Commentary on the second mantra of Sri Isopanisad:
The nature of the human condition is mortality. Every mortal being will die at some point. We are constantly looking for ways to push off that fateful moment. The Vedas recognize that no one really wants to die, and of course, if we realize the higher truth, then we realize that no one actually dies. It is only the material body that dies.
The true self, which is part and parcel of Sri Krishna is eternal, and so will never die. Bhagavad-Gita 2:12 tell us as much in no uncertain terms: "Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings nor in the future shall any of you cease to be."
Because of our material nature we see ourselves in the flesh only, and we spend our time trying to forestall death. Scientists are trying to discover ways to alleviate suffering by combating disease, and helping people to live longer and healthier lives, which is wonderful. However, they are also experimenting with cloning and stem cell research with the sole intent of forestalling or even ending death, as if death were a disease. These scientists fail to recognize that death is not a physical disease that can be defeated in this world. Death is a condition of material existence, and its root cause is ignorance.
If individuals could tie into their true natures and discover sanatana dharma, the eternal truth, the illusion of death will disappear. But how do we lose this ignorance? First, we need to realize that what binds us to this world is Karma. The things that we do in this material world attach themselves to us. The attachments pull us back into the material condition. To escape from this condition, we must take refuge in Krishna, and perform actions free of attachment.
If we consider the political process of elections, it seems amazing that so much time, energy, and interest has been used on this political contest. Obama and Romney have each spent billions of dollars, money which could have been put to much greater use in order to attain the position of president. For more than a year, each of these men has devoted their time and energies to this campaign. In doing so, their minds and actions were fixed on material attainments, seeking the end result.
If Srila Prabhupada could comment on this, he would most certainly call both of these men rascals for their unenlightened embrace of the illusion of artha. Why would anyone want to work so hard in order to put themselves into a position where they are forced to confront the material condition? Clearly, the activities of the campaign trail, the boosting of ego, and the unethical actions on all sides will lead to negative karma, and keep both men bound to the wheel of samsara.
As persons born into this material world, we are required to engage in some type of work for our survival in this world. However, what that work entails, and the motivation behind that work is all important. Actions that are performed in accordance with duty, as prescribed in scripture, produce karma. Actions which will free us from the bondage of samsara are akarma. Actions which are performed through the misuse of our freedom, and will lead to rebirth in lower forms is vikarma.
In his purport, Srila Prabhupada explains: "Ordinary men wish to perform good work in order to be recognized and achieve some higher status of life in this world or in heaven, but more advanced men want to be free altogether from the actions and reaction of work." The work a person does in the ordinary sense, done for personal gain, to attain the fruits of our actions, whether good or bad is karma, and will keep us bound to this material condition.
The more one acts out of ego and desire, the more negative karma one acquires, which will propel one backwards into the lower stages of life. There are 8,400,000 forms of life, most operate on drive and instinct. They do not have higher understanding and cannot attain Krishna Consciousness in their lifetimes.
If politicians, through their egos and desires descend backwards, then they will have to live through all of these animalistic lives again before they attain the human condition and once again have the opportunity to escape from this bondage. If; however, ones actions are akarma, then there will be liberation. Suppose that instead of expelling so much breath on making speeches about how great their ideas are and how bad their opponent is, that these candidates has expended that breath chanting HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE/ HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARA.
Suppose instead of spending billions of dollars to boost their egos and gain a position of power, they had used those billions for the alleviation of human suffering without any desire for personal gain or reward. What if they simply acted out of love? If either candidate had acted in this fashion, then we would have had someone worthy of being a leader. But unfortunately, this is not the way politics works in America or anywhere else in this world, so the politicians will continue to stump and build up negative karma, and be forced again and again to endure rebirth.
[This was originally written in November 2012, which is the reason for the references to the last presidential election.]
Replies
... a vision of government "talking head", above.
Why would God create an imperfect world such as this Earth? Because He did not exactly create it. WE did, as result of our karma and desires from incalculable depths of time.
But, we always have a choice, at least, as humans, to continue to engage in karmic activities, or to engage in spiritual activities and thus escape repeated repeated birth and death in the time-stiffened restricted Durga-controlled realms of illusion and bad dreams.
Generally, three paths further; gradual upliftment by following Vedic varna-ashrama social dharma or rules, the path of renunciation and sacrifice, and the path of devotional service. Of these, devotional service is the quickest shortcut, the easiest route, especially in this particualr time cycle known as Kali yuga. One can simply take the holy Names of Godhead, accepting the instruction of the incarnation of mercy, Sri Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu. He accepts this sacrifice and meditation, this "chanting", as of the highest order of goodness and benefit for all.
Hari nama Hari nama Hari nama eva kevalum, kalua nasty eva... there is no other better means in this age of Kali.
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna !, Hare Hare!, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama! Rama ! Hare Hare!
Prof Smith replied;
"Thank you for the wonderful pictures and comments. Humanity likes to fool itself into believing that we are making all sorts of advancements, becoming more civilized, gaining more knowledge, more skills, etc., but just as scripture has stated, things have actually been spiraling downwards as we move from one yuga to the next, and now in the Kali-yuga, we have reached the low ebb. Are the national leaders of today really any better then Ravana or Kamsa? If anything, Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel, etc. are worse. Ravana developed ego and did terrible things, but in his final letter to Sri Rama, he acknowledged that he was acting according to his personal dharma, and by doing so brought the Lord to him. He found great comfort in the end by being destroyed by God. The national leaders of today cannot be said to be following dharma. They only follow their own ego. They have brushed the voice of Vibhishan away long ago, and hear only the demonic. Why else does hubris lead nations into unjust and unnecessary wars, subsidize slaughter-houses, abortions, and stem-cell research? The leaders actions define the actions of the masses. As long as the leaders have no love of God, neither will the majority of the people. This is why our work of preaching is so crucial. Each soul that can raise up its voice with the chant of Hare Krsna can be liberated from this terrible material condition. We may not be able to bring about a new Rama-raja, but as Prabhupada stated, if I can help one person attain liberation, my mission will be a success."
yad yad acareti sresthas... What example is set by the leaders, the common man follows and imitates...
The biggest most viscious no-holds-barred mercenaries claw their way to the top, and for a tenuous while, rule the lesser demons under them and their cronies. Always the duality; servants/devotees of Godhead versus those opposed. Always the material hierarchies, with those who would be gods, and those who are forced to serve like dogs. This is a manifestation of that seperate interest mentality, in which the petty personal desires are allowed free rein; - anything goes so long as the desires are fulfilled.
When the topmost personalities are engaged in sex crimes, stealing, cheating, lying, war for profit, etc. it is enough to disgust one. But in our day and age, where money makes right, we see our world leaders are predominanatly of low mentality, and so the countries' citizens similarly cheat and steal and kill to satsify their desires, in imitation of the leaders. The biggest best killers get to rule the country, then declare themselves " lawful ! ", and rewrite history and the laws to suit themselves. The Queens and Kings of Europe are of this type of person. But, Karma cannot be cheated, and so despite their clamor for control, soon everything is again lost, and soon death comes, and the abusers become again as nothing.
When the karma builds up, then even an entire country suffers as a whole from such mass karma. It cannot be escaped.
Just wars may be fought, but injustices in which civilians and innocents are killed for mere oil or power, will be dealt with in the usual harsh methods of the material energy, Durga devi. Just look around the Earth today, and one can see karma rampageing. Unnaturalness has become the new norm. Just step into the grocery store and look around and see how much is actually real food, and how much is GMO, plastic, poisonned chemical-feast crapola? Its not even actually edible, but this is the new norm.
Karma means, you get what you put out. If one can find a natural alignment with the will of God, then only akarmic activities, no karma, ie devotional service as sadhana / practice, or in actual full realization of ones' eternal identity, is done. There is no material reaction , by His will. Otherwise, all in the material worlds are under the will of Maya, Durga devi, whose job is to throw the living entities who are rebeliious against godhead into illusion and three-fold suffering, and pin them there with that trident, like a cruel jailor for the condemned. She cannot be countered by a force lesser than the pure will of God, over which she has no juridiction, nor over those doing His will purely.
Srimati Durga Devi, known also as Maya devi, wife of Sivaji, pure devotee, who carries in her hands blessings and punishment, both.