Post by meeno8 on Dec 7, 2019 6:57:36 GMT -6
The shastra tells us the holy dhamas are the epicenters of bhakti. However what should be the context of that doctrine for CV adherents? Certainly I always felt energy-supercharged while residing in Braj Mandal and Nabadwip-dhama, however my most intense experience of all engaging in nama-japa-bhajan was actually in West Virginia (and pre-initiation of any kind, mind you). Sedona, Arizona is considered to be what is known as a vortex, and I think I was picking up on that in a very real way when we went on a one day tour there several years ago. Perhaps what is needed is a new, broader definition of such spots on the planet, shakti-sthaanas, if you will. Vaishnava/Saiva/Sakta traditions put forth multiple locales across India, such as Ayodhya, that are ostensibly extensions of Braj Mandal. Of course Braj Mandal and Nabadwip-dham for us are particularly special as physical locales in resonance with the 2 yogapithas of our tradition for RK lilas and Gaura-Nitai lilas.
Here is one example of an experience of mine in Vrindavan. I was feeling slightly ill one morning (bad digestion), but I decided to go for darshan at the home of the late Manindranath Guha Ji (Manibabu to those of us who had the great fortune of his sangam) I sat doing nama japa while he did puja for his thakurs. By the time he had completed his arotik, I was literally right as rain, not feeling ill at all. Keep in mind this was not while taking darshan at Govindaji or Radha-Raman mandir.
The main point being, which is more important geography or one's state of mind, or the combination of the two?
Here is one example of an experience of mine in Vrindavan. I was feeling slightly ill one morning (bad digestion), but I decided to go for darshan at the home of the late Manindranath Guha Ji (Manibabu to those of us who had the great fortune of his sangam) I sat doing nama japa while he did puja for his thakurs. By the time he had completed his arotik, I was literally right as rain, not feeling ill at all. Keep in mind this was not while taking darshan at Govindaji or Radha-Raman mandir.
The main point being, which is more important geography or one's state of mind, or the combination of the two?