Waves of Devotion

Dhanurdhara Swami April 10th, 2012

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

I have noticed, and tradition confirms, that the efficacy of mantra meditation depends significantly upon the quality of chanting. It is not that one's effort creates the effect of the mantra, but one must make the effort not to block the effect of the mantra — to open oneself fully to the mercy within it.

I would like to suggest chanting with five qualities, which I also think of as five “steps” towards efficacious, quality mantra meditation:

1. Be Attentive
2. Be Introspective
3. Be Sincere
4. Be Sweet
5. Have Longing

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admin April 9th, 2012

Paradox and Perfection at Yogamaya New York

On March 29, 2012, Srila Dhanurdhara Swami gave a seminar entitled Paradox and Perfection at Yogamaya Studio in New York. The following are the recorded excerpts from the seminar.

Paradox and Perfection at Yogamaya New York

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Rathi Krishna dasa January 4th, 2012

The following is an interview with Srimati Yamuna Devi by Akincana Krishna dasa on behalf of Dhanrudhara Swami for a kirtan book Maharaja was writing. In the interview, Yamuna Devi shared her remembrances of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on kirtan as well as her own realizations on kirtan. Yamuna Devi recently passed away on December 20, 2011.

YAMUNA DEVI

Question: What instructions, guidelines, likes, or dislikes did Prabhupada express to you about kirtan?

Thank you for asking this question. Yes, Srila Prabhupada did give instructions about kirtan at various times, in various circumstances. A few I recall:

Instructions from Srila Prabhupada on Kirtan

1970 Mumbai: One morning soon after arriving at Kailash Seksaria's home, Srila Prabhupada called on a male devotee to lead kirtan. After two lines of guruvastaka he asked him to stop and asked another devotee to continue. The same thing happened, and he asked another devotee to lead, and another. Then he asked me to lead and did not stop me. When I asked him later about why he did that, he said:

“Learn to listen. You cannot follow nicely unless you hear nicely and you cannot lead nicely unless you have learned to follow nicely.”

August 1968 Montreal: Some mornings Srila Prabhupada had our London group meet with him in the temple room after the morning program and breakfast. On one occasion when he requested me to lead the mangalacarana prayers, he also interrupted my singing to correct my pronunciation as I chanted, he said:

“Learn how to pronounce Sanskrit or Bengali words to the best of your ability. Listen, then repeat.”

1971 Mumbai: On nagar sankirtana an Indian man criticized my pronunciation and Srila Prabhupada said:

“She is doing to the best of her ability. She is doing it in her own way.”

November 1969 London: We had some problems with volume levels. This was evident especially in store front temples where our neighbor store front occupants complained of excessive “noise”. Right from the vyasasana Srila Prabhupada would quietly instruct:

“Learn how to play instruments “softly”, quietly, if the kirtan leader is doing so.”

This proved to be difficult for the mostly passionate 20-something devotees at that time, most of whom generally felt the louder the better.

1971 India: I commented on Srila Prabhupada's chanting of jaya radha madhava, and made the statement that it was difficult for devotees to follow how he chanted, his rhythm changes, and his mood, even when chanting this simple prayer. He said jaya radha madhava was one of his favorite prayers.

Even forty years later, how many old timers can follow the subtlety of a kirtan leader, what to speak of the complexity of Srila Prabhupada's kirtan mood and rhythm.

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Rathi Krishna dasa January 4th, 2012

Bhakti Seminar at Yogamaya New York

On September 17-18, 2011, Srila Dhanurdhara Swami gave a 15 hour seminar on bhakti at Yogamaya Studio in New York. The following are excerpts from the seminar.

Bhakti Seminar at Yogamaya New York – Part 1

Bhakti Seminar at Yogamaya New York – Part 2

Bhakti Seminar at Yogamaya New York – Part 3

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admin October 3rd, 2011

On Thursday, September 22, 2011, Srila Dhanurdhara Swami gave a short sermon that at the chapel of St. Albans School of the National Cathedral for all their students and teachers. St. Albans is arguably the most prestigious prep school in the America where former Vice President Al Gore and many other prominent US leaders are alumni.

Dhanurdhara Swami speaks at St. Albans School

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Rathi Krishna dasa April 16th, 2011

The Yoga of Forgiveness

As part of his monthly satsang series at Yogamaya Studio in New York, Srila Dhanurdhara Swami recently gave a talk entitled “The Yoga of Forgiveness” wherein Maharaja discusses forgiveness and explores the possibilities of overcoming deep resentment from the standpoint of bhakti and yoga psychology.

The Yoga of Forgiveness

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Dhanurdhara Swami March 4th, 2011

February 26, 2011
Sri Vrindavana

Japa Thought

For me, good japa meditation boils down to inner necessity. How much do I need the holy name, not just from a platform of understanding, but from my heart?

What creates that feeling of need? It is humility only. The extent to which we humbly realize that our existence, sustenance, and even devotion rests beyond our power, is the extent to which we feel need, especially for the grace of the holy name.

How to get that humility? Well, one thing we can do is to admit the obvious: Everything beyond God's mercy is failing or will fail in time.

The foundation of everything in spiritual life is the humble mood. Without a deep sense of the need for God's mercy, real spiritual life does not begin and nama bhajan remains tasteless.

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Dhanurdhara Swami January 20th, 2011

Nam Kirtan: The Essence of The Bhagavatam

Sri Caitanya sat attentively at the feet of His divine master, Sri Isvara Puri, who had just promised to disclose to Him the verse that is the essence of the Bhagavatam. Emphatically, but devotionally, Isvara Puri recited:

“One who chants the names of one's beloved Lord without material attachment or inhibition awakens deep attachment to his Lord. As his hearts melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman oblivious to public opinion.” [1]

No serious student of the Bhagavatam questions that nam kirtan is stressed in the text as the best means for realizing the Absolute Reality. [2] How does that, however, make it the fundamental ingredient of everything spoken, the topic that weaves together the myriad subjects found within the text that are geared to establishing Krishna as the full manifestation of Godhead? [3]

To decipher the actual theme of any book the first place to look is the history of its composition, specifically the intention of the author in writing the text. That account is told in the Bhagavatam itself:

Sri Vyasa, the empowered editor of the eternal Vedas, had just failed in his attempt to present the Vedas in a relevant way for this present age of discord. Seeing his despondency, Sri Narada, his spiritual master, confirmed what Sri Vyasa had already suspected, that he had not sufficiently glorified Krishna. Shaken by his teacher's mild rebuke, Sri Vyasa entered a deep meditation to attain greater realization. The result was the Bhagavatam, a text systematically and directly glorifying Krishna in 18,000 beautiful verses meant to be read and sung in various melodies. The Bhagavatam is therefore kirtan itself.

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Dhanurdhara Swami December 1st, 2010

November 22, 2010
Sri Vrindavana

I escort a small group of visiting western pilgrims on my favorite Vrindavana hike. Just a mile from the temple, a secluded forest path paralleling the Yamuna escorts us past the multitude of Vrindavana flower garden farms. Just as pleasing as the beautiful farms are the scattering of locals who occasionally cross our path greeting us warmly with a Vrindavana hello, “Jaya Radhe!”

Unfortunately, the worst floods in nearly forty years have wiped out this season's crop and even destroyed many of the flower bearing trees. Still, the beauty of Vrindavana is evident.

We continue our walk. An extraordinarily blissful farmer is walking our way. His beaming smile and glistening eyes reflect a happy heart. His joy is radiant. I feel impelled to stop and meet this beautiful soul. I am surprised to learn of his deep troubles:

“My farm was wiped out by the floods. I lost two lacs rupees. It took many years to develop the farm and it will take at least a year to sufficiently rebuild it.”

“Do you have family,” I ask.

“I have four daughters and a son.”

I listen with sadness, but I am puzzled. How can such unbounded joy still shine in his smile? I ask him. We are stunned by the depth and beauty of his simple expression of bhakti.

“Happiness is a heart full of devotion!”

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Dhanurdhara Swami November 10th, 2010

November 7, 2010
Sri Govardhana

Japa Thought VI:

A breakthrough in chanting! I can think of no other reason then I went around the sacred Govardhana Hill and kicked up some dust. It’s the dust, the sacred dust. I’m thoroughly convinced of it. There is no other reason.

Japa Thought VII:

Realizations come only when there is sufficient effort and attention in chanting. A blank page is a wake up call that one’s chanting is inattentive. It’s a good reason to write after japa.

Japa Thought VIII:

The Key to Chanting:

The key to chanting is feeling mercy.

But how to feel mercy?

One way: Remember and pray to those that you appreciate and who have touched your heart, past or present.

Remembering kindness helps one to feel kindness. Kindness softens the heart and puts one in a humble mood.

Only in a humble mood can one naturally chant with feeling. And feeling is the key to taste in devotional activity, especially chanting.

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