“’The black-eyed Vaidehi is not aware of my strength or my power. Therefore, let her see that form which I can display at my desire.’ Hanuman, the best of the monkeys and annihilator of enemies, thinking thus then showed to Vaidehi his real form.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.32-33)

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न मे जानाति सत्त्वं वा प्रभावं वाऽसितेक्षणा।
तस्मात्पश्यतु वैदेही यद्रूपं मम कामतः।।
इति सञ्चिन्त्य हनुमांस्तदा प्लवगसत्तमः।
दर्शयामास वैदेह्यास्स्वरूपमरिमर्दनः।।

na me jānāti sattvam vā prabhāvam vā asita īkṣaṇā |
tasmāt paśyatu vaidehī yat rūpam mama kāmataḥ ||
iti saṃcintya hanumān tadā plavaga sattamaḥ |
darśayāmāsa vaidehyāḥ svarūpam ari mardanaḥ ||

These two verses from the Ramayana appear to be contradictory with respect to the nature of rupa. The Sanskrit term has several meanings, but in this context the reference is to the form. Several attributes describe that form, which is always used in devotion…

“All of them – as they surrender unto Me – I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

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Friend1: I’m sure you are aware of the viewpoint that says bhakti is for the less intelligent.

Friend2: Reserved for women and so forth. They easily follow because they don’t have the capacity to understand Vedanta.

Friend1: Children, too. Basically, anyone who is not capable of being serious in renunciation and the like. Become attached to a specific manifestation of Brahman.

Friend2: Any of them is fine. Just pick one. It’s a matter of preference.

Friend1: Work your way up. Maybe in a future life you will be blessed with a body of intelligence, so that the pursuit towards mukti can continue with a real chance at success.

Friend2: Fortunately, I have never given that…

“Lord Krishna is known as Ranchor, which means ‘one who has left the battlefield.’ In India, especially in Gujarat, there are many temples of Krishna which are known as temples of Ranchorji. Ordinarily, if a king leaves the battlefield without fighting he is called a coward, but when Krishna enacts this pastime, leaving the battlefield without fighting, He is worshiped by the devotee.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 51)

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Friend1: Alright, so we know He had no problem taking care of Kamsa’s henchmen.

Friend2: We’re talking about Krishna here?

Friend1: Yes, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bhagavan, the personal side to the Divine, the detail behind the abstract. The one who descended to earth, appearing in Devaki’s womb and then spending the childhood years in Gokula.

Friend2: Why were there henchmen, as you call them? And how many?

Friend1:…

“Even a leaf, a flower, a bit of fruit, or a little water, which are all available in every part of the world, can be offered by any person, regardless of social position, and will be accepted if offered with love. There are many instances in history. Simply by tasting the tulasi leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, great sages like Sanatkumara became great devotees. Therefore the devotional process is very nice, and it can be executed in a happy mood. God accepts only the love with which things are offered to Him.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 9.2 Purport)

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Friend1: You know I love to bring in the perspective of the outsider.

Friend2: Outsider to what?

Friend1: Bhakti-yoga.

Friend2: The concept, the theory, or devotional practices themselves?

Friend1: The lifestyle. Try to see from the angle of vision of the person…

“The fortunate Hanuman, the son of the wind, upon hearing those words of Sita, a new insult to him, thought:” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.31)

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सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।
चिन्तयामास लक्ष्मीवान्नवं परिभवं कृतम्।।

sītāyā vacanam śrutvā hanūmān māruta ātmajaḥ |
cintayāmāsa lakṣmīvān navam paribhavam kṛtam ||

Found in a shloka of the Ramayana, Shri Hanuman is described to be lakshmivan. The description is in the positive, a compliment, stated when there is simultaneously an insult, paribhavam. The negative words relate to one of his ideas, but even that was positively-rooted.

Shri Hanuman wanted to return Sita Devi to her beloved husband, Shri Rama. The idea was to carry her on his back, traveling via the same aerial route that had brought him to Lanka in the first place. The initial response from Sita was not praise. Instead, it was a reference…

“In the paramahamsa stage one conquers the desire for sleep, food and sense gratification. One remains a humble, meek mendicant engaged in the service of the Lord day and night. Madhavendra Puri had attained this paramahamsa stage.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 4.123 Purport)

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Friend1: If we think about the saints of the Vedic tradition, they seem to be praised for one thing.

Friend2: Really? If you read about their lives I’m sure you would find many aspects that are worthy of study, honor, plaudits and emulation.

Friend1: I acknowledge that, but everything centers around a specific feature.

Friend2: Are you trying to create your own version of the verse from the Bhagavad-gita, where Krishna talks about pearls on a string?

“O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on…

“The fortunate Hanuman, the son of the wind, upon hearing those words of Sita, a new insult to him, thought:” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.31)

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सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।
चिन्तयामास लक्ष्मीवान्नवं परिभवं कृतम्।।

sītāyā vacanam śrutvā hanūmān māruta ātmajaḥ |
cintayāmāsa lakṣmīvān navam paribhavam kṛtam ||

It is said that one of the dangers of having only one child is that they will grow up to be spoiled. It only makes sense. The parents are so taken by their little one that it is difficult to let go. From childhood into adulthood they are treated as the baby in the family, as there is no other reference point; no comparison.

Whatever that child wants, they get. Lavish praise and attention from other family members. No concept of sharing within the household. No example to set for younger ones. No getting blamed for something…

“O best of the monkeys, how do you desire to take me from here to the presence of my husband, the king of human beings, with such a small body?” (Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.30)

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कथं वाल्पशरीरस्त्वं मामितो नेतुमिच्छसि।
सकाशं मानवेन्द्रस्य भर्तुर्मे प्लवगर्षभ।।

kathaṃ vālpaśarīrastvaṃ māmito netumicchasi।
sakāśaṃ mānavendrasya bharturme plavagarṣabha।।
katham vā alpa śarīraḥ tvam mām ito netum icchasi |
sakāśam mānava indrasya bhartuḥ me plavaga ṛṣabha ||

You have been given a task. Create a large covered area in the backyard, which right now is a grass field. This is for a wedding at a home, done particularly for convenience and cost. By not booking a traditional hall, the newlyweds intend to use the savings for future expenses.

The most practical option is to create a tent. Purchase the materials that already exist, since this is not an uncommon…

“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.68)

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Friend1: From reading the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, one thing comes across loud and clear.

Friend2: That Mayavadis are bad?

Friend1: Okay, two things [smiling].

Friend2: One slight clarification. Though they are his books, nothing is made up. They are based on scriptural texts of importance in the Vedic tradition. The most well-known book is the translation and commentary on Bhagavad-gita, appropriately titled Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

Friend1: Because it doesn’t rely on speculation. Supporting is the authority of parampara, the disciplic succession. The same truths, but with slight variations in presentation accounting for time and circumstance.

Friend2: Remember, the languages are not the same. There…