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There were a hundred of us, mostly monks, men and women.  We stood in a circle, and the exercise was to take some steps forward or backward, depending on the answer to the question given.

 

The facilitator, Vraj Bihari, asked, "How many of you are in the category of seventy years of age and above?" About a dozen took three steps forward. 

 

"How many of you are between sixty and seventy?"  That included a much larger percentage.  

 

"How many of you came to Krishna Consciousness before 1970?"  The majority stepped forward.  

 

"How many joined in the ’80s?  The ’90s?"  The forward and backwards continued.

 

It was a great exercise.  It was very revealing, and drew the group's attention to a need to look gravely at our history and our succession.

 

Next, we sat in groups of four, and we were asked one by one to share how we came to Krishna Consciousness.  "What was it like then?  What was your perception of the way ashramswere then?  Is it better than the situation of today?"

 

Interesting and introspective thinking went into the questions.

 

We then went for lunch prasadam and bonded further, after which we had a break until Session #2.

 

Monks don't just walk, or sit down all day, or eat. We take time—although not enough—to see into ourselves and into the needs of the world.

 

A little film of the Hanuman monkeys we met yesterday. 

 

May the Source be with you!