Vaishnava morality
Piety, or Punya in Sanskrit, on the other hand, is considered to be any action that seeks to reduce the suffering of others either physically, psychologically, or spiritually. The idea behind these is that quite obviously, pap is a catalyst for suffering, and Punya a catalyst for peace and possibly happiness.
The Vaishnava considered the degrees to which this concept could be extended and decided the highest Pap was forget the divine and the highest Punya was to remember him. To ensure this would be possible throughout life's trials and tribulations, the Vaishnava mystics took great effort to understand and describe the divine with as much detail, and hidden meaning, as possible, as to attract the minds and interest of the suffering people of this world and instill in them the catalyst for joy in a rather genius way.
The genius of this method is not immediately apparent for without an understanding of Sanskrit it doesn't jump right out at you.
Krsna is a conception of Godhead that is quite literally embodied in his names meaning.
Krsna means many things but the common meanings are black, the destruction of thirst, satisfaction of desire, all attractive, the source of all pleasure.
Wow! what a conception of the Divine. That which is the basis of everything as expressed by the colour black, that which removes thirst, satisfies Desire and bestows all pleasure.
Man has always struggled in this world to look for satisfaction and fulfilment only to discover the hydra-like nature of desire, wherein the satisfaction of a single desire results in the emergence of ten more. After waking up to this scary reality and realizing that you've been carrying on with this endless mission without really considering its feasibility, as everyone else just seems to be playing the game, why would you question it?
The Vaishnava prescribed a transcendent and eternal antidote to suffering. A simple remedy for sin that would be so attractive, and so seductive that it easily took root as the dominant form of religious belief and practice in many parts of India for the past 5000 years at least and continues to grow even in western countries today.
Krsna is not just a force or energy, nor some form of alchemical magic, or ecstatic trance because he exhibited human-like features. After all, how could Krsna satisfy all desires(which include human interaction, kinship, love, and romance) if it was not manifest in humanlike form? If Krsna was carefully understood he opened up the doors for understanding behaviour moral responsibility through a process of cleansing perception, egoistic tendencies, and the reduction of harmful and hateful emotions.
It is for this reason that Krsna is considered in all Sastras to be the height of all concepts, the embodiment of the pinnacle of all attributes, the basis of reality, the original person, and the supreme personality of godhead. Although sometimes referred to by other names such as Brahman, turyatita, pramahamsa, sunya, Narayanaya, Visnu Buddha, Vasudeva etc.
Despite his ultimate supremacy, he exhibits himself in the simplest, and most charming, and approachable way. He is like us, near us, and within us...Remember the highest good, and use that as your beacon.
Vaishnava morality, although full of lifestyle recommendations, many forms of ritual, asceticism, and meditation, are all predicated on the above goal. These can sometimes be sadly misrepresented or misinterpreted and become catalysts for the opposite goal.
Morality is not an excuse for abuse, bullying or fear mongering, manipulation, or egoistic ambition.
The application of these routines, rituals, and lifestyle restrictions are intended to be applied to oneself and oneself alone. The guidance of a qualified teacher is of utmost importance, but your own conscience and reference to relevant ancient wisdom, can and must suffice in the absence of such direct guidance.
Please, Always remember Krsna and never forget him.
ReplyDeleteThe sadhak began his early morning sadhana at the muladhara of his master, the 24 foot tall Narasimha that inhabited the subtle koshas of his being.
He sat erect like an electrified Giri baba with the tip of his tongue curled back tickling the amrita switch behind his uvula. His eyes rolled back into his head and he beheld the ineffable sunburst of sahasrara that blazed like the Sun through a crystalline yantra on his ISKCON virtual reality sunglasses theater.
His vision cleared and he found himself thrilled to be at the center of a neon blue Rohini.
'Master, how do I attain the 24 syllable Gayatri mantra that gives cessation to the vritis if you won't whisper it to me?'.
The image of Narasimha shook his mane like a soft breeze on the golden heather in the autumn light. His mien creased around a saber tooth smile and a rumbling purr erupted from his chest, 'Observe the incoming and outgoing breath as though it were the genesis and dissolution of the entire universe, all the while maintain a sweet smile.
Not only will I whisper it to you, I will blow it into your soul as though your spine was a flute and I was Krishna.'
The cross currents of divine energy vibrated deep in his earphones and created a note so powerful that a waterfall of Shiva's tears splashed down on his crown, as Shakti flooded up his spine. Before him and within him the universe swept across the Krishna black backdrop of his ISKON sunnies like the rainbow serpent.
Thhis was great to read
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