Thanksgiving & Gita Jayanti (Nov 2009)

This is a special time of year for people in America – Thanksgiving. Of course every culture has its time of thanksgiving. Here in New Vrindaban we recently celebrated Diwali, commemorating the safe return of Rama & Sita to Ayodhya. All the citizens of Ayodhya lighted candles to welcome them back, and show support and gratitude for Rama Raj, the bountiful rule of Lord Rama that was to come.

Devotees also celebrated Gorvardhan Puja, commemorating the protection and kindness Lord Krishna showered upon the residents of Vrindaban when Indra flooded their land with torrents of rain. Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill just like an umbrella, and He held it up for seven days and seven nights, giving shelter to the Vrindaban residents. And while they were living under the hill, they remained joyful and they felt no hunger, thirst, nor fatigue.

It is import for us to cultivate a mood of gratitude for the gifts we have in our lives, and especially for those people and things that help nourish us and guide us through good times and difficult times; gratitude even for something as simple as the air we breathe.

I’m writing this on the eve of Gita Jayanti. The Bhagavad Gita is a gift to all humankind from Lord Krishna Himself. As you may know, Mahatma Gandhi said of the Gita:

“When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day."

Bhagavad Gita is a remedy for this age of anxiety. Krishna's words can guide us, just as thousands of years ago, His message calmed the mind of Arjuna who had lost his composure and was confused as to what course of action to take.

Arjuna was not a scholar, a sadhu or a renunciate. He was a family man, a warrior, a man with worldly duties and responsibilities. Sometimes, as Arjuna, we may also become confused and lose sight of our eternal, spiritual nature. We may feel that we are drying up. And as Arjuna, our minds and spirits can become refreshed by hearing the words of Sri Krishna.

It’s very important now and again to take some time for introspection, to slow down from the hectic pace that we often find ourselves in. This is Kaliyuga – the age of anxiety, stress, and quarrel.

The Hopi tribe in the southwest USA have an ancient prediction that there will come a time when life's pace speeds out of control, and at that time we must make a conscious effort to slow down. By mindfulness and introspection a tremendous change can come about by what seems to be this one little act or effort.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare