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Preaching tour … from HH Sacinandana Swami
Submitted by Gopinath das.
At the moment we are on a wonderful preaching tour through Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Austria, which will end in a few days with the glorious Gaura Purnima festival in Goloka Dhama (Abentheuer). In each country we hold a big Nama yajna which lasts a minimum of five hours. We usually start this Nama yajna with an explanation to set the proper mood: "My dear devotees, dear audience, welcome to the sacrificial arena of the Nama yajna. In previous ages the Lord used to appear during yajnas made with oblations. In this age He appears in the sincere chanting of the holy name done with full attention. The idea of the sacrifice can be grasped however only if you shift your understanding of life: we are not here to enjoy and be entertained. We want to give enjoyment to the Supreme Lord. And we will do so by sincerely focussing on the chanting of the holy name."
Then we explain a few things about pulling the mind back from wherever it wanders, chanting in a humble state of mind and meditating upon the spiritual characteristics of the name. After a few songs we chant a hundred names of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to become free of offences and after a few more Hare Krishnas we explain different prayers to the holy name. Our comments are always very brief, as clear as possible, serious and mostly quotations from Srila Prabhupada and other authorities.
We also have parts in the Nama yajna where everyone of the devotees and guests gets up and waves a light before the Deities - like we do during Kartik. Everyone is also requested to bring a flower alone. It usually ends with a long kirtan with exuberant and happy dancing - but not out of show, but out of happiness.
We also had a few book promotions of my book The Way of the Great Departure, which by Krishna's mercy is very well received by the public. Just now I'm returning from TV where we made a book promotion. One of the leading journalists of the Zagreb TV will be the host for this evening's book promotion.
And now I will tell you something which will make you laugh: when I was in Sarajevo we invited the devotees for a walk into nature, where we had kirtan, lecture and prasadam. When I was in the midst of talking about Lord Caitanya's correction of Devananda Pandit, the minister of culture showed up and sat amongst the audience.
One of his friends who works in the UN had invited him. He was very pleased by the presentation - although he had to sit on the lawn and gave me presents.
We also did a wonderful harinam in the town of Zagreb which was promptly filmed by the TV and broadcasted several times over the country. The devotees in these parts of the world are extremely thankful, and very affectionate.
I pray to Lord Krishna that I can respond properly and fulfill at least some of the high expectations which they place to this insignificant person. More and more, as I try to preach the holy name everywhere, I am convinced that if my consciousness could just reverbarate with the holy name everything will be taken care of. The Holy Name can give us everything, but He must be pleased. He is a person. And we must try to make Him pleased so that His heart expands with compassion and His kripa-sakti goes in our direction.
Words of surrender, of love, of gratitude … from the heart of Russian devotees.
This is an article that appeared in the BTG magazine - December 1993.
Submitted by Manoj
Every year, through the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust some 200,000 people buy a book of Vedic literature in Russian. And every day the Trust's office in Moscow receives letters of appreciation from people whose spiritual yearnings have long been repressed. Here we present a sample of those letters.
* THE BOOKS PUBLISHED by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust changed my attitude towards life completely. Lord Krsna is really present in these books, and the instructions given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are so simple and easy to understand that when we hear them our life gains meaning.
A. E Tsivon
Amurskaya obl., Russia
* From your books one can derive more and more energy. As I read the translation and then the purports, sometimes I have a feeling that these books are the most important things in my house and that everything else is just vain, temporary, of less importance.
S. S. Siatdinova Kazan, Russia
* Thanks to the books by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I found my real self and I am very grateful to Lord Krsna.
In your TV advertisement for Bhagavad-gita, I heard sankirtana chanting. It sounded like thousands of devotees going side by side, like a gigantic sea wave. I had an impression that the wave was going to come up and carry me away. That is my great desire - to become just a tiny drop of that wave. Unfortunately I am not worthy of it. Still, I set my hopes upon the mercy of Lord Krsna. I hope that He will not only show me the way but give me strength and determination to follow it. Hare Krsna!
Radic Shakirov Kazan, Russia
* Dear publishers, please consider my words. Since our country is in a great spiritual need, I am appealing to you do not stop producing these books. They bring enlightenment to the people and I am convinced that many would share my opinion.
Boris, 17 years old
Belorussia
* We were brought up without any religion or knowledge about the spirit soul, the purpose of the human being, and the existence of the spiritual world. But our eagerness to know all this is so great. While listening to the radio and hearing the voices of your people-very gentle and pure in heart-I want to fly up and sing, my soul overwhelmed with some unknown feeling.
I have no Bhagavad-gita; therefore please send me one, for any price. I want my children to also know about this.
Svetlana Filenko
Krasnodar, Russia
* When I started reading these books, I was so captured by their topics that I read the Krsna book at one go, just swallowed it. I can swear to you, sirs, that for all my 37 years I've never read such an interesting and fascinating book. And when I started reading Bhagavadgita, I realized that there is nothing to compare to it in the whole world.
V E. Sokolov
Kirov, Russia
* I learned about the movement for Krsna consciousness long ago. Till recently I only felt respect for those boys singing and dancing on Nevskiy, tolerating scowl smiles and insulting laughs of the passersby. Only in May last year I became greatly interested in everything related to Krsna. After one night and half the next day in argument (in which I defended my atheistic views), I understood that worship of Krsna is not just idle whims but a scientifically based philosophy.
And now here I am, sitting and humming the Hare Krsna mantra, making the next bead for my new chanting beads.
I try to practice bhakti-yoga at home, but since I have no guidance of a spiritual master, everything works out as if I did it with my left foot. And then I think about how rough and insincere I am and that due to my ignorance I cannot approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. I am unable to understand the deep spiritual meaning of Bhagavad-gita since I consider myself to be capable of offenses only.
At such moments I keenly feel my imperfection but then remember this prayer by Rupa Gosvami: "0 my Lord, I do not have any love for You, nor am I qualified for discharging devotional service by chanting and hearing. Nor do I possess knowledge, pious activities, or the mystic power of a Vaisnava. Nor do I belong to a very high-caste family. On the whole, I do not possess anything. Still, 0 Gopijana-vallabha, because You bestow Your mercy on the most fallen, I have an unbreakable hope that is constantly in my heart. That hope is always giving me pain."
My situation is just like that. Sincerely wishing to be amongst you,
Ruchyev A.V
St. Petersburg
* My prostrated obeisances to all the devotees! I intended to write this letter long ago, but something was holding me until now. And now when I am finally writing, all the words are gone, for there is just a single idea in the mind-to come to you and stay.
A year ago I knew nothing of the books, but already at that time I was often appealing to the Lord, not with material desires. I saw those who were serving the Lord but spoke badly of other religions and did not follow any principles. I could not be among them. After some time I bought Bhagavadgita As It Is.
For half a year I was reading it, and my joy had no limit. I was reading about what was most important for me, what was always in my mind. I do not know if I can repay Lord Krsna for His mercy. But could it be possible for me to ever know anything without the mercy of His great saintly devotee, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada? Certainly not.
Now I have already 15 books, which I am studying step by step. After finishing I start reading again. How is it possible not to read them? They contain the full mercy of Lord Krsna.
If there is any opportunity, considering place, time and circumstances, I tell people about Krsna and what I have learned from the Vedic scriptures. My friend also accepted these teachings. My brother, by Lord Krsna's mercy, all of a sudden gave up all his bad habits. Some people hear me with understanding, some hear and think, "What nonsense," and others say directly, "You must be crazy." But I can see their ignorance, and thanks to them I only increase my faith and service. And I still hope to plant the seeds of love of Krsna in their concrete hearts. Everything depends on Krsna's mercy. He gives, He takes away, and this is all but His mercy.
Let me kneel before all the devotees for their great love of Lord Krsna, for their humility and wisdom. In great respect I bow down before all the real spiritual masters who were present on earth previously and who are present now.
Vladimir Er,
Uhta, Russia
* I have an earnest request to you. I beg you to keep one set of 13 books for me till the end of March. At that time I will get my pension and redeem them. I am begging you to please keep the set of books for me. That would be a great gift for me. Please, put it away, hide it somewhere. Put this set away and hide it till at most April, otherwise my pension will be not enough. I am begging you to do something about it. Be merciful, help me, keep just one set. Better I will be lacking of cloth but have your books, Kindly give me the opportunity to put some money by. Please, have mercy in this world.
B. B. Vorozstov
Slavgorodskiy r-n, Russia
* Now we are learning mantras. "We" means a group of self-taught Hare Krsnas, about 10-14 people. We are making our own attempts to offer food to the Lord, learning mantras, listening to many tapes with different spiritual masters speaking.
Do you want to hear our story? About two years ago we took an interest in reading about UFOs. We started gathering to discuss and analyze the information. The conclusion was, God exists. Then we start looking into Christian literature. Then your books appeared. We tried them, and that was something! Your books are the most truthful; everything is explained. After practicing chanting of the maha-mantra we felt, "It works." Tried prasadam and concluded, "That's a real thing." Now we all have just one goal: to serve the Lord and come back to Him.
V G. Vlasenko
Rostovskaya obl., Russia
* I am Chaikin Eduard from Kazahstan, 17 years old. After seeing your advertisement in one of the magazines, I ordered by mail Bhagavad-gita As It Is. While reading it, I don't know why but I was believing every single word. Then for some reason I interrupted my reading for some time, but over and over I was thinking about what I had read. The other day I started it again and bought some other books of Vedic knowledge. I attained self-realization: I am not Chaikin Eduard but a spirit soul which is meant to go back home, back to Godhead.
Eduard, Chaikin
Kustanai, Russia
* Now when I have an opportunity to read the books of Srila Prabhupada, I can, thanks to his great work, distinguish a real servant of the Lord from one who is after satisfaction of his personal whims. This is the mercy given by the Lord Himself.
The most strong feeling which overwhelmed me while I was reading these books was the feeling of regret that I had no chance to read them before.
L. N. Shnaider
Stavropol, Russia
* On seeing your advertisement, I ordered Bhagavad-gita. After I read it for the first time, I read it again for the second and then for the third time. Now I am reading it and cannot give it up. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna advises us to take shelter of a spiritual master, but how can I find him? Whom should I approach? There is no Krsna conscious center in our town. Please tell me what one should do to learn how to perform devotional service to Krsna. What should one start with? I feel that something should be changed in my life, that its purpose is different, spiritual.
Igor
Kizlyar, Russia
* I am twenty years old. I was almost completely frustrated with life, but upon seeing your book advertisement all the dismal thoughts disappeared at once. Now I'm ready to dedicate my life to the distribution of Vedic knowledge.
I live in a village and never had a chance to meet a devotee while visiting the nearest towns. Nor is there any possibility to find a spiritual master. Therefore, please send me a set of your books. Although one can never comprehend and realize all the knowledge without the help of spiritual master, still I will accept every word of Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any personal interpretation.
Vyatcheslav
Semenovka, Russia
* I live very far away. Still, it is not a complete backwoods-your books reached it. I read Srimad-Bhdgavatam, first and second parts. It was like a shock. I was overwhelmed with ecstasy.
I started following the four regulative principles, and others just wonder how one can manage to drink no alcohol on holidays and eat no sausages. I simply smile with pity in reply. My dearmost desire is to have talks with a person like Swami Srila Prabhupada. I know he had a lot of followers all over the world. Perhaps there are some in our country too. We are in the greatest need of them, since most of our people have completely lost their spiritual assets. Please give me just one address where I can find such a person, a teacher of Krsna consciousness.
I want to express to you my sincere gratitude that you are existing and bringing people this most confidential of all knowledge-knowledge of God, of love of God.
Galina, Novoselova Siberia, Russia
* I offer my special respect unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as well as unto you, his followers. By chance I came across one of his books and after reading just this one, I believed. And that was it. Now I cannot imagine myself without it. Perhaps because it answers all the questions I had since my very boyhood. I've prepared myself for one year to become a disciple. I am ready to accept any conditions, any difficulties. I want! I, the spirit soul, have a desire. I want to develop love for Krsna and go back to Him.
Please help me. Write to me how to become a disciple. I am prepared to accept any conditions.
Ruslan Trofimov Pervomayskiy
* My name is Yuriy. I am 19 years old. Recently I took up reading the books of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Also I try to follow the regulative principles and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. I notice a change in my inner consciousness. I would like to completely renounce this material world and engage myself fully in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the association of the believers.
Yuriy Aleksandrovich Trushaev IPTU, Ivanovo, Russia
* The service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna and His pure
devotees is my very life. Thank you so much that you have spoken to the temple president.
Of course I agree to take a probational period. I accept any conditions just to live with you. Please tell the president I will do whatever you say to me. Just please don't leave me alone!
You have advised me to be prepared to meet difficulties, but what kind of difficulties are you speaking about? Can the lack of food be a problem when there is a possibility to see the pure devotees, to touch their bodies? May be you meant poverty? Well if I join you I will become the most rich man. Not without reason is Krsna called "the Lord of those who are materially exhausted." Is this what you called difficulties? I wish to have more of them.
Dmitriy M.
Novocheboksarsk, Russia
* Please, let me know the conditions for joining the Hare Krsna movement. Are there any centers in Voronej or other places of Russia? Thank you for distributing such books as Bhagavad-gita. It is the greatest of books. It revealed to me the meaning of my life. When I read it, I experience the greatest joy. Thank you so much for carrying out your mission. While I am reading the Vedic literature with the help of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada I realize more and more about the nasty and rotten world we live in. But these books are written in such a way that one becomes eager to read about Krsna again and again. After reading these topics, I lose all interest in other books.
Oleg, Pervih Bratsk, Russia
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