Editorial: What To Do?

[Guest guest]

What to Do?

The "No-Change" Model

One of the concluding themes in Ram Das's landmark book Be Hear Now(1971) is

illustrated by his example that suggests: "Before Enlightenment: 'Chopping

Wood, Carrying Water'. After Enlightenment: 'Chopping Wood, Carrying Water.'

(p. 2.53&95) Many people seem to enjoy this suggestion as an insight of great

wisdom but for one who is trained in the proper conclusions of the Vedas it is

terribly misleading. The intended implication is that whatever one did when

they were completely under the dictation of the modes of mature, they will

continue doing that same activity later when they attain full-self realization.

But how could that possibly be correct?

The flaw in Ram Das's illustration becomes very obvious when we change the

starting point of his model from... "Chopping Wood, Carrying Water"

"Chopping Beef, Carrying Cocaine."

Only those who are extremely confused about the symptoms of spiritual maturity

would agree that a realized soul would continue slaughtering innocent creatures

and distributing illegal drugs after they discovered their proper role in the

universe.

Expect Tangible Changes As One Awakens!

When one is truly blessed with the gift of understanding the difference between

illusion and reality, it is appropriate to expect that their priorities will

dramatically shift. If they don't, we should wonder why not because the word

"maturity" means voluntarily transforming from a state of foolish immaturity to

a paradigm of thoughtful acts of conscious intent.

In this regard, the Bhagavad Gita offers a clear description of the type of

transformation one will experience as the veil of ignorance is lifted:

'When, however one is enlightened with the knowledge by which nescience is

destroyed, then his knowledge reveals everything as the sun lights up everything

in the daytime. When one's mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme,

then on becomes fully cleansed of misgivings, through complete knowledge and

thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation. The humble sage, by virtue of

true knowledge sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana (Wise Sage)

, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater. (Outcast)" - Bg. 5.16-18

>From these verses we learn that a spiritually mature soul sees the sage, cow,

elephant, dog, and debauchee, as equal. If one genuinely internalizes this

point, then a compelling change in behavior is eminent particularly if one

happens to be addicted to eating animals. If one has had no hesitation about

eating a cow, then once that cow is acknowledged to be equal to that of a sage

their behavior should change to be consistent with that realization. If that

is the case then either that person would then have no reason to not start

cooking human flesh for dinner, consistent with the way they prepare other

meats, or; More hopefully they will choose the more humane alternative and start

respecting the lives of all creatures by not serving them for dinner!

Unfortunately there are many contemporary so-called "spiritual teachers" that

actually solicit students with the proclamation that: "You don't have to change

anything" These imposter teachers are extremely conscious of the fact that

nobody likes to be told what to do and they are more interested in attracting

followers than in actually teaching fundamental truths that many will just not

react kindly to. This is because everyone in this material world is proud,

independent and rebellious by nature. Our pride and self-delusion are so

integral to our nature, that almost immediately after birth, we start the

pattern of knowingly disobeying the good advice as is evident by how disobedient

may children are to the instructions of their parents.

Havoc Reeking Tacit Agreement

So consequently new age teachers like Ram Das, are very popular because they

are quite adroit about avoiding the business killing faux-pas of suggesting to

their congregation any concrete suggestions about right or wrong.

In stead they simply pontificate about their limited understanding and the

questionable conclusions they have come to about the bliss found in Brahman

realization. The result is that many people have come to believe that a good

part of "Spiritual Life" is based on the understanding that advanced souls do

not judge others. It other words, their entry into the"Enlightenment Club" is

based on the tacit agreement that: "When you do your thing, I will applaud

whatever it is and not pass judgment about it or you, if you agree to support my

idea of spiritual life and refrain from criticizing anything I do!"

But the problem with this line of thinking is that it endorses the behavior of a

lothario man and a salacious woman who now feel blessed to pat each other on the

back for being so "spiritually non-judgmental!" while they exploit others and

reek havoc on innocent victims!

This charade gets much worse when we apply the same so called mature spiritual

advice to corporate or political activities. Is a mature transcendentalist

expected to sit back and keep his mouth shut when companies and politicians

mutually conspire to exploit demographic markets, or destroy the earth simply to

increase profits or votes? At what point does something become egregious

enough for the spiritual heads of society to take a stand and go into the temple

to throw the modern day money-changers out into the street?

The sad truth is that it is much easier to perpetrate a lot of feel-good myths

about spiritual life, than to actually surrender to the authority of a

reasonable source for learning about it properly. The false ego and raging

senses are very willing to accept any teacher that promotes the idea that the

only thing which will change when you've awakened into full realization is:

"The way you see the world."

Avoiding the Obvious

That type of ministry conveniently frees those who teach it from having to

distinguish and therefore teach about the difference between what actions should

be encouraged and what behavior should be discouraged. It also simultaneously

relieves the congregation from the burden of having to face the multitude of

what we all know are bad habits and are referred to in the Bible as the seven

deadly sins: Pride, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth.

There is no doubt there are some who are so lazy and self-centered that that

they will consider these types of new-fangled philosophies to be a great a

relief, but the more introspective individuals will not agree to substitute such

poorly thought out balderdash for genuine spiritual wisdom.

Our society has become so sensitized to the restrictive nature of the Ten

Commandments that many people immediately shut out any type of instruction that

is perceived to be even slightly similar to its castigating mood. Suggesting

that we should settle on and accept some type of moral code is tantamount to

suggesting to a lusty man: "Thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife."

Regardless of how good the advice might be, he probably isn't going to

appreciate that instruction as long as he remains enslaved to his lusty desires.

Honor among Thieves

Much of what is being passed of as spiritual life in today's marketplace of

ideas are nothing more than a very well polished version of "Honor among

thieves." Those who have not already become slaves to their senses will

quickly realize that regardless of how well polished the rhetoric may be, it has

nothing to do with enlightenment. Glossing over nonsense behavior with a cheep

sheen of spiritual hyperbole is equivalent to selling nuclear age indulgences to

those who are more interested in being accepted by their peers then in an actual

metamorphosis of the heart. Exploitation of the poorly informed is not only the

worst form of cheating, but it is also a confirmation of exactly what Krishna

predicted 5000 years ago.

"Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and

false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work,

attracted by the impermanent. They believe that to gratify the senses is the

prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of life their anxiety

is immeasurable. Bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and

absorbed in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense

gratification." -Bg. 16.10-12

The sushi-eating Pieare-Cardon gurus have become very popular because the only

things they suggest their follower's do is purchase their books and attend their

seminars/sermons. They also promote the reoccurring theme that Rama Das

originally declared in Be Here Now thirty years ago: "(There is) Nothing to Do,

There is nowhere to go & there is nothing to do." (p 2.82)

Transcending Pious Responsibilities?

But where did Ram Das get this silly idea? It is certainly not consistent with

what Krisha told Arjuna:

"Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than not working. One

cannot even maintain one's physical body without work." - Bg 3.8

To punctuates the importance of finding and pursuing one's true occupational

duty, Krishna revealed that even He has responsibilities which must be carried

out;

"For if I should cease to work, all these worlds would be put to

ruination. I would be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would

thereby destroy the peace of all living beings". - Bg. 3.24.

The idea that realized souls will naturally evolve to a point where they

transcend what are traditionally considered pious activities is not a new

proposition. Even 5000 years ago, the learned men of Arjuna's age were

apparently suggesting very similar things, because Arjna specifically asked

Krishna to clarify if renouncing work, austerities, and charity were legitimate

symptoms of an advanced soul.

"Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given

up as faulty, yet other sages maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and

penance should never be abandoned." - Bg. 18.3

Krishna's answer clearly indicates that once again, Ram Das has mislead his

readers to a conclusion that is inconsistent with the advice found in the

Bhagavad Gita.

"Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up; they must be

performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls."

- Bg 18.5

So if "Being in the Now,Loving What Is," and "Doing Nothing" are not

consistent with what Krishna considers to be the symptoms of an advanced soul,

then just what exactly is a 20th century Sadhu expected to do?

Extraordinary Comprehensive Advice

This question is was answered by Sukadeva Gosvami, perhaps one of the greatest

sages whose feet ever caressed the surface of the earth. His advice on this

point is perhaps the most profound spiritual sound-bite that has ever been

recorded in history. When asked about the foremost duty of all men he didn't

suggest some vague Hollywood-Star-Wars-Like cliché such as: "Become one with the

universe," Or; "Remain in Inquiry my son." His advice took into consideration

what the best thing was that one can do both for one's self, as well as the rest

of the world. It was also unequivocally, extraordinarily clear and pointed

directly towards the real meaning of surrender:

"The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can

attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional

service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. By

rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one

immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world. The

occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so

much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the

Personality of Godhead." - Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.6-8

Symptoms of an Advanced Soul

When one takes up the process of devotional service under the guidance of a

qualified spiritual master, the undesirable habits of conditioned life begin to

melt away without having to make an artificial effort. If one sticks to the

process then eventually all the auspicious characteristics of a Vaishnava will

soon manifest. In fact the author of Lord Caitanya's biography, Sri Krsnadasa

Kaviraja, suggests that the spiritual maturity of an individual can be directly

perceived by how many of the following twenty-six characteristics of a Vaishnava

have manifested: (1) He is very kind to everyone. (2) He does not make anyone

his enemy. (3) He is truthful. (4) He is equal to everyone. (5) No one can find

any fault in him. (6) He is magnanimous. (7) He is mild. (8) He is always clean.

(9) He is without possessions. (10) He works for everyone's benefit. (11) He is

very peaceful. (12) He is always surrendered to Krsna. (13) He has no material

desires. (14) He is very meek. (15) He is steady. (16) He controls his senses.

(17) He does not eat more than required. (18) He is not influenced by the Lord's

illusory energy. (19) He offers respect to everyone. (20) He does not desire any

respect for himself. (21) He is very grave. (22) He is merciful. (23) He is

friendly. (24) He is poetic. (25) He is expert. (26) He is silent. (SB 5.18.12

Purport)

If we apply the Vedic conclusion to Ram Das's "Chopping Wood "illustration we

would discover that symptoms of post-enlightenment would be quite different.

What was originally just an ordinary laborer, is now a very happy Vaishnava,

well dressed in a clean dhoti, and adorned with Vishnu tilok, while he chops

wood, carries water, and sings the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

to everyone he meets

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* End Commentary *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Hoping this meets you in good health, happy spirits and enthusiastically engaged

in the service of Lord Krishna.

Your Servant,

mayesvara dasa (md @ jagannatha.com)

AKA: William Roberts - Director

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