Stuck on the Bridge at Sovetsk

2 October 2009--6:00PM--Sovetsk, Russia. Our journey from Kaunas, Lithuania to Kaliningrad, Russia has hit a real snag. My evening lecture in Kaliningrad had to be cancelled. We are now at the Russian border at Sovesk. There is a long queue of vehicles waiting to enter Russia. Each vehicle can take up to 1/2 hour. We arrived in the early afternoon and dutifully took our place at the end of the queue. Then it became late afternoon, which turned into evening and now has transformed into pitch black night. After answering all my emails and getting a head start on the next installment of "Thought for the Day" I was wondering what to do next that would keep me absorbed in Krishna consciousness. Then Mataji reminded me that my harmonium was in the van. So within a moment what looked like it would be long excruciating ordeal was transformed into a festival of transcendental bliss by the sweet mercy of Lord Krishna's holy names.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

P.S. We finally cleared immigration by 9:30PM and made it o Kaliningrad by 11:30PM. We could have flown from Europe to the USA in less time than it took us to travel from Kaunas to Kaliningrad. The driving time was not the issue. The real issue was the Russian border red tape.

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Which Mantra to Recite?

I am confused as there are lot of mantras which I have come across. I do recite the Hare Krishna mantra, but then I come across Narayana Kavacham , Hanuman Chalisa, Devi stotram , Ganesha prayers, etc.

What is the main mantra to attain God ? I am currently going through lot of problems in my personal life and have lost all my interests in this worldly life and want to be with God. How can I attain this ?

Regards,
P.

Answer: Sastra Enjoins the Hare Krishna Mantra

According to the authoritative statement of the Kali Santarana Upanisad, the Hare Krishna mantra is the recommended mantra for achieving spiritual perfection in this age of Kali:

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ
kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ
sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
-- these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name."

Kindly chant these names as much as possible every day and your life will become sublime. You will attain the peace you desire.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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