Author Gopal Patel

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Gaura Purnima 2011

Mar 20, ’11 8:40 PM

This weekend, Krishna devotees the world over celebrated Gaura Purnima. Marking the appearance anniversary of Lord Caitanya, the festival is one of the highlights of the year for Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

I attended the celebration at my local Krishna temple, Bhaktivedanta Manor. I spent the whole day there, from 5am to 10pm. I have observed this festival to varying degrees for almost 10 years. Each year it has different meaning and significance in my life. In 2005 I observed it in Mayapur, India – the birth place of Lord Caitanya. That will always be a special memory for me. This year was equally as special, but for different reasons, for I made a conscious effort to try and speak to as many friends as possible who were at the temple.

With time, I am beginning to appreciate the importance of friendship. To be able to confide in another person, to reveal personal difficulties, and our joys and aspirations, is central to personal growth. I feel the more I am able to love and trust my friends, the more open I am to their love. It is a two-way exchange that is only facilitated when we are ready for it. If one is not open to receive the love of those around him, how can he expect the love of God to penetrate his heart? More often than not, I find myself focusing all energies on God that I forget the many wonderful people he has sent into my life. The day at the temple was therefore spent renewing old, strengthening current, and building new friendships. It was a wholly satisfying experience, and one that I hope to repeat on a more regular basis.

 

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Changing Times

Mar 8, ’11 2:29 PM

I spent 3 weeks in India from late December 2010 into early January. Below is a excerpt from one of my diary entries whilst there.

Saturday, January 1st, 2011
The day started in Vrindavan, but ends in Delhi. From the spiritual to the material in less than 24 hours (4 to be precise). Yet I feel more at home here in Delhi than I did in Vrindavan. Perhaps this highlights that despite my eagerness to show my environmental credentials, I am, deep down, a city man. Of course, Vrindavan is no longer in the countryside, at least externally. As it moves into modernity, the disconnect between the old and new is both harsh and discomforting.

As we drove out of Vrindavan, along back streets to avoid traffic, we passed field after field of mustard plants. Their bright yellow colours were pleasing to both the heart and eye. It drew into further contrast the state of modern Vrindavan. I wondered if in previous times this once rural village had looked as beautiful as the sight in front of me. If it did, I will never behold that sight, at least in this life.

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Seeing the future

Aug 10, ’10 2:05 PM

I just returned from a five day festival for young devotees of Krishna. I was there to give a presentation on the work I do for the Bhumi Project. I met many wonderful people and had a great time.

The festival was in New Mayapura – a small temple community of Krishna devotees in rural France. In the mid 1970′s they purchased a large property with a vast amount of surrounding land. In the years that followed the community attracted many residents. At one point, over 200 people were living there.

As with all endeavours, the growing community started to face a number of difficulties. Many of the families which settled there moved away. The responsibility fell on the shoulders of only a few people to maintain the property and land. At one point they lived without electricity and hot water for 2 years. One can only be humbled by hearing of their dedication.

Aside from having a good time, the festival organisers wanted to help inspire and encourage the young people at the festival to seriously think about how they want to serve God in this life. Their parents pioneered the spreading of Krishna consciousness around the world. The baton is now being passed to them – the new generation.

From spending five days with them, I have every confidence that this new generation of Krishna devotees will spread and share Krishna consciousness in ways we cannot even imagine.

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All change

Apr 27, ’10 2:54 PM

I have been a practitioner of bhakti-yoga for almost 11 years. My first real introduction to this tradition was a chance encounter with the Bhagavad-gita, a central holy text from India. Since then I have tried in earnest to follow and live up to the teachings and principles this particular tradition advocates. Yoga is not about gymnastic posturing, nor for advancing material facilities. Yoga, in essence, is a progressive path of self-awakening that leads the soul to fully realise it’s place in creation. It is thus a fully spiritual disciple which culminates in bhakti, or devotion, to the Supreme.

This past weekend I took a significant step on this path. My spiritual master, or guru, was visiting London for a few days on a stop-over from India to America. After waiting 5 years, he offered me, along with 50 others, official initiation into the bhakti tradition, or what is known as diksha in Sanskrit. In his presence, members from my temple community, and God, I vowed to follow the principles of bhakti, and strive to lead my life as a servant, of the servant, of the servant of God. He then gave me a new set of prayer beads which he previously prayed on, and gave me a new name to signify my commitment and spiritual re-birth. Thus from now on I will be know as Gopal Lila das — one who is the servant of the childhood pastimes of the Lord.

Above: His Holiness Radhanath Swami, my spiritual master, gives me my new prayer beads after initiating me into the bhakti-yoga tradition of India.

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