do you want to be famous?

Verse 2.35: The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you insignificant.

Do you long for fame? Do you want to be recognized and adored for being expert at something or contributing meaningfully to the world? I think there are few persons who could actual answer "No!" honestly to that question.

The bhakti texts describe how fame and adoration can actually be impediments for the aspiring spiritual practitioner. They don't say that it will be an impediment, but that they can be. It depends on how one actual uses name and fame. If used in the spirit of helping others understand that they are an eternal soul who has forgotten their loving relationship with the Supreme, then wonderful. But if used solely to promote one's own self for personal adoration, then definitely it acts as a barrier.

But that's not what I really want to talk about today. I want to talk about the downside of fame, which is something most people often ignore. I think it's necessary that one is educated about the pitfalls since so many people want to be famous. Then, at least a person knows what they are getting themselves into.

That is exactly what Krsna is talking about here. Arjuna is famous not only for being an expert archer, but being the best archer in the world. Krsna is reminding Arjuna here that fame doesn't come cheap. It means one is scrutinized in everything that one does. All sense of privacy is lost. In fact, such a person's life becomes an open book. The only way one can live such a life sanely is by behaving in an exemplary manner. If one doesn't, not only is one's good name dragged through the mud, but all faith and trust is also lost in such an individual. These are the intangibles that money can never buy back.

Furthermore, there will always be different types of people who will be looking to bring you down. Those who are envious and also want to be well recognized for the same achievements and talents that you have. Those who also have similar talents and want to become better than you and those who just want fame and will stop at nothing to achieve it.

Finally, and Krsna specifically makes reference to this point here, there will be those who have been looking up to you as a role model or example. Such persons may be well-wishers or competitors but it doesn't matter. They are bound together by one thing- respect for you. If you fail to live an exemplary life, such persons will lose respect for you. Out of all these possibilities, this is what hurts a self-respecting individual the most.

So think long and hard if you want to be famous and look to see what motivates you. That motivation can act as roadmap to discover what it is you really want. A lot of times people just want to be recognized since they equate it to being loved. The thing is, love has nothing to do with numbers. It has everything to do with connection.

If you can touch people's lives by being the ear they can listen to, the shoulder they can cry on and the steady rock in their life, that's even greater than being famous. After all, that's what yoga is all about. It's about connection. Bhakti yoga is about connecting through love. So go ahead and make some soul connections. After all, fame is fleeting. Establishing meaningful relationships with each other, while keeping God in the centre, is eternal.

real value

Verse 2.5: It would be better to live in this world by begging than to live at the cost of the lives of great souls who are my teachers. Even though desiring worldly gain, they are superiors. If they are killed, everything we enjoy will be tainted with blood.

Arjuna's words really hit me hard today, "Better to live in this world by begging..." This is not just anyone, but a person of kingly descent who is stating this.! It reveals to us what real detachment looks like and what true duty. Arjuna is on the battlefield only out of a sense of duty - to regain the kingdom that is rightly his (and his brothers) so that they can properly take care of the inhabitants. Arjuna has no attachment to wealth, as we can see by his words here.

So the question can be posed then, why are we running after wealth when Arjuna, who is actually royalty, is more than willing to give it up for the sake of morality? Why are so many people here in the material world more than willing to give up morality to make a few bucks?

The reason is we are empty and we don't realize it. We are beggars who think that a large bank account can fill the void that is growing larger in hearts. Name, fame, profit, adoration - everything that the material world promises can be likened to Monopoly money. It's fake and you can't actually do anything with it in terms of actual reality.

Gone are the days when children and adults alike are encouraged to question, "Why are we here? Who are we? What are we meant to do?" Instead those questions have been replaced with, "How much do you make?" and "How much influence do you actually have (i.e. what is your Klout score on Twitter?)".

I can't claim to not want name, fame, adoration, prestige and wealth. Wish I could, be that wouldn't be honest. However, the little I can claim to know is that it won't make me happy. I know this because I've experienced happiness. It's been when I've been singing my heart out in a kirtan. It's when I've been fortunate to get a few precious moments hearing directly from my spiritual mentor. It's when I've felt Krsna's direct reciprocation and grace in my life.

None of those moments involved any great wealth, but they left an indelible impression in my heart. The realization that despite still being attracted to the externals of the material world that it's only my relationship with Krsna and those who are dear to him that really fulfill me.

Arjuna can easily turn his back on wealth because he has the greatest wealth sitting beside him on his chariot and he knows it! He has has Krsna. In relation to this, there is a beautiful story of how much Arjuna values his relationship with Krsna that I would like to share.

Before the battle began, both Arjuna and Duryodhana came to see Krsna. Duryodhana arrived first and immediately sat at the head of the bed where Krsna was resting. Arjuna came sometime later and immediately went to Krsna's feet where he folded his palms and offered prayers. When Krsna awoke, he saw Arjuna first and a moment after twisted his body around to see Duryodhana. Duryodhana immediately spoke up and said, "Krsna, I came first and so according to etiquette, you must give me preference." To this Krsna replied saying, "What you say is true, but when I woke up the first person I saw was Arjuna. Besides, he is also younger and so we must give him preference." Duryodhana agreed and so Krsna continued saying that, "I know you have both come to me to help you out in the battle. However, I must tell you that I have taken a vow not to fight. So you may choose. You my have the large powerful army which I have at my disposal, or you can have weaponless me." Arjuna immediately chose Krsna and Duryodhana walked away happy with Krsna's army, not realizing that without Krsna on his side victory, morality, opulence and power could never be within his grasp.

This pastime illustrates Arjuna's love and faith in Krsna. He didn't care if he wins or loses as long as he had Krsna on his side. This is what true happiness is about - the realization that our relationship with Krsna is the most important thing. All the happiness, satisfaction and knowledge that come along with it are merely side benefits.