More on Vedalife in Petersburg

I arrived in Saint Petersburg in the middle of the VedaLife festival which is a yoga jamboree put together by Avadhuta Mahārāja. Thousands of people turned out in Moscow for street-parties, Indian and Hare Krishna world  music concerts, and tasted vegetarian food at the Hindu, Yoga, and Vegan gastronomy festivals. Here in Petersburg the VedaLife festival was held in Lahta.

Lahta is a small section of Saint Petersburg located to the North of the city on the Gulf of Finland.

The temple was established 25 years ago by Vijai Raman Prabhu, Avadhut Maharaja, and Govinda Maharaja as an extension of the Sri Caitanya Saraswat Math.  They've been going strong ever since. 

Goswami Maharaja inviting me to participate

I was invited to attend as a special guest by B.B. Avadhuta Maharaja and B.S. Goswami.  This was my third visit.  Aurora and I stayed as the guests of Vijay Raman Prabhu. There are many dachas here. A "dacha" in Russia is a kind of summer cottage or home. Just outside our window they set up a stage where different bands played. There was Indian raga with flutes and sitar and a more modern set played by a kind of "New Age" band.

The temple itself is a close replica of a Vedic temple. Govinda Maharaja himself contributed many ideas to the architectural design. It has a special heating system with pipes under the floor for the harsh arctic winters, so it's always nice and cozy.

Avadhut Maharaja led a traditional kirtan and aroti ceremon. Among those present were different sannyasi leaders: Goswami Maharaja, Madhusudana, Dandi, as well as Bhakti Lalita, Rohini Shakti and many other great souls who have done so much to bring Krishna consciousness to the Russian people.

The uproarious kirtan could be heard far outside the temple walls.

Meanwhile, the beach outside the festival was populated with brightly colored tents and pandals where a number of different activities took place.  There were readings from the Vedas, astrological readings, yoga classes and even a bed of nails where aspiring fakirs could practice penance and austerities.

As the bhajan band took a japa break...

The gods were so pleased they sent some sunshine our way.

Even Lord Shiva gave his blessings.

As you can see the Gulf of Finland was pleasant for the three days of the festival and the weather  was perfect with just enough breeze to fill the sails of the windsurfers.

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Newlyweds fresh from the fire sacrifice

As Goswami Maharaja spoke on subjective evolution of consciousness, others held talks on the nature of truth, the origin of existence, and the path to peace and surrender. 

Lord Shiva was dancing

I feel fortunate to have been allowed to participate in this gathering of sincere souls and hope that I may get further blessings from all of you. Hare Krishna and Peace.

Next stop: Vedalife Ukraine.

https://www.facebook.com/vedalife.camp/

Traveling

My original intent was to create a purposeful account of my trip to Petersburg. Slow internet, confusing time changes, jet lag, and a lack of solitude have made it difficult for me to organize my thoughts. I find myself challenged to relate these happenings in any organized fashion.

So I´m telling the story in bits and pieces. Perhaps that´s the ¨modern¨way to tell a tale: in fragments. So here's a few fragments. 

After a bumpy start where I managed to lose my ukulele on the bus from Queretaro to Mexico City, we made it to the airport and few out at 12 midnight to Cancun. We got there at 2 in the morning and made it to the hotel by 3, with enough time to check into the Comfort Inn and get some sleep.

Next day we flew to New York. After waiting in line we did the immigration check where robots scan your passport and take your photo while leading you through the process in a female voice which is cheery but firm. "Please press down on your passport while I scan your photo. Please stand up straight for your photo." Racing from one place to the next in the airport we went through a security check. An impatient security person scolds, "Shoes on the table, shoes on the table," and as you search for a bin to put your shoes on, she repeats, "The TABLE." Shoes on the TABLE. Technically, it's not a table at all. I wouldn't eat off it, certainly. Who would? One never puts one's shoes on the table. She catches my eye again, nearly screaming, hysterical, glaring: SHOES ON THE TABLE. I get it. I comply as the smarter travelers shove by me. I begin to move again.

"Do you have a laptop?"

"Yes."

"You need to take that out."

In point of fact, I have no need whatsoever to do this. But this is the new way to command people to do things.  In English class, people ask me the meaning of the word "must." I tell them it is now mostly legal language. In the airport when security commands us, they say "You need to..." Technically this is not correct as I feel no need at all. I need to eat, to breathe, to eat and sleep, to love, and so on. But I have no need of giving my nice MacBook Air to the security at JFK. If you're listening to me, please don't take this as unpatriotic.

"You need to take that out, Sir. The laptop."

Dutifully, I separate the laptop and find a bin. Also a separate bin for my e-book reader. (I have two, so two separate bins).

"I need to see your passport and ticket sir."

I show these as I struggle to remove my belt.

"We're not doing the belt, sir. You need to keep that on."

Meantime I check my pockets for coins and put passport, coins and keys in my jacket for safekeeping.

"Remove the jacket please. It goes in that bin."

I'm trying to remember where my shoes are as I 'm shown to the full body scanner. I'm told it makes quite an accurate image of what one looks like under one's clothes. 

"Stand on the line, sir."

I look down and see two yellow footprints painted on the rubber as I stand inside the huge plastic tube. I stand immobile in the "hands up!" position.

I hear a whoosh.

Hold your hands up, sir.

Another whoosh.

The guard waves me on. I assume I'm finished.

No. They want to frisk me. Now he's feeling my inner thigh.

"Excuse me," I say. "I hardly know you." I try to diffuse the tension with a smile and some humor. They're not having it. 

"Sir, are you wearing a money belt?"

In forty years as a world traveler they've never asked me this.

"Yes."

"You need to remove it now."

I comply. 

"Show me the money, sir."

Is this all really necessary? I wonder. Now they're worried about my neckbeads.

"Sir, do you have something around your neck?"

 I open my shirt.

He sees my Hare Krishna beads and is satisfied. Maybe he'll make detective. Anyway I made it.

Or not. Where's my belt? My jacket and belt are on the other side. I retrieve them. Gradually I'm getting dressed again. But the other security guard, an older gentleman with a goatee has my packback. He's alarmed. There's an additional security check.  He's getting hysterical. 

"Water! Do you have water?"

There's a tiny bottle of about 200 milligrams of emergency water for taking my medicine. They've discovered it. He nearly goes ballistic.

I pass security. Welcome to New York.

Half an hour later I realize that I left my MacBook Air in a security bin with the friendly guards. They quiz me on the photos on my desktop to make sure its mine. 

What a trip. I think the United States is becoming a police state. I won't be surprised if they elect Trump. 

Russian security and immigration took about 10 minutes. The only problem was they lost our bags. It took us almost a week to recover them. They put out a trace. 

I'll post more later as I get some time.

Meanwhile here's some fotos.