Archive for May, 2002

Harish, Israel The Israeli airport

Dhanurdhara Swami May 26th, 2002

Harish, Israel

The Israeli airport security is unprecedented. Last time, I was thoroughly searched and my tulasi leaves for Giriraja were mistaken for marijuana. Only after they were chemically analyzed was I released from security. This time I wore nondevotional clothing, including a hat, to avoid attention. Like all passengers, I am asked a few questions before they x-ray my luggage. I am not sure why?maybe it’s because my place of stay was an obscure village near the West Bank or because I am not used to wearing anything but devotional clothing and what I scrape together to wear still looks somewhat out of the ordinary?but I was casually pointed to the special security line. My computer was tested and I was asked if I sent any emails from Israel. I said yes, and they asked to see them. My screen opened up to my suspicious looking opening journal entry:

“There are no markets, malls, or hospitals for people to assemble, so the devotees feel safe that it is a very unlikely target for a terrorist attack. ‘If someone is going to sacrifice their life,’ they say, ‘they want an adequate return of carnage. They will only attack places where masses of people assemble, not here.’”

Fortunately, she just glanced to check the origin of the entry and didn’t focus on what it said. Otherwise, I am sure there would have been further interrogation.

I leave Harish at 4:30 for the long flight back to the U.S. Sitting next to me on the flight are a young American couple?typical young, rich,liberal, Jewish college graduates in jeans, t-shirts, and sandals. The husband, however, has a very small yarmulka (a traditional Jewish skull cap) pinned by a hairpin to the top of his bushy, disheveled, and fairly long hair. He is friendly and I find out that he has just been in Israel for a year studying to become a rabbi at the Hebrew Union?a reformed (liberal) Jewish seminary. He is a very nice person, but sentimental. I am surprised that despite his studies his philosophical conceptions are very shallow. My mood,however, is respectful. Over the years I’ve grown to a more accomodating view of religion, and I appreciate those who are devoted to God regardless of their faith. I listened patiently to his understanding but it was obvious that his understanding of his own tradition was not only unsubstantial, but also very much affected by his own new age liberal prejudices and conceptions. I patiently asked questions that might help him think more deeply about his convictions, Finally I asked, “What is the attainment of your practices in reform Judaism?”

“Every reform Jew has his own attainment,” he responded. I was shocked by his lack of reasoning for a group is defined by its common practices and goals. I was not in devotional clothes, but I did share with him that I was a Hindu monk. When he asked me if I still considered myself Jewish, recalling his statement about how every Jew has his own attainment or spiritual goal, I responded, “Yes. I’m in your group, but my attainment is Krishna.”

Harish, Israel -Narasimha Caturdasi In

Dhanurdhara Swami May 25th, 2002

Harish, Israel -Narasimha Caturdasi

In the morning I speak in Ariel for more than three hours on the pastime of Lord Nrsimhadeva, describing the story from beginning to end and attempting to touch most of its important messages. I then return to Harish for a very nice festival where the Harish devotees are hosting their congregation?devotees from all over Israel. There is a full program with an elaborate drama and not much time for speaking. I emphasize just one theme,based on Hiranyakasipu’s failure to achieve perfection despite unprecedented material power: Perfection can only arise by a change in consciousness.

Harish, Israel By speaking here

Dhanurdhara Swami May 24th, 2002

Harish, Israel

By speaking here for a week my relationship with the devotees has grown. It is my next to last day, so the day is mostly spent meeting with various devotees.

A middle-aged lady who has been coming to my evening classes introduces me to her daughter?a 19-year-old who is not a devotee. The lady says that her daughter has questions. With very deep sadness her daughter cries, “I find no meaning in life. What is the meaning of life?” Her desperation and utter sincerity certainly invokes a deep compassion within me. With urgency, I try to help her. I explain the principle of what gives things meaning. I explain that in all bona fide traditions, saints and mystics have dealt with this question. I describe the Krishna conscious view of life. I give her a “Science of Self-Realization” and ask her to read it with an open mind and to write me if she has questions. I lament that I can’t always see all those forgetful of God with this compassion. I glorify Srila Prabhupada whose fathomless compassion imbued him at all times with the urgency to preach and help others.

Tel Aviv I spoke at

Dhanurdhara Swami May 23rd, 2002

Tel Aviv

I spoke at their weekly Tel Aviv program, at an apartment that the devotees maintain for such gatherings. Almost half of the people attending are my age and were attracted to Krishna consciousness by Varshabhanvi’s saintly qualities and by her thoughtful and potent preaching.

One becomes satisfied by his dharma or duty. I am a sannyasa so this opportunity to travel and preach vigorously in a foreign country is very satisfying to that side of me.

The Israelis are very intellectual so it is also a good field for my style of lecturing. One lady, a student of Indology at Jerusalem University, came up after the lecture crying. She told me that she accepts the knowledge I shared with her as a valuable gift. I have had good response since I came here. I also gained a realization of what excites intelligent and sincere people about good philosophy:

One’s conceptions are intertwined with one’s attachments. We are in this world to enjoy, so we need to justify our comforts and pleasures because real enjoyment needs to be free from guilt. The truth, therefore, not only challenges our conceptions, but our attachments as well. It is thus often strongly resisted. When tattva, or truth, however, is presented thoughtfully and with clarity and force?especially to a sincere listener?it breaks through that resistance, opening up new areas of perception and giving one a liberating experience.

Harish, Israel I read on

Dhanurdhara Swami May 22nd, 2002

Harish, Israel

I read on the Internet about a wave of suicide bombings, but I feel very peaceful here. Preaching can be a very potent form of surrender. One of the six symptoms of surrender is the experience and confidence that Krishna is one’s protector. I thus feel safe in the mood of a preacher.

I have a small house to myself in Harish with Gunavatar. I study, chant, and write during the day and, at night, I do a program at a different devotee’s house in Harish. For me, that’s the perfect life so I am very happy in Israel.

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