SAVE YOUR SELF !

We had 309 participants today. Today many Solapur devotees are chanting on the conference. All three of my brothers, – Ramdas, Dharmavatar and Nandalal, who are my disciples are chanting with us along with their family members from Aravade. This way we make our association available through this conference. Many are taking advantage, and I am happy about it.

Yesterday we had this SGGS gathering. More then 100 Gurus and sannyasis were there. They were taking each other’s association in that Sanga. There were many topics. One of them was ‘Saving yourself ’. They were making reference of one of the letter Prabhupada wrote to Rameshwar Prabhu. Towards the end of the letter, Prabhupada had written that the ‘most important thing is to save yourself.’ We try to save others by preaching, book distribution, prasada distribution, arranging festivals, or conducting padayatras, Nagar sankirtana. This is important and must go on . But Prabhupada had written, “Do not forget that the most important thing is to ‘save yourself’ while saving others. Don’t forget to save yourself.” There was also more discussion on taking care of yourself.

‘How to save yourself ? How to take care of yourself?’ became a topic. Sadhana was one item. Before even sadhana there was ‘Take care of yourself.’ Then talking of sadhana, some were insisting strongly that the most important aspect of our sadhana is the chanting of

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

yoginam api nirnitam harer namanukirtanam ( SB. 2.1.11)

In Bhagavatam it is mentioned that all the Yogis have come to the conclusion – harer naamanukirtanam. There the Yogis mention that Harinama is the way. In the beginning of the Second canto Sukadev also mentions it. So I was thinking our colleagues, SGGS members about 100 of them also came to the similar conclusion. Chanting the holy name is the most important sadhana.

There was more discussion about chanting japa. One GBC member said, “ On Ekadasi I chant 64 rounds.” There was my god-brother Narahari from Hawaii. He said that he gets up at 2.00 am everyday and the first thing he does, is chant his rounds. His experience is that the morning hours are the best because it is predominated by the mode of goodness. It’s the best time of the day for chanting. Try to chant during the day, not the night. He was comparing it with riding a bike uphill and riding it downhill. You understand the difference? You are at the foothill and trying to climb the mountain. Get to the top and then come downhill. So he said – Chanting in the early morning hours is like riding downhill. It goes fast and easy. Don’t have to make much effort. It could be at the top of the hill also. Some hills are flat on top. They are table mountains. I have seen a few mountains like that with a flat roof. Once you climb uphill, then it’s flat and you have a smooth ride – walking or driving or cycling. Then what to speak of going down. This was his experience.

Use brahmamuhurta time. Don’t miss it. If you haven’t completed your rounds, then of course one can chant in the morning or night. Better to chant than not to chant. Krishnasetra Maharaja was praising the book written by HG. Mahatma Prabhu. He is also one of the Japa promotors. He conducts japa retreats on how to improve your chanting. He has written a small booklet. HH Krishnaksetra Maharaja was strongly recommending that you get that booklet. There are some 20 tips on how to improve your chanting. The leaders in the discussion could sense how there are concerns about chanting. We are still chanting, setting the example before the second and now even third generation in our movement. There are certain observations.

We grew up in Krishna consciousness and after some time Prabhupada was no more with us. We didn’t have anyone to look up to . We didn’t have role models before us. We were by ourselves, but now in our society we all Prabhupada disciples are first generation. Our disciples are second generation and some of our god brothers , godsisters and others are becoming grand parents. For you all this Prabhupada disciples batch is in front of you. You can take inspiration and blessings from them. Not only have they grown old in age, but they have grown old in experience also. vayovridhha and jnanavridhha. There are two ways you can get older. One way is easy, just make sure you don’t die. Every day you are getting older and older. We celebrate our birthdays and keep getting old. This is nature. Whoever and whatever was young at one time becomes old. That applies to the trees also. It applies to all the species. It’s not that only human beings are specialised in getting old. Old age business is all pervading. So there is nothing glorious just to keep becoming older and older, but it is glorious if we could grow more mature or older by our experience or by acquiring more and more knowledge. More knowledge means that the person is considered more mature , experienced.

You know the story of Raghunandan who fed the laddus to the Lord. The question is being asked, “Who is the father and who is the son? The father said, ‘My son is my father. He is ‘older’ then me. Because my son is a more pure devotee than I am. He is more advanced, more knowledgeable, more realized than I am.’ Prabhupada disciples are not only old in age but in knowledge and experience also. You could take advantage of the association of the first generation of devotees, Prabhupada disciples. Their bodies are old but more importantly, they are old by their intelligence. They are mature like a ripened fruit. While we are young, we are raw and sour sometimes. These senior devotees are ripened, advanced, realised and experienced. They are getting together today and tomorrow. They are taking notes of different things being discussed and arriving at conclusions. That knowledge will be made available to devotees around the world in some shape , some form. You will get to know in course of time. I am just sharing the glimpses in advance. So keep chanting.

Now you know the best time for chanting. You also know that you have to chant every single day, like these devotees are chanting for the last 40 – 45 years or some even for the last 50 years. They are not tired or they are not giving up. Follow in their footsteps and the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada. Follow in the footsteps of Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur. All glories to him. Follow in the footsteps of Lord Siva.

Today we are celebrating Shivaratri. Lord Shiva is known for chanting the same mantra that we chant. There is also song –

brahma bole chaturmukhe krsna krsna hare hare
mahadev panchmukhe rama rama hare hare

There is also island called Godrum dwip which is considered non different from Varanasi. Godrum dwip is called maha-Varanasi and is known for sravanam, kirtanam and especially kirtana. Guess who is doing kirtana there? Lord Siva is doing kirtana in Godrum dwip all the time. They say if you happen to leave your body in Godrum dwip then at the verge of death Siva comes and chants ‘Gauranga. Gauranga’ in your ears. He reminds the dying person of Gauranga and that person attends liberation. Today Sivaratri Mahotsav is being celebrated at our Rajapur Jagannatha mandir. There is a Sivalinga there and Simantini Parvati also resides there. In the afternoon there will be lots of festivities – talks, kirtanas, abhishek and prasada. So you are welcome to join Sivaratri Mahotsav.

Kirtan Mela is on. It is on from 10 am to 10 pm. All day different singers and chanters will be taking their turn. Be part of the kirtana mela. Kirtan Mahotsav ki jay!

Hare Krishna!