The inner circle...

I was watching Krishna the other day in the epic episode where Krishna was about to depart from Nandgaon towards Mathura at the occasion of Dhanush Yagya invite from Kansa. The occasion culminates with the death of Kansa at the hands of Lord Krishna. Back to the scene, Krishna has told Yashoda maaiya that He is an avataar, and so Yashoda maiyya becomes apprehensive that Krishna might never return to her. To quell her apprehensions she asks Him straighfacedly whether He would return, but Lord Krishna averts the question, the reply is not in affirmative.

Lord Krishna, later in a dialogue with Radha tells her that Krishna avataar, amonst many purposes signifies to the world that love, belongingness and devotion are emotions which can be felt even when you are not near your loved ones.

More than anyone else who has ever been or would be, Lord Krishna personifies Geeta, which he preached during the war of Mahabharata; thus:

• Why do you worry without cause? Whom do you fear without reason? Who can kill you? The soul is neither born, nor does it die.

• Whatever happened, happened for the good; whatever is happening, is happening for the good; whatever will happen, will also happen for the good only. You need not have any regrets for the past. You need not worry for the future. The present is happening...

• What did you lose that you cry about? What did you bring with you, which you think you have lost? What did you produce, which you think got destroyed? You did not bring anything - whatever you have, you received from here. Whatever you have given, you have given only here. Whatever you took, you took from God. Whatever you gave, you gave to him. You came empty handed, you will leave empty handed. What is yours today, belonged to someone else yesterday, and will belong to someone else the day after tomorrow. You are mistakenly enjoying the thought that this is yours. It is this false happiness that is the cause of your sorrows.

• Change is the law of the universe. What you think of as death, is indeed life. In one instance you can be a millionaire, and in the other instance you can be steeped in poverty. Yours and mine, big and small - erase these ideas from your mind. Then everything is yours and you belong to everyone.

• This body is not yours, neither are you of the body. The body is made of fire, water, air, earth and ether, and will disappear into these elements. But the soul is permanent - so who are you?

• Dedicate your being to God. He is the one to be ultimately relied upon. Those who know of his support are forever free from fear, worry and sorrow.

• Whatever you do, do it as a dedication to God. This will bring you the tremendous experience of joy and life-freedom forever.

Over the course of his life, Krishna would have to leave behind his existing relationships, at different stages of his life; including his beloved Radha; though he remains connected to her in eternal bliss and is worshipped world over. In doing so he also taught the world how to deal with a sense of loss. Even nature manifests this lesson in different ways. Little hatchlings leave their nests and parent's protection as soon as they learn how to fly. This is their way of life. As human beings, we should thank God for the body and soul that He has endowed on us and learn that spiritualism or devotion to Him is the only way to live.