Karnamrita das:
\nMy material life\u2019s ideals\u2014
\nto be happy and fulfilled
\nby meaningful,
\nloving relationships,
\nuseful work
\ncomplementing my nature
\nhelpful to others,
\nmaking a difference in the world.<\/p>\n
This wisdom took long
\nto realize and digest,
\nthe normal material direction
\nof a young person
\ndidn\u2019t appeal,
\nmy soul was yearning
\nfor more than matter
\ncould afford me.<\/p>\n
My past lives
\nspiritual goal unfinished
\nimpelling me to
\ntake the road
\nless traveled,
\nforgoing education,
\ncareer, things, to satisfy
\nmy existential crisis.<\/p>\n
I felt like a stranger
\nin a strange land
\nheeding the beat of a different drum
\nseemingly mad to the worldly
\nyet driven to seek my origin
\nlike an amnesia patient
\nnot wanting illusory identity
\nonly the Sweet Absolute Truth.<\/p>\n
With proper spiritual foundation
\nwe can truly be in the world
\nknowing we are not of it
\nusing our psycho-physical nature,
\nnatural human aspirations
\nto serve and glorify Krishna:
\nfor material attachment binds
\nlove for sadhus and Krishna liberates.<\/p>\n
Wanting the highest platform NOW,
\nrealistically taking time, patience, strength;
\nhiding from our conditioned nature
\ncan\u2019t endure, repression deludes,
\nbest being honest
\nintrospective to understand
\nwhat is required
\nfor the long haul of our life.<\/p>\n
True virtue and beauty
\nis understanding our nature
\nwhile acting accordingly
\nin the service of Shri Guru,
\nGauranga, which are the soul\u2019s
\nfood, uncovering understanding
\nremoving ignorance
\nawakening Krishna Prema.<\/p>\n
Essential to be balanced
\nnot an end in itself
\nonly for peaceful living\u2014
\nfor happiness requires peace,
\nwhile peace comes from
\nunderstanding Krishna
\nas the Supreme Proprietor,
\nEnjoyer, true dearmost Friend.<\/p>\n
Coming to Krishna differently \u2014
\nsome first renouncing
\nothers earning degrees
\nhaving various social views
\nphilosophical attractions,
\nregardless, unity as a devotee
\nin Shri Chaitanya\u2019s sankirtana
\nexperiencing the world\u2019s misery
\naspiring for Krishna Prema.<\/p>\n
Find a way to practice Bhakti
\nbeginning where you are
\nmaking it your highest ideal
\nacknowledging your conditioning
\nstretching beyond comfort zone
\ngradually increasing your practice–
\ndespite family responsibilities
\nbecome a saranagata (surrendered soul).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Karnamrita das: Uncovering the Blue Flute Player from the “Blues” My material life\u2019s ideals\u2014 to be happy and fulfilled by meaningful, loving relationships, useful work complementing my nature helpful to others, making a difference in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6930\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}