Top of the Pyramid

Humans are considered to be the most advanced of all the existing species. This is evident by the impact that Humans have had on the face of earth. So what makes us different from the other species? Or what makes us humans?

The first though that comes to mind in response to the above questions is “Intelligence”. It is the intelligence or the wisdom that a man possesses that makes him excel in all spheres of life. In the past centuries, human civilization has come a long way, From Realty space to Cosmo Space to Cyber Space. We have highly developed defense technology, advanced medical science and modern infrastructure that was a part of the last centuries’ sci-fi novels and movies. The success is not just the ability to soar high but also to have a keen sight to sense an opportunity. The opportunity to earn more money, eat good food, lead a comfortable life by inventing luxuries and searching for the opposite gender to satisfy carnal desires.

This is akin to a vulture which soars high in the sky, and with its keen sense of sight, it tries to search for something. What is that thing? Nothing! but a decomposed foul-smelling carcass (dead body). So much for the ability to fly high with a highly developed sense of sight, but the object of all this effort is to find a dead body to eat its flesh. This is called useless labor. Similarly humans with their highly developed intelligence, with high qualifications and advanced technologies try to achieve an end. What is this end? Trying to earn money for sense gratification. That sense gratification which is easily available even to animals like a stool eating hog.

Srimad Bhagavatam states [SB 4.31.11]:

srutena tapasa va kim
vacobhis citta-vrrittibhih
buddhya va kim nipunaya
balenendriya-radhasa

Without devotional service, what is the meaning of severe austerities, the process of hearing, the power of speech, the power of mental speculation, elevated intelligence, strength, and the power of the senses?

Human life is a rare gift. It is invaluable. One doesn’t have to pay any price to attain a human birth. It comes on its own accord and provided by nature as an evolutionary progression to the spirit soul. At the same time it is invaluable because it gives us a chance by which the living entity can attain the highest, the supreme goal of life.

The goal of life is to attain happiness, Permanent Happiness! However the means which we are currently employing to attain happiness will only gives us temporary happiness that too mixed with suffering. Just like sweet rice mixed with sand. Therefore we can understand that in our quest for happiness we are somewhere committing a mistake and should try retracing our steps. Bhagavad-gita proclaims that every living species is originally spiritual and is covered by a material body on a temporary basis. The ignorance caused due to misidentification with matter causes us to feel temporary sorrow or happiness. By directing our energies to the process of self realization we get gradually purified of our misconceptions. As much as our consciousness is developed spiritually in the same proportion we feel inner happiness. This process doesn’t entail dry renunciation but a change in consciousness or perceptions. Instead of trying to enjoy varieties for satisfying selfish interests we should utilize everything in the service of God or Krishna. In any position or situation either of a householder, single, businessman etc the formula of engaging our energies and resources in the service of Krishna reaps good dividends. 

The manual of life

Vedas means, just like this dictaphone machine is manufactured along with one literature is also compiled. So customers, they are given the delivery of the machine as well as the literature how to use it. That is the Vedas. Therefore Krishna says that vedanta-krit, "I am the compiler of the Vedas." Because if He does not give the literature, then how he will use the machine. The manufacturer of the machine, he knows how to use it, what for it is, how to manipulate it. Everything is there. The Vedic knowledge means that. We have come to this material world. So just like we have purchased this machine for some enjoyment, similarly, we are fallen down to this material world for some material pleasure. So Krishna has given, God has given a literature. If you'll be guided by the literature, that, your propensity to enjoy this material world, will be fulfilled, at the same time you'll again be able to go back home, back to Godhead. So now you discuss this point that why we have come to this material world, what is the purpose. These things are mentioned in the Vedas. Vedas gives you knowledge about your relationship with God. That is the first knowledge. And then, according to that relationship, if you act, then you are rightly directed, and ultimately the goal is to go back home, back to Godhead. 

Universal brotherhood redefined

Universal brotherhood is possible when one is a pure devotee. A pure devotee doesn't see the outward dress of the body but sees the spirit soul. "Here is a spirit soul," he thinks "part and parcel of Krishna." He does not think, "Here is a man, here is an animal, here is a cat, here is a dog, here is a worm." He sees everyone as part and parcel of Krishna. He becomes a lover of everyone in the universe." That kind of vision is the basis of universal brotherhood. Brotherhood will not come by passing resolutions in the United Nations. That is not possible. It is possible when one knows that Krishna is the common father of everyone. Suppose father has got ten sons. Out of them one or two sons are useless. So those who are very capable sons, if they say to the father, "My dear father, these two sons of yours, they are useless. So let us cut their throat and eat." So father will say, "Yes, you do that"? No. The father will not tolerate. The father will say, "Let them be useless, but let them live at my cost. You have no right to infringe on their rights." This is common sense. But they think that animals are to be killed for the satisfaction of the tongue of the human being. Just like if you are affectionate to your father, then you naturally become affectionate to your brother. We should take into consideration that even the worms are our brothers, what to speak of other living entities. Therefore, we should be concerned about all living entities. They are preaching universal brotherhood, but "Where is the father, sir?" "Oh, Father is missing." "Then where is the question of brotherhood?" If you don't find your father, then how do you select your brother? These are the imperfectness. 

Reactive v/s Proactive person

As human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Look at the word responsibility -- "response-ability" -- the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling.

Reactive people are often affected by their physical environment. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and their performance. Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them. They are value driven; and if their value is to produce good quality work, it isn't a function of whether the weather is conducive to it or not.

Reactive people are also affected by their social environment, by the "social weather." When people treat them well, they feel well; when people don't, they become defensive or protective. Reactive people build their emotional lives around the behavior of others, empowering the weaknesses of other people to control them.

Reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment. Proactive people are driven by values -- carefully thought about, selected and internalized values.

As Eleanor Roosevelt observed, "No one can hurt you without your consent. They cannot take away our self respect if we do not give it to them." 

It is our willing permission, our consent to what happens to us, that hurts us far more than what happens to us in the first place. 

Ousting Differences

God is the Father of all species and forms of life. Besides that, we take this body as a dress. For example, your white shirt is not you. You are different from the white shirt. Similarly, one may have a body, white or black, but he, as spirit soul, is different from the body. Now, we are taking account of the person who is possessing the dress—not the dress but the person. I am talking with you; I am not talking with your shirt. I don’t look to see whether you have put on a white shirt or black shirt. That is not my concern. I am concerned with you as a living being. This is our philosophy. We don’t take account of the outward shirt and coat. This body, this gross body, is just like a coat, and within this gross body there is a subtle body—mind, intelligence and ego. Within that subtle body, the spirit soul is there. And we are trying to deliver the spirit soul from these two kinds of entanglement, subtle and gross. That is our mission. National and religious movements are more or less on the basis of the outward dress. One is Christian because he is born of a Christian father. Is it not? One is American because he is born in the land of America. We say that we are neither Christian nor American, Hindu, Muslim or Indian. We are eternal servants of God. Try to understand this fact and mold your life in this way; then your life will be successful. This is our program. Simple.

A really educated man does not look over the fleshy tabernacle of a living being but he introspects the spirit within the body. A sane man does not see the dress of another man but he sees the man of whom dress is a covering only.

The key to effective confrontation!

The key to effective confrontation is to be firm yet gentle and respectful. Approach the confrontation with the assumption that there is a solution and that you will be able to work things out. Rather than assessing blame and assuming fault, try to see the innocence in yourself as well as in the other person. Rather than using phrases that are almost guaranteed to elicit a defensive response such as: “You’ve made a big mistake and we need to talk,” try instead to say things with a little more humility, something like, “I’m a little confused about something. Can you help me out?”

More important than the words you use, however, are your feelings. Try to avoid confrontation when you’re angry or stressed out. It’s always best to wait a little while until you get your perspective, or until your mood rises. Keep in mind that most people are reasonable, respectful, and willing to listen when dealing with a calm, collected person who is speaking honestly from his heart.
 
When you approach your confrontations in a gentle manner, it not only produces more effective results, but it keeps your own stress level down as well. There is something very comforting about knowing that you’re going to keep yourself cool regardless of what you must do. In addition, you’ll have fewer battles to fight, and those that you do have will be shorter and less severe. You’ll receive more cooperation and respect from others and, perhaps most importantly, your own thoughts and feelings will be much nicer. 

Beyond Darwinism

We living entities are innumerable; there is no limit to our number. God, however, is one. He is also living, as we are but we are minute particles of that living force. For example, a particle of gold is the same in quality as a gold mine. If we chemically analyze the ingredients in a small drop of water, we will find all of the ingredients that are to be found in the vast ocean. In a similar way, we are one with God, being His part and parcel. This godly particle, the soul, or the living force, is transmigrating from aquatics to trees and plants and then from trees and plants to insect life, then to reptile life, then to the bodies of birds and beasts. Darwin's theory of evolution is but a partial explanation of the transmigration of the soul. The difference is that the soul is transmigrating from aquatic life to plants and trees, then to insect life, then to bird life, then animal life, then human life, and within human life he moves from uncivilized life to civilized life, etc. The civilized life of a human being represents the culmination of evolution. Here is a junction: from this point we can again slide down into the cyclic process of evolution, or we can elevate ourselves to a godly life. The choice is up to us. This is indicated in the Bhagavad-Gita.

This human form of life actually means developed consciousness; therefore we should not waste our lives like cats, dogs, and hogs. That is the injunction. Although this body is perishable like a dog's or cat's body, it is different in that one can attain the highest perfection in this life. We are part and parcel of God, but somehow or other we have fallen into this material existence; now we have to evolve in such a way that we can go back home, back to Godhead. That is the highest perfection.