Krishna's Love

Exactly 2 weeks ago from today, my mind began wondering, for the umpteenth time, whether there really is only one true religion in the world, and maybe I'm in the wrong one. So I thought let me pray. First, I prayed to Krishna to please reveal Himself to me. Then I prayed to God, without any hint of sectarian beliefs or distinction between religions - just the God of this creation, asking to know Him and worship Him the way He would like me to. I asked to be shown what the truth is and what the truth isn't, so I would be able to distinguish which religion is bonafide.

So I logged on to www.krishna.com and there was a verse quoted:

Prayer Requests

So I had a thought recently about devotees praying for one another. Someone I know was talking about how devotees pray over one another in churches. Also, I'm familiar with how preachers, pastors, as well as ordinary people pray over one another in churches and God works through them to heal others and help change others' lives.

Program with HG Govardhandhari Dasa

Haribol!

Last Saturday, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a program by HG Govardhandhari Dasa. My gosh, there's just something about his kirtans I swear!! His kirtans are just beautiful. He barely sings the first 2-3 lines and I'm already struggling to hold back tears. I first met him on Wednesday. He sang the Jaya Sri Krishna Chaitanya mantra thrice, and by the time he started singing the Hare Krishna mahamantra, there were tears in my eyes! He sang some songs that I had never heard before, but am absolutely in love with now. One of them was 'Jaya Yashoda Nanda Dulal'. It's just beautiful! There's a bit in it where you need to sing 'Gopal Gopal Gopal'. That was just insane!!!! All of us just let ourselves go and called out to Gopal. Govardhandhari Prabhu just knows how to make our hearts yearn for Krishna. Everyone was on such an emotional high during his beautiful kirtans. My heart was literally crying out to Gopala thanks to Prabhu's beautiful kirtan.

He did it again

I was working on two reports for university last night. They weren't due today but I wanted to submit them as I have holidays starting tomorrow and I didn't want to spend them stressing out about my reports that were due. So I was working late into the night. I took a shower at around 2 AM and I was absolutely planning on not chanting for the day as I was just wiped out. I was really exhausted and literally braindead. I thought that I would just go ahead and chant anyway. But I was way too sleepy. I was contemplating all this while I was in the shower. I was telling myself not to break my routine and that I should just go ahead and fight the sleepiness and chant. However I was seriously tired and didn't feel like I had it in me to chant.

Only God can free you

Krsna, being the Lord of illusory external energy, can order this insurmountable energy to release the conditioned soul. He orders this release out of His causeless mercy on the surrendered soul and out of His paternal affection for the living entity. Therefore surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord is the only means to get free from the clutches of the stringent material nature.            - Srila Prabhupada

Govardhan Celebrations

Hare Krishna, everyone :)

Once again, I had the chance to see Ekalavya Dasa Prabhu. Today at Bhakti Vriksh, we were having Govardhan celebrations. We had kirtans for around 2 hours! It was crazy! So much energy, so much fun. Everyone was just absorbed in the kirtans.

Govardhan Celebrations with Ekalavya Prabhu

Hare Krishna, everyone :)

Once again, I had the chance to see Ekalavya Dasa Prabhu. Today at Bhakti Vriksh, we were having Govardhan celebrations. We had kirtans for around 2 hours! It was crazy! So much energy, so much fun. Everyone was just absorbed in the kirtans. Something very unusual happened during one of the songs.

Towards the end of the song, Ekalavya Prabhu began to sing, "Jaya Prabhupada" in normal fashion. Suddenly, I could envision Prabhupada. It was like there was a film being played. I could envision Prabhupada and Krishna together, and Prabhupada telling Krishna, "See this? This is all for You! Just for You!" As in, Prabhupada was referring to our kirtans. It felt like I was literally seeing it happen in front of me and I was just filled with certainty that this is what was going on right then in Krishna-dhama. Then it occurred to me that we were praising Prabhupada at that instant. In my mind, I could see Krishna grateful to Prabhupada for all that he has done to preach Krishna Consciousness. It felt so certain and so real. Real in the sense that I knew it was an image in my mind, but I was convinced that this is what was going on with Krishna and Prabhupada right then. There were tears in my eyes. I didn't know what was happening. I was feeling so strange and unusual, so different. I couldn't understand what was going on, but I was in a receiving spirit. I realized that our gurus have sacrificed so much to spread Krishna Consciousness.

Ekalavya Prabhu so sweetly mentioned that he feels so sad when Kartik month ends. He said we were going to have a Damodar Aarti.

"Those of you who thought that Kartik month is over, I'm sorry. It's extended now!" he said.

He mentioned that the first time he heard that Kartik month was over, he cried because he was so sad. Such purity! During the aarti, while offering the diyas, he was just smiling and gazing at Krishna with so much love. No one who would see Ekalavya Prabhu smiling the way he was during the aarti would ever doubt and question his love. It was just so pure and it shone right through. At one point, Ekalavya Prabhu was blowing his trumpet during the kirtan, and his eyes were fixed on the alter of Krishna in front of him. At that second, I swear, I realized his focus. We always hear that we should do everything for Krishna, we should always act for Krishna, engage our senses in the service of Krishna... and the likes. But when I saw Ekalavya Prabhu holding his trumpet, his gaze fixed on Krishna, I felt in my heart and realized so completely with all that I am made of, that he was blowing his trumpet for Krishna. He was doing this JUST for Krishna. It felt amazing to realize that and to see it. Ekalavya Prabhu is so evidently in love with Krishna. And he definitely loves the devotees. I kind of understand now why they call gurus 'spiritual fathers'. He kept looking at the mridanga player, encouraging him to play, with this look of love in his eyes. He looked at all of us, making eye contact with each one, encouraging us to sing and dance. The way he was encouraging us was in typical fatherly fashion. He was just overflowing with Krishna's love, distributing it as freely as the Lord does.

Everyone was raising their hands at some point in the kirtan, but I wasn't. I feel kind of shy, plus I was filming Ekalavya Prabhu so I didn't raise my hands.

"Raise my arms, Krishna," I said. I shouldn't have challenged Krishna like that, really. Several minutes later, Ekalavya Prabhu stood up and everyone followed suit. An ecstatic dance followed, with everyone jumping and screaming out the Holy Names, enjoying to the fullest. I had to raise my arms to film properly. I shouldn't have challenged Krishna. At the end of the kirtan, while we were all still standing, the time came for everyone to raise their arms. And I didn't hold back this time. I owed that much at least.

I just love it when devotees raise their arms in praise! The kirtans were amazing. Ekalavya Prabhu is just SO good with music! I was wishing and wishing that he would record and release his songs. To my surprise, they were selling some of his audio CDs at the end of the program. I'm listening to it right now and it's just FANTASTIC! Great great songs and Ekalavya Prabhu's voice is just mesmerizing! He has such a unique style, especially with his trumpet! Just lovely :) I felt like I was being annoying because I had to ask 2 times for an autograph. Embarrassing, lol. But when he handed it over to me, I said thanks to him, and he looked at me and joined his hands and smiled.

In one of the pictures framed on the wall, Krishna was gazing at Radha. While looking at it, I found myself begging Krishna to gaze upon me lovingly. Oh Krishna, call us back Home! When I saw Ekalavya Prabhu singing 'Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna', he looked like he was in Vaikuntha. I kid you not, I think that's where he really is! He just looked so happy and peaceful all the while. How can anyone be this happy? He had taken us there too. It really felt like Vrindavan. Krishna is where the devotees are. And wherever there is Krishna and His devotees, that place turns into Vrindavan. At that moment, in the presence of all the devotees, Krishna really was there. I know because I saw the happiness on everyone's face. Just plain happiness. The kind that everyone's looking for. The kind that those who have renewed their eternal relationship with God have found.

Haribol

Krishna's Mercy

Last night, as usual, I was feeling too sleepy to chant. I was going to chant at all, but I didn't want to break my routine again like last time. So I started chanting, feeling terribly sleepy. I thought I'd just do one round.

"Help me chant. Let me concentrate." I said. Then I got really dramatic and for some reason, I said, "If there really is a God then help me chant!"

How absurd! I don't know why on earth I became so dramatic like that. It's kind of funny lol. Either way, can you guess what happened next?

My concentration level just soared. My attentiveness was much better than it was a minute ago. I was shocked myself! My sleepiness had gone. I was reciting the mantra rather fast, but that usually is what helps me concentrate better. If I chant with slow speed, I can barely follow. With Krishna's mercy, I had chanted my 2 rounds for the day :)

Yesterday, I was faced with a situation that normally makes me doubt and question Krishna. But somehow, it didn't bother me at all. This is very very rare. Usually I just lose my mind and start doubting Krishna and asking Him to prove and reveal Himself to me. Yesterday, I was just peaceful. Doubting questions did occur to me, but they didn't get to me, if you know what I mean. The only words resonating in my ears were Lord Chaitanya's words from the Siksastakam:

"You are my worshippable Lord."

The Lord is being very merciful to me. Lord, I thank You for holding me firm in my faith. You promised to preserve what I have and carry what I lack. You carried me out of my doubt. You helped me to chant. Lord, give me strength, give me unflinching faith. Please keep all of us in steady faith, God. Keep us in Your love.

A Love So Incredible

I'm chanting up to 2 rounds daily now, by Krishna's mercy. Today while I was chanting, I was so distracted. I couldn't concentrate at all! I even dropped my beads back into my bag once by mistake, in the middle of my round.

Then I thought I should try to picture Krishna to concentrate better. It also occurred to me how a fellow blogger, In Love With Krishna, mentioned that she tries to visualize Krishna while chanting (thank you, ILWK). So I decided to try to visualize Krishna. Oh, the sweetest image of Him formed in my mind! It was so beautiful!

Peacocks, Courage and a Special Feeling

Last week, on Monday to be precise, I went with some friends to Hatta. On the way there, I saw a rainbow for the first time EVER. It was so exciting! What was even more exciting was the thought about my deal with Krishna. Everytime it would rain, I would just hope and hope to see a rainbow. So I made this deal with Krishna: If I see a rainbow, it will be a gift for me from Him. So remembering this, I began to wonder if it was really a gift for me. Call it silly, but after having lived 20 years of my life and never seeing a rainbow, which is so hard to believe, it really did feel like a gift. So for confirmation, I thought if I get to see a peacock sometime during the day, it would mean that the rainbow was definitely a gift from Krishna. Lol, I feel kind of childish and silly typing out all these funny thoughts! Either way, I didn't come across one. Although, we did stop in front of a store called "Al Sakhi" (Al in Arabic means 'the'). Sakhi just made me think of how Krishna was Radharani's saakhi and that itself made me feel Krishna's presence.

The Way to Bliss: Just Ask Him

Krishna let me taste some bliss last night. Thank You, Lord.

Last night, I was riding some emotional waves. I was feeling very sensitive. While I was chanting last night, somehow, I realized that last night I did not have the will to ask Krishna to show me any more miracles, any proof of His existence, etc. I realized that I didn't need to beg for that. The first thing I need is to have faith in Him. So I begged for faith. I begged for love. I begged Him to smear my eyes with the ointment of love.

"Only a person whose eyes are smeared with the ointment of love can see the beautiful form of Sri Krishna." Bhagavad Gita Purport, 11:50

Diwali 2010

Hey guys!

So the day's pretty much over. I just finished today's diwali aarti a while ago. I was in such a rotten mood just before the aarti. I was so impatient and so irritated. I had to help my sister find an outfit for her high school graduation ceremony tomorrow and we just couldn't find anything and it was frustrating me. We sat down for the aarti and I was just being so negative about everything. It all seemed very ritualistic, and I kept remembering the blog entry I posted earlier today, about ritualism. Moreover, I've gotten accustomed to thinking like this because of reading so much about how Hinduism is just "paganism" and "heathen". So anyway, I reminded myself of my own blog entry, and told myself to think of the meaning behind these rituals. Soon, during the aarti, I started feeling very

Happy Diwali, Everyone!

Hare Krishna!

Happy Diwali to all of you! I wish all of you lots of peace, joy and happiness, and most of all, love of God.

Let's spend today focusing on the meaning behind our prayers and rituals, which are the means to an end, and not the end itself. Today is a good day, and it comes with a good opportunity to practice this. We must always understand the reasons and intentions underlying all our religious acts and not become mechanic and ritualistic. There is no use of performing any rituals if the reason behind it is not understood. Actually, the reason should always be love.

Devotee Website: "Full Lotus Kirtan Show"

"The Full Lotus Kirtan Show is an offering of peace to our hectic world. The show features contemporary and traditional devotional music, interviews with renowned artists and bhaktas, and in-studio kirtans with local and regional groups. Kirtan is call and response devotional chanting to the divinity and perfection within us all. It opens our hearts and brings us closer to each other and to the source of all that is. Let this show be a simple reminder to reflect upon the beauty of our world and to express your love with a bold and boundless heart."

That description was taken directly from the website. Click here to visit. An interview with the Mayapuris was featured yesterday and Prema Hara is going to be interviewed next Tuesday, so stay tuned!

Visit the website and show your support, guys :)

If you have any other devotee websites that you would like to share with the rest of us, please leave a link (and a small description if possible) in the comments! Thanks a tonne :)

Metro Miracle + Prayer

Krishna, Krishna, how You amaze me!

Today when I got into the metro, the train wasn't moving. There were some difficulties and there was a halt. So I got a seat, plugged in my headphones and played a lecture audio by Bhakti Tirtha Swami. I was really exhausted, and I just wanted to relax. Krishna was merciful to me and had put me in a submissive mood. I prayed, "Lord, if it is in Your desire, if You wish, please make the train function well. Whatever is in Your desire, Krishna. Whatever You desire." It had been around 3 seconds since I said that little prayer. Then the metro doors shut, the beep sounded and the train began to move. I was just in awe! Krishna never stops gracing us with His holy presence!

Miracles: Krishna's Reciprocation and Forgiveness

I joined a new Hare Krishna class this past Wednesday. It's a Bhakti Vriksha class and each week, they teach one verse from the Bhagavad Gita and we study it in depth, and have a discussion about it. It's really a fun class and it would be especially useful to understand the verses I don't fully comprehend. The teacher there and the rest of the devotees were very very nice to me. They were so warm and welcoming. They were just wonderful devotees who were so inspiring. We first sang the Damodar Aarti, and then one of the devotees explained Chapter 12. Guys, I swear to you, Krishna is alive. During the group japa session, I was dazing and I was not concentrating. I was chanting rather inattentively and my faith wavered.

"Sing Your Love Song"

Blow Your conch shell amidst these armies,
Shatter my misguided heart with the sound.
I am not the enemy, but I am deeply bewildered,
Let Your conch shell set me unbound.

Dream about Krishna + Krishna looks after His devotees

Last night, I dreamed that I was on the phone with a girl from my Hare Krishna Youth class. While we were on the phone I noticed that my krishna deity in my altar had turned his head. I stared on in disbelief and he did it again! Then he spoke and I put the phone close to the deity so my friend could hear it. Then I told her I would call her back so I kept the phone. The deity then came alive.

Knowing Krishna: Who is God?

• Jagganath: Lord of the Universe


• Hrishikesh: Controller of the senses


• Dinabindu: Friend of the afflicted

"Bound but by bhakti"

I was reading the Damodarastakam along with it's English translation. If you have not heard or read this as yet, please do so. It's a wonderful literary piece and it will have you experiencing surges of devotion.



This is the second verse:

rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram

Bhagavad Gita, 8:12

sarva-dvarani samyamya
mano hrdi nirudhya ca
murdhny adhayatmanah pranam
asthito yoga-dharanam

"The yogic situation is that of detachment from all sensual engagements. Closing all the doors of the senses and fixing the mind on the heart and the life air at the top of the head, one establishes himself in yoga."

Bhagavad Gita, 8:12

"So you don't eat meat?"

Today, I bought a packet of noodles that was on offer. It was 'Spicy Tomato Flavor'. Since it was packed, I asked the shopkeepers if it was vegetarian. They said yes. So I bought it and when I got home, I checked the ingredients. It had artificial chicken flavouring. So I went back to the store to exchange them. I told the lady at the counter that I was a vegetarian so I couldn't eat it.

"So you don't eat meat?" she asked.

Dream about Lord Chaitanya and His Associates + Surrender

A few days ago, I think on Saturday night, I went to bed asking Krishna a very very simple question, to get Him to talk to me. I feel like such a silly child but I was doing it because I wanted Him to speak to me. I have heard of people hearing God's voice and how God guides them and literally speaks to them. Like they actually hear God's voice.  

Bhagavad Gita, 9:22

"But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form--to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have." - Bhagavad Gita, 9:22

One word. Alive.

Krishna is Alive. Today I had the opportunity to realize that Krishna is alive and He is present in our lives. Today, I

Vegetarianism

I've been a vegetarian now for around 1 year and a few months. And PROUD!

How I became a vegetarian:

Once, I looked down into my plate of chicken, thinking, "This used to be ALIVE a while ago, running around in a farm, moving, walking, breathing, playing... and now it's in my PLATE." I couldn't deal with

Krishna's Mercy and My Wisdom Teeth

I had 3 of my wisdom teeth pulled out in the last week. Only one of my extractions was giving me problems. I had accidentally hit it with my toothbrush on the 2nd day after the extraction which caused bleeding to start again. Then later I noticed it wasn't healing well. There was a little hole there, or what would most likely be termed a "dry socket". It's a painful condition when the blood clot doesn't form and the jawbone as well as nerve endings air exposed to air and food and thus can get infected. By Krishna's mercy

Dream about HH Jayapataka Swami

Last night, I dreamt that there was a function somewhere and Jayapataka Swami was there. He gave me his camcorder and told me to record the event, and click some pictures of him. So I took a few pictures of him and then I went around the hall trying to film the event.

Seva to Jayapataka Swami in my dreams? I feel loved and grateful :) I never got the chance to do any seva for him while he was here in Dubai, but at least I got a chance to do so in my dreams :) Thank you, Krishna!

Devotional service, even when carried out in the mind, is still effective. Because devotional service is absolute, just like Krishna. So there is no loss. Ever. Like manasa-puja. It still counts!

Haribol!

HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj in Dubai

On 12th September, I was given the opportunity to attend a lecture by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj. I'm so grateful. I didn't get to see him at the Janmashtami/Ratha Yatra festival on the 10th so Krishna gave me another opportunity :)

We got to the hall and Swami had still not arrived so kirtans were going on. That's what I love about Hare Krishna festivals. There's never an idle moment. Every time we have to wait, every time the sound system fails, somehow if something gets delayed, it's just another opportunity for kirtan.

Cooking

I can't cook! Why why why why! I'm so bad at cooking! I tried making cream of broccoli soup just now. It really tasted nothing like the broccoli soup I had in some restaurant sometime ago. That was just heavenly. I can't even have the ready made Maggie Broccoli soup because they have "traces of egg". I've tried making Alfredo pasta. It's not THAT tasty, but it's fine. Rather plain. I need to take some cooking lessons. Soon. Before I end up killing people with my food.

A Dream about Srila Prabhupada

Last night, Srila Prabhupada appeared in my dream. He was preaching, and he said that everything we do for Krishna must be beautiful. Like the songs we sing, the stories/poems we write... it should all be beautiful. Like the best of the best.

I don't remember my dream so clearly anymore. But it was something along those lines. It's a first. I've never had a dream about Srila Prabhupada before!

Realizations: The importance of the Mahamantra + God's Love

So why do I need to chant? Why can't I just pray in my own words, from my heart? I could definitely do that for a longer time with more attention rather than chanting. I often think, what is the use? I'm just saying the mantra while my mind is somewhere else, I'm thinking about other things. Why don't I just pray? Then one day, while chanting, I realized something.

Krishna and Sudama: Devotion and Reciprocation

There was a brahmana by the name of Sudama, who once upon a time, used to play with Krishna during his childhood. Krishna had gone on to become the King of Dwarka, with an opulent palace, whereas Sudama, who was never after material possessions, had married, had children and lived a very simple life. They began to face poverty - his children were starving, they were weak and ill. However, Krishna's name never left Sudama's lips. Sudama's wife told him to go to Krishna and ask him for some help.

Janmashtami 2010 + Ratha Yatra 2010 II

I attended the 3rd Janmashtami celebration (this year) yesterday. It was at Regent School. I am so thankful to Krishna. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to go because I just had 2 of my wisdom teeth extracted. I was worried I would have some serious after-effects. But Krishna has been taking good care of me, and I am eternally grateful. The celebration was incredible.

HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj and HH Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj in Dubai!

YES YES YES! HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj and HH Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj are going to be in Dubai! They're scheduled to arrive tomorrow (September 9th) and on September 10th, there is going to be a grand celebration. I cannot wait!! I am so excited!! It's going to be so awesome! Here are the details:

What: Rath Yatra

When: Friday, 10th September 2010 [Morning program: 6:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Evening program: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM]

Where: Regent International School, The Greens

Program Schedule:

6:30 - 9:00     Purusha Sukta/ Sri Sukta/ Ayushyahoma/ Yagna

9:00 - 9:30     Breakfast Prasadam

9:30 - 11:30    Vishnu Sahasranama Laksharcana

11:30 - 12:30   Bhagawat Katha [Lecture]

12:30 - 1:00     Kirtan

4:00 - 6:00      Rath Yatra

6:00 - 9:00      Dance/ Drama & Cultural Programs

BE THERE! It's going to be awesome! :D

Janmashtami 2010

Happy Janmashtami, everyone! :) I hope everyone had a fabulous Janmashtami like I did.

I went to Sindhi Ceremonial Hall for the Janmashtami program. It was really nice.

Call to Rescue

Krishna, this is for You. Thanks for inspiring me to write this. I hope You like it. Love You heaps, God. Love You to bits.

God's Gratitude

God's love for us, His children, is unconditional. He never forgets anything we have ever done. Even if we fall down to our lowest nature, God gives us whatever reactions He sees fit to rectify us, but He never forgets what good we have done. He is always waiting for us to turn to Him to uplift us again to our original position. This principle of how we are never lost to God, no matter how little we have served Him, is a manifestation of His opulence of gratitude.

Fallen living entities like us can easily forget anything good that someone may have done for us, and take it for granted, but God never forgets. He's always making some arrangement to bring those who sincerely seek Him back to His abode. God does not simply see what we offer. He sees the sincerity and purpose of the offering. Yes, God sees our faults, and He corrects them in one way or another, but He also sees the service that we have rendered. And if that service is sincere in purpose, He is eternally grateful.

- H. H. Radhanath Swami

Krishna and Guru's mercy gets devotee out of jail

This has been taken from www.dipika.org. Please read it. It just goes to show how much mercy is available to us.

"The following is a letter to Candrasekhara from Sarva Laksmi Mayi, an inmate in Louisiana State Prison.

About two years ago, she found one of Srila Prabhupada’s books, which had been sent to the prison 15 years earlier. This is a wonderful example of how Krsna, in the form of His books, goes where He wants to go, waiting for the person who will read the book and take advantage of the knowledge.

Eyesight restored after reading Bhagavad Gita

This is a personal story I found online on a forum. Please read it. It's truly amazing.

"Hare Krishna!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!I offer my humble obeisances unto him.

I just read an article posted by a devotee explaining his experience. I got inspired by reading his story. So i thought i could post my experience as well, if it can inspire someone else.

A new drinking cup for Krishna!

One of the places I travelled to last week was Zurich. I bought a little steel cup as a souvenir for my friend. It's maybe about three inches high, with the Swiss flag and 'Switzerland' written on it. So I gave it to my friend today, and she was going to open it, but kept it aside, thinking she'd open it later. Before I left, I told her to open it. So she did. And she sat there in shock, with goosebumps all over her. She went ecstatic! Turns out, she was just thinking about how she had been neglecting her ladoo gopal (a little Krishna deity that she has to take care of). She was thinking about starting to take care of the deity again, and she needed utensils. She was looking at her cups and they were all too big for the ladoo gopal. She had wished to get a smaller cup that would be suitable for the deity. And voila! She merely expressed this desire, and Krishna fulfilled it! My mother had seen these cups in Zurich in a shop we visited on a day tour, but we never purchased it. We then went looking around for it and couldn't find it. My mother really wanted to buy these cups. She liked them a lot. So one day I was souvenir shopping, and I came across this shop that sold these little cups and we bought a few.  Looks like Krishna really wanted it too, huh :)

For more personal stories like these, please check the category, 'Testimonies + Miracles +  Mercy Stories'

How to chant Hare Krishna properly

AMAZING tips, truths and thoughts!

Please please visit this website to learn how to chant properly and how to realize the power of the Holy Name: http://www.harekrsna.de/artikel/japa-chanting.htm

I just read it, and I did my rounds for the day after reading it. I have to say, it really really helped. I was feeling so blissful! I was thinking that Radha and Krishna are here, I need to "welcome them" as the article suggested. So I did. And I needed to realize that the Holy Name is all I have and all I will ever ever need. I was feeling little chills. I was thinking wow if this is how people feel when they chant, what would happen if I trembled while chanting like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would?!

It really is true, you guys. The Holy Name has special powers that we cannot even begin to understand. Please read the article. It really will help you experience the Holy Name! All we have to do is ask! We just need to ask Krishna to plant the seed of devotional service. We just need to ask Him to show us some mercy!

Krishna's Promises

As children of God, there are certain things we are entitled to. Things that no man, or even demigod, for that matter, can ever take away from us. As children and devotees of Krishna, He makes promises to us. He makes offers that we can't refuse. We are special to the Lord, and God lives in us, whether we are devotees or not.

Aindra Dasa has gone back to Godhead + Quotes on death

I never really knew Aindra Prabhu. Never heard much about him, never met him, never read about him. Today, when I logged on to Facebook, I saw everyone's statuses talking about a great soul's disappearance.

Pets in Dubai

Hey, all

This is a very urgent matter. If you are looking to buy pets, please please consider adopting abandoned ones. There are far too many of them around. You can give a dying animal a new life. Take it in. Give it a home. There are so many who are going to be put to sleep if not homed soon. There is a Facebook group called 'Friends of Animals'. Please have a look if you are willing to find a home for pets.

If you are buying a pet, please think long-term. Don't buy them now if you're not sure whether you can provide a permanent home for them. Please don't abandon them. I understand situations come up and there are circumstances. But maybe you could perhaps find a home for them then? Please don't give just leave them stranded. Domestic pets wouldn't be able to survive on their own, after being taken care of in a home. They wouldn't be able to find their way around or fend for themselves. Maybe get them shipped with you, or to someone who can take them in. They've got a life too. Don't put their lives at risk. If no one takes them in, they're just put to sleep.

Thanks, everyone!

TONNES of mercy!

Oh, today today today...

Sigh...

Today was just wonderful. So much mercy! SO MUCH!

I was waiting for my friend to call me since she was going to take me with her to today's Hare Krishna Youth Class from the metro station. I would walk, but the weather is just awful now. 44 degrees and soaring! Not cool, man!

Ratha Yatra 2010 in Dubai

Hare Krishna, everyone!

I attended the ISKCON Ratha Yatra festival in Dubai today. It was taking place in the Sindhi Ceremonial Hall in Bur Dubai. Before this, my grandmother and I went to the Bur Dubai Sinaji mandir. Even there they had made a special chariot for Ratha Yatra. The pujari or head priest was pulling the chariot forwards and backwards throughout the aarti ceremony.

Sadhu sanga: Hanging out with Hare Krishna devotees!

Today, I went to this place my friends go to every week for a discourse or lecture on Krishna Conscious topics. Everyone's been trying to get me to go there for ages. So I went today, and, BELIEVE ME, it was incredible. I don't care if people call me stupid or too religious, and say that I'm wasting my time, wasting my life, running after things that haven't been "proven"... I really couldn't care less. The feeling Krishna gave me today is more than enough to banish every negative atom around. Seriously.

Sleepless Night + 26 Qualities of a Devotee

It's past 3 am and I just cannot sleep! I'm sick... AGAIN. Excess mucous, sore throat, stuffed nose, blocked ear... GRRRRRR! Well I'm feeling better now, though. I swear, I don't know, call me crazy but before I chanted my round today, I prayed that Krishna would heal me. And oh my gosh, I started feeling better while chanting. Like I was finding it a lot easier to breathe. Cool beans, huh? :)

Books for Sale!

Used books going for real cheap! 10 Dirhams, more or less, based on the condition and edition! If you buy more books, you'll get a discount!

Poetry: Areas to Cover when Writing an Analysis

1. Title


2. Themes


3. Linguistic Devices/Dramatic Techniques: Dialogue, diction, metaphors, similes, personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole, etc.

My First Kirtan

Today, I attended my first kirtan. For those who don't know, a kirtan is when people come together to join in singing the Holy Names of Lord Krishna:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

I waited with eager excitement for the Hare Krishnas to arrive.

Summer Plans

So my semester just ended. I've got 4 months off! Here's a list of things I want to do this summer:

1. Start writing again


2. Learn more about photography


3. Learn how to dance


4. Learn Arabic


5. Learn Italian


6. Finish reading books: Krsna, Mahabharata, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari


7. Lose some weight


8. Improve my diet


9. Sleep early and wake early


10. Chant everyday


11. Do crunches everyday


12. Get an internship


13. Update my wardrobe

Toodles!

Giving Up + Desire for recognition + Krishna Conscious quotes on envy & desire for recognition (and it's remedies)

*Sigh*

I'm feeling low because I haven't really accomplished much. People around me are winning competitions and shows and winning all-expense-paid trips... and all I won in the last two years (and probably in the last-my-entire-life) was a marketing strategy competition. It wasn't even inter-college. Just amongst our class. My team was the winning team and the company designated came to present us with certificates and recommendation letters. It was nice. I'm grateful that I was one of the winners. But when I see others achieving a lot more than I am, it really puts me down... Why can't I be up there on stage, winning an award, getting some acknowledgment for my work, getting some recognition, something.

Is this envy of those who win and achieve more than I do?

"My dear sons, you should not envy any living entity — be he moving or nonmoving. Knowing that I am situated in them, you should offer respect to all of them at every moment. In this way, you offer respect to Me."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.26




"Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness--these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work."

- Bhagavad Gita As It Is 18.42




"Generally when you have opulences you become proud. But there is one opulence that attracts Krishna, humility. All other opulences only attract Krishna when they are offered with humility."

- H.H. Radhanatha Swami


“One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree who gives due honour to others without desiring honour for himself is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.”

- Siksastakam Verse 3




“A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.”

- Bhagavad Gita 4.39




"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]."

- Bhagavad Gita 5.18

So, we mustn't envy. We mustn't run after fame and recognition, shouldn't desire praise. We mustn't run after material things. Ambition is okay. That is healthy. But it shouldn't take control of us to the extent that we lose ourselves. We must, however, be able to leave these things behind at the sound of Krishna's flute calling us and run after Him. Our highest ambition must be this. To be detached from this world and attached to Krishna.

So what are Krishna's recommendations in such situations?

"Everything that can be achieved by fruitive activities, penance, knowledge, detachment, mystic yoga, charity, religious duties, and all other means of perfecting life is easily achieved by My devotee through loving service unto Me. If somehow or other My devotee desires promotion to heaven, liberation, or residence in My abode, he easily achieves such benedictions."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.32-33




“‘And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me - he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.’”

- Bhagavad Gita 6.47




“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha. for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.”

- Bhagavad Gita 12. 6-7




"Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."

- Bhagavad Gita 18.65

"Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasti eva nasti eva gatir anyatha."

"In this age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative for spiritual progress other than the chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord"

- Brhan-naradiya Purana

Just chant. It will cleanse this muck that is materialism. Muck. Not dust. Thick, thick muck. But chant with heart and soul. Krishna will do the rest.

Ishavasya means everything belongs to the Lord. Nothing is ours to rule over, to own. Everything belongs to Krishna and he is the Supreme Enjoyer of everything. So let's try not to claim possession over things that belong to Krishna. Let's try not to feel envious of his possessions. Let's be good children, who throw our lives into His hands in a heartbeat. All it takes is some dedication. And a lot of the mercy of Holy Name.

Dance India Dance Little Masters + Beautiful Children + Quotes about children

Dance India Dance is now holding auditions for the little ones! It's such a delight to watch, really. The kids are so wonderful, so innocent, and very very talented!

There was especially this girl named Vaishnavi Patil

Donate... at no cost!

Hey guys!

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Fear not, there is a way!

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P.S. I'm supporting Food For Life Global :) This is their website.

By the way, I came across Little Gokul's website after eons of searching, thanks to the search engine mentioned above (Goodsearch.com). Here it is.

Great Day

...And I owe it all to Krishna.

Yesterday, 4 others and I presented to a well-known fast-food company for a marketing project at University. I messed up and I was very being very hard on myself for making mistakes. I stammered, got stuck, forgot some main points, and I "handed over" the presentation to the wrong person. I apologized to my group-mates who said it was okay but I couldn't stop beating myself up about it.

Today was the award ceremony. I have been living in anticipation since yesterday.

"Association of Devotees" - This story gave me goosebumps! Haribol!

Source:

http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/profiles/blogs/the-importance-of-the?xg_source=activity

or www.krishna.com

"The importance of the 'Association of the Devotees / Saadhu Sanga' is narrated in the following illustration from the Shaastra.

Once the great sage Narada was intrigued by a doubt. He was sure that Lord Vishnu would clear it for him. He proceeded to the Ocean of Milk and found his Lord reclining on the giant hooded serpent-bed Shankarshana, His beautiful consort, Lakshmi devi beside Him.

Sage Narada offered his obeisance to Lord Vishnu and put his question to Him. "Oh Lord, what is the value of Vaishnava Satsang, the Association of Vaishnava Devotees?" Lord Vishnu smiled charmingly and said, "I will answer your question. But first you must do something for me. Look at that village on planet Earth. Can you see a small worm crawling on the ground over there?"With his yogic vision, Sage Narada perceived it and nodded.
"Go over there and ask your question to that worm. I'm sure you'll get your answer."

Sage Narada was puzzled, but he nevertheless did as instructed. In response, the worm looked up at him, promptly rolled over and died.Sage Narada was shocked. He hurried back to Lord Vishnu and told Him what had
happened. Lord Vishnu merely smiled and told him, "Oh, is that so? Never mind. Now do one more thing. Go over to that cow-shed you see over there, in that town. A calf was born there a while ago. Please ask the same question to that calf."
Sage Narada was still recovering from what had happened earlier."Oh no, my Lord! What if that calf dies as well? I cannot risk committing the unforgivable crime of `go-hatya'!" Lord Vishnu however, was able to persuade him and sage Narada left on his new mission. Warily, he made his way into the cow-shed. It was in the middle of the night and he approached the calf unnoticed. He put the same question to the calf. In response, the calf looked at him with its large brown eyes. And then rolled over and died! Sage Narada was horrified. Using all the yogic powers at his disposal, he fled the scene and arrived at the abode of Lord Vishnu, shaking with fear.
"Oh my Lord! What have I done! The worst sin expected of anyone; the killing of the animal most dear to you!"
Lord Vishnu pacified the trembling sage and assured him that no sin would accrue to him. "And in the bargain, my Lord, I haven't even got the answer to my question?!" sage Narada complained.
Lord Vishnu smiled and told him that he would have to do just one last thing for Him. "You see that vast kingdom over there? The Queen has just given birth to her first child. All you have to do is ask that child your question and you will get your answer." "No, my Lord! Please don't ask me to go there. I have no doubt that some harm will befall that child as well. I simply cannot take that chance." But Lord Vishnu remained adamant. What could the sage do? Nervously, he set forth towards planet Earth. Arriving on the balcony where the young prince was lying unattended, sage Narada cautiously approached him. The baby looked at him and gurgled with joy.

Hesitatingly, the great sage asked the child, "What is the value of Vaishnava Satsang?' The child looked at sage Narada, and to his surprise, began to speak. "O great Sage. Your question has already been answered. When you, the greatest of Vaishnavas, had first granted me your association, I was an insignificant worm. As a result of my contact with you, I left that body and was awarded the body of the most pious animal, the calf.

You graced me with your association once more, and I left that body to gain the birth of the prince and heir of this vast kingdom. And by your causeless mercy, you have granted me your exalted association yet again.
Now I have no doubt that this is my last birth on this Earth. Your association will help me attain that Supreme Destination; the abode of Lord Hari Himself!"

Renewing your driving license online in Dubai

When registering online for license renewal, the form asks you for "Traffic File Number" which is on car registration cards, or milkiya, if you will. If you don't have your own car, you cannot register. When I called the helpline, they first told me I could not register if I didn't have my own car. Then I called again to ask if I could register on someone else's car registration from my family. They said yes. Then when I tried to do so, it didn't work. It said "Traffic File Data incorrect". Phooey.

VEGETARIANS BEWARE OF MAGGI!

Yes, yes, I feel your pain. If you're a vegetarian that doesn't eat eggs or fish, please, stay away from Maggi noodles! I live in Dubai, and I have been eating Maggi Curry for so long... I LOVE that flavor... Alas, my heart it quaked, the moment it was revealed to me, that Maggi "may contain traces of fish and crustacean". LIKE OMG WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY! Even the Vegetable flavoured Maggi Noodles have traces of fish and crustacean! What part of "VEGETABLE" do they not get?

Krishna Conscious Music

For quite some time, I have been looking for bands and singers who perform songs about Krishna. The most common songs are mostly bhajans in Sanskrit or Hindi, or perhaps recordings of the maha mantra. I was looking for songs that had English lyrics and music that is similar to the songs released today. Now while there are apparently many Krishna conscious bands, as my friends tell me, I don't think they're very popular. So I'm going to list out some of the bands I know of and have come to love deeply. I will provide links wherever I can :)

Miracles and Experiences in Krishna Consciousness

Here are true stories of miracles and profound experiences that have happened to me, my friends, my friends' friends, and devotees all over the globe

• This true story is about a woman and her family being haunted by a ghost for 9 years


• Another story about how Bhaktivinode Thakur drove away a brahmana ghost


• Nrishinga Deva saves his 5-year-old devotee [Note: Many other short stories of miracles related to Nrishinga Deva are in the comments section on the same page]


• Krishna's milk miracle

Sick again + Wisdom tooth

I might be getting a throat infection again. My throat's been hurting and I've had slight fever. I've been taking medicines and so I'm not too sick. I was in horrible pain about a week ago. My wisdom tooth was coming in. It was swollen and one side of my face shape is oval, but thanks to the wisdom tooth, only one side of my face was square-jawed.

EXCRUCIATING PAIN

Wisdom tooth alert!

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHYYYYYYYYYYY

It hurts so baaaaaaaaddddddddddddddddddddddd :'(

Quick question

Do bots really like my blog or are there just way too many of them lurking around?

-_-

Karma, Forgiveness + Krishna Conscious Quotes on Forgiveness

I did a quick search for blogs concerning Hare Krishna topics. I came across one that compared it with Christianity. It stated that Hare Krishna's need to perform good deeds and earn merit for these in order to wash away their karma.

Now is it just me who thinks otherwise? Or does this view need some polishing?

I may be mistaken about some things so forgive my errors. I will try to be as accurate as I can. Feel free to correct my mistakes... with a smile, of course :)

So, according to what I know, based on the article I read, Christians do not believe

It's been a long time, Blog...

I didn't realize I hadn't blogged in 2 and a half months!

And yet, I have no interesting stories to tell :(

I met up with an old friend today. And I invited one of his friends along. I know her but not so well, she's a bit different now... With a fake little accent, and really high heels, and a very gay way of talking which is so typical and predictable and so, "OMG i <3 you" and "you're so ugly, kill yourself. NOW." Gah. She's really nice but it's a bit annoying when someone talks like that 24/7.