Blog Posts

I don't want to get married

6/25/2020

It is now 3 months that I have been at Simhachalam/Germany. The Corona crisis forced me to stay in one place, which has been a great experience. Simhachalam has become one of my favorite places in the Western world! The project has great potential to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's instruction of establishing farm communities. The community is nicely expanding, with regular educational programs taking place, and the atmosphere in the community is very sweet and harmonious. There are around 30 devotees living on the property, with congregational members and Indian guests coming on the weekends. We have a brahmachari- and brahmacharini ashram, traveling Sankirtan parties, regular harinam, strong online preaching, serious agriculture and cow protection, a recently opened garden cafe, a popular guest house, a regular children's summer camp and many other activities taking place.
Our temple president is a second generation devotee who grew up here and is 28 years old. He has made a solid commitment to develop this project further, and his youthful spirit attracts a lot of young people. He is always open for new ideas, is very approachable and takes part in so many activities - even the little kids' ratha yatra which we had yesterday! So it's been a real pleasure for me to become a part of this wonderful spiritual family...

Prabhupada: "What does it mean when a bird builds a nest?"

6/2/2020

For the past two months, I have been staying at Simhachalam in Germany. Time has been flying - much faster than when I am constantly traveling. When traveling from one place to another, life is action-packed and eventful, meeting so many people and visiting so many places and countries. In this way, one month is filled with many impressions and experiences and thus feels like 3 or 4 months.
Staying in one place, however, each week goes by rather swiftly - one after another...

Sweet memories of the Holy Name Retreat at Ekachakra Dham

5/22/2020

A very extraordinary Nrsimha Caturdasi

5/6/2020

Despite the Corona crisis and lock-down, the devotees in Simhachalam/Germany celebrated a very extraordinary Nrsimha Caturdasi festival this year. It almost appeared to be the Lord's personal and special arrangement in reciprocation to fulfill the desires of His faithful servants! It may have very well been the only true festival on this occasion this year in ISKCON world-wide...!

A blissful time in Mayapur

4/1/2020

Reflecting back on my stay in Mayapur during the month of January and February, it was a very eventful, action-packed and blissful time. Over five weeks we offered the usual five courses of "Sheltering Relationships", "The Vanaprastha Ashram", "Being in Harmony With the Other Gender", "Family Life as an Ashram" and "Our Children Are our Future". All courses were well attended, and we had stimulating discussions. On Fridays we established the tradition of distributing some little maha prasadam in the break, which created a personal atmosphere and completed the loving exchanges. I also had an opportunity to distribute my two books.
People eagerly reciprocated by showing their appreciation and gratitude in various ways for the knowledge and insights they received. Some devotees attended all courses, and I could sense that they found some shelter in the personal association of the group. So it was well worthwhile and satisfying to my heart.

Stay alert and safe....!

3/28/2020

I have fallen far behind in writing my traveling diary. The last two months were action-packed and eventful, and then the Corona crisis hit....

The power of kirtan

12/25/2019

On our arrival in Mayapur on the 8th of December it took us a few days to settle into our nice ashram at the goshala and get into a regular daily routine. My two assistants had never been to India before, so I spent some time showing them around Mayapur so they could orientate themselves. Mayapur has become a big township by now....

The futility of a boxing match with the mind

12/8/2019

On my last visit to Bangladesh in mid of November, the local devotees had arranged a three-week tour for me, mainly visiting the very North of the country. Here people are more simple and poor, and even more devotionally inclined. There are so many devotees in this area - simply amazing!

Everyone enjoys having their photo taken

11/19/2019

I had not been to Indore and Ujjain for the last five years, so I was excited to visit those communities once again.
I spent the weekend of the 9th and 10th of November in Indore, doing several house programs on both days, and meeting many enthusiastic devotees. Since they don't get many traveling preachers to visit their community, everybody was eager and excited to have a guest, and I was well taken care off by the devotees. I also distributed many copies of my books - everyone was eagerly accepting the knowledge into their lives.

Srimati Radharani's hair lace

11/6/2019

I arrived in Vrindavan on the 22nd of October - just in time to join the main festivals of the Kartik season: Govardhana Puja and Srila Prabhupada's disappearance.

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