Typical. The post-kartik blues...
It is my favorite time of the year - I feel closer to Krsna. Naturally, I miss it! Kartik is the best incentive, and knowing its wondrous glories, every devotional effort is easier. It is magical, undeniably. I dread going back the sometimes boring, sometimes rigorous, but always very ordinary daily grind, after an extra-ordinary month.
This year, I wish to make an effort to stay aloof from the gloom. The Lord within whispers, “Do not succumb”.
I am reminded of the annual Festival of Inspiration, which takes place in picturesque New Vrndavan. (It needs no introduction - the title says it all!)
I had been attending this festival every year since 2005 (up until this year). Like everyone else, I thoroughly enjoyed myself amidst ecstatic kirtans, soulful bhajans, seminars by many ISKCON sanyasis and devotees, good Vaisnava association, temple programs, seva, devotee entertainment, and more. This blissful festival lasts for a few days. Afterwards, I head back home, appreciating the welcome break from life’s duties, a little sad that it’s all over. Yet, life goes on. It is relentless. The inspiration may linger for a few days after (maybe even weeks, or months) but soon fades away. The high goals, ideals, and proposed ‘undertakings’ that emerged during the festival linger behind in quaint New Vrndavan.
One year, I was touched by one particular seminar; the last one of the festival. It was entitled, “Taking the Inspiration Home”, by HH Sacinandana Swami and other senior ISKCON sanyasis and devotees. Some complain about losing inspiration as quickly as it was gained. Maharaj told us that we should ‘take home the festival’ and its mood - stay inspired (atleast till the next festival of inspiration)!
I feel the same way about Kartik. It should be more than just one special month in the year that flits by quickly. My fond memories of this Kartik, and others, will stay with me forever. Yes, of course I do miss it, and feel a subtle difference afterwards. I too wish it would last forever; but this year I want to make it last, make the experience worthwhile and complete. I will live up to the magnificent Kartik I had this year, and do justice to its memory by continuing onwards. Good intentions, ideas, and even short experiences are often judged by their outcome. Has this Kartik really made a difference - even a small one? Or is it just another whimsical, ‘fun’, exhilarating blast I had?
Only time will tell.
So with your blessings, dear Vaisnavas, I humbly continue my effort, praying that someday I may truly know the meaning of ‘love of Godhead’.
In this mood, this blog too shall go on. Its posts will be divided into three main categories:
PRE-KARTIK: getting ready;
KARTIK: in action; and
POST-KARTIK: keeping it alive.
Showing posts with label Inspiration and Realization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration and Realization. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Confessions of a Weak Chanter
To me, chanting is like the churning of the milk ocean. It brings up so many things from within the heart: desires, hopes, impurities, and sometimes little realizations, like tiny diamonds glinting in the darkness, shooting out rays of a spectrum of multifarious colors.
Every time I sit down to chant, it’s a battle within: the heart that knows its the right thing to do, versus the overly-distracted mind.
* Dusta mana, tumi kisher Vaisnava? *
I admit I’ve got no taste for the Holy Name whatsoever.
“When your chanting is so bad, why chant at all? What’s the point of doing it simply to create aparadhas? If you chant, do it well. Or else, just STOP! There’s no point in it anymore...” my mind says.
What a feeble excuse!
Later, I realized, there's always a reason to chant. However concentrated (or not) our japa may be. Whatever level one are at, one must try!
Srila Prabhupada once said something along the lines of, “we all must try; and if we can’t try, then try to try. If we can’t try to try, then try to try to try...”
The quote goes on. Wherever we are, we must always strive to keep moving forward. Perseverance is the key. As long as we avoid stagnation, laziness, inattention, and hopelessness, we are guaranteed to get to the perfect level eventually. Slow and steady. Never stop chanting. It’s the worst thing that can happen. Once you stop, it’s difficult to get back on track again.
Chanting Japa is serious. Kirtan, on the other hand, is always blissful (and therefore safe from aparadhas) to one and all from the neophyte to the most advanced devotee. Japa is an individual attempt to connect with the Lord, whereas in Kirtan, energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration is shared. We depend on each other. One participant's enthusiasm can easily rub off on to many. Yet, Japa is essential. The better the japa, the better the Kirtan, right? Japa gives one spiritual strength.
Japa is direct, personal association with the Supreme Lord. Can I not spare a few hours of my day to sit in the association with my dear-most Friend?! And what a sweet Friend He is! I often neglect Him, but He never neglects me. I detest conversations where the listener doesn’t listen; simply nodding a head, or murmuring “hmm...” when it’s obvious the mind is elsewhere. Dreadful inattention gives one all the more reason to chant: to improve it! Inattention is the root cause of the other ten offenses to the Holy Name, says Thakur Bhaktivinod.
Some devotees say, “Just do it! It’s like brushing your teeth: you don’t think twice about it. Just do it. It becomes daily routine.”
This simplicity struck me!
I have never been able to discover that unlimited ocean of nectar from japa. Maya in my mind questions why I put my faith in something that has never been proven directly to me, and whether I will spend my entire life pursuing this seemingly elusive goal so far off.
YES. I will continue to strive, to reach for the stars.
** Tomara doyaya asambhava sambhava hoy re! **
Even in my own circle, I've seen devotees who relish this nectar with such zeal and gusto; its inspiring. I have not experienced it, nevertheless I do believe.
Simply put, I trust in our stalwart, prodigious Acaryas and Gaudiya Vaisnava saints.
If I cannot find it in me to chant out of pure love and ecstasy,
then let me at least chant out of righteousness.
"TUNDE TANDAVINI RATIM VITANUTE TUNDAVALI-LABDHAYE
KARNA-KRODA-KADAMBINI GHATAYATE KARNARBUDEBHYAH SPRHAM
CETAH-PRANGANA-SANGINI VIJAYATE SARVENDRIYANAM KRTIM
NO JANE JANITA KIYADBHIR AMRTAIH KRSNETI VARNA-DVAYI"
“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krsna’ have produced. When the holy name of Krsna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.”
-Srila Rupa Goswami
* Dusta mana, tumi kisher Vaisnava?
"O wicked mind! What kind of Vaisnava do you think you are?"
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the Simha Guru, and also the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada wrote in all humility 'Vaisnava Ke' comprising of nineteen verses chastising and preaching to the mind. Read it here.
** Tomara doyaya asambhava sambhava hoy re!
"By your compassion the impossible becomes possible."
An excerpt taken from 'Srila Prabhupada Vandana', a prayerful song composed in Bengali by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami.
Every time I sit down to chant, it’s a battle within: the heart that knows its the right thing to do, versus the overly-distracted mind.
* Dusta mana, tumi kisher Vaisnava? *
I admit I’ve got no taste for the Holy Name whatsoever.
“When your chanting is so bad, why chant at all? What’s the point of doing it simply to create aparadhas? If you chant, do it well. Or else, just STOP! There’s no point in it anymore...” my mind says.
What a feeble excuse!
Later, I realized, there's always a reason to chant. However concentrated (or not) our japa may be. Whatever level one are at, one must try!
Srila Prabhupada once said something along the lines of, “we all must try; and if we can’t try, then try to try. If we can’t try to try, then try to try to try...”
The quote goes on. Wherever we are, we must always strive to keep moving forward. Perseverance is the key. As long as we avoid stagnation, laziness, inattention, and hopelessness, we are guaranteed to get to the perfect level eventually. Slow and steady. Never stop chanting. It’s the worst thing that can happen. Once you stop, it’s difficult to get back on track again.
Chanting Japa is serious. Kirtan, on the other hand, is always blissful (and therefore safe from aparadhas) to one and all from the neophyte to the most advanced devotee. Japa is an individual attempt to connect with the Lord, whereas in Kirtan, energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration is shared. We depend on each other. One participant's enthusiasm can easily rub off on to many. Yet, Japa is essential. The better the japa, the better the Kirtan, right? Japa gives one spiritual strength.
Japa is direct, personal association with the Supreme Lord. Can I not spare a few hours of my day to sit in the association with my dear-most Friend?! And what a sweet Friend He is! I often neglect Him, but He never neglects me. I detest conversations where the listener doesn’t listen; simply nodding a head, or murmuring “hmm...” when it’s obvious the mind is elsewhere. Dreadful inattention gives one all the more reason to chant: to improve it! Inattention is the root cause of the other ten offenses to the Holy Name, says Thakur Bhaktivinod.
Some devotees say, “Just do it! It’s like brushing your teeth: you don’t think twice about it. Just do it. It becomes daily routine.”
This simplicity struck me!
I have never been able to discover that unlimited ocean of nectar from japa. Maya in my mind questions why I put my faith in something that has never been proven directly to me, and whether I will spend my entire life pursuing this seemingly elusive goal so far off.
YES. I will continue to strive, to reach for the stars.
** Tomara doyaya asambhava sambhava hoy re! **
Even in my own circle, I've seen devotees who relish this nectar with such zeal and gusto; its inspiring. I have not experienced it, nevertheless I do believe.
Simply put, I trust in our stalwart, prodigious Acaryas and Gaudiya Vaisnava saints.
If I cannot find it in me to chant out of pure love and ecstasy,
then let me at least chant out of righteousness.
"TUNDE TANDAVINI RATIM VITANUTE TUNDAVALI-LABDHAYE
KARNA-KRODA-KADAMBINI GHATAYATE KARNARBUDEBHYAH SPRHAM
CETAH-PRANGANA-SANGINI VIJAYATE SARVENDRIYANAM KRTIM
NO JANE JANITA KIYADBHIR AMRTAIH KRSNETI VARNA-DVAYI"
“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krsna’ have produced. When the holy name of Krsna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.”
-Srila Rupa Goswami
* Dusta mana, tumi kisher Vaisnava?
"O wicked mind! What kind of Vaisnava do you think you are?"
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the Simha Guru, and also the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada wrote in all humility 'Vaisnava Ke' comprising of nineteen verses chastising and preaching to the mind. Read it here.
** Tomara doyaya asambhava sambhava hoy re!
"By your compassion the impossible becomes possible."
An excerpt taken from 'Srila Prabhupada Vandana', a prayerful song composed in Bengali by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Glories of Srimati Radharani
Today as I was practicing my bhajan I began to think about the glories of Srimati Radharani, the Queen of Vraja. Sri Radha has unlimited transidental qualities and is praised in song and dance. She is so mericiful and is forever the beloved of Sri Gaura-Sundara for whom our hearts are constantly yearning.
As Sri Krishn's beloved, that most merciful lord has promised Srimati Radharani that her name shall always come before his own. To this divine and enchanting couple I bow down again and again.
Radharani ki jai, maharani ki jai
bolo barsane vari ki jai jai jai
Thakurani ki jai, hari priya ki jai
vrsabhanu-dulari ki jai jai jai
Gaurangi ki jai, hemangi ki jai
vrajaraja-kumari ki jai jai jai
Vraja-rani ki jai, vraja devi ki jai
gahvara vana vari ki jai jai jai
Translation:
1. All glories to Radharani! All glories to the greatest of all Queens. Sing the glories of Radharani, who lives in Barsana.
2. All glories to Radha Thakurani (Queen Radha), who is the beloved of Sri Hari. All glories to the beloved daughter of King Vrsabhanu.
3. All glories to Radharani who has a fair complexion and golden limbs.
4. All glories to the Queen of Vraja. All glories to the goddess of Vraja. All glories to Radha who wanders in the Gahvara forest.
rādhe jaya jaya mādhava-dayite
gokula-taruṇī-maṇḍala-mahite
(1)
dāmodara-rati-vardhana-veśe
hari-niṣkuṭa-vṛndā-vipineśe
(2)
vṛṣabhānūdadhi-nava-śaśi-lekhe
lalitā-sakhi guṇa-ramita-viśākhe
(3)
karuṇāḿ kuru mayi karuṇā-bharite
sanaka-sanātana-varṇita-carite
Translation:
(Refrain) O Radha! O beloved of Madhava! O You who are worshiped by all the young girls of Gokula! All glories unto You! All glories unto You!
(1-3) You who dress Yourself in such a way as to increase Lord Damodara's love and attachment for You! O queen of Vrndavana, which is the pleasure grove of Lord Hari! O new moon that has arisen from the ocean of King Vrsabhanu! O friend of Lalita! O You who make Visakha loyal to You due to Your wonderful qualities of friendliness, kindness, and faithfulness to Krsna! O You who are filled with compassion! O You whose divine characteristics are described by the great sages Sanaka and Sanatana! O Radha, please be merciful to me!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tilak
My body and face is adorned with sacred Tilak, and auspicious kunkum. Around my neck hang three strands of Tulasi beads. Every morning as I rush to put on my tilak, my fingers automatically streak across my forehead, my lips automatically uttering sacred mantras, while my mind is busily buzzing in its own thoughts far away.
Let today be different.
I stop to think, “What is the significance of these?” “Why wear them? Do I really want to, or is nothing more than an automatic ‘ritual’ I’ve grown up with?” I start with basic definitions first. What is tilak? Yes, it is sacred clay, but what makes it sacred? Tilak is special because it is from the Holy Dham, where the Lord manifested His wonderful pastimes.
Sri Vrndavan Dham is blessed with the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Krsna and their Gopis from Vrndavan. The dust of this Dham is mixed with Their transcendental sweat from the divine Rasa dance, and their tears of separation. Reading through the many glories of Gopi Chandana, I found this, in the Garga Samhita:
“Twice as sacred as the mud of the Ganga is the dust of Chitrakuta. Ten times more sacred than that is the dust of Panchavati-tirtha. A hundred times more sacred is the dust of gopi-chandana. Please know that gopi-chandana is equal to the dust of Vrindavana.”
The Garga Samhita goes on to glorify Gopi Chandan, in an entire Gopi Chandana Mahatmya. (Read it here)
Sri Radha Kund is the most sacred place ever! It is a rare treasure, not even manifest in the spiritual Goloka! It is the epitome of auspiciousness manifested in the Holy Dham, most dear to Srimati Radhika Rani and the Vraja-Raja-Suta, Shyamasundara. Srila Rupa Goswami, our Gaudiya Vaisnava authority, says,
“The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?” (Upadesamrta Verse 9)
Now that is special! An immense feeling appreciation along with wonder stirs within. I feel so fortunate to have such access to Tilak. I’ve been wearing it since as long as I can remember, and before. My face, head, neck, limbs, and torso are blessed by this tilak. Often I take too many things for granted. (Tilak is a good example!) W are simply blessed!
I put on tilak, appreciating it. I recite the respective mantras, meditating on each name, form and pastime of Krsna accordingly: Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, and so on. What a wonderful start to the day!
Slow down! Why rush through life, without enjoying the sweet little treasures? Why not appreciate the gifts Krsna has given us (even the ones we use daily, like tilak)? Of course, we appreciate the festivals, because each one comes once a year. But the wealth of a Krsna consciousness lifestyle is truly unfathomable. Let’s cherish it. If everyday, each and every one of us thought about the significance of everything we did, the entire day, and it's relation to Krsna, we'd be much much better off. This is just one little blog post on Tilak. There's millions of other things we could appreciate as well! Srila Prabhupada has given us this wonderful opportunity to live in Krsna Consciousness. ('Consciousness' as a way of life; a state of mind. As a pose to a religion that we can take on when we're at our prayer centers, and discard any other time. This is a highly elevated consciousness we strive to be situated in twenty-four hours a day, everyday.)
Just seeing the brilliant face of a Vaisnava, adorned boldly with tilak makes puts me in high spirits. Such is the potency of sacred tilak.
Tilak is also an excellent preaching tool, especially in India, where people recognize it as a symbol of religiosity. They respect it. For those a little shy for preaching or book distribution, tilak is an advantage, because often others come to you asking questions, without you directly approaching them. All you have to do is wear your tilak; it’s is our uniform! Just as a lost person recognizes a police officer to ask for help, the public recognize us as representatives of Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement, ready and willing to direct anyone and everyone back home, back to Godhead.
Often it starts just with a hint of curiosity. Some just stare at first, a little flame kindles up inside. Later they may muster up the courage to ask a few questions. The questions may be as simple as “Why do you wear it?”, “What religious organization do you belong to?” or “How many temples do the Hare Krishnas have? Where is the closest one?” Then the questions slowly get deeper, into philosophy. They ask about our beliefs. They may even question our beliefs, but always end defeated because our philosophy is supremely logical and scientific; not mere sentiment. It will impress them, and they may come to the temple. Then, they get attracted. Slowly, by the association and mercy of the Vaisnavas, they advance in their spiritual life.
And to think, its all because you wore tilak to your workplace, or school, or just anywhere in public!
Never underestimate the power of tilak.
Let today be different.
I stop to think, “What is the significance of these?” “Why wear them? Do I really want to, or is nothing more than an automatic ‘ritual’ I’ve grown up with?” I start with basic definitions first. What is tilak? Yes, it is sacred clay, but what makes it sacred? Tilak is special because it is from the Holy Dham, where the Lord manifested His wonderful pastimes.
Sri Vrndavan Dham is blessed with the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Krsna and their Gopis from Vrndavan. The dust of this Dham is mixed with Their transcendental sweat from the divine Rasa dance, and their tears of separation. Reading through the many glories of Gopi Chandana, I found this, in the Garga Samhita:
“Twice as sacred as the mud of the Ganga is the dust of Chitrakuta. Ten times more sacred than that is the dust of Panchavati-tirtha. A hundred times more sacred is the dust of gopi-chandana. Please know that gopi-chandana is equal to the dust of Vrindavana.”
The Garga Samhita goes on to glorify Gopi Chandan, in an entire Gopi Chandana Mahatmya. (Read it here)
Sri Radha Kund is the most sacred place ever! It is a rare treasure, not even manifest in the spiritual Goloka! It is the epitome of auspiciousness manifested in the Holy Dham, most dear to Srimati Radhika Rani and the Vraja-Raja-Suta, Shyamasundara. Srila Rupa Goswami, our Gaudiya Vaisnava authority, says,
“The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?” (Upadesamrta Verse 9)
Now that is special! An immense feeling appreciation along with wonder stirs within. I feel so fortunate to have such access to Tilak. I’ve been wearing it since as long as I can remember, and before. My face, head, neck, limbs, and torso are blessed by this tilak. Often I take too many things for granted. (Tilak is a good example!) W are simply blessed!
I put on tilak, appreciating it. I recite the respective mantras, meditating on each name, form and pastime of Krsna accordingly: Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, and so on. What a wonderful start to the day!
Slow down! Why rush through life, without enjoying the sweet little treasures? Why not appreciate the gifts Krsna has given us (even the ones we use daily, like tilak)? Of course, we appreciate the festivals, because each one comes once a year. But the wealth of a Krsna consciousness lifestyle is truly unfathomable. Let’s cherish it. If everyday, each and every one of us thought about the significance of everything we did, the entire day, and it's relation to Krsna, we'd be much much better off. This is just one little blog post on Tilak. There's millions of other things we could appreciate as well! Srila Prabhupada has given us this wonderful opportunity to live in Krsna Consciousness. ('Consciousness' as a way of life; a state of mind. As a pose to a religion that we can take on when we're at our prayer centers, and discard any other time. This is a highly elevated consciousness we strive to be situated in twenty-four hours a day, everyday.)
Just seeing the brilliant face of a Vaisnava, adorned boldly with tilak makes puts me in high spirits. Such is the potency of sacred tilak.
Tilak is also an excellent preaching tool, especially in India, where people recognize it as a symbol of religiosity. They respect it. For those a little shy for preaching or book distribution, tilak is an advantage, because often others come to you asking questions, without you directly approaching them. All you have to do is wear your tilak; it’s is our uniform! Just as a lost person recognizes a police officer to ask for help, the public recognize us as representatives of Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement, ready and willing to direct anyone and everyone back home, back to Godhead.
Often it starts just with a hint of curiosity. Some just stare at first, a little flame kindles up inside. Later they may muster up the courage to ask a few questions. The questions may be as simple as “Why do you wear it?”, “What religious organization do you belong to?” or “How many temples do the Hare Krishnas have? Where is the closest one?” Then the questions slowly get deeper, into philosophy. They ask about our beliefs. They may even question our beliefs, but always end defeated because our philosophy is supremely logical and scientific; not mere sentiment. It will impress them, and they may come to the temple. Then, they get attracted. Slowly, by the association and mercy of the Vaisnavas, they advance in their spiritual life.
And to think, its all because you wore tilak to your workplace, or school, or just anywhere in public!
Never underestimate the power of tilak.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Down Govardhan Parikram Lane :)
This morning, after bathing my sweethearts, I began rubbing my Mottu with ghee. His dust came off in my hands. As I put His sweet smelling dust to my head, a wave of emotion overcame me. Thinking back, I remembered my first and only time performing Govardhan parikrama. It was the middle of the night in during the hottest time of the year. And lucky me made it during Purusottam Mas, a very auspicious and favored time of our dear Krsna. Half way through parikram, my feet were blistered and bleeding as the torn dhoti shreds lent by my guide and friend of my prabhu were untying and falling of constantly. I continued on thinking of how lucky I was. Determined, yet slow, I completed parikram and stopped at Radha Kund. Taking a few drops in my mouth and filling a Bisleri bottle full of Radharani’s mercy, I was fully satisfied.
My bird’s loud squawk brought me back from my memory and while looking into Mottu’s face I cried and begged Him to take me back. I knew that He missed Braj as much as I did. I don’t understand why He was still here. Why He has not gone back already and taken me with Him. Every day I look at photos of Govindajiu, every day I think of Madan Mohan’s lotus feet, every day I miss the sweet smiling face of Radharamanjiu. I wonder when I will be able to go back to Damodar Mandir and do parikram. When will Gokulanand melt my heart with His sweetness? When will I see Shyam’s lotus eyes amidst His beautiful black face? I pray again and again that He may take me back to Braja Dham. I pray that by worshipping Giriraj I will always be able to find my way there again!
My bird’s loud squawk brought me back from my memory and while looking into Mottu’s face I cried and begged Him to take me back. I knew that He missed Braj as much as I did. I don’t understand why He was still here. Why He has not gone back already and taken me with Him. Every day I look at photos of Govindajiu, every day I think of Madan Mohan’s lotus feet, every day I miss the sweet smiling face of Radharamanjiu. I wonder when I will be able to go back to Damodar Mandir and do parikram. When will Gokulanand melt my heart with His sweetness? When will I see Shyam’s lotus eyes amidst His beautiful black face? I pray again and again that He may take me back to Braja Dham. I pray that by worshipping Giriraj I will always be able to find my way there again!
A mother’s love: the glories of the Sri Brihad Bhagavatamrta
Sri Brihad Bhagavatamrta by Srila Sanatana Gosvami
Text 15-17 Translation and Commentary:
Sri Jaimini Said: By hearing the instructions of Sukadeva Gosvami, Sriman Pariksit was relieved of all fear. All his ambitions satisfied, he was absorbed in pure love for Sri Krsna. Now, as the time came near for the king to ascend to the destination he desired, his mother, Virata's daughter, a surrendered devotee of Krsna, approached him in great distress while he was along. After Pariksit had consoled and pleased her by his greeting, she asked of him as follows, immersed in love for her son.
Commentary:
To satisfy King Janamejaya's sincere desire Jaimini recalls how Janamejaya's saintly father, Pariksit, some years before, had finished hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam from Sukadeva Gosvami and the hour had come for Pariksit to prepare for his fated death. Jaimini Rsi here divulges that Maharaja Pariksit's mother came to see her son just at that moment. Even though Pariksit was sitting several miles from his palace and very little time remained, his mother, Uttara, was impelled to see him just once more, knowing she would never see him again and eager not to lose the last opportunity to hear from him topics about Krsna.
After Sukadeva taught Srimad-Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit, Pariksit no longer feared the monstrous snake-bird, nor vine consort Sri. He had effortlessly achieved the benefits of each of the essential human endeavors - religiosity, economic development, sense enjoyment and liberation. And beyond those benefits, he was immersed in a flood of prema-rasa at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna. His mother approached him while he was absorbed in that ecstasy.
A mother about to lose her son is naturally forlorn. But Uttara's sorrow was eclipsed by her eagerness to hear what her son had just heard from Sukadeva Gosvami about Lord Krsna's glories. Because she wanted to hear the confidential essence of Sukadeva's instructions, she approached her son as he sat alone. With a pacifying greeting and a brief philosophical reminder about the illusory nature of birth and death, maharaja Pariksit quickly dispelled whatever motherly anxiety she felt. Thus she was now joyful and fixed in affection for Sri Krsna and for her son. The great devotee of Krsna.
Text 18:
Blessed Uttara said: My dear son, please extract the essence of what Sukadeva has taught you and quickly reveal it to me, as if churning the nectar of immortality from the Ocean of Milk.
*Two key points drew my attention when I was reading over these verses, the first of which is the pure love and devotion of Mother Uttara. This pure and gentle woman had experienced great hardship in her short years. To bring a little bit of the history of the Mahabharata to mind You may recall that she is the daughter of King Virata and had the amazing good fortune of having Arjuna as her tutor while the Pandava brothers lived in hiding during their last year of exile. After the exile was over and Arjuna revealed himself to the King, Virata was overjoyed and offered his daughter's hand to him in marriage. Arjuna for his part gently refused for he said that he could not possibly marry the child who had been like a daughter to him for the previous year...For she had been like his daughter so she should be married to his son and become his child in truth, and so in due course young Uttara was married to Arjuna's son Abhimanyu.
During the great battle of Kurukshetra young Uttara who was newly married and pregnant with the Pandava heir, suffered the loss of almost all of her family. Her husband, father, and brothers all died in that great battle and now she is year’s later living through the loss of her only child. How can one person bare so much in their short years? So much sorrow. But Uttara although heart-broken is enlivened through her service to Krishna. She has lost everything but her devotion and love for her Lord and so she is eager to learn more about his glories. She is such a pure devotee...how can we even begin to share the affection she holds for Sri Krishna? To put aside the material loss of her son, she is eager to share in the transidental abode of prema-bhakti.
The second point which I find very interesting is introduced in the 18th verse were Mother Uttara is asking her son to please extract the essence of the Srimad Bhagavatam "as if churning the nectar of immortality from the Ocean of Milk". Her son is to die very soon and so she does not have the time to listen to complete instructions of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami and so in this way she begs to be given the cream of those teachings. That nectarian gift is the Brihad Bhagavatamrta, how fortunate we are that we have been given the chance to relish such teachings!
Text 15-17 Translation and Commentary:
Sri Jaimini Said: By hearing the instructions of Sukadeva Gosvami, Sriman Pariksit was relieved of all fear. All his ambitions satisfied, he was absorbed in pure love for Sri Krsna. Now, as the time came near for the king to ascend to the destination he desired, his mother, Virata's daughter, a surrendered devotee of Krsna, approached him in great distress while he was along. After Pariksit had consoled and pleased her by his greeting, she asked of him as follows, immersed in love for her son.
Commentary:
To satisfy King Janamejaya's sincere desire Jaimini recalls how Janamejaya's saintly father, Pariksit, some years before, had finished hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam from Sukadeva Gosvami and the hour had come for Pariksit to prepare for his fated death. Jaimini Rsi here divulges that Maharaja Pariksit's mother came to see her son just at that moment. Even though Pariksit was sitting several miles from his palace and very little time remained, his mother, Uttara, was impelled to see him just once more, knowing she would never see him again and eager not to lose the last opportunity to hear from him topics about Krsna.
After Sukadeva taught Srimad-Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit, Pariksit no longer feared the monstrous snake-bird, nor vine consort Sri. He had effortlessly achieved the benefits of each of the essential human endeavors - religiosity, economic development, sense enjoyment and liberation. And beyond those benefits, he was immersed in a flood of prema-rasa at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna. His mother approached him while he was absorbed in that ecstasy.
A mother about to lose her son is naturally forlorn. But Uttara's sorrow was eclipsed by her eagerness to hear what her son had just heard from Sukadeva Gosvami about Lord Krsna's glories. Because she wanted to hear the confidential essence of Sukadeva's instructions, she approached her son as he sat alone. With a pacifying greeting and a brief philosophical reminder about the illusory nature of birth and death, maharaja Pariksit quickly dispelled whatever motherly anxiety she felt. Thus she was now joyful and fixed in affection for Sri Krsna and for her son. The great devotee of Krsna.
Text 18:
Blessed Uttara said: My dear son, please extract the essence of what Sukadeva has taught you and quickly reveal it to me, as if churning the nectar of immortality from the Ocean of Milk.
*Two key points drew my attention when I was reading over these verses, the first of which is the pure love and devotion of Mother Uttara. This pure and gentle woman had experienced great hardship in her short years. To bring a little bit of the history of the Mahabharata to mind You may recall that she is the daughter of King Virata and had the amazing good fortune of having Arjuna as her tutor while the Pandava brothers lived in hiding during their last year of exile. After the exile was over and Arjuna revealed himself to the King, Virata was overjoyed and offered his daughter's hand to him in marriage. Arjuna for his part gently refused for he said that he could not possibly marry the child who had been like a daughter to him for the previous year...For she had been like his daughter so she should be married to his son and become his child in truth, and so in due course young Uttara was married to Arjuna's son Abhimanyu.
During the great battle of Kurukshetra young Uttara who was newly married and pregnant with the Pandava heir, suffered the loss of almost all of her family. Her husband, father, and brothers all died in that great battle and now she is year’s later living through the loss of her only child. How can one person bare so much in their short years? So much sorrow. But Uttara although heart-broken is enlivened through her service to Krishna. She has lost everything but her devotion and love for her Lord and so she is eager to learn more about his glories. She is such a pure devotee...how can we even begin to share the affection she holds for Sri Krishna? To put aside the material loss of her son, she is eager to share in the transidental abode of prema-bhakti.
The second point which I find very interesting is introduced in the 18th verse were Mother Uttara is asking her son to please extract the essence of the Srimad Bhagavatam "as if churning the nectar of immortality from the Ocean of Milk". Her son is to die very soon and so she does not have the time to listen to complete instructions of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami and so in this way she begs to be given the cream of those teachings. That nectarian gift is the Brihad Bhagavatamrta, how fortunate we are that we have been given the chance to relish such teachings!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A taste of pure nectar
The 24 hour kirtan...how can I even begin to describe such devotion? Such pure strength of the Holy Name? Surely there is nothing more wonderful in this world. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us more then we could ever hope to appreciate or disserve in this life time or many.
So many talented vaishnava(i)s brought their voices, their mrdungas, and their personalities to New Vrindavan. People like Bada Hari Prabhu, Sarvajaya from DC, Goshi with his spunky style who still manages to sing so sweetly it tugs at your heart, Bhakti with her pure and beautiful devotion, Jagi, Manu Prabhu….there are so many others, but these people were just a catalyst for awaking the tender flame of devotion which forever resides in all of our hearts.
Every one of us is an eternal servant of Sri Krishna. Each one of us has that small spark of devotion in our hearts just waiting for the chance to show itself. What I saw this last weekend is hundreds of devotees tasting pure love of God, perhaps for the first time. With so much nectar of the Holy Name, how then can we remain oblivious to the love which resides forever in our hearts? Give them a taste, Srila Prabhupada once said, and that is all it takes. Sravanam and Kirtanam - hearing and chanting the glories of Sri Krishna, there can be no better dharma in ones life.
It just so happened that the last chapter of the 24 hour kirtan fell on Sunday which was the most auspicious appearance day of Sri Radha Kunda and although I was without any internet for the duration of my trip I thought to share a small piece from my journal entry that day.
“October 11th 2009: It is the appearance day of Sri Radha Kunda and I am in New Vrindavan Dham listening to the sweet mellows of Varshana Swami Sing the Holy Name just a few doors down from where I now lay in the girls ashrama. This is the last flame of the 24 hr kirtan but I know that this transidental fire will leave sparks of love in our hearts which may rage once again and bring us all back together in the service of Sri Gopal and Srila Prabhupada.
“I pray that those tender sparks may never be extinguished. That I may always remain attracted to the chanting of the Mahamantra and the association of the sincere devotees of the Lord.
“We are heading back to Alachua in just a few hours. It feels like no time at all and I am sad to go but I know that I have responsibilities at home. For now I will hold these memories close to my heart and eagerly await the next chance to live in such Bhakti.”
I humbly pray that we all may have such a chance. There is talk now of the next 24 hour kirtan and I pray that I will see some familiar faces there next year and perhaps a few new ones as well. Krishna is so merciful, so wonderful, let us share him with the rest of the world.
Sri Krishna Sankirtana Ki!!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
TLC ki jay.
One of my goals of this Kartik: to read the TLC. So many people have recommended it! Some even call it, "their most prized possession." Intrigued, I started to read yesterday.
I got through the preface, prologue (a summary of Mahaprabhu's life, skillfully condensed by Bhaktivinod Thakur, in the most excellent unique English), and mission (the Siksastaka).
I am now reading the introduction.
Two things particularly stood out to me:
1) I just love the way Srila Prabhupada translates "Caitanya Caritamrta" as "the character of the living force in immortality".
An interesting view. I've always understood Caitanya Caritamrta to be something like "the sweet character of Caitanya". But translation new to me sheds light on a different perspective.
Caitanya - the living force
Carita - character
Amrta - immortal (a-mrta, where mrta, or mrtyu means death) or sweet/nectar/nectarean.
2) I am simply captivated by Srila Prabhupada's perfect sense of logic, and reasoning. It just goes to show, this entire process of Krsna Consciousness is a science, not merely sentiment. Its a balance between dry speculation (jnana, or knowledge without realization, feeling) and sentiment (feeling, or emotion, without knowledge/philosophy.) The perfect balance!
Here Srila Prabhupada defeats Mayavadis, and their imperfect reasoning. Krsna Consciousness is so absolute, so perfect! No one can argue with our stalwart Vaisnava acaryas without being smartly philosophically walloped.
Once again, I am left imbued with a profuse sense of adoration, to Krsna, to Gaudiya Vaisnavism and its perfect philosophy, to our most intelligent, true, and very devotional disciplic succession blessed by the Supreme Intelligence personified, Nimai Pandit, worshiped even by Goddess Sarasvati.
"Caitanya-caritamrta teaches that the spirit soul is immortal and that our activities in the spiritual world are also immortal. The Mayavadis, who hold to the view that the Absolute is impersonal and formless, contend that a realized soul has no need to talk. However, the Vaisnavas, who are devotees of Krsna, contend that when one reaches the stage of realization, he really begins to talk. "Previously we only talked of nonsense," the Vaisnava says. "Now let us begin our real talks, talks of Krsna." The Mayavadis are also fond of using the example of the water pot, maintaining that when a pot is not filled with water it makes a sound, but that when it is filled it makes no sound. But are we waterpots? How can we be compared to them? A good analogy utilizes as many similarities between two objects as possible. A water pot is not an active living force, but we are. Ever silent meditation may be adequate for a waterpot, but not for us. Indeed, when one has has realized he has so much to say about Krsna, twenty-four hours in a day is not sufficient. It is the fool who is celebrated as long as he does not speak, for when he breaks his silence his lack of knowledge is exposed. Caitanya-caritamrta shows that there are many wonderful things to discover by glorifying the Supreme."
- Teachings of Lord Caitanya, by Srila Prabhupada
Introduction
I got through the preface, prologue (a summary of Mahaprabhu's life, skillfully condensed by Bhaktivinod Thakur, in the most excellent unique English), and mission (the Siksastaka).
I am now reading the introduction.
Two things particularly stood out to me:
1) I just love the way Srila Prabhupada translates "Caitanya Caritamrta" as "the character of the living force in immortality".
An interesting view. I've always understood Caitanya Caritamrta to be something like "the sweet character of Caitanya". But translation new to me sheds light on a different perspective.
Caitanya - the living force
Carita - character
Amrta - immortal (a-mrta, where mrta, or mrtyu means death) or sweet/nectar/nectarean.
2) I am simply captivated by Srila Prabhupada's perfect sense of logic, and reasoning. It just goes to show, this entire process of Krsna Consciousness is a science, not merely sentiment. Its a balance between dry speculation (jnana, or knowledge without realization, feeling) and sentiment (feeling, or emotion, without knowledge/philosophy.) The perfect balance!
Here Srila Prabhupada defeats Mayavadis, and their imperfect reasoning. Krsna Consciousness is so absolute, so perfect! No one can argue with our stalwart Vaisnava acaryas without being smartly philosophically walloped.
Once again, I am left imbued with a profuse sense of adoration, to Krsna, to Gaudiya Vaisnavism and its perfect philosophy, to our most intelligent, true, and very devotional disciplic succession blessed by the Supreme Intelligence personified, Nimai Pandit, worshiped even by Goddess Sarasvati.
"Caitanya-caritamrta teaches that the spirit soul is immortal and that our activities in the spiritual world are also immortal. The Mayavadis, who hold to the view that the Absolute is impersonal and formless, contend that a realized soul has no need to talk. However, the Vaisnavas, who are devotees of Krsna, contend that when one reaches the stage of realization, he really begins to talk. "Previously we only talked of nonsense," the Vaisnava says. "Now let us begin our real talks, talks of Krsna." The Mayavadis are also fond of using the example of the water pot, maintaining that when a pot is not filled with water it makes a sound, but that when it is filled it makes no sound. But are we waterpots? How can we be compared to them? A good analogy utilizes as many similarities between two objects as possible. A water pot is not an active living force, but we are. Ever silent meditation may be adequate for a waterpot, but not for us. Indeed, when one has has realized he has so much to say about Krsna, twenty-four hours in a day is not sufficient. It is the fool who is celebrated as long as he does not speak, for when he breaks his silence his lack of knowledge is exposed. Caitanya-caritamrta shows that there are many wonderful things to discover by glorifying the Supreme."
- Teachings of Lord Caitanya, by Srila Prabhupada
Introduction
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