In Focus with Glenn and Kate Harrison.
by Dandakaranya das.
Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you both come to practice bhakti-yoga?
Glenn: We were both born in Melbourne. I was raised by a butcher and an atheist… and also by my doting Mum. I’d read pseudo-spiritual books and practiced forms of silent meditation when I met Dhruva dasa on the street one day while working. He deftly explained the difference between the Bhagavad-gita he was holding and the one I had been reading, encouraging me to take it. Later that week I received The Higher Taste, the Quest for Enlightenment, The Science of Self-Realisation, Easy Journey to Other Planets and Great Vegetarian Dishes from Rupa-Raghunatha dasa. I visited the glorious Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandira and regularly attended the evening preaching center – ‘The Loft’, in the city. I was convinced to join the brahmacari ashrama in 2003.
Kate: I grew up on the beaches of the Mornington Peninsula with my parents and younger brother. I had a keen interest in yoga, natural medicine and philosophy when I was a teenager, which led me to move to the city where I first studied Philosophy and then Naturopathy. One day at Uni whilst walking with a friend a young man stopped us – “Excuse me, do you study here?” and handed me a Bhagavad-gita As it is, explaining that he was a Hare Krishna monk. I started going to Crossways for lunch and The Loft in the evenings before joining the brahmacarini ashrama at the Melbourne temple. That monk and I married in 2010. This year is our 10 year anniversary.
Your family recently relocated to the Murwillumbah area after both being native Melbournians, what made you decide to make the move North?
Glenn: We moved here in July last year to join the thriving community of New Govardhana where our Melbourne friends had migrated years ago. We also wanted to give our two sons; Indra Deva and Kanu Rama, a Krsna conscious education by attending the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula.
What kinds of services have you been involved in on your spiritual journey and are there any services you’d like to do one day?
Glenn: I began by serving at, and later managing Crossways restaurant before becoming a full-time book distributor myself.
Kate: After moving into the Melbourne ashram my main services were at The Loft, which had since morphed into ‘Urban Yoga’. I also distributed prasadam at Crossways & Gopal’s Restaurants and loved going on harinama.
Glenn: I’m really attracted to the deity worship here, I’ve been fortunate enough to help out on festival days and hope to be qualified for more deity service in the future. It’s also been a pleasure to join the harinama parties since relocating and I hope to attend regularly.
Kate: I’ve always liked being involved in outreach programs, and would love to get back to regular harinamas. When my youngest is older I want to be more involved at the gurukula.
What inspires you most in Krsna Consciousness?
Glenn: I love rockin’ kirtana, going on harinama sankirtana, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, listening to lectures, devouring Krsna prasad, I’ve got a massive sweet tooth. Spending time with my friends discussing Krsna is right up there for me. It’s been fantastic to make some new acquaintances… please come and say hi.
Kate: I get my inspiration from kirtana and reading Prabhupada’s books, plus from my Guru Maharaja – Kadamba Kanana Swami, who always manages to uplift me with his kirtana and classes.
How do you maintain your ashram?
Glenn: I offer my skills as a Remedial massage therapist, Reflexologist, and Aromatherapist.
Kate: I’m a Naturopath, a Herbalist and a Doula. We have some interesting things in the pipeline, stay tuned. Thanks everyone.