All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Dandabat pranam to the feet of all the vaisnavas,
Young Allie got the fortune of meeting Srimati Govinda Nandini several months ago. She was very attracted to Govinda Nandini’s enthusiastic preaching and common-sense friendship, and frequently came to the temple to talk with her and attend our programs. When Govinda Nandini moved to Salt Lake City, Allie found that she seriously missed the association and decided to attend whenever she could and also to increase her service connection. Her natural, sincere inquiries became vital to her happiness and she found herself seeking how to extend Krishna consciousness to friends and acquaintances.
Around the first of June, she wrote to Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, asking for initiation, and he accepted her as his disciple. Because of his travel, it took a while to decide on a date for the ceremony. He chanted on beads which were shipped to our temple in San Jose, and all worked out for a connection by Skype on the evening of July 4th. By the great assistance of Nimai Chandra Prabhu, Srila Acharyadev spoke to her about the significance of this change in her fortune and instructed her how to chant on her beads. He said that, on the order of Srila Govinda Maharaj, he is giving this connection to her.
Srila Acharya Maharaj said that to make quick progress, know the nama-aparadha and avoid them; when devotees wonder why they are not experiencing taste, this is what they must consider. He also was very re-assuring that we can get devotion if we want it. He gave the example of a child who is crying when his mother and father leave him and becomes happy when they give him a chocolate bar, although he could get anything from his loving parents. We mustn’t be satisfied to get material happiness from our Lord. If we pray for pure devotion, we will get it. Sri Ramananda prayed for pure devotion and Krishna gave it to him, while his brother prayed for material things and he was awarded salary, comforts, etc.
He finally told her to contact him any time, with any question; saying she is now his daughter. He said to be satisfied only with talks of Krishna, service to Krishna, and eating only Krishna prasad.
Srimati Anu Krishna Devi Dasi ki jaya!
In service,
Kumkum
