If Krishna is reciprocal, why does Shikshashtakam call for loving Krishna even if he neglects us?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post If Krishna is reciprocal, why does Shikshashtakam call for loving Krishna even if he neglects us? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Devotee-Run Health Center Delivers Natural Cures
→ ISKCON News

Nestled in the beautiful hill country of Bulgarian resort village Emona, and overlooking the Black Sea and Irakli beach, is Vita Rama Health Center. Every summer, the Mediterranean-style building becomes home to around 500 people, as they soak up the peaceful countryside and clean air, healing their bodies and spirits. The Center is becoming more and more popular with its claims – backed up by customer testimonies – that it can cure heartburn, herniated discs, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and even cancer.

Video coverage of St. Augustine Ratha Yatra Festival of…
→ Dandavats



Video coverage of St. Augustine Ratha Yatra
Festival of Chariots, or Rathayatra, is an annual event celebrating Indian and Hindu culture. The festival was celebrated in St. Augustine on Saturday, April 9, 2016, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It featured two colorful parades, live entertainment, vegetarian food, dancing, art vendors, and more. The Festival of the Chariots, also known as Ratha Yatra, is a timeless festival, originating in the ancient city of Jagannatha Puri in India. Today, this festival, which celebrates an invitation to the Lord of the Universe to enter our hearts, is held in many major cities across the globe. Here in Florida there are 8 Ratha Yatras (Festival of the Chariots) hosted each year.
Residents and visitors viewed the vibrant Festival of Chariots parade in the downtown area from 10:30 a.m. to noon along King Street, beginning and ending at the Plaza de la Constitucion.
At 1 p.m., a walking procession called Harinam began along St. George Street, with colorfully-garbed participants singing and dancing as they proceed down to Cathedral Place and the Plaza, where a cultural program took place from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
In addition to the parades and other festivities, the festival featured a vegetarian feast highlighting Indian cuisine, music, a dramatic presentation, art vendors, a magic show, face painting, henna tattoos, and much more.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/dJ87Sm

Stone-Alive
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Abhijit Tolley

Suppose for a moment this stone has life. It still has all the characteristics of a stone, but now it knows it exists. No matter how many trucks choose to run over it, it feels no pain. It is, after all, just a stone. And, just as befits a stone, it doesn’t feel joy when spring is right round the corner. Isn’t that a most coveted state of existence? Granted, there’s no exhilaration in life, but not a bad price to pay for escaping the agony of being crushed under the nonchalant tires of some nameless truck. Yes, the stone is happy to be alive! Wait! This does not sound right. Are we saying a stone’s life is better than ours? Suppose you go and open your heart to someone: “I have a problem. Why am I suffering like this?” and that someone replies: “Because you’re not dead.” This is not an answer that will fill your heart with happiness. Neither will such a stone hearted reply help you.Yet, there are many philosophers who say this-perhaps not as bluntly, but it is pretty much the essence of their philosophies. You are suffering, yes. Suffering is because of your desires. Put an end to your desires; do not rejoice for anything, and do not lament for anything. And so on. What they are suggesting, really, is that you must eventually (not immediately) develop the qualities of a stone. Continue reading "Stone-Alive
→ Dandavats"

Modern government? Their only business is how to collect tax and…
→ Dandavats



Modern government? Their only business is how to collect tax and divide it amongst the government servants!
Srila Prabhupada: So there are some remarkable points in this verse. Dasyu-prayesu rajasu. Rajasu means government. Raja, king, or government. So monarchy is now abolished practically all over the world. Now it is democratic government. So this so-called democratic government or Communist government, as they are going on, they will become rogues and thieves, dasyu-prayesu. All the rogues, thieves, plunderers, they will capture. Because it is by vote. So dasyu… Just like plunderers, rogues, they on the point of revolver, they take away your money, so they will take vote on the point of revolver. Actually, it is happening. In Korea it so happened, that sometimes the Communists are coming in power, and sometimes the capitalists coming in power, America and Russia. So poor people, as soon as there is Communist government, they are under the influence: “If you don’t do this, then you’ll be shot.” By force. The people do not know what is government generally. They want to live peacefully. They want a secure place. So that is not their business, modern government. Their only business is how to collect tax and divide it amongst the government servants. That’s all. SB 1.3.25 class

​How to continue bhakti when we don’t have devotee association?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​How to continue bhakti when we don’t have devotee association? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Why did Rama not obey Vashishtha when asked to return to Ayodhya?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Why did Rama not obey Vashishtha when asked to return to Ayodhya? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​If all devotees will go to Krishna, what benefit do more dedicated devotees get?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​If all devotees will go to Krishna, what benefit do more dedicated devotees get? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How do we know the difference between what feels good and what is actually spiritual?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post How do we know the difference between what feels good and what is actually spiritual? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The Ramayana – A Summary
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Sri Nandanandana Das

The childless Dasharatha was advised by his family priest Vashishtha to perform a fire sacrifice ceremony to seek the blessings of God for children. Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, decided to manifest himself as the eldest son of Dasharatha in order to kill Ravana. While performing the fire worship ceremony, a majestic figure rose from the sacrificial fire and handed to Dasharatha a bowl of rice pudding, saying, "God is pleased with you and has asked you to distribute this rice pudding (payasa) to your wives - they will soon bear your children." The king received the gift joyfully and distributed the payasa to his three queens, Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. Kausalya, the eldest queen, gave birth to the eldest son Rama. Bharata, the second son was born to Kaikeyi and Sumitra gave birth to the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama's birthday is celebrated now as Ramanavami. Continue reading "The Ramayana – A Summary
→ Dandavats"

Salavation For Dummies. Samapriya devi dasi: Riding around in a…
→ Dandavats



Salavation For Dummies.
Samapriya devi dasi: Riding around in a burnt out jaloppy,
fuming and leaking it’s all become sloppy
creaking and rattling tired and floppy,
maybe I should get a new shinning copy.
Do I really want to go through all this again?
There’s always problems from beginning to end.
Stand up for your rights your word to defend
and searching for someone on whom to depend.
We speak what we realize and it’s become clear
most of us lonely and covered with fear.
The time now is coming, the last act to appear
when we reap what we sow and become what we hear.
Make our lives simple what more can we do?
It’s passing us by as though time just flew.
But we have the answer the ultimate clue
on your knees to receive it, and it’s given to you.
Handed to us through disciplic succession
in one strand of beads, the final concession.
We must take it up as our only possession.
Salvation for Dummies in this age of deception.

Zen Master’s Home (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami:…
→ Dandavats



Zen Master’s Home (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Last night we entertained the elite of Beijing in the home of a famous Zen Master. Charmed by our philosophy, our talented musicians and the holy names people were swept off their feet and chanted and danced in great happiness in the courtyard of that prestigious residence.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Q3I4yV

April 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
→ Dandavats



April 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Sanskrit Lessons.
It was perhaps because of Carl’s interest in Sanskrit that Prabhupada began holding Sanskrit classes. Carl and David and a few others would spend hours learning Sanskrit under Prabhupada’s guidance. Using a chalkboard he found in the loft, Prabhupada taught the alphabet, and his students wrote their exercises in his notebooks. Prabhupada would look over their shoulders to see if they were writing correctly and he would review their pronunciation. His students were learning not simply Sanskrit, but the instructions of Bhagavad-gita. Each day he would give them a verse to copy in the Sanskrit alphabet (devanagari), transliterated into the Roman alphabet, and then translated word-for-word into English. But their interest in Sanskrit waned, and Prabhupada gradually gave up the daily classes to spend time working on his own translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
His new friends may have regarded these lessons as Sanskrit classes, but actually they were bhakti classes. He had not come to America as the ambassador of Sanskrit; his Guru Maharaj had ordered him to teach Krishna consciousness. But since he had found in Carl and some of his friends a desire to investigate Sanskrit, he encouraged it. As a youth, Lord Caitanya had also started a Sanskrit school with the real purpose of teaching love of Krishna. He would teach in such a way that every word meant Krishna, and once His students objected, He closed the school. Similarly, when Prabhupada found his students’ interest in Sanskrit was transitory, and since he himself had no mission on behalf of Sanskrit linguistics, he gave it up.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

Duty, and its Relationship to Bhakti
→ The Enquirer

Duty… A dictionary defines it as a “moral or legal obligation or requirement.” A thesaurus lists synonyms like, “Responsibility, obligation, commitment.”

Essentially, “duty” means to do what is required of you.

What’s required of you?

That depends on who you are. If you are a student it’s your duty to study. If you are a parent its your duty to care for your children. If you are a driver, its your responsibility to get to the destination safely. Etc. Etc.

The specifics of Duty are different for everyone, the essence is the same – to do what is required of you, rather than doing whatever you might feel like doing at the moment.

The result of duty is to reduce selfishness, which is the basis of kāma, which is the primary effect of avidyā. So, following one’s duty gives rise to vidya (knowledge). Thus by following duty selflessly one gradually becomes qualified to more fully utilize the tools and techniques of jñāna-yoga (the yoga of knowledge/consciousness) such as study of philosophy and meditation upon the root of consciousness. By such meditation and study, one’s knowledge transforms into realization, and one is very likely to develop a sense of emotional attachment to the root of consciousness, paramātmā. Thus from jñāna-yoga, one can ascend to bhakti-yoga.

So duty is an initial precursor to bhakti and therefore everyone in society should be very warmly encouraged to adhere to their various duties under all circumstances.

Those who are at the stages of jñāna and bhakti already act only on the selfless platform, so there is no separate need to specifically encourage them to ordinary duties. Such people are rare, but they tend to perform ordinary duties anyway, to set the proper example for the masses.

Duty is the essence of dharma, morality. It therefore generates all the essential moral qualities such as humility, tolerance, forgiveness, nonviolence, compassion, etc. Jñāna- and bhakti-yogas, being successors to the duty-yoga, karma-yoga, generate these essential moral qualities even more deeply.

Vraja Kishor das

vrajakishor.com


Tagged: Bhakti, Dharma, duty, karma, yoga-ladder

We Know the Center of a Circle by its Circumference
→ The Enquirer

This continues directly from the previous excerpt; We Do Not Eat Fruits Washed by Karmīs

Then we went to other European countries and everything was so different. The devotees were kind, generous, and helpful. The parents of the straightedge kids whose homes we sometimes stayed in didn’t seem so terrified by the “Hare Krishna sect.”

I remember sitting on the grassy hill of one of the Krishna farms somewhere out there in I-forget-where, twirling a dandelion flower between my fingers, wondering how Viṣṇupāda could be the leader here, were everyone was so sweet, and over there too, where everyone was so mean? I realized that the center of a circle is perceived through its circumference. Unless we are personally very close to someone, we only experience them through those who are close to him.

I imagined the fanatical book-distributing non-karmī-fruit-eaters from over there approaching their guru saying, “Shelter is coming, but is this punk rock bonafide?” I imagined their guru saying something relative to their mood. Something like, “Well, Prabhupāda stopped Viṣṇujana from doing the same thing…” Then, I could see them coming away with the conclusion, “Our guru says you are bogus.”

On the other hand I imagined the simple, down-to-earth people from over here approaching their guru saying, “What should we do to help Shelter when they come?” Responding to their mood, the same guru might say, “Bring them prasādam and see if you can coordinate some book distribution and harinām.”

I decided to suspend my previous judgement on Viṣṇupada’s character. Maybe he was who I initially thought he was, maybe he wasn’t. Until I got to know him and his surroundings, I couldn’t know for sure. And why should I be in any rush to find out? I should have better things to do.

Then I thought of Prabhupāda. He was so different at 26 2nd Avenue and during the very early years of ISKCON, when his circumference was so much smaller and women like Yamuna Devī, Mālatī, and Jadurāṇī were an important part of it. Later, the circumference so much larger and so  very different, and he too seemed very different. I began to realize that what ISKCON accepted as “Prabhupāda’s Mood” was really only the mood of the circumference at a given point in time. Even what they saw as “Prabhupāda’s Teachings” was only the teaching they had managed to evoke from him, and was only what they had managed to comprehend of it.

This gave me some hope that I might be able to get close to Prabhupāda himself, without the circumference, if I studied his books carefully – especially the earlier ones.

– Excerpt from an early draft of

Train Wrecks and Transcendence: A Collision of Hardcore and Hare Krishna
Available May 2016

By Vraja Kishor [VrajaKishor.com ]


Tagged: Hare Krishna, ISKCON, Prabhupada, visnupada

A drop of mercy
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.12)

Lord-Ramacandra-Watches-the-monkeys-build-a-bridge-to-Lanka
At one time, Krsna was establishing that he was the Supreme Lord and that all the various incarnations of the Lord were within him. So the gopis said, “If you are the origin of all the incarnations, then it means that Lord Ramachandra is also here. Lord Ramachandra had an army of monkeys that built a bridge across the ocean. We have monkeys here, we have a body of water. So can you please make a bridge for us?”
And Krsna arranged it. All the monkeys came down from the trees and all picked up stones. They wrote the name of Krsna on these stones and placed them on the water and they floated. Then the gopis walked over the bridge.
So all this is very nice. One who knows this story has a drop of mercy. So many drops of mercy we get from so many different personalities.

Harinama in Happy Japanese Island Okinawa, Japan (Album with…
→ Dandavats



Harinama in Happy Japanese Island Okinawa, Japan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/35uhi6

Krishna The God of Varieties
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Vamsi Vihari Dasa

According to the Bhagavad-gita (15.1), this material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. All varieties of this world exist in the spiritual world in its original pure form. If this material world, despite the inherent miseries of repeated birth and death, can appear so attractive to us, we can only imagine how attractive the spiritual world must be, which is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. Therefore, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, regularly appears in this world to attract us and take us back to His blissful kingdom. At scheduled intervals He descends as various incarnations in different parts of the universe. At other times He remains in this world in the form of His Deity (archa-vigraha) whereby He accepts personal loving service from His devotees. In this article, we will see how Krishna in His Deity form appears in so many amazingly different ways on this earth just to show His special love for His devotees. Continue reading "Krishna The God of Varieties
→ Dandavats"

What Kind of listener am I? The topmost listener is one who…
→ Dandavats



What Kind of listener am I?
The topmost listener is one who comes before the speaker with proper respect and is eager and expert in hearing of Krishna’s teachings and pastimes. He has rejected all mundane topics, has faith in the Supreme Lord, hears submissively, always contemplates the knowledge he has heard and likes to ask relevant questions. He is dear to Lord’s devotees.
There are listeners who are known as superiors.
Cataka bird : A cataka bird does not take water from any source other than the rain cloud. It eagerly waits for the swati constellation, because it only drinks the raindrops that fall during that constellation. It will rather die than drink any other types of water. One who does not hear any book other than the scriptures concerned with Krishna is called a cataka listener.
Swan : Just as the swan can extract milk from a mixture of milk and water, one who can extract the essential teachings while listening to various topics is called a swan listener.
Parrot : Just as a parrot can recite whatever it has been taught, one who is able to properly repeat the topics he has heard from his teacher and others is called a parrot listener.
Fish: Just as a fish that is situated in an ocean of condensed milk quietly drinks milk without even blinking its eyes, one who quietly listens with full focus and relishes what he hears is called a fish listener.
Some listeners are classified as inferior:
Wolf :Just as the cry of wolf frightens the deer attracted by the sweet sound of the flute in the forest, the foolish listener whose questions and comments are a source of frustration and pain to the other listeners is called a wolf listener.
Bhurunda bird: Just as the bhurunda bird that lives in the Himalayas tells everyone whatever it has heard without doing anything himself, one who repeats what he has heard to others but does not practice it himself is called a bhurunda listener.
Bull: Just a bull does not distinguish between eating sweet grapes or pungent oilcakes, the person who listens to everything without intelligence and discrimination is called a bull listener.
Camel : Just as the camel rejects the mango leaves to chew bitter neem leaves, one who listens to Krishna’s teachings and then eagerly listens to mundane topics is called a camel listener.
– Srila Vyasadeva, Srimad Bhagavat Mahatamya, Skanda Purana, verses 10.41.35-37

First Girls’ Mela at Sri Mayapur International School. Mayuri…
→ Dandavats



First Girls’ Mela at Sri Mayapur International School.
Mayuri Pillai: Saturday the 6th of February hosted the first Girls’ Mela at SMIS. A nice group of girls over the age of fourteen gathered at the main campus to partake in the planned weekend’s events. HG Devaki Mataji, a senior disciple of HH Niranjana Swami gave an inspiring two day seminar on “Fascinating Womanhood”, presenting the transformation from materialistic views on womanhood to spiritual views, and thus motivating our enthusiasm.
The seminar concluded with a lunch feast in the open air. At 6:30 pm, after sunset we met back at school after the Hatti Procession. We sat around the bonfire, cooking dinner to the company of an upbeat kirtan, followed by a game of “Capturing the Flag in Pitch Black”. It was fast approaching midnight when we finally managed to get to sleep, exhausted from “Truth & Dare” and stuffed with the night prasadam of soup, buttered buns and fire roasted potatoes.
The next morning we performed darshan arati to Gaura Nitai and had a quick breakfast prior to the second day of the seminar. We performed humorous little skits summarizing the topics of previous day’s discussions before mataji began to speak.
The two-day course delivered a deep insight into various prospects, from a woman’s position in vedic culture to being able to advance in Krishna Consciousness as a youth. The whole group felt enlightened and benefited at the end and inspired to keep trying to make further progress.
The first Girl’s Mela was a great success and we are already planning for the next one! Please come and join the next Girls’ Mela….!

Sri Rama Navami – Apperance day of Lord Rama
→ Mayapur.com

Celebrating the appearance of Supreme Lord Sri Rama, Sri Ram Katha or pastimes and glories of Lord Ramachandra will take place from 13th April to 15th April, the Rama Navami utsava day. These classes will be broadcasted live at Mayapur.tv or you can listen at http://www.mayapurtvarchives.com/. Sri Rama is also known as Maryada Purusottama. Ramayana […]

The post Sri Rama Navami – Apperance day of Lord Rama appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Lord Rama
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Radhanath Swami

The Lord’s descent from His transcendental abode is already explained in the 6th verse. One who can understand the truth of the appearance of the Personality of Godhead is already liberated from material bondage, and therefore he returns to the kingdom of God immediately after quitting this present material body. Such liberation of the living entity from material bondage is not at all easy. The impersonalists and the yogis attain liberation only after much trouble and many, many births. Even then, the liberation they achieve—merging into the impersonal brahma jyoti of the Lord—is only partial, and there is the risk of returning to this material world. But the devotee, simply by understanding the transcendental nature of the body and activities of the Lord, attains the abode of the Lord after ending this body and does not run the risk of returning to this material world. In the Brahma-samhita (5.33) it is stated that the Lord has many, many forms and incarnations: advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam. Although there are many transcendental forms of the Lord, they are still one and the same Supreme Personality of Godhead. One has to understand this fact with conviction, although it is incomprehensible to mundane scholars and empiric philosophers. As stated in the Vedas Continue reading "Lord Rama
→ Dandavats"

Lord Ramachandra was the first deity I ever saw…
→ Dandavats



Kadamba Kanana Swami: When I first went to India, Lord Ramachandra was the first deity I ever saw because the first temple I went to was of Lord Ramachandra and that was my temple! It was a small round temple and later on, they renovated and made it into a big marble temple. Oh, I miss my small round temple; it was so nice; the deities were really close but now they are high up and far away.

Read More...

(This post has been viewed 898 times so far)

Lessons from Hanuman, Lord Rama’s Greatest Servant. This…
→ Dandavats



Lessons from Hanuman, Lord Rama’s Greatest Servant.
This Friday, 15 Apr 2016, devotees around the world will put extra focus on the essence of Gaudiya Vaishnavism—loving service to God—as we celebrate the appearance day of Lord Ramachandra, God’s form as the ideal leader. And who better to follow as the perfect example of selfless, devoted service than Lord Rama’s greatest devotee, the monkey warrior Hanuman?
We cannot, of course, imitate Hanuman’s actions. This is someone, who, as a newborn baby, tried to eat the sun because he thought it was a delicious-looking fruit, and would have succeeded had not Indra the lord of the demigods stopped him by striking him unconscious with his deadly thunderbolt weapon. He was then personally revived and granted untold powers by the creator Brahma, in an effort to pacify his father Vayu, the God of wind, who in a fury had taken away the ability to breathe from every living entity in the universe.
We can, however, follow Hanuman’s example of using his talents and capacities to the fullest in the Lord’s service.
Doing Our Very Best
Hanuman’s talent was strength, and a quick study of his life reveals endless examples of his using it to the fullest. When Rama’s wife Sita devi was kidnapped by the demon king Ravana, Hanuman jumped, with playful disregard, across thousands of miles of fathomless ocean to warn Ravana to release her.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/uzYJL7

The Modern Day Legacy of Lord Rama
→ Dandavats

By Sesa Dasa

Here are three questions for you to ponder, dear reader: First, which came first, the chicken or the egg? Second, what do a highway billboard, a small town storefront, and the Greek philosopher Aristotle have in common? And third, what do either of these questions have to do with Lord Rama?

The ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana describes the life of Ramachandra, the incarnation of God whose advent in this world is celebrated each spring by Hindus and followers of Vedic culture worldwide. The work contains 24,000 verses and is considered to be the original Sanskrit poem. However, the Ramayana is not simply an epic tale; because it describes the activities of the Personality of Godhead, it is a complete guide to God-realization.

The story is told in response to Sage Valmiki’s question to Narada Muni: “Who is an ideal man?” Narada’s answer, a brief description of the life and qualities of Lord Rama, forms the basis for Valmiki’s much longer epic.

So which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or, in other words, is Lord Rama a God to whom we ascribe human qualities, or are we made in the image of the divine Rama, whose form we thus reflect and whose qualities we aspire to embody? Srila Prabhupada clearly stated, “The materialistic theory that God-worship is anthropomorphic is not correct.” On the contrary, he explained that “because we are part and parcel of God, we have got all the qualities of God, but because we are a minute part of God, therefore all the qualities of God are present in minute quantity.” “The impersonalist rascals,” he goes on to say, “they cannot understand what is the nature of God. In the Bible also it is said: ‘Man is made after God.’ You can study God’s quality by studying your quality, or anyone’s quality. Simply the difference is in quantity.”

So, what’s the proof that man follows God, that we are theomorphic? That’s where the billboard, the storefront and the teachings of Aristotle come in.

I saw the following message on a highway billboard along the Florida Turnpike: “A Commitment to Something Greater than Themselves.” Was the message religious? Not overtly. Was it marketing something? No. Was it aimed at some sensual enjoyment? Nope. The billboard was a recruiting ad for the U.S. Marine Corp. It pictured a young man, maybe 20 or 21, smartly dressed in a Marine Corp uniform (the best looking uniform the armed services have to offer) and sharply saluting. The billboard carries the legacy of self-sacrifice, of self-sacrifice, nobility of spirit, and being prepared to lay down one’s life for higher principles. What is the origin of these ideals? The answer can be found in the Ramayana.

A central theme of the Ramayana is how to live according to dharma: Right action or sacred duty according to one’s social role, status, and gender, even if it means sacrificing one’s own interests.

Rama was to be king, but, on the night before his coronation, palace intrigue led to his sudden banishment. Kaikeyi, one of the wives of Rama’s father Dasarath, demanded the king deny Rama his right to the throne, and instead send him in exile to the forest. Rama, as a kshatriya (a person belonging to the ruler/ warrior class), had every right to question this injustice. Was he really duty-bound to honor an unjust promise made by the hen-pecked Dasarath? No, but, in line with his true greatness, Rama conceded to both demands, with utter detachment and without a trace of disappointment. For him, “pitru vakya paripalanam” (honoring his father’s words) was one of the highest dharmas. As an ideal warrior, obedience was important, regardless of the propriety of the request to be obeyed. Thus Rama’s heroism lies in both his acts and his attitude.

I saw the following message on a small town storefront in the rural South of the United States: “Honor, Loyalty, Respect, Confidence, Etiquette.” When I peered inside the window, it became obvious that the storefront housed a martial arts academy.

Back to Godhead magazine recently published a story about Jaya Vijaya Dasa (aka Jason Goreing), a third degree black belt and 1994 Australian Taekwondo master. Jaya Vijaya said, “The true value of martial arts lies not in learning the art itself, but in acquiring the internal qualities developed by learning its basic practices.” The sign on the storefront carries the legacy of internal character development.

Students at the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in India recently did a project on personality development for their course “Indian Management Thoughts and Practices” and came to these conclusions about the Ramayana: “Culture and values are the base on which a person builds his personality and his character. Ramayana teaches an individual the way to live by enriching his personality.” Two elements of eastern culture that students particularly highlighted are key themes in the Ramayana: the importance of loyalty in relationships and respect for one’s elders.

Lord Rama Himself exhibits such loyalty and respect, so why should we not also aspire to do so? Lord Rama said, “As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is My eternal principle that if any living being takes shelter of Me, even once, saying, ‘I am Yours,’ then I award that person freedom from all fear. Even if Ravana [who had stolen away Rama’s wife Sita] were to come here and surrender to Me, I would give him all protection.”

Finally we come to Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, and his thoughts on happiness. He taught that unlike momentary feelings of pleasure, happiness is a state of overall spiritual well-being and fulfillment. As such, it’s the ultimate end underlying all of our strivings. He believed that such happiness can only come at the end of a life well-lived in accordance with virtue. Aristotle’s teachings carry the legacy of sensual restraint, the message that true happiness is achieved through being bound by the chords of virtue.

During the time of the Ramayana, polygamy was prevalent and it was an acceptable social norm for kings to marry many women. Rama’s own father Dasaratha had three wives. Lord Rama, however, took a vow (“eka-patni-vrata”) to accept only one wife and eschew any other connection with women. This determination is his glorious example for today’s couples, particularly setting the sterling standard for a truly respectable man.

We know that we are made in the image of God because we can find the original and purest example of our ideals in the activities and character of Lord Rama. Whether we are an officer in the Marine corps, a student at a martial arts school, or a scholar of philosophy, we all strive to live up to his divine standard, whether we realize it or not. For those of us who understand his true position and our eternal relationship with him, there is all the more reason to hear about, celebrate, and follow the life and qualities of Lord Rama as our highest duty and greatest pleasure.
Tags: