In the beginning of June I visited New Govardhana for two weeks - a rural community in the subtropical North of New South Wales, a two-hour drive from Brisbane. It is situated in Australia's popular coastal hinterland and nestled in the foothills of the famous Mount Warning. Renowned for its beautiful surroundings, with hills and mountains covered by luxuriant, dense rainforest, it is the home of the exquisite Deities Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Giriraja. Their palace is on the top of one of the hills, offering a stunning view - truly a divine abode...
On the 1st of June I flew from Adelaide to Canberra, visiting the devotees once again after 15 years. Meanwhile the congregation has immensely expanded, and ISKCON has purchased a nice house in a good neighborhood. The big temple room with the beautifully carved altar with gold-plated domes and decorations - made by the devotees in Ujjain - offers a befitting home for Their beautiful Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai.
On the 25th of May, after spending six weeks in Melbourne, I flew to Adelaide to visit the community of Vaishnavas. It was 30 years ago that I visited here last! And meanwhile a lot has changed...
My time in Melbourne had come to an end - I spent 6 weeks in this amazing community, working on my next book and doing programs on the weekends.
On the 14th of March I reached Mayapur - after two years it felt simply wonderful to be back, like coming home. I immediately could feel a sense of deep confirmation that I would like to retire and leave my body one day in Mayapur - Krishna willing...!.
I had decided to not only visit Mayapur and Vrindavan, but move on from India to Australia...
Since my last diary post some weeks have gone by, and life has once again drastically changed...
On the 10th of January I arrived in Simhachalam - it was good to visit again after 5 months' absence. Meanwhile the management had changed, with a new TP and Management Board put into place which definitely brought about a big improvement. Gradually things are becoming more systematic and structured - something a big project like Simhachalam certainly needs.
In mid of December, my writing retreat at Goloka Dham/Germany was suddenly interrupted when I received the news of my mother being hospitalised with Covid. She had been tested positive at a routine check but did not have any symptoms whatsoever - even though she is almost 92 and not vaccinated! Since her caregivers and home care nurses could not come any longer, they had no other choice but to admit her in a Corona ward in the hospital, where she was extremely unhappy and miserable.
Shortly after Govardhana Puja, in mid of November, the Corona restrictions became tighter, when I decided to start working on my next book entitled "Family Life as an Ashrama - Secrets of Success". The restricted winter season would be a good time to go in seclusion and embark on a writing retreat..
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