Okay Im a few days late saying Happy New Year to all who read my blog. The last few days have been a bit crazy with the 12 hour kirtan, Sankirtans, and the Sunday feast on top of that so Im a bit late posting stuff. I hope you all were able to read my previous posts about Santa Monica and Hollywood Sankirtans.
Many devotees say that 2012 will be a positive one. I hope they are right I want them to be right about that. As for myself I want to become more postive myself but that will be a gradual process it won't happen over night for me. So that is one of my New Year's resoloutions being more positive and enthusiastic. I haven't thought of much else. I would like to surrender a little more to Krishna this year somehow or other. But one must be careful with that because you don't want to commit an offense against Krishna if you make a promise to Him and don't keep it so I will lay off on that one to stay on the safe side and continue what I am doing. Im sure if I continue to please my guru Maharaj and Srila Prabhupada, Krishna will let me advance more.
Anyways I do however have seen a positive outlook with my spiritual life so far this year and we are only three days into the new year. I just came to New Dwaraka about two weeks ago. So far I do like it here. And I seemed to have advanced some spiritually as well. They have sankirtan parties everyweek like I said so I plan on going on those to boost my spiritual energy and I believe my guru Maharaj would want me to continue with that.
Lately I've been thinking about becoming a regular book distributer. But my services lie in the kitchen and pujari room so I don't know if I can squeeze in book distribution too or not. I would like to do something more to please Srila Prabhupada and the only thing I can thnik of is book distribution. I'm still a bit terrified about it but I gave it a try last Saturday and most people were nice that I spoke to even ones who didn't want a book. So now that I gave it a try I may become ready to be a regular book distributer. I told my guru Maharaj on the phone when I spoke to him on Jan.1st, that I distributed two books. He was very surprised and very pleased. He even asked me what Santa Monica and Hollywood sankirtans were like.
I was so happy to hear my guru Maharaj's voice on the phone when I spoke to him on New Years Day. I was nearly in tears when I hear him. I was anxious to speak to him. He was very happy that I called. He was also checking up on me making sure that I am staying engaged in Krishna's devotional service, if devotees are being nice to me, and also about my health situation. I spent a good half hour talking to him on the phone. I also spoke briefly with Mother Subhuddhi. Maharaj also said that he wishes me to return to Toronto, he doesn't want the devotees here in Los Angeles to keep me permanantly. It was so funny how he said it on the phone he said "If they try keeping you permanantly there tell them to back off!" I was like "wow!" Maharaj was serious about that one! But I love him for it. This is one of the reasons why Im so attached to my guru Maharaj.
I sure do miss my guru Maharaj so very much. I still hope and pray he can come here while Im still here. The thought of not seeing him for six months....to me that will feel like torture! I miss hearing his classes and kirtans and of course his association. When I was in Toronto, I felt that I am under his protective wing and I loved offering my obeisances to him right at his feet because I felt that protective shield around me whenever I did that. That was one of the reasons why I called him though was to wish him a happy new year and to make sure he got my small package I sent to him before christmas. I maybe way over here in California but I still want to help take care of my guru Maharaj. Im always constantly wanting to do some direct service for him somehow.
Let's see what the new year will bring. I hope it will be happy and positive ones this year.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Saturday Night's Hollywood Sankirtan Party
This past Saturday, I went on another sankirtan party. This time we went to Hollywood. Nope I did not see any celebrities. But where we were the place was packed with people. We were on part of the Walk of Fame. I saw a couple of the stars with actors names on them that I have heard of like Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins. Then As I observed Hollywood more it looked more like Las Vegas with the whole street decorated with neon flashing lights. There were some people on the street dressed up as comic book characters and someone was dressed up as Darth Vader from the Star Wars movies. So us devotees fit right in with the crowd because we were dressed up in devotional cloths such as saris, dhotis, mrgdangas, kartals, books, and tilak on our foreheads.
Our kirtan was pretty ecstatic. About four of us distributed books while the kirtan was going on. People had stopped to watch us. As I noticed the people who watched us, some had a strange look on their faces wondering what we were singing and dancing about, others just wanted to take a break and just see what we were doing and some even joined in on the dancing part. Others accepted books that we were distributing. I made my second attempt to distribute books that evening. It took me nearly an hour to distribute at least one book. Krishna was merciful to me. He had sent this young kid who is about my age. He walked up to me and said "I hate my job!" So I said to him cheerfully "Im sorry you hate your job, but I have something that will make you happy." I showed him the Bhagavad Gita. The boy said he knew about it and said he had lost his copy. So I let him have another copy and he gave a small donation for the book. I couldn't believe it. I distributed one of Srila Prabhupada's books for the very first time. Then about 15 minutes later this one older guy not too much older than me, said his girlfriend was a strict vegetarian. I showed him the Higher Taste Book. I told him there is some great vegetarian receipies in there for her to try. So he had made a small donation as well. I didn't think I could distribute books. I was afraid that I'd get people confused, but Krishna gave me enough intelligence to distribute the books.
We were out there until 8pm then headed back to the temple for the 12 hour kirtan. However I did not go to the 12 hour kirtan as I felt a bit exhausted from the sankirtan. But I hope Srila Prabhupada was pleased that I distributed at least two of his books. I wasn't expecting to distribute any at all but it had finally happened. :)
Anyways here are some photos of the Hollywood Sankirtan party. I didn't have time to make a small recording just pictures.
Our kirtan was pretty ecstatic. About four of us distributed books while the kirtan was going on. People had stopped to watch us. As I noticed the people who watched us, some had a strange look on their faces wondering what we were singing and dancing about, others just wanted to take a break and just see what we were doing and some even joined in on the dancing part. Others accepted books that we were distributing. I made my second attempt to distribute books that evening. It took me nearly an hour to distribute at least one book. Krishna was merciful to me. He had sent this young kid who is about my age. He walked up to me and said "I hate my job!" So I said to him cheerfully "Im sorry you hate your job, but I have something that will make you happy." I showed him the Bhagavad Gita. The boy said he knew about it and said he had lost his copy. So I let him have another copy and he gave a small donation for the book. I couldn't believe it. I distributed one of Srila Prabhupada's books for the very first time. Then about 15 minutes later this one older guy not too much older than me, said his girlfriend was a strict vegetarian. I showed him the Higher Taste Book. I told him there is some great vegetarian receipies in there for her to try. So he had made a small donation as well. I didn't think I could distribute books. I was afraid that I'd get people confused, but Krishna gave me enough intelligence to distribute the books.
We were out there until 8pm then headed back to the temple for the 12 hour kirtan. However I did not go to the 12 hour kirtan as I felt a bit exhausted from the sankirtan. But I hope Srila Prabhupada was pleased that I distributed at least two of his books. I wasn't expecting to distribute any at all but it had finally happened. :)
Anyways here are some photos of the Hollywood Sankirtan party. I didn't have time to make a small recording just pictures.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Last Night's Sankirtan Party Santa Monica
Yesterday I decided to go out on Sankirtan. I figured well it's time to get out some and see the city a bit since Im in a new area. Our Sankirtan party met in front of the temple around 5:45pm. Ganesh Prabhu was the driver. Ganesh Prabhu is a funny guy always cracking some transcendental joke. But I liked his enthusiam. I was chatting with a few of the devotees while we waited for the others to show up. About 12 to 15 of us went on Sankirtan.
It was about a 10 minute drive to Santa Monica. We were at this giantic out door mall. The trees surrounding the area had bluish white lights decorated all around. It was actually a beautiful spot to hold a harinam and there were hundreds of people walking the streets. There were other people however doing their little performances. I saw a sign being held up called Jokes For $1.00. Kind of silly if you ask me but this is Kali yuga and people will do anything to get their money in. Then I saw someone else holding up a sign that said "God Kills Repent." and on the back of it said "Jesus Loves and Hates." What is interesting about that sign is that it reminded me of Krishna because Krishna is God and He does kill, He kills the demons inside of us and around us. But He still loves us and wants us to return to Him. And the things that Krishna hates are envy and pride in His devotees and in other ordinary people.
Anyways we were out on Sankirtan for two hours so I put some more service in that way by chanting and then I gathered up enough courage to distribute our yellow cards that advertises our temple New Dwaraka that has the maha mantra on it. I distributed at least 40 of those cards. Then as the kirtan got even more ecstatic, I even dug through the boxes of books we brought with us and made an attempt to do some book distribution. I didn't distribute any last night but I came VERY close to distributing one book to this middle aged lady but she couldn't make a donation so I gave her one of the yellow cards about our temple on it instead. So how I gathered up courage to do a little book distribution was that I looked for people who looked friendly or that were just standing there watching us with interest. I managed to speak to a few people out there. They were polite at least. I know Krishna will eventually send someone to me who may be rude but I will just have to deal with that. There is always one bad apple in the crowd.
But the realization I had from the sankirtan is this: I felt Srila Prabhupada's presence alot more strongly than I have ever before. I never met Srila Prabhupada personally because he left this world before I was born. But I felt him standing near me, and before I went to grab some books to hand out I could almost hear him giving me a little push gently by saying "Go on and try it. Distribute my books." I hope he will forgive me as I did not distribute any that night but i at least made an attept to distribute and even came close to giving one out.
Anyways, here is a short video of the sankirtan party last night and some pictures.
click on the blue highlighted link to watch the video.
http://youtu.be/sGH4SCpCDlA
It was about a 10 minute drive to Santa Monica. We were at this giantic out door mall. The trees surrounding the area had bluish white lights decorated all around. It was actually a beautiful spot to hold a harinam and there were hundreds of people walking the streets. There were other people however doing their little performances. I saw a sign being held up called Jokes For $1.00. Kind of silly if you ask me but this is Kali yuga and people will do anything to get their money in. Then I saw someone else holding up a sign that said "God Kills Repent." and on the back of it said "Jesus Loves and Hates." What is interesting about that sign is that it reminded me of Krishna because Krishna is God and He does kill, He kills the demons inside of us and around us. But He still loves us and wants us to return to Him. And the things that Krishna hates are envy and pride in His devotees and in other ordinary people.
Anyways we were out on Sankirtan for two hours so I put some more service in that way by chanting and then I gathered up enough courage to distribute our yellow cards that advertises our temple New Dwaraka that has the maha mantra on it. I distributed at least 40 of those cards. Then as the kirtan got even more ecstatic, I even dug through the boxes of books we brought with us and made an attempt to do some book distribution. I didn't distribute any last night but I came VERY close to distributing one book to this middle aged lady but she couldn't make a donation so I gave her one of the yellow cards about our temple on it instead. So how I gathered up courage to do a little book distribution was that I looked for people who looked friendly or that were just standing there watching us with interest. I managed to speak to a few people out there. They were polite at least. I know Krishna will eventually send someone to me who may be rude but I will just have to deal with that. There is always one bad apple in the crowd.
But the realization I had from the sankirtan is this: I felt Srila Prabhupada's presence alot more strongly than I have ever before. I never met Srila Prabhupada personally because he left this world before I was born. But I felt him standing near me, and before I went to grab some books to hand out I could almost hear him giving me a little push gently by saying "Go on and try it. Distribute my books." I hope he will forgive me as I did not distribute any that night but i at least made an attept to distribute and even came close to giving one out.
Anyways, here is a short video of the sankirtan party last night and some pictures.
click on the blue highlighted link to watch the video.
http://youtu.be/sGH4SCpCDlA
Friday, December 30, 2011
Daily Darshan of Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarakadish
Today's darshan of Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish 12-30-2011
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