The nice thing about being ill, if their is such a thing is that it forces you to stop.
Shivering and coughing its hard to chant and even basic care of the deities takes an eternity the material body demonstrates its limitations and reminds me that in many ways in this form time is limited; Srila Prabhupada words “Don’t waste time Chant Hare Krishna rings true”
However illness also gives the opportunity to catch up on things and although the ability to concentrate on reading is impaired one can enjoy the wonderful collection of Srila Prabhupada video’s; now that will inspire you.
I’ve been watching the very early movie collection, you can see the early disciplines struggle answering some basic questions by the reporter’s; but despite this two things stand out:
1) Their love for Srila Prabhupada
2) Their love for chanting Hare Krishna
Despite not having a great philosophical insight they understood the importance of guru and the power of the holy names in solving the world’s problems by firstly solving theirs.
In some ways their is a child like approach, simple surrender, unquestioning but practically experiencing the power of the shelter of Guru and the healing power of reconnecting with Krishna in the form of the holy names.
It makes me wonder if somewhere along the way as a society of Krishna Consciousness we’ve become too proud of our newfound academic prowess?
Greater emphasis is on slokas and completion of courses, without really gaining understanding.
Sat watching between coughs and shivering what comes across in these early videos is great love, in many ways Srila Prabhupada looks his happiest in these early video’s, despite the crazy dancing, odd instruments being played and what would bring outcrys from current leaders of this Krishna Consciousness movement of bad etiquette.
I know the party line, those were exceptional times, we can’t live in the past, we have standards bla bla bla
What attracted me and made me take up devotional life?
It was Love
The love the devotees had for their Guru Maharaja and the chanting of the holy name’s, slowly philosophy came, and indeed I’ve got a long way to go, Krishna Consciousness has so many levels I think even after many lifetimes I won’t get it.
My own initiation remains a defining moment, but again I pray maybe one day my understanding will be as deep as that of my god family; I’m for sure a slow learner.
But personally I think we’ve lost the lesson Srila Prabhupada gave in those early day’s, hung up on standards and enforcement of standards; but Prabhupada knew over time this would come; but first he met them at their own level.
If we’re so high up it becomes or feels unattainable.
Srila Prabhupada cheeted the westerner’s in a very expert way
He understood they were rebelling against authority, establishment, religiosity.
That they wanted to self express, explore but mostly to experience love
So he simply gave them prasadam and kirtan
Bring your instrument’s your dancing shoes enjoy
This is the essence of harinama and rathayatra come join in sing and dance
You could see how much pleasure Srila Prabhupada was getting from seeing those early disciples getting attached to the holy name’s, bringing others come join in.
We’re now apparently boiling the milk, its time to educate; but no one is watching the milk only the cash flow; the real boiling of the milk is not education but loving attachment to Guru and the chanting of Hare Krishna
Seeing so many go through our prized education system I wonder why we still in London only have two temple’s, the population has grown in London but in real terms the devotee community hasn’t. These temple’s were inauguration was by Srila Prabhupada by the enbevours of his early disciples who hadn’t done this or that course; inspired by the love they felt for Srila Prabhupada because they felt loved by Srila Prabhupada.
This love cannot be manufactured, or learnt in any academic setting.
Have we become so hucked on ritualistic standardisation and persut of academic excellence that the origins of and aims have been lost, that absorption in chanting Hare Krishna?
Although I know many who feel that academia is the future as it gets rid of sentiment
But is the reality that we actually are getting rid of this unconditional love?
The spontaneous love of Guru and Krishna that opened up centres and temple’s that remain open to today and which we appear unable to replicate.
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