Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 13

Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 13

Dedicated to HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 Since the end of this deployment is near, the time of family issues usually come out now. While most are happy to be going home, others are scared. Their marriages have drifted apart and they are finding it hard to accept the realities that await them on the home front.  One on my soldiers, came and found me the other night in hysteria.  He was crying and explained to me that he was thinking of killing himself and handed me his weapon and ammunition. I immediately finished what i was doing and took him to the ashram and talked with him. He explained the situation and I told him to sit and I will put on some music, I gave him some maha water and maha fruits and nuts from the morning offering.  I sat and listened as the man poured his heart out. I couldn’t help but feel for him, that here he is in this difficult situation, in Iraq, alone and he is suffering because he never experienced the joy of devotional service or the chanting of the Maha Mantra Eventually we took him to speak with the chaplain, and I waited for him until very late. The next day, he came by and thanked me. He said hearing this chanting and taking this food I gave him, calmed him down. And afterwards when he was feeling a little sad, he would say what he heard in my room; Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.  He is doing much better thanks to the facilities that we arranged for him.  I think it is because he came in contact with the Holy Name. I saw him today and he was smiling and happy. 

“My dears King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcedental kingdom.” Sukadeva Gosvami instructs Maharaja Pariksit

Are there any explosives in there?

  Time to pack up and go home, best way for me to get all my books home and gear home is to mail via post office.  The soldier called me over and I opened my foot lockers for inspection. He opened the first one and it was filled with Srila Prabhupada’s books, a mrdunga and some cloth. I looked up at him and he looked confused. He yelled pointing at the mrdunga, “What is that? Is it filled with explosives!” I told him to calm down, it was drum that I play everyday during my morning prayers. This man would not accept it and starting telling me I could not take it home. His supervisor heard the commotion and came over. He also looked at the drum with a confused look on his face. I went and picked it up and started playing simple beats on it. By this time everyone had gather around, wondering what was going. I started chanting the maha-mantra and some smiled and others clapped there hands.  After a short 15 minute kirtan I stopped.  I asked the man if he was satisfied and started handing soldiers some small books out of the box.  After the small crowd dispersed, I asked the two soldiers, is it ok to take this home. They both looked at each other and smiled and said sure thing. We work in the post office, nothing ever happens here. That was wild, that made our day.  This is the power of the Holy Name, I have no qualification to give Krsna to others, but the Lord makes His own arrangements for His glories to be heard.

Sadhana:

Japa: 25 still everyday and sundays still 64. I pray to the Lord to allow me to continue even after I leave Iraq. The Holy Name captivates us and the more we chant, the more we can have direct association with Krsna

Health: The last few weeks, my health is slightly improving. I have been doing yoga, which seems to be helping. I came to the conclusion after seeing the doctors that my health is so bad is because I am not with the devotees and the association around has had a small effect on my material body

Reading: Cc Madhya Lila Explanation of the Atmarama Verse

                  Siksamrta Vol 1; Sadhana Bhakti and Regulative Principles- What can be said of the nectar that is contained in Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.

Sankritan: BTG: 6

                   CABH: 2

                   BG: 10

                   ISO: 3

We are under thirty days now, please pray that we can still make a difference in this area until the minute we step foot on the plane. We are fallen and have so many material desires, we desperately fall at the lotus feet of the vaisnava’s and beg them to bless us.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada,

Partha-sarathi Dasa

ISKCON Iraq