The author joyfully shares his upcoming journey to India from 2-18 October 2025, where he will immerse himself in spiritual practices centered around Krishna. He plans to visit sacred sites, engage in prayers, and connect with family and friends. This enriching experience promises to deepen his devotion and foster community service. Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna!
It is a great pleasure and privilege to be back in the holy land of Bharat Bhumi. Most of us also know this land as India.
When in India, I will be hearing and chanting about Krishna. I will visit some places of pilgrimage. Sincere and serious devotees have based their lives around hearing and chanting about Krishna in these places.
If you want to meet me when I’m in India, please write to das@dasadas.com. Meeting individually is not always possible. Nonetheless, I will try to invite you to any programs I am attending or serving at.
And just so you have some spiritual gain from viewing this post, some beautiful spiritual images to meditate on…
ISKCON Hyderabad View of the Altars
Presiding Deities of Hyderabad Sri Radha Madan Mohan
ISKCON NVCC Pune
Presiding Deities of ISKCON NVCC Pune, Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra
Presiding Deities of ISKCON Camp, Pune, Sri Radha Kunjabihari
Courtyard of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai
Presiding Deities of ISKCON Juhu, Sri Radha Rasabihari
Night View of ISKCON Trivandrum
Presiding Deities of ISKCON Trivandrum, Sri Krishna Balaram
Recently returning from a transformative trip to India, I found jet lag to be an unexpected ally in my spiritual journey. Embracing early mornings, I engaged in meditation, reading, and serving Krishna. Instead of viewing jet lag negatively, I was able to leverage it to enhance my devotional practices and enrich my daily routine. What a blessing! Jet lag? Bring it on!
I have recently returned to Toronto from a hectic, exhausting, yet ecstatic trip to Bharat Bhumi, also known as India. I was away for a total of 14 days. Out of those, I got to spend 11 in the holy land.
The privilege of meeting, hearing from, and serving the sincere devotees of Krishna is, as always, a life changing experience.
I visited…
Frankfurt
Mantralayam
Hyderabad
Bengaluru
Pune
Mumbai
With a 10.5 hour time zone difference between Toronto and India, that is just enough to get jet lagged. Jet lag gets a bad rap… because the body clock is set to some other time zone. It wakes up at odd hours. It feels sleepy at odd hours and so on. There’s an entire cottage industry to help people cope with and overcome jet lag.
I even tried this app called “Timeshifter” but it was totally impractical for my lifestyle… for example it contained advice to use caffeine, which I avoid like the plague, and melatonin… It required specific times to go to sleep and wake up. There were also specific times to “see” light and to avoid it. This was almost like trying to hack the body and mind. It didn’t sit right with me. Was it really necessary to “overcome” jet lag? I wondered if jet lag can be leveraged for Krishna, for spiritual growth.
When I was in India, the jet lag was a great asset! I managed to wake up early enough to attend Mangala Arati. I completed my Sadhana. I got by with a short nap for the rest of the day. Early mornings, late nights, and the rest of the time spent in serving Krishna and His devotees, perfect!
When I got back to Toronto, for example this morning, I was up at 2AM. I wondered if I should try to go back to sleep… then I remembered that my Guru and Gurumata usually rise at this hour. They complete their japa, meditation on the Holy Names of Krishna on their beads, well before others rise… and then they can spend their whole day serving others on their spiritual journey.
So I decided to follow in their footsteps. After completing my meditation, I still had time to read, not one but parts of 2 books! Anyone who has a corporate career and a family understands the challenge. Finding quality time to read is incredibly hard. I still had enough time to complete Mangala Arati. Then I performed deity worship before getting an early start to the day!
In this way I will leverage jet lag to serve Krishna. And when the jet lag ends? I will simply go back to my earlier routine to serve Krishna!
Jet lag? Bring it on!
Of course, in all success, the credit goes to Guru and Krishna, as long as we are ready to be an instrument!
Now, in case you think that this idea to leverage jet lag in Krishna’s service somehow is mine… it is not.
Srila Rupa Goswami enunciated the principle of “avyartha–kālatvam — being free from wasting time”, this was over 500 years ago…
“ ‘When the seed of ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṇa fructifies, the following nine symptoms manifest in one’s behavior: forgiveness, concern that time should not be wasted, detachment, absence of false prestige, hope, eagerness, a taste for chanting the holy name of the Lord, attachment to descriptions of the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and affection for those places where the Lord resides — that is, a temple or a holy place like Vṛndāvana. These are all called anubhāva, subordinate signs of ecstatic emotion. They are visible in a person in whose heart the seed of love of God has begun to fructify.’
My spiritual master has indeed planted the seed of pure devotional service in my heart. However, I cannot claim any success in cultivating devotional service. I am just sincerely trying to practice sadhana bhakti.
And I have examples of great Vaishnavas who travel around the world…
So I brought Prabhupada his breakfast, and then when he was finished I came and took everything out and Prabhupada laid down. So I went back, I said, “Prabhupada’s resting.” So Paramahamsa and I, we laid down. Of course, we fell asleep, we were out, and Prabhupada maybe took 15 minutes or something and he was up. So finally I heard a bell ring. So I went into Prabhupada’s room, and it happened a few times where I would literally try to wake up as I was offering obeisances and exercise my eyes so Prabhupada couldn’t tell that I was sleeping. I sat up, and as soon as I sat up he said, “Why are you sleeping? You’re like dead men. Everyone is awake. The karmis are all at work but not the devotees. No, they’re sleeping.” He said, “They’re sleeping very soundly. Why are you sleeping?” And, of course, when Prabhupada asked why were you doing something wrong, I never had a response because whatever you said, he would just take that apart. So I just said, “Prabhupada, I’m sorry.” “What about Paramahamsa? Why is he sleeping?” He said, “Call him in here.” He goes in and immediately Prabhupada says, “You are a sannyasi. Your business is to minimize bodily demands, minimize sleeping, minimize eating. Why are you sleeping?” Paramahamsa said, “Prabhupada, I have jet lag,” and I thought, “Oh, no!” And Prabhupada said, “Jet lag?” He said, “Well, we just flew from here and done this,” and Prabhupada said, “So I am also flying, I am doing the same thing. I am awake.” Then he said, “All right, go on. Go sleep if you want.“
Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times in less than 10 years… and no one ever recalls a time when he was jet lagged.
Gopal Krishna Goswami, a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada, traveled from continent to continent. He was always on the altar offering Mangala Arati to the local deities at the temple he was staying at. This was regardless of which time zone he came in from and which time zone he traveled to. I have personally witnessed this, arrived at midnight, 1AM, 2AM, but no, at 4:30am he was on the altar.
My own spiritual master, Srila Sankarshan Das Adhikari, has circled the globe more than 50 times. My Gurumataji Srimati Vishnupriya Devi Dasi has accompanied him. They have never let jet lag stand in the way of their service to Krishna. They are both up early. They chant their rounds and offer their service to Sri Sri Radha Damodar. Then, they follow a full schedule of service all day, working 12-16 hours most days.
So why should I not try to follow in their illustrious footsteps?
How can one control the mind? A perennial question that was asked even 5,000 years ago. Those answers are still relevant! Would you like to learn more?
Tapas Chakraborty, 29 July 2019
So far so learned , To progress in spiritual path the first step is Control of Mind. How to accomplish absolute control of our Mind?
Is it totally internal restraint or a combination of both external and internal?
Request all enlightened soul to chart out a clear direction to follow. I will be highly grateful for your guidance.
Hare Krishna
your servant
Tapas
Thunduparambil Jayaprasad, 30 July 2019
Controlling the mind is not easy..in Bhagavad. Gita ..Krishna says. ..to Arjuna. ..controlling mind is more difficult than controlling wind…But.with Krishna’s help you can do it by diverting your attention to Krishna service . Chanting.and surrendering to him .then Lord will take care…Hare Krishna
Thunduparambil Jayaprasad
Arun Agarwal, 31 July 2019
Hare Krishna
It is Arjun who says that it is very difficult to control mind even more difficult than controlling air. Lord Krishna then tells Arjuna the simple way to control it. Those who surrender to him can control it very easily.
Hari bol
Arun Agarwal
Tapas Chakraborty, 31 July 2019
Thanks for your reply
Request the following
1. What is complete surrender, and
2. How to accomplish the same
The above are literally theoretical, what practice in our daily life we need to do so that we derive the necessary motivation to remain focused.
Sincerely,
Tapas
Arun Agarwal, 31 July 2019
Hare Krishna
I am sorry the answer I gave that surrender to Krishna is the way to control over mind is not correct. Surrender unto Lord Krishna is necessary for overcoming the three modes of material nature which is his divine energy.
For controlling mind pl refer Bhagwad Gita.
Lord Krishna said (6.35 Bhagwad Gita) it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.
6.26.(Bhagwad Gita) From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature one must certainly withdraw it and bring back under the control of self.
However for surrendering unto Krishna one has to be in full knowledge and always keeping himself engaged in pure devotional service of lord Krishna.
I have started reading Bhagavad Gita and the books of Srila Prabhupada for the last one year only. As such I know that I am actually a beginner only and may try to sound very literate and accomplished. But believe me I am only trying to express what I have read so far. I just wish to involve in the process of discussion for enhancing the knowledge
Hare Krishna
Sincerely,
Arun
Sudhanshu Soni, 31 July 2019
Hare Krishna Prabhu
I hope this lecture may help you .
your servant
Sudhanshu
Tapas Chakraborty, 1 August 2019
Thanks Bhakta Arun
It’s a real pleasure reading your reply. I believe we are all learning, in fact in search of absolute truth and knowledge which has no end. Each day comes with a new experience and from it greater insights of what we already know. Also the toughest time in our life teaches us more at a greater speed .The more we have questions greater is our search for truth.
So from your reply what I get to know is training the mind for delineating ourselves from material attachment and focusing on absolute reality.
So the question remains how we can force our mind to withdraw from temptations of the materialistic world. Theoretically yes but practically it is difficult unless we are able to harness the consciousness within .
Sincerely,
Tapas
Sharon, 1 August 2019
Thanking you in your lecture, I have read, and I but I know within the rest of my day I will continue to go back to read through and accept what I need to do in order to make the necessary changes to my inner self to become a better much happier person to become more responsible to ensure I don’t slip away with any of the other people who are not wanting to become a part of the inner world of the betterment xx thanking you
Sincerely,
Sharon xx
Shridhar Das, 1 August 2019
Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeisance.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All Glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga!
[Requesting all devotees to reply in single mail loop in future. In this case [sda_students:5745]]
I am humbly trying to elaborate on below perfect answers. I have not gone through the link yet as I don’t have the facility at the moment but I hope it answers your query fully.
Mind. This topic is unlimited and endless, no matter how many seminars be delivered on it. So are thoughts, desires, impressions in the mind unlimited.
Indeed, as quoted below a great warrior like Arjuna, who was extremely talented and a valiant warrior accepted subordination to the battle against mind although he was confident to bring under control a voracious hurricane. Can we be that confident? What to speak of mind.
The conditioned soul is in this awkward position all because of its surrender to the mind. Great sages dedicate their whole life to perform penance just to conquer the mind and the senses and transcend this existence. And very few pass the test. The glorious tales of such sages decorate the Srimad Bhagavatam so that we can learn and be inspired in similar spirit.
As per your question, we can see Vishwamitra Muni. He very expertly performed penances. Surrounded by fire from all sides during summer and entered into ice waters during winters. Didn’t eat for days and even month while performing austerity. But a simple tinkling of Menaka’s ankle bell ruined all his progress.
On the other hand, a similar yogi named Durvasa Muni got agitated and so angry that he wanted to kill a devotee like Ambarish just because Durvasa Muni “felt” that he has not been given proper respect. Durvasa Muni summoned a demon from his yogic powers to kill Ambarish Maharaj, a pure devotee. This is called trying to kill a mosquito with a machine gun. Punishing a so-called mistake severely.
On the other hand Ambarish Maharaj didn’t retaliate to save his life. He simply depended on Krishna’s will. Krishna’s Sudarshan personally came without invitation for his protection. What was Durvasa’s qualification? He was fully engaged in Lord’s service and depended on Lord for personal maintenance. In 56-72 verses of Bhagavad Gita’s 2nd chapter, you can find this comparison of yogic v/s devotional process.
The point is- Our path is of Grace & Dependence. Doesn’t mean we don’t care for restraint. We do the needful to keep the standard for the mind, before it may cheat viz. 4 Regulative Principles, Chanting 16 good Rounds at least, Observing Fast on Ekadashi and festivals, Daily study of Srila Prabhupada Books, goes on… Everyone then observe personal austerities under superior guidance.
On our path, the emphasis is not restraining, for Krishna tells in 3rd Chapter – What can repression accomplish?
Mind is very obstinate and we have our own natures. Our process teaches us not to give up work. Rather if we have greed for work and profit, we should fully engage that greed, while assuring we submit the results which assures pleasure of Guru & Vaishnavas. Krishna guided Arjuna to engage his warfare Kshatriya spirit in fighting too not for solitary devotion in the forest as Arjuna felt.
The ultimatum is, if we are acting as per Supreme Worshipable Personality, The All Loving Krishna’s will, mind will always be happy. But to do that we need to understand His teachings. And that is possible through a bonafide spiritual master and his representatives. So we should look for that person whom we can give our heart to faithfully and follow their instructions. And even if mind is not cooperating, but because heart is set on pleasing someone, mind becomes subordinate to such love. So even when mind is upset, we know whom to approach and hear from. And we know if they are pleased, our life is going perfect. So look for some advanced souls locally who are fully engaged ecstatically in serving Srila Prabhupada. At least we can pray for guidance daily.
For this reason, Srila Gurudeva & Srimati Gurumata (and various other great souls) open themselves to others. In this case there are online lectures where everyone can hear and interact asking questions daily. There is facility to write emails and personally serve them and inquire from them.
You can also sense this surrender in lives of all leading Srila Prabhupada disciples, for Srila Prabhupada.
Hope this helps.
your servant
Shridhar das
Bhakta Sunil, 1 August 2019
Amazing answers,
Prabhu additional nectar on this topic is at
Lecture by His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari on 28 April 2017 in Riga, Latvia,
In my view it is only due to our lack of knowledge about Krishna which makes it difficult for us to delineate ourselves totally from material world. You should continue to study the Bhagavad Gita and also the invaluable literature of Srila Prabhupad . You will gain knowledge about everything necessary to achieve the desired goal.
Hare Krishna
Sincerely,
Arun
Tapas Chakraborty, 1 August 2019
Hare Krishna
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
It is indeed an in-depth and elaborate explanation in dealing with the complexities linked to the control of mind. Some takeaways which I will attempt to follow with heart and soul.
– Disciplined approach to daily life with regular chanting and reading books
– Focus on understanding the Bhagavad-Gita with repetitive follow up
– Try for holy company(Association of Devotees)
– Engage only for true knowledge
– Detachments from materialistic objects
– Complete surrender to Lord Krishna for his guidance
– Regular touch with holy brothers by asking questions whenever in doubt.
Thank you
Hare Krishna
your servant
Tapas Chakraborty
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