On my arrival in Mayapur on the 11th of December it took me a few days to settle into my nice ashram at the goshala and get into a regular daily routine. My friend Dhara Mataji from Germany had agreed to assist me, and I was grateful to have her association and help.
We immediately started to make all the necessary arrangements for the upcoming Holy Name Retreat at Ekachakra Dham over Christmas - a program which over the years has become very dear to my heart.
We had a big group of 52 participants from every corner of the globe: North America, different parts of Europe, South America, Russia, Ukraine - and of course India. The mood was once again so wonderful - sweet and deep. Especially those participants who agreed to switch off their phones and computers for the entire retreat could enter a different reality - the holy name alone being everything....
Spending four days together in seclusion and endeavoring to receive deeper insights into the secrets of chanting the holy name had a very uniting effect on the hearts of our participants and created a very confidential and intimate atmosphere. Even though we may not have known each and every person's names - nevertheless, the holy name set a special foundation to our relationships and united us on deeper levels of eternal reality: our relationship to Krishna through chanting His holy name.
During these retreats, the evening kirtans are always especially sweet. After going through the internal work of spending all day in hearing and discussing various aspects of chanting - when applying the same principles in the evening kirtans, we could indeed experience a different quality of kirtan, which I have only ever experienced in these retreats!
Spending four days together in seclusion and endeavoring to receive deeper insights into the secrets of chanting the holy name had a very uniting effect on the hearts of our participants and created a very confidential and intimate atmosphere. Even though we may not have known each and every person's names - nevertheless, the holy name set a special foundation to our relationships and united us on deeper levels of eternal reality: our relationship to Krishna through chanting His holy name.
During these retreats, the evening kirtans are always especially sweet. After going through the internal work of spending all day in hearing and discussing various aspects of chanting - when applying the same principles in the evening kirtans, we could indeed experience a different quality of kirtan, which I have only ever experienced in these retreats!
The chanting of the holy name is the foremost process to re-awaken our forgotten relationship with Krishna. By His unlimited mercy and kindness, He has agreed to extend Himself into the material world by giving us His holy name. By chanting Hare Krishna – in japa as well as kirtan – we can derive exactly the same benefit as meeting Krishna face to face. It is further said in the Padma Purana, ‘There is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. As such, the holy name is as perfect as the Lord Himself in fullness, purity and eternity.’
Let us appreciate, with deep contemplation, just how profound and astounding this statement is. The holy name carries exactly the same benefits, blessings and power as Krishna Himself – by chanting, we can meet Krishna face to face...!
However, there is a secret science in chanting the maha-mantra; simply repeating the words in a mechanical way – as a dry duty, just to finish our rounds and get them out of the way – will not do anything for our relationship with Krishna. Such chanting is almost useless. We can chant like this for many lifetimes without cultivating bhakti in our hearts.
Let us appreciate, with deep contemplation, just how profound and astounding this statement is. The holy name carries exactly the same benefits, blessings and power as Krishna Himself – by chanting, we can meet Krishna face to face...!
However, there is a secret science in chanting the maha-mantra; simply repeating the words in a mechanical way – as a dry duty, just to finish our rounds and get them out of the way – will not do anything for our relationship with Krishna. Such chanting is almost useless. We can chant like this for many lifetimes without cultivating bhakti in our hearts.
Unfortunately, many of us chant in this mood, as a dry, mechanical ritual – just trying to follow our initiation vows of chanting 16 rounds. All activities we do very regularly – every day – bear the danger of over-familiarity creeping in, which means we thoroughly lose respect for the the activity we engage in; and instead we take them lightly or cheaply, rather than treasuring them. The same phenomenon can occur in our practice of chanting japa. Such chanting can easily be infested with neglect and over-familiarity towards Krishna, and as a result our spiritual practice becomes a dull, mechanical routine. Our daily life is fast – full of stimulations and distractions – taking away our attention from Krishna and His holy name.
To regularly attend a holy name retreat is a powerful means to polish up our rusty chanting habits. By going into seclusion and leaving everything aside for a few days, we can cultivate the understanding that nothing is more important than the holy name. Everything else can wait....
At the moment of death, everything is mercilessly stripped away from us. Everything that is now so important to us will have no significance any longer. Our relationship with Krishna through His holy name is the only thing we are allowed to keep....
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
To regularly attend a holy name retreat is a powerful means to polish up our rusty chanting habits. By going into seclusion and leaving everything aside for a few days, we can cultivate the understanding that nothing is more important than the holy name. Everything else can wait....
At the moment of death, everything is mercilessly stripped away from us. Everything that is now so important to us will have no significance any longer. Our relationship with Krishna through His holy name is the only thing we are allowed to keep....
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
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