На день ухода Шрилы Прабхупады _ 2023

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Dearest Srila Prabhupada: Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to You!

On this solemn occasion of your disappearance day, my heart overflows with gratitude and devotion as I reflect on the profound impact you have had on my life. Your teachings, steeped in the timeless wisdom of our tradition, continue to be the guiding light of my spiritual journey. The personal mandate you gave me to “preach boldly and have faith in the holy names” resonates with every beat of my heart and in every step of my travels around the world.

For over 50 years, I, alongside my beloved godbrothers and godsisters have endeavored to carry your message to the far reaches of the globe. The “Festival of India”, the Sadhu Sanga Kirtan retreat, and the annual Rishikesh Kirtan Fest represent some of my humble offerings to the grand tapestry of your global mission. Through these endeavors, I strive to fulfill your desire to spread Krishna consciousness far and wide.

By your grace, I have felt your presence at every step of my spiritual life, including on the darkest day of all – the day you left this world. Yet, even amidst that immense sorrow, almost miraculously, I felt that you were not far away, for you had prepared me for that moment from the infancy of my spiritual life. In 1971, after your visit to our Detroit temple, I wrote a letter to you wherein I expressed that I was missing you. Two weeks later, I received your gracious reply. You wrote:

“I can understand your feelings of separation, for I am also missing my Guru Maharaja. But I feel he is always watching over and protecting me.”

I held that letter to my heart the day we heard you had left us. It gave me great solace then and continues to do so to this very day.

Srila Prabhupada, as the years go by, all that I thought was mine has begun to fade away, even memories of the distant past. Nevertheless, one emotion deep within the inner recesses of my heart steadfastly endures and grows ever stronger, oblivious to the passing of time – and that is my deep feelings of separation from you. How can I escape such feelings in my old age, when in youth you so kindly granted me your mercy? Once, in firm appreciation for a menial service I rendered to you, you said to me:

“So much endeavor in this material world, but when I take you home – to the spiritual world – everything will be easy and sublime.”

Srila Prabhupada, my own disciples have heard me repeat your benediction a million times over, but even repeating it a million more times will never be enough. Any other benediction in the fourteen worlds pales in comparison to the one you bestowed upon me that day.

Once, in 1976, as you sat on the lawn surrounded by your disciples in New Mayapur in France, I asked you: “If a pure devotee sees Krsna everywhere, how is Lord Caitanya, in the role of a devotee, feeling so much separation from him?”

You replied, “Yes, He is praying how you can become mad without seeing Krsna. That is the highest stage. It cannot be explained. But when you gradually go higher and higher you will understand.”

Srila Prabhupada, now in the twilight of my life, I desperately want to “go higher and higher” to understand and realize the deeper mellows of Krsna consciousness. In fact, this is why I now spend more time here in Vrindavan “just wandering,” as you once instructed a disciple who had recently arrived in this transcendental abode. And this is also why I simultaneously continue with blissful, yet rigorous and demanding, preaching to the conditioned souls in this world. The formula you gave us is clear: “Work now, samadhi later.”

The relationship between preaching and residing in Vrindavan is confirmed in the words of Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati in his epic Sri Caitanya Candramrita:

yatha yatha gaura padaravinde
vindeta bhaktim krta punya rasih
tatha tathot sarpati hrdya kasmad
radha padambhoja sudhambu rasih

“To the degree that we surrender to Lord Caitanya’s service, to that degree we acquire qualification for service to Radharani’s lotus feet in Vraja.” (Chapter 8, text 88)

With this in mind, I think the most significant realization that comes with old age is the awareness of the limited time remaining to achieve spiritual perfection. This urgency leads me to approach my spiritual practices with increased seriousness and focus. And if blessed with good health, I will continue to serve to the best of my capacity, trying to follow your example of preaching until my final breath.

Now as I traverse the later years of my life, the inevitable signs of aging make their presence known. Yet, each stage of life carries its own merits and challenges. For a devotee, old age bestows a unique blessing: the senses become weaker and subsequently, the desire for sense gratification lessens. What’s more, the spiritual knowledge that one studied in youth and applied in middle age, ripens into deep realization; jnana transforms into vijnana and becomes our most cherished possession:

na hi jnanena sadrisam
pavitram iha vidyate
tat svayam yoga samsiddhah
kalenatmani vindati

“In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this knowledge within himself in due course of time.” (Bhagavad-gita 4.38)

Srila Prabhupada, as I stand on the precipice of another year without your physical association, I am reminded of the immense responsibility that comes with being your disciple. The world, now more than ever, is in dire need of the profound wisdom you imparted, and I am committed to carrying the torch of your teachings with the same fervor and dedication that you displayed throughout your extraordinary life.

So today, on this forty-sixth observance of your disappearance day, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for your boundless mercy, unwavering guidance, and profound love. Your divine legacy lives on, and I am eternally indebted for the opportunity to serve at your lotus feet.

“Having accepted the renounced order of life my home is this Vrindavan forest. My bed is the soft dust of Vrindavan. The sky of Vrindavan is my blanket and the flowering creepers of Vrindavan are my only belongings. The moon over Vrindavan is the lamp of my hopes and my chanting beads are counting the days until I meet you again.”

Srila Prabhupada, I am and will forever be,

Your eternal servant,
Indradyumna Swami

A Spiritual Meditation on the Upcoming Solar Eclipse/ Медитация на духовное в связи приближающимся солнечным затмением

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«Пять тысяч лет тому назад ведические астрономы так же, как и астрономы современные, могли предсказывать затмения солнца и луны. Однако, знание древних астрономов простиралось дальше: они разбирались в кармическом влиянии подобных событий. Как правило, и солнечное, и лунное затмения, за некоторыми редкими исключениями, очень неблагоприятны. Но точно так же, как неблагоприятный день экадаши становится благотворным, если используется для прославления Господа Хари, так и время затмения благоприятно – для поста и поклонения».[ Шримад-Бхагаватам, 10.82.2 комм. ]

Гопи Вриндавана, после долгой разлуки встретившись по случаю солнечного затмения с Кришной на Курукшетре, молились Ему так:

ахус ча те налина-набха падаравиндам
йогешварайр хрди вичинтйам агадха-бодхайх
самсара-купа-патитоттаранаваламбам
гехам йусам апи манасй удийат сада нах

«Дорогой Господь, чей пупок точно лотос, Твои лотосные стопы – единственное прибежище для тех, кто пал в глубокий колодец материального существования. Стопам Твоим поклоняются и на них медитируют великие йоги-мистики и высокоученые философы. Как бы мы хотели, чтобы эти лотосные стопы проявились и в наших сердцах… хотя мы – всего лишь обычные люди, занятые домашними делами». [ Шримад-Бхагаватам 10.82.48 ]

 
“Vedic astronomers of five thousand years ago could predict eclipses of the sun and moon just as well as our modern astronomers can. The knowledge of the ancient astronomers went much further, however, since they understood the karmic influences of such events. Solar and lunar eclipses are generally very inauspicious, with certain rare exceptions. But just as the otherwise inauspicious Ekadasi day becomes beneficial when used for the glorification of Lord Hari, so the time of an eclipse is also advantageous for fasting and worship.” [ Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.82.2 purport ]

When the gopis of Vrindavan met Krishna at Kurukshetra on the occasion of a solar eclipse after a long separation, they prayed to Him:

ahus ca te nalina-nabha padaravindam
yogesvarair hrdi vicintyam agadha-bodhaih
samsara-kupa-patitottaranavalambam
geham jusam api manasy udiyat sada nah

“Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogis and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.”

[ Srimad Bhagavatam 10.82.48 ]

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Lord Narayana speaking to Gopa Kumara / Господь Нараяна – Гопа Кумару

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Lord Narayana speaking to Gopa Kumara:
 “Welcome, welcome, my dear boy! I am fortunate – most fortunate – to meet you here. For so long I have been eager to see you! My dear friend, you have passed many lifetimes without paying any attention to me at all. For so long hope had me dancing like a fool thinking, ‘Perhaps in this lifetime, or this, or this, or this, he will finally turn his face toward me.’ But I could find no pretext on which to bring you to my abode, dear brother, and still follow the timeless laws that I myself have created. You showed me no mercy and as I considered this I grew impatient, full of anxiety to receive your favor. So I transgressed my eternal code of conduct and arranged for you to take your current birth. Dear boy, in that divine district of Govardhana, my most beloved abode, I myself became your guru, known by the name Jayanta. Today you have at last fulfilled the desire I have harbored for so long. Please nourish your happiness and mine by staying here forever.”
 [ Sri Brhad-Bhagavatamrta 2.4 Texts 81-87.
Translated by Gopiparanadhana Dasa (BBT) ]

 

Господь Нараяна Гопа Кумару:

«Добро пожаловать, добро пожаловать, милый мой мальчик! Как Я счастлив встретиться с тобой! Как же давно Я хотел тебя увидеть. Друг Мой, ты прожил столько жизней, не обращая на Меня никакого внимания. Я как глупец, все пританцовывал в надежде, думая: «Вот-вот, в этой жизни, в этой, или этой он (наконец-то!) повернется ко Мне». Но, дорогой брат, Я не мог найти ни единого повода, чтобы привести тебя в Мою обитель, и лишь следовал извечному сотворенному Мною порядку. Ты не сожалел обо Мне, и, размышляя над этим, Я все больше беспокоился о том, чтобы поскорее вернуть твое расположение. Так что, преступив Свой извечный свод законов, Я устроил для тебя твое нынешнее рождение. Дорогой мальчик, в этой Моей излюбленной божественной обители – на Говардхане – Я Сам стал твоим гуру под именем Джаянта. Сегодня ты наконец-то исполнил желание, которое Я так долго лелеял. Пожалуйста, подумай о своем и Моем счастье:  останься здесь навсегда».

[ «Шри Брихад-Бхагаватамрита» 2.4 .81-87

Перевод с санскрита на английский: Gopiparanadhana Dasa (BBT) ]

 

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“Здесь Господь мой пас телят…”

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На карттику провожу больше времени в Шри Вриндавана-дхаме. Может быть, даже останусь здесь на зиму. Таким Вриндаван я еще никогда не видел: очень тихо и умиротворенно. Совершенная атмосфера, чтобы погрузиться в слушание и воспевание. Вчера вечером, прогуливаясь по Ямуне, вспомнил один из своих любимых стихов, его написал преданный по имени Шри Рагхупати Упадхйайа. Эта мольба далека от моего нынешнего уровня сознания Кришны, но все-таки мы все могли бы стремиться к этому:

iha vatsan samacarayad
iha nah svami jagau vamsim
iti sasram gadato me
yamuna tire dinam yayat

“Здесь Господь мой пас телят,
а здесь играл на флейте.
Молю, чтоб проводить мне дни в таких
речах,

роняя слезы по берегам Ямуны”.

 

An Invitation to Chant Harinama by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur

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“Why did I, the most unfortunate fallen soul, not take birth at the time when Sri Gaurachandra inundated the entire world, including the highest mountains, with the flood of love of God? Therefore I was unable to relish those waves of love of God! “Why did I not take birth at that time to serve […]

 

 

Приготовляясь к Баларама-пурниме

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Господь Гаурачандра охвачен премой. Он то зовет: «брат Мой, Шридама!», то «Субала!»,
в следующий момент взывает: «Васудам!», после: «брат Мой старший, Баларам!»

Зовет Своих коров: «Дхабали! Шанали!», выкрикивает: «Калинди! Ямуна!»
Волоски на Его теле встали дыбом, бегут потоки слез экстатической любви.

Вамши даса говорит: Чайтанья Махапрабху – словно Кришна…
думая о Своих предыдущих играх, плывет в океане экстатической любви.

[ «Плач Господа Гауранги о Врадже», поэт-гаудия Вамши даса.

Русский перевод : с английского перевода Кушакратхи даса ]

 

1. Lord Gaurachandra is overcome with ecstatic spiritual love. One moment He calls out, “My brother Sridama!”
2. The next moment He calls out, “Subal!” The next moment he calls out, “Vasudam!” The next moment He calls out, “My elder brother Balaram!”
3. He calls out [for his cows], “Dhabali! Sanali!” The hairs on his body stand erect. Streams of tears of ecstatic love flow down His body.
4. He calls out, “Kalindi! Yamuna!” Vamsi Das describes that while thinking of His previous pastimes as Lord Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu floated in the ocean of ecstatic love.
[Lord Gauranga Cries for Vraja, the Gaudiya poet Vamsi dasa, translated by Kusakratha dasa]

(дату уточн.)

 

К последним фестивалям лета

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“Все тот же благодатный город Навадвипа на земле.
Все тот же берег моря. Все тот же город Джаганнатха-пури.
Святые имена Кришны так же здесь. Увы мне!
Я нигде не вижу прежних фестивалей чистой любви к Господу Хари.
О океан милости, Господь Чайтанья, увижу ли когда Твою неземную славу вновь?”

[ Шрила Прабодхананда Сарасвати, “Шри Чайтанья-чандрамрита”, глава 12, стих 140 ]