“Bhagavan means He who possesses these six opulences in full: all riches, all strength, all influence, all wisdom, all beauty, all renunciation.” (Vishnu Purana, 6.5.47)

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ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य
वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः
ज्ञान-वैराग्ययश् चैव
षण्णां भग इतीङ्गना

aiśvaryasya samagrasya
vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayaś caiva
ṣaṇṇāṁ bhaga itīṅganā

The government has built a new park. Smack dab in the middle of a bustling urban area, this is much needed. Finally, some greenery to meet the needs of the eyes. Moods will hopefully perk up. Ponds, bridges you can walk on, sanctuaries for different wildlife, a designated trail, and even recreational areas.

Since there is a managing authority, there are new rules accompanying the opening of the park. The place will be open only during certain times each day. To use certain facilities, a permit will be required. Local residents get higher priority. There is time set…

“The Lord can be served by any ingredient, even the most common commodity – a flower, a leaf, a fruit or a little water, which are available in any part of the universe and without cost – and thus the Lord is served universally by the universal entities. He can be served simply by hearing, He can be served simply by chanting or reading about His activities, He can be served simply by adoring Him and accepting Him.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.36 Purport)

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1. Abundance of food and water

“There are the discount warehouse stores. A shopping club. For a nominal yearly fee, you can enter and purchase items in bulk. Enough toilet paper to last you a year. Plastic utensils in supply that you will never have to take the real ones out of your kitchen drawer.

“There are also the…

“A true yogi observes Me in all beings, and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.29)

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सर्व-भूत-स्थम् आत्मानं
सर्व-भूतानि चात्मनि
ईक्षते योग-युक्तात्मा
सर्वत्र सम-दर्शनः

sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānaṁ
sarva-bhūtāni cātmani
īkṣate yoga-yuktātmā
sarvatra sama-darśanaḥ

“I know that in the Vedic tradition a natural tendency after learning of the qualities, features and kindness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to try to search for Him. Gain a meeting. Face-to-face. The Sanskrit word is darshana.

“I also know the teachings of His Divine Grace Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura that encourages the reverse. That is to say instead of actively searching after God, work in such a way that He will notice you. Follow pious behavior. Be kind to others. Learn of the difference between spirit and matter. Exhibit true compassion by explaining the same to…

“As the Lord’s desire is infallible because He is achyuta, similarly the desires of the devotees in the transcendental service of the Lord are also achyuta, infallible. This is very difficult, however, for the layman to understand without knowledge of the mystery of devotional service, as it is very difficult to know the potency of touchstone.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.35 Purport)

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1. As man is fallible, God is infallible, or achyuta.

To err is human. We make mistakes. This is one of the four defects built into the human existence. Imperfect senses, a tendency to cheat, and being easily illusioned. For instance, society goes into a panic when a certain virus spreads throughout the world. Businesses shut down, governments declare emergencies, and everyone is told to stay away from the public.

Yet other viruses, which have much higher fatality rates, do not…

“The Vedas, like the Mundaka Upanishad, as well as the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Krishna) is simply watching His friend. Of these two birds—although they are the same in quality—one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22 Purport)

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1. That time I crossed the road even though the traffic sign said to wait

“The technical name for the violation is ‘Jaywalking.’ Police can give you a citation. It is rare, for sure, but not unheard of. The objective is to keep everyone safe. The motorists are travelling at a considerably faster speed than the…

“Krishna had also heard of Rukmini. She was the reservoir of all transcendental qualities: intelligence, liberal-mindedness, exquisite beauty and righteous behavior. Krishna therefore decided that she was fit to be His wife.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 51)

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1. Intelligence

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes her as the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. This is befitting, considering that Rukmini Devi is the goddess of fortune. As the Supreme Lord Narayana descends on occasion, whenever He sees fit, and rescues saintly people from the harassment they endure from the fools and rascals, so Lakshmi Devi, the eternal consort of the Almighty, is known to accompany her husband for such descents.

परित्राणाय साधूनां
विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
धर्म-संस्थापनार्थाय
सम्भवामि युगे युगे

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

“In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate…

“Many saintly persons and sages like Narada Muni and others used to visit the palace of King Bhishmaka. Naturally Rukmini had a chance to talk with them, and in this way she obtained information about Krishna. She was informed about the six opulences of Krishna, and simply by hearing about Him, she desired to surrender herself to His lotus feet and become His wife.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 51)

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Friend1: The marriage to Rukmini is one of my favorite events from Krishna-lila.

Friend2: Really? When someone refers to the Divine pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the two-handed youth who enchanted the world with His flute playing and all-attractive vision, people tend to think of the childhood years in Vrindavana.

Friend1: Where Krishna playfully entered the homes of the neighbors and stole their butter. Breaking…

“Neither the demigods nor any exalted personalities were there helping Rama, for He acted alone. You should not entertain any doubt on this matter. Indeed, Rama shot feathered arrows, plated with gold, which turned into five-headed serpents that devoured all the Rakshasas. The Rakshasas were oppressed with fear, and wherever they went and wherever they turned, they saw Rama in front of them. In this way, O spotless one, have your Rakshasas been destroyed in the forest of Janasthana by Rama.” (Akampana speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.18-19)

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नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा।
शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्रिणः।।
सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान्।
येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्शिताः।
तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम्।
इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ।।

naiva devā mahātmāno nātra kāryā vicāraṇā।
śarā rāmeṇa tūtsṛṣṭā rukmapuṅkhāḥ patatriṇaḥ।।
sarpāḥ pañcānanā bhūtvā bhakṣayanti sma rākṣasān।
yena yena…

“You are the origin without beginning, middle or end. You have numberless arms, and the sun and moon are among Your great unlimited eyes. By Your own radiance You are heating this entire universe.” (Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, 11.19)

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अनादि-मध्यान्तम् अनन्त-वीर्यम्
अनन्त-बाहुं शशि-सूर्य-नेत्रम्
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्त-हुताश-वक्त्रं
स्व-तेजसा विश्वम् इदं तपन्तम्

anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīryam
ananta-bāhuṁ śaśi-sūrya-netram
paśyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśa-vaktraṁ
sva-tejasā viśvam idaṁ tapantam

The acharya of the Vaishnava tradition claims that it is not difficult to understand God. Forget the dividing line of acceptance/rejection or faith/belief. Use the intellect gifted by nature. The enhanced potential for intelligence is there for a reason.

It still doesn’t require years of study under an advanced scholar to come to a general idea of who God is. Understand a few basic truths and you will have made significant advancement in the purification of the consciousness.

1. First living entity

Look around…

“Rama showed His tremendous knowledge of fighting by killing the demon Tataka. The muni then gave to Him knowledge of secret mantras to be used in fighting.” (Janaki Mangala, 36)

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बधी ताड़का राम जानि सब लायक।
बिद्या मंत्र रहस्य दिए मुनिनायक।।

badhī tāṛakā rāma jāni saba lāyaka |
bidyā mantra rahasya di’e munināyaka ||

Friend1: I was thinking recently about the pastime with Shri Rama in the forest with Vishvamitra.

Friend2: Where Rama is accompanied by His younger brother Lakshmana?

Friend1: Yes. This is after Vishvamitra had asked King Dasharatha for protection.

Friend2: You know, your average request of:

“Hey, can you spare your two beloved sons? It’s no big deal; I just need help defending myself against vile killers who attack in the night.”

Friend1: Who mask their shapes so as to not be noticed.

Friend2: There were no WiFi security cameras…