Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 28
Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 28
written on Ft. Lewis, WA
Dedicated to HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Army Descion Received:
I went to the office that was processing my paperwork to make sure all the mistakes were corrected and it was forwarded back to Department of the Army. I was called to go see Bill (he handles my chapter) and as I walked in, he looked puzzled. He said didn't you get the email I sent. I said no, he asked me to sit down. He started to explain that the packet was resubmitted about one week ago, and they expected the disapproval or approval to come in eleven months. He said, in the twenty years he has been processing separation for the Army, he never saw this. With that he reached in a draw and handed me a piece of paper. The paper said "Approval of SFC Ari Sonnenberg's chapter 5-3 discharge is approved, he will receive an honorable discharge and his separation date is now 01 March 2009. I was amazed and almost started crying. Just last week, I was preparing myself for Afghanistan, now the Lord changed it. Bill went on to explain that his supervisor and him have been meditating on my packet. The more they read the paperwork, the more and more interested they had become. He reached in his brief case and pulled out a Bhakti book. He passed by one of the smart boxes on the base and realized this was the spiritual path I am traveling. He took a small book and recommended others read these books also. He stood up and thanked me for my service to my country and went on to tell me, that this was God's plan.
So now, I am counting down the days, with a month in India, then January I will travel within North America, then 10 February I start out-processing the Army. I am amazed, the Lord heard the prayers of many. He used this period for me to develop more faith in Him, more faith in the power of prayer. I feel I am not worth all the prayers said on my behalf. I am a fallen soul, and have no good qualities. But by the mercy and blessings of the vaisnava's, I can possibly accomplish something for Srila Prabhupada. Again thank you all, for all the mercy, I fall at all of your feet over and over again.
Yogi's Love Books:
I start my service at 6 am, and it usually last for 12 hours each day. By the time I get to the ashram, I am pretty beat. It's Christmas marathon time, so I went to downtown Olympia to distribute books. It was cold and raining, so I found an over hang to stand under. I was just stopping people, and talking with them. I explained that I was an aspiring monk, who is out in public to request them to take spiritual life more seriously. Some were very favorable. After an hour or so, I thought it's getting late, time to go. Just as I was packing up a women approached me and asked why I was dressed in traditional Indian cloth. I replied, I am a brahmacari, and I am here to try and assist my spiritual master in spreading Lord Caitanya's mission. She was taken back and asked about the books I had. It turned out she taught at a yoga studio in Olympia, and was into kirtan. I explained why the names of Krsna are so appealing. After talking for twenty minutes, the women said ok, can I have a book. I said of course, here is a book called the Bhagavad-Gita. She didn't even opened it up, she placed it in her bag and proceeded to pick up a stack of books. I said, it's ok, I got it, I am just packing up. She said no, these are for my yoga classes and handed me a donation for about twenty books! I was amazed, how can this be? The words of HG Omkara Prabhu (one of my best friends in the material world) rang out…. "Prabhu, we cannot control when Krsna's mercy starts pouring."
Sadhana: Japa: I am waking up at 2 am everyday and after waking up Their Lordships, I chant japa in front of Them. It feels so powerful and intimate to be so close to Krsna's Deity form. By Their mercy, all is happening in the material world. They are arranging so many situations for the spreading of Their Glories. Seva: More Lords have arrived care of HH Bhaktisiddhanta Swami. I called Them transcendental reinforcements. My seva is still striving for improvement. I pray to Their Lordships that I never feel my seva is perfect, I wish to always find ways to improve the quality of service given to the Lord Reading: Bhagavad-Gita: I am reading and during the day I listen to classes from that chapter I have read. I like this system, because I can read Srila Prabhupada's purports and hear from his lotus voice. The notebook of nectar is quickly filling up. Almost time for a second book. I am also reading the Krsna book. I will take my first trip to India soon, so I am reading to get into the mood. I want to fully taste the nectar of the Holy Dham. I pray to not see the material situation of India, but to see that India is really Krsna's birth place.
Sankritana: GO! GO! GO! GO!
small books: 165
maha big hrd: 15
med hrd: 3
I am off to India soon. This will be our first time setting foot in the "motherland". We are begging the devotees to give us their blessings to see the real Sri Vrindavan and Sri Mayapura Dhamas. We are only dependent on the mercy of the vaisnavas. Therefore please pray that I can do some meaningful service to Srila Prabhupada.
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Partha Sarathi Dasa
