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.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Friday, 26 November 2010
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
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
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.
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
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.
"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.
Monday, 22 November 2010
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!
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!
Sunday, 21 November 2010
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.
Monday, 15 November 2010
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
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
Friday, 5 November 2010
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
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.
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.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
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 :)
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 :)
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