Nearly two months have passed since my last entry and thus I have received a couple notes from devotees about my lack of blogging. For the last ever I’ve been going through a transitional stage in my attempts to practice Krishna consciousness, sometimes during these there are lots of things to write about, others I just need a bit of time to myself to ponder over things and see what I truly feel about something with little to no outside influence. Besides that last semester was probably the heaviest semester I have had since I enrolled in school, so that has been challenging as well.
The past couple weeks I’ve been on excursions of the not so transcendental variety….first was an extended weekend in West Texas, Marfa (the Chinati Foundation) and Big Bend for my artistic/professional inspiration and overall a retreat from the constant onslaught of arduous activities that comprise my life. Sometimes I get to the point where I just need a breather…a couple hours to just kick back and lounge in a hammock gaze up at the sky and turn off my brain from the constant chatter of what’s next on my agenda.Unfortunately this does not happen so often. I believe this is why I love making music and art so much, it allows me to get into this head space where nothing else matters but that which I am creating. Of course it’s a temporary state of being but, for me a much needed escape from the seemingly incessant analyzing and refining process that goes on in my brain. I can’t help it I like to think about everything I am doing and try to make sure whatever decisions I am making or philosophy I am presenting/ living by is something which I can stand behind 100%…tis’ not a static process as understanding is always evolving and deepening thus a constant refining process is underway. I don’t want to be a blind sheep who is a staunch follower of the “ignorance is bliss” philosophy.
The weekend after my west Texas adventures, I was off to Marietta (outside Atlanta), Georgia for my annual visit with my sister to hang out with her & her husband and meet the newest addition to the family of the dog variety. The result was I got beat down by a 95lb , 7 month old Great Dane “puppy”. Aside from that I got to visit New Panihati Dham (ISKCON Atlanta) which is one of the most loving, enthusiastic communities of devotees I have ever visited. You can feel the good energy and vibes upon walking in the door. Tis’ just like entering a new dimension. The smell of the incense was intoxicating, the kirtan was happening and the prasadam was absolutely out of this world.
I met a nice devotee named Premanjali and we exchanged contact info and I also met a theology student named Margaret who is studying to be a Presbyterian pastor. Margaret was doing a report on Sacred Spaces which led to her having a bunch of interesting questions and us having a nice philosophical discussion/ interfaith dialogue. Tis’ always refreshing to connect with other believers/devotees…it’s just like you’re on a whole other platform then the rest of the world. Despite canvassing others that the water is fine and actually quite nice, it seems the masses would rather kick it in the senses are god mode as the instantaneous “bliss” is all attractive to folks bereft of broader vision. Here I am not trying to take a holier than thou sort of position but rather exclaim how sweet it is to be able to connect with someone on the same wavelength of asking existential questions and sincerely looking for answers regardless of where they come. These sort of folks are rare and their association is indescribably precious.
While the events of the past couple weeks were no doubt fun and mostly filled with at least somewhat sattvic activities (being out in nature, hiking, camping, making music,making art, appreciating this beautiful creation, etc), still the lack of sadhu-sanga & Krishna conscious activities for the majority of the time hampers the enjoyability of these adventures. For me it is practical realization that without Krishna everything is more or less zeros waiting for the One to be added. Nonetheless, engaging in material activities and being around non-devotees actually strengthens my Krishna consciousness. It makes me realize how special this process is and how fortunate I am to have had my eyes opened by my Spiritual Master to the wonderful world of Krishna consciousness. It also makes the return to the temple and devotee association much sweeter. You factually feel how the dham and the devotees are a source of refuge & rejuvenation. It’s uplifting.
Besides that as I was talking with some devotees outside the dham after the feast the notion was brought up that after engaging in material activities one just does not feel clean. For instance if you eat some foodstuffs cooked by non-devotees or hear some music of the mundane variety or watch tv, or a movie, you just feel dirty. Though it may nourish the body, the mind or the senses, it neglects the soul, thus leaving one in a state of emptiness despite the superficial fullness. Perhaps this will make sense to you, perhaps it won’t. One thing for sure is “things go better with Hare Krishna”. For realz.
Hoping the next blog update will be regarding the enlightening topics discussed by the speaker at the Sunday program in ATL.
