Meditations on Transcendence

 (Verse 1)   Out here in the heartland where the river bends,   Life’s a wild ride with its twists and turns, my friends.   When you’re caught in the grind and the world’s got you down,   Just listen close, there’s a voice that’ll turn it around. (Chorus)   Hear the acarya’s words, let the wisdom flow,   In that sacred sound, you’ll find a way to go.   Beyond the modes and the stormy night,   In the light of faith, you’ll find your guiding light.   (Verse 2)   Even a Prabhupada tape, playin’ soft and true,   Can lift you up high, help you see right through.   So grab that message, let it set you free,   With every word, you’ll cross the modes and be.   (Chorus)   Hear the acarya’s words, let the wisdom flow,   In that sacred sound, you’ll find a way to go.   Beyond the modes and the stormy night,   In the...

 Transcending the Three Modes through Devotional Service: The Power of Bhakti Yoga In the realm of spiritual practice, the concept of the impersonal Brahman—characterized by no form, love, or relationships, and devoid of rasa (taste)—is often contrasted with the personal experience of the Supreme in Bhakti Yoga. The intrinsic bliss of the impersonal Brahman is often seen as static, whereas the interactive bliss found in devotional service (bhakti) combines both intrinsic and interactive elements, leading to a more dynamic and fulfilling spiritual experience. **Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature** The Bhagavad Gita elucidates the three modes of material nature (gunas)—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance)—which influence human behavior and consciousness. While practices rooted in sattva guna can elevate one to a state of calmness and clarity, they are still within the bounds of material nature. Non-devotional yoga and other spiritual practices that ...

 **Ode to the Guru, the Liberator** O venerable Guru, radiant beacon of the night,   In tangled realms where modes obscure the light,   You, the liberator, break the chains that bind,   And lead the soul to truths it’s long resigned. In the maze of senses and the body’s snare,   Where passions weave their intricate affair,   You cast away the veils of ignorance so dense,   Unveiling wisdom’s pure and sacred essence. With Krishna’s ancient words, you gently guide,   “Tribhir gunamayair bhavair ebhih sarvam idam jagat, mohitam nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam” (7.13)—   Through modes of nature, the world is veiled,   But in your light, the hidden truth unveiled. Adi Shankara’s voice, in reverence we hear,   “गुरुं विनाऽध्यात्मविद्या न सिद्ध्यति” —   Without your grace, the self remains unclear,   Yet with your touch, the soul finds freedom near. You are the key ...

When you are entangled by the modes of nature (gunas), you forget the reality of 'Satya' (truth). The allure of sensual pleasures and the confusion of multiple identities further entrap you, leading to a deeper entanglement in the complex web of body and mind. Adi Shankara elucidates this in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita: "अविद्या समुपास्यते बुद्धिरात्मनो व्यामोहं गच्छति" (Due to ignorance, the intellect is deluded and misled). It is the Guru who acts as the remover of knots, offering relief from this entanglement, as Shankara points out, "गुरुं विनाऽध्यात्मविद्या न सिद्ध्यति" (Without a Guru, knowledge of the self does not arise).  To be entangled means to be deeply involved in something that complicates and restricts your freedom, much like being caught in a net. For example, a person addicted to wealth and material possessions becomes so engrossed in maintaining and increasing their assets that they lose sight of higher spiritual truths. Once libera...

  The Ballad of Entangled Souls When thou art caught by modes, so dense, The truth, 'Satya,' lies but in past tense, Entangled deep in sensual taste, In myriad forms, thy soul misplaced. In body's prison, mind's cruel snare, Thou dost forget the Truth so rare, The knot of self, entwined so tight, Binds thee in dark, obscures the light. Yet lo, the Guru's hand so kind, Doth lift the veil from blinded mind, The knot removed by wisdom's touch, Thy soul doth find the truth, so much. Then starts the path of Navadha's grace, With heart anew, begins the chase, To seek the love, divine and pure, In bhakti's arms, thy soul secure. No time remains for worlds unknown, The great beyond, the unseen throne, For in this realm of love’s sweet song, Thy soul at peace, where it belongs. So walk thee now in bhakti’s way, In Guru’s light, find truth’s bright ray, Entangled no more, thy spirit free, In love’s embrace, eternity. Thus sings the tale of souls enticed, By modes ...

  An Essay on Tolerance in the Face of Temporariness In the grand scheme of our existence, the awareness of jagat , the ever-moving temporariness of the world, fosters a profound tolerance within us. This tolerance is akin to enduring minor nuisances during a journey by train, comforted by the hope that our home is near. The Bhagavad Gita enlightens us on this matter, as Lord Krishna proclaims, "mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ / āgamāpāyino ‘nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata" (2.14). Here, we are advised to tolerate the fleeting sensations of pleasure and pain, knowing their impermanence. Our true home, the supreme and inexhaustible abode, lies beyond this temporary sojourn. The Bible echoes this sentiment in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” This divine promise of an eternal home cultivates in us an infinite sahisnuta (tolerance), for the end of...

 (Verse 1) In the swirling depths of jagat's sea, We see 'sat' where it can never be, A Himalayan blunder, vast and grand, Casting shadows over this land. Disappointment rides on every breeze, Perplexity brings us to our knees, Bewildered hearts, in a darkened trance, Lost in the illusion's dance. (Chorus) Mohitam, mohitam, trapped in a dream, Giving 'sat' to jagat, or so it seems, In the maze of illusion, we lose our way, Seeking the dawn in the dying day. (Verse 2) Jagat's fleeting glimmers catch our eyes, Veiling truth in a thousand lies, In this world, we search in vain, For the eternal in the transient's reign. Disappointment's echo, a haunting call, Perplexity builds its towering wall, Bewildered minds in a tangled knot, Chasing shadows, the truth forgot. (Chorus) Mohitam, mohitam, trapped in a dream, Giving 'sat' to jagat, or so it seems, In the maze of illusion, we lose our way, Seeking the dawn in the dying day. (Bridge) In the quiet...