Archive for July, 2007
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
My Longest Bike Ride
I recently wrote about the futility of my most recent attempt at bicycle riding, an inglorious 6 mile ride. Therein I mentioned that last millennium, I did a bit better. That was a more or less 2000 mile trip.
It was from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Minneapolis, Minnesota to Davenport, Iowa, to Cairo, […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
Sri Guru the True Friend of the Conditioned Soul
How does one accept people for who they are and at the same time encourage them to move forward in their spiritual journey?
At first these ideas may seem mutually exclusive but when we understand the nature of love, it becomes clear how this is possible.
In the material world love is always connected with some sort of expectation, sometimes explicit but usually implicit, and never even verbally expressed, but nonetheless very powerful. If you love me then . . . you will. . . and you certainly won’t. . .
This is what most of us have experienced growing up, to some degree or another, sometimes people grow up in psychologically very unhealthy environments where they receive practically no unconditional love from their parents or care givers, but even under more normal circumstances the love that most people receive is still very unconditional.
What can you expect from a conditioned soul?
So because of our previous experiences with relationships in the material world when we come to spiritual life we bring that baggage with us. We may feel that my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, or even Krishna will only love us if we live up to certain expectations.
Sometime back I saw this saying embroidered and framed on the wall of the institute house in Gita Nagari, I’m not sure where it came from but I found it be a very nice description of what it means to be a true friend. “A friend is someone who knows you as you are, understands where you’ve been, accepts who you’ve become, and still gently invites you to grow.”
As a true friend certainly guru and Krishna want us to be happy, they want us to go back to the spiritual world and enjoy eternally, but Krishna is not like the false conception of God that is presented in modern Christian tradition that if we do not accept Him in this lifetime then we are damned to suffer eternally. Rather it is explained that Krishna is more eager for us to come back to him then we can imagine, he is intensely watching every conditioned soul, hoping and praying that they will someday develop a desire to come back to him, and even though we have rejected him for millions of births his love for us has not diminished in any way, he still there in the core of our heart, waiting, watching, and praying that someday we will come back to him. And no matter how many times we reject him he never rejects us. No matter how many times we stumble and falls he is there to help us get back on our feet. That is real love.
So yes guru and Krishna want us to be Krishna conscious, because they know that is the only way they can be happy, but unlike in material relationships there no possibility of them ever rejecting us, and there is no expectation or demand. Krishna never says I will only love you if you follow the regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds. Of course He invites us to do these things because he knows that will make us happy, but he will love us nevertheless.
Our experience in this world is that if anyone wants anything from us and we don’t conform to their expectations, or we disappoint them in some way there is a feeling of rejection, or in our close relationships there is always that fear that we may be rejected at anytime, but spiritual relationships and spiritual love are categorically different. In a relationship based on spiritual love, or the desire to help someone go back to Godhead, there can never be rejection.
Factually all material relationships are based on some form of subtle or gross lust, and because our conditioning we have no experience of real love. Lust means a desire to satisfy one’s own sense. In a relationship based on lust as soon as one’s senses are no longer being satisfied what appeared to be love can instantly turn into indifference, rejection, and often times extreme anger. But spiritual love can never be frustrated. Guru and Krishna want us to come back to them, if we remain indifferent or stray from spiritual path, nothing changes for them, they still feel they same, they still only want what is best for us. If we turn our face from them they may feel pain on account of our suffering, they may feel compassion, or frustration that now we will have to suffer but they will always continue to be our ever well wishers, our true best friend,
Sri Guru and is truly and ocean of mercy and the only true friend of the fallen conditioned souls.
Oh gurudeva,
Oh ocean of mercy,
Oh friend of the fallen condition souls,
Oh life and soul of the conditioned souls,
Oh master, Oh master
Be merciful to me
Grant me the shade of your lotus feet,
I take shelter of your lotus feet.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
New Banner for Blog
Shyam Pandey, our local new vrindaban graphic artist, working on designing the new banner for my blog.
Thank you very much prabhu.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
SAIGA yuji and Gunkanjima
Translator: MOCHIZAWA Aiko
“I had always wanted to visit “Gunkanjima” (The Battle Ship Island) ever since I found out about it on encyclopedia which my father bought me when I was twelve.
“I was obsessed by photography while I was studing at the design department of art school. At that time I found out that the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
Observing the micro to understand the macro
In the Science Times section (June 5) there’s an essay entitled The Universe, Expanding Beyond All Understanding by Dennis Overbye. He quotes an article (authored by Lawrence Krauss and Robert Scherrer) in The Journal of Relativity And Gravitation which states that in 100 billion years from now we will be “incapable of understanding the true […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by New York Times Sanga
Monday, July 16th, 2007
?Salt? by Eugenio Montale
(Translated by Jamie McKendrick)
We don’t know if tomorrow has green pastures
in mind for us to lie down in beside
the ever-youthful patter of fresh water
or if it means to plant us in some arid
outback ugly valley of the shadow
where dayspring’s lost for good, interred beneath
a lifetime of mistakes. We’ll maybe wake up
in foreign cities where […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Monday, July 16th, 2007
Ratha Yatra Photos
by Josh Bonfili
Hello, Just wanted to stop in and share some of my photos from the event
I took a lot, so more to come.
Ratha yatra photos
If anyone would like a copy of a specific picture just email me and I’ll email you the High Quality version that you can print.
stupidwisdom@gmail.com
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by mg
Sunday, July 15th, 2007
Kesava and Madhava Watching the Sunrise
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Sunday, July 15th, 2007
Weekend in New Vrindaban
It was nice to be back, I made it just in time for the Ratha Yatra Festival, we celebrated Ratha Yatra on Saturday, which was also the disappearance of Srila Gadadhara Pandit and Srila Bhaktivinode Thakkur.
Here are a few pictures of Balaramachandra prabhu passing out Jagannath prasadam, and of the dieties being carried into the temple.
I missed the parade because I was on the altar doing the raja bhoga offering and arati, but I made it out just in time to see the parade arrive at the temple.
On Sunday morning I worshiped the Govardhan Shila for the first since I before I left for India last year, around seven months ago. It was really wonderful to have the opportunity to engage in this service. I also worshiped him again this morning, I think I’m addicted, hopefully he will continue to allow me to serve him.
I am a little out of practice but as Krishna says He will carry what we lack. Here are the pictures, enjoy.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Saturday, July 14th, 2007
The Sun of Spiritual Truth
If the reader carefully considers, it will be found that the spiritual science gradually evolved from ancient times and became more simple, more clear and more condensed. The more impurities arising from time and place are removed, the more the beauties of the spiritual science brightly shine before us. This spiritual science took birth in the land of kusha grass on the banks of the Sarasvati river in Brahmavarta. As it gradually gained strength, this spiritual science spent its childhood in the abode of Badarikashram, which is covered with snow. It spent its boyhood in Naimisharanya on the banks of the Gomati river and its youth on the beautiful banks of the Kaveri river in the province of Dravida. The spiritual science attained maturity in Navadvip, on the banks of the Ganges, which purifies the universe.
By studying the history of the world, it is found that the spiritual science reached its peak in Navadvip. The Supreme Absolute Truth is the only object of love for the living entities. Unless one worhips Him with attachment, however, the living entity can never attain Him. Even if a person gives up all affection for this world and thinks of the Supreme Lord, He is still not easily achieved. He is controlled and attained by transcendental mellows alone. These mellows are of five types - shanta, dasya, sakya, vatsalya and madhurya.
The first mellow, shanta, is the stage in which the living entity surpasses the pains of material existence and situates himself in transcendence. In that state there is a little happiness, but no feeling of independence. At that time the relationship between the practitioner and the Lord is not yet established.
Dasya rasa is the second mellow. It contains all the ingradients of shanta rasa as well as affection. “The Lord is my master, and I am His eternal servant”. This type of relationship is found in dasya rasa. No one cares much for any of the best things of this world unless they are connected with affection. Therefore dasya rasa is superior to shanta rasa in many ways.
Sakya is superior to dasya. In dasya rasa there is a thorn in the form of awe and reverence, but the main ornament in sakya rasa is the feeling of friendship in equality. Among the servants, one who is a friend is superior. There is no doubt about it. In sakya rasa all the wealth of shanta and dasya is included.
It is easy to understand that vatsalya is superior to sakya. A son gives more affection and happiness than any friend. Therefore in vatsalya rasa we find the wealth of four rasas. Although vatsalya rasa is superior to these other rasas, it appears insignificant before madhurya rasa. There may be many secrets unknown between father and son, but this not the case between husband and wife. Therefore, if we deeply consider, it will be seen that all the above-mentioned rasas
attain perfection within madhurya rasa.
If we go through the histories of these five rasas, it is clearly understood that shanta rasa was seen in the beginning days of India. When the soul was not satisfied after performing sacrifices with material ingredients, then transcendentalists like Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanat-kumara, Sananda, Narada and Lord Shiva all became detached from the material world, situated in transcendence and realized shanta rasa.
Much later, dasya rasa manifested in Hanuman, the servant of Sri Ramachandra. That same dasya rasa gradually expanded in the northwest and manifested in a great personality named Moses.
In the age of Dvapara, Uddhava and Arjuna became the qualified authorities of sakhya rasa. They preached this rasa throughout the world. Gradually tha rasa expanded up to the Arabian countries and touched the heart of Mohammed, the knower of religious principles.
Vatsalya rasa manifested throughout India in different forms at different times. Among the different forms, vatsalya mixed with opulence crossed India and appeared in a great personality named Jesus Christ, who was a preacher of Jewish religious principles.
Madhurya rasa first shone brightly in Braj. It is extremely rare for this rasa to enter the hearts of conditioned souls, because this rasa tends to remain with qualified, pure living entities. This confidential rasa was preached by Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu, the moon of Navadvipa, along with His followers.
Till now, this rasa has not crossed beyond India. Recently a scholar from England named Newman realized something about this rasa and wrote a book about it. The people of Europe and America have not been satisfied with vatsalya rasa mixed with opulence as preached by Jesus Christ. I hope, by the grace of the Lord, in a very short time they will become attached to drinking the intoxicating nectar of madhurya rasa.
It has been seen that any rasa that appears in India eventually spreads to the western countries, therefore madhurya rasa will soon be preached throughout the world. Just as the sun rises first in India and gradually spreads its lights to the West, the matchless splendor of spiritual truth appears first in India and gradually spreads to the Western countries.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Saturday, July 14th, 2007
Biweekly Blood Tests Ki Jaya!
I made my monthly pilgrimage to UPMC for my checkup. The really great news that came out of it is that because my blood levels have stabilized, I can now go from having a blood draw every week to one every two weeks.
Sometimes material pleasure is compared to the good feeling you get when […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Friday, July 13th, 2007
The Importance of Appreciating People for Who They Are (Part 1)
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So often we have a tendency to want to make others like us, to expect that people should do things the way we do them, and if they don’t they we make them feel that they are wrong or bad. How many problems has this caused in relationships.
I was listening to a Christian radio station and this show was about marriage a new couple had just gotten married, and the wife washed the towels folded them and put them away, shortly afterwards she saw her husband take all the towels out of the pantry and refold them. When she asked him what he was doing he replied, “folding the towels the right way.”
Rather than appreciate people for the natural talents and gifts that they have, we criticize them for what we see as faults.
By not appreciating a person for who they are we reject them, as if to say who you are is not good enough, you should be something different, when in actuality it is not possible for a person to be something different than who he or she is.
I feel so fortunate to have learned this from my spiritual master, he has never once shown even the smallest trace of this tendency rather he has always gone out of his way to reassure me that he loves me unconditionally.
One time I went to him because I was having some difficulty and he could see that I was somewhat distraught, He said, “I just want you to know that I love you for whoever you are, wherever you are, whenever you are, whatever you are and however you are.”
Over the years if I ever expressed any difficulty or uncertainty about remaining as a brahmcari he has always said, “I just want you to be happy in Krishna Consciousness, I don’t care if you are a brahmcari or grhasta.” He said the same thing to Chaitanya Prabhu during his saffron cloth awarding ceremony. Four years ago when I was getting involved with the BBT he told me “you can be a brahmcari like Dravida Prabhu, a grhasta like Gopi Paranadana Prabhu, or a sanyasi like Jayadwaita Swami.”
He has been the most loving and supportive well-wisher that I could ever imagine, he has never forced me to do any particular service or serve in any particular way.
Originally when I wanted to move to New Vrindaban I spoke with him about it and his question was “Is this what you want to do?” I had the idea that I could please him most by being in New Vrindaban, but I now realize that this a somewhat materialistic conception of what it means to please the spiritual master. In material relationships there is always some expectation, if you really love me, then do this. But a genuinely loving relationship is devoid of such expectations.
This year when I spoke with Radhanath Maharaj about going to the rainbow gathering he asked me if I was inspired to do that service. I tried to say that I am doing it to please him so if it will please him then I am inspired to do it, but he did not accept that answer he wanted to know specifically if that was what would personally inspire me in my Krishna consciousness. When eventually I said that yes I would be inspired to go then he gave his full blessings.
When Chaitanya and spoke with Maharaj about accepting more responsibility in the New Vrindaban management Maharaj wanted to know if he was inspired to do this service. Upon seeing that Chaitanya was inspired to do the service Maharaj was fully supportive and encouraging.
One devotee is thinking about moving to New Vrindaban to help be a part of the New Vrindaban management but he wanted to know whether Maharaj would give his blessings and of course Maharaj said, “If that’s how he inspired to serve then I think it is a great idea.”
I’ve never seen him force or even request a person to serve in a particular. When a person expresses their desire to serve in a particular way he often gives some guidance and direction that may help the person, and to make sure that a person does not do something that will be harmful for their spiritual life. But other than acting as concerned well wisher I have not ever seen him interfere in peoples lives, or try to change people.
However, this is a complex subject because as practitioners of Krishna consciousness we are trying to change ourselves, and as “preachers” of Krishna consciousness we are trying to help others change themselves.
How does one walk that line, in ones own life and in relating to others?
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Friday, July 13th, 2007
Listen, do you wanna know a secret
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Sankirtana Das (ACBSP)
Friday, July 13th, 2007
Milestones
Here comes the bride.
Here is Mercy, daughter of Sobavati and Pavana prabhus, arriving for the fire sacrifice celebrating her wedding to Janardan, held on the terraces behind the Palace.
The best part from my perspective was Janardan shooting a flaming arrow from the terraces into the lake, in order to let other men know […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Thursday, July 12th, 2007
Leadership: The Art of Dealing with Cracked Pots
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”
“Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”
“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts.” The pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”
Everyone has their flaws but at the same time everyone has something to contribute. Leadership is about bringing out the best in people, and inspiring them to contribute what they have to offer for advancement of the common goal.
Often times an inexperienced leader finds himself alone because because he hasn’t learned how to encourage and appreciate people. Everyone under him either leaves or he fires them. He wonders what is wrong with everybody, without realizing that the problem lies within himself.
Rather than getting rid people because we feel that are not perfect we should somehow encourage people to contribute in a meaningful way despite whatever cracks they may have.
One time when one sanyasi had fallen down Srila Prabhupada went out of his way to find him, the sanyasi with tears in his eyes said, “Are you going to reject me like Lord Caitanya rejected Chota Haridas.”
Srila Prabhupada with tears is his eyes replied, “No, Lord Caitanya was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but I need your assistance to spread this Krishna consciousness movement.”
Of course factually Lord Caitanya did not reject Chota Haridas, he simply wanted to teach the world a lesson.
And factually it was Srila Prabhupada’s mercy that despite this devotees faults Srila Prabhupada desperately wanted to keep him engaged in devotional service.
Everyone who is in the material world is like a cracked pot. Every conditioned soul is struggling with many anarthas. Spiritual leadership does not mean rejecting such people because then we have to reject everyone, but rather engaging them in Krishna’s service so that they can ultimately become purified of all material desires and go back to the spiritual world.
And of course if we are in any position of spiritual leadership, which is Lord Caitanya’s order, we should understand that we also have many cracks and it is only by the mercy of guru and Gauranga that we are being engaged in their service.