QUARANTINE

QUARANTINE

Some are having trouble with the lock down, some are not. And some have found a way to use it spiritually. I'm sharing this, composed by a young girl Nandini in Mayapur, in hopes any reader out there will be uplifted, plus start putting some of this into action in their own lives as a meditation, and/ or to compose your own. Writing can also be a form of meditation when used to glorify God.

"May I be quarantined in the heart of Sri Sri Radha Madhava for the rest of eternity.

May They have me locked down beneath Their reddish lotus feet for the rest of eternity, keeping me safe from the virus of illusion.

May They increase my immune system by giving me the vitamins of Their service.

This is an order from the government of my heart to the citizens of my mind, during the lockdown period which will extend till the existence of the soul.

Let me use the hand wash called sincerity, to cleanse me of the germs of superficiality. (This should be done as many times in the day as possible, for at least 20 seconds, as per the time of Lord Brahma. )

Let me keep great distance from the people called lust, anger, pride and hypocrisy who have arrived from a foreign land full of virus.

Let me at the least keep a two meter distance of anger, from anyone who sneezes and coughs out harsh words against You or Your devotees.

Let me cover my mouth with the tissue of intelligence, whenever I cough or sneeze any complaints about the service of Your Lordships.

Let me always keep in my mouth the antivirus of Your holy names and pastimes."

Please chant: 

                                         and be happy. :) 

P.S. You can sketch it too, as shown above. That too is devotional service.

Free download of many books to keep you blissful during this lockdown! Right here. 

Smile Awhile - a little humor goes a long way to keep our spirits lifted.

Nectar Story about Srila Prabhupada - many may not have heard this one.

Anyone Can Go To KrishnaLoka - keeps your hopes up!

Ted Talk on Srila Prabhupada and Happiness.

Engage In Practical Service - don't only live in your head, here are some ideas to do service and transcend whatever is going on in the material world. Create your own world, at home, via practical service of your choosing.

KIDS - they need some fun too! Here are some Krishna Conscious activities they will enjoy! It will keep them happily busy during this quarantine. You too. :) 

WWIII - What Would You Do If The Internet Collapsed?
Interestingly, this is a blog post I wrote on May 2017. It's main focus is how to be a devotee at home during rough times. 

I GOT A SPOT

[This is a poem I wrote some years back. I'm not really a writer of poetry,  so this will be less then perfect. And usually I don't share what I write, it's clumsy. However, I felt I should share this one here, so take it with a grain of salt.  By the way, it's true that the night I wrote it, the electricity went out. Simultaneously, it's all true. ]

                            I GOT A SPOT

Last night electricity went out,
Was lucky to be near the couch,
With bed far away - so here I lay,
Windows open - wasn't terribly hot,
Thinking to self "I got a spot."

Feeling its warmth and security,
Safely and cozy beneath me,
Allowed thoughts another place to stroll,
Toward this Movement - it's my life and soul,
How on earth did I get to enroll?

Lost in it's problems, a sense of Responsibility,
About worthy causes, kids and kuli's......
Other issues too - all need resolving,
Then wondering how to pursue.
Often I think of shastra - or pray,
It's never enough, but aim for the sky,
If ya get treetops, it won't have far to fly.

But electricity off, forced to slow down,
The most fascinating thing I found,
Is with all that's going 'round,
Life's ups and its downs,
Be it luck or whatnot,
......I Got a Spot.

Sometimes I'm a bad fit,
Independent you see,
Not blind to surrender,
Only to qualified authority.
This got in my way,
Yet kept me from going astray,
Always asking "What's your SOURCE?"
As Prabhupada taught us - Of course.

Wonder how me - an independent personality - arrived,
Yet now the Movement has become my life,
Am thankful - 'tis true,
Even if sometimes it brings with it, strife.

But birth and death, than birth some more,
Who was I last time - I might implore,
Was I a boy, a hunter, a bidder,
Did I pull capers? Or just a late night baker?

Did I do something good?
To the hungry give food?
Try to change the world,
With issues of value?

Was I a big wig?
A little wig?
Who was anyone before?
My eyes began to shift to the floor.
 
One thing I know,
Thinking back on the days,
When ashrama life was all the craze,
And I slept on that hard floor,
Blissful in my sleeping bag,
Didn't matter how many past births I had,
At that point in time it made me so alive,
With Krishna's protection from all sides,
I didn't need to be a big-shot,
All I knew was......I Got A Spot.

Out the door for book Distribution,
Airports, red lights, Grand Central Station,
My Sankirtana abilities were poor at best,
But Prabhupada said it, so I tried with zest.
Back to the asrhama late at night,
Maybe tomorrow I'd try Harinama instead. :)

Unimportant how few possessions upon my shelf,
All I needed was Balarama's floor, strong beneath self,
Was told "Don't lean on temple walls - it's Him!"
So too must be ashrama floors supporting us, therein.

I did not feel qualified, but grateful to be there,
Worldly worries ceased and were out of my hair.
As I learned to spread Krishna's glories about,
Prabhupada said our chanting created WWIII bailouts.

Now, with godsisters in this new found family,
Of those days in the early 1970s,
To which I recall feeling,
Tho a diamond in the rough,
"I belong," regardless of what came up,
I stayed, and sing that transcendental song,
"Hare Krishna"...thus His mercy carries us along.

Things have changed, but none can take this away,
As hard as some try, they have no say,
Prabhupada's lotus feet I hold tight -
While self still needing to purify,
My heart desires Krishna - so here I stay.

If you're reading this, a devotee you be,
Never mind whence joined, you too are free,
Grab Prabhupada's feet, put up his pic,
Offer him an incense stick,
Do what he says, don't let others trick,
Cling to what he told us to do,
Then feel his love & protection shower you anew.

This Movement shall forever grow,
Even if back and forth 10,000 years it goes,
Cuz once you surrender to Prabhupada,
Then you too have ....."Got A Spot." :-)


Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. 

                                    Y.S.,
                                       Priitaa dd

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Poem - By Saradiya devi dasi