Monday, August 3, 2009
Running to Gauranga
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Swami Gaurangapada! All glories to the assembled devotees!
Today, I started a new shift at work so I had to go to work even earlier only to realized that my early shift starts tomorrow so I went back home and chanted more rounds because I did not need to be at work until 9:15 am. Around 8:00 am, I called my job to see if they will need me to start at my appointed time or not, to which my superior informs me that things will operate as scheduled, and then she asked if I could pick up a Sunday newspaper for her on my way back to the office. I told her that was no trouble, so I grab my bag and I headed over to the convenient store which is only around the corner from where I live. So I purchase the requested item, and I walked to work. I always walk to and from work so I try to use this time to spend with Nitaii Gauranga.
Now, I arrive at work. I give my boss her newspaper and I go sit at my desk and I started reading a book called "Illuminations on Nama Aparadha" by Mahanidhi Swami which I carry always in my back pock. I was sitting there for about 15 minutes reading and thinking when on sudden I realized that my personal bag was not at my desk. I went around the whole office like a mad man looking for my bag and I could not find. It was only then that I accepted the fact that I had left my bag at the store, so I started running back to the store in my work apparel.
I think I should explain what was in the bag. The bag had my pray beads, the Nectar of Instruction, Sri Brahma Samhita, Sri Isopanisad, and other personals.
But as I was running at first all I could think about is my books Lord Gauranga had given to me to read, and how I hoped no one would steal them. Then I thought, all these things belong to Lord Gauranga and he can do as he like. Then I thought I hope someone does steal it because the thief would get the greatest surprise of his or her life. Then I thought that the thief would probably mistreat something so precious, and then I started running faster. Then I thought, let them take the bag and all the other stuff, but let your acharyas not be maltreated.
Then a voice asked mentally: what can these thieves take?
I answered: Nothing. They can take nothing for me.
Voice: Even if a great thief stole all the books and burnt them, you have already been given the highest solution to all problems.
Me: Harinam! Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Hare Hare!
As I go into the store, a man was asking some people if the bag in the store belonged to anyone. I told the shop keeper that the bag behind the counter was mine. He told me that I was lucky because usually these people around here steal anything.
On my walk back to work, I thought of Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna and my heart felt like it was going to burst even more than ever before.
Lord Gauranga had revealed something to me about my bhakti.
I must be willing to be like a madman chasing after Gauranga, there is no compromise.
There should be some agitation, some urgency in bhakti. (Running)
What little advancement I have made is only because I have been given shelter by Swami Gaurangapada, and it should not be taken advantage of.
I have realized bhakti is both powerful and fragile. You take your mind away from Nitaii Gauranga for even a minute and everything can be taken away.
The only weakness in bhakti is the user, not bhakti itself.
Hare Krsna,
Bruce
Also, I can someone tell me if satsang and darshan is offered over the internet by Swami Gaurangapada, and if so at what time?
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