lives of service - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T20:28:42Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/lives+of+serviceLives of Service: The Kalasamvara Das Interviewhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/lives-of-service-the-kalasamvara-das-interview2021-07-29T12:19:36.000Z2021-07-29T12:19:36.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9328022891,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" alt="9328022891?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Madhava Smullen</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;color:#212529;font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;"><em>Lives of Service is an ISKCON News interview series that recreates the feel of sitting down for a chat at the Sunday Feast with an old friend or a devotee you’d like to get to know. Told in their own words, it’s an insightful, inspiring, lighthearted, and at times humorous look at their stories and lives of service. Kalasamvara Das is one of the most joyful, ecstatic and dedicated devotees we’ve had the fortune to speak to. We hope you enjoy this chat with him!</em></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;color:#212529;font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-weight:bolder;">Where are you from and where are you based now? </span>I was born in a little farming area just outside of Christchurch, New Zealand, called Leeston. Now I am based at New Varshana, a 100-acre farm property in the suburbs of Auckland.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;color:#212529;font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-weight:bolder;">When did you join ISKCON? </span>I first saw the devotees on a TV interview when they were here in 1972, when Srila Prabhupada installed Sri Sri Radha Giridhari (The presiding deities of New Varshana.) Then I came in contact with the devotees in 1973. I was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in July 1976 at Gribblehirst Rd.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;color:#212529;font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-weight:bolder;">What is one way that joining ISKCON changed your life? </span>I was born with a hole in my heart. So I was supposed to die when I was young. Before I became a devotee, I was in and out of hospital (with different illnesses). Everything that could go wrong, went wrong with me. But since I’ve been a devotee, I’ve had really good health. Actually, I never knew that I had a hole in my heart until a family reunion five years ago. After the reunion, I went to the doctor and told him. He said it must have covered over, because it’s not there now. So that’s the mystical potency of chanting the Holy Names, coming in contact with Srila Prabhupada, and eating tons of halava. I think the hole was filled with halava! (laughs)</p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;color:#212529;font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-weight:bolder;">What is your current service? </span>Temple President at New Varshana, Regional Secretary for New Zealand, and GBC Deputy, helping the GBC with secretarial work.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/lives-of-service-the-kalasamvara-das-interview,7931/">https://iskconnews.org/lives-of-service-the-kalasamvara-das-interview,7931/</a></p></div>Lives of Service: The Chaturatma Das Interview by Madhava Smullenhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/lives-of-service-the-chaturatma-das-interview-by-madhava-smullen2020-08-17T12:42:19.000Z2020-08-17T12:42:19.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/08-Aug/chaturatma_das_leading_kirtan_in_ukraine_2017_while_traveling_with_indradyumna_swami_and_bada_haridas_2_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" alt="chaturatma_das_leading_kirtan_in_ukraine_2017_while_traveling_with_indradyumna_swami_and_bada_haridas_2_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></div>
<div>
<p>Chaturatma Das leading kirtan in Ukraine, 2017, while traveling with Indradyumna Swami and Bada Haridas</p>
</div>
<div id="article_body">
<p>During COVID-19, we are missing out on the association of devotees, as well as on many of the devotional activities we used to do in person. Lives of Service is a new ISKCON News interview series that we hope feels like sitting down for a chat at the Sunday Feast with an old friend or a devotee you’d like to get to know. Told in their own words, it’s an insightful, inspiring, lighthearted, and at times humorous look at their stories and lives of service. We hope you enjoy!</p>
<p><strong>Madhava Smullen: Where are you based now, and where are you from? </strong>Chaturatma Das: I live in Alachua, Florida. Born and bred in St. Louis, and joined the temple there in 1973.</p>
<p><strong>What is your current service? </strong>Traveling and preaching [in Poland, Russia, and India with Indradyumna Swami and Bada Haridas before COVID-19], brahminical services like assisting with the Deity worship in Alachua and doing samskaras for the community. I also give classes on the lives of the Vaishnava Acharyas (<a href="https://chaturatmadasa.com/index.php/media/">https://chaturatmadasa.com/index.php/media/</a>) – well-known ones like the Six Goswamis and Svarupa Damodar, as well as lesser-known ones like Pundarik Vidyanidhi or Nrsimhananda Brahmachari. I try to weave a combination between the philosophy of the individual and the timeline of their life, and then throw in humor as I can to keep it light.</p>
<p><strong>What are some of the other services you’ve done over the years?</strong> I was assistant pujari in all three of the New York temples – 55th Street (in the late 70s and early 80s), 7th Avenue, and the current Brooklyn temple. I was the head pujari in Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and Houston. And I was the temple president in St. Louis, my home temple, from about 1990 to 1995. I was also a cook, sankirtan leader, and temple commander.</p>
<p><strong>Can you share some memories of your bhakta (young devotee) days?</strong> I lived in a fun temple, St Louis. The temple president was a devotee named Makhanlal, and he had a very wonderful mood of dealing with the devotees – very loving, fatherly, and encouraging.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/lives-of-service-the-chaturatma-das-interview,7464/">https://iskconnews.org/lives-of-service-the-chaturatma-das-interview,7464/</a></p>
</div></div>