My journey to Krishna consciousness began in 2019 when my family and I first traveled 150 kilometres from Sydney to visit New Gokula Farm in a little town called Millfield. We first came to the farm as non-devotees, simply exploring what we had been told by an acquaintance was a “Hindu temple.” The temple is situated on a 500-acre farm with the most mesmerising Deities of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda.
Gradually, we became regular visitors. Then COVID-19 suddenly hit, travel stopped, and with it our opportunity to visit the farm and get the devotee association that had been gradually drawing me toward Krishna consciousness. As a result my motivation on the path started to wane.
These were still very early days for me. I knew very little about the movement and Srila Prabhupada. All I knew was that he had gone to America and founded ISKCON. At that time, I was chanting one or two rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, mostly inattentively and without understanding its deeper meaning.
Then, by Krishna’s mercy, came the turning point for my entire journey in bhakti. During the Easter break of 2020, a devotee told me about a movie on Srila Prabhupada that was available for free on YouTube, but only for the Easter weekend. With nowhere to go because of COVID and very little else to do, I decided to watch HARE KRISHNA! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all. That decision became one of the greatest turning points of my life—a moment I will never forget.
I loved the movie. I remember tears filling my eyes as I began to understand who Srila Prabhupada was and what he had done—not only for me, but for all of us. I felt so inspired that almost immediately, I fell in love with the mantra, I fell in love with the movement. But most importantly, I fell in love with the man who started it all—His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
From that point on, I began taking bhakti much more seriously. Later that year, I started attending Bhakti Vriksha classes and by the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and my Gurudev, I eventually began preaching through the Bhakti Vriksha program. Five years later, I stand here as an initiated disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami.
I am deeply and sincerely grateful to Yadubara Prabhu, Visakha devi and the entire team for producing such an extraordinary film—one that I believe the whole world should see. Through Srila Prabhupada in his “movie incarnation,” people can become immersed in pure bhakti and love for Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and come to realise the true purpose of human life.
Thank you Srila Prabhupada!
Your humble servant,
Prana Sakha Govinda das
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119522
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