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WORLD April 23, 1999 VNN3677 Prabhupada Guide Dreams To Rock My Soul BY DHANISTHA DASI USA, Apr 23 (VNN) — New book written by Dhanistha dasi Prabhupada Guide Dreams to Rock My Soul written by Dhanistha dasi and dedicated to the Berkeley Women's Samkirtan Party describes personal pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and vivid memories of special Vaisnavas in our young history such as Jayananda prabhu and Madanacini devi dasi. It touches on the past and travels through into the present lives of devotees honestly expressing our tribulations and our blessed triumphs. This book stirs a strengthening inner chord in regard to the disciple-guru relationship. The unique perspective of women in a spiritual society is delicately brought to light-not only their tenderness of heart, but their ability to move mountains with a little faith. Prabhupada blesses us all and motivated by prayer, this narrative begs the reader acknowledge these blessings and honor the spirit soul within each of our hearts... for we are all seated humble at his feet by his loving grace. The accompanying excerpts give taste of the broad spectrum of experience contained in Prabhupada Guide Dreams. p. 33 " Jayananda used to stand casually with the other devotees in the entrance hall to the temple, between various functions or before breakfast prasadam. Often times, the conversations took on current events within the society's walls and sometimes this could sink to gossip or tremendous undue worry over different leaders or matters. I tended to watch Jayananda from some distance, often peripherally, so as not to interfere with his natural demeanor. When topics sometimes took a turn for the worst, that is, away from the delight of Krsna nectar to the refuse piles, he would gradually recede within himself. First, (he always had his hand in his bead bag) he would gently shake his beads and softly begin to chant. Within a few mantras his eyes would be closing and his consciousness withdrawing from the group of chatters he stood amongst. His hand with his bead bag would draw slowly to his heart.Then transfixed, he would pull those of us who could manage to let go of the stranglehold we had on the conversation to the sweet taste of the Holy Names I remember whole rooms full of devotees gradually affected by a radiating wave of soft chanting, until unified, we would sanctify the whole universal atmosphere while Krsna danced on our tongues." mayy eva mana adhatsva mayi buddhim nivesaya nivasisyasi mayy eva ata urdhvam na samsayah "Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt." Bhagavad-gita 12.8 excerpt from purport to above verse by Srila Prabhupada "A devotee does not live on the material plane÷he lives in Krsna. The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are non different; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Krsna, Krsna and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee." p.74 Dream of Srila Prabhupada (occurring on Lord Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day, May 1995) " I dreamed Srila Prabhupada came smiling and leaned down toward me from his Vyasasana and said, ÎI received your Vyasa-puja offering, the one you wrote me long ago, and I liked it very much. Thank you, don't worry, I received it.' I awoke from a long twenty year wonder." p.94 "There were ten to twelve women distributing books at the airport and in the parking lots around the Bay area. There were several more dedicated boys also. We made a good team of Godbrothers and Godsisters working for Srila Prabhupada and becoming intelligent and responsible Vaisnavas in the samkirtana effort. Our impetus was the transcendental satisfaction and pure joy we felt in performing the service itself. For most of us, it was our very life. Our inspiration and ability came uniquely from within each of us. Samkirtana could not be taught by an external technique, but some thought otherwise and thus disturbed the flow of our inspirations." p.145 "When the spiritual master comes in a dream it is of his choosing. Though our minds may flicker here and there, his intent being always fully conscious in Transcendent Reality with the Lord, as His beloved servant, is to instruct, guide and reassure us. Thus, does he come, and often, for such a fool as this that sits here in the dark most of the time half-sleeping. Even after his physical departure from this mortal world (and for me almost solely then) he enters our dreams to review lessons going so far in his liberal guidance as to walk through our free will to sleep through them" p.165 "Later that day a strange thing happened. Srila Prabhupada called for us to come back in the afternoon and clean again. This was an emergency cleaning for a large black cat had sneaked in through a window and wreaked havoc on the upper study areas where Prabhupada would often write. The cat had created unspeakable messes and his presence contaminated the whole atmosphere. Srila Prabhupada called us back to clean it all up. It was so good to be called on. He said this big cat was actually a demon who lived in Vrndavana and had come to disturb Krsna's devotees. (As I write this late in tornado weather, a thunderbolt struck full force outside the window. It is dark as pitch and confirmation has come loudly. Demons can take many forms but thunder rolls on comforting me through many a stormy night.)" p.189 "I understand the out of body experiences children recall when they are abused or assaulted. The soul cannot bear such pain. The soul hovers above the hideous scene. The body is pawned and numb. I understand why we hesitate or don't immediately panic and run or fight. I've seen rabbits in the field afraid or on a roadway so scared you see their hearts beating, but they squat down and close their eyes as the predator descends upon them. Out of utter fear the soul hovers, momentarily, above the hideous scene. I've heard rabbits scream but it's always too late." p.199 "Today a good rain poured at dawn. I am twenty-one years from the plane ride to Seattle and thinking similar thoughts as I did at that safe altitude from earthly conflicts. I wonder what the devotees will think. How will they respond when they read these words? And I know they will. For try as we might to hold ourselves aloof from the pain and free from any sense of responsibility to each other we cannot in good conscience. And what we seek is good consciousness like a good rain at dawn. Everything grows and blooms to fruition with each blessed drop and it is grace of the Almighty that this is so. He reigns (rains) in His Transcendence. (Feeling a rain was imminent, I weeded my garden all morning yesterday and after the hot sun dissipated, I weeded some more into sunset. By the time the corn rows were tilled and the tomatoes free from any choking intrusions, my hands were a job in themselves to clean. My method has always been to sift through the loose dirt and remove any new weeds with bare hands. The hands get soiled and it takes some time, but it feels right. To thoroughly do the job, you've got to get your hands dirty. They'll wash. Now with this morning's rain, a surge of growth will spill through the garden and a few more weeds, but less than yesterday, will emerge to be plucked by any gardener willing to put her hands in the dirt.) During the morning thunder, sky lit with godly electricity and sheets of windblown rains, I remembered upon rising, the danger of taking a shower in one's bathroom during a thunderstorm. People are sometimes struck by lightening coming through the house pipes. I needed to get on with my bathing and ready myself for morning japa, but I hesitated as to what dangers may hold true then as lightening cracked all around, I took the faith in Krsna one step further and outside, in the woods, in a Godsend rain, I stood fearless, but humbled in a pouring storm. Better cleansing, increased faith, and beyond comparing to the lowly crouching in a bathroom beneath a man-made water tap, ducking at the claps of thunder." p.238 "May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other's welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krsna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him." Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.9 " The material world is full of envious persons, but if one frees himself of envy, he becomes liberal in his social dealings and can think of others' welfare. Anyone who takes up Krsna consciousness and engages himself completely in the service of the Lord cleanses his mind of all envy (manas ca bhadram bhajatad adhoksaje). Therefore we should pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to sit in our hearts. We should pray, bahir nrsimho hrdaye nrsimhah: ÎLet Lord Nrsimhadeva sit in the core of my heart, killing all my bad propensities. Let my mind become clean so that I may peacefully worship the Lord and bring peace to the entire world.'" excerpt from purport to above verse by Srila Prabhupada If you would like to order this book and support efforts to create a small and humble women's asrama; - please send a donation for $20.00 + $4.00s&h ($ 8.00 for international orders) per book - Make check or money order payable to Deborah Yarber - send to; Dhanistha dasi Rt.1 Box 267 Stonefort. Illinois 62987 ph 618 672-4689 Send your comments on Prabhupada Guide Dreams to Gita 434@aol.com to be included on a future website. Dear Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I beg forgiveness from anyone who is sensitive to this book, Prabhupada Guide Dreams to Rock My Soul and may have disagreements or feels it is too frank or even offensive. I had no intentions, nor do I now, to hurt or offend anyone. These truths must be told and anyone who knows the actual circumstances and history firsthand of our tribulations in ISKCON, knows I barely skimmed the surface in terms of the numerous atrocities committed on the general mass of devotees particularly, our women and children. I want to express a deep concern and a personal apology to our second generation children, now our youthful adults. I have heard so much about your abuses perpetrated by some "adults" in our Movement onto your delicate innocence I do not know how your faith could hold up through it all, but I can relate to you and I can believe in your hearts. I have no firsthand knowledge of your rampant and torturous stories. If I knew your stories better, I would write a book to try and help. But these are your stories. You will most effectively tell your own truths and I beg you to do so for it is your right and truth.Revealing this will heal our hearts who will listen as well as yours. I know this by my own experience. I pray with great concern for your efforts, Gurukulis, you are our shining hope. If I can help please call me. All financial assistance, contributions, and intake from the sales of Prabhupada Guide Dreams is going to build a very small sandstone temple and set up a healing ashrama for Vaisnava women in a rural setting. It will not be opulent (by ISKCON standards) but will provide a clean atmosphere to emphasize a positive spiritually fresh start a place where Prabhupada's women disciples and followers can come together to study his books, associate, chant, dance, and reinstitute our legacy as servants of Prabhupada through his instructions and guidance. As we grow older these are much needed places for us. Because the temple and grounds will remain simple, low cost, humble and somewhat quiet, there will not be a large resident population. rather facilities will be for women to come and periodically rejuvenate, share what we're learning and take in our hearts a renewed faith to preach Krsna Consciousness to souls wherever we travel. Everyone will have an opportunity to give classes, lead kirtanas, serve the deities, tech, cook, garden, everything. There are already gardens of vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs. A small cottage temple( mentioned in the book) is now on the site, but many improvements must be made to provide for needed caretakers, residents and guests. First and foremost a stone temple must be built ( very small) with pujari loft quarters and a most important room adjacent the temple the key to the overall plan: The Brhat Mrdanga Library and Prabhupada Archival collection. We will also need to build Tulasi's greenhouse to properly accommodate her merciful presence on the temple grounds. If you are inclined to learn more about this project or contribute to these very humble efforts, please contact me. With all prayers, Hare Krsna. Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada, Dhanistha dasi Comment on this Story | Contact VNN regarding this Story
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