Lord Śrī Krishna explains to Uddhava the difference between conditioned and liberated living entities, the characteristics of a saintly person and the different aspects of the practice of devotional service.

Kaivalya means spiritual freedom. The most common definition (you can find 20 different ones if you search online) is solitude or aloneness. Recently I got some questions about Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras from a spiritual seeker, which led to an interesting discussion.

Sri Upadesamrta Mantra 10

Here is the video on YouTube of yours truly sharing verse number 10 of Srila Rupa Goswami’s Nectar of Instruction, the ‘how to practice Bhakti yoga’ book. In English and Spanish with Damayanti Fornos.

I have been thinking of writing this down for a long time. Now, after hearing from different individuals about recent events, let me connect a few dots. There is such a thing as collective karma; a lesson or fate, if you will, that affects a generation of those born in a certain era. Here is what my research revealed. Stick with me for a few minutes.

Hey Boomers. If you were born in the early fifties like me, here’s what our collective karma looks like at the moment. I’m sure you’ve been noticing the unprecedented changes in the world around us, but astrologer Robert Hand articulates the influence so clearly.

The next Chinese New Year takes place on the new moon 12 February 2021. It will be the year of the Metal/ Golden Ox. I always check my copy of Theodora Lau’s The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes which I picked up at a book store in Taiwan in 1983. Highly recommended!

Here I read her brief explanation of the tone of the year ahead.

From truthfulness so many other virtues flow. Indeed, it is the root of all virtue. It encompasses self-control—for it is a discipline; austerity, for it is the greatest austerity of all. It is genuine purification of one’s existence. It is the verbal form of nonviolence, but only if the speech does not offend others. How often have we been insulted by someone and then been handed the karmic waiver, “Well, it’s true!”

In material consciousness, non-miserable is mistaken for happiness. Think about that. According to what Patañjali is noting here, there is no happiness in the material world, only intermittent non-misery.

By quieting the mind in withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara) and concentration (dharana) we can perceive different parts of the personality at work.

Suyajña had been a kind and generous ruler and a loving husband and his wives were unable to give him up. They held his body on their laps and wept, paying no attention when their hair and dresses became soiled. As the time for the ritual burning of the body was passing, their crying reached the ears of the Lord of Death.