Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

A poem that was written in Kolkata the day before Srila Guru Maharaja entered nitya-lila: 🌸  I came here only for Guruji But now it's become all about me As I opened my heart so wide I let something rotten come inside I introspect that it got in to find The stale rotten things within my mind And with a kicking punching fight  It might just kick them far out of sight But even more now I feel unqualified to be Where love is here flowing freely We're sharing love of Guruji Our love for him makes him happy But it became all about me Why aren't I thinking gratefully? I guess that I received too much more Mercy than I'm ready for. That's a good thing, no doubt there But when will I pray with love and care? There's just one thing going on here The name of Krishna loud and clear 24 hours for so many days now Krishna's​ name is sung and Kolkata says, "Wow!" In the streets below people hear and dance While on the roof we sing in trance An opportunity so mys...

Śrīla Gurudev Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Mahārāj ki jay! April 15th, 2020 Three years ago this day You left. “Everything will be zero, Zero, ZERO!!!” You used to say. And I concur That so we were: Bereft. As well, you used to say, “Nothing will happen all of a sudden.” Such was your going away. So kind, So gentle. Time to prepare the mind To be shaken At a depth so fundamental, Steel-framed hearts must needs awaken To that longing at the core To be felt forevermore. Yet you spoke of hope and fortune. “Ambarīṣo mahā-bhāgaḥ sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm!” So often did you proclaim And so loudly, that in that proportion You told us to often reframe In terms of that story. Each day, each week, who am I? The haughty and fiery sage Who for nothing flew into a rage At some imagined slight to his glory? “Look to your own prescription!” My job is to purify Myself alone. That’s what you’ve shown. This teaching you would exemplify. Though presiding over a mission For decades, revered by all, And at the...