My Alarm goes up at three....
I finally get up at 3. 30, bathe and then warm up for 20 minutes before getting ready for the temple
Why all this headache?
Because it pleases Krsna.
Why should we do anything? Because it pleases Krsna.
So much is happening here that I won't digest for another lifetime or few. Lets just say reality as we know it is dead, and recycled over and over again. But there is another reality, hidden the hearts of those great souls who have dedicated many years to spiritual life. Find one, serve one, and be happy
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Few Weeks Til Now
Just a couple of things happening lately.
Arrived in Mayapur a few days ago, Spiritual energy flows here like ...i dont even know.
I took a morning walk by the side of Govardhana the other morning and have never felt so peaceful... will put up some pictures later.
One thing on my mind lately is about the importance of passing down clear transparent Knowledge. I've been following the editing of Srila Prabhupada's books online at www.bbtedit.com and have gained a deeper respect for th eeditors. It i svery hard to sit and read Srila Prabhupada's books because of the deep subject matter, so imagine having to proofread, edit for strength and clarity, layout and publish, etc etc. Srila Prabhupada's whole mission rests on his books, and in order to work on these books, one must be very strict in his devotionla practice. I know some of the editors and I must admit, I couldn't naturally wake up at 2am, give clear concise lectures, be jolly like molly- on a daily basis. My conclusion, there must be a God somewhere, and he's guiding these devotees to help fulfil the desire of his devotee, Srila Prabhupada.
Check out the website and see what it takes to be a spitirual editor.
Arrived in Mayapur a few days ago, Spiritual energy flows here like ...i dont even know.
I took a morning walk by the side of Govardhana the other morning and have never felt so peaceful... will put up some pictures later.
One thing on my mind lately is about the importance of passing down clear transparent Knowledge. I've been following the editing of Srila Prabhupada's books online at www.bbtedit.com and have gained a deeper respect for th eeditors. It i svery hard to sit and read Srila Prabhupada's books because of the deep subject matter, so imagine having to proofread, edit for strength and clarity, layout and publish, etc etc. Srila Prabhupada's whole mission rests on his books, and in order to work on these books, one must be very strict in his devotionla practice. I know some of the editors and I must admit, I couldn't naturally wake up at 2am, give clear concise lectures, be jolly like molly- on a daily basis. My conclusion, there must be a God somewhere, and he's guiding these devotees to help fulfil the desire of his devotee, Srila Prabhupada.
Check out the website and see what it takes to be a spitirual editor.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Churning the Kartik Ocean part 2
Just some pictures of what we've been up to. read the blog below.
There's so much to write about and so little time, so forgive me if my words to come across so clearly. One thing I must mention is that Spiritual life means fearless life, focused life. Its not vague with extravagant words and gestures one dare not ask the meaning of :)
Enjoy!
There's so much to write about and so little time, so forgive me if my words to come across so clearly. One thing I must mention is that Spiritual life means fearless life, focused life. Its not vague with extravagant words and gestures one dare not ask the meaning of :)
Churning the Kartik Ocean
I mean, how better can it get? Krsna consciousness is simple, yet sublime! When one gets the opportunity to hear, chant and remember Krsna in his village and at the places he played; associate with his devotees and gradually have all doubts about spiritual life flee, then you know you're in the Spirit Soul business.
Govardhana puja was one of my favorite festivals this year. Ok, so we're staying at the foot of Giriraj and everyday is a deeper journey to find the root cause of entanglement in matter, and cut it off for good. The morning began with setting up chairs and other accommodations for guests, putting up schedules for the program, and marveling at the huge pots being set up to cook the feast every time I walked by.
Gopiparanadhana prabhu gave the morning lecture followed by go puja, worshiping two of the cows we have at the asram here. We then proceeded to the Hill itself, right across the street, with a Kirtan led by Vaisesika Prabhu. Next, we bathed Giriraj with Ghee, Honey, Milk, Yogurt and water, and then placed at his feet an arrangement of vegetarian preparations, fresh fruit and my favorite, an array of sweets- gulabjamums, rasagula, laddhus, kheer, etc.
There was so much food to be served out, that just looking at them I felt completely satisfied. I had already eaten with my eyes (plus the gulab I stole off the maha plate), so I just kinda stood there in amazement until HH Kesava Bharati Maharaj, laughing at me, mentioned how amazing the festival was. Turnout was much less than before, but the crowd of devotees sitting to take prasadam couldn't match stomachs with the pots in the kitchen. After feeding guests- three different arrival of guests- they devotees took the rest of the food to the gate to distribute to the pilgrims doing parikrama around the hill.
The guest list was amazing with devotees on every level- swamis gave their darshans, Senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada, peers, well wishers, villagers, simply wonderful.
We ended the reading with our usual three hour reading and discussion. Last night we read a section of Caitanya Bhagavat describing Lord Caitanya's sannyas.
Overall, I felt happy to have been engaged in devotional service all day! Everyday can be a festival if we allow ourselves
Govardhana puja was one of my favorite festivals this year. Ok, so we're staying at the foot of Giriraj and everyday is a deeper journey to find the root cause of entanglement in matter, and cut it off for good. The morning began with setting up chairs and other accommodations for guests, putting up schedules for the program, and marveling at the huge pots being set up to cook the feast every time I walked by.
Gopiparanadhana prabhu gave the morning lecture followed by go puja, worshiping two of the cows we have at the asram here. We then proceeded to the Hill itself, right across the street, with a Kirtan led by Vaisesika Prabhu. Next, we bathed Giriraj with Ghee, Honey, Milk, Yogurt and water, and then placed at his feet an arrangement of vegetarian preparations, fresh fruit and my favorite, an array of sweets- gulabjamums, rasagula, laddhus, kheer, etc.
There was so much food to be served out, that just looking at them I felt completely satisfied. I had already eaten with my eyes (plus the gulab I stole off the maha plate), so I just kinda stood there in amazement until HH Kesava Bharati Maharaj, laughing at me, mentioned how amazing the festival was. Turnout was much less than before, but the crowd of devotees sitting to take prasadam couldn't match stomachs with the pots in the kitchen. After feeding guests- three different arrival of guests- they devotees took the rest of the food to the gate to distribute to the pilgrims doing parikrama around the hill.
The guest list was amazing with devotees on every level- swamis gave their darshans, Senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada, peers, well wishers, villagers, simply wonderful.
We ended the reading with our usual three hour reading and discussion. Last night we read a section of Caitanya Bhagavat describing Lord Caitanya's sannyas.
Overall, I felt happy to have been engaged in devotional service all day! Everyday can be a festival if we allow ourselves
Saturday, October 10, 2009
AT THE FOOT OF A HILL
SATAM PRASANGAT
There's a famous saying, a man is known by the company he keeps. Lately the company I've been allowed to associate is more than I could ever claim to deserve. I was praying to go deeper in my spiritual life and make some substantial advancement that I could use to help uplift the consciousness of others. Little did I know that Krsna's mean motive is to bring all of us back to his association in the spiritual world, therefore when one desires to help in that mission, He rapidly sees to it that the right arrangement is made for such persons.
Here in Vrindavan, or should I say here at the foot of Govardhana, the program is definitely surcharged with Spiritual energy. In the association of people who are my heroes in spiritual life, the bliss flows uninhibitedly. Apart from waking up by 2:30 every morning to chant Japa, we have readings from 1- 2 pm and from 4-7pm daily. The discussions are so intense that sometimes I feel like I've been working in a cotton field. It's a beautiful experience watching and listening to devotees who have given 30+ years of their lives share their realizations and experiences.
The monks here are so happy! There's such purity at the foot of Govardhana and I feel completely unqualified to be here. But Krsna consciousness is a rare gift and the only price one can pay to get that gift is one's intense eagerness. So unqualified I may be, but I'm sticking with this association until I drown in Mercy.
There's a famous saying, a man is known by the company he keeps. Lately the company I've been allowed to associate is more than I could ever claim to deserve. I was praying to go deeper in my spiritual life and make some substantial advancement that I could use to help uplift the consciousness of others. Little did I know that Krsna's mean motive is to bring all of us back to his association in the spiritual world, therefore when one desires to help in that mission, He rapidly sees to it that the right arrangement is made for such persons.
Here in Vrindavan, or should I say here at the foot of Govardhana, the program is definitely surcharged with Spiritual energy. In the association of people who are my heroes in spiritual life, the bliss flows uninhibitedly. Apart from waking up by 2:30 every morning to chant Japa, we have readings from 1- 2 pm and from 4-7pm daily. The discussions are so intense that sometimes I feel like I've been working in a cotton field. It's a beautiful experience watching and listening to devotees who have given 30+ years of their lives share their realizations and experiences.
The monks here are so happy! There's such purity at the foot of Govardhana and I feel completely unqualified to be here. But Krsna consciousness is a rare gift and the only price one can pay to get that gift is one's intense eagerness. So unqualified I may be, but I'm sticking with this association until I drown in Mercy.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
New York Donuts In India
My Trip So Far (unedited, posted quickly to save on internet charge :) )
The fun in India began at the Airport- in America. Boarding time was a glimpse into the coming months in the east. As the flight attendants called for passengers in the business class, a crowd of people gathered at the front to board the plane, only to be turned back over and over again. “please wait until your seat number is called for boarding; do not crowd the entrance to the gate.”
Customs had some computer problems but we ultimately got through and met some unexpected friends at the airport who had flown in from Los Angeles. While driving through Delhi we stopped at a red light with some slum kids, and after begging for a while, I decided to give one boy one of my New York Donut Prasad bought from the Donut plant in Manhattan. These Donuts are world famous and apparently Oprah orders them and has them flown to Chicago. With my broken Hindi I let the boy know that these Donuts were from America and his face lit up as he shouted to his friends “ America!”
As he happily ate, his friends crowded the taxi to ask for more, but I only Had seven and was saving them for some friends. ***** DONUT STORY**** 45 minutes before my shuttle pick-up I race from the Bhakti Center with Vasudeva to the Donut Plant to get some. It was Ekadasi, so I couldn't enjoy them till next day. We got back right in time to board shuttle and get to airport.
Vrindavan
I didn't stay in Delhi as I had planned to, and arrived in Vrindavan at 1:30 AM. Wired like a person on crack for a month, I showered, chanted my rounds, and attended Mangal Arati. I finally fell asleep at Nitai's flat around 2 PM, twelve hours later, and woke up in the dead of night, awake and alert. I knew I either shoulda gone right to sleep or stayed up until 6PM or so. Now I was awake and the rest of Vraj was asleep. We did Parikrama the next day and I noticed how the western world is rapidly flooding Vrindavan. I practically chanted my rounds in anger, but these simple people are not to blame. Providence and time will tell. Vaisesika prabhu advised me to soak my feet after the walk and I kinda procrastinated, waking up the next morning to an allergy attack- my immune system was trying to fix ten things at once; jet lag, aching muscles, insomnia, etc etc. Yesterday I finally soaked my feet and poof* things started for the up slope. Its also been raining a lot, but that's good since Vrindavan got little rain this year during the Monsoon season.
Internet is of course hard to come across, but I'll be posting once a week, at most, once every two weeks. I'm off to Govardhana tomorrow to be of some service to the swamis and senior devotees. Pray for me :)
Keshi
The fun in India began at the Airport- in America. Boarding time was a glimpse into the coming months in the east. As the flight attendants called for passengers in the business class, a crowd of people gathered at the front to board the plane, only to be turned back over and over again. “please wait until your seat number is called for boarding; do not crowd the entrance to the gate.”
Customs had some computer problems but we ultimately got through and met some unexpected friends at the airport who had flown in from Los Angeles. While driving through Delhi we stopped at a red light with some slum kids, and after begging for a while, I decided to give one boy one of my New York Donut Prasad bought from the Donut plant in Manhattan. These Donuts are world famous and apparently Oprah orders them and has them flown to Chicago. With my broken Hindi I let the boy know that these Donuts were from America and his face lit up as he shouted to his friends “ America!”
As he happily ate, his friends crowded the taxi to ask for more, but I only Had seven and was saving them for some friends. ***** DONUT STORY**** 45 minutes before my shuttle pick-up I race from the Bhakti Center with Vasudeva to the Donut Plant to get some. It was Ekadasi, so I couldn't enjoy them till next day. We got back right in time to board shuttle and get to airport.
Vrindavan
I didn't stay in Delhi as I had planned to, and arrived in Vrindavan at 1:30 AM. Wired like a person on crack for a month, I showered, chanted my rounds, and attended Mangal Arati. I finally fell asleep at Nitai's flat around 2 PM, twelve hours later, and woke up in the dead of night, awake and alert. I knew I either shoulda gone right to sleep or stayed up until 6PM or so. Now I was awake and the rest of Vraj was asleep. We did Parikrama the next day and I noticed how the western world is rapidly flooding Vrindavan. I practically chanted my rounds in anger, but these simple people are not to blame. Providence and time will tell. Vaisesika prabhu advised me to soak my feet after the walk and I kinda procrastinated, waking up the next morning to an allergy attack- my immune system was trying to fix ten things at once; jet lag, aching muscles, insomnia, etc etc. Yesterday I finally soaked my feet and poof* things started for the up slope. Its also been raining a lot, but that's good since Vrindavan got little rain this year during the Monsoon season.
Internet is of course hard to come across, but I'll be posting once a week, at most, once every two weeks. I'm off to Govardhana tomorrow to be of some service to the swamis and senior devotees. Pray for me :)
Keshi
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
When In Tennessee
Before going to India this year I decided to take some time and visit some amazing Devotees I've known over the years. Our great teacher Sri Krsna Caitanya stressed that association is very important for a person's spiritual growth, and that even a moment of association with saintly persons can put one on the path of Spiritual perfection. The devotees in Nashville are a group of families who meet twice a week- Friday and Sunday for reading together, chanting Hare Krsna and of Course eating food cooked with deep love for Krishna.The saying "mother's cooking" is definitely a reality in Tennessee since a huge percent of the devotee ladies here are moms.
For a monk austerity is absolutely necessary, but coming to Tennessee shows a different side of monastic life for me- allowing others to care and give their love. It's come to a point now where I can recognize who cooked what simply by taste.With the permission of one of the families I stay with I took some pictures of their garden and some surrounding areas of Nashville, and would like to share it with my bloggers. Next stop will be New York, and after that India next Tuesday. I do ask that you all say a little prayer for me, so that I may continue this service of sharing Krsna Consciousness wherever I go and with whoever I meet :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
