Bhakti-våkña
Abhaya devi dasi
Discovering spiritual life is like seeing the light at the end of a long dark tunnel. There is great excitement and enthusiasm as we start on the road back to the spiritual world, back to Krsna. We are abounding in confidence, our goal is set, and in no time at all we will reach it.
But time goes by and, although that light still shines at the end of the tunnel, we are sobered by the fact that we don’t seem to be making such a rapid progress towards it as we first expected. We move forward slowly in that dark tunnel, hitting up against unexpected, hidden obstacles on the path, knocking off other devotees, sometimes even falling down and having to pick ourselves up again and determinedly take up our journeys again.
On this journey one great solace is the association of others struggling along the same path. The weekly bhakti vrksa meetings in Dublin which I started to attend some weeks ago is a valuable source of such association. We come together and honestly and openly share our adventures on this journey, our successes and failures, mishaps along the way, hopes for attaining the goal and tips for making further progress.
There is nothing more inspiring and heart warming than to hear from each other like this; from those just starting out on the journey, full of excitement and enthusiasm, from those who are somewhat battered and bruised after years of travelling but are full of wisdom to impart to the newcomers. We chant japa and sing in kirtan together and feel new strength from numbers. The maha mantra chanted in unison seems so powerful. Then we read from the scriptures and discuss what we read. Everybody gets involved and we share part of the personal journey of every person in the room. We get to know the hearts of devotees we only knew by sight before. There is a strong feeling of nourishment and satisfaction at the end of each evening, which can only come from an evening with Krsna at the centre.
We each have to endeavour along our own particular paths but these weekly get-togethers with like-minded devotees give me the strength to carry on strongly towards our common goal.
Bhaktin Annette (Murphy)
Galway Bhakti-våkña meetings are held on Monday evenings. I find this a great start to the week. Points that are discussed at the meeting fill my mind during the week. When I meet up with another participant, we talk and reflect our last meeting and look forward to the next meeting. The potency of a two-hour meeting that can carry one through the week is obvious and very satisfying. Because of this I feel more inspired to preach in what ever small way I can. I get encouragement from this and I can see its potential to expand.
Bhaktin Oriane (McLaren)
Sitting in on the class disclosed to me how pre-eminent this movement could be when outside the temple environment, within the structure of the Bhakti-våkña meetings and under the care of responsible leadership. As a progressive follower of Lord Caitanya’s movement I can meet those devotees and aspirants with a plan to spread Kåñëa consciousness while developing and nurturing the core group’s needs and protecting their interests in a caring and stimulating environment. I also have a responsibility to enliven each discussion by myself being present, by my contribution, small or big. I should recognise my duty in attending the weekly meetings and coming away having retained the essence of the understanding imparted each time and further inspired to pass on the mood of it all to others.
Bhakta Paddy (Lynch)
Bhakti-våkña is about breaking down barriers. Barriers between initiated devotees and people with an interest in Kåñëa consciousness. It helps newcomers build a better understanding of how to advance spiritually and can build their confidence immensely by hearing stories and realisations from devotees who have surmounted the same obstacles they are facing. From my own experience, hearing how the devotees present had encountered the same trials and tribulations as I have, gave me a tremendous sense of confidence and companionship. However, Bhakti-våkña should not be viewed as purely for beginners or devotees outside of temple life. No devotee can leave a Bhakti-våkña meeting without some gain or mellow.
Bhakta Laurence (O’Gorman)
I have been attending Bhakti-våkña meetings in Dublin for a few months now and I find that it is my favourite association with devotees. I look forward to the weekly meeting every day. I like to meet the different devotees; I am forever inspired in my spiritual life because of their association. It may be true that everyone is on their best behaviour at the weekly meetings, but I find that there is very little pretentiousness. I am always left feeling empowered to continue my spiritual life. I would like to thank Uddhava dasa and Daruka das for introducing me to this wonderful programme and enriching my life. If you hear of a Bhakti-våkña meeting in your area, don’t hesitate, go to it! Hare Kåñëa.
Arjuna das
I recently attended a Bhakti-våkña seminar on Inis Rath. I was very inspired and impressed by the association and experience.
By listening to the individual devotees expressing their realisations, seeing the philosophy discussed and imbibed from different angles, I can see how important this form of association is for the devotees living outside temples. Although I live in a temple I found this association very stimulating. It is a breath of fresh air into my spiritual life.
I see Bhakti-våkña as a very dynamic way to get together, loving exchanges can naturally be expressed in a very Kåñëa conscious way. I left the seminar feeling recharged.
Thank you very much to all the Bhakti-våkña members