The Gita & The New Year

One year ends, another begins. I remember when I was twelve years old, sitting in a classroom one morning, watching the clock on the wall, thinking that the end of the school day was such a long way off. Over the years, during this slow, agonizing torture, my fervent prayer was to hasten the day of my graduation. Now, at the age of 62, the years roll relentlessly by. It’s an undeniable fact that the older you get the quicker the years go by.

But back to the new year. On one hand, New Year’s Day is just another day. But our culture and the human psyche demands more. If we’re sitting quietly at home on New Year’s Eve, we’re made to feel that there is something wrong with us. Everyone around us is engaged in so much hoopla and fanfare. And the previous year is assessed. The media spews forth lists with facts and figures. The ten best movies of the year, books of the year, man of the year, the year in pictures, the important events of the year, the famous people who died that year. And we are also encouraged to make our new year’s resolutions. We collectively pause to look back to see what we’ve been through, and what and who we’ve survived. And we take a deep breath to brace ourselves as we move forward into the unknown.

It’s amazing how we can come up with an unending stream of things for the mind to focus on, to talk about, to dissect, to elaborate upon. It seems to be both a need and an art form as we constantly glean the whys and wherefores from events, situations and happenstances. The interesting thing is that this tendency also is found in those on the path of transcendence. The difference is that the spiritualist sees all events and situations in light of the Creator and the sacred teachings. The spiritualist makes it his/her profession and passion to extract the sacred, rather than mundane sensual satisfaction, from the world.

Basically, this is the art of yoga. By harnessing and regulating the body and the mind, we can begin to focus on the transcendent reality as we view the world around us. Krishna explains in Bhagavad Gita, “A true yogi observes Me in all beings.” (6:29)
So at this time, at the end of one year and the beginning of another, we can remember Krishna’s words, “I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all things.” (10:32)

This is an opportunity for us to practice seeing Sri Krishna – how He is both in the adventure, mystery, freshness, and anticipation of a beginning, and how He is the gravity and finality of an ending. And in the middle, we can also find Him along the way on our journey. Look for Him. See how He is working in your life, for in this way we can remain “happy by constantly being in touch with the Supreme Consciousness.” (6:28)

I pray that the new year finds you and your family in good health and spirits.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Thanksgiving & Gita Jayanti (Nov 2009)

This is a special time of year for people in America – Thanksgiving. Of course every culture has its time of thanksgiving. Here in New Vrindaban we recently celebrated Diwali, commemorating the safe return of Rama & Sita to Ayodhya. All the citizens of Ayodhya lighted candles to welcome them back, and show support and gratitude for Rama Raj, the bountiful rule of Lord Rama that was to come.

Devotees also celebrated Gorvardhan Puja, commemorating the protection and kindness Lord Krishna showered upon the residents of Vrindaban when Indra flooded their land with torrents of rain. Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill just like an umbrella, and He held it up for seven days and seven nights, giving shelter to the Vrindaban residents. And while they were living under the hill, they remained joyful and they felt no hunger, thirst, nor fatigue.

It is import for us to cultivate a mood of gratitude for the gifts we have in our lives, and especially for those people and things that help nourish us and guide us through good times and difficult times; gratitude even for something as simple as the air we breathe.

I’m writing this on the eve of Gita Jayanti. The Bhagavad Gita is a gift to all humankind from Lord Krishna Himself. As you may know, Mahatma Gandhi said of the Gita:

“When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day."

Bhagavad Gita is a remedy for this age of anxiety. Krishna's words can guide us, just as thousands of years ago, His message calmed the mind of Arjuna who had lost his composure and was confused as to what course of action to take.

Arjuna was not a scholar, a sadhu or a renunciate. He was a family man, a warrior, a man with worldly duties and responsibilities. Sometimes, as Arjuna, we may also become confused and lose sight of our eternal, spiritual nature. We may feel that we are drying up. And as Arjuna, our minds and spirits can become refreshed by hearing the words of Sri Krishna.

It’s very important now and again to take some time for introspection, to slow down from the hectic pace that we often find ourselves in. This is Kaliyuga – the age of anxiety, stress, and quarrel.

The Hopi tribe in the southwest USA have an ancient prediction that there will come a time when life's pace speeds out of control, and at that time we must make a conscious effort to slow down. By mindfulness and introspection a tremendous change can come about by what seems to be this one little act or effort.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare