By Bhaktimarga Swami
I am inspired by cleaning, as I’ve mentioned before, and today was one of those days to get down to business, roll up sleeves and pull up socks, by tackling the balcony of our temple. It’s been a part of the building under major neglect, in my opinion, but I got the help I needed from Mahaprabhu, visiting us from D.C. and Bhakta James from Montreal.
I put to work several muscles, which may not get the full attention from the almost perfect exercise, walking, by bending, lifting and so on. I don’t become very conscious of this until the end of the day when I feel not sore, but just great.
After seeing the result of the cleaning, and then hearing the chanting by the regular Wednesday youth who come to do just that—chanting—it is like heaven! Usually you hear the melodies of ISKCON’s legendary kirtan leader, Aindra, being executed. I do have fondness toward this American monk; I had lunch with him, chats with him and of course, sat in with him when he would lead a chant. Well, I couldn’t actually sit, but dance in ecstasy along with a host of Bengali brahmacaris—monks. It was a group effort.
This brings me back to the point of team work that goes behind the purification of a building, most notably the place where Sri Krishna is being worshipped. I personally get enthused, very much, when thinking about the divine efforts of the ultimate monk, Sri Chaitanya, who excited his followers in the dust-gathering, water-splashing event of the Gundica Temple cleansing in Puri, India, some five hundred years ago.
May the Source be with you!
Comments
I have been thinking of giving my services in the temple .
I feel I know one thing cleaning and other is distribution of prasad with Hare Krishna chanting.
From this Geeta Jayanti I feel I will do distribution of Books,