Archive for October, 2003

October 23-October 29, 2003 - Karttika

Dhanurdhara Swami October 29th, 2003

Govardhana

Final Karttika Japa Thoughts

In the evening, I chant while walking on the roof outside my room, gazing at Giriraja. A thought came to me: I look forward to and relish my evening chanting now, but at other times of the year even a few rounds in the evening can be a chore. What am I doing this month that makes the holy name so alive?

The answer came quickly in terms of the core moods and conceptions that I have purposely focused on in Karttika to increase my relish of the holy name:

1. A stable mind: I planned to organize my chanting at times of the day when the mind is especially stable. That usually means in the early morning before the passion of the day starts. At Govardhana, however, the passion of the day never starts.
2. Respect: Offenses distance us from the pure name?especially the offense of sadhu-ninda, the criticism of devotees. I have vowed to vigilantly avoid criticism of devotees, even in jest. Avoiding sadhu-ninda helps to reveal the holy name.
3. Avoiding things unfavorable to bhakti: I must strictly stick to my schedule for writing, studies, and correspondence or they just won?t get done, since the rest of my time is for scheduled chanting. I am, therefore, too busy for frivolous talk and other things unfavorable to devotion. By avoiding those things that impede bhakti, devotion grows without impediment.
4. Saranagata (surrender): I?ve made a conscious decision to accept God?s will in the form of my destiny unconditionally, thus helping me to see my position. I am not the controller of destiny, but a humble servant of my fate. Humility is the foundation of devotion.
5. Guru-nistha (Fixedness in the service of the spiritual master): Devotional activities, even chanting, bear proper fruit only when done for the pleasure of the spiritual master. I?ve renewed my dedication to Srila Prabhupada?s mission. I have no independent life. My residence here and the nature of my spiritual practices are under his direction and solely for his pleasure. That confidence, which is his mercy, enthuses my practices. Guru-nistha is the core devotional sentiment that sustains devotion.

What I Accomplished Here: Not Much

Spiritual life means surrender?to never be independent of guru and Krishna. It can be done in retired life or it can be done in married life, although the activities of that surrender may vary. The main thing is to always do one?s duty and avoid offenses. I don?t work, have a family, manage anything, or even have pressing service like extensive preaching tours or books to edit. What else is there for me to do but chant? If I don?t, I am being independent of guru and Krishna?an un-surrendered soul.

October 22, 2003 - Karttika

Dhanurdhara Swami October 22nd, 2003

Govardhana

I realized that I may not be able to keep up a daily Karttika Journal. Writing takes time, and I just don?t have that time this month. I also don?t want my writing to be forced, writing something because I must, rather then because I have something to say. I am mostly alone in my room for the day - then what to write about? - especially as one?s inner life is not always appropriate for a journal. The main thing is I need time, which just isn?t there this month. My strong desire, however, remains to remind devotees of the glories of Vrindaban and spiritual life during the month of Karttika.

October 20, 2003 - Karttika

Dhanurdhara Swami October 20th, 2003

Govardhana

Parikrama III
I confided to Akincana Krishna that although I thought I had spoken nicely yesterday on our praikrama to Nandagram, and in fact gave most of the lectures, I was most moved by Vaisesika Prabhus?s short talk about Srila Rupa Goswami at Ter Kadamba. I explained to Akincana how after Vaisesika Prabhu?s short talk, I almost felt guilty about not distributing Srila Prabhupada?s books. Surprisingly, Akincana, who admittedly never showed much fervor for preaching, excitedly responded, ?I felt the exact same way!?

Vaisesika Prabhu helped us envision Srila Rupa Goswami sitting at this same scenic Rupa Kund writing his books - books like the Sri Upadesamrita and the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. He then gave us an interesting insight, ?An author obviously writes for his audience and strongly wants them to hear his message. Especially, a great teacher writes to share his instructions for the benefit of others. How much pleasure Rupa Goswami must feel when the books he wrote in this lonely place are being distributed and studied throughout the world, and how much mercy we can get by pleasing him in this way.?

Any place where the Lord is intensely worshiped, especially a place of the Lord?s pastimes, has immense potency to invoke not only the presence of the Lord, but also the presence of that devotee who has deeply worshiped Him there. We therefore naturally felt attachment for Srila Rupa Goswami here and strongly desired to please him. Vaisesika Prabhu?s potent insight thus affected us, especially as it was something that Srila Prabhupada had stressed again and again.

October 21 - Karttika
Govardhana

Spiritual Paradoxes
When we don?t chant, it is not a question of time but a question of taste, but if we don?t spend time with the name, then how will we get taste for the name?

When we seek personal enjoyment, then real pleasure escapes us, because the very nature of pleasure is love, which is selfless.

A person who is spiritually advanced thinks they are not very elevated, for tasting the boundless ocean of devotional service, even a drop of it, makes one realize how much unlimitedly more there is to attain.

October 19, 2003 - Karttika

Dhanurdhara Swami October 19th, 2003

Govardhana / Javat / Nandagram

Parikrama II
I went to Nandagram today with a few visiting devotees. We started at Javat, where Srimati Radharani lived with her so-called husband and in-laws. From there, we sauntered over to Nandagram along the very path she walked with her friends every morning to go to cook for Sri Krishna. At the halfway point, we stopped at Ter Kadamba, a secluded place of incomparable loveliness, where Krishna herds his cows during the day and meets with the gopis at night. It?s the same forest where Srila Rupa Gosvami later wrote of these pastimes in such masterpieces as Lalita-Madhava, Bhakti-rasamritasindhu, and Ujjvala-nilimani.

The walk is scenic and pleasant. I am really enjoying it. I meditate: I am happily walking here and Krishna?s eternal associates were walking here. What?s the difference?

The difference is pure love. The activities in the spiritual world may parallel ours externally, but the eternal residents of Vraja are spontaneously imbued with overwhelming emotion, fixed in thought and heart on the service of Sri Radha, even in the simplest of everyday tasks.

If we develop this love, we too can swim in the greatest joy, even today, by cleansing the temple, cooking for Krishna, or walking in the early morning to Nandagram.

October 17, 2003 - Karttika

Dhanurdhara Swami October 17th, 2003

Govardhana

Japa Thoughts VI
Chanting inspirational verses before and even during japa is helpful to attentive chanting. We naturally focus best on those objects that we have strong emotions toward. Appropriate verses that invoke attachment for Krishna help us remain absorbed in Krishna in the form of the holy name.

I thus chanted:

tamala syamal tvisi
sri-yasoda stanam-dhaye
krsna namno rudhir iti
sarva sastra-vinirnayah

?The only purport of the holy name of Krishna is that He is dark blue like a tamala tree and is the son of Mother Yasoda. That is the conclusion of all revealed scripture.?

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