My India Diary-Part 6

Day 13 Vrndavana 12/18

We made a quick jaunt through Barsana, taking the dust of Unchagaon (Lalita Sakhi's village), Maan Mandir, Mayur Kutir, Dhan Ghat and the Jaipur Temple. By now, everyone, including our fearless leader Devananda Pandit Prabhu, is pretty much wiped out and tomorrow we will become "take it easy guys" and chill at the temple.

On the bus ride back we has some nice katha with our fellow British chaps from the Bhaktivedanta Manor, as well as the freshly arrived Jagannath Kirtan Prabhu and Bhakta Jude from Florida. We discussed that to ignore the mercy of Krsna, or to dwell too much upon our own hang-ups, is like being stuck in a well, and when someone then throws you a rope to rescue you, you instead demand to first know who put you down in the well in the first place. Just grab the rope and climb! We also glorified Drutakarma Prabhu (Micheal Cremo) and his work to expose the fraud of the attachment to the Darwinian paradigm and to reveal the real, ancient history of human life in this world. Jagannath Kirtan said that most modern archeologists are terrified to dig in India for fear that they may discover a past that will make them useless.

The cake was taken after another reality-altering kirtan led by HG Aindra Prabhu, when myself, Jagannath Kirtan, Jude, and Anil from the Manor were graced with the opportunity to join Aindra on a trip to the Katyayani Temple for arati and offerings. First, we entered Aindra's room and viewed his altar, with over 1200 salagram silas gracefully placed. The perfection of vision for our eyes! At the Katyayani Temple, Aindra shared some pastimes of Katyayani as Yogamaya, and of the gopis worshiping her to gain Krsna as their husband. So many impressions...the unique cacophony of the arati for the diety of Durga, Aindra explaining the feminine material energy and our own nature to b enjoyed by Krsna, and his own aspirations in that regard. It was so nice to share in this mystical experience, for Aindra became more than his kirtan legend. He was our gracious guide, fellow devotee, and very sweet friend. He is a perfect example of a Vaisnava who can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like a desire tree.

Day 14 Vrndavana 12/19

We can't hear enough that unless and until we become absorbed in chanting and hearing, we cannot properly perform any other mode of devotional service. The Holy Names should live foremost on the lips, and in the minds and hearts, of all sincere devotees. This is the simple path of success we often gloss over in the urge to complicate.

Had a chance to sing for Prabhupada in his samadhi during the morning arati at 7am. I hope I pleased him and all the assembled Vaisnavas. I can do so much more for Prabhupada, if I just let myself...May the intimacy of his presence grow and grow within me.

Mauricio and I went to the goshalla in the afternoon. My hard heart cracked and flowed in the calves' pen. A cow who is protected is the most wonderful livng entity in the world, the source of all love and learning. Mauricio initiated his cowherd pastimes by giving the assembled bovine Vaisnavas a sincere and through brushing. Good times for all.

Had another darshan of Aindra PRabhu's collection of 1200 salagram silas in the evening, as we all relished the story of how Tulasi Devi cursed Krsna to appear as a stone, told in deep loving detail by Aindra. Aindra also told us of hs plans to bring harinama-sankirtana back to the forefront of the devotees' lives, via the Yuga-Dharma HariNama Sankirtana Resurgance Coalition. A true revolution, where one will shake his behind and his body, mind, and soul will follow. May we get swept up further in the waves of the bhakti devotees like Aindra emanate in all mercy for us much lesser souls.