Past midnight, I stumbled in after a late event, half-asleep, and headed straight for the āśrama. At 4.00am, life kicks off again—late nights and early mornings are not ideal. As I ascended the staircase, I glanced sideways down the echoey corridor and was forced to stop. A figure caught my eye.
Beautifully said. What stayed with me is the sense that elders do not only preserve wisdom, they embody a living continuity we did not begin ourselves. There is something deeply true in that.
Beautifully articulated and utterly relatable. I was blessed to care for my elderly mother in the last two years of her long life (she left her body at age 98 years in 2022). In those last two years she finally chose to experience what my sister Raga Devi Dasi and I had been urging her to try for herself. To our delight, our mother began to chant Hare Krishna and discuss the spiritual teachings of Srila Prabhupada that Raga and I follow. Guru and Krishna are so kind! Gaura premanandi!!!
How beautiful and Thank you for sharing. Our elders are wise souls that show tremendous strength, resilience and calm even through the storm of life. The next generations have much to learn. Hare Krishna.🙏❤️🙏
Reading this made me cry. Thank you. I was lucky enough to do the Bhaktin course at the manor in 2016 and there I got to meet "Krishna's Little Helper" Mother Kulangana. Bless her heart.
I found myself lingering in that quiet image on the staircase. The world dim, and one person already turned toward something deeper, as if the day begins there, not later. The way you speak of her doesn’t feel like memory so much as presence; something that continues to instruct without saying very much at all.
It leaves me wondering how often I move past that kind of steadiness in search of something louder, when perhaps it’s this quiet, unwavering turning that carries the real weight.
Such a beautiful tribute to Mother Kulangana and Queen Kunti !
Although I never met Mother Kulangana , having heard you speak of her in different ocassion with such admiration and warmth, I have sometimes thought of her when I am at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Indeed I think that every time I go .
The inspiration of the lives of such admirable devotees is also passed on through the memories of those who knew them. In this way, we too have the opportunity to be inspired.
That teaches me, Maharaj, that we should not only strive to learn from them and emulate their qualities, but also recognise and share their greatness with others.
You also inspired me to honour and love more the elders in my family, so today I spent quite sometime with parents , uncles and aunties . They have so much to teach us and inspire us too !
To ignore those who came before us is to divorce ourselves from accumulated insight. No generation discovers truth entirely anew; it inherits, contextualises, and rearticulates in ways that speak to its own time and language... These words resonated with me.
Turning a blind eye to the wisdom of our ancestors is like tossing out a treasure map! In recent days, I've been saddened by the loss of many elders, some of whom I was fortunate enough to know personally, while others I connected with through their children. Their stories, wisdom, and experiences are invaluable gems that have shaped our communities and families for generations. Each elder leaves behind a legacy, a distinct narrative that deserves our honor and appreciation. In this fast-paced world, may we pause to heed the whispers of the past, allowing them to guide us toward a future that respects the wisdom of those who came before us.
I found myself lingering in that quiet image on the staircase. The world dim, and one person already turned toward something deeper, as if the day begins there, not later. The way you speak of her doesn’t feel like memory so much as presence; something that continues to instruct without saying very much at all.
It leaves me wondering how often I move past that kind of steadiness in search of something louder, when perhaps it’s this quiet, unwavering turning that carries the real weight.
Beautifully said. I liked the comparison to Kunti--especially being a lady she asked Krishna to empower her to break attachments to both her own and her parents' families
Beautifully said. What stayed with me is the sense that elders do not only preserve wisdom, they embody a living continuity we did not begin ourselves. There is something deeply true in that.
Beautifully articulated and utterly relatable. I was blessed to care for my elderly mother in the last two years of her long life (she left her body at age 98 years in 2022). In those last two years she finally chose to experience what my sister Raga Devi Dasi and I had been urging her to try for herself. To our delight, our mother began to chant Hare Krishna and discuss the spiritual teachings of Srila Prabhupada that Raga and I follow. Guru and Krishna are so kind! Gaura premanandi!!!
Wow, that is amazing!
How beautiful and Thank you for sharing. Our elders are wise souls that show tremendous strength, resilience and calm even through the storm of life. The next generations have much to learn. Hare Krishna.🙏❤️🙏
Reading this made me cry. Thank you. I was lucky enough to do the Bhaktin course at the manor in 2016 and there I got to meet "Krishna's Little Helper" Mother Kulangana. Bless her heart.
I found myself lingering in that quiet image on the staircase. The world dim, and one person already turned toward something deeper, as if the day begins there, not later. The way you speak of her doesn’t feel like memory so much as presence; something that continues to instruct without saying very much at all.
It leaves me wondering how often I move past that kind of steadiness in search of something louder, when perhaps it’s this quiet, unwavering turning that carries the real weight.
Dear Maharaj.
Such a beautiful tribute to Mother Kulangana and Queen Kunti !
Although I never met Mother Kulangana , having heard you speak of her in different ocassion with such admiration and warmth, I have sometimes thought of her when I am at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Indeed I think that every time I go .
The inspiration of the lives of such admirable devotees is also passed on through the memories of those who knew them. In this way, we too have the opportunity to be inspired.
That teaches me, Maharaj, that we should not only strive to learn from them and emulate their qualities, but also recognise and share their greatness with others.
You also inspired me to honour and love more the elders in my family, so today I spent quite sometime with parents , uncles and aunties . They have so much to teach us and inspire us too !
Many thanks ! May you have a wonderful week !
Thank you for sharing Maharaj.
To ignore those who came before us is to divorce ourselves from accumulated insight. No generation discovers truth entirely anew; it inherits, contextualises, and rearticulates in ways that speak to its own time and language... These words resonated with me.
Turning a blind eye to the wisdom of our ancestors is like tossing out a treasure map! In recent days, I've been saddened by the loss of many elders, some of whom I was fortunate enough to know personally, while others I connected with through their children. Their stories, wisdom, and experiences are invaluable gems that have shaped our communities and families for generations. Each elder leaves behind a legacy, a distinct narrative that deserves our honor and appreciation. In this fast-paced world, may we pause to heed the whispers of the past, allowing them to guide us toward a future that respects the wisdom of those who came before us.
So true........
I found myself lingering in that quiet image on the staircase. The world dim, and one person already turned toward something deeper, as if the day begins there, not later. The way you speak of her doesn’t feel like memory so much as presence; something that continues to instruct without saying very much at all.
It leaves me wondering how often I move past that kind of steadiness in search of something louder, when perhaps it’s this quiet, unwavering turning that carries the real weight.
Very beautiful! Thank you Swamiji for writing!
Sitaram! Radheshyam!
Beautifully said. I liked the comparison to Kunti--especially being a lady she asked Krishna to empower her to break attachments to both her own and her parents' families
So inspiring! Makes me think ......where do I stand?....far below! Harekrishna!