Light of the Bhagavata

Well, maybe it's not the complete reason why I have be misled throughout different types of situations in life, yet, maybe it is.

After browsing through a used book store I came across a hardback book (which a few minutes earlier told myself I hate hardbacks and won't read) with some cartoon-style art on the cover that caught my attention. The bumper sticker "distracted by shiny objects" applies here.

Light of the Bhagavata was written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and relates text from a Hindu scripture, Bhagavat Gita (or simply, Gita), with his own commentary to help in comparing the autumn season with a parallel teaching. The reason this book was written is quite unique, but feel free to do that research on your own if you're interested.

I am close to finishing this book (only 140 pages with animation), but thought I would simply give you the first page to read for yourself. It definitely captivated me--which I love when a first page has that affect. It states:

"The serene sky, listlessly expansive, is compared to the Absolute Truth. The living entities are truths manifested in relation with the modes of material nature. The deep-bluish cloud covers only an insignificant portion of the limitless sky, and this fractional covering is compared to the quality of ignorance, or forgetfulness of the real nature of the living being. A living entity is as pure as the limitless sky. He becomes covered by the cloud of forgetfulness, however, in his tendency for enjoying the material world. Because of this quality, called tamas (ignorance), he considers himself different from the Absolute Whole and forgets his purity, which is like that of the clear sky. This forgetfulness gives rise to separatism in false ego. Thus the forgetful living entities, individually, and collectively, makes sounds like thundering clouds: 'I am this,' 'It is ours,' 'It is mine.' This mood of false separatism is called the quality of rajas, and it gives rise to the creative force for separate lordship over the mode of tamas. The flash of lightning is the only beam of hope that can lead one to the path of knowledge, and therefore it is compared to the mode of sattva, or goodness."

I read that quite a few times to let it sink in. My commentary is not needed. I hope you enjoyed it and assume at least at some point in life we have all related to it.

I did promise you a book review on my last post, but since I gave that book to a friend in Texas, it's not gonna happen! I do, however, have a few ideas and hope to post something soon.

Enjoy the day!

Stephen DeMent