Christmas Time is Nityananda Yoga Time
If you find yourself among a lot of people, as we often do during Prabhupada Marathon and Christmas time, take a moment to observe the condition of everyone you see. If people appear to you as eternal spirit souls in material bodies, forgetting their relationship with Krishna, Congratulations! You have achieved the first level of Nityananda Yoga!
Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura were partners in this yoga and they are its preceptors. They felt intense empathy for people who have misunderstood the value of their human life. It is compassion empowered by strong enthusiasm, Sri Nityananda's Yoga. Do not try to find it in a demonstration DVD or booklet. It is available only in the pure and sanctified minds of sankirtana devotees. It can be observed in their divine interaction with the public, offering transcendental scriptures, prasadam, and of course congregational chanting and dancing.
Consider the case of Jagai and Madhai. Jagai and Madhai were mobsters, drunkards, women hunters and they were loyal to the dark practice of Tantra. Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakur chose them in particular, thinking “Our Lord, Mahaprabhu, has come to save the most fallen souls, so He will not neglect even these two. Only if we can save these two will we be able to justly glorify Him.” l
What is so beautiful about Sri Nityananda Yoga is that it can be offered anywhere to anyone. You don't have to register, you don't need teacher training. Srila Prabhupada practiced it with powerful shakti in old storefronts and public parks, on hippies and drug addicts.
In a deep trance of Nityananda Yoga, Narottama das Thakura sung, nitai pada kamalam, koti candra susitala. Srila Prabhupada explains, “We can just imagine the aggregate total value of the shining of millions of moons. In this material world, which is progressing toward hell, there is always a blazing fire, and everyone is struggling hard without finding peace; therefore, if the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter under the lotus feet of Nityananda, which are cooling like the shining of millions of moons.”
Nityananda Yoga has no pre-requisites, but the attitude of the yogi is paramount. It is important that Nityananda Yoga practice be approached in a mood of respect and humility. This requires strong sadhanna-bhakti. The divine magic of Nityananda Yoga is manifest through the agency of Yogamaya. Advanced Nityananda Yogis are adept at witnessing this mystic intervention of Yogamaya on very subtle levels.
The next two months are especially favorable for Nityananda Yoga. ISKCON temples everywhere are offering a special holiday introductory full-immersion course called the “Srila Prabhupada Marathon.” New beginners will become activated everywhere. For adept Nityananda Yogis it will be practice as usual, while first time contacts will become significantly impacted.
Don't miss your opportunity because even a little Nityananda Yoga practice will result in achieving a transcendental position on the spiritual platform. Narottama das Thakura advises, nitai-pada sad koro asa; always try to catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
Your servant, Karuna Dharini dd
