Samarpan

A Monthly e-Magazine by 

Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas

                         Issue: 33

                    August 2019
In This Issue
तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् |
ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ||

teṣhāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-poorvakam |
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te ||
(Bhagavad Gita - 10.10)

"To those whose minds are always united with me in loving devotion, I give the divine knowledge by which they can attain me."
From the Editor's Desk
Dear Devotees, 

Janmashtami is fast approaching, so is our fervor to celebrate this sublime occasion. We extend a hearty invitation for the Janmashtami Mahotsav spread over three days, from Aug 23 - 25th at the Radha Krishna Temple, Allen.

Five thousand years ago, the Supreme Lord descended in Mathura in the captivating form of Shree Krishna. Mother Yashoda was blessed to feed Him, bathe Him, and rock Him to sleep. The Purushotham (Supreme Divine Personality,) who measured the three worlds with three steps in Vamana avatar, allowed Yashoda to teach him how to walk. The Sarvavyāpak (All Pervading Lord) allowed her to bind him with a rope! 

Why does He perform such leelas (pastimes)? 

Read on for an answer...
Bhakti Ras 
Reason Behind God's Pastimes on Earth
God's leelas are divine; therefore, they are beyond the comprehension of our material intellect. If we could know and understand everything there is to know about God, then there wouldn't be any difference between Him and us. We cannot hope to know the specific reasons behind His each and every pastime, but our scriptures repeatedly proclaim that any pastime of God during any of his descensions was for the welfare of the souls:

भवेऽस्मिन्क्लिश्यमानानामविद्याकामकर्मभिः
श्रवणस्मरणार्हाणि करिष्यन्निति केचन
bhave'sminkliśyamānānāmavidyākāmakarmabhiḥ
ṣravaṇasmaraṇāhāṇi kariṣyanniti kechana (Bhagavatam - 1.8.35) 
"You descend for the welfare of the suffering souls, giving them a chance to relish the sweetness of devotion by hearing, remembering, and worshiping you".

It is our love for God that "opens the door to the impossible and makes way for the inaccessible," says H. H. Swami Mukundananda ji. When Shree Krishna descended, He bestowed upon us that rare opportunity to fill our heart and mind with that
selfless love. Out of His causeless mercy and benevolence, He descends in His loving form to nurture love in our hearts. He makes one soul his father, another mother, and another friend, yet another servant or beloved. Hiding His almightiness and bound by the love of these blessed souls, He displays amazing leelas, which become a basis for our bhakti (devotion). 
 
When we contemplate on Shree Krishna's glorious names, splendid form, sublime virtues, and delightful pastimes, the joy we attain is boundless. Why is that so? It is because He is an ocean of infinite bliss, and we souls are his tiny parts. Therefore, we are naturally drawn to this bliss, as everything is madhuram (sweet) about the Madhuradhi Pati, the Supreme Lord of Sweetness!
Wellness for Life
Meditation on the Leela of Baby Krishna Waking Up from Sleep
H. H. Swami Mukundananda ji teaches us to use roop-dhyan or meditation on the leelas of God to help us remember the purpose of life. On the momentous occasion of Janmashtami, let us meditate on the loving and sweet form of baby Krishna that we see when we visit his house and watch him waking up. This meditation is based on a guided meditation conducted by Swamiji at one of the retreats. You might ask someone to read this script for you as you meditate. 

Close your eyes, have a smile on your face and sit straight. 
 
You are going to Shree Krishna's house early in the morning. You walk in through the main door and go directly to his bedroom. He is sleeping in his crib and you are mesmerized by his lovely curly locks of hair, the peacock feather on the crown of his head and his chubby cheeks. Mother Yashoda comes into the room and tries to wake up baby Krishna but he is indifferent to her voice, turning his head away from the source of the sound. Mother Yashoda
gently picks him up from the crib and sits on the floor while trying to put Krishna in a sitting position. She again asks him to wake up but Krishna protests, saying he is sleepy and buckling his feet so Mother Yashoda has to hold him tight. He looks incredibly beautiful and Mother Yashoda's heart melts. After a few minutes, Yashoda lifts him into a standing position and baby Krishna is forced to open his eyes to regain his balance. This interplay between mother and child continues for some time where Yashoda tries to wake him up and Krishna tries to resist. 
 
Watching this scene, you are so captivated by the ethereal beauty of baby Krishna that you walk up to Mother Yashoda and hold Krishna in your own arms, mesmerized by the smile on his face and sparkle in his now open eyes. You cannot resist his charm, so you give him a hug and a kiss on his cheeks and wish that he would be your own child. He smiles back, touches your face and you truly feel like you are in a divine realm. 
 
Everything is quiet, and you slowly break out of your trace, thanking your Guru for teaching you how to do roop-dhyan.
Upcoming Events
A spiritual retreat with H.H. Swami Mukundananda is a perfect opportunity to practice the sadhana and get super-charged!!

Register now as the seats are limited! Registration includes hotel room and meals during the stay.

Do not let this excellent chance pass by!

Aug 31 (Sat) to Sep 2 (Labor Day)

Hilton Garden Inn Denison - 5015 US-75, Denison, TX 75020

Weekly Temple Events
For free weekly community offerings, please click here

Hanuman Chalisa                   - Tuesdays 7:15 pm
Lalita Sahasranamam             - Fridays 6:45 pm
BG Study Circle                       - Saturdays 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Vishnu Sahasranamam           - Sundays 9:30 am
Weekly Satsang                      - Sundays 10:30 am
Radha Krishna Abhishek        - 2nd Thursday 6:30 pm
Akhand Kirtan                         - 2nd Friday 7 pm to midnight        
Yoga Classes                          - Mondays 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm and Saturdays 8 am to 9:15 am

 

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Donate a Dollar a Day towards the building and upkeep of the Radha Krishna temple! By donating just $1 everyday,
you'll help this noble cause!

 How many of us have the opportunity and are fortunate enough to build a house for God?

Set up monthly contributions through credit card/debit card by calling: 860-605-3685 or by visiting temple website at Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (click).