Celebrating Krishnashtami at the ashram

At the ashram: a cloud in the background of the Vishalakshi Mantap bears a strange resemblance to a conch

Last evening, I had gone to the ashram to see Gurudev and listen to him speak over the greatness of Krishna. Like always, I was not disappointed. Gurudev also brought a friend, Maharaj-ji, along with him. Maharaj-ji looked exactly like the Sadhus who come down for Kumbh-mela.

Maharaj-ji seated on the dais

Gurudev's message was simple yet so beautiful.

He quoted key shlokas in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna assures Arjuna that this message of the Gita has been present in so many Yugas and is the same message that he is hearing. But Arjuna asks Krishna how He remembers all this? Krishna smiles and tells Arjuna that while he (Arjuna) does not remember, He does remember!

"Arjuna, you had many lifetimes, so did I! I remember them, you don't!'

Every atom in the body goes back to Nature, atoms once again become the body. Life is so cyclical! There is a constant change in our body. The leaves fall to the ground from the tree and become manure. The same manure feeds the tree...this is natural recycling.

Krishna assures Arjuna: Sambhavaami yuge yuge.

I come back every Yuga or age.

While everything in the Universe is changing, there is one thing that does not change- and that is atma, or the soul. It is the same in everyone, it is in you and it is in Me. We are one. Once you realize that Krishna exists in everyone and in You, then you have realized the Truth.

Many people did not know that Krishna was God, even in those days. People would try to impersonate Krishna saying: I am the real Vasudeva.

This is also exemplified by how the young lad Krishna held the Goverdhan mountain to save his people in Vrindavan. The Gopis would chant "Narayana' to protect Lord Krishna, little knowing that He was Narayana Himself.

Lord Krishna was a perfect student, a perfect friend. When his poor friend Sudama visited him, Krishna washed his feet. Sudama forgot what he wanted to ask Krishna! But Krishna gave his dear friend more than what he ever wanted!

There were also instances when Krishna would abandon his batallion and run away! In every aspect of Lord Krishna's Personality, He was complete. He had many humane qualities, but he was a Purnavatar- or a complete embodiment of God. He was Total, Complete.

Gurudev says that you will realise Krishna, when you realize the big ' I' instead of the small 'i'. It is then that you know the Truth.

Usually our intellect and mind dominate, but our spirit is hidden. Guruji likens this to a light which is covered by an opaque metal. Light is invisible, but when you cover the light with a translucent material, the light shines through.

Our intellect tends to overpower the spirit leading to inertia, lethargy, doubt, disgust, blame, uncertainty and other negative feelings. But when the spirit dominates, the light is seen. Light is nothing but love. Children glow, are radiant, because their spirit is dominant. There is also light in those who have complete Faith, because of their radiant spirit.

Lord Krishna ultimately reveals His True Self in the Gita as being the 'strength in the strong, the brilliance in the brilliant, the sweetness in the sweet' and so on. Gurudev says that that is what the spirit is all about. Krishna lived for 125 years and never showed any signs of aging. He was ever youthful, ever joyous.

The message of Bhagavad Gita is simple yet brilliant, practical yet pristine. But it takes a true Master to reveal its quintessence so beautifully.

I felt so blessed simply being the audience. And now all those who read this Message are blessed as well.

Jai Guru Dev.

The greathess of Krishna

'Sarvadharman Parityajya Maam ekam Sharanam Vraja
Aham tva Sarva Papabhyo Mokshayishyami Masuchaha'*- Sri Krishna

Today is Sri Krishnajanmashtmi, marking the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start the day than to visit ISKCON and participate in the early 'Abhishakam' to Krishna.

How can a mere mortal like me ever begin to describe the vastness, the greatness, the omniscience of Lord Krishna? I was brought up on stories of Krishna stealing butter from the humble homes of milkmaids.


My eyes always widened as I heard about young Krishna lift the vast Goverdhan mountain with his little finger.



On every Krishnashtami, I love drawing tiny feet of the Lord with rice flour, in the Prayer room.

Krishna's presence pervades a devotee's life like the simple sprinkling of rose water permeates a room with such divine fragrance. And it lasts a lifetime...

Happy Krishnashtami

*Having given up all Dharmas or rites unintentionally, surrender to the Lord alone. I will release you from all sins and give Moksha; don't despair or grieve".- Sri Krishna instructs Arjuna thus, in the Bhagavad Gita

Pics obtained from the web.

Gurudev on 'Sensitivity'

"Those who are sensitive are often weak. Those who feel themselves strong are often insensitive. Some are sensitive to themselves but insensitive to others. Some are sensitive to others but not to themselves. Those who are only sensitive to themselves often blame others. Those who are sensitive to others end up feeling self-pity. Some conclude it is better not to be sensitive at all because sensitivity brings pain, so they shut themselves off from others. But if you are not sensitive, you will lose all the finer things in life - intuition, love, joy.

This path and this knowledge make you both sensitive and strong. Often people who are insensitive do not recognize their insensitivity. And those who are insensitive often do not recognize their strength. Their sensitivity is their strength.

Sensitivity is intuition; sensitivity is compassion; sensitivity is love. Sensitivity is strength. Strength is calmness, endurance, silence, non-reactiveness, confidence, faith - and a smile.

Be both sensitive and strong…"

Teach India Campaign

Today I am the proud owner of my Teach India Badge.

A whole host of NGOs, corporate houses and schools have joined hands to extend an invite to public to teach underprivileged children in India. You can volunteer to teach from a range of subjects and you get to teach for around 2 hours per week. Manageable, if you shuffle between a regular job and home. Plus it gives you immense satisfaction to be part of this fantastic endeavor.

All you need to do is to enter the site (highlighted text in the previous para) and get your log in credentials. The you can register into Teach India campaign. You get to choose a location nearest to your home, which is an added advantage.

I plan to teach English, but I wait for the organizers to get back to me on this.

This is pretty exciting! Do join in and help each and every child in India live with pride and dignity. If we can work together and see the day when the son of a vegetable vendor on the street can appreciate the science of plant breeding, my what a change that would be!

"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."
-- C. S. Lewis