Birthday Thoughts and Wishes
It takes practice, but what better use do we have of our limited time on earth, than to devote at least some time to spiritual realization by one's method of personal choice? Money, houses, yachts, pets and family will be left behind at death's door (if they don't leave us first), but spiritual progress accompanies each soul at the time of death when moving into new situations dictated by material nature.
One of the best ways to reconnect to one's inherent spiritual nature and identity, is by hearing about spiritual subject matters. Along with remembering and discussing spiritual truth, offering prayers and chanting holy mantras is another powerful way to reconnect to God's presence within and without.
One especially powerful mantra, or Maha-Mantra for this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, asks Source/Godhead, for devoted to be engaged in divine service, by the Lords own energy.
This 16 word prayer mantra is:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
In Bhagavad Gita As It Is (free online at Prabhupadabooks.com) Sri Krishna advised his friend and student Arjuna the following:
BG 2.13
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.
Bg4.3
That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.
BG 4.5
The Blessed Lord said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!
Bg 4.9
One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.
BG 7.7
O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
BG 7.19
After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.
BG 10.10-11
To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.
BG 18.54
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.