God - The Munificent Banker

Imagine a person borrows money from bank and forgets or neglects to pay it off back within given time, what will happen? The banker will surely sue a case against him to recover whole money. However bank may tell you that they offer best loans at attractive interest rates with flexible pay back options they won't leave you until you return a single paisa. In fact before giving loan they will check your financial conditions and your ability to pay back money, if you fit in their criteria then only you will receive the loan.

If we observe our life carefully we will find that we own practically nothing and everything is borrowed from someone else, may it be from parents, nature, from animals, birds and trees etc. And a good responsible human tries to repay his debt by various means to those who have helped him in so many ways.

But if we see God although he has given everything he never expects anything from us. Lord explains in Gita that earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego, which later helps in creating different bodies and species, emanates from him(BG 7.4). 7th chapter further explains that krishna is taste of water, abilities in man, life in all lives, power in all powerful men, strength of the strong etc. He is the one who nourishes the herbs and plants, provides seed for creation, he sends forth the rain which causes growth of food crops not only that he is also a digestive fire in stomach and in other innumerable ways he provides us everything that is required to live a life without looking at our qualifications and conditions. We are certainly indebted to him, more than anyone else.

Although he doesn't asks us anything in return but as a responsible, sensible humans we must try to repay him back. Although being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, lord Krishna is very simple at heart, simple and genuine things please him the most. Suppose a money lender comes to you and you just offer him water or leaf to nullify debt, he will not only get infuriated but also beat you up. But Krishna is not like that, he says he is happy accepting the things such as water, a flower, a leaf and a fruit if offered with devotion in return to enormous things which he has provided. By being grateful to him, appreciating and using things in his service we can repay his debt.

By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

Scriptures-Fantasised or fantastic

Most of the people consider scriptures to be fantasy of someone's fertile mind. They think these are merely lessons intended stories, texts, verses for morale evolution of humans and not more than that. They ignore the importance of scriptures saying it's just a mythology, like an ordinary film story.
But scriptures are wonderful creation of God for helping everyone to reach him eventually, certainly they contain substantial matter for all of us.

Offers us the ideal path to go on with in life-
Often we want to have standardised or most perfect or ideal things but when it comes to living a life we just want to live it without standardising it. Scriptures includes the lifestyles of various successful kings of past history such as Yudhisthira, Janaka, Dhruva, Bali, Shibi etc. These kings didn't not only live their life for completing material responsibilities but also fulfilled their spiritual duties. By following such examples we can also become successful in both the worlds like them.

Guides us in crucial moments-
Life is not completely in our hands, we are not sure that when tragedy will arrive. But responding to problems is in our hands. Some consider that religion or scriptures tells us to run away from everything but no, they actually prepare us beforehand to deal with different situations resulting in jubilance, distressing or disturbing.

Gives us the specific purpose to live for-
Scriptures gives us much more than morale instructions, they offers us the higher purpose in life. Without a purpose life don't have any meaning. They tell us the importance, advantage, rarity of human birth and prepares us to attain the goal of human life that is to please God through our actions. They shift our focus from sense gratification to self realisation which awaken us to eternal reality which exists beyond this mortal world.

Scriptures are Filled with extraordinary information-
They have talked about all kinds of sciences and information such as embryology, health, space, species, miliatary and political sciences etc much before than advancement of technologies. Scriptures doesn't limit till gross science but also deals with subtler sciences, where it teaches to deal with mind, intelligence and ego. In fact it talks about most subtle thing the soul, supersoul and their relationship which is not at all taught by any other education system. This knowledge makes us aware of our predicament here in this world and ignites the fire within to go to spiritual world where eternal bliss exists.

Carries the potency for transformation-
Scriptures are filled with instructions and pastimes of God who is all purifying, thus by getting in contact with such literatures one can experience internal purification, change of heart and attitude towards this world and towards everyone, which is not possible by any mundane subjects. Purified heart is store house of bliss and satisfaction. There are many who attained transcendental bliss by practicing this wisdom.

In conclusion when we study scriptures under expert guidance many dimensions of realities which are beyond our physical approach can be known to us. These are fantastic words from God in fact scriptures are the incarnation of God in words, by learning and following these words we can actually experience and reach him who is beyond this world.

By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

'And they happily lived ever after'......are you sure??

For classic fairy tales, “And they lived happily ever after” is the most popular ending. Here’s the pattern: The story opens with, “Once upon a time. . . .” Then the characters are introduced, and they get into various adventures and troubles. Finally, their troubles are resolved, their adventure ends in success, and they live happily ever after.

After reading narrations from such books or watching movies based on these books one may question that I am also going through troubles and adventures, in fact my inconveniences and anxieties are more than hero of a story, problems are non-ending and I am trying my best to deal with them but when this 'happily lived ever after' is going to come in my life? Does such thing really exist?

We all have practical experience that till the end of life one struggles. Initially one struggles for basics necessities, wishes, desires then for social positions etc and at the end for every life breath. Responsibilities, struggles don't end they keep on increasing, so to think that now everything is settled we can live happily here in this world for long time is simply a myth. The books and movies many times fanaticise about 'happiness' and 'ever after(eternity)' not knowing where to get and how to get them. In other words they only misguides us in our journey for real eternal pleasure.

On the other hand we have scripture like Gita which exactly tells us about the nature of pleasures of this world and their transience(BG 5.22). While portraying real picture of material world Gita wisdom
not only provides us the way to deal with temptations, problems and every single issue of life but also offers us the way to reach abode of God where actually we can 'live happily ever after'(BG 15.6).

Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

Regulate before you regret

Imagine a school without any discipline or rules, students can come and go at any time, if they wish they can study else no worries, they can eat and play whenever and wherever they want etc. Of course for time being students will be happy but how helpful it will be for children's future or a nation at large? No, it won't be. Regulation, rules, laws are must in all parts of life. It's said 'Discipline leads to success'.

Still we find there are few who just don't want to control or regulate their own lives. According to them regulations, laws restrict their enjoyment, 'enjoy the life indiscriminately' is their whole philosophy. But we can see from our own life that we can't enjoy unlimitedly, for eg we can't eat sweet balls beyond certain numbers. And even we eat them we can't digest them, and even if we digest them we may suffer from diabetes in future(if we eat them regularly and indiscriminately). This can be highly regretful situation for lover of sweet balls, because now he can't enjoy them anymore. This sorrow could have been avoided only if he could have regulated.

People in general don't want to follow spirituality, scriptures and their direction because they want to 'enjoy', they keep distance from God thinking he will restrict me. But any ways how long such enjoyment can last? The whole motto of enjoying can be thrashed in few moments putting one in miserable state of life. Uniqueness of scriptures is that they offers us not only regulated way of enjoyment which doesn't harm us, but also the way for higher and purer enjoyment.

In conclusion one must regulate his life and whims in reference to scriptures to get rid of pains and to experience bliss even in this mortal world(BG 6.17). In other words if someone is unregulated in his life he can never properly enjoy his material life and will be always remorseful what to say of going to spiritual world.

By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

Light can save us from plight

Imagine you are walking on a road which is devoid of street lights at dark night of no moon day. How difficult it would be to reach your home, you may fall due to pot holes, or bang on trees injuring yourself in fact you may come to a point again from where you started your journey. All these problems could have been avoided if torch was carried.

Walks of life are also filled with darkness arising from confusion and bewilderment. Many of us are trying to walk on our life's journey without carrying torchlight of proper knowledge. So we fall due to our inabilities to tackle with unpredictable difficulties, challenges, chaotic situations etc which are like potholes and other obstacles and we fail to achieve our goal. Ignorance is compared to darkness it makes us hopeless and gives rise to many problems making journey troublesome. In light road gets clear and easy for walk. Similarly when darkness of ignorance is overcome with light of knowledge life becomes easy to go on.

We see that Kurukshetra war was being played during day time, everything was visible and clear, the opponents, the goal etc but still Arjuna was unable to play, he refused to take part in war, he was confused(BG 2.7). Why? Because his inner world was covered with darkness. When he was illuminated with wisdom of Gita he not only fought but also won the war. Lord compares spiritual knowledge to a light of lamp which dispels the darkness within hearts(BG 10.11). Problems in the world are because of ignorance of our real nature thus Inner illumination is more important than outer. In conclusion many times our goals are clear to us but internally we may get perplexed while execution and give up our attempts to reach goal. Gita can help us during such times by offering its wisdom which acts like a light to overcome our plight which can arise on different walks of our life.


By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

The Game Commentary which can help you to win your game

Cricket commentary or for that matter any sport's commentary has the magical power of making viewers and listeners fall in love with the sport or vice-versa. Commentary enriches the sport and takes it to a whole new level; and the past few years have seen the influx of witty and researched minds that have something positive to offer the cricket fan every time, be it Harsha Bhogle with his liveliest voice and honest opinions or a Sanjay Manjrekar with his crisp tone and perfect analysis. First commentary was broadcasted through radio in 1922 in a Testimonial match for Charles Bannerman [Test cricket’s first centurion] at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Game commentary gives detailed account of action happening in stadium via medium of radio or TV, especially for those who are not in stadium. Surprisingly scriptures also gives us the account of that historical commentary which was spoken and written down 5000 years ago when there was major war being played between righteous and wicked kings of the world, Pandavas and Kauravas. The king Dhritarashtra couldn't participate in war but he had desire to know what's happening on battlefield of Kurukshetra. Then his minister Sanjaya, who had mystic powers narrates to Dhritarshtra the action in the climactic battle of Kurukshetra. This commentary is known as Bhagavad Gita. The entire Bhagavad Gita is Sanjay's recital to Dhritarashtra of the conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. Sanjaya was the first person apart from Arjuna to listen to the Gita as it was being instructed.

Sports commentaries are for specific time and for specific people e.g. football commentary can't be used for cricket match, even we have never heard that someone reciting or repeating it over again and again for same kind of play. But uniqueness of Bhagavad Gita is that although it was spoken to Arjuna during battle to tackle his problems it is still useful for all of us. It provides the universal principles of life management for everyone for all times to come. It never gets stale like commentaries of an ordinary sport. Not only that but also First commentator Sanjaya was getting thrilled at every moment while narrating it, he was rejoicing again and again(BG 18.76-77).

Our life is no less than any game or battle. Everyday we have to face so many challenges, oppositions, provocations and disturbances. Many times our enemy or objector is not someone from outside but from inside, it's our own mind. Gita not only teaches us to deal with external enemy which creates physical harm but also with internal enemy which is much more powerful and can create psychoemotional harm. Lord spoke Gita to invoke hope in the hopeless heart of Arjuna who had decided to quit the war and ready for begging. The impact of Gita was so solid on Arjuna that not only he fought the war but also won the war. In conclusion sport commentaries can give us analysis and report of sports but can't teach about the life's sport, can't guide us on our individual life's journey for victory, the true happiness. But if one hears Gita, the divine commentary, narrated by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra, with submissive heart like Arjuna, and follows the principles of it can snatch the victory from loosing hands in all events of life(BG 18.78).

By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa 

What's new about news?

News are integral part of life, our day starts with watching or reading the breaking news while sipping a tea or a coffee. News are rich source of information of things happening around the corners of the world. Billions of newspapers are published every single day, there are thousands of news channels telecasting and updating us at every moment. Trillions of dollars are invested in news related businesses.

But if you analyse carefully news doesn't change with the time, it is same all the time. Similar kind of problems such as terrorism, corruption, abuse, death, theft etc we find everyday in news, only a performer, place and time of performance is changed. We have seen there are so many people who actually take so much interest in watching, reading, contemplating and revising same news over again and again. But we need to introspect over the significant benefits of news apart from some information. We must think over the questions like is this news taking me anywhere, is that making any change in my lifestyle or attitude or nature or habits or bringing transformation of my mind and heart? We haven't heard of anyone yet whose heart is changed or anyone whose character is developed by reading or watching a news.

Humans by nature are very curious and inquisitive, they are eager for knowledge, especially the knowledge which will make them happy. And if this inquisitiveness is not dovetailed in proper way then they take shelter of mundane knowledge which is actually not so beneficial for them. I am not against the news but we must not waste our precious time on chewing the subject matter discussed in it rather one must contemplate on how can we get rid of these problems (corruption, death, disease etc.) of life 'permanently' to lead our life with bliss and satisfaction.

News while giving description of problems doesn't give any substantial solution over such issues or crisis. On the other hand we have the scriptures, which does not only give us information of this entire material cosmos but also update us about transcendental cosmos which is 'Nitya-Navanavaymana'- always new and fresh. Like a news, scriptures also describe material problems lead by birth, old age, disease and death but it offers us solution and guidance not only to deal with such troubles of life but also to avoid these troubles in next life in most practical way.

“Now, how can we transfer our thoughts from the material energy to the spiritual energy? There are so many literatures which fill our thoughts with the material energy – newspapers, magazines, novels, etc. Our thinking, which is now absorbed in these literatures, must be transferred to the Vedic literatures. The great sages, therefore, have written so many Vedic literatures, such as the Purāṇas. The Purāṇas are not imaginative; they are historical records.”

“Just as materialists engage their minds in reading newspapers, magazines and so many materialistic literatures, we must transfer our reading to these literatures which are given to us by Vyāsadeva; in that way it will be possible for us to remember the Supreme Lord at the time of death.”
-Excerpt From: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. “Bhagavad-gita As It Is.” Introduction.

By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

Are we patient of impatience ?

If you're too impatient, you can make rash decisions with terrible consequences. If you're too patient, you can waste vast stretches of your life pursuing the wrong goals. On one side are rocks, and on the other is a vast vortex. And you must guide your ship between the two. - Anonymous

I remember when I was hospitalised, whenever doctors would come for visit I asked them only two questions several times. When I will get cured? And When you will free me? And they would reply, 'soon'. I was really getting frustrated and loosing my patience. Later I realised, it's not that doctors want me to be there for longer but it's my disease which was really deep and serious, that was holding me back.

Generally we want things to be done quicker and faster, but everything takes time. One has to wait patiently for results. No one has become rich or successful overnight. After sowing mango seeds one can't expect fruits on next day, in fact it takes few decades for a tree to bear the fruits. Even if you invest money in bank or shares it takes time to get good interest. It takes time for progressing from KG to PG. In relationship also one has to invest time, one has to wait for relationship to grow. Getting irritated or panic over the issues doesn't solve them. So better try to tolerate unavoidable situations without getting irritated.

Similarly when one comes to spirituality he expects things to go fast. People say, I am being a practitioner from so many years still no change? Does it actually works? Yes it works but process takes time. And this time depends upon sincerity of practitioner and seriousness of material disease which is deep rooted in the heart. Our conditionings and lower nature holds us back to this miserable world like a disease, more we detach ourself from such misgivings we take lesser time for perfection. In conclusion without loosing hope, doubting and switching goal one must continue on his spiritual sojourn patiently understanding that every single process takes time.

By Rupesh Gauranga Dasa

Fixing 'ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT'

It's extremely annoying when during the most important work your computer fails to connect to a server and you don't know how long it will take to fix the problem again. Even in case of gadgets a little absence of network connection makes people feel insecure and disturbed. Connection is very important part of life, people wants to remain connected with others, that is very natural for all of us.

Connection to proper source energises us, empowers us. For eg. As long as train's coaches are connected to an engine it will move, alone it can't. Not only that, connection also provides deep sense of love and feeling of security, For eg. connection to our family members gives us an experience of love and care. Connection fulfils our needs. But these all connections, may be with people or things, keep failing because they are time bound thus gives rise to miseries and frustration.

Just imagine small failure of internet connection disturbs us so much, how much pain we must be having at our spiritual core because of no connection with supreme server, the God from so many millenniums. Interestingly we don't realise such intense pain because we have been injected with anastasia of deep ignorance, we have forgotten our real identity. Even after knowing about spirituality we have hardly tried to fix this most important and sacred connection again which can give us everlasting bliss. We are trying to connect to a wrong server from so many years for our needs and that is a root cause of different problems in life.

It's an utmost urgency to set up this connection soon. We approach expert networking engineer to fix such network related issues, similarly a spiritual guide can help us to choose and to set up a lost connection with God. Just like without a proper connection expensive, high end computers and mobiles are of no use similarly without connection to supreme server, God, the priceless and rare human form of life is of no use.

Article Written by Rupeshgauranga dasa

Establishing Ramarajya within (part-1)

Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita(Ch. 16) explains about 2 kinds of created beings, divine and demoniac. It's not always that one who has big teeth, horns on head, unkept and unclean is a demon and one who is good looking and handsome is a demigod. The lord, rather than giving emphasis on the external looks of either one he focuses on their nature, attitude, qualities and behaviour.

We see in Ramayana that Manthra, who was a maid servant of kaikeyi was very duplicitous by nature. She had come to Ayodhya with kaikeyi thinking of her own enjoyment. She thought, Kaikeyi is younger and more beautiful than other 2 queens of Dasaratha, so she will soon become special of Maharaj, if I become servant of her then I also will be recognised as servant of an important queen. In fact when she came to know that Lord Ram is getting coronated as king she was very disturbed. And then she started poisoning Kaikeyi with her words. She was not actually concerned about Kaikeyi or her position, she was concerned about herself, what will happen to me if Ram becomes the king? She was apparently within Ramarajya but still her consciousness was not of Ramarajya, her mind was tuned with Ravanrajya where self enjoyment prevails over anything. She was wicked, she always opposed Ram, she had separatist mind, she wanted to separate Ram from his Ayodhya devotees.

On the other hand we have the example of Vibhishan, brother of Ravna. He was also great and powerful demon. Although staying in Ravanarajya and apparently serving Ravana, he had the consciousness which was inline with Ramarajya. He also gave the instructions to the Ravana, but these instructions were totally opposite of manthra's. He was convincing Ravana to return Sita back again to lord. And he knew if I speak against the ego of Ravana he may kill me but still he spoke against Ravana and glorified Ram. This show he was not concerned about his own life and pleasures. He was always thinking that how can I help for the union of Sita and Ram.

Similarly some of us may be staying very close to Ram, we may be associating with Ram in the form of his deity or holyname or his devotees but if we have the attitude like manthra then Ramarajya won't have any effect on us. On the other hand if somebody is staying in condition which unfavourable for devotional service but still if his attitude is like Vibhishana then while staying in that ghastly atmosphere he can experience Ramarajya. Yes, of course Ramarajya is physical thing but more than that it is a state of consciousness, manthra couldn't achieve it by being in Ramarajya where as Vibhishana achieved it being in ravanrajya.

Article written by Rupesh Gauranga Dasa