An Afternoon of Devotion at my Local Hare Krishna Temple

                                                
     This picture is of a harmonium, which is one of the primary instruments used in kirtan (chanting). Google images.

The door opened and a young woman in beautiful traditional Indian clothing ushered me warmly in. I took off my shoes and before long Jiva greeted me from the doorway. I embraced her quickly, refreshed at seeing someone familiar while in the midst of such a new experience. It had been a few weeks before my first visit to the temple which was merely to purchase japa mala beads for meditation. During my brief encounter with Jiva and her husband I had become curious about the beliefs of Hare Krishnas and had asked her many questions. I had enjoyed our conversation and felt intrigued to learn more and also come back to experience one of their services for myself.

As we approached the entrance to the temple room Jiva explained that they were just finishing their Tulsi ceremony and inquired whether or not I wished to take part. I said yes and soon found myself falling into line with others who were chanting while walking around a circle. In the center of the circle was a stand that stood about three feet tall and on it was placed a tulsi plant with a small bowl and spoon beside it.

As I walked my circuitous route I noted my surroundings. The room of the temple looked smaller than the last time I had visited. This was because a curtain had been drawn in front of where the deities were displayed. Intermittently throughout the service until the very end I noticed a devotee who would keep going behind the curtain and ring reverently what sounded like bells.

Flashes of my former life as a Christian blazed across my awareness. I had the quick thought that if I was asked if I wanted to participate in such a ritual just a year or so ago I would have outright refused. In fact, I would have never put myself in such a position to be asked in the first place. I would have considered entering a place of worship other than one that which glorified Jesus as being heresy and a sin and would have actually been very much afraid for the fate of my soul chanting the names of foreign gods. I consciously reminded myself that I no longer believe that way, shaking the small residual unease clean from my conscience. Blazing bright in my awareness was the truth that God is not so small as to dwell  in one religion only but dwells in the hearts of all sentient beings and is expressed in countless of ways.

My intention at the temple that Sunday afternoon was to witness and participate in how Hare Krishnas worship and tap into an awareness of the Divine. I wanted to learn all I could from those that seemed to find so much peace and happiness while on their spiritual path towards God. It was my desire to immerse myself with my surroundings and participate to my fullest capacity, leaving any potential inhibitions with my shoes at the door.

As we walked around in the circle Jiva came to me and instructed me to dip a tiny spoon in the bowl of water that was laid beside the tulsi plant and then let the water fall on the fingers of my opposite hand, allowing the excess water to simply fall on the smooth hard wood floor below. With the hand that had just gotten wet I dipped the spoon in again and poured its small contents onto a delicate leaf. I then resumed my position with the others, chanting and circling.

When we stopped the tulsi ritual we continued to chant. A friendly devotee handed me a small booklet to help me with the words which were unfamiliar and in sanskrit. Some might think that all that Hare Krishnas chant is the mahamantra but going to the service eroded that assumption from my conception of them. There were lots of other chants. Though of course, the mahamantra was emphasized.

Not long after mats were spread out all over the floor and I found a position on one of them as those around me settled onto their own. The same devotee handed me a copy of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is. That is the official translation devotees use of the Bhagavad Gita. It was translated by his divine grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the man who started the krishna consciousness movement in the west in the late 60's.  The temple president Pyari Mohan Prabhu then began the Bhagavad Gita class. As an interesting sidenote he is also Jiva's husband.

Unlike most sermons where the congregation's role is more like that of an audience the Bhagavad Gita class was much more intimate and interactive. Our teacher read from parts of the Gita which we repeated aloud and then read whatever notes the Gita would have on those verses and then discuss the theme of the selected verses. There was much back and forth between students and teacher. I appreciated such an exchange because it really seemed to foster true understanding. Questions weren't jotted down in a notebook to be perhaps emailed to the pastor at a later time only to receive a sometimes brief and unsatisfactory reply. Instead answers were immediately given and oftentimes in a warm and encouraging manner.

A principle that was discussed that resonated with me was the fact that we must seek out and be focused and aware of the eternal. That it is destructive to one's spiritual progress to become attached to the impermanent material stuff of life that the world offers us. That which quickly fades and tarnishes. Instead, our hearts should be set on and devoted to the Ultimate Truth, to Krishna/God. That is something that I have been actively working on in my personal life. 

Another thing that was emphasized was the need to recognize that God is personal and has a personality. I have to admit, that this is one area I struggle with accepting and understanding. Perhaps I always will.  During this time I listened intently as our teacher described how he once practiced Buddhism and meditated hoping to achieve a oneness with Brahman. This pursuit did not satisfy him completely and he still felt spiritually restless after years of pursuing this path. He noted that Brahman is only one aspect of God. There are three: Brahman, Supersoul and Personal God/Krishna. To neglect the personal aspect of God was not to achieve full realization into God's nature and a complete relationship with Him (Krishna consciousness).  For really, how can one have a relationship with something impersonal? I thought a lot about what he had to say, noting that many I've talked to and read while studying the Hare Krishna religion  have noted that they went from a nonpersonal to a personal belief in God after studying Buddhism and other eastern philosophies for years and believing in Brahman exclusively. That's kind of where I am right now. Seeing God in all and all in God. Seeing Him more as an Ultimate Reality of all things in which when we die we merge back into. A creative energy full of love and compassion weaving reality together. Through meditation I have felt and had awareness of the deep interconnectedness that all of life shares.

The teaching that devotees should only associate with other devotees came up in the class. This is also something heavily endorsed in a book I am reading that Jiva gave me, "The Nectar of Instruction". I could see the point to that teaching in one sense. As a Christian I once held that belief for the most part myself. There are many reasons to associate with other believers of the same faith. Not only does it give one a sense of fellowship and encouragement but it also provides one with accountability which is necessary for anyone digging deep and pursuing their faith to its fullest. Relationships with fellow believers can be profoundly edifying. At the same time, I wonder what this means for a new devotee that perhaps wasn't raised in such a community and has almost all friends and family who are not devotees. I can imagine that this approach could lead to definite feelings of being isolated from once meaningful relationships. Also, wouldn't a great way of witnessing and allowing the positive effects of one's spiritual beliefs be to actually form relationships with nonbelievers? I'd love the opportunity to interview a devotee who was not raised in this faith but converted to adulthood, to hear both the blessings and challenges such a conversion brought about in their lives. Perhaps that's an idea for another post.

We resumed chanting after the class and I could feel this beautiful sense of peace, a joyful energy emanating from the center of my consciousness. It pushed itself up through layers of stubborn ego. This feeling of love, awareness of God, only breaks through into my awareness during times of meditation, mindfulness and chanting. It welled up and outward. I felt my spirit take flight. Incense drifted, dancing amidst the sound vibrations of all who chanted. Their faces beamed with peace and devotion. A woman walked around holding a platter with flames. I watched intently as she walked up to devotees. They would sweep their hands along the top of the flames then move them in a sweeping motion across their foreheads. I knew she was going to come to me and was nervous because I've always been wary of fire. It took me years to even use our grill!  I felt a sense of trust in the process as I observed that  nobody taking part seemed to be ablaze. When the platter made its way to me I took a breath and then did as all the others did, swiftly moving my hands along the top of it and moving my hands in a sweeping motion across my forehead. The woman simply moved on and I resumed my chanting unscorched.

When the service came to the end the only part I didn't participate in unfolded. Devotees all went to the deities and participated in a ritual. I didn't really know what was being done and since I had no understanding of the ritual along with the fact that devotees believe the deities embody actual gods, I thought it best for me to refrain. I didn't want to do something wrong and insult anyone or offend a deity.

The service concluded in traditional Hare Krishna style-with a feast. The Hare Krishna religion is often referred to as the "kitchen religion" because of its emphasis on food. Hare Krishnas are vegetarian but not only do they abstain from eating the flesh of other sentient beings they also first offer their food to Krishna in love and devotion. Since God is within all of His creations, both sentient and non-sentient, when one consumes even something like a plant, which to our knowledge is not conscious, that person will still accumulate negative karma. When one first offers their food to Krishna/God their food is purified and is completely karma free. This food is called prasada and it is what is offered after every temple service. It was truly a feast for a wide variety of food was offered. Everything from fresh fruit to ethnic Indian dishes to bread was served.

My original post,  Journey for Japa Beads , received the most comments my blog has ever gotten for any article. Among the comments were some great spiritual discussions with current Hare Krishna devotees along with some criticism towards the organization that runs the temples, ISKON. I would encourage anyone who might want to look into the religion to read through the comments and then investigate it for themselves. The best way is probably to visit your own local temple and experience things firsthand. Though perplexed and little disturbed by some of the criticisms I have to say my own personal experience was a very positive one.



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