In 1999 on Valentine's Day I decided to join the temple as a full time brahmacari, a full time monk. So actually Valentine's day is one the most important day of my life.
This years Valentine's Day was also a great blessing. Our temple was blessed with association of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami as well as his famous disciple Sri Prahlad Prabhu. They were both guests of honor at our TKG Academy fundraiser. This event was wonderful. It first began with an amazing play by the...
My wife and I share many things. Sometimes we share sickness, and today we are both "under the weather" with some type of flu or the like. I rose after my usual sleep quota of 7 hours to put wood on the fire and take some ginger root and lozenges for my throat, but went back to bed. After that we got up late to chant (mantra meditation or prayers). As we sat together with our tissues and my ginger tea before our beautiful Deities (scripturally described forms of God fashioned in material...
I can't say I practice this statement completely, though I appreciate the sentiment and contemplate the meaning. It is the attitude of the topmost devotee who sees everyone engaged in Krishna's service except themselves. Though I can't imitate this consciousness, remembering this statement helps me endeavor to see the good qualities in others. It is a good affirmative statement to honor people we meet or devotees we may know, and reflect that the shortcomings we may perceive in others, we may...
There are literally unlimited topics to write on for devotees. This is especially true for those of us who see the world through a writers mind--the whole world and everything and everyone may be grist for the mill of our pen, guided as we are by the Bhakti scriptures and pure devotees.We might imagine how many books there would be if as much attention were given to the Gita, Shirmad Bhagavatam or the Chaitanya Charitamrita as has been given to the Bible. We need to respect all revealed...
My material life’s ideals—
to be happy and fulfilled
by meaningful,
loving relationships,
useful work
complementing my nature
helpful to others,
making a difference in the world.
This wisdom took long
to realize and digest,
the normal material direction
of a young person
didn’t appeal,
my soul was yearning
for more than matter
could afford me.
My past lives
spiritual goal unfinished
impelling me to
take the road
less traveled,
forgoing education,
career, things, to satisfy
my existential...
Amidst mundane chaos, scarcity
lives appeared hopeless
a portal of light, a road of redemption
the mercy of Gaura Nitai!
_________________________________________________
The stark reality of Kali's age
wars, bodily hatred and violence
poverty, starvation, new epidemics
many diseases, types of slow deaths.
Amidst mundane chaos, scarcity
lives appeared hopeless
a portal of light, a road of redemption
the mercy of Gaura Nitai!
These two Lords came
inspiring a magical, miraculous view
from what...
Saturday February 7, 2009 is the appearance day of Lord Nityananda, the eternal associate and expansion of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Nityananda (Nitai) is none other than Shri Balarama, while Lord Chaitanya (Gaura) is Shri Krishna himself in the mood of his greatest devotee. Krishna and Balarama appeared on this planet 5,000 years ago, while Lord Chaitanya and Nitai appeared 500 years ago. Lord Gaura and Nitai are amazingly, and unlimitedly merciful forms of God, who have come to...
Enough sleep's essential
wasting time lamentable--
the joy is waking up
to the soul's purpose.
Against today's material culture
I go to bed early
having tasted the joy
of rising hours before dawn.
Alarm clock rousts me
rising up from ignorance
folding my bedding
a duty calls me downstairs.
Cool air greets my skin--
O, our wood stove is bored
while the wood is anxious
those wood bugs cry!
When the fire is blazing
I cleanse the body showering
clean clothes with tilak
waking the Deities.
Herb...
Here is a story from the Jewish scripture, the Talmud:
"When Akiba was on his deathbed, he
bemoaned to his rabbi that he felt he was
a failure. His rabbi moved closer and asked
why, and Akiba confessed that he had not
lived a life like Moses. The poor man began
to cry, admitting that he feared God's
judgment. At this, his rabbi leaned into his
ear and whispered gently, "God will not judge
Akiba for not being Moses. God will judge Akiba
for not being Akiba."
Some may laugh at the logic here...
Gray winter skies
frigid wet outside
Archana sings prayers
the fire blazes warmth.
Beholding Radha Gopinatha
uplifting spiritual beauties
they kindly glance
to bless everyone.
Esthetically pleasing altar
Deities galore and glorious
lovely jeweled clothes
the flowers smile.
Like trumpets heralding
sun amidst darkness
each petal praising God
arms pointing upward.
The jewels of Kali
simple yet profound
a joy to behold
marveling at the Creator.
Our life a wonder
such great opulence
wondrous...
4 years 13 weeks agoIn 1999 on Valentine's Day I decided to join the temple as a full time brahmacari, a full time monk. So actually Valentine's day is one the most important day of my life. This years Valentine's Day was also a great blessing. Our temple was blessed with association of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami as well as his famous disciple Sri Prahlad Prabhu. They were both guests of honor at our TKG Academy fundraiser. This event was wonderful. It first began with an amazing play by the...0 Comment(s)259 Reads
4 years 13 weeks agoMy wife and I share many things. Sometimes we share sickness, and today we are both "under the weather" with some type of flu or the like. I rose after my usual sleep quota of 7 hours to put wood on the fire and take some ginger root and lozenges for my throat, but went back to bed. After that we got up late to chant (mantra meditation or prayers). As we sat together with our tissues and my ginger tea before our beautiful Deities (scripturally described forms of God fashioned in material...1 Comment(s)271 Reads