Hare Krishna.

9th June, 2014, Gurgaon.

Q: Can one advance in Krishna consciousness without the Association of devotees ? What are the benefits in taking association of devotees ?

Ans: One cannot advance in Krishna consciousness without the association of devotees.

satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido
bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani
śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati.

‘The spiritually powerful message of Godhead can be properly discussed only in a society of devotees, and it is greatly pleasing to hear in that association. If one hears from devotees, the way of transcendental experience quickly opens, and gradually one attains firm faith that in due course develops into attraction and devotion.’ (Cc translation of the same verse)

This beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 3.25.25) was quoted by Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Sri Sanatan Goswami in CC Madhya 23.16 while explaining the process of awakening of one’s original loving relationship with the Lord. Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport

The process of advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service is described here.

1. The first point is that one must seek the association of persons who are Kṛṣṇa conscious and who engage in devotional service. Without such association one cannot make advancement.

2. Simply by theoretical knowledge or study one cannot make any appreciable advancement.

3. One must give up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of devotees because without the association of devotees one cannot understand the activities of the Lord.

4. Generally, people are convinced of the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth. Because they do not associate with devotees, they cannot understand that the Absolute Truth can be a person and have personal activities. This is a very difficult subject matter, and unless one has personal understanding of the Absolute Truth, there is no meaning to devotion.

5. Service or devotion cannot be offered to anything impersonal. Service must be offered to a person.

6. Non-devotees cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa consciousness by reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or any other Vedic literature wherein the activities of the Lord are described; they think that these activities are fictional, manufactured stories because spiritual life is not explained to them in the proper mood.

7. To understand the personal activities of the Lord, one has to seek the association of devotees, and by such association, when one contemplates and tries to understand the transcendental activities of the Lord, the path to liberation is open, and he is freed.

8. One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases.

9. Association with devotees means association with the Lord.

10. The devotee who makes this association develops the consciousness for rendering service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the transcendental position of devotional service, he gradually becomes perfect.

Q2: Why is a devotee’s position considered so exalted ?
A: Devotees are considered very exalted because

1. Devotees are simply dependent on Krishna (complete surrender)
2. Devotees are only interested to engage in His transcendental loving service. Cc m 19.216

Lord Shiva told mother Parvati in SB 6.7.18 :
Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.


Srila Prabhupada explains further in the same purport that ‘Pārvatī might naturally have inquired how devotees become so exalted. Therefore this verse explains that they are nārāyaṇa-para, simply dependent on Nārāyaṇa. They do not mind reverses in life because in the service of Nārāyaṇa they have learned to tolerate whatever hardships there may be. They do not care whether they are in heaven or in hell: they simply engage in the service of the Lord. This is their excellence. Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam: they are liberally engaged in the service of the Lord, and therefore they are excellent.’

‘Lord Śiva pointed out that although Citraketu provided one example of tolerance and excellence, all the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord as eternal servants are glorious. They have no eagerness to be happy by being placed in the heavenly planets, becoming liberated or becoming one with Brahman, the supreme effulgence. These benefits do not appeal to their minds. They are simply interested in giving direct service to the Lord.’

If the devotee feels that, “I can be Krishna Conscious without the association of devotees.” it is very dangerous situation. More we separate from devotees, more we bounded by the attacks of Maya. The material world is designed to struggle to exist. So, Srila Prabhupada made the situation minimum by having Krishna conscious temples, communities and farm projects, so devotees can live in association with devotees. – HH Jayapataka Swami

In Chaitanya Caritamrta Lord Caitanya says that sadhu-sanga, the association of a great saintly person, is very important, because even if one is not advanced in knowledge, simply by association with a great saintly person one can immediately make considerable advancement in spiritual life – Srila Prabhupada.



All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Kindly visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com to subscribe to this blog.

Hare Krishna.

5th June, 2014, Gurgaon.

Q: What is the process to achieve the ultimate goal of life-love of God ? Please explain each step in this process.

Ans : Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu describes the symptoms of emotion and love and the awakening of one’s original loving relationship with the Lord, as well as the characteristics of a devotee who has actually attained that stage, in Madhya Lila chapter 23.

CC Madhya 23.9: “If, by good fortune, a living entity develops faith in Kṛṣṇa, he begins to associate with devotees.

CC Madhya 23.10: “When one is encouraged in devotional service by the association of devotees, one becomes free from all unwanted contamination by following the regulative principles and chanting and hearing.

CC Madhya 23.11: “When one is freed from all unwanted contamination, he advances with firm faith. When firm faith in devotional service awakens, a taste for hearing and chanting also awakens.

CC Madhya 23.12: “After taste is awakened, a deep attachment arises, and from that attachment the seed of love for Kṛṣṇa grows in the heart.

CC Madhya 23.13: “When that ecstatic emotional stage intensifies, it is called love of Godhead. Such love is life’s ultimate goal and the reservoir of all pleasure.

Srila Prabhupada quotes Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, who summarizes this growth of love of Godhead as a gradual process.

A person becomes interested in devotional service by some good fortune. Eventually he becomes interested in pure devotional service without material contamination. At that point, a person wants to associate with devotees. As a result of this association, he becomes more and more interested in discharging devotional service and hearing and chanting. The more one is interested in hearing and chanting, the more he is purified of material contamination. Liberation from material contamination is called anartha-nivṛtti, indicating a diminishing of all unwanted things. This is the test of development in devotional service. If one actually develops the devotional attitude, he must be freed from the material contamination of illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. These are the preliminary symptoms. When one is freed from all material contamination, his firm faith in devotional service awakens. When firm faith develops, a taste arises, and by that taste one becomes attached to devotional service. When this attachment intensifies, the seed of love of Kṛṣṇa fructifies. This position is called prīti or rati (affection) or bhāva (emotion). When rati intensifies, it is called love of Godhead. This love of Godhead is actually life’s highest perfection and the reservoir of all pleasure.

Thus devotional life is divided into two stages — sādhana-bhakti and bhāva-bhakti. Sādhana-bhakti refers to the development of devotional service through the regulative principles. The basic principle for the execution of devotional service is faith. Above that, there is association with devotees, and after that there is initiation by a bona fide spiritual master. After initiation, when one follows the regulative principles of devotional service, one becomes freed from all unwanted things. In this way one becomes firmly fixed and gradually develops a taste for devotional service. The more the taste grows, the more one desires to render service to the Lord. In this way one becomes attached to a particular mellow in the Lord’s service — śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya or madhura. As a result of such attachment, bhāva develops. Bhāva-bhakti is the platform of purified goodness. By such purified goodness, one’s heart melts in devotional service. Bhāva-bhakti is the first seed of love of Godhead. This emotional stage is there before one attains pure love. When that emotional stage intensifies, it is called prema-bhakti, or transcendental love of Godhead. This gradual process is also described in the following two verses, which are found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.4.15-16).

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-
saṅgo ‘tha bhajana-kriyā
tato ‘nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt
tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ
athāsaktis tato bhāvas
tataḥ premābhyudañcati
sādhakānām ayaṁ premṇaḥ
prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ

CC Madhya 23.14-15: “‘In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.’

Q: What are the nine symptoms which manifest in one’s behaviour when the seed of ecstatic emotion for Krishna fructifies ?

Ans:

CC Madhya 23.18-19: “‘When the seed of ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṇa fructifies, the following nine symptoms manifest in one’s behavior: forgiveness, concern that time should not be wasted, detachment, absence of false prestige, hope, eagerness, a taste for chanting the holy name of the Lord, attachment to descriptions of the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and affection for those places where the Lord resides — that is, a temple or a holy place like Vṛndāvana. These are all called anubhāva, subordinate signs of ecstatic emotion. They are visible in a person in whose heart the seed of love of God has begun to fructify.’

Love of God is transcendental to liberation [mukti], and thus it is called the fifth stage of spiritual realization, above the stage of liberation. (Srimad Bhagavatam Introduction)

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Kindly visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com to subscribe to this blog.

Hare Krishna.

26th May, 2014, Gurgaon.

Yesterday, 25th May, turned out to be a day when I realised the power of prayer by devotees.

I was suffering from a bad throat since last 2 days and 24th evening was worst. When I woke up around 6am on 25th morning I felt terrible. I could not speak and even the simple task of getting up from the bed proved to a big effort. I felt very hungry and extremely thirsty. I drank some warm water, then I somehow remembered that Atma Prabhu had told me to take Neem capsules regularly, which I stopped some time back, so I took one capsule as well. I checked my temperature it was 101.3F. As it was Dwadashi so I waited for 6.50am and then I had some hot ginger lemon water with honey. I started coughing continuously and had green colour phelgm, confirming that I had an infection.

The hot concoction I drank gave me some relief and I slowly started chanting my rounds. But after less than an hour I felt too tired and stopped my chanting. I watched Mayapur.tv for some time and listened to HG Madhav Prabhu singing soulfully at a retreat. I also took crocin and later had my breakfast. I felt cold and had to take a quilt in the hot summer weather. I checked the fever again it was almost 102F now and my cheeks seem to be oozing heat. It was almost 9.45am. My wife was pushing me since yesterday to see a doctor and get antibiotics but today being a Sunday all the doctors were closed. I myself didn’t have any energy or a will to see the doctor. I took my bath.

In the meantime I got a call from HG Shyam Sundar Prabhu, who broke the sad news that HG Advaita Hari Prabhu left his body in Kolkata few days back. I had the good fortune to meet Prabhuji twice and I clearly remember his sweet and affectionate long talks. He was always most helpful to everyone in Mayapur. He was disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami, serving as chief finance officer and deputy director of Mayapur. He was currently involved in corporate preaching in nearby regions of Mayapur and Kolkata. Shyam Sundar prabhu narrated me how Prabhuji took such good care of  HH Janananda Maharaj that maharaj declared that he will now come more often to Mayapur only because of Sri Advait Hari Prabhu. Shyam Sundar Prabhuji also made a very good statement that unlike `karmis’ when devotees leave this world what we miss most is their association. I pray to Lord Sri Krishna that He may give HG Advaita Hari prabhu a service in His eternal abode.

HG Advaita Hari Prabhuji

As we spoke for some time, Shyam Sundar Prabhu found out from my constant coughing that I was not very well. After the call was over I received a message on the Bhagavad Gita whatsapp group, which we run, and when I opened it, to my embarrassment, I found that due to a strong brotherly affection Prabhuji had posted a message to the group that I am not well and devotees should pray for me. I immediately messaged him back and requested him not to post such messages for me and that too for a simple cough and fever. I then added, for some effect, that if he really wants to pray for me then he should pray for my spiritual life that I should get attached to the holy name. Prabhuji’s reply stumped me as he spoke `Prabhuji I am praying for your material body so that you can serve the devotees and preach !‘

After this posting I received messages from some devotees and I told all of them that I am fine and just a little under the weather. By this time it was past 11am, I felt very tired and dozed off again.

I woke up around 3.30pm and felt a little different. It took me a few seconds to realise that I actually feel much better. In fact I felt as if I was almost recovered. I ate my lunch. I seem to have regained most of my energy, there was minimal cough- phelgm was now whitish and no tiredness at all. I was most surprised at this sudden transformation. I, then, remembered the message Prabhuji had posted on the whatsapp group and I realised that some merciful devotee(s) prayed for me and their prayers did the work instantly, it was like magic. I had my energy back, I played with my kids for some time and then called up Shyam Sundar Prabhu and shared with him this unique experience. He too was very surprised and happy to hear it. I thanked all the devotees mentally and in my state of happiness forgot to even thank  Shyam Sundar prabhu as I knew that he would have been the first one to pray for me. Thank you so much to all the devotees.

What are my realisations  -

1. Well, first of all, I must ensure that I serve all the devotees, specially the senior ones, to the best of my ability and regularly take the benefit of their association, life is too short and unpredictable to wait or to be lazy.

2. I would never underestimate the power of prayers by devotees.

3. I regularly receive messages, mails and requests for praying for a devotee or a devotee’s relative who is not well. If such requests are one to one then I make it a point to chant an extra round or pray to Srila Prabhupada for him/her. But many a times when it is a forwarded mail or a mail copied to many devotees then I skip it as well, there are many excuses which my lousy mind makes up. So I promised myself that from today onwards whenever I will receive such a request I will make sure that I pray for that devotee, I will never skip it.

3. And lastly, I realised that the real purpose of reading all the scriptures, and gaining knowledge, is to convince my own self that I should feel attached to Krishna and His devotees.

Regarding your questions are the Spiritual Master and the Grand Spiritual Master consciously aware of the prayers of a sincere devotee who prays in love to Them?—the answer is that no conscious prayers go in vain. They are transmitted positively.    (By Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Mahananda, Los Angeles, 1970)

Thank you respected devotees for showing me the right way and improving my consciousness to always pray for others. I will not forget it.

All glories to the most merciful Vaishanavas.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Kindly visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com to subscribe to this blog.

Hare Krishna

22nd May, 2014, Gurgaon.

vrindayai tulasi-devyai
priyayai keshavasya cha
krishna-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo namaha

TRANSLATION

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krsna and possess the highest truth.

This is in continuation to my last blog where I mentioned how a broken branch of Tulasi got planted again by her sheer mercy. I wanted to share more on how merciful is Tulasi Maharani and that her causeless mercy has no end.

I came back from my trip on 19th night and the first I did on 20th morning was to take her darshan. I was most amazed and delighted to see that not only has she grown but she has called her friends as well ! There were atleast 10-12 Tulasi plants which manifested in last 4-5 days. To be honest I did put dry manjaris in this planter since last 4-5 months, as this particular planter was lying vacant, but nothing would grow. My wife continuously told me that I am wasting my time as we need to change the complete soil but I won’t listen. And now since we have started proper Arti of Tulasi Devi it is amazing to see suddenly so many Tulasi plants coming out, most amazing.  Please see the below picture I clicked today.

All glories to Tulasi maharani.

After my last blog, a close devotee friend wrote back that my continuous blogs on Tulasi Maharani are nice but some people may take them as a kind of self-glorification for my own `sadhna’. I never thought like that but I saw the point prabhuji made. He suggested that I should put some time gap between these blogs or share them only with some selected devotees over mail as I have already made my point earlier. I thanked prabhuji, it is a blessing to have devotee friends who can write back with such candidness. I replied that  Tulasi Maharani reciprocated and I simply wrote ! I am sharing my realisations on this blog so that devotees can see that even a fallen and materialistic soul can get her mercy and further, we can all have  realisations every week, every day and every minute by the sheer mercy of Vaishnavas. The power is not in my `sadhna’ the power lies in Tulasi Maharani’s causeless mercy, just see how easily, by worshiping her simply with flower, lamp, water and firm faith, she reciprocates in such fascinating ways. We only need to be `tuned in’ to see such benedictions in our daily lives.

Another devotee friend called up some time back and shared that he too had a similar experience with Tulasi Maharani and  he was so happy to read what I wrote. My only sincere request to everyone is that please share such realisation with us. Sri Krishna Hari Prabhu told us in a lecture in Gurgaon last year that writing is a way to improve our `sadhna’ as it requires 100% concentration. I, too, have realised that by writing, at first we collect our thoughts and our own conviction increases and secondly whenever we read other devotee’s realisations our faith increases in the process of Krishna consciousness. We understand that this is a scientific process and we are on the right path. If any devotee would like to share his/her realisation I can open a login and password on these pages, please write back to your servant at giriraj.bcs@gmail.com.

Now, for the pleasure of Tulasi Maharani, and her devotees, I am copying below some more glorification

Asta-Nama-Stava from the Padma Purana (The Eight Names of Vrinda-devi)

“Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing the tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the Tulasi tree in the above mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha [spiritual] world.” Skanda Purana

As the embodiment of the lila-sakti (pastime potency), Vrinda devi is the organizer of all the transcendental pastimes between Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. In Goloka every thing is animate (cit) and only for the pleasure of Sri Krishna. Vrinda devi makes this happen. She is assisted by many confidential associates (which include two parrots) and with their help she makes sure that every thing is pleasing to Sri Krishna. She controls how the wind blows, when and where it rains, how the trees bend, and so many other things for the pleasure of the Divine Couple.

Once Srimati Radharani was so pleased by the service of Vrinda devi that with the help of the other gopis she arranged a magnificent throne and had Krishna and Vrinda devi sit on it. Lalita sakhi acting as the priest recited the mantras and performed the marriage cermony of Krishna and Vrinda devi. Thus by the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Vrinda devi got Krishna.

In another pastime, Vrinda devi offered all the forests of Vrindavana to Srimati Radharani. Thus Radharani is also known as Vrindavaneshwari or the queen of Vrindavana.

Please read more about Tulasi Devi at http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/vrinda/vrinda-devi.php

All glories to Tulasi Maharani.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Kindly visit www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com to subscribe to this blog.

Hare Krishna.

15th May, 2014, Malaysia.

My reciprocation with Tulasi Maharani continues unabated and I beg and pray to her to please continue the same on this shudra.

Almost 10 days back I saw that one of the branches of the Tulasi was almost broken. My heart broke to see one of her branch hanging lose. I thought quickly and then went inside, spoke to my wife about the problem and my suggestion. She agreed with my idea with a little smile on her face. I brought a strong thread and wrapped around the semi broken branch, like a tight bandage. I prayed her to get well. My second reaction was the thought to call the maid and scold her strongly. The chances of the maid damaging the branch were high as I thought she must have been careless while cleaning the balcony area where all Tulasi plants reside. Somehow I drank my anger and told my wife to tell the maid to be very careful cleaning the area around Tulasi as her branches are very delicate.

Every morning and evening I would take a look at my make shift bandage but the bandage could not hold, it would become lose every other day. I knew what was coming and was quite sad, twice a day I was mending the bandage but with little effect on her. The branch was still somewhat green but the leaves started looking pale and dry. After few days I came to the conclusion that this branch could not be saved and it pained me seeing her with a branch hanging lose. Finally one morning I separated this injured branch from the stem. I  took some leaves for offering to Lord and then, I don’t know what came to my mind, I planted the broken branch in of the empty pots, which was lying empty since many months.

My earlier attempts, in the past, to plant a broken branch of Tulasi have not been successful. Still, I went ahead and planted the broken branch, offered her lots of water and then prayed to her to please stay there and remain healthy and do not leave us like this. I also said sorry on behalf of myself and my maid. I continue to water her for next 2-3 days. She didn’t change, she didn’t turn green but didn’t get worse as well. This gave me hope.

One morning while I was chanting my rounds in the same balcony, I looked at her and prayed her to stay, as her leaves looked paler today. Suddenly, while sitting in front of her, I felt as if Tulasi Maharani is talking to me in my heart. She said that she might just decide to accept my prayer if I worship her everyday. Surprised at her statement, I replied that I do worship her everyday and also offer water. She replied yes,  but that is just prayer there is no `archana’ (worship). More surprised, I asked what would make her happy ? She replied that if I were to offer her flower and lamp every day then she may just decide to stay. She also added that this particular planter has a specific space for offering her lamp and which I almost never used. Feeling extremely grateful for this conversation, or realisation or  my mind playing games with me or whatever one may call it, I answered, surprising my own self,  that if she would be pleased with my offering of lamp and flower then I will offer them everyday irrespective of whether she decides to stay or leave. I felt a smile  from her and she was gone, no communication.

I kept my word and started offering her a fresh flower and lamp before offering my daily prayers every morning. She remained okay, not improving not deteriorating. My hope increased on the third day as her leaves looked a little more fresh and healthy.  I had to leave for a trip outside Delhi on 9th May and this is her picture which I took on 8th May.

I was overjoyed in my heart but kept my feelings under a lid and thanked her profusely. I shared the unique conversation I had with Tulasi Maharani with my wife and requested her to continue worshiping her daily with flower and lamp while I am away and this is the picture she sent me today morning from her mobile

Tulasi Maharani has decided to stay.  Hari Bol ! Hari Bol ! Hari Bol !

All glories to Tulasi Maharani.

It has been an amazing reciprocation by Tulasi Maharani. As a low caste shudra, both by birth and by action,  I never had the `adhikar’ (the right) within me to receive any such mercy from Tulasi Maharani. Some merciful Vaishanava has blessed me and this amazing relationship with Tulasi Maharani has begun in my devotional life. I pray to Vaishanava if they could also bless me that I can serve them till the last breath of my low life. I also pray and beg that I get some inspiration from such causeless mercy of Vaishanavas as well as Tulasi Maharani and my dry heart gets soft and compassionate towards everyone.

I am quoting some lectures where Srila Prabhupada glorified Tulasi Maharani.

All glories to Tulasi Maharani.

All glories to most merciful Vaishanavas.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna

10th May, 2014, Gurgaon

I was talking to a devotee the other day and he shared a recent realisation of one of his married friend. He narrated how in last few weeks his friend started looking at a particular girl in his office. Knowing it is wrong, his friend tried his best to control his senses but he would lose all self-control when this girl would pass by. His friend shared this problem with his wife and in spite of all his efforts he failed to control himself. Soon afterwards, he had the good fortune to visit Dham after a long time. There he prayed sincerely to Lord to please help him with this particular problem. Prabhuji joined back his office after his trip and Lo and behold ! his eyes would no longer run after this girl. The problem got solved like magic ! At one level this incident teaches us many positives

1.  We should always accept out problem, share it with a close friend, in this case he shared with his wife.
2. Pray to The Lord for help.
3. Lord reciprocates most mercifully with His devotees.

After my friend left, I remembered the story of an old woman who was coming  back from the forest after collecting dry woods. The old woman was very tired and somehow the bundle of dry woods, she was carrying on her head, fell down. The bundle was heavy, she tried hard but could not lift it. It was getting dark, and feeling helpless, she prayed to the Lord `God, please help me.' Lord manifested and asked her what does she want. She replied that she is very tired and needs help in lifting the bundle of woods on her head. Lord obliged and helped her carry the bundle back on her head and left.

The moral from the above stories for me, as a devotee, is that I should be careful for what I pray to Krishna.

One consideration could be that whatever helps us stay closer to Krishna is good for us to pray. Second consideration could be that if we don't ask our own father (Lord)  to help then who else do we pray to?

My point is that, as a devotees, should we not a bit more careful as to what do we pray to Krishna ? As practicing sadhakas should we trouble Lord with our material problems or can I pray to Krishna to please

1. give me an opportunity to serve His devotees.

2. give me faith in Srila Prabhupada's words.

3. help me chant once with purity, shudha Nama.

4. to give me Your bhakti, Your love.

5. let me participate in Mahāprabhu's sankirtan movement

5. bless me that I never forget You ........  ( it could be a long list)

Won't all our material desires, and problems and irritants, would simply evaporate if we get any of the above, even a  miniscule portion will take us far higher in our spiritual journey.

Srila Prabhupada once spoke

So a devotee is not very much anxious for mukti because a devotee is always mukta. He is already mukta. Why should he... Suppose if you have got millions of dollars, why should you hanker after ten rupees? So bhakti is such a nice thing. But what is that bhakti? That bhakti is animitta bhagavati. That bhakti should be animitta, not with a motive that "I shall go to the temple and serve Krsna for this purpose." Krsna can fulfill any purpose you desire. It is not very difficult for Him, because He is almighty, full with all opulences. So if you want something, material happiness, from Krsna, it is not very difficult for Krsna. He can give you mukti even. But to ask from Krsna anything else than bhakti is foolishness. That is foolishness. My Guru Maharaja used to give this example: just like if you go to a rich man and he says, "Now whatever you like, you can ask from me. I shall give you," then if you ask him that "You give me a pinch of ash," is that very intelligent? ( lecture, SB 3.25.32 Bombay, December 2, 1974).

I am copying a prayer by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura to take inspiration from our paramapara on what to pray

hari hari, kabe mora haibe sudina,

bhajiba shri radha-krishna haiya premadhina

(O Shri Hari, when will that auspicious day be mine? Filled with prema, when will I worship Shri Radha-Krisna?)

suyantremishaiya ga’ba sumadhura tana

anande koriba duhara rupa-guna-gana

(As the sounds of the divine instruments mix and create the sweetest melodies, I will blissfully sing songs about Their forms and qualities.)

‘radhika-govinda’ bali’ kandibo uccaih-svare

bhijibe sakala anga nayanera nire

(While singing “Radhika-Govinda,” I will weep loudly and my whole body will become soaked by the tears falling from my eyes.)

ei-bara karuna kara rupa-sanatana

raghunatha dasa mora shri jiva-jivana

(Be merciful now, Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami! O my Raghunatha dasa Gosvami! My life-giving Shri Jiva Gosvami!)

ei-bara karuna kara lalita vishakha

sakhya-bhaveshridama-subala-adisakha

(Be merciful now, O Lalita and Vishakha! O Shridama, Subala and all other friends in sakhya-bhava!)

sabe mili’ kara daya puruka mora asha

prarthana karaye sada narottama dasa

(Being merciful, all of you together, kindly fulfill my deepest desires! Narottama dasa is forever praying in this way.)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Kindly visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com to subscribe to this blog.

Hare Krishna.

6th May, 2014, Gurgaon.

Q: How many kinds of devotees are there ?

A: Mahāprabhu explains to Sri Sanatan Goswami in Caitanya Caritāmṛta

CC Madhya 22.99: “There are two kinds of devotees — those who are fully satiated and free from all material desires and those who are fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord. Their qualities are one and the same, but those who are fully surrendered to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are qualified with another transcendental quality — ātma-samarpaṇa, full surrender without reservation.

Q:  What are the six qualities of a devotee who is fully surrendered to the Lord ?

Ans: Mahāprabhu continues

CC Madhya 22.100: “‘The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of those things favorable to devotional service, the rejection of unfavorable things, the conviction that Kṛṣṇa will give protection, the acceptance of the Lord as one’s guardian or master, full self-surrender, and humility.

Srila Prabhupada beautifully expands these qualities in his purport with a very intelligent definition of renunciation in point no. 2.

1) The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable for the rendering of transcendental loving service to the Lord.

(2) He must reject everything unfavorable to the Lord’s service. This is also called renunciation.

(3) A devotee must be firmly convinced that Kṛṣṇa will give him protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith. This kind of faith is different from the faith of an impersonalist who wants to merge into the Brahman effulgence in order to benefit by cessation of repeated birth and death. A devotee wants to remain always in the Lord’s service. In this way, Kṛṣṇa is merciful to His devotee and gives him all protection from the dangers found on the path of devotional service.

(4) The devotee should accept Kṛṣṇa as his supreme maintainer and master. He should not think that he is being protected by a demigod. He should depend only on Kṛṣṇa, considering Him the only protector. The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no protector or maintainer other than Kṛṣṇa.

(5) Self-surrender means remembering that one’s activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Kṛṣṇa, and he acts and thinks as Kṛṣṇa desires.

(6) The devotee is meek and humble.

Q: What is the result of surrendering fully to Krishna ?

A: Mahāprabhu gives his benediction and then quotes a verse from Udhava Gita.

CC Madhya 22.102: “When a devotee thus fully surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa accepts him as one of His confidential associates.

CC Madhya 22.103: “‘The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me.’ (SB 11.29.34)

All glories to Sri Caitanya Caritāmṛta.

All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Please visit www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for the same blog with pictures.

Hare Krishna.

29th April, 2014, Gurgaon.

I felt a lot better just by writing my last blog, crying to the Lord.  I saw two clear answers for my agitated heart.

1. Beg for a service which is inconvenient for me at the local temple.

2. Beg to the Srila Prabhupada at his samadhi at Vrindavana to show me the way.

Next day, 29th, as I was getting ready to go to the office my morning meeting got cancelled and then the afternoon meeting too got postponed and suddenly I smelled a golden opportunity to go to Dhama for a day. I left for the Vrindavana at 11.30am.

It was all empty roads on a hot summer day. I realised this is the best time to listen to some nice lectures and as I was browsing though my list on phone I saw the recorded lectures of Govardhan Retreat by HG Bhurijan Prabhu and HH Sacinandan Maharaj. It was a coincident that I haven’t heard this series since many months ( I listen to them regularly). The recording started with initial introduction to Govardhan retreat by HG Bhurijana Prabhu. Prabhuji then explained various wonderful pastimes of Krishna at Govardhan and then HG Madhavananda Prabhu spoke for half an hour on more pastimes of Krishna and then it was time for lecture by HH  Sacinandan Maharaj. The next 1.25 hours were sheer bliss by listening to Maharaj. I am quoting a small portion of the lecture, which I noted on my mobile while listening. I have realised that I only absorb and remember those lectures which I hear repeatedly or those which I share with devotees or those for which I make notes. The highest being when I share it with devotees, in that case too I remember only 20-30% of what I like, unless I share it with more devotees.

Maharaj quoted  7th verse from Manah Sikshah, written by Sri Raghunath Das Goswami ( I am writing the verse for the benefit of readers, Maharaj didn’t recite the full translation of the verse)

My dear mind, the despicable desire for material honor and distinction is compared to a shameless dog-eating, low-born prostitute- yet she is flagrantly dancing in my heart. How, then, can the pristine love of pure devotion to Sri Krishna even find a place in my heart ? You will simple have to serve the unalloyed devotees of the Lord, who are his intimate associates and stalwart supporters. They alone can drive out this prostitute and enthrone pure love of Godhead within my heart.

Maharaj explained that when the desire for fame enters our heart and we allow her to stay there for a long time, then she, the fame, doesn’t want to stay alone, she invites her so called husband called Envy ! She invites envy to come as she wants a union. The desire for fame always invites envy of others who are more famous than us, better than us in so many other ways. And then this couple produce two children

1. aggressiveness towards others

2. criticism of others.

Maharaj added that if we let the desire for fame enter our heart then all the Vaiahanava qualities leave us. Good night sunshine !! So this desire for fame needs to be thrown out and we need to remain very conscious of it rather remain vigilant for even a small such desire because even if it is unintentional, it will cause havoc. The desire of fame is described as a dog eating witch by Raghunath Goswami ! (I read earlier that Srila Raghunath Das Goswami is the prayojan acharya, the one who takes us to our ultimate goal.)

Maharaj further added another gem by stating that

it is not for the recognition of others that we should our bhakti, it is for the recognition of Krishna. This is what we want, not that we are recognised as something special and something good. We want that Krishna is recognised.

What wonderful lines and realisation for me. I never ever thought like this before. I aspire to become a good devotee and a good disciple but never thought for a single second that I am doing my bhakti for the recognition of Krishna, which means consciously or unconsciously I am doing my bhakti for my ownself, my own fame.

Maharaj explained that `pratishtha’ is like poison and if we swallow it then ufff ! it will destroy you from inside. Maharaj added that whenever fame comes to us, as we do some good service, and we generally say this is all due to the mercy of my Guru Maharaj. Maharaj said don’t say such words because we want to be known as a very good disciple, say it because we should feel (and say) that on my own I am not good for anything and whatever good is there it is because someone else gave it to me.

What is the solution ? One should serve those who are dear to the Lord. Only a pure devotee of the Lord can throw out this `witch’ of fame, and her associates, who are in our heart, and then bring the great king of love, Krishna,  on the throne of our heart.

I pray at the lotus feet of HH Sacinandan Maharaj and beg him to bless me that I always remember this one line and do my bhakti only for the recognition of Krishna.

(we can listen and download all the earlier Govardhan retreats lectures at http://www.vihe.org/audio_lectures.html, scroll down to HH Sacinandana Swami, HG Bhurijan Prabhu, HG Jagattarini Mataji, then click again and we will find links to all the earlier  recorded lectures from earlier retreats)

All glories to HH Sacinandan Maharaj.

After I took the left turn from the highway for Sri Radha Kund, and passed through villages, there were lush green fields on both sides.

I reached Sri Radha Kund around 3 pm. We drove right till the Radha Kunda, as the market and the lanes were deserted. I got down from the car a local panda (local priest) arrived from no where, probably the car acted as a cue. The road outside was so hot that I could not walk a single step barefoot.

I entered Sri Radha Kunda, paid my obeisances on the steps and then took bath in the shaded portion of the Kunda. The water was surprising not at all warm. I paid my respects, seek forgiveness for entering the holy water, being completely unqualified, I shared what all was agitating me and then I prayed with all my heart to show me a way. After the bath, the panda `cajoled’ me to offer arti and made me donate some rice and dal as today was `amvasaya’. I requested him that I needed the pictures of Sri Radha Kund and Govardhan and the panda helped me by taking me to a shop and I found just the right picture and size for my altar. I was so happy to see these pictures that I wanted to hug the panda. I was looking for them since last one year and could not get them anywhere. HG Vidurpriya Prabhuji had told me earlier that They will come when They want to and not when I want, so today They agreed.

Sri Radha Kund ki Jai !

I had earlier planned to visit only Sri Radha Kund and then go straight to Vrindavan but after listening to the retreat lectures, and now getting a beautiful picture of Giriraj, I felt inspired to pay my obeisances to Sri Govardhan. I told the driver to go to Govardhan, we drove till the main market and then took the left turn.

And there He was, an effulgent and majestically standing Govardhan.

I filled my eyes with His beauty, paid dandavat pranam, thanked Him, and left for Vrindavan with Vraja dhooli on my forehead.

I had a quick lunch in the car, which my wife had packed for the office. By the time I reached the temple it was almost 4.25 pm. I bought a pair of rose garlands for Sri Krishna Balram and entered the temple. Whenever I enter Sri Krishna Balram temple it is an indescribable feeling. It is like coming back to my real home, or as I have shared earlier, coming back to the home of my grandfather. I know someone is waiting who loves me, without judging me, or I may add,  someone who loves me despite knowing who really I am.

As I entered inside, a soft melodious kirtan was going by the 24 hour kirtan party. I first paid my obeisances to Srila Prabhupada, thanked him profusely for inspiring me to come here and begged him to engage me in his transcendental movement. And after paying dandavat at the closed altar I went and met HG Ganshyam Prabahu, who was part of the Kirtan party. He is a very simple and sincere devotee who serves HH Janananda Maharaj. I gave him the parcel which HG Shyam Sundar Prabhu had sent for him. Suddenly the conchshell blew and it was time for Their Lordship to see us.

The beauty of Deities at Vrindavan is beyond words, They always look so fresh, so beautiful, so stunning, so captivating, so charming, words fail to describe Them.

After paying my obeisances and thanking Them for letting me come there, I stood there admiring Their beauty, alternating between all the three altars, each one more munificent, more sublime and simply divine.

The kirtan was now going on with more vigor. A hall which was empty 5 minutes back was full of dancing devotees.

As I came into the temple courtyard I saw devotees doing the service for rubbing chandan for the chandan Yatra. HG Ganshyam prabhu came out and graciously got me some mahaprasadam. He saw me looking at the devotees who were doing the service of rubbing chandan and he asked if I would like to do it ? My heart jumped and I said Yes please ! He went to the Prabhuji who was in charge of the service and requested him to allow me to do the service for sometime. Prabhuji asked my credentials and whether I am following all the 4 regulative principles strictly and chanting my rounds, and after my affirmative answer Prabhuji allowed me to take up the service. I was so delighted as I could get a direct service for the Lord. I didn’t sit idle for a single minute today, what a good fortune, all mercy of Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada and the devotees.

Later, I went to Srila Prabhupda’s samadhi and thanked him again for inspiring me to come to Sri Vrindavan dham and sought his causeless mercy to engage me in his movement and begged for intelligence to serve his servants and their servants with all my heart and without any prejudice. I wanted to cry at his feet but no tears came out of my dry stone like heart.

I left the temple around 5.50pm to meet HG Damodar Prabhu, a very knowledgeable and yet a very humble devotee. I reached his home at 6pm and spent 30 wonderful minutes with him. After initial greetings I asked Prabhuji how can I read Caitanaya Caritramrita better and learn to recite the Bengali verses. Prabhuji instructed me that I should not just the read the translation, which is what I do, but also read the verses, even if I can’t pronounce them properly. Prabhuji said that there is no difference between Sri Caitanaya Caritramrita and Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and whenever I read Caitanaya Caritramrita I must first pray to Mahaprabhu and if Mahraprabhu is pleased then reading and reciting Bengali verses would suddenly become a cakewalk. Jai!

When Prabhuji had last come to Gurgaon, he had sung `Hari Haraye Namah Krsna Yadavaya Namah’ and `Bhaja re bhaj re amar mana ati manda’ bhajans. These two bhajans remain firmly imbibed in my heart for the melodious and absorbing way Prabhuji sang them. He had literally taken me to the transcendental world while singing them. So my second  question was how can I learn to sing Vaishnava Bhajans as I have developed a longing to learn them but I do not have any musical sense or voice. Prabhuji smiled and replied that to sing Vaishanava bhajans we do not need to be an expert in tunes or require any special singing skills as they need to come out from our heart. When I said that in my case the heart also does not have any feeling or purity, Prabhuji told me to pray to the goswamis and practice them everyday and I should get them. He also told me that I can listen to bhanjans by Sri Akinchan Krishnadas Babaji Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada’s godbrother, who used to chant almost 24 hours a day and hear how by simply playing a basic kartal tune and with a not so melodious voice he still takes the listener to another realm by his simple bhajans.  I promised myself that I am going to learn few bhajans, which I can sing alone in my coarse voice and see if I can glorify the Lord. I left his association around 6.30pm for back to Gurgaon.

This short trip proved to be one of my best trips as by the mercy of the Lord I could absorb most of the time remembering Krishna,  listening about Krishna, got darshan of Sri Radha Kunda, Sri Govardhan, Deities at Krishna Balram temple, goy to do the chandan service for the Lord and then got devotee association with HG Ganshyam Prabhu and HG Damodar Prabhu. I spoke to HG Shyam Sundar Prabhuji for sometime and then chanted almost all the way back to home. My agitated heart was calm, filled with love and an increasing inspiration to do something more in the service of Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and Guru.

All glories to Sri Vrindavan Dhama.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gaurnaga.

Hare Krishna

22rd April, 2014, Gurgaon.

I had written in my previous two blogs about power of prayer (blog1, blog2) and then in another two blogs about most merciful Tulasi maharani (blog3, blog4). As I experience new realisations they make my faith firm in this most unusual spiritual journey.

During the last winter, unlike in the past, all the Tulasi Maharanis remained very healthy this year. Unfortunately, Gurgaon had some unseasonal rains after the winter was over and one of the eldest Tulasi could not survive the drastic change in the weather. I kept her in the sun later for many days but to no avail. I felt very sad as I shared a very special relationship with that particular Tulasi and felt very guilty that I did not bring her inside while it rained heavily few days. My wife suggested me to remove the dry stems and we can get a new Tulasi plant. Somehow I didn’t agree to that suggestion, my guilt of not taking good care of her made me keep her as it is. I kept on watering her her daily and prayed her to forgive me for not taking good care in the bad weather and begged her to come back.

It’s almost 2 months now, last a week  I saw a small green shoot coming out. Initially I thought that it was some wild plant growing on the side but after a few days I knew she has forgiven me as I could clearly  see it was Tulasi. She came back ! Here is the picture I clicked today morning.

I was so very happy, I was elated. I thanked her profusely and then ran inside to call my children and wife and showed them that how Tulasi maharani listened to my prayers from the and came back. They were surprised as they  had seen me watering dry stems since many weeks. Tulasi maharani is indeed the most merciful.

Tulasi Maharani Ki Jai !

CC Ādi 3.105-106: Advaita Ācārya considered the meaning of the verse in this way: “Not finding any way to repay the debt He owes to one who offers Him a tulasī leaf and water, Lord Kṛṣṇa thinks, ‘There is no wealth in My possession that is equal to a tulasī leaf and water.’

Madhya 22.125: After item twenty-six (meditation), the twenty-seventh is to serve tulasi, the twenty-eighth is to serve the Vaisnava, the twenty-ninth is to live in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krsna, and the thirtieth is to read Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly.

CC Antya 3.137: “Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and render service to the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.”

KB 30
The gopis then began to address the tulasi plants: “ Dear tulasi, you are much beloved by Lord Krishna because your leaves are always at His lotus feet.”

SB 3.16.21: Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport ‘The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, is sometimes envious of the tulasī leaves which are placed at the lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Lakṣmījī, although stationed by the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor’.

In his poem titled Sri Sankalpa-kalpadruma, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has prayed:

vrindavana-sthira-caran paripalayitri
vande tayo rasikayor ati-saubhagena
adhyasi tat kuru krpam ganana yathaiva
sri-radhika-parijanesu mamapi siddhet

O Vrinda-devi, O protectress of the moving and non-moving living entities in Vrindavana, you are wealthy in the mercy of the Divine Couple who enjoy pastimes in Vraja. Please be merciful to me. Please place me among Sri Radha’s associates.

he sri-tulasy uru-krpa-dyu-tarangini tvam
yan murdhni me carana-pankajam adadhasvam
yac caham apy apibam ambu manak tadiyam
tan me manasy udayam eti manoratho’yam

O Srimati Tulasi-devi, O celestial Ganges river of mercy, it is because I once placed my head at your lotus feet and drank some drops of water that washed your lotus feet, that these desires have risen in my heart.

kvaham parah sata-nikaty-anuviddha-cetah
sankalpa esa sahasa kva su-durlabhe’rthe
eka kalpaiva tava mam ajahaty upadhi-
sunyeva mantum adadhaty agater gatir me

O Srimati Tulasi-devi, how low I am, my heart pierced by hundreds of offenses! How exalted and difficult to attain is my aspiration! Your causeless mercy is my only hope. It is by Your mercy that I, who am so fallen, can have these desires in my thoughts.

All glories to Tulsai maharani.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna.

14th April, 2014 Gurgaon.

It was our good fortune that HH Bhakti Chraru Swami visited Gurgaon yesterday for a day.

We received Maharaj at the airport, he was accompanied by HG GangaNarayan Prabhuji and HG Vimal Krishna Prabhuji from Ujjain. After a brief exchange Maharaj went for some meetings in Gurgaon with Atma Prabhu and some other devotees.

Maharaj had promised to give darshan to everyone in the evening. Around 50-60 devotees gathered at the home of HG Radheshyam Prabhu to welcome Maharaj. Everyone was waiting anxiously while listening to wonderful kirtan led by HG Brajamohan prabhu from U.K. HG Vidurpriya prabhuji came all the way from Sri Radhaparthasathi temple, Delhi, to officially welcome Maharaj on behalf of Gurgaon devotees.

Maharaj arrived around 8 pm. He apologised is his ever sweet voice for being half an hour late. Maharaj then introduced two devotees who accompanied him and taught us so many things in the short lecture.

Maharaj first glorified Subodh Prabhu and then Paramjit Prabhu, a sikh gentleman whom he met in Dubai, he then glorified their family, their business and then further glorified Sikshism itself. Maharaj shared with us the  root and purpose of sikhism in such detail that, leave aside us, I am sure even many sikhs themselves would not know today.

Like a true teacher, Maharaj showed with his own behaviour, how we should interact with non devotees, innocents and other religions and win them over with love and humbleness. Like some expert craftsman he then connected Sikhism to drive home the point what is religion, defining it as

dharmam tu sakshad bhagavat-pranitam

He then spoke about love, what is actual love, what do we get from love – reciprocation and finally Joy. And then he spoke about what is the purpose of all religions- to love God, and finally dovetailed everyone’s minds at the lotus feet of Krishna. The fluency, conviction and ease with which Maharaj spoke extempore can not be matched by any corporate professional speaker. It shows us how Krishna’s and Srila Prabhupada’s kripa shakti is flowing via Maharaj. It is  a pity that I do not even have enough sukriti to forever absorb such golden words coming out from senior sanyasis and devotees.

After the lecture Maharaj led a short but a very melodious kirtan. Again like magic everything fell perfectly into place, the mridang, the kartal, the harmonium, the acoustics of the hall, to accompany his golden voice, they all strained to ensure they do justice to the honour of serving his melodious voice. It was as if a grandmaster is playing a great symphony in a concert hall for the the pleasure of the Lord.

Within minutes it became difficult for me to chose  between closing my eyes and experience Krishna or to keep the eyes open and drink the nector of Maharaj’s presence.

CC Madhya 21.114: “O My dear friend, what severe austerities have the gopīs performed to drink His transcendental beauty and sweetness through their eyes in complete fulfillment? Thus they glorify their births, bodies and minds.

First time in my life I felt that Brahmaji has actually not designed this body very well. And for the first time I understood, though only a litlte bit, what gopis felt when they complained about the imperfect design of their body.

CC Madhya 21.133: “When the onlooker of Kṛṣṇa’s face becomes dissatisfied in this way, he thinks, ‘Why didn’t the creator give me thousands and millions of eyes? Why has he given me only two? Even these two eyes are disturbed by blinking, which keeps me from continuously seeing Kṛṣṇa’s face.’ Thus one accuses the creator of being dry and tasteless due to engaging in severe austerities. ‘The creator is only a dry manufacturer. He does not know how to create and set things in their proper places.

CC Madhya 21.134: “‘The creator says, “Let those who will see Kṛṣṇa’s beautiful face have two eyes.” Just see the lack of consideration exhibited by this person posing as a creator. If the creator took my advice, he would give millions of eyes to the person who intends to see Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s face. If the creator will accept this advice, then I would say that he is competent in his work.’

I felt so constrained- why I can not I experience both – Seeing Maharaj as well as experiencing Krishna. I actually felt pained with this unique experience of feeling separation from Maharaj and Krishna while being right there experiencing both with my senses ! It was inconceivable what I was experience last evening. For the lack of a good vocabulary let me say it was an incredible experience which will stay forever in my heart.

Later, Maharaj met almost all the local devotees and distributed his love and affection to everyone.

Whenever I meet or even see senior sanyasis like HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, HH Giriraj swami Maharaj and so many others sanyasis and senior devotees in ISKCON I can’t help but pray and beg to six Goswamis and our Guru Paramapara to please give me an opportunity to serve such dedicated soldiers of Srila Prabhupada in some way.

All glories to HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

please visit www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com

Hare Krishna.

6th April, 2014, Gurgaon.

Q: What does the name Radha means ?

Ans :

kṛṣṇa-vāñchā-pūrti-rūpa kare ārādhane

ataeva ‘rādhikā’ nāma purāṇe vākhāne   (CC Ādi 3.61)

TRANSLATION

Her worship [ārādhana] consists of fulfilling the desires of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore the Purāṇas call Her Rādhikā.

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport of this verse

The name “Rādhā” is derived from the root word ārādhana, which means “worship.” The personality who excels all in worshiping Kṛṣṇa may therefore be called Rādhikā, the greatest servitor.

Q: What is paravyoma ?

Ans : The spiritual sky is called paravyoma.

CC Madhya 21.50: “‘Between the spiritual and the material world is a body of water known as the river Virajā. This water is generated from the bodily perspiration of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Vedāńga. Thus the river flows.’

CC Madhya 21.51: “‘Beyond the river Virajā is the spiritual nature, which is indestructible, eternal, inexhaustible and unlimited. It is the supreme abode, consisting of three fourths of the Lord’s opulences. It is known as paravyoma, the spiritual sky.

Q: Why is the material world called eka-pāda ?

Ans:

CC Madhya 21.55: “The spiritual world is considered to be three fourths of the energy and opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas this material world is only one fourth of that energy. That is our understanding.

CC Madhya 21.56: “‘Because it consists of three fourths of the Lord’s energy, the spiritual world is called tri-pād-bhūta. Being a manifestation of one fourth of the Lord’s energy, the material world is called eka-pāda.’

Q: When does Krishna descends to this world ?

Ans : Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport of CC Ādi 3.10:  From the beginning of Brahmā’s day of 4,320,000,000 years, six Manus appear and disappear before Lord Kṛṣṇa appears. Thus 1,975,320,000 years of the day of Brahmā elapse before the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

CC Ādi 3.6: Once in a day of Brahmā, He descends to this world to manifest His transcendental pastimes.

CC Ādi 3.7: We know that there are four ages [yugas], namely Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali. These four together constitute one divya-yuga.

CC Ādi 3.8: Seventy-one divya-yugas constitute one manv-antara. There are fourteen manv-antaras in one day of Brahmā.

CC Ādi 3.9: The present Manu, who is the seventh, is called Vaivasvata [the son of Vivasvān]. Twenty-seven divya-yugas [27 x 4,320,000 solar years] of his age have now passed.

CC Ādi 3.10: At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga of the twenty-eighth divya-yuga, Lord Kṛṣṇa appears on earth with the full paraphernalia of His eternal Vraja-dhāma.

All glories to Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

please visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for the same blog with pictures.

Hare Krishna.

4th April, 2014, Gurgaon.

HG Murari Prabhuji, from Jaipur, was in Gurgaon and though I could not get his association I could revisit an important parameter on my chanting.

Shyam Sundar Prabhuji shared with me the discussion he had with Prabhuji on improving his chanting. Murari prabhu told him that our chanting is only as good as the priority we give it. When Shyam Sunday Prabhu ji pushed him to elaborate on it, he asked him what does he do when he gets a call on the mobile while he is chanting. Shyam Sundar Prabhuji replied him that he stops his chanting and take the call and once the call is over he gets back to his chanting. Murari Prabhu then told him that if your Guru is sitting with you then would you still take the call. Shyam Sundar Prabhu ji replied that he never picks a call in the presence of his Guru. Murari prabhu then replied` So in your priority chanting is placed lower than your Guru’ ? This question obviously flummoxed Shyam Sundar Prabhuji and got him thinking. He said he will now ensure that he will give priority to chanting and will try not to get disturbed while chanting.

When prabhuji shared this conversation with me in the evening, I agreed that I too do the same, many a times, and this inspite of having heard so many lectures and seminars on not to do it. I told myself that I too will try to give priority to my chanting from now onwards and will consciously try not to get disturbed while chanting my rounds.

All glories to Murai Prabhu.

All glories to Sri Nama Prabhu.

Please visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for the same blog with pictures.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Hare Krishna.

4th April, 2014, Gurgaon.

I got up a little late today and for some strange reason instead of chanting I first reread the below lecture by HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj which came few days back.

http://www.bhakticharuswami.com/2011/07/11/sik%E1%B9%A3a%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%ADakam-lecture-2-iskcon-radhadesh

In this lecture Guru Maharaj explained, among many other things,  why we have not developed any attraction for the Holy name ( durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ Śikṣāṣṭakam second verse). Guru Maharaj then added that the next verse shows us the qualification of chanting the Holy Name

trinad api sunichena taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih [Śikṣāṣṭaka 3].

Translation

One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

I could never connect these verses like this. Guru Maharaj says further `We have not been able to become tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā amāninā mānadena. That’s why we are not able to kīrtanya sadā hariḥ.’

After reading the complete lecture I started my chanting but these lines remained somewhat in my mind.

Later, while taking a shower and listening to another lecture, I suddenly connected what HG Shyam Sundar Prabhu ji wrote the other day on service in the right mood (http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com/?p=992) and what Guru Maharaj spoke in the lecture. I realised that while appreciating the content of the mail HG Shayam Sundar Prabhuji wrote me and listening to so many lectures in the past about humility and serving attitude I never implemented them in practice. It is like I know that I am a soul not a body but still spend all my day in the bodily consciousness.

I rewind my last 3-4 discussions with devotees in last few days and immediately remembered my conversations with Vishal Kapil Prabhu, with Shyam Bihari prabhuji and with Shyam Sundar Prabhuji. I realised that in none of these conversations I had the attitude of serving them as their servant. I spoke politely but I had no attitude that a devotee has called me and I have to think myself as his servant and then do my best to serve him. Rather my fickle mind and poor intelligence was ever ready to give unwanted advice or add my own comments. I never once thought that I have to serve them. When I rewind further back, to my horror, I also realised that in many of my conversations with devotees I have already `judged’ them based on my narrow perception or what I have heard about them. So, not unlike a materialist, I talk to them accordingly and barring a few devotees there is neither love nor a sincere serving attitude in my conversations. Only a paper-thin external humility.

I felt so guilty that I immediately wrote a sms to Shyam Sundar Prabhuji, sharing my realisation and seeking a sincere apology from him. I then thought of calling other devotees as well and seek apology. Better sense prevailed on me, I thought rather than saying sorry to devotees and explaining to each of them over phone on what I realised, it will be better to put `serving as a servant attitude’ in practice first and ask for forgiveness when I meet them in person.

I know it will be a herculean task for me to remember being a servant in every single conversation with each devotee but at least I will be conscious in few conversations where I can remember this realisation from now onwards. I pray at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada to kindly give me memory and intelligence to remember it forever.

All glories to Shyam Sundar Prabhuji.

All glories to Guru Maharaj.

All glories to Srila Prabhuapada.

please visit to read the same blog with pictures at http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com.

Hare Krishna.

20th March, 2014, Gurgaon.

I had a needless argument with HG Shyam Sundar Prabhuji the other day on some particular service which I wanted to undertake. The result of this silly argument (all from my side), however, was a beautiful mail which I received from Prabhuji. I am posting that mail 'as it is' for the benefit of all readers

Hare Krishna Prabhuji,

Dandavat Pranam...PAMHO.

We all know that the most important part of  being Krishna Consciousness is to comprehend and accept that we are servant of devotees, our Guru and Krishna. This is extremely critical as it is the only way to develop humility and surrender within us. Only a servant will surrender to his Master and then follow the instructions.

 But to be a servant, we cannot just feel it in our heart, we have to show in our action as well. And Servant's action is service. In true spirit, Servant cannot demand a service. He should not say I cannot wash utensils but only sweep floor, so give me service of sweeping floor. Servants cannot demand from Master. We have to keep in mind that when we call all devotees as Prabhuji (Prabhu=master), then he becomes our master too. If a service is given, the devotee should just perform it to the best of his efforts and focus. If the prabhu (jiva-baddha) doesn't know about you, you can always express what you think you are good at and what you struggle in, to ensure prabhuji doesn't give a service to someone where the service quality towards Krishna gets compromised. But if we still get the service where we are not comfortable; we should accept it as austerity and chance to improve in that service.

 Also the service has 2 basic principles - should serve higher goal (preaching) and / or should make us feel menial Eg: sweeping floor, washing utensils, driver etc; For Neophytes specially, one should always take a service which makes him feel menial as mandatory. On top of it if the master feels we are fit we could take other service that serves higher goal. Menial service is mandatory to develop humility. It helps us to develop the servitude attitude too. Sometimes when we have Gyan (jnana) and we sit on vyasa-asana, we start feeling we know everything and start expecting respect and then ahankar develops.      

 Another aspect is when we demand something, it means we feel we are deserving. In material life, when we demand say 5 lac pa salary, it means we are convinced that we are fit and deserve to get 5lac pa salary. Similarly, when we demand the service of giving lecture, what we are indirectly saying is that we have full knowledge and thus we become our own master.

We should also understand that we must always beg for service. Begging is important for two reasons: instigating compassion in other devotee's heart. As a devotee it is our duty to help other devotees in their spiritual quest. Secondly, when we beg, we inculcate the feeling of: "I am not the controller."

 Now the point comes: If we know we can not do a particular service properly, should we refuse it? Yes. Everything we do is for our master and it should be first class. Everything we do for Krishna and his representatives should be top class. However, we should not use this as an excuse to avoid taking up service. We should take consideration of our circumstances - especially for Grahasthas - they should maintain a balance between material and spiritual life, but at the same time we should push ourselves to take the service and do it nicely. Generally (unless medical reasons), nobody can say they can't do menial service. We (neophytes) are all sudras, so this is minimum. In fact, it takes a lot of effort to be fit for other services. Needless to say even in preaching service, the consciousness should be to serve devotees and our Guru and not getting recognition of our acquired intelligence or speaking skills.

 Can service be delegated ? Yes, provided we too are involved into it as well. This ensures that we are engaging others in service. 

I, too, am trying to implement these lessons, which I learned during my studies under HG Bhurijan Prabhu and while serving HH Janananda Maharaj. I am sharing them with you in the hope that these lessons may help you understand what should be our attitude while serving, and, eventually help you serve devotees with right consciousness.

Hari bol..

Very fallen servant,

Shyam sunder Krishna das

What a beautiful and inspiring mail ! I read this mail many times in last 2 weeks, and while reading it again today I thought of sharing it with everyone. I pray to Srila Prabhupada to kindly bless me with intelligence and memory so that I can always remember this lesson and serve devotees with right consciousness. I remember a quote by HH Mahanidhi Maharaj

The mail also showed the me the importance to cultivate healthy relationships with devotees, based on mutual faith and trust, so that we can guide each other without any hesitation.

All glories to HG Shyam Sundar Prabhu.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Hare Krishna.

29th March, 2014, Gurgaon.

Q1: How many types of Bhakti is explained in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ? Explain them.

Answer : Srila Prabupada writes in the purport of CC Adi 4.21-22 :

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta three kinds of devotional service are described — namely, bhakti (ordinary devotional service), śuddha-bhakti (pure devotional service) and viddha-bhakti (mixed devotional service).

When devotional service is executed with some material purpose, involving fruitive activities, mental speculations or mystic yoga, it is called mixed or adulterated devotional service. Besides bhakti-yoga, the Bhagavad-gītā also describes karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga and dhyāna-yoga. Yoga means linking with the Supreme Lord, which is possible only through devotion. Fruitive activities ending in devotional service, philosophical speculation ending in devotional service, and the practice of mysticism ending in devotional service are known respectively as karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga and dhyāna-yoga. But such devotional service is adulterated by the three kinds of material activities.

For those grossly engaged in identifying the body as the self, pious activity, or karma-yoga, is recommended. For those who identify the mind with the self, philosophical speculation, or jñāna-yoga, is recommended. But devotees standing on the spiritual platform have no need of such material conceptions of adulterated devotion. Adulterated devotional service does not directly aim for love of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore service performed strictly in conformity with the revealed scriptures is better than such viddha-bhakti because it is free from all kinds of material contamination. It is executed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, solely to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Those who are spontaneously devoted to the Lord and have no aims for material gain are called attracted devotees. They are spontaneously attracted to the service of the Lord, and they follow in the footsteps of self-realized souls. Their pure devotion (śuddha-bhakti), manifested from pure love of Godhead, surpasses the regulative principles of the authoritative scriptures….. The regulative principles help ordinary devotees rise to the stage of perfect love of Godhead. Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is the perfection of pure devotion, and pure devotional service is identical with spontaneous devotional service.

Q2: What is viśuddha-sattva ? What is miśra-sattva ?

Answer : Srila Prabhupada writes it in his purport to CC Adi 4.62 as below

In his thesis Bhagavat-sandarbha (103), Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains the potencies of the Lord as follows: The transcendental potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by which He maintains His existence is called sandhinī. The transcendental potency by which He knows Himself and causes others to know Him is called samvit. The transcendental potency by which He possesses transcendental bliss and causes His devotees to have bliss is called hlādinī. The total exhibition of these potencies is called viśuddha-sattva…..

In the mundane mode of goodness there are tinges of passion and ignorance. Therefore mundane goodness, being mixed, is called miśra-sattva. But the transcendental variegatedness of viśuddha-sattva is completely free from all mundane qualities. Viśuddha-sattva is therefore the proper atmosphere in which to experience the Personality of Godhead and His transcendental pastimes.

In the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.27.4), Indra praises Kṛṣṇa as follows:

viśuddha-sattvaḿ tava dhāma śāntaḿ  tapo-mayaḿ dhvasta-rajas-tamaskam

māyā-mayo ‘yaḿ guṇa-sampravāho na vidyate te ‘grahaṇānubandhaḥ

“My dear Lord, Your abode is viśuddha-sattva, always undisturbed by the material qualities, and the activities there are in transcendental loving service unto Your feet. The goodness, austerity and penance of the devotees enhance such activities, which are always free from the contamination of passion and ignorance. Material qualities cannot touch You under any circumstances.”

Srila Prabhupada further expands it in his purport of CC Adi 4.62

Lord Kṛṣṇa’s father, mother and household affairs are all displayed in the same viśuddha-sattva existence. A living entity situated in the status of pure goodness can understand the form, qualities and other features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa consciousness begins on the platform of pure goodness.When the living entity is situated in viśuddha-sattva, transcendental to the three material modes of nature, he can perceive the form, quality and other features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through his service attitude. The status of pure goodness is the platform of understanding, for the Supreme Lord is always in spiritual existence.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

pl go to http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for the same blog with picture.

Hare Krishna

23rd March, 2014, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.

One of my most beloved mamaji, maternal uncle, suddenly fell ill and then left his body on 22nd March. He was almost 85 and died peacefully at home, in the presence of his whole family. I pray to Lord Krishna to bless this noble soul.

We rushed on 22nd March early morning to leave for Dharamsala by car, which is approx 500km from Delhi in the northern Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh.

I had following realisations on this day

1. As the his death got confirmed my wife, Priti, suggested that she could accompany me, leaving children with nana & nani, their maternal grandparents. This Mamaji was close my heart, of course he was affectionate towards Priti as well, but the connection was via me. She agreed to accompany because she knew he was very close to my family.  My first realisation that had it been Priti’s mamaji I would have refused to go come what may. I would have chosen to stay behind. I realise that this is what I had been doing since beginning, a cold, rather stone, hearted person. I felt ashamed but the words sorry or thank you still didn’t out of my mouth at that time.

2. Ay 4am in the morning I had to suddenly look for an alternative car as my car could not accommodate 6 people and the driver. None of the taxi guys were picking the call and then finally I had to call a friend’s no. who too didn’t pick my call at that hour. I then called up his wife, who picked it after 3 rings and then after hearing me, told me in 3 seconds flat to pick up their Innova and leave my car at their place.

More shame in the heart : Without elaborating too much on this topic let me confess that I would always feel very irritated to get such calls and requests. Yes, it became a bit different for devotee friends, but for my material friends my thoughts and feelings continue to remain the same. For the first time I could see the hypocrisy and narrow-mindedness in my dealings towards non-devotees, that too based on their external behaviour and my own judgment.

3. As we left, I decided not to inform my mother, who was accompanying us in the car, about death of her brother as she gets very emotional and the whole journey will become very difficult with her crying, etc. Usually I get very irritated with her, as her only agenda in life is to enjoy it and despite my best, rather worst, efforts she remains a `karmi’ (materialist) at heart. As we drove on and I started seeing and judging how she is behaving and that she is only interested in gossip and eating. Then strangely I saw her like a small child, who is innocent. I also realised that how, as in case of others, I have been thoroughly judgmental in my behaviour towards her and never realised the pains she went through her life. And rather than guiding her with love and affection, I became rude and cold, trying to behave like a class teacher, whom she could never confide anything. All such discussion will result in some lecture from me to her. I felt very ashamed and promised myself to amend it from today itself.

4. As we finally reached Dharamsala at the home of my Mamaji, I could not stop my tears. I had not met him for many years, twice in last 10 years. I realised how much he will call me to this place where I was born and with so much affection in his heart. I wanted to go but in last 2 years I started thinking about how will I eat at their home, they eat non-vegetarian food, etc. and how it will hurt him if I were to dictate my terms on eating or stay somewhere else. I was such an ass that I could not see the affection and only thought about externals. Despite many instructions that in today’s time food can not purify us and we have to win people with love not by strict rules, thus I became kind of outcast from the whole set of relatives and friends, thinking myself as pure and others as foolish materialists condemned for worst in their future. I also closed the gate to preach to all of them. I was really heartbroken that I kept on deliberating on such issues and could not spend more time with someone who was so full of love and affection towards me and may could have preached hm to Chant the holy name in his last leg of journey. His love for me remained same whether I was tasting failure or success in life. Like my nanaji, maternal grandfather, he never judged me. What a great lesson I learned but at such a great cost and a guilt which I will probably carry for the rest of my life.

I promised myself that I will pray to six goswamis, to guru parampara, to please soften my cold heart, to beg for it each time I take darshan of Deities, to beg my Guru and my fellow god brothers and sisters.

I know that all my chanting has been just audible words coming out of my mouth. I can understand what all hints Guru Maharaj, very subtly, and Shyam Sundar Prabhu, very strongly, have been giving me but I am such a foolish person that I didn’t even consider them for a second, completely blinded in my quest for knowledge.

I searched and got these lines from Nitai Gaura Nama, written by Sri Lochana Das Thakura.

Hence I beg at the lotus feet of all the devotees who read this blog to kindly pray for me so that I too can join this great movement of Mahaprabhu where the only weapon is love and compassion for others, and nothing else, nothing else and nothing else.

I also beg at the feet of dear friend and guide HG Shyam Sundar Prabhu to not give up on a rascal like myself and continue the hard task of `softening’ my stone like heart.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

P.s. : Please visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com to read this and other blogs with pictures.

Hare Krishna.

By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga I was able to visit Sri Mayapur Dhama and then to Jagannath Puri this week. I can write pages and pages about my experience there and am sure the same will be the case with most of us who travel to Dhama and come back with varied realisations and observations. I will try to summarise my experience in brief at both the Dhams in short.



Sri Mayapur Dhama

Planning

I had gone, for the first time, to Mayapur, almost the same time last year with Shyam Sundar Prabhu. We had planned to go again together and I was looking forward to it. Few weeks before the trip Prabhuji told me that he may not be able to go as he may not get leave from the office. My first internal reaction was to drop the trip and go with him only whenever he could make it. Prabhuji pushed me to go alone or find some devotee but I dragged my feet. He, then, suggested that why don’t I take my family, I wasn’t sure whether they would be willing to come or not. Prabhuji pushed me. I prayed to Srila Prabhupada and asked my wife if we can all go to Mayapur and as a carrot I suggested that from there we can all go to Jagannath Puri and we can all stay in their favorite resort there, Coco palms. She agreed at one go, making my heart leap in the air, it was nothing short of a miracle for me. Later, she also suggested to bring her sister along with us, who too joined us.

Lesson for me :

a. Trust advise from devotees who are close to me, have faith in them and then use my own intelligence to walk that path.

b. Praying to Srila Prabhupada, even for selfish devotional reason, always helps. All I need is to have faith in him.

Arrival

A tour at Mayapur Iskon Temple with family.

For a change we went by an overnight train to Kolkata from Delhi. One reason was of course budget as the ticket prices went too high for my budget and secondly I was advised by Guru Maharaj to travel by train more often. The 2 Tier Rajdhani was comfortable and we reached Kolkata on the dot and there was a cab waiting for us from Mayapur, which I booked via internet the same morning from temple.

We took the longer route via Kalna and it took us almost 5 hours. As we came nearer to Dhama the air changed and suddenly everything looked and felt pure, the air, the scenery, it was so refreshing just to be here. As we took the final sharp left/ U turn from the railway tracks towards ISKCON my heart beat went faster and with great anticipation I crossed many of our previous Acharya’s home, Yoga Pith and finally under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada at ISKCON gates.

All glories to Sri Mayapur Dhama.

There was an initial confusion about the availability of room and I was even getting mentally ready to stay outside the Ashram but then so many devotees came to help and within 20 minutes instead of no room I had choice of rooms in different buildings !

lesson :

a. This lessons holds me good whenever I visit any Dhama. I try to remain in complete surrender to the Dhama, atleast as far as my boarding and lodging goes :). I know Dhama doesn’t need a shudra like me still I have complete faith in my heart that with a mood of surrender mercy flows, howsoever long may be my list of disqualification.

b. I must learn to go out of my way to help any devotees and never to be indifferent to the smallest of the requests I receive.

Stay

image3

It was simply transcendental to take the darshan of Pancha Tattavas & Sri Radha Madhav and then sit down and hear HH Radhanath Maharaj doing Kitan, pure bliss. It was tough for me to leave the temple and look after the needs of my family but I did that nevertheless. ISKCON Mayapur wore all the looks of a festive atmosphere, getting ready for a transcendental climax.

photo 1 photo

It was a bumper harvest for me as far as seeing so many Sanyasis at a single place and also getting association of senior devotees from Delhi who are usually very busy.

I could meet HG Amogh Lila prabhu. I shared with him how I have recently been diagnosed with a serious disease, by one of the most experienced Sanyasi `doctor’, in which my heart is becoming harder and I am running after only `Jnana’. Prabhuji prescribed some `medicine’ to get a cure from this dreaded disease, the crux of which was that I must serve out of my comfort zone. Prabhuji said all my devotional activities are centered around my own comfort zone and I must take some activity which make me uncomfortable or is not to my taste ! And then cheering me and bringing me instantly out of my sulky mood he declared that this disease, of having a hard heart and only running after knowledge, and so many other disqualifications are indeed my qualification to get mercy of Gaur Nitai. In seconds Prabhuji snapped me out of my depressive mood which I was having ever since I was diagnosed with this particular disease. He also instructed me on many practical aspects of my spiritual and material life.

All glories to HG Amogh Lila Prabhu.

I could also grab some quality time from HG Rukmini Prabhu who again gave me practical advice on how to progress in my spiritual journey. It was after a long time that I could open my heart to him without the constraint of time. He instructions to me

1. Improve my chanting

2. Not to write blogs in the office hours ( which I am breaking right now for this blog as I will forget most of my learnings)

3. Serve the local centre more.

4. Donate more. Prabhuji said that I have to ensure that in some way my body, mind and words are being used in the service of the Lord. He also added that the `moha’ of money is more difficult to give up and that I should work on it.

5. Spend more time with family members, take guidance from mature Grahstha devotees to ensure a proper balance.

By the causeless mercy of Lord I got association of so many devotees. I met Karuna Prabhu and Nityananda Ashray Prabhu and Bimlaprasad Prabhuji from Punjabi Bagh temple, they were all there with a large no. of new congregational devotees. They took pity on me and took me and my family along with them for next two days on various trips around the Dhama.

photo 22 photo 32 photo 42

The lecture Rukmini Prabhuji gave at the Rajapura temple was so very grounded and yet profound in its basic understanding of offering Bhoga to deities.

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Lesson :

a. I must open my heart to my shiksha gurus and admit, without any shame, my shortcomings. I have seen Shyam Sundar Prabhuji practicing it and it took some courage for a weak person like me to start practicing it.

b. I must constantly endeavour to improve `internally’, just improving the externally won’t help me much.

c. I should remember to beat my mind three times a day with a broom because it convinces me every time that I am doing fine as a devotee and do not need any help from devotees.

And then as a bonus I had a great time at whatever Kirtans I could attend, eyes of HH Radhanath Maharaj fell on me purifying me instantly, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj met for a brief 30 seconds purifying me further, and finally I could take darshan of Guru Maharaj (more of that I would write separately).

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Each Mangal Arti and Kirtan was special and so was the special maha Abhishek of Pancha Tattavas on 3rd March.

photo 2

Hundreds of devotees rubbed and collected chandan and also brought Ganga Jal for the Maha Abhishek.

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On the last day we heard a wonderful SB class by HG Dravida Prabhu. Prabhuji gave us a gem of a verse to meditate upon while praying to Lord. Here it goes.

tvayi me ‘nanya-visaya matir madhu-pate ‘sakrt

ratim udvahatad addha gangevaugham udanvati

Translation:

O Lord of Madhu, as the Ganges forever flows to the sea without hindrance, let my attraction be constantly drawn unto you without being diverted to anyone else. (SB 1.8.42)

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Shyam Sundar Prabhu, Murari Prabhu and myself have taken timeshare accommodation in an upcoming building in the complex for 60 days in an year. Initially I was wondering that apart from these 4-5 days in March when would I ever go to Mayapur. But on this trip I felt that even all the 60 days could be less as my attachment for MahaPrabhu and Sri Mayapur Dhama grows exponentially.



All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

PS: Please visit www.forthepleasureofthelordkrishna.com for the same blog with pictures.