Namaste to everyone,
If you have not already, please see my new blog at healandserve.blogspot.com
This blog is finished, but I would really love and appreciate to see everyone here become a member of my new blog. I guarantee you will appreciate it!
Peace
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
new blog
Hi everyone,
I've started a new blog and a new life. Please be a part of my new incarnation. Please, please join my new blog, if you at all appreciated this one. I hope to see all of you there.
It's here:
http://healandserve.blogspot.com/2011/11/transformation.html
love and light
I've started a new blog and a new life. Please be a part of my new incarnation. Please, please join my new blog, if you at all appreciated this one. I hope to see all of you there.
It's here:
http://healandserve.blogspot.com/2011/11/transformation.html
love and light
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Spiritual Fire
Hey everyone,
Haven't written here in a while. It's good to be back.
Have a practice. This is very important. It can be anything-sitting quietly, gardening, meditation, chanting, singing kirtan to Krishna. Just do it, and do it everyday for as long as you like. Let it evolve as it needs to, don't let it turn into a ritual.
Become free of what hinders you through meditation, awareness and Holy Names. Stretch it out through yoga asanas and fresh air. Sing it out and play music.
Feel free to gaze upon these saints and tell them your worries. See what they say.
OM LOKA SAMASTAH SUKINO BHAVANTU HARI OM
Haven't written here in a while. It's good to be back.
Have a practice. This is very important. It can be anything-sitting quietly, gardening, meditation, chanting, singing kirtan to Krishna. Just do it, and do it everyday for as long as you like. Let it evolve as it needs to, don't let it turn into a ritual.
Become free of what hinders you through meditation, awareness and Holy Names. Stretch it out through yoga asanas and fresh air. Sing it out and play music.
Have a saint. Find a saint and fall in love with them with your entire being. Meditate on them, gaze upon them, cry with them. Put up pictures of them and meditate on their words often. It will change you.
Feel free to gaze upon these saints and tell them your worries. See what they say.
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| Neem Karoli Baba |
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| Sri Anandamayi Ma |
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| Sri Matamritanandamayi Ma "Amma" |
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| Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada |
OM LOKA SAMASTAH SUKINO BHAVANTU HARI OM
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Mind is A Prison
Hello everyone,
I've been in a very reflective space lately, not doing much externally, but working from within more. I suppose that comes with the Autumn season, which I like very much. My realization this morning is that the mind is a prison. The self is essentially and completely separate from the mind. The mind is almost a separate being altogether, with which we identify with so strongly. Yet it is this ego and mind which is basically of a purely survivalist nature, a low-grade matrix of thoughts, fears, yearnings, desires, desires, desires, and hopes and dreams. One second happy, the next sad, the next worried. Christ even condemned the mundane mind when he challenged that one cannot add a single inch to their span of life by worrying.
As I've started to see and experience my mind more as a separate and unruly character, I am appreciating Bhakti more.
"One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." BG 2:56
In Bhakti we can burn out the troublesome stuff in the mind through immersion in divine vibrations. Those being music, writings, dancing, images, service and sadhana. I am experiencing it now in a more intense way, as I had stopped my practices for a while to meditate in silence and engage in a lot of study and opening my heart through tantra. Now I have perhaps a more fresh perspective with which to view the mind and watch it turn and squirm and try, try.
The mind is a prison if we allow it to be. For most of us, it;s completely unconscious. The mind is a prison, but when you think that prison is you, that you are the prison, and your only means to lessen the pain is through distractions and sense gratification...whew, that's a pitiful existence.
Yet people still unconsciously refer to their being as me, and "my mind". So who is this "my"? That is who we truly are, this witness, or as Ram Das puts it, "I am loving awareness". I am loving awareness. The mind is a tool. We can use that tool to do anything: make nuclear bombs or vegetable gardens. Hurt and destroy or co-create and love. Nurture, inspire and protect or connive, exploit and curse. The mind is the most powerful material thing in the world. So we must be very careful with this mind. It must receive gratification in some way, so we can either subdue it with low-vibration gratification such as television, alcohol and fast food, or we can gratify it with spiritual sustenance like divine spiritual music like kirtan, vegetarian food offered to Krsna, spending time in nature, growing food, reading spiritual books and chanting. These things will purify us, cleanse us of fear, worry, anxiety, anger, greed and lust. And when we become more free from these things, in other words less bound and constricted in and by our minds, then we become peaceful and happy and able to serve others. The mind can be either a stumbling block or a stepping stone. What will it be for you?
I've been in a very reflective space lately, not doing much externally, but working from within more. I suppose that comes with the Autumn season, which I like very much. My realization this morning is that the mind is a prison. The self is essentially and completely separate from the mind. The mind is almost a separate being altogether, with which we identify with so strongly. Yet it is this ego and mind which is basically of a purely survivalist nature, a low-grade matrix of thoughts, fears, yearnings, desires, desires, desires, and hopes and dreams. One second happy, the next sad, the next worried. Christ even condemned the mundane mind when he challenged that one cannot add a single inch to their span of life by worrying.
As I've started to see and experience my mind more as a separate and unruly character, I am appreciating Bhakti more.
"One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." BG 2:56
In Bhakti we can burn out the troublesome stuff in the mind through immersion in divine vibrations. Those being music, writings, dancing, images, service and sadhana. I am experiencing it now in a more intense way, as I had stopped my practices for a while to meditate in silence and engage in a lot of study and opening my heart through tantra. Now I have perhaps a more fresh perspective with which to view the mind and watch it turn and squirm and try, try.
The mind is a prison if we allow it to be. For most of us, it;s completely unconscious. The mind is a prison, but when you think that prison is you, that you are the prison, and your only means to lessen the pain is through distractions and sense gratification...whew, that's a pitiful existence.
Yet people still unconsciously refer to their being as me, and "my mind". So who is this "my"? That is who we truly are, this witness, or as Ram Das puts it, "I am loving awareness". I am loving awareness. The mind is a tool. We can use that tool to do anything: make nuclear bombs or vegetable gardens. Hurt and destroy or co-create and love. Nurture, inspire and protect or connive, exploit and curse. The mind is the most powerful material thing in the world. So we must be very careful with this mind. It must receive gratification in some way, so we can either subdue it with low-vibration gratification such as television, alcohol and fast food, or we can gratify it with spiritual sustenance like divine spiritual music like kirtan, vegetarian food offered to Krsna, spending time in nature, growing food, reading spiritual books and chanting. These things will purify us, cleanse us of fear, worry, anxiety, anger, greed and lust. And when we become more free from these things, in other words less bound and constricted in and by our minds, then we become peaceful and happy and able to serve others. The mind can be either a stumbling block or a stepping stone. What will it be for you?
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Visiting Yogis and changes
Hare Krishna,
Here are some pictures of some yogis that visited me a few weeks back.
I'm doing well. The sankirtan traveling has now ended, it was a good trip. The life of a traveling sankirtan devotee is very austere and intense! It's good though, the mind can be very free from negativity and vasanas while engaged in traveling. We met some sincere seekers of truth and distributed many books.
I'm feeling a strong period of going more internal coming on. I will post more soon.
Here are some pictures of some yogis that visited me a few weeks back.
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| Jaya Jaganath Prabhu giving a morning class on the Bhagavad Gita |
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| We were blessed to have them come through |
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| Bhakta Aiden playing mridanga nicely in kirtan |
I'm feeling a strong period of going more internal coming on. I will post more soon.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sri Radhastami
Hare Krishna,
I just got back from Columbus, Ohio where I attended the festival for Radhastami. It was an excellent event. The temple was packed with people and the air was charged with love of Krishna. His Grace Chandrasekhara Prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and mentor of mine, gave an absolutely incredible class on Srimati Radharani that was transporting me to the spiritual world, right then and there. The backdrop of the gorgeously decorated glowing deities accentuated the class and made it all very transcendentally spectacular.
Some fun moments happened. While I was walking in the misty rain of the cool dark night to my car to fetch my japa beads, some young people from a few stories above in a parking garage started shouting happily down to me, "Hey, what's up! What are you doing?!!" I must have been a spectacle to them, a shaved head, saffron clad young guy in the night. I excitedly shouted back "Hey how's it going! There's a party in there!" I said pointing to the temple, "There's music and a big feast about to happen, come check it out!" So they came down and we all went inside. They were curious and bright eyed, two females and one young man, all fresh in college. I happily showed them the big lifelike drawing of Srila Prabhupada, and explained a bit about this and that and Krishna Consciousness. They were all fascinated. One girl asked me, " So, is this a religion?" I replied, "Well, first to answer that we must understand what religion is. Religion stems from the word "religio" which means in latin, to bind; to connect. Yoga means to unite. So religion and yoga mean the same thing. Religion is meant to connect us to God, the Supreme, as yoga is meant to perfect us spiritually and unite us with God as well. So, yes, this could be called religion, but the goal of real religion is pure love of God." She seemed satisfied with that, so then I took them into the temple where they took darshan (or witnessed) the beautiful deities and they heard some kirtan. But, like most impatient youths they soon decided to leave, so I walked outside with them and made sure they got a portion of the incredible feast that was prepared for the occasion. I told them I thought it was so auspicious that they showed up at the temple on Radhastami, one of the most merciful and compassionate of all Holy Days, and so I gave them my cards and also a Bhagavad Gita as it is and another of Srila Prabhupada's books titled Journey of Self Discovery. They seemed really grateful to get the books and happily and thankfully bid me farewell. I felt thankful as well. I returned to the temple and honored an amazing feast of cauliflower subji with a light cream cheese sauce, fresh puris (puffed fried bread), rice and dal (light bean soup), paneer lasagna (paneer is a simple homemade cheese), cilantro chutney, cake, strawberry chutney and nectar drink. Jai Sri Radhe!
I just got back from Columbus, Ohio where I attended the festival for Radhastami. It was an excellent event. The temple was packed with people and the air was charged with love of Krishna. His Grace Chandrasekhara Prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and mentor of mine, gave an absolutely incredible class on Srimati Radharani that was transporting me to the spiritual world, right then and there. The backdrop of the gorgeously decorated glowing deities accentuated the class and made it all very transcendentally spectacular.
Some fun moments happened. While I was walking in the misty rain of the cool dark night to my car to fetch my japa beads, some young people from a few stories above in a parking garage started shouting happily down to me, "Hey, what's up! What are you doing?!!" I must have been a spectacle to them, a shaved head, saffron clad young guy in the night. I excitedly shouted back "Hey how's it going! There's a party in there!" I said pointing to the temple, "There's music and a big feast about to happen, come check it out!" So they came down and we all went inside. They were curious and bright eyed, two females and one young man, all fresh in college. I happily showed them the big lifelike drawing of Srila Prabhupada, and explained a bit about this and that and Krishna Consciousness. They were all fascinated. One girl asked me, " So, is this a religion?" I replied, "Well, first to answer that we must understand what religion is. Religion stems from the word "religio" which means in latin, to bind; to connect. Yoga means to unite. So religion and yoga mean the same thing. Religion is meant to connect us to God, the Supreme, as yoga is meant to perfect us spiritually and unite us with God as well. So, yes, this could be called religion, but the goal of real religion is pure love of God." She seemed satisfied with that, so then I took them into the temple where they took darshan (or witnessed) the beautiful deities and they heard some kirtan. But, like most impatient youths they soon decided to leave, so I walked outside with them and made sure they got a portion of the incredible feast that was prepared for the occasion. I told them I thought it was so auspicious that they showed up at the temple on Radhastami, one of the most merciful and compassionate of all Holy Days, and so I gave them my cards and also a Bhagavad Gita as it is and another of Srila Prabhupada's books titled Journey of Self Discovery. They seemed really grateful to get the books and happily and thankfully bid me farewell. I felt thankful as well. I returned to the temple and honored an amazing feast of cauliflower subji with a light cream cheese sauce, fresh puris (puffed fried bread), rice and dal (light bean soup), paneer lasagna (paneer is a simple homemade cheese), cilantro chutney, cake, strawberry chutney and nectar drink. Jai Sri Radhe!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
MOST BLESSED APPEARANCE DAY OF SRIMATI RADHARANI
Today is the divine appearance day of Srimati Radharani, the Supreme Feminine aspect of Godhead....Here are some beautiful artistic representations giving a small glimpse of Her Divine beauty, as well as a deity of Her:
Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is nothing without Srimati Radhika beside Him. He is ultimately controlled by Her Divine love, with overpowers even Krsna Himself. I offer my humble obeisances to Her eternally and offer my services in hopes that I can know real love and devotion to Her eventually....
http://www.radharani.com/radharani.html
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| Her Supreme Divine Grace, the compassion of Godhead personified |
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| Her tempting sidelong glances at Krsna....with Her black cobra-like pony tail whipping flirtatiously around |
http://www.radharani.com/radharani.html
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
My Krishna is Blue
Yesterday was my birthday. Two guests from India, living in the US, stayed with us two nights ago. We had kirtan and prasadam together and shared stories; it was enlivening and inspiring. In the afternoon yesterday I went to the University and met some students and distributed some transcendental literatures to people. And, it was really, really blissful. The best part was that I ran into a young lady named Claire whom I had met last Summer when I was essentially doing the same thing. She was really happy to see me and I asked her if I could come over and put on a kirtan program at her house (like I had done last Summer), and she said that would be great! So I am eagerly awaiting to do that, hopefully this weekend. She explained that one young man who was at the kirtan program last Summer, Ryan, had been very inspired by the whole event. This was a relief to hear, as I had not heard from him in almost a year and I had been concerned.
The afternoon was so perfectly orchestrated, how I felt compelled to go to the school right at that moment and then "just happened" to run into Claire, as well as meeting so many nice students who were interested in the path of Bhakti. It was great. Afterwards I went on a picnic in the park and of course foraged for pawpaws.
Here's something to seriously brighten your day:
http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/video/russia-kirtan
" Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me- and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
All of them-as they surrender unto Me- I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha (Arjuna). " Bhagavad Gita 4:10-11
This has been my personal experience. Going to the college to meet students is a bit challenging of a thing to do. But I felt so confident yesterday I just had to go do it. And Krishna "rewarded" me with a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness that I had not felt for some time, because I took a risk for Him and got out of my comfort zone. Also, I feel that meeting Claire again was such a fantastic thing to have happen. Overall, i felt yesterday was an incredible success. I feel encouraged to go out more, now that school has started. chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
The afternoon was so perfectly orchestrated, how I felt compelled to go to the school right at that moment and then "just happened" to run into Claire, as well as meeting so many nice students who were interested in the path of Bhakti. It was great. Afterwards I went on a picnic in the park and of course foraged for pawpaws.
Here's something to seriously brighten your day:
http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/video/russia-kirtan
All of them-as they surrender unto Me- I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha (Arjuna). " Bhagavad Gita 4:10-11
This has been my personal experience. Going to the college to meet students is a bit challenging of a thing to do. But I felt so confident yesterday I just had to go do it. And Krishna "rewarded" me with a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness that I had not felt for some time, because I took a risk for Him and got out of my comfort zone. Also, I feel that meeting Claire again was such a fantastic thing to have happen. Overall, i felt yesterday was an incredible success. I feel encouraged to go out more, now that school has started. chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thankfulness
It's been a dynamic week. There was a lot of abundant foraging this week. The garden continues to grow exceptionally well and trouble-free:
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| Fresh Pawpaws |
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| Butternut Squash developing |
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| New bed is growing nicely and another is in the works |
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| Yard-Long beans are starting to produce |
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| The Squash bed is flourishing |
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| Towering Black Walnut next door |
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| The new fig tree is growing well |
I've been feeling really thankful for this Bhakti lifestyle. It's brought so much peace and profound spiritual wisdom into my life. Here's a great lecture on the importance of spiritual life by His Holiness Radhanath Swami: http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_ISKCON_Swamis/ISKCON_Swamis_-_R_to_Y/His_Holiness_Radhanath_Swami/Lectures/01_-_Theme_wise/Bhakti/1994-147_Priorities_Of_Bhakti_BG-03-08_Mumbai_-_1994-09-13_IDesireTree.mp3
Monday, August 22, 2011
BLESSED APPEARANCE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA
Today is the most blessed appearance day of His Divine Grace Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Out of his inconceivable strength and mercy he has brought the teachings of Bhakti Yoga, pure Bhakti, unconditional loving surrender to God, all over the world. The spiritual revolution he has begun is having huge impacts all over the world, and it's only increasing. He risked and sacrificed everything; life, body, soul, all sense of happiness, all sense of peace....just to enlighten the world of our ultimate spiritual reality and give us this spiritual path of peace, pure love, and devotion.
Actually, what Srila Prabhupada, as we call him, has given us and the world, that gift we cannot totally fathom. Personally in my life I have to continually remind myself of how much mercy I've been causelessly given. I remember a few years ago, before I dedicated to Krishna Consciousness, I had reached a low point in my life where I was literally bewildered about life. Nothing made sense, nothing had any reality, nothing had purpose....it was all very stressful and disconcerting.
So, I just prayed and prayed that I would be guided to the truth and to the light. Very soon after that I started investigating Krishna Consciousness on a deeper, more detailed level (I was aware it existed already), and it started to resonate more and more. Now, several years into my practice I have to offer so much respect to this path which has answered all my questions and obliterated so much fear and ignorance in my heart with the shining lamp of knowledge. "Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." Bhagavad Gita 10:11. Krishna guides the sincere person from within his or her heart. I am simply amazed when I compare how I lived and experienced life 3 years ago and how I live and experience life now, and how much more satisfied and at peace I am on a daily basis. How much less scared and worried I am. How much more I can give to others now. And how what I am able to give to others now is so much more than I ever dreamed possible. And it's all thanks to Srila Prabhupada. The mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is truly inconceivable. All I can do is try to remain humble and honor them by teaching others and following them as closely as I have the strength and good karma to do.
Here's an interesting breakdown of Srila Prabhupada's full name. His Divine Grace (Krishna's Grace) Abhay Charan (Free of all fear at the Lotus Feet) Bhaktivedanta (Devotional service is the conclusion of all knowledge) Swami (controller of his senses) Prabhupada (the master of all masters).
Below are some very powerful prayers/poems by Srila Prabhupada, as he toiled on the edge of death aboard the steamship Jaladuta, as a poverty-stricken surrendered soul on his way to America to spread the teachings of Krishna, on the order of his guru. If you are at all interested in Krishna Consciousness, please take the time to read this prayer and witness a glimpse into the heart of a true spiritual master:
JD 8.1: Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna
on board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965
My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because ofmy association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. ButYour servant Närada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed mehow to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is toserve him. How could I leave his service? (Prahläda Mahäräja to Lord Nrsinghadeva, Bhäg. 7.9.28)
O Lord Krsna, You are my eternal companion. Forgetting You, I have sufferedthe kicks of mäyä birth after birth. If today the chance to meet You occursagain, then I will surely be able to rejoin You.
O dear friend, in Your companyI will experience great joy once again. In the early morning I will wanderabout the cowherd pastures and fields. Running and frolicking in the manyforests of Vraja, I will roll on the ground in spiritual ecstasy. Oh when willthat day be mine?
Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice way.Because I have a great longing I called to You. I am Your eternal servant andtherefore I desire Your association so much. O Lord Krsna, except for You thereis no other means of success.
JD 8.2: Märkine Bhägavata-dharma
Markine Bhägavata-dharma at Boston Harbor, September 18, 1965
My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But Iguess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to thisterrible place? Most of the population here is covered by the material modes ofignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Väsudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it. ButI know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic. How will they understand the mellows of devotional service?
O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message. All living entities have become under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion. I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.
The words of Srimad-Bhägavatam are Your incarnation,and if a sober person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.It is said in the Srimad-Bhägavatam (1.2.17-21):"Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramätmä [Supersoul] ineveryone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desirefor material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urgeto hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard andchanted. By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, whois praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects ofnature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering,disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy. Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness,the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to theLord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in thestage of liberation from all material association. Thus the knot in the heartis pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actionsis terminated when one sees the self as master."He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance andpassion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heartwill disappear.How will I make them understand this message of Krsnaconsciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I ampowerless to do so on my own. Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought mehere to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like. O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable fortheir understanding.Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feelengladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life. OLord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here todance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like. I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedänta, and now, if Youlike, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedänta.
Signed-the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,
dated 18th of September, 1965
Actually, what Srila Prabhupada, as we call him, has given us and the world, that gift we cannot totally fathom. Personally in my life I have to continually remind myself of how much mercy I've been causelessly given. I remember a few years ago, before I dedicated to Krishna Consciousness, I had reached a low point in my life where I was literally bewildered about life. Nothing made sense, nothing had any reality, nothing had purpose....it was all very stressful and disconcerting.
So, I just prayed and prayed that I would be guided to the truth and to the light. Very soon after that I started investigating Krishna Consciousness on a deeper, more detailed level (I was aware it existed already), and it started to resonate more and more. Now, several years into my practice I have to offer so much respect to this path which has answered all my questions and obliterated so much fear and ignorance in my heart with the shining lamp of knowledge. "Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." Bhagavad Gita 10:11. Krishna guides the sincere person from within his or her heart. I am simply amazed when I compare how I lived and experienced life 3 years ago and how I live and experience life now, and how much more satisfied and at peace I am on a daily basis. How much less scared and worried I am. How much more I can give to others now. And how what I am able to give to others now is so much more than I ever dreamed possible. And it's all thanks to Srila Prabhupada. The mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is truly inconceivable. All I can do is try to remain humble and honor them by teaching others and following them as closely as I have the strength and good karma to do.
Here's an interesting breakdown of Srila Prabhupada's full name. His Divine Grace (Krishna's Grace) Abhay Charan (Free of all fear at the Lotus Feet) Bhaktivedanta (Devotional service is the conclusion of all knowledge) Swami (controller of his senses) Prabhupada (the master of all masters). Below are some very powerful prayers/poems by Srila Prabhupada, as he toiled on the edge of death aboard the steamship Jaladuta, as a poverty-stricken surrendered soul on his way to America to spread the teachings of Krishna, on the order of his guru. If you are at all interested in Krishna Consciousness, please take the time to read this prayer and witness a glimpse into the heart of a true spiritual master:
JD 8.1: Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna
on board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965
I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krsna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.
Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (Srila Prabhupada's guru), who is very dear to Lord Gauranga (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu), the son of mother Saci, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. He is that great saintly spiritual master who bestows intensedevotion to Krsna at different places throughout the world.By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gauranga will spread throughout allthe countries of the Western world. In all the cities, towns, and villages onthe earth, from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chantthe holy name of Krsna. As the vast mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu conquersall directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover theland. When all the sinful, miserable living entities become happy, theVaishnava's desire is then fulfilled.Although my Guru Mahäräja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am not
worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord,now I am begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most experienced of all. If You bestow Your power, by serving the spiritual master one attains the Absolute Truth-one's life becomes successful.If that service is obtained, then one becomes happy and gets Your association due to good fortune. My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because ofmy association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. ButYour servant Närada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed mehow to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is toserve him. How could I leave his service? (Prahläda Mahäräja to Lord Nrsinghadeva, Bhäg. 7.9.28)
O Lord Krsna, You are my eternal companion. Forgetting You, I have sufferedthe kicks of mäyä birth after birth. If today the chance to meet You occursagain, then I will surely be able to rejoin You.
O dear friend, in Your companyI will experience great joy once again. In the early morning I will wanderabout the cowherd pastures and fields. Running and frolicking in the manyforests of Vraja, I will roll on the ground in spiritual ecstasy. Oh when willthat day be mine?
Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice way.Because I have a great longing I called to You. I am Your eternal servant andtherefore I desire Your association so much. O Lord Krsna, except for You thereis no other means of success.
JD 8.2: Märkine Bhägavata-dharma
Markine Bhägavata-dharma at Boston Harbor, September 18, 1965
My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But Iguess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to thisterrible place? Most of the population here is covered by the material modes ofignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Väsudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it. ButI know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic. How will they understand the mellows of devotional service?
O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message. All living entities have become under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion. I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.
The words of Srimad-Bhägavatam are Your incarnation,and if a sober person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.It is said in the Srimad-Bhägavatam (1.2.17-21):"Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramätmä [Supersoul] ineveryone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desirefor material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urgeto hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard andchanted. By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, whois praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects ofnature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering,disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy. Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness,the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to theLord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in thestage of liberation from all material association. Thus the knot in the heartis pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actionsis terminated when one sees the self as master."He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance andpassion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heartwill disappear.How will I make them understand this message of Krsnaconsciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I ampowerless to do so on my own. Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought mehere to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like. O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable fortheir understanding.Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feelengladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life. OLord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here todance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like. I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedänta, and now, if Youlike, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedänta.
Signed-the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,
on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.dated 18th of September, 1965
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| Jai Srila Prabhupada!!! |
Sunday, August 21, 2011
SRI KRISHNA JANAMASTAMI
Today is Janamastami, which is the most Holy Day of Krishna's birth. Happy birthday Krishna! The date changes each year because it's based on the lunar calendar.
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| Krishna is the embodiment of Sat-Chit-Ananda |
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| Jai Sri Sri RadhaKrishna |
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| Krishna got His pawpaws!!! |
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| The effulgent Lotus Feet |
I was hoping to make it to a temple for Janmastami but I guess it wasn't Krishna's plan. Which is fine. I actually had some pretty radical realizations this morning and who knows if I would have come to that somewhere else. Krishna is in the heart and so I'm never alone.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Vax's Nature Adventure
Haha, wow, tomorrow is Janmastami, Krishna's birthday!!!!!! And don't tell naughty Krishna, but I found Him something special today for His birthday....I can't wait to give it to Him!!!!!!!
And then Monday is Srila Prabhupada's birthday!!!! Far out....All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
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| This is my little foray into one of my favorite trees on the planet and one I find endlessly interesting: The noble pawpaw, Asimina Triloba (Yes, I knew that latin name and yes I'm a bit of a plant geek). |
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| Look at them buggers!!!! |
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| So beautiful....it's like a Buddha's hand |
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| Nice |
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| The trees grow in thick groves that are very lovely |
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| Exquisite |
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| I wonder when they'll be ripe? |
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| Maybe now!!!!!! |
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| Look what I found under the trees! |
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| I wonder if he's looking for pawpaws? |
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| Is this a giant pawpaw?!!? |
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| No!! It's a crazy giant lima bean.... no, wait I think it's a Kentucky Coffeetree pod actually. They're useful. |
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| How'd a seashell end up in the forest? Must be hippies.... this is Cherokee park after all. The other hippie artifacts I found was a digital pocket scale....that works! |
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| This is called jewelweed and it heals poison ivy. When dried up, the seed pods explode when touched. |
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| This is called greenbrier and the young shoots and leaves are edible. It stays green all Winter. |
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| Beautiful forest meadow. |
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| Wild phlox, so lovely |
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| This is called porcelain berry. It's a grape look-alike but poisonous. |
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| Beautiful creek |
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| Kentucky meadow-what your backyard would look like if you didn't mow it for a couple months. There's a large hedge of wild "jerusalem artichokes" growing in there. |
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| Beautiful, exotic plants |
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| Huge nettle bushes in the forest...I kind of enjoy being stung by them |
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| Wild mushrooms |
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| The wild sunchoke hedge |
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| Now entering....the pawpaw cathedral...I've found the motherload |
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| There were pawpaws everywhere. |
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| This is called wild ginger, it smells and tastes like ginger and grows as a ground vine. |
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| The mother pawpaw tree |
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| I could almost hear Krishna's flute.... |
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| Nice ferns and moss near the creek |
So, if you'd like to go on a nature adventure with me and hear about all the wild stuff out there, just let me know. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy, and stay in tune with the natural flow for good balance and health.
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