Simhachalam in Germany is for me the BEST place to celebrate Nrsimha Caturdasi - a MUST in my yearly schedule. Even Mayapur can not compare to this....! In this rural community situated in the Bavarian Forest, around 3 hours away from Munich, the devotees serve big Lord Nrsimhadeva in a devoted way, and His appearance day is celebrated in a grandiose style over 5 days. It is one of the main festivals - not only within Germany, but in Europe. Many devotees assemble from the neighboring countries such as Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland and even all the way from the UK. This year we had the good fortune to welcome many saintly personalities: HH Sacinandana Swami, HH Candramauli Swami, HH Jayadvaita Swami, HH Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, HH Bhakti Mukund Swami, HG Krishna Premarupa Prabhu, and many young generation kirtaniyas.
As always, I was mainly on my book table connecting with devotees, which is each time truly blissful and most satisfying to my heart. It is a most amazing opportunity for me to reach out to devotees from Germany and the neighboring countries. This year, around 700 devotees and guests attended over 5 days.
Lord Nrsimhadeva enjoyed all kinds of beautiful arrangements, and one morning I went on the altar to help put the "Sandesh Outfit" on - an outfit made from coloured sandesh being put directly on His body. As every year, I was allowed to take part in arranging Lord Nrsimhadeva's dhoti - this year in green - and Prahlada Maharaja's pink dhoti. Another unique darshan is the traditional 'forest outfit' - Lord Nrsimhadeva likes the jungle... And to witness the Maha Abhishek is a feast for the heart....!
One evening we were swinging Laxmi Nrsimhadeva, accompanied by beautiful kirtans with HH Sacinandana Swami. And many other offerings and rituals were conducted with love and devotion.
Lord Nrsimhadeva enjoyed all kinds of beautiful arrangements, and one morning I went on the altar to help put the "Sandesh Outfit" on - an outfit made from coloured sandesh being put directly on His body. As every year, I was allowed to take part in arranging Lord Nrsimhadeva's dhoti - this year in green - and Prahlada Maharaja's pink dhoti. Another unique darshan is the traditional 'forest outfit' - Lord Nrsimhadeva likes the jungle... And to witness the Maha Abhishek is a feast for the heart....!
One evening we were swinging Laxmi Nrsimhadeva, accompanied by beautiful kirtans with HH Sacinandana Swami. And many other offerings and rituals were conducted with love and devotion.
Lord Nrsimhadeva polishes up our hearts, so we can one day approach Radha Krishna. As long as we allow various little Hiranyakasipus to reside in our heart, it is not a suitable place for beautiful Syamasundara to take His seat there. Only after He performs some serious heart surgeries and uproots these demoniac tendencies from our heart, can we approach the divine couple.
One of these little Hiranyakasipus within our heart is our attachment to titles and positions - to be a supreme controller. Therefore, as we get older and gradually reach the vanaprastha age, delegating our responsibilities to the younger generation and allowing them to take charge is of the greatest importance. If this does not take place, it invites stagnation to creep into our life and the lives of others around us. Our own attachments to positions and titles will keep us trapped in the illusory understanding that only we can do it - nobody else around us is qualified!
We may even see other young and capable devotees as a threat to our position, and in subtle and even unconscious ways we may keep them down, not allowing them to fully manifest their capacities. We are fearful of being pushed aside and out of service.
In this way, we don't let go of our titles and positions - unable to dissolve our false designations, which we have been carrying with us for many years. Consequently, we cannot move on to higher levels of detachment and spiritual experience, but will be stuck to our positions and ego satisfaction. Whenever one door closes, so many others will open up to us. Having the courage and detachment to conclude a certain phase in life and move on is the price to pay for new opportunities to open up.
Unless a leader applies those principles, it also invites stagnation to the lives of others around us, since the younger generation will not be empowered to rise up and accept more responsibilities. Every generation has a valuable contribution to make to Mahaprabhu's sankirtan mission - every generation moves things forward. The heroes of yesterday will not be the heroes of today, and the heroes of today will not be the heroes of tomorrow. When a man is in the age between 25 and 50, he experiences a strong drive to do things, an urge to move mountains. Krishna has built this mentality into a man's nature by giving him a stronger false ego - to make sure somebody moves things forward. If a leader waits until he is 75 when he gives up his post, the next generation is already around fifty - the time when they should retire and hand over the responsibilities to the next generation. Thus, everyone misses out on the spiritual benefit they could receive; including Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan movement.
A mature devotee who knows the art of empowering the young generation will not be afraid of losing his post. He will happily assist others to become even more glorious and successful then he was - it will give him the greatest satisfaction. He will accept the role of giving guidance and advice, sharing his life experience and wisdom. At the same time, he will be open to new and innovative ideas and will endeavour to protect the young generation from failures and deviations. Such a leader will be respected as a dear well-wishing friend, and people will be eager to inquire and learn from him. In this way, the generations work cooperatively, in mutual respect and service attitude.
One of these little Hiranyakasipus within our heart is our attachment to titles and positions - to be a supreme controller. Therefore, as we get older and gradually reach the vanaprastha age, delegating our responsibilities to the younger generation and allowing them to take charge is of the greatest importance. If this does not take place, it invites stagnation to creep into our life and the lives of others around us. Our own attachments to positions and titles will keep us trapped in the illusory understanding that only we can do it - nobody else around us is qualified!
We may even see other young and capable devotees as a threat to our position, and in subtle and even unconscious ways we may keep them down, not allowing them to fully manifest their capacities. We are fearful of being pushed aside and out of service.
In this way, we don't let go of our titles and positions - unable to dissolve our false designations, which we have been carrying with us for many years. Consequently, we cannot move on to higher levels of detachment and spiritual experience, but will be stuck to our positions and ego satisfaction. Whenever one door closes, so many others will open up to us. Having the courage and detachment to conclude a certain phase in life and move on is the price to pay for new opportunities to open up.
Unless a leader applies those principles, it also invites stagnation to the lives of others around us, since the younger generation will not be empowered to rise up and accept more responsibilities. Every generation has a valuable contribution to make to Mahaprabhu's sankirtan mission - every generation moves things forward. The heroes of yesterday will not be the heroes of today, and the heroes of today will not be the heroes of tomorrow. When a man is in the age between 25 and 50, he experiences a strong drive to do things, an urge to move mountains. Krishna has built this mentality into a man's nature by giving him a stronger false ego - to make sure somebody moves things forward. If a leader waits until he is 75 when he gives up his post, the next generation is already around fifty - the time when they should retire and hand over the responsibilities to the next generation. Thus, everyone misses out on the spiritual benefit they could receive; including Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan movement.
A mature devotee who knows the art of empowering the young generation will not be afraid of losing his post. He will happily assist others to become even more glorious and successful then he was - it will give him the greatest satisfaction. He will accept the role of giving guidance and advice, sharing his life experience and wisdom. At the same time, he will be open to new and innovative ideas and will endeavour to protect the young generation from failures and deviations. Such a leader will be respected as a dear well-wishing friend, and people will be eager to inquire and learn from him. In this way, the generations work cooperatively, in mutual respect and service attitude.
If this does not take place and an organisation sticks to outdated and rigid forms of autocratic leadership while hanging on to their posts until the moment of death, the young generation will not feel inspired to be a part of it. As a result, such an organisation will not thrive but rather become stagnant, lacking a youthful and dynamic spirit. Particularly, intelligent and capable people will not see any room for them to develop themselves and make their contribution to Srila Prabhupada's mission. Hence, they may rather give their time and energy to develop their material career, or join other spiritual organisations.
Or else, they will get frustrated, start criticising and making politics - even getting together to plan a revolution! They may recognise such a strategy as their only hope to remove a leader and create room for the next generation. Needless to say, such behaviour is against Vaishnava etiquette and invites conflicts. Consequently, it is crucial for leaders and managers to recognise the importance of handing over their responsibilities and posts and move on to greater fields of activities - at the right time, before a health crisis or revolution may force us. Once again, serving under the guidance of a well-experienced mentor can greatly help us to do this step. Thus, the cooperation between the generations will be harmonious, and Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan movement will even become more attractive and glorious.
On the 23rd of May I traveled to Krishnuv Dvur in the Czech Republic...
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
Or else, they will get frustrated, start criticising and making politics - even getting together to plan a revolution! They may recognise such a strategy as their only hope to remove a leader and create room for the next generation. Needless to say, such behaviour is against Vaishnava etiquette and invites conflicts. Consequently, it is crucial for leaders and managers to recognise the importance of handing over their responsibilities and posts and move on to greater fields of activities - at the right time, before a health crisis or revolution may force us. Once again, serving under the guidance of a well-experienced mentor can greatly help us to do this step. Thus, the cooperation between the generations will be harmonious, and Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan movement will even become more attractive and glorious.
On the 23rd of May I traveled to Krishnuv Dvur in the Czech Republic...
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
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