THE STORY OF MY LIFE 2
I begin this second volume of my autobiography by summarizing my Journal and Poems, written in 1985–1986. Because writing is so important to me, it forms a crucial part of my life story; to walk you through my books is to share with you my most-cherished activity. Srila Prabhupada used to say, “If you want to know me, read my books.”
THE STORY OF MY LIFE 1
I began my autobiography about a month ago and finished approximately one hundred pages. I used the old method “that starts from the cradle and drives you to the grave.” I was up to my twenty-fourth year, close to my time of meeting Srila Prabhupada and completely changing my life.
THE STORY OF MY LIFE 3
This is the third volume of The Story of My Life. In Volume One, I alternated chapters of my early days in ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) with a chronological history of my pre-Krishna conscious life. Twothirds through the book, my pre-Krishna conscious life ends, and it’s all about my career in ISKCON.
The Story of a Retreat
The main thing about my stories is that they are improvised and that they aim for Krsna consciousness. I’m not sure about the audience orientation except it’s for myself. I intend them as some kind of service to my spiritual master and to devotees of Krsna. That’s about it.
The Qualities of Sri Krsna
Srila Rupa Gosvami enumerates the sixty-four transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord Krsna. These qualities appear in Chapters Twenty-one and Twenty-two of The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhu-pada’s summary study of Bhak.ti-rasdmrta-sind.hu. The devotees, who are never satiated with hearing the Lord’s glories, relish these descriptions.
The One-Hour Writing Session, 6
Strange dream: Krsna gave me strength not to reveal my secret thoughts even when Godbrothers were prying. I was freed from the desire to be “# 1″—the best disciple—which disease seemed to plague others. Anyway, it is a troublesome disease, to compete and not be a humble devotee. Could I do something wonderful for His Divine Grace? We’d all like to. But it can’t be done by fighting one another. Going alone, I write honestly and gain certain powers.
The One-Hour Writing Session, 5
I wrote this advice years ago when I was just starting free-writing, maybe even before Shack Notes. At that time, I wasn’t able to do it for more than a few minutes. How have built up to the one-hour session. But the advice still reads refreshingly to me.
The One-Hour Writing Session, 4
A few years ago, I thought of writing on the themes in Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Saranagati. I was attracted to them because in Saranagati, Bhaktivinoda Thakura confesses and laments his fallen nature. He takes the position of an eternally conditioned soul, and through his songs, leads us to perfection…
The One-Hour Writing Session, 2
I would like to write an introduction to a second volume of selected one-hour writing sessions. What shall I say? Say, “Just give it an introduction.” I like to read them. It is chatter to encourage the fellow as he limps alone along.
The One-Hour Writing Session, 3
Those who can contact their inner voice are rare. Most of us can contact it from time to time in our lives but few strain to hear it and then act upon it. Certainly those who contact that voice and articulate it are rare and especially when a devotee does it it is valuable.
