Musings of an Amateur Gardener
Gardening has always been an important part of my family, especially for my father who took great pride in our well-maintained garden. As a child, and to a large extent, even as an adult, I have enjoyed the benefits of having a beautiful garden without having to put in any effort. In more recent years I have gradually taken on more responsibility in caring for the garden. In doing this I have realized how much work it actually takes to maintain it, and how much my father was doing. Similarly, in my Krishna Consciousness, for many years I have been enjoying so much facility in Krishna consciousness, benefiting from the mercy of guru, Prabhupada, and Krishna without having to endeavor for it. However, at some point, I have to take responsibility for my Krishna consciousness and maintaining my bhakti-lata-kripa.
Many devotees who are very dear to me have physically departed from this world due to the Covid-19 virus. This breaks my heart.
I was neutral, ambivalent and uncommitted about getting a vaccination for COVID-19. On one hand, the available vaccines have been well tested and shown highly effective. On the other hand, they have not had the benefit of long-term testing, the kind that goes on for years. We do not know how long their effectiveness will last, how effective they may be against variants, and what side effects might show up in the long term.
An eastward swing down Porter Street, a long residential mediary between two busy thoroughfares, offers an easy and enjoyable tree-lined descent to cyclists with a modicum of common sense. But am I a sensible cyclist? Nope.
“Please give me something special today.” Inwardly, Sri Radha’s heart melted at His request, but outwardly, she concealed her secret mind with a studied silence. Speaking not words, but with the tilt of her head, her sidelong glance, and the sign language of her lotus hand, she invited Krsna to tell her what He wanted. And Sri Krsna eagerly obliged her silent invitation with an outburst: “Please give me your love!”
At the age of 73 years, I am in the so-called “high-risk category” for COVID-19 so I decided to get vaccinated. My vaccination story, however, begins in the 1950s when I was a child and another virus was overtaking America and the world.
Tuning into our inner calling is where the real journey begins, otherwise we may well be careering down a no-through road.
One may ask why take any precaution at all since we are devotees and Krishna protects His devotees.
Many times, we commit sins because of ignorance. But that is not an excuse. The laws of nature are very cruel. Whether we do things knowingly or unknowingly we have to face the consequences.
"Can it be a good thing, this darkness? / A kind of light that shows me things / I like to hide from in broad daylight"
"I am no stranger to vaccines, or to put it bluntly: I am alive today because I got vaccinated."
While helping the deprived, we need to consider why they are deprived.
This is the quality of the Supreme Lord, our eternal father. He is magnanimous. He does not hate anyone. He is the well-wishing friend of all.
Tradition in Gaudiya-vaisnavism is not a process of cutting-and-pasting external practices from the past.
“You should remember that you may die today—or tomorrow, or before you turn 66, or in twenty years. / It matters not, if you live the life of the soul."
Intelligence is a tool for thinking; it’s like a sword for cutting through confusions. Just
Where do we go and what do we do for shelter and for relief?
When someone speaks harshly or acts cruelly toward us, how we respond depends primarily on their disposition.
"As we slowly dig ourselves out / of the gleaming deep casts of snow / I begin to think of what other parts of our lives / could be snowed under and need to be reclaimed."
It is said of Srila Prabhupada that "He Built a House in Which the Whole World Can Live." My story is just one of the many stories of inclusivity told by the residents of that house.
Srila Prabhupada’s book gave me access to saints and sages, who at every step in my life ever since I’ve felt their presence and guidance through the instruction they’ve laid in these book for humanity.
Personally, I was in awe hearing the 22 year old Amanda Gorman read her poem last week at the US Presidential Inauguration. To me, and to so many others, it was a profound milestone to see someone like her rise up, and be uplifted by eminent others.
The Gita provides empowering spiritual practices that can enable us to control our desires, not be controlled by them.
"Almost a year gone | All personal life perhaps undone | Challenges on all sides | A time like no other"
