Meditations on Transcendence

अहम्‌ मम भावः मोहिनी प्रकृतिः, कृष्णस्य भावः दैवी प्रकृतिः The "I and mine" feeling (अहम्‌ मम भावः) is rooted in the ego, which draws one into the illusionary energy, or Mohini Prakriti. This energy binds us to worldly attachments, desires, and the illusion of separateness from the Divine. In contrast, the feeling of "by and of Krishna" (कृष्णस्य भावः) awakens the Daivi Prakriti—the divine nature. When we see ourselves as instruments of Krishna’s will, ego dissolves, and the heart becomes aligned with divine love. This shift uplifts consciousness, pulling it away from material entanglements and anchoring it in surrender, service, and devotion to the Supreme.

 In the spiritual journey, becoming "nothing" is a profound state of realization. This concept is often likened to the hollow flute, which, devoid of any obstruction, allows the divine breath of the Lord to pass through it, creating music that is enchanting and full of bliss. The flute, in its emptiness, symbolizes the soul that has emptied itself of ahankara (ego), desires, and attachments, thus becoming a perfect instrument for the divine. In the Bhagavad Gita (2.47), Lord Krishna teaches: "You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions." This verse emphasizes the need to relinquish the ego that clings to the results of actions. When the ego dissolves, we become like the flute—completely surrendered, allowing the divine will to flow through us effortlessly. This state of surrender is described in the Upanishads as naishkarmya siddhi —the perfection of actionlessness, where one acts without any selfish mo...

 The concept of humans being like puppets in the hands of the divine, or under the influence of higher powers, is echoed in the *Bhagavad Gita* in several places. Although the text doesn't explicitly use the term "puppet," it does describe how living beings are controlled by higher forces, particularly the modes of material nature (gunas) and the divine will of God. Here are some relevant verses: ### 1. **Bhagavad Gita 3.27**    ```    प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।    अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते।।    ```    **"Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ,      Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate."**    Translation:      "All activities are performed by the modes of material nature. But the soul, bewildered by false ego, thinks itself to be the doer."    This verse implies that individuals are like puppets being moved by the modes of nature (goodne...

Beyond the Modes: Journey to True Nectar The spiritual journey requires understanding the subtle layers of the self: ego, intention, feelings, thoughts, and actions. Krishna consciousness teaches that these layers, when purified, lead one beyond the material modes of nature (gunas) into the realm of true nectar—divine bliss. **Ego (Ahamkara):** In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, "The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another, as the air carries aromas" (Bhagavad Gita 15.8). This indicates the pervasive influence of the ego. The first step in spiritualizing the ego is to recognize that we are not the doers. Ahamkara, the false ego, is the identification with the body and mind. To transcend this, we must see ourselves as eternal servants of Krishna, dissolving the false ego into our true identity as souls. **Intention (Sankalpa):** Krishna advises, "Abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto Me. I s...

 Verse 6 नमो देव दामोदरानन्त विष्णो प्रभो दुःख-जालाब्धि-मग्नम् कृपा-दृष्टि-वृष्ट्याति-दीनं बतानु गृहाणेष मामज्ञमेध्यक्षिदृश्यः ॥ ६॥ namo deva dāmodarānanta viṣṇo prasīda prabho duḥkha-jālābdhi-magnam kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyāti-dīnam batānu gṛhāṇeṣa mām ajñam edhy akṣi-dṛśyaḥ The above verse has -> Humility, prayer, Nama sankirtana, prayojana Seeing from the perspective of Sambandha, Abhideya and Prayojana: Sambandha Jnana - we are all part of ananta, since meaning of ananta means everything is included and nothing in the cosmos can be outside All inclusiveness with perfect awareness is Vishnu. To this when we add Prabhu and isa, it becomes a perfect definition of God and belonging to him Abhideya - Namah, dinam, ajna Prayojana - akshi drsyah Humility is manifested when one declares complete lack of knowledge before the Lord (mam ajnam) and also complete helplessness(dinam bata) being struck in the ocean of miseries (dukha jalabdhi) The request for mercy krpa should always be backed up ...