22 July
After breakfast we loaded three large containers full of breyani into a bakkie and headed off, in convoy, for Shongweni. It was Madhumangala, Gopala Guru, Dinanatha, Prahlada, Arne, Suvarna Manjari, Swarupa Sakti, Jamuna and myself. Our venture was in response to an invitation from Wozamoya High School which lies way beyond the Shongweni Dam Nature Reserve…the beautiful African landscape makes you forget the business of the city.
Upon arrival the kids were in class. We met with the school staff and set up in the assembly area…before long the lunch bell rang and Mr Nzama Benedict, the principal, introduced us to the school and handed us the microphone. I thanked the school for inviting us and Madhumangala presented them with a set of books for their library. Eight hundred kids were gathered and after a short explanation of who we were and what we had come to do, we began the chanting, singing two words at a time so they could follow. ‘Hare Krsna!’…the sound was astonishing…I looked out as we chanted and noticed that only about a quarter of the kids were chanting…most were just watching…some were dancing. ‘Hare Krsna!’…For most this was their first sight of Krsna devotees. ‘Krsna Krsna!’ the dancing picked up around the front of the crowd, especially where the devotees were dancing and playing drums and other instruments. We stopped to explain that this chanting of the Holy Names of God is the best way to attain the mercy of the Lord thus inviting peace and prosperity into our land. ‘Hare Hare!’ As we started the chanting again I looked over at the staff who were watching in amazement. ‘Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare!’…
After the chanting we opened the containers and began to serve the breyani…some were pushing, some were patient, some stood back not sure if they should take food from these ‘strange new people’. Prasadam is food offered to Krsna. By taking it purification of the heart takes place…In the age we live in, the most effective way for attaining spiritual enlightenment is to chant the Holy Names and take Krsna Prasadam…simple, yet effective! This method of spiritual awakening was introduced by Lord Caitanya Himself. He was the most recent incarnation of Krsna. He appeared five hundred years ago in West Bengal and predicted that in every town and village this chanting would be done.
Some students came up, grabbed instruments and drums and using the microphone, they chanted together without much of our assistance. Teachers came to thank us and one was asking many questions…she was a strong Christian. She told us that she had a vision the night before, that some people were at the school with drums and food. She said she saw everything…Her main question was why we were not using the name of Jesus Christ. I told her that we were following the instructions of Jesus who had said ‘Our Father, who art in heavan, hallowed be thy Name’. The Holy Name of God is to be praised and in so doing we are honouring Jesus Christ. I further told her that she could read the books we had left behind and if she had any doubts about us she should pray to the Lord to reveal the truth about us.
We packed up and left for the Temple again.
After breakfast we loaded three large containers full of breyani into a bakkie and headed off, in convoy, for Shongweni. It was Madhumangala, Gopala Guru, Dinanatha, Prahlada, Arne, Suvarna Manjari, Swarupa Sakti, Jamuna and myself. Our venture was in response to an invitation from Wozamoya High School which lies way beyond the Shongweni Dam Nature Reserve…the beautiful African landscape makes you forget the business of the city.
Upon arrival the kids were in class. We met with the school staff and set up in the assembly area…before long the lunch bell rang and Mr Nzama Benedict, the principal, introduced us to the school and handed us the microphone. I thanked the school for inviting us and Madhumangala presented them with a set of books for their library. Eight hundred kids were gathered and after a short explanation of who we were and what we had come to do, we began the chanting, singing two words at a time so they could follow. ‘Hare Krsna!’…the sound was astonishing…I looked out as we chanted and noticed that only about a quarter of the kids were chanting…most were just watching…some were dancing. ‘Hare Krsna!’…For most this was their first sight of Krsna devotees. ‘Krsna Krsna!’ the dancing picked up around the front of the crowd, especially where the devotees were dancing and playing drums and other instruments. We stopped to explain that this chanting of the Holy Names of God is the best way to attain the mercy of the Lord thus inviting peace and prosperity into our land. ‘Hare Hare!’ As we started the chanting again I looked over at the staff who were watching in amazement. ‘Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare!’…
After the chanting we opened the containers and began to serve the breyani…some were pushing, some were patient, some stood back not sure if they should take food from these ‘strange new people’. Prasadam is food offered to Krsna. By taking it purification of the heart takes place…In the age we live in, the most effective way for attaining spiritual enlightenment is to chant the Holy Names and take Krsna Prasadam…simple, yet effective! This method of spiritual awakening was introduced by Lord Caitanya Himself. He was the most recent incarnation of Krsna. He appeared five hundred years ago in West Bengal and predicted that in every town and village this chanting would be done.
Some students came up, grabbed instruments and drums and using the microphone, they chanted together without much of our assistance. Teachers came to thank us and one was asking many questions…she was a strong Christian. She told us that she had a vision the night before, that some people were at the school with drums and food. She said she saw everything…Her main question was why we were not using the name of Jesus Christ. I told her that we were following the instructions of Jesus who had said ‘Our Father, who art in heavan, hallowed be thy Name’. The Holy Name of God is to be praised and in so doing we are honouring Jesus Christ. I further told her that she could read the books we had left behind and if she had any doubts about us she should pray to the Lord to reveal the truth about us.
We packed up and left for the Temple again.
