Notes by Aarya M

Review:

Last week, we learned about prayer. Prayer is not about getting anything we want. Bhagavan gives us what we need, not what we want. Bhoomidevi took action, instead of sitting in her sadness, and went to bhagavan brahma. We learnt about Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. During the wedding, Kamsa heard a voice saying Vasudeva’s and Devaki’s eighth child would kill him. This made him scared, and eventually made him cruel. He locked them in prison, and was constantly fearful. Bhoomidevi felt his fear and selfishness, so she prayed and took action. She went to Brahma and the Devas, who went to Vishnu and told them of her plight. Bhagavan promised to come as Sri Krishna, and to do 3 things.

1. Protect the good

2. Correct selfishness

3. Bring joy

Vasu means living like a robot. Vasudeva means to live with joy. Prayer helps us move from Vasu to Vasudeva.

Story:

It was the middle of the night in Mathura. The whole city was fast asleep, with a heavy storm outside. Inside the palace, deep underground, was a dark cold prison, with wet walls made of thick stone. Guards stood outside, with a single oil lamp lit. In the dim light was Vasudeva and Devaki. Despite the storm, they felt safe, their eyes closed in prayer. Vasudeva whispered to himself, saying “Bhagavan, only you can remove this darkness.” 

All of a sudden, he felt Bhagavan’s light inside his mind, pure and gentle. It spread from his mind to Devaki’s heart. She felt its warmth and strength. The prison didn’t seem as dark anymore. She felt Bhagavan’s presence. This was the birth of Lord Krishna. The air was sweet, the rain sounded like music, and the guards fell into a deep sleep. Then Sri Krishna was born, not crying, but at peace. The chains on Vasudeva and Devaki loosened and fell off. 

Vasudeva bowed, saying, “O Lord, you are the infinite. You have given us freedom.” In that moment, he was no longer a prisoner, and he offered all of his wealth, cattle, everything he owned to Bhagavan. Devaki began to pray as well, and she prayed for her to forget that the baby was Bhagavan, and to instead remember him as her child. Then, the light faded, and Sri Krishna became an ordinary baby. The locks opened, and the doors swung open. The guards remained asleep. Vasudeva lifted Sri Krishna and carried him outside. He kept walking, to the Yamuna River, swelled with the heavy storm. He began to wade through it, the water rising higher and higher until he was carrying Baby Krishna over his head. Then, Baby Krishna stretched out a foot, and as soon as it touched the water, they receded and cleared the way, as if Yamuna recognized the divinity inside of him. He crossed the Yamuna River and came across a house in Gokul, in which the parents, Nanda and Yashoda, had just had a baby. Vasudeva swapped the babies, taking their young daughter, Maya, back to the prison. 

Lesson:

The sanskrit word for this week is smarati, which means to remember with love. When we truly remember Bhagavan, we feel her, and our lives become bright. Bhagavan is first born as a thought of faith, like in Vasudeva’s mind. Then it turns into a feeling of love, like in Devaki’s heart. When the mind and heart unite, Bhagavan is born. When Sri Krishna was born, all the doors in the prison opened. Similarly, when Bhagavan is born, all the doors of fear, selfishness, and worry open. But when we forget Bhagavan, like when Maya came back to the prison, the doors close again. When the River Yamuna felt Sri Krishna’s presence, she calmed, and connected with Bhagavan with her mind and heart, allowing her waters to calm.

RAW:

Every morning before you wake up, and before you go to sleep, along with a short prayer, place your hand on your heart, and say, Bhagavan lives here.