Gender

Male

Location

Cambridge

Birthday:

July 25

Name / Initiated name

Matt

Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.

Generally 8 to 20+, I am trying

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

First time I remember was in July 2011, a music festival, I received one of Srila Prabhupada's books, Search for Liberation I think? Had a flick through didn't read.

Then, probably March, 2012 at a small rave in Birmingham I met a Prabhu, a sannyasi, I know this now, standing outside the venue. I said to him "a buddhist monk!" and he replied "no, Hare Krishna!". I thought he was mocking me, as I thought "Hare Krishna's" were dressed in black suits and hats and looked very similar to Orthodox Jews but going around knocking on peoples doors. How wrong I was. Needless to say I kept thinking about the words Hare Krishna most of the night, and I was drawn to this sannyasi who never entered the actual rave but was standing in the reception, I found it very difficult to speak to him though, there was some sort of material block and words wouldn't come out of my mouth but I had to know more. The last thing he asked was if I had anywhere to stay that night as he knew I'd driven miles from down south to attend, I said yes and left to my hotel.

So 2013, around March again, I think, I met a Prabhu from Nepal, he never said the words Hare Krishna but he talked to me about meditation and how one can perform it anywhere. He explained he would even meditate at work and then after would walk down the streets of London smiling at everyone. I thought "I want that". On the third and last meeting with this Prabhu he gave me a book, 'Veda - Secrets from the East'. I was emotionally down at that time as my friend had just left her body and my relationship had finished, I opened the book and tried to read...I couldn't there was some sort of block, it didn't make sense, I couldn't comprehend the meaning - I put it on a book shelf at my mums and forgot about it.

Later in September 2013 I met another Prabhu, at another festival, who gave me another 'Search for Liberation'. I remarked that I already had one of these a couple years ago. I remember trying to read some after the festival finished, I didn't read much though.

January or Febraury of 2014 I was sitting on a bed at my mums house and I had some sort of spiritual and emotional breakdown. I looked up at the bookshelf opposite me and the first book I saw was 'Veda - Secrets from the East', the book the Nepalese Prabhu gifted me a year earlier. I took it from the shelf and started reading...and I didn't stop! Everything made total sense, it was a total change from less than a year ago when I couldn't assimilate any of Srila Prabhupada's words.

I will be honest here - after reading and understanding everything I began to research on Srila Prabhupada, and ISKCON. I was very "conspiracy minded", at the time, and there was some incomplete information on Wikipedia which led me down a rabbit hole that, looking back, I wish I'd never been on. It put somewhat of a block in my spiritual progression and devotional service. There's a lot of horrible information on the internet. I ended up reading so many things from some splinter organisations I don't even want mention the names here. I got in contact with a number of groups but these groups are more intrested in arguing and defaming others than progression spirtualy and focusing on Krishna. So I began practicing Krishna Consciousness on my own, with no association or very limited association I was in contact with one or two devotees through email. Needless to say I didn't advance that much spiritually.

It wasn't until I randomly met (Krishna sent) an uninitiated devotee of 35 years, we have since become good friends on a spirtual level, and he has helped to bring me into the ISKCON family. I was still a little resistant at first as everything negative I read had polluted my mind. But slowly, or even quickly, my mind has become clear and unpolluted. ISKCON is Srila Prabhupad's society and he would not want us splintered. He would want us to work together. My outlook on ISKCON has changed dramatically, especially in the last year or two. Association with devotees is key, and I can't get that from negative and quarrlesome rascals. Hare Krishna.

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

The Manor and Soho. I don't know many by name, especially at Soho, but I recognise and speak to people who's faces (or atma!) I remember.

I know Acarya Prabhu from the Manor Warehouse, I've helped out a number of times in the Warehouse and at Janmastami. I also know Laksmipriya Devi dasi, from Radhadesh through email since about 2015. I also know Ananta Nitai quite well, a travelling Sankirtan Prabhu from Dublin temple.

I started a course at the Manor this year, Gita Life, and so there are a number of devotees taking the class who I now know. Sankirtan Priya Das Prabhu and Bhakta Roberto Prabhu are two of them.

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

A far, far fallen neophyte and desperate devotee, trying to become a sincere follower of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and ISKCON's mission. Haribol.

What are your expectations from this community?

Association!! I've spent too long trying to perform devotional service at home on my own, it doesn't work, not without other devtoees to inspire me and encourage me, Maya is so strong!. I've started two courses now this year and joined a local ISKCON sangha too. I need association and I realise now the love and spiritual bliss I get from associating with other devotees. It's imperative to advancement in Krishna Consciousness!

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

I would love to print books that have larger font sizes! I would also like to serve Prasadam to people on a large scale. Since leaving the abomnible meat chefing industry I have taken over a Vegetarian catering business and have converted it by removing all the onion, garlic, leeks and spring onions that these karmis like to eat! I've also removed the yeast from the falafels and completely changed the recipies. Now once I go back to work after this lockdown I will offer EVERYTHING, all the bhoga. I used to do it sporadically before, but I've been offering all the bhoga i prepare for myself for a while now, so now is the time to offer for others too.  Hare Krishna :)