I saw this photo for the first time when I was in Benin,
Nigeria back in 2000. It was a window into the past of a version of my Guru
Maharaja that I had never known. I don’t know the history of this photo, like
where it was taken, what year, etc. I would assume it’s a photo of him in West
Africa.
Everyone knows by now the stories of my Guru Maharaja
preaching in West Africa and how he came to the conclusion to go and preach
there. When I traveled there and came back psychologically/emotionally beaten and defeated we had a few email exchanges. This first quote is from when I was still in Nigeria and the quote following is from when I had already returned to Gita-nagari:
"Africa of course is an especially difficult place. Benin is full of subtle influences. Anyway you will grow from this experience. As soon as you are strong enough to return you can come back. But, if later you want to visit Ghana for one or two weeks before you come back then you can. Ghana is not as difficult as Nigeria. We have a lot of services here for you so the devotees of course will be happy to see you. Now you can understand a little better of some of the things I have had to do in trying to spread Krishna consciousness in different parts of the world."
"Even when I am in Nigeria, I am never relaxed. How I worked there for so many years is only because I knew that Srila Prabhupada would want me to do this work. Somehow Krishna was very kind to me because I only caught malaria once in all those years. So it seems like taking the neem really helped."
Indeed, I had just experienced first hand the intensity of
preaching in such a complex environment (at one point in an email from him he even said to me, "There is so much more use of subtle influence in the African continent. As a matter of fact devotees are always thinking that they are being attacked by each other, unfortunately sometimes it is actually true."). It only goes to prove the level of his
empowerment. He didn’t waiver in the face of adversities while there. In stark
contrast I folded and caved like a house of cards. A person’s true qualities
are revealed in the face of difficulties. Do they run? Do they become stronger?
Do they fall back into sense gratification? Do they become more faithful and
surrendered?
My Gurudeva’s life and his responses to adversity were proof
of his level of spiritual advancement and the spiritual blessings conferred upon him. I can only pray to one day become so
fixed and resolute in my own determination and devotion. He walked his talk and was a shining example of success on the path of bhakti.
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