Jahnavi Harrison was raised in a family of bhakti yoga practitioners at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire, England. She is a writer, musician and artist who aims to channel her creative expression as a path to self-realization and service. She is trained in both Western as well as Carnatic (South Indian) classical dance and music, as well as writing and visual arts. After graduating with a BA in Linguistics and Creative Writing, she travelled internationally with the sacred music band, ËœGaura Vani and As Kindred Spiritsâ„¢, for five years, presenting the dynamic stories and spiritual culture of India for a fresh, contemporary audience. She has also been a member of sacred music collective ËœSita and the Hanumenâ„¢, and has often collaborated with kirtan artists like Krishna Das, Shyam Das, Wah!, Shantala and Jai Uttal. In 2012 she was presented with a Youth Achievement award at the UK House of Lords for her efforts to bring upliftment to society through sacred music. In 2015 she released her debut sacred music album, ËœLike a River to the Seaâ„¢, and also took part in the Grammy nominated, ËœBhakti Without Bordersâ„¢ album.The Most Intelligent Petitioner
Anxiety attacks and breakdowns are a normal part of human life. No matter how sagacious, equipoised, tranquil, unimpassioned, silent and serene we appear on the outside, we all know that the world and its ruthless ways will one day drive us crazy and unsettle our minds to let all hell break loose.The Śrīmad-bhāgavatam (10.1.17 - 18) tells us that Mother Earth too once experienced a great anxiety attack when she was overburdened with demoniac kings who were hell bent on exploiting her resources. Taking the form of a helpless cow, she approached Lord Brahmā for protection.The poet Harisūri is never tired of asking the most important question — Why?Why did Mother Earth approach Brahmā? She is in fact one of the consorts of Lord Viṣṇu along with Lakṣmī devī. Why did she not directly approach her husband? What benefit would she gain by approaching Lord Brahmā?Harisūri composes a beautiful verse to intelligently answer his own question. His verse is as follows:
प्रेयानप्यनिशंवशोऽपिनितरांशान्तोऽपिकान्तःसुतंद्वारीकृत्यतदन्तरङ्गमिहसंप्रार्थ्योनजातुस्वतः।सत्स्त्रीलक्षणमेतदित्यविकलंप्रख्यापयित्रीतदाधात्रीसात्मभुवंययौप्रथमतस्तत्साधुमन्यामहे॥
(Sing like ṣaḍ-gosvāmy aṣṭakam):preyān apy aniśaṁ vaśo 'pi nitarāṁ śānto 'pi kāntaḥ sutaṁdvārīkṛtya tad-antaraṅgam iha saṁprārthyo na jātu svataḥsat-strī-lakṣaṇam etad ity avikalaṁ prakhyāpayitrī tadādhātrī sātma-bhuvaṁ yayau prathamatas tat sādhu manyāmahe
Translation: [Mother Earth thought], "Although Lord Viṣṇu is my beloved husband; although he is extremely calm in nature and submissive to all my desires, yet [Brahmā is born from his navel and thus he is like a son to him as well as to me. Therefore, it would be wise to] keep our affectionate son in front of me to speak on my behalf instead of praying directly to the Lord."
I [Harisūri] think that Mother Earth showed the characteristics of an extremely intelligent woman when she first approached Brahmā in this manner.— Bhakti-rasāyanam of Harisūri on Śrīmad-bhāgavatam (10.1.17). Translation by Hari Pārṣada Dāsa.PS: In other words, there is always a small chance that even a well-natured husband may deny a request made directly by the wife to him. However, when the child comes to his father and narrates the pain of his mother, the father feels an additional pressure of living up to the expectations of the son as well as the wife and the chances of refusing the request is almost nullified. What then to speak of a child who will narrate the distress of his mother through his four mouths? It was thus a wise strategy for Mother Earth to narrate her distress through the via-medium of Lord Brahmā. All the best,Rukmini Walker
You are a Person Filled with Unlimited Love
Caitanya-bhakti can be cultivated in whatever position you are just by hearing the transcendental sound vibration of the scriptures and the holy name. You can get the full mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Each and every one of us can start here and this will bring us to the highest subjects which are almost inconceivable for us with our material, conditioned mind. It brings us to the question of identity – spiritual identity. Have you ever considered that maybe you are not a man? Have you ever considered that maybe you are not a woman, but someone totally different? Have you ever considered that maybe you are not your present body, but someone entirely different – a person who is full of love, unlimited love, a love so big that you cannot even attempt to describe it in the terms of this world? The only approximation we have in this world – and it’s an approximation from a very far distance – is the unconditioned love of a mother to a child – there is the least selfishness. This love can give us an idea of how selfless the love of the residents of Vrindavana and the gopis, including the manjaris, is.What Caitanya Mahaprabhu left us through his devotees is a relatable and doable path to enter the ocean of the real life of Krsna consciousness. I wish you that you can become ablaze with the fire of love because after all that is the greatest achievement and treasure you can go for in this human form of life. My dear devotees, please understand Krsna consciousness with an aim – that “One day, I hope I will become a real bhakta, a real practitioner of bhakti. Let me find out how I can live and feel bhakti and share it with others.”
Sacinandana Swami has been a monk in the bhakti tradition for 42 years. With a highly developed divine feminine side than most, He is known for his significant contribution to the practice of contemplation and meditation for modern practitioners of bhakti. Sacinandana Swami has published numerous books and CDs, and offers an array of retreats and seminars. Thousands of enthusiastic singers and dancers visit his kirtanconcerts. He teaches at the Vrindavana Institute for Higher Education in India and the Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium.
~from a lecture by Sacinandana Swami in Almviks Gard, Sweden, August 3rd, 2018.
Sacinandana Swami has been a monk in the bhakti tradition for 42 years. With a highly developed divine feminine side than most, He is known for his significant contribution to the practice of contemplation and meditation for modern practitioners of bhakti. Sacinandana Swami has published numerous books and CDs, and offers an array of retreats and seminars. Thousands of enthusiastic singers and dancers visit his kirtanconcerts. He teaches at the Vrindavana Institute for Higher Education in India and the Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium. The Sleeping Full-Moon Beauty of Vrindavan
The nature of Krishna's spiritual pastimes is such that every step is a dance, every word is a song and every action has multiple layers of meanings in it. Glorious are poets like Śrī Harisūri who reveal to us these immensely deep meanings even in those activities of the Lord that may appear to have no deeper meaning.
The Śrīmad-bhāgavatam (Canto 10, Chapter 7) describes how Krishna was an infant and how he started rising up and turning around on his back at the age of three months. When Mother Yashoda saw this, she immediately arranged for a festival with the help of all the ladies of Vrindavan.In verse number (10.7.5), the Bhāgavatam describes how Mother Yashoda bathed baby Krishna on that day and then received all the guests beginning with the brāhmaṇas. All these guests brought many wonderful gifts for Krishna, but the transcendental autocrat that he is, he decided to pretend to fall asleep at that very moment and almost closed his eyes.Usually, it is considered rude for a host to fall asleep in front of a guest, but our devotee poet Harisūri describes the reason why the Lord chose to act half-asleep even after having taken a fresh bath. Harisūri says:[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]शिष्टाचार इतीदृगित्युपगतप्रज्ञो जनो मामयं स्नेहार्द्रं कुरुतेऽथवाऽनुपधिकं प्रेमर्धिकामो मयि । आस्ते इत्यपहाय कार्यमपरं पश्यामि तूष्णीं किमि- त्यासीन्मीलितदृक् शयालुरिव तत्सत्यावगत्यै प्रभुः ॥ . (Sing like ṣaḍ-gosvāmy aṣṭakam): śiṣṭācāra itīdṛg ity upagata-prajño jano mām ayaṁ snehārdraṁ kurute 'thavā 'nupadhikaṁ premardhi-kāmo mayi āste ity apahāya kāryam aparaṁ paśyāmi tūṣṇīṁ kim ity āsīn mīlita-dṛk śayālur iva tat-satyāvagatyai prabhuḥ[/perfectpullquote][The Lord thought], "All these people are showering their affection on me. Is it because they are following a social convention for the sake of formality, or is it because they desire to increase their causeless love towards me? Giving up all other activities, I wish to remain quiet and evaluate their mood."Thus, in order to determine the true intention of the guests, the Lord partially closed his eyes, as if he was sleeping.— Bhakti-rasāyanam of Harisūri on Śrīmad-bhāgavatam (10.7.5). Translation by Hari Parshad Das.PS: In other words, a truly affectionate person will express affection even if their beloved is sleeping. Others who have come just for the sake of formality will notice the sleeping person and will use it as an excuse to not express any feelings.
All the best,
Rukmini Walker
Kite-runners in Jaipur
Jaipur, India
January 8th, 2019
We are in India right now, in Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, (“the place of the rajas, or kings”). The Jaipur Kite Festival is starting soon, but delighted children are preempting its beginning from every rooftop in the neighborhood.
Colorful kites are soaring in the skies competing with the birds, and the surrounding trees are decorated with fallen kites - the ones that have crash landed. It looks like a sort of festive arial Christmas celebration.
I was curious to see whether it was only the boys who were the kite-runners, but we’re seeing little girls hoisting their kites into the air with equal skill, sometimes while trading a baby back and forth with her sister.
These are little kites, different from the larger ones we see in the West. These seem to require a clever skill, as the little masters tug and pull and make their kites fly high in the air spinning in tiny circles.
To catch a favorable breeze that sends a kite high into the air is partly the skill of the kite-runner, partly a gift of the wind.
What would it mean to be truly free, flying high in a joy of realization? And yet always grounded in humility, tethered by a string of grace, to the line of great teachers who’ve come before us.
In a moment, we can so easily come crashing down - becoming disconnected and entangled in so many leaves and branches of material desire and distraction.
Every offering we send up is a delicate balance between our sincere desire to love and serve; and a gift of God’s grace, lifting us up to heights that we could hardly have imagined before.
All the best,
Rukmini Walker
Mantras
Musician Jahnavi Harrison examines the ancient practice of mantra recitation and charts the spread of mantras from their Eastern origins to Western pop-culture.The origin of the word ‘mantra’ lies in the ancient Sanskrit language. It means literally ‘mana’ or mind/heart and ‘tra’ to transport or transcend. In a religious context, Jahnavi explains, a mantra is a sacred sound formula - an arrangement of words with meaning, that have the power to connect the reciter with a specific spiritual goal. But the meaning need not necessarily be understood in order to have an effect, just as you don’t need to know about all the ingredients in cough syrup to feel it doing something.Om, believed by Hindus to be a 'primordial sacred sound' is perhaps the most well known of the traditional Eastern mantras. Jahnavi introduces us to an extraordinary recording of 10,000 people chanting Om as part of a project organised by the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhatten. We also hear the music of George Harrison which features this ancient chant.The belief of Hindus and Buddhists, that reciting mantras can transform the body and mind, are now the subject of much scientific study which has shown that regular chanting brings about changes within the brain. In addition to reaping the spiritual and cognitive benefits, Jahnavi explains that she chants daily in order to put on a suit of "sonic armour" that seems to protect her from the noise and intensity of the urban environment.[embed]https://soundcloud.com/jahnavi_harrison/bbc-radio-4-something-understood-mantras-october-2018[/embed]
Jahnavi Harrison was raised in a family of bhakti yoga practitioners at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire, England. She is a writer, musician and artist who aims to channel her creative expression as a path to self-realization and service. She is trained in both Western as well as Carnatic (South Indian) classical dance and music, as well as writing and visual arts. After graduating with a BA in Linguistics and Creative Writing, she travelled internationally with the sacred music band, ËœGaura Vani and As Kindred Spiritsâ„¢, for five years, presenting the dynamic stories and spiritual culture of India for a fresh, contemporary audience. She has also been a member of sacred music collective ËœSita and the Hanumenâ„¢, and has often collaborated with kirtan artists like Krishna Das, Shyam Das, Wah!, Shantala and Jai Uttal. In 2012 she was presented with a Youth Achievement award at the UK House of Lords for her efforts to bring upliftment to society through sacred music. In 2015 she released her debut sacred music album, ËœLike a River to the Seaâ„¢, and also took part in the Grammy nominated, ËœBhakti Without Bordersâ„¢ album.Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam - SB 08.09.25 - Krsna Balaram Temple, Vrindavan, India
I gave this lecture on the Srimad Bhagavatam - SB 08.09.25 on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at the Krsna Balaram Temple in Vrindavan, India. It covers the miraculous amrita - Krsna's words of nectar, which so many are seeking. By hearing Krsna Katha, speaking Krsna Kahta, or attending Srimad Bhagavatam classes, we enter a path to conquer birth and death. -- Rukmini
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuzAWc2AYM0&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
In Search of Govardhan
This year, and last year at the same time, from the middle of November until the middle of December, I was attending two retreats in the valley of the Govardhan Hill, in the most sacred part of Sri Vrndavan Dham, in India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the district of Mathura.
Devoted people come from all over the world to worship this holy place by performing parikram (circumambulation) around its fourteen mile perimeter. Some of them bow down flat on the ground with their arms extended in front of them. Then they mark the place where their fingers touched and move forward to the place that was marked to offer their obeisances again from that marked spot. In this way, worshipping the sacred place of Radha and Krsna's divine pastimes in humble circumambulation.
Govardhan is said to be shaped like a peacock, with the two most sacred lakes, Sri Radha Kund and Sri Shyam Kund as the two eyes of the peacock. As a seven-year-old child, Krsna is said to have lifted Sri Govardhan up as an umbrella as easily as a child might lift a tiny mushroom over his head. In order to protect His beloved residents of Vrndavan from a violent rain storm caused by the anger of Indra, the demigod in charge of rain, little Krsna held the hill aloft for seven days while the cows, cowherds and cowherd damsels (the gopies) happily took shelter underneath.
As the playground of the inconceivable, joyful and charming pastimes of Krsna in Vrndavan, Govardhan is considered to the greatest devotee of Krsna, fulfilling all of His desires by supplying grass for the cows, caves for secret play, and colorful unguents and minerals for decorating the face. Govardhan is also considered to be not different from Krsna Himself, in the same way that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is considered both a devotee and the Lord Himself playing as a devotee.
In Bhakti, we worship the relationships of Krsna with His devotees as more sacred than Krsna Himself. How can we believe such impossible things? Through the sweetness of rasa, or the tastes of relationship, all becomes revealed and, each day, still more sweet than it was the day before, through the medium of hearing about the ever-increasing love of the residents of Vrndavan. Beyond the rational mind, these pastimes begin to be felt through the heart of a sincere devotee who tries to hear about them with respect and love. Sri Giri Govardhan Kijaya!All the best,Rukmini Walker
Devoted people come from all over the world to worship this holy place by performing parikram (circumambulation) around its fourteen mile perimeter. Some of them bow down flat on the ground with their arms extended in front of them. Then they mark the place where their fingers touched and move forward to the place that was marked to offer their obeisances again from that marked spot. In this way, worshipping the sacred place of Radha and Krsna's divine pastimes in humble circumambulation.
Govardhan is said to be shaped like a peacock, with the two most sacred lakes, Sri Radha Kund and Sri Shyam Kund as the two eyes of the peacock. As a seven-year-old child, Krsna is said to have lifted Sri Govardhan up as an umbrella as easily as a child might lift a tiny mushroom over his head. In order to protect His beloved residents of Vrndavan from a violent rain storm caused by the anger of Indra, the demigod in charge of rain, little Krsna held the hill aloft for seven days while the cows, cowherds and cowherd damsels (the gopies) happily took shelter underneath.
As the playground of the inconceivable, joyful and charming pastimes of Krsna in Vrndavan, Govardhan is considered to the greatest devotee of Krsna, fulfilling all of His desires by supplying grass for the cows, caves for secret play, and colorful unguents and minerals for decorating the face. Govardhan is also considered to be not different from Krsna Himself, in the same way that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is considered both a devotee and the Lord Himself playing as a devotee.
In Bhakti, we worship the relationships of Krsna with His devotees as more sacred than Krsna Himself. How can we believe such impossible things? Through the sweetness of rasa, or the tastes of relationship, all becomes revealed and, each day, still more sweet than it was the day before, through the medium of hearing about the ever-increasing love of the residents of Vrndavan. Beyond the rational mind, these pastimes begin to be felt through the heart of a sincere devotee who tries to hear about them with respect and love. Sri Giri Govardhan Kijaya!All the best,Rukmini Walker[embed]https://vimeo.com/143361519[/embed]
Vrindavan
By Ananda Vrindavan Devi Dasi
When will I walk
The path entering vrindavan
When will I be ready?
It waits for me
I see it in the shadows of
My early morning chants
When will I be fully turned
In the direction of that place
When will I be fully drawn in
When will I breathe no more
Of earthly desires and
Breathe fully the spirit
When will I hold still and be full
And be free
And really see
Photograph by Vilasa Manjari Devi Dasi
Ananda Vrindavan is one of my dearest friends. In addition to being a beautiful poet, she is the community president of ISKCON of DC. Please visit their website at iskconofdc.org You can watch for her poems to regularly appear on our Urban Devi website. — Rukmini
Intention, Attention, and Affection…in the Coming Year
December 31, 2018
Where would I like to be at this time next year? In my mind, in my heart, in my practice, in my relationships, in my daily life?As one year fades into the next, we see patterns that are often so difficult to change.
Gandhi has said…
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]"Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny."[/perfectpullquote]If I want to place an intention, I need to focus my attention. But then, where is my heart? Where do I place my affection?Who do you love? Is there a way to access a greater love, a deeper love, an authentic, lasting love? Mystics of all traditions sing of this, seemingly elusive, Love Supreme.We may try to love those around us, or aspire to love more or better, but so often we fail.If we can begin to focus the light of our affection on the Source of all light, then our love can begin to expand the way a beam of light expands. A beam of love, from the Source of all love to include the earth and all living things.Here is an offering of intention, a focus of attention, to kindle some affection, as 2019 approaches…My dear Lord Krsna, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in this material world, from today, I am remembering You. Please accept me as Your own, and please engage me in Your loving service. Krsna, I am Yours. What do you ask of me today?Blessings to you in the coming year!All the best,Rukmini Walker
A Reservoir of Love
By Ananda Vrindavan Devi Dasi
-------
The Bhagavad-gita means
The Song of God
But oh how we forget to sing it
To ourselves and others
This song make the heart brave
As it makes its way
Into the heart of the soul
Which is connected
Since time immemorial to
The reservoir of original love
The essence of what we are made of
In our relationship with the supreme Beloved
Imagine a reservoir of love!
That’s where the Gita takes us
This Song of God, this song of love
Sip daily, and sometimes drink deep
And always share generously
Ananda Vrindavan is one of my dearest friends. In addition to being a beautiful poet, she is the community president of ISKCON of DC. Please visit their website at iskconofdc.org You can watch for her poems to regularly appear on our Urban Devi website. -- Rukmini
Help Me Meet You
-by Acyuta Gopi
Someone can love you with all their heart and still, not be ready to meet you on the bridge. That place where soulmates meet and join hands to make it to the other side of life, both better for the experience.I have heard that opinion over and over again. And yet...everyday You wait for me on the bridge. The bridge between what I have always done, and a new life, a new existence with You. Everyday You show up and wait. Sometimes You pace, sometimes You check the time in the rising and setting of the sun, sometimes You play an enticing tune on Your constant companion, somehow hoping to lure me closer and closer to “our spot”. But everyday, You are there.Some days, I walk past, hidden by shadows and camouflaged by lifetimes of conditioning. Some days I almost get there, but I get ensnared by the vines of a million different desires, only to be mercilessly pricked by the innumerable thorns of disappointments which follow. Sometimes I get tangled in the web of never ending karma, wondering what my duty is, and what I should and should not do. Some days I am restrained by the prison bars of rules. Some days I am detained by intelligence of all things! Intelligence which tells me, like a disapproving family member, that I am me, and You are You, and that we have our separate paths to walk. That I have my separate path to walk. That I must find my way without You.But some days.... I escape.And on those days...I get so close to the bridge I can almost see You. The silhouette of Your form calling out to me with a beloved’s caress, the song of Your mercy leading me with a gentle tendril around my arm. Some days I am so close I can almost smell the intoxicating aroma which can only belong to You. Some days I am so close....But...someone can love You with all their heart and soul, and somehow, still, they are unable to meet You on the bridge.With countless tears in my eyes that spring from the very depths of my soul I am telling You that I know it is out of my hands. The power to meet You on our bridge lies only with You. I can only make it but so far. I can only take so many steps. I am depending on You to bridge the gap between us, hold tight to me, and pull me the rest of the way. Drag me if You must! I know I’m stubborn. I know I barely listen. I know! So I am depending on You.Help me meet You there. Help me meet You.Photograph by Catherine Schweig (Krishna Kanta)
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"For as long as I can remember, Kirtan or the Bhakti Yoga practice of mantra meditation through music has been the focus of my life. The art of writing soon took up residence in the spaces of my heart not occupied by music, and the transformative power of prayer soon followed suit. With the blessings of my family and my teachers, I have had the amazing fortune to travel the world singing, writing, and witnessing those heart transformations that I love so much, first hand. I can honestly say that conducting workshops, classes and seminars on kirtan has absolutely changed my life for the better, and I can't think of a better way to live. Now along with my family, I've focused my efforts on the NYC community and pouring my heart into the beautiful practices of Kirtan, writing, and the incredibly transformative tradition of Bhakti Yoga." -- Acyuta Gopi
Unwrapping Christmas
If we want to unwrap the real meaning of Christmas, then we need to look beneath the tinsel and feel grateful to the Giver of all things before even opening the box.
Last year I was honored to give a talk "Appreciative Love - Gratitude: A Christmas Special", while in India for ISKCON Desire Tree on Christmas Day.
In this video, we explore the secret in appreciating and thanking Krsna for everything positive that we have in our lives, which can assure the spiritual transformation of all adverse situations. In our spiritual journey, gratitude helps us advance a step ahead, ultimately helping us to see the hand of the Lord in everything.
May we be blessed with the strength to offer our unalloyed pure gratitude to the Lord and take His shelter to advance in our life with a peaceful inner-self.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0QsLXlvqIA
"The Power of Women's Voices - How They Have Changed the Spiritual Landscape", Part 2 of 2
What follows is part two of my series of excerpts from my address at the Parliament of World Religions in Toronto, Canada last month. Alongside other esteemed women on the panel, we explored some of the great contributions of women spiritual leaders, teachers and saints within Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism. -- Rukmini Walker November 3, 2018I’d like to illustrate these ideals by sharing some stories of a few visionary women who lead facing OUT, by facing IN, in deeply spiritual and introspective ways. Some from ancient times, one from the time of the Bhakti renaissance in India’s sixteenth century, and some from our contemporary times today, a queen, a prostitute, a shunned princess, an illiterate village woman, and because our time is short just a nod to a sitting US Congresswoman, a woman physicist, and revolutionary environmentalist.Examples of Visionary Women(1) Kunti Devi: She is the long-suffering heroine of India’s epic, Mahabharata, Mother of Arjuna, and the protagonist of Bhagavad Gita. The example of her visionary wisdom in her own times of suffering is urgent even today. She says, almost prescient of today’s situation, “birth in an aristocratic family or nation, wealth, power, advanced education, beauty, all these advantages tend to intoxicate us with pride so that we become unable to call God’s name, Krsna’s name with feeling.” She says, “My Lord, please let my love for You, flow, uninterruptedly, as the water of the Ganges flows to the sea.”(2) Pingala: She was a prostitute, a sex worker but she is described as one of our gurus in the ancient Bhagavat Purana. She was invested in her work not only financially, but also emotionally, as she stood outside the door of her house waiting for a customer, trying to attract a man, with her beauty. As the time became late, she stood there, after midnight, and had an epiphany: “Why am I looking for love, seeking affection from men, who should be the objects of my pity, while I neglect the true eternal beloved Lord of my heart? Who is always sitting in my heart, just waiting for me to turn to Him in love?” At that time, she reflected so deeply internally experiencing that long lost love. A deeply realized detachment, a renunciation of her previous occupation, and addictions, arose in her heart in Bhakti Yoga, self-realization and God-realization, arriving in tandem, in sacred relationship.(3) Mirabai: The sixteenth century princess/poetess of Mewar in Rajasthan, India; She saw only God, or Krsna as her husband. Instead of remaining involved in palace life, she would go outside to the temple and mix with the common people, and holy men to sing in Kirtan, and hear Krsna’s holy names and glories.Insulted by her rebelliousness, her mortal husband, the king, and his royal family tried to kill her by poison and in so many other ways. Each time she was miraculously saved. Seeing the absurdity of the world facing OUT, she was facing IN.
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""] “Strange are the decrees of fate. Behold the large eyes of the deer! Yet he is forced to roam the forests. The harsh crane, has brilliant plumage, While the sweet-voiced cuckoo is black. The rivers flow in pure streams, But the sea makes them salt. Fools sit on thrones as kings, While the wise beg their bread. Mira’s Lord is the courtly Giridhara (Krona), The king persecutes the holy ones.” -- Mirabai [/perfectpullquote]
(4) Sindhu Tai Saptal: She is a simple, illiterate village woman. At the age of twenty, she already had children and she was again pregnant. A man in her village was sexually abusing the women. Sindhu Tai went to the police and reported him. For revenge, that man came to her husband and told him: “Your wife is unfaithful to you and the child she’s carrying is not yours. Her ignorant husband became furious. He beat her, and after beating her, he threw her unconscious body into a cow shed to make it look like she’d been trampled to death by the cows. When she woke up, her daughter had been born and there was a cow (another mother) standing over her, protecting her, as she broke the umbilical cord with a sharp rock. She was hopeless, with nowhere to go sitting outside on the ground, outside the railway station. With her infant daughter in her arms, she was contemplating suicide, thinking to just throw herself and her newborn baby onto the railway tracks to die. As she sat under the shade of a tree, she looked up and saw that the branch that was giving her shade was broken just hanging dangling from a thread. She thought “this branch is broken, but it is giving me shade. I am also broken, but I could also give some solace to someone.” As simple as she was, she was facing OUT, by facing IN. She walked over to the railway station and saw an old man who was thirsty and brought him water. She began collecting orphans and helping them in whatever ways she could. She eventually became known as “The Mother of the Orphans”, and people began to help her, so she began to open orphanages. Her daughter, who was born underneath the cow got her PhD and joined her mother in her work, and her older children also joined her. At one point, her now destitute former husband came to her and begged her to help him. She told him, “I have only one relationship now, that of a mother.” But she allowed him to live in her orphanage. When visitors come, she tells them that he is her oldest child and that he is a very bad child. To date, she has adopted over 1400 orphans, and has been honored in over 15 countries.My time is up, but to just briefly mention two other great women who lead, facing OUT, while facing IN: (5) The bipartisan Hindu Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii, she supports what’s right, even when she needs to vote against her own party, and (6) the fearless Dr. Vandana Shiva, physicist and eco-revolutionary who’s speaking here today at the Parliament.In conclusion, I see true leadership as facing OUT to serve the world, while being spiritually INFORMED, and TRANSFORMED by facing IN.Let me close with another inspiration from Mirabai:"To be born in a human body is rare. Don’t throw away the reward of your past good deeds. Life passes in an instant, the leaf doesn’t go back to the branch. The ocean of rebirth sweeps up all beings hard, pulls them into its cold-running, fierce, implacable currents. Giridhari, (Krsna) Your name is the raft, the one safe passage over. Take me quickly. All the awake ones travel with Mira singing the Name. She says with them, get up, stop sleeping, the days of a life are short.”Thank you very much!All the best,Rukmini Walker
“The Power of Women’s Voices: How They’ve Changed the Spiritual Landscape” ~ Part 1 of 2
What follows is the first of a two part series of excerpts from my address at the Parliament of World Religions in Toronto, Canada last month . Alongside other esteemed women on the panel, we explored some of the great contributions of women spiritual leaders, teachers and saints within Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism.
-Rukmini Walker
November 3, 2018
Here we are in Autumn. Darker nights of the season, darker nights in our world. Society can cause us to reach toward the light within ourselves to act for peace, understanding, justice within ourselves, in our communities, and as global citizens. Light shines most brilliantly in darkness. In this way, darkness becomes almost a servant of the light, by fueling its brightness. In times like these, we are tasked to fill ourselves with light. When we are filled with light, then no darkness can touch us.
Seeing the light, the soul in all living beings -- the earth, the animals, people of every color and nationality-- connect us all as a beloved community, as we all come from the same divine Source, that is God; Who in the Bhakti tradition we call Krsna.
A number of years ago, at conference I heard a woman speak. She was a Supreme Court Justice from India. She gave a metaphor, which I still find it important today. “In India, traditionally families lived in a joint house, as in Spain or some other Islamic countries. A large joint family home has a courtyard in the center, and all rooms of house face in toward the courtyard. In contrast, facing out on the perimeter of house is the veranda. Sometimes there would be a fountain in the middle of the courtyard representing the fountain of life. The women of the family would be in the courtyard, building a beloved community, solving internal issues, healing illnesses with traditional herbal remedies, cooking together, and BONDING.
BINDING up the problems that confront family, caring for worship in the home…facing INWARD. The men would be out on the veranda talking about finance, politics, business, worldly things, facing OUTWARD.
These days we have a different way of being in the world. Today women hold positions of leadership in the top rungs of business, politics, medicine, science. It’s a different way of being in the world. But there’s a certain quality to a woman’s heart…
I like the metaphor of facing OUT to the world but simultaneously being INFORMED by facing IN. Facing IN to see and heal the wounds in family, in community, facing IN to truly see and hear.
In a holistic and visionary way, what are the deepest needs and hungers of family, of community, of society, of the world? We know when women’s voices are silenced a door opens for children and women themselves to become abused. We know conversely, what happens when women are empowered often in simple villages the men can be irresponsible, often have problems with drinking, etc. But when money is given to a woman she will feed her children, she will invest in them, in farming, and in creating a foundation for her family often more than a man.
Now in tiny villages, there is micro-financing and so many other initiatives where women are feeling empowered to lead to lead by facing OUT to see what are the needs of the future, while facing IN to see what will practically benefit in visionary and holistic ways, their families, children, and community. What are these INTERNAL ideals that will inform our world beginning now?
~~~~~
-end Part 1 of 2-
Dance Through the City of My Soul
--by Acyuta Gopi
Oh my Lord of golden limbsRaised handsAnd love drunk eyes,Cause a revolutionIn my heart!Strike down the barriersOf my judgmental mindBreak down the doorsOf my selfish defensesAnd overturnThe tyrannical reignOf my tormented ego.I have been under the ruleOf my desiresFor far too long.I’m afraidI won’t be able to break tiesWith my dysfunctional mindWhich seems to govern all I do.But with Your swaying movementsYour sweet voiceAnd Your weapon of KirtanI know that You can doThe impossible.You can dance through the cityOf my soulAnd free me from myselfUntil my rebellious mindMy unsteady natureMy entire selfMoves to Your willAlone.Lead me.Rule me.Govern all that I doWith Your infallible Love.
[perfectpullquote align="right" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]
[/perfectpullquote]"For as long as I can remember, Kirtan or the Bhakti Yoga practice of mantra meditation through music has been the focus of my life. The art of writing soon took up residence in the spaces of my heart not occupied by music, and the transformative power of prayer soon followed suit. With the blessings of my family and my teachers, I have had the amazing fortune to travel the world singing, writing, and witnessing those heart transformations that I love so much, first hand. I can honestly say that conducting workshops, classes and seminars on kirtan has absolutely changed my life for the better, and I can't think of a better way to live. Now along with my family, I've focused my efforts on the NYC community and pouring my heart into the beautiful practices of Kirtan, writing, and the incredibly transformative tradition of Bhakti Yoga." -- Acyuta Gopi
A Beautiful Soul's Departure: Farewell Janavi Held
by Krishna Kanta Dasi
"Death is not extinguishing the light;it is putting out the lampbecause the dawn has come.”
~Rabindranath Tagore~
Last Saturday, a most beautiful artist, poet, writer and vaishnavi sadly departed. Sri Jahnavi Dasi, (aka Janavi Held) was a dear spiritual sister of mine, and she left this world peacefully after struggling with a relentless and incurable illness for over 6 years. Janavi’s condition caused her to become bedridden and suffer a great deal of pain on a daily basis. Although she was only in her 50’s, I can only imagine that being freed from her body must have felt like a great relief to her beautiful soul.
Janavi first encountered devotees of Krishna in Denver when she was only 19. She lived in the ashrama there and was mentored by Mother Nidra, who became a most loving and supportive presence in Janavi’s life, right up to the end. Having come from a family of publishers and writers, Janavi dedicated herself to the distribution of vaishnava literature then, joining the “sankirtana movement”.Later, Janavi graduated with honors from Goddard College where she studied poetry, photography, dance and media. At the age of 46, just as her bourgeoning career as a writer and professional photographer was taking off, she unexpectedly and suddenly fell ill.[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]Despite enduring intense pain, Janavi’s strong faith enabled her to be most prolific in her writing, expressing her heart through hundreds of poems.[/perfectpullquote]Janavi also managed to create a moving series of artistic self-portraits and photographic collages. These beautiful creations depict the poignant irony Janavi lived; of experiencing her body’s progression toward death, while simultaneously illuminating the vibrant life she felt within her soul.
I knew Janavi to be a very gentle person, sensitive to beautiful music, good literature, nature, the shifting seasons. She was extraordinarily creative, of quick mind, sharp intelligence and a sweet demeanor. She was a talented writer, not only of poetry, but of short stories and essays. Janavi was deeply thoughtful, artistic and skilled at multimedia creations, demonstrated in her Youtube channel, where she features voice narrations of her own poetry delightfully paired with her artwork. Mostly though, I experienced Janavi as a very vibrant, youthful spirit with an endearing childlike innocence that just asked to be loved, and love in return. And lovable she was!Earlier this year two of Janavi Held’s devotional poems were shortlisted for the prestigious Hamilton House International Poetry Prize. Awarded by the University Centre Grimsby, this annual competition receives thousands of entries from writers around the world. Janavi is one of 25 writers whose poems were chosen for worldwide publication in the annual Hammond House poetry anthology, appropriately titled Eternal.Throughout her illness, Janavi took shelter of the Bhakti tradition she had dedicated her life to, receiving constant inspiration from her spiritual guide, Hridayananda Das Goswami. She also drew from the love and support of other devotee friends and family, especially her loving sister, Sue, who was Janavi’s primary caretaker.In 2017, some of Janavi’s poems were published in Bhakti Blossoms: A Collection of Contemporary Vaishnavi Poetry. The same year—with the blessings of her guru—she published her first collection of devotional poetry and photography, entitled Letters to My Oldest Friend. This “oldest friend” of whom Janavi speaks is Lord Krishna, and, in the end, she made him (and his divine older brother, Balarama) her whole meditation.Over the last year, Janavi engaged sweet butterfly metaphors to describe herself in her poems and artwork. Last weekend, she finally emerged from her cocoon, so that she may fly high with her beautiful wings.As words fail me at this time—for I am grieving my dear friend—I thought I would let Janavi speak for herself instead, and share this poem of hers with all of you: one of the last she penned—along with an artistic self-portrait she created.
Life, Death & What’s In-between
by Sri Jahnavi Dasi (Janavi Held)I’ve nearly departed this bodyso many times, I can’t rememberif I am living within the same lifeI was yesterday or if I have beentransferred to yet another existence…Tonight I will go to bed again andgrasp for You in that dark flesh prison;I will wrap what’s left of my bodyaround the thought of you andshed as many tears as it takesto find You where you stand in myheart, loving, waiting.I find that I belong to You, so please,take me where you will, send myshattered body over the land, intothe sea, dismantled atoms scatteredto the elements blending withfog and endless time, so my soulwill breathe without the burden ofcrushing bone and restless thoughts.I am Yours now, so please, take mewhere you will, teach me abouteternity and other things ofconsequence, carry me over theremnants of a life I can barelyremember, over the homes of friendsI can’t recognize, and relatives long lostto the river of time, show me howhallow this bound world is withoutthe idea of loving You forever.You’ve begun to replace all thoughtswith the vision of Your smile, you’veswitched out the tragedies of temporaryaffection with that red spark in Your eyes,You’ve held onto to me so tightly I havelost the will to fight You, You havedrenched my eyes with blessings,You’ve drenched me with the thoughtthat all that’s left is eternity when thiscanister of blood is shattered andthe soul fly’s free…Andsuddenly,as if awar had ended,we cameface to faceand withinthe sweetradianceof YourbeautyI droppedthe shadowsof my old toysand grabbed Youinto my armsimaging that Icould holdYou there…I am Yours nowand I am waiting.~(You may read more of Janavi's poems and view her artwork on her website here, Facebook page here, Youtube channel here and her published poems at the Journey of the Heart women's spiritual poetry journal here.)
If you'd like to offer a donation to help cover cremation expenses for Janavi, as well as help her sister Sue take care of the gargantuan medical bills she was left with as a result of her sister's prolonged illness, you may click here for her Gofundme campaign. Thank you! ??
My Devotion
The Sri Sri Corastakam
by Bilvamangala Thakur
(This ashtaka, or eight stanza poem, is recited, or sung, in the poetic meter known as “Upajati”.)
(1)
vraje prasiddham navanita-cauramgopangananam ca dukula-cauramaneka-janmarjita-papa-cauramcauragraganyam purusham namami
I offer pranama to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butterthief and He who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes.
(2)
shri radhikaya hridayasya cauramnavambuda-shyamala-kanti-caurampadashritanam ca samasta-cauramcauragraganyam purusham namami
I offer pranama to the foremost of thieves – who steals Shrimati Radhika’s heart, who steals the dark luster of a fresh raincloud, and who steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet.
(3)
akincani-kritya padashritam yahkaroti bhikshum pathi geha-hinamkenapy aho bhishana-caura idrigdrishtah-shruto va na jagat-traye ’pi
He turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering, homeless beggars - aho! such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three worlds.
(4)
yadiya namapi haraty asheshamgiri-prasaran api papa-rashinashcarya-rupo nanu caura idrigdrishtah shruto va na maya kadapi
Mere utterance of His name purges one of a mountain of sins – such an astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere!
(5)
dhanam ca manam ca tathendriyanipranamsh ca hritva mama sarvam evapalayase kutra dhrito ’dya cauratvam bhakti-damnasi maya niruddhah
O Thief! Having stolen my wealth, my honour, my senses, my life and my everything, where can You run to? I have caught You with the rope of my devotion.
(6)
chinatsi ghoram yama-pasha-bandhambhinatsi bhimam bhava-pasha-bandhamchinatsi sarvasya samasta-bandhamnaivatmano bhakta-kritam tu bandham
You cut the terrible noose of Yamaraja, You sever the dreadful noose of material existence, and You slash everyone’s material bondage, but You are unable to cut the knot fastened by Your own loving devotees.
(7)
man-manase tamasa-rashi-ghorekaragrihe duhkha-maye nibaddhahlabhasva he caura! hare! cirayasva-caurya-doshocitam eva dandam
O stealer of my everything! O Thief! Today I have imprisoned You in the miserable prison-house of my heart which is very fearful due to the terrible darkness of my ignorance, and there for a very long time You will remain, receiving appropriate punishment for Your crimes of thievery!
(8)
karagrihe vasa sada hridaye madiyemad-bhakti-pasha-dridha-bandhana-nishcalah santvam krishna he! pralaya-koti-shatantare ’pisarvasva-caura! hridayan na hi mocayami
O Krishna, thief of my everything! The noose of my devotion remaining forever tight, You will continue to reside in the prison-house of my heart because I will not release You for millions of aeons.
A Mystical Place
December 5, 2018
--Rukmini Walker
Some of these are photos from yesterday's parikram around Holy Govardhan Hill, which is 14 miles or approximately 22.5 kilometers.
Govardhan is called, The One Who Fulfills All Desires.A very mystical place of the pastimes of Radha and Krsna in Their secret caves, lakes and gardens.
Humble devotees worship this place remembering Them by circumambulating around the hill-some while offering repeated "dandavat" (flat on the ground like a stick) obeisances around the hill.
Profound humility in devotion!
The Trees Want To Tell Their Story
I wanted to share with you a quick preview from "The Trees Want To Tell Their Story", with Jagattarini Dasi, Artistic Director at The Sacred India Gallery. Jagattarini is busy in Vrindavan gathering material for this upcoming project.In this video Jagattarini Dasi shares with us the mysterious pilu trees at a very special place known as Prem Sarovara.
I hope you enjoy the footage. -- Rukmini
https://www.facebook.com/100013397504440/videos/585519651904613/?id=100013397504440&__tn__=C-R&eid=ARA0ifGE5HCry2SZLKw1CNINNX8PKgOPIAJygOdSXiqeYNcFBWBAu5mNTRAi_lJCXXNe6fb9BUN_WB__&hc_ref=ARSVJOHKqC_HaMZZLR3h2Ii6DXDE9FUNxZAAuxKNlfmi_YcYsTRhuou2om4pHwnkzR0&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARCH6ZX465D9GxtvxSEhyFmKAF_4AK9IVApH51zNeE-uXjGHLxa1naaYnPrDojJSVDitGsQazaBfx32yw19__d9rNOCgwZ97Bh9s0_OJG3ZupqqmJEC2JHHEUlo3Cd95WydCvZSvwuzA8xC6yzzwJt0bwFF8E2Z1z2Am5mrt0FljgeKAtM7A_3NoQctXA9fyHdjuJ9w4ECk83m_y6Yy9MzVpkhU
About Jagattarini:
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Jagattarini moved to Sydney at 21 to pursue theatre and art. This small step away from home was the beginning of a journey that carried her around the world and eventually to India.She settled in Vrindavan (the land of Krishna), a sacred town two hours south of New Delhi, where she stayed for twelve years. She became fascinated by the people, their traditions, food, and art, and it wasn’t long before she was exploring this sacred and ancient land. In the 1980s it was difficult for a modern Western woman to gain entrance into Vrindavan’s culture, but Jagattarini worked hard to win the trust of the people, and gradually, she was allowed an intimate glimpse into their lives and spiritual traditions, which included their time-honoured stories of Krishna. Over time, she began to take visitors to Vrindavan on tours of the places she had explored, sharing with them what she had learned. She also travelled to other spiritual locations around India, sometimes alone and sometimes leading tours, but always with an eye to learning all she could about local traditions. In 1996 Jagattarini and her family moved back to Australia. To her, Vrindavan had become home, and now she deeply missed everything about it.
A Loan From God
Monday, September 10, 2018
A Loan From God, a podcast interview
Shaunaka Rishi Das, an Irish-born Hindu and Director of the Oxford Centre of Hindu Studies, spent many years caring for his wife Keshava, who had chronic fatigue syndrome. In her mid-50s and suffering from depression, Keshava took her own life, with questions over the medical response leading to a traumatic two-day inquest. Shaunaka, who has never publicly told this story before, has found comfort in the Hindu idea that she was ‘on loan’ to him from God and eventually had to be returned. In this programme, he reflects eloquently on death, mourning and letting go from a Hindu perspective, with presenter Mark Dowd, who lost his own brother to suicide.To listen the podcast interview follow this link: http://www.thingsunseen.co.uk/podcasts/a-loan-from-god/_________________________________________________________________________*If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of hurting yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency number) immediately. Do not wait. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the United States is:
- 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
If you are calling from outside of the United States, find lists of international suicide hotline numbers here:
- The International Association for Suicide Prevention: http://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres
- Befrienders Worldwide: http://www.befrienders.org/need-to-talk
Photo credit: flikr/ejeej