I am invited to the San Jose Seva Ashram to give the talk at the weekly evening program. About thirty devotees and guests attend, and I talk a little about my travels around the world, and my time spent with Srila Gurudeva in India.
My daughter, Lucille, comes over to the ashram earlier in the day and bakes a big chocolate-strawberry cake and about four dozen koeksusters, a delicious South African confection (koek is Afrikaans for cake, and suster means sister) consisting of two strips of dough covered in confectioners' sugar and coconut, intertwined in a spiral. Delicious!
Although she is not initiated, Lucille does have a good service attitude, and — thanks to the concerted efforts of Jivana Devi Dasi and Sanatani Devi Dasi (among others) — she also has a good service connection with the San Jose Seva Ashram. I am happy with that.
In the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita (Madhya Lila 22:83) it is said:
"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krishna is association with His devotees. Even after one's dormant love for Krishna is awakened, devotee association is essential."
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