SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 5
na ca mat-sthani bhutani
pasya me yogam aisvaram
bhuta-bhrn na ca bhuta-stho
mamatma bhuta-bhavanah

na--never; ca--also; mat-sthani--situated in Me; bhutani--all creation; pasya- just see; me--My; yogam aisvaram--inconceivable mystic power; bhuta-bhrt--the maintainer of all living entities; na--never; ca--also; bhuta-sthah--in the cosmic manifestation; mama--My; atma--Self; bhuta-bhavanah--the source of all manifestations.

TRANSLATION

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic manifestation, for My Self is the very source of creation.

JOURNAL:

I love to chant outside. There is something about being surrounded by Krishna's creation while I call on Him that is simply wonderful. One of my favorite places to do this is on campus just before class, as it helps me to clear my mind and get ready to learn (just another of the many benefits of japa). I don't always get results like I did today, but they come often enough to keep my faith going strong.

It was about 10:00 this morning and already in the mid sixties with a light but constant wind. A perfect fall day. I sat down on the bench outside of the commons area and arranged my backpack so that I could see the buttons of Sri Damodara and Lord Jagannath there on the back.

As I began the round, I reached out to feel the Lord around me in His Brahma effulgence and the names begin to bounce off my tongue a little easier. I could feel it in the grass and the trees, the flowers and the sunshine. I reached out next to the Paramatma inside of myself and slowly felt something come into balance. I could feel Him in the students around me, in the bee that buzzed my ear, in myself. My japa sped up and I could hear the names distinctly.

As I moved from the first round to the next a feeling of rightness; of reassurance that I am doing the right thing with my life as a whole, grew within me. And then it began; that feeling of loving thankfulness when I know Krishna is here. He is present in His name, which has been the catalyst, and now I can feel Him within me, without me, and all through everything I see around me. Nectar, and I know for sure in this brief moment, Sri Bhagavan loves me and I love Him!