Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 32

Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 32

written in the Minneapolis Airport

Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada and his servants, HG Puspavan, Caitanya and Vinay Prabhus and Gopisvari & Bhaktin Vicky

Holidays at ISV

Most people spend the holidays eating unmentionable foodstuffs, consuming alcohol , etc., the ISV family is far form the average american family.  On Christmas Eve many devotee met at the temple to absorb themselves in hearing and chanting the Holy Names of Krsna.  This temple lead by HG Vaisesika Prabhu spends hours together hearing, chanting and preaching the message of Lord Caitanya. On Christmas Day we went to the temple, for a class and for bhajans. We were treated to a terrific feast by HG Gauranga Kishore and Vaisnava Prabhus. I lead the first chanting session and the devotee were so enthusiastic. HG Rasikananda Prabhu lead the next shift and he had the devotees experiencing high states of ecstasy from chanting the Lord’s name in such a sweet melody. I was thinking how wonderful it is to just sit down together and chant. The following day is one of the biggest shopping days in the US. Most go and return gifts. This was a great opportunity to give the gift of KC. We arrived on the site and started harinama, the book table was set up but the devotees with the books were stuck in traffic. I had a few small books. Out of nowhere a car pulls up… it’s the devotees with the books with an emergency resupply of books. Devotees run over to car before it starts and within seconds the books are unloaded. Even more amazing was as boxes of books were hitting the ground, devotees were opening them and gabbing books.  I met some very nice people out on the street. One man came up to me very excited, he was saying how he loves the art in our books and asked if we had that painting with the changing of bodies, I showed the Bhagavad-Gita and he gave a donation and said if anyone gives you a problem, tell them big Jon said it’s ok. I didn’t really know how to take that, but it was nice that he was very excited about getting one of Prabhupada’s books. There were so many devotees out distributing books, at one point I counted twelve devotees. Combine that with the harinama party attracting a crowd and they easily passed their goal of 500 books! ISV is an amazing place that is centered on sankritana. They even have small children out distributing books. They don’t force the kids, the naturally want to be involved in giving out the mercy.  I met many people that were very interested in Srila Prabhupada’s books, some said they were searching for something spiritual in their lives.  After harinama, we were treated to a wonderful feast prepared by Mother Nirakula and more hearing and chanting. I was catching up with Gauranga Kishore Prabhu and we discuss many topics.  On saturday I was able to spend some quality time with Vaisesika Prabhu and Mother Nirakula. We went for a walk in the Redwood Forest, the same forest that Srila Prabhupada walked in. On the way to the forest we stopped at a store to get a juice and Vaisesika Prabhu distributed a book to the clerk! The redwood forest was very peaceful.  I shared some of my thoughts with Vaisesika Prabhu who gave me great me sound advice.  I felt much better after our walk. The next day I boarded my flight for lonely Seattle. I was sad because this was my last visit for the next six months.

New Years in DC

I was invited to DC to conduct programs over the New Years holiday week. I was on my flight and the person next to me told me her whole life story before we even taxied out of the gate. She expressed sorrow that her sister just died and she doesn’t have much time left in this life. She saw the Srimad Bhagavatam I was trying to read and asked if that was the same as the Bhagavad Gita, I said yes and started explaining to her about Srila Prabhupada’s books. She was very interested and asked if I had any extra books. I reached into my laptop bag and handed her a Bhakti book. The man next to her said that this sounds interesting and if I had a book for him, why yes I said and also gave him a book. Just then the man next to me said hey dude, ya got a book? I said yup and handed him my last small book. So many people are hungry for Srila Prabhupada’s books. I arrived and was picked up, and I settled in. Being New Years I know the program would go late. We were treated to a screening of HG Yadubara and Vishaka Prabhu’s  new Vol. of Following Srila Prabhupada. This Vol. focused on the opening of Krsna Balarama Mandir in Vrdinavana. It was breath taking to watch and hear form the devotees. The part where Srila Prabhupada was offering arati… wow, can you say powerful! One memory captured my mind. Mother Vishaka was saying how she was trying to photograph Prabhupada but Tripurari Swami was standing in the way and not moving. After trying a few time to get him the move, she whispered to him, if you stay there you can see the arati, but if you move millions will see Srila Prabhupada. With that said Maharaja moved and she took a very famous photo of Prabhupada. Afterwards Mother Rukimini and me talked. She was explaining her concern about my health and how I am traveling a lot. She used the same quote that Mother Vishaka said. She said Prabhu, if you neglect your body, and don’t care for it properly on you will know about Krsna, but if you care for it, many more people will have the chance to know about Krsna. I surrendered, that really got in mind, and made me finally realize that I need to step back and breathe, and stop living such an intense life. I need to leave the tempo of the Army behind me and really transition properly in my new service. The youth lead some amazing bhajans and they requested me to sing. Afterwards I went to take rest at 11:30 p.m. Next day back up at 3:30 am and off to glorify the spiritual master. I love going to Mangala Arati, it really helps make your day more devotional. I gave class on Srimad Bhagavatam Third Canto about chanting and offenses to the Holy Name.  That evening I was invited my the youth to give class in Baltimore. The Baltimore temple room is very tiny, which makes standing in front of Deities very intimate.  I gave a short class and the kids asked many questions. I wanted to focus and helping them and encouraging them in spiritual life. Some are very dedicated, one girl Vrnda has been chanting 16 rounds everyday, and still goes to high school. That is very impressive. Vinay was in Vrindavan doing food for life.   The next day I was invited to a home program at Bhaktin Vicky and Gauravani Mataji’s house. I arrived and went into the temple room and immediately was staring at two life size murtis of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura! I was blown away and the presence of Them was felt. I prayed to Srila Bhaktisiddanta Thakura that he can bestow his mercy on me and give the strength to continue in my new service and make a difference in this world.  The program was small and personal. I gave a short talk form the Bhagavad-Gita and  some nice questions were asked. Afterwards we chanted one round together and honored prasadam.  More bhajans followed. Bhaktin Vicky lead a nice tune and Ram Das lead an amazing bhajan. I was inspired to sing a new tune I was trying to learn, but was very shy because I have almost no musical ability. Ram Prabhu really encouraged me and everyone enjoyed the tune. I was amazed because like I said I am a horrible singer. The mercy of the devotee can take one a long way on the path back to Godhead. The next day I had a packed schedule, in the morning I was giving class at the Institute in DC. This house is amazing, they leave the door open so devotees can come in all day and do some service. Also the compassion of the devotees can be seen. One devotee who comes in handicapped, the devotees welcomed him in, sat him down, took his coat off, took his shoes off and during prasadam feed him and wiped his face afterwards. It really touched my heart. Also this house is a tirtha because HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami spend a considerable amount of time there. His presence is really felt in his quarters. I gave a short class focusing on the need to preach to people in kali yuga to get them off the material platform. We had a big discussion on book distribution and they were very interested in establishing smart boxes. I offered my assistance in any way and felt encouraged to see these devotee fired up about distributing books. The prasadam was amazing, and I ate much more than I normally eat. That evening was sacred sounds program at Puspavan Prabhus home. Two years ago, he expressed his desire to worship Sri Salagram Sila. He asked me how to invote the Lord. I told him buy the needed items for worship and invite Him, He will come. So two years later he sent an email asking if I could arrange a Sila for Him. I agreed and now it was time to welcome the Lord to His new home. I remember my Guru Maharaja forwarded me a verse about the power of worshipping a Narsimha Salagram Sila. The verse states

“A tulasi leaf offered to the lotus feet of the Nrsimha Salagrama Sila
destroys the sin of murder. Water that has washed the lotus feet of the
Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of theft. Foodstuff offered to the
Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of drinking liquor. Sincere
surrender to the Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of adultery with
the wife of the spiritual master. Association with the devotees of the
Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of offenses to the devotees. This is
the extraordinary glory of the Nrsimha Salagrama Sila”
-Sri Agama

From Rupa Gosvami’s personal verse book entitled Padyavali, pada 2, text 116

I gave a class describing the Glories of Lord Nrsimha and how he acts like a lioness with her cubs to His devotees and how He kills the demons. I spoke a little about how this form of the Lord helped many soldiers leave their bodies in Iraq. After the class HG Yadubara Prabhu lead and amazing Nrsmiha Pranams and we honored prasadam.  We continued with the hearing and chanting and eventually left for the temple. It was a very trip to DC and I enjoyed my time spent there.

Sadhana:
Japa: give you heart to the Holy Name. We should just surrender to the Holy Name and allow it to fully cleanse out hearts
Reading: Reading the 2nd Canto now, and to start developing my relationship with Vrindavan I am reading and memorizing slokas from the Sri Vraja-riti-cintamani written by Srila Vsivanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Book distribution: It is upsetting that more devotees don’t encourage book distribution. We read so many stories about how devotees were made by coming in contact with Prabhupada’s books. Even after hearing this, we still don’t understand the importance of this service. Prabhupada would hear the book scores when he was ill and it brought him great joy. Here are my book scores for the month of Dec
small 210
maha big hrd 3
big sft 1
big hrd 4
magazines 110

We have twenty-one days left in the military, time is flying by. I am starting the out processing this week and then the following week I am in Houston. I beg the devotees to bless me to make the most out of the once in a lifetime opportunity that Krsna has arranged.

Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service
Partha-sarathi Dasa