Exactly one year ago I was in Sridham Mayapur studying deity worship. Every day at 4:15 AM I would walk thru the dusty roads of Mayapur Dham for the morning program at the temple. In those cold mornings whilst walking towards the temple, I would meditate on how fortunate I am to be able to stay in the holy Dham. Gratitude was only getting stronger day after day and I would often share my thoughts with a friend who stayed with me.
Every day we experienced new “Krishna magic” where the Lord gave us glimpses of the spiritual world.
We meet many sadhus, learned many things, and made many new friends.
Even local shopkeepers got to know us and would regularly give us stuff from the shop for free or at least for a reduced price.
It was really like being in the spiritual world.
Krishna never gives anything for free!!
Whilst enjoying my time in the Dham at the back of my mind I always had a feeling that whatever I’m learning and experiencing now is of great importance for my future. All training I’m receiving on the course and all experiences I have in the Dham will be essential for my future service.
A few months later when I came back home to my temple, Covid 19 took over the whole world and all countries announced a lockdown.
When lockdown started, temple management made a rule that nobody is allowed to come for the service from outside the temple which meant that all services will need to be covered by residents.
That was ten months ago and we had only a handful of trained pujaris at the temple. I was asked to become head of the department and manage the worship in absence of senior devotees who have not been allowed to come for the service.
Long hours of service, stress, lack of experience to manage, learning how to deal with people and engage them in service according to their nature was just some of the challenges that I faced.
As months passed by I learned many things and have grown both as a devotee and pujari.
Reflecting back on my time in Mayapur I remembered the feeling I had how whatever I’m learning will be of great importance for the future.
Strange enough, I have the same feeling again….
This is the beauty of spiritual life. Everything is seen as Krishna’s arrangement.
Ananta Gopal das
25 December 2020
Bhakti Wisdom 
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