Planet ISKCON

Beautiful Houston Ratha-yatra with three small carts!

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Translated Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Lalita Prasad Thakur (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s son) National Hotel, Red park, Moscow, Russia 21st June, 1971. My dear uncle Prabhupada Lalita Prasad Thakur, Kindly accept my humble obeisance to your lotus feet. At present I am staying at the above mentioned hotel in Moscow, Room No. 356. With me there are two American disciples. Here the preaching subject will be 1. Vedic Conception of Communism, 2. Knowledge derived from authoritative tradition, 3. Scientific classless society. Now with your blessing in this severely atheistic country the teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu will be preached. Here many local and foreigner girls and boys have visited. I advise them to do the Bhajana of the Lord. A few boys of this place have become very much impressed after listening to our Harinama. They want to join us. But the laws of this country are so tough that they cannot go against them. Here discussions are going on to meet many reputable professors and there will be the arrangement of lecture in the Indian Embassy. You bless me. From here I will go to Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London etc. This is the first time I came to Moscow. If you want to write to me, send it to this address—3764 Watseka Avenue. Yours affectionately, Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami (from Bhaktivedanta Research Centre’s Birnagar Collection)

The post Daily Darshan – July 15th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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06.07.2015 H.G.Vaikuntha Murti Prabhu_SB-5.26.12

Hare Krishna! Agriculture minister of India visits ISKCON Nairobi
Shriman Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria, the Indian minister for Agriculture who is on a special mission to Kenya, visited ISKCON Nairobi on the 12th July 2015. The minister was received by the temple president H.G Umapati prabhu by garlanding him at the entrance of the temple and marking a vaishnava tilaka on the ministers fore head. Some special mantras were also recited by Bhakta Chandan for invoking auspiciousness and welcoming the minister into the temple. The Minister was escorted by the Hindu Council Chairman Shriman Nitin Malde, and industrialist Shriman Ashok shah.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18443

This is US (23 min video)
This is US a documentary on Tribal people living in the remote areas who are an indispensable part of Indian population. More than 426 tribal groups inhabit in India, The realistic description of their pathetic life, deprived of all facilities like education, health care is highly touching and make one wonder, do such people really exist in the 21st century?
Realizing the challenge of overall development, & to fulfill the desire of Srila Prabhupada to build a house where the whole world can live in peace, Iskcon Tribal Care Initiative has taken a step to break their vicious circle by different developmental initiatives and intervention.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/loYWvE

“O friend of the world! O Ocean of love! The populace has become full of deceit and bereft of knowledge. O my master! Kindly give them shelter at Your lotus feet, for the holy name, uplifter of the fallen, has become manifest from You.” [ Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Susloka Satakam, verse 21 ]

Another guy I loved was Mādhavendra Pūri, one of the three people involved in San Diego’s branch of something called the Bhaktivedānta Institute – a group of scientifically trained devotees who were trying to explain Krishna consciousness in context of modern science. I was a huge fan of modern science – my dad had majored in physics, and I had been obsessed with astronomy for a few years as a young boy – so I’d sit with Mādhavendra for hours and ask him all sorts of detailed scientific questions.

“In a computer,” I once asked him, “all the complex reality we experience on the screen is really just an interpretation of fantastic combinations of ones and zeros. So, maybe the so-called real world is like that too? Maybe the complexity of consciousness is really just an interpretation of a whole bunch of electrical and chemical ones and zeros in the brain?”

He answered the same way he always did: Light and cautious as the gait of a cat, but drifting into a mad-scientist’s glimmer-eye’d grin during any pause. “Well,” he practically whispered in enthusiasm, “that is exactly the basic premise of mechanistic science. But can reality be broken down into ones and zeros? If so, what are those ‘ones and zeros’? Science cannot seem to get to the bottom of subatomic particles, for example. They keep finding smaller and smaller and smaller particles.” His eyes lit up for a while, then he concluded, “and even if reality is ultimately just ones and zeros… who or what is interpreting those ones and zeros as shapes, colors, emotions, and so on?”

Excerpt from an early draft of
Train Wrecks and Transcendence:
The Collision of Hardcore and Hare Krishna

By Vraja Kishor dās
VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: Consciousness, mechanistic science

Canto Four, Chapter 16 (beginning from the fourth text) describes how the royal singers praised the newly enthroned King Pṛthu. This section reveals the essential qualities of an ideal leader.

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This king upholds the best dharma
and shows the world how to follow dharma.
He is the guardian of dharma’s rules,
and the regulator of those who transgress them.

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1) The leader leads by example.

We cannot regulate and punish those who transgress morality when we ourselves transgress morality.

This implies that the leader is not just a mighty warrior, but is intellectual and educated (or at least submissive to the guidance of the educated), otherwise he would not be able to discern “the best dharma.” This phrase indicates that not all dharmic principles are of equal weight, and yield to one another in certain situations. For example the dharma-setu of non-violence yields to the dharma-setu of protecting one’s young children from attackers. If the leader is merely a tank without brains, and is unwilling to submit to those with brains (or unable / too unfortunate to discern advisors with true brains from advisors who are opportunistic word-merchants) he will not be able to even comprehend dharma, much less uphold it by his personal example.

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This king’s single form, therefore
Upholds the forms of all those who protect the world.
By giving everyone their rightful share at the proper time
He is the benefactor of the leaders and the led.

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2) The leader empowers.

A good leader does not consolidate power to himself. He distributes power to those who are capable of helping him protect those he leads. A real king empowers others to be kings and never demands that all decisions go through him first.

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He receives the riches of some, by taxation
and distributes it appropriately, at the right time.
His mighty welfare is equal to everyone,
as the powerful sun shines everywhere.

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3) The leader is fair, and prudent.

The leader will collect money and resources from his subjects, keep that wealth safe and secure, and use it in two cases: when there are deserving individuals who require assistance, or when an emergency or catastrophe befalls the people.

A leader cannot accomplish this unless he is fair. If he is partial to his family, his friends, his interests he will misuse and exploit the wealth and resources of his kingdom. The leader must desire the well-being of all citizens of his state (even those who are unhappy with and criticize him – as the next verse will make clear).

Thus, the Vedic conception of ideal state was to have a welfare state.

TO BE CONTINUED….

– Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: Leadership, Society, vedic leadership, welfare state

Every year at Jagannatha Puri, the Rathayatra culminates at the Gundica temple, which is surrounded by lush gardens and tall coconut trees. Fragrant flowers and shady trees create a Vrindavan atmosphere.

Gundica Mandira is called the “birthplace” of Jagannatha Swami because on a special platform called the mahavedi, a celestial carpenter carved the daru that manifested the Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra during the reign of King lndradyumna.

It is said that the wife of lndradyumna, the king who originally established the temple of Jagannatha, was known as Gundica.

The cleansing of the Gundica Temple – Gundica-marjana – by Lord Caitanya and His devotees, takes place the day before the Rathayatra festival as mentioned in the Caitanya-Caritamrita. 

"You can make advancement in Japa when you always look forward to doing it, feel pleasure when you do it, and do it with steady consciousness. Another measure is that you will feel less material desires. That symptom is more important than exactly how much bliss you feel while fingering the beads."

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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Written by Ananda Vrindavan Dasi

After more than three years, Kadamba Kanana Swami visited the USA again, this time focusing his visit on the communities of New Vrindavan, Gita Nagari, New York and New Jersey.

New Vrindavan (17-25 June)

Kadamba Kanana Swami landed at Pittsburgh airport on 17 June and then drove to New Vrindavan, West Virginia – the beautiful, picturesque home of Sri Sri Radha-Vrindavancandra, Gaura-Nitai, Jagannath-Baladeva-Subhadra, Sri Nataji and Prahlad-Nrsimhadev. It is a huge property owned by devotees, with one hundred and fifty residents. There is also the famous Palace of Gold, many cows, as well as lodges and cabins overlooking beautiful lakes filled with swans, fish, peacocks and other natural wildlife.

The next morning Maharaj gave the Srimad-Bhagavatam class. As this was his very first visit to New Vrindavan, a resident of the community, Malati Devi (ACBSP), introduced him to devotees in many chosen words. Amidst other nice things, she said that Kadamba Kanana Swami is well known for his acute intelligence and ability to comprehend things!

Vrindavan das, Maharaj’s disciple who is one of the prominent leaders of the community, was very keen to make Maharaj’s visit memorable to all. Vrindavan das is very devoted, caring and supportive to the devotees and their various needs. Hari-bhakti devi dasi, Maharaj disciple originally from Holland, also lives in the community and has a very special service. She very dedicatedly attends to Srila Prabhupada’s murti at Srila Prabhupada’s puspa samadhi in the famous Palace of Gold. This is one of the three existing samadhis of Srila Prabhupada in the whole world.

Krsna-nam, a disciple from Bulgaria who was initiated this year in Radhadesh and living in the USA now, drove from Chicago to render personal service to Maharaj. Savitri devi dasi came from Atlanta and Sukhayanti devi dasi from Canada to enjoy the blissful company of their beloved Gurudev. Vasudev das, also originally from Holland and now living in New York where he serves as a head pujari at the Bhakti Center, joined Maharaj at the Gita Nagari farm.

Upon arriving at New Vrindavan, Maharaj said that it was such a special, historical place as Srila Prabhupada had visited it three times and stayed there for a significant amount of time. “We are in the Lilamrita now!” Maharaj exclaimed happily to the small group of gathered disciples.

Furthermore, in the Caitanya Caritamrta class given on 19 June, Maharaj said that this place is filled with so many services done by so many devotees. “It all started by prayers and service of Srila Prabhupada who invoked Krsna’s mercy that was capable of transforming everything.”  He compared it to the story of a small sparrow who had lost her eggs in the ocean but was determined to get it back by threatening the ocean that she will dry it up by herself if her eggs were not returned. However, big Garuda with his big heart saw her determination and decided to take up her work. Maharaj remarked that devotional service is similar to that. He said that our current services provide services to so many vaisnavas to come forward and that Srila Prabhupada left the destiny of our movement in our hands. Maharaj ended by saying how simple it becomes when a vaisnava paves the way for us – otherwise it would be very complex and confusing. Please listen to this class and especially the Q&A session at the end, as there was an interesting question, “Who has prema?” posed to Maharaj, followed by his wonderful reply, as well as a question raised by Malati Devi about understanding blockages in our spiritual life from the right perspective. Recordings will be posted shortly.

Later the same day, Maharaj together with Agnidev prabhu and Vraja Krsna Prabhu were invited to chant kirtan in the supremely beautiful Palace of Gold (it represents one of eight religious wonders in the whole USA), in front of Srila Prabhupada’s murti. Despite the naturally grave atmosphere at the samadhi, devotees could not contain themselves, dancing to the tune of the famous KKS’s ‘Internal growth’ bhajan which was just the perfect melody for the occasion.

Maharaj was especially invited to New Vrindavan for the twenty-four hour kirtan festival which took place on 20-21 June. Agnidev Prabhu, Amala Harinam, Nadia-mani and Acyuta Gopi were some of the famous kirtaniyas who participated. Despite Maharaj being somewhat of a new name for many of the devotees attending, in seconds he managed to capture their minds and hearts with his roaring kirtans along with his sharp, thought provoking, always fresh and relevant lectures. Sruta-kirti Prabhu (ACBSP) was visiting New Vrindavan as well, sharing his sweet and intimate pastimes with Srila Prabhupada. He was Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant who started with that service in New Vrindavan actually. He also shared his memories of Brahmananda Prabhu, for whom he could not hide his tears of deeply felt friendship and appreciation.

On the morning of the twenty-four hour kirtan festival (20 June), Maharaj was asked to speak about the importance of chanting the holy names. He started by saying how an exciting weekend is ahead of us with lots of vaisnavas coming to chant, so we should use this great opportunity to borrow their bhava – their eagerness for glorifying Krsna. Maharaj quoted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who said to his devotee, Satyaraj Khan, that the business of a vaisnava is to serve other vaisnavas and incessantly chant the holy name. So although we may sound like a squeaky door when trying to chant Hare Krsna, meaning that we are dry and have no taste for it – still we should persist on the path. “The holy name is such a river!” he exclaimed, “No doubt it will grab us and drag us in its irresistible current!” Maharaj said that he is full of expectations and anticipating with curiosity as to what the kirtan festival will bring. For more than twenty-four hours, chanting filled the huge temple room – full of different moods, flavors and rasas; and devotees surely enjoyed tasting all these variegated moods.

On 23 June, Maharaj gave Srimad Bhagavatam class focusing on the importance of humility, otherwise again and again, we will be facing punar mustika bhava – being forcefully reduced to our naturally humble position in this world. That same evening, a home program took place at the house of some senior residents of New Vrindavan, Vani Devi and Rupanuga Prabhu. Their Radha-Krsna deities took away everyone’s breathe, as Maharaj was reading from Caitanya Caritamrta. He shared his personal experiences while living in Vrindavan dham and marveled at the supreme mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu which leaves no room for doubt of will it work in our lives or not. He welcomed devotees to participate with their comments and then ended with singing a melody ‘As heard by the sages’ from his newest CD, simply thrilling everyone.

On 24 June, another evening home program was held on the open terrace of the lavish house of generous Nityodita prabhu (ACBSP) and Radha Devi. The view from the terrace was amazing, overlooking the beautiful Appalachian lushy hills and valleys, and showing the outlines of the old Bahulavan farm in the distance, where devotees previously used to live.

Maharaj spoke on his favorite subject: the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and how we should practice not only being on the receiving side of it, but also as an instrument of it. He spoke about the importance of honesty and how it naturally leads to humility, and that is exactly how we will manage to stay alive in our spiritual lives despite our shortcomings. Maharaj also talked about his relationship with his spiritual master, Jayadvaita Swami, in response to a question he got from the audience who wanted to know a bit more about him, and few other fascinating accounts from his personal life which instantly endeared him to all the devotees present.

That evening, the other speaker besides Kadamba Kanana Swami was Bhakti Dhira Damodar Swami, a sannyasi disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami, originally from Nigeria, who spoke of a need to overcome our deep rooted fears by taking shelter in our firm conviction that Krsna is there for us – always! He said that the Krsna consciousness society is a society for enjoyment (in our natural state of relationship with Krsna) and not for insecurities and fears.

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Returning to the spiritual world
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Sarupa chants into Krsna’s ear and Krsna comes back to his senses, he embraces Sarup says, “Come! You take prasadam with me!” And they go to take prasadam in the house of Nanda Maharaj who is already waiting. Radharani has cooked all these delicious sweets and actually, it turns out that Sarupa is a family member. He is related to Srimati Radharani, in the family of Sridham. Sarupa is sitting next to Krsna, then some sweets are placed on Krsna’s plate and Krsna tastes them and makes a face; horrible! Everyone is shocked, what is this? Yasoda is looking at Radharani, “What did you do? What did you make here? Are you poisoning my child?” Krsna says, “These are inedible!” He takes the sweets and throws them on Sarupa’s plate and says, “Here, you taste them since it is your family that has produced them.” And Sarupa tastes the greatest nectar, he has not tasted such nectar ever, amazing! So in this way he returns back to Godhead; he is not just suddenly back. No, Krsna welcomes him back personally. It is a very personal thing, going back to Godhead. It is also very personal thing when we leave; it hurts Krsna very much. So like this, yes indeed, the relationship is very personal.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/GFFQhw

Hare Krishna! The History Of Our Vaishnava Heritage
Bhakti Caru Swami: What Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave is the highest. It is not a sentimental claim, but the verdict of the scriptures. Also, when we want to analyze it and verify it, then we get to see that this is the highest spiritual achievement. A part of it we discussed yesterday, that who is the greatest devotee, what is the highest form of devotion? Narada Muni is very systematically experiencing that. Sanatana Goswami is describing Narada Muni’s search for the greatest devotee. We are seeing the gradual elevation of one’s devotional profoundity. Today we will be discussing the second part of Brhad Bhagavatamrta. The second part of Brhad Bhagavatmrita is actually describing a devotee’s journey back to Godhead. The story begins with a cowherd boy named Gopakumara. Gopakumar is born in Govardhana in a family of Vaishyas, a cowherd family.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18437

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Questions and answers. (English/Turkish)

The post Istanbul istagosti with devotees (Part 2) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post The privileged role of being part of Gaurāṅga’s lila appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Srila Prabhupada’s compassion.
Feelings of pity and sorrow are evoked when we see the sufferings of our fellow man. Our attempts to alleviate that distress by acts of charity are certainly regarded as noble acts of benevolence, and there have been many people who have made selfless sacrifices for the poor, infirm and marginalised. The world would definitely be a better place if more people were benevolent, concerned, kind, and empathetic – qualities collectively appreciated as compassion. Depending on one’s premise however, compassion can be understood in different ways. Srila Prabhupada enlightened us about our real identity – that “I am not this body, but a spirit soul”. On this level of insight, compassion has a much deeper significance. Srila Prabhupada taught and lived by this premise. He stated: Material compassion, lamentation and tears are all signs of ignorance of the real self. Compassion for the eternal soul is self-realisation… No one knows where compassion should be applied. Compassion for the dress of a drowning man is senseless. A man fallen in the ocean of nescience cannot be saved simply by rescuing his outward dress – the gross material body. As an enlightened soul, Srila Prabhupada felt pain at the distress of others and wanted to relieve their suffering. He explained that compassion for the material body alone does not provide a lasting solution. He saw the suffering of the living entity as a symptom of a deeper problem - the misidentification of the real person (the soul) with the temporary material body. As long as the spirit soul identified with this body, it would have to repeatedly endure birth after birth and the concomitant suffering typical of material existence.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/cza5gI

Several books are coming up for production in Lal Productions by its in-house author, Sivarama Swami, and one thing we realise we don’t have, and never have had, actually, is a proofreader.

We’re not sure why we don’t have one, because let’s face it, anyone can proofread. Right? Right. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you: “It’s easy, a piece of cake, a walk in the park.” It’s so easy, in fact, we’re wondering why there are typos and mistakes in the books, despite how many times each member of Lal has read through the book in the course of their service:

Firstly, there’s Sivarama Swami himself, the writer. I mean, how hard is it—can he just do a spellcheck? Problem solved. No need for more staff if only he edited, proofed, and diacriticised his own work. Riiight….

Then there’s Braja Sevaki: she’s editing, so why can’t she proof at the same time? How many sets of eyes do you need, it’s all the same manuscript, right? And she’s a writer. How hard can it be? Sheesh. Then again, she’s Australian—do they speak English?

Nalini Kanta is the production manager usually, and the translator: what, she can’t notice all those errors while she’s doing all that work? I thought it would be programmed into her mind what looks right and wrong? Surely there’s a computer chip we can instal in her. It must be the language barrier…

But then there’s Manjari: she speaks fluent English, what’s her excuse for letting all these typos and errors slip through? She has so much free time, always playing at the house out the back of the temple, doing yoga, little things like that. Maybe there’s something in the Hun water…

As for Manorama, no one really know what he actually does, so we’re not touching that one (though he does seem to have the best office in Hungary…just sayin’….)

Perhaps we should ask Sundara-rüpa—he’s Mr. Computers after all, can’t he just make a program to fix the errors? Surely “layout” is straightforward, easy, and hey, he has so much spare time…

Gabhira, too—what’s with this “I’m the Sanskrit editor” thing? C’mon, a tiny little coloured highlight where you see a mistake, how hard is that? Perhaps the fact that all the conversations he has are in Sanskrit…

Then there’s the artists. These guys should really earn their keep and do a little real work instead of just drawing and colouring in. Cos that’s all it is, right? Maybe their English isn’t strong enough. It can’t be anything else…

Anyway—the thing is we need a proofreader. Apparently. Or at least someone to forward all the complaints to. It’s going to be hard to choose someone, as we’ll be inundated with offers. Why? Here’s the package deal:

1. You work under Braja Sevaki.
2. You don’t get paid.
3. No free books. Nada.
4. You work under Braja Sevaki.
5. The deadlines will kill you.
6. You work under Braja Sevaki.
7. You work under Braj…Ed: ok ok, I get it, back off…

Seriously though, if you are a proofreader, and only a proofreader, please write to braja.sorensen@gmail.com and explain to her why there are a thousand reasons you will never take on this role. Then run.

The post Proofreader for Lal Publications appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Putin says he’d prefer start yoga with spiritual practices.
At a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, the Russian president promised to try to practice yoga to the best of his abilities. “Yoga is something I’ve never done so far but it can’t help being attractive. I’ll see what my condition permits me to do proceeding from the level of my physical fitness,” Putin said. “When you look at real yogis, it seems no one can attain this kind of perfection and the thought stops you.”.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/RuZNCT

Hare Krishna Festival in the Baltic sea. On The Shore Of The Ocean Of Love (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: “O friend of the world! O Ocean of love! The populace has become full of deceit and bereft of knowledge. O my master! Kindly give them shelter at Your lotus feet, for the holy name, uplifter of the fallen, has become manifest from You.” [ Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Susloka Satakam, verse 21 ]
See them here: https://goo.gl/s3l8bN

Harinama in New York (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In any condition, a man can live in a small cottage, plant a tulasi tree, water it in the morning, offer it prayers, and continuously chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Thus one can make vigorous spiritual advancement. This is not at all difficult. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 24.261)
See them here: https://goo.gl/APdL0H

The post Daily Darshan – July 14th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Sri Ksetra Puri Parikrama 2015
We are happy to invite devotees from around the world to perform the most auspicious Sri Ksetra Parikrama. This year the parikrama day falls on 11th November. On this day, devotees will circumambulate the entire Sri Ksetra dhama, a distance of around 21 Km. This parikrama has been performed since the time Vidyapati visited Sri Ksetra. ISKCON has been organizing this parikrama for the last nine years, on the specific day prescribed for parikrama as per the scriptures. Last year we had nine thousand devotees participating in this parikrama. This year we are expecting many international devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18434

Hare Krishna! Gudur Rathayatra 2015
Gudur is a town in the Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh, located around 140 kilometers North of one of India’s largest cities, Chennai, on National Highway 5. It is well known for large natural deposits of the mineral “mica” in and around the town. The town is also important due to the Railway station, a very large junction station connecting Chennai to Vijayawada, and from there to North, West, and Eastern India. Nellore district is also famous for the local varieties of rice that have been grown there for millenia. Gudur is just 40 kilometers South of Nellore, the district headquarters, where ISKCON sannyasi Sukhadev Swami has established a temple of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Subhadradevi, as well as a large ashram. Sukhadev Swami, originally from Andhra Pradesh, was a practicing medical doctor in the United States. He became frustrated with his material circumstances, returned to India and joined ISKCON at Bombay back during 1983-84.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18431

15.06.15 Carpaty. How to get the right to see Vishnudutas

Hare Krishna! The history of the Balaram Mrdangas – Part II
Manu priya continued to produce the Balaram mrdanga’s until March 1, 1992. On that day he finished making eight large and four small mrdangas. I was cooking the Sunday feast for the LA temple that day, I still do. After cooking I would usually bring some prasadam over to Manu’s apartment and take with a couple devotee friends and my wife Isanah dd. This time Manu was not there, I asked our friend and neighbor Jiva Carana dasa if he knew where Manu was, he said that Manu asked him to go to the store with him but Jiva was busy so he didn’t go. I came back an hour later and Manu was still not there. I went to look for him in case his car broke down or something. I went to the closest grocery store and saw his car parked by the door. As I was walking to the door of the store I saw his crutches in the passenger seat. I went over to the car and Manu priya was slumped over and his body cold, He was gone. He had made drums for the world wide devotee community until his last breath.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18428

The San Diego Krishna temple was even cooler than the one in Los Angeles. The inside was decorated and decked out, completely over-the-top – but the thing I really liked were the people. It was the headquarters for the Hare Krishna magazine, Back to Godhead. I loved chief editor – Jayādvaita Swāmī. We got along great. He was logical as folded laundry; so dry, like he just didn’t give a rat’s ass for popularity or any bullshit like that. Like a tortilla chip with no salsa, he was just exactly whatever he was – and I liked it. I would go to the Magazine’s office now and then to vacuum or whatever.

Dravida dās would sometimes hang out with me, recite Sanskrit, and answer my questions. Once he took me with him on a walk to Trader Joe’s to buy some special kind of yogurt or something else I had never heard of before. He was another one like Jayādvaita Swāmī: more punk than punk. So absorbed in whatever it was he was absorbed in that he just didn’t have time or energy to care about superficial things.

Bhaktivedānta Institute also made their headquarters in San Diego. They were a group of three scientists who had become Krishna devotees, and had written that Origins magazine I had read a few months ago, and a dauntingly titled book, Mechanistic and Non-Mechanistic Science. Mādhavendra Pūri was the one among them who paid most attention to me, by far. I’d sit with him and  ask  all sorts of detailed scientific questions. He’d give his fascinating answers the same way a cat walks – so lightly, so patiently – and frequently breaking into a mad-scientist’s grin during the pauses between sentences.

Umāpati Swāmī was also a San Diego Hare Krishna. One Sunday he gave the entire lecture while looking directly to me, almost never even glancing at anyone else in the temple. He was talking about a few verses early in Gītā’s second chapter, and he was really trying to get the idea into my head that “You are not that body.” I felt like someone special.

Vaikuṇṭha dās, one of the gentlest, nicest men I’ve ever met, was a long-time resident here at the Krishna’s San Diego spot. He lived in a small apartment a few yards down the street, with his wife. Once, my car’s tire went flat and, for whatever typical teenage-punk reason, I had no spare. He took me into his apartment and called whoever he needed to call, triple-A or something like that, and somehow, someone soon showed up and fixed the flat. While we waited he explained that Paramātmā (“God,” in a sense) is like the sun and all living beings were like water in pots. Just as the same sun reflects into so many different pots, Paramātmā “reflects” into and exists within everyone.

A month or two earlier, I had spent my first overnighter at the San Diego temple. It was “nṛsiṁha-caturdaśi” a holiday for Narasiṁha, Krishna’s man-lion incarnation – the same man-lion one on the Cro-Mags newly released album cover. My parents were on a vacation somewhere – maybe Vegas – so I spent a three-day weekend on a slumber party with Krishna. I slept upstairs with the “brahmacārīs” (the unmarried men), and was completely jazzed to come down well before sunrise for the four or five hours of daily kīrtan, class, and prasādam. I had bought a disposable Kodak camera, and snapped a roll of Rādhā Giridhari on the altar that Saturday Morning, May 20^th of 1989. They all came out ridiculously blurry, the temple was very dark and the camera very cheap, but one of them came out great, and I still keep the photo till this day.

– Excerpt from the first draft of
Train Wrecks and Transcendence:
A Collision of Hardcore and Hare Krishna

By Vraja Kishor dās
VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: hare krishna temple, ISKCON, san diego