En Route to Riga

After being in the scorching heat of India, it's quite a contrast to be here in snow laden Estonia. This is a graphic reminder of Lord Sri Krishna's words in the Bhagavad-gita that this material world is a place of dualities and that we must therefore learn to be tolerant. Sometimes it is cold. Sometimes it is hot. Sometimes we are honored. Sometimes we are dishonored. Sometimes we are healthy. Sometimes we are sick. Sometimes we are wealthy. Sometimes we are poor. Through all situations, we must learn to endure these dualities finding lasting peace and happiness by always taking shelter of our constant companion, Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The insider's secret of how to easily get the Lord's shelter is to be always as much as possible distributing the mercy of His shelter to others. This enables us to easily enter into and remain in the sublime spiritual atmosphere known as Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Experiencing the Dualities in Estonia

Experiencing the Dualities in Estonia

Distributing Krishna's Mercy in Tartu, Estonia--31 March 2009

Sankarshan Das Distributing Krishna's Mercy in Tartu Estonia

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Reach 16 Rounds Every Day?

I am trying to do sixteen rounds of Hare Krishna chanting each day. Sometimes I reach the goal. Sometimes I do not. How can I achieve this goal of chanting 16 rounds every day without fail?

Ramesh

Answer: Don't Neglect to Feed the Soul

Your desire to be steady every day in chanting at least sixteen rounds is a first class desire.

As we make sure to eat sufficient meals each day for keeping our body satisfied and healthy, we must similarly make sure that we chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra on japa mala beads every day to make sure that the spirit-soul, which is situated in the body, is in an enlivened spiritually-surcharged state.

Just as we do starve the body by not eating, a devotee does not neglect the spiritual upkeep of the soul within. After all, the real self is the soul within, not the temporary body, which is a covering only. Therefore each day our first priority should be to complete at least 16 rounds of japa before we even think about eating. So rise early before dawn, take your bath, apply tilaka to your body, dress nicely in devotional clothing, and fully absorb yourself in chanting until you have completed at least 16 rounds of japa. Then you may take your breakfast and begin your daily duties.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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