adi shankara’s good advice
Adi Shankaracharya (or Shankara, for short) stands as one of the greatest spiritual reformers in Indian history. During the early part of the eighth century, he developed profound philosophical concepts and fostered a spiritual renaissance that provided the bedrock for modern Hinduism. A prolific writer, he penned many great classics that still find their place in the hearts and minds of both monastic and layperson, alike.
The title of one of these texts, Bhaja Govindam, means to chant, pray or sing the praises of the Lord in whatever form works best for the devotee. For the great Hindu yogi and reformer, this simply meant one should take the name of Lord Krishna (Govinda).
The below illustration captures the essence of a famous tale about this sage: walking with some of his disciples, Adi Shankara came upon a scholar studying his many Sanskrit texts; the master explained to his students the folly of investing all one’s spare time in pursuits that lead nowhere in the end. To paraphrase the gist of the story: at the time of death, only the name of the Lord (the Divine) will help you—all else tarnishes, then vanishes and leaves you without support or guidance. Even worse, the usual fare at life’s end inexorably drags the average person further into spiritual darkness.
Bottom line? Keep your job, family, career and fun and whatever else makes up your life BUT you absolutely must foster and develop a steady spiritual practice over the course of your life. Start praying now. Learn to meditate and associate with sincere spiritual seekers. Over time, such steady and genuine investments will accrue great interest; enough so, that your coffer in the cosmic bank will shine brightly and afford you passage to better and more gracious places and planes of existence on the spiritual journey to Light. It’s worth the extra effort!