Saturday, June 9, 2012

Amazing Grace

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Prasada-sevaya
from Bhaktivinoda Thakura's
Gitavali


1) bhai-re!
sarira abidya-jal, jodendriya tahe kal,
jibe phele bisaya-sagore
ta'ra madhye jihva ati, lobhamoy sudurmati
ta'ke jeta kathina somsare

2) krsna baro doyamoy, karibare jihva jay,
swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai
sei annamrta khao, radha-krsna-guna gao,
preme dako caitanya-nitai

TRANSLATION

O brothers! This material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths to death. The senses throw the soul into this ocean of material sense enjoyment and, of all the senses, the tongue is most voracious and uncontrol-lable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. O brothers! Lord Krsna is very kind to us and has given us such nice prasada, just to control the tongue. Now let us take this prasada to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and, in love, call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda.

JOURNAL:

Growing up Christian, my family said grace before every meal. We said it before we ate whither our meal was taken in private or in public. My father taught me it was a great sin not to offer back to God what God had given you.

We memorized these prayers. Sometimes we sang them. My Jewish friend taught me the one his family used, as did others. I know one for little kids that is simple, loud, and fun: "GOD IS GREAT! GOD IS GOOD! THANK YOU GOD, FOR THE FOOD! YEA - GOD!"

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