CDR for Dandavats

Devaki Mataji's seminar was not easy to digest since it was not meant to offer spiritual entertainment. Rather it is aiming at transformation - transformation of the heart, our consciousness, our world view, our tastes, our habits, our likes and dislikes and our patterns of behavior. It clearly explains why there is a need for an urgent change not only for society at large but especially for us ISKCON devotees to apply these eternal and universal principles and teach them. Every male who considers himself a member of ISKCON should participate in this course. It is very deep, sometimes breath taking, and at times also humorous. It will make you re-think your relationship with women. I can only highly recommend it!

First I had my doubts. Why should a woman give a seminar for men? This thought was very soon dissolved. Based on her preaching experience in Bangladesh where Vaisnava culture is still practiced today, and based on many wonderful quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books, Devaki Mataji gave us deep insights into the underlying principles of true spiritual culture and the urgent need for us to practice and implement them in our daily life.

We were twenty participants assembling at Goloka Dham in Germany on the first weekend of October, embarking on a three-day spiritual adventure. Some of us had been practicing Krsna consciousness for many years, and some of us were young bhaktas. Nevertheless, for all of us it was a highly transformational experience, if not to say a true paradigm shift. The schedule was tight - no time to space out. After the standard morning program in the presence of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan we met in our bhajan kutir for three hours during the morning, and two and half hours in the afternoon.

Devaki Mataji was not afraid to hit into a bee hive: Why do the relationships between men and women often seem so incredibly complicated, with almost unsolvable problems? Is there an understanding beyond "Men are like butter and women are like fire?" Why is the role of women so amazingly important and why, if neglected or misunderstood, human society basically goes to hell? These and many other relevant thoughts and questions were addressed during her course "Men in Spiritual Culture".

All participants received a nice folder with printed materials, and we were invited to put little role plays together, demonstrating the topics of the previous day's discussions.

This added a very humorous side to the course and deepened the learning experience.

I am amazed about Devaki Mataji's vast frame of knowledge, her uncompromising and humble attitude to present Vaisnava principles and to show us how far human civilisation has meanwhile gone off the track by neglecting spiritual culture and literally living an animal life. But that is only where the seminar starts. It also offers answers and solutions. Her course will help us to re-adjust our internal compass and code of behavior regarding our relationships with women. I am amazed about the deep psychological insights Devaki Mataji is giving.