“Consciousness is originally pure, like water. But if we mix water with a certain color, it changes. Similarly, consciousness is pure, for the spirit soul is pure. But consciousness is changed according to the association of the material qualities. Real consciousness is Krishna consciousness. When, therefore, one is situated in Krishna consciousness, he is in his pure life.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 15.9 Purport)

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1. Election consciousness

“This is the most important election of our lifetimes. Who we choose to lead us for the next four years will drastically alter the course of human history. Will the country remain as founded, adhering to our bedrock principles? Or will it be fundamentally changed, going against what it was intended to be?

“To me, there is no other choice. We have to stand by this one person. They are the only hope. Otherwise, we are in…

“The living entity, thus taking another gross body, obtains a certain type of ear, tongue, and nose and sense of touch, which are grouped about the mind. He thus enjoys a particular set of sense objects.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.9)

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श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च
रसनं घ्राणम् एव च
अधिष्ठाय मनश् चायं
विषयान् उपसेवते

śrotraṁ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṁ ca
rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva ca
adhiṣṭhāya manaś cāyaṁ
viṣayān upasevate

Friend1: I heard someone on the radio say something interesting recently. The context was a discussion about public education and what kinds of things students learn these days.

Friend2: Positive or negative?

Friend1: What do you mean?

Friend2: Was the person praising the system or were they critical due to certain errors and the like?

Friend1: It was mostly critical. They put the blame on multi-culturalism, as it is known.

Friend2: I see. I’m not even sure…

“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.34)

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मन्-मना भव मद्-भक्तो
मद्-याजी मां नमस्कुरु
माम् एवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवम्
आत्मानं मत्-परायणः

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

Friend1: You have so many protestations to organized religion that it is difficult to cover all of the reasons.

Friend2: You mean it’s not wise to label every person with an objection as an atheist?

Friend1: Perfect! That’s exactly what I mean to say. There are legitimate concerns. Something doesn’t sit right with them about the culture, the way of life, so they reject it.

Friend2: Completely understandable. If you see lies, contradictions, deceit, envy, pride, greed and other undesirable qualities in the most dedicated followers, you will begin to question the legitimacy…

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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“In business dealings, if asking another party to make a large investment on your behalf, a risk, if you will, there is something known as collateral. Basically, it’s a way to indemnify the investors against…

“As the director of different kinds of clouds, Indra called for the samvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The samvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vrindavana and inundate the whole area with an extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful supreme personality.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 25)

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“I certainly do love the story of the first Govardhana Puja, and how it became an annual tradition. There are some hints of the angry God concept, wherein Shri Krishna threatens the people that snakes will bite them if they ignore the worship in subsequent years.

“But still, I get the meaning. The hill is so important to Him. If you have a temple close by, there is no need to install deities in…

“O sinless one, certainly, how can any king accomplish his objectives if he doesn’t have such a messenger working for him?” (Shri Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 3.34)

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एवं विधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत्पार्थिवस्य तु।
सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतियोऽनघ

evaṃ vidho yasya dūto na bhavetpārthivasya tu।
siddhyanti hi kathaṃ tasya kāryāṇāṃ gatiyo’nagha

To maintain a good relationship with the other side, you would rather not do the negotiations yourself. You certainly could. Who better than you to communicate desires and objectives? You have an idea of what the other side will say. But still, if everything goes through representatives, there is less of a chance of hurt feelings at the conclusion.

To that end, several abilities are desirable. Each one is a bonus in the person going to bat for you, so to speak. They may not check…

“As the director of different kinds of clouds, Indra called for the samvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The samvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vrindavana and inundate the whole area with an extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful supreme personality.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 25)

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“Svarga-loka. It is a real place. That word is used in common conversation to describe something pleasurable and good. As in English someone would describe something as ‘heavenly,’ so those speaking languages descending from Sanskrit make the comparison to ‘svarga’ when enjoying an enhanced experience.

“I’m just wondering why the acharyas of the Vedic tradition, particularly within the succession of Vedanta or bhagavata-dharma, tend to de-emphasize svarga. They quote verses from…

“Not only is the Supreme Personality of Godhead present as the Supersoul of all living entities; at the same time, He pervades everything in the entire creation. He exists in all circumstances and at all times.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.6.20-23 Purport)

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“Everything I read about in your bhakti-yoga process involves a progression. A gradual change in consciousness. An awakening. A shift from the illusion of maya into the light of transcendence. Ignorance and depression to knowledge and ebullience.

“The problem is that my troubles are real. I am struggling right now. Today. At this very moment. I don’t have time to wait for some transformation that might take years or many lifetimes. I seek an immediate solution. I feel I can’t risk the significant time required for purification.

“It’s like the walls are closing in. I can’t relax; not even for a…

“Being under the control of passion and lust, Rama’s father, Maharaja Dasharatha, wanted to fulfill Kaikeyi’s cherished desire, thus he did not go through with Rama’s installation ceremony.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.12)

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कामार्तस्तु महातेजाः पिता दशरथस्स्वयम्।।
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्।

kāmārtastu mahātejāḥ pitā daśarathassvayam।।
kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ nābhyaṣecayat।

We are advancing. Progress. Moving away from the backwards way of life imposed by our ancestors. Correcting the wrongs from the past. Destroying symbols of hate. Removing honors for people who weren’t so great, who set in place systems of discrimination and hatred.

A new style of relationship. Equal rights; supposedly. Progressive thought and values. Moving towards perfection in human society. Perhaps in the future the complete eradication of disease, allowing for an extended span of life.

In truth, nothing changes. Pick any spot in the vast…

“Being under the influence of illusion, I underestimated Rama and took Him to be a mere child. Thus I ran towards Vishvamitra’s sacrificial altar. With that, Rama released an acute arrow capable of destroying His enemies. Upon hitting me, that arrow forcefully threw me away to an ocean one hundred yojanas [eight hundred miles] away.” (Maricha speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 38.18-19)

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अवजानन्नहं मोहाद्बालोऽयमिति राघवम्।
विश्वामित्रस्य तां वेदिमभ्यधावं कृतत्वरः।।
तेन मुक्तस्ततो बाणः शितश्शत्रुनिबर्हणः।
तेनाहं त्वाहतः क्षिप्तस्समुद्रे शतयोजने।।

avajānannahaṃ mohādbālo’yamiti rāghavam।
viśvāmitrasya tāṃ vedimabhyadhāvaṃ kṛtatvaraḥ।।
tena muktastato bāṇaḥ śitaśśatrunibarhaṇaḥ।
tenāhaṃ tvāhataḥ kṣiptassamudre śatayojane।।

Spend enough time on internet forums and social media comment sections and you will think that you are in the minority. It is like going straight into the lion’s den, battling it out on their territory. An away game for a powerful team in professional sports. A travelling tour…