Making Some Sense
Life, people and the world, never made sense to me, until I found something that spoke to my heart, rather than broke it.
It was called Bhakti Yoga.
I found it so comprehensive and all inclusive in its world view that it could completely and satisfactorily answer any philosophical question I posed.
Through this knowledge I was finally able to bring my life into healthy alignment at many levels because now, I had a frame of reference.
It’s so easy to get lost in the chaos that is life on planet earth, because our natural compasses go haywire due to many competing and often harmful magnets.
Our frenzied fast paced society so often masks our inner distress. We are pushed to win the rat race, but no-one ever wins. We are too often the losers, because we have lost sight of the real prize - spiritual wealth.
We feel disconnected from our fellow human because we are disconnected from ourselves. To feel connected, we have to be connectable.
The hall of mirrors of modern society, distorts our every move and expression and we cannot see ourselves for who we truly are. Instead, we see grotesque or distorted images and we act out of those images because that is who we believe we really are. Then, of course, we become distorted mirrors for each other.
We may even be the object of other’s envy and desire, but it’s when society says that the false self we portray is actually the truth, that the inner experience of disconnection, frailty, loneliness, isolation and despair, is masked, which makes things even worse.
The Goal of Life
Contrary to popular belief, the goal of life is not to materially succeed. It is not even to become a better person or to have better relationships. Remember Mick Jagger and his declaration that “ I can’t get no satisfaction”? He is one smart guy. Just to realise it and admit it takes insight.
None of the typical markers of material success can yield our souls’ desire for deep connection. That only comes when we face the truth that we are spiritual beings who are sparks of the supreme spiritual being.
The only way we can be truly complete is to join the blazing fire of the Supreme Divine person, otherwise our small fragile sparks just fizzle out. We cannot compete. If we can manage to do this, everything else, including better relationships and being a better person, automatically and obediently follows.
This is what I have found from observation of others on their spiritual journeys through Bhakti Yoga, and also from my own.
Don’t just take my word for it! This is the key principle of the wisdom teachings of the ancient Bhakti Yoga philosophy, designed solely to guide us to true happiness.
We would be wise to challenge what we, living in the western world think is ok. There are so many ‘realities’ we live with on a daily basis that cause us deep suffering.
Why is it so? The reason is, that as a collective, our beliefs and values over time have become warped and twisted in ways that deviate from the original purpose of humanity. We forgot that our prime purpose for being on the planet, is to reunite in loving connection with the Supreme divine, Krishna, also known as God among infinite other names.
We are currently operating far from ground control. We have quite simply and literally lost our instruction manuals and hence our minds.
But are we truly lost or can we still powerfully find ourselves somehow, someway?
Creating our Destiny:
Beliefs & Values -> Thoughts -> Word & Actions -> Habits -> Character - > Nature -> Destiny
When we align ourselves with helpful, constructive beliefs and values, we are on our way to changing our destiny for the better. Bhakti Yoga offers this priceless jewel and the rest naturally follows.
Real Evolution
Humanity is a phenomenon of evolution, and I’m not speaking of Darwinian evolution.
I speak of spiritual evolution. Darwin neglects to mention that evolution can also go the other way. De-volution is real. It’s gravely spoken of in the ancient Bhakti Yoga texts. You don’t even have to read about it, just check out the world around you.
Bhakti Yoga philosophy, in detail, explains spiritual evolution and how we can get on the bliss train. It explains much more than that. It even explains the unexplainable. Both the material and spiritual worlds are covered, so comprehensive is it’s coverage of philosophical thought.
These texts are our long, lost instruction manuals. Fortunately for us, they remain complete and unadulterated in the original Sanskrit, unlike many other scriptural texts of the world.
So, as luck would have it, these instruction manuals are not lost. They are simply waiting for the serious user to master its contents. In fact these manuals are now more accessible to us than at any other time in history, because we really need it. The key teachings, available now in over 75 languages, are easily sourced. See the Bookshelf for your own personal access to these timeless teachings.
“Religion without philosophy is fanaticism and philosophy without religion is dry speculation” (His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.)
Bhakti Yoga in it’s completeness covers both, which is the reason why it is the natural occupation for humanity and why it is so satisfying to the soul.
With the guidance of qualified Bhakti Yoga teachers and mentors, the contents of sacred texts, such as The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, contain the power to change hearts, relationships, families, communities, nations and the world.
The Measure of Happiness
Having discovered the gleaming treasure of Bhakti Yoga, after a life of exceptional challenge and difficulty, my eyes were opened on so many levels. This included the realisation that what not only rescued me from a tragic fate, but enabled me to experience a bliss and fulfilment beyond anything else available (Bhakti Yoga), was not on offer in the water supply of the suffering people in general.
Instead I saw that humanity was being pumped full of propaganda, mindless advertising, junk food, intoxicants, mind numbing activities in the name of recreation, and the belief that the more you have, the happier you will be.
Why is national prosperity measured by GDP and surplus or deficit? Why is it not measured by the happiness of the people?
Not so long ago The United Nations Sustainable Solutions Network issued one of their world happiness reports - Bangladesh was the happiest nation in the world at that time. More recently this outcome has changed for the worse, thanks to the menacing introduction of western values into Bangladesh.
Now Australia is one of the top 10 happiest nations of the world.
“One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. The most common mental illnesses are depressive, anxiety and substance use disorders. Every day, at least six Australians die from suicide and a further thirty people will attempt to take their own life” (from the Black Dog Institute).
Additionally in Australia we have so many government and not-for-profit initiatives for ‘reaching out’ and suicide prevention… and yet we are among the happiest nations in the world?
What is going on?!
And we wonder why economies are collapsing, natural disasters are an everyday occurrence, mental health is almost the exception, not the rule, and we are constantly at war with nations and each other.
Let’s have another diplomatic meeting and work out how to approach this shall we?!
NO.
There is something fundamentally wrong with that approach and it’s so glaringly obvious, that it’s negligence not to see it. Even if it is acknowledged, what next? Our leaders don’t know what to do. They may think they do, but in true modern leadership style, we will be worse off with their interventions.
Something is Missing
The macrocosm (our world) is a direct manifestation of the microcosm (our individual consciousness). So wouldn’t it make more sense to invest in the consciousness of each individual, rather than give everyone psychological support after a mass shooting? Mmm, food for thought.
The truth is that our political leaders do not have the knowledge required to make the sweeping changes required to get ourselves and our world back on track.
The knowledge however is available and accessible. It is the knowledge found in the honest yet loving pages of the texts of Bhakti Yoga. It is all there. It is simple. It is clear. It makes sense.The problem is - we are blind.
Our egos get in the way of our highest interest because you really don’t have to be very smart to see the devastation that a lack of a cohesive spiritual vision is having on our world, at every level.
Something BIG is missing.
Perhaps like me, you are sick of the increasing destruction and devastation at both personal and global levels in our out of control societies. You are over feeling powerless, at the mercy of blind decision makers.
Change the World - Get Happy
Well, like me, you may want to take matters into your own hands and reclaim your personal power.
I am here to show you that there is a way. The way to true freedom, empowerment and upliftment starts with you. You have more power over world matters than you think. Own that responsibility and understand your role in what you see around you.
The more deeply happy you are, the more of a master of your mind and senses you are, the more the world will reflect that and be a more suitable place to live.
Your first job to contributing to world peace and reform is to make yourself happy.
One tried and true way is Bhakti Yoga. Step by step, each of us can incorporate it at any level that we are able within our lives, and like magic - New Heart New World, here we come.
The very best thing is that Bhakti Yoga is blissful at every moment. It is the supreme pleasure.
It is spiritual medicine but it tastes like candy. That is its power AND it makes complete sense (to the sensible).
Don’t get left behind.
Embrace your New Heart and New World
Feel free to check out my other blogs for more information.
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You can also check out my educational videos containing secrets of the ancient, timeless knowledge of Bhakti Yoga - literally at your fingertips.
The Bookshelf is also a good place to start the Bhakti Yoga magic.
A fabulous way to connect to similar minds and hearts is to find an international Bhakti Yoga Centre near you (Branches of ISKCON - The International Society of Krishna Consciousness), where you can speak to an experienced yoga practitioner and receive personal guidance.
If you would like personal guidance and support, you are welcome to book a free discovery session with myself, Rasika Manjari. I would love to hear from you!
See you at the New World.