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April 2002 Diary

For the last several years I was blessed with the association of Tamal Krishna Maharaja. Previously because our service was in different areas, I did not have so much opportunity to have his blessed association. Because the last few years I was taking care (as the GBC representative) of Fiji our association became manifest. I was sometimes calling him several times a week to get his guidance on a number of subjects.

Our relationship grew to the extent that I was dependant upon his guidance in many areas of my service, and I relished talking with him on a regular basis. When I called him on the phone I would sometimes jokingly say to him, “Is this the big boss”, and he would reply, “Yes, this is boss man number one speaking to boss man number two.”

We became close in many ways during these final years. During the meetings this year I also had the opportunity to discuss many subject matters with him. Oftentimes during the meeting when we were discussing some difficult subject matter I would glance over at him from the opposite side of the room to see what his opinion was. I really relished these exchanges.

The day before I left Mayapura (after the GBC meetings) I was speaking with Tamal Krishna Maharaja about possibly taking the same taxi from Mayapura to the Calcutta Airport. We decided that because I had to leave earlier it was better he went separately.

So I left Sri Dham Mayapura at 2 AM and he left at 4 AM. I did not find out about his departure from this mortal world until I was already in the USA two days later.

I was shocked by the news and at first did not believe it. I could not comprehend that he would no longer be there as my older brother giving me advice that I knew came directly from his long years of personal service and observation of Srila Prabhupada.

When I arrived at New Goloka I tried my best to help his disciples there. We had several days of remembrances of him. But I knew that in Fiji where hundreds of his disciples are, the devotees were needing help.

Tamal Krishna Maharaja single handedly developed the Fiji yatra. Of course Srila Prabhupada planted the seed in Fiji, accepting Vasudeva and his brother Bhuvan Mohan as disciples, but Tamal Krishna Maharaja carefully watered and nutured this seed, so that finally it bore the fruit of thousands of devotees of Lord Krishna, well trained in the culture and philosophy of Krishna consciousness.

I have often marveled at the Vaisnava etiquette of the devotees in Fiji. I have never any where else experienced the love and culture that they manifest.

I knew that Srila Prabhupada wanted me to head to Fiji as soon as possible to help the devotees through this most difficult time. When Srila Prabhupada left this world, it was very difficult for us as there was not available much older association.

Since some of the leaders in Fiji flew to India upon hearing about the departure of Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaja, I decided to wait until they returned before I went to Fiji.

So on the evening of the 11th of April I boarded an Air Pacific flight from Los Angeles direct to Nadi (pronounced Nandi like Lord Siva’s bull) Fiji. During the flight I listened to Tamal Krishna Maharja’s remembrances of Srila Prabhupada. While listening to these recordings I became overwhelmed with lamentation over our great loss.

There are basically three main preaching projects in Fiji at present. One is in Lautaka the temple of Kaliya Krishna which was established by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. The majority of devotees though are in the capital city, Suva where we are building a major temple, and many devotees are in Labasa (pronounced Lambasa), which is on a different island.

I decided this time to head directly to Suva, even though the Nadi airport was about three hours away. All of the flights from the USA arrive in Nadi which is closer to Lautaka than Suva.

I arrived at about 5 AM. I was overwhelmed with the reception that I received from the devotees. Two devotees came from Suva to take me on the long drive, but the many devotees (approximately 20) came from Lautaka to greet me. I could see how much they were pained by the great tragedy that had struck us and how grateful they were that I had take the trouble to fly half way around the world to be with them. This understanding was enough in my mind to make the trip worthwhile.

Travelling across many times zones is a real austerity for me. Some devotees seem to take it in stride and it does not seem to effect them, but for myself it generally means days of feeling dizzy and not being able to properly digest my food. No matter what I try nothing really seems to help to alleviate the “jet lag.”

Of course to help the dedicated devotees in Fiji any amount of inconvenience that I have to suffer is acceptable. I see that Krishna is urging me to dedicate my life to helping His devotees. If I hear of some devotees who are needing help, I really can’t keep myself from rushing to their aid.

On the way to Suva from the Nadi airport we stopped to visit some disciples of Tamal Krishna Goswami in a town named Sigatoka. The names of his disciples there are: Gurusmarna dd, Giti Kirti, and Suprabha dd. Gurusmarna is a medical doctor.

Their home is completely dedicated to their spiritual master. There is a large Vyasasana for Tamal Krishna Maharaja, many of his remnants and many photos of his preaching pastimes. I heard from them how their spiritual master personally helped them in many ways throughout the years. Again and again I have been overwhelmed hearing about the personal care Tamal Krishna Maharaja had for his disciples.

I had planned on only staying a short time and then proceeding on my journey but we spent hours speaking about the exalted position of Srila Prabhupada’s dearmost servant, Tamal Krishna Maharaja.

I was so enlivened to meet such sincere “Servants of the Servant”, and only wished that I would have the same dedication to the lotus feet of my spiritual master Srila Prabhupada that they had for theirs. I am learning so much from the disciples of Tamal Krishna Maharaja about what real guru nistha and guru bhakta are and I am seeing how much I am lacking in that regard.

They offered me a very large breakfast which I took even though I am not really able to digest anything heavier than a banana in the morning. Still the taste was so nectarean due to their devotion, that I was unable to refuse.

After being inspired by their dedication and attempting to offer my help, we proceeded on our trip to Suva.

When I visit Suva I stay in the house of the temple president, Jairama and his family. Jairama has two wonderful sons, Visvanatha (who has been my assistant during my previous trips to Fiji) and Bhimsena who is a very good devotee and great eater of prasadam! Both of his sons are completely Krishna conscious.

One thing I have noted during my visits to Fiji is how well behaved the little children are and how Krishna conscious the grown children of the devotees are. I attribute this to Tamal Krishna Maharaja’s spiritual influence and to the strong stable families. Western so-called culture has not really infiltrated Fiji. Even India is more westernized than Fiji!

After being received by the family and resting a bit after my long trip, we went to the temple for a formal reception and talk. I talked about Tamal Krishna Maharaja for about a half and hour and then returned to Jairama’s house. The reception was a Fiji style one which means with great devotion, etiquette and submissive hearing. This type of etiquette is definitely lacking in America.

Before arriving in Fiji this time I decided that a major thrust of this visit should be to firmly establish Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaja’s position as the guru of Fiji so that no one would ever forget this and that anyone coming to the movement in the future would come with this understanding.

Even during my last visit I was giving the devotees this understanding. I told the devotees in February this year that whenever someone takes initiation from me in Fiji he is also accepting Tamal Krishna Maharaja as his siksa guru. Even though I did not know it when I made this statement in February, in retrospect I can now see that Krishna was preparing us for the future.

So, anyone who gives initiation in the future here should give it with the same understanding. We must recognize Tamal Krishna Maharaja’s position here. Because of his vision and enthusiasm we have so many trained up Vaisnavas.

We are personalists. We must recognize the greatness of the Vaisnavas, and give them credit for it. This sort of personalism may not be so much appreciated at present, but it is a necessary part of a real culture.

The more time I spend in Fiji the deeper my appreciation and love grows for Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaja. Also, my lamentation at not being able to associate with him grows accordingly.

The next day was Sunday the 14th of April. On Sunday the whole community participates in the morning program which is held in the temporary temple which is a large tin roof shack on Vasudeva Prabhu’s property. I read from TKG’s diary and commented on the disciples mood of service during the final pastimes of the spiritual master. I believe that by presenting Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaja’s mood of service during Srila Prabhupada’s Antya lila the devotees will understand how to deal with the present situation.

After the Sunday morning program the zonal leaders and myself met to discuss the plans for the construction of the Suva temple. We went over the estimates that were submitted by different contractors and different proposals to arrange the financing for the temple.

The Sunday feast program starts at 11:00 AM, so after the meeting we rushed to give the talk. I did something unusual this Sunday. I chanted different Vaisnava songs, read the translations and purported the translations in such a way as to glorify Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaja. I really felt that Krishna was pleased with this.

Soon after the feast program was over I was scheduled to meet with the Youth group and after that I was to meet with the devotees who had been expecting to take initiation from Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaja next time he came.

To both groups I gave the same message. I told them that they were already disciples of Tamal Krishna Maharaja in a very real sense. They should not think that they have to change their allegiance or look for a new guru. They should remain as they are. They have already established their connection with Tamal Krishna Maharaja. He is their eternal spiritual master.

Of course, I explained that he would not be their initiating guru. They would have to chose another Vaisnava to perform that task. But they should see their initiating guru as assisting them in their relationship with Tamal Krishna Maharaja and of course Srila Prabhupada.

I explained that Vaisnava relationships are based on faith, and that faith is a personal matter between the guru and disciple. Our main guru may be the guru who gives us initiation or may be one of our siksa gurus. That is dependant upon sraddha.

The devotees seemed to be pleased by explanation. I explained that I have come to Fiji simply to serve the Vaisnavas and to help them. I invited all the devotees to maintain regular contact with me (via email).

During the week days the morning program is held at Jairama’s house as most of the devotees have to be at work early in the morning and they are not able to attend a program. For those who can attend we have a very very short morning program consisting of Mongal Aroti at 4:30 AM, Tulasi puja at 4:50 AM, Guru Puja at 5:00 AM, class at 5:15 AM, Greeting the Deities at 5:50 AM and off to work at 6:00 AM. A handful of devotees comes to the program.

During this week the morning class consists of a reading from Tamal Krishna Maharaja’s book; TKG’s Diary, and a commentary by myself.

During the days I meet with devotees and at night I am visiting devotees in their homes and taking prasadam with them.

One thing that impresses me is the good behavior of all the devotee children. I attribute this good behavior to their having good parents who stay together, and are loyal to each other. In addition almost all have full time mothers.