The 5th of March marked the long awaited day when we inaugurated the Institute for Spiritual Culture at the Mayapur Goshala....
Ironically, exactly that morning I woke up having almost lost my voice! For the past few days I had been fighting a cold with a nasty cough sitting deep within my lungs. And exactly on this day of the inauguration I could hardly speak....! Krsna forced me to be a little quieter, which would maybe make the program more auspicious....!
Nevertheless, I was determined to simply make the best out of the situation. I had a good team of matajis and a group of brahmacaris and students from Bangladesh who were eager to help me with all the necessary preparations.
Ironically, exactly that morning I woke up having almost lost my voice! For the past few days I had been fighting a cold with a nasty cough sitting deep within my lungs. And exactly on this day of the inauguration I could hardly speak....! Krsna forced me to be a little quieter, which would maybe make the program more auspicious....!
Nevertheless, I was determined to simply make the best out of the situation. I had a good team of matajis and a group of brahmacaris and students from Bangladesh who were eager to help me with all the necessary preparations.
The program started around 5pm. Even though it was the first day of the Navadvip Mandala Parikrama, around 150 devotees decided to definately not miss this historic event. The Pandal with its warm colour combinations and beautiful flower decorations created a welcoming and festive atmosphere. Guests were received with flower garlands while devotees from Bangladesh were chanting in kirtan.
The Board Members HH Sivarama Swami, HH Niranjana Swami, HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja and HH Badrinarayan Goswami (who had taken Sannyas the very same morning) blessed the event with their presence, seated on the raised platform. HH Bhakti Rasamrta Swami was unfortunately not able to participate since he had to attend a program in South India.
The Board Members HH Sivarama Swami, HH Niranjana Swami, HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja and HH Badrinarayan Goswami (who had taken Sannyas the very same morning) blessed the event with their presence, seated on the raised platform. HH Bhakti Rasamrta Swami was unfortunately not able to participate since he had to attend a program in South India.
I opened the program with a short welcome, giving a concise introduction to the topic of spiritual culture by quoting verse 2.69. from Bhagavad Gita. I elaborated how spiritual and materialistic culture are like day and night, based on opposing world views and ideologies, and thus being ultimately incompatible. Any culture promoting God consciousness as the goal of life is based on the same universal principles. And unless we clearly recognise these principles and preserve them, we can easily lose them - in the name of reformation, as it has happened in other spiritual cultures such as Christianity for example.
The foremost purpose of the Institute for Spiritual Culture is to train and educate our ISKCON devotees in these underlying principles of spiritual culture, which will empower them to consciously choose how much of which culture they want to adopt within their life, and thus facilitate the gradual internal transformation which Krsna consciousness is meant to bring about.
The foremost purpose of the Institute for Spiritual Culture is to train and educate our ISKCON devotees in these underlying principles of spiritual culture, which will empower them to consciously choose how much of which culture they want to adopt within their life, and thus facilitate the gradual internal transformation which Krsna consciousness is meant to bring about.
HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami was connecting the topic of spiritual culture with village life, illustrating how knowingly or unknowingly our habits and attitudes carry us through our devotional practice, if they are based on spiritual culture. HH Badrinarayan Maharaja elaborated on the importance of Varnashram, remembering how Srila Prabhupada had stated that 50% of his work is unfinished, since he had not found the opportunity to introduce the principles of Varnashram. Maharaja warned us not to whimsically jump over the roles and duties prescribed to us, according to the body and nature we have been given in this life time. After all the Varnashram system is giving us sign posts how to progress by executing our purifying duties within Krsna consciousness.
HH Sivarama Swami gave the concluding words of wisdom equating spiritual culture with the laws of conduct coming from the spiritual world - the behavior followed in the spiritual world in order to give the highest pleasure to the Lord. He explained how development of love to Krsna is not independant of our conduct and our obligations towards others, which help us to purify ourselves. And he referred to the principles of anukula and pratikula: accepting what is favorable and rejecting what is unfavorable for our devotional life. Srila Prabhupada had encouraged us to simply add Krsna to our life and our usual habits, which certainly begins our devotional life. But as we continue practicing Krsna consciousness, our rights and obligations change, and ultimately we have to transform our lives and our hearts by giving up the unfavorable elements, and cultivate favorable habits and attitudes. And spiritual culture supports this transformational process.
I concluded the discussion explaining how materialistic culture promotes envy and competition, whereas spiritual culture promotes care and selfless service to one another. Spiritual culture is after all Krsna's culture, wherein every section of society is perfectly cared for, by everyone executing their purifying duties. Thus Devotee Care can only flourish within our society as we more and more recognise the importance of spiritual culture.
A beautiful plaque for the Institute for Spiritual Culture was unveiled, which was later mounted near the entrance of the Goshala Building, where our ashram is located. Finally several ladies who had taken the course "Exploring the Roots of Spiritual Culture" during January performed a little skit illustrating in a humerous way the different world views and attitudes of young ladies influenced by the two opposing cultures. The skit was well received and brought the audience to laughter while at the same time giving some food for thought.
A beautiful plaque for the Institute for Spiritual Culture was unveiled, which was later mounted near the entrance of the Goshala Building, where our ashram is located. Finally several ladies who had taken the course "Exploring the Roots of Spiritual Culture" during January performed a little skit illustrating in a humerous way the different world views and attitudes of young ladies influenced by the two opposing cultures. The skit was well received and brought the audience to laughter while at the same time giving some food for thought.
I concluded the event by asking for blessings and giving away beautiful little cows in charity to the brahmanas, gift-wrapped in cute little boxes - a loving exchange which created an affectionate atmosphere.
HH Niranjana Swami lead the final kirtan, and everyone took prasadam - the general devotees at the Pandal, while the Board Members, disciples of Srila Prabhupada and senior devotees were escorted to my place in the Goshala Building to take prasadam there.
Also here we had created a festive mood with flower decorations, and I felt honored to receive the Board Members, guests such as Chandramauli Swami and Smita Krsna Swami and senior devotees from the Mayapur Community for prasadam. We had ordered pizza from Govinda's and had prepared a nice pumkin soup, a salad and vanilla pudding with mango sauce.
The entire atmosphere was surcharged with a festive and auspicious mood, and devotees expressed their appreciation for the program and were pleased with our humble endeavors to serve them in Vaisnava hospitality.
The entire program can be viewed on www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
HH Niranjana Swami lead the final kirtan, and everyone took prasadam - the general devotees at the Pandal, while the Board Members, disciples of Srila Prabhupada and senior devotees were escorted to my place in the Goshala Building to take prasadam there.
Also here we had created a festive mood with flower decorations, and I felt honored to receive the Board Members, guests such as Chandramauli Swami and Smita Krsna Swami and senior devotees from the Mayapur Community for prasadam. We had ordered pizza from Govinda's and had prepared a nice pumkin soup, a salad and vanilla pudding with mango sauce.
The entire atmosphere was surcharged with a festive and auspicious mood, and devotees expressed their appreciation for the program and were pleased with our humble endeavors to serve them in Vaisnava hospitality.
The entire program can be viewed on www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
After resting my voice for one week I was fit enough to give a three-session introductory seminar on spiritual culture in the Pancha Tattva Extension. It was well received, and we had enlivening discussions. Some senior devotees and disciples of Srila Prabhupada such as Chandramauli Swami, Dhanesvara Prabhu and others also attended, which gave me great encouragement.
Our time in Mayapur had come to an end - we were busy preparing for our departure....
On the 15th of March we flew to Delhi and traveled out to Vrindavan, together with my two assistants Dominique and Anna......
Your servant, Devaki dd
Our time in Mayapur had come to an end - we were busy preparing for our departure....
On the 15th of March we flew to Delhi and traveled out to Vrindavan, together with my two assistants Dominique and Anna......
Your servant, Devaki dd
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