Last night I gave a talk on Lord Nityananda for a be-lated celebration of His Appearance Day at the Talavan BACE in New Mumbai (Nerul).First you may ask: What is a BACE (Bhaktivedanta Academy for Culture and Education)?
Well in this case it is a couple of flats (apartments) that have been rented by the Temple in order to house devotee students and professionals who either study or work in the local area. They pay rent in order to cover costs while at the same time receive training and education in Krishna consciousness - similar to that which I get by living in the Temple as a monk (brahmacari).
The BACE enables the devotees to practice a high level of spiritual life while working or studying all the while being maintained with prasadam (food offered to Krishna) (there is a live in devotee cook), morning programme, regular classes, spiritual counseling, altar with Temple environment and lots of association. There are about seventeen, young, men residing here. (pictured just a few) Some hold very prominent jobs while others work towards masters, bachelors or PHD degrees.
Needless to say I feel completely unqualified as I barely made it out of BOONEsboro High School. :)
Anyhow the talk went on for well over an hour and then we had an ecstatic kirtana (dancing and chanting with instruments) and nice prasadam. There were a total of seventy boys in attendance. The next morning we celebrated the Appearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati - the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada. I was also asked to speak on this topic.
The boys were encouraging and made me feel like part of the family. Thank you Talavan BACE! I wish you all GREAT spiritual success!
2 comments:
This academy sounds wonderful, but I noticed that you mentioned young men alone. Are women not given this oppurtunity or is there no demand like this in India.
Dear James
There is a seperate facility for ladies.
Men and women do not mix unless married.
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