Vyasa Pujas are always a great way to reflect and enjoy a wondrous occasion. What gets me everytime is the humility a guru possesses and their sincerity towards the mission of Srila Prabhupada. I recently attended a Vyasa Puja. The most beautiful point was when Maharaja was offering Aarti to Srila Prabhupada. The love with which he offered all the items, with a smile on his face emanating humility.... that's disciplic succession personified. Hopefully, one day I can be part of that everlasting disciplic succession.
I can only wait.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Summer Update...
So, haven't posted in a long time with all the craziness that was this summer and recently, the beginning of third year. Woah. This summer was unbelievable! With festivals, Rathayatra, summer school, two jobs as well as living downtown for most of it can only be summarized in one word:
BUSY.
Highlights, you ask?
- Rathayatra - since I was partially in charge of volunteers this year, it was such a pleasure to see volunteers that had never heard/ seen Lord Jagannatha before pulling His cart! Furthermore, seeing some of these volunteers now come regularly to the temple and being engaged...gives me goosebumps! Best parts were 4 of us matajis trying to assemble Lord Jagganatha's altar in the DARK and dis-assembling it in the pouring rain! The rain Lord Indra sent down was...meh but it was great to see people coming from far places to see Lord Jagganatha. NO one can forget the Bus Tour kids and their phenomenal drama, dances and kirtan!
- Summer festivals - so fortunate this year that almost all of the main festivals have fallen on weekends or holidays so that we could truly plan huge celebrations. Totally blessed to work with wonderful devotees who come up with innovative ideas for each festival and it keeps getting better! Seeing devotees really appreciate our humble offerings to Their Lordships just goes to show the bliss that is achieved from devotional service.
This summer was busier with a job and summer school. I plan never to do those two at the same time again.
Now, back to the ups and MANY downs of third year. I have never felt so stressed before. The constant struggle between never-lasting time, so-called material responsibilities and spiritual priorities have started to take a toll. I wish time would just stop for an hour to let me organize myself and prepare myself for the onslaught of really, everything. But when has life ever done that? That's the whole point, right? There isn't anything you can do to stop the forces of maya, time and the modes of material nature. All I can do is chant, chant and chant some more in the hopes that I will be spiritually prepared.
- Rathayatra - since I was partially in charge of volunteers this year, it was such a pleasure to see volunteers that had never heard/ seen Lord Jagannatha before pulling His cart! Furthermore, seeing some of these volunteers now come regularly to the temple and being engaged...gives me goosebumps! Best parts were 4 of us matajis trying to assemble Lord Jagganatha's altar in the DARK and dis-assembling it in the pouring rain! The rain Lord Indra sent down was...meh but it was great to see people coming from far places to see Lord Jagganatha. NO one can forget the Bus Tour kids and their phenomenal drama, dances and kirtan!
- Summer festivals - so fortunate this year that almost all of the main festivals have fallen on weekends or holidays so that we could truly plan huge celebrations. Totally blessed to work with wonderful devotees who come up with innovative ideas for each festival and it keeps getting better! Seeing devotees really appreciate our humble offerings to Their Lordships just goes to show the bliss that is achieved from devotional service.
This summer was busier with a job and summer school. I plan never to do those two at the same time again.
Now, back to the ups and MANY downs of third year. I have never felt so stressed before. The constant struggle between never-lasting time, so-called material responsibilities and spiritual priorities have started to take a toll. I wish time would just stop for an hour to let me organize myself and prepare myself for the onslaught of really, everything. But when has life ever done that? That's the whole point, right? There isn't anything you can do to stop the forces of maya, time and the modes of material nature. All I can do is chant, chant and chant some more in the hopes that I will be spiritually prepared.
This has been quite the random post.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Good Friday weekend = a Good Pillow fight?
So after the VERY tiring but absolutely fun not-so-long Good Friday weekend, I was watching the news and heard this: "This past weekend, Good Friday was not the only thing that was celebrated...". I perked up thinking they were going to showcase the Gaura Purnima celebrations at the temple (you can tell how much this festival consumed us). Instead, they talked about Global Pillow Fight day.
GLOBAL PILLOW FIGHT DAY?!
I day for people to enjoy a good ol' pillow fight. It was such a success that Vancouver was the only city to participate.
To think, that on an auspicious weekend such as that, people on the West coast were preoccupied with whether to use down-filled or polyester fill and which pillow would give the best smack. We as a society have come up with effective ways to waste time. Yippee. Hopefully, this is NOT an indication of where our society is heading.
My long weekend was nothing short than crazy but pure bliss. Nothing beats dancing and sweating to the beat of the thunderous mrdangas screaming "Nitai! Nitai!" on a totally empty stomach. I got to spend 3 wonderful days with the most inspirational and down right hilarious bunch of people (iFOC ;) ) in the world and get the small opportunity to bring smiles and laughs onto others' faces.
To think, that on an auspicious weekend such as that, people on the West coast were preoccupied with whether to use down-filled or polyester fill and which pillow would give the best smack. We as a society have come up with effective ways to waste time. Yippee. Hopefully, this is NOT an indication of where our society is heading.
My long weekend was nothing short than crazy but pure bliss. Nothing beats dancing and sweating to the beat of the thunderous mrdangas screaming "Nitai! Nitai!" on a totally empty stomach. I got to spend 3 wonderful days with the most inspirational and down right hilarious bunch of people (iFOC ;) ) in the world and get the small opportunity to bring smiles and laughs onto others' faces.
If that isn't what life should be like then NOTHING is.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
You don't want Me, you want from Me...
A beautiful line I heard from a spiritual preacher speaking of our dealings with the big guy up there, God. How many times a day do we ask that divine being for a raise, to cut loose from our nagging partner, for that 95% 0n that test (since asking 100% would be really selfish) or for true eternal happiness?
Plenty of times throughout each day.
Why ask the car salesperson for the ugliest, cheapest car which will inevitably be the worst car when s/he sells BMW's? Why do we ask Krsna for the most material and temporary things when we can ask Him for what we KNOW is what we need: eternal love.
It is the hardest thing to wrap our tiny brains around. Krsna has what we want but we are satisfied by asking Him for things that will never give us what we want. There has never been a limit on what we can ask Krsna, so why do we subject ourselves to asking for petty items?
It is the hardest thing to wrap our tiny brains around. Krsna has what we want but we are satisfied by asking Him for things that will never give us what we want. There has never been a limit on what we can ask Krsna, so why do we subject ourselves to asking for petty items?
We can ask Krsna to give us HIM! How sweet is that!
It is frustrating to see every living being going after their own material gains regardless of the fact that Krsna has promised us eternal happiness. Krsna made the process easy for us when trying to reach Him - chant His holy names - but provided us with one obstacle: our minds. The mind will always try to swing us away from that permanent happiness and push us to pursue temporary pleasures. It is the ultimate test to steer our minds onto that ever-smiling face of Krsna.
Even after saying all of this, I know I am going to Krsna tomorrow to ask Him for that 95%. The mind will never understand.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Still a closet Hare Krsna?
Sometimes, I wonder if Krsna is sitting up there, just laughing at the situations He loves to put us in.
You could say I can be a little reclusive when it comes to expressing myself as a Hare Krsna. I usually conceal the cover of the book I am reading or hide the exotic picture of Lord Narsimha on my japa bag to keep curious eyes away from me on one of the most social events of the day for me - the bus. From a sociological point of view, every type of person steps onto the bus where everyone is pushed - sometimes, literally - to stare and judge each other on the bus. It truly is an interesting phenomena. Regardless of its sociological study merits, it is a place I keep minimal contact with others.
Recently, I started taking my japa bag along with me onto the bus and do my rounds - somewhat effectively. When I take the bus, there isn't much rush and I avoid staring eyes.
However, Krsna loves to challenge.
The bus was PACKED with people and there was this lone seat beside a South Asian woman. I hesitated. Should I continue my round or quickly stash the normal looking bag in my purse? Billions of options ran through my head but finally took it as a challenge from Krsna and decided to continue with my round. I have come to the conclusion that Krsna does NOT like comfort.
The lady beside me, however, thought I was the coolest person to land beside her and kept staring at my moving lips and my japa bag. Back and forth. Back and forth. I was the most peculiar thing she had ever seen. Now, if it was the old me, crabby and such, I would have quickly turned to her and have made some rude comment. Trust me, I was biting my now-devotee tongue. Do I turn to this lady with a smile and tell her the virtues of chanting and the movement? Do I hand her a card with the temple directions like any sane devotee would?
Nope, I sit there hoping she will stop staring at me and continue to chant. I wish I had the courage to turn to this lady and apply the little knowledge I possess. Srila Prabhupada always encouraged this sense of urgency and I let someone continue their journey through this maya-filled world.
However, what I did learn was that Krsna will always push you into such situations that you don't want to be in, that frighten you, that leave you feeling helpless. Our job is to go through it, to persevere but with the trust in and faith that Krsna is standing behind you, to catch you when you fall.
I obviously have trust issues.
You could say I can be a little reclusive when it comes to expressing myself as a Hare Krsna. I usually conceal the cover of the book I am reading or hide the exotic picture of Lord Narsimha on my japa bag to keep curious eyes away from me on one of the most social events of the day for me - the bus. From a sociological point of view, every type of person steps onto the bus where everyone is pushed - sometimes, literally - to stare and judge each other on the bus. It truly is an interesting phenomena. Regardless of its sociological study merits, it is a place I keep minimal contact with others.
Recently, I started taking my japa bag along with me onto the bus and do my rounds - somewhat effectively. When I take the bus, there isn't much rush and I avoid staring eyes.
However, Krsna loves to challenge.
The bus was PACKED with people and there was this lone seat beside a South Asian woman. I hesitated. Should I continue my round or quickly stash the normal looking bag in my purse? Billions of options ran through my head but finally took it as a challenge from Krsna and decided to continue with my round. I have come to the conclusion that Krsna does NOT like comfort.
The lady beside me, however, thought I was the coolest person to land beside her and kept staring at my moving lips and my japa bag. Back and forth. Back and forth. I was the most peculiar thing she had ever seen. Now, if it was the old me, crabby and such, I would have quickly turned to her and have made some rude comment. Trust me, I was biting my now-devotee tongue. Do I turn to this lady with a smile and tell her the virtues of chanting and the movement? Do I hand her a card with the temple directions like any sane devotee would?
Nope, I sit there hoping she will stop staring at me and continue to chant. I wish I had the courage to turn to this lady and apply the little knowledge I possess. Srila Prabhupada always encouraged this sense of urgency and I let someone continue their journey through this maya-filled world.
However, what I did learn was that Krsna will always push you into such situations that you don't want to be in, that frighten you, that leave you feeling helpless. Our job is to go through it, to persevere but with the trust in and faith that Krsna is standing behind you, to catch you when you fall.
I obviously have trust issues.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The details...
So basically, this is to put my crazy ramblings on paper/electronic paper so that when I am 65, I can laugh at my poor self. I don't think I am much of a writer but I try. Not really trying to accomplish anything just want to spread some KC around.
I'm a Hare Krsna. I don't walk around in strange clothes (not that they are strange), show you books at an airport (though I would like to one day) or anywhere near the caliber of those super awesome devotees in our past.
I'm just trying to get through life as simply and as karma-free as possible and hope others will do the same. We all want to reach that oh-so-perfect destination.
I'm a Hare Krsna. I don't walk around in strange clothes (not that they are strange), show you books at an airport (though I would like to one day) or anywhere near the caliber of those super awesome devotees in our past.
I'm just trying to get through life as simply and as karma-free as possible and hope others will do the same. We all want to reach that oh-so-perfect destination.
Let's do it together.
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