Introduction

[Guest guest]

My name is either Raymond or Ramadas, depending on which light you would like

to see me. I would like to think that I come across to you as Ramadas.

 

I

was born in Australia in October, 1944. My father was a Catholic and my

mother was a Jehovas Witness. In my childhood I attended services in Baptist

and Assembly of God churches. when I was 15 I was sent to an excellent

Catholic boarding school where I had up until many, many years later, the

best three years of my life.

 

For some time I had the desire to become a

priest, but the call of the wild was too much for me and I broke the shackles

of religion and escaped into the wilds of Australia in 1962.

 

By 1972 I had

sunk down into the substratum of society under the influence of a

'beautiful?' and dangerous combination of drugs and alcohol. That year I

heard of Krishna and the "Hare Krishnas" for the first time. Somehow or

other I managed to become coherent enough to join an Iskcon temple. In 1973

I met His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, but because of personality

conflicts with temple management, I was not formally initiated until 1975.

 

 

In 1984, after living in Vrindavan, UP, I moved to Udupi with my wife and two

daughters. We lived in Kalianpur and I used to cycle the 14kms to Udupi

every day. HH Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji became my mentor and supervised my

study under HH Vishvavijaya Tirtha Swamiji. Living in Udupi was an

incredible experienctime in my life and I sincerely wish I was in the

position to return there.

 

Living in Udupi brought home to me how difficult

it is to become accepted in traditional Vaishnavic society when you are a

newcomer, especially a newcomer form overseas.. One Monday in 1986 Senior

Swamiji told me that I had finally been accepted as being fit enough to

become a proper student. On the Wednesday I received official notification

from the Govt of India that I had lived in India for so long it was time for

me to return to my native place! Oh well, at least I have my permanent

residecy papers to remind me of the wonderful life I lived in India.

 

My

contact with Iskcon has been extremely limited since 1984. I owe any

spiritual advancement I may have to His divine Grace because it was through

him that I came into contact with Krishna. But -- the understanding of how

to live as a Vaishnava came to me through the kind patience of HH Vishvesha

Tirtha Swamiji in Udupi.

 

I am on this mailing list because I want to glean

some understanding of Sri Vaishnava thoughts and beliefs. You probably will

not hear much from me, but I will be listening to you with great interest.

 

 

Besr regards,

R