Years ago, I was visiting Wembley – a museum of memories – flipping through old university folders in the bedroom of the suburban house I grew up in. I found my dissertation: “The Individual in the Information Age.” I was impressed by how many books I read and the hoops I jumped through to get that degree. More amazing is that I’ve forgotten practically everything I learnt! As I browsed through those folders of notes, they felt like distant relics from another lifetime. The handwriting, unmistakably my own, was familiar but strangely foreign, so unrelated to my present life. Did I really write all that? At University I mastered the mechanical art of storing, memorising, regurgitating and formatting. The question in class was always “will this be in the exam?” Beyond that, the material carried little lasting meaning.
Well, I’m back at university after 25 years to give it another go. Back then I was studying out of convention, this time I’m studying for a challenge. Previously I studied to fit in and find comfort, now I’m actively and positively disrupting myself. In my youth, it was more social than studious, now I have concrete spiritual aspirations to share and serve. I’m happy to have another shot; I don’t feel I was a good student the first time around. When I was leaving London one of the monks asked me what I’d be teaching here – I told him I’ve come to be a student. Curiosity is the fire and fuel; it ignites our journey and sustains it too. Living means learning; learning means living. Perhaps that’s why the very first aphorism of Vedanta reminds us to be passionately curious - athāto brahma jijñāsā.
So here I am in the Widener Library, one of the most iconic places in Harvard – 3.5 million books on 57 miles of shelving. It was donated by the mother of a Harvard student who died in the Titanic disaster. Legend says, upon donation, she set the condition that every Harvard student must learn to swim before graduating. Though that tradition died in the 1970s, it looks like I have no choice – coming back to university after 25 years feels like jumping in the proverbial deep end! Sitting here in Boston I’m swimming through these books – bridges to different times, portals to people’s minds and opportunities for divine signs. Books! For monks, libraries are a playground of wisdom where time flies by. But it’s not just intellectual – that wisdom must breathe and be compassionately communicated for the benefit of others. I hope I’ll catch some jewels, and maybe I’ll meet Krishna in unique ways along the journey.
Dear Maharaj, Pamho 🙏🏼 AgSPB 🙏🏼
I feel particularly interesting that you are taking a sabbatical year from your traveling to actually extend you horizons but preach Bhakti in Harvard. I love to study and I have couple degrees myself, and what called my attention to KC is how much we can learn from the 6 Goswamis, from all the Sastras and everyday at the SB classes.. Now at 60 even if I am a computer scientist I have taken every single course on AI and I truly hope I can help your mission and Krishna ‘s mission. My Gurudeva (Hridayananda Dasa Goswami) is also a scholar and professor of Harvard. I love you both 🙌🏼 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and bringing to us the world of Harvard.
Curiosity: do you cook for yourself right? Been satvic and only eating Prasadam is not that elevated there ! Hare Krishna 🙏🏼
Dandavat Pranams Maharaj! AGTSP. Harvard will be a better place because of your presence!
"Curiosity is the fire and fuel; it ignites our journey and sustains it too.". Very profound.. Curiosity as a divine spark is placed within each of us. It is the fire that awakens the soul to seek truth and the fuel that sustains us on the path of Krishna Consciousness. It is a yearning and one could even call it a penance to know the eternal, to understand the self and to align life with a higher purpose. Curiosity is not just an impulse; it is a way of life. Helps me to keep my heart open and the spirit humble reminding me that every step forward is a gift of grace.
Haribol.
YS
Sandamini Devi Dasi (aka Sowmya)