they may. Right now, this is how I feel. I'm frustrated because I have a psychological disorder that affects my life, because I have several dietary restrictions due to food intolerances, because I haven't been unable to find a decent job.


I have been out of a job for the past few months. I'm not even keen on working for someone because of how abusive and manipulative employers can be. I feel like I've been through quite a lot, in the sense that my patience was really tested at my previous jobs. I don't want to get into the details but lets say I have seen how companies can be unethical and blatantly lie to their clients, and I have had my employers be so controlling even when it came to things like taking lunch breaks and even a 2 minute break to drink water. Feeling abused and disheartened, I left my job because I felt like I was not being respected as a human being. I wouldn't be surprised if things like this happened everywhere around the world, too. These are tough times we're living in.

The reason for frustration, as I understand it, is when something is lacking. I mean this on a deep level, not in the sense of material desires like having the latest iPhone or the biggest house. I mean necessities like a job, security, shelter, etc. Frustration stems from this lack of security and protection. It leads to anxiety of the future because there is uncertainty and a lack of stability. While I am sitting here, feeling waves of frustration wash over me again and again, I thought I'll have a look at what the Bhagavad Gita says in order to deal with my feeling of helplessness.


But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form--to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.      BG 9.22

Such deep consolation, knowing that Krishna will be there to assist you, by maintaining what you have and by making up for whatever it is that you lack. Everyone feels some sense of lacking in one way or another. Lack of strength, confidence, self-esteem, money, intelligence. So many other things. Let Krishna be your strength, your confidence, your pride, your wealth and your intelligence. Let him provide for you what you lack.

Anyone who prays unto Me and takes shelter from Me becomes My ward, and I protect him always from all sorts of calamities.     Lord Narasimhadeva, Narasimha Purana

This uncertainty of the future, of the state of my career, my wellbeing, my family, etc. are causing me great distress. I must remember to seek shelter of Krishna, and he will protect me from calamity.

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.     BG 9:31

Ah, the peace that we are all looking for. Peace and promise of everlasting life.

The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the result of all activities to Me; whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine, who is greedy for the fruits of his labor, becomes entangled.     BG 5:12

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I have been praying and asking for things, asking for Krishna to get me out of this mess that I am in. Then I remembered that I must not hanker for the fruit of any activity. I must let Krishna decide the outcome, and I must offer the results of my activities to Gopinath and work for his sake. Do the best you can do and do what you must, but leave the results to Krishna.

Perform your duties to the best of your ability and offer the results to Krishna. He will preserve what you have and should be lacking anything, he will provide it for you, as he sees fit. All the while, he will protect you as he promises and he will give you peace. Frustration will rear its head again and again because it is the nature of this world. But lucky for us, Krishna is on our side. And we all know which side is going to win.

"Panditah Sama Darshina"

On a blog post of mine called, "So you don't eat meat?" a reader commented saying someone she knows, who is a Krishna devotee, speaks badly about other religions. Here's an excerpt of my response:

Oh, it’s not nice to talk badly about the beliefs of others. I wish your sister in law would understand. If someone spoke to her badly about Krishna, she would get offended. It only makes sense then to try and avoid offending others! The Bhagavad Gita has this nice verse on equality:

“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].” – BG 5.18

In Sanskrit, the translation of a part of this verse is “panditah sama darshina” meaning the wise see with equal vision. I love this short, simple quote and often remind myself of it when I feel like I am being biased or unequal in my perception of things. Perhaps maybe in passing, you could enlighten your sister in law about this verse 

Then I was going over some of my old blog posts, thinking why don't I write here that often anymore, thinking that I don't have much to write about... I was checking my blog statistics and found that this is the most popular post on my blog: Miracles and Experiences in Krishna Consciousness. After reading about each of the miracles I had listed, I picked one to read. This one is about an English girl named Ananda. You can read the whole story here.

I read the story, felt amazed by it once again, and then found a link about Radhanath Swami's talk at the Google headquarters. I was reading the article and after a couple of paragraphs into it, I saw that the EXACT SAME VERSE I had quoted above was mentioned in this article. I just sat there, shocked, staring at my computer screen, staring at the poster of Krishna on my wall, feeling amazed. All the events were completely random and I was amazed that somehow, I ended up finding an article that mentioned the same verse I had quoted just a few minutes ago! It kept making me feel like Krishna is still around, he's still here, and he's still trying to teach me. I felt like he was trying to tell me that the message of this verse is very important. It is! It is so important to treat others equally and fairly. If only more people would realize this, the world would be a better place. I can't even begin to tell you about the tingles I felt at the back of my neck! Krishna is just amazing. Just... amazing.

Prayer Request for Shweta

Shweta said:

"I know my prayer request is nothing infront of all these requests which I read above but please pray for me that I get a little krishna of my own in October as I am expecting now. I want to hold and love my Krishna and I will name him Krishna. I just can’t wait till he is in my arms.

Hare Krishna!"

 

Dear Shweta, your prayer request made me feel so soft and warm and fuzzy inside! Congratulations! I was so pleased to read it! Let me tell you about a true story a devotee told me some time ago. A lady was expecting and during one of her check ups, the doctor found a tumor. As the baby was growing, the tumor was also growing. Extremely worried, she sought the advice of her guru maharaj, who advised her to chant a shloka from the Mahabharat episode where Parikshit Maharaj, who was in the womb of his mother Uttara at the time, was at threat from an arrow shot by Ashwattam. In the Mahabharat, Uttara asked Krishna to protect her child and Krishna did so. So the lady we are talking about was saying these slokas and praying to Krishna. The doctors began to find that the tumor was starting to shrink! The lady had a normal healthy delivery by Krishna's mercy :)

Keeping this real life incident in mind as well as the incident in the Mahabharat, I pray that Krishna will protect your child. Gopinath, please bless Shweta and give her the necessary strength to take on this responsibility you have given her, and bless her and her child abundantly with good health. May they grow stronger in their faith in you day by day, dear Gopinath, and may her child become a loving devotee, just like the mother.

Giving Up + Desire for recognition + Krishna Conscious quotes on envy & desire for recognition (and it's remedies)

*Sigh*

I'm feeling low because I haven't really accomplished much. People around me are winning competitions and shows and winning all-expense-paid trips... and all I won in the last two years (and probably in the last-my-entire-life) was a marketing strategy competition. It wasn't even inter-college. Just amongst our class. My team was the winning team and the company designated came to present us with certificates and recommendation letters. It was nice. I'm grateful that I was one of the winners. But when I see others achieving a lot more than I am, it really puts me down... Why can't I be up there on stage, winning an award, getting some acknowledgment for my work, getting some recognition, something.

Is this envy of those who win and achieve more than I do?

"My dear sons, you should not envy any living entity — be he moving or nonmoving. Knowing that I am situated in them, you should offer respect to all of them at every moment. In this way, you offer respect to Me."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.26




"Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness--these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work."

- Bhagavad Gita As It Is 18.42




"Generally when you have opulences you become proud. But there is one opulence that attracts Krishna, humility. All other opulences only attract Krishna when they are offered with humility."

- H.H. Radhanatha Swami


“One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree who gives due honour to others without desiring honour for himself is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.”

- Siksastakam Verse 3




“A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.”

- Bhagavad Gita 4.39




"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]."

- Bhagavad Gita 5.18

So, we mustn't envy. We mustn't run after fame and recognition, shouldn't desire praise. We mustn't run after material things. Ambition is okay. That is healthy. But it shouldn't take control of us to the extent that we lose ourselves. We must, however, be able to leave these things behind at the sound of Krishna's flute calling us and run after Him. Our highest ambition must be this. To be detached from this world and attached to Krishna.

So what are Krishna's recommendations in such situations?

"Everything that can be achieved by fruitive activities, penance, knowledge, detachment, mystic yoga, charity, religious duties, and all other means of perfecting life is easily achieved by My devotee through loving service unto Me. If somehow or other My devotee desires promotion to heaven, liberation, or residence in My abode, he easily achieves such benedictions."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.32-33




“‘And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me - he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.’”

- Bhagavad Gita 6.47




“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha. for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.”

- Bhagavad Gita 12. 6-7




"Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."

- Bhagavad Gita 18.65

"Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasti eva nasti eva gatir anyatha."

"In this age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative for spiritual progress other than the chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord"

- Brhan-naradiya Purana

Just chant. It will cleanse this muck that is materialism. Muck. Not dust. Thick, thick muck. But chant with heart and soul. Krishna will do the rest.

Ishavasya means everything belongs to the Lord. Nothing is ours to rule over, to own. Everything belongs to Krishna and he is the Supreme Enjoyer of everything. So let's try not to claim possession over things that belong to Krishna. Let's try not to feel envious of his possessions. Let's be good children, who throw our lives into His hands in a heartbeat. All it takes is some dedication. And a lot of the mercy of Holy Name.

Great Day

...And I owe it all to Krishna.

Yesterday, 4 others and I presented to a well-known fast-food company for a marketing project at University. I messed up and I was very being very hard on myself for making mistakes. I stammered, got stuck, forgot some main points, and I "handed over" the presentation to the wrong person. I apologized to my group-mates who said it was okay but I couldn't stop beating myself up about it.

Today was the award ceremony. I have been living in anticipation since yesterday.

"Association of Devotees" - This story gave me goosebumps! Haribol!

Source:

http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/profiles/blogs/the-importance-of-the?xg_source=activity

or www.krishna.com

"The importance of the 'Association of the Devotees / Saadhu Sanga' is narrated in the following illustration from the Shaastra.

Once the great sage Narada was intrigued by a doubt. He was sure that Lord Vishnu would clear it for him. He proceeded to the Ocean of Milk and found his Lord reclining on the giant hooded serpent-bed Shankarshana, His beautiful consort, Lakshmi devi beside Him.

Sage Narada offered his obeisance to Lord Vishnu and put his question to Him. "Oh Lord, what is the value of Vaishnava Satsang, the Association of Vaishnava Devotees?" Lord Vishnu smiled charmingly and said, "I will answer your question. But first you must do something for me. Look at that village on planet Earth. Can you see a small worm crawling on the ground over there?"With his yogic vision, Sage Narada perceived it and nodded.
"Go over there and ask your question to that worm. I'm sure you'll get your answer."

Sage Narada was puzzled, but he nevertheless did as instructed. In response, the worm looked up at him, promptly rolled over and died.Sage Narada was shocked. He hurried back to Lord Vishnu and told Him what had
happened. Lord Vishnu merely smiled and told him, "Oh, is that so? Never mind. Now do one more thing. Go over to that cow-shed you see over there, in that town. A calf was born there a while ago. Please ask the same question to that calf."
Sage Narada was still recovering from what had happened earlier."Oh no, my Lord! What if that calf dies as well? I cannot risk committing the unforgivable crime of `go-hatya'!" Lord Vishnu however, was able to persuade him and sage Narada left on his new mission. Warily, he made his way into the cow-shed. It was in the middle of the night and he approached the calf unnoticed. He put the same question to the calf. In response, the calf looked at him with its large brown eyes. And then rolled over and died! Sage Narada was horrified. Using all the yogic powers at his disposal, he fled the scene and arrived at the abode of Lord Vishnu, shaking with fear.
"Oh my Lord! What have I done! The worst sin expected of anyone; the killing of the animal most dear to you!"
Lord Vishnu pacified the trembling sage and assured him that no sin would accrue to him. "And in the bargain, my Lord, I haven't even got the answer to my question?!" sage Narada complained.
Lord Vishnu smiled and told him that he would have to do just one last thing for Him. "You see that vast kingdom over there? The Queen has just given birth to her first child. All you have to do is ask that child your question and you will get your answer." "No, my Lord! Please don't ask me to go there. I have no doubt that some harm will befall that child as well. I simply cannot take that chance." But Lord Vishnu remained adamant. What could the sage do? Nervously, he set forth towards planet Earth. Arriving on the balcony where the young prince was lying unattended, sage Narada cautiously approached him. The baby looked at him and gurgled with joy.

Hesitatingly, the great sage asked the child, "What is the value of Vaishnava Satsang?' The child looked at sage Narada, and to his surprise, began to speak. "O great Sage. Your question has already been answered. When you, the greatest of Vaishnavas, had first granted me your association, I was an insignificant worm. As a result of my contact with you, I left that body and was awarded the body of the most pious animal, the calf.

You graced me with your association once more, and I left that body to gain the birth of the prince and heir of this vast kingdom. And by your causeless mercy, you have granted me your exalted association yet again.
Now I have no doubt that this is my last birth on this Earth. Your association will help me attain that Supreme Destination; the abode of Lord Hari Himself!"

Karma, Forgiveness + Krishna Conscious Quotes on Forgiveness

I did a quick search for blogs concerning Hare Krishna topics. I came across one that compared it with Christianity. It stated that Hare Krishna's need to perform good deeds and earn merit for these in order to wash away their karma.

Now is it just me who thinks otherwise? Or does this view need some polishing?

I may be mistaken about some things so forgive my errors. I will try to be as accurate as I can. Feel free to correct my mistakes... with a smile, of course :)

So, according to what I know, based on the article I read, Christians do not believe