Partha-Sarathi das

For those that don’t know, I am submitting a request when I return to be released from my commitment to the Army. I beg everyone to pray for me that this will happen. The Lord always listens to His devotees prayers. below is the letter:

I have been a practicing member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) since 1998. On 15 April 2005, I accepted formal vows and took spiritual initiation into the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, which is an ancient spiritual tradition. The vows I accepted consisted of no engaging in illicit sex, no eating of any meat, fish, or eggs, no consumption of any intoxicants (including caffeine), and no gambling. Additionally I vowed to chant sixteen rounds of prayer (1728 prayers) on rosary type beads. I was also awarded the sacred thread of a brahmana (priest). Read the rest of this entry »

Spiritual success of a Krsna conscious society is founded on how strongly the principles of brahmacarya asrama are taught, maintained and supported. The brahmacarya asrama is the training ground for gaining progressive knowledge and detachment. Srila Prabhupada greatly emphasized training in the brahmacarya asrama as the following quote shows: In the system of varnasrama-dharma, which is the beginning of actual human life, small boys after five years of age are sent to become brahmacari at the guru’s asrama, where these things are systematically taught to boys, be they king’s sons or sons of ordinary citizens. The training was compulsory not only to create good citizens of the state, but also to prepare the boy’s future life for spiritual realization. The irresponsible life of sense enjoyment was unknown to the children of the followers of the varnasrama system. The boy was even injected with spiritual acumen before being placed by the father in the womb of the mother. Both the father and the mother were responsible for the boy’s success in being liberated from the material bondage. That is the process of successful family planning. It is to beget children for complete perfection. Without being self-controlled, without being disciplined and without being fully obedient, no one can become successful in following the instructions of the spiritual master, and without doing so, no one is able to go back to Godhead. (SB 1.5.24). Read the rest of this entry »

Jo’burg, South Africa

Diary of a spiritual journey 19
March 17, 2008

What do I want to share in a diary? Something about life in Krsna consciousness, not only from a book, but our attempts to be devotee in every day practical life.

The travels continue from town to village. People often ask isn’t it tiring all this travel, it is of course, but what is not tiring in this material world, we manage to survive like everyone else, more important than tiring is that it is also inspiring to meet so many people who are encouraged to practice Krsna consciousness. We are now in Lenasia on the outskirts of Johannesburg, we are staying with Harinamananda. There are pictures of Krsna everywhere covering the walls through the entire house. Harinamanda is a devotee who has done a lot of substantial service for many years and now at age 67 he has no interest in retirement. It’s nice to be here. it’s Monday morning, time to rest and recharge. We had a Ratha Yatra in New Castle (South Africa) on Saturday, the rain was pouring down, water everywhere, fish were swimming past us during the parade. Many people dressed in yellow plastic ponchos dancing in the rain, the rain of Jagannatha’s mercy was greater than the downpour from the black clouds. As for the spiritual leaders who were present it was Jagad Guru Prabhu and myself. He is supposed to take sannyasa on Gaura Purnima, which is on this coming Friday. So he was in a very ecstatic mood and singing and dancing very happily in front of Lord Jagannatha. Jaya Jagannatha, Jaya Jagannatha!

Taking sannyasa is not a small thing! How many people in the world are taking this to asrama. In ISKCON, we are having about a hundred sannyasis at most. My dream is a thousand before I die! You may think that it is some sort of Utopian idea, but many devotees who have joined either in the sixties, seventies or eighties are now coming to the right age where sannyasa becomes a serious consideration. One might think sannyasa, giving up ones family and dear ones, what a horrible thing. But vaisnava sannyasa, Tridandi Biskshu, is not all about giving up so many things. This Tridandi Vaisnava Sannyasa is all about embracing the entire world. All about becoming the servant of Lord Caitanya who freely distributes love of God to every nook and corner of the universe. A sannyasi must equally care for everyone. Read the rest of this entry »

A Warrior’s Prayer

By Bhakta Antony Alexander

I give thanks and praises to The Master of Edged Weapons, The Thrower of Divine Missiles, who never misses a target, whose projectiles do not stray.

I give my humble obeisances to The Remover of Obstructions, The Breacher of All-Obstacles, The Transcendental Wave that overflows banks, whose tide can never be stopped.

O Protector of Devotees, whose beautiful lotus feet are an impenetrable fortress, I am not afraid when I take shelter in Your shadow. When destructive things land around me, it is You that provides the greatest protection.

O Lord, I was both lost and fallen in the dust. But through Your mercy and kindness I have regained consciousness and I am now returning back to You.

O Quencher of thirst, O cool and gentle breeze that casts away the fierce winds of the desert. I sing Your Holy Names and fight for the freedom to serve you.

Although I am far from home, I am never outside the reach of Your loving arms and my enemies are never outside the range of Your arrows.

Although I am in a distant and foreign land, there is no place that is unfamiliar to You. You, who does not need a scope to survey the landscape, knows the place of every hill, valley and rock pile.

O Lord of the Heavens and Earth, to whom a thunderclap is barely a whisper, a raging inferno is barely a dying ember, I pray for the strength to serve in Your command and execute Your orders.

O He who makes a lotus blossom deadly to demons, You are The Greatest of Companions in battle. You do not tire, You do not trip. You do not lose your direction. Your aim is always exact. You do not retreat. You do not spread Your formation too thin. You do not get homesick. Read the rest of this entry »

Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada, HG Vaisesika Prabhu and Mother Nirakula

Returning with the Holy Name

I received a letter form Mother Mitravida, who is also a soldier in the Army, and she is preparing for a deployment to Afganistan. She joined the Army about a year ago and we had stayed in contact and discussed preaching in the military.

Hare Krsna Prabhu,

please accept my humble obeisnaces all glories to Srila Prabhupada.  I have an
interesting story to share about your service in Iraq.

For the last several days I have been on a detail with many new soldiers I have
not yet met.  over at the defac one young boy needed a ride back to his
company, he was released for the day.  he was suffering terrible from a severe
hangover, angry bitter person with an attitude.  he shammed the entire detail.
anyway, I said okay I would drive him back.

In my car a bhajana cd came on as soon as I started the car, the boy asked me
what this music was he heard it in Iraq.  I explained the Holy Name and the
language is from india.  He was well aware of the origin of this music!  He
responded by telling me the differance between Hindu prayers and Mulsim
prayers.  He learned in Iraq.

When he was in Iraq he told me he heard this music, they have temple worship
programs going on over there.  I asked if he ever attended any of the hindu
services, he said no, he is not very pleased with any God.  (explains his
anger).  but he thought is was cool how the hindu’s sing so many songs.

He left bagdad in january, so whatever 15 months preceeded that time, you may
have been there.  unless other devotees/sampradaya’s are getting together and
having kirtana?  I could only think of you. Read the rest of this entry »

Dedicated to HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chant and Be Happy

A devotee of the Lord is suppose to be soft hearted, but being that I am a Sergeant First Class in the US Army, well that is not always practical. The Army’s definition of leadership is, one who provided purpose, direction and motivation to soldiers to accomplish a common objective or goal. Like any independent jiva in the material world, we all think we are the boss.  I deal with mostly young adults, the youngest kid in the platoon is 18, so often times they frustrate me with the way they accomplish tasks.  The other day, I was very frustrated with a situation and sitting at a desk alone, trying to calm down. Everyone saw I was upset and let me be alone. One officer came up to me and said Sergeant, why are you so upset? I don’t want to talk about it Sir, I replied. He said, yes this world is crazy and often we get caught up in it.  He went to leave and said to me "Sergeant, I know one word that can cheer you up."  I looked up and said "sure Sir, please just let me get some alone time." He started to walk out, and turned around and yelled "KRSNA!!!" Read the rest of this entry »

Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 9

Dedicated to Srila Prabhu and all the vaisnavas

Not only cleaning clothes

     Where ever I go, I try and bring some books for me to place in a library, or a Moral, Welfare, Recreation Center.  On one mission we had to pick someone up at another base and when we picked him up he reminded me, I still had laundry from my last time there. So off we went, I walked in and gave my ticket and he found my bag and had this huge grin. Sir, does this bag belong to you?, Yes, it does. He then asked me to come into the back with him. I was a little worried, did I leave a thumb drive in my clothes or some money, what could it be? As I went in the back everyone stopped and looked at me. I asked the man, what is this about? Another man smiled and said Hare Krsna, very surpised I said Hare Krsna back. He said, Sir, we have all wonder who would be wearing this saffron cloth and also a US Army uniform Read the rest of this entry »

Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada, will we ever understand how compassionate he is?

Our True Friend

I took sometime of preaching, a good friend had to have emergency surgery. This man is in charge of me and he is very supportive of me as a Hare Krsna devotee in Iraq. When I first came to Mosul form Talafar, he came by my room and with a huge smile asked "Where are the Boys?", referring to my Salagram and Govardhana Sila’s. Everyday when I see him he says respectfully Hare Krsna and has taken many of Srila Prabhupada’s books. So, I was very concerned when he had this surgery. I decided to cancel my preaching programs, so I can focus this time on reading sastra to him. Read the rest of this entry »

My dear friend HG Antony Prabhu, who is a marine captain, sent me this article he wrote.

By Bhakta Antony Alexander

I was inspired to write this after an exchange of letters and later reading Partha-sarathi’s post (Battlefield Bhajans VI, May 25, 2008). In it he talks about hitting the 90 day mark before redeploying home. It reminded me of the phrase that is spray painted on many of the walls, barriers and bunkers here at my base camp. Simple and plain: Complacency Kills!

This statement has a very special meaning to the men and women serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq. Many are here on their third, fourth and some even fifth combat deployment since March 2003. They have vivid and deeply entrenched memories and scars about how chaotic and violent this place was. While the volume of conflict has lowered, the deadly nature of this service has not. In fact, it has become as Partha states, the “most dangerous time.” We are often reminded that just because the number of casualties has gone down, it doesn’t mean that the enemy has stopped trying to kill us.

Men and women in a combat environment get killed by complacency because they longer carry out the continuing actions they were charged with, with the same degree of dedication and vigilance as before. One has mistaken the lull in kinetic activity to mean that a threat no longer exists. Read the rest of this entry »