Name / Initiated name
Akuti
When, where and how did you come into contact with the Hare Krishna Movement?
1978-1979 NYC Friend gave me the Maha Mantra, I bought a picture of Krsna, and the Nectar of Devotion, spent almost all of my time contemplating Krsna, His Qualities and His Name—and had the most profound transcendent experience of my entire life over a period of some six weeks—though I don’t accurately remember exactly how much time. This is too complex and confidential an experience to describe here, but it incited me to join the NY temple circa 1979. I lived in a temple for two years but felt very out of place during those transitional, chaotic times after Srila Prabhupada left his body. I have never felt a close connection to Satsvarupa Das and interestingly, the time of my initiation was around the time when he was beginning his illicit relationship to a married devotee and finding ways to bring her into his sphere. I have read his apology letter to ISKCON, and wish him all the best as he has rendered great service to Srila Prabhupada, however I choose to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada, and until I find someone from whom I would like to receive initiation again, I feel well taken care of by him in all his Books and instructions.
Name the nearest or most frequently Visited ISKCON temple/ centre and name few of the devotees whom you know.
Berkeley is nearest and ISKCON Silicon Valley is the temple I have most loved visiting, just twice—on Janmastami and on Radhastami. I am reapproaching Krsna Consciousness and have met many wonderful devotees as of late, some of whom are not part of ISKCON, but are nonetheless great Vaisnavas. I have met some beautiful devotees at both temples I mentioned.
In worldly terms, I have an Ivy League degree and am a lawyer by trade, but have very limited resources because of my chronic illness dating back to 1971 when I contracted TB in India and was misdiagnosed for a long time. So I am mostly spending my time hearing and chanting and involved in Krsna Katha with devotees, and preaching according to place and time to my circle of beloved people in the world—a large community. I am nearing my end, no doubt, so spending most of my time, as I said, hearing, chanting the Maha Mantra in which I have great faith, rereading BG, the SB, the CC, the Nectar of Dwvorion and Nectar of Instruction, Krsna Book, and the Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Please describe yourself so that other like minded devotees can find you.
I am a warm person who cares deeply about the misfortunes that all living entities are enduring on this planet and I have a profound aspiration to develop love of Radha-Govinda for the sake of all living entities who are suffering, as I am, because of separation from Krsna and Radharani and all Their Associates in the spiritual world.
What are your expectations from this community?
To learn more about all things related to serving Radha-Krsna and
Their Pure Devotees. I am deeply involved in chanting and studying Sastra again after a long hiatus.
Describe any specific service you would love to offer to Lord Krishna & His devotees?
I have a life-threatening pulmonary illness and still working—my service is preaching spontaneously to everyone I know in the world according to their capacity to receive Radha-Krsna. I have a very large circle of relations (family and friends). I left the temple after two years (one and half of those years in the Gurabo temple in Puerto Rico, the first six months in the NYC temple).
