Saturday, December 5, 2009

Bhakti Is Simple

My kids learnt a simple Hindi song this weekend at Bal Vihar Sunday School:

खाते भी राम कहो पीते भी राम कहो
सोते भी राम कहो राम राम राम
राम राम राम राम राम राम राम राम राम
राम राम राम
पढ़ते भी राम कहो लिखते भी राम कहो
चलते भी राम कहो राम राम राम
राम राम राम राम राम राम राम राम राम
राम राम राम
Say Ram while eating; Say Ram while drinking;
Say Ram while sleeping: Ram Ram Ram
Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram
Ram Ram Ram
Say Ram while studying; Say Ram while writing;
Say Ram while walking; Ram Ram Ram
Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram
Ram Ram Ram


This is a very simple Hindi song with deep meaning. Basically, it means that we should keeping repeating "Ram" all the time irrespective of what we are doing. This basic concept of chanting the names of Krishna in this age of Kali-yuga is mostly known to almost all followers of Bhagavad Gita, Ramyana and Puranas like Srimad Bhagavatam. One does not need any special guru or special person to teach this. Just accept it and follow it.

Apart from repeating the holy names of Krishna, we should see every as part of Krishna and love and serve all living entities.

सिया राममय सब जग जानी करहु प्रणाम जोरी जुग्पानि
I offer pranams to this world which is part of Sita Ram.

परहित धर्मं सरिस नहीं भाई पर पीड़ा न अधमाई
There is no better dharma than serving others and hurting others is worst action.

Hurting or making living entities suffer is worst action (adharma) as it is directly hurting beloved Krishna and serving them or acting for their welfare is best action as it is serving Krishna Himself who resides in everyone.

SB 12.2.41 - What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own self-interest, since his activities are simply leading him to hell?
SB 10.2.22 - A person who is very cruel is regarded as dead even while living, for while he is living or after his death, everyone condemns him. And after the death of a person in the bodily concept of life, he is undoubtedly transferred to the hell known as Andhatama.

In Kali-yuga, we just need above 2 simple qualities. Love and see everyone as part of Krishna and keep repeating the names of Krishna while living in this world.

When we see others as part of beloved Ram, then automatically negative feelings of envy, jealousy etc go away and our heart is filled with love, appreciation and service towards others.

The process of bhakti is for those who are simple hearted. Just remember Krishna while doing your activities and love and serve the living entities seeing them as part of Krishna.