Newsletter December 2021

Sadhu Sanga or having the saintly company of advanced devotees is often mentioned as one of the main components for spiritual development. What happens in the association of devotees that makes it so absolutely desirable? Lord Krishna talks about this to Uddhava. After he had revealed many devotional subjects to Uddhava He said, "I shall now speak to you about the most confidential knowledge." And then Krishna revealed, "My dear Uddhava, by associating with My pure devotees one can destroy one's attachment to all objects of material sense gratification. Furthermore, such purifying association brings Me under the control of My devotee."

Recently, our community has been blessed with the association of many wonderful advanced devotees. It all started with the visit of H.H. Bhakti Ananda Tirtha Swami followed by H.H.Kadamba Kanana Swami who stayed with us for an entire week, giving Srimad Bhagavatam lectures every morning. Sitting in his lecture was purifying and very inspiring. His words were loaded with spiritual realisations and they nourished the creeper of devotion living within our hearts. Right after that, Adi Purusha Prabhu came to teach a systematic study of the Nectar of Devotion. For another entire week, 4 hours daily, the devotees were learning the art of performing devotional service with the intention of pleasing the Supreme Lord.

During all these weeks, we have also had the association of Devaki Mataji who is staying with us to write a new book. She has also been giving thought provoking lectures in between other preachers. In one of them she explained that the aim of all shastra studies is coming to a point of self-dedication to serve the Lord. Tomorrow, H.H. Bhakti Prabhava Swami is arriving for more nectar and inspirations.

A clear indication of having received the mercy of the Lord Krsna, is when the Lord sends us the association of His dear devotees. All glories to the association with devotees of the Lord.

During the month of Kartik my wife and I took some time off from our regular service in Goloka Dhama with the intention of going deeper into our spiritual practices. We went into seclusion and disconnected from social media, greatly hoping to taking substantial steps forward on our spiritual path.

One early morning, as I was chanting the Holy Name, my mind was filled with anxiety for an insignificant issue that mayor may not have happened in the future. After a few hours of chanting the Holy Name, the emotions settled down and I then analysed what had just happened. It became clear that I had been overwhelmed by a strong wave of the material energy. As I contemplated further, I noticed that this happens regularly in my daily life but now, it has been made so extremely clear.

One can deal with such anxieties with a psychological approach by asking oneself the following questions:

1. What is the worst that can happen?
2. What is the best that can happen?
3. What is likely to happen?

For some of these anxieties we have the power to bring some changes and we should do it as soon as possible. Sometimes to worry is a form of procrastination. But for some anxieties that we cannot do anything about, it is best that we should let them go. But how? One technique is to tell our mind that we will take care of it in two or three hours. Usually by that time the anxiety is gone!

From a spiritual perspective, I have learnt that I should place myself under the influence of the spiritual energy as much as possible, especially during spiritual practices. There is the real shelter. Looking at Srila Prabhupada and advanced devotees, we can see how they are always under the shelter of the spiritual energy. They are with Krsna and all their actions are empowered and connected to the Lord. How wonderful it must be?

At the beginning and at the end of the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna tells Arjuna “Do not worry. I am always there for you. Just stay under the shelter of my spiritual energy. You will be fully protected!”