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Attending a Krishna meditation service.
DaftChris
Spiritually conflicted. Not of this world. Veteran
Yesterday, I took a friend of mine and went back to the local Hindu temple for meditation and chanting devoted to Krishna.
When we arrived, there was a man who pointed us to a smaller building down a hill. We assumed the meditation was not going to be in the main temple, so we went down the hill. We met up with another visitor (a nursing student) and entered the building. This was a case of miscommunication; the building we were in was the cultural center and was filled with middle/high school students (who seemed interested as to why there were non-indians there. ). As it turns out, the meditation was in the main temple, the man just didn't think we were there for that. Thus, we headed to the temple.
Fun little tidbit, when I asked the kids where the Krishna meditation was, one girl thought I said CHRISTIAN meditation.
When we entered the temple, we did the usual (removed shoes, washed our hands, etc) and my friend was in heaven. It was the first time she stepped foot in a hindu temple in years. The man introduced himself (he wasn't the priest; as it turns out, the preist is out of country) and showed us all around the temple. He then took us to a small room in the hallway where there was a small shrine with a photo of Krishna, a picture of his guru and a photo of a goddess (I don't remember her name, but during chants, I heard Lakshmi and Devi). After a few minutes, two women showed up and the meditation began.
There was 15 minutes of meditation with chanting. Very peaceful, but a little frustrating as I couldn't chant along (not knowing the words). Following the mediation was a reading from a book by the mans guru. I don't remember her name, but the passage was about how she felt the presence of Krishna by giving a poor man money to make a very important pilgrimage. My favorite part was the devotional song everyone sang (this was when the goddess was mentioned) and a candy offering from Krishna was given out to everyone.
Following the meditation was a general puja to the deities in the temple: Venkateshwara, Shiva, Krishna & Radha, Ganesha, Rama & Sita, the Goddess and Mahavira. I took part in the major rituals: the circling of the flaming chalice, fruit offerings, the flame purification and I got to ring the temple bell.
Afterwards, I spoke to the devotees who were there. They were extremely friendly and welcoming of the three of us to their temple. The man told us of the other Pujas and said we were always welcome. With this in mind, we said Namaste and headed out.
One more thing: before meditation started, we were told that three people who usually show up weren't there. When my friend and I showed up with the other visitor, the man performing the meditation said "Although the other three couldn't make it, God guided these three to us". This small stentence left such a big impact that it, honestly, was probably what cemented the whole experience as truly positive.
When we arrived, there was a man who pointed us to a smaller building down a hill. We assumed the meditation was not going to be in the main temple, so we went down the hill. We met up with another visitor (a nursing student) and entered the building. This was a case of miscommunication; the building we were in was the cultural center and was filled with middle/high school students (who seemed interested as to why there were non-indians there. ). As it turns out, the meditation was in the main temple, the man just didn't think we were there for that. Thus, we headed to the temple.
Fun little tidbit, when I asked the kids where the Krishna meditation was, one girl thought I said CHRISTIAN meditation.
When we entered the temple, we did the usual (removed shoes, washed our hands, etc) and my friend was in heaven. It was the first time she stepped foot in a hindu temple in years. The man introduced himself (he wasn't the priest; as it turns out, the preist is out of country) and showed us all around the temple. He then took us to a small room in the hallway where there was a small shrine with a photo of Krishna, a picture of his guru and a photo of a goddess (I don't remember her name, but during chants, I heard Lakshmi and Devi). After a few minutes, two women showed up and the meditation began.
There was 15 minutes of meditation with chanting. Very peaceful, but a little frustrating as I couldn't chant along (not knowing the words). Following the mediation was a reading from a book by the mans guru. I don't remember her name, but the passage was about how she felt the presence of Krishna by giving a poor man money to make a very important pilgrimage. My favorite part was the devotional song everyone sang (this was when the goddess was mentioned) and a candy offering from Krishna was given out to everyone.
Following the meditation was a general puja to the deities in the temple: Venkateshwara, Shiva, Krishna & Radha, Ganesha, Rama & Sita, the Goddess and Mahavira. I took part in the major rituals: the circling of the flaming chalice, fruit offerings, the flame purification and I got to ring the temple bell.
Afterwards, I spoke to the devotees who were there. They were extremely friendly and welcoming of the three of us to their temple. The man told us of the other Pujas and said we were always welcome. With this in mind, we said Namaste and headed out. One more thing: before meditation started, we were told that three people who usually show up weren't there. When my friend and I showed up with the other visitor, the man performing the meditation said "Although the other three couldn't make it, God guided these three to us". This small stentence left such a big impact that it, honestly, was probably what cemented the whole experience as truly positive.
7
Comments
Krishna is a bit blue for me. A sort of super smurf.
Such jubilation, whenever we go see Papa Smurf.
Keep the Faith. Even if it is someone else's.
om gam ganapataye namaha
Hari Krishna
'ave ah Nice Day (Ronald McDonald dharma)
:bowdown:
are you in India currently?
the devotional song, in which you heard the Goddess name, my guess is that that song can be - om jai jagdish hare, swami jai jagdish hare.
i know about ISCKON group devoted to Lord Krishna, but i have not heard any criminal charges against them. i think they should be peaceful in general, if they really are devotees of Lord Krishna and know what Lord Krishna taught in Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta.
moreover, i think if any wrong act would have been done by any individual of ISCKON group, then that wrong act should not be generalized to whole ISCKON group.
@music: i am a Hindu, but i will not say anything about your post above. i have read your other posts and seems to me that currently you are sufferring too badly inside yourself. my compassion is with you. hope you see things as 'just they are'.
And you are absolutely right about generalizing ISKCON. I have heard some negative things about them, but that doesn't mean the every single member has done or agrees with what happened; if anything really happened at all.
Absolutely! Unlike a lot of other 22 year olds, I'm not into the party scene. I'd much rather go to a Buddhist or Hindu temple for meditation and prayer. I plan on going back this Tuesday for a Hanuman Chalisa.
jai hanuman gyan gun sagar, jai kapish tihu lok ujagar.
ram dut atulit bal dhama, anjani putr pawan sut nama.
My sort of party.
Say hi from me.
my mantra is
OM YA HA HUM
Which means 'God Rocks'
Have a great time. :clap:
I did talk to some of them and read the literature, though. I even had a subscription to their magazine Back to Godhead for a time. I still read the Bhagavad Gita at times.
From what I understand, abuse did happen and ISKCON admitted it honestly and paid millions in damages.