matra sparsas tu kaunteya !

The climate is chilly, more like icy, I should say. Here in the Middle East, winter is at its best. The rain tops it up with chilly winds - more like hell. I remember Srila Prabhupad's comments about St. Moritz in Switzerland - he called the place St. Hellish ! Because it was so cold. Srila Prabhupada said that hellish planets are very cold. I am getting a taste of it these days. We haven't seen the sun for three days now. Makes one realize the Brahma samhita verse "yacchaksuresa savita sakala grahaanaam, raja samasta sura-murtir asesa teja" - Sun is really the chief of all sura-murtis.

The climate also gives us a chance to practice the Bhagavad Gita verse :
matra sparsas tu kaunteya
sitosna sukha dukha da
agama payino nityas
tam titiksasva bharata
Titiksa or tolerance is very important for devotees - we have to tolerate many things, whether we like it or not ! Think about all the things that we are tolerating for a so-called "better life". So, we need to tolerate some things for a little spiritual advancement as well.

Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi dukha doshanudarshanam

Whenever there is some bodily trouble, it tends to affect the whole self, at least it is that way for me. Of course, I do realise that its the result of high bodily consciousness. I read with great astonishment how Srila Prabhupada was totally unconcerned about his bodily discomforts during the last days of his manifest lila on this planet. So, I say, "kabe habe bolo, sei dina amar" (when will that day be mine !) Its a nice prayer by Thakur Bhakti Vinode.

Whenever I fall sick, (which is quite often ! ) devotees encourage me that I am getting rid of karmic reactions. Well, that may be, but it sure is no fun falling sick. But here is a nice prayer Gokula Gaurangi Devi Dasi gave me to chant :

achyutaananda govinda vishno naaraayana hare
rogan may naashaya asheshan aashu dhanvantari hare

"O Achyutananda, Govinda, Vishnu, Narayana, Hari, Dhanvantari! "
Please destroy all my diseases quickly and completely. "

Of course, we must realize that the material body is bound to become diseased because thats the arrangement of prakrti. But, a fit body definitely helps in discharging devotional service for a neophyte like me, so I am going to pray to Lord Dhanwantari to please give me better health !

Happy (?) New Year !!!

On January 1st, I received many calls, messages and emails - all wishing me a happy new year. Its a nice wish people tend to make at the beginning of every year. They tell each other, "I wish you a very happy new year". Its equally nice for the speaker and hearer.

Now, here is the catch ! Everyone "wishes" for a "happy" "new" year. Its a wish, it means, the happiness in not within our control, nor is there anything new about the year that comes ! Now, the whole statement takes a new turn. Everyone wishes to be happy, but we understand from scriptures that this material world is "padam padam yad vipadam". There is danger at every step. So, beware ! Everyone is stressed and anxious about the future and this leads to a constant state of unrest in the mind. "asantasya kutha sukham" ! For one who has no peace, where is the question of happiness ? Get the point !!!

As Srila Prabhupada would say, "better to chant Hare Krishna, thats all".

So, HARE KRISHNA !