What to Do When There's too much Mercy

First wrap the contents tight and store it in a blue box 6 meters high and 93 meters wide and 108 meters long. Click your feet four times- not three, learn to say abracadabra in Polish and then after you- oh wait! Wrong audience.
But the question still remains what to do, what to do...
I have heard, and dare to write it before verifying these statements, that magnanimity, a very rare gift is still more rare in the Spiritual world. Why? Well its like Never land up there where every being is seriously satisfied and is in danger of breaking sweat at any moment due to ever-increasing perfection.
Cows have way too much milk up there and so the land is soaked with milk ( when you're God, you can water your lawn- or sand- or touchstone particles with milk), H2O isn't enough either and so all water is nectar. And dare ask a mango tree for peaches; but I'm sorry you walked up to it and didn't dance, and you asked, not sang- you must be in the material world again. Still perfect is when that hippie in you can use your “be here now” skills when a new to town traveler asks you for the time: “ time”, you'd say, “ is now.” And yesterday? “ Still now.” While we're at it, your soul mate happens to be there, so is Mr. Right, Prince Charming and your knight in shining armor. And for the guys, you won't find damsels in distress, and the damsels I'm sorry to say belong to the Knight in shining.... Better yet, your knight and his shining Armor are non different! So magnanimity, although part of the spiritual world is sort of conspicuous by its absence.
On the other hand (are five fingers), down here Prince Charming might be found hanging out with Mr. Right, intimately... Your knight's armor may have been traded for some thick green cloth and yesterday means- yesterday. We could go into filtered H20 and scarce cow's milk, but I don't want to mirror my thoughts; so back to magnanimity.
When Krsna descends he needs a place to call base, just as when a king travels, at least in the old days, he went with an entourage for his utility. Mayapur, Vrindavan and other holy places are exact replicas of the eternal abode with equal potency available here to help us understand the nature of eternity, knowledge and bliss. Here in Mayapur that magnanimity factor can be perceived by anyone whether qualified to practice spirituality- and who is, or not. The atmosphere is so surcharged that mercy just flows even when a person is asleep. (Sleep is considered paying prostrated respects to the holy land)
But how to get this mercy an open secret expressed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu quoting the Mahabharat : dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam, true spiritual revelation lies within the hearts of great souls. One is advised to sincerely serve those great souls by following whatever instructions they may give; and also by intelligently staying away from what they stay away from. Each great soul is like a mercy station; a place where the matter of business is magnanimous blessings given for a little price- one's faith.
Srila Prabhupada has opened the doors to Mayapur for us and beckons us to come and experience real life everyday, and when we're satisfied beyond measure, go and give it to others. Even if we just take a drop and give it to another person, we'll find ourselves with two drops. The more we give the more we get. Like that ol
d saying, “the gift that keeps giving.”

THIS IS SADHU LIFE

Many people I meet express their most difficult problem- too little time to actually relish, or absorb themselves in life. When you wake up the rush starts- class, work, cram!
Here's a small experience that I relish here in India and hope to really inspire people with in the near future. Do few things diligently, consciously and properly.
An example of my schedule in the last few months:
3:00 am wake up (shower, dress, chant japa, mangala arati, class.)
9:00 am wash laundry, eat.
10:30 bhakti sastri class (lunch also)
3:00 pm  one hour nap
4:30 study
6:30 return clean and folded laundry
7- 8: socialize
8:30 give massage
9:30 bed
as this happens, I perceive how the mind becomes calm. When the mind is calm, thinking about deeper topics is possible. Most people are interested in Spiritual life, but their

external world is a bit in disarray  and so a war between outside and inside leaves on between a rock and a hard place.
 I suggest association of people who do what challenges you most. So if you're trying to be more spiritual and its difficult, associate with spiritual people.
There's so much to learn in spirituality, but our very minds stop us.

After a few days in Mayapur, my Spiritual Teacher asked me how I was doing, so I explaind my schedule and he was very encouraging. He said, “ that is sadhu (spiritual) life; doing
the same thing over and over will steady the mind, when the mind is steady then one can proceed nicely in Krsna Consciousness”
Plus, you'll find you have so much time because everything starts to have its place and quality
tatata tatata tatata tatata tatata- steady

Mayapur in Winter

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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 :)

Prayer For the Dying

Just a song I heard on a friends Ipod. Pretty cool


Fearless people,
Careless needle.
Harsh words spoken,
And lives are broken.
Forceful ageing,
Help me I'm fading.
Heaven's waiting,
It's time to move on.

Crossing that bridge,
With lessons I've learned.
Playing with fire,
And not getting burned.
I may not know what you're going through.
But time is the space,
Between me and you.
Life carries on... it goes on.
Just say die,
And that would be pessimistic.
In your mind,
We can walk across water.
Please don't cry,
It's just a prayer for the dying.
I just don't know what's got into me.

There is a light through that window
Hold on say yes, while people say no
Life carries on

For the dying.

Base to Recharge

Imagine your favorite action packed movie- the one that leaves you in disarray when the hero or innocent persons die, or make you jump for joy when the bad guy gets taken out. Say Tom Cruise or whoever the favorite of the day may be the lovable actor. Well directed films capture the mind and involves the viewer's full attention. A funny memory of this was watching a martial arts film where the bad guy drew out such hate from the audience. So much that in the final fight scene, as he was about to be decapitated, a guy sitting in front of us in the theater jumped out of his seat screaming “ Finish Him”! Great film. But in reality, bad guys and good guys are still alive somewhere in Hollywood or Bollywood sipping on mango shakes or being shaken up by some other drink high in shake-up content.

So why did I wake up so early to write this? Because I can relate on two levels, and hopefully share both clearly thru this blog.
Bhagavad Gita explains that for the soul there is neither birth nor death at anytime. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. As our actors in films die over and over again, and attend premiers over and over again, similarly, the soul (us), having eternal qualities, never die or takes birth. We are spiritual entities in a sort of virtual reality set up by material nature under the Supreme direction of Krsna. Based on our desire and actions, material nature outfits us in specific forms to experience those desires, praising or lamenting as we reap our various orders from nature. Simple explanation of how this works: we put on our virtual goggles called false ego, and equipped with intelligence, mind and senses, we act out various thoughts and desires. Now, best of all, this whole thing is free of charge, and as we act, mother nature accommodates or actions by giving us matching results. Thus we take on different bodies and enjoy or suffer in different situations. Birth can be compared to a recharge station where the soul gets a fresh VR suit to continue with action and reaction in the material realm. Level one, simple explanation.

Next level
In real time, far form Hollywood, as we all identify with our bodies we find that to maintain these bodies we must work. After work we require some recreation or rejuvenation- which the weekend, or specific days off for vacation brings. Naturally we want such moments to last forever- best friends should stay over forever, romance should last eternally, etc etc. But to survive here, we are obliged to work. Vacation allows us to recharge, to reanalyze, to reinvent our motives and desires. And so it is even for monks.
As an aspirant teacher, living and sharing Krsna Consciousness can be very intense. This is the material world and so from one point of view, Spirituality does not belong here. The embodied spirit soul here is apt on enjoying matter and forgetting spirit but the very nature of matter is that it cannot satisfy a spiritual entity. Spiritual practitioners make an effort to reconnect each person to their natural habitat- the spiritual world. Such efforts can be compared to going against the natural flow of things- while everyone goes to external involvements, you turn inwards to experience subtle realms. As Srila Prabhupada puts it, being spiritual in the material world means declaring war on the material energy. War means opposition, casualties, etc. As a spiritual warrior fights, material nature retaliates with weapons like sense objects, mind games (desire for honor and prestige), intellectual and false ego thingies (couldn't find a word to describe it).
To successfully win this battle, good training and good association are most important. Good training involves diligently following the orders of spiritual superiors and good association means mixing with those whose aim is similar and who have similar, or greater resolutions to fight and conquer the mind and senses, and go back to the realm of eternal bliss and knowledge.
Like every battlefield, Hollywood or Material Nature, there is a base; a place where warriors may retreat and regroup, strengthen and recharge. Spiritualists have various stations according to their intensity of involvement in the battle against illusion. For me, that base is Vrindavan; not just a landmark, but also a place in the consciousness rich with spiritual booty gathered by bygone teachers. Booty gained through loving relationships, individual, spontaneous and voluntary service, and reconnection to the ultimate proprietor of both material and spiritual worlds, Krsna.
My hope is to be in Vrindavan for a few months and render wholehearted service to superior generals in this Army. By their grace, some shelter seeking souls may, thru my small efforts, share in the spiritual bounty I may bring back to the battlefield.
We are all invited to take part in this adventure- whosoever will, “Welcome Aboard”.

We're Back in Business

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

Been traveling through the US all summer and so had little time to write. lets just say it was an amazing time and leave it at that!
But wait...
Kesh is off... back to India which was the reason this blog started in the first place. So in two weeks, I'll have something fun for everyone once a week. For six months.....

Will You Be There ?

"He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs."

a line from a song I learned as a kid and have actually begun to realize daily. As I learned about the Death of two big superstars in today's world, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, a sense of awe and reverence for the vows I've taken arose.

Vaisnavas are naturally unhappy when they see others unhappy, and in order to direct the general populace to substantial happiness, may risk their own lives even to the point of dying.

Not that I can claim Vaisnava status, but when we come in contact with the knowledge of the spiritual world and all its varieties, its only natural to want to share it with others. The world is definitely saddened by people who entertained them for decades; I'm saddened that they weren't introduced to this knowledge to help them achieve deeper peace at the end. This material world has a way of disillusioning us and if we're attentive, we can get out of its grips and proceed to the eternal abode- not religious sentiment, but a place with actual existence that can be experienced in this life without waiting for death or afterlife. The deeper question is who is willing to do such a service of enlightening a world of people who truly believe that matter can make them happy? I pray to learn from the example of our dear teacher Srila Prabhupada and his sincere students of how to tolerate many inconveniences and give Krsna consciousness to people. Such acts are done out of a deeper sense of love and not of fanatic fear of uncertainty due to attachment to the bodily conception of life.

I must admit it's not easy to try to uplift someone. I experience on a daily basis that people will take to spirituality and use it for their own benefit; their God given right to do so. To associate with the saintly and get their blessings is the most wonderful thing but often when such people are put in testing situations... .

We all love a good party, but what happens when the life of the party, the host, or some other figure is in trouble? We leave them hanging. Very few brave men will try to pull someone out of their ruts; especially someone who may have been in a more elevated position than they. In risking oneself to rescue another, real love develops- a deeper gratitude than can ever be experienced. As the saying goes, we know who our friends are in the time of need.



I'll take the liberty to be sentimental, since I'm only a wee lad on the path of self realization, and post a song that inspired me to be a monk. A song by the King of pop. May he be awarded better privileges in his next life.

There's A Place InYour Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways To Get There
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Better Place For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try We Shall See
In This Bliss We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing AndStart Living
Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...
Heal The World
And The Dream We WereConceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep Strangling Life
Wound This Earth Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow
We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My HeartI Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With No Fear
Together We'll Cry Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords Into Plowshares
We Could Really Get There If You Cared Enough For The Living
Make A Little SpaceTo Make A Better Place...

BACK TO THE START

I took a walk with a friend yesterday through Point Pleasant Park and while talking to him, I had an interesting realisation about the Spiritual path. He is a very intelligent young man and has been searching for spiritual guidance for some time now, so his questions are quite deep and well thought out. Krsna consciousness gets exciting for me when people genuinely want to understand the subject matter. As I answered each question step by step, more and more questions came up and so the conversation got a little lively. But then I noticed that some of the same questions re-emerged so I suggested to him that in order to grasp the conversation more deeply, he should explain to me what we had just discussed.

For a new person learning our philosophy and associating with monks on a daily basis, this culture can be overloading and due to our instant gratification nature, this is just the place to be- each question answered without a long wait.

However, our teacher His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami has informed us that Krsna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind- cram it in there and get a grade point, heaven or hell. Krsna consciousness is practical action in the foreground of spiritual life. This knowledge has to be digested just as one meal has to be digested before another meal is taken.

Back to my realisation.

When I first came in contact with this philosophy, My goal was to read as much as possible and catch up with those monks I lived with, especially those who were my age, or who were junior to me. I thought if i just read these books immediately, I would fit in and not be seen as a newbie.

It worked to some extend as far as theoretically, but over the years I have learned to go back and read slowly, in small segments, in order to grasp the subject matter- Krsna, the supreme person, my eternal friend. Quality learning is what Krsna conscious training offers and anyone in the world, regardless of cast or creed should take advantage of Srila Prabhupada's books and there find deep treasures, especially that nectar for which we're always anxious. (HOLLYWOOD)

Oh wait....

Ear to Heart

I know, I know,

as Jackson would put it... you're not writing much Kesh. What's up

I've been busy.. as the pictures show......

I'm formulating a little series of topics, so it'll be up soon, one after another.

Until then, chant and be happy :)

What We Do 2

Bhakta Dustin's Birthday cookies and cream, Frisbee after long book distribution, and the every evening hang out with amazinig people deriving great satisfaction and bliss from enlightening one another and conversing about Krishna consciousness and life

In the association of devotees the concept of Nirvesa, loneliness, and Sunyavadi, emptiness seems as possible as getting milk from the tits on the neck of a goat.

What We Do 1

When I hear about how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his associates plundered the storehouse of Love of God, and are distributing the contents to everyone, regardless of cast or creed, I'm reminded of a song my mother taught me back in Africa about sharing and setting an example of sharing that others may try to follow.

Brightly beams Lord Krishna's Mercy

From his lighthouse evermore
But to us he gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore

Dark the night of sin has settled,

Loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

In Halifax, I find many people wanting and eager to understand spiritual life devoid of rigid rules and regulation, but filled with individual voluntary love and devotion. Love means that its not forced; yet in today's world we find religion giving ultimatum to followers- "we're right, follow us or perish." There's definitely more to it than that and we should dare to overstep our boundaries and find out whats going on.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Of course we're not saviors, but we can all beam the love that has been given to us from that storehouse of Love of God

good day.

WILLING TO FORGIVE. . . ?

Religion often turns people away because of this humongous guilt trip sitting in the back seat somewhere, backseat driving one to deep alleys of all the bad bad things done in the past, and all the bad bad punishment awaiting in the future. Krishna Consciousness take a more radical approach that sends debates and arguments pouring out like shaken up 7 UP.
In the Bhagavad Gita, 9th Chapter, 30th Verse, amongst a few others, Krishna declares:
Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.
This verse seemingly gives a go-head to any devotee to commit as many abominable actions as possible as long as he stays in devotional service. Kind of a turn off too. Just because I'm a Krishna devotee I can do what I want? Hmm... Elsewhere we find that people who commit abominable actions on the strength of chanting, or raising the "but I'm a devotee" flag, are committing a bigger blunder- one against God Himself!
As I grow up daily, with decisions to make, not just for myself, but now for three new monks travelling with me, I begin to understand a little better and with a little more humility, the nature of the supreme being.
These new devotees, as enthusiastic as they may be, can also be deep cutting with uncultured words and actions and sometimes, more often than not, I'd no sooner opt for a log upside the head than a ready-to-forgive attitude. But as I reflect on what actions to take, the above mentioned verse comes close to home; I was once new too, and also very uncultured. Learning how to act in human society is one of the most amazing challenges I've ever faced and I'm also beginning to broaden that as a matter of fact for most people.
As monks, we live in very close proximity of each other, and often, being individuals, we may not always get along. The Spiritual world, far form Utopian is a realm of individuals with opinions, likes and dislikes, etc etc. This philosophy of spiritual individuality makes the spiritual realm a more amazing place each day.
When in my ready-to-tear-you-apart pre-rage, Bhagavad Gita 9:30 points me out with the greatest question: are you also without sin? Were you not in that same shoe before?
At such times, when called out by God himself, I can only then show that I'm still in the showers heading towards a cleaner me. Forgiving, especially from one in a so called position of authority can lighten the burden we're all struggling to carry- misidentifying with the body. The more we practice excusing, even the most abominable actions of others, the closer we come to Krishna. And often too, subordinates may expect to be led by Superman and Robin Hood. When a younger person forgives an elder, the law of Karma lightens up on us erasing that point in the future when student today may on the morrow have to be teacher.

We know not what the future holds, of marvel or surprise, assured alone that life or death, His mercy underlies.
Just a little thought on healing, there's plenty more.

HOME AGAIN

The road led ever on and on
from New York with Goura, Sita, Vrindavannath
Haridas etc to Tennessee, then Florida then
Second-hand Van to New Mexico
Via New Orleans, Houston and Dallas
Dead Van got towed from New Mexico
To Tucson where we camped out for a month and a week!
Second-hand Wagon then took us to
San Diego, LA San Jose...
Portland, Salt Lake, Wyoming
Saratoga Hot Springs warmed our bones
After some river in Oregon chilled them
Border Patrol was like one two three
Back to Canada me plus three
Now to more service and what to do
Many more pics and blogs coming for you

More What UP Tos

UNRAVEL ME

A few months ago while visiting a friend in a big city, I had a conversation with is roommate, a very bright and open-minded fellow. He seemed a bit unhappy about his move to the city and as we talked I could sense that he was more than happy to let some of his thoughts out of his head.
"When I go to work, I walk pass practically flying ojects. People are so numb; walking towards the daily bread is what we do here."
As a monk travelling and meeting people I often come in contact with this mentality. Human society, as advanced in technology and science as it is now, has also drifted so far from home. We are so enamoured with the struggle for existence brought on by our dependence on external things that we are practically forgetting our very selves.
Personal exchanges have become a rare comoditiy, next to common sense and human etiquette. But what to do eh?
The Spiritual world is known as Vrindavan, I realize, for a special reason. Its full of persons- conscious persons. Although all individuals, they work toward a common goal, the supreme loveable object. In this way, everyone loves the next person and relationships thrive due to that loving exchange. Such a world is not so far from us, although as I walk around I search for it, lost somewhere.... covered by an alien hope that things, not exchanges make one happy.
just some thoughts this morning :)

PHOTOS AND SUCH

With winter dead and spring just born, three of us monks embarked on a cross-America van tour about 6 weeks ago. Meeting people is my number one thing, but when you're dressed as a monk, meeting people has a special touch to it. Questions and answers are more specific, like the ones Jackson asks, and each time a person leaves with a deeper understanding on life.

We're now in Tucson Arizona at our Temple and this place is, as I've heard a thousand times so far, an oasis right off the busy life of Tucson.

The grounds hold a temple, restaurant, Koi pond, Aviary, garden, and monastery and visitors take advantage of every inch of cultural experience Iskcon Tucson has to offer.

For us travelling from colder to warmer climates, this is very welcome! The African in me cries out for joy every morning as I pace the grounds on my meditation walk. Normally around 4AM its quiet and the gentle breeze calls me to a deeper place- Vrindavan India.

But I'll be back soon; there I can swim in the Yamuna river with the turtles, fish and whoever else making a spiritual journey through those waters.