Meditation on lord Krishna without joining any cult

[bhakta]

Hi there,
I have been interested in spirituality for a long time. But due to lack of patience and favorable conditions, I have never been able to adhere to any practice for a long time.
Recently I have decided to revere lord Krishna as my savior and spiritual companion. Said that I don't want to join any cult that proclaims to be the only real messenger of Krishna like Hare Krishna movement, IKSon etc. Rather I want to revere him in my own way: without following rigid, impractical rules but studying litterature like Bhagwat Gita or Bhagwat Purana and meditating on him.
I would like to know if I can meditate on one of the images of lord Krishna in my own way and reap spiritual (and/or worldly) benefits? Also, can I accompany a mantra while meditating? If you have any particular suggestion, you are more than welcome.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by bhakta

Hi there,
I have been interested in spirituality for a long time. But due to lack of patience and favorable conditions, I have never been able to adhere to any practice for a long time.
Recently I have decided to revere lord Krishna as my savior and spiritual companion. Said that I don't want to join any cult that proclaims to be the only real messenger of Krishna like Hare Krishna movement, IKSon etc. Rather I want to revere him in my own way: without following rigid, impractical rules but studying litterature like Bhagwat Gita or Bhagwat Purana and meditating on him.
I would like to know if I can meditate on one of the images of lord Krishna in my own way and reap spiritual (and/or worldly) benefits? Also, can I accompany a mantra while meditating? If you have any particular suggestion, you are more than welcome.

I suggest looking at it in a way that enables you to recognise the wholly imagined nature of it, but by all means study the mentioned texts as they might be quite insightful, though having never looked into it myself, I can't really comment on that.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by bhakta

Hi there,
I have been interested in spirituality for a long time. But due to lack of patience and favorable conditions, I have never been able to adhere to any practice for a long time.
Recently I have decided to revere lord Krishna as my savior and spiritual companion. Said that I don't want to join any cult that proclaims to be the only real messenger of Krishna like Hare Krishna movement, IKSon etc. Rather I want to revere him in my own way: without following rigid, impractical rules but studying litterature like Bhagwat Gita or Bhagwat Purana and meditating on him.
I would like to know if I can meditate on one of the images of lord Krishna in my own way and reap spiritual (and/or worldly) benefits? Also, can I accompany a mantra while meditating? If you have any particular suggestion, you are more than welcome.

During meditation, it helps to imagine Lord Krishna as the Divine Charioteer that drives the vehicle of your Consciousness, your whole mental and supramental awareness.

Arjuna is the mind...the ego, who usually drives the mind/body chariot pulled by 5 horses...the 5 karmendriyas...taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell.

When the senses are withdrawn into the stillness of Self, Arjuna hands the reigns over to Lord Krishna in an act of subduing the ego...in the act of "I am tired, You drive it for a while" and thus, Arjuna takes a 'back seat' to Lord Krishna...Arjuna lets Krishna lead the horses instead of leading them himself and just taking Lord Krishna along for the ride.

...and no, I'm not a Hare Krishna (ISKCON) person...and no, I don't belong to any 'cult' and the God I worship is actually Lord Shiva...I am a Shaivite, but I also know about the Mahabharata...Ramayana...etc.

http://sorcerers-stone.net/uploads/3...54516_orig.jpg

https://image.slidesharecdn.com/gita...?cb=1433980713

Om Namo Narayanaya

[bhakta]

Thank you so much for your clarification.
So that means I can start with visualizing a form of Krishna and meditating upon the image, without worrying of the strict rules of various cults of Krishna, like going vegeterian, forsaking alcohol, observing strict sexual behavior etc. ?

[LovePen]

You most certainly can be a devotee of Lord Krishna and worship and meditate on him without belonging to any cult or group. Forget rules and observances dictated by others. Krishna will show you all you need to know and do. Enjoy!

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by bhakta

Thank you so much for your clarification.
So that means I can start with visualizing a form of Krishna and meditating upon the image, without worrying of the strict rules of various cults of Krishna, like going vegeterian, forsaking alcohol, observing strict sexual behavior etc. ?

I believe in anything in moderation. As said above, Krishna will let you know...all you really need to do is surrender your heart to Him if you wish to live up to your user-name. Totally surrender it and the path will be revealed to you by Krishna himself!

Having said that, it's time I went and surrendered to Shiva once more because I appear to be stuck on the path and floundering with a desire to be accepted and acknowledged as part of the human race, which seems so easy for almost 8 billion others...

[Shivani Devi]

Let me try something...see if this works.

How does Lord Krishna make you feel inside? When you think of Him...feel His presence everywhere, how does that make you feel...in your heart? If you could even begin to describe this to me, what words would you use and would that even go there?

[bhakta]

To be really honest, I tend to cry when I read stories of his bal leela (childhood) and the contexts in Mahabharata where he is present. But I don't really feel anything special when I think of him or visit his shrines. I also have a hard time holding his figure in my mind for a long time. But I know that it's a matter of practice and I guess that continuing on this will of course reap me some benefits.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by bhakta

To be really honest, I tend to cry when I read stories of his bal leela (childhood) and the contexts in Mahabharata where he is present. But I don't really feel anything special when I think of him or visit his shrines. I also have a hard time holding his figure in my mind for a long time. But I know that it's a matter of practice and I guess that continuing on this will of course reap me some benefits.

Reading stories of Krishna Leela and crying is meditation in itself...like when He lifted Goverdhana Hill on His little pinkie finger...which is my favourite story out of the lot. Just notice how these stories make you feel and go into that feeling itself.

I feel it whenever I read the Shiv Puran, when I think of Shiv...visit His shrine - I just go into ecstasy...when my ego and mind allows it, of course - but it keeps a very tight leash on all that...to my disagreement...sorta like I am 'keeping up appearances' to myself for some reason.

I also used to have a hard time keeping Shiu Bhagwan's image in my mind...but you start with cues...little things. For me, it was the Trishula, then the Damaru...then the crescent Chandra...then the Soma...just bits and pieces that formed an 'overall image' eventually.

You may like to try the same with Lord Krishna...the peacock feather...the jeweled flute...something small you associate with Lord Krishna...or just recall a leela from the Bhagawat Puran and imagine that you are there.

All the best, my friend.

[bhakta]

Thanks a lot. That was a clarifying post.