Lord Chaitanya- only shelter for the forlorn, for the most fallen

While Lord Chaitanya was at the temple to see the deity of Jagannatha, thousands of people were in front of Him also seeing the deity. Suddenly, a woman who was unable to see Jagannatha through the crowd, climbed the column of Garuda that was just in front of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, placing her foot on His shoulder to get up. Govinda, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's personal secretary, hastily got her down. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, however, chastised Govinda for this. When the woman came to her senses, she begged for forgiveness at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Lord Jagannatha has not bestowed so much eagerness upon Me. She has fully absorbed her body, mind and life in Lord Jagannatha. Therefore she was unaware that she was putting her foot on My shoulder. Alas! How fortunate this woman is! I pray at her feet that she favor Me with her great eagerness to see Lord Jagannatha." -Excerpt from Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila 14.28-30

An old farmer lived on his farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning he got up early, sat at the kitchen table, and read His Bhagavad-gita . His grandson wanted to be just like his grandfather, so tried to emulate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the Bhagavad-gita just like you do, but I don’t understand most of it, and whatever I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. So what good is it doing me to read the Bhagavad-gita ?” The grandfather, who was putting coal on the fire, quietly turned and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, but the water leaked out before he could get the basket home. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and he sent the boy back to the river to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket emptied before he was able to return home. Out of ...

I was recently blessed with the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with Dr. Cornel West -- a brilliant thinker and someone I have come to regard as a heartfelt friend and spiritual brother. Among the many profound things Dr. West spoke that evening at Princeton, one thing he said struck me deeply. "I am who I am," he said, "because someone loved me." As I reflected on his words, images of various mentors and teachers flashed in my mind. I thought of all the kind, loving souls who have reached out to me over the years. Some of them were world-famous spiritual leaders; others were recluses living in unknown caves and jungles; while still others were everyday people. But Dr. West's statement especially brought one face to my mind: that of my father, a humble and amazing man named Jerry Slavin. He is Jewish, but not particularly religious. Rather, he expressed his faith in God through his gratitude, kindness, and dedication to his family. He grew up du...

Sanatan Goswami, a seventeenth century saint, describes in his work, Brihat Bhagavatamrita, the reunion of a soul with the Supreme Lord Krishna in the spiritual world. He explains how one day Krishna with his cowherd boyfriends (gopas) and cows was returning from the forest of Vrindavana to his home. On the way a soul that has just attained the spiritual world appeared in the cowherd pasture as a beautiful little cowherd boy. When Krishna saw him, he ran to him and embraced him. And in the ecstasy of love, both Lord Krishna and the newly arrived cowherd boy fainted in ecstasy. All the gopas were very much astonished: who is this boy and why is Krishna laying in the ground in an unconscious state? So Balaram, Krishna’s brother, approached Krishna and brought him back to consciousness by singing sweet words and by fanning him. Then Krishna told that new cowherd boy, “You left me long, long ago. You forgot me. But I never forgot you. Lifetime after lifetime you tried to enjoy the ma...

My life and my heart is the divine couple, in life or death I have no other refuge but Them. Serving Their lotus feet is my eternal hobby, without Their mercy I'm nobody. I donot desire salvation, nor do I desire libration. All I want is their transcendental association. Their holy names are so sublime, I sing it and dance all the time. They'r always joyful in spiritual bliss, nothing is more glorified than thinking about this. Ho! when will I behold Their moon like faces for which I'm waiting since ages! Their sweet past times are the most pleasurable, to this fallen soul who is most miserable. With Them I have spiritual attachment, I'm no longer able to abide this detachment. I'm dying in fear, will They ever appear? Will I attain Them in this life which is full of pain, or this rare human life go in vain?!

Life was always filled with gloom, but I thought that someday surely it'll bloom. I was a materialist, so my thoughts were also of an impersonalist. I kept on seeking happiness everywhere; but I was unfortunate, I found it nowhere. I didn't find a single ray of hope, when things got messed up and I wasn't able to cope. I lamanted and cried everyday, when I found no hope on my way! Despai had led me on to helplessness, where will I find happiness?? Then I started my journey in search of peace, still I was certain that this journey will never cease... for I was no less than any fool, who is seeking happiness in the world which is miseries whirlpool! But on my way I met someone whom I'll forget never, because he changed my life forever. As if, as if Krishna Himself send him to me, to change my life the way it's supposed to be. He inspired me to chant the holy names of God and made me realize, the only aim of my life is to serve the Lord. Now as if...