LOOKING WITHIN by Narayani Devi Dasi

I wrote this poem when I was going through a difficult time in my life called the midlife crisis…

 My husband had just left me after 24 years of marriage and I was in my 40’s with a small child. So sometimes I thought that maybe I should look around again to find someone to be a companion to me.

But because I had been practicing bhakti yoga and performing devotional service to Lord Krishna for about 25 years, I thought it best not to rely on my own emotions and intelligence, and instead prayed to Lord Krishna (God) for guidance during that difficult time. So I decided to look within, and chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and Krishna gave me real answers to all my problems.

Now, after 20 years I look back with gratitude and thank Krishna for saving me from a situation that most certainly would have proved disastrous.

Painting 'Govinda' by Annapurna Devi Dasi

Looking Within

In the stillness of my heart
I search for You.
I quiet my noisy mind
and look within.

Don't look elsewhere
for shelter
but find your best friend
within.

Search for Your friend
who is beyond
the mad hankerings
and passionate longings
of your mind.

Search for that place
where He stays,
peaceful, content.

He will not reject you.
Only He can accept all your service
and all your love.

~

(This poem was originally published in the author's poetry book 'Garden of Devotion')

Painting 'Radha Gopinath' by Annapurna Devi Dasi

Narayani Devi Dasi was born in 1948. She joined the bhakti yoga tradition at the ISKCON temple in Boston in 1970, and was sent to India in 1972. Remaining in India until now, she served in Calcutta in the 70’s as pujari (altar priestess) for the Radha Govinda deities there and in the 80's as traveling book distributor in Mumbai (former Bombay). Since 1993, Narayani has been living in the holy village of Vrndavan teaching at VIHE (The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education). Beside her poetry book 'Garden of Devotion' Narayani has also written eleven other books available here, including 'Srimad Bhagavatam at a Glance' and 'Bhagavad Gita at a Glance'. Srimad Bhagavatam at a Glance is also now expanded as a series with a picture for every verse of Srimad Bhagavatam.

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