Lesson 1

[Guest guest]

Haribol!

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Sri Guru and

Gauranga!

 

I am extremely grateful to have been guided to Sri Jagannath Vedic

Center, to be able to learn the sacred science of Jyotish among

fellow Vaisnavas!

Below you will find my responses for Lesson 1.

 

1. Try to define the role of God in your life.

Though raised in an atheistic household, I was drawn to lead a

monastic, spiritual life from about 12 years of age (at which time I

met Swami Muktananda). At 18, I became involved in a " religious

cult " , became disillusioned by spirituality and lost faith in God

after I found out my " guru " was bogus. Shortly thereafter, I met

another so-called guru who had a very atheistic philosophy, which

only served to cloud my consciousness further. I spent some time with

Mother Meera and Mata Amritanandamayi, after which (following a

decade of disillusionment with various 'gurus') my inherent

attraction to Sri Krishna re-awakened. I am now learning how to love

and serve God by following the Vedic injunctions, performing sadhana

under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada.

 

2. What have you done in the past one year to come closer to God?

I began chanting japa more regularly, participating in the morning

program (at home), performing kirtan on a daily basis, and reading

spiritual books several hours each day.

 

3. Which statement is more relevant: a. God is all, or b. All is God.

While both statements sound equally relevant, I sense that " God is

all " better expresses His omnipotence and His true identity as

Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

4. How is the role of a Jyotish different from a priest?

It is my understanding that while it is the responsibility of both

the Jyotish and the priest to point men in the right direction (to

bring them closer to Krishna, helping them get out of the bondage of

Maya), the Jyotish can see God's Will for the individual (his

specific karma) and can inform him of the specific activities by

which he can best serve the Lord, and the method by which he can

develop Satwik qualities so that he can go back home to Godhead. It

is also the Jyotishi's role to offer practical remedial measures such

as performance of specific pujas as recommended in the scriptures

that can help to alleviate areas of difficulty in the chart as well

as to avert or lessen the malefic effects which are destined to

befall us due to past karma.

 

Your servant,

 

Bhaktin Kiersten

khd