March 11th, 2006
A month in Mayapura
Back in Wales after a month in Mayapura, I am feeling spiritually energized.
In my first week in holy Mayapura I was busy with meetings about researching ancient Indian astronomy and cosmology. The meetings were very successful and we now have some more researchers working their way through the vast amount of material available in India.
Then my spiritual master came there and asked me to cook lunch for him. So for my second and third week there I spent most of my time trying to figure out who’s kitchen to borrow each day, choosing and buying the ingredients, cooking lunch, packing lunch and sending it over to my spiritual masters’ room, cleaning up, waiting for the remnants to come back, cleaning up the tins that the lunch was packed in, and then finally having my own lunch. That took up most of my day. On some days Shital did most of the cooking and I got some time to do my other services. I also got some help from Siromani, Amrita, and Dina Dayala on other days. Thank you to Sharon, Prijata and Monica for letting us use their kitchens.
In my fourth week I was able to relax a bit more and I finally made it to the Ganges. I know of nothing more refreshing to body, mind, and soul, than bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges at Mayapura. I spent time there with some Godsisters from New Zealand who I hadn’t seen for a couple of years. I was glad to see how nicely they are maturing in Krishna consciousness due to their dedicated devotional service.
During my month in Mayapura I stayed in three different buildings so I had to move twice. I suppose there is no escaping my constant moving, even in such a holy place as Mayapura.
Here are some of the things I realized while I was in Mayapura:
- Simple living is so conducive to spiritual life.
- I am always happy in Mayapura, even when I am physically sick.
- I do not want to live outside the association of devotees.
- Service to the spiritual master is an extremely potent and purifying process of self-realization.
