The Beggar I, II, & III
The Beggar I: Meditations and Prayers on the Supreme Lord, The Beggar II: Crying Out for the Mercy, and The Beggar III: False Ego: The Greatest Enemy of the Spiritual Leader are comprised of daily meditations and prayers that enable the reader to beg and cry out more for mercy, especially divine intervention. Many of the prayers in these books often draw tears and can touch the psyche in a very profound way. Although these prayers are short reading, they are compact with very deep spiritual messages. Most importantly, the messages attempt to address each reader in his or her own individual spiritual struggles. These small books are not just meant for a single reading; rather, they can be read over and over again according to the particular struggles faced by each person on his or her spiritual journey.
The Beggar I focuses on prayers to Krishna or God. These deeply penetrating reflections in the form of a personal dialogue with the Lord remind the reader of the necessity to dedicate time to spiritual growth even while engaged in secular pursuits. While exploring such topics as patience, tolerance, humility, compassion, and determination, we do not present these subjects as quaint musings from another age but as necessary tools for maintaining sanity in a world full of conflict and stress. In the midst of all of this insecurity and confusion, these prayers help remind us that the Lord never abandons us in spite of all our doubts and frustrations. He simply waits for us to awaken from our ignorant slumber and turn to Him for the love, protection, and care that we all deeply hanker to receive. Spiritual seekers can find solace in these meditations, knowing that they do not face their challenges alone; the Lord sends assistance through many different channels to help us regain our natural state of existence.
The Beggar II focuses on prayers to the spiritual master and explores the depths of the relationship between the guru and the disciple. Written for spiritual teachers and students alike, The Beggar II helps us reflect on the wellspring of assistance and guidance that the Lord makes available to us through the medium of the guru. Such spiritual guides and teachers are not ordinary personalities although they seemingly interact with the material realm in the same way as the rest of us. However, such personalities have a mission when they come into this realm to help alleviate the suffering, and this mission distinguishes their activities from the ordinary activities of the conditioned residents of this world. Such pure souls never lose sight of their origin or commission like those of us who have fallen into confusion. Therefore, the spiritual master knows exactly how to help each one of us according to our level of illusion and has the exact medicine to relieve us of our confusion and distress.
The Beggar III particularly addresses the biggest obstacle of the mind—the False Ego—which is also the greatest enemy of the spiritual leader. These prayers show the trickery with which the false ego attacks us, and the subtle ways in which it hides and even eludes discovery. Be careful as you read because these prayers might reveal your own hidden ego that speaks to you and dictates your actions but eludes discovery. You might even find yourself recognizing this most obnoxious entity and wanting to rid yourself of its association. Until we fully rid ourselves of false ego and embrace the pure, divine ego, we will not be able to experience the ultimate association of the Lord in the spiritual kingdom. Rather, this most obnoxious entity will just continue to impede our ability to maintain constant gratitude, understanding, faith, humility, and perseverance.
