Birthday Thoughts and Wishes
At 11:00pm tonight, May 24, 2022, the sun reached 9 degrees 51 minutes of Taurus in the Sidereal Zodiac in Southern California; a marker in time, noting it has been 68 years almost to the minute, since I took my first breath on planet earth.
What we do know about time, at least as far as every individual goes, is that everyone has a certain amount of time in the body; from the time we are born and inhale our first life-sustaining breath, until the time we exhale our last.
Aside from this bigger picture, the time from birth to the finish line of death of the mortal body, is also on a time-driven pace, non-stop. So when stopping to think about it, the fact is, that there are certain aspects of our lives, that we have absolutely no control over. This realization could frighten or enrage a person's false ego or bodily sense of self. We are convinced that one's physical body is all that is real, but time doesn't stop, or ask for our permission to take it's own course.
The point of stating the obvious, is that by cultivating knowledge of both matter and spirit, one can become perfectly peaceful and fearless, in spite of the chaos and limitations one may be faced with day by day, year by year, or minute by minute.
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.
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.
In the Vedic culture, it is said that real knowledge means to understand what is matter, what is spirit, and who is the controller of both. As sparks of the Supreme Spirit, each person has some infintesimal control of one's life, but that measure of control is infintesimal compared to the bigger picture and the infinite control of the Supreme Creator / Source.
The body of the Supreme Person, is not material. It is made of eternity, knowledge and bliss. As sparks of that Supreme, each soul is of the same non-material, transcendent essence - not the earth, water, fire, air and ether that constitutes one's material body, and the material universe. The life force that animates the body, and animates the universe, is of that same non-material spiritual energy, known as Brahman - the energy underlying and inter-connecting all energies, both material and spiritual.
The Source of all that is - namely matter, spirit and personal consciousness, is called Parambrahman. Each living being has a relationship with that Supreme Source, Parambrahman, based on active, reciprocal unconditional loving service. That relationship is dormant within everyone, and just has to be remembered, and re-surfaced from within one's heart.
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 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's free will is God-given - so naturally specific prayers and service can be of one's choice and cultural preference. Traditions can unite, when promoting service and love of Godhead as a common treasured goal.
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.
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.
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