I met some devotees while living in Brisbane, Australia and was taken by how peaceful and spiritually beautiful they were. There is a saying that we are the sum of the five people we spend most of our time we choose to be with. I wanted to spend more time with these people!
The young girl that we met invited us to meditation, prasadam and kirtan at their home all within an hour of meeting them. I had never met such open and welcoming people. Over the next six years we met hundreds of like-minded people, shared many good times and spent hours upon hours speaking about and hearing of Krishna. What an amazing experience. I had learned a lot and come to love our group. Unfortunately, as it sometimes happens everyone eventually moved away, including us and we settled on the Gold Coast.
Upon moving, I was looking for a similar group and was honestly struggling. At one point, through my work, I emailed one of my clients who looked like he had a spiritual name, so I asked if that was a birth name or... Yes! He was an ISKCON devotee and praise Krishna, he was the Manager of the Bhakti Centre at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Madhavananda Das is the kindest and sharing person you will ever meet and he introduced me as if he was proud just because I had arrived.
I have been blessed yet again to meet such an inspiring group of devotees who make it their life to serve our Lords and each other. Nothing is ever too much trouble. They are always offering to help each other and to learn together. I felt this was an even more special group than before. I was included in service straight away, but never pushed. Everything that we do is encouraged and praised and appreciated. We hold classes, preaching, programs and kirtan at all different times and we can go as little or as much as we want, without ever feeling pressured. It truly is a special place.
Bless Madhavananda, as I was speaking to him one day about his initiation. He asked if I was looking towards anyone as being my possible Guru Maharaj. I had been and was discussing this with my mentor just the day before. It was as if he knew what I needed before I even did. I explained who I was interested in and he suggested that I watch his videos, read his teachings and get a general feel. I did so and was surprised just the next month, to find out that His Holiness Bir Krishna Goswami das was coming to Australia. Then Madhavananda told me he had arranged to host Guru Maharaj at his home and invited me along. I did not know if I was excited or scared.
I attended and listened to the lecture given, knowing that one day in the future, I would request shelter. We finished the program in awe, when I was ushered to the table to sit next to Guru Maharaj to eat with him. As you can imagine, I was so nervous that I found it incredibly difficult to eat. I tried very hard to talk to him and was surprised by how comfortable I felt in such a short time. I was encouraged to keep in contact and given a means to do so.
Being so nervous, and not wanting to bother Guru Maharaj, so I decided to wait a day to make contact and the longer I waited, the more nervous I became. Then I received a message to ask why I did not contact him. To be so busy and travelling constantly to spread the message of our Lord is an important job. How does such a person have time to contact me? I was so shocked that I honestly cried for a while before I could read the whole message. I am certainly not important, noteworthy or doing any service that was so special that I would be remembered, and yet he did.
From there we messaged often and I now honestly felt like I could ask anything. Every message was answered promptly, kindly and I felt the love that came with each answer. Someone who was so understanding, wise and open to offer guidance is rare in this world. Within a very short time I was asked when I would be requesting initiation. I honestly wanted to but did not feel that I would be accepted.
Of course, I promptly responded to ask if I could be considered. I was told to prepare for initiation at the next visit, which was just over eight months away. It felt like a long time away, so I did not feel urgency until the last month. Then it was pure excitement. I knew this was the most important decision of my life and I was ready for it.
I did not sleep a wink the night before. I was full of nervous excitement. I was taking initiation with two other girls. One being so nervous she could hardly function. The other as cool as a cucumber. This was it. After the longest day ever, we made our way to Temple.
We found Madhavananda at the front of the building, pacing and phoning someone repeatedly. The prasadam did not all arrive as the house where it was being prepared had flooded. Not to worry, we arranged extras from Govinda’s Restaurant. Everyone was anxious as our Guru Maharaj was late. Not to worry, he was five minutes away now.
Then the big one. The yagya or fire pit was not ready. All I heard was that someone had not arrived or was held up and I was ushered away. I did not hear the story of what was wrong but a lot of people were worried. I kept thinking that we are not the controller so there is no need to stress. Our Guru Maharaj arrived and calmly said he would make it happen. It did, without us even realizing what had transpired in the background.
Everything, from where I sat, went smoothly and the initiation was even more sweet as my Guru Maharaj - His Holiness Bir Krishna Goswami – performed the whole ceremony himself and I was named Braja Vilasini Devi Dasi.
I feel like the most blessed person in the world. Krishna has been incredibly kind. I have been guided towards to most incredible souls and showered with love, teachings and support. More than I could ever expect, I had found my group that I would now be with while I spend my time in this material world.
I can only thank Ambika Devi Dasi for my first contact through the mentoring program at New Govardhana and her ongoing friendship and support. I also owe so much to Rasarani Devi Dasi who has been my official mentor and shared so much wisdom. Of course, to Madhavananda Das who works so hard to ensure the Bhakti Centre is as amazing as it is. To the family that I now call my own at the Bhakti Centre, I cannot express my love for being so accepted.
Lastly to my Guru Maharaj. Thank you for accepting me as your humble disciple. I promise to do what I can to work in the mission and mood of Srila Prabhupada and to make you proud.
Your humble servant.
Braja Vilasini
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