SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta
Antya-lila 1.29
prasāda nārikela-śasya dena phelāñā
'rāma' 'krsna' 'hari' kaha' — balena hāsiyā

prasāda — food; nārikela-śasya — pulp of green coconut; dena — gives; phelāñā — throwing; rāma — Lord Rāmacandra; krsna — Śrī Krsna; hari — the holy name of Hari; kaha' — say; balena — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says; hāsiyā — smiling.

TRANSLATION

Furthermore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, "Chant the holy names 'Rāma,' 'Krsna' and 'Hari.'"

JOURNAL:

I share the place I'm living with five other guys and a (male) dog named Dixie. I haven't lived with a dog since the mid-80's and I'm kind of liking it. I had forgotten just how "loving" the beasts can be.

In this pasttime of Lord Caitanya's the dog, who misses a meal and disappears, only to show up later by the Lord's side, does indeed learn to chant. I don't know if Dixie will ever chant the names of Krishna, but I do know he will hear them as we walk together.