VRINDAVAN EXPERIENCE - HUMBLING yet ENLIVENING

Our Yatra to Vrindavan has just ended. Leaving the physical boundary of Vrindavan but praying to carry Vrindavan within my heart always and everywhere. Coming to Vrindavan was a very humbling yet enlivening experience. Humbling because I realize my smallness and weakness is comprehending this great holy abode which is non-different than the Lord. I realize that getting to see Vrindavan is one thing but, getting to actually "see" Vrindavan is all together on another platform. That vision of Vrindavan is given only to devotees whose hearts are freed from all desires to enjoy this world independent of God.

As Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung in a celebrated song, "viṣaya chāḍiyā kabe śuddha habe mana, kabe hama herābo sri-brandaban": “When my mind will be purified after leaving the contamination of material sense enjoyment, I shall be able to visit Vṛndāvana."

The greatness of Sri Vrindavan Dham humbles one but the sweetness of this land, enlivens and satisfies one. That sweetness permeates every aspect of Sri Vrindavan. The breeze, the land, the dust, the trees, the grass, the waters, the stones, the animals, the birds, the local Vrajbasis, the Lila-sthalis; everything about Vrindavan is sweet and fully spiritual. Even though there is some austerities while living here but, one can simultaneously feel the sweetness of this land. There is a kind of joy and satisfaction one experiences here that is unexplainable yet tangible and true.

I don't feel like leaving Sri Vrindavan but I also know that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to gain inspiration here and go back to our own places of service and carry out our services with Vrindavan in our hearts. And thus be instrumental in replicating Sri Vrindavan Dham wherever we are. Our parampara is the parampara of vipralambha-seva, service in separation. Thus we serve in separation from Vrindavan so that the next time Srimati Radharani calls us to Vrindavan we can experience Vrindavan on a deeper level.

- Achyut Gopal Das

Comments

HEART PAIN to SOUL GAIN - the panacea for broken hearts

"When love is lost, do not bow your head in sadness; instead, keep your head up high and gaze into Heaven for that is where your broken heart has been sent to heal." I am sure all of you'll have experienced a feeling of being let down by someone whom you loved and trusted, a feeling of heartbreak, a feeling of pain when people whom you loved didn't reciprocate back to leave you broken. This world is such that instances like these keep happening now and then. Sometimes they are intentional but many times unintentional. That's the nature of this world. Just like a forest fire sets off without anyone igniting it similarly, misunderstandings and heartbreaks happen even without intentionally creating them . In any case, these heart-pains leave their scar deep in our hearts. We all know and have experienced that the pain of the heart, emotional pain is more difficult to tolerate than physical pain. For physical pain, you can apply a balm or a band-aid or take painkill...

WOMANHOOD - UNDERSTOOD OR MISUNDERSTOOD? (A Tribute to all the women out there)

Being born in this world is not easy and being born as a woman is definitely not easy and being a chaste woman and trying to live a principle-centered life is definitely, definitely not easy. The struggles a woman goes through being a wife, raising children and running a family is many times beyond comprehension and very often, overlooked. Running an empire is easier than running a family. But probably the biggest challenge of womanhood is in being understood. Every woman looks for some man to empathize with her struggles and see her side of the picture. But instead of being understood, she is more often than not, misunderstood and exploited by the stronger sex. One of the reason Lord Krishna appears in this world is to protect chaste ladies and teach a lesson to all those who try to exploit the innocent womenfolk. Krishna was born to help his helpless mother, Devaki who was being tortured by wicked Kamsa. Krishna cried seeing the suffering of Kunti Devi and s...

RELAX YOUR WAY THROUGH LIFE

We all have problems in life, that's given but the question is - how do we deal with them? Generally when faced with difficulties, we panic and stress out, but this doesn't solve the problem rather aggravates it. The best way to deal with our problems is by being calm . How can one remain calm amidst problems? That's a question of practice. The point is unless we are calm we will not be able to see the problem for what it is, what to speak of solving it. Just like if a pond is agitated we can't see our reflection, similarly we can't see the obvious as long as our mind remains agitated. We always think that peace is obtained by solving our problems. That may be true but we forget that to solve our problems we need to be at peace first. This is something most of us don't get. By being calm and relaxed in face of a difficulty, we are placing ourselves in the mode of goodness and only in goodness can solutions come forth because the symptoms of the mode of g...

The Wisdom Park

Search This Blog