L.A. Update: By Gopanandini dasi

After the Badger festival I felt intense sadness as it was Srila Gurudevaâ€™s last festival with us. From start to finish it was an emotional experience like none-other. For 15 years we have lived for his visit and now that era is over.

So in the hopes of getting one last glimpse of Srila Gurudeva I hopped down to Venice for the last L.A. class. Srila Gurudeva didnâ€™t speak much, but after all the Swamis had spoken he spoke a little ending on a very joyful note,

â€œRead Bhagavatam, serve Bhagavatam- all your questions will be answered in Bhagavatam, and become Bhagavat!â€

He smiled and laughed and left us in a hopeful moodâ€¦ we immediately initiated a Srimad Bhagavatam study groupâ€¦ and Jaiva Dharmaâ€¦ and Manah Siksaâ€¦ and Bhakti Rasayana. Between classes we have a full temple program: Arotis, Prasadam, Harinam Sankirtan, and book distribution. The leaders here are very resolute in their direction to keep Harikatha in the center. The formula that is being applied is bearing enormous results: devotees here are happy. Bhagavatam is being honored, donations of bhoga, books and Laksmi are pouring in, kirtans are explosive, Tulasi is thriving, devotees are flying in from all over, and Takurji is moving upstairs to the big temple room tomorrow!

Every morning I pray that again my day will be filled with Harinam, Harikatha and Guru Sevaâ€¦

What more can anyone ask for?