Day 1, Yoga of the Heart
February 12th — arrival at Jagannātha Puri
Devotees from across the globe came together today to inaugurate the 2024 ISV Yatra. The evening began with Kirtan in a beautifully decorated hall followed by a lecture on the purpose of this Yatra: molding the heart to the spiritual world.
We cannot take entering the Dhama lightly, it must be done with the right attitude. The art of entering the Dhama is such that when we take Darshan, keep in mind it is not us coming to see Krsna. Actually, it is an opportunity for the Lord to see us.
For example, in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Mahaprabhu would stand at the Garuda Stambha and say, “Krishna will look out and recognize his devotee Garuda and the Lord will see me when he sees His servant Garuda.”
This type of thinking, constant mediation on how the Lord might see us, is a wonderful example of the service of looking for ways to improve service. In Srila Bhakti Siddanhanta Saraswati Thakura’s commentary on the cleansing of the Gundica Temple, it is said that hearing, chanting and devotee association allows Krsna from within the heart to remove anarthas.
We may not know what is in our hearts – it must be shown to us.
In chapter 8 of the Gītā, Krsna says it is the quality of our hearts that leads us through this world. There is no need to be guarded here, Dhama. Lord Caitanya can open our hearts and bring true happiness. Puri is the place where we can witness every day devotees participating in the 6 loving exchanges, constantly engaged in hearing and chanting. Lord Caitanya’s associates would wait 3 months to come here to associate with Him.
More than temple-hopping, the holy places are for hearing from the Mahatmas. The material world has nothing to do with us, we are simply here. So, what then is the purpose of coming to a holy place, if not to associate with great souls?
Yudisthira says in Srimad-Bhagavatam, "Those who carry Krsna in their hearts are as good as a holy place.” But what to say of a Vaishnava who, by definition, carries love for Krsna in their hearts. By making ourselves available, open-hearted, to the Dhama, we enter with anticipation of seeing Krsna and receiving Him – like Akrura. And when we invest our hearts fully in this experience, we are able to attract others to the Holy Dhama as well.
By remembering Mahaprabhu, that which is difficult becomes easy. By forgetting Him, that which is easy becomes difficult. We are here to meditate on Lord Caitanya and through His mercy all obstacles are removed and all desires fulfilled.
This is a service yatra - not a room service yatra. Tomorrow we will visit Tota Gopinatha, the Bhajan Kutir of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and go out on Sankirtan. The Bhajan Kutir of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta is atop a sand dune Caitanya thought of as Govardhana and ran toward full of love.
On Sankirtan in Puri, everyone is very spiritual already. When you meet someone, try this:
1. Kick off your shoes. This means something spiritual is about to happen, they know this and they’ll kick their shoes off too.
2. Approach and hand them a Jagannatha sticker.
3. Then hand them a prasadam lollipop - everyone loves candy on a stick!
4. Now give them a book.
5. Finally, show them the language card, stand in mountain pose, and don’t say anything. They know that you know that they know.
The evening concluded with Jagannatha Mahaprasadam, carried to us in clay pots and sweetened to perfection.
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