Holy Name Retreat at Ekachakra /India - December 2016
Shaili Hillel, Mayapur
This retreat was a deep experience on different levels and I'm very grateful to Devaki Mataji for giving me and all the others this opportunity. It is
by her great effort, enlightening knowledge and selfless care that made it so significant to all of us and will be a great up-lifter to our
spiritual lives. Thank you for this so needed and irreplaceable service.
This retreat was a deep experience on different levels and I'm very grateful to Devaki Mataji for giving me and all the others this opportunity. It is
by her great effort, enlightening knowledge and selfless care that made it so significant to all of us and will be a great up-lifter to our
spiritual lives. Thank you for this so needed and irreplaceable service.
Holy Name Retreat at Ekachakra/India - December 2015
Gopal Das, Hillsborough (North Carolina)
"Learning to focus my mind, and more importantly, my heart, on the transcendental sound vibration of HARE KRISHNA was the most inspiring and
terrifying experiences of my life. I got real clarity on where I am in my devotional life, and I earned a real understanding of how to take steps to
advance farther and faster, if I can muster up the sincerity. Perhaps this retreat was the greatest and most educational 4 days of my life. I strongly
recommend anyone and everyone experience this at least once your lives.
"Learning to focus my mind, and more importantly, my heart, on the transcendental sound vibration of HARE KRISHNA was the most inspiring and
terrifying experiences of my life. I got real clarity on where I am in my devotional life, and I earned a real understanding of how to take steps to
advance farther and faster, if I can muster up the sincerity. Perhaps this retreat was the greatest and most educational 4 days of my life. I strongly
recommend anyone and everyone experience this at least once your lives.
Holy Name Retreat in Goloka Dham/Germany - September 2015
Divyasimha Das, Zurich/Swizzerland
The retreat was really a transforming experience. Coming back to my home temple I could actually perceive what had happened within these few days of intense absorption in hearing and chanting. Please allow my to express my gratitude. Devaki Mataji's service is a life giver for everyone who sincerely likes to establish a relationship with Sri Harinama Prabhu. Until today I could keep my vows and further develop (good) habits I promised during the retreat. I hope to have an opportunity to one day participate in a retreat at Ekachakra.
Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra/India, winter season 2014/2015
Devarshi Das, Mayapur
In this Retreat I realized more deeply the fact that chanting the Holy Name brings the connection and the relationship with Krsna in order to act as servant of Him. I especially appreciated the opportunity to be more aware of the importance of developing the right attitude before, during and
after chanting the Holy Name. To pray for being accepted by Krsna, then asking to be engaged in His service has made a significant change in my approach of the Holy Name as aspiring servant of Him. I wish to once again take part in this retreat in order to deepen these realizations, and I highly recommend it to anyone desiring to increase the quality of his relationship with the Holy Name.
Thank you very much Devaki Mataji for your dedication to this essential service.
Setukara Das, South America
The first retreat which I attended last year in Ekachakra has changed my life, and now in this retreat new enthusiasm was injected into my determination, and a great hope that one day I can get - by the mercy of Lord Nityananda, my Guru Maharaja and the devotees, the mercy of Radha and Krsna and become Their servant. Thank you very much, Mother Devaki. I am aspiring to serve you in the mission of propagating the importance of endeavoring to get to deeper levels of chanting - in Japa aswell as in kirtan.
Supartha Rudra, Kolkata/India
This Holy Name Reteat was a revolutionizing experience for me. My entire perception of what kirtan is has changed. Through this retreat I truly tried
to realize that: "yes, chanting the holy name is the corner stone or center of our Krsna conscious practice." I am immensely moved by the affectionate,
caring and motherly mood of Devaki Mataji, which I would like to carry forward in my heart. I strongly recommend this retreat to any serious practitioner of Krsna consciousness - to have this eye-opening experience at least once in a life time. Personally, I'd like to attend again and again. Thank you very much!
Jagadish Gauranga Das, Kolkata/India
This retreat made me understand that chanting the holy name in japa and kirtan is actually an affair of the heart. I strongly feel that every devotee in ISKCON should attend this retreat. Not to be missed! I feel we need more Devaki Matajis in our movement....! I am eagerly looking forward to the next year's retreat in Ekachakra and am praying to Lord Nityananda and Sri Harinama Prabhu to be allowed to attend it. Thank you very much for everything!
Haripada Das & Phalini DD (ACBSP), Udupi/India
We found the Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra Dham in 2014 to be a wonderfully inspiring experience and notably beneficial use of our time. We left the
retreat feeling spiritually uplifted and confident, that we had been given the information and tools we needed to significantly improve the quality of
our chanting of the maha-mantra. The ball is now in our court to mindfully turn towards Krishna and awaken the longing to serve Him through improving
our daily japa nad kirtans. And, notwithstanding her German/Australian accent, Devaki Mataji who organized and conducted the retreat is an excellent presenter, preacher and a first class Vaisnavi! Thank you very much.
Anandamayi DD, Villa Vrindavan/Italy
During this retreat, Devaki Mataji showed such an exceptional mood of serving the devotees, which touched everybody's heart. It created a real Vaikuntha atmosphere and opened and softened our hearts to receive those transcendental instructions on how to chant. Actually, I received so much more than a few days' seminar sessions. By her purity, humility and determination to serve the Vaisnavas and the Holy Name, bhakti got replanted in my heart. Just as we receive the Gayatri Mantra through the sound vibration of our spiritual master, I have received the Hare Krishna Mantra from Devaki Mataji, whispering it to the ears, reaching the heart. Yes, she opened that secret box for us and generously distributed it's content. Sri Harinam Prabhu descended and touched our hearts through her selfless devotion. She was not just a "tour guide" here, but a compassionate Vaisnavi by whose touch transcendental knowledge becomes irresistibly sweet and "contageous". Thank you once again!
In this Retreat I realized more deeply the fact that chanting the Holy Name brings the connection and the relationship with Krsna in order to act as servant of Him. I especially appreciated the opportunity to be more aware of the importance of developing the right attitude before, during and
after chanting the Holy Name. To pray for being accepted by Krsna, then asking to be engaged in His service has made a significant change in my approach of the Holy Name as aspiring servant of Him. I wish to once again take part in this retreat in order to deepen these realizations, and I highly recommend it to anyone desiring to increase the quality of his relationship with the Holy Name.
Thank you very much Devaki Mataji for your dedication to this essential service.
Setukara Das, South America
The first retreat which I attended last year in Ekachakra has changed my life, and now in this retreat new enthusiasm was injected into my determination, and a great hope that one day I can get - by the mercy of Lord Nityananda, my Guru Maharaja and the devotees, the mercy of Radha and Krsna and become Their servant. Thank you very much, Mother Devaki. I am aspiring to serve you in the mission of propagating the importance of endeavoring to get to deeper levels of chanting - in Japa aswell as in kirtan.
Supartha Rudra, Kolkata/India
This Holy Name Reteat was a revolutionizing experience for me. My entire perception of what kirtan is has changed. Through this retreat I truly tried
to realize that: "yes, chanting the holy name is the corner stone or center of our Krsna conscious practice." I am immensely moved by the affectionate,
caring and motherly mood of Devaki Mataji, which I would like to carry forward in my heart. I strongly recommend this retreat to any serious practitioner of Krsna consciousness - to have this eye-opening experience at least once in a life time. Personally, I'd like to attend again and again. Thank you very much!
Jagadish Gauranga Das, Kolkata/India
This retreat made me understand that chanting the holy name in japa and kirtan is actually an affair of the heart. I strongly feel that every devotee in ISKCON should attend this retreat. Not to be missed! I feel we need more Devaki Matajis in our movement....! I am eagerly looking forward to the next year's retreat in Ekachakra and am praying to Lord Nityananda and Sri Harinama Prabhu to be allowed to attend it. Thank you very much for everything!
Haripada Das & Phalini DD (ACBSP), Udupi/India
We found the Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra Dham in 2014 to be a wonderfully inspiring experience and notably beneficial use of our time. We left the
retreat feeling spiritually uplifted and confident, that we had been given the information and tools we needed to significantly improve the quality of
our chanting of the maha-mantra. The ball is now in our court to mindfully turn towards Krishna and awaken the longing to serve Him through improving
our daily japa nad kirtans. And, notwithstanding her German/Australian accent, Devaki Mataji who organized and conducted the retreat is an excellent presenter, preacher and a first class Vaisnavi! Thank you very much.
Anandamayi DD, Villa Vrindavan/Italy
During this retreat, Devaki Mataji showed such an exceptional mood of serving the devotees, which touched everybody's heart. It created a real Vaikuntha atmosphere and opened and softened our hearts to receive those transcendental instructions on how to chant. Actually, I received so much more than a few days' seminar sessions. By her purity, humility and determination to serve the Vaisnavas and the Holy Name, bhakti got replanted in my heart. Just as we receive the Gayatri Mantra through the sound vibration of our spiritual master, I have received the Hare Krishna Mantra from Devaki Mataji, whispering it to the ears, reaching the heart. Yes, she opened that secret box for us and generously distributed it's content. Sri Harinam Prabhu descended and touched our hearts through her selfless devotion. She was not just a "tour guide" here, but a compassionate Vaisnavi by whose touch transcendental knowledge becomes irresistibly sweet and "contageous". Thank you once again!
Holy Name Retreat in Kharkov/Ukraine - July 2013
Sergey Vishnevsky
Kharkov, Ukraine
I’ve never chanted japa like this before! I’ve never chanted kirtan in such mood before! The retreat gave me a
strong impact and great inspiration which I hope will seriously change my sadhana! I was incredibly impressed
by the personality of Mataji Devaki and by everything which was happening during the retreat.
I am very grateful to you!
anonymous participant:
I had a lot of questions on this topic of the holy name, and at the retreat I received fully satisfying answers to them.
I am very grateful for this, and for the positive atmosphere and inspiration which I felt throughout the whole event.
Thank you.
I think this important and useful information about chanting the holy name should be given also to those who just
got acquainted with Krishna consciousness and are already intending to follow this spiritual path.
anonymous participant:
Devaki Mataji's words became most important to me. They changed all the wrong concepts which had formed
in my consciousness. They became a source of inspiration and strength for me. I am amazed at her ability
to present the topic of chanting the holy name in such a systematic way and at the same time in a very simple
and easily understandable language. Every word of hers easily gets to the innermost parts of my heart and
changes it for the better. Whatever was not clear to me for many years finally became clear now.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the organizers of this retreat. In my memory there will always
remain many wonderful recollections about this visit to the spiritual world within the material world.
I was deeply touched by the sincere kindness, friendliness, open-mindedness and selfless desire to serve
in every way. Being the witness of these united efforts of so many devotees who were serving the common
goal of gaining a deeper insight into chanting the holy name I feel sincere gratitude to every single person
who was a part of it. I only regret that I have nothing to offer you in return. I remain your eternal debtor
hoping that one day I will have a chance to serve you.
I also have a great desire to express my admiration and gratitude to Devaki Mataji. I have spent many years
chasing saintly persons, yet I could not find the answers to my questions. And therefore I could not follow
the process nicely.
It is amazing that for the last 4 days I got to know more about the practice of Krishna consciousness than for the
past 18 years of being acquainted with ISKCON. This is due to the seminar of Mataji Devaki. It happened just at
the moment when I had decided to give up my vain attempts to understand and practice devotional life.
And now again I am burning with a desire to understand further, and even more important: to practice, even
though I still see a lot of obstacles and have so many questions left.
But anyway, now I feel inspired and have the strength to follow due to a deeper understanding.
Thank you very much! The only thing I was searching for was to get a deeper understanding.
Thanks to you I really received it.
Holy Name Retreat in Ekachakra/ India, 2013
Stritama Dasi (ACBSP)
Hawaii
What an amazing and deep spiritual experience I had in the bosom of Lord
Nityananda in His Holy Dham Ekachakra.
Mataji Devaki is such a wonderful soul to share with us her deep
realizations on chanting in such a way which was so easy to hear, absorb and
apply.
I went there begging for His mercy and I really feel as though I have
finally, "got it". After all these years of chanting, trying to chant, not
chanting, I was transformed from comfort zone of chanting, which ranges from
complacency, letting my mind run rampant, being distracted by so many
external situations - the list goes on and on. This retreat opened my heart
to the Holy name, begging Lord Nityanada: please make me your servant.
Please help me to focus on Your name, associate with Krsna uninterruptedly.
It's my focus everyday when I chant now - taking the time to be with the
Holy Name.
Crying out in desperation like a child for it's mother, You are my shelter.
The group of matajis that attended the retreat made it even sweeter by their
association. We had enlivening kirtans and wonderful role plays which really
brought the topic home.
The prasadam was divine and served with such love. The atmosphere was so
spiritual in this village setting with the cows. It was very cold aswell but
this austerity was well worth it and a small price to pay for purchasing the
mercy of Nityananda Ram.
What more can I say, it was transformational for me and I continue to pray
everyday that it stays in my heart and that I will take the time everyday to
associate with Krsna through His glorious names.
Girija Dasi (ACBSP)
Saranagati, Canada
I enjoyed the whole retreat very much. It was well done and covered all the
main aspects of the importance of chanting the holy name. Thank you so much.
I pray to Krsna that this Holy Name Retreat is done in all the ISKCON
temples around the world. We should participate in such retreats every year.
It is a must before we attend a japa retreat - to get a deeper understanding
of chanting before we increase the number of rounds.
The holy name is the core of our Vaisnava philosophy and life.
Radhasakhi Devi Dasi,
Mayapur
I would like to thank Devaki Mataji for so generously offering this
invaluable service of holding such retreats. She is so generous with her
knowledge, time and with all the nice facilities which she is offering to us
ao we can come and attend this retreat in Ekachakra.
My family and I have just moved from Australia to Mayapur - we were keen to
give our lives a spiritual boost. Though it has definately been a positive
move, I have found myself slipping into comfortable grhastha life, and my
rounds were not of good quality. I was slipping back into old habits and
wasting too much time on internet and Facebook!
So this retreat could not have come at a better time in my life. It has not
only enthused me to chant japa with concentration on the holy name - it has
given me the tools by which I can do it, and now it is up to me to use them!
I would like to inspire my children and friends with all I have learnt, by
taking responsibility of my spiritual life and actually practice what I
preach.
In my opinion everybody in ISKCON should attend this retreat on a regular
basis.
Stritama Dasi (ACBSP)
Hawaii
What an amazing and deep spiritual experience I had in the bosom of Lord
Nityananda in His Holy Dham Ekachakra.
Mataji Devaki is such a wonderful soul to share with us her deep
realizations on chanting in such a way which was so easy to hear, absorb and
apply.
I went there begging for His mercy and I really feel as though I have
finally, "got it". After all these years of chanting, trying to chant, not
chanting, I was transformed from comfort zone of chanting, which ranges from
complacency, letting my mind run rampant, being distracted by so many
external situations - the list goes on and on. This retreat opened my heart
to the Holy name, begging Lord Nityanada: please make me your servant.
Please help me to focus on Your name, associate with Krsna uninterruptedly.
It's my focus everyday when I chant now - taking the time to be with the
Holy Name.
Crying out in desperation like a child for it's mother, You are my shelter.
The group of matajis that attended the retreat made it even sweeter by their
association. We had enlivening kirtans and wonderful role plays which really
brought the topic home.
The prasadam was divine and served with such love. The atmosphere was so
spiritual in this village setting with the cows. It was very cold aswell but
this austerity was well worth it and a small price to pay for purchasing the
mercy of Nityananda Ram.
What more can I say, it was transformational for me and I continue to pray
everyday that it stays in my heart and that I will take the time everyday to
associate with Krsna through His glorious names.
Girija Dasi (ACBSP)
Saranagati, Canada
I enjoyed the whole retreat very much. It was well done and covered all the
main aspects of the importance of chanting the holy name. Thank you so much.
I pray to Krsna that this Holy Name Retreat is done in all the ISKCON
temples around the world. We should participate in such retreats every year.
It is a must before we attend a japa retreat - to get a deeper understanding
of chanting before we increase the number of rounds.
The holy name is the core of our Vaisnava philosophy and life.
Radhasakhi Devi Dasi,
Mayapur
I would like to thank Devaki Mataji for so generously offering this
invaluable service of holding such retreats. She is so generous with her
knowledge, time and with all the nice facilities which she is offering to us
ao we can come and attend this retreat in Ekachakra.
My family and I have just moved from Australia to Mayapur - we were keen to
give our lives a spiritual boost. Though it has definately been a positive
move, I have found myself slipping into comfortable grhastha life, and my
rounds were not of good quality. I was slipping back into old habits and
wasting too much time on internet and Facebook!
So this retreat could not have come at a better time in my life. It has not
only enthused me to chant japa with concentration on the holy name - it has
given me the tools by which I can do it, and now it is up to me to use them!
I would like to inspire my children and friends with all I have learnt, by
taking responsibility of my spiritual life and actually practice what I
preach.
In my opinion everybody in ISKCON should attend this retreat on a regular
basis.
Holy Name Retreat in Kiev, 2012
Tatyana Gubal
Uzhgorod/Ukraine
I am very happy that I managed to come to this retreat and I am grateful to all the
devotees who took part in the organization. The presence of so many senior devotees
made the event very inspiring and uplifting.This retreat gave me somewhat a shock!
I thought I've been chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra for a year. But it
turned out that I was just mechanically repeating, reciting it but not at all
chanting the holy name. I finally understood how we should not chant. Mataji
Devaki promised that we will feel a transformation in our chanting, and it will
be most obvious on the 4th day of the retreat. On this day, just as I was on my
8th round I felt that my eyes opened and I saw things as they are. I had the
feeling that I am like a full pot, and I wanted to walk slowly without any rush
and keep this feeling at least till the next retreat.
Gopishvara Das
Kiev/Ukraine
I am very grateful to those who organized this retreat. As for my realizations - in the picture
of my relationship with the holy name there were some parts of the puzzle missing, and
the retreat helped me to fill in the gaps. The picture has become more filled out and clear.
Vraja Lalana Devi Dasi
Kiev/Ukraine
I am impressed by Devaki mataji's ability to speak about things we've heard many times
before in such a way that we get a totally new experience and a different vision.
For example I have finally understood what the second offence is - thinking something to
be more important than chanting the holy name. She gave the example of a crying child:
when he is badly in need of his mother he is crying, screaming, calling out for
her and being totally dependent on her - and he will not stop crying until she
comes. He is not interested in anything else. If you try to distract him from
this it will only cause more screaming because he is being distracted from the
essence - from the only person who can give him relief. A child will not cry
looking at the computer at the same time - no, he is 100% absorbed in his
desperate appeal. But we don't call for Krishna like this - we have some "more
important" things to do and we are not dependent on Him.When chanting japa we
don't call out to Krsna in such desperation.The only wy for us to get directly
in touch with Krishna is through His holy name. He fully manifests Himself in
His name, and if we just repeat the sound without associating with the name, we
are just taking an empty medicine capsule. It is a make-belief japa. We've
chanted japa but we haven't had a conversation with Krishna. If my goal in
chanting japa is to develop a relationship with Krishna, then it's time to start
associating with Him.
Lila Mayi Devi Dasi
Kiev/Ukraine
Every day we get in touch with the Holy name from different sources like Srimad Bhagavatam,
Bhagavad Gita. But only now I understand that all this time I've been running past the holy
name - running past the essence. This retreat helped me to realize not only with my
mind but also with my heart how we should greet Sri Nama Prabhu every time we
meet Him - within our heart we must appeal to Him and greet Him with a sincere
heart. When I was on my way to this retreat in my train compartment a girl was
reading a book "Remedy for routine". This is how Krishna let me know what He
will be curing me from, though I didn't realize at that time. This retreat is an
undeniable evidence of the fact that Krishna really takes part in our spiritual
life in a very deep way, and He is interested in our healing even more than we
are. Mataji Devaki is a wonderful example of motherly spiritual affection and
care, a true transcendental healer. She gave us the remedy - chanting with the
heart, and she did it in a very deep and multifaceted way. For me this retreat
was like a remedy for an empty heart - chanting and neglecting Krishna.
Tulasi Manjari Devi Dasi
Kiev/Ukraine
This retreat became a very inspiring event for me. Now I feel that my heart is full with kirtans,
chanting the holy name. Now I realize how important it is to chant in the right mood. The
greatest discovery for me was the understanding of attentiveness on the level of
the heart. After this retreat I am trying now to chant by involving the heart.
It is clear to me that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but at least now I know
in which direction to endeavor.
Caitanya Rupa Das
Kharkov/Ukraine
Around fifteen years ago when I was a young brahmacari I once bought little
Gaur Nitai Deities on my visit to Vrindavan. When I returned to Ukraine I
wrote a letter to my spiritual master, asking him for permission to worship
Them. He gave an unexpected reply: "Please don't worship these Deities now -
simply keep Them in the box and wait. For now your Deity is the Holy
Name...." I followed the instruction not to worship the Deities, and some years later
he permitted me to begin the puja. But I never really understood how the
Holy Name is my Deity. Only now during this Holy Name Retreat I began to
understand his instruction more deeply - after fifteen years....
Tatyana Gubal
Uzhgorod/Ukraine
I am very happy that I managed to come to this retreat and I am grateful to all the
devotees who took part in the organization. The presence of so many senior devotees
made the event very inspiring and uplifting.This retreat gave me somewhat a shock!
I thought I've been chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra for a year. But it
turned out that I was just mechanically repeating, reciting it but not at all
chanting the holy name. I finally understood how we should not chant. Mataji
Devaki promised that we will feel a transformation in our chanting, and it will
be most obvious on the 4th day of the retreat. On this day, just as I was on my
8th round I felt that my eyes opened and I saw things as they are. I had the
feeling that I am like a full pot, and I wanted to walk slowly without any rush
and keep this feeling at least till the next retreat.
Gopishvara Das
Kiev/Ukraine
I am very grateful to those who organized this retreat. As for my realizations - in the picture
of my relationship with the holy name there were some parts of the puzzle missing, and
the retreat helped me to fill in the gaps. The picture has become more filled out and clear.
Vraja Lalana Devi Dasi
Kiev/Ukraine
I am impressed by Devaki mataji's ability to speak about things we've heard many times
before in such a way that we get a totally new experience and a different vision.
For example I have finally understood what the second offence is - thinking something to
be more important than chanting the holy name. She gave the example of a crying child:
when he is badly in need of his mother he is crying, screaming, calling out for
her and being totally dependent on her - and he will not stop crying until she
comes. He is not interested in anything else. If you try to distract him from
this it will only cause more screaming because he is being distracted from the
essence - from the only person who can give him relief. A child will not cry
looking at the computer at the same time - no, he is 100% absorbed in his
desperate appeal. But we don't call for Krishna like this - we have some "more
important" things to do and we are not dependent on Him.When chanting japa we
don't call out to Krsna in such desperation.The only wy for us to get directly
in touch with Krishna is through His holy name. He fully manifests Himself in
His name, and if we just repeat the sound without associating with the name, we
are just taking an empty medicine capsule. It is a make-belief japa. We've
chanted japa but we haven't had a conversation with Krishna. If my goal in
chanting japa is to develop a relationship with Krishna, then it's time to start
associating with Him.
Lila Mayi Devi Dasi
Kiev/Ukraine
Every day we get in touch with the Holy name from different sources like Srimad Bhagavatam,
Bhagavad Gita. But only now I understand that all this time I've been running past the holy
name - running past the essence. This retreat helped me to realize not only with my
mind but also with my heart how we should greet Sri Nama Prabhu every time we
meet Him - within our heart we must appeal to Him and greet Him with a sincere
heart. When I was on my way to this retreat in my train compartment a girl was
reading a book "Remedy for routine". This is how Krishna let me know what He
will be curing me from, though I didn't realize at that time. This retreat is an
undeniable evidence of the fact that Krishna really takes part in our spiritual
life in a very deep way, and He is interested in our healing even more than we
are. Mataji Devaki is a wonderful example of motherly spiritual affection and
care, a true transcendental healer. She gave us the remedy - chanting with the
heart, and she did it in a very deep and multifaceted way. For me this retreat
was like a remedy for an empty heart - chanting and neglecting Krishna.
Tulasi Manjari Devi Dasi
Kiev/Ukraine
This retreat became a very inspiring event for me. Now I feel that my heart is full with kirtans,
chanting the holy name. Now I realize how important it is to chant in the right mood. The
greatest discovery for me was the understanding of attentiveness on the level of
the heart. After this retreat I am trying now to chant by involving the heart.
It is clear to me that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but at least now I know
in which direction to endeavor.
Caitanya Rupa Das
Kharkov/Ukraine
Around fifteen years ago when I was a young brahmacari I once bought little
Gaur Nitai Deities on my visit to Vrindavan. When I returned to Ukraine I
wrote a letter to my spiritual master, asking him for permission to worship
Them. He gave an unexpected reply: "Please don't worship these Deities now -
simply keep Them in the box and wait. For now your Deity is the Holy
Name...." I followed the instruction not to worship the Deities, and some years later
he permitted me to begin the puja. But I never really understood how the
Holy Name is my Deity. Only now during this Holy Name Retreat I began to
understand his instruction more deeply - after fifteen years....
