Turn away from absorption in exterior things, even though they may be service to the Lord, and just address yourself to Him in a nonhurried way. (p. 90)
I haven’t rejected that book. I expressed things a little differently than I would today. Now I am less discursive about “prayer.” In a certain sense, I also lack the intensity that pervades _Entering the Life of Prayer_. So I read it, almost as if it was written by a different person, but a person I can learn from and appreciate:
I may decide to always live in one of the existing temples and travel sometimes away from it, or to always travel, or to select a base and create a new temple there. These are details of how to live. My inner man should be more concerned with the decision he has already made, which is irrevocable. And that is, to go forward and talk with Krishna more and more and don’t give that up.
(_Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name_)
JAPA POEM
I make an assessment about
the nature of the state
in which I wrote _Entering the Life of Prayer_.
I am different now.
I don’t attempt
constant prayer and talking to Krishna.
But I respect
the devotee I was then.
I didn’t want to
give up my intense
practice of solitary
prayer. Somehow
I have changed
and moved on
without regrets.
I honor that period
I went through.