Haribol!

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Tattvavada Prabhu told me to write something more about Guru Maharaj's recent
visit to Finland. Since he already described most of the events, I will mostly
focus on his visit to our place and the things that happened after Tattva wrote
his report.

We were all very happy to see GM again after a long time, and he also seemed
happy to be back in Finland. When he comes to Finland he has the most energy
during the first days. It was like that now also: the first two days he took
part in all the programs, led the kirtans and chanted with the devotees. After
that he returned to his normal, more withdrawn style.

He had gained a few kgs, but otherwise he was just as before. One thing
that had changed, however, was the classes. He spoke about many things that we
never had heard from him before, such as the need for good relationships
between devotees, the danger of hiding behind masks, how to fill the hole in
the human heart, how Krishna loves all of us no matter how disqualified we are,
and so on. Especially the older devotees were enlivened by these classes and
many interesting discussions ensued from them. I mentioned this to GM, and he
was very pleased to hear it.

On Monday Guru Maharaj graced the home of my wife Laura and me. We had
cooked a simple lunch of pasta and pancakes, but he ate with gusto. He was in a
very happy mood, and while eating we spoke on different light subjects. He
mentioned, among other things, how he had got many new realisations during the
last few months from for example studying psychology. He spoke at some length
about the need for a more strong-knit relationship between our temples and
congregations.

Before he left we gathered our courage and asked two important questions. We
had heard that GM will not give any new dikshas for at least five years (some
said never again). He dismissed these rumors. "Please do not lose hope" he said
to those waiting. Still, he made it clear that while going on with all these
things, he would lessen his pace. "I am now 50, and thus officially old".
We also asked about his present health. He said that now that he was again
travelling, after a rough start, he was feeling better than in many years. He
felt that his depression is a thing of the past since he has learnt how to
adjust his mind. The therapy that he had gone through in Oslo had been very
good, so that presently he is completely off medication. He was very confident
about the future, and all in all in a very happy mood.

After returning from Tampere (Tattva already told the lilas from there) GM
visited the home of Ajamidha and Bhaktyacyutapriya Prabhus for lunch. I don't
know so much about that visit, other than that their son Sudama is a bit wild
and in the habit of stealing food from everybody's plates. He naturally
attacked GMs plate also! GM laughed to see this, and gave him some Mahaprasadam.

On Saturday evening he gave a class in a program that the Indians in Helsinki
had arranged. He led some classic SS-bhajans before the class, which was about
yuga-dharma. He spoke for about an hour, but the Indians did not loose
interest. Many people remarked that the class had been very enlightening.
After the class he immediately left. I was a bit disappointed, since I was
going to perform an elaborate fire sacrifice and would have wanted him to bless
it with his presence. Still, it was good that he left. The reason for this is
that one Indian lady from the north of Finland, Sulocana Devi, had come to
Helsinki to hear his classes, and she was very impressed and attracted by them.

She wanted to have his darshan, but somehow Tattva was unable to arrange that.
Since GM would leave early the next morning, Sulocana was now very unhappy,
thinking that she had missed a great opportunity for Sadhu-sanga. When
Purnaprajna and Vairagya Prabhus noticed this, they immediately arranged for a
late night darshan. GM had nothing against this, instead he was happy to get a
chance to speak to the lady who had put so many good questions. I have noticed
before also that GM very much likes intelligent and respectful questions to his
classes.

During his stay here in Finland, GM gave darshans to many devotees. Purna and
Vairangya spoke at length and from the heart with him about his classes and
other things. He also had a long darshan with Muniraj Prabhu. Maybe you could
write something also, Muni?

He left early on Sunday morning, so most of the disciples did not see him after
the program on Saturday evening. Personally, I felt bad about missing the
chance to thank him properly for his visit before he left (I was fully occupied
by preparing the homa at that time), but then again, we are all certain that he
will return. We had in fact asked him whether he would return and he
said "Certainly!".

Your servant,
Bhrgumuni Dasa