CHAPTER 21: I Chanted Loudly on My Beads to Be Awake When We Arrived

I Chanted Loudly on My Beads to Be Awake When We Arrived

Volume 2 Part 2 Chapter 21

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24

Because it was 3:00 a.m., only a few devotees were at the Ekaterinburg airport to greet us. As I collapsed into the car, the temple president gave me a schedule for the next two days. My eyes opened wide as I saw the schedule began at 7:00 a.m., only four hours away:

Day 1

7:00 a.m. Greeting Srila Gurudeva

9:00 a.m. Lecture

11:00 a.m. Darçana with disciples

12:00 p.m. Prasadam with gurukula

2:00 p.m. Meeting with city officials

5:00 p.m. Theater with guruku1a

6:00 p.m. Public program

Day 2

4:30 a.m. Mangala-arati

5:00 a.m. Chant with disciples

7:00 a.m. Class

9:00 a.m. Meet guruku1a teachers

11:00 a.m. Prasadam

11:45 a.m. Television interview

12:00 p.m. Theatre with guruku1a

2:00 p.m. Darçana for discp1es

5:00 p.m. Class

It also stated that my flight for Baku, Azerbaijan, left at 4:00 a.m. on the third day. As we drove into the city, I was told that more than a hundred of my disciples were eagerly awaiting me. I chanted loudly on my beads to be awake when we arrived at the Ekaterinburg temple for the reception.