Druze Trip Report 1
By Vijnana Dasa Vanacari

The Sheiks arrived yesterday at Mayapur where we were taken to the Samadhi. His Holiness Jayapataka swami was there along with about five students from the Gurukula and garlands. The students from the Gurukula chanted prayers welcoming the delegation. Then we all entered into the Samadhi where his Holiness Jayapataka swami described the various mosaics on the ceiling picturing events in Prabhupada's life. After that we were taken to our rooms in the conch building. Then lunch was served in the GBC prasadam area around two thirty and the Druze where served very nicely by brahmacaris and they were all very happy.

This morning we went down to Temple room right after Mangala arotik and Tulasi Puja and had the ceremony for the receiving the Druze it was wonderful the delegation came in singing songs about Krishna and how they are arriving here in order to be with the wonderful devotees of Krishna. They all went out onto the raised platform just below the out there and stood in line they were all greeted by his Holiness Jayapataka Swami. Then his Holiness Jayapataka swami spoke for a few minutes explaining who the Druze were and where they were coming from and why they were coming. Then Sheik Hussein Aburukun spoke to the devotees a wonderful speech basically saying that the Druze and the Krishna's are like one race and like brothers and that he is very happy to be here among so many wonderful people and he hopes in the future to be able to continue this cooperation between the brothers Druze and the brothers Krishna. Every time he finished speaking and his words were being translated into English and Indian or Hindu all the devotees assembled in the Temple room would cheer enthusiastically. Then various other Sheiks spoke and gave the same mood that we are one race and we are here to work together.

We could not have asked nor wished for a better ceremony or a better reception. The Druze checks are totally enthused and in complete ecstasy. Today we're going to visit the Gurukula, will attend an initiation ceremony, watch the Abhishek ceremony of Lord Caitanya, and partake of the wonderful feast with his Holiness Jayapataka swami and all the Prabhupada disciples. They will also visit the Ganges.

I am very tired due to the traveling and being constantly engaged in trying to make sure the visit of the Druze is perfect. I will keep a journal and update you with whatever we have. On the 11th of March we will be going to Puri where we are scheduled to meet with the king of Puri at 7 PM on the 11th.

After breakfast on the 9th they went to visit the Gurukula where they met with the teachers. In the afternoon they finished the tour of the Samadhi by visiting the upstairs museum about the life of Srila Prabhupada and going up on the top to see the view. Then in the evening they took prasadam with the Prabhupada disciples on the roof of the lotus building. It was an ecstatic experience to see them happily honoring a 50 preparation feast. By the end they were in total bliss and laughing and smiling happily. After the feast unlimited pictures were taken with various sannyasis and senior devotees. They were all totally blissful.

On the 10th they had breakfast in the restaurant because there was no prasadam. After that they met for almost two hours with His Holiness Jayapataka Swami in his room. They asked lots of questions and wanted to continue talking but it was time for lunch. Maharaja will be traveling to Puri tomorrow on the same flight as us and they are going to meet him again there. Lunch was on the first floor of the Lotus building. Just after reciting the Sarira Prayer His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami made a short speech welcoming them again. This sparked off speeches from the Druze glorifying the devotees and the devotees glorifying the Druze. This is a usual practice amongst the Druze when they are at ceremonial functions. After Prasadam they were all totally satisfied again.

Prasadam finished about 2.30 and at 4pm we went down to the Ganges where we had a boat waiting to take us to Swarup Ganj and the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakur. Mahavisnu Swami (the younger) accompanied us. Upon arriving we paid respects to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Gaurakisora dasa Babaji and went upstairs. On the Balcony Mahavisnu Swami gave a short talk on the life of Bhaktivinode and his vision of a grand temple with people from all over the world coming to chant. Then they asked questions and he spoke for a while. He also told the story of the cobbler and the brahman that asked Narada when they would be liberated. The Druze really liked the story. At the end Maharaja started a kirtan and the Druze were participating by clapping hands and chanting.

We continued the kirtan all the way back to the boat. We arrived back at the temple around 6.15 pm. We had scheduled a tour of the temple guided by Tusti Mohan Krishna Prabhu at 7.30.

The Druze went to the temple with Tusti Mohan explaining to them and the Mahavisnu Swami in the background enthusing the crowd in kirtan. Tusti Mohan prabhu ordered two plates of puja and gave them to Jananivas prabhu. And the Druze were asked to go near the altar and offer incense to Radha Madhava and the eight gopis. They kept offering the incense making sure that they offered to each of the eight gopis and Radha Madhava. And the crowd going wild crying out Hare Krishna. Then they went to the altar of the Panca Tattva and this time they got the garlands off the Panca Tattva and when they went to see Lord Nrsimhadeva they offered incense and after it was finished they offered another incense each one offering one stick of incense. And each one was making sure that everyone was taking a picture of him. Then we went to Srila Prabhupada. And offered flowers to his lotus feet. And also each person offered one stick of incense and stood hearing the loud kirtan glorifying Srila Prabhupada. Then when they stepped out of the temple three gurukulis greeted them and thanked them in arabic that they learnt just then. And each one got Maha Prasada. And they were so excited that they asked Tusti Mohan Prabhu to come with them to the room and continue his embracing preaching. They are still talking with him downstairs now. But he is trying to tell them that he has many other things to do.

On the topic of Gopa Kumar and Tusti Mohan who are both Druze. We had some doubts before we came. The fear was that they would be unable to accept the jump from Druze to Krishna being that it was outside their religion. But the opposite has actually happened. They are totally charmed by Tusti Mohan Prabhu and keep telling me how intelligent he is and how nice he is. And they are all in love with Gopakumara Prabhu. GK Prabhu is doing invaluable service as a good fired up brahmacari. Running all over the place tirelessly. I have had to correct him only a couple of times. Once about translating just what the speaker he is translating for says and the other about being too pushy in his preaching to them. But each time he has responded very well. The fact is that they like him very much and seem very happy that he is living the life of a devotee. I don't know if I mentioned this but on the day of the reception in the temple they also gave small gifts to both Tusti and Gopakumar. They especially mentioned that they were very happy that they were both practicing Hare Krishna. On the day of the reception the temple was totally packed as it was on Gaura Purnima. Here are a few things they have said since being here:

1. When accepting maha prasadam from Jayapataka swami: "We think that all our problems have now been solved simply by accepting this sanctified food from you hands".

2. When discussing the Ganges: "We are very eager to go to the Ganges because we have heard that simply by touching the water to our heads we will be freed of all sins".

3. When discussing the visit here. "The thing that has impressed us the most is the humility of the devotees. They are all so humble and gentle. We have a lot to learn from them."

When we were on the boat they had bottles which they filled up with Ganges water and happily passed around to sprinkle on their heads.

So far the trip is going fine. But this was, in my opinion, the easiest part of the trip being that it is all within ISKCON and is Gaura Purnima with such a spiritually surcharged atmosphere.

Tomorrow we are going to Puri and have an appointment with the King of Puri at 7.pm.

Your servant

Vijnana dasa Vanacari

© CHAKRA 19 March 2001

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