For most of the month of April I stayed in Simhachalam/Germany - time is flying so fast.....
I kept myself busy working on my book and giving programs over zoom, conducting our weekly matajis' sanga and giving the morning class once a week. And in a bigger community, there are always some issues amongst devotees, and people come for guidance and advice.
I kept myself busy working on my book and giving programs over zoom, conducting our weekly matajis' sanga and giving the morning class once a week. And in a bigger community, there are always some issues amongst devotees, and people come for guidance and advice.
One of the highlights of the month was HH Kadamba Kanana Swami's Vyasa Puja. He stayed with us for more than one month and was personally present for the celebration, with devotees from all around the world participating over zoom. Our entire community also attended, and I felt fortunate to also be allowed to offer some words of glorification to Maharaja. The atmosphere was very sweet and intimate, and hearing all the offerings from the disciples moved our hearts.
Bhakta Tomi from Croatia put a nice video together as his Vyasa Puja offering - Maharaja liked it! Please check it out:
Bhakta Tomi from Croatia put a nice video together as his Vyasa Puja offering - Maharaja liked it! Please check it out:
To become a true disciple is not a cheap thing. In SB. 2.8.24., Srila Prabhupada emphasizes the importance of inquisitiveness:
"The spiritual master is always prepared to impart knowledge to the disciple and specifically when the disciple is very inquisitive. inquisitiveness on the part of a disciple is greatly necessary for the progressive disciple. Maharaja Pariksit is a typical disciple because he is perfectly inquisitive. If one is not very inquisitive about self-realization, one need not approach a spiritual master simply to make a show of discipleship."
We may ask ourselves: Am I truly inquisitive - burning to find out how to reach Krishna in pure devotion? Or are we taking it as a social matter of being initiated and having received a spiritual name - simply making a show of discipleship?
In SB. 4.28.50, Srila Prabhupada gives another principle of true discipleship: to be willing to sacrifice one's very life for the satisfaction and pleasure of Guru:
"It is the duty of the disciples to take charge of the mission of the spiritual master and execute it properly. Otherwise the disciple should decide to die along with the spiritual master. In other words, to execute the will of the spiritual master, the disciple should be prepared to lay down his life and abandon all personal considerations."
When, oh when will we cultivate only one drop of this mood and spirit...?! Alas, we are so conditioned by our personal considerations and comforts...! They are our first priority, and only rarely do we deeply strive to sacrifice our personal interests....
Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja describes Guru in a nice way: "If Krishna's mercy assumes a body and appears before us, that is Sri Guru. He is called Krishna-kripa-sri-murti."
Further he states: "There are many who are sisya (disciple) in name only. One is a real sisya who gives opportunity to his guru to inflict punishment and discipline on him and who accepts the punishment and discipline gladly. Otherwise he is not a sisya at all. The true guru is he who engages his disciple and who inflicts discipline on them to help them give enjoyment to Krishna."
After all, the word disciple comes from discipline....
We live to be corrected - throughout our entire life....!
During the month of May we prepared for yet another highlight: Nrsimha Caturdasi.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
"The spiritual master is always prepared to impart knowledge to the disciple and specifically when the disciple is very inquisitive. inquisitiveness on the part of a disciple is greatly necessary for the progressive disciple. Maharaja Pariksit is a typical disciple because he is perfectly inquisitive. If one is not very inquisitive about self-realization, one need not approach a spiritual master simply to make a show of discipleship."
We may ask ourselves: Am I truly inquisitive - burning to find out how to reach Krishna in pure devotion? Or are we taking it as a social matter of being initiated and having received a spiritual name - simply making a show of discipleship?
In SB. 4.28.50, Srila Prabhupada gives another principle of true discipleship: to be willing to sacrifice one's very life for the satisfaction and pleasure of Guru:
"It is the duty of the disciples to take charge of the mission of the spiritual master and execute it properly. Otherwise the disciple should decide to die along with the spiritual master. In other words, to execute the will of the spiritual master, the disciple should be prepared to lay down his life and abandon all personal considerations."
When, oh when will we cultivate only one drop of this mood and spirit...?! Alas, we are so conditioned by our personal considerations and comforts...! They are our first priority, and only rarely do we deeply strive to sacrifice our personal interests....
Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja describes Guru in a nice way: "If Krishna's mercy assumes a body and appears before us, that is Sri Guru. He is called Krishna-kripa-sri-murti."
Further he states: "There are many who are sisya (disciple) in name only. One is a real sisya who gives opportunity to his guru to inflict punishment and discipline on him and who accepts the punishment and discipline gladly. Otherwise he is not a sisya at all. The true guru is he who engages his disciple and who inflicts discipline on them to help them give enjoyment to Krishna."
After all, the word disciple comes from discipline....
We live to be corrected - throughout our entire life....!
During the month of May we prepared for yet another highlight: Nrsimha Caturdasi.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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