How Understanding Death Spiritually, Enables Us to Live More Fully

Our conception of death determines in a very real way how we view life.

How so?

For instance, if we see death as the end of our existence we will tend to be selfish, greedy, and self-absorbed. After all, with this world view, the only thing we have is today, so morality is only utilitarian—to get what I want and to look good, since if we don’t get caught doing something against morality or the law, we have succeeded. From this perspective there is no accountability other then the here and now! So go for it. As the saying goes, “Live for today, for tomorrow you die”.

Die to Live

This is a quote from Georg Wilhelm Hagel, a German philosopher of the 19th century which has been used by some Gaudiya acharya’s to emphasize the necessary attitude in which to embrace our spiritual practices. Christians have a similar perspective with their idea of being “born again”—which is what our sense of spiritual initiation is (second birth--first by the parents and then by the guru into a life of spiritual practice).The words of Saint Francis give us a similar message that “it is in the dying that we are born to eternal life”.

Where is Your Shelter?

After those last major winter storms, and with all the devastating earthquakes I thought about the topic of shelter (which for different reasons is on the mind of many people in dire economic conditions). Being indoors we appear protected from the “elements” or the extremes in the environment. Although it appears on the surface that most people in the world have adequate shelter, out of 2.2 billion children in the world, 1 billion are in poverty. There is also a large population who although technically having shelter, can be easily uprooted by severe weather.

Making the Body a Temple for Service

There are many practices and analogies which are given to help us see the body in perspective. First, we mark our body with sacred clay or tilak on the forehead and eleven other places to designate it as a Temple, meant for spiritual practice. Therefore, we must respect the body and take care of it as part of our service to Guru and Krishna. This is very important to acknowledge due to the tendency to artificially deny the body without realization of the soul. In the name of spirituality we may do things that may be counter productive for us in the long run. Although we are “not the body” we must take care of our physical necessities and be compassionate to ourselves and others for our shortcomings. We do want to "stretch" spiritually, but not break by taking on more than we can handle.

Lord Chaitanya's moon of the Holy Names still rises

Over 500 years ago
in Navadwipa,
West Bengal
the lunar eclipse
brought the Hindus
to Mother Ganga
to chant the
Holy Names
unknowingly heralding
the appearance of the
Yuga Avatar
whose mission
was to induce
everyone to chant

Krishna's Other Thoughts for Appearing as Shri Chaitanya and the Desires of his Devotees for his Advent

Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu are one yet different by their different functions, and the appearance of Lord Chaitanya and Krishna illustrate their difference purposes. Shri Krishna and Lord Chaitanya are considered the original Personalities of Godhead, and their lives center on enjoying loving relationships with their devotees—they have no specific function in relationship to the material world. When they do come to the world their Vishnu parts are also within them and perform his duties. I realize that this may sound rather confusing. Yes, God is one, yet he has a variety of aspects to serve different purposes and desires, according to the love of his devotees.

Krishna’s inner reason for appearing as Shri Chaitanya

We have a number of accounts of the curious reasons for Krishna’s appearance as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—particularly in the Chaitanya Charitamrita and in the Chaitanya Mangala. Why curious? It is curious from the usual religious perspective that God is all powerful, self-sufficient, all-knowing and not in any need. We hear in these scriptures that Krishna couldn’t fathom the love his devotees felt for him—specifically Radha’s incomparable selfless love. It is important to understand this in the right context so we don’t become confused about Krishna’s supreme position. Otherwise, how could it be possible that God doesn't know something?

As I Sit by the Spring, the Half Moon Reminds me of Lord Chaitanya's Appearance Day

Looking straight up through the tall bare trees I notice the half moon, reminding me that in exactly one week on the full moon day is the important and auspicious appearance anniversary day of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is a special day to observe because there would be no Krishna consciousness movement or Krishna.com without him and those who represent him. In comparison to more pious ages people of modern times are not considered particularly qualified to understand God, and what to speak of what Shri Chaitanya comes to teach.

Lessons from Temple Service, Writing and Snow

This poem has been
waiting for weeks
O help me Lord
will it ever be complete?
or adequately convey
what I truly want to say
as a kind of snapshot
of my life’s experience
or a particular perception?

Managing Time, or Being Managed By Time?

As I sit here darkness grows and the temperature drops. When the wind blows my face feels the brisk sharpness of the cold. As the trees bend I look straight up to see them moving back and forth far above my head. It’s an amazing feeling—like being one with the trees.