Sankirtana das (Asia Report)

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
__/\`o_

Gurumaharaja flew yesterday from Singapore back to Delhi. He was for the
last 10 days in Malaysia, Bali (Indonesia) and Singapore. I had the good
fortune to accompany him for the whole tour.

Here a brief sum-up of my experience. Additional detailed reports will be
posted from Malaysia by Bhakta Prakash Rao and from Singapore by Svaraja
Laxmi devi dasi and Subhangi devi dasi.

Before boarding the flight back to Delhi I inquired from Gurumaharaja how he
felt about the tour: "It makes me think" was Gurumaharaja's comment. It was
at the time of the centennial celebration that Gurumaharaja had visited the
area last and devotees were so happy to finally have him in their midst
again. Would he be able to add annual visits of the area on his already
tight preaching engagements?

Gurumaharaja committed himself last year to attend this year's Ratha Yatra
in Taiping, Malaysia. Bali and Singapore are located nearby and consequently
were included. Because I have been in Bali to teach the Bhakti Sastri course
I arranged my schedule to be around when Gurumaharaja visits. So after many
years I again personally and closely associated with Gurumaharaja over a
period of time. In fact, alike the devotees from the area, my previous vapu
was during the two years of the centennial campaign, twelve years ago.

It took me some time and adjustment to properly do the service of a menial
attendant. Fortunately there were many eager servants around and I was able
to delegate the washing of cloth, the cooking etc. Still, we failed at
several occasions and Gurumaharaja had no choice than to tolerate the
inconveniences, such as untimely Prasadam, almost every single meal
forgetting to offer him the toothpick, Mosquitoes bothering him at night or
long car rides due to poor planning. To be with Gurumaharaja was beneficial
for me; however I'm not so sure if he would want my attendance so soon
again.

The benefit of being in close association with Gurumaharaja are manifold and
in experience likely dissimilar for different persons. Some will get a
better understanding of who the Maharaja is that they have so far only seen
on pictures and others get to see what they believed about him from having
heard from him or about him (seeing is believing). Some will be able to
closely notice certain expertises of Gurumaharaja, like his slokas
pronunciation or interpersonal dealings and benefit it this way.

Others again see that ideal of a teacher which they themselves would like to
become, modelled before them, in action. My own prime benefit from these ten
days of association tends to be of this sort. I believe that I'm nourished
for some time to come until again I get the opportunity to personally assist
Gurumahaja.

All Glories to Srila Gurumaharaja!

(Photos of the tour will be send to you by Premanjana Prabhu)