On our arrival in Mayapur on the 15th of December 2014 we settled nicely into our home at the goshala. It is such a special place - all surrounded by cows! Through every single window of my ashram all I can see is cows....! And from my balcony I can almost touch them....
How can one not remember Krsna....?!
Some devotees have commented in the past that this is definitely the best place in Mayapur.....!
How can one not remember Krsna....?!
Some devotees have commented in the past that this is definitely the best place in Mayapur.....!
We introduced the tradition of giving the first chapati every lunch to the cows - something I picked up in Ujjain. What a nice custom....
Living at the goshala it almost becomes natural...
Around the Mayapur Campus I saw huge posters announcing our Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra, and also the schedule for the courses on spiritual culture for the month of January. I have connected meanwhile with a few young fellows who are willing to do some tasks for me in return for some little renumeration. It makes my life more easy. And such big posters definitely attract attention - especially if they are nicely made, with a big picture of Lord Nityananda.
The Russian leaders approached me requesting to give systematic training and education to the ladies of the Russian Community. Meanwhile there are at least around 300 Russian devotees living here permanently - the second largest community after the Bengalis.
I was invited to conduct a nama hatta program in one of the leader's home, and the Sunday feast lecture in the Community Hall. The Russian devotees always stick together and have regular programs - no matter where we go in this world.....
Living at the goshala it almost becomes natural...
Around the Mayapur Campus I saw huge posters announcing our Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra, and also the schedule for the courses on spiritual culture for the month of January. I have connected meanwhile with a few young fellows who are willing to do some tasks for me in return for some little renumeration. It makes my life more easy. And such big posters definitely attract attention - especially if they are nicely made, with a big picture of Lord Nityananda.
The Russian leaders approached me requesting to give systematic training and education to the ladies of the Russian Community. Meanwhile there are at least around 300 Russian devotees living here permanently - the second largest community after the Bengalis.
I was invited to conduct a nama hatta program in one of the leader's home, and the Sunday feast lecture in the Community Hall. The Russian devotees always stick together and have regular programs - no matter where we go in this world.....
Our Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra was scheduled from the 27th to the 31st of December. As last year, I was traveling to Ekachakra one day earlier, together with my assistant Alakananda Mataji in order to set everything up.
On the next day we were receiving a group of around 32 devotees arriving by bus from Mayapur. They had encountered some little delays due to some political road blocks and arrived just in time to take lunch prasadam around 2:30pm. Not a cheap thing to come to Ekachakra - some tapasya has to be performed....
After lunch we went on parikrama around Ekachakra, visiting the main places of Nityananda's pastimes. Ekachakra is becoming very dear to me - it is the perfect place for a Holy Name Retreat: so secluded and quiet, with so many cows! It reminds of the original Vrindavan. After all, Nityananda is non-different from Lord Balaram, who was sporting with the cows and calves...
I had arranged for a little Pandal on the roof of the Guest House, which was our Bhajan Kutir for the next three days.
We were a nice group of devotees from all around the world - some were senior, some were very young devotees. We all had come together to deepen our relationship with the holy name. And we became quite close - embarking on an internal learning experience together.....!
On the next day we were receiving a group of around 32 devotees arriving by bus from Mayapur. They had encountered some little delays due to some political road blocks and arrived just in time to take lunch prasadam around 2:30pm. Not a cheap thing to come to Ekachakra - some tapasya has to be performed....
After lunch we went on parikrama around Ekachakra, visiting the main places of Nityananda's pastimes. Ekachakra is becoming very dear to me - it is the perfect place for a Holy Name Retreat: so secluded and quiet, with so many cows! It reminds of the original Vrindavan. After all, Nityananda is non-different from Lord Balaram, who was sporting with the cows and calves...
I had arranged for a little Pandal on the roof of the Guest House, which was our Bhajan Kutir for the next three days.
We were a nice group of devotees from all around the world - some were senior, some were very young devotees. We all had come together to deepen our relationship with the holy name. And we became quite close - embarking on an internal learning experience together.....!
We had Haripada Prabhu and his good wife Phalini Mataji amongst us - both are disciples of Srila Prabhupada. And also Atitaguna Mataji and Subhangi Mataji joined us, who are their godsisters.
I was impressed about their humility - sitting there all day and listening to my presentations. Especially for a man this is not so easy! It actually requires humility - a real sign of advancement! My heart was moved by their genuine eagerness to deeply dive into the topic, and their appreciation for the tools and insights I presented.
Nitai Priya Prabhu was there also - I had traveled with him recently in Bangladesh and requested him to join us for this retreat in Ekachakra, so we would have sweet evening kirtans.
Haripada Prabhu was also leading nicely, and his morning class and comments during my presentations uplifted the atmosphere. In this trusting and personal atmosphere of our small group we were polishing up our chanting habits and rededicating ourselves to the chanting of the holy name in japa as well as in kirtan, leaving behind all our usual distractions, and giving all our attention and energy to our relationship with the Holy Name.
I was impressed about their humility - sitting there all day and listening to my presentations. Especially for a man this is not so easy! It actually requires humility - a real sign of advancement! My heart was moved by their genuine eagerness to deeply dive into the topic, and their appreciation for the tools and insights I presented.
Nitai Priya Prabhu was there also - I had traveled with him recently in Bangladesh and requested him to join us for this retreat in Ekachakra, so we would have sweet evening kirtans.
Haripada Prabhu was also leading nicely, and his morning class and comments during my presentations uplifted the atmosphere. In this trusting and personal atmosphere of our small group we were polishing up our chanting habits and rededicating ourselves to the chanting of the holy name in japa as well as in kirtan, leaving behind all our usual distractions, and giving all our attention and energy to our relationship with the Holy Name.
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Only at Holy Name Retreats I have an opportunity for sweet and prayerful evening kirtans. One reason why I like to conduct them - just so I can have deeper evening kirtans....!
On the 31st after Mangal Artik we made our way back to Mayapur. In Katwa we got hold up by another road block, instigated by the Tribal Committee which was demanding money from the Government.
I used the time to go to the barber shop and get my head shaved. Subhangi Mataji also got a hair cut. The barber was not very willing to cut her hair off, lamenting that it was too nice. We were remembering when Lord Caitanya took Sannyas here, how the barber had refused to cut His beautiful black hair. Seeing this barber lamenting over Subhangi Mataji's hair, one could indeed imagine how the barber would have lamented over Mahaprabhu's beautiful hair....
Finally, at 5:30pm we made it back to Mayapur - welcome back to life in this world.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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