Moving to Mayapur

Sri Sri Radha Rasabehari have been
taking care of our family since 1977.

My move to Mayapur started January 2010, or a little before when I discovered Mayapur.TV. I started visiting Mayapur daily in a virtual fashion. Having lived in Mayapur for most of 1991 to 2001, I felt at home during kirtans, bhajans and classes. Mayapur speakers have a way to reach my soul on most days, and if not then at least I find my intellect stimulated in the direction of Krishna katha.

Gradually I became involved in serving the internet community by setting up an archiving blog of classes heard on Mayapur TV. I decided I would go back to India this year for a visit between July and December, and advised my business associates that I would not be available for these months. Now a problem was arising, both a problem and a solution, I would not be able to travel and keep the archives going but then again I didn't need to travel as I was in Mayapur every morning and evening, at least on a virtual basis.

I kept doing my service and becoming more and more absorbed in it. My japa became more focused as well, ''Dear Radha, please engage me in your service. Please let me learn to love Krishna." On some days I even found myself being able to recite the siksastakam with a spark of sincerity. "Please fix me as one of the atoms at your Lotus Feet." I hankered for the feelings of knowing no one but Krishna as my Lord, even when He handles me roughly with His embrace. The classes I heard daily, my ear glued to the speakers, face to face with pure devotees of the Lord, were awakening my dormant nature, at least some of the time.

My husband and I had been talking about going to India together as he could use some time in an ayurvedic clinic. I think he had reservations about taking the journey, so he suggested at least half seriously: "why don't you go first, I can come later". Normally I would have declined, saying : "I don't like traveling, it will be hard" and a long list of negative thoughts ,but this time, listening to my higher nature, I simply wondered if it would be possible to keep my service and move to Mayapur. "I know exactly who to ask" I though, "Antardwip prabhu, our project manager."

I didn't know what to expect, anything from "bandwidth is too expensive it won't work you can serve us and the community better from where you are" to... Antardwip prabhu is very busy, always keeping ahead of the growth of this project and the industry in general. At the time I think he had some unanswered emails from me and it may be that the new and improved state of the Art newsletter was delayed, so when I asked to speak to him, he needlessly started apologizing. I was able to appease his anxiety and plainly asked: "Could I do what I am doing from Mayapur?" "Yes, we need an English speaking person in Mayapur, please, that would be great, we will worry about the bandwidth, we will make it happen, somehow."

Sri Sri Radha Madhava - Chandan Yatra 2010

Money/ticket was offered by my husband, service was assured by Antardwip prabhu, next was to seek the blessings of the resident vaisnavas. Letters of recommendations, Clearance from Child Protection Office, passport, visa, it was like a whirlwind of paperwork and requests. Anxiety ran high in my mind, I analyzed my past, mentally apologized to any and all vaisnavas I may have offended in my previous service in the Dham, and kept on praying to Radha Rasabehari, and Radha Madhava requesting they engage me in their service and protect me from material desires. "If you so desire and it is the best for my spiritual life, please make arrangements for me to go to Mayapur, I want to learn to love and serve you. I want this to be my only desire."

In a matter of 5 weeks I was picking up a long term visa, a plane ticket and was ready to go. No, I did not go to buy hundred of $ worth of insects repellents or food substitutes, vitamins and supplements or camping gear, Mayapur has everything I need. There was only one thing I was eager to have for my journey, a good mp3 player of some sort, so that I could have association for the long plane ride. My son-in-law, helped me fill up his old ipod with my favorite bhajans, kirtans and classes, and I was ready to go.

More next time on the actual journey.
Happily and slowly taking one step at a time towards Radha and Krishna's Love,
your Mayapur TV servant