JANMASHTAMI – KRISHNA’S BIRTH

　

The story of Krishna’s birth is widely known. It is said that Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki at midnight. He was born in a prison as Devaki’s brother, Kamsa had imprisoned them.

 

When Krishna was born, the gates of the prison flew open, the guards were asleep and Vasudeva was able to smuggle the baby Krishna out of prison. As Vasudeva crossed the Yamuna, which was in spate because of the heavy downpour, the waters rose up to Vasudeva’s nose. It is said that the baby Krishna’s foot came out of the basket and touched the river. At that time the waters receded and Vasudeva was able to cross over to Gokul to hand over the baby Krishna to Yashoda – the symbol of love.

 

The story seems so fantastic – which brother would imprison his own sister and kill his own nephews. How could all the gates open on their own, how could all the guards fall asleep. How did Vasudeva cross the river and why did the river recede after being touched by the foot of a baby? It all seems so illogical.

 

However if we look at the Tatva behind the story, it encapsulates eternal truth. Vasudeva – signifies the breath, and Devaki – the body. When the breath and body unite – when yoga happens – that is when the divinity is born. However the breath and body on their own cannot sustain the bliss that comes out of their union. Hence the bliss has to be taken to Yashoda – the embodiment of love. It is love that can sustain the bliss of divinity.

 

Kamsa is the embodiment of ego – which imprisons the body and is afraid of losing itself at the hands of the divine consciousness. The gates are the five senses which help the ego to bind the body and mind. When divinity is born all these shackles fall off and the way is clear for the baby Krishna to be transported out of the prison.

 

Yamuna is the symbol of Bhakti or Kirtan. When Krishna is being taken across the river, Yamuna rises up in ecstasy. In Kirtan the Bhajans (Satsangs) rise in tempo and then reach a crescendo. At the end there is a feeling of ecstasy, when you feel the divinity has touched you. That is the feet of baby Krishna touching the river Yamuna.

 

Krishna’s consciousness was fully blossomed and infinite. Krishna’s consciousness should remind each one of us about how vast and expansive and fully blossomed each one of us can become.

　

– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

　

　

How to transform lower energy into higher energy

How to transform lower energy into higher energy:

1.   Remember your death. It can happen any moment. The very remembrance transforms lower into higher energy.

2.   Knowing your true nature you are space not this body. Soaking in knowledge.

3.   Dissolving all names and forms.

4.   Whatever you are attracted to see them as forms of the divine. See divinity in the hearts of your attractions. Wanting to posses will go down. Lust transforms to love.

5.   Dance and sing, immediately energy rises up.

6.   STOP talking about worldly things with other people. ‘Hey how about you! Do you have a girlfriend?’ This unnecessary thing that you indulge in talking about other people’s life is the worst thing that pulls all your energy down.

In front of me you talk knowledge but when you go away you indulge in all this unnecessary talk. All this unnecessary worldly talk collectively lowers everyone’s energy.

Go and sit in the burial ground look into the dead bodies and see how energy goes up. If you don’t realize this now but thinking about lust all the time is Mithyachara. This is not advisable. Then you are not mature for this path. Go out in the world, finish it all up and then come. But let me tell you it will never end because it’s the same energy that is going to be low or high.

Also don’t blame yourself. Don’t resist…follow any of the six ways shared above to transform your energy.

Make it a point that for anybody who talks about things that bring your energy down, i.e. Samsara, worldly talk, immediately cut them off. Don’t even talk to them. Turn your face around because their very energy can affect your body and your way of thinking.

Be curt. Don’t be shy and don’t be too polite. Otherwise you are very polite, Oh, I don’t want to annoy this person and they will never stop. They will just go on. I have never given such a strong talk like this!

With this knowledge (Spiritual Path) I tell you, you will never drown in this world. Increase your Sattva and just move on.

- Sri Sri