On my return to Simhachalam/Germany on the 19th of November I decided to stay for one month, associate with the wonderful devotees of this dynamic community, give online programs and continue working on my book.
The 1st of December, my birthday, was a very joyful day for me. The day before I went shopping with one senior mataji to buy all the necessary products to make pizza for the core group of around 40 devotees of our community. And on my birthday I was all morning in the kitchen, making 8 huge trays of pizza, with the help of a few matajis. Sucitra Mataji made a nice "Black-Forest-Cake" with carob, cherries and cream. At lunch all devotees came together, and I took great pleasure in serving everybody and feeding them up to the neck with pizza and cake. The mood and atmosphere was very sweet and loving, with many affectionate exchanges. Devotees offered some words of gratitude for my presence and service here, and I responded accordingly, offering my gratitude for being allowed to take shelter in these crazy times at Lord Nrsimhadeva's Lotus feet and His dedicated servants.
This community is indeed amazing, and it was certainly the best thing that could have happened to me this year, that I became a part of this wonderful project.
The devotees bought as a gift a big office chair for me, so I am a little more comfortable when sitting at the desk and working on my book. I made a joke, because the German word for "settling down" is "sesshaft werden" which literally means "sitting down". So I was joking, saying that it looks like you all want me to "sit down" here in Simhachalam...
I offered two nice and old cow bells in charity, which I found in my mother's antique glass cabinet in her lounge room on my last visit. They make a very beautiful sound, so I thought our cows should have them. We have 7 cows here, so I need to get 5 more bells. Maybe my brother will get them for me - he lives in the French part of Switzerland in the mountains, in a small village.
In the afternoon we had our first bigger Mataji Sanga, which I establish now on a weekly basis during the winter period. Everybody came together - I was indeed surprised how many ladies are here! And I received some more little gifts and expressions of love and affection. One mataji wrote a very sweet and humorous poem...
So it was a very busy and blissful day in service to the Vaishnavas - the best birthday I can remember for quite a while....
The devotees bought as a gift a big office chair for me, so I am a little more comfortable when sitting at the desk and working on my book. I made a joke, because the German word for "settling down" is "sesshaft werden" which literally means "sitting down". So I was joking, saying that it looks like you all want me to "sit down" here in Simhachalam...
I offered two nice and old cow bells in charity, which I found in my mother's antique glass cabinet in her lounge room on my last visit. They make a very beautiful sound, so I thought our cows should have them. We have 7 cows here, so I need to get 5 more bells. Maybe my brother will get them for me - he lives in the French part of Switzerland in the mountains, in a small village.
In the afternoon we had our first bigger Mataji Sanga, which I establish now on a weekly basis during the winter period. Everybody came together - I was indeed surprised how many ladies are here! And I received some more little gifts and expressions of love and affection. One mataji wrote a very sweet and humorous poem...
So it was a very busy and blissful day in service to the Vaishnavas - the best birthday I can remember for quite a while....
Gradually the winter season approached, and since we are situated 700 meters above sea level, it gets much colder here than in other parts of Germany, with the temperature occasionally dropping to minus 6 to minus 10 degrees Celsius. After many years of not being in Europe during winter, I once again marvelled at the beauty of a "proper winter" - with frost and snow. Especially when the sun shines and the sky is clear, everything transforms into an amazing but frosty fairyland. Other days, when it is foggy, cloudy, grey and windy, it becomes like hell...
In April 1973, Srila Prabhupada visited St Moritz in Switzerland, a resort in the mountains. Immediately after his arrival, it began to snow, although unusual at this time of year. Srila Prabhupada was not very impressed and remarked: "They may call it St. Moritz, but I call it St. Hellish.” It was so cold and windy that Srila Prabhupada could not leave his room - he looked out the window and remarked: “It is a white hell only.” Instead of going on his usual morning walks, he prefered to walk up and down the long corridor of the hotel....
The devotees had arranged for Srila Prabhupada to stay there for two weeks in order to recover his health. However, there was no question in Srila Prabhupada’s mind of staying two weeks at St. Moritz. He would leave as soon as possible. He asked Syamasundara to arrange to immediately get him out of St. Hellish....
The devotees had arranged for Srila Prabhupada to stay there for two weeks in order to recover his health. However, there was no question in Srila Prabhupada’s mind of staying two weeks at St. Moritz. He would leave as soon as possible. He asked Syamasundara to arrange to immediately get him out of St. Hellish....
On another occasion, Srila Prabhupada was asked whether there is snow in the spiritual world. After some moments of contemplation he answered: "Yes, but it is not cold." Everything we experience in this material world, is also there in the spiritual world - in its full perfection and beauty.
On the 22nd of December I took the train to my mother's place to visit her over Xmas...
Your servant, Devaki dd
On the 22nd of December I took the train to my mother's place to visit her over Xmas...
Your servant, Devaki dd
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