Battlefield Bhajans Vol. IV

Iraq, 17 April 2008

Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada

Big Bad Sergeant turns 3

With 90 days to go in Iraq, I have been mediating alot on what I have accomplished over the last 11 months. I have been wondering if I made a difference in this area at all. Many books have gone out, but are people applying the Absolute Truth in their lives? I went into my office to prepare for missions, this is always a hectic time. I have to do lots of planning etc. As I walked into the office everyone seemed to be avoiding me. I paid no attention to it, and went into my office. Sadly I heard a scuffle and thought here we go again, with cries of SFC Dasa (yes they call me that sometimes) quick come outside. As I ran out the door, I didn’t know what to expect, the door flew open, and I was met with SURPRISE HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Imagine the confusion when I yelled my birthday isn’t until September! One boy came up to me and said " Remember SGT, you took those vows in April, 2005, your 3 years old today! And as it sunk in I realized, what he meant. I was actually born and given a real life when I took initiation, 3 years ago that day. Srila Jiva Goswami explains diksa in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283):

divyaà jïänaà yato dadyät kuryät päpasya saìkñayam

tasmät dékñeti sä proktä deçikais tattva-kovidaiù

“Dékñä is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as dékñä.”

yathä käïcanatäà yäti käàsyaà rasa-vidhänataù

tathä dékñä-vidhänena dvijatvaà jäyate nåëäm

“‘By chemical manipulation, bell metal is turned into gold when touched by mercury; similarly, when a person is properly initiated, he can acquire the qualities of a brähmaëa.’” (298)

Hari-bhakti-viläsa (2.10) further quotes:

ato guruà praëamyaivaà sarva-svaà vinivedya ca

gåhëéyäd vaiñëavaà mantraà dékñä-pürvaà vidhänataù

“‘It is the duty of every human being to surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Giving him everything—body, mind and intelligence—one must take Vaiñëava initiation from him.’”

These verses entered my mind as they were congratulating me. That my spiritual master has given me so much, that he has given me a chance to become a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And as I started to look around, I saw the smiles and laughter that Srila Prabhupada’s books, his teachings, his life has given to these fortuante souls. I tried to hold it back but a few tears started to flow down my cheeks. They sang the maha mantra to me and ask me to say a few words. For the first time in my military career, I was choked up, I was unable to speak. As one boy said as he was leaving for missions, " This philosophy must be powerful if someone like Sarge is speechless."

Saints

No is more dear to Krsna than that person who serves His devotees. I have blessed by the Lord this tour to have the association of some amazing devotees for the last 11 months. HG Vaiseika Prabhu and his wife Mother Nirakula have been a blessings of the Lord. For those that don’t know, Vaiseika Prabhu is an amazing book distributor, full of energy and is bliss personified. I first met him during the Festival Of Inspiration, and he has been a constant source of inspiration to me. Always getting me fired up to distribute books. His wife, has taken me in as her son. I never really had strong relationship with my family, especially my mother, Mother Nirakula is taking that role. She always sends the mercy to Iraq. Their association has kept me going for these months. The cookie man, Ratna Bhusana Prabhu, what can be said about him, he is my backbone of preaching here, cookies, books, Ratha Yatra, he is behind it all, making it all possible. These devotees live their lives to serve the vaisnavas.

ye me bhakta-janäù pärtha

na me bhaktäç ca te janäù

mad-bhaktänäà ca ye bhaktäs

te me bhakta-tamä matäù

“[Lord Krsna told Arjuna:] ‘Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.’ (Cc. Madhya 11.28)

nähaà vipro na ca nara-patir näpi vaiçyo na çüdro

nähaà varëé na ca gåha-patir no vanastho yatir vä

kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramänanda-pürnämåtäbdher

gopé-bhartuù pada-kamalayor däsa-däsänudäsaù

“‘I am not a brähmaëa, I am not a kñatriya, I am not a vaiçya or a çüdra. Nor am I a brahmacäré, a householder, a vänaprastha or a sannyäsé. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Çré Kåñëa, the maintainer of the gopés. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’” ( Cc. Madhya 13.80)

We must endevour to become a servant of all living entities. Being here is showing me that. Here i cannot be selfish, what is the use of reading Srila Prabhupada books if I keep the knowledge to myself? What good am I doing by keeping the joys of the Holy Name to myself? This week I have been blessed with having the association of HG Antony Prabhu. Antony is a Captain in the Marine Corps. He is also here in Iraq. I have been exchanging emails with him for some months and have started to develop a nice friendship. He is an amazing devotee, with very sharp, realizations. I decided to give him a call this week. From the moment he picked up, we started having amazing conversations about Krishna, chanting, and devotional service. For so long I have taken the association of devotees for granted.

Some Realizations

The Holy Name will give us direct association with Krsna. It is our devotional service. We should pour our hearts into it, like it is our last breath. While performing seva to my Sila’s in the morning, a huge explosion rattled the building, another reminder form Krsna how dangerous this world is without being engaged in His service.

We took a physical fitness test, we are so concerned with the body, but neglect and ignore the spiritual body.

Sankritana:

• 50 BG
• 100 Sri Iso
• 2 Perfection of Yoga

4 months left in Iraq to make our goal

Please forgive any offenses we made, we are trying out best to engage our limited intelligence in the Lord’s service.

yours in service of Srila Prabhupada,

Partha-sarathi dasa

ISKCON Iraq