Friday, September 12, 2008
I shall never again lament
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
nama-krpa - The mercy of the holy name
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The meaning of Hari - by Gopal-Guru Gosvami
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.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
ugly me
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.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Bugs fly over my head
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.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Breakfast with Uncle Jim
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.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
A night with Uncle Jim
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.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
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.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
More whys less hows - please
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?
“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.
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.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Wake up, wake up!
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
Srila Prabhupada on Radhastami, Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day.
Montreal, August 30, 1968
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Names of Sri Radha
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sri Manah-Siksa verse 5
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Tao Teh Ching - chapters 3 & 4
If you overly esteem talented individuals, people will become overly competitive.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Mad world
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
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Dust in the wind
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
Monday, November 27, 2006
Where have I been?
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
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
blindness
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
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
40 years and counting
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
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?
Monday, August 07, 2006
Saturday, August 05, 2006
That Artist
Friday, August 04, 2006
Oh Tulasi
Monday, July 24, 2006
Welcome "baby"!
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
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Responsable Jackles
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."
Saturday, July 15, 2006
ISKCON's gift
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
Friday, July 14, 2006
Poor Little Fly
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.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Two cents anyone?
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.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Mukunda-mala-stotra
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!"
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
If the heaven inquire
Friday, June 30, 2006
What is a charitable heart?
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
"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."
Thursday, June 29, 2006
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."
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Hear from Krishna directly
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."
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Bhagavad-Gita 7.2
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."
Friday, June 23, 2006
What about due process?
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
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Sleeping and Waking
"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
Monday, June 19, 2006
My achievements
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.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Homeland of the heart
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."
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Consider a moment
“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
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!
Who's kids should we kill?
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.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Meditation 10 - Die before dying
- Quote from 'The Beggar IV', pg.66, Bhakti Tirta Swami
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.
Oh spirit soul
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.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Krishna is not hungry
- Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.8, Bombay, December 26, 1972 by Srila Prabhupada
The Vrindavan 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.”