Few lessons and experiences of 5 years of being mercifully allowed to stay in Vrindavan & some tips to live a simple, content, happy devotional as well as general life

Hare Krishna

This post might be emotional flow of words but will help sincere readers to have a first person glimpse of life in Vrindavan.

It’s only and only by causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada, Aindra Prabhu, entire Guru Shishya Parampara, Gaur Nitai, Yugal, and all vrajvasis that I have been mercifully allowed to stay in lap and shelter of Vrindavan Dham over these years.

It just feels like yesterday that I had arrived - Dec 12, 2017. I recall it was so dreamy that my legs had frozen for a few moments. It was at a very low point in life that I was allowed residence in Vrindavan, and inspite of the shock owing to the tough times, the feeling to be mercifully allowed to stay here was more shocking and I hardly knew how to react. It was just a loose attempt to keep own self together, and the eyes couldn’t resist a few drop of tears.

It was the first time I was living alone in life, and was unknown to the intricacies of maintaining a home, or being alone in a secluded environment.

Even though it was just 5 years ago, but Vrindavan then had a different external vibe. Post Covid lockdown in 2021, Vrindavan underwent serious change externally and has become extremely populated, and is hustling with commercial establishments and huge rush and traffic. The earlier Vrindavan was more of silent and simple, and it goes without a saying that I miss the simplicity of external Vrindavan as compared to now!

Vrindavan Dham embraced me like a mother embraces her child, and over the years showered her love, albeit a lot of lessons and tough times as well. It’s not easy to face it and there’s no doubt about this.

Rasikajana say that anybody going through the spiritual path and seeking the intimate, inner aspects of Vrindavan Prema Rasa has to go through serious tests and tribulations.

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If there is one problem in ten days at any other place, then there are ten problems in one day in Vrindavan!

Over the years, specially in 2019, I tried many times to move out of Vrindavan to western countries, but at the very last moment, something or other happened and I was forced to stay here unwillingly. Later, it was realised that Guru Kripa and Vrindavan Dham close all material doors so that the seeker doesn’t strays and banks only upon the Lotus Feet of Guru Tattva and Divine Couple and nobody else. Then, They shower the seeker with the intimate transcendental path which is something beyond the conception of words. Chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra guides all the way.

The idea about this post has been looping on my mind for many weeks, and multiple events unfolded and I was constantly reminded by Vrindavan Dham to compile this post. Sri Vrindavan Dham and Guru Tattva inspired me this morning to put up this post finally.

I will attempt to write it for my own meditation of Vrindavan Dham by recalling the words of Gurujana as well as taking into note the first hand experiences and learnings provided mercifully by Vrindavan Dham over these years.

Beginners Spirituality Guide

Do read this beginner’s spirituality guide. It will help brush the key cheat-codes and build the foundation of spiritual path that will benefit one’s life at all juncture of their life.

Advanced Spirituality Guide

This Advanced Spiritulity Guide is a must-read for beginner’s as well as those practicing spiritual life for many years.

Not interacting much with local vrajvasis and not too much association with people

Read How to deal with vrajvasis, preists at different places and temples, different types of devotees living in Vrindavan?

Also, as Srila Rupa Goswamipada writes in Nectar of Instruction, a sincere seeker should associate only that much with wordily people which is essential for discharge of their duties and not more.

Not being money minded in Dham

Srila Prabhupada mentions that one should be satisfied with how much Krishna has provided. One doesn’t get more than destined and not earlier than time. Hence, there should be emphasis on Nama and devotional actitivities more and more. What is destined will automatically come on own and go on own. Forget tomorrow and yesterday. The focus should be on doing Nama and remembering Divine Couple today. Rest everything will be taken care by Sriji.

Not interacting with other sampradayas

There are so many Acharyas who come to preach about pastimes of Divine Couple in their own moods. Some worship Sita Rama or Laxmi Narayan manifestation of Radharani & Krishna. Everybody is in their own respective mood. One should firmly be in their own Guru Nistha (Faith unto Guru) as it is this faith that unlocks all the doors of spiritual path. We should simply stick in Srila Prabhupada lotus feet and take shelter of his books, kirtan, teachings and see the magic unfold on own. Read The four Sampradaya and the inner purpose of Sampradaya & Why Srila Prabhupada has given all for a detailed discussion on the subject.

Stick to Srila Prabhupada books

Srila Prabhupada mentioned that his books will go on for 10000 years, and that Krishna has personally narrated him his entire writings! His books contains all knowledge from foundation to esoteric aspects of Vrindavan Prema Rasa. You can check Must Read Books in the spiritual advancement for detailed guidance.

Put Srila Prabhupada or Aindra Prabhu kirtan at all times

Read about Shudh Nama & why listening to Srila Prabhupada & Aindra Prabhu kirtan is important.

Go for Vrindavan & Govardhan Parikrama

A sincere seeker should regularly go for Vrindavan & Govardhan Parikrama as it exponentially increases the attachment with Divine Couple. One should Nama and remember pastimes of Yugal during Parikrama. One gets the result of personally massaging the Lotus Feet of Divine Couple while doing Govardhan Parikrama.

Real Estate in Vrindavan is broker ruled & everything is expensive here

The real estate sector in Vrindavan has been booming in recent years with many high rises and posh societies. The brokers here try to quote astronomical amounts and have infalted the prices beyond limits. The better idea would be to search owner properties and not forget to negotiate hard. Also, you name anything - food, vegetable, transport, courier, shopping; it is all super expensive and at times, even higher than metros of India!

Those who want other material things get it easy but if one wants Sriji, then there are tests

As Vrindavan is cintamani (desire-fulfilling) dham, one gets what they desire during their stay here, but it is entangling as it creates huge problems and tests in the future. And if one wants Sriji, the tests are amplified 1000 times further to check the intent of the seeker. One should simply chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra as Nama bypasses these tests sooner and what awaits is beyond conception of words!

Not eat from restaurants or outside places

The sincere seekers should avoid to have food at restaurants as it affects the consciousness. Even though in Vrindavan, all is prasad but we are at bodily stage and having food from restaurants where the cook watch wrong content, it will affect our devotional life severely. The better idea is to have food only cooked by devotees or at temple, or to prepare food for Divine Couple on own and have it as prasad.

Too much traffic & rush 

Read How the chaos, traffic, reels, social media story and commercial age is impacting Vrindavan, and how sincere seekers should bypass this external aspect?

Nama at all times

Chanting Nama at all times internally and doing 16 daily rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra protects a sincere seeker without fail. Read the inner confidential meaning of Hare Krishna Mahamantra [MOST IMP].

Bhajan is performed at one place. Get a proper fixed place if possible

If you are financially blessed by Sriji, then it is a better idea to get a proper fixed small flat or house as bhajan and sadhana for practicing devotees is done at a fixed place and not hopping from here and there.

Buy drinking water

The water in Vrindavan is salty and not fit for drinking. It is said here in Vrindavan that the water is salty here as it is tear drops of Gopis who were weeping profusely after Krishna left Vrindavan for Mathura. Even though this water is most potent spiritually, but as we are in bodily conception, we should drink RO drinking water for upkeep of our body to chant Nama and do bhajan. Big bottle of RO water costs 20 rupees and can be found at every other street in Vrindavan.

No unnecessary risks

If one has a good health and decent money, it is a very nice setup for devotional life. One should simply maintain it, not take unnecessary risks or become over ambitious and simply live a nice life with devotional basis and Nama as epicenter, and go back home, back to Godhead in this one single lifetime. 

Radha Shyamsundar as epicenter

Srila Prabhupada says ISKCON Hare Krishna Movement is complete and entire Vrindavan is present at Krishna Balarama Mandir itself. Keeping Radha Shyamsundar as epicenter will sail us through easily. Aindra Prabhu says it is simple for simple!

Serve Tulsi Maharani

Tulsi Maharani or Vrinda Sakhi is most karunamayi (compassionate) and bestows Prema Bhakti to anyone very easily. One should sincerely serve Tulsi Maharani at their home.

Clean house with no clutter, and regular cleaning of sink and dustbin, Having a white or cream theme at home

A sincere seeker should keep their home tidy and clutter free. This helps in performance of bhajan easily owing to the mode of goodness.

Give donation for cow seva

If possible, one can donate for cow seva as per their limited capacity. This invites all auspiciousness.

Walk 1-2 km daily

Waking 1-2 km daily helps the body to stay fit for life and it is advised for sincere seekers. One can chant Nama on their bead bag and walk 1-2 km regularly, thus there is double benefit.

Not giving mind the opportunity to stray

Do not watch bad content on Phone. Keep busy in devotional services when free from other material service (work) else mind will stray from time to time. It's easy to become bad but takes lot of effort to do the good and right!

Offer all to Yugal

Simply see yourselves as Their servitor. Do everything for Them and offer it to Them. Keep Nama as your epicenter of life and be carefree always knowing that Sriji, Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and Gurujana are right with you. Simply repeat that You belong to Radharani and Radharani is Yours. Rest, leave it unto Them and see the magic unfold!!!

Jai Jai Shri Radhe!

Hare Krishna!

P.S. I will keep adding content here whenever Sriji inpsires me with any further points.

Vrindavan Dham ki Jai!

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