Hare Krsna, Mates!
 

AGTSP! ... -[;o]/\_____   paoho / bw...
 

Here we are, Mon(k)ey/Piggy, in ISKCON Chicago. It is like a mad-house, but what is the surprise about that. Everyplace we go in this world is a madhouse.

Again, no problem, because we have [[[SECRET]]] knowledge: This is a Mad-House!

Shhhhhhhh!    Don't tell anybody else.       . . .      Unless they are ready to begin reforming themselves and going back to the real world!

It is more cold and dark here than Nashville.

Our "room" is a nicely appointed section of the conference room that is partitioned off from the rest by a few 6-foot tall panels. So, no little heater will heat our section. There is no heat in the big building for a few more days until Winter really comes. It is a gigantic four story church. We adjusted by sitting in front of a little electric fan-heater, like a Sannyasi in front of a little fire.

It works. (Pretty much). Devotees taking very, very  good care of us!

Tomorrow is Amavasya and the Kapi Dhvaja goes.

So, many programs here.

We left Nashville, rushing to pack, finishing off working with Robbie Robinson and his son, hoping that nobody breaks into the garage that they fixed and painted, and steals Abhiseka's bicycle. We left all the faucetts dripping so the pipes won't break while we're gone if it snows.

Wednesay, Arrived here and only thirty minutes after we arrived, because it took one hour to get from the airport with traffic, rather than thirty minutes that was planned, we left for a Russian Bhakta Vrksa program. They had harmonium and Kartals but no Mrdanga. Had to talk slowly. One new boy. Very nice group.

Next day, Thursday, two university programs and SB class in the morning. About 12-intense B'caris here. Temple has a Prasadam distribution program at 4-universities. About 400-full plates, packages, a day. Students make a reservation on the internet and pick it up the next day, $5.00 for a $10.00 meal. After a meal like that you think much, much better.

Friday, SB class, then Bhakta-vrksa about 45-minutes from here at 7PM. Another intense program with very practical questions about how devotees coming from India background can relate to their traditions of Varna-ashrama (I am Brahmana) and demigod worship.  One thing that came out of that was that many of the traditions are not exactly according to Vedic standard, then that has to be accepted and the concoction can be put aside, and the authorized worship can be accepted, and it is progressive, amenable to Vaisnava perspective.

Example, Halloween comes from All Hallows Evening, or All Saints Evening, because the next day is All Saints day, it is a day to honor, invite for a feast, all the departed Christians, who have be members of the Saints in heaven, from our family etc. Some USA churches even now have observances of this festival.

We are still taking Prasada once a day. Maybe save a little from these evening programs and then take Prasada once a day in the morning with the devotees. Breakfast is always easily cooked in the Temple, home. It is more in the mode of goodness.

Then we establish a rhythm.

Tonight is Interfaith Dialog from 6-8PM, so Noche Sabado Directo will be at 8PM!

Hare Krsna!

A little sample of our life.