The Sage Page / Vol. 4 Episodes 496 - 502
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 / Chapter 16 / Texts 1 - 23 / July 26 - August 1, 2021
Social Justice is Woven into Bhakti-yoga Culture
Repeatedly the Srimad Bhagavtam aims to counter misapplications of Vedic teachings regarding caste and privilege based on birth, asserting that a person’s social role or status is based on their character or qualities. In other words, how we are viewed or engaged socially should be based on merit rather than birth.
In text 3.16.6 Lord Vishnu tells the 4 Kumaras that the practice of Bhaki purifies anyone of their lower nature, and in the commentary Srila Prabhupada will elaborate that a Vaiṣṇava (Bhakti-yogi) should not be evaluated in terms of their body. (Ep. 496)
The Need to Honor Those Who Embody Good Qualities
In Text 3.16.7 Lord Vishnu tells the 4 Kumaras that the reason that He is sacred is that he serves his own devotees (and the brahmanas). There is a need within society to honor, protect and give voice to those who embody brahminical sattvic qualities - those who live simply, and are kind, learned and wise - otherwise we lose touch with the truth that we don’t need all these “things” to be happy (rajas) and we adopt behaviors that lead towards self-destruction (pandemics, ecological destruction, social and political polarization, etc.) (Ep. 497)
How We Treat the Vulnerable is How We Treat God
Vishnu to the Kumaras, “The brāhmanas, the cows and the defenseless creatures are My own body. Those whose faculty of judgment has been impaired by their own sin look upon these as distinct from Me.” Text 3.16.10
Religious ritual becomes void if you can’t treat others with respect & love. Particularly cows, brāhmanas, women, children and old men are mentioned as those to be shown particular care in Vedic culture. (Ep. 497)The Last 4 Questions Placed to Yuddhisthira
In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s elder brother Yuddhisthira is given a long list of riddles to answer in order to save the lives of his brothers. Hear are the last four questions and answers.
“Who is truly happy?
One who cooks in his own house, even with scanty vegetables, but who is not in debt and who stirreth not from home, is truly happy. (When we live simply, and not beyond our means, we can find the inner happiness that eludes others who chase it externally.)
What is most wonderful?
Day after day countless creatures are going to the abode of Yama, yet those that remain behind believe themselves to be immortal. What can be more wonderful than this? (Rather than use the opportunity of life as a preparation for the inevitable test of death, we ignore death as far as possible, and live as if we will will never die.)
What is the news?This world full of ignorance is like a pan. The sun is fire, the days and nights are fuel. The months and the seasons constitute the wooden ladle. Time is the cook that is cooking all creatures in that pan; this is the news.” (The events we find newsworthy are commonly beyond our means to change, and move past us like an illusion. But we are all facing a common predicament of our own mortality, and the path of yoga provides us with the tools to make a difference.)
What is the path?
Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage by people in general. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which dharma is understood. The solid truth of dharma is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the sacred texts confirm, one should accept and follow in the footsteps of whatever progressive path the great souls advocate. (People will always debate back and forth. To find the truth of dharma look to those who embody the highest qualities.)
(Ep. 499)
