Sergio Canela
Biography

In this life, I was born to Berta & Elias, a Mexican couple, in 1959. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (7.27), “All living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.” As far back in history as I can remember, my birth and activities were characterized by illusion, a bewilderment arisen from desire and repulsion. I remained absorbed in the material illusion by always thinking of the material world and it’s products, rejecting things that didn’t appeal to my materialistic senses, and accepting and desiring things that appeared pleasing to the sensual gratification. I knew nothing beyond this until I met the disciples and grand disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. They informed and taught me about the existence transcendental to the duality of illusion: Krishna consciousness.

Krishna is a Sanskrit name for God, it means “all attractive.” Krishna consciousness is an ancient process of yoga, technically known as bhakti-yoga or yoga of devotion.

First lesson of Krishna consciousness is that we are not the physical bodies but rather spiritual souls, the living entities that are using the bodies as a driver uses a vehicle. Being intrinsically spiritual, material things don’t satisfy us. We become completely satisfied only when acting in the capacity of a selfless servant of everyone with Krishna in the center. This is the life of saintliness. Everything else is considered a complete waste of time, a pointless existence. Bodies that are not engaged in the service of Krishna are no better then tree trunks. Breading of such people is no better then the breathing of the bellows in a black smith’s shop.

As an aspiring devotee of Krishna I follow four regulative principles: no meat eating (including some other substances like eggs and garlic), no gambling of any kind, no intoxication, and illicit sex. Every day I recite on my japa beads (prayer beads) the Hare Krishna maha mantra: hare krishna, hare krishna, krishna krishna, hare hare; hare rama, hare rama, rama rama, hare hare. The recitation of the Hare Krishna maha mantra is a great call of deliverance. It is something like a call of a child reaching out for the shelter of his mother. Basically the meaning of the mantra is as follows: “O Lord Krishna, the all-attractive one, o Lord Rama, the abode of pleasure of your devotees, o Radha, the pleasure potency of the Lord, please grant me the benediction, the privilege of being a servant of the servant of your servants.”

Ever since I met devotees of Lord Krishna, in the early 1980′s, my life has been positive and meaningful. Krishna’s mercy is the only thing I consider worth achieving and endeavoring for. Everything else I might have done in my life is not worth a mention. It simply increased the pages of the book of history of the temporary material manifestation.

Thank you for visiting my site and I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos I take. Somehow or other I find my self often taking pictures of devotees of Krishna, Krishna conscious festivals, Krishna’s missionaries, etc. I also find pleasure in sharing those with you.

Hare Krishna

Your humble servant,
Bhakta Sergio Canela