Gender

Male

Location

New Orleans, LA

Name / Initiated name

You misspelled "initiation". I was given initiation by HDG Hrdayananda Maharaja I do not have any formal Siksa Guru.

Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.

one

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

I had not heard of yoga or vegetarianism as a child. I started hearing about this nearing the end of my highschool years. One devotee came to me senior world religions class to speak. This was the late great Catra Bahu Prabhu. Not coming from Vaisnava nor in any way, intellectual upbringing, I had too many questions. Therefore, my history with ISKCON has had too many ups and downs. If asked if I was qualified to live in an ISKCON commune again, I would probably have to claim I was not qualified. There are apparently so many things about the Hare Krsna lifestyle that need proper understanding. I believe it takes tremendous understanding to survive in an ISKCON commune. Although I spend hours almost daily attempting to study into issues related to ISKCON, I still find that there are too many uncertainties that I am dealing with and this making it difficult for me to get back to chanting full sixteen rounds just now. I'm sorry, but I would have to bring up some issues if someone were to ask me about this stricture. And I haven't wanted to get into a conflict about the whole thing. I am attempting to gradually put all this together somehow and publishing my findings as I go. I pray to eventually be able to get back to sixteen rounds and strict sadhana bhakti as soon a possible.

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

New Orleans ISKCON center is nearest and more frequently visited. I know Mother Mohanasini and other devotees there. I try to be involved with ISKCON New Talavan in Mississippi and sometimes communicate with Yogendra Prabhu.

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

I try to continually research ISKCON material through the Vedabase and also listening to readings of the sastra. I try to keep in touch with devotees daily at least through the internet. I had to take a job as a cab driver. Trying to gradually convert to tour guide work. Wouldn't mind gradually advancing to work as a teacher. I socialize with people on the internet and at work. I know I am now too old to responsible conceive another child and so am not pressed about hooking up with a woman. Still feel my intelligence needs some work and purification to be completely transcendental around the opposite gender and with regard to the opposite gender. I have been still open to communication with women, but so far no woman has been right for the job. I wish I "was" qualified to take sannyasa, but I take some of the comments by Srila Prabhupada very seriously. Sannyasa is a very serious step to take. I can't be a sannyasa and still subtle maya. And, of course, would have to be together again with at least following 4regs and 16 rounds.

What are your expectations from this community?

Hoping to refresh my Bhakti experience. I had some really transcendental times at times living in ISKCON centers. Perhaps there is some way to get back to some of that.

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

I love to educate anyone who needs education regarding Krsna consciousness and all things related.