Gaur Purnima & Vrindavan

The preparations for our symposium "Celebrating the Glories of our Mothers" in Mayapur had kept us very busy. So many things had to be arranged, which created some anxiety. But it was a blissful anxiety - being intensely absorbed in serving the devotees, going beyond our usual comfort zone. Pushing oneself to one's very limits is indeed very purifying.
Yatantas ca drdha vrata - endeavoring with great determination....
As Prabhupada explains in the purport to SB 2.9.24: "An easygoing life and attainment of perfection in transcendental realization cannot go together...."

At the end of the program we had received all the Maharajas and some senior devotees at our ashram for prasadam. All the rooms were nicely decorated with flowers, which created a festive atmosphere. A group of Bangladeshi devotees were eager to be part of it and helped with so many services. Thus, by the mercy of all the Vaisnavas it was a successful event, creating strong impressions in the minds of the participating devotees.

During our remaining days leading up to Gaur Purnima it felt good to take a little break. Sivarama Swami had urged me to pace myself and take good care of my health. Our time in Mayapur was gradually coming to an end - once again it had been a very busy time, with two Holy Name Retreats in Ekachakra and four courses on spiritual culture, and the final symposium.

Almost every day I met with devotees who were eager for private discussions.
They had attended some of our courses and came now to ask for advice on their particular situation in life.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur's statement in Amrta Vani came to my mind:
"One who gives personal instruction to each and everyone does more for others than the platform speakers do. Generally, whatever platform speakers say cannot solve the problem of everyone in the audience, nor can it always benefit every individual. A person's defects are better rectified in a private tutorial class or private coaching than in hearing lectures in a school or college. Therefore those who instruct particular persons separately can award them something more permanent."

It is noteworthy that even Bhaktisiddhanta knew the term 'coaching'. And his statement expresses very clearly how important it is to have such aloof brahminical adviser, who has no other interest except helping us in our spiritual progress - no managerial interest, no financial interest, no emotional interest.

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The 5th of March was Gaur Purnima - the morning darshan was simply breath-taking! When the curtains opened to reveal the Deities immersed in a beautiful ocean of flowers, one realization flashed through my mind: THIS is actual reality: being absorbed in arranging the most pleasing offering for the Divine Couple...! This is actual and eternal reality! So many other things which are so important to us now are simply part of the nonsensical stage performance of life in the material world.
And a longing for this eternal loving relationship flooded my heart....

In the afternoon we joined the Gaur Purnima celebrations in the park of the grhastha area. The devotees of the Mayapur community had arranged a little pandal, and we were bathing Gaur Nitai Deities worshiped by local grhastha devotees. What a wonderful idea! Coming together to celebrate Gaur Purnima certainly unites the devotees from the Mayapur Community! HG Mahatma Prabhu chanted in kirtan and spoke a few words, followed by HH Bhakti Vaibhava Swami speaking and singing. The program concluded with an Ekadasi feast. Many devotees of the Mayapur Community were there.....

Early next morning we left Mayapur to fly to Delhi and travel out to Vrindavan. I had spontaneously decided to spend some days in Vrindavan, together with my two faithful and hard working assistants. We shared the Swedish room in the ISKCON Guesthouse, and it was nice to associate for a few days on different terms - simply staying together in Vrindavan. And now it was my turn to assist my assistants - in shopping: selecting nice and good quality saris....!
I attended the morning programs, met up with devotees from different parts of the world, and spent every day some hours reading. And every afternoon I went to Prabhupada's quarters to chant. It had become my favorite holy place....

The highlight of my short visit to Vrindavan was the Boat Festival in the temple courtyard. It is indeed one of the most amazing and transcendental events - little Radha Syamasundara going around in a beautiful swan-like boat, and the devotees eagerly offering various tasty eatables, which are then distributed as maha prasadam. The entire courtyard is wonderfully decorated, and the surface of the water resembles a colorful carpet made from flower petals. So much effort and endeavor - all for the pleasure of Their Lordships! A truly transcendental festival giving the highest happiness and satisfaction to all participants - an ever increasing joy, unknown to the materialist....

Krsna arranged several opportunities for me in Vrindavan to become more tolerant. My computer broke down - luckily I managed to get it repaired just before leaving Vrindavan. A monkey stole my glasses by jumping on my shoulder and grabbing them off my nose. It all went so fast - I couldn't even think so quickly! This had happened to me several times before, but never on the temple property, outside the Prasadam Hall! A couple of kind-hearted fellows helped me to get them back, by offering the monkey several bananas which I had just purchased for my breakfast. Nevertheless, the monkey had thoroughly chewed the ends of the frame, and bent it almost into a different shape! Maybe it was time to get new glasses....!
And on my very last day my shoes disappeared - Krsna was joking with me....

On the 12th of March I flew off to Chandigarh....

Your servant, Devaki dd