Organised Chaos

When driving in India anything goes. No speed limits, no lane discipline, no right of way... do what you want, just make sure you horn so that everyone’s aware! Once, I witnessed a head-on collision, causing both vehicles serious damage. As the two drivers emerged unscathed, they came face-to-face and began debating whose fault it was. There was loud argument, fiery gesticulation and a crowd of excited onlookers who offered their “two rupees” worth. Within a few minutes, however, they came to some resolution, headed for a tea stall, and sat down together for a good old natter! It was an incredible sight! No animosity, no grudges, no bad feeling. It taught me something about their culture: chaos on the outside, calm on the inside.

Our modern culture is often the complete opposite: orderly on the outside, but chaotic on the inside! We have complex infrastructure, documented rules for everything and refined social niceties that govern day-to-day dealings. External social intercourse may be prim and proper, but many individuals experience huge chaos within. People are often inhibited from revealing their hearts, and instead lock up things within, causing destructive emotions to brew up and eventually surface in unhealthy ways. While modern culture may have succeeded in organising society into a well-oiled machine, there are clear deficiencies in the areas of community, relationships and meaningful human interaction. We’ve learnt how to live a life of organised chaos; bottling everything up, it’s often a case of smiling faces but parched hearts.

A self-development guru once held up a glass of water in front of her audience. While everyone was expecting the usual “half empty half full” exercise, she instead asked them how heavy the cup was. The answers varied from 3 oz to 10 oz. She then explained that the weight and volume of the water is not what makes it heavy – rather it’s the length of time for which we hold it. Similarly, everyone goes through challenges, anger, frustration and unrest in their life (the water in our cup). The problem is when we carry these things and fail to let go. Good social structures allow people to ‘get things off their chest’ and get on with living life. The freedom of expression helps keep things in perspective. We need to free up some internal breathing space, lest we choke our consciousness.

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Motherly Love

It’s easy to take mothers for granted. In an attempt to estimate the monetary value of ‘motherly love’, some researchers spent a week following around one such mother. She took the kids to school, so they calculated how much a taxi driver would cost. She cooked the breakfast, lunch and dinner so they approximated the wage bill of a cook. The mother also played the role of a cleaner, psychologist, accountant and nurse to name but a few. They calculated the overtime the mother put in, and how she would often go on for years without any time off (every family holiday she was fully on-call). After crunching the numbers, they discovered that to employ such a mother would set you back in the region of £150,000 a year!

That, however, doesn’t tell you the full story; the quality of the job is what really stands out. The service of a mother is incredibly selfless and unceasing. They don’t stipulate any expectation in return for their services, and are delighted when offered the opportunity to go beyond the call of duty. What to speak of receiving benefits, even when children act in irrational and ungrateful ways, the mother happily continues to serve. Their service unfailingly continues day after day, and even when the child becomes a grown adult the outpouring of motherly love doesn’t subside.

Ancient scriptures explain how our actions towards God and all living beings should be completely devoid of selfish intent. By offering our lives in service, unmotivated and uninterrupted, we experience profound satisfaction and fulfillment which otherwise remains elusive. While this may be hard to conceptualise, the living example of magnanimous mothers gives us an insight into what selflessness really is. Swami Prabhupada explained how the love between mother and child is the purest form of love found in this world. How wonderful if we could take some moments to remember this, foster a mood of gratitude, and share that selfless spirit with the entire world.

Disclaimer: I am sure many fathers also fit the above descriptions :)

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Mind Games

During our life journey we are perpetually accompanied by the “voice within”. Yes, we’ve all experienced it - the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other, each giving their words of wisdom to the confused person in-between. The mind is that voice; essentially a storehouse of memories and experiences that offers live options to the individual. While many identify themselves with the mind, the Bhagavad-gita defines
it as a subtle instrument at our disposal – an instrument which needs to be strictly controlled and eventually befriended. Why?

The Mind creates reality: everything starts in our heads - thoughts to words to actions to habits to a character, which ultimately designs our destiny. What we contemplate, consider and generate conviction in through the thinking process, will determine what we practically strive for in life.

The Mind translates reality: all of the situations and interactions (that we have created) are then translated by the mind. Depending on our state of mind, we experience a proportionate amount happiness, growth and contentment in response to the rollercoaster journey of life.

An uncontrolled mind will agitate, misguide and implicate the soul, forcing us to glide down to the lower nature of lust, anger and greed. That mindset emphasizes problems in every opportunity, dissatisfied with the present and perpetually hankering for a better future. The controlled mind, however, acts as a friend on our spiritual journey, helping us to make progressive and healthy choices which create wellbeing on all levels. That mindset is able to identify opportunities in every problem, ever-satisfied come what may. Now it makes sense: it’s all in the mind.
 

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Choose Life

It’s easy to (often subconsciously) separate our spiritual life from our day-to-day routine. A student can easily mistake their academic endeavours as being unrelated to their divine pursuit. A worker may view their everyday profession as a means of survival; a call of duty which adds little value to their internal development. We may conduct our worldly relationships on the basis of ‘getting things done’, unaware that every interaction leaves a mark on our consciousness. It’s clear that our core spiritual practices and focused times of reflection bolster our spiritual consciousness, but could the things we do outside of those times be just as influential?

If a student is undisciplined, lackadaisical, and irresponsible in their academic life, that mentality could possibly carry over to their spiritual practices. If a worker is dishonest, exploitative and avaricious in their worldly affairs, they may well see the same proclivities haunting their spiritual endeavours. If one is inconsiderate, judgmental and impersonal with family, friends, and the average Jo, they might begin treating their spiritual associates in the same way. As we learn of the spiritual reality it’s easy to begin neglecting what we may see as temporary, mundane and inconsequential social intercourse. We may consider such things to be unimportant in relation to the ‘bigger picture.’

The Bhagavad-gita offers the perfect balance: remain rooted in eternal truths, and simultaneously inject a healthy amount of care and attention in the 'worldly' aspects of life. Yoga is the art of connecting all of our activities, responsibilities and relationships to God. It’s easy to perpetually see these things as an obstacle, distraction and diversion from our real calling. Unfortunately, such an approach usually ends up in frustration, confusion and stagnation. More progressive is to understand that all such aspects of life have the potential to add spiritual value. The best recourse, therefore, is to choose life, accept life and make the best of life. After all, what’s on the inside is what really counts.

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Tangible Proof

Every year we offer some heartfelt words of appreciation to our founding spiritual teacher. For me, the lives of the saints settle all the doubts. Their stories are tangible proof that God really does exist.

Dear Srila Prabhupada

I close my eyes and picture the scene. It’s April 1966. Homeless, penniless and alone, you’ve relocated to the Lower East Side in search of “better opportunities” to preach. This is Skid row; the lowest of the low. Here you live, worship, study and teach. Its early evening, and your new residence, the rat-ridden 94 Bowery, is filled with buzzing acidheads, bearded bohemians, ruined alcoholics and disillusioned dropouts. The assembled participants have wandered into this makeshift temple in living protest against America's good life of materialism. Sex, music, LSD, and meditation is what makes them tick. Half-a-dozen unconscious bums block up the foyer. A few of them have urinated on the floor while one is actually dead. You nonchalantly step by them, enter the room and seat yourself at the front. These confused souls are looking for real love, real happiness and real spiritual experience. Your expression exudes bottomless depth. You are not phased in the slightest. You know your mission. You know you have what they’re looking for. You know Krishna is on your side.

What a historic scene! Absolutely incredible! This has to be the ultimate exhibition of compassion, conviction and courage. Could such a thing ever be repeated? Srila Prabhupada, if you do embark on such a transcendental adventure again, please permit me to tag along. I’m ready to do whatever it takes.

On the order of your spiritual teacher, you shed 200 gallons of blood to help people find true happiness. No amount of social commentary, historical analysis or academic reasoning can account for the miracle of your life. If there was any doubt that God exists, your story well and truly puts it to rest.

Now all that’s left is to share that story with the world. This is the real adventure, the real business, the real purpose in life. There is so much work to do – towns, cities, countries and continents that are waiting to hear about Krishna and His pure devotee. I’m grateful beyond belief to be part of your glorious mission. I hope I’ll do something in this life to make you smile.

Begging to remain at your transcendental disposal,

Sutapa das

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Messiah Complex

Russell Brand popped into our countryside temple last week. We strolled around the gardens, had a bite to eat and finished off with half-an-hour of chanting in the main shrine. According to sources, Russell had at one point seriously considered the idea of monasticism! We didn’t discuss that, but he did liberally share his latest spiritual and philosophical insights. Always pushing the boundaries of political correctness, his newest comedy sketch entitled “the messiah complex” examines the influence and teachings of iconic personalities in history. The material, which discusses Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara and Jesus, has attracted opposition from certain corners, to the point where shows have had to be cancelled due to security risk.

I'm not sure what the message is, but a messiah complex occurs when an individual holds a strong belief that they are, or are destined to become, an influential savior of the world. Often times, the same people display another side; a human side which is subject to the same weaknesses and frailties as everyone else. Followers are discouraged, creating a hesitation to again invest their faith in human beings. It begs the question: do transcendental saintly souls really exist? Is it simply human nature to constantly search for embodiments of perfection? Wouldn’t it be more progressive to focus on ourselves instead of looking to others?

The Bhagavad-gita explains that saints do indeed exist, but that such persons cannot be stereotypically identified. Saints may be followed by many people and famed in spiritual circles, or maybe not. They may be erudite, scholarly and philosophically astute, or maybe not. Saints may be renounced, austere and free from worldly responsibility, or maybe not. The one essential quality of the truly saintly person is their enthusiastic, dedicated and unwavering conviction to selflessly serve. They exist to give happiness to others. It is the association of these great souls that we should seek, for their spiritual prowess can overflow onto us, and their good wishes can attract divine attention. Just as many lenses within a telescope bring an object within sight, similarly, the more saintly people we can please the closer our cherished goal will be.

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Conscious Revolution

Corporate powerhouses continue to grow, media giants maintain their muscle, and political alliances invariably dominate the landscape. Society is advancing at breakneck speed toward deeper-rooted worldliness, and it seems unstoppable. Our humble efforts to penetrate this complex network and implant a spiritual message can sometimes feel futile and ineffectual. Ancient prophecies and saintly commentators, however, beg to differ. They unequivocally state that the teachings of Bhagavad-gita will eventually revolutionise modern thinking and activate a paradigm shift in the world.

It’s a hard one to stomach. In all honesty, we don’t really seem to be having a significant impact on the world. Most view the Krishna movement in a kind-hearted way: happy and harmless folk who bring some colour to the street. They struggle, however, to appreciate the gravity and substance of the spiritual message. If this theological canon encapsulates the comprehensive truth of life, the universe and everything, why is it not prominently shining forth in the world? Why isn’t this movement affecting mass numbers of people in a profound way? Even though the teachings have been made available, why do most of the populace remain uninterested and apathetic?

Audience – maybe people are not ready. Immediate popularity is not a reliable measure of the relevance, importance and long-term effect of something. Just see what hits the headlines and you’ll catch my point.

Negligence – maybe the carriers of the message have neglected to present it in a pure and dynamic way. Every spiritualist is charged with the task of preserving their principles, while simultaneously adapting to the modern world around them. You have to be relevant.

Patience – maybe the spiritual revolution is brewing, but hasn’t yet reached the explosive point. The greatest religious traditions took decades and centuries before they were universally recognised and widely adopted.

Influence – maybe the institution is small, but the influence is widespread. Numerous philosophical tenets of the Bhagavad-gita have been embraced by the modern world: the futility of materialism, meditation, reincarnation, the law of karma, vegetarianism etc. These are the core beliefs of many people, who won’t necessarily affiliate themselves with a particular spiritual movement.

My conclusion: sincere spiritualists are surely making a huge difference. That said, there’s lots more work to be done.

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Risky Business

"An easygoing life and attainment of perfection in transcendental realization cannot go together." (Swami Prabhupada)

Spiritual life is risky business. Throughout history, we see how distinguished saints pushed the comfort zone, embraced uncertainty, and voluntarily accepted highly precarious situations. It spurred their dependence upon the will of providence. I’m not sure whether they began with concrete conviction, but they certainly ended up with it! Token religious faith is commendable, but life becomes dynamically interesting when we experience the mystery and wonder of divine intervention. Selfless sacrifices, exceptional endeavors and the willingness to take a chance are the drivers behind such experience. How can we contact the hand of God if we don’t have the courage to let go and fall back?

It’s easy to gravitate towards the ‘safe options’ in life. Don’t do anything drastic, tread the path of least resistance and keep things sweet and simple. The world has its preconceived notions – what’s acceptable and what’s not – and we just fit right in. The fear of embarrassment, failure and public opinion is too much, and thus plagued by the disease of hesitation we continually confine and limit ourselves. Yet a comfortable life is itself a hazardous disease. With it comes the danger of mechanical, ritualistic, mediocre, and stagnated spirituality. In the name of caution and shyness, we sell ourselves way short.

Beginnings are often marked by a spirit of adventure, risk and discovery, but as time goes by that can degenerate into caution, security and stagnation. This stands for the individual, a group and even entire institutions. I’m meditating on the need to take some bold risks in the spiritual journey. Life on the margin keeps things fresh. I’m not talking about anything whimsical or needless, but risks which are grounded in a sincere desire to better ourselves and simultaneously serve humanity. Such risks will always receive divine back-up and generate internal growth. There is nothing to lose. Even if it doesn’t work out, even if we make fools of ourselves, even if we ‘miss out’ on some temporary benefits… I’m sure we’ll have gained something far more valuable in the process. Only when we risk going too far can we truly discover how far we can go.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)

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