Diary

If we could have but one generation of properly born...

8/8/2018

On my return to Kharkov/Ukraine on the 29th of July I immediately settled back into my writing retreat and continued working on the draft of my second book in a very disciplined and regulated way. I enjoyed my seclusion and absorption, marveling how Srila Prabhupada performed this herculean task of producing so many volumes of books while traveling and preaching!
And I had to start putting ideas together for the design of the book cover. To produce the second book seemed easier than the first one...

When Mother Devaki was a grhastha

7/29/2018

Since I had come to Germany to attend Damodara-priya Mataji's wedding, I decided spontaneously to visit my dear mother for three days, together with Olga. My mother had expressed that she did not feel well, and I would have been very regretful if she was to leave her body in the near future, and I had not taken the opportunity to pay her a visit.

When Mother Devaki got married.....

7/13/2018

On the 12th of July I flew together with Olga from Kharkov to Germany to attend the wedding of Damodara-priya Mataji and Gopal Sundara Prabhu at Goloka Dham. This event was so important to me, that I decided to interrupt my writing retreat and specially fly to Germany to participate in this wonderful celebration.

Embarking on a Writing Retreat

7/12/2018

Our Holy Name Retreat outside Kharkov/Ukraine gave me the perfect entrance to yet another retreat: a writing retreat....

Kirtan - A Highly Transcendental Affair

6/25/2018

In the evening of the 20th of June I arrived in Kharkov/Ukraine - after more than 24 hours of travels from Toronto. The devotees gave me a sweet and enthusiastic welcome, and I was distributing maha prasadam from Toronto temple - mangal artik sweets from Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha's plate. It is always a wonderful loving exchange upon arrival, offering me an opportunity to give a token of attention to each and every person while exchanging affectionate smiles.

When facing death

6/19/2018

On the 13th of June I arrived in Toronto/Canada - it was my second visit to this lively community.....

The glories of our mothers

6/13/2018

On my flight from San Diego to Chicago on the 7th of June, looking out the window I could observe how the landscape and climate changes when approaching Chicago. It almost looked like certain places in Europe: more green and flat - without the gigantic mountains of California.

Butter and fire

6/7/2018

On 1st of June I flew from Vancouver back to California to visit the devotees in San Diego. HH Badrinarayan Maharaja established this temple many years ago, and up to this very day it is his home base. Since he had been encouraging me to come to the United States, I felt I should visit his community and try to offer some humble service to the devotees here.

Becoming a fanatic

6/1/2018

The only little sight-seeing I engaged in was from the plane - looking out the window. Flying from Los Angeles to Vancouver, I could nicely observe how the climate and landscape is changing as we flew North. The climate of Los Angeles is mild-to-hot and mostly dry, classified as a Mediterranean or dry subtropical climate. As we flew North, I could observe a strip of Californian desert with high mountains, and towards Canada it was getting colder and also greener, with the mountain tops finally covered with snow.

Los Angeles - Prabhupada's headquarters of the early days

5/23/2018

On the 16th of May I arrived in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada's headquarters of the early days. It was a great pleasure and honor for me to visit this community - New Dwaraka Dham, with Their beautiful Lordships Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish, Gaur Nitai and Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.
The temple building used to be a church - what an appropriate palace for Their Lordships! Next to the temple is a very nice Govinda's restaurant with a large and well stocked gift shop for devotional items located upstairs. In the same street are many flats which are owned by the temple and rented to devotees. In this way many devotees have the opportunity to live in walking distance to the temple, and therefore especially mangal artik, but also other parts of the morning program are well attended.