by Bali Maharaja dasa

Bhag. Gita 9.26

 Patram puspam phalam toyam / Yo me bhaktya prayacchati / Tad aham bhakty-upahrtam / Asnami prayatatmanah

 “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”

Srila Prabhupada assures us that to achieve the highest perfectional stage of life there is a very easy process that can be attempted even by a poor man with no qualification. The process is so easy that even a leaf, a flower, fruit or water can be offered to the Lord with love and He will be pleased to accept it.

 By growing vegetables, preparing nice dishes with them, offering them to the Deity and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering, one can advance steadily in Krsna consciousness. Krsna has no need of such food, yet He will accept the offering if it is done with devotion. The important element in preparation, in offering and in serving is to act with love for Krsna.  

Here at Govindadvipa we endeavour to offer Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govinda as much devotee produced goods as we can. In this way, the devotees are serving in a systematic way, procuring seeds, growing flowers and food, preparing garlands and cooking, and offering directly to Krsna. Simple living and higher thinking as Srila Prabhupada used to say.

Since 1997 we have grown flowers each summer which in turn are nicely worked and offered. Now, Radha Govinda are being offered a variety of cabbage, beetroot, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, cucumber, radish, lettuce, coriander, dill and parsley.

 Fruit trees, decorative bushes and flowers are also part of the plan for the garden and an increase in the variety of vegetables and fruits such as potatoes, carrots and strawberries. 

Bee-keeping has also been established here for some time now, and honey has been available for the offerings to Radha Govinda.