It was bittersweet bidding farewell to my family at the airport - even though, on this occasion, I am only going away for a couple of days. But, having tried for a few years, here on the Gold Coast, to make a living (without great success), I now find myself taking up Monday-Friday work in Sydney (most weeks) and returning home on the weekends. Its bitter, in the sense that I really dont want to spend so much time away from my wife and daughter - and friends here on the Coast. I love them all deeply and I want them to feel duly supported and loved by me. But this is the nature of the hard struggle for existence here in the material world. The economic opportunities that keep us afloat in household life are more readily available in Sydney - especially for someone like me with a fairly limited set of skills and experience. At the same time there is sweetness - in feeling the deep bonds of affection with my closest kin, in feeling the great warmth and appreciation of the members of the New Govardhana community (where we all feel a strong sense of belonging) with whom we spent a glorious Radhastami festival today, in knowing that my sacrifice provides a nice quality of life for Radha and Rohini there in Mermaid Beach, in knowing that I will be lodging with the wonderful Sri Prahlada and his wife - just a stones throw from the Sydney temple, with the opportunity to attend the morning program and indulge my Kirtan habit at a whole new level, in knowing that I can perform satisfying work that engages many more of my faculties than was possible on the Gold Coast and with a firm of people that I trust and enjoy working with. On the one hand, I am incredibly fortunate. Lord Krsna has repeatedly offered me a lifetime of amazing experiences - being introduced to Krsna consciousness at an early age, an amazing family of devotees (mother, uncle, aunt, cousins, brothers, stepson and stepdaughter, in laws, the missus, and the apple of my eye, Rohini, etc), almost unlimited facility to engage in Kirtan, access to Srila Prabhupadas teachings, books and other recordings, the shelter, affection and guidance of many wonderful devotees like HH Bhakti Charu Swami and HH Sivarama Swami, amazing opportunities to serve Their Lordships Sri-Sri Radha Madhava, Sri-Sri Radha-Londonisvara, Sri-Sri Radha-Gokulananda, and others, extraordinary friends all around the world, amazing professional opportunities, reasonable health and a good quality of life. Truly blessed. Nonetheless, somehow or other, through my ineptitude, I manage to make it all very complicated. I pray that Lord Krsna gives His extra special support to my wife, Radha, and daughter, Rohini, so that they dont feel too troubled by my absence during the weeks. And I thank Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada for the wonderful gift of community which provides a loving network that keeps us all connected and supported.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:37:51 +0000
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