Sadhu Sanga - Another Realization

Hare Krsna!! The following is another realization by a bhakta from Cairns, Australia. He stayed at Sri Krishna Mandir for 2 days. He wrote the following note addressed to Sundar Gopal Prabhu, the President of the Sri Krishna Mandir here in Singapore.

Sundar Gopal Das,

My humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada – the eternal spiritual master. Hare Krsna!

I am very grateful to be given the good family place, to be here in Sri Krishna Mandir. By Krsna’s merciful arrangement, I was able to steer clear of associating with smokers, drunkards and meat-eaters during my stay in Singapore.

In the process of getting a temple in Russia, many sacrifices were made including imprisonment of devotees. Similarly, some of the devotees here remind me of the Pandavas! After they finished their allotted austerities of the forest, they worked with Dharma and varied skills and worldly disguises awaiting Krsna’s divine call to action.

I hope to find good association back in Australia and be in Krsna Consciousness. My prompt return will surely be distracted by woman and children. I am very much interested to participate in the pilgrimage to India amongst the temple archipelago and also in the development of the farm community in Malaysia. Alas, Krsna’s Maya is strong and may submerge me for some years. When we emerge from it, we shall endeavor to return.

Please accept my deep gratitude for the wonderful Prasadam, instant-loving blessed (Pandavas) family and good safe bed to sleep. There is less furrow on my forehead now because I feel more safe and relaxed in Sri Krishna Mandir (with the Pandavas). Sri Krishna Mandir ki jai!!

I believe some of the devotees (especially the Brahmacaris) would do well coming to Australia Padayatra on a temple pilgrimage.

Lastly, I will certainly be always attracted to live near waterfall, fruit trees and have a milking cow. This is Vaikuntha and the desire to stay in such a farm is utmost in our heart of hearts.

I am very thankful to all who helped to make my stay here possible.

Your friend and devotee of Radha-Krsna
Thomas

The Effects of Sadhu Sanga - A Realization

Some of the readers of this website might have heard or read about the tremendous effects of Sadhu Sanga (associating with devotees of Lord Krsna) in great scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta and the like, translated as they are, by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following testimonial by Dolène and Didier Huitelec confirms all the affirmations of the Vedic scriptures.

Dolène and Didier Huitelec, a devotee couple from La Reunion, French colony, wanted to come to Singapore for a holiday. They were introduced to Krsna Consciousness a year ago but they do not have much association there as there is no temple there. The island only has a very small devotee community. They searched in the internet for a Hare Krsna temple in Singapore. They found the Sri Krishna Mandir website and consequently emailed us of their arrival on the 12th of July, 2008. They had a fabulous spiritual holiday which started off with the Ratha Yatra in the Toa Payoh stadium on the 13th of July. By Krsna's arrangement, the house that they rented happened to be very near to the temple. This made it very easy for them to frequent the temple everday for mangala arati and the morning program. After they reached their home back in La Reunion island on the 28th of July, they emailed the temple. So instead of we describing their stay here in Singapore, we would like to show a copy of their email below. Let us hear from their own words.

Hare Krishna to all the devotees!

Please accept my respectful of obeisances ! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We arrived On Monday at 8p.m at home and spent the whole day in the plane with many connecting flights. We felt very sad to leave you and missed mangala arti very much.

Since I left Singapore I can't help thinking of the daily activities at the temple and the moments we spent with each of you. We felt so moved when we left you that we couldn't express our deep gratitude to you. You brought us so much that we feel indebted to you and we now know that we are not alone anymore. I hope we can remember every word Prabhu Sundar Gopal told us and I am sure Prabhupada will help us. Actually living among you, near the temple was like living in a sacred place and I really felt inspired within the place. You are so much fortunate to render service to the deities and take darshan every day. I thank Prabhupada for giving us your association.

To Syamansundar I want to express my gratitude for having given us a taste of nectarean bliss, you are so much involved in your service that all you explained us will stay in our mind forever.

Thank you to the matajis who gave me the chance to help in the kitchen, I feel so much at ease with them as if they are part of my family. They will be my source of inspiration in my everyday cooking.

Thank you to Raghupati Das, Govardhan, Tattva Vit Das and the devotees for their sublime kirtans in the morning which I tried to recall every moment, they were transcendental sound which raised our consciousness and love for Krishna. Hearing Prabhu Sundar Gopal Das every morning chanting helped us a lot to stay alert while doing japa mala. I still can hear his tone of voice and this encouraged us to get up early in the morning. Here it's a bit colder (18° in the early morning and 24 in the day).

We haven't installed the deities yet, Didier is going to build a nice altar in the coming days and they will be properly settled.

We look forward to seeing you again in the nearest future.
Remaining the humble servant of Prabhupada's devotees!

HUITELEC DOLÈNE AND DIDIER.

Now, that sums it up!! Hare Krsna!