Skip to main content

VRINDAVAN YATRA AFTERTHOUGHTS

Sharing a few afterthoughts of the recently concluded Vrindavan Yatra. Feeling extremely grateful for all the places of the pastimes of the Lord that I got to see this time in Vrindavan. There were a lot more places to be seen but Vrindavan is unlimited like the Lord so, the places of Lord's pastimes are also unlimited. Therefore to expect to see all the holy places in a few days is unrealistic. But, one can try to relish the few places one gets to see and genuinely feel grateful that at least one got the opportunity to have darshan of these supremely holy places. What is our qualification to be given entry into these intimate places of Lord's pastimes? Our only qualification is that we have received the association of sincere devotees of the Lord who have prayed for us and are praying for us.
 

I was blessed to come to this Yatra with a group of wonderful and simple hearted devotees from Goa. I have learnt so much from them. Apparently, I came to speak on the spirit and mood of Vrindavan to them but I am going back learning the spirit and mood of Vrindavan from them. I am realising how much Bhakti these relatively new devotees have for the Lord. I am going back feeling smaller in Bhakti than when I came to Vrindavan. Vrindavan after all, is a land that humbles one because Krishna knows that only in a humble state of mind can one truly relish Bhakti to Him. Uddhava, the most intimate cousin and devotee of Krishna came to Vrindavan to teach Bhakti to the Vrajvasis but went back realising that he didn't have any Bhakti. This is the land where everyone is humbled. Whether it was Uddhava or Brahma or Lakshmi or Indra or for that matter Kaliya, everyone who comes in Vrindavan goes back feeling grateful to be humbled by the dust of this holy land and the dust of the feet of the devotees. 

My prayer is that I can take the lessons and the inspiration I was blessed with, during this Yatra to Vrindavan - this supremely merciful and holy abode, store it deep in heart and try to become more sincere in the practice of my Bhakti so that the next time I am blessed with the chance to come to this holyabode I can come in a better state of heart to absorb more deeper aspects of this Chintamani Dham in my life. I am physically leaving Vrindavan but I pray that my heart never leaves Vrindavan and in separation from this abode, my love towards it keeps increasing manifold. May the sights, sounds and experiences I have had in Vrindavan be everfresh in my heart. This abode has the power to touch the innermost core of one's heart and bring about sustainable transformation. Eternally grateful to Srimati Radharani, the Mistress of Vrindavan to give me a tiny glimpse of Her abode. 

Sri Vrindavan Dham ki jai!
Srimati Radharani ki jai!

- Achyut Gopal Das

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

REQUEST TO & FROM A MOTHER

  Today on the occasion of Mother's Day, I went to meet the cow, our mother to wish her for Mother's Day and make a request to her. I requested her to shower her blessings and mercy on her children who are suffering so badly due to the deadly covid virus. The good news for all of us is that, she mercifully agreed to shower her heartfelt blessings, prayers, mercy on all her children. After all, that's the heart of a mother - always wanting and desiring best for her children. I was elated, my mission accomplished - now, the suffering of humanity will reduce. As I was leaving, the cow also had one personal request. She requested me with tears in her eyes to request her children not to abuse, exploit and slaughter her mercilessly. I could literally feel her pain and suffering as she made this request. This was the pain of a mother. Tears swelled up in my eyes. I didn't know what to reply her. I did tell her that I will pass on her request to her other children and I walked ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR DESIRE MANAGEMENT

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of, so they can see that it’s not the answer.” ― Jim Carrey, American - Canadian actor Long back, I heard this analogy to explain the nature of the unlimited desires in our hearts. It is explained in this analogy that, even if all the water bodies in earth are made into ink to fill a pen whose nib is as small as an atom and the sky is made into paper to write on; the ink will get exhausted, the nib will break and the paper will run-out but our list of desires will not get over - we will still have more left. Over these years of spiritual practices, I have realized the truth behind this analogy. I have become more aware of the dynamics of desires and it's working in life. Even though our hearts are filled with unlimited desires, luckily just a few jump into awareness every now and then, just like a few fish jump out of the surface of the ocean every now and then even though the ocean is filled with u...
1 comment
Read more

TO HELL WITH LUST

Lust is something that is so much eulogized by the world and it is something that occupies all of one's mind space and heart space. It is a powerful energy that can potentially consume anyone and everyone in it's magical grip. Even though it is so much the goal of everyone in this world, the wise and the experienced see it as a peace sucking, hellish emotion. We may consider lust to be our best friend but the reality is that, lust is our worst enemy which will destroy our peace, our happiness, our sanity and our very life. Lord Krishna declares lust to be our greatest enemy in Bhagvat-gita 3.37 - "śrī-bhagavān uvāca kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam" "The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world." I...
Post a Comment
Read more