It had been a few years that I last visited the Baltic countries for preaching. Svarupa-Siddhi Prabhu and his good wife Govardhini Mataji who are heading up a little preaching center in Riga had felt inspired to arrange for a retreat in a nice holiday center near Sigulda, 45 km's outside of Riga. We had invited the devotees from the three Baltic countries (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) to come together and spend two days churning the nectar on the topic of "Men and Women in Spiritual Culture". On the weekend of the 22nd/23rd/24th of September a nice group of around 35 serious devotees assembled - some of them had traveled a long way to get here.
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A couple of senior devotees participated, who had been our first brahmacaris in the early days, when my former husband and I had established the temple in Riga. This was in the year from 1989 onwards - around 28 years ago! It seemed so far away - almost like a previous life time. And now it was wonderful to see those devotees participating in the course here.
The venue was ideal for a retreat: cosey wooden houses to accomodate the devotees, and a nice little hall which we converted into a temple room. Beautiful nature with forests and fields surrounded us, which created a very peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Especially for devotees who are full-time working, it is a wonderful way to spiritually recharge just by the mere fact of being in the association of devotees over two full days, and having the opportunity to attend a full morning program, with Mangal artik and japa time. What to speak of hearing and discussing very transformational and deep topics. I could clearly perceive the transformations some devotees experienced within these 48 hours.
Especially for devotees who are full-time working, it is a wonderful way to spiritually recharge just by the mere fact of being in the association of devotees over two full days, and having the opportunity to attend a full morning program, with Mangal artik and japa time. What to speak of hearing and discussing very transformational and deep topics. I could clearly perceive the transformations some devotees experienced within these 48 hours.
Some participants volunteered to perform humorous role plays illustrating certain aspects within spiritual and materialistic culture, which made it so clear to all of us, how these two cultures are indeed like day and night, and ultimately incompatible. And we all had a good laugh.....
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Devotees shared deep and heart moving realizations and expressed their gratitude for the retreat. It had been well spent time in service to the devotees. We firmly decided to make such retreats an annual event.
I stayed another day in Riga, meeting with devotees privately. I also visited the main temple, which we had established in those early days. A lot had changed meanhwile - as everywhere else in the world. Even though the project did not turn out to become what I had envisioned in those days, it nevertheless had been an exciting adventure in pioneer spirit - to come here on the mission to preach, just when the communist system collapsed. Our mind had been fully immersed - flooded with all kinds of amazing plans to please Guru, Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. It had been a wonderful mission - a fresh challenge to raise up to, which impelled me to develop myself while endeavoring with determination, all the while depending on Guru and Krishna. We had started with nothing: no building, no spices, no saris and dhotis, no Deities..... And within a few short years we had a big building, around 60 brahmacaris and 30 brahmacarinis, a shop, a restaurant, a newspaper, and many exciting programs. And I served as the caring mother of the entire set-up, establishing the Deity worship, giving inspiration to book distribution, taking care of the ladies, doing the shopping in India. Never a dull moment! I remember the first time I took the ladies out on harinam we appeared in the newspaper! Devotees had come from all over former Soviet Union, hearing about this temple in Riga which was managed by "some devotees from Australia". We had established a wonderful family mood within a dynamic spirit of preaching. We conducted the very first Ratha Yatra in the former Soviet Union, and were traveling to Moscow, Minsk and St Petersburg to cook for the first Ratha Yatra festivals. It had been a real challenge since the facilities had been so simple. I learnt so many things in those days, especially to cultivate the spirit of self sacrifice in service, which are now forming the foundation to my devotional life. I often regret that I never kept a diary in those days. I was still a rather new devotee - four years in the movement. We never even realized what historic times Krishna had allowed us to be part of.....
It is special mercy to be given a challenging mission in devotional life - an opportunity to express, that we are willing to do absolutely anything for the pleasure of Guru, Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. It is a question of desire: if we desire to cultivate such mood, then Krishna opens the door to so many opportunities......
It is special mercy to be given a challenging mission in devotional life - an opportunity to express, that we are willing to do absolutely anything for the pleasure of Guru, Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. It is a question of desire: if we desire to cultivate such mood, then Krishna opens the door to so many opportunities......
On the 26th of September I flew off to Germany.........
Your servant, Devaki dd
Your servant, Devaki dd
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