A report by Sulata dasi

Written by Sulata dasi

Over the years many girls have voiced a desire to start an ashram in Vrindavan, which would provide a safe haven for ladies to do bhajana, study sastra, and learn how to give class, amongst other activities.

About two years ago, a couple of generous devotees kindly lent their rooms in Gopinath Bhavan for this very purpose. When Sri Radha Gopinatha were installed, They became the center of life in the ashram and mercifully gave the devotees the chance to serve Them in many ways.

Since that time the number of girls in ashram has increased and, especially during past few months, its activities have expanded to include participating in various study groups, doing book distribution all over Northern India, receiving training on how to give class, engaging in book production, and numerous other activities.

Just before Kartika I started an Upadesamrta study class with a senior devotee who has been living in Vrindavan for many years. I found it to be a life changing experience in many ways. I had always tried to study on my own before, but invariably became distracted by my restless mind and wondered from one book to another reading without focus or depth. I found that, now I was answerable to someone, I was able to lend my mind to study sastra in a way that I had been unable to before. It gave me a greater appreciation for the unfathomable compassion of our acarayas who, through their granthas, have left us an abundance of practical advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of the material world and instead engage our minds and hearts in contemplating the eternal truth.

We now have at least five study groups which are made up of ladies who live both inside and outside of the ashram. As Syamarani didi always tells us in our meetings, “There is no inside and outside the ashram. We are one big ashram. Usually ashram rooms are separated by walls and doors, but in Vrindavan they are separated by gullys that are decorated with cintamani stones and precious jewels, by the river Yamuna.

One of the study groups is called “A class on how to give class” which is given by Syamarani didi. So far about six girls actively participate. Syamanarani didi speaks for about twenty minutes relating her early experiences in giving class and how Srila Prabhupada prepared / trained [or prepared and trained] them to do that service. She also gives us tips that she has heard from Srila Gurudeva over the years, on how to overcome nerves. Each girl then makes a ten minute presentation and Syamarani didi and others present, give their comments and constructive criticism. Most of us base our class on a sloka. We have all experienced that by learning the sloka and then speaking about it helps us to not only better remember the sloka, but also to enter more deeply into the meaning. Many of the girls commented that the sloka they had been learning helped them <overcome a difficulty they were facing in their life. / deal with various obstacles they were facing to their spiritual life.>

If any ladies or girls are interested in joining the ashram and helping us spread the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu throughout India, please email me (sistersulata@gmail.com) or Syamarani didi (syamarani@gmail.com)

By your kind donations we will be able to continue providing a safe place in Vrindavan for ladies to serve, learn, and do their bhajana.