成人快手

Good morning. After a weekend of tempestuous weather, I hope you get to enjoy this late summer bank holiday. Coincidently, today is also a holy day 鈥� one of the holiest festivals in the Hindu calendar. Here and around the world, millions of Hindus are celebrating Janmashtami 鈥� commemorating the appearance of Krishna some five thousand years ago.

Krishna is considered an immanent manifestation of the divine 鈥� He is both the source of creation, and also intimately related to the lives of all beings. This fulfils the paradox of the Upanishads saying: The Supreme is far away but is very near as well. He is within everything, yet He is outside of everything. He is unborn and eternal, yet He can appear amongst us.

The scriptural narrative of Krishna is understood by many Hindus as an account of divine intercedence in human history. But, also one containing many messages illuminating and guiding human life.

For example, before Krishna鈥檚 appearance, the despotic king, Kamsa, feared a prophesy that Krishna鈥檚 mother, Devaki, would bear a powerful son who would challenge his dubious claim to the throne. Kamsa seized Devaki, ready to murder her. Devaki鈥檚 husband Vasudeva pleaded for his wife, and his negotiations with Kamsa exemplify how one should use one鈥檚 intelligence to try to subdue the base instincts arising in our mind.

Vasudeva reminded Kamsa of his status and duty as a king 鈥� and a relative. He chided: your cousin deserves your protection not your brutality. Why let your fears drive you into bad decisions and rash action? But often, rational thinking isn鈥檛 enough to overcome our wayward desires and emotions. And, Kamsa wasn鈥檛 moved. Vasudeva鈥檚 only option was to delay Kamsa鈥檚 intentions, by promising: 鈥淵ou have nothing to fear from Devaki. If we do have sons, I will deliver all of them into your hands.鈥�

With this, Kamsa relented. He would trust Vasudeva鈥檚 commitment - for now This was no epiphany or change of heart 鈥� but an accommodation and cooling-off. Sometimes that鈥檚 the best that鈥檚 on offer. And in this incident, it was sufficient to alter the later outcome.

One Vaishnava scholar called Janmashtami the 鈥渕other of devotion鈥�- an occasion to appreciate what matters to us and, if needed, to re-orientate ourselves towards our chosen path. Holidays and religious festivals can be a mini break from the hard reality of the world. Sometimes, just a little distance from our fears and worries can give us new perspective 鈥� one in which our intelligence might shine through and reveal the best steps forward.

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