by Ekalavya Das | Mar 22, 2021 | LOK.NECTAR, TEACHINGS OF LOKANATH SWAMI
Sunday March 21: I was on the terrace chanting japa with Gurumaharaja. We were walking back and forth together. Gurumaharaja sat down in a chair and asked me “What is the news?”
I asked, “On what front?” I am busy in so many areas. Gurumaharaja asked, “What about Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead?”
I went on to describe different services, LOK.STUDIO construction, etc. I also changed the mood a little and spoke about some frustrations I was having with the workers, and some difficulties. It probably sounded like I was complaining.
“You are the one who wanted to come here!” Gurumaharaja said in a chastising way. It gave me the realization that coming to the material world is no bed of roses. I should not be expecting everything to be easy as pie.
Through this exchange, I have some realizations. I need to be more remoseful that I have come to this material world. I need to be repentant. I need to seek to overcome my envy of Lord Krishna and his devotees. In the words of Sanatana Goswami, “Who am I and why am I suffering?” are the important questions I need to continously be asking myself.
Someday if I have the courage, I may ask Gurumaharaja, “Why did you come to the material world?” I would not be suprised, if I was very suprised by his answer.
by Ekalavya Das | Mar 5, 2021 | LOK.NECTAR, TEACHINGS OF LOKANATH SWAMI
March 5, 2021: Sri Pandharpur Dhama. This morning around 8:30 am, HH Lokanath Swami and I were doing some stretching and discussing yoga asanas. Maharaja was bending his neck to the left and began chanting the following verse from Srimad Bhagavatam:
श्रीगोप्य ऊचु:
वामबाहुकृतवामकपोलो
वल्गितभ्रुरधरार्पितवेणुम् ।
कोमलाङ्गुलिभिराश्रितमार्गं
गोप्य ईरयति यत्र मुकुन्द: ॥ २ ॥
व्योमयानवनिता: सह सिद्धै-
र्विस्मितास्तदुपधार्य सलज्जा: ।
काममार्गणसमर्पितचित्ता:
कश्मलं ययुरपस्मृतनीव्य: ॥ ३ ॥
śrī-gopya ūcuḥ
vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo
valgita-bhrur adharārpita-veṇum
komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ
gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ
vyoma-yāna-vanitāḥ saha siddhair
vismitās tad upadhārya sa-lajjāḥ
kāma-mārgaṇa-samarpita-cittāḥ
kaśmalaṁ yayur apasmṛta-nīvyaḥ
The gopīs said: When Mukunda vibrates the flute He has placed to His lips, stopping its holes with His tender fingers, He rests His left cheek on His left arm and makes His eyebrows dance. At that time the demigoddesses traveling in the sky with their husbands, the Siddhas, become amazed. As those ladies listen, they are embarrassed to find their minds yielding to the pursuit of lusty desires, and in their distress they are unaware that the belts of their garments are loosening. (SB 10.35.2 – 3)
Maharaja went on to describe how Lord Krishna rests his left cheek on his left arm while playing His flute. I was filled with wonder at the intricate details that Srila Prabhupada has invested in us of the glories of Lord Krishna. Maharaja went on to explain to me about all the different Gitas (songs) in Srimad Bhagavatam. This verse is from the Yugala Gita. “Yugala means two”, Maharaja continued. “Two sets of gopis singing together… And then the next set of two gopis sing together…”
For more information about all the Gitas (songs) in Srimad Bhagavatam, please refer here:
http://btg.krishna.com/gitas-bhagavatam
Special thanks to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust for bringing us this wonderful literature, as delivered by ISKCON Founder-acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
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