{"id":173,"date":"2008-07-30T20:31:35","date_gmt":"2008-07-30T20:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/?p=173"},"modified":"2013-10-08T20:35:40","modified_gmt":"2013-10-08T20:35:40","slug":"govardhana-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/govardhana-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Govardhana Retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"

========Govardhan Retreat-July 30, 2008==============<\/span><\/p>\n

I was happy to take a break from my intense preaching schedule. Krishna had
\narranged that I was able to get a plane ticket to India without spending
\nmore money than the plane ticket to Europe would cost. In other words by
\nflying to India with a stopover in Europe (for my Europe tour) I spent the
\nsame amount as I would have for flying just to Europe (this is because
\nflying to Europe during the summer is expensive, whereas flying to India is
\ncheaper at that time).<\/span><\/p>\n

People ask me how I am fly constantly without getting sick, especially since
\nI only buy economy tickets (I can’t see spending thousands of more dollars
\nfor few hours of comfort). My secret is simple: Just eat fruits and nuts and
\ntake plenty of water, relax, and do some exercises on the plane. Most people
\neat like anything on a plane flight.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, one should not be shy about taking extra rest when one reaches
\nthe destination. One should also stick to the same schedule everywhere one
\ngoes, and not change sleeping or eating patterns daily. In other words, no
\nlate night stuff and sleeping late the next morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early in the morning on July 24th I arrived in Delhi from Zurich. Param and
\nGaura (who host me when I am in Vrindavan) arranged for a nice devotee to
\npick me up at the airport and take me to the Delhi temple. I was pleased by
\nthe level of hospitality exhibited by the devotees there. They even insisted
\non cooking for my Govardhan Silas!<\/span><\/p>\n

After spending July 24th in Delhi, resting and doing some purchases, I
\ndecided to head to Govardhan the next morning (July 25th). Krishna arranged
\nthat a nice student from the Sanskrit school rode with me in the car. We
\ndiscussed the school on the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

I decided to take what I considered to be a short cut to Govardhan rather
\nthan taking the Mathura road. We took the Chatta road. I was surprised to
\nfind that the road had been severely damaged by the rain (the rainy season
\nstarted early this year with more rain than ever before-not including when
\nIndra tried to inundate the residents of Vrindavan).<\/span><\/p>\n

After bouncing around for about an hour, I saw that the driver had not taken
\nturn he was supposed to take towards Govardhan and therefore we found
\nourselves at Varsana! I took this as Radharani blessing me by giving me
\ndarshan of this most holy place before entering into the Govardhan area.
\nFrom Varsana it was about \u00bd hour more to Govardhan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing Govardhan was like seeing an old friend. I was overwhelmed with His
\nbeauty. I had never seen Govardhan so green as this. Because of the intense
\nrains Govardhan was covered with soft grasses which the cows were grazing
\non. It was just like when Krishna was present 5,000 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arriving in Govardhan, I received a call from the devotee who was supposed
\nto assist me there. He had just gotten in an accident on his scooter and had
\nbroken a bone so was unable to assist me. He called me as he was on the way
\nto the hospital. He later came to see me with his family and I offered to
\nhelp him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now I could see that Krishna wanted me to take care of myself here. I am
\naccustomed to do this in the west, but to be in India where practically no
\none speaks English would be a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I got to the house, I experienced some sadness, as Mayapur, Campaka and
\nPadma were not here. They are in the west right now. I was remembering how
\ndevotional they were during my previous visits. The house seemed really
\nempty without them.
\nIn order to keep things simple I decided to live in the dining room and not
\nuse any of the bedrooms. I would use the servant’s bathroom for my needs and
\nalso to do my laundry. The kitchen was fully set up for my needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

I arranged my schedule as follows:
\n1. Rise between 3:30 and 4:00 AM
\n2. Bathe
\n3. Wake up the Silas and change their water
\n4. Chant some rounds
\n5. Bathe and decorate the Silas and offer them a light snack
\n6. Leave on parikrama by 5:30 AM
\n7. Be back around 9-11 AM
\n8. Offer breakfast to Radha Giridhari
\n9. Take breakfast
\n10. Read and write
\n11. Cook for Radha Giridhari at 5:30 PM
\n12. Take prasadam at 6:00 PM
\n13. Read
\n14. Put the Deities to rest about 8:30
\n15. Take rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first day on parikrama I went halfway around Govardhan, chanting and
\nfeeling very very happy. I visited Manasi Ganga, Haridev, Mouth of
\nGovardhan, Danivartana Kunda, Krishna’s footprints, Aniyor, Sankarsana
\nKunda, Govinda Kunda, Balarama Mukut Sila, Doka dauji temple, Nrsimha
\ntemple, Naval Kunda, Apsara Kunda, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today I finished the circumambulation. I visited Radha Kunda two times. The
\nfirst time I spent some time visiting Mahanidhi Swami who resides at Radha
\nKunda. He lives very simply absorbed in Radha and Krishna’s pastimes. I was
\nfeeling great happiness in meeting with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as my studies here are concerned, I spend half my time reading about
\nLord Caitanya’s pastimes and half my time reading about Srimati Radharani’s
\npastimes. This is completely compatible with the dham of Govardhan since
\nMayapura was created by Srimati Radharani. This is explained in the Ananta
\nSamhita by Lord Siva.<\/span><\/p>\n

Srimati Radharani was upset that Krishna was enjoying with another gopi
\nnamed Viraja. When she went to catch Krishna, Krishna disappeared and Viraja
\nbecame a river. She became determined to attract Krishna away from Viraja.<\/span><\/p>\n

So She gathered her Sakhis and created a beautiful place between the Ganga
\nand Yamuna rivers. In that place Radha began to play a beautiful melody on a
\nflute to attract Krishna. Krishna appeared and guaranteed that He would
\nnever leave Her. He called it Nava Vrindavan and also Navadvipa. He stated
\nthat anyone who comes and worships Radha and Krishna there will attain the
\nmood of the gopis. Anyone who goes there will obtain the results of going to
\nall the sacred places.<\/span><\/p>\n

We understand that it is only by Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy we can approach
\nGovardhan. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy is given to us by Srila Prabhupada.
\nTherefore our debt to Srila Prabhupada is unlimited.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, when I am at Govardhan, my feelings of servitude towards Srila
\nPrabhupada increase more and more, and I become more and more determined to
\ndedicate every minute of my life and ounce of my strength to his mission. I
\nknow that I can not stay here for long periods of time because of that
\ndedication. But, somehow or other I pray to take Govardhan consciousness
\nwith me everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today on the way back from Radha Kunda I was able to obtain a Sila for one
\nof my dear disciples. I went to the area where Govardhan just appears from
\nthe ground and was surprised because of all the thorn bushes that had
\nrecently grown around Him due to the excessive rain. I was looking for some
\nway to approach Him and finally I understood that I would have to crawl on
\nHim, not letting my feet touch Him get His mercy. He gave me the most
\nprecious gift-a Sila that is the color of Krishna and Radha combined; in
\nother words of Krishna or Radha experiencing the separation of the Other.<\/span><\/p>\n

The association of Vaisnavas is so important. It is the greatest gift. I am
\nhaving no trouble meeting my basic necessities, such a cleaning, cooking,
\netc, but I really am feeling intense separation from other followers of
\nSrila Prabhupada, my family. When I was here before I had that constant
\nassociation with Mayapur, Campaka, and Padma. Now other than the brief visit
\nwith Mahanidhi Swami, and phone calls, I am bereft of that blessings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Krishna is really showing me how important it is.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

========Govardhan Retreat-July 30, 2008============== I was happy to take a break from my intense preaching schedule. Krishna had arranged that I was able to get a plane ticket to India without spending more money than the plane ticket to Europe would cost. In other words by flying to India with a stopover in Europe (for read more>><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,3],"tags":[8,33,6,3082,13,36],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11943,"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173\/revisions\/11943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atourcity.com\/bkgoswami.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}