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By Sesa Das ACBSP<\/strong><\/p>\n Are We Ready to Take Over the World Yet?<\/p>\n Reflections on Bhagavad Gita, As it is Chapter 1, Text 19<\/p>\n \u201cTranslation<\/p>\n The blowing of these different conch shells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dh\u1e5btar\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dra.<\/p>\n Purport<\/p>\n When Bh\u012b\u1e63ma and the others on the side of Duryodhana blew their respective conchshells, there was no heart-breaking on the part of the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas. Such occurrences are not mentioned, but in this particular verse it is mentioned that the hearts of the sons of Dh\u1e5btar\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dra were shattered by the sounds vibrated by the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas\u2019 party. This is due to the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas and their confidence in Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the midst of the greatest calamity.\u201d<\/p>\n Just after recently sharing some thoughts on this Text of Bhagavad Gita with a group of college students a young man came up to me and said \u201cYou Hare Krishnas are always saying what a horrible place this world is. So, why do you want to take over the world anyway? Good question I replied. But looking back at the exchange I felt my response was a bit pedantic and lacking the compassionate response rightfully expected from me as well as the compassion he might be better off seeking.<\/p>\n Having had some time to reflect on this exchange and consider what I might do to change the world instead of just condemning it. Change begins with choice and conch shells.<\/p>\n Choice<\/p>\n Thousands of years ago Krishna, the Supreme Lord, and Arjuna, Krishna\u2019s dear friend, spoke about life’s most relevant questions. The setting was a battlefield, the issues urgent, and the resulting text, the Bhagavad-gita, The Song of God, has become an important contribution to the philosophical and spiritual literature of the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Choice, the value presented here has been selected because it helps us understand the worldview that forms the basis of Krishna\u2019s advice to Arjuna. We can use it to better our vision, our communication, our deeds, and our character. All of which can change the world, one person at a time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Bhagavad Gita begins by Arjuna making a choice to seek guidance from his friend Krishna. Krishna concludes his advice by recognizing that after offering his opinion Arjuna will do as Arjuna desires. Krishna has spoken to Arjuna openly, truthfully, and with affection. He has not been demanding or dogmatic. By leaving the choice to Arjuna, Krishna has acknowledged this freedom. Thus, Arjuna can freely choose his relationship with Krishna, his service and responsibilities, and fight or flight on the battlefield. The Bhagavad Gita establishes that individual choice can make a mesurable impact on the world, but is that enough to make one ready to take over the world? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Conch Shells<\/p>\n As a young social activist I often answered this question with a resounding YES! And I know there were many other similarly motivated devotees of Krishna. Some were able to directly ask Srila Prabhupada this question and to receive guidance by his response: <\/p>\n \u201cRoom Conversation with Disciples<\/p>\n Devotee (2): Will this movement take over the world, Prabhup\u0101da?<\/p>\n Prabhup\u0101da: At least you keep one idea. There is possibility.<\/p>\n Devotee (2): I think it will be very big.<\/p>\n Prabhup\u0101da: That is possible. If we become serious and sincere, then it will go on, undoubtedly.<\/p>\n Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 4.79 Purport<\/p>\n The K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness movement has spread all over the world within a very short time (within five years), and mundane people are very much astonished at this. However, by the grace of Lord \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu, we understand that everything is possible by the grace of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Why does K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a have to take five years? In five days He can spread His name and fame all over the world like wildfire. Those who have faith in and devotion to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a can understand that these things happen so wonderfully by the grace of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu. We are simply the instruments. In the fierce Battle of Kuruk\u1e63etra, Arjuna was victorious within eighteen days simply because K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s grace was on his side.\u201d<\/p>\n Arjuna and the Pandavas were outnumbered, fighting against the foremost warrior of the time, with limited funds and resources gathered from sources outside the kingdom as well as lacking other establishment benefits. Yet they won the battle. How did they do it? The answer is revealed in the Bhagavad Gita Text and purport cited above. By blowing their conch shells they revealed their conviction. It was a matter of the heart! <\/p>\n Srila Prabhupada qualifies who is ready to take over the world, who has the heart. Like Arjuna they must be serious and sincere, and like Arjuna they must have faith in and devotion to Krishna. Serious in that they understand and accept the enormity of the endeavor. Sincere in that they have invested their whole heart in the endeavor. Faith in Krishna that anything is possible with His Grace. Devotion to a cause meant to serve Krishna\u2019s will and to benefit of all others.<\/p>\n Selfless Service<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found the following definition of selfless service to be helpful in grasping what it means to take over the world. Although the quote utilizes a military motif, the teaching is universally applicable. <\/p>\n Selfless Service<\/p>\n \u201cPut the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.\u201d<\/p>\n Final Words from one who has already successfully taken over the world:<\/p>\n \u201cWe should always be enthusiastic to try for capturing the rhinoceros. That way, if we fail, everyone will say, \u201cNever mind, nobody can catch a rhinoceros anyway,\u201d and if we succeed, then everyone will say, \u201cJust see what a wonderful thing they have done!\u201d<\/p>\n A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Sesa Das ACBSP Are We Ready to Take Over the World Yet? Reflections on Bhagavad Gita, As it is Chapter 1, Text 19 \u201cTranslation The blowing of these different conch shells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dh\u1e5btar\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dra. Purport When Bh\u012b\u1e63ma<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-testing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=112715"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112716,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112715\/revisions\/112716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=112715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=112715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=112715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}