My experience with Indradyumna Swami – by Anandamayi Devi Dasi

My name is Anandamayí dd. I live in Hungary. I am the mother of four children; 3 girls and a boy. We met Indradyumna Swami about 20 years ago when my children were 4,6,9 and 12 years old. We invited him to our home and he was very friendly with all of us, including our children and our pets.This encounter made a deep and lasting impression on our lives.

Being in the movement for 13 years at the time, I had never before met any devotee holding a position , especially not a sannyasi, who understood the weight and responsibility of a mother who is trying to raise children in Krsna consciousness. Parents whose heart’s intense desire was that the children taste so much nectar in spiritual life that they will not consider later on to take shelter of the material energy instead.

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From the time of that first visit we met Indradyumna Swami regularly; at home, on the polish tour and when he was visiting the temple. During those years the relationship between us strengthened and we all felt truly loved and cared for. The interactions were sweet but respectful. Whenever he came to our home he was accompanied with disciples and well-wishing devotees. The children and me were never alone in his company.

He had such a fatherly affection and genuine care for the spiritual welfare of all of us and especially for the children. From the time of our first meeting with him my children, out of affection for him, became immensely inspired in their spiritual lives. It remained as such and keeps on increasing ever since.

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I was so grateful and happy that in the rigid world of hard and fast rules of temple life my children could experience a human loving interaction with a spiritual master . It’s not an exaggeration to say that this relationship was establishing and watering their faith in Krsna, Srila Prabhupada and in our society. Since their early childhood Indradyumna Swami was mentoring, inspiring, teaching and guiding them. Without his loving care the teachings and instructions of Krsna consciousness would have never reached their hearts. He prepared the soft ground for the seed of devotion to grow.

Now three of my children are his initiated disciples and fondly remembering his personal fatherly affection they received throughout the years. This is probably the best memory they have and cherish growing up in Krisna consciousness.

I never dreamt of, or rather had the nightmare, that one day I would have to prove the innocence of Indradyumna Swami – the one who saved so many lives by remaining a sannyasi with a human, compassionate heart towards children. Towards the children whom we so much want to save from predators and abusers. Unfortunately it looks like we want to save them from affection too by indiscriminately executing everyone whom we designate guilty of child molestation.

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Do we have to prove the innocence of those who have never been proven guilty? This is insane, unprofessional and offensive. Even the mundane justice system would put us to shame in how we handle our so called suspects, our self-appointed “criminals” without any solid proof or testimony.

While in some cases the guilt is obvious, others happened to be thrown into the dark well of our angry hearts and fall victim of our vengeance. It’s painful to tolerate and see how we swayed from finding justice to accuse whimsically and randomly. Srila Prabhupada is surely crying when we treat each other so harshly. As he said, the only real danger our society faces is within. So much harm has been done already by those who abused and misused their power and position. Why should we deepen the wound by carelessly and blindly swinging around the sharp sword of accusations? If we don’t control it now , we will kill the flowers with the weeds. Please open your eyes!