"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.