Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 15

Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 15

Dedicated to HDG A.C. Bhativedanta Swami Prabhupada

Transcendental Karaoke 

 Only two and half more weeks left. So missions are slowing down, for me because of my operation I have been on no missions and taking it very easy. My focus has been on hearing and chanting and trying to absorb myself in Srila Prabhupada’s books. My soldiers came and got me because I have been in my room for so long.   So they took me to the local morale and welfare facility, and as we walk in I see its karaoke.  So we watched some guys sing and if was sad to see them pouring their hearts into this mundane songs.  The announcer said ok.. next up SFC Sonnenberg…. I didn’t know what to do. I reached in my bag and asked the man, hey can I use my ipod for my song. I looked in the catalogue and didn’t see any songs I know. Sure thing sarge, hook it up. So I got up on stage and took the microphone, and explained to the crowd what song I was doing. Ladies and gentleman, we are going to sing a song called the Maha Mantra. This song is a sound vibration from the spiritual world and will cleanse the mind and hearts of all the karma and dirt from this birth and past births. Then on cue my favorite tune form my Guru Maharaja played, the whole sound system was loud and the Holy Name was resonating through the air in Mosul, Iraq and when the tempo speed up in the bhajan, I opened my eyes to see some guys joking around and dancing, and when the tempo sent the bhajan into the spiritual world, I looked up and now more people were dancing. While only a handful were singing the Holy Name, everyone in the room was swaying side to side, or dancing wildly or sitting with their eyes closed and deeply meditating on the Holy Name. 

Sadhana:

Japa: slowly increasing my rounds past the minimum required, I was chanting over sixteen for almost this whole tour. But while slowly increasing, I am trying to make each mantra count. Instead of quantity, I am trying to increase the quality. And hopefully in time, I am chant from my heart with wonderful realizations of the Holy Name

Reading: Cc Madhya Lila, So much nectar can be found in the Cc and with each page can give us the inspiration to make something of this life. It is time for us younger devotees to push the preaching of ISKCON, and we can take the Lords example in Cc and aply it and make a huge impact in the world.

Seva: The Lord in his Salagram and Govardhan Form have stolen the hearts of numerous Soldiers in Iraq. One boy came and let em know, he will miss seeing Them everyday. 

Not so much longer left here, and even though my service in Iraq will end, this journal will not.  This battle might be over, but the war against maya is not. Please pray for us, that we can truly understand, apply and give myself to the instructions of my Spiritual Master.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Partha-sarathi dasa

ISKCON Iraq