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   <title>Waves of Devotion | Journals</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/" />
   <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/atom.xml" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2007:/journal//1</id>
   <updated>2007-08-08T09:12:03Z</updated>
   <subtitle>The Writings and Realizations of Srila Dhanurdhara Swami</subtitle>
   <generator uri="http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/">Movable Type 3.33</generator>

<entry>
   <title>Waves of Devotion Update</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2007/08/waves-of-devotion-update/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2007:/journal//1.343</id>
   
   <published>2007-08-08T09:08:35Z</published>
   <updated>2007-08-08T09:12:03Z</updated>
   
   <summary>This is the old location of Srila Dhanurdhara Swami&apos;s journal. The new location is on the home page at http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/. These old entries are being kept online for a short period of time, merely as archives. If you have any...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[This is the old location of Srila Dhanurdhara Swami's journal.  The new location is on the home page at <a href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/">http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/</a>.

These old entries are being kept online for a short period of time, merely as archives.

If you have any questions or concerns, <a href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/contact/">please contact us</a>.]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Lessons from the CC: Adi-lila Chapter 1</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2007/06/lessons-from-the-cc-adilila-ch/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2007:/journal//1.342</id>
   
   <published>2007-06-04T23:33:48Z</published>
   <updated>2007-06-04T23:34:49Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Lessons from the CC Adi-Lila Chapter 1 Lesson 1: To successfully write or speak about the inconceivable Supreme Lord, one needs to attract His mercy by humbly remembering His diverse manifestations including His devotees and the spiritual master. After offering...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Lessons from the CC 
<em>Adi-Lila </em>Chapter 1 </strong>

<strong>Lesson 1:</strong> <em>To successfully write or speak about the inconceivable Supreme Lord, one needs to attract His mercy by humbly remembering His diverse manifestations including His devotees and the spiritual master. </em>

After offering prayers in fourteen verses to the Supreme Lord at the beginning of his <em>Sri Caitanya Caritamrta</em>, Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja explains why:

“In the beginning of this narration, simply by remembering the spiritual master, the devotees of the Lord, and the Personality of Godhead, I have invoked their benedictions.”
(<em>Adi</em> 1.19)


<strong>Lesson 2:</strong>  <em>Respectfully remembering the Supreme Lord is a very effective way to overcome the obstacles one  faces in his spiritual progress.</em> 
 
“Such remembrance destroys all difficulties and very easily enables one to fulfill his own desires.”
(<em>Adi</em> 1.21)
    

<strong>Lesson 3:</strong> <em>One seeking to explain spiritual subjects even seeks blessings from his audience, provided they are sincere seekers. </em> 
 
After summarizing his auspicious invocation, Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja continues to seek blessings: 

“I offer my obeisances unto all my Vaisnava readers as I begin to explain the intricacies of all these verses.”
<em>Adi</em> 1.30
 

<strong>Lesson 4:</strong> <em>The Supreme Lord must be understood and worshipped through His devotees. </em>

After finishing his prayers to the Supreme Lord and His devotees, Srila Krishna das Kaviraja announces that he will explain them in more detail:
 
“Having offered obeisances unto the Lord and all His associates, I shall now try to explain these six diversities in one.” (<em>Adi</em> 1.43) 

Srila Prabhupada explains the significance of this verse in his purport: 
 
“There are many unalloyed devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all of whom are considered associates surrounding the Lord. Krishna should be worshiped with His devotees. The diverse principles are therefore the eternal paraphernalia through which the Absolute Truth can be approached.” (<em>Adi </em>1.43, Purport)

 
<strong>Lesson 5:</strong> <em>The spiritual master should be respected as a direct manifestation of God because he is the Lord’s empowered representative and confidential servant.</em> 
 
 “Although I know that my spiritual master is a servitor of Sri Caitanya, I know Him also as a plenary manifestation of the Lord.” (<em>Adi</em> 1.44)

“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krishna. Lord Krishna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.” (<em>Adi</em> 1.45)

Srila Prabhupada comments: 

“[…]The revealed scriptures prohibit one’s pretending to be God, but a bona fide spiritual master is a most faithful and confidential servant of the Lord and therefore deserves as much respect as Krishna. <em>Adi</em> 1.45, Purport


<strong>Lesson 6:</strong> <em>One should be vigilant to never envy or disrespect genuine authority.</em>

 “One should know the <em>acarya</em> as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.” (<em>Adi</em> 1.46)

Comment: The warning to not disrespect or envy authority is given here because it is our natural tendency to do so.  

Another lesson gleaned from the same verse (<em>Adi</em> 1.46):


<strong>Lesson 7: </strong><em>Studentship requires firm faith in and the utmost respect for one’s teacher. </em>


<strong>Lesson 8:</strong> <em>To understand one’s eternal relationship with Krishna one must serve the pure devotee and faithfully study the Srimad Bhagavatam under his guidance. </em>

In the second verse of the <em>Sri Caitanya Caritamrta</em>, Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja prays to the Supreme Lord in the particular forms of Sri Caitanya and Sri Nityananda to dissipate ignorance. Later in the chapter these verses are analyzed and the direct result of such purification is described: 
 
“But these two brothers [Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda] dissipate the darkness of the inner core of the heart, and thus They help one meet the two kinds of <em>bhagavatas </em>[persons or things in relationship with the Personality of Godhead].
  
One of the <em>bhagavatas</em> is the great scripture <em>Srimad Bhagavatam</em>, and the other is the pure devotee absorbed in the mellows of loving devotion.
 
Through the actions of these two <em>bhagavatas </em>the Lord instills the mellows of transcendental loving service into the heart of a living being, and thus the Lord, in the heart of His devotee, comes under the control of the devotee’s love.”  (<em>Adi</em> 1.99-101)


<strong>Lesson 9: </strong><em>A devotee should try to speak as concisely as possible. </em>
 
Before beginning his explanation of the third verse of his mangalacaram, Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja informs the readers that he will try to avoid extensive descriptions and speak succinctly. He supports his contention with a well known aphorism: 

“Essential truth spoken concisely is true eloquence.” (Adi 1.107)]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Krishna&apos;s Heart</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2007/05/krishnas-heart/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2007:/journal//1.341</id>
   
   <published>2007-05-24T01:03:16Z</published>
   <updated>2007-05-24T01:05:34Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Wednesday, May 23, 2006 Krishna’s Heart “Since Durvasa Muni wanted to chastise Maharaja Ambarisa, it is to be understood that he wanted to give pain to the heart of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for the Lord says, sadhavo hrdaya...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Wednesday, May 23, 2006 
Krishna’s Heart</strong>

<blockquote>“Since Durvasa Muni wanted to chastise Maharaja Ambarisa, it is to be understood that he wanted to give pain to the heart of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for the Lord says, <em>sadhavo hrdaya mahyam</em>: "The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart." The Lord's feelings are like those of a father, who feels pain when his child is in pain. Therefore, offenses at the lotus feet of a devotee are serious. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has very strongly recommended that one not commit any offense at the lotus feet of a devotee. Such offenses are compared to a mad elephant because when a mad elephant enters a garden it causes devastation. Therefore one should be extremely careful not to commit offenses at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.” (<em>Srimad Bhagavatam</em> 9.4.68 Purport) </blockquote>

Comment: Reading this helped me understand the seriousness of Vaisnava <em>aparadha</em>. It is simple. Krishna is a person. Like any person, Krishna is pained when those whom He loves are offended. Of course, here it is talking about the pure devotee. Naturally, the more a devotee captures Krishna’s heart by their devotion, the more Krishna is pained in heart when they are offended. But Krishna is also grateful. He appreciates whatever sincere devotional service anyone does. One should thus be very careful in dealing with anyone who has dedicated their lives to Sri Krishna’s service, even if they have faults. I forgot where I read it, but somewhere it is mentioned that the greatest hypocrisy is to not think another deserves Krishna’s mercy because they have faults and thus wish them ill, but at the same time pray for Krishna’s mercy despite one’s own imperfections. ]]>
      
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</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Understanding Srila Prabhupada</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2007/05/understanding-srila-prabhupada/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2007:/journal//1.340</id>
   
   <published>2007-05-01T22:37:01Z</published>
   <updated>2007-05-01T22:39:33Z</updated>
   
   <summary><![CDATA[Tuesday, May 1, 2006 Understanding Srila Prabhupada &ldquo;In this age, devotional service of hearing and repeating the holy glories of the Lord is strongly recommended, and one who takes the vow of renunciation of family life need not imitate the...]]></summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Tuesday, May 1, 2006 </strong>
<strong>Understanding Srila Prabhupada </strong></p>
<blockquote>&ldquo;In this age, devotional service of hearing and repeating the holy glories of the Lord is strongly recommended, and one who takes the vow of renunciation of family life need not imitate the <em>parivrajakacarya</em> like Narada or Lord Caitanya, but may sit down at some holy place and devote his whole time and energy to hear and repeatedly chant the holy scriptures left by the great <em>acaryas</em> like the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana.&rdquo; <em>Srimad Bhagavatam</em> 1.6.13 Purport </blockquote>
Comment: Srila Prabhupada is so much broader in his outlook than he is often presented. He so much stressed preaching that many devotees don&rsquo;t see a scope for his followers to devote their life to chanting and hearing in a holy place. Here, however, he directly encourages that service. It was especially enlivening for me to read this. I am also guilty at times of too narrowly defining Srila Prabhupada. I thus question if there is scope in his service for my lifestyle, which, unlike most of my god-brother&rsquo;s, is so limited in traveling and preaching. Here, however, Srila Prabhupada directly recommends sitting down in a holy place to devote one&rsquo;s whole time to chanting and hearing. I felt encouraged reading this. 

Of course, Srila Prabhupada seems to be talking more about retired <em>grhastha&rsquo;s</em>. Still, the point remains that his strong recommendation of the traditional mode of Vaisnava retired life, chanting and hearing in a holy place, shows that Srila Prabhupada cannot be pin-holed exclusively within one conception of spiritual life, even the missionary outlook. 

At the same time, however, one can&rsquo;t help but note the status at which Srila Prabhupada places preaching. Usually, retirement to a holy place for exclusive chanting and hearing is the pinnacle of one&rsquo;s spiritual evolution following the example of Sri Caitanya, who spent the last year of his life in Puri. But here it is almost presented as a concession. 

I appreciate that although Srila Prabhupada stressed certain activities, it never became a passion in the sense of excluding or discouraging different ways and modes of serving his order and mission. That passion obviously was ours.
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   </content>
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<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - November 5, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/11/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-13/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.339</id>
   
   <published>2006-11-05T14:35:48Z</published>
   <updated>2006-11-05T14:36:46Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations November 5, 2005 Govardhana Karttika ends. All glories to Karttika! I got a lot of feedback that the japa journal was appreciated. Thank you, dear readership. I think one of my main realizations for Karttika was...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

November 5, 2005
Govardhana

Karttika ends. All glories to Karttika! 

I got a lot of feedback that the <em>japa</em> journal was appreciated. Thank you, dear readership.

I think one of my main realizations for Karttika was the importance of spending quality time with the holy name. The holy name is a person as it is non-different from Krishna. By spending time with a person whom we have a natural relationship our rapport and  love for them grows. We then enjoy their company. When we are focused and not indifferent when the holy name appears, a real bond develops. We become happy anytime are in the company of the holy name. That’s the blessings of Karttika -  <em>sambandha</em> or relationship to the holy name. <em>kirtaniya sada harih</em>.  ]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - November 4, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/11/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-12/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.338</id>
   
   <published>2006-11-05T02:17:54Z</published>
   <updated>2006-11-05T02:22:44Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations November 4, 2006 Govardhana A friend of mine - a professor in America - had problems with his chanting. He couldn’t concentrate and it frustrated him. While visiting Vrindavana, he went to his very elderly guru,...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations


November 4, 2006
Govardhana

A friend of mine -  a professor in America -  had problems with his chanting. He couldn’t concentrate and it frustrated him. While visiting Vrindavana, he went to his very elderly guru, a very renowned Vaisnava scholar in Vraja, and opened his heart. 

&ldquo;I just can’t concentrate on my chanting. Why should I do?&rdquo;

&ldquo;Don’t eat grains cooked by non-devotees!&rdquo;

&ldquo;But I have to attend the college’s conferences and they only serve grains cooked by non-devotees. What should I do?’

&ldquo;Don’t eat.&rdquo;

Moral: Don’t ask a <em>sadhu</em> a question unless you are ready to follow his advice. Well, my friend did. It was inconvenient, but it changed his life  and his concentration improved  significantly . 

Commentary: Small things make big differences. During Karttika I only eat freshly prepared and purely cooked food offered to Giriraja. It really helps the consciousness. 


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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - November 3, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/11/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-11/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.337</id>
   
   <published>2006-11-04T04:02:14Z</published>
   <updated>2006-11-04T04:03:02Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations November 3, 2006 Govardhana An individual not only speaks or writes words, but his words have “voice”; the sound and expression of those words that communicates his very heart. Two people speak the same words, but...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

November 3, 2006
Govardhana

An individual not only speaks or writes words, but his words have “voice”; the sound and expression of those words that communicates his very heart. Two people speak the same words, but say different things according to their voice. The words may lie, but the voice doesn’t. It is who you are. Two people chant Hare Krishna, but God hears completely different entreaties depending on  their  “voice”. I chanted today and not only listened to the words, but to the voice of my chanting. It became clear. Unless humility becomes the voice of our chanting there is little taste to our prayers.
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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - Novmber 2, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/11/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-10/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.336</id>
   
   <published>2006-11-02T15:20:21Z</published>
   <updated>2006-11-02T15:21:06Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations November 2, 2006 Govardhana What is japa realization? It is awareness of our present spiritual potential and recognizing the obstacles that stop us from going beyond that. It is the shape that mercy takes to lead...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations


November 2, 2006
Govardhana

What is <em>japa</em> realization? It is awareness of our present spiritual potential and recognizing the obstacles that stop us from  going beyond that. It is the shape that mercy takes to lead us forward.

Today the obstacle was clearly the selfish heart.  I think too much of myself and not enough of others. The shape of the mercy was compassion, my prayer for compassion, and the understanding of why Srila Prabhupada gave us a mission. Dedication to helping others weans us away from self absorption and helps open the heart for <em>nama bhajan</em>.

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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Service to the Vaisnavas and Bhisma Pancaka - October 20 - November 1, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/11/karttika-2006-service-to-the-v/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.335</id>
   
   <published>2006-11-01T14:33:24Z</published>
   <updated>2006-11-01T14:34:47Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 October 20 - November 1, 2006 Govardhana I am sorry to say that I was unable to keep up with writing my daily japa realizations. As soon as it gets near Govardhana Puja, and then Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>


October 20 - November 1, 2006
Govardhana

I am sorry to say that I was unable to keep up with writing my daily <em>japa</em> realizations. As soon as it gets near Govardhana Puja, and then Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day, people start to visit me. Although it left no time for writing (after my chanting), I was more than happy to oblige whoever came to visit me, whether by taking them on <em>parikrama</em> or giving class on Govardhana. It is my great fortune to serve the Vaisnavas. By doing so the holy name manifests its glories. It is one of the secrets of <em>nama bhajan</em>. 

I was especially grateful to be able to give class on the Govardhana-<em>lila</em> to Gauranga prabhu and the devotees from Chowpatty. They came to Vrindavana just to organize and serve <em>prasadam</em> for Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance festival at the Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, as they do every year, and I met them in Govardhana the day after the festival. On the actual day they served six thousand devotees in two hours. It was so organized that each devotee, I was told, felt as if they were being served individually. I heard this many times. So much mercy comes from serving the devotees and especially serving those devotees who are serving the other devotees. 
 
Hopefully the daily <em>japa</em> realizations will continue for the next five days, which is Bhisma Pancaka - the last days of Karttika. 


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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - October 19, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/10/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-9/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.334</id>
   
   <published>2006-10-20T02:08:56Z</published>
   <updated>2006-10-27T23:09:36Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations October 19, 2006 Govardhana A very deep sadhaka here, and a friend, prays daily to all the associates of Lord Nityananda residing at Radha Kunda, including Jahnava Ma, Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Srila Krishna das...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

October 19, 2006
Govardhana

A very deep <em>sadhaka</em> here, and a friend, prays daily to all the associates of Lord Nityananda residing at Radha Kunda, including Jahnava Ma, Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Srila Krishna das Kaviraja. I ask about their <em>bhajan</em>. They describe to me the success of their prayers, &ldquo;When emotion takes over their heart.&rdquo;  Today they prayed at Radha Kunda at the sitting place of Madhavendra Puri, the guru of Lord Nityananda. Thoughts of their first meeting of ecstatic embrace described in <em>Caitanya Bhagavata</em> came strongly to their mind. &ldquo;That love is what we are aspiring for,&rdquo; they humbly shared, &ldquo;When thoughts of it overwhelms the heart, it is the success of chanting.&rdquo;


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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - October 18, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/10/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-8/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.333</id>
   
   <published>2006-10-19T01:13:45Z</published>
   <updated>2006-10-26T23:14:29Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations October 18, 2006 Govardhana I open my heart before the holy name: “This is who I am.” It is embarrassing, but unless I open my heart to the holy name, why will the holy name have...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

October 18, 2006
Govardhana

I open my heart before the holy name: “This is who I am.” It is embarrassing, but unless I open my heart to the holy name, why will the holy name have the confidence to reveal itself  to me?  
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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - October 17, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/10/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-7/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.332</id>
   
   <published>2006-10-18T02:40:54Z</published>
   <updated>2006-10-25T02:41:40Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations October 17, 2006 Govardhana Walk the Talk Japa There is a phrase, “walk the talk”. It means carrying out (walk) what you actually say (talk). I am chanting for service. That’s my talk. But do I...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

October 17, 2006
Govardhana

<em>Walk the Talk Japa</em>

There is a phrase, “walk the talk”. It means carrying out (walk) what you actually say (talk). I am chanting for service. That’s my talk. But do I actually want to walk that path, to be an unalloyed servant, surrendering to and living for another?  It is a difficult platform of consciousness to attain. I am struggling with it. Unless I mean what I say, what is the potency of the mantra? My chanting today is for sincerity. I pray to walk my talk, but I need mercy. 
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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - October 16, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/10/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-6/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.331</id>
   
   <published>2006-10-17T00:27:49Z</published>
   <updated>2006-10-24T00:29:27Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations October 16, 2006 Govardhana An old scholar friend of mine unexpectedly showed up at my door. Even in my hidden kutir acquaintances still find me. It’s the second day in a row that someone just showed...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

October 16, 2006
Govardhana

An old scholar friend of mine unexpectedly showed up at my door. Even in my hidden <em>kutir</em> acquaintances still find me. It’s the second day in a row that someone just showed up. I welcome my guest, but it leaves little time after my chanting for writing my <em>japa</em> realizations. My very learned friend, however, filled my late morning with quality <em>katha</em>. I especially remember a quote from a <em>Bhagavatam</em> commentator about how to view adversity:

“When providence seems to be digging a hole to throw us in, it is actually planning to quench our thirst by drawing water from the ground.” 
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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - October 15, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/10/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-5/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.330</id>
   
   <published>2006-10-16T01:39:50Z</published>
   <updated>2006-10-18T22:41:21Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations October 15, 2006 Radha-Kunda Attended Maha Nidhi Swami’s class on bhajan rahasya-two questions and a side point: Question: How is japa also seva? Maharaja: Seva means to please the object of love. Krishna is most pleased...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations 

 October 15, 2006
Radha-Kunda 

Attended Maha Nidhi Swami’s class on <em>bhajan rahasya</em>-two questions and a side point: 

 Question: How is <em>japa</em> also <em>seva</em>?
Maharaja: Seva means to please the object of love. Krishna is most pleased by <em>prema</em> (love). The more <em>prema</em> in the name the more <em>seva</em> in the <em>japa</em>. 

 Question: Which chanting is best, loud <em>japa</em> or silent <em>japa</em>? 
Maharaja: That <em>japa</em> that gurudeva teaches us, for gurudeva knows best how to please Krishna. 

 As I am leaving a devotee, a good young <em>sadhaka</em>, asks how is my health. 

 &ldquo;It’s good. Why do you ask?&rdquo; 

 &ldquo;I was sick this morning,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo; I couldn’t chant, but I had a realization. Better I develop faith in the holy name now. How will I develop it later when I am old and health becomes a problem?&rdquo;  

 His realization struck me. &ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; I replied. &ldquo;It’s something I needed to hear.&rdquo;  

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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Karttika 2006: Japa Meditations - October 14, 2006</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2006/10/karttika-2006-japa-meditations-4/" />
   <id>tag:www.wavesofdevotion.com,2006:/journal//1.329</id>
   
   <published>2006-10-15T01:52:40Z</published>
   <updated>2006-10-17T19:12:17Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Karttika 2006 Japa Meditations October 14, 2006 Govardhana Ocean Chanting Drowning—water everywhere, nothing else. Ocean chanting, the holy name everywhere, nothing else. I pray to drown in the ocean of nama kirtan. It takes concentration and mercy. My prayers finally...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Rathi Krishna dasa</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/">
      <![CDATA[<strong>Karttika 2006</strong>
<em>Japa</em> Meditations

October 14, 2006
Govardhana

<em>Ocean Chanting</em>

Drowning—water everywhere, nothing else. Ocean chanting, the holy name everywhere, nothing else. I pray to drown in the ocean of <em>nama kirtan</em>. It takes concentration and mercy. My prayers finally reach Sri Caitanya. I think of Srivas Angan and  the nocturnal <em>kirtans</em>. I imagine my <em>japa</em> as the name in that <em>kirtan</em>. I listen attentively and imagine I am drowning, the holy name everywhere, nothing else. 
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   </content>
</entry>

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