The January was a very busy time for us in Mayapur.....
We conducted four courses at five days each, Monday to Friday, 3pm to 6pm.
We conducted four courses at five days each, Monday to Friday, 3pm to 6pm.
I discovered the afternoons to be a better teaching time, so that Bhakti Sastri students and devotees with regular services during the mornings could also participate.
We started with "Giving and Accepting Shelter", then "The Vanaprastha Ashram" - a new course which I had recently put together and launched for the first time. It was well received with around 25 nice devotees of all age groups participating. A few senior devotees and disciples of Srila Prabhupada also took part. This topic of the Vanaprastha Ashram is rarely discussed, and there is almost no awareness amongst the devotees of how important this last phase of life is in order to fully prepare for meeting death, our final challenge. In the SB are many quotes and descriptions of Vanaprastha life, which don't seem to be relevant and practical for the modern days. However, we can simply extract the principles and apply them in our life - no matter where we might be living.
Instead of leaving to the forest we can invite the principles of simple forest life into our flat in the city: simplifying our surroundings and freeing ourselves from so many unnecessary things, which we have most likely accumulated over the years: comfortable and oppulent furniture, decorations and so many nick-nacks, which occupy some little space in our mind while we are attached to them. Freeing ourselves from unnecessary belongings is indeed a very liberating experience! Sooner or later we will have to leave them behind anyway. Therefore better to voluntarily let go of them by for example donating them to young devotees who are just about to start with their household life. Thus we at the same time experience the joy and benefits of giving in charity with a generous and happy heart.
Another principle of Vanaprastha life is to keep our externals more and more simple, thus reducing the bodily concept of life. No need to dress in bark! Yet especially for us ladies it means we can give up our attachment to make-up, decorations and oppulent dress and keep ourselves more and more simple. The aging body is already getting less attractive, which is Krsna's perfect arrangement to help us in the process of detachment.
And last but not least we are meant to reduce our fancy eating and simplify our diet - something which would be very natural when living in the forest.
And again, the aging body is helping us along, since the fire of digestion is reduced, and we are forced to keep a more simple diet. As we know, the tongue is the most ferocious sense organ and always demands some satisfaction. And especially in the renounced phase of life we are meant to conquer over the demands of the tongue and develop a higher taste.
We started with "Giving and Accepting Shelter", then "The Vanaprastha Ashram" - a new course which I had recently put together and launched for the first time. It was well received with around 25 nice devotees of all age groups participating. A few senior devotees and disciples of Srila Prabhupada also took part. This topic of the Vanaprastha Ashram is rarely discussed, and there is almost no awareness amongst the devotees of how important this last phase of life is in order to fully prepare for meeting death, our final challenge. In the SB are many quotes and descriptions of Vanaprastha life, which don't seem to be relevant and practical for the modern days. However, we can simply extract the principles and apply them in our life - no matter where we might be living.
Instead of leaving to the forest we can invite the principles of simple forest life into our flat in the city: simplifying our surroundings and freeing ourselves from so many unnecessary things, which we have most likely accumulated over the years: comfortable and oppulent furniture, decorations and so many nick-nacks, which occupy some little space in our mind while we are attached to them. Freeing ourselves from unnecessary belongings is indeed a very liberating experience! Sooner or later we will have to leave them behind anyway. Therefore better to voluntarily let go of them by for example donating them to young devotees who are just about to start with their household life. Thus we at the same time experience the joy and benefits of giving in charity with a generous and happy heart.
Another principle of Vanaprastha life is to keep our externals more and more simple, thus reducing the bodily concept of life. No need to dress in bark! Yet especially for us ladies it means we can give up our attachment to make-up, decorations and oppulent dress and keep ourselves more and more simple. The aging body is already getting less attractive, which is Krsna's perfect arrangement to help us in the process of detachment.
And last but not least we are meant to reduce our fancy eating and simplify our diet - something which would be very natural when living in the forest.
And again, the aging body is helping us along, since the fire of digestion is reduced, and we are forced to keep a more simple diet. As we know, the tongue is the most ferocious sense organ and always demands some satisfaction. And especially in the renounced phase of life we are meant to conquer over the demands of the tongue and develop a higher taste.
Prabhupada speaks very strongly in the SB about the importance of simplifying our eating. In the purport to SB.5.18.10 he states: "Why should the menu be unnecessarily increased for the satisfaction of the tongue? Devotees should eat as simply as possible. Otherwise, attachment for material things will gradually increase, and the senses, being very strong, will soon require more and more material enjoyment. Then the real business of life—to advance in Krsna consciousness—will stop."
Needless to say, this instruction is especially relevant for those in the last phase of life....
Needless to say, this instruction is especially relevant for those in the last phase of life....
All these aspects have to be cultivated internally, which can go on over several years. It is not a matter of externally accepting them from one day to another. It is a matter of meditation, internal cultivation and transformation. And ultimately these aspects are meant to help us deepen our focus on sravanam and kirtanam.
And there are of course a few more aspects of Vanaprastha life, which we discussed in our course, the most obvious one being no more sex life.
And there are of course a few more aspects of Vanaprastha life, which we discussed in our course, the most obvious one being no more sex life.
One may ask how this topic of the Vanaprastha ashram is connected with the topic of culture. Interesting to note how in materialistic culture where sense gratification is the ultimate goal of life old age is viewed as being the last chance to one more time enjoy life to the fullest, with luxury cruises and pleasure trips, in all comfort, leasure and opulence. Also, in modern society old people are considered to be a burden, and thus they are pushed aside into Old Age Homes and Retirement Centers. The elderly can't keep up the race for sense gratification and are seen to be a disturbance in the pursuits of enjoyment of the young generation. However, in spiritual culture where self realization is the goal of life, the elderly are very important members of society and embody life experience, wisdom and self realization. They are highly respected for their guidance and advice, and are passing down traditions and values to the young generation. And it is understood that this last phase of life is meant to be lived in simplicity and austerity to increase hearing and chanting, to ultimately prepare for death. As long as we find it difficult to embrace spiritual culture, the Vanaprastha Ashram will not really manifest. And as we will be able to more and more apply and actually live our world view and philosophy, very naturally the Vanaprastha Ashram will gradually develop. It is a matter of systematic training and education. I felt especially encouraged by the fact that also young devotees showed interest in this topic and eagerly participated in the course. It should be of general knowledge and interest. Every devotee should receive insights in how old age is meant to be lived within spiritual practice. Then devotees can plan their life and gradually cultivate internal detachment.
This year I merged the two courses "Men in Spiritual Culture" and "Women in Spiritual Culture" and offered it to a mixed audience, which went really well - maybe even better than giving it separately to the men and ladies. I felt it was an advantage to have the other gender there, and I could address them at different times, explaining them how the other gender feels about things. Sometimes, when turning to the men and saying 'This is how you feel, right?" they would nod their heads, saying "Yes mataji, how do you know.....?!" And the women also had their turn where they could be understood by the men. And as usual, the role plays were of course fun: humerous, yet deep and insightful.....
As final course we offered "Marriage in Spiritual Culture" during the last week of January, which is always of great interest to many, since it is indeed a challenge to find the balance within grhastha life.
All courses received such great feedback, and devotees shared heart moving and transformational realizations, which is very encouraging to me.
Since the number of participants had increased to sometimes more than 40 people, my place had become too small, and I had to move to one of the class rooms in the Vaisnava Academy across the road from my home at the Goshala.
All courses received such great feedback, and devotees shared heart moving and transformational realizations, which is very encouraging to me.
Since the number of participants had increased to sometimes more than 40 people, my place had become too small, and I had to move to one of the class rooms in the Vaisnava Academy across the road from my home at the Goshala.
Through these courses I had an opportunity to connect with many wonderful devotees. New relationships were built, and existing one's deepened. Carsani Mataji from Australia also participated - we had joined at the same time and had spent several years together in the brahmacarini ashram, traveling on Sankirtan all around Australia.....
Memories of the good old days......
Your servant, Devaki dd
Memories of the good old days......
Your servant, Devaki dd
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