Monday 28 October 2019

Friday, October 18th, 2019



Tirupati, India

So Long Souls

The last day in Tirupati stirred up emotions for Victor, Yamala Arjuna, and myself, as well as the sannyasi and brahmacari monks who have also been visiting here.  Then, of course, there were Revati Raman—the main manager here—and the resident monastics, who also felt the same.  We had gotten to know each other through the activity of bhakti/devotional service.  It was going to be hard to depart.  Victor and I, along with our assistant, Balaji, would soon be en-route to Chennai. Later,  Victor would travel on a flight to Delhi, while Balaji would eventually return with the cab driver back to Tirupati;  I would be carrying on to Frankfurt and Toronto. Our respective destinations would all have the same thing awaiting us—service.  https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wFAO6AVeo/?igshid=1t0h1vwvaerax

Those last few minutes had me immersed in reading from the book Chaitanya Bhagavat, which covers the three phases of Chaitanya's life.  His charisma, physical attractiveness, divine words and rhythmic moves had everyone stunned.  Radical Muslims also took a liking to Him.  On His travels, His entrance into a district meant that all those villagers of the area would cease their duties to come and see the celebrity.  Upon His exit and onward travels, newly-made friends would feel the weight of separation.

Similarly, our connecting and disconnecting with such sweet souls was somewhat hard to bear in Tirupati.  All the good times will be stored as good memories. They will remain as a hankering for some future reunion.

But at those moments of departure, "Obeisances!" And as we traditionally say in our greeting and parting with one another:

Vancha kalpatarubhyas ca / krpa sindhubhya eva ca / Patitanam pavanebhyo / Vaishnavebhyo namo namah

Translation: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord.  They can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and they are full of compassion for the fallen souls."


May the Source be with you!
3 km


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