Wednesday 5 November 2014

Tuesday, October 28th, 2014

Alachua, Florida

To Choose

3 miles or 5 kilometres is what it takes to get on foot to the local temple. 3 miles or 5 kilometres is the same distance it takes to return. The return or my accommodation place is at the home of Ananta Sesa and Vaishnavi, a south Indian couple and two sons, who very well look after me.

I had delivered the Bhagavatam class before my return. And the topic was about the choices we make in life. There is a tremendous amount of freedom experienced by all of us in this world of choice. When trained how to see the world in its proper perspective bearing in mind our true identity as a spirit that can mingle in the atmosphere of the three energies (modes) then good decisions can be made on the basis of knowing.

The three energies are satva (thoughtfulness), rajas (passion) and tamas (darkness). When our perspective on life is clouded by tamas (darkness), when everything is clouded with respect to goals, it is difficult to make objective decisions. You are too subjective to see the good choice you have.

The text which I spoke from referenced from Canto 10 and although the topic about Krishna and Princess Rukmini was clearly from another world, they mutually chose each other as spiritual lovers. The choice was vast. But nothing was as organic as the natural attraction they had for each other. When it came time to pick and choose for tying the knot a letter was written by her, sent to Krishna by a brahman priest about the mutual fondness and so, as a natural consequence, an elopement took place.

On another not it is with full congratulations that I appreciate the choice made by two people and the community to move ahead in their devotional life. Scott became Shasvata and Nirmala became initiated as Namamrita.

May the Source be with you!

11 KM

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