I have been so terribly busy here in Mayapur, that I have not been able to keep up with writing....
At the end of November I visited the devotees in Trivandrum/Kerala for one week. It was my first visit to this community, and I felt immediately very much at home. Kerala seems economically better off than the rest of India – apparently the British established a good system for education, and many people work outside of India and have their houses here. The atmosphere is also more relaxed and cultured.
The community of devotees is not big but has a nice and personal atmosphere, with a main temple outside of the city with beautiful Krishna Balarama and Gaur Nitai Deities, and a good number of little preaching centres and nama hatta groups. We had a nice time churning different topics at various venues, and the devotees were eagerly accepting the books I have published.
At the end of November I visited the devotees in Trivandrum/Kerala for one week. It was my first visit to this community, and I felt immediately very much at home. Kerala seems economically better off than the rest of India – apparently the British established a good system for education, and many people work outside of India and have their houses here. The atmosphere is also more relaxed and cultured.
The community of devotees is not big but has a nice and personal atmosphere, with a main temple outside of the city with beautiful Krishna Balarama and Gaur Nitai Deities, and a good number of little preaching centres and nama hatta groups. We had a nice time churning different topics at various venues, and the devotees were eagerly accepting the books I have published.
When accompanying my father through his final days, only 45 minutes prior to his departure, he talked about South India – how nice Kerala is, with comfortable, big houses. It was almost as if informing us where he was going. I am sure he is there now, continuing his journey, having taken birth in a devotee family. He had such a strong affinity to India! He would often say, “I don’t know what it is, but I feel so comfortable and at home in India; taking my hot tea with milk early in the mornings on the tea stalls, together with all the other men. I lead a double life – I am at home in Germany in my nice house, but also in India.” And I responded, “I know what it is – you were in India in your previous life.” He wasn’t sure whether to believe it or not. He always had a sun tan all year round, and he sometimes pointed at his sun-tanned arms, exclaiming, “You see! I am actually Indian; only by mistake, I’ve ended up in Germany!” Some of his friends in India would commonly introduce him to others by saying: “He is actually Indian, but somehow he took birth in Germany.”
Now, visiting the devotees in Trivandrum, I could understand why he was so fond of Kerala....
Now, visiting the devotees in Trivandrum, I could understand why he was so fond of Kerala....
In our seminar on "Meeting Death With Joy" I shared some experiences from going through the first ordeal of being diagnosed with cancer in 2007, when Krishna kindly reciprocated by giving me deep realisations and joyful experiences. On the morning of the day of a major surgery, while chanting all my rounds, my meditation was to simply put my life in Krishna’s hands; not praying to be saved; rather, my contemplation was, “Okay, Krishna – here I am. Whatever You want to do with me, I am ready to accept it.”
To surrender means putting our life in Krishna’s hands – giving up our plans and being willing to accept Krishna’s plans. After all, undergoing cancer surgery is a heavy blow – we don’t know whether or not we will wake up again; how much the disease may have spread throughout the body, and how long the remainder of our life may be... It is full of uncertainties. Now, putting my life in Krishna’s hands awarded me peace of mind and true shelter – I let go of my plans, and was ready to accept whatever Krishna would arrange. In fact, I was so peaceful and relaxed that I myself was shocked,
contemplating: “How is it possible? I am about to undergo cancer surgery, but am completely relaxed and at ease – no anxieties or fears!” It was an opportunity for me to put Krishna consciousness to the test, realising that this powerful process does work! Without a doubt! How else was it possible for me to feel happy while about to go through such an ordeal?
As long as we hang onto our plans, hoping and praying that Krishna will fulfil them, we will be in anxiety over whether He will fulfil them or not. Only after letting go of our hopes and plans will we feel peaceful and sheltered. This meditation accompanied me throughout the entire time of recovery after the surgery and the chemotherapy taken thereafter. When we take shelter of the Lord, He tangibly manifests Himself, allowing us to taste a special sweetness never experienced before; a sweetness which cannot be understood by outsiders. With a mundane vision, how can one experience any sweetness when undergoing chemotherapy? However, by His mercy, a devotee can maintain a level of deep inner joy and happiness even while going through such a dreadful experience. Such is the glory of the process of Krishna consciousness. It affords one a higher level of joy, which cannot be taken away by anything – neither by cancer nor chemotherapy; not even by death. This is the true meaning of being transcendental.
Calamities can offer us an incentive to surrender. One can decide, “Krishna, I am Yours! Srila Prabhupada, I am yours!” Therefore, Queen Kunti prays for calamities to come again and again.
As we gradually regain our health, we may lose the intense impetus to take shelter, and Krishna may proportionately fade away into the background. We may almost lament a little, regretting the loss of that special sweetness, as our life gradually gets back to normal.
All this proves the fact that happiness is a question of consciousness – not of the external situation.
To surrender means putting our life in Krishna’s hands – giving up our plans and being willing to accept Krishna’s plans. After all, undergoing cancer surgery is a heavy blow – we don’t know whether or not we will wake up again; how much the disease may have spread throughout the body, and how long the remainder of our life may be... It is full of uncertainties. Now, putting my life in Krishna’s hands awarded me peace of mind and true shelter – I let go of my plans, and was ready to accept whatever Krishna would arrange. In fact, I was so peaceful and relaxed that I myself was shocked,
contemplating: “How is it possible? I am about to undergo cancer surgery, but am completely relaxed and at ease – no anxieties or fears!” It was an opportunity for me to put Krishna consciousness to the test, realising that this powerful process does work! Without a doubt! How else was it possible for me to feel happy while about to go through such an ordeal?
As long as we hang onto our plans, hoping and praying that Krishna will fulfil them, we will be in anxiety over whether He will fulfil them or not. Only after letting go of our hopes and plans will we feel peaceful and sheltered. This meditation accompanied me throughout the entire time of recovery after the surgery and the chemotherapy taken thereafter. When we take shelter of the Lord, He tangibly manifests Himself, allowing us to taste a special sweetness never experienced before; a sweetness which cannot be understood by outsiders. With a mundane vision, how can one experience any sweetness when undergoing chemotherapy? However, by His mercy, a devotee can maintain a level of deep inner joy and happiness even while going through such a dreadful experience. Such is the glory of the process of Krishna consciousness. It affords one a higher level of joy, which cannot be taken away by anything – neither by cancer nor chemotherapy; not even by death. This is the true meaning of being transcendental.
Calamities can offer us an incentive to surrender. One can decide, “Krishna, I am Yours! Srila Prabhupada, I am yours!” Therefore, Queen Kunti prays for calamities to come again and again.
As we gradually regain our health, we may lose the intense impetus to take shelter, and Krishna may proportionately fade away into the background. We may almost lament a little, regretting the loss of that special sweetness, as our life gradually gets back to normal.
All this proves the fact that happiness is a question of consciousness – not of the external situation.
Once when taking chemotherapy in Melbourne in 2007 and visiting my oncologist for a check-up, we encountered a humorous situation. In the waiting room, there were a Muslim lady, a Christian nun and me. All of us were dressed in our uniforms – I was in a sari and tilak. Later, the doctor said, “All of you three ladies were in the same situation, suffering the same disease. It gave me a good opportunity to compare your religious practice; and I must say, you are doing the best! Factually, never have I ever had such a happy cancer patient before.” And laughingly, he added, “It seems like being a Hare Krishna offers a good disposition for doing chemotherapy!”
I couldn’t restrain myself and cheekily responded, “Maybe you want to recommend it?” We had a good laugh, and he said, “Well, I’m not quite sure about that!” In this way, even a non-devotee doctor could perceive that a devotee approaches such a situation with a different outlook; that a devotee can cross over these kinds of challenges without being confused, unlike others who may struggle in bewilderment.
On the 30th of November I moved on to Mayapur.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
I couldn’t restrain myself and cheekily responded, “Maybe you want to recommend it?” We had a good laugh, and he said, “Well, I’m not quite sure about that!” In this way, even a non-devotee doctor could perceive that a devotee approaches such a situation with a different outlook; that a devotee can cross over these kinds of challenges without being confused, unlike others who may struggle in bewilderment.
On the 30th of November I moved on to Mayapur.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
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