Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 23

Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 23

written at New Dwarka, LA

Scared from the War

I boarded the flight from JFK to LAX, and hoped to catch up on some rest. As I looked for my seat I noticed the man sitting next to me was an amputee. I sat down and made some small talk with him. It turned out he lost his legs to a roadside blast in Iraq. I explained to him that I was a soldier also and showed my id card. He asked if I saw anything crazy there. My friend too much… is what i responded. He looked down and with a sad expression explained how now he drinks all the time and is very depressed.  As he opened up I could see this boy was suffering so much and was looking for something to guide him through this rough time. I said I was here to help him if he so desired it. He grabbed my hands and pleaded for help. He asked how I am dealing with the effects of combat. I started telling him how I try to take shelter of God and how I try to develop a relationship within my heart. This body is temporary my friend, when we die,  it’s the body dying, not the soul. He looked at me with an intense look. I asked him if i should stop and he said no please keep going. So for the next five hours I spoke to this man about the Bhagavad-Gita. When we landed I got my bag out of the overhead luggage and pulled out three books, a Bhagavad-Gita, a Perfection of Yoga and a Science of Self Realization. I went to give him these books and he was moved to tears. He said ” I have gone to so many groups and talked to so many people, but no one wanted to help me. So, why are you opening your heart to help me? ” Well, because I have a great treasure that was given to me, I would be a miser to keep it to myself. So here I am, trying to give myself to you, trying to help you come to a better position in life. If I didn’t try and do this I would not be an asset to the mission of Srila Prabhupada.” With some tears in both our eyes, we exchanged hugs and he grasped the books to his chest.

Bhaktivedanta Ashram, NYC
I arrived to NYC from DC and was met by the wonderful devotees of NYC. This ashram is amazing, so many brahmacaris, so much preaching, so much history in NY.  I caught up with old friends and saw my god brother Vasudeva Prabhu.  I also had the chance to speak with HH Jayadvaita Swami for a few hours. This is was just what the doctor order. Maharaja was a great inspiration during my tour in Iraq and encouraged me so much. Vasudeva Prabhu and myself went to chant japa and hang out at Tompkins Square park, at the tree that Srila Prabhupada stood under. It was nice and there so many people came up and greeted us with a Hare Krsna. I had a really nice talk with one man and explain the goal of life. It was also nice to talk with Vasudeva and reconnect our friendship. He is an amazing devotee and I deeply missed his association. Also that evening was a program with HH Sacinandana Swami, Transform Conciousness.  The lecture was amazing and really gave me some tools to improve my spiritual life. The next morning I woke up early to chant and noticed that when a devotee walked into the temple, everyone would pay obeisnaces to one another. Not just the younger to the senior, but also the senior to the younger when they walked in. I thought this is a wonderful to stay in the mood of a servant I made a mental note to also apply this in my daily activities. I assisted on the altar and after that I spent the day with HG Radha Vallabha Prabhu. We were in contact before my coming over and somehow, he wanted to spend time with this fool. We walked around NYC and talked about how we came to ISKCON and our thoughts on the society’s future. A pilgrimage to the Doughnut Plant was made. There is something about waking into a store and meeting a wonderful working absorbed in reading Srimad Bhagavatam. Was something far out for me. We took darshan of Their Lordships and sampled the goods. While we were honoring prasadam, person after person after person came in getting prasadam. A really nice experience and inspiring to see.  That evening we went on harinam. At first we started slow but soon were chanting and dancing like mad men and at one point we found our way in a sandwhich shop chanting the Holy Name and handing out flyers. Everywhere we went people were receptive, well almost everywhere. But for the most part we were met with haribols and Hare Krsna!!
I was asked to give class the next day, I decided to give a class on faith. Since most people have faith in something in the material world, I felt it was nice topic for the devotees to discuss and share realizations. I had everyone come close and share some realizations about it. I think by making the class interactive and sharing thoughts, this also brings the devotees more into the class. And everyone wants to share. So in one sense, everyone opens up without fear and faith in your fellow devotee can increase, just my small realization of what I saw.  Class ended and off to Adi Purusa Prabhu’s bed and breakfast. This is a great idea, he rents rooms out at a cheap price around the corner from the temple and has rules, no alcohol, no smoking, no meat eating. He distributes prasadam to the guests and even takes them on food for life. It was really amazing to see the photos and hear the stories. He said of these people that stay there now chant everyday and follow the principles. Krsna never ceases to amaze me by creating so many avenues for preaching.   In the evening we had another harinam. I tried to fired up the devotees beforehand with a small talk. The harinam was mellow at times, but also had its moments. Once agian, so many people responded favorably to it and took flyers and cards. After two hours we called it quits and headed back to the ashram. For me this was an amazing trip. The preaching they are doing is amazing. HG Gadahara Pandit Prabhu is a chaplin at a major uni in the city and has been preaching for years there. But with all things it was time to go. The next day I left early and felt very sad because I developed so many nice friendships while there and so quick.   Anyhow…. off to LA, I am looking forward to having the association of HG Ratna Bhusana and HG Vijaya Prabhu’s.

Sadhana:

Japa: Up early, chant your rounds and stop letting the mind ruin your relationship with the Holy Name. I heard how one Maharaja was getting asked about problems with Japa and he responded each time with not enough sleep. So I am now trying to get 5 hours everyday.  If the mind is properly rested, we can properly chant.

Seva: Their Lordships are constantly involving others into Their service. This is sweet, because after all why keep Krsna to ourselves? So I have been engaging willing devotees in Their service. I see need to improve so much, I pray that They will give me the intelligence and purity to do it.

Reading: BG: really studying and my nectar notebook is increasing. I am finding inspiring instructions and examples in the purports. Recommend devotees systematically study Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Sankritan: BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS!!!
Only three books this week, but off to ISV next week for the marathon and going out with Vijaya Prabhu tomorrow. I feel embarrassed to report my scores. But slowly I am recovering and finding the strength to continue.

Lastly, I pray to the readers feet, that I can develop the qualities I need to help others in this life time. I am so low on the devotional ladder and see the need to really surrender and give myself to Krsna. Please bless me to truly become a servant of my Guru and of the parampara.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Partha-sarathi Dasa