Washington DC 2005 - report (by Jadurani devi dasi)

My husband Omkara Prabhu, our friends Madhava das and Lakshmi devi dasi had the pleasure of travelling together this past Saturday morning (June 18), from North Carolina, to have very merciful darshan of Gurumaharaj on his recent trip to DC. The wonderful accounts from various devotees from around the world about their experiences of Guru Maharaj s mercy, has inspired me to share my experiences from this past weekend.

We arrived at the Potomac Temple at around 12:30. Gurumaharaj was on the altar and had just started the noon arotika. As soon as Gurumaharaj got off the altar and came back into the temple room, he acknowledged us, and told us that he had seen us during the arotika. His first question, as always, was to take care of our physical well being, by checking to make sure that we had a place to stay. Gurumaharaj always makes sure that his disciples who visit from out of town get prasadam and have comfortable places to stay.

We were all observing Nirjala Ekadasi, so Gurumaharaj told us that he had already given two classes (Bhagavatam and an impromptu one in his quarters) and will be giving another one about an hour at a disciple s place followed by another lecture in the evening, when Gurumaharaj was giving initiation. Gurumaharaj said that he wouldn t be giving any personal darshans due to him observing Nirjala. (We were just amazed that he could give all of these lectures!)

As always, Gurumaharaj continues to give at least three classes every day, even when he travels around North America and always performs at least one arotika on the altar (usually Mangala). With all those classes my feeble brain cannot recount much, however, I would like to share one story that made a huge impact on me, since it spoke of my situation. In one of the classes, Gurumaharaj, told a story about a group of travelers going across a river for a wedding. It was night time and they told the boatman that they needed to get across by morning and went to sleep. They woke up in the morning and discovered that they had not moved one bit. The boatman was bewildered. He said that he had rowed all night, but didn t realize that the boat had not moved. They, then, realized that the boat was still anchored and so had not moved, inspite of all the endeavors of the boatman.

Gurumaharaj had told this story to illustrate what happens when we don t give up the anarthas in our chanting, we do not make progress.

Next day, Sunday, there was a maha-program at Advaitya Acharya prabhu s house

- a housewarming. Gurumaharaj had spent the night at the house, including a
number of devotees from Potomac community. The rest of us got there for an 8
o clock Guru Puja, expecting a guru puja of Gurumaharaj. Gurumaharaj, as
always, started out with Srila Prabhupada s gurupuja. Maharaj led the kirtan
and it was ecstatic and nice and long. As soon as that was done, Vidura
prabhu, started chanting in glory of Srila Bhagavatpada. Before two words were
out of Vidura prabhu s mouth, Guru Maharaj shut him down. We knew immediately
that he is not going to let us have his guru puja. Guru Maharaj is always so
humble that he does not easily let devotees glorify him in any way. Guru
Maharaj went directly into Bhagavatam class - a wonderful one about Sravanam,
Kirtanam, Vishnu Smaranam etc.

After the class, Guru Maharaj, in his most merciful way, recognizing that the disciples needed to have a guru puja, agreed to have one - be quick about it. All through the puja, Guru Maharaj sat with his hands folded and repeatedly touching his ears (as if in apology to Krsna and Srila Prabhupada). Guru Maharaj was truly in humility, accepting the disciples glorification of him and our obeisance s purely on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. Participating in the guru puja that day truly touched most of the disciples present deeply. I saw more than one pair of eyes moist, very touched by the fact that Guru Maharaj would put himself through personal discomfort of this level, to provide his mercy to his disciples. He did not need this glorification, but truly took it because his disciples needed his mercy.

The disciples had originally planned to actually wash Guru Maharaj s feet during the guru puja, however, on seeing the impact all this had on Guru Maharaj, decided not to push it.

That afternoon, we had personal darshan of Guru Maharaj, before heading back to NC. During that time, I mentioned to Guru Maharaj that he works too hard, in fact, I don t see anyone else work like he does, to the exclusion of his personal comfort. Maharaj totally brushed it aside and did not even respond to it. That made me realize that Guru Maharaj is so committed to Srila Prabhupada s service and takes it so seriously that he does not think it is something to be glorified for.

There is lesson to be learned through every moment spent in association of Guru Maharaj, whether personally or through these reports from God brothers and sisters. Please keep them coming. Thank you.
Ys - Jadurani d.