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

Overcoming Pride By Gratitude

We, ISKCON devotees are made from head to toe only by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the Vaishnava's. We are products of mercy . Nothing actually belongs to us. So, how can we be proud of borrowed plumes! Think about it. When people applaud us for our classes, if we think properly none of the points we speak is ours. We are just repeating what we have heard or read. And even if we get some new insights it's by the mercy of Krishna in our hearts. We should always remember that whatever respect, facilities and honor we get is only by the mercy of Krishna and the Vaishnavas. It's only because we have some connection with great souls, we are given respect. All great devotees live their lives in alignment with this fact. When Lord Krishna left this world to depart to His eternal abode, Arjuna remembers all the incidents in his life where he achieved extraordinary success. But he doesn't take an iota of credit. He is fully convinced that it is on...

WHEN DOES OUR SEARCH END?

Today a simple incident thought me an important lesson. Few days back, the nada string of the pyjama that I wear during my Yoga practice had come out. I stopped doing my Yoga practice due to this reason. Probably an excuse to take a break. I tried to find a safety pin to try to insert the thread back into it's socket. I searched a few places in the ashram where the safety pin could likely be found but, to no avail. I resigned from the endeavour to search and convinced myself that I will search for it some other day. Today, I made up my mind to somehow resume my Yoga session. Which means, I had to find the safety pin - some how or the other. I searched one drawer but to no avail. Then, I searched the most obvious drawer. With a little searching, I found one safety pin lying in the corner of the drawer, as if waiting to be found. I was amazed and shocked to find it. It was as if someone magically put it there from the heavens. I had s...

THE SERIOUSLY FUNNY WORLD

Someone is born, Someone dies. Someone is hired, Someone is fired. Someone is married, Someone gets divorced. Someone gets rich, Someone gets poor. Someone is praised, Someone is criticised. Someone is a success, Someone is a failure. What kind of world is this? Is this a serious place or a funny one? I would say - this is a seriously funny place. THE SERIOUS SIDE In the Bible, Jesus Christ tells his follower the story of Prodigal son - of a son who wanted to check out the world on his own. He forced his father to give him his share of money and left home confidently yet naively. The result - he slowly lost all his money and became bankrupt. Then, he realised all the warnings his father had given him and he understood that this world is after all not that easy - it is filled with all sorts of difficulties. This is the story of all of us. We all, confidently left the spiritual world, our original home not realising what we were getting into - we probably would have never imagined that...

The Wisdom Park

Search This Blog