“Bhagavad-gita also confirms that when the Lord appears He appears as He is by His internal potency. He is not contaminated by the material energy because He is the Lord of material energy. In the Vedic literature we find that His whole embodiment is spiritual. He has His eternal form called sach-chid-ananda-vigraha.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 13.15 Purport)

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As a set of literature, the Vedas are unique because they go beyond basic faith. Not just one book, nor one specific person of interest, and neither a single institution, the aim is to connect with the origin of everything. Understand His position, the different ways He manifests, and His energies.

The best Sanskrit equivalent for the English word “God” is Ishvara. This refers to a great controller. Someone who controls over something or someone else. God is Ishvara because the material nature works under…

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.14)

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दैवी ह्य् एषा गुण-मयी
मम माया दुरत्यया
माम् एव ये प्रपद्यन्ते
मायाम् एतां तरन्ति ते

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

It’s natural to be proud of accomplishments. Those are successful outcomes, and who goes into a project hoping for failure? That is the easier option, always, since it involves the lack of effort. Want to fail? Just sit back and do nothing. I assure you that success has little chance of materializing.

On the other side, after overcoming struggles I find a way to reach the desired destination. Be it large or small, I am sure to take some satisfaction…

“Shastra is without the four principal defects that are visible in the conditioned soul: imperfect senses, the propensity for cheating, certainty of committing mistakes, and certainty of being illusioned. These four principal defects in conditioned life disqualify one from putting forth rules and regulations. Therefore, the rules and regulations as described in the shastra-being above these defects-are accepted without alteration by all great saints, acharyas, and great souls.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 16.24)

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The admission is, “To err is human.” Everyone makes mistakes, do they not? No one is perfect. What may not be acknowledged or properly understood is to the depths to which this defect takes hold. In many areas, in many places, in many stages of life, for every kind of person there is the tendency to commit mistakes. The Vedas say that this is one of the four principal faults in…

“Shukadeva Gosvami imparted transcendental knowledge to Maharaja Parikshit during the remaining seven days of his life, and Maharaja Parikshit heard him properly, just like an ardent student. The effect of such a bona fide hearing and chanting of Shrimad-Bhagavatam was equally shared by both the hearer and the chanter. Both of them were benefited.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.12.3 Purport)

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Friend1: The Bhagavata Purana, also known as the Shrimad Bhagavatam, is so glorious because it teaches both how to live and how to die.

Friend2: With living there is plenty of advice already available. If unsure, visit a bookstore or library and read the volumes of published works categorized as “self-help.”

Friend1: “How to be successful in business. The key things necessary for avoiding depression. What not to say to your spouse.” I’m making these titles up, but I’m sure there…

“O best of the monkeys, bring here soon my husband along with Lakshmana and the army troops. O chief of the monkeys, I have been suffering grief for a long time because of Rama, so in this way bring happiness to me.” (Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.66)

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स मे हरिश्रेष्ठ सलक्ष्मणं पतिं सयूथपं क्षिप्रमिहोपपादय।
चिराय रामं प्रति शोककर्शितां कुरुष्व मां वानरमुख्य हर्षिताम्।।

sa me hariśreṣṭha salakṣmaṇaṃ patiṃ sayūthapaṃ kṣipramihopapādaya।
cirāya rāmaṃ prati śokakarśitāṃ kuruṣva māṃ vānaramukhya harṣitām।।

As the Vaishnava presents the challenge of giving up sense gratification, vairagya, in favor of experiencing a higher taste, param drishtva, they are bound to meet opposition. The rational human being does not accept philosophies blindly. They have their own experience to use as a foundation. They know of the many cheaters encountered, how someone may have an ulterior motive.

The initial…

“Maharaja Parikshit, just after receiving the news of his death within seven days, at once retired from family life and shifted himself to the sacred bank of the Yamuna River.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.19.6 Purport)

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The news is terrifying, but at the same time not totally unexpected. As Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, for the person who has taken birth, death is certain.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्माद् अपरिहार्ये ऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmād aparihārye ‘rthe
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

“For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.27)

As Shri Rama says in the Ramayana, for the mature human being…

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.47)

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कर्मण्य् एवाधिकारस् ते
मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्म-फल-हेतुर् भूर्
मा ते सङ्गो ऽस्त्व् अकर्मणि

karmaṇy evādhikāras te
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te saṅgo ‘stv akarmaṇi

Friend1: Alright, I know we’ve discussed this many times. It is likely the most common question posed to the speaker after a Hari-katha lecture.

Friend2: A discourse on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Hari, who takes away the distresses of His devotees.

Friend1: By sometimes removing objects to which they are attached.

Friend2: Might be people to. What is this common question to which you refer? How to find…

“O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.16)

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चतुर्-विधा भजन्ते मां
जनाः सुकृतिनो ऽर्जुन
आर्तो जिज्ञासुर् अर्थार्थी
ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ
janāḥ sukṛtino ‘rjuna
ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

Friend1: Alright, so I understand that bhakti is supposed to be love and devotion. Juxtaposed with other kinds of worship to show a clear contrast.

Friend2: Where even what we refer to as “atheism” is a kind of worship.

Friend1: Because there is respect of the reflection. Paying honor to the illusory energy of maya, the living entity thinks that there is no controller behind the amazing nature.

Friend2: Or they worship nature itself. Taking the senses to be paramount, they…