On the occasion of Mother's Day this Sunday past, and, today, both Mother Sita and Mother Jahnava's most auspicious appearance days, I sing the praises of all mothers in this world and beyond. I ran across a nice memory of Srila Prabhupada that pretty much sums up everything. Once, while speaking with Gurudas, Srila Prabhupada said,"If I don't forgive you, Krishna will, and if Krishna doesn't forgive you, Radharani will."
Oh Radha! You are our Eternal Mother! Please bestow your mercy on our fallen souls. Like B.B. King put it, "Nobody loves me but my mother, and she could be jivin' me too." Except with Sri Radha, there's not even a tinge of jive, and, no doubt, Mother Radha is our only hope, the Supreme Goddess, and humanity's topmost well-wisher.
I went to mass with my mother this past Sunday and the homily was about being a "good finder." Apparently some study was done assessing what, if any, similarities could be found amongst the top 100 successful people in the world. It wasn't socio-economic status during childhood, not gender-related, race or even religion-related. What the study came up with, somehow, was that all these people were "good finders." Then the priest tied it in with Mother's Day. Mothers are naturally "good finders."
In ISKCON a similar analogy is given with the bee and the fly. A fly is automatically attracted to anything that stinks, whereas the bee only goes for the nectar. Most mothers, for better or worse, see only the good in their children. When applied to our interaction with the rest of society, this bee-like quality is actually a symptom of the highest degree of spiritual advancement. And moms dish out this stuff like it's nothing.
Compassion, we all need it. I wish I had more of it because then I could actually do some good in this world. Srila Prabhupada says, "Material compassion, lamentation and tears are all signs of ignorance of the real self. Compassion for the eternal soul is self-realization...No one knows where compassion should be applied. Compassion for the dress of a drowning man is senseless" (BG 2.1). This may be confusing for most of us but with a little bit of transcendental knowledge, it makes the most sense in the world. Like in the hospital the other day my mom said, "Why worry if you pray, why pray if you worry?"My mother showed me a card today that she is sending to my brother and sister-in-law out in California who just had twins. The card reads:
HAVING A BABY IS GOD'S WAY OF SAYING, "YOU'VE SLEPT LONG ENOUGH!" 
Jiv Jago. Wake up sleeping soul. What a blessing. The saints say there is no love in this material world. Yet, the love a mother shares with her child is the closest example we have on our planet of selfless love, which is just a spark of the profound love we share with our Eternal Mother. Unfortunately, we've forgotten all about this relationship and again and again we take birth until we finally wake up, which can only happen when we encounter a pure devotee of the Lord. By the mercy and compassion of a pure devotee, we are reminded who we actually are and what is our eternal occupation. No unemployment in the spiritual world. We're all just eternally blissful lovers of Mother Radha. So now it's a good time to start crying, in separation.
But if tears are a sign of ignorance, how come Sita Sang the Blues? Check this out. Anyways, so much love to give, but how to distribute it in a way that the soul benefits? And like my sister asked the other day over lunch, "What is the soul?" Back 2 basics.
But if tears are a sign of ignorance, how come Sita Sang the Blues? Check this out. Anyways, so much love to give, but how to distribute it in a way that the soul benefits? And like my sister asked the other day over lunch, "What is the soul?" Back 2 basics.Jaya Sri Radhe! Jaya Sri Sitadevi! Sri Jahnavadevi ki jaya!
On April 22, 2008 (Earth Day) my sister gave birth to a very special little lady. Introducing Bhaktin Ella Michele Rassman ki jaya!
Ella is what you might call a "high-maintenance" woman. Since the day she was born, she has commanded every minute of her family's attention, thoughts, and prayers. Our little Ella suffers from a blood disorder that is affecting her liver. Yet, since the diagnosis and with subsequent treatments, her blood counts have been steadily improving and her vitals are stronger than ever. We hope that by Mother's Day she will be ready to come home in her momma's loving arms. In the meantime, as Aunt Ali on duty, I have been visiting her daily and chanting cribside. We sing together and she has already responded favorably with a big grin to the promise of vegan tofu burgers when she gets a little older. When momma requested some homemade treats for the nurses in gratitude of their hard work, I quickly jumped at the service. Transcendental vegan granola bars, cookies, and banana bread have been distributed thus far. Please send your prayers and blessings that I may serve little Ella properly.