Journey of the Heart

This poem is a search of the physical body, as my mind seeks to discover the location of the spirit, which dwells in the body… In the Bhagavad-Gita chapter thirteen there is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna which discuses this inquiry. Krishna speaks to Arjuna of the nature of the body, the mind, the intelligence and the location of the soul and the supreme soul who accompanies every living being remaining always in the space of the heart. Negotiations (Body & Soul) by Janavi Held Skin lifts essence shows talking stops in veins they keep, tenderly,  on. Spiraling fascia  winds longing, over well-kept muscles as the negotiator of breath stands in judgment researching wasteful directions for a well-bred aristocrat. Shy skin, oblique, yet puzzled animates purpose hidden in self-hood while hidden shame  depreciates relative value, severing shadows loitering in the plunge. Redundant reflection...

There is something thrilling about a storm... The thrill begins  as the air starts stiring, and bits of moisture, leaves, and all manner of flotsam and jetsam are uplifted and drift through the restless ether. God’s elements become vividly apparent. The weather of the world is not under our control; and in this mechanized world we’ve come to live in, the stirring of a storm is a reminder of the tiny place I occupy in this vast universe. In the tenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita , called The Opulence of the Absolute , there is a verse, that begins: " Of purifiers I am the wind..." , I find that this chapter encourages me to meditate on God by seeing him in all of creation, the vision that the divine is in all things, both animate and inanimate. It personalizes God; in this meditation the vision of a supreme artist comes to the fore, and the art is that which feeds, loves, and sustains us in everyway. At the end of the poem I contemplate how I don’t have much to ...

  This poem is from my poetry book, 'Lotus Lyrics'… It is based upon Chapter 18, verses 33-35 of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, which explains how our determination to do something falls under different modes of nature:  goodness, passion, and ignorance. When I was writing this poem at the New Goloka Temple in North Carolina, I was thinking that the best example of determination that I know of is Srila Prabhupada himself! A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada At the age of seventy, even after having had two heart attacks en route from India to the U.S, Srila Prabhupada single-handedly started preaching the mission of Krishna Consciousness in the west. And after he had established several centers, he traveled all over the world for 12 more years, continuing to spread Krsna consciousness. The message of Bhagavad Gita and the example of Srila Prabhupada’s life are extraordinary and have...

The following poem was written when I was in Sri Vrindavan dham, India… I was feeling deep appreciation for His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his translation and commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is , which I’ve received much guidance from in my life. ~ Lisa Saraswati Devi Photography ~ The   Gita is one of the most important scriptures of the Gaudiya Vaisnava, or Bhakti Yoga tradition. It explains that there are 3 modes of material nature: goodness ( sattva ), passion ( rajas ), and ignorance ( tamas ), and that we understand life according to whichever mode, or combination of modes, may be influencing us at any given time.  I’ve found that when I make a thorough study of his Bhagavad-gita, I feel myself beginning to expand my views on life, like a blossoming lotus, and understanding how to find  true happiness and peace. For this reason, the path outlined in the Gita is very attractive to me. When I comprehend...

From the time I wake up in the morning to the time I go back to sleep at night… … everyday I try to see Lord Krishna in this material nature around us. It is my way of meditating upon the Supreme Lord. This meditation helps me not just to enjoy his beautiful creation but also to fall deeper in love with him. I wrote this poem as I walked through the nature around us and tried to see Krishna in everything.  In Bhagavad Gita ( chapter 7 ), Lord Krishna says that in each and every element he is present. I constantly try to visualize this concept to the maximum of my ability. Meditation helps me visualize my thoughts in the best way. I’ve found that meditating upon the Supreme Lord helps me gain spiritual strength, peace and serenity. Visualizing takes me into a whole new world where I can sense my creativity as though it is happening for real. I am able to feel my emotions towards the Lord even deeper this way.  I composed this poem to help others visualize ...

This poem means a lot to me because it reminds us to rise above the conception that we are limited to just our bodies... Photography by Gregory Colbert I was born with a physically deformed body and many times people would give me a hard time because of it, and forget that I have feelings like everyone else. As I wrote this poem in Sri Vrindavan dham, India, I had a very deep feeling in my heart, that maybe my poetry can illuminate the message of Bhagavad gita to others: that we are all beautiful parts of the Supreme Divine.      This poem is based upon Chapter 18, verses 20-22 of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is t ranslated by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada where Lord Krishna explains to His devotee and intimate friend, Arjuna, the different types of knowledge. It appears in my poetry book 'Lotus Lyrics'.   One of the first and main points that the Gita elucidates is that we are not these bodies, but eternal ...