Welcome to the blog of Govinda Dasi Babaji.
The blog is about my spirituality. I'd like to share
myself with the other seekers of essence,
what - I believe - is common to various believers...
If you visit me, please bless me
and feel yourself at home!
Govinda Dasi Lalaji
Remember my website Kami Art Publishing & Prosperity?
Because of being forced to change the pattern of my
website, so the whole design, which I don't like as much as the before one, we closed it.
However, we're transforming Kami Art Publishing & Prosperity into a
foundation, so the project is still alive. If you want to support us in it,
contact us via e-mail.
“I believe that relationships are a spiritual path. They are an opportunity to see ourselves in the mirror
that our partner holds up for us."
[Diane Gaidry]
What a blessing that there are people who have read
more, have seen more, have realized more, and can give us what we are lacking
in. It places us as a part in a perfect movement of all. But sometimes you
should notice that your part.
When you’re aware of your influence on others, you
learn wisdom. You know that you must train more, for you practise with the
greater than you. Yet, being aware that you are a part of the team, and knowing
your part, you learn responsibility, for you must play your role. But in that
team are only leaders.
Some say, enlightenment it’s a journey. After reaching
liberation, or that kind of level we want to reach among many levels, we start
journeying. Alike and different at the same time. Like the key of geese.
Imagine, we're all, each separately and socially, in
the heavenly movement. And separately, individually or personally, such
liberated people already know how to use the inner realization. For they are
enough advanced, as they could liberate themselves. They are self-sufficient. So here everyone is a leader. But we sometimes need an
inspiration. Might be, for play. And for some of us, inspiration comes from
love. Better - from sharing love. It happens that we may need to give, or we
may need to receive! When one is tired flies lower, and another one is
delegated to take the leadership. Leadership in sharing this love.
Here we can discover that mutual leadership means just
following each other. Such followers sometimes don’t know where to follow and
how, even if they are one in heart, but the following is going on. So the best
place to start is heart, some even call it heart of hearts.
When you share your heart with others, the best way is
speaking through your heart, for it touches their hearts in fact. This way,
words you use are only a tool via you spread your message, and if you even
don’t use words, the message has been delivered, for if you have something to share,
it always works, because when you love, you feel.
Some say that emotion it’s not a good adviser. Yet,
that it’s temporary. But, even so, emotion creates. When you speak through your
heart, what or how you say it’s not that important, as the feeling you share
via message. Giving in such way may become an art, still it makes you better,
for when you love, you want to give the best from yourself, or best, what the others
need the most.
Self-sufficient people look for partners to share
fulfillment, like happy people look for partners to share happiness, and unhappy
people look for partners to share unhappiness. Fulfillment helps in focusing on
greater things, for you have more peaceful mind. So you can offer those you
love the most beautiful picture of themselves, and reflect it like a mirror
through your heart. Using tools which work for you and for your partners, you
put emotion in the following each other, and relish such mutual sharing deeply,
cosmically or personally, according to the will of both.
The best leadership it’s love. Loving those who you admire, makes them the greatest ones in the whole Universe, in your heart, and makes you so dear to them, the reason to live.
This year 2013 was a year of increasing relationships. Those between us,
like also those in our own lives. Our small circle gained few more one closers
who are open for increasing. Some friends we had to leave behind, but hopefully
only for little time, and soon they may join us again on the path.
We’ve been learning especially how to communicate our needs. Knowing
beforehand, of course, when we need more care or, at the other hand, when we
need more freedom. And we’ve been learning how to fullfill the mutual needs. We
also tried to count our biorhythms affinity to find out how to co-operate
better. But, when was a good will of both people, the biorhythms affinity had
no impact on relationships. Doesn’t matter if it was a high or a low affinity.
There are people who fall in love with another person and start from
waiting. Waiting for help, for sign or for adoration. There are people who
start from pressure, for if they love us, it’s obvious that we love them even
more. There are people who keep our love in hand, and they just meditate on...
We tried to work it out to know ourselves and others better. And it is a
really great blessing having our small circle of closers who travel together
for years or for months. Especially if you surrounded the missing element of
your happiness, which has been found, within.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014! ________________
Song Of The Year: Vivre d'amour :-)
“The Bhagavan said: There is a banyan tree
which has its roots upward and its branches down
and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns.
One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.”
[Bhagavad-gita 15.1]
There is only one love at first sight.
The rest is just the consequence.
Reflected in confusions.
"Don't get too deep; don't try and argue the actual dates and historic events. We're celebrating the act of love baby! HE'S RISEN!!!!!!!" [Kirk Franklin] Sometimes it happens that time has come,
but the effect hasn’t. It’s interesting how seasons may be independent from
time. There was a very long winter and we got tired and disappointed with its
snowing and snowing here. Our patience was tested. Spring was awaited to
come on time!
This year we
had Easter looked like Christmas, what reminded me that it's not that much
about death, but most of all it's about life. At the same time we had Gaura Purnima, also life. Though, even if
there are plenty of theories about death, we still afraid of it and try to
avoid. So, we worship life!
Spring shows
how the nature can reborn itself lighting coloured feelings in our hearts. We can feel reborn too. With no effort. But not this year. The Grand Theater of the Grand Illusion didn't wear right costume at the Right
Time. We couldn't dream the right dream on time. Why? Because sometimes
Spring never comes!
Driffting is
calm and sweet till the time of change. What is to change right now in our
lives? What is to make alive again? What to leave away...
What to wake
up?
Between
revelation (sambandha) and consumption (prayojana) there is a big space for
progress (abidheya). Once we
discover our eternal relationship with God, we start learning each other, and
then we taste the relationship fully. But there is not only one or a
couple in heaven.
Imagine,
we're all in heaven. Each separately and socially in heaven. And separately, individually or personaly a
liberated person already knows how to use the inner realization. For they are
enough advanced, as they could liberate themselves and find what kind of
relationship they have with God.
But what
about the social stuff. It
happens that few advanced and liberated people can't cooperate one with another.
Especially, if they belong to the different heavens they reached, according to
their original relationship with God they develop.
Being still here and now, how do we
make friendships or how do we build relationships one with another? If
something doesn't work, do we know why and how to improve?
We're
looking for similarities to find the tools to unite the heavens in heaven. How
to make the common journeying succesful? In heaven everyone is a leader. But we should become followers too, to
follow one another separately and make a good society where everyone is different.
It may be that this or that heaven in heaven jumps on top at times, but isn't
it interesting to watch heaven like in a kaleidoscope?
Dreams we dream, illusions we create,
costumes we wear in high or low seasons of heaven sharing life not only with
God. It’s like the same elements composed in various pictures and like the same
notes played in the overture of music which
makes the people come together... at this time on Earth...
There is no Prosperity without Peace!
So, Peace first.
But between Peace and Prosperity there is something else.
Assertiveness?
Tools?
Just Sociology?
________________
PS For those who relish the topic (rasika sadhakas). This time,
it's t e r r i f i c example (hasya-rasa) of inner and outer quarreling
(mana-lila) with elements of misleading speech (paroksa-vada), and bewilderment
and exhilaration (mahabhava!!!). Polish tittle “She-avenger”, probably
impossible to translate all the text, but click and enjoy! "Time it's a fourth dimension, right?"
“We know only as much about ourselves
as we have been tested on.
I tell you that from
my heart which has not been tested yet.”
[Wisława Szymborska]
2012 was a Year of Peace & Appreciation.
When unexpected comes, faith builds the bridge between Heaven and Earth. While we meet troubles, bound builds the bridge between people. When we meet each other, we meet unknown and compose the bridge of the melody of the midnight hour...
Following Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition I gained some experiences and knowledge, which I’m going to sort out in order to write a doctorate. It's a not-very-fast-moving-project. My interests have been developing since early 90’s and eventually focused on Sri Krsna Caitanya’s life. I want to elaborate my realization in female (not feminist) point of view, which increases nowadays.
The female point of view consists in Raganuga-bhakti, path of spontaneous devotion, the most. Therefore, inter alia, I use Universalists Radha-Krishnaism by Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Babaji). He represents the disciplic succession of Raganuga-bhakti from Sri Krsna Caitanya. My search, started from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami in the past, was inspired by Kenneth Valpey (Krsna Ksetra Das) a scholar and a spiritual master in Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. He is helping me nowadays in this work. Myself I can only write poems on this.
As Caitanya is considered Radha-Krsna, the main scope of my study includes inner interaction between two spirits - God and Goddess - revealed through Caitanya’s extatic nature. Theory of “two-spirit” is found also in researches on the berdache among third gender studies. I will be elaborating my realization in such context, taking into account that in Caitanya’s case it’s about two spirits and not about two gender roles of Two Spirit People.
It’s a quite wide field. But though it’s a not-very-fast-moving-project. I eagerly accept advice and support in this matter.
If you make your beloved one feels loved,
you have more easy situation.”
[Jasmuheen]
As a child I felt alienated so was searching for those who understand me better, even if it would be aliens. Hours and hours I was looking for the unidentified flying objects at nights. But nothing happend. My mom subscribed Nie z tej Ziemi (Not From This Earth), one Polish magazine on paranormal science for me, where I found Jasmuheen.
Well, I don't think she's an alien, but I’ve felt the cosmic connection! In June 2012 I was in Prague to meet Jasmuheen during her seminar on living without food.
We spent three days at Břevnovský Klášter, beautiful monastery. There was a lot of meditations guided by Jasmuheen, questions and answers, need for silence and for words. But the most of all, we were connected. Not good at meditations I had the good connection too, so was sharing my caught red-handed emotions with friends via Facebook.
Living without food wasn't very unusual object for some. But to eat, or not to eat, that was the question for me and Viera, my bratska duše. In the past I didn't know what is prana, but through years I've noticed that I stopped eating many kinds of food and then lost the need for eating very often. If this is a natural way for breatharianism, I'm on. Though I like the idea of eating for pleasure!
Jasmuheen shared some her champagne spiritual moods singing to people a cappella and with music. People shared some their spiritual moods dancing with Jasmuheen. Some, including her, standing on the chairs! But sharing the Paths of Peace, before and during the meeting, brings the searching for aliens to the simple finding that ‘if you make your beloved one feels loved, you have more easy situation’.
"If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice" [Madonna]
Followers of Sri Krsna Caitanya meditate on him during eight periods of each day and every day and night. Eight time periods consists in the eight divisions of a twenty-four hour day while Sri Krsna Caitanya performs his pastimes (gaura-lila) that make up his daily schedule.
Devotees meditate on these lilas, following Sri Krsna Caitanya’s pastimes, according to their specific inner mood (nitya-siddha). This process has been mentioned in the ancient Vedic literatures and is described for example in Sri Gauranga-Lilamrita by Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur.
As Sri Krsna Caitanya is often believed to be both Radha and Krsna, his followers simultaneously meditate on Radha and Krsna’s pastimes (krsna-lila), which are considered parallel pastimes. This eight time periods are described for example in Sri-Sri Radha-Krsnayoh Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana-mangala Stotram by Sri Rupa Goswami. There are also other descriptions of gaura-lila and krsna-lila, but I’m not very familiar to them.
In the eight time periods of Sri Krsna caitanya my favourite is madhyana-lila, which in Sri Gauranga-Lilamrita is described as follows:
"In the period from a noon, he enters
a very charming garden of flowers
and becomes absorbed into playful waves
of the infinite pastime after pastime,
with his close associates."
Performing these meditations we may become aware of transcendental reality, which takes a place here and now, while our earthy existence is on. We may see what is unlimited in limited manifestation and taste various spiritual flavours. Together with Sri Krsna Caitanya and his associates we may dive into the waves of bliss and joy that elude verbal descriptions. One day and night always the same though every time different.
I have a friend!... Away from me, near me, in me always. I have my friend, and I am his. My friend loves me. I am my friend’s, the friend of my friend. Of our two souls love has fashioned one.” [Romain Rolland]
Journeying through life with others we sometimes reveal that some persons are always with us. Somehow it happens we find each other knowing it in spirit or in essence. It’s like a sleeping part of our world has woke up, though it hadn’t been sleeping, but we were only aware of it. Yet sometimes even loving friends need to find the best way of communication that works for them both.
We live in different parts of the Earth, so in different cultures. We gained various experiences, so even spirituality may be considered different, though it’s often not. And of course, we are extraverts or introverts, active or passive, prefer public or private talks, and some of us practise a big small talk while the others just can’t even hear it. The differences which lay in habits are usually just external, but may have impact on mutual interaction.
Someone told me recently that is very happy having two introverts around, because now realized that it’s not about being left out, but about the way of expression that is different. Where there is love and good will every attempt is appreciated, so what is known in spirit may appear on Earth in some way.
Making friendship may be very exciting and joyous while keeping the essence we set the details, because the details can always be changed and refine.
"Share everything what flows from within you.”
[Emilia Wnuk]
This year was very important for me and the last so important year was 1993. I’ve been continuing my spiritual practice with just few, but exacting friends, what inspired me to learn new (or forgotten) skills, and so exceed my limits. I’ve found how the power from within works and learnt to trust it more. To be honest, if not that trusting, I wouldn’t bear my duties.
Satsang with spiritual mate, Jasmuheen, re energized me deeply and counteracted the sense of existential fatigue, which has bothered me from ages. But after it, though I feel reborn and lighter, I gave up my ambitious terms and slowed down. It helps me again to feel pleasure with things I’m doing.
I’m now open for interaction with more people. Came back to Skype and to individual correspondance with old and new friends from all over the world, instead of spending time on social networks. I gained everything I needed and even much more than I could ever imagine using Facebook. But as one of my friends told me, “I'm expecting a lot more people to exit facebook as the changes there continue to mount, and have even considered dropping all of the social networks myself. I feel like it is supporting something -- that if I understood everything about -- I would not be comfortable with”. I’m glad that afer having made a solid base for the new friendships via social networks we can develop our ties out of them too.
This year I’ve finished the second tome of poetry, Undefined, and hope to publish it in 2012, started the new one tome, Jebrriell Sneregrehe, and eventually still working on the guidebook, How To Be The Own Guru. Also other good changes have taken place at my work.
It was very important year for my personal life. I got engaged. Although, because entered vanaprastha ashram* during fifteen years of living in grihastha ashram** and afterwards, I wanted to be a single forever! I don’t have to tell how it touched my soul. Few months later I've entered grihastha ashram again.
Next year I meet Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Babaji), Kenneth Valpey (Krsna Ksetra Das), Jasmuheen and finish my study in Warsaw. This all and more makes my new year hopes really big.
____________________
* Vanaprastha ashram – leaving the grihastha ashram to live in celibacy.
** Grihastha ashram – marital life.
There is also brahmacari ashram – celibacy before grihastha, and sannyas ashram – detachment after vanaprastha.
"...but in liberating themselves by going back to the mother, back to God, back to the all [...]; they are ready to throw themselves away and give way, to extinguish themselves and go back to the beginning." [Herman Hesse]
Coming back after great meditations and great spiritual realizations, we may find our life uneventful and simple. We may feel our mission has run to end. We shared all our treasures. Told, sang or described every aspect of our vision. Offered all the gifts we’ve received. And, what is the most important, we may feel our role has been played making us kind unemployed.
That moment makes us think. What next? If anything?
That moment let us rest. Looking around we see our closers and enjoy the time together in a very peaceful place. One is holding another and cheers up! It may be that for the rest of our days here. But it may be only a break before the next great meditations and great spiritual realizations.
Because of what we did, we can expect the results. It is of course nothing new. God was resting on seventh day, because the craft was done. Joseph Murphy said, that we should do the same when our inner work is finished. It may be, that no one see it beside us, but when we don’t stop to climb the mountain after reaching the hill, we can go only down again.
It’s already done in the spirit means that the goal is reached. Until we are reaching for something it is still far away. For someone who has reached the goal, it is such certain, that he can even not to notice it, when it comes. And this process is like growing up the plant. When the seed is sown, we are only waiting till the plant grows out and then blooms. Water it is sufficient, our part is over and the rest belongs to God. To this part of us what works perfectly by its own.
Well done! Feel unemployed? Polish proverb says, “The unemployed always celebrate”!
"Desire is the root of any development.
Without it, nothing could be achieved.
It is a creative force and must be properly targeted."
[Joseph Murphy]
How to prosper, if not by following the own vision.
How to get the own vision, if not by searching in the own self.
How to find the own self, if not by making ourselves the center of the own world.
From that position we can see God and the difference between.
Since then, both desires are same.
Love.
A humor from the English lesson that was up-to-date :-)
This is the question we hear quite often. For example during the English lesson:
Teacher: „What’s the most common reason why some women are late for dates?” Student: „I think the most common reason why some women are late for dates is not enough time to put make-up on.” Girls: „Oh, come on! How do you know that! And what about the traffic?”
Teacher: „Would you agree to a blind date?” Student: „No, I’d never agree to a blind date.” Teacher: „Why not?” Student: „Because I never go on dates with people I don’t know or hardly know. It’d be crazy!” Teacher: „How do you know that? It’d be great fun!”
Teacher: „What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?” Student A: „The craziest thing I’ve ever done was a parachute jump.” Student B: „I was swimming in the sea during the storm.” Student C: „Er... I did something. But I don’t tell it loudly.” Teacher: „Why?” Student C: „If I tell, you’ll ask, how do I know that...”
PS Teacher: „What will you do when you get old? Student: „I don’t want to get old!” Teacher: „But you will.” Student: „How do you know that?” Teacher: „It’s obvious!”
"All glories to Sri Krishna sankirtan! It cleanses the mirror of the mind; it extinguishes the blazing conflagration of material life; it spreads the moon rays that make the white lotus of auspiciousness bloom; it is the life of spiritual knowledge; it increases the ocean of divine ecstasy and at every moment gives a full taste of ambrosia, bathing the entire soul." [Sikshastakam (1) by Sri Krsna Caitanya, translation by Jan Brzeziński (Jagadananda Das Pandit)]
After arranging my individual practice, it's time to arrange some collecive activity. The only thing I would like to do collectivelly is singing the holy names and dance.
Joseph Murphy said in one of his books - "There is only one love – pure, perfect, accepting, generous and inexhaustible. Never changes, neither hesitates nor deminishes".
Never changes, neither hesitates nor deminishes...
This idea taken from Poul's Letter to the Corinthians is one of the most joyous visions of love I know. Joy comes from the hope, that we are loved for ever. We are always safe being covered in this love. No one can take it away or give it us, because it is always given and given for ever.
It also carries the rule, rule of love, as the main principle of existence. We exist because of love and we exist to love. Love each other? Love God? Love to love?
Might we escape from love? If yes, it could mean, we might stop exist at all.
We usually want to live for ever. Especially, because the existence we generally know is temporary. We would like to keep what we like and leave what we don’t, and be for ever young and happy. We think it’s possible in various kinds of heaven after the death of the body (or mind) and we are hoping for it, working for it, waiting for it. Some don’t believe it, some don’t want to wait for any tomorrow, some don’t think about this and use many ways to live here and now for some happiness, or for killing the time to death. And what if we have to live for ever?
What if we can’t turn the life off? Is love a prison? Are we a prisoners of eternity? Is it the reason to dance?
Danse macabre…
If our choice applies to the only question - how to live for ever in a best way? For example - if we are interested in God - what kind of God we would like to worship? For ever. We are choosing from the full of possibility and taking the part of it as full. So, if we can't do this something, what we would like to do or die, the best choice should be that pure, perfect, accepting, generous and inexhaustible love, what never changes, neither hesitates nor deminishes...
"I ask not for wealth, nor followers,
Nor beautiful women, nor for poetry or wisdom.
All I ask, O Lord of the Universe,
is that I may have unmotivated devotion
to you, God, birth after birth."
[Sikshastakam (4) by Sri Krsna Caitanya,
translation by Jan Brzeziński (Jagadananda Das Pandit)]
Devotion (bhakti) it is what I practise (yoga). Bhakti yoga – practising devotion to God. The way of this practice I use is worship (bhajana). I’m learning to offer my everything in service (seva) to God. My ideas, my mind, my body and activities. This all MY, given by God, belongs to God – the source of everything - and I try to offer it back to God – the object of my worship.
Generally, the main part of my everyday practice is to worship God by music, by remembering the holy names and by worshiping deities. As for music, I prefer gospel songs by the choirs. For remembering, use bij-mantra and maha-mantra, and Sikshastakam by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in various translations. For my personal deities, make a puja once a day with the items like singing, paraphernalia and mantras accordingly to the deity, and do the simple worship during the day.
Peculiarly, for my specific meditations as a student of Raganuga-bhakti Marg, I use Sri-Sri Radha-Krsnayoh Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana-mangala Stotram by Sri Rupa Goswami in Neal Delmonico’s translation, together with Sri Gauranga-Lilamrita by Sri Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur in the own translation. Presently, my favourite period described there is Madhyana. To successfully performing this kind of bhajana I use also few other books for the students of Raganuga-bhakti Marg, especially the one manual (of paddhati-traya) received from my Raganuga-bhakti Marg teacher.
My worship has much in common with Gaudiya Vaishnavism – a Hindu tradition. I assimilated the techniques of remembering the holy names and of worshiping deities to practise devotion to God. Being bred in a Polish family and accustomed to the Christian tradition, also by deep experience caused by Christianity, I have not rejected it, and its language, symbols or means. However, to practise devotion to God, I use Bhakti-yoga as the valid supplement of my religious interests. Religion, yoga or practice it is the ship we travel our journey. But not religious is the goal of it.
Some ask do I worship Jesus or Krishna and who is God or who isn’t for me then. Well, for me Jesus is Jesus and Krishna is Krishna. Who or if I worship more as God or less, it is my own realization. And what is your own?
If you're looking for the spiritual emotions, don’t become religious, stay spiritual.
Imagine the refuge among the nature, where somebody can forget oneself during making worship. Peaceful forest, natural meadows, brooks splashing gaily. The small river running almost on the small Radha Govinda Mandir’s doorstep. Few monks close together upon the Divine Couple. A nice, cosy library hiding jewels of loving devotion. Visitors only few times a year. The tumult of festivals calmed down and does not drown the melody of the heart. Only lordly peacocks are shouting from time to time. A milk from a real cow and a honey from the folks living nearby...
I am dreaming of the BABAJI CENTER under the saint patronage of Lalita Prasad Thakur Babaji with the babaji‘s cottage. I have found the peaceful countryside and named Babajówka. And have nearest around forty years to fulfill the dream. Wish me well.
"All glories to Sri Krishna sankirtan! It cleans the mirror of the mind; It extinguishes the blazing conflagration of material life; It spreads the moon rays that make the white lotus of auspiciousness bloom; It is the life of spiritual knowledge; It increases the ocean of divine ecstasy and at every moment gives a full taste of ambrosia, bathing the entire soul." [Sikshastakam (1) by Sri Krsna Caitanya, translation by Jan Brzeziński (Jagadananda Das Pandit)]
Each and every day, a lot of followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu chant on the japa-mala (beads) the fixed in number of mukhya-mantra or maha-mantra composed of God’s names Hare, Krishna and Rama, which are dancing within the vibration: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
What does it mean? There are plenty of useful explanations of this mantra given by saints like Bhaktivinode Thakur and many else, but till we only read or listen about mantra, we won’t attain its meaning actually. Very prescribed to practice it is comprehension, that God and his names are non-different, because God is within his names directly with his quality, form and acting.
Is any initiation required to successfully chant these holy names? No, it isn't. Caitanya Mahaprabhu quoting Rupa Gosvami taught, that the holy name doesn’t depend on pious activities or initiation with its regulative principles. The holy name doesn’t wait for all these things, because it is self-sufficient [see: Padyavali (29) by Sri Rupa Gosvami or Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Madhya-lila (15.109-111) by Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami].
The holy name is within every heart. No one can neither give nor take away someone the holy name. The holy name is ours from the outset and belongs to each as any belongs to the holy name forever.
I believe that God has many names. Remembering them helps me to remember him in essence among an external being around. Some say - always remember God and never forget him.
If it is possible to become a babaji, I did it on 28th November 2008 in assistance of Steve Bohlert - Subal Das Babaji - the founder of Universalist Radha Krishnaism and a pastor in the United Church of Christ through more than ten years, when he began an independent eclectic ministry developed into URK.
He is a very modern teacher of Raganuga-bhakti tradition in the West. He is writing and keeping spiritual practices in voluntary simplicity living in the jungle on Hawaii together with his wife.
The disciplic succession he represents is: (1) Nityananda sakti -
Sri Jahnava Thakurani, (2) Sri Ramacandra Goswami,
(3) Sri Rajavallabha Gosvami, (4) Sri Kesavacandra Gosvami,
(5) Sri Rudresvara Gosvami, (6) Sri Dayarama Gosvami,
(7) Sri Mahesvari Gosvamini, (8) Sri Guna Manjari Gosvamini,
(9) Sri Ramamani Gosvamini, (10) Sri Jogesvara Gosvami,
(11) Sri Vipina Bihari Gosvami, (12) Sri Bhaktivinode Thakur,
(13) Sri Lalita Prasad Thakur, (14) Sri Subal Das Gosvami.
Raganuga-bhakti Marg it is the path of devotion to God in an intensive love. To cut the ballast of the past, and thus be free to worship, I have taken the babaji order of life and that external adherence. It is helping me to recognize and develop my spiritual emotions above religious disturbances, and live an ordinary life during keeping the voluntary spiritual practice.
The only religious adherence is belonging to God. And the only spiritual practice
is to practise the unmotivated love to God. Love is the way and the goal.
____________________
Why love is the way and the goal?
Because love is the source...
"I then began to consider that Vrindavana is a very solitary place.
It is invincible and very difficult to attain. I therefore decided
to go there alone or, at the utmost, with only one person."
[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Madhya-lila (16. 270)
by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami]
As I remember, I was converted to Krishnaism in 1989 by my art teacher - Zbigniew Siwek - from the Community Center in the city I was born in. He took aim at one my friend, but her jacket of Armageddon was bullet-proof. So it was a ricochet.
I was almost 15 years old and felt, that after had been searching for the goal of life, I found myself on my path again.
In February 1990 he borrowed me Science of Self-Realization by Swami Prabhupada and I became a vegetarian. Nextly he helped me to buy my first Bhagavad-gita. Few months later I met travelling devotees of Krishna - Ragavardhan Das / Radhamohan [see video] with his musician band - and took a part in their program, where I have heard maha-mantra first time. They contacted me with devotees living in my the city.
After some time one brahmana from ISKCON, Surapal Das and his wife, came to preach there. Becoming included into this organization we became a Nama Hatta and the preaching began. I was a local commander under our brahmana’s protection. We were making programs and festivals. In 1991 Indradyumna Swami visited us. In 1992 we participated in Indradyumna Swami’s Summer Tour in Poland, but I have never known him better. At that time I first time met Krishna Ksherta Das, my then-guru, and also Harikesha Swami - both ISKCON gurus. After it we were engaged in Hare Krishna Food For Live. However, in July 1993 the Nama Hatta ended its activity. It was the time, when I was following Rupanuga-bhakti Marg*.
About 2005 one friend from the gospel choir and devotee of Krishna told me about Swami Tripurari, I met his disciples in Poland and, two years later, Swami Tripurari in Finland. I have found myself as saragrahi-bhakta. At that time I met again ex-Harikesha Swami, who was not from ISKCON anymore, but made his Spirituality Without Demands and Expectations nowadays, and Krishna Kshetra Das, my ex-guru. Some time later I also met Paramadvaiti Swami from WVA in Berlin and then in Hungary in 2008, and discovered sannyasis who don't separate themselves from the other people. In that association on the path my Rupanuga-bhakti Marg was turning into Raganuga-bhakti Marg**.
Drawing conclussions from my personal experiences and from many years' observations in Hare Krishna movement, set by contemporary religious organizations and preachers in the West, I gave up myself in endeavours to find the own place in it. Eventually, I retreated to the position of bhajananadi***. Few months later have been accepted in the disciplic succession of Raganuga-bhakti Marg and finally stood
on my own.
I'm grateful to Kusum Sraman Swami Maharaja, who didn't let me to give up in bad time. I had been looking for help and met him in Hungary in August 2008. His support, Nitai-bhajanas and just good word have been encouraging me to continue my spiritual efforts. I accepted him as my harinama guru to purify my chanting with bad associations, and again to feel safe under the shelter of the mantra Hare Krishna.
Sometimes we travel our journey in good or bad company. Sometimes alone. And whoever teaches us what and how should or what and how should not be done - the teacher is still the same.
____________________
* Rupanuga-bhakti Marg - the path of practising and developing devotion to God by following the rules and principles of regulation, to regulate the order of life and to develop detachment,
** Raganuga-bhakti Marg - the path of practising and developing devotion to God beyond the rules and priciples of regulation, by following spontaneous loving emotions to God accordingly to the specific mood of the spiritual realization.
Theoritically, Raganuga-bhakti comes after Rupanuga-bhakti.
*** There is bhajananandi and gosthyanandi - generally gosthyanandi is interested in developing preaching and religious groups, and bhajananandi doesn't, but practises spiritual life alone.
The bright embodiment of my Christianity was teaching of Joseph Murphy – The Church of Divine Science minister. His books had been guiding me when I walked through the valley of the shadow of my wretchedness and infirmity to the power of faith (see: The Magic of Faith by Joseph Murphy].
To revitalize my spiritual feelings through almost five years I was a member of one gospel choir in Protestant tradition.
I've experienced a spiritual baptism with the Holy Ghost and became a charismatic – I received a charisma of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts.
In God’s presence there is no any blessing and no any curse, but only the power of faith.
I was born on 28th November 1974 in the Polish family and was christened Izabela in Roman Catholic tradition. Thus I had a great opportunity to grow up in charm of Pope John Paul II.
My childhood was fulfilled by faithfulness to Mary, worshiped as Black Madonna in my country, and church songs. I used to sing in a childish choir in our local church.
I gave up the Catholic life after I had been frustrated by too much majesty priests’ life-style and the exclusiveness.
"You must be strong, dear brothers and sisters. You must be strong
with the strength that comes from faith. You must be strong
with the strength of faith. You must be faithful."
[Pope John Paul II, Homily, 10th June 1979]
