Japa Meditations now available!

Japa Meditations

Japa Meditations: Contemplations on Entering the Holy Name, a collection of selected personal realizations on japa meditation by Srila Dhanurdhara Swami, is now available! In this beautifully designed, softcover, Maharaja shares his own personal realizations on chanting of the holy names, as well as the realizations of other sadhakas dedicated to japa through interviews and essays.

Find out more about Japa Meditations: Contemplations on Entering the Holy Name.

The Passing of Rasajna devi dasi

Dhanurdhara Swami December 29th, 2009

December 29, 2009
Sri Vrindavana

This morning I got the news that my dear god-sister, Her Grace Rasajna devi dasi, passed away from this world. I will miss her dearly. I can't remember where I heard the saying, but it goes something like, “One will be remembered more for how one made others feel than for what one has accomplished.” I think of Rasa in this way. It's not that she didn't have significant accomplishments, but whatever she accomplished is overshadowed by the simple fact that there was just nothing bad in her heart. I can't say that about many; I certainly can't say that about myself. I can say that, however, about her. It is rare to know such a person. I feel grateful that I did.

She was a regular listener on my sanga classes twice a week and her contributions were always thoughtful. I learned a lot from them. She was always on the side of compassion over law, essence over form, but all couched in unflinching faith in the words of Srila Prabhupada over every thing else. And because of that unswerving faith and because of her pure heart, there is no doubt about her eternal destination at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

I just wrote Ekacakra yesterday that I would be visiting Austin as soon as I came from India so that I might see Rasa before she left. Today he wrote me that she left. I feel sad that I won't see her again, but relieved that her Lordships took Rasa quickly to be with Them and to free her from any more pain.

I need to thank you, Rasa, for giving your love, example, and intimate friendship to so many of my students and friends. It is a very significant and prominent part of their spiritual lives. I am indebted to you for that.

Thank you for your desire to hear about Krishna and thus engaging me in talking about Him. The most important sign of spiritual advancement is the desire to hear about Krishna. You were thus a very elevated soul that will be missed dearly by all.

Thank you for your encouragement and support in my own devotional service from the thoughtful birthday cards to the kind donations. We all need to be encouraged in devotional service, especially from those senior and more elevated than us. I pray that I may follow your example of empowerment, kindness, and reciprocation.

I am writing this early in the morning in Sri Vrindavana on the day after she left. When I finish this I will chant for several hours and pray that whatever little benefit comes from my chanting here this morning in Sri Vrindavana Dhama will be transferred to her soul. I realize, however, that I am probably doing this more for myself. I have little doubt that she has already achieved what I am only aspiring for, the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Shyamasundara.

 

Govardhana Retreat Part 2

Dhanurdhara Swami November 20th, 2009

This is the second part of my lecture notes from the VIHE Govardhana Retreat this year.

November 20, 2009
Sri Govardhana

Lecture 2: The Mystical Keys for Entering the Presence of the Divine Couple by Srila Sacinandana Swami *

“How to love Krishna? It starts with giving attention. It is called mindfulness.”

“Our mind gets colored by our thoughts. Our thoughts should thus be of the quality of ultimate benefit (sreyas). Instead we think constantly of a thousand small things that are only immediate needs (preyas). The method of developing a mind of ultimate thoughts is to hear and meditate on the Lord's associates - for their thoughts are focused on the highest considerations.”

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Govardhana Retreat

Dhanurdhara Swami November 17th, 2009

Although I am not writing my journal as regularly as before, but rather concentrating on articles and books, occasionally I will continue to send journal entries. I hope you enjoy them!

 

November 17, 2009
Sri Govardhana

 

Every year I have the opportunity to attend the Govardhana Retreat led by Sriman Bhurijan dasa and Srila Sacinanandana Swami. It is a pleasure to sit with a peaceful mind, free from other responsibilities, to just hear the realizations of accomplished practitioners. Here are some of my notes. First from Bhurijan Prabhu:

Lecture 1: The Path and Empowerment of Sri Rupa by Bhurijana dasa*

Bhurijana (BJD) discusses Sri Caitanya's pilgrimage to South India. He comments on the benefits of walking to the places of pilgrimages in India as Sri Caityana did:

“Today when we come to a holy place we usually come very much in the mode of passion by airplane. Our mind thus generally arrives days after us. Saints like Sri Caitanya, however, walked peacefully to the holy places, mindfully anticipating their destination. In contrast to us, their mind would arrive days before.”

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Japa Thoughts | Subject/Object Japa

Dhanurdhara Swami October 16th, 2009

October 16, 2009
Sri Govardhana

Subject/Object Japa

SUBJECT consciousness: Seeing oneself as the SUBJECT and everything else as an OBJECT of one’s desires. The focus is on one’s own desires. It is selfishness.

OBJECT consciousness: Seeing others as the SUBJECT and oneself as an OBJECT of their desires. The focus is on the desires of others. It is selflessness.

Japa means chanting in OBJECT consciousness: “I am a servant or OBJECT for the Holy Name and the Lord’s devotees.”

I sit today for my meditation in my room. Govardhana, the sacred mount, is just 100 yards in front of me. I consciously try to see myself as just another tiny object on its periphery. I pray to move from the illusion that the world moves around my petty desires. I focus on His desires and move from SUBJECT to OBJECT by prayer:

“O Lord, O Energy of the Lord (SUBJECT), please engage me in your service (OBJECT).”

Kartik Journal | Japa Thoughts

Dhanurdhara Swami October 11th, 2009

October 11, 2009
Sri Govardhana

Since 1999 I have faithfully kept and distributed a journal on my japa meditations from the first day of the holy month of Kartik in the most sacred of places, Sri Govardhana. This year, for the first time, the journal has not been kept nor distributed. It is not because I finally published those journals in a book. At the beginning of Kartik, two important groups came to visit, one after another. Raghunatha brought a group of eighteen people from New York. Right after that Jagadisha brought a group of fifteen from Moscow. I just thought, perhaps uncharacteristically for me in this month, that assisting others in enjoying the holy dhama was more important than enjoying it myself. I'm not sorry, but still it is very important for my spiritual life to take a month just for myself in deeper meditation. I thus started my Kartik japa vows two days ago today. Better later than never.

Japa Thought I

Devotional service is for Krishna, not oneself. Of course we benefit, but that should be the attitude, “Chanting is for Krishna”. I made an offering today of the holy name. Each syllable was a separate ingredient of that offering. I tried to offer Krishna the best ingredients for the best offering—sweet syllables with attention and affection.

Japa Thought II

Looked over my notes from Dr. Fakir Mohan's class in Vrindavana:

“Kartik is Sri Radha's month. You are Her devotee. What will She not give? But what will you ask for?”

“When with affection you are calling to Krishna, His form is coming just like when you call your child with affection—the form of child is there. How to chant with affection? If you think of the benefit of taking shelter of Krishna, His protection and maintenance, then affection will come.”

“What is the best bhajan (spiritual practice)? The best bhajan is to follow guru. Every bona-fide spiritual Vaisnava line thus has the best bhajan. Why should one say come to my guru? We have the real and best bhajan!”

 

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