Watering the Seed
HH Giriraj Swami

BYC member Abeer Saha Sings

Miracle on Second Avenue
Mukunda Goswami

Quick and Easy Tofu Stir Fry

This is a fast stir fry to prepare, but really delicious. You could add other ingredients like edamame, baby corn, Bamboo shoots, etc. But this is quick and the baby bok choy and tofu are the primary ingredients. Serve with brown rice or chinese noodles, and a little sweet and sour sauce.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

8 little heads of fresh baby bok choy

1 pkg soy cutlets (or one pkg. extra firm tofu—try to find the cutlets though)

1 medium zucchini

6-8 baby carrots

3-4 small sweet mini peppers or ½ of a red or yellow sweet pepper

½ inch piece of ginger chopped well (optional but nice)

Braggs Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce, but I prefer Braggs)

olive oil

* NOTE: In the photo you will see a pkg. of the soy cutlets like I used in the recipe. They are available at most asian groceries and are cutlets of tofu that have been fried on the outside. Made in the USA, they are tasty. If not available, you can use very firm tofu, and just cut it and fry as explained in the recipe.

In the photo also you see a tool. This is a wonderful tool, very sharp. Often used to cut carrots and radishes, etc. in a decorative way, it is a fast way to cut veggies, and gives them a ripple. I used this tool on the tofu also, so when fried, it looked like it had been made on a grill. This is a great tool, and if you buy one, you will find you use it all the time. Be careful though, as it is very sharp!

PROCEDURE

1. Cut the stalk ends off the baby bok choy and wash each leaf to remove any grit. Do not chop the leaves.

2. Cut the soy cutlets in half longways and then cut into ¼ inch thick pieces.

3. Cut zucchini in half longways and then cut into ¼ inch pieces

4. Cut the carrots into half inch diagonals.

5. If you have mini peppers cut into rings, if you’re using regular sweet peppers, cut into thin strips

6.  Heat the wok (if you have non-stick, that works really well with frying tofu, if not, watch for sticking). Add a little olive oil (again, if non-stick, just a little) and fry the ginger. Add the tofu. Fry the tofu until a little brown, turning to brown both sides, and then squirt in some Braggs and continue frying. The Braggs will help it brown. Browning the tofu takes the most time (10 minutes or so depending on how brown you like it).

Once the tofu is brown, add carrots and peppers and stir fry for a couple minutes, add the zucchini and continue frying while stirring every 30 seconds or so. If things start sticking, add a little olive oil and a squirt of Braggs. When those veggies are partially done, place all the baby book chow on top and cover (the few drops of water clinging to the bok choy from washing will steam things). After a minute check it (bok choy will have begun wilting) and stir. When bok choy has wilted it is finished.

One Song in the Key of Life

Sometimes when people begin practicing Bhakti Yoga, they think that by putting their hearts and energy into yoga, they will have to give up too much. They worry that those things they love and that give them pleasure might have to be abandoned.

Of course, this isn’t really the case, but as we transition from a materially absorbed mindset to a spiritually absorbed one, we often do set aside some old interests and develop some new ones. However, those things that are born of our very nature, those things that have been most important to us, can usually accompany us into our new paradigm, sometimes with only a little adjustment.

When his young neophyte disciples expressed concern about how they could maintain themselves—being monks—our teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, would reassure them that Krishna knew their heart and would not abandon them. “Krishna maintains the birds and monkeys, so why He won’t maintain his devotee?” And of course, He did maintain them. In those early years we also often heard Srila Prabhuapda say, “Krishna fulfills your desires.” And very often, He did that as well, though not always as we had anticipated.

I was reminded of this recently. I’m a book designer, and one of my publishing clients, Barry Lane, is a very creative Vermonter who instructs teachers on how to facilitate creativity in their young students. Talking one day with Barry, he told me that he had filmed Larry Marsden telling the story of Agnideva (his birth brother, my godbrother) and his dream of singing with Stevie Wonder.

Please watch this short video made by Barry. As the credits run listen to hear the Maha Mantra in the background of the song.

In Bhagavad-gita 18.2, Krishna says, “The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned persons call the renounced order of life. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation.”

In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains that the performance of activities for material results [fame, wealth, etc.] should be given up. But activities leading to advanced spiritual knowledge are not to be given up. These latter activities are performed as loving service to the Supreme. When you love someone you want to please them and, they, in turn, want to please you.

Alvin Marsden (Agnideva das) had set aside his material desire to be a famous singer/songwriter when he joined the spiritual path that captured his heart (Bhakti Yoga). He dovetailed his propensity for making music into joyfully singing kirtan (call and response singing of mantras). Using his talent, and without material desire, in time he did become famous—not as a pop/rock singer, but as a kirtaniya (kirtan leader). And Krishna, out of affection for His devotee, fulfilled his long-time desire to sing with the musical inspiration of his youth, Stevie Wonder.

Prabhupada many times told us, “If you take even one step toward Krishna, He will take 10 toward you.” We never have to fear that by following Bhakti Yoga we will lose anything.

“The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, is the maintainer of all, in both the transcendental and material worlds. He is the life and friend of all because there is eternally natural affection and love between the living entities and the Lord. He is the one friend and well-wisher for all, and He is one without a second. The Lord maintains all the living entities everywhere by His six transcendental opulences, for which He is known as Bhagavan, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” —His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.22, purport

Here you can listen to some Agnideva dasa kirtans.

BOOK REVIEW

The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami

by His Holiness Radhanath Swami

Every spiritual seeker who has found their personal path has a story. But there are not many stories as powerful and moving as Radhanath Swami’s The Journey Home.

In the Summer of 1970, at 19, Richard Slavin (later Radhanath Swami) travels to Europe with a few high school buddies. They plan to spend the summer overseas, and return to college in the fall. All their money is stolen the first night of their trip, and from that moment on, nothing ordinary happens. Soon, Richard and his best friend Gary find themselves traveling together—on s spiritual quest. While in Greece, Richard decides he must go to India, while Gary heads to Isreal. Alone, Richard travels through some of the most dangerous areas of the world: Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. After near death in Afghanistan and Iran, he enters India (not without more difficulty at the border) and into the heart of his spiritual quest.

A sincere seeker, Richard manages to meet and spend time with many well-known gurus and spiritualists such as Mother Teresa, The Dalai Lama, Muktananda, Neem Karoli Baba, Ananda Mayi Ma, Swami Shivananda, and others. It would be impossible to replicate his adventures today, but in the early 70s very few western young people were traveling India as sincere seekers, so contact with the acharyas of those ashrams was not so difficult, making his quest all the more richer and interesting to the reader.

To me, the most beautiful and moving stories come from his time spent with unknown but extremely advanced souls who serve the Lord with humility and sincerity. Indeed, that is one of the beauties of spiritual India—that even to this day such saintly individuals exist in humble anonymity.

After wandering India, searching for that one person, that one guru who could end his search, Richard surrenders his heart to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the personality he knows he can spend his life serving. Years later, Radhanath Swami is now known around the world as a spiritual leader of great humility whose projects feed and school thousands of poor children throughout India, and who continues to inspire many more thousands on their paths to self-realization.

In the early 70s my friends and I were all reading The Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda. It sparked our desire for finding a spiritual teacher. The Journey Home, being the story of a young western man, resonates especially well with modern seekers young and old from all nationalities, gently challenging all to begin their own spiritual quest.

This book is an absolute page-turner of rare beauty and candor. This reviewer read it in a day and a half, ignoring most of her other responsibilities to travel with Radhanath Swami’s gentle heart through all it was to experience.

As a side note, Amit Acara das and I lived in a rural, spiritual ashram community in the mid-70s where Radhanatha das (at the time not yet a sannyasa “swami”) also lived. As quiet and humble as he was,  even then we saw in our godbrother a special spiritual strength. However, I was unaware of most of his wonderful story—learning it only upon reading this autobiography.

When you finish this wonderful book, remember your own spiritual journey . . . or  be inspired to begin one.

The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami

http://www.radhanath.com/

Buy from Amazon

Mandala Publishing

Paperback

356 pages

1. Find a jar and put your change in it at the end of each day. Whenever your friends come to visit, ask them to add to your jar. Explain how you will use the money and they will happily help. When you have enough saved, donate the money to a charity such as Food For Life Global. Here you can see wonderful work done in places where there is a dire need, such as in Haiti and all over the world. Food For Life Global is the largest vegan relief organization in the world. Look at the site. It’s awesome. Or go to Food for Life Vrindavan and read about the wonderful school and other programs these Bhaktas manage. We have visited the Sandipani Muni School and sponsored a little’s girl’s education. Food for Life Vrindavan educates the poorest little girls, reforests Vrindavan, digs wells for fresh water in villages, and cares for the cows that wander Vrindavan’s dusty streets. We have so much to be grateful for, let’s spread the mercy!

2. Load some kirtan on your ipod and listen to it instead of your usual fare of rock, or rap. Think about the lyrics and music you feed through those earbuds directly to your brain. What’s in your (you are the atma/soul) best interest? Good kirtan is all over the web. On iTunes you can find the music of Dasi (Karamrita dasi), Havi dasa, Agnideva dasa, Aindra dasa and others. The lyrics will elevate your consciousness, and the music is beautiful.

3. Take time to sit quietly and chant the Maha Mantra on japa beads. Life is hectic and complicated, and so you might be thinking, “I’m already busy, and you want me to set time aside to just sit and chant a mantra?” Yes, that’s right. Sometimes what starts out seeming like an additional complication to life, can actually simplify it. Try rising earlier in the morning to chant before your hectic day begins. Time set aside regularly for chanting has so many benefits. First, as our teacher would say, when you chant, you are directly associating with the Supreme. If you chant my name, unless you are in the same room with me, I won’t respond. But the Supreme is present in His name. By associating with the Holy Names, we slowly, over time, become holy too. It’s true. It cleanses the mind, intelligence, and consciousness. And then there is the peaceful feeling we get when we clear out all the static and noise in our heads, and chant, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. We sell japa beads at our center, or you can get some from the devotional paraphernalia purveyors on the internet. Start with one round (108 beads) and work your way up to 16. Each round takes only a few minutes.

4. Sing kirtan, or chant—as you walk, wash dishes, or do the laundry. Srila Prabhupada said that we don’t have to change our situation in life, we just have to change our consciousness. We can bring ourselves close to Krishna (Krishna means “One who is attractive in every way”—as God should be!) by finding every opportunity to remember Him through song or mantra—even while performing the simple tasks that we need to accomplish during the day.

5. Put the Bhagavad-gita or another transcendental literature (email us if you want some suggestions) next to your bed and read before taking rest. The Bhakti tradition is rich in literatures of all types. The Gita, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, books by Jiva, Rupa or Sanatana Goswamis, and over 80 books by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, etc. Start by reading one of them. If you read right before going to sleep, Krishna and Bhakti yoga will be the last thought in your day. That’s a good thing.

6. Before you take rest each night, offer the activities of your day to Krishna. It’s a grateful person who thanks those who give them a gift. Krishna gave us the gift of life, and most of us have much to be grateful for.  We may not be able to think of Krishna BEFORE we act, in the early stages of Bhakti, but we can offer the results up after the fact, as an offering of gratitude. Gratitude is powerful and it breeds sincerity and humility. “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that as an offering to Me” (Krishna speaking in Bhagavad-gita 9.27)

7. Make an effort to become friends with people who will pull you toward spiritual life—not pull you down. Srila Prabhupada told us that whom we keep company with is terribly important. That is why he established ashrams all over the world where we could learn, and make friends with peers who also wanted to advance spiritually. At the Bhaktivedanta Center the Bhakti Yoga Club members become friends and encourage each other in their spiritual aspirations. You should seek out those who encourage conversations about spiritual life, and most particularly those who are ahead of you on the path, as they can answer your questions and help you over the rough spots. Such association is called “Sadhu sanga”  (community with sadhus, or those attempting to live a saintly life). When you associate with sadhus, find ways to help them. Seva (service) to those who are serving Krishna helps us advance. Srila Prabhupada said that Krishna looks more favorably on service to His devotee than on service directly to Him.

8. Whatever you cook, whatever you eat, first offer it to the Krishna. A Bhakti yogi cooks for the Supreme. Everything we cook, we do so with Krishna in mind. We don’t taste the preparation as we cook, and we keep ourselves and the kitchen we cook in very clean. After we are finished cooking a meal, we make a plate (it is nice to keep a special plate and silverware just for this purpose) and we offer it first to Him.  After it has been offered, it is considered to be “prasadam” (mercy) that is spiritually surcharged, for Krishna says, “If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Krishna speaking in Bhagavad-gita 9.26)

9. Look around you and appreciate the artistry of Krishna’s Creation. There is a masterpiece in every direction, we just require the eyes to see. A flock of birds flying in formation, a beautiful sunset, a fawn at the edge of the woods at dusk, the laughter of a child, the smell of a flower, the sound of the wind—everywhere we can experience the artistry of the Supreme. Take the time to stop and appreciate it and to acknowledge the Mastermind behind it all. “Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.” (Krishna in Bhagavad-gita 10.41)

10. Talk to someone about something you’ve learned in your reading or study of Bhakti literatures, or from your association with other Bhaktas. Bhakti is a compassionate philosophy. If you saw that a house was on fire and there were people asleep inside, wouldn’t you try to awaken them to prevent them from suffering? This world is difficult and full of suffering. Bhakti philosophy helps people make sense of the world, while they advance spiritually. Share what you have learned. If you are interested in Bhakti, expect that others might also be interested, and give them a chance to learn by talking about it when the opportunity arises. When you teach what you have learned from those who have mentored you—you complete the circle.