The Divine Madman

Yesterday was the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda. The celebration was relatively small in numbers compared to other festivals I have participated in here at the temple. However, the spirit was fierce and the women were pulling out dance moves only Lord Nityananda himself could have inspired.

Who is Lord Nityananda? With my neophyte understanding, I will give a brief bio. Lord Nityanada is an incarnation of Lord Balarama, who is the first expansion of Krsna and is the manifestation of Krsna's eternal energy. The spiritual master or Guru is also an incarnation of Lord Balarama along with any tool used in Krsna's service (ie. mrdanga (drum), conchshell, this computer?). It is said in the Vedas that one cannot approach Krsna without the mercy of Guru. The mercy of Guru and Krsna's devotees is actually greater than the mercy of Krsna, thus yesterday's celebration was an acknowledgment of the unlimited mercy and selflessness of Guru and Vaisnava, both transcendental tools used for Krsna's service.

The last part of this post is a song glorifying Lord Nityananda. Varsana Swami once said that Srila Prabhupada could barely contain his emotions when hearing the bhajans of Srila Narottama das Thakur. In efforts to distinguish absolute knowledge from sentimental rituals, Maharaja explains the rarity of Prabhupada's external, emotional outpourings. Thus, I have taken to learning the many bajans of Narottama Das Thakur.

The first song in this bajan compares the lotus feet of Lord Nityanada to the soothing of millions of moons. I request that everyone stand under the upcoming full moon and meditate on its beauty and personality. Multiply this feeling by ten, then one hundred, then one thousand, then one million! and only then might we conceive of the mercy Lord Nityanada has to offer us. Attachment to his lotus feet can deliver one from the ocean of material suffering, of repeated action and reaction, and, ultimately, of repeated birth and death.

I love the analogy of lotus feet. Feet play an incredible role in Krsna consciousness. Feet represent devotional service, the path of bhakti or liberation for all devotees. One shows respect for a senior Vaisnava by bowing at his feet or touching his feet and collecting the dust. This is kind of like the ol' analogy of walking a thousand miles in another's shoes. Senior devotees have so many years of experience along with miles and miles of transcendental adventures guided by pure devotional service. So if we aspire to have a similar understanding, we bow down at their lotus feet and beg for their association and mercy.

The lotus is also rich with symbology. The lotus flower is rooted in thick mud and swampy muck. Yet, its stem touches the surface, a bud pops and eventually manifests into a strikingly beautiful, thousand-petaled flower. Thus, through the process of service, one can be delivered from the most abominable situations and still perfect their lives, exhibiting unlimited qualities. Also, once the lotus flower has bloomed, any drop of mud that should happen to splash on her petals, immediatly glides off, as is the purity of one firmly situated in Krsna consciousness.

The last few days I have been helping out the all-pure madre Santendriya. She is making a diarama of the Panca Tattva, Lord Caitanya and his associates. She is using my filthy feet as the model. I find this hilarious. Talk about unqualified. I mean of all the exhalted devotees living in this community, she is using my stinkin' feet. Lord Nityanada, have mercy on us!

Teachings to the Mind by Srila Narottama das Thakur
(1)
nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala
je chayay jagata juray
heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krsna paite nai
drdha kori' dharo nitair pay

The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityänanda. Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda, it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krsna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krsna, he must firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

(2)
se sambandha nahi ja'r, brtha janma gelo ta'r
sei pasu boro duracar
nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe
vidya-kule ki koribe tar

Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu is understood to have spoiled his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an uncontrollable animal. Because he never uttered the holy name of Nityananda, he has become merged into so-called material happiness. What can his useless education and family tradition do to help him?

(3)
ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya
asatyere satya kori mani
nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krsna pabe
dharo nitai-carana du'khani

Being maddened after false prestige and identification with the body, one is thinking, Oh, what is Nityananda? What can He do for me? I don't care. The result is that he is accepting something false to be truth. If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krsna, you must first achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krsna. Therefore you should firmly grasp the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

(4)
nitaiyer carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya
nitai-pada sada koro asa
narottama boro dukhi, nitai more koro sukhi
rakho ranga-caranera pasa

The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact. One who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. Always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. This Narottama däsa is very unhappy, therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy. My dear Lord, please keep me close to Your lotus feet.

Yo! since when Hare Krsna?

So for those of you who are wondering since when did i become Hindu, here's a quick update. After living in New Mexico for about a year, I decided to temporarily pack things up and take a quick visit back East. Some friends of mine told me about a women's retreat at an ashram in West Virginia. Feeling the need for some Jedi training and curious about the life of a Hare Krsna devotee, i decided to attend the retreat and arrive several weeks early in order to put in some volunteer time and possibly score a free retreat.

West Virginia, of all exotic, foreign lands and mystical places! After several days of enjoying the atmosphere and novelty of the Vedic rituals and Indian food, i started to feel like it might be a long month before the retreat. I began to cry a lot. I realized my spiritual life was lacking depth and discipline. Somehow i made it through that first, lonely month. The retreat came and went, and 5 months of service later, i am now a full-time resident.

Hare Krsna is used like a noun by laymen, but technically it is the practice of Varnashram or Vaisnavaism. I am being trained by the Gaudiya Matha Vaisnava disciplic succession and, more specifically, within ISKCON (International Society for Krsna Consciousness).

I can honestly say that i was crazy to move here, but now I would be even crazier to leave. Folks around here say that it is no wonder people leave, rather why anyone stays.

The Hare Krsna movement has slowed done quite a bit since its initial arrival to the Western Hemisphere along with the former "foremost leading exponent of the Vedas," A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada in 1965. More than four decades later, there are ISKCON temples around the world. However, enrollment of students within the temples appears to be low in North America at least.

It is stated in the Bhagavad Gita:
Out of many thousand among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth. (7.3)

The Supreme Pig of Godhead

Today is the appearance day of Lord Varaha, a boar
incarnation of Lord Vishnu(Krsna).  I feel a special
connection with this avatara because I have spent many
intimate hours caring for and serving my pig friends.
Great friend i was, however, because i also engaged in
slaughtering them.  I have come full circle, twice
around with vegetarianism.  I grew up eating meat then
renounced it when i started becoming environmentally
conscious of the environmental ramifications of the
meat  industry, what to speak of the cruelty,
inhumanity and disease.
When i began travelling and living in remote villages in
Mexico and Central America, I began to eat meat again.  i
felt that only a snot-nosed, privileged American, who has
the great luxury and choice to be a vegetarian, would
refuse to eat the chicken slaughtered for her arrival.  In
my pursuit of sustainable agriculture, I proceeded to
learn the trade of raising and slaughtering animals on the
family farm.  I even raised my very own pigs one season.
We became close friends and i killed them, skinned them 
and ate their hearts and tongues.  Hare Krsna!  While I 
have much respect for those who refuse to support the
exploitation of the animal industry and choose to take the
karma upon themselves, in my pursuit of Krsna 
consciousness, my meat eating days have come to a quick
halt.  Thus, being a so-called lover of pigs, Lord Varaha
has special significance for me.  His pastime goes 
something like this...

The Demon Hiranyaksha, the personification of greed,
plunders the three worlds,defeating all of the demigods
one by one then plunders all the gold from Mother Earth
for his own egotistical purposes.
Thrown off of its axis as a result of the exploitation,
the Earth falls out of orbit and plunges into the depths
of the cosmic ocean. The demigods appeal to Lord Brahma
to do something.  Whenever, the imbalance in the universe
is at such an extreme that man alone has no hope,the Lord
comes and restores the balance.

Brahma pays his respects and prays to Lord Vishnu to
assist Earth in her helpless state.  While Brahma is
praising the Supreme Lord, a small boar, the size of a
thumbnail, comes out from his left nostril.  After some
confusion of this unexpected arrival, the demigods become
aware that this boar, Lord Varaha, is actually an
incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead himself.
After growing into an expansive size, Lord Varaha dives
into the cosmic ocean picks up the Earth by his
massive tusks and restores the Earth to its natural
state of balance and harmony.  However upon confrontation
with Hiranyaksha, a ferocious battle begins that lasts
1,000 years.  At times it appears the demon had the upper
hand.  Because the demoniac hour of twilight was fast
approaching, the hour that infuses the demons with extra
strength, the demigods were fearful.  Yet, Lord Vishu
easily utilizes his Sankarsana chakra(disc-like weapon)
and kills Hiranyaksha.

The modern day demons are just like Hiranyaksha.  Oil has
become modern-day gold.  Petroleum, the blood of Mother
Earth, is exploited due to dissatisfaction caused by
unchecked lust.  Will our mother again fall from her
orbit?  When will we appreciate her bountiful gifts, a
consciousness ultimately reflected by a society's
appreciation for the cow.

Lord Varaha's eternal companion is Bhumidevi, Mother
Earth and the goddess of fertility.  She is the mother
of Sita (wife of Lord Rama, another direct incarnation
of Krsna).  She was born from a furrow!

My friends, the pastimes of Sri Krsna only get better
and are infused with incredible symbolism and lessons,
even for the atheists.  Anywho, today is Lord 
Varaha's Appearance Day and Mother Dhara made cake,
pink frosting.

Here goes it...

no one asked for it, few will ever read it, but having this blog gives me some sort of outlet for shared observation. maybe i just need something to help me remember what i did yesterday. at best, this blog is a tool i am using to expose others to the process of cleaning house and heart, the process of bhakti yoga (aka Krsna consciousness or devotional service). i am trying to perfect my life, my intelligence and my potential in this human body. although unqualified, i hope to help and encourage others to do the same. so many wasted mornings, so many wasted nights, so many wasted years, yet the waste was some how necessary for my current understanding and position...or lack there of!
i begin this endeavor with a shout out to YOU... i know who you are! respects to my parents and family, Srila Prabhupada and other countless spiritual teachers and gurus in my life, my godsistas and brothers, my devotional seniors and ancesters, and unto all the dutiful demigods of the heavenly planets, middle earth and hellish planets. All glories to God Almighty, the Creator of the Creator, the Cause of all Causes, the Controller of the Controllers, God the Supreme Father, God the Supreme Mother, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the All-Attractive, Lover of Brahmanas and Cows, the Supreme Well-Wisher of all Living Entities, our dearest friend, Lord Sri Krsna.

this being said, let the madness begin.