करुणा याचना

मृगनयन समान है राधे, आपकी ऑखे ,
चमकती मुस्कान ,
मन में जपत है सदा कृष्ण का नाम
ह्रदय ममता से सराभोर ,
हमें ले चले कृष्ण की ओर

मैं सोच पाऊं आपके बारेमे हरबार ,
निहारु आपकी करुणामयी छवि वारंवार
आपके सेवकोंके निरन्तर सेवा मैं लगु सरकार,
यही  याचना मांगत है ये भिकारी इसबार 

Your Holiness (Vyaspuja Offering to HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj)

In search of Guru
You left your high degree and home
Trod Himalayan surface,
As a seeker of Absolute, Alone.
Later you visited ISKCON and read NOD,
It put end to all your trace.
found shelter of His Divine Grace,
Your Holiness.

In first meeting in Allahabad
with His Divine Grace,
His emphatic order to translate
The Srimad Bhagavat to Bengali
You did embrace.
Who else could do,
Your Holiness

In only one year,
You took Harinam Diksha, Brahmana Thread
and Sanyas vows,
In last days of Srila Prabhupada,
you served as servant devout.
Spiritual Progress,
At rapid pace.
Bless us all,
Your Holiness.

Srila Prabhupada as Founder Acharya
& preeminent shiksha guru has been established.
GBC as an ultimate managing authority,
Thou emphasized.
Never leave ISKCON.
You ever address
Srila Prabhupad’s loyal follower.
Your Holiness.
  

To introduce Srila Prabhupad in modern era,
You directed ‘Abhaycharan’.
To immerse vaishnavas ecstacies
You sing melodious kirtans.
At Beautiful temple in Ujjains
RadhaMadanMohanji bestow their Grace.
These all your gifts,
 Your Holiness

Message of Lord Chaitanya
Taken from Bengal to far West.
Though walked and led so many path of          devotion,
Through all obstacles and tests.
Keeping Srila Prabhupada in forefront
Entire ISKCON society Harnessed
We worship thy feet,
Your Holiness.

Golden Jubily of Historic Voyage

James cook, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus Francisco Pizarro are names of few famous sailors who marked their names in the history of the world for undertaking life risking sailing expeditions in the exploration of world. Although the initial impulse behind these expeditions were trade and capitalism, it further lead to rise of colonial empires, transfer of animals, foods, human populations (including slaves), communicable diseases  around the world. In 20th century many wars were fought and countless people sacrificed their lives for breaking free of bonds brought by colonization and achieve independence.  What started with an adventurous endeavor had to end with bloody affair since it was based on personal greed.

On 13th August 1965 also, one person started his sail across oceans on a mission. He neither had manpower to sail along, nor artillery to fight a war, with only a bag full books and door of all uncertainties left ajar. He was an old man with only 40 rupees in his hand, without any personal motivation, he travelled on his Gurus command.  Sea sickness, nausea and heart attacks could not shake his determination, for he only begged to be a doll in the hands of God, instrument of His compassion.  He got down the ship on Boston harbor, alone in the world of unknown faces and culture. He started his mission, sitting under a tree in park, singing the names of Lord, intoxicated hippies danced, it ignited their love of God spark. Soon spark became fire, hoards of devotees traveling across the world, singing and dancing dressed in Vaishnava attire. Temples, farms, gurukulas, rathyatras everything for pleasure of supreme personality, prediction of glorification of names of God in every town and village soon became reality. Prasadam and books being distributed to dissipate hunger and ignorance, gospel of Lord Chaitanya was taught teaching humility and tolerance. 

He was Srila Prabhupada, the most prominent emissary of Indian spiritual culture across the world. This 13th August marks 50th anniversary of historic event of his boarding Jaladuata ship at Kolkata for spreading spiritual culture of India across western world. He said “I have made a home in which whole world can stay”. And what started with his adventurous endeavor now also continues in the form ISKCON since it is based on principle of pure love of God. We offer our sincere most tribute to Srila Prabhupada for this historic voyage he took 50 years ago on this day, to enable ultimate voyage back home, back to Godhead possible of limitless conditioned souls.

Dealing with Guilt

I lost my bag during rathyatra. It contained some important keys. The feeling of being irresponsible and neglectful caught up my mind. While coming back in van, enthusiastic kirtan was going on but the mistake committed earlier made me cold and indifferent to the chanting. My mind started searching for instances where I had acted wrongly and this whole incident brought up so much guilt and pushed my mind towards pessimism. The thoughts of being so incompetent in terms of integrity and maturity after years of practice were eating me up. I wanted to celebrate my sadness for feeling sufficient guilt so I was denying myself to relish the sweet mellows of Kirtan.
Many times it happens that our mistakes cause us so much guilt that they tend to distract us from spiritual practices and the joy of spiritual life appears mismatch to the personal mood at such times.


Can spiritual happiness cause disturbance in ones reformation program? 
 
I was contemplating how should one tackle the situation? Krishna inspired me some insights for my questions which I have posted below

Gratitude enables rectification

The spiritualist finds himself happy for the opportunity to be connected with God, but he same times feels complete dissatisfaction for not being able to reciprocate with mercy bestowed upon him.
The guilt of being incompetent to reciprocate coupled with grateful attitude for whatever fortune granted upon him pushes him towards correction than giving up the process. For Bhaktiyogi even guilt fuels the feelings of more gratitude since he feels himself completely unqualified for fortune he is receiving although being plagued with so many faults. The burden of gratitude makes person think "Oh I must rectify myself, I am so fortunate that I have been a given chance, I must reciprocate"

The spiritual life is meant for pleasure of Krishna

The bhaktiyoga by definition is selfless service of Krishna uninterruptedly. So when devotee feels sad about the mistakes, he does not allows his sadness spill over pleasure of Krishna. By engaging attentively in limbs of devotional service for the pleasure of  the Lord and prayers of purification in the mood of repentance, one finds stability and it helps to come out of  guilt and get purified of the wrong tendencies.  
Self Centric Guilt Produces Only Pessimism but no Solution

It is nature of mind to enjoy emotions pleasure and pain both in equal proportions. So the guilt feelings without corrective measure only result in more guilt and more mistakes in turn. It does not help person to come out of this vicious cycle. One finds himself lonely sulking inside and searching out external reasons for the misfortune to come upon himself. But when guilt is used not to pamper mind for enjoying negative emotions but drag mind towards positive solutions for purification, it helps in long term. 
 We find example of