Three times now today I've caught myself calling "Krishna!" when trying to call to my dogs! Soon enough I'll forget their names altogether...and I bet I even start calling my girlfriend Krishna!
A friend of mine too.................. In 1908-09 Sri Aurobindo was imprisoned in Alipore jail by the British authorities, charged with sedition. He was suspected of involvement in a nationalist bomb-plot. He was acquitted in May 1909. Sri Aurobindo spent most of his time in jail reading the Gita and the Upanishads, and intensively meditating. Here is an extract from his later Uttarpara Speech, in which he describes one of the experiences that came to him at this time. ‘ I looked at the jail that secluded me from men and it was no longer by its high walls that I was imprisoned; no, it was Vasudeva who surrounded me. I walked under the branches of the tree in front of my cell but it was not the tree, I knew it was Vasudeva, it was Sri Krishna whom I saw standing there and holding over me His shade. I looked at the bars of my cell, the very grating that did duty for a door and again I saw Vasudeva. It was Narayana who was guarding and standing sentry over me. Or I lay on the coarse blankets that were given me for a couch and I felt the arms of Sri Krishna around me, the arms of my friend and lover. This was the first use of the deeper vision He gave me. I looked at the prisoners in the jail, the thieves, the murderers, the swindlers, and as I looked at them I saw Vasudeva, it was Narayana I found in these darkened souls and misused bodies. When the case opened in the lower court and we were brought before the magistrate, I was followed by the same insight. He said to me, ‘When you were cast into jail, did not your heart fail and did you not cry out to me, where is Thy protection? Look now at the magistrate, look now at the prosecuting counsel’. I looked and it was not the magistrate whom I saw, it was Vasudeva, it was Narayana who was sitting there on the bench. I looked at the prosecuting counsel, and it was not the counsel for the prosecution I saw; it was Sri Krishna who sat there, it was my lover and friend who sat there and smiled.’
Nice story! I would like to hear more stories about the old sages mystical experiences if you've got any or know of a place to read them. I want to see Sri Krishna!
bahunam janmanam ante jnanavaan maam prapadyate vaasudeva sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhaha In this famous Gita verse, Krishna says, "After several lifetimes, the intelligent man surrenders to me, seeing me in everything (including himself). Such a great person is very rare."
Also BG CH.5 vs 18 - 'Sages see with an equal eye the learned and cultured Brahmin, the cow, the elephant, the dog and the outcaste'
Have you read any of the Bhagavatam - the Bhagavata Purana? It contains, in the tenth canto, the stories of Krishna's earthly Lila. It is probably second only to the Gita for Krishna devotees. It contains many stories of the experience of ancient sages and yogis. There is a complete muti-volume translation by Srila Prabhupada, as well as his 'Krsna' book, which retells the stories of Krishna's pastimes from canto 10. Prabhpada's Krsna book is online at http://www.krsnabook.com/ There are also other versions and translations.
Actually, a person who automatically yells "Krishna" instead of eeeyaaahhh...sheeeit!! in that situation is demonstrating an advanced level of consciousness
I actually have a book coming in the mail called "The Beautiful Legend of God" which contains the tenth canto of the Bhagavata Purana. It's a Penguin Classic, so I'm not really sure how great of a translation it will be, but I'm sure I can find joy in reading it anyhow. I was also wondering, although I'm pretty sure of the answer, if any of the other parts of the Bhagavata Purana are worth getting into. It seems awfully large, and I worry that it may get to deep into someones personal philosophy or touch on metaphysical topics that I tend to try and avoid. The Gita is the perfect amount of mystical/practical knowledge for me, and I worry that anything deeper or more complex may jumble my mind and stray me away from the goal. If it is stories of Krishna though, than I am quite interested, for I feel that reading them strengthens my relationship with Him.
I think Vaisnavas tend to regard using Krishna's name as a blessing, while Christians would think of yelling "Jesus Christ" in the manner familiar to us all as taking the Lord's name in vain. In either case, it depends on how it's said.
Penguin classics are wonderful. I have the Penguin version of The Bhagavad-Gita. I have been meaning to get the one of the 10th canto 'cause it looks awesome too. You will have to tell us how it is. *peace and love* Nicole
::nods:: This is quite so....that's also I think why Jewish people write God without the "o" like G-d~ just to prevent taking His name in vain...also they apparently can't throw away things that have it written with the 'o'
I've read 'The Beautiful Legend of God' - it's generally a very good scholarly translation. Perhaps the only fault is that the style is a bit dry at times. Prabhupada's Krsna book is good for other reasons. And has beautiful illustrations which bring in another dimension. I wouldn't read more than you are happy with, or more than you can take in and assimilate. With the Bhagavatam, it contains some interesting stuff, but it is long. The 1st canto though is probabaly worth reading through. The stories of Krishna's Lila are essential.
