Yoga, Linking with the Divine
"There is no possibility of ones becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much, or does not sleep enough." Bhagavad-gita 6.16
The Irony and the Ecstasy
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| The Hare Krishna maha-mantra, in Devanagari. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Vedas say that if anyone even unknowingly chants the Holy Name of God - such as Krishna or Rama - they are spiritually benefitted. If you take the name Chris Nelson and parse it like so - chrisne lson - you will notice that the chrisne part is simlar in sound to krishna.
Veg Seattle! Why Veg: Animals
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| English: Painting of the Trial of Bill Burns, the first prosecution under the 1822 Martin's Act for cruelty to animals, after he was found beating his donkey. It is the first known prosecution for animal cruelty in the world. The prosecution was brought by Richard Martin, MP for Galway, also known as Humanity Dick, and the case became memorable because he brought the donkey into court. The painting was made at the time of the trial. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Choosing Compassion Over Killing
The more we learn about cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and, in fact, all of the animals we confine and kill for food, the more we realize they are not that different from us. Certainly, they are no less worthy of our concern than the cats and dogs we live with and give our affection.
Most importantly, these "food" animals feel pain just as much and just as intensely as do dogs and cats. Sadly though, they are treated horrifically by the industries that turn them into nuggets, fillets, or hot dogs. When we eat meat, eggs, and dairy, we are responsible for animal abuse. In order for us to have their flesh, milk, and eggs, farmed animals are denied nearly everything that is natural to them and are almost always abused in ways that would revolt us were we forced to participate. Each one of us has a choice: Do we want to support cruelty, or do we want to support kindness and compassion?
What is exciting is that each one of us has the ability to say no to animal cruelty every time we eat. The next time you sit down to a meal, please choose to eat compassionately. Please choose the vegetarian option.
Words of Wisdom and Comfort from the Bhagavad-gita
"As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change." (2.13)
"For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (2.20)
"And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." (8.5)
"Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." (18.65)
Trying to Understand and Cope with Death
I have experienced a lot of death and loss this year. A friend died of ALS in November. I lost my father-in-law to stroke the day before yesterday. And the news is filled with reports of horrible shootings that seem to be occurring more frequently. Given that this is the holiday season, when love and general happiness usually abound, I have been trying to cope by making sense of the loss. I remember when my stepfather died when I was eight years old; I remember thinking that although he would not be coming home anymore, the idea that he ceased to exist never occurred to me. In my eight-year-old mind an analogy formed that seemed crystal-clear to me then, just as it still does: when a driver gets out of a car and the car stops moving, the driver has not ceased to exist; he just left the car. In the case of someone leaving their body, we loose touch with the 'driver,' the occupant of the body. That is the sad part. You love and become attached to someone, so it's sad when they leave. I find it more comforting to think of the person who has died as having departed, as opposed to ceased to exist, both because of how I was raised - Episcopal - but also because it is logical. IF you accept that there is a soul, THEN it follows that an embodied soul is just as alive as a soul without a material body. I came across some literature that nicely explains all of this in terms of logic and argument. It is called the Veda, or Vedic literature. It was written in Sanskrit, the oldest language on earth, thousands of years ago. And what is remarkable is how closely every analogy in the Vedas corresponds with the simple understandings I formed as a child. Later, when I accepted initiation from a Vaishnava guru, he explained that these things are "simple for the simple, but complicated for the crooked." Faith that we are souls who have falled, somehow, from a more exalted existence, is simple for children. We are alive because a part of God is within us, and when that particle leaves the body, the body dies. But the spirit-soul lives on to experience new adventures in a new body.
Impetuses for Spiritual Understanding
17th century Persian digestive system (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Skeletal system
Digestive system
Nervous system
Circulatory system
Immune system
Digestive system
Endocrine system
ARE ALL AFFECTED BY AGING
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Universal Religion
Having expanded my early Christian roots to a more universal understanding of God and religion, I am always impressed by the lack of fear, guilt, and hate in Hinduism, Vaishnavism in particular. I embrace the holidays of many religions, especially in the celebratory seasons where love is most abundant. I have never liked the "we love our religion and hate yours" mentality. Better, "goodwill to all."
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
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