Wow the weekend was incredible! The best weekend I had ever had in my life. I had my first hand experience in what the Festival of Inspiration is really like.
Friday morning I woke up so early at 2:15am. I was restless all night and only got three hours of sleep. I was just all excited about my guru Maharaj coming to stay for the week. I was so happy when I saw him that morning. I was just about to go out on a japa walk when he pulled up in the van! I gave him a flower garland and some offered tulasi leaves from the Lord's lotus feet. The minute I saw him I bowed down at his lotus feet and offered him my respectful obeisances. I helped Maharaj bring in his bag and then we all went to take a look at the stage where his drama play was to be held. A few of my godbrothers and godsisters came to the festival and other devotees from Cleveland and Toronto came. It made me feel like I was both in Cleveland and Toronto with all of them here. Krishna was merciful to me this weekend. All that good association. And then afterwards when Maharaj got settled in a little he took Sing Lung and I out on a very brief japa walk around the pond. I was already blissed out. Maharaj told me the other day "you are aways blissful."
Saturday was awesome too. I watched all the drama rehearsals. It was interesting how Maharaj directed the play and how he trains the actors into doing what they are supposed to do. Maharaj had said in his blog he felt guilty about being so hard on some of the actors. But I look at it as you have to be hard sometimes in order to get the actors to do what they have to do otherwise it may not get done. Professional directors are probably hard on their actors too. So now I have a feel of what it is like to be in Maharaj's drama play. Although I'd be kind of scared to be in it as I dont' want to commit an offense to him by making a mistake in the play. Im very careful about how I serve Maharaj with devotion.
Sunday was probably the best. The drama play was just so cool and funny! The Three Lives of Bharata I think is one of my favorite plays by Maharaj and also The Boatman too is really funny. The costumes were really cool too. My favorite part in the play I think was when the two brahmacaries ran into each other and the basket of rice flew high in the air. And I also loved the part where the one bramharcari was teaching his brother how to put on a dhoti and sacred thread. I love my guru maharaj's plays. I only want to see his drama plays and not these other mundane plays that people would see normally everyday.
Then on Sunday after the play there was just so much mercy from Krishna Himself. Krishna knew how much I really wanted to surrender my services to my guru Maharaj. I was able to serve him some maha fruit and also lunch as well. And the best service he allowed me to do was ironing his clothes. I seriously wanted to cry when I was doing that. Maharaj is kind to me to allow me to serve him like this. And I enjoy helping to take very good care of him and making sure he has everything he needs. It makes me happy to see him happy. Then later in the afternoon I sat with some devotees and Maharaj outside for hours on end. That was the best association I've had. And then later in Govinda's Maharaj got pizza for everybody! He really is wonderful. Im so happy Krishna chose him to be my guru. He knew I needed someone like him to guide and inspire me so much. Krishna must have been pleased to allow me to have all this association with my guru. I hope I can continue to please Krishna.
I was sad to see the devotees of Toronto and Cleveland leave. :( I had so much fun with them this weekend. I hope all goes well at the border in Canada so that I can see the Toronto devotees again. I told Maharaj that I miss Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha and he said that they are calling me back to Them and that They too miss me as well. I really do miss my sweet Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.
But overall the festival was fantastic. I hope I can come again next year with maharaj and the toronto devotees.
