Viz.,

VIZ., #005
Jan 2019

Happy New Year!

I hope you are feeling full of of hope, optimism and excitement for the year ahead.

New year means an opportunity to hit refresh on our commitments.
We all play many roles such as friend, parent, husband, wife, employer, employee etc. Within these roles we likely have goals, and January is a good time to assess how we are going with those goals and/or make new ones.

Some of the goals I have for this year include reading up to the ninth canto of the yoga encyclopedia called the Srimad Bhagavatam, doing my daily 1.5 hour meditation in one sitting at-least 4 times per week, cut back on packeted food 80% and change my sleep cycle to get up earlier.

I just got back from the Recharge Festival in Otaki Forks and it was the best one I have attended. I have been going most years for the past 10 years.

It was the best one ever not just because of how much pizza was consumed or how awesome the morning workshops were. It has nothing to do with how it was given and everything to do with my willingness to recieve what was being given. Every year they give the same basic gifts; Kirtan (mantra music), Prasad, (blessed food), Seminars and classed on the Bhagavat Philosophy, Transcendental commraderie and a place to crash out.

Some memorable moments were Tulsi prabhus freaking epic kirtan, The donut balls and yogurt, the fried breads, HH Devamrta Swamis impromtu class on the last day of the mens festival, the uniquely peaceful and care free feeling of just hanging with guys for three days, walks around the property with my old friend and mentor Khela Tirtha prabhu, making decorations with the kids, helping cook in the kitchen, riding my bike to and from the festival from wellington and from my campsite to the venue each day, getting my Bhagavatam set, swimming in the river and not jumping from an off limits gnarly af tower-like last time and almost dying, banana milk shakes and tent to tent talks with Muni.

Since the festival, I feel renewed and inspired in my practice and confident in letting go of things that impede my bhakti.

Who I am committed to being this year is an enthusiastic servant of others for the pleasure of Krsna. I do first things first which looks like waking early and chanting, reading, praying and relishing the gifts of Chaitanya.

Peace

Loveheartman between 'man' and 'love'
Painted on the way to the festival

On Christ-mass day I rode the 80kms to Otaki forks for the Recharge Festival.
Thanks to Myride for fixing my bike up with these paniers and an alfine hub.

Jamen at the scout hall where we camped for the duration of the festival/retreat

His Holiness Devamrita swami lecturing on Self Forgetfulness.
I asked "Is Krsna conscious

Post Retreat

Here you can see the piece I did last time we were there.

Today (4th of Jan) I received a text from SPER. He wanted to go for a paint before leaving to Vietnam.
I did what I had to do then met him at Countdown which is right near the old bread factory.
We already had some black paint stashed there from our last session so we used it to roll up a background from the floor to the roof.

Personal favorite artworks of 2018

Thoughts of late

Bhakti is not something we achieve but something we receive
hence fear of failing at it is illusion.
I used to think it was the peak of mountain i had to climb and that scared me. I concocted a term called fear of spiritual heights. Now I believe that by surrendering to Krsna the peak of that mountain is right under my feet.
Surrender isn't an achievement but a gift we can accept and be delighted by.
Our part is realizing we need to surrender and allowing ourselves to. It means humility and takes humility to surrender.
That could be said about many spiritual qualities like compassion for example.
Thanks to Rich for inspiring this thought.

Real love is shown by consistancy.
Its the small things every day that count towards love.
Starting a relationship is exciting. Maintaining it is not. But Maintaining it by honoring the beloved is the only way to get the experience of real love.
Thanks to Sri Jiva for inspiring this thought.

Invitation

Smile at strangers and wish them well.
Most people are scared of you. So rather than being scared of being rejected by them, give them permission to be personal by being personal yourself.

The biggest problem in the world is hunger, not of the stomach but of the heart. - Mother Theresa
By allowing for random moments of connection we break the global habit of separatism and impersonalism.

My guru is a student of Srila Prabhupada who is famous for bringing to the western world an understanding of life that both ourselves and our Creator are eternally individuals.
He is glorified daily for helping millions to cure themselves from the disease of voidistic philosophy which has resulted in a "society" that ignores others, the Supreme Source - Krsna and even our own selves.

Here is a movie about his life and teachings. Be inspired.

Thank you!

Thanks for reading my zine
If you would like a printed version, click the link at the bottom of the page.
I wish you all the very best for 2019 whatever that means for you and pray that any reversals serve as reminders of things you forgot and bring you closer to the Absolute Truth.

Yours truly,

Muchu