(2009) Another Journey (Chapter Select)

[This should make your navigation handy for Another Journey in Poland – 2009. Hare Krsna]

[28] Back on the Beach.

Friday, 21 August 2009.
We awoke after a short rest. The boys scored six hours but I was on five and a half. I was feeling pretty good and learned from tour why Srila Prabhupada recommended less than six hours of sleep. There was no energy for sense gratification but the mind was as clear as mud…I mean totally clear.

[27] Ustonie Morskie Mix-Up.

Tuesday, 18 August 2009.
I showed the boys photos from Aus tour while we rode home to crash out. All the photos were firing me up for the next tour in Aus, coming up at the end of this year. We kept going until the boys were to tired to look on.  After they were off in bus slumber I found myself gazing at pictures of Radha Govardhanadari, from New Govardhana until the battery died. When I returned to base I plugged back in to check on my little brother, Bhisma. I had received email, the day before, that Bhisma was in hospital with a fractured skull. I checked to find an update that after one more test he would be free to return home. I was somewhat relieved but was anxious to see that he would be home, out of the hospital.

[26] Return to Rewal.

Saturday, 15 August 2009.
We stayed awake after the epic festival, the day before, till 1am. Our body clocks had adjusted to festivals, festivals and more festivals! I awoke to distress! My epic, red, folding bucket was missing! I came down and lined up, for a very short time, for a shower. I filled up on breakfast. Japa Mala was giving out his cake collection from the day before. I asked for one and received two!

[25] Jamnastami.

Friday, 14 August 2009.
We slotted into bed by 1am. Although Jamnastami is usually a fast day, I had a stack of medicines to take, so Jogabela was on the breakfast menu. Mangala arati kirtana was three hours late today, so people could rest up, and so, for a change, I made it to Mangala arati. We busted a little dance in there to make it tradition. The hearing and chanting never ended. I chanted my rounds in the back of the temple, even though Sri Prahlad was ripping it up with a kirtana. With the volume at the front I could chant as loud and clearly as I wanted.
Maharaja came down to give class, way later than scheduled. He made a note that, like in old times, that maybe there would be a time where we couldn’t do harinam sankirtana so publicly. He urged us to take advantage of the opportunity while we could. I realized this would be the case, that it might one day be a fight, just to hold up our great culture. In one sense this was sad but it had an edge to think that we could keep going for Prabhupada even in the underground.

[24] Train Track Town.

Wednesday, 12 August 2009.
I arrived back from a far far distant land, on the edge of Poland, and marched into bed. I was happy to be in the bag by 2am. I awoke for breakfast. There was a maximum loading of sweet rice, which the boys and I chose to engage in consuming. Uttama Sloka Prabhu was serving the buckwheat, with a devious smile on his face. We took the tiniest serving possible of buckwheat, just to receive Uttama’s mercy.

[23] At A Festival Far Far Away.

Monday, 10 August 2009.
We arrived back to base from breakdown in Port Town. The mleka, that we normally enjoyed after a festival, was now cold but we sampled some anyway. We were all off to bed before 1am. On this occasion I awoke for the early breakfast. The day before the harinam crew were going to the most distant town, so we had an early breakfast, and now the whole festival was travelling far, so we followed the same pattern. For me, today, breakfast was a nice dosage of cake and medicines.

[22] Back in Port Town.

Thursday, 6 August 2009.
Everyone was rising for HH Kavicandra Swami’s reception but I stayed in the bag feeling sick. Later I sat as Madhava and Hayagriva milked the usual intimate association, that we receive after the receptions. I listened to some pieces, curled up in my sleeping bag. Krsna was more than merciful to allow me to stay with so many swamis on the tour and seek so much nice association but now he was withdrawing some so I could understand that I was not owed this mercy but it was just Krsna being magnanimous. I especially wanted to associate with HH Kavicandra Swami because he seemed fond of the youth and their preaching projects. I wanted to seek his blessings for the efforts to come in Australia.

[21] Balarama’s Appearance Day

Wednesday, 5 August 2009.
I woke up at 4:30am to go to the bathroom for a bit of a cough session. I was careful leaving the room, hoping not to wake up Maharaja, but upon returning I realized he was already packed and awake. I was shocked at his discipline for sadhana, even in the midst of the marathon of tour. I attempted to wake up for Mangala arati, just so I wouldn’t be sleeping around while Indradyumna Swami was staying with us. I tried to struggle out of the sack but found I was feeling it in the health factor and so decided to snuggle back up anyway.

[20] Returning From Woodstock (2009)

Monday, 3 August 2009.
I awoke early in the morning, when everyone else returned from the last night of Woodstock. I decided to live the last night in the hall, when I could feel the Food for Life prasadam doing it’s “thing”. I awoke throughout the night feeling the stomach pains of the soy subji. I awoke for the last time. I had moved back in the room now that the morning sun was in the sky. Someone had stolen my shoes. This was happening way to much for my liking. Soon Hayagriva returned with them and I chastised him. As a punishment I made him fetch me breakfast.