On the 13th of February we conducted the annual program of our Institute for Spiritual culture. As last year, we arranged a special pandal on the property of the Old Gurukula, on the way to the Mayapur goshala. It is a perfect venue for such programs - the green surroundings create a very pleasant and peaceful atmosphere, and there is enough space for the kids to play outside while still being supervised by the parents.
Our this year's topic was "Ideal Family Life", which attracted a crowd of around 400 devotees in curiosity and eagerness to hear. And we had the good fortune to welcome very attractive speakers: His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Maharaja, His Holiness Chandramauli Maharaja, His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaja, His Grace Pancharatna Prabhu and His Grace Subheksana Prabhu.
As every year, I played the Master of Ceremonies opening the program by sharing visions and thoughts on the topic of the grhastha ashram.
As every year, I played the Master of Ceremonies opening the program by sharing visions and thoughts on the topic of the grhastha ashram.
As in all spiritual functions, the arriving guests were greeted warmly, the seniors being received with fragrant garlands, and everyone was seated comfortably in chairs. After hearing from those great souls, everyone was invited to take wonderful prasadam of many varieties, as without prasadam, no spiritual gathering can be considered complete.
Subheksana Prabhu began by sharing his personal experience in entering marriage according to spiritual understandings and culture - he met his wife for the first time seven days before the marriage ceremony! Pancharatna Prabhu elaborated on sravanam kirtanam setting the very foundation to the grhastha ashram. As Srimad Bhagavatam and the holy name become our foremost priority, our family life transforms into an ashram - a setting dedicated to spiritual advancement. HH Bhakti Rasamrita Maharaja enlightened us on several secrets of success: simple living, regular Vaishnava association and cultivating sheltering relationships in our life in order to receive guidance and advice. He wonderfully explained how we can cultivate the mood of simple living with the following advice: "Whenever you are thinking of buying something - ask yourself the question: do I REALLY need this? And then, the second question is: do I REALLY, REALLY need this? And the third question is: do I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need this?" A simple and practical formula, which made everyone laugh in amusement....! HH Chandramauli Maharaja spoke on the importance of giving in charity and receiving guests being the main purifying duty of this ashram. And HH Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaja concluded the program giving insights into the mood and attitude of husband and wife. He emphasized the aspect of duty, rather than whether or not things are to our liking.
This time I was more bold and involved myself more as the MC, putting in a few stories from Bangladesh and summarizing a few points to keep it all on track and flowing well. I had given each speaker the topic in advance, and some materials with quotes and key points. Gradually I am becoming more confident how to serve as the MC in the presence of seniors and Maharajas. During the ILS I was carefully observing HG Gopal Bhatta Prabhu, trying to learn from him the art of playing this role.
A team of Bangladeshi devotees helped me in arranging the entire program: overseeing the construction of the pandal, arranging the prasadam, leading the introductory kirtan, serving the prasadam and working out the best prices for all the arrangements. It is a great relief for me to have their help - some were especially coming to Mayapur to help me with this event.
A team of Bangladeshi devotees helped me in arranging the entire program: overseeing the construction of the pandal, arranging the prasadam, leading the introductory kirtan, serving the prasadam and working out the best prices for all the arrangements. It is a great relief for me to have their help - some were especially coming to Mayapur to help me with this event.
On the following morning devotees shared their impressions and expressed their gratitude for the program, stating that it was the best annual program we ever had so far.
For the remainder of my time in Mayapur I received almost every day devotees in my place at the goshala - either for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. It felt great to catch up with devotees who I had not seen for some time - from all corners of the world, and also to establish new contacts and relationships. It is one of my favorite pastimes - to receive especially my seniors and equals, serve them prasadam and get their uplifting association. The six loving exchanges of giving and accepting prasadam, revealing one's mind in confidence and inquiring confidentially, and exchanging gifts are such important ways of building personal, trusting and affectionate relationships. Some days I was also invited for lunch to the homes of various devotees who live in Mayapur.
Gaur Purnima quickly approached, and I joined the celebration in the park at Rasamrta Kunj. Many devotees from the Mayapur community came together to bathe Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaur Nitai. Prithu Prabhu gave a nice lecture, and Pancharatna Prabhu performed a little drama on Advaita Acarya calling out for the Lord to appear. The event was concluded with a most delicious feast - the best Gaur Purnima feast I had ever tasted in my whole devotional life....!
My time in Mayapur had come to an end - it had been an intense yet very productive, rewarding and sweet time, with wonderful opportunities for service and preaching. Its highlight was certainly the publication of my first book, with all the 1000 copies printed in Kolkata already distributed. And I had another 1000 copies awaiting me in Europe.....
On the 3rd of March I flew off to Dhaka/Bangladesh..........
Your servant, Devaki dd
For the remainder of my time in Mayapur I received almost every day devotees in my place at the goshala - either for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. It felt great to catch up with devotees who I had not seen for some time - from all corners of the world, and also to establish new contacts and relationships. It is one of my favorite pastimes - to receive especially my seniors and equals, serve them prasadam and get their uplifting association. The six loving exchanges of giving and accepting prasadam, revealing one's mind in confidence and inquiring confidentially, and exchanging gifts are such important ways of building personal, trusting and affectionate relationships. Some days I was also invited for lunch to the homes of various devotees who live in Mayapur.
Gaur Purnima quickly approached, and I joined the celebration in the park at Rasamrta Kunj. Many devotees from the Mayapur community came together to bathe Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaur Nitai. Prithu Prabhu gave a nice lecture, and Pancharatna Prabhu performed a little drama on Advaita Acarya calling out for the Lord to appear. The event was concluded with a most delicious feast - the best Gaur Purnima feast I had ever tasted in my whole devotional life....!
My time in Mayapur had come to an end - it had been an intense yet very productive, rewarding and sweet time, with wonderful opportunities for service and preaching. Its highlight was certainly the publication of my first book, with all the 1000 copies printed in Kolkata already distributed. And I had another 1000 copies awaiting me in Europe.....
On the 3rd of March I flew off to Dhaka/Bangladesh..........
Your servant, Devaki dd
RSS Feed
