On my arrival in Zurich/Switzerland I settled into the comfortable quarters of the guest room. The temple is a big old mansion not far away from the city center and provides wonderful facilities as the abode of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai and Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra and Their devoted servants.
I was invited to offer two SB classes, and over the weekend we conducted the seminar on sheltering relationships. Furthermore, the devotees kept me busy with two extended evening programs on the topic of the false ego, which is always a catchy and intriguing subject. Sunday was another busy day, with a program for the Tamil congregation, followed by the regular Sunday program. I enjoyed offering my two books to the audience and was busy all day connecting with many devotees - new faces and well-known ones alike. Once again I felt reaffirmed in my conviction, that my humble preaching efforts are so much more effective, if I can offer people some books on the topics I feel a great urgency for. And if the author is personally present, people feel greatly inspired to accept them. Now they only have to read them.....
One day I met with Radhe Syama Prabhu - my vartma-pradarshaka guru, who had brought me to Krishna consciousness in 1985 in Sydney/Australia. In those days, he had been the head pujari to Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda on the Colo River Farm outside of Sydney. I visited the farm as a "WWOOF-er" - a "willing worker on organic farms", with no intention whatsoever to become a Hare Krishna. I only wanted to visit for a week or ten days and work in the garden to receive free food and accommodation - a cheap way for travelers to get around. At the same time I had to confess that I was on a deep search - materially exhausted, tired and frustrated from my futile attempts to enjoy life. I had always been inquisitive about a higher meaning to life, but had not found anything which really captivated my interest. I was searching for an important mission, which would be worth sacrificing my entire life. Little did I know that I would finally find it here....
Radhe Syama Prabhu immediately engaged me in the paraphernalia room and preached to me - 8 hours a day. And he gave me the Science of Self-Realization and Bhagavad-Gita in German language. I was even allowed to cut up the fruit offering for the Deities, although I was not even chanting the holy name! In fact, I even refused to wear a sari! He was so merciful to allow me to enter the Lord's private chambers in my clean hippie clothes, and engage in Krishna's personal service. Polishing the brass and hearing his explanations and sound answers to my doubts was intensely purifying my heart, and after 6 days I decided to try this process of Krishna consciousness. I moved from the guest room to the brahmacarini ashram, and never left the association of the devotees.
How dependent we are on the mercy of a Vaishnava! Unless a devotee reaches out to us, extending himself to uplift us, giving us his friendship and genuine concern for our welfare, we may not take up the process of Krishna consciousness with sincerity. Srila Prabhupada's books are powerful, no doubt. Yet, we also need the mercy and friendship of a Vaishnava to encourage us to dive into the unknown realm of a spiritual journey towards Krishna.
Radhe Syama Prabhu had played this role in my life. I dare say, I owe my life in Krishna consciousness to him. I don't know when I would have received another chance to take up Krishna consciousness, if he hadn't interfered and put an end to my aimless and senseless journey around the world.
Whenever I visit Zurich I like to catch up with him, sharing thoughts and realizations. And I am pondering on what I can now offer in return for the change he brought to my life. All I can think of is an invitation to Bangladesh - a journey into a different world, just as he had taken me on a journey to a different world 34 years ago.....
On the 31st of May I flew off to Sofia/Bulgaria.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
Radhe Syama Prabhu immediately engaged me in the paraphernalia room and preached to me - 8 hours a day. And he gave me the Science of Self-Realization and Bhagavad-Gita in German language. I was even allowed to cut up the fruit offering for the Deities, although I was not even chanting the holy name! In fact, I even refused to wear a sari! He was so merciful to allow me to enter the Lord's private chambers in my clean hippie clothes, and engage in Krishna's personal service. Polishing the brass and hearing his explanations and sound answers to my doubts was intensely purifying my heart, and after 6 days I decided to try this process of Krishna consciousness. I moved from the guest room to the brahmacarini ashram, and never left the association of the devotees.
How dependent we are on the mercy of a Vaishnava! Unless a devotee reaches out to us, extending himself to uplift us, giving us his friendship and genuine concern for our welfare, we may not take up the process of Krishna consciousness with sincerity. Srila Prabhupada's books are powerful, no doubt. Yet, we also need the mercy and friendship of a Vaishnava to encourage us to dive into the unknown realm of a spiritual journey towards Krishna.
Radhe Syama Prabhu had played this role in my life. I dare say, I owe my life in Krishna consciousness to him. I don't know when I would have received another chance to take up Krishna consciousness, if he hadn't interfered and put an end to my aimless and senseless journey around the world.
Whenever I visit Zurich I like to catch up with him, sharing thoughts and realizations. And I am pondering on what I can now offer in return for the change he brought to my life. All I can think of is an invitation to Bangladesh - a journey into a different world, just as he had taken me on a journey to a different world 34 years ago.....
On the 31st of May I flew off to Sofia/Bulgaria.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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