Journey of the Heart

I wrote this poem some time ago just shortly after I had started chanting… Although chanting God's names on sacred beads is an ancient, spiritual practice in the bhakti yoga tradition, to me it is fairly new. Nevertheless, t hrough Krishna's grace I began to feel such peace and joy while repeating his holy names.  With each successive bead passing through my fingers I could feel myself draw deeper into a love I simply had not expected to encounter.  This quickly caused me to commit myself to make chanting a daily part of my spiritual practices. As time has passed I am starting to really experience the truth to the following lines I had written: "True freedom is conceived from a soul who surrenders.  To hearts devoted to Him, His Mercy He renders."   I have seen my share of peaks and valleys spiritually but what I am learning is that when I turn to Krishna with a heart that is humbled and bowed down, mercy seems to blossom ...

As a lover of the Divine, grace has been a focus of contemplation in my life... Starting in my youth as a practicing Catholic and, most recently, as an aspiring student of bhakti- yoga.  There are many descriptions of grace, what it is and how it is given, within a spiritual context: “Blessings that come, regardless of merit, God’s mercy, God’s gift, having a quality of kindness.... The key that is required for self-realization, must it be earned? But deeds alone are not enough, grace and mercy are needed.... Divine favor, Divine care.... Exclusive to the practice of devotion, surrender to a Divine Source.... Do nothing, yet get everything, in a non-material sense...” And what about experience and Mystery? I am not an expert on grace nor the words to describe it.  Recently, I participated in a yoga retreat at a friends lovely yoga studio and home in Vermont. It was a sweet combination of meditation (japa), asana practice, walks in the woods, silence, c...