Don't Tell Me What To Do!

BY: MAYESVARA DASA

Feb 11, OJAI, CALIFORNIA, USA (SUN) — Don't Tell Me What To Do! People worry about how unfair, cruel, and volatile the world has become. Many want others to change, but who is willing to accept good instructions and BECOME the change we all want to see? Ameliorate your foibles by adopting world class advice from the ancient Vedic sages at the next AVA gathering! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!

On Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010...
TIME: 7:30pm
AT: American Vedic Association
STREET: 687 West Villanova Road
CITY: Ojai, California, 93023
PHONE: (805) 640-0405
C/O: mayesvara dasa ACBSP AKA: William Roberts MBA/MIS, CCP

...Come join this wonderful evening that includes:
Congregational Mantra Meditation
A short study in Sanskrit
A FREE Vegetarian Feast and
A Bona-fide Sat-sanga where we will discuss:

Prelude to This Month's Feature Article

Don't Tell Me What To Do!
Deadly Inventions

Over the last 250 years the modern age has been marked by a steady flow of new discoveries related to the world we live in. Some of those "New" things were the various forms of deadly chemicals. By 1915, mustard gas was being used in WWI against combatants causing some of the most horrible injuries one could inflict on another human being. The consequences were so terrible that in Geneva, on June 17, 1925, the effort to ban chemical weapons was achieved by the International Convention of The Red Cross. The efforts of that organization helped the European nations to come to an agreement which became known as the Protocol for the Prohibition of bacteriological warfare. It forbid the use of deadly chemicals weapons that lead to asphyxiation and the crippling of military forces by poisonous Gases.

One of the many things WWII brought with it was the awareness that mankind had the ability to really mess things up very bad. History tells us that Albert Einstein was very reluctant about joining the effort to make the first atomic bomb because he knew that if that technology was every developed, it would change the world in irreversible ways. He was right.

He did however decide to participate in the development of the first nuclear bomb because he felt by doing so it would bring a rapid end to the war. He was counting on the fact that once the Japanese realized how terribly destructive the new US weapon was they would surrender very quickly. It actually took two nuclear bombs to convince the Japanese that we could literally wipe out the entire island of Japan with very little effort. When they finally understood that, they immediately surrendered.

Historians who studied the willpower and determination of the Japanese during the height of WWII tend to agree with Einstein's rough calculations. Even though the two nuclear bombs killed thousands of people, experts feel that even more people would have died over the period of an extended war in the South Pacific.

More Technology is good... Don't tell us what to Do!

It was the thrust of the industrial age which came after the two world wars and the space race that led the Western world into a rapid surge of runaway technology. Our lives radically changed with the extraction of Oil from the earth and the subsequent development of plastics and artificial fertilizers. Electronics, printed circuit boards, microwave ovens, personal computers, and now IPhones, IPods & IPads are part of our daily life.

Soon chemical fertilizers were being promoted as viable alternatives to naturally decaying and abundant compost piles that were local and cost nothing. In order to save their huge investments in factory equipment, the people who made the chemical weapons for WWI got very creative. Instead of producing deadly poisons to kill people, they convince the world to purchase a new type of poison that could be used to kill undesirable weeds. The public was lured in by the illusion of picture perfect low maintenance garden or lawn.

Somewhere We Went Wrong

Hardly a day goes by without somebody commenting about how misguided, lost, unstable and generally out of control the world has become. It is our human nature is to dismiss those who are not following the diet, recycling plan, investment program, charitable organization, political party or faith that we believe is the way to go.

What to do?

While one group of individuals are pointing the finger at a particular demographic group, ten other parties are accusing that collection of individuals as being responsible for why the world is so messed up.

Those who engage in dialogue with a wide spectrum of individuals will quickly realize that nearly everyone has an opinion about what should be done to improve things. The liberals want more entitlement programs, while the conservatives want more freedom from government. The religious minded want more access to the political process while the atheists are doing all they can to prevent that. The Vegans want everyone to stop using any animal products for ANY reason while the cattle ranchers are willing to do almost anything to accelerate the time it takes to fatten their steer cheaper. Philanthropists promote karma yoga, yoga teachers promote various portions of Astanga Yoga, the Neo-Advaitists offer a sanitized and simplified version of Jnana Yoga while the devotees of the Lord request people to take up Bhakti Yoga.

Now the schools promote that children should think for themselves and inspirational speakers teach that you have the power to make your dreams come true.

Who Should One Listen To?

Many people acknowledge their fear and say they want to see things change, but who knows how to really change things for the better? Few people have the ability to see what will really bring about the changes we all want to see. This is because they keep relying on the politicians, science, or their own imaginative ideas about how to attain peace or act "Spiritually" to correct the current spiral downward.

The Vedas reveal that there is a subtle science which offers the key to changing some of the biggest things we are concerned about. If we want to change things we have to be willing to give up our: "Don't tell me what to do" attitude and accept this good advice.

For example the Vedas teach that society will be more empathetic, patient and cordial, if people don't indulge in intoxications like alcohol, nicotine, drugs, and even minor stimulants like theophylline (the active ingredient in tea) and caffeine.

We would also become a less litigious society if people were more honest and trustworthy, but these qualities are destroyed when people gamble. However in today's world, instead of the state striving to curb this tendency, it promotes it in the form of the lottery!

Broken families and serious medical epidemics such as AIDs and other deadly sexually transmitted diseases are the consequences of lascivious sexual attitudes. Instead of helping people understand this important fact, we the television broadcasts shows like "Sex In The City" while pornography can be found everywhere and the sexual urges are exploited by Madison Avenue advertising.

Of all the social ills war is the most egregious and when it is occurring it brings out the most visible and outspoken protesters against it. Many People participate in peach marches, silent vigils and big rally's to stop it but we can learn from the Vedas these things will never succeed in reducing conflicts between the people of different nations. Instead the Vedas clearly link war as the karmic reaction to mans callous disregard for slaughtering innocent animals simply for food! But how many war protesters are willing to forgo lunch at their favorite fast food restaurant?

Three Responses to Vedic Wisdom

People respond to these subtle principals in a variety of ways. Some will just dismiss them as no more significant then just personal "Beliefs." That is the most popular response from individuals who simply don't want to be told what to do. These folks clearly don't accept the Vedic Subtle sciences and it would take some serious interventions or great mercy for them to appreciate how the laws of karma actually work.

Those who are serious about wanting to make the world a better place will at least give some consideration to these subtle laws. They remain open to the responsibility of adopting different habits when they encounter further evidence which support the Vedic Conclusions.

The people who are the hardest to reach are the ones who hear about these subtle sciences and then claim to understand them but then rationalize why it there is no conflict in violating them anyway. This type of denial is promoted and endorsed by the New Age movement which reject all definitive scriptural advice from everywhere. For example many people who see themselves as being spiritually aware recognize that a serious student of meditation MUST also be a Vegetarian. Yet there are thousands of people performing yoga and engaging in meditation who continue to eat turkey at Thanksgiving.

In Sanskrit there are two principal words related to the concept of knowledge which are relevant here:

JNANA -- knowledge. Material jnana does not go beyond the material body. Transcendental jnana discriminates between matter and spirit. Perfect jnana is knowledge of the body, the soul and the Supreme Lord.

VIJNANA -- the practical realization of spiritual knowledge; Transcendental knowledge of the self's relationship to the Supreme Self.

If you approach a person who is a reckless driver and inquire from them about their knowledge of driving habits they will acknowledge that they are driving very poorly. This would be an example of Jnana. The bad driver knows what he is doing is dangerous, but still he drives recklessly. If the driver had experienced an accident while behind the wheel his awareness of bad driving habits would be much greater and that would cause him to drive slower. That deeper understanding which actually changes ones behavior is known as Vijnana.

Are YOU Part of the Solution, or Part of the Problem?

Many people have some superficial understanding of the relationship between what they do every day and how it impacts the rest of the world. In this regard the old saying: "You are either part of the solution or part of the problem," applies here."

One is either acting in harmony with the laws of nature or they are not. The illustrations given above help use see what the impact is to our way of life when we act out of harmony with those laws. If you run a stop sign and get pulled over by a police officer because you will not be spared the ticket if you tell him: "Yes Officer, I know I was supposed to stop." The fact is you DID NOT stop. The consequences for that are you will now be subjected to the laws of the land and you will have to pay a serious fine.

The sad irony is that every conscious person wants to see things improve, but only very few people are open to the Vedic Advice which holds the key to how we can actually realize those improvement. Unfortunately old habits don't die easily and the false ego is very strong. It is the rare soul who can overcome those two obstacles and eventually come to the point where they are willing to accept world class advice from the spotless transcendental wisdom found in the Vedas. na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah

mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah

"Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me."
(Bhagavad-Gita Gita As It Is Chapter 7 "Knowledge of the Absolute", Text 15

This Issue HOT LINK: (No thanks Krishna,...) I'll Do It My Way!

It is interesting to note that in Wikipedia we learn that the song which Frank Sanatra made famous, "My Way" is apparently "... the most remade song in history! " This is really not too much of a surprise considering the fact that in Kali Yuga, a huge percent of the population has litle interest in accepting Krishnas advice and instead makes the mistake of thinking that "TheirWay" will produce good results. As students of the Vedas we can only sigh that this is the very reason why the world is in such a mess. When we stop thinking that our way is such a good idea and we actually surrender to Krishna's way, then we can begin to see things change for the better. My Way" is an English version of a French song. The English lyrics were written by Paul Anka and popularized by Frank Sinatra on his 1969 album My Way. The melody is that of the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the original French by Claude François and Gilles Thibaut. "My Way" is often quoted as the most remade song in history. Frank Sinatra – My Way

Main Article by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Don't Tell Me What To Do!

The following conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in October 1975 during an early-morning walk in Nairobi, Kenya.

Independently You Cannot Be Happy

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: [Taking the role of an atheist.} By pleasing the spiritual master, you please Krsna. That's nice. But why should Krsna be pleased? Why should one bother himself to please Krsna? Answer this.

Devotee: Because our real position is to serve Krsna. We've fallen into the illusion of this material energy because we forgot our position as His servants.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: We are making scientific progress. What is the use of bringing God in?

Devotee: Because we shall never become perfect if we don't serve God.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: That is begging the question.

Devotee: Everybody has to serve somebody. Since Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasure and everything emanates from Him, instead of serving some ordinary person we should serve Krsna.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: But without serving Krsna, I am getting pleasure by drinking wine. Why shall I serve Him?

Devotee: That pleasure will not last; it is only temporary.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: But I also will not last. So I am enjoying wine while I can.

Devotee: But such a mentality is third class. Actually, our life is eternal.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: That is your statement -- "third class" -- but my statement is "It is first class."

Devotee: Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita: tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te "To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." (Bhagavad-Gita Gita As It Is Chapter 10 "The Oppulence of the Absolute", Text 10)

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: I don't want to go.

Devotee: You don't want to go to Krsna?

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: No.

Devotee: All right, suffer.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: You are putting upon me some impression -- "suffer" -- but I am enjoying.

Devotee: Your knee is hurting. Is that enjoying?

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: That I am curing. That is also nice. [Laughter.]

Devotee: It is said in the Bhagavatam that we are just like the limbs of the body and that Krsna is like the stomach. All the limbs may be jealous of the stomach and not want to feed the stomach, but if the hands and legs and mouth were to go on strike and not feed the stomach, they would ultimately be destroyed.

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: This is the right answer. Every limb of the body must cooperate with the stomach. If the finger thinks, "I shall remain independent and be happy," that is not possible. The stomach must be supplied food, and then all the other parts of the body will be happy. Similarly, Krsna is the central enjoyer: bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam santim rcchati

"A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries."
(Bhagavad-Gita Gita As It Is Chapter 5 "Karma Yoga: Action In Krishna Consciousness", Text 29)

He is the center of everyone's activities, just as this African state is the center of people's activities here. If you do not satisfy the state -- or the president -- then you cannot remain happy. Independently you cannot be happy. For example, we have come to this park because the state is maintaining it. We have not gone to the jungle. So if we actually want happiness, we must cooperate with the state. Similarly, if our ultimate aim is to become happy, then we must cooperate with Krsna. This is obligatory. You cannot escape it. If you try, you'll be unhappy.

Devotee: We are part and parcel of Lord Krsna . . .

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Yes. Even a child -- he will naturally bring everything to his mouth. He picks up something, but he does not put it anywhere. Immediately he puts it in the mouth. Why doesn't he put it in the ear? He doesn't know what is what, but as soon as he gets something, he puts it in his mouth because his position is eating. He knows -- "Taste with the tongue and eat." He hasn't got to be educated. So, our position is like that. Being part and parcel of Krsna, we have a natural tendency to serve Him. Serving Krsna is not artificial. When you forget Krsna, that is artificial. Our normal life is to love Krsna, to serve Krsna. That is our normal life. Without our serving Krsna life is abnormal, a madman's life. Therefore Krsna comes to this world to preach normal life: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
(Bhagavad-Gita Gita As It Is Chapter 18 "Conclusion: The Perfection of Renunciation", Text 66)

"Give up all other so-called duties and simply surrender unto Me." This is normal life. Krsna doesn't require our help. He can create many helpers. But for our good Krsna comes and says, "If you want a normal, happy life, then surrender unto Me." This is His proposal.

Devotee: But Krsna is not here now to give us this normal life. What are we to do?

HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Therefore Bhagavad-gita and all other Vedic literatures are there to remind us of our forgotten position -- to love and serve Krsna. krsna bhuli' sei jiva anadi-bahirmukha
ataeva maya tare deya samsara-duhkha

"Forgetting Krsna, the living entity has been attracted by the external feature from time immemorial. Therefore the illusory energy [maya] gives him all kinds of misery in his material existence.
(Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila Chapter 20 "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science of the Absolute Truth', Text117)

We cannot ascertain when we have come to this world, but from time immemorial we have forgotten Krsna, and life after life we are changing bodies and suffering. So here, in the human form of life, we have a chance to to revive our original position. But we require the help of knowledge, perfect knowledge. That is available in the Vedic literature.

So, we may read the Bhagavad-gita, but if we don't take advantage of its knowledge and if we go on acting whimsically, then we will suffer. You cannot avoid cooperating with Krsna. You must cooperate. There is no question of an alternative. You must cooperate; otherwise you'll never be happy. Our aim of life should be to end misery. The Vedas remind us: atyantika-duhkha-nivrttih The word atyantika means "ultimate," and duhkha means "sufferings." The aim of human life should be to put an end to the ultimate sufferings, but people do not even know what these ultimate sufferings are.

For example, I'm suffering from this knee trouble because I am in this material world, because I have this material body. So, atyantika-duhkha-nivrttih means no more material world, no more material body. And no more misery. And for that purpose we have to cooperate with Krsna; otherwise it is not possible to end our misery.

"Independenty You Can Not Be Happy"
(Back To Godhead Magazine – 19-08, 1984)