In this chapter, the academy has become my monastery – a haven of study, absorption, and meditation, building bridges between the spiritual and the intellectual.
This really feels like a divinely arranged encounter - two monks crossing paths at a university, each carrying their own questions. The Franciscan monk’s story struck me as such a powerful metaphor for what happens to so many of us, no matter the field, work, relationships, creativity or spiritual life.
A meaningful life needs both structure and personal voice. Being a “parrot” isn’t bad if what we repeat is alive with realization, like the sacred parrots of tradition who pass on wisdom with depth and heart. But when it turns mechanical, when the connection fades, we start to feel it. We can try to ignore that emptiness but it only makes the suffering heavier.
Maharaj’s reflection is such a beautiful reminder and invitation - not to settle for function and repetition but to rediscover our own poetic voice within it. To shift from being merely functional to being fully alive.
So often people think that spiritual life means no struggles but this story shows otherwise. It’s so real and relatable, because most of the time we are already those “parrots”doing the roles, saying the right words, meeting expectations… while inside, a quiet part of us longs for authenticity.
This has made me reflect on our journey and even when we find a purpose or a belief, we can't forget to continue to be authentic and not become a parrot as he did.
Your narrative’s honesty and warmth suggest that the journey of rediscovery—the poet returning within the priest—is both valid and necessary, encouraging self-expression informed by disciplined craft but animated again by originality and personal realisation.
Your observation is insightful: the parrot metaphor extends far beyond religious ritual, illustrating how anyone can become a passive echo of societal patterns—absorbing and reciting ideas, attitudes, or behaviors without real reflection or creativity. In broader life, social conformity often leads individuals to unconsciously repeat the “scripts” of culture, media, or peer groups, just as the parrot mindlessly mimics what it hears, sometimes at the expense of authentic thought or self-expression.
Recognizing this tendency is the first step to countering it, whether in spirituality, conversation, or cultural participation.
The call to reclaim one’s “voice” remains universally relevant: it’s a reminder for all to notice when living or thinking becomes mechanical repetition, and to seek out opportunities for conscious, intentional, and creative engagement in every area of life. Mu 2 cents…
Thank you for this beautiful post, Maharaj. Realization of spiritual truth only happens in the heart; one must pray that our hardness of heart be dissolved so we can deeply feel the truth of Krsna’s Love, and never engage spiritual matters in a rote manner. Each in their own way, if sincerity is deep and wide, will reach God’s Shore.
this means, we offer service to Krsna (with pure understanding of mine & His constitution & my relationship with him AND) as per my liking & taste though surely in line with guru-parampara AND not trying to better someone (in something he is good at in his service to Krsna) or prove my worth by doing some very very difficult task which am not very good at & neither desired by my superiors but will attract attention of everyone towards me... am i right in my understanding, Maharaja? Also, could you please share some scriptural references for this thought…
thank you so much !!!!!!!!! hare krishna! Please accept my humble obesiances!!!
Thank you very much for wonderful article. It’s so deep and insightful. The following statement is so thoughtful : “ At times, our own voice fades into the chorus of tradition, our individuality buried under the weight of collective expectation.”
Sometimes simply by the chaos of daily life, we can lose ourself.
And one's we lost in life's chaos, we missed our own happy self & love.
When we fully immersed, time disappears. The world fades.
Then in krishna consciousness we learns- " Don't blindly follow. Seek the truth yourself "
And we restarts our discovery to find ourself once again.
There is nothing like being lost in self discovery. It's therapy for our soul. Where we discover the depth of our own soul, where creativity blooms & introspection reveals hidden treasures.
Finding ourself again implies a return to authenticity, clarity & inner peace & deep love for the Divine.
Thank you so much sharing with us one more masterpiece🙏
Once you will discovered that self don't let it go. Aligned it with your values, dreams & worth, just hold it tight ✨
The highest self isn't who you become, its who you forgot. May krishna help you & your new friends to return the best version of yourselves 🙏
Each line consist of compassion for the surroundings, always praying for the others.
I learned even though you don't share same philosophy with others you can always learn something from them and show your gratitude towards them. Thank you so much Maharaj for sharing this.
Thanks Maharaj for sharing this wonderful encounter. This made me reflect deeper: this is not just a mere encounter.. rather a recognition!
two spiritual warriors on different roads, bowing to the same horizon. Both carried the prayer of repetition and renunciation. Together, they revealed that “What matters is not the form but the depth. through them the eternal can be glimpsed.”
This really feels like a divinely arranged encounter - two monks crossing paths at a university, each carrying their own questions. The Franciscan monk’s story struck me as such a powerful metaphor for what happens to so many of us, no matter the field, work, relationships, creativity or spiritual life.
A meaningful life needs both structure and personal voice. Being a “parrot” isn’t bad if what we repeat is alive with realization, like the sacred parrots of tradition who pass on wisdom with depth and heart. But when it turns mechanical, when the connection fades, we start to feel it. We can try to ignore that emptiness but it only makes the suffering heavier.
Maharaj’s reflection is such a beautiful reminder and invitation - not to settle for function and repetition but to rediscover our own poetic voice within it. To shift from being merely functional to being fully alive.
So often people think that spiritual life means no struggles but this story shows otherwise. It’s so real and relatable, because most of the time we are already those “parrots”doing the roles, saying the right words, meeting expectations… while inside, a quiet part of us longs for authenticity.
Thank you for sharing this, Maharaj 🙏
Hare Krishna 🌺
So profound. Thank you for sharing.
This has made me reflect on our journey and even when we find a purpose or a belief, we can't forget to continue to be authentic and not become a parrot as he did.
Beautiful and profound🙏🏻 Hare Krishna 🙏🏻
❤️
Amazing
Maharaj, pamho 🙏🏼
Your narrative’s honesty and warmth suggest that the journey of rediscovery—the poet returning within the priest—is both valid and necessary, encouraging self-expression informed by disciplined craft but animated again by originality and personal realisation.
Your observation is insightful: the parrot metaphor extends far beyond religious ritual, illustrating how anyone can become a passive echo of societal patterns—absorbing and reciting ideas, attitudes, or behaviors without real reflection or creativity. In broader life, social conformity often leads individuals to unconsciously repeat the “scripts” of culture, media, or peer groups, just as the parrot mindlessly mimics what it hears, sometimes at the expense of authentic thought or self-expression.
Recognizing this tendency is the first step to countering it, whether in spirituality, conversation, or cultural participation.
The call to reclaim one’s “voice” remains universally relevant: it’s a reminder for all to notice when living or thinking becomes mechanical repetition, and to seek out opportunities for conscious, intentional, and creative engagement in every area of life. Mu 2 cents…
Thank you for this beautiful post, Maharaj. Realization of spiritual truth only happens in the heart; one must pray that our hardness of heart be dissolved so we can deeply feel the truth of Krsna’s Love, and never engage spiritual matters in a rote manner. Each in their own way, if sincerity is deep and wide, will reach God’s Shore.
Hare Krsna
“refines it meticulously”
this means, we offer service to Krsna (with pure understanding of mine & His constitution & my relationship with him AND) as per my liking & taste though surely in line with guru-parampara AND not trying to better someone (in something he is good at in his service to Krsna) or prove my worth by doing some very very difficult task which am not very good at & neither desired by my superiors but will attract attention of everyone towards me... am i right in my understanding, Maharaja? Also, could you please share some scriptural references for this thought…
thank you so much !!!!!!!!! hare krishna! Please accept my humble obesiances!!!
Hare Krishna Maharaj,
Thank you very much for wonderful article. It’s so deep and insightful. The following statement is so thoughtful : “ At times, our own voice fades into the chorus of tradition, our individuality buried under the weight of collective expectation.”
Thank you very much again 🙏🙏
Very thought provoking blog, Thank you Maharaj. Hàré Kṛṣṇa 🙏🧡
Hare krishna 🙏
Dandvat pranam Maharaja 🙏
Profound blog, highly appreciated 🙏
Sometimes simply by the chaos of daily life, we can lose ourself.
And one's we lost in life's chaos, we missed our own happy self & love.
When we fully immersed, time disappears. The world fades.
Then in krishna consciousness we learns- " Don't blindly follow. Seek the truth yourself "
And we restarts our discovery to find ourself once again.
There is nothing like being lost in self discovery. It's therapy for our soul. Where we discover the depth of our own soul, where creativity blooms & introspection reveals hidden treasures.
Finding ourself again implies a return to authenticity, clarity & inner peace & deep love for the Divine.
Thank you so much sharing with us one more masterpiece🙏
Once you will discovered that self don't let it go. Aligned it with your values, dreams & worth, just hold it tight ✨
The highest self isn't who you become, its who you forgot. May krishna help you & your new friends to return the best version of yourselves 🙏
Best wishes ✨
Hare Krishna. Thank you for sharing your experience in words that moved my heart. Serendipity 🙏🏽
Feeling so much gratitude for your beautiful wisdom and expression.
Each line consist of compassion for the surroundings, always praying for the others.
I learned even though you don't share same philosophy with others you can always learn something from them and show your gratitude towards them. Thank you so much Maharaj for sharing this.
Always indebted🙏🏻
Haribol! Beautiful exchange... Thank you for sharing, Maharaj!
🙇♀️♥️🙏🙇♀️♥️🙏
Thanks Maharaj for sharing this wonderful encounter. This made me reflect deeper: this is not just a mere encounter.. rather a recognition!
two spiritual warriors on different roads, bowing to the same horizon. Both carried the prayer of repetition and renunciation. Together, they revealed that “What matters is not the form but the depth. through them the eternal can be glimpsed.”