This year I spent Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada's appearance in Ireland - on Inish Rath, or Krishna Island.
According to local historical references, there is some evidence that about 2,000 years ago, there was indeed a “rath” - a fortified homestead of an extended family on the “Inis,” or island.
In the mid-19th century, the island was part of the lands of the earl Lord Erne who built the existing house during the Victorian era. Later it was used as a summer house of that same family and was sold in the 1950s, going through constant changes of ownership for the next 30 years.
Finally in 1982, during the political troubles in Northern Ireland, properties became very cheap in the area and ISKCON purchased the island, seeing its potential as a spiritual centre and retreat. The almost life- sized Deities of Sri Sri Radha Govinda were installed in 1986.
In the mid-19th century, the island was part of the lands of the earl Lord Erne who built the existing house during the Victorian era. Later it was used as a summer house of that same family and was sold in the 1950s, going through constant changes of ownership for the next 30 years.
Finally in 1982, during the political troubles in Northern Ireland, properties became very cheap in the area and ISKCON purchased the island, seeing its potential as a spiritual centre and retreat. The almost life- sized Deities of Sri Sri Radha Govinda were installed in 1986.
Indeed, today the island, home to Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Gaur Nitai is now called Krishna Island, attracting many visitors and tourists with its regular programs, providing financial support as well as giving newcomers an introduction to Krishna conscious philosophy and lifestyle. It also serves as a perfect place for offering retreats, as it is in a beautiful setting - in seclusion, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
On my arrival, when walking from the little landing place of the ferry to the temple, I was greeted by a herd of 30 deer, gazing at me in amazement. Later, when I took prasadam, they came to the window of the prasadam room, and one of them was so bold to take some pakoras from my hand. And how cute and beautiful they are! I immediately remembered the pastime with Bharat Maharaja and was careful not to get too infatuated by them.
On my arrival, when walking from the little landing place of the ferry to the temple, I was greeted by a herd of 30 deer, gazing at me in amazement. Later, when I took prasadam, they came to the window of the prasadam room, and one of them was so bold to take some pakoras from my hand. And how cute and beautiful they are! I immediately remembered the pastime with Bharat Maharaja and was careful not to get too infatuated by them.
Since Janmastami fell on a Monday, many devotees and guests came on Sunday, and we dedicated the program to Janmastami. On the next day we had another celebration which was more intimate - with the practising devotees and a few guests. We stayed up until midnight, and I offered my favorite "Krishna Meditations", sharing some drops of nectar about Krishna and His flute, and His outstanding beauty.
Srila Prabhupada's appearance was very sweet and deep - his Vyasasana was decorated with beautiful flower arrangements. We started the program by watching the first 30 minutes of Yadubara Prabhu's film about Srila Prabhupada, tuning our hearts into remembering him with deep gratitude. We had an abhishek, followed by my lecture on Srila Prabhupada being the Founder Acarya, and many devotees spoke about Srila Prabhupada and offered their homage unto him. The atmosphere was surcharged with emotions, and several devotees shed tears in gratitude....
Srila Prabhupada's appearance was very sweet and deep - his Vyasasana was decorated with beautiful flower arrangements. We started the program by watching the first 30 minutes of Yadubara Prabhu's film about Srila Prabhupada, tuning our hearts into remembering him with deep gratitude. We had an abhishek, followed by my lecture on Srila Prabhupada being the Founder Acarya, and many devotees spoke about Srila Prabhupada and offered their homage unto him. The atmosphere was surcharged with emotions, and several devotees shed tears in gratitude....
Not only is Krishna Island a perfect place for retreats, but could possibly also serve as an attractive place to retire.
When entering the Vanaprastha Ashrama, an important aspect is to leave one's cosy home and downsize one's living space - a foundational principle of cultivating the vanaprastha mood. At the same time, a vanaprastha also needs a base to return to. After all, even our sannyasis have a base, which may very well be the place to retire one day, once their health and old age may force them to reduce their travels.
Whenever I meet elderly devotees who are open for my guidance, I invite them to contemplate in which Vaishnava community they want to leave their body one day, and - while still in good health - go there to serve the devotees. I consider it of the greatest importance to reflect on this question. Association with like-minded devotees is always important, throughout our whole devotional life, and especially as old age is approaching. Becoming an active part of a dynamic community where we feel inspired to serve the devotees will help us to develop deep and meaningful relationships and become dear to them. In this way, devotees will naturally feel indebted and thus inspired to accompany us when our final days are approaching. We will need inspiring and uplifting association - especially when death is knocking on our door - and most likely also some physical assistance and care. Care is always based on personal relationships.
If we keep aloof and independent most of our life, living far away from the nearest temple and only coming now and then, without making a commitment to accept responsibilities, we may find ourselves alone and forgotten in our final days. Then, at that point in life, we can't expect devotees to take the trouble to come and assist us. We can't demand, "I am a senior devotee - you have to care for me now!" No, we have to eagerly and selflessly serve the devotees. At the moment of death, we need association more than ever - devotees who chant the holy name for us and help us remember Krishna. Being on our own we may face great difficulties in doing so - being kicked out of our body will give us pain and various tribulations.
Creating a base, however, does not mean we once again develop a cosy and fancy home while becoming comfortable and accumulating so many unnecessary necessities. On the contrary, we consider one particular community to be our base, possibly occupying a simple little room in the temple, and in our absence the room is used by others; and we may store a box of personal belongings underneath the bed. Or we can consider building a simple little cabin on the property - something like this.
Depending on our personal preference, we may create our base in Mayapur or Vrindavan and spend a few months per year there in service, while visiting various other communities in the Western world during the rest of the year. Or vice versa, we choose to have our base somewhere in the Western world - where we want to leave our body one day - and spend some time per year in India, or in other parts of the world. However, we must have a base to return to, whenever the need arises. Of course, we can also choose to have our base in the home of our grown-up children. However, such a choice may not facilitate our cultivation of detachment from our family members. In a later chapter we will discuss that, from a spiritual point of view, it is not favorable to be surrounded by our family members to offer care to us when approaching death.
In any case, we have to make intelligent plans; we can't be naïve and think Krishna will take care of me, no need to make any plans. Krishna will reciprocate with our strong desire of being an active member of a nice community, where we will find like-minded association and spiritual upliftment. As our body will gradually fall apart, we will not be able to run around and receive satisfaction from our achievements in service. Thus, it will become even more important to have nourishing association of senior devotees and visiting preachers; taking shelter of a community with a nice level of Deity worship and a high standard of celebrating Vaishnava festivals will become important, as these festivities will offer a vital source of satisfaction and inner joy in our old age.
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
When entering the Vanaprastha Ashrama, an important aspect is to leave one's cosy home and downsize one's living space - a foundational principle of cultivating the vanaprastha mood. At the same time, a vanaprastha also needs a base to return to. After all, even our sannyasis have a base, which may very well be the place to retire one day, once their health and old age may force them to reduce their travels.
Whenever I meet elderly devotees who are open for my guidance, I invite them to contemplate in which Vaishnava community they want to leave their body one day, and - while still in good health - go there to serve the devotees. I consider it of the greatest importance to reflect on this question. Association with like-minded devotees is always important, throughout our whole devotional life, and especially as old age is approaching. Becoming an active part of a dynamic community where we feel inspired to serve the devotees will help us to develop deep and meaningful relationships and become dear to them. In this way, devotees will naturally feel indebted and thus inspired to accompany us when our final days are approaching. We will need inspiring and uplifting association - especially when death is knocking on our door - and most likely also some physical assistance and care. Care is always based on personal relationships.
If we keep aloof and independent most of our life, living far away from the nearest temple and only coming now and then, without making a commitment to accept responsibilities, we may find ourselves alone and forgotten in our final days. Then, at that point in life, we can't expect devotees to take the trouble to come and assist us. We can't demand, "I am a senior devotee - you have to care for me now!" No, we have to eagerly and selflessly serve the devotees. At the moment of death, we need association more than ever - devotees who chant the holy name for us and help us remember Krishna. Being on our own we may face great difficulties in doing so - being kicked out of our body will give us pain and various tribulations.
Creating a base, however, does not mean we once again develop a cosy and fancy home while becoming comfortable and accumulating so many unnecessary necessities. On the contrary, we consider one particular community to be our base, possibly occupying a simple little room in the temple, and in our absence the room is used by others; and we may store a box of personal belongings underneath the bed. Or we can consider building a simple little cabin on the property - something like this.
Depending on our personal preference, we may create our base in Mayapur or Vrindavan and spend a few months per year there in service, while visiting various other communities in the Western world during the rest of the year. Or vice versa, we choose to have our base somewhere in the Western world - where we want to leave our body one day - and spend some time per year in India, or in other parts of the world. However, we must have a base to return to, whenever the need arises. Of course, we can also choose to have our base in the home of our grown-up children. However, such a choice may not facilitate our cultivation of detachment from our family members. In a later chapter we will discuss that, from a spiritual point of view, it is not favorable to be surrounded by our family members to offer care to us when approaching death.
In any case, we have to make intelligent plans; we can't be naïve and think Krishna will take care of me, no need to make any plans. Krishna will reciprocate with our strong desire of being an active member of a nice community, where we will find like-minded association and spiritual upliftment. As our body will gradually fall apart, we will not be able to run around and receive satisfaction from our achievements in service. Thus, it will become even more important to have nourishing association of senior devotees and visiting preachers; taking shelter of a community with a nice level of Deity worship and a high standard of celebrating Vaishnava festivals will become important, as these festivities will offer a vital source of satisfaction and inner joy in our old age.
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
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