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
Saturday, November 26, 2011
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!
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