Jagat

After all the talk about character, now comes the last section about Fate and Karma. Bhartrihari does not let you off the hook, even though he admits the omnipotence of destiny. For instance, after declaring Fate to determine our fortunes, in the next verse he immediately tells us that sloth is our greatest enemy. One still has to act and think (v. 90); for Destiny is nothing other than the unseen consequences of previous acts. This is an apparent contradiction that cannot be escaped. The point is that one has to act without attachment to the results because those are not fully under our control. So, this is the last of the Niti-sataka. Links to the other instalments: Niti-sataka 1 :: The Fool Niti-sataka 2:: In praise of learning and the learned Niti-sataka 3 :: The greatness of the hero and the duties ofthe king. Niti-sataka 4: The dependent and the wicked Niti-sataka 5 :: The qualities of the virtuous and resolute bhagnāśasya karaṇḍa-piṇḍita-tanor mlānendriyas...

Sorry for the interruption in posting the rest of Nīti-śataka . There will be one more segment after this. These are really pretty nice verses and all seem to be without any contradiction to the principles of good character that are at the basis of all religious temperament, including that of the Vaishnava. It is when fanaticism leads one to ignore these principles that religion becomes debased. It is interesting to me that so many of the verses are confirmations of my feelings about the turmoil of the last few weeks, even though it may be said with justification that I failed to act with true virtue. The virtuous vāñchā sajjana-saṅgame para-guṇe prītir gurau namratā vidyāyāṁ vyasanaṁ sva-yoṣiti ratir lokāpavādād bhayam | bhaktiḥ śūlini śaktir ātma-damane saṁsarga-muktiḥ khale yeṣv ete nivasanti nirmala-guṇās tebhyo narebhyo namaḥ ||62|| I bow my head respectfully to those in whom dwell these qualities: the desire for the company of the pious, an appreciation of the virt...

This is Part 5 of a series called "Confession and the Authentic Self." 1. Prologue . 2. Setting the scene. The saga of the Paundraka Vrindavan Today . 3. Staking out the high ground. The frequentations of swans and crows . 4. Confession, a religious act. A concealed provocation. I won't give too much of a preamble here. As stated below, this article appeared after negative material about Babaji started appearing on the other website. I felt that the only way to counteract the negativity was by speaking what I saw as positives. I know that when I read this, it is not full of glorification of Babaji's external achievements or of dramatic hagiography. His disciples can do that. I thought it was more important to say why I decided to serve here in the Jiva Institute and the nature of my relationship with Babaji. How I see him as a human being. Babaji is younger than me, and he took to bhakti at a later time than me. But these are externals that are less important...