I had decided to not only visit Mayapur and Vrindavan, but move on from India to Australia...
I have not been to Australia for the past 15 years, and now it seemed a good opportunity to spend some time on that side of the globe. I joined there in 1985 and spent 4 years in the brahmacharini ashram in Sydney. It had been a very dynamic time which had shaped my life in Krishna consciousness and had given me solid training in my devotional life, forming the very foundation to my further devotional practice. During the first 5 years of my married life we went back and forth, spending the European summer in Riga/Latvia and the European winter in Australia. Later we realised that we were better off staying in Europe to dedicate all our time and energy to developing the preaching in the Baltic countries - a part of the former Soviet Union.
My last visit to Australia had been in 2007, when I had to do Chemo therapy for the first time. In between the treatments I was excited to visit all the temples of my "childhood-experience" in Krishna consciousness - the sugar-coating on the ordeal of this rather nasty treatment.
Since I now booked a one-way ticket to India and on to Australia, I felt a sense of bidding farewell - with no clear idea when I would return to Europe and Germany. I was amazed about my mother's detached mood - fully encouraging me to leave Europe because of the political tension escalating. She had experienced the Second World War and cautioned me, expecting another one to break out. And of course, as we all know, Srila Prabhupada also predicted it....
My last visit to Australia had been in 2007, when I had to do Chemo therapy for the first time. In between the treatments I was excited to visit all the temples of my "childhood-experience" in Krishna consciousness - the sugar-coating on the ordeal of this rather nasty treatment.
Since I now booked a one-way ticket to India and on to Australia, I felt a sense of bidding farewell - with no clear idea when I would return to Europe and Germany. I was amazed about my mother's detached mood - fully encouraging me to leave Europe because of the political tension escalating. She had experienced the Second World War and cautioned me, expecting another one to break out. And of course, as we all know, Srila Prabhupada also predicted it....
My mother's heart had been moved by the fact that I had taken care of her for one month in December/January while she had been in quarantine with Covid. I had proved to her that I do care for her and am willing to cancel my activities in order to look after her. So now she manifested a detached mood of allowing me to spend time on the other side of the world. Against my expectations she gave her full support and blessings for my decision, even though she will turn 92 in April - an advanced age which doesn't offer too much hope of us meeting again in this lifetime. However, the one month we had spent together in winter had been a special time, and even if we would not meet again, our hearts were at peace...
After spending three days with my mother I moved on to Simhachalam for a couple of nights, and on to Cologne, from where I would leave to India. My time in Europe during the two years of the pandemic had come to an end, and it felt good to start a new chapter. And who knows how the world situation would develop within this year....
The world seems to be in turmoil - disturbances on all levels. Kali-yuga is progressing very fast. I daily followed the news on the situation in Ukraine which pained my heart and troubled my mind. It is not easy to understand Krishna's plan - the most wonderful yatra within the world of ISKCON being now destroyed in horrific ways, with devotees and people suffering great hardship. Anything Krishna arranges for His devotees has to be viewed as His mercy. All suffering is meant to bring us closer to Krishna's lotus feet and help us to feel helplessly dependent on His mercy and shelter. Reading reports of devotees in Ukraine showed how gloriously they accept these hardships and sufferings in a heroic mood of surrender to the Lord.
On the 13th of March I stepped on the plane to Delhi...
Your servant, Devaki dd
After spending three days with my mother I moved on to Simhachalam for a couple of nights, and on to Cologne, from where I would leave to India. My time in Europe during the two years of the pandemic had come to an end, and it felt good to start a new chapter. And who knows how the world situation would develop within this year....
The world seems to be in turmoil - disturbances on all levels. Kali-yuga is progressing very fast. I daily followed the news on the situation in Ukraine which pained my heart and troubled my mind. It is not easy to understand Krishna's plan - the most wonderful yatra within the world of ISKCON being now destroyed in horrific ways, with devotees and people suffering great hardship. Anything Krishna arranges for His devotees has to be viewed as His mercy. All suffering is meant to bring us closer to Krishna's lotus feet and help us to feel helplessly dependent on His mercy and shelter. Reading reports of devotees in Ukraine showed how gloriously they accept these hardships and sufferings in a heroic mood of surrender to the Lord.
On the 13th of March I stepped on the plane to Delhi...
Your servant, Devaki dd
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