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There is a tale about the Bhagavad Gita ascribed to Swami Muktananda, as told by Ram Dass. It concerns an old man who made it his life's work to study the Gita in the woods. It takes place during the time when Krishna was incarnated as a young boy. It seems at one point the man stopped working and spent all of his time studying, and his wife began to complain. They soon ran out of food. She told him he needed to get up and go provide for his family.
Just at that point, the man found a passage in the book where Krishna said, "If you offer all of your devotion to me, you need worry about nothing in the world. It will all be taken care of." He thought that was an awfully strange line because he had been very devoted to Krishna and here he was with no food. So he thought there must be something wrong with the book. He took out a pen and drew a mark through those lines.
At the same time, his wife heard a knock at the door. A beautiful young boy was standing there with bags of rice and lentils - enough food for months!
She asked what this was about and he told her the food was for someone who studies the Gita in the woods. Then she saw that the boy had a huge gash in his chest that was oozing blood.
"Who has done this to you?"
"Someone who studies the Gita in the woods."
For it is said that the Gita is not about Krishna, The Gita is Krishna.
The Senate has been debating the issue of flag burning yet again this week. The proposed Constitutional amendment failed by a single vote. You can be certain, however, that excerpts from the debate will be heard over and over ad infinitum in a blaze of overweening patriotism through this election cycle. The debate is not about the flag at all. It is no longer the Flag of the United States. The Flag is The United States. The blurring of that distinction is very dangerous indeed.
The amount of time wasted on this effort along with the narrow margin of its defeat show how lawmakers have placed their emphasis on the protection of the symbol rather than stewardship of the country itself. The ongoing indictments and prosecutions of lawmakers show that while they can talk about patriotism, they do not hesitate to undermine the fabric of our democracy by accepting bribes from large corporations in exchange for favors.
Meanwhile, the Legislative Branch rolls over like a lapdog as the Executive grabs power willynilly. Starting with warrantless searches of phone, email, and as we're now learning, bank records, it has even reached out to search the home of a sitting member of congress, a first in history. This president has openly mocked congress by broadening the use of signing statements indicating his refusal to follow the law of the land.
Like a worn out parlor trick, the authors of this amendment would like you to believe that they are protecting America by protecting the Flag. The want you to look at the pretty Red, White and Blue while your constitutional rights turn to ashes. It's as if they only say the first line of the Pledge of Allegiance and forget the rest.
What all these pseudo-patriots don't understand is that the Flag is not The United States. The Constitution is The United States, and yet I see no amendment forthcoming to forbid its desecration. It is happening every day before our very eyes.
Just at that point, the man found a passage in the book where Krishna said, "If you offer all of your devotion to me, you need worry about nothing in the world. It will all be taken care of." He thought that was an awfully strange line because he had been very devoted to Krishna and here he was with no food. So he thought there must be something wrong with the book. He took out a pen and drew a mark through those lines.
At the same time, his wife heard a knock at the door. A beautiful young boy was standing there with bags of rice and lentils - enough food for months!
She asked what this was about and he told her the food was for someone who studies the Gita in the woods. Then she saw that the boy had a huge gash in his chest that was oozing blood.
"Who has done this to you?"
"Someone who studies the Gita in the woods."
For it is said that the Gita is not about Krishna, The Gita is Krishna.
The Senate has been debating the issue of flag burning yet again this week. The proposed Constitutional amendment failed by a single vote. You can be certain, however, that excerpts from the debate will be heard over and over ad infinitum in a blaze of overweening patriotism through this election cycle. The debate is not about the flag at all. It is no longer the Flag of the United States. The Flag is The United States. The blurring of that distinction is very dangerous indeed.
The amount of time wasted on this effort along with the narrow margin of its defeat show how lawmakers have placed their emphasis on the protection of the symbol rather than stewardship of the country itself. The ongoing indictments and prosecutions of lawmakers show that while they can talk about patriotism, they do not hesitate to undermine the fabric of our democracy by accepting bribes from large corporations in exchange for favors.
Meanwhile, the Legislative Branch rolls over like a lapdog as the Executive grabs power willynilly. Starting with warrantless searches of phone, email, and as we're now learning, bank records, it has even reached out to search the home of a sitting member of congress, a first in history. This president has openly mocked congress by broadening the use of signing statements indicating his refusal to follow the law of the land.
Like a worn out parlor trick, the authors of this amendment would like you to believe that they are protecting America by protecting the Flag. The want you to look at the pretty Red, White and Blue while your constitutional rights turn to ashes. It's as if they only say the first line of the Pledge of Allegiance and forget the rest.
What all these pseudo-patriots don't understand is that the Flag is not The United States. The Constitution is The United States, and yet I see no amendment forthcoming to forbid its desecration. It is happening every day before our very eyes.
