On Initiation

I liked the following lines on initiation

 

“This is a very serious commitment, not to be taken lightly. Instead, really look deep within your heart and seriously consider the nature of the commitment, and the surrender, and the spiritual benefits of taking initiation. And see if it’s something that you want to do. Remember, Srila Prabhupada got initiated when he was thirty-six years old, and Bhaktivinode Thakura when he was in his forties. So there’s no rush.”

 

“As a generation, we’ve often been ‘fair weather’ devotees,” says Manorama. “We turn up when everything’s fine and dandy, at festival times or Sunday Feasts, maybe when there’s a kirtaniya in town we like. Personally, after a while I found that not getting initiated was becoming an excuse to not surrender, to never actually promise to chant sixteen rounds a day. I loved kirtan—we do as a generation—and I had no problem with the four regulative principles—but japa was hard for me. Some days would be good, some bad, and sometimes there’d be weeks or months of slacking and neglecting my rounds. There would always be something else that came up. Finally I thought, no more excuses.”

At the same time, Manorama began reading Srila Prabhupada’s purports to the Bhagavad-gita and Chaitanya Charitamrita more, and was struck by how many times taking shelter from a guru was mentioned as a foundational principle, and as the proper medium through which to surrender to Krishna.

A few years later, he began attending japa retreats led by Sacinandana Swami to work on his chanting, and reconnected with him for the first time since the guru had visited his house and introduced him and his parents to Krishna consciousness in Germany when he was just six years old.

Now that he is initiated, Manorama feels like he has undergone a complete spiritual renewal.

“It’s a deep commitment,” he says. “I’m no longer serving Krishna whimsically, I’m actually committing and taking responsibility. My relationship with Krishna has to become my number one priority. Now I don’t just chant when I feel like it—the first thing I do every morning when I wake up is prioritize my day so that I can fulfill my initiation vows. And in doing so, my respect has grown tremendously for all of the other devotees in the world who are able to do that every day.”

For Manorama, initiation means going deeper into Krishna consciousness, and trying to rearrange his life in a way that prioritizes Krishna’s pleasure, rather than his own.

 

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Why the jiva will be indifferent to Holy Name if it is so great and wonderful?

 

Why the jiva will be indifferent to Holy Name if it is so great and wonderful?

 

It is because the jivatma has not yet realized that he is part and parcel of Krishna.
Whatever we consider ourselves as part and parcel of to be , that will cause intense attraction in our heart.
 e.g.. Somebody feels to be part of India - he becomes Patriot,
     Somebody feels to be part of Cricket - he checks cricket scores regularly.

 

So similarly if we see ourselves to be part and parcel of Krishna, Then the Holy name will attract us.

 

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur (BVT) says,
in this material world every jiva is searching something nice to engage in, something nice to associate with.
Everyone is searching for some satisfaction and pleasure.
So everybody identifies with some momentary or some longer pleasure and gets stuck there.

 

but Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur says there is nothing better that Holy Name that can award highest satisfaction and greatest pleasure to the soul.
But because the soul has not yet realized that he is part and parcel of Krishna, he is not able to appreciate the Holy Name.

 

He says in fact chanting of Holy Names has potency to give resemblance of Spiritual World even when present in the material world.
When one keeps on chanting Holy Name for long period of time, gradually one feels that material world is resembling the spiritual world.
Gradually one losses that material tendencies and material consciousness. That is the potency of Holy Name, even while chanting in the material world.

 

So how can one be so indifferent?
So Srila BVT says indifference to holy name is a very great curse.

 

Practical tips to counteract this Indifference to Holy Name.

 

[1] Go to a QUIET place and secluded place and chant Holy Name.

 Generally we say we should seek association, thats true, 
 But In Association we derive inspiration, in solitude we surrender. As everybody has to fly ones plane.
 Everybody has to surrender to Krishna, nobody can surrender on our behalf.

[2] Chant mantra DISTINCTLY, clearly, loudly - gradual endeavor to listen to Holy Name.

 

[3] Despite all the endeavors it is only by mercy of Krishna, that Holy Name reveals itself to us.
    So Pray INTENSELY to Holy Name to empower us to chant the Holy Name.
    We have to depend on Holy Name to chant the Holy Name.

 

If we want to improve our chanting, we can take note of these points and work on it.

 

 

- From Japa Talk of HG Radheshyam Prabhu quoting Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakura.

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Train to Vaikuntha, join me: Devotion in separation...does it really work?

Train to Vaikuntha, join me: Devotion in separation...does it really work?

Iskcon Chicago Details

Chicago Name: ISKCON
Address: 1716 W Lunt Avenue
State: Illinois
Phone: +1 (773) 973-0900
Postal Code: 60626
Fax: +1 (773) 973-0526
Email: chicagoiskcon@yahoo.com Website: http://www.iskconchicago.com
http://www.krishnaevents.com
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City: Oswego (Chicago)
Name: Bhaktivedanta Center
Address: 45 Riverwood Dr
Oswego
State: ILLINOIS
Phone: +1 (630) 636-6419
+1 (630) 995-3039
Postal Code: 60543
Email: Rupanuga108@yahoo.com

Ohh Dear Mind

Ohh Dear Mind

Please try to understand….

You have to say no to sin and sinful habits…you are simply wasting not only today but your tomorrow as well…

Today is ruined by waste of time..
Tomorrow is ruined by getting more garbage inside your mind.

The more you feed this bad dog…the more trouble it will give you..

Do you want trouble..anxiety..fear…rejection…and humiliation…?

Do no sin anymore….Krishna already gave you time to improve…Do not reject Krishna…otherwise you will simply be miserable in hell for long time..

Thank You Gaurang Prabhu

Hare Krishna,

Dear Gaurang Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupad,

Thank you very much for coming to Singapore and many thanks for staying in BACE for these days.
I was telling this to HG Haribol Anand prabhu also that in these days I can associate with you more closely than ever.

Yesterday, at Narad Rishi prabhu's place, after Bhagwatam I thought to ask a question in Q&A session that
"What drives you in life?" As I have seen you in these days and in yatra also,
how you push yourself to serve in this movement of Srila Prabhupad. Here I also saw how you serve holy name with dedication.

For this question, you answered my question in same class that "For great souls, only pleasure of Krishna free from selfish interest is the driving force in their life".

Surprisingly Sriram Gopal Prabhu asked me the same question last night. I never asked myself what drives me in my life.
And all I could think of was "hope". Hope for lot of Happiness or pleasure dervied from sense gratification and very little devotional service.

Such is my unfortunate situation. I am connected to Most glorious Spiritual Master and most glorious devotees like you still I cannot forgo my petty attachments.

I pray at your lotus feet to give your blessings and to Please pray for me
- that I give up lust and laziness and always remain in the association of pure hearted devotees.
- to have deterimination in life to pursue right direction as per your instructions and advice.
- to talk less and do more action :)

These three days flew like anything and I was not able to serve you.

Please forgive me for my mistakes or offences comitted in the course your stay or in this mail.
Please forgive me and keep me always in the shleter of lotus feet of Srila Gurudev.

Thank you once again.

Your servant always,

Itinery for Singapore Visit

Arrival of Jagganath Priya Prabhu  and Gauranga Prabhu to Singapore.
25 NOV - SQ 421 - 7:40 PM

Details to confirm.
26 NOV - Budget terminal - MALAYSIA - 5PM
30 NOV - Morning - 8:30AM from KL.