Notes:
Friday, 17 January 2020
Hand out - 'Week 12 - Members' Section' Part 1. The Nectar of the Holy Name ♡
'Devotional service begins with hearing the holy name chanted by a pure Vaishnava'
Chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is a cosmic vibration and helps to revive our original conciousness. Begin by chanting 1 round from your japa beads once a day.
-Vaishnavi (our group leader)
My thoughts & experiences with Hare Krishna since my introduction to their beautiful temple in Detroit Michigan ♡ The Hare Krishna temple in Detroit is most incredible, with a beautiful garden, worship spaces, and boutique. I remember most their sacred isles of tulasi and blackberry trees. I was very impressed by all the devotee activity and of course the vegan and vegetarian food!
Though, I did not follow up to continue in temple practice as a devotee because in those times of my teenage years I was flying around like a butterfly. With divine grace it has come back into my life. I feel like I have turned a full circle and I am ready to commit as this incredible blessing has re-entered in my life again. Krishna has also come back to me especially as a beautiful medicine for my mind, soul, and spirit.
Hare Krishna has never been far away from our hearts - meaning me and my daughter. Once upon a time, my daughter Mayari and I were in an India boutique. We were just mostly just looking around with not much intention to buy, but just enjoying all the colorful rainbows and handcrafted gifts. However, I told Mayari why don't we buy a postcard as a souvenir. She immeadiately grabbed for little baby blue Krishna! It was so adorable her natural attraction to Krishna. We put this postcard in our kitchen above our spice rack.
So, we have had Krishna in our kitchen, in our minds and hearts for many years since 2012. Though, I have not known the prayers to properly offer our food to Krishna, in my witchy shamanic chaosmos I always prayed aloud that all our food, kitchen, and lives was always offered to the gods, goddesses, guru Sri Chinmoy, & Hare Krishna! Notably, apart from my punk rock gestures we also watched animations and read Hare Krishna stories frequently.
Recently, I wanted to find the texts that had greatly inspired my vegetarianism / veganism. I remember how Hare Krishna & Srila
Prabhupada's books really helped solidify in my mind many aspects about compassionate living. So, it is very nice that my first session was to refresh with Vaishnavi our blessed group leader some basic vegetarian Hare Krishna practices.
I look forward to rediscover the exact words and texts that had empowered me once before. Nonetheless, the loving and positive vibrations of Hare Krishna vegetarianism and veganism have come back into my life. In the following I will write about some topics spoken in the group discussion led by Vaishnavi and in the next two sections elaborate further some thoughts on Hare Krishna vegetarianism and veganism especially because there is such a great concerns about the consumption of dairy in the practice of veganism.
Some topics spoken about this evening were on health - that eating vegetarian is ultimately wonderful for the health and soul. As similar to the 10 commandments written in our handout 'Thou shall not kill', we are to honour the animals and the cow sacred to Krishna. Food prepared very thoughtfully and in the Sattvic way is very important. Sattvic food purifies and aids the body, mind, and soul with attention to Ayurvedic guidelines for the body's needs. These methods help cultivate vitality and wellness for the body to help us live happy, healthy and cruelty free lives.
With attention to cruelty free and compassion, animal rights were in my own thoughts though we had not spoken more about it during the discussion directly. The importance of using ghee and dairy that is not taken in a harmful way from the cow is very important. Hare Krishnas do not consume eggs or any other animal products as well as the practice of no garlic and onions is considered to be important for the path of enlightenment.
The practice of offering our food to Krishna is also very important. Vaishnavi spoke of how unoffered food is sinful. The practice at the basic level is to have a photo of Hare Krishna and simply offer the food to him. She gave me a new beautiful photo of Krishna and his mother as well as to others in the group. I have again, reguarly began offering my food. I really feel a difference, even a change in taste.
The discussion was bright and fun. There is a great joy to create food from god, offer it, and share it. Hare Krishnas have long been infamous for sharing their incredible food. Everyone is in absolute agreeance that the prasadam is delicious full of flavors, nutrients, abundance, love, and compassion. The holy prasadam importantly also leads to our great connection with higher conciousness, Hare Krishna, and God.
I am very grateful to be reviewing my bhakti lessons with you during this Bhaimal ekadasi 5th Feb 2020. I wish you an empowering and powerful ekadesi. This Part one of my essay is subject to development as I have yet to highlight all of this first lesson. I will keep you updated. Thank you for your interest and attention.
The Bhagavad Gita and many free books from ISKCON available here - https://bit.ly/2RBeTJS 📚
Love & Haribol 💕
