The first two weeks of September I stayed in Simhachalam/Germany and continued working on my next book. Since I anticipated another Corona wave coming up in autumn, I decided to go once again traveling while the weather was nice - to use the time before life could become more restricted again.
On the 17th of September I took the direct train from Passau to Vienna/Austria, which is only a two-hours' journey. On the morning of my departure Vienna was declared as a Corona hotspot, but I didn't allow myself to get too intimidated by it and nevertheless embarked on my journey.
It was my first visit to the preaching center in Vienna - thanks to Corona I am getting to know the smaller communities surrounding Germany. I was eagerly received by enthusiastic devotees - many of them being originally from Russian background. The devotees had arranged programs every day - an evening program, a matajis' sanga, a three-hour seminar on Saturday on the importance of mentorship in devotional life, and the Sunday feast program. All programs were well received and attended, with some devotees even coming from nearby cities and the bordering country of Slovakia. Especially now during these restricted times not many preachers are traveling, so devotees are keen for association.
It was my first visit to the preaching center in Vienna - thanks to Corona I am getting to know the smaller communities surrounding Germany. I was eagerly received by enthusiastic devotees - many of them being originally from Russian background. The devotees had arranged programs every day - an evening program, a matajis' sanga, a three-hour seminar on Saturday on the importance of mentorship in devotional life, and the Sunday feast program. All programs were well received and attended, with some devotees even coming from nearby cities and the bordering country of Slovakia. Especially now during these restricted times not many preachers are traveling, so devotees are keen for association.
I had the pleasure of meeting one of the daughters of Surabhi Prabhu - a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who was an architect and helped establish Krishna Balarama Mandir in Vrindavan. She lives now with her family in Vienna.
A couple of matajis took me on a little tour around the old and historic part of Vienna - after all, Vienna has a strong cultural heritage with many well-known artists and classical composers such as Joseph Haydn and Beethoven having taken birth here. And the cultural influence is still lingering in the atmosphere and visible through beautiful architecture. The famous Stephan's Cathedral is indeed an outstanding piece of art built to glorify the Lord. An enormously huge organ can be seen high above the entrance - one can only imagine its tumultuous sound....
Horse carts reminding of the 'old days' are taking tourists for sight-seeing tours - now they almost have to fight over the few visitors...
We concluded our excursion with a visit to the famous rose garden with more than 200 different kinds of roses. If we could only offer them to the Deities....
Horse carts reminding of the 'old days' are taking tourists for sight-seeing tours - now they almost have to fight over the few visitors...
We concluded our excursion with a visit to the famous rose garden with more than 200 different kinds of roses. If we could only offer them to the Deities....
In our seminar on Saturday we touched upon the importance of our communities having to become more people-focused rather than just being project-focused. Sometimes managerial interests and the needs of a project can clash with our personal interest as struggling sadhakas. Saying this is not meant to be a criticism of our managers. Being a manager is a very difficult service — no doubt. One has to somehow make ends meet, get all the services covered and the bills paid, and therefore one easily wears the ‘management glasses’ and sees things in terms of one’s managerial service. It is only natural.
As a result, one’s vision can easily be clouded by managerial goals and needs. Therefore, in former times, the kings always had an aloof brahminical advisor — a Chanakya Pandit who would give directions. Srila Prabhupada explains this in the purport to the Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.9):
“The brahmanas, by their learned labor of love, would instruct the administrator-kings how to rule the country in complete righteousness, and thus the process would go on as a perfect welfare state.”
Of course, a first-class manager who is also brahminically inclined will always see the devotees’ individual needs first, and the needs of the project as secondary. A first class manager knows if the individual needs of the devotees are met, then his project will flourish because all the devotees are happy and nicely taken care of. They will serve giving their life and soul, and will never want to leave a project. However, practical life shows that it is not so easy for a manager to have such vision and, as a result, the managerial interests and the individual interests may easily clash.
As a result, one’s vision can easily be clouded by managerial goals and needs. Therefore, in former times, the kings always had an aloof brahminical advisor — a Chanakya Pandit who would give directions. Srila Prabhupada explains this in the purport to the Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.9):
“The brahmanas, by their learned labor of love, would instruct the administrator-kings how to rule the country in complete righteousness, and thus the process would go on as a perfect welfare state.”
Of course, a first-class manager who is also brahminically inclined will always see the devotees’ individual needs first, and the needs of the project as secondary. A first class manager knows if the individual needs of the devotees are met, then his project will flourish because all the devotees are happy and nicely taken care of. They will serve giving their life and soul, and will never want to leave a project. However, practical life shows that it is not so easy for a manager to have such vision and, as a result, the managerial interests and the individual interests may easily clash.
A common example from everyday life in our temples is as follows: The sankirtana leader who is a brahmacari would really do well with a three-month break in Mayapur to study Bhakti Shastri. But the temple president says: “Wait a minute, if he is not here, who will run the sankirtana department? He is also my best book distributor, and if he is absent for so long, I will lose so much income.” Or one of the ladies serving as full-time pujari wants to marry a devotee in another country. And
the manager thinks: “Hang on—how can I manage without her? Maybe we can find a husband for her in our community so I will not lose her.” These are very common scenarios in our communities all around the world. Sometimes, no doubt, we might just have to have a marathon, surrender to the needs of a project and put our personal needs aside. But it cannot be a permanent situation. If it becomes a permanent situation, sooner or later devotees will move to another community. They will not stay. And we can observe this
in many communities: devotees come, they stay for some time and then move on to another place.
On the 22nd of September I returned to Simhachalam....
Your servant, Devaki dd
the manager thinks: “Hang on—how can I manage without her? Maybe we can find a husband for her in our community so I will not lose her.” These are very common scenarios in our communities all around the world. Sometimes, no doubt, we might just have to have a marathon, surrender to the needs of a project and put our personal needs aside. But it cannot be a permanent situation. If it becomes a permanent situation, sooner or later devotees will move to another community. They will not stay. And we can observe this
in many communities: devotees come, they stay for some time and then move on to another place.
On the 22nd of September I returned to Simhachalam....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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