meditations

I shall never again lament

2008-09-12T10:19:00.002-05:00

Now it is the age of Kali. My enemies, the senses, have become very strong. The splendid path of pure devotional service is blocked by millions of thorny bushes. I'm weak and agitated. Alas! Alas! Where can I go? O Lord Caitanyacandra, if You will not give me your mercy now, what can I do? - Sri Caitanya-candramrta 6

Alas, alas! how will the desire-creeper of pure devotional service sprout in the desert of my heart? In my heart there is only one hope. I shall call out the name of Lord Caitanya. Then I shall never again lament. - Sri Caitanya-candramrta 43

nama-krpa - The mercy of the holy name

2008-09-10T13:08:00.002-05:00

O Lord! Be merciful and appear on my tongue in Your holy name; dance there constantly, O Lord! I fall at your lotus feet and beg You.

Your may keep me in this world or take me to Your abode as You please, but whatever You do with me, feed me the divine nectar of Your names.

You have descended to this world to distribute the holy name, so kindly also consider me one of those You intended to bless.

I am the most lowly, whereas You are committed to the uplift of the lowest; this is our eternal relationship, O Savior of the fallen!

On the strength of this unbreakable connection between us, O Lord, I beg You to shower me with the nectar of the holy name. - by Haridasa Thakura from the Harinama Cintamani, 11.53-57

The meaning of Hari - by Gopal-Guru Gosvami

2008-09-09T09:27:00.004-05:00

By chanting the name Hari, all sins are harati (destroyed). Just as fire burns even when one touches it accidentally, so if a person accidentally chants the name of hari, then all his sins are burned up. This name reveals the Lord's real form, with all his bliss and knowledge, and thus destroys ignorance and its effects. This is the meaning of the word Hari.

Or, the word Hari can mean He who takes away (harati) the three miseries of material existence from all living entities.

Or, Hari can mean He who attracts (harati) the minds of all living entities when they hear about His transcendental qualities from a guru.

Or, Hari can mean He who attracts the minds of all avatars and all people by His sweetness and beauty, which is greater than that of millions of cupids. The word hari becomes hare in the vocative case (the form of address).

Or, according to the Brahma-samhita, the person who attracts the Lord's mind by Her ideal love, Radha, is called Hara. In the vocative case, Hara becomes Hare.

ugly me

2008-05-15T10:23:00.002-05:00

my ego is a lie. i have built it for a life time. my son looks at me and my ego starts to unravel. my lies are becoming exposed. i envision a person that i want him to be. but who is the person that he sees? is who he sees who he becomes? is who he sees who i see in myself?

now, 40 years into it, my ego is unraveling, unable to stand up to the eyes of an inocent child. my ego is built of sand, i have just been careful to protect it.

Bugs fly over my head

2008-05-07T10:08:00.004-05:00

I lay in the grass, small bugs fly over my head. They are so busy. They have so much to do and say to each other.
Above the bugs the birds fly over the trees. They are very busy chatting, collecting, building, defending. They have so much to do, so much to say!
Above the birds I see a plane. Its full of people, very busy people. Chatting, working, thinking, moving here and there. Busy, busy people.
Above the plane is a space station. Housing very smart, very important people, doing very important test and experiments. Changing the world with their discoveries.
Way down here, down with my back on the ground, laying in the grass, looking up to the sky, I have no one to talk to and nothing to do!
I like it this way.

Breakfast with Uncle Jim

2008-01-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

There is an old saying that, "A dog can be the King until you throw him a bone". Meaning a person's true nature will over come a facade, eventually.

This morning, over a cup of coffee, I said, "looks like Obama is leading the race". Uncle Jim's response was, "A black Muslim as President? That is the devils work. Obama is the devil incarnate".

This is one of the bad points in a democracy. A Stupid person's vote counts the same as everyone else's. Uncle Jim will not vote because he has identified a qualified candidate to defend the constitution, but rather whether he thinks they are the devil or not.

A night with Uncle Jim

2008-01-06T12:08:00.000-05:00

I spent the evening sitting out in the back yard next to a little fire speaking with my wife's uncle. We burnt wood, grass clippings and pizza boxes and talked about human rights. Uncle Jim is a guard in a prison that holds 17,000 prisoners and I asked him all the questions you every wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

According to uncle Jim, if you don't want to get raped, join a gang, especially if you are good looking or wimpy. Don't get a tattoo in prison even if you have your own needle, unless you already have AIDS or Hep C. Why? The tattoo artist will usually prick himself with the clean needle just to contaminate it and infect you. If you are a Vegan (like me) you can get a special meal, meat and dairy free. And if you don't want to go to jail, while in prison, a place where you are served your meals through a doggy door and you get a shave and a shower once a week, don't smoke weed or drink buck, a fermented drink made from sugar and fruit juice. Oh and don't plan on reading anything if you are an Atheist. The only literature that they pass out is religious.

Getting raped is wrong, of course, but that is a problem with the prisoners. Drugs and diseases again are prisoner issues. But only offering religious literature seems wrong. I mean the bible, Koran and other books are OK, but what is the point? They want prisoners to take up religion, because they are going to be less violent or better people? The last time I looked the non-violent, easy going people are not those that think through the words of a single book or faith. I would rather manage a room full of educated atheist then narrow minded religionist any day.

Everyone is ugly

2007-10-10T09:41:00.001-05:00

The train rolls through the tunnel, loud and quiet, packed but lonely. Close up everyone is ugly.
My brain sits within my scull. Information feeds it like rivers to the sea. It never fills.
I can feel my bones, muscles, skin, a slight throb in one of my teeth, my neck is sore from slouching and my earphones are uncomfortable but turned off.
As I move forward along the tracks time moves further still. As I collect more and more stuff, time takes more things away. I think of those that came and died before me, those that are dieing right now. What is their last thought? When will I think mine?
The breaks squeak to a halt, the door opens, some get on some get off, the doors close and the train moves on. When will I get off this train? I turn on my player but it’s not really on. The train rolls through the tunnel, but not really. It’s loud but quiet, packed but lonely. Close up everyone is ugly, but not really.

More whys less hows - please

2007-02-08T12:40:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I watched a demo about a new educational project called ‘Bhagavat Life’. The project, under development for the past year, is a virtual school where expert devotees will lead classes, seminars and workshops online. The presentation was inspiring! I thought the devotees, Purusha Sukta Dasa and Divyambara Dasi, have so far done a good job! So congrats to them for their worthwhile endeavor! I hope this project is successful!

While participating in the demo I learned that one of the area of study is social/spiritual development. Course titles in this area are usually something like, “How to raise a Krishna Conscious family”, or “How to work in the world and not fall into it”. Basically, how to do material things as a spiritualist. I appreciate this sentiment, and I see ISKCON develop projects like the Grihasta Ministry and the Ministry of Health, but honestly I think social/spiritual development is mostly wasted effort.

Why?

If we stand back and view the actions of a person, the source of their motivation is desire. Through our senses we receive information, stimulation and pain. By combining these three together we develop desire:

“I want to look like a rock-star”
“I want to eat something tasty”
“I want to avoid that crazy looking dog”

Through these desires, action develops. Action is made up of known skills and adaptation.

In this example Jim has a desire to look like a rock-star.

Jim thinks, “Because I want to look like a rock-star then I will buy clothing that rock-stars wear." Jim goes to a hip clothing store and buys an outfit. Jim again contemplates his new look, "Now that I have rock-star clothes on, I still don’t really look like a rock-star, I think I need to have an attitude to match." Jim watches MTV and notes rock-star character traits. A few weeks later Jim catches an image of himself in a store window and thinks, "As I walk around the mall with my new attitude and clothing I really look like a rock star. Mission accomplished!”

As we see from the above real world example, desire will utilize adaptation and mundane skills to produce results. How Jim fullfilled his dream is the easy part. Why Jim wanted to look like a rock-star is what motivated his actions in the first place. If leaders and educators wish to direct student toward ideal actions then they must work more on the whys then on the how-tos. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. But if a horse is really thirsty he will figure out how to get to the water by himself. Showing him where water is is helpful, but leading him is not necessary, his desire will get him there. If I show you how to quit smoking that will be helpful. But If I explain why you should quit smoking and you have developed a strong enough desire to do so, the how part will come on its own.

This is not a criticism of current projects, its just a different point of view on the way to achive their goals.

Wake up, wake up!

2007-02-07T14:43:00.000-05:00

Wake up, wake up, and chant, O sleeping soul.
Lord Caitanya has come to show the way.
The Maya witch has held you in her sway.
Too long you've let illusion take its toll.
You've been asleep. You've long forgot the goal.
Now chant the Mahamantra night and day.

Wake up, wake up, and chant, O sleeping soul.
Lord Caitanya has come to show the way.
You've roamed this world of night from pole to pole,
Although you promised once you'd never stray.
You've wept for what is only crumbling clay,
But Krsna's blessed name will make you whole.
Wake up, wake up, and chant, O sleeping soul.

Umapati Swami, January 3, 2007

Radha in the Bhagavatam

2007-02-07T11:58:00.000-05:00

"So this janma (birthday) is today and Radha, this name is sometimes not found in Bhagavata. So the atheistic class of men protest this, Radharani's name is not in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. How this name came, Radharani? But they do not know how to see it. There is [the word] anayaradhyate. There are many gopis, but there is mention that by this particular gopi He [Krishna] is served more pleasingly. Krishna accepts this gopi's service more gladly. Anayaradhyate. Aradhyate. This aradhate, this word, aradhyate means worshiping. From this word aradhyate, Radha has come. But Radha's name are there in other Puranas. So this is the origin."

Srila Prabhupada on Radhastami, Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day.
Montreal, August 30, 1968

Names of Sri Radha

2007-02-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

Vrndavanesvari - queen of Vrndavana

Madana-Mohini - more charming than Kamadeva

Gopananda-Kari - giver of happiness to the gopas

Trailokya-Sundari - the most beautiful girl in the 3 worlds

Gita-Gamya - She is approached by chanting Her holy names

Kamesi - Lord Krsna's amorous queen

Mati - the most thoughtful philosopher

Veda-Garbha - the mother of the Vedas

Subhangi - with beautiful limbs

Dhatri - the mother of all

Hema-Sundari - She is beautiful and golden

Kisori - She is youthful

Kamala-Sundari - Beautiful as a lotus

Sri Kulina - born in a pious family

Visoka - free from lamentation

Lajja - modest

Kanti - beauty

Ksama - patience

Ekanga - She has one form

Rasika - She enjoys the transcendental mellows

Subhankari - the giver of auspiciousness

Gauri Gaurangi - fair

Sarada - She gives what is the best

Srisa - the queen of beauty

Who is Sri Radha?

Sri Manah-Siksa verse 5

2007-01-30T15:45:00.000-05:00

"My dear mind, in this material life you are attacked by lust, which is like a gang of thugs that waylay innocent pilgrims, strangling you with strong terrible ropes in the form of distress, pain, and futile endeavors. In this condition you must cry out piteously and invoke the mercy of the unalloyed devotees of Sri Krishna, the killer of the demon Bakasura. They will surely protect you from this dilemma."

- Rahunatha dasa Gosvami

Tao Teh Ching - chapters 3 & 4

2007-01-02T15:43:00.000-05:00

When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created.

When people see things as good, evil is created.

Being and non-being produce each other.

Difficult and easy complement each other.

Long and short define each other.

High and low oppose each other.

Fore and aft follow each other.

Therefore the Master can act without doing anything and teach without saying a word.

Things come her way and she does not stop them; things leave and she lets them go.

She has without possessing, and acts without any expectations.

When her work is done, she take no credit.That is why it will last forever.
If you overly esteem talented individuals, people will become overly competitive.

If you overvalue possessions, people will begin to steal.

Do not display your treasures or people will become envious.

The Master leads by emptying people's minds, filling their bellies, weakening their ambitions, and making them become strong.

Preferring simplicity and freedom from desires, avoiding the pitfalls of knowledge and wrong action.

For those who practice not-doing, everything will fall into place.

My boy

2006-11-30T10:57:00.000-05:00

Guru-Nitai Dasa

Mad world

2006-11-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces

Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere
Going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression

Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday
Happy birthday

And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen
Sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me
No one knew me

Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me
Look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very very

Mad world
Mad world

Dust in the wind

2006-11-28T11:40:00.000-05:00

I close my eyes
Only for a moment, then the momen't gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind,

ohh Now, don't hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind

All we are is dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
The wind

Where have I been?

2006-11-27T10:13:00.000-05:00

Well, lots has changed since my last post. I had a baby boy, Guru-Nitai dasa, and honestly it has been a lot more work than I thought! He is a peaceful sweet boy, but still it’s been life changing. Go here for pics http://nutsfromthetree.com.

I got a new job, I work as a system analyst for the Better Business Bureau. What is a systems analyst? Umm… It’s really a glorified web master. Yes, the programming is difficult, but the pace is laid back, so over all it’s a good job.

My friends and I entered the 72 hour film challenge. It’s a competition where you have 72 hours to write, shoot, edit and send in an 8 minute film. It was fun and crazy but we did it! I will post the link to the film we shot soon. But the best thing is it sparked interest in us to work on other film projects. First up we want to make a documentary on the life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Who is that? Ahh…. that is a good question, one that will be answered soon. Expect a lot of post on Mahaprabhu.

So I’m back, recovering from the thanksgiving weekend. If you are a vegan, like me, many creatures are giving thanks for you eating habits. If you are NOT please go here.

Book mark me, and tell your friends to visit me here.

Jagai Nitai Dasa

galleries

2006-08-10T12:07:00.000-05:00

five new photos called clothes.

blindness

2006-08-09T10:29:00.000-05:00

my eyes can see
so many places
they look out through time
and across large spaces

my eyes see ideas
they see contemplations

they squint
and focus
and stare
with dilations

my eyes see around me
inside and out
if my eyes do not see it
my mind creates doubt

with so many thing
for my eyes to see
it’s a pity
they go blind
when they gaze
upon me

40 years and counting

2006-08-08T15:54:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to a Washington post article about ISKCON turning 40. It’s written at our temple in Potomac. In the article the writer describes a girl who saves an ant. That's my wife, Amanda.

Here is a link to the accompanying video. I am the guy standing up, holding the baby in the beginning of the video. Amanda is sitting in front of me, pregnant and in a light yellow top with a light cream silk chadar over her shoulder. Look for her throughout the rest of the video.

A fool's prayer

2006-08-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

I want to know of all things God
I want to break him in small pieces
I want to point and poke and prod
And make flat all God’s endless creases

And it shall all make sense to me
God shall fit inside my head
And if he doesn’t logically
He’ll watch my faith go slow to dead

So here’s a tryst, to twist and bind
The mind, its thoughts, no reason find

For once I’ve filed him away inside
His brilliant mysteries shall go dim
When all things God are known to me
Why should I bow myself to him?

galleries

2006-08-07T14:06:00.000-05:00

Check out our new galleries section. 9 new photos are posted there.

That Artist

2006-08-05T12:31:00.000-05:00

That son of the king of the cowherds,

whose desire for diversions

in the forests by the Kalindi's banks

knew no bounds

but was taken helplessly away from Vrindavana

to the king's capital

by the son of Gandini

Has sent me, Uddhava, his intimate confidante,

as a messenger to you, O exalted goddesses!

The sighs of pain

have dried up the beauty of his lips;

he has abandoned his sports,

his wan cheeks have taken on the brilliant white of sea foam solidified;

remembering repeatedly

the fragrence of our virtues,

fatigued in mind, O simple ones,

your lover, sends you

the following beautiful,

but inadequate message

- From the 'Uddhava-sandesa' by Rupa Gosvami, translation by Jan Brzezinski

Oh Tulasi

2006-08-04T21:29:00.000-05:00

Just by looking at you, all sins become removed. Just by touching you, one's body becomes pure. By praying to you, all diseases practically become removed. If one waters you or makes you wet, the fear of Yamaraja (death personified) is destroyed. Just by planting or transplanting you, one achieves nearness to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone offers your leaves at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, you awards liberation and devotion to Him, therefore I pay my humble obeisances to you, oh most wonderful Tulasidevi. - HBV 9.104

Welcome "baby"!

2006-07-24T20:41:00.000-05:00

My closest friends, Gaura Vani das and Vrindarani dasi gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Thursday! This is the announcement.

Dear Friends and Well-Wishers,

We humbly beg for your blessings on the occasion of the birth of our new daughter - the newest addition to our family.

Our daughter was born at our home in Maryland on Kamika Ekadasi last Thursday morning at 6:11 am. She was born to the sound of the chanting of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna's holy names and we whispered the prayers to the parampara and the holy name in her ear shortly after she appeared. The labor was relatively short, only 4.5 hours and Vrinda and the baby are very healthy and happy. Revati is adjusting to being a big sister very well. We don't have a name picked yet (we'll be doing a naming ceremony in August) so please send your thoughts and inspirations to us if you'd like.

Thank you so much for your prayers and blessings which have helped us immensely. We beg you to continue to pray for our family and bless this great granddaughter of Srila Prabhupada that she will make him very proud and gain the merciful lotus-like sidelong glance of Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya.

Eternally in your debt for your friendship and love,

"Baby"
Vrindarani
Gaura Vani
Revati Prema

Responsable Jackles

2006-07-19T16:16:00.000-05:00

Morning walk with Srila Prabhupada - Paris, August 12, 1975 [listen]

Bhagavan: "They say we are irresponsible."

Prabhupada: "No, we are not irresponsible. We have finished all responsibility. We are not irresponsible. But we are in such a position that we have passed all these responsibilities."

Madhavananda: "So, Srila Prabhupada, when you told this lady, this woman last night, that she should give up her responsibilities..."

Prabhupada: "Take to Krsna consciousness. That is the only responsibilities. Then you can... Not that you give up all responsibility. First of all take to Krsna responsibility. Then there is no responsibility. Give up something; take something. Then it is all right. And give up everything and then you zero."

Brahmananda: "But they see responsibility only in terms of making a bank balance and having a nice home and satisfying our..."

Prabhupada: "Therefore they are suffering. In spite of bank balance, they are suffering."

ISKCON's gift

2006-07-15T12:06:00.000-05:00

brahmānda bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-krsna-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

"In the course of traversing the universal creation of Brahmā, some fortunate soul may receive the seed of bhakti-latā, the creeper of devotional service. This is all by the grace of guru and Krsna." (Caitanya-caritāmrta, Madhya 19.151) The material world is a place of confinement for the living entities who are by nature ānandamaya, pleasure-seeking. They actually want to be free from the confinement of this world of conditional happiness, but not knowing the process of liberation, they are bound to transmigrate from one species of life to another and from one planet to another. In this way the living entities are wandering throughout the material universe. When by good fortune one comes in contact with a pure devotee and hears from him patiently, one begins to follow the path of devotional service. Such an opportunity is offered to a person who is sincere. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is giving such a chance to humanity at large. If by fortune one takes advantage of this opportunity to engage in devotional service, the path of liberation immediately opens."

- Upadeshamrita, verse 3 - by Srila Prabupada

Poor Little Fly

2006-07-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

A poem by Umapati Swami from umapati.net

Poor little fly upon my window pane,
I'll try to help you find your way outside.
Your efforts to be free go all in vain,
Although I've opened up my window wide.

It must be Nature's law that's locked you in.
Your karma makes you land on solid glass,
For though we both may try, we cannot win.
The truth I've read in scripture comes to pass.

Does not this world confine us to a role?
What use this toil and strife for worldly gain?
Man does no more his destiny control
Than this poor fly upon my window pane.

The road to freedom lies another way:
Chant Hare Krishna, go back home, and stay.

Two cents anyone?

2006-07-13T20:35:00.000-05:00

I debate a lot about the need to speak. On my morning web surf, I’ll read articles and opinions and generally Ill never leave a comment, even if I don’t agree. Not that I don’t care about war and government and whatnot, I just don’t think my two cents will make a difference. In Iskcon (the Hare Krishna’s), there are a few news outlets, dandavats.com and chakra.org. These sites are part of my regular morning web commute and sometimes an opinion or an article will spin me the wrong way. So here is my problem, Iskcon is so small that my opinion could actually make a difference. What do I do when it is a devotee or a leader that is writing something that I don’t understand or agree with? That’s when I find my self going over the same mental debate.

“If I leave a comment will I make an offence? If so then I shouldn’t say anything. What is my opinion worth anyway? Who care what I have to say. But what if my comment makes a point that was not thought of before? If I am wrong then my comment will strengthen the article. That is good. If I am right then truth will be served. That is also good. So then I should leave a comment. But if I leave a comment will I make an offence?”

This is my circle of thought. So, if by chance you read this and see my comment somewhere, please don’t take offence. It’s not personal, it’s emotional. I care about the direction of Iskcon and I what to help make a difference. Even if my imput is only worth two cents.

Mukunda-mala-stotra

2006-07-12T11:35:00.000-05:00

MM 14: "Once our savior has been seen, the whole earth becomes no greater than a speck of dust, all the waters of the ocean become mere droplets, the totality of fire becomes a minute spark, the winds become just a faint sigh, and the expanse of space becomes a tiny hole. Great lords like Rudra and Grandfather Brahmā become insignificant, and all the demigods become like small insects. Indeed, even one particle of dust from our Lord's feet conquers all. "

MM 15: "O people, please hear of this treatment for the disease of birth and death! It is the name of Krsna. Recommended by Yājñavalkya and other expert yogīs steeped in wisdom, this boundless, eternal inner light is the best medicine, for when drunk it bestows complete and final liberation. Just drink it!"

If the heaven inquire

2006-07-04T04:29:00.000-05:00

THE SOUL should always stand ajar.
That if the heaven inquire,
He will not be obliged to wait,
Or shy of troubling her.

Depart, before the host has slid
The bolt upon the door,
To seek for the accomplished guest—
Her visitor no more. -Emily Dickinson

What is a charitable heart?

2006-06-30T16:29:00.000-05:00

From a mystic writing in the seventh century, Saint Isaac the Syrian, ponders the thought, "What is a charitable heart?"

Saint Isaac - "It is a heart which is buring with love for the whole creation, for men, for the birds, for the beasts... for all creatures. He who has such a heart cannot see or call to mind a creature without his eyes being filled with tears by reason of the immense compassion which seizes his heart; a heart which is softened and can no longer bear to see or learn from others of any suffering, even the smallest pain being inflicted upon a creature. That is why such a man never ceases to pray for the animals... moved by the infinite pity which reigns in the hearts of those who are becoming united with God."

Beautiful Krishna

2006-06-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

From Srimad Bhagavatam 11.1.6-7

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the reservoir of all beauty. All beautiful things emanate from Him, and His personal form is so attractive that it steals the eyes away from all other objects, which then seem devoid of beauty in comparison to Him.

"When Krsna was on the earth, He attracted the eyes of all people. When Krsna spoke, His words attracted the minds of all who remembered them. By seeing the footsteps of Krsna, people became attracted to Him, and thus they wanted to offer their bodily activities to the Him as His followers. In this way Krsna very easily spread His glories, which are sung throughout the world by the most sublime and essential Vedic verses. Krsna considered that simply by hearing and chanting those glories, conditioned souls born in the future would cross beyond the darkness of ignorance. Being satisfied with this arrangement, He left for His desired destination."

What is good and evil?

2006-06-29T10:44:00.000-05:00

At the end of the 19th chaper of the 11th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna answers the questions from his friend Uddhava about what is good and evil.

SB 11.19.40-45: Krishna speaks - "Actual opulence is My own nature as the Personality of Godhead, through which I exhibit the six unlimited opulences. The supreme gain in life is devotional service to Me, and actual education is nullifying the false perception of duality within the soul. Real modesty is to be disgusted with improper activities, and beauty is to possess good qualities such as detachment. Real happiness is to transcend material happiness and unhappiness, and real misery is to be implicated in searching for sex pleasure.

"A wise man is one who knows the process of freedom from bondage, and a fool is one who identifies with his material body and mind. The real path in life is that which leads to Me, and the wrong path is sense gratification, by which consciousness is bewildered. Actual heaven is the predominance of the mode of goodness, whereas hell is the predominance of ignorance.

"I am everyone's true friend, acting as the spiritual master of the entire universe, and one's home is the human body. My dear friend Uddhava, one who is enriched with good qualities is actually said to be rich, and one who is unsatisfied in life is actually poor. A wretched person is one who cannot control his senses, whereas one who is not attached to sense gratification is a real controller. One who attaches himself to sense gratification is the opposite, a slave.

"Thus, Uddhava, I have elucidated all of the matters about which you inquired. There is no need for a more elaborate description of these good and bad qualities, since to constantly see good and bad is itself a bad quality. The best quality is to transcend material good and evil."

Hear from Krishna directly

2006-06-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

From Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.17

śrutih pratyaksam aitihyam
anumānam catustayam
pramānesv anavasthānād
vikalpāt sa virajyate

"From the four types of evidence — Vedic knowledge, direct experience, traditional wisdom and logical induction — one can understand the temporary, insubstantial situation of the material world, by which one becomes detached from the duality of this world."

Every verse of the Srimad-Bhagavatam has layers of meaning. As declared by Sri Chaytanya Mahaprabhu in CC.Madya.24.318;

"Srimad-Bhagavatam is as great as Krishna, the Supreme Lord and shelter of everything. In each and every verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam and in each and every syllable, there are various meanings.”

So lets look at this verse in a diferent way.

The four types (catustayam) of evidence are;

śrutih — Vedic knowledge;
pratyaksam — direct experience;
aitihyam — traditional wisdom;
anumānam — logical induction;

pramānesv anavasthānād vikalpāt
"but because they (the four types of evidence) are often mutually contradictory in their description of the highest truth,"

sa virajyate
"One should therefore be detached from the duality of mundane evidence and hear from the Lord directly."

"One should accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the actual authority. Both in Bhagavad-gītā and here in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Lord Krsna is personally speaking, and thus there is no need to enter into the bewildering network of competing systems of mundane logic. One can directly hear from the Absolute Truth Himself and immediately acquire perfect knowledge. One thereby becomes detached from inferior systems of knowledge, which cause one to hover on the material mental platform."

Bhagavad-Gita 7.2

2006-06-24T10:42:00.000-05:00

In the first verse of this chapter, Krishna says samagram mam, "you shall know me completely". In the second verse Krishna says, "having understood (this knowledge) there is nothing in this world left to know". If we combine the two verses together Krishna says, "knowing me completely, there is nothing in this world left to know."

In the previous six chapters of the Gita, Brahman; the unlimited, all pervasive, impersonal aspect of God, and Paramatma; the directing aspect of God situated in your heart, was described. This chapter starts with the understanding of Bhagavan; the aspect of God complete with full features.

To understand these three aspects of God a little deeper, consider the aspect of God as Brahman, the all pervasive impersonal omniscient being. This aspect has all the fundamental qualities of the base understanding of God, but without any connection to the spirit soul. The only part of Brahman that the soul can meditate on is the feeling of amazement and wonder. But God in the heart, Paramatma, expands the qualities of Brahman to those of awe and reverence. As Paramatma, God has all the qualities of Brahman and includes the qualities of a supreme being, who is the ultimate guide and protector. The aspect of God as Paramatma is a stage higher than Brahman, but missing the capability of interaction and sweetness. Bhagavan in turn, is the full understanding of God complete with all the qualities of Brahman and Paramatma, but with the inclusion of joyful interaction and a pleasing spiritual form. Here Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says that jnanam is the Brahman and Paramatma aspect of God, where vijnanam is the sweetness, the Bhagavan aspect of God. So to add the first and second verses together we get a new combined translation as:

"Arjuna, now I shall give to you the knowledge and understanding of my opulence and my sweetness. With your mind fully absorbed in me (Bhagavan), you will be at the stage of realization of which there is nothing further in this world to understand."

What about due process?

2006-06-23T10:51:00.000-05:00

Background: The International Society For Krishna Concious ness (Iskcon) has struggled over the past 20 plus years with the case of Dhanurdhara Maharaj. Dhanurdhara Maharaj was the head master for the Vrindavan boys school during the late 70's. He has admitted to personal child neglect and abuse during his tenure as the schools headmaster. Since then a number of judgments have come against him including an Iskcon Child Protection Office (CPO) case review and judgment. He has, over all, been cooperative to the judgments and has engaged in personal rectification of his actions. Last month a student who was abused by him commited suicide. The backlash from the community has been a rash of emotionally charged letters, a petition for retroactive "zero tolerance" within Iskcon of child abuse which includes all authorities who have had some connection to abuse to step down. The assault on Dhanurdhara Maharaja has encouraged him to leave Iskcon and the position as a guru to his disciples. Below is the reprint of the opinion I wrote to Dandavats.com on the mater.

Dear readers,

I feel, after a lot of thought and introspection, that there is something fundamentally wrong with the approach and process toward the persecution of Dhanurdhara Swami. I feared writing this opinion, due to the present overwhelming sentiment and the potential backlash I may incur in defending the accused, but still I can not help but feel that the basic rights of due process have been trampled under the feet of the “save Iskcon from the abusers” movement.

The emotional and explicit letters, the petition, and the repeated judgments by Iskcon authorities all point to a system of justice within our society that is flawed. In short, in all honest societies, every human being has the natural right, to a bare minimum of fairness or due process. In criminal cases, it ensures that an accused person will not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

For example, Article One, section 9, of the US constitution prohibits ex post facto laws. An ex post facto law is a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of acts committed prior to the enactment of the law. It may criminalize actions that were legal when committed; or aggravate a crime by bringing it into a more severe category than it was at the time it was committed; or change or increase the punishment prescribed for a crime, such as adding new penalties or extending terms. This is exactly what the petition prescribes for Dhanurdhara Swami. To strip him of his Iskcon standing after a judgment has been passed down to him. Also we find in the 5th amendment, the prohibition of double jeopardy or prosecuting someone again for a crime on which a final judgment is already passed.

After reading the CPO verdict and judgment on Dhanurdhara Maharaja, and reading the previous judgments handed to him by the GBC, I feel that he has had his fair share of penalty and persecution. Iskcon is not a democratically elected body. We don’t have the luxury of harassing a local congress man for governmental change. If the devotees at large don’t like the way Iskcon handles its criminals then the fair thing to do is change the system. Create a way in which the public can change the governing laws for the future prosecution of criminals. But the continuous retroactive persuasion of GBC and CPO judgments by angry citizens through emotionally charged articles and petitions is tantamount to mob justice.

Again, I don’t want to be labeled as an enemy of children, a supporter of abusers or whatever fiery words that can be brandished to evade the subject. My point is fairness, justice, due process, not only for the victims but for the criminals as well.

If you would like to read more about due process I have included links to wikipedia. Portions of this opinion where copied directly from wikipedia entries.

Due process - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process
Ex post facto law - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto
Double jeopardy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_jeopardy

Thank You.

Your Servant,

Jagai-Nitai Dasa

Sleeping and Waking

2006-06-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

"It is possible that a generation or two ago, more people than today, had a better instinctive understanding of how to prepare for the dream and sleep life of the night. The evening was like a pause. It contained possibilities of healing, of making whole, of regeneration, and of mending differences. People tended to gather around the hearth, and we like to think that perhaps there was peace in the house and within the people themselves. Certainly there was more story telling and singing, and families probably talked to each other more than they do now about the day's events. Such activities helped to call up the faculties of imagination.

"Today, probably the greatest enemy of the evening and its qualities is the television. There is the rush to start viewing the T.V. as soon as possible and there is the tempation to continue viewing until the end of the programmes. The day becomes drawn out until midnight; sleep becomes merely a consequence of the day. The evening loses its inherent dignity and its unique character and meaning. As a consequence, there is a tendency only to regard as important the material experiences of the day while the spiritual and cultural life is disregarded.

"In fact, it matters a lot how we stand before these doors or thresholds in the day or night, for, not only do they affect the subsequent quality of our sleep and waking life, but if we are sensitive to their mystery, they can hold keys to hints and questions about ourselves and our lives. Above all, by becoming more aware of these thresholds and their rhythmic quality, we can help both ourselves and our children to pass through them more adequately, and in this way we also help our family's physical and spiritual well-being." - Margret Meyerkort

My achievements

2006-06-19T10:17:00.000-05:00

In life, or more specific in my life, a constant struggle continues, from longer than I can remember, between my ideals and my actions.

Ideals vs. Actions.

I meet people who act in devotional life, people whose spirituality is their constant motivation, and I try to find the similarities and differences between us. Generally our ideas are the same. We share the same knowledge base, the same understanding of things, we call on the same sources for inspiration, but the difference is always in our actions. Basically they act and I don't.

Sometimes, motivational speakers will ask their audience to imagine their own funeral. Imagine a little church. In the rows sit friends and family dressed in black and someone standing behind the pulpit begins to read a homage to you. I wonder at my funeral what achievements will be read? Will I, before I breath my last, do anything to help the world progress on the spiritual path? Or will my funeral homage begin and end with a list of qualities, "He was a nice guy with nice ideals. He wanted to act towards spirituality" and under the list of achievements we'll find a sad little zero.

This is my struggle, ideals vs. actions. I have lots of ideals, but unfortunately no actions.

Homeland of the heart

2006-06-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

From "The Bhagavad-Gita - Its feeling and philosophy" by B.V. Tripurari Swami

BG 7.1- "Complete (samagram) knowing is the knowledge that is inherent in love. When one loves, one knows what to do. When one loves God, one knows everything one needs to know. This knowing is characterized further as freeing one from doubt (asamsayam). Doubt is a function of the mind. When it is overridden, we are able to move freely. Intellect driven movement suggests surety, yet following its lead amounts to proceeding with caution. It is not the movement of the heart.

Here Krishna speaks of the homeland of the heart, and a life in which mind and intellect are subordinate to one's heart. In this land, one does not doubt the virtue of serving God, but questions how one can serve him best in any given circumstance."

Consider a moment

2006-06-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

“We may live for a hundred years, but not one moment of these hundred years can be returned, not even if we are prepared to pay millions of dollars. We cannot add a moment, nor can we get a moment back. If time is money, we should just consider how much money we have lost.”
-Srila Prabhupada

Bhagavad-Gita 7.1

2006-06-17T21:48:00.000-05:00

As we enter the 7th chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita, the discussion of the self (tvam, you), the unchanging conscious observer of the changing temporary body, turns to the discussion of that (tat) , which being completely absorbed in and what pervades ones purpose in life, will bring one to the level of full understanding (jnasyasi) of God, Krishna.

This is a pivot point, a place where those whose meditation is strictly on the self will stay behind, while those who can look beyond the glare of the ego, will move forward. The Upanisads declare tat tvam asi, "You are that". A statement that directs the focus of meditation on the self, the atma. But here, Krishna, is taking hold of the discussion, and without prompt, is declaring tat tvam asi, "You are His". You are connected to God with love and devotion. Here Krishna steers the discussion to that which is dear to his heart, bhakti, love.

The 7th chapter begins the middle six of 18 chapters of the Bhagavad-Gita or the heart of the book. The heart is where love resides. The heart is sensitive and vulnerable, therefore we protect our heart and only let in those trusted souls who we love and love us in return. We guard our heart like a treasure, behind doors closed to the outside world. Similarly, the heart of the Gita is sandwiched in between the first six and the last six chapters.

Here in center of the book, Krishna reveals his heart to Arjuna and lovingly talks about that person who he loves. Imagine you were to talk to a friend about someone you love. You may start by describing pleasing characteristics and behaviors of that person which are endearing to you. Likewise, Krishna takes six chapters to describe those who he loves, from the first line of the 7th chapter where Krishna says mad-asrayah, "that person is surrendered to me" all the way up to the last line of the last verse of the 12th chapter where he says bhaktas te 'tiva me priyah, "the devotees, bhaktas, are extremely dear to me".

The death bus lives!

2006-06-17T21:47:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid all sorts of stupid 70's horror movies came out. I remember one was about an evil car, driven by Satan, that would run people over. There was another about an evil ship that floated around and who ever got on it ghosts would kill them. But fortunately for us, in the year 2006, we have progressed from movies about possessed transportation to the real thing! Check this out http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-death-van_x.htm. Someone in China thought that these horror flicks where training videos and designed a bus were you can drive around the country and kill bad people. And they say that movies and TV don't affect peoples minds.

Who's kids should we kill?

2006-06-17T21:46:00.000-05:00

Today (1/13/2006) is a big abortion protest a few blocks away. Supposedly 100,000 people will march through town (DC) and end up at the convention center for an anti-abortion rally. I personally would never have an abortion. My wife is pregnant and the idea of killing our unborn child sounds horrible. But I do think that there must be a legal procedure for abortions, otherwise the options a desperate girl will turn to are morbid and even fatal.

But the real point of this post is not the legalization of abortion, but the observation that the general class of people who are active protesters of abortion are simultaneous supporters of war. So essentially if you support the war and appose abortion, you want to outlaw the killing of children by women who don’t want them, while you support the killing of children from women who do. Go figure. What do you think about this? Let me know.

Meditation 10 - Die before dying

2005-06-24T15:11:00.000-05:00

"Just as there is life, there is death. Someone or something takes birth, grows, stays for sometime, deteriorates, and then dies. Another name for birth is death. You cannot have one without the other, meaning that when someone is born, someone will soon die (as most species do not live very long); and when someone dies, someone is soon born. Everyone and everything in its normal state wants to live as long as possible – eternally. Eternality, however, is not associated with matter, but is a spiritual affair. Death to matter and to our material bodies is inevitable, but if we master the science of dying before dying, we will connect with that which is eternal – our soul and its home in the spiritual world. After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary."
- Quote from 'The Beggar IV', pg.66, Bhakti Tirta Swami

A devotee's greatest enemy

2005-06-24T09:45:00.000-05:00

Devotee: Prabhupada, what is a devotee’s greatest enemy?
Prabhupada: He himself. Because he is a rascal, he is his own greatest enemy. Give up this rascaldom, and you will become your friend. Nobody is your enemy. You are your own enemy.
— Morning walk conversation with Srila Prabhupada in Paris on 12 June 1974.
Quoted from the Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu. For more click here.

The Magistrate

2005-06-24T09:16:00.000-05:00

Bhaktivinode Thakur - circa 1874

Oh spirit soul

2005-06-24T09:04:00.000-05:00

In the year 1874 Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur published a philosophical book titled Datta Kautubha. Durring the same period of time he composed the following poem Known as Sharagrahi Vaishnava. Below are a few stanzas from that poem.

Alas for those who spend their days
In festive mirth and joy.
The dazzling, deadly, liquid forms
Their hearts fore’er employ.

The shining bottles charm their eyes
And draw their heart’s embrace;
The slaves of wine can never rise
From what we call disgrace.

Was man intended to be
A brute in work and heart?
Should man, the Lord of all around,
From common sense depart?

Man’s life to him a problem dark –
A screen both left and right;
No soul hath come to tell us what
Exists beyond our sight.

Tell me not in reasoning cold,
The soul is made alone
By earth’s mechanic lifeless rules
And to destruction prone.

But then a voice, how deep and soft;
Within ourselves is left;
Man! Man! Thou art immortal soul!
Thee Death can never melt.

O Love! Thy power and spell benign
Now melt my soul to God;
How can my earthly words describe
That feeling soft and broad.

O Sharangrahi Vaishnava soul,
Thou art an angel fair;
Lead, lead me on to Vrindaban
And spirit’s power declare.

There rests my soul from matter free
Upon my Lover’s arms-
Eternal peace and spirits love
Are all my chanting charms.

Click here to see the latest photos >>

2005-06-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

Bhakti Tirta Swami taken on June 21

Krishna is not hungry

2005-06-23T14:31:00.000-05:00

"Krishna is not hungry. Krishna is atmarama. He is self-sufficient. He does not require. He is producing food for us. That’s a fact. We get so many fruits and flower. We don’t manufacture it in the factory; neither it is possible. It is Krishna's manufacture. It is Krishna. Raso ’ham apsu kaunteya... By His action of different energies these things are produced. Why? These things are produced for whom? For Krishna? No. For us... He is maintaining us. So is it not our duty to offer Him first? 'Sir, You have supplied so many nice things. You take first.' This is bhakti."
- Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.8, Bombay, December 26, 1972 by Srila Prabhupada

Little video clips

2005-06-23T13:57:00.000-05:00

Check out all the video clips at Mayapur.info

2005-06-23T13:04:00.000-05:00

Nice background image

2005-06-23T11:45:00.000-05:00

Radha Govinda

The Vrindavan summer season

2005-06-23T11:24:00.000-05:00

This passage is from Srila Kavi-karnapur’s “Ananda Vrndavana Campu”, section entitled- ‘The summer season’.

“Besides beautifying the night, the summer moon brings full satisfaction to all. Due to the intense suffering experienced everyday, the very word ‘daytime’ instills fear in the heart. But everyone appreciates the cool nights of summer. In this way the summer is glorified. Amidst the lotus flowers in the lake there is a houseboat covered with a canopy trimmed with hanging pearls that shake in the wind. It is sprayed by the mist scented with fine particles of camphor, and buffeted by the pleasant winds of camaras waved by loving attendants. Radhika and Krishna sleep in blissful reverie within that charming houseboat.”