Welcome to my very first blog here on 'notes from the servants' quarter'. As the Secretary of the London Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math I am very aware that I am first and foremost a humble servant of the Vaishnavas and with this in mind I wanted the title of this blogspot (if that's the right term!) to reflect that and so, 'notes from the servants' quarter'. I consider it my great honour and privilege to serve the devotees of the London Math and the wider Gaudiya Vaishnava community.
Srila Govinda Maharaj always referred to the upper area of our Guru's as 'upstairs' and the servants area as 'downstairs'. Very much like the system of the gentry in Great Britain in previous times where the upper classes lived 'upstairs' and their servants, 'downstairs'. As an aspiring devotee I am very happy that I am allowed to remain 'downstairs' and given a humble quarters from where I venture 'upstairs' when my service is required. Srila Govinda Maharaj always said it was his duty to ensure no disturbance went 'upstairs' and I feel that as much as possible that is also my duty. Of course we all understand that Srila Govinda Maharaj resides in the 'upstairs' area but in his characteristic humility he expressed his ego as a servant of the 'downstairs' quarter. Our own position is of course irrefutably 'downstairs' and this is the safe and secure area for our service aspiration.
So from the 'servants' quarter' I want to express my thoughts, my inspirations, my frustrations and my feelings to any of those who might be interested and indeed who might find those thoughts helpful in their own service life. I often feel a need to communicate with the devotees and am aware that the 'official' sites are not always the appropriate forum for that. Although I am aware that as the Secretary of the UK Mission I am a representative of that mission, this blog is in every way my personal opinion and if that sometimes differs from the 'official' opinion then that is my defect and in no way a criticism of the mission I serve. Being the fallible soul that I am, I am sure the learned readers of this blog will forgive me and where appropriate kindly (and I hope gently) correct me.
I hope you will find these posts interesting and will continue to come back from time to time. And please do let me know what you think.
I beg to remain always the servant of the servants of Hari, Guru and Vaishnava
Devashis Das
