Learning’s from New
Vrindavan
1.
Are
you being pushed away from Krishna or pulled closer to him? – Laxmimoni-devi
dasi
She spoke using
an example of a fishbowl, rocks (different sizes) and sand and then asked a
volunteer to try putting all the rocks and the sand into the fishbowl. The
analogy was this: Fishbowl being our life, the rocks to be the priorities of
life and sand everything else. She then had each of us write down our
priorities and what are we being pushed and pulled from and then drew from that
the difference between materialistic vs goodness in life. She said, If you are
looking at Krishna you aren’t looking at Maya, as Maya is the backside of
Krishna. Some of the big rocks of everybody there were:
a.
Chant 16 rounds.
b.
Read the BG and the SB
c.
Have a good vaishnava life.
d.
Create a daily log of how time has been spent
and then revisit over a week to see what changes you have made.
e.
Minimize your desires.
f.
Reduce the distractions of TV, FB .
g.
Don’t be lazy
h.
Do your karm.
i.
Karm karo, phal ki chinta mat karo.
The theme of
what she was getting at was this- Get your Krishna consciousness of who are we?
Where are we going and once you understood that we are all souls and this body
is material and the ultimate goal of our journey is to go back to Krishna to
serve him And the only way to get back to the supreme soul is by doing this:
Chant the holy name, read books to get knowledge, associate with devotees,
serve devotees, have satsang/kirtans –then everything comes into perspective.
Sometimes, you can’t take out some of your rocks and then you need to
understand why do you have that rock – is it helping to serve Krishna? Do you
fit rocks so they fit together?
We then spoke
about how in the BG, nothing really changed – Arjuna had to fight in the
beginning and had to fight even in the end, only thing changed was his
consciousness of why is he doing what he needs to do (his karma). Look at all your priorities in life and then
consider them if they can be removed. Some are just a temporary situation and
some are rocks you just can’t move (Do you recognize the one which can’t be
moved?). Remember what Krishna wants you to do, then do it right with all your vigor.
But also remember to prioritize your work. She then said somebody asked
Praphupad once, how do you know what to do and what not to do – he said 1. Try
is 3 times properly and if it doesn’t work out – don’t do it. 2. If you can’t
figure it out, ASK SOMEBODY – But try to do it right!
A question for
you - What are your Big Rocks of life?
2.
What
about your mind? - Arcana Siddhi Devi dasi and Karnamrta das.
They are from
Praphupad village and I recognized them the instant I walked into the room. We
started with talking about what are the different mind states. People came up
with happiness, sleepiness, anger, bored, joyful, stress, jubilant, relief…. So
there were both positive and negative mind states. They gave us a math formula
O = E+ R; Outcome = Event + Response (Response ability). Then they spoke about
the 4 functions of the mind as an instrument.
a.
Chita (or chit in hindi) – is like the HDD –
Pure existence. It’s like the collector of everything it sees and feels. The
subconscious! Then they spoke about the 4 deities and 4 elements and how these
4 functions relate to them. I really didn’t understand this part very well. If
anyone of you knows more about this please share. The element for this was Air
(all pervasive).
b.
Ahankara – false ego – diety - Shankarshaan (one
who attracts). Examples – aping somebody or licking up to your boss for
example.
c.
Manas – impulsive responses. Diety- Annirudah or
one who is irresistible, element is water.
d.
Buddhi – Reflective examination. Intelligence.
Presiding diety is Prajmnya. Element is fire.
Mind is like a
child and you need samskar. They then spoke about functional ego and
representative ego. Motto of BG: Be yourself and do your own duty. Bhakti –
adds grace.
3.
Bright
side – Danvir Goswami
Really enjoyed
this one, He started with relationships and how they can be sweet like bees or
dirty like flies. He also said it’s important to keep a log on progress. He
said in this world everybody is competing with everybody else and trying to
show that you are the best. But in vaikunta everybody is appreciating others on
how they are serving the supreme lord better than them. Being grateful is based
on the gift you give. On how pure your heart is – for examples if you don’t
expect anything for a gift given you get more – No strings attached gifts.
Being judgmental is OK, but reserve your judgment only if you have complete
knowledge. For example, Sofa QB on Sundays! They don’t play the game or even
practice and yet are judgmental. Rukmini
– death – balaram killing her (not sure of what I meant with this one!) Do your
homework to give a criticism – give facts not based of emotions. Praphupad once
said in humor – if giving judgment never put anything in writing!
He then said,
it’s important to just mind your own business – oil your own machine. Do onto
others what you would like onto you. Look at the bright side of things. Don’t
create enemies un-necessarily. Example of Praphupad and monkeys – don’t make
friends or enemies with them. Friends they will take everything you have.
Enemies they will hurt you! Teacher or a leader is someone who accepts that and
somebody who plays their role properly. When incharge be in control as a
leader. Ignorance > passion > goodness> transcendental. BG says, who
you are and not who you are not. You aren’t the material body.
He then spoke
about Depression – It means that you are attached because results didn’t come
as expected. So you are stressed which means you get depressed. And if you are
depressed you get stressed which is a vicious cycle. To elude depression – get
rid of the material body for achieving transcendental knowledge. Example of
potter and pot – hallucination – worst mode of thinking. Never be in a dream
world, even when you are chanting don’t think of the leelas think of it as a
service to the supersoul. Examle of doctor who know diagnosis but doesn’t know
the solution. Hence, you need to have the knowledge of both the problem and the
solution and delivery is important – Hence the learned.
4. Gurudas and Shyamsundar das – spoke
about lots of stories of how they were with Prabhupad and how he always remains
alive in our hearts. I asked the question about if he got angry – Sharmila
mataji gave a wonderful explanation. She said he was like an ocean – turbulent
sometimes on the surface but at peace down below!
5.
“Mystery
Speaker”
In 1970, he
learnt from Praphupad that he was ISCKON. He said, don’t be upset with the
instrument of Karma – do your work sincerely. Art of receiving. Excellence has to be expected and it’s a
difference from need vs want.
Integrity - is
very important. It’s the difference between right and wrong. How do you react
when no one is watching you. “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If
you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. The way you do anything is
the way you do everything.”
Spiritual –
Teenager – When
opulence comes so comes complacency and comfort. Always appreciate don’t
expect. Best journey always takes us home. QTR – Quality, Time, Remaining!
A tribute to
Praphupad – He stressed on the image you have and show to people.
6.
Yoga
of Tongue – Vaisesika Das
Very important
to control the tongue and it’s important to conquer the tongue. Praphupad said
two things important to tongue – Speech and Taste. You can’t perceive Krishna
from the 5 senses but the only way is by satya (truth) – recite the vedas and
truthfulness. There is a verse in the Srimad Bhagvatam which is the whole
essence of SB, chanting makes the heart melt and also makes you laugh and cry.
By chanting one page of SB and BG every day you will grow with knowledge. Math
Formula – KK= KC – Krishna katha = Krishna Consciousness.
He spoke about the importance of NVC is the
non-violent communication and the austerities of the tongue. Use pleasing words
and not flattering words he said. Important things to remember:
Truthful, not offensive words, read vedas.
Don’t become like this - “who you are is screaming so loudly that I can’t hear
you”. CHAD – Chapter a Day! If one simply remembers the lotus feet of lord
caitanya, difficult things become very easy. But if one does not remember lord
chaitanya, even things that are easy become impossible.
Inspired by our Sankirtan guide and Mentor
Vaisesika Prabhu, we launched this initiative on Sat-tila Ekadasi. In
Vaisesika Prabhu's words, the benefits of joining CHAD:
·
You’ll feel impetus to chant Gita everyday
knowing that others are doing it with you.
·
You’ll gain superior strength and knowledge in
devotional service by reciting and hearing the divine conversation between
Krsna and Arjuna.
·
You’ll be cleared of offences you’ve committed
in worshiping the Deity.
·
You’ll automatically learn multiple
Bhagavad-Gita verses through repetition. (“Repetition is the mother of
learning.”)
·
You’ll develop skill in citing important slokas
as evidence from Bhagavad-Gita.
·
You’ll awaken a sweet relationship with Krsna
Who reveals Himself to those who daily chant the Bhagavad-Gita.
7.
Mrdanga
class / Kartala class – How to play it. But we need to get a Mrdanga and
practice it. We can discuss what prabhu told us about kartalas.
8. Radhanath swami Appreciating mothers
Wonderful stories of Krishna, prahalad,
dhruva maharaj and others on how Mothers are so powerful, always serve without
ever asking anything in return and always want the best for their kids. Hence,
be always nice and appreciate and thank and be gracious to them.
9. All you need is Love – Awakening the mood
of spontaneous service: Vaisesika das
1.
Sang two Bengali kirtans which I found at these links with their
translations: http://kksongs.org/songs/u/udiloaruna.html
It’s about the sound vibrations that are
so important. The person who sings the holy name awakens the soul and is the
most dear to Krsna. Should do kirtans and this is written in the BG. VLC –
Voluntary life change “SURRENDER”.
Art of management by Praphupad
a.
Generate atmosphere of fresh challenge – fresh
is not done earlier and keeps the mind nimble. Find your jaladutta.
b.
Draw out spontaneous loving spirit.
We then discussed how these are achieved. Examples:
1.
More you give love the more you get love.
Support and love everybody. By giving loving gifts one becomes gracious and
reciprocates. Art of gratitude – “even if you appreciate others you create a
bi-directional force that you can go back to Godhead by being gracious” – in
the BG important. Don’t remember which verse though!
2.
Set an example
3.
By determinations and knowledge
4.
Be determined to spread the knowledge and the
truth
5.
Kirtan
6.
Prasad
7.
Association with “sincere” devotees. Because if
you have false devotees you are corrupted too.
8.
Overcome the weakness of the heart to not have
materialistic attachment. The more you are attached to Krishna the less you are
attached to material world because now you know the truth.
9.
Encourage everybody
10.
Motivate all – penny principal – great real
story of how penny donation was asked and what they got back!
11.
Enthusiastic service
a.
Individual
b.
Spontaneous
c.
Voluntary
