Gender

Male

Birthday:

December 15

Name / Initiated name

Akrranatha Dasa / Adam R. Bernstein

Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.

16

When, where and how did you come into contact with the Hare Krishna Movement?

In about 1973 the devotees in Miami came to my school and we had a school field trip to visit the temple, in 1974 I spoke to Akincana Das at U of Miami and got a strong impression, in 1975 I visited Sunday feasts on West Coast of US and went to SF Ratha Yatra, in 1976 at Patomac, MD (day after Gaura Purnima) I shaved up and joined a Radha-Damodar bus (Jayananda and Maha Muni in charge); left the bus after about a month and went to St. Louis temple where I got initiated.

Name the nearest or most frequently Visited ISKCON temple/ centre and name few of the devotees whom you know.

ISKCON Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA. Vaisesika Dasa, Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami, Hrdayananda Dasa Goswami, Braja Bihari Das, Brahmatirtha Das, Rasaraj Das, Amoghalila Das, Trivikram Swami, Radhanath Swami, Pusta Krishna Dasa

Please describe yourself so that other like minded devotees can find you.

Graduated University of Michigan School of Law in 1987, practicing attorney, love to study and discuss Srila Prabhupada's books. I am loyal to ISKCON and GBC system but like to reach out to Prabhupada disciples who have left or become skittish about ISKCON.

What are your expectations from this community?

Devotee association, discussion of Srila Prabhupada's books and matters relevant to practical preaching service. Don't know much about it. Is this community associated with Sivarama Swami? I love his books and I visit often to hear his discussions, but I do not know if it is connected. I received an "invite" from a friend, Bh. Jorge Bardina, don't know what to expect.

Describe any specific service you would love to offer to Lord Krishna & His devotees?

I love to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. I tend to have an analytical mind and broad cultural/intellectual interests. I try to dovetail this "anartha" by employing it in Krishna Katha. If I could, I would go to India for a few years and study a lot (but my destiny seems not to allow me). I love to explore Krishna consciousness from all angles. I hate the kind of "fundamentalist" tendency of devotees to form into mutually fearful, distrustful and envious competitive groups. I perceive that it kills our credibility among the intellectual class of people. We seem like another dogmatic religion and not a beacon of enlightenment that can produce real harmony, peace and prosperity in the world. I would like to reduce this tendency, if possible, through open and fearless, faithful communication.