Monday 25 May 2009

Ghostbusters Part 2

Conclusion from Sanatana Goswami Prabhu's blog...behold the power of the Holy Names!!!



"Oh no, it's started....it's started!"
The expression on the woman's face changed rapidly as did ours. What we had been expectantly awaiting was now immediately happening. As soon as we crossed the threshold of the apartment our hearts had taken on a new gear, sensing the thick heavy atmosphere. As if to ignite fear within us, two pictures of Christian saints had sprung from the hallway wall and crashed to the floor. Was this a message from our apparently hostile poltergeist suggesting our own immanent destiny? As each devotee individually deepened their soft recital of 
Krishna's names, we confidently ventured forward. Within a second a dining chair in the adjoining kitchen seemingly leaped up and smashed to the ground, sending the woman into a state of hysteria, as she frantically moved from room to room. We had been in the apartment for about ten seconds and had already experienced more than we could have imagined.

Standing in the centre of the main room we all looked at one another for a moment and then spontaneously erupted into 
kirtan, the loud calling of the names of Krishna, themselves feared by fear personified. The leader of the chanting requested we all chant in unison with full voice instead of the usual call and response style we are familiar with. What with the accordion sounding, clay drum booming and countless hand symbols chiming, along with the resounding call of a conchshell being blown, overall the effect was quite tumultuous. Placing all of our breath into the chanting we searched to find the protection promised from these all powerful names of the Supreme. What the neighbours were thinking was far from our thoughts as we absorbed our minds in the pure transcendental vibration;

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

One of our party had brought several sacred 
Narasingha stones called Salagram, and proceeded to bath them with pure water. These transcendental manifestations offer powerful protection as well as removal of inauspicious obstacles on our spiritual path. Spraying the bathing water all around we gradually moved from one room to another ardently chanting the recommended mantra for this age, Hare Krishna.

Noticing that the heavy wooden dining chairs had each begun to vibrate, the woman lay them down under the table, all the while rambling through prayers in a frenzied manner. Her mother tried to console her but had little effect. Just then a wooden drawer from a cupboard in an adjacent room came flying across the ceiling and smashed against the wall just behind the woman, spraying its contents everywhere. We instinctively moved closer to the woman and desperately called out the names. Meanwhile, in the kitchen a devotee was offering the bathing water to drink for protection to the family, when a chair rose one metre from the floor and within a split second zoomed across the room colliding with the boyfriend. Seeing no other means to assist, the devotee practically threw the liquid down the boyfriends throat only then to see the coffee machine also begin its levitation.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

We had been hoping to experience something and this local spook was certainly entertaining us.
Whilst the dining chairs were continuing to vibrate we moved through to the parents bedroom all the while intensifying our chanting of the all purifying names of Krishna. Vedic scripture explains that these names, the Maha-mantra, being completely spiritual, have the unlimited power of God by which the dirt of our hearts can be cleansed. Just as the sun can cleanse urine and waste from the earth by its scorching rays yet remain unpolluted, similarly the names of Krishna can never be contaminated, yet themselves clean even the reservoir of dirt in our consciousness.
As we danced to the sweet sound, the woman along with her Mother and Father was standing in the doorway, nervously chanting to herself. She appeared distant, lost in her racing thoughts. At that moment, seemingly thrust up against the wall, she was pinned by her invisible assaulter. As if held by the throat she was dragged along the wall banging into her parents. Pandemonium arose amongst them as we chased after throwing our weapon of the 
Maha-mantra in an act of rescue. Again she was released, although severely shaken.

We had now been chanting intensely for forty minutes and still the atmosphere seemed thick and heavy with darkness. Although violent events had occurred to the family members, nothing had touched any of us who were taking refuge in the sound incarnation of 
Krishna's names. We all felt completely protected and fearless. With such faith in Krishna names as well as the mood of compassion to help both the family and their uninvited phantom, we courageously danced and span around the home. Gradually we managed to involve the family in dancing and chanting with us which brought unlimited heights of bliss as the father of the family smiled for the first time. Then the atmosphere lightened and everyone felt the overwhelming joy of freedom whilst chanting Hare Krishna. It felt like a wonderful sunrise clearing away the darkness and fog of the evening, whilst simultaneously eradicating fear of thieves and dacoits. Carrying on for another fifteen minutes we all tasted the true happiness of the soul as he reawakens his relationship with his long lost friend, Krishna. With the mood considerably transformed we sat together on the floor and recited the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita in both Sanskrit and Italian, entitled Devotional service. We were refreshing ourselves with knowledge of our pure loving relationship with Krishna, whilst also praying that our poltergeist friend be now fully purified and able again to reawaken his own love.

We cannot be know what has happened to this ghost, although we are sure that immense purification took place not just for him but also the family and ourselves who came as menial servants of the sweet, all-powerful names of 
Krishna. By chanting the Maha-mantra we can purify our existence and fully reawaken our dormant love for Krishna and consequently each other. That love is within us all, even ghosts, but due to absorption in material pursuits we forget our real treasure within.

Since that day there has been no further disturbances in that home. That night was there first peaceful night in nine years. All glories to the unlimited glorious names of 
Krishna and all glories to the pure devotee of those names who has compassionately spread them throughout the entire world, Srila Prabhupada.

What a story!!!!
True? I think so. 
What about you??

Ghostbusters

Whether you believe this or not its certainly makes for an exciting story:

It is from an Italian hare krishna devotee's blog and is a first hand
account of his experience.

As soon as we entered the apartment we understood we were in for some excitement. We'd heard different stories of how this young woman had been terrorized by a ghost for the last nine years, of how just the other week she had been hospitalized due to a flying chair striking her in the head, and how she was now at the limit of her sanity. We'd been told of knives flying across the room, pictures leaping from the walls and levitating coffee machines. Chairs and other objects independently shaking and smashing into walls was a daily occurrence in this home.

"
Hey, but ghosts don't exist". Well for many people and cultures they do. Ancient Indian culture explains that a ghost is someone, a soul, who upon dying is not awarded a new physical body, but painfully lingers around in their subtle body made of mind, intelligence and false ego. Such a situation may occur due to a sudden death or extreme negative acts such as suicide, and is a position of suffering as one has a mind full of desires yet no body to enact them. Ghosts often take advantage of weak minded persons or those under intoxication, entering their physical bodies and attempt to enjoy through this borrowed facility. Many people cannot believe what they have done whilst under intoxication or depression, acts they normally would refrain from.

So, such was the situation we found in a quiet village just outside Rome. The woman and her boyfriend had tried everything they knew to free themselves from this terrifying situation. On one occasion they'd lit incense and chanted prayers in order to purify the atmosphere only to find the nearby wardrobe seemingly come to life and violently vibrate, splitting into two equal pieces. Upon moving the ruptured closet they had been horrified to find a swarming mass of bleach-white worms, quite different from the indigenous species, covering the wall and floor.
The woman explained that nine years before she had been the object of attraction for one boy in her school. Repeatedly denying his requests for a relationships, she had found herself cursed by the boy's satanic mother, who was well practiced in the black arts of witchcraft. She was told that she would suffer for the rest of her life for this refusal. That had been nine years before, yet with some incident every evening it already felt like a lifetime. One may ask why they stayed in the same apartment, why not move? Well, theirs was a family home for several generations , and they still lived with her parents. Whilst her mother was very sympathetic to her daughter, the father had been always skeptical. Most of the happenings had been directed only to his daughter, until he also started to experience strange things.

Out of desperation, they had once invited the local Catholic monks to come and assist. The monks explained that they could perform an exorcism on the woman but they couldn't guarantee the ghost would leave the property. "
Anyhow, at least let's do something", they decided, although they were not prepared for what they would witness.
At one point in the ceremony with the woman white like a sheet, trembling and covered with sweat, they beheld countless 3-inch nails shooting from her mouth, followed by a deep ghastly roar clearly not from such a simple lady. Whilst the couple were completely shocked, the monks explained that it was all quite normal in these situations and that the Vatican was full of such incidents.

Seeing no alternative, the boyfriend called upon his parents for help. As they were Vaisnava practitioners, Hare Krishnas, for more than twenty years, they enthusiastically seized the opportunity and organized a troop of devout spiritual followers, we were seven in total. We meditated not only on trying to help the disturbed family but also on helping the ghost who was himself imprisoned in such an agonizing situation. Our strategy would be to perform loud, intense chanting of Krishna's names which purify everything and are feared by fear personified. It is said that all negativity flies away when one chants the holy name of Krishna. This would be a chance to see how much we believed in what we had dedicated our lives to, were we really taking our spiritual life seriously or were we just pretenders.
We were not sure what to expect but we were certain that we wanted to experience something extraordinary. Were we ready for what was to come?

This is a true story from March 2009, the conclusion will come tomorrow.

Radical Politics

Over the past 2 weeks I think I must have started to write then stopped and deleted what I'd done a good 8 times. I don't know why but everything just seemed rubbish, to contrived or just obviously uninspired.
And so it comes to this my 9th attempt. No matter how this sounds its going up.
I've got a radical idea for cleaning up the political system.....Don't pay politicians.
Political corruption isn't new yet its in the spotlight once more. The people we elected abusing their power yet again.
Now this may seem like a strange topic for a monk to getting involved with but I truly believe in my statement above that the people who lead the country should not be paid. In fact it's not even all that radical its based on a ancient system of society called vanasrama dhama.

In the Veda's (ancient texts) a system is presented that suggests that the people who lead society have to be beyond corruption and the only true way to have this is if they live in poverty, free from material desires and objects. If there where no 'perks of the job' how many of these politicians would still do it. So many have quit because they are getting questioned about their actions. They should in fact be impartial, poor and lead a spiritually centred life of simplicity and contemplation, only then can they present what is for the actual good of the people.

This also brings up another question of whether the current system of a democratic society works? After all we vote these people in. At the end of the day we elected people who cheat us then we moan about it. How do we change the system, I have an idea but thats going to stir things up a bit and I'll leave that for another day. 
At least the Vedic system makes sure those who are leading and guiding society are actually doing it for our own good with no material motivation.

Would be interesting.

Now I'm am working on my next post, it will be up in 3 days, I promise :)

Tuesday 12 May 2009

Blogging On The Edge Of Cohesion

What can I say sometimes the will is there but the body just won't let me do it.
'What is he on about?' I hear you say. Well as I sit down to write this the next blog I am faced with the reality that I really need to sleep. I have made over 10 typing mistakes so far and I'm only 3 lines in. I shouldn't really be blogging, who knows what I'll come up with or if it'll make any sense? Blogging on the edge of cohesion.
The body just has too many restrictions sometimes, we want to do something but the material that we have been given just won't let us, most of the time we just make the best use of a bad bargain. How often do we look at our material body and think that? Do David and Victoria Beckham think that they got a bad bargain, or do we? The fact of the matter is that the material body just can't fulfill our desires. Simple case in point, how many people get up and go to the toilet during a movie or do you hold it in for the remainder of the film, suffering whilst trying to enjoy then dashing to the toilet at the end of the feature? A natural function of the body hindering our happiness. As we get older the body wears out we have to spend more and more time maintaining it. We suffer the indignation of our senses not being what they used to be, the eyes grow weaker along with the bladder.... I could go on and on. Needless to say we just have to do the best with what we have, except our karma and focus less on the body and it's limited capabilities and spend more time experiencing things on a deeper less restricted level. The level of spiritual realization, which has no restriction, is unlimited, eternally full of bliss and knowledge (sat-cit-ananda). And when the body won't let us do that? well...on that note I'm off to bed. To recharge my worn down body and mind and hopefully come up with something a little bit more coherent next time.

Thursday 7 May 2009

The Lake of Death

Here's a nice story from the Mahabharata (an ancient Indian poem). Not to be to morbid but with it being my 34th birthday yesterday I have been thinking about getting older and my own mortality. Then I was reminded of this story highlighting the amazing fact that even though we are surrounded by death daily, we seldom think that our own life is going to end. If we really took this mortal coil seriously surely our spiritual quest would become our prime concern not materialistic sense bombardment.
Enjoy the story and let me know what you think.


THE LAKE OF DEATH

Sahdeva searched for any source of water. He reached a lake, which was glittering, in the noon, like a silver bowl. Sahdeva went to the lake to drink and bath and to take some water for his brothers. Before he could enter the lake, a voice was heard. The voice told that he should not touch the water. First he should answer some question. The voice said, I am a Yaksha and this lake belongs to me." Ignoring the Yaksha voice, Sahdeva went at the lake and drank some water. He dropped dead in no time. It was long since Sahdeva had gone in search of water. Worried, Yudhisthira asked Nakula to go in search of Sahdeva and water. Nakula, too reached the lake and found Sahdeva lying dead. He wanted to take some water but the Yaksha repeated his condition. Like Sahdeva, Nakula also ignored the Yaksha and drank from the lake. He too dropped dead. Similar fate awaited Arjuna and Bhima.

Now Yudhisthira himself came to the lake and was shocked to see his brothers lying dead. He asked that who killed his brother. He went towards the lake to fetch some water. The Yaksha said,"Answer my questions first only then drink the water, otherwise you too will die like your brothers." Yudhisthira inquired who he was. The voice said, I am a Yaksha and I own this lake. Your brothers drank its water without my permission. They had to die for this." Yudhisthira said,"kindly show yourself, no Yaksha can kill my brothers." The Yaksha came there. Yudhisthira with folded hand said,"you cannot be a Yaksha. Any Yaksha cannot kill my brother. You may be one of the Rudras or some other great god. May be Lord Shiva himself. I am also very thirsty and permit me to drink the water of your lake." The Yaksha said,"answer my questions first, only then can I allow you to drink its water." Yudhisthira said, "Please ask your questions."

Yudhishthira answers Yaksha's questions



Yaksha asked: Who helps the sun to ascend (rise)? Who moves around it? Who sets the sun? Where is the sun established? 
Yudhisthira replied: Brahma 'ascends' the sun. The deities moves around it. 'Dharm' (righteousness, virtuosity) 'sets' it and it is established in the 'truth' (Satya). 

Yaksha asked: How does a man become 'Shrotriya' (One who studied the vedas)? How does he attain greatness? Who is man's second companion? How does a man become intelligent? 
Yudhisthira replied: The study of the Vedas makes a man 'Shrotriya'. He attains greatness be penance. 'Patience' is his second companion. Servitude towards old-people makes him intelligent. 

Yaksha asked: What is 'divinity' in the brahmins? What is the quality like a virtuous person in him? What is his human-like quality? What is the conduct like a non-virtuous person in him? 
Yudhisthira replied: The self-study of the Vedas is the divinity in the brahmin. Penance is the quality like a virtuous person in him. Death is human like. Condeming others is his conduct like a non-virtuous person. 

Yaksha asked: What is the divinity in a Kshatriya? What is the quality like a virtuous person in him? What is his human like quality? What is the conduct like a non-virtuous person in him? 
Yudhisthira replied: The art of archery is the divinity is a Kshatriya. Oblation is his quality like a virtuous person in him, Fear is his human like quality. Abandoning people who have sought his refuge is his conduct like a non-virtuous person in him. 

Yaksha asked: What is that object which is like a song in the performance of oblations (Yagya)? Who is the performer of religious rites during oblations? What is that object which accepts oblation? What is that which even (Yagya) can not transgress? 
Yudhisthira replied: 'Breath' (Life) is like a song in the performance of oblation (Yagya). 'Mind' is the performer of religious rites during oblations. Only aphorism of the Veda (richa) accepts oblation. It is richa which even oblation can not transgress. 

Yaksha asked: What is the most important thing for a person engaged in agriculture? What is the best thing for a person wanting to 'Sow'? What is best for an honourable prosperous man? What is best for a person having desire of an off spring? 
Yudhisthira replied:'Rain' is the most important thing for a person engaged in agriculture 'Seed' is the best thing for 'Sowing' collection of cows and their nurture is best for an honourable prosperous man. 'Son' is best for a person having desire of an off spring. 

Yaksha asked: Who is not alive inspite of being intelligent, honourable among the people, respected by men, who even enjoys the sensual pleasures and breaths? 
Yudhisthira replied: A person who does not turture the deities, guests, relatives who are dependent on him, dead ancestors and his soul is not alive inspite of breathing. 

Yaksha asked: What is heavier than the earth? What is higher even than the Sky? What is faster even than the wind? What are innumerable than the straws? 
Yudhisthira replied: The honour of the matter is heavier than the earth. 'Father' is higher than he sky. The mind is faster than the wind. Worries are innumerable than the straws. 

Yaksha asked: Who helps his eyes open even during his sleep? Who does not make an effort even after taking birth? Who is devoid of a heart? Who increases by force? 
Yudhisthir replied: The fish keeps its eyes open even while sleeping. An egg does not make an effort even after taking birth. The 'stone' is devoid of a heart and the river increases by force. 

Yaksha asked: Who is the friend of a Sojourner? Who is the friend of a house holder? Who is the friend of a sick man? Who is the friend of a man approaching death? 
Yudhisthira replied: A co-traveller is the friend of a Sojourner. Wife is the friend of a householder. Physician is the friend of a sick man. Charity is the friend of a man approaching death. 

Yaksha asked: Who is the guest of all the living beings? What is eternal religion (Sanatan dharm)? What is ambrosia? What is this whole world? 
Yudhisthira replied: Fire is the guest of all the living beings. The indestructible religion is the Sanatan dharm. The Cow's milk is ambrosia. The whole world is ether. 

Yaksha asked: Who moves around alone? Who has a rebirth after his first birth? What is the medicine for cold? What has the greatest area? 
Yudhisthira replied: The Sun moves around alone. The moon has a rebirth after its birth. 'Fire' is the medicine for cold. 'Earth' has the greatest area. 

Yaksha asked: What is the chief place of religion? What is the chief place of fame? What is the chief place heaven? What is the chief place of joy? 
Yudhisthira replied: Efficiency is the chief place of religion. Charity is the place of fame. Truth is the chief place of heaven. The chief place of joy is character. 

Yaksha asked: What is a man's soul? What is his divine companion? What is his means of subsistence? What is his supreme refuge? 
Yudhisthira replied: The son is a man's soul. His divine companion is his wife. Clouds are his means of subsistence. Charity is his supreme refuge. 

Yaksha asked: What is the supreme quality in a man worthy if Thankfulness? What is the supreme wealth among all the wealth? What is the chief gain among all the gains? What is the supreme joy among all the joys? 
Yudhisthira replied: Efficiency is the supreme quality in a man worthy of thankfulness. The knowledge of the scripture is the supreme wealth among all the wealth. Good health is the chief gain among all the gains. Contentment is the supreme joy among all the joys. 

Yaksha asked: what is the best religion in this world? Which is the religon that gives eternal fruits? What is the thing, which is controlled, keeps away a man from sorrow? Friendship with whom is indestructible? 
Yudhisthira replied: Compassion is the best religion in this world. Vedic religion gives eternal fruits. Control of mind keeps away a man from sorrow. Friendship with a virtuous man is indestructible. 

Yaksha asked: What is the thing which after abandoning a man becomes dear? What is the thing, which after abandoning a man does not become sorrowful? What is the thing after abandoning which a man becomes wealthy? What is the thing after abandoning which a man becomes joyous? 
Yudhisthira replied: A man becomes dear after abandoning arrogance. After abandoning anger a man does not become sorrowful, After abandoning lust he becomes wealthy. After abandoning greed a man becomes joyous. 

Yaksha asked: Why is charity made to the brahmin? Why are donations made to the dancers and acrobats? What is the reason behind donation being given to the servants? Why are presentation made to the kings? 
Yudhisthira replied: Charity is made to a brahmin for the sake of religion. Donations are made to the acrobats and dancers to achieve fame. Donations are made to the servants for their nurturement Presentations are made to the kings out of fear. 

Yaksha asked: What is this world covered by? What makes it invisible? For whom does a man abandons his friend? What prohibits a man from going to the heaven? 
Yudhisthira replied: This world is covered by ignorance. It is invisible because of the dark qualities. A man abandons his friend because of greed. Attachment prohibits a man from going to the heaven. 

Yaksha asked: When is a man called like a dead man? How does a nation die? How does a 'Shraddh' become dead? How does 'Yagya' (oblation) destroy? 
Yudhisthira replied: A man stricken by poverty is like a dead man. A nation becomes dead without a king. A 'Shraddh' is dead without a 'Shrotriya brahmin'. A 'Yagya' gets destroyed if alms are not given. 

Yaksha asked: What is directon? What is water? What is foodgrain? What is poison? What is the time for performing Shraddh? Tell me the answers and only after that you can drink the water. 
Yudhisthira replied: The virtuous man is the direction. Sky is the water. Earth is the food grains. Lust is the poison. Brahmin is the 'time' for the performance of Shraddh. 

Yaksha asked: What are the signs of penance? What is 'dama' (restraint)? What is supreme forgiveness? What is prudency? 
Yudhisthira replied: Remaining alert in one's own religion is penance. Subjugation of mind is called 'dama'. Bearing heat and cold is forgiveness. Keeping oneself away from works, which are not worth doing, is prudency. 

Yaksha asked: What is knowledge? What is evenness? What is supreme compassion? What is simplicity? 
Yudhisthira replied: The realization of the element of supreme self is knowledge. The pacification of the mind is eveness welfare is supreme compassion. Having evenness of mind is simplicity. 

Yaksha asked: Who is the most invincible enemy of a man? What is an eternal malady? Who can be considered as a saint? Who is immoral and unrighteous? 
Yudhisthira replied: Anger is the most invincible enemy of a man. One who has a sense of benefaction and does welfare to all the living creatures could be considered as a saint. A cruel man is unrighteous. 

Yaksha asked: What is attachment? What is arrogance? What is Laziness? What is sorrow? 
Yudhisthira replied: Ignorance of righteousness is attachment. Self proudiness is arrogance. Inability to follow the religion is laziness. Ignorance is sorrow. 

Yaksha asked: What is 'stability' according to the sages? What is patience? What is the 'supreme-bath'? What is charity? 
Yudhisthira replied: Remaining steady in one's own religion is stability. Control of sense organs is Patience. Relinquishing mental filth is supreme bath. Protection of the living beings is charity. 

Yaksha asked: Who should be called a scholar? Who is an atheist? Who is a fool? What is desire (Kaam)? What is jealousy? 
Yudhisthira replied: One who has the knowledge of religion should be called a scholar. Fools are atheists and atheists only are fools. The causes behind birth death and the word are desires. The envy of heart is jealousy. 

Yaksha asked: What is egotism? What is proud? What is eternal destiny? What is backbiting? 
Yudhisthira replied: The 'great-ignorance' egotism. Trying to prove onceself a virtuous person deceitfully is proud. The fruits of charities are eternal destiny. Putting blame on others is backbiting. 

Yaksha asked: Religion, wealth and desire are mutually contradictory. How are these eternal-contradictory labours united at one place? 
Yudhisthira replied: When religion and wife are not in opposition to each other and also are under the control of a man. Then religion, wealth and desire " these three contradictory labours are naturally united at one place. 

Yaksha asked: Who attains to undiminishing hell? 
Yudhisthira replied: A man who calls a poor brahmin for giving alms then changes his mind and does not give alms, goes to undiminishing hell. A man who keeps a 'false-intelligence' (disbelief) in the vedas, sacred scriptures, brahmins deities and the religion of his forefathers, goes to undiminishing hell. A man attains to undiminishing hell who inspite of having wealth does not make charity or himself does not enjoy it. 

Yaksha asked: Among the four things " descent (clan) conduct, Self-study and listening to the scriptures, what proves brahmin? 
Yudhisthira replied: Descent is not the cause for being a brahmin, neither self study nor listening to the scriptures proves brahminism. Undoubtedly only conduct proves brahminism. 

Yaksha asked: What does a man who talks sweetly, gets? What does a manw ho does his work after great deliberation gets? What does a man with numerous friends get? What does a religious man gets? 
Yudhisthira replied: A man who talks sweetly is dear to everybody. A man who does his work after great deliberation normally achieves success. A man who has numerous friends lives comfortably. A religious man attains to heavenly abode. 

Yaksha asked: Who enjoys happiness contentment and tranquillity? What is wonder? What is 'path'? What is conversation? 
Yudhisthira replied: Happiness: A man who is not burdened by debts enjoys happiness contentment and tranquillity. Even if he eats cheap foods after five or six days he remains happy contented and tranquill. WONDER: Everyday people are going to the abode of 'Yama' (dying), but the remaining people still have desire to live. This is the greatest wonder. PATH: Following the way shown by great people is path, because one does not reach anywhere by logic and debate. Also because there are many 'Shrutis', numerous opinions of sages and the element of religion being engulfed. CONVERSATON: The lord of death by stirring with a big spoon (months & seasons) in the stew pan which is like the great attachment and churning it by the fire (Sun), in the fuel (day & night), is conversation. 

Yaksha asked: Who is a 'Man'? Who is the wealthiest man? 
Yudhisthira replied: A person is worthy of being called a 'Man'. Whose fame of virtuous deeds remains intact till it's echo touches the heaven and earth. A man who remains 'even' in every situations i.e. fortune " misfortune, joys-sorrows, past, future, is the wealthiest man. A man who does not worry about his past, present and future " always remains happy and in union with the almighty, is the lord of all the wealthy men. The Yaksha asked eighteen questions on ethics, truth and dharma. Yudhisthira gave appropriate answers to all the questions. Now he was very pleased with Yudhisthira. On the request of Yudhisthira, the Yaksha said, I am Dharma your father, I wanted to see you. I stole the 'arani' of the brahmin. Saying this he turned into his resplendent form. Yudhisthira prostrated himself at the feet of his father. Dharma restored all the Pandavas to life. He also gave a boon to Yudhisthira that, the Pandavas would not be found during their thirteenth year of exile, as he was shielded by dharma. 
All the Pandavas received the blessings of Dharma. Then Dharma departed.

Wednesday 6 May 2009

A Weekend Away

Firstly let me apologise for not posting anything for  a little over a week now. I am meaning to post something up here at least twice a week but sometimes I just don't get the time. Last week was such a week.
Anyway I was away last weekend at a Hare krishna Eco Farm in Hungary to celebrate my spiritual masters birthday ( next post will be more about that). Thought while I had a few moments I would put up some video footage of a truly special weekend of chanting, dancing and celebration.

and see down at the bottom of the page for some youtube footage.