Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Traveling Krishna monk speaks at WCU
Devamrita Swami, a traveling Krishna monk, lectured to an audience of about four dozen curious college-aged listeners on how to achieve happiness at West Chester University Monday.
The Swami is a world traveling monk, author of several books, former Philadelphia Central High School student and Yale University graduate.
The presentation began and ended with musical mediation, drumming and chanting of a mantra “Hare Krishna,” which is slang sometimes used to describe followers.
The Swami said the path to happiness is through the Bhagavad-Gita, prime Bhakti – yoga text.
“Enlightenment becomes understanding body, mind and self – that’s how the Bhagavad – Gita begins,” Devemrita Swami said about achieving wisdom. “The real enemy is the mind, unless you are taught how to control.”
Are you simply that body or something beyond that body?, the Swami asked.
“Supreme consciousness is the actual goal of human life,” he said.
Devamrita Swami was asked how to define a Swami.
“A Swami is one who has taken his occupation in life as mastering his mind and senses,” he said.
The Swami talked about three ways we might look at life, although true happiness and wisdom is achieved through reading the Bhagavad-Gita.
We sometimes look at life like a journey from Point A to Point B, while viewing life as a progression.
“Where does it end and where does it begin?” the Swami asked.
Others consider life as a race or competition.
“The worst thing is that you can stumble and fall, and then get trampled,” he
said. “We’re paranoid about stumbling and falling.”
The Swami then noted that those aged from 18 to 34 (the bulk of the audience) are the most “stressed-out” generation ever.
“You have to deal with a lot of baggage,” he told the audience.
So many are concerned about keeping their place in the race, thus experiencing pressure and psychological turmoil. Some even adopt a “resignation theory” and consider that “the way of the world is the way the world is.”
Others consider themselves climbing a ladder of success in a bid to get to the top.
“Suddenly you realize, this is not as satisfied as I can get,” the Swami said.
The monk advocates yoga as a way to connect with the supreme being.
“The real yoga meditation trip takes you beyond physiology and psychology,” he said.
The monk also noted that there is so much pressure on relationships.
Some ask: “Am I with the right person?; am I doing what I love?; am I doing what I’m passionate about?” he said.
A goal is to find a positive connection with higher pleasure.
“The best knowledge leads to the best pleasure,” the Swami said.