Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Evening Aartis And First Class Bhakti
Lately I've found myself going to evening Aartis. There is something about seeing Krishna in the evening. I just don't know what it is. I love how they dress Him here. That could be it. Sometimes I feel hypnotized by Krishna's beauty with Him just standing there. This evening He has an extra flute in His waist, and His turban had six peacock feathers.
Another reason why I like coming to evening aartis is because I like to see what kind of night outfit the Deities are wearing. Last night They were wearing this beautiful white night outfit! I had to take several pictures of Their outfit. Krishna was absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to see tonight's evening outfit. Im sitting here in the temple waiting to see Krishna again.
I remember my guru Maharaj saying that going to evening aartis keeps Maya away. He's right about that. Evening aartis also help me to chant extra rounds while I am waiting for the aarti to start. I have one more extra round to chant. I've been trying to chant 20 rounds everyday. My guru Maharaj instructed me to chant 20 rounds if I have extra time. So I am trying to keep it at that number. And maybe later by Krishna's mercy I can maybe chant more rounds but I don't want to make a vow because it'd be hard to keep and I don't want to committ an offense.
This morning I was reading something in one of Prabhupada's lectures about first class bhakti. And there was a sloka with it that did not have the translation. I had to email my guru Maharaj about it. I had asked him how much deeper does first class bhakti get, and how can I reach that stage of first class bhakti. I know that I am practicing bhakti yoga (loving service to God) now but there is another stage of it. I guess it requires one to be an advanced devotee and Im not that advanced yet that I do know for sure. That is why I asked Maharaj how I can get there. He is a bhakti yoga instructor so I am sure he will give me good advice. I love practicing bhakti yoga because it makes you think of God more and not about yourself in what you have to do for yourself during the day. Today I was cleaning Lord Caitanya's room and thinking of Him. I did my best to keep His dressing room clean and was trying to think of His Lotus Feet at the same time hoping that I was pleasing Him.
Another reason why I like coming to evening aartis is because I like to see what kind of night outfit the Deities are wearing. Last night They were wearing this beautiful white night outfit! I had to take several pictures of Their outfit. Krishna was absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to see tonight's evening outfit. Im sitting here in the temple waiting to see Krishna again.
I remember my guru Maharaj saying that going to evening aartis keeps Maya away. He's right about that. Evening aartis also help me to chant extra rounds while I am waiting for the aarti to start. I have one more extra round to chant. I've been trying to chant 20 rounds everyday. My guru Maharaj instructed me to chant 20 rounds if I have extra time. So I am trying to keep it at that number. And maybe later by Krishna's mercy I can maybe chant more rounds but I don't want to make a vow because it'd be hard to keep and I don't want to committ an offense.
This morning I was reading something in one of Prabhupada's lectures about first class bhakti. And there was a sloka with it that did not have the translation. I had to email my guru Maharaj about it. I had asked him how much deeper does first class bhakti get, and how can I reach that stage of first class bhakti. I know that I am practicing bhakti yoga (loving service to God) now but there is another stage of it. I guess it requires one to be an advanced devotee and Im not that advanced yet that I do know for sure. That is why I asked Maharaj how I can get there. He is a bhakti yoga instructor so I am sure he will give me good advice. I love practicing bhakti yoga because it makes you think of God more and not about yourself in what you have to do for yourself during the day. Today I was cleaning Lord Caitanya's room and thinking of Him. I did my best to keep His dressing room clean and was trying to think of His Lotus Feet at the same time hoping that I was pleasing Him.
Yesterday's Darshan Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish
Yesterday's Darshan Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarakadish 1-22-2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Harinam Party Santa Monica 1-20-2012
Tonight's Harinam was great. At first our group was quite small only about ten of us. A few more devotees showed up about a half an hour later so there was at least 15-20 of us. We spent two hours chanting Krishna's Holy Names and dancing. I tried a little dancing. I was dancing a slow pace but my back started hurting me after awhile so I had to stop dancing. I tolerated the pain though after I stopped dancing and just continued to chant Krishna's Holy Names.
As we chanted and danced a group of young kids came in and danced with us and they seemed to have enjoyed it. A few other people did as well. I love to observe how people react to us especially the people who have never even heard of us before.
Toward the end of the harinam around 7:30pm I took up an attempt at book distribution again. I tried to distribute Self Realization and Bhagavad Gita. I didn't have any luck tonight unfortunately but I wanted to at least try to please Srila Prabhupada a bit more. I hope he was at least pleased that I tried to distribute his books. However I was afraid of committing an offense about preaching about Krishna to others who don't believe. I trying to be very careful of that. But the people that I have spoken with tonight were inquisitive so I guess it was not an offense for me to answer their questions about Krishna. They were polite with me too and didn't argue. Even this one elderly gentleman who said he believes the scientists theory about life, he was still nice. I told him it's okay and that he can believe what he wants to believe and I wished him a good night and he said the same with me. This one other gentleman who looked like he was slightly older than me asked me a few questions and I answered him the best I could. He thanked me as well for telling him the information. Then I spoke to this one girl who was my age. She was listening to me but was quiet. She thanked me for explaining who our group of chanters were. The people that I had spoken with tonight I gave them all cards that advertise our temple. At least I distributed those yellow cards and it has Krishna's Holy Names on them.
So I hope I pleased Srila Prabhupada and Krishna tonight. I am still trying to get off this same spiritual platform I am on and I do want to advance more. I even chanted more rounds today I had chanted 24 rounds and I hope they were quality rounds to Krishna.
As we chanted and danced a group of young kids came in and danced with us and they seemed to have enjoyed it. A few other people did as well. I love to observe how people react to us especially the people who have never even heard of us before.
Toward the end of the harinam around 7:30pm I took up an attempt at book distribution again. I tried to distribute Self Realization and Bhagavad Gita. I didn't have any luck tonight unfortunately but I wanted to at least try to please Srila Prabhupada a bit more. I hope he was at least pleased that I tried to distribute his books. However I was afraid of committing an offense about preaching about Krishna to others who don't believe. I trying to be very careful of that. But the people that I have spoken with tonight were inquisitive so I guess it was not an offense for me to answer their questions about Krishna. They were polite with me too and didn't argue. Even this one elderly gentleman who said he believes the scientists theory about life, he was still nice. I told him it's okay and that he can believe what he wants to believe and I wished him a good night and he said the same with me. This one other gentleman who looked like he was slightly older than me asked me a few questions and I answered him the best I could. He thanked me as well for telling him the information. Then I spoke to this one girl who was my age. She was listening to me but was quiet. She thanked me for explaining who our group of chanters were. The people that I had spoken with tonight I gave them all cards that advertise our temple. At least I distributed those yellow cards and it has Krishna's Holy Names on them.
So I hope I pleased Srila Prabhupada and Krishna tonight. I am still trying to get off this same spiritual platform I am on and I do want to advance more. I even chanted more rounds today I had chanted 24 rounds and I hope they were quality rounds to Krishna.
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