Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I hope you had a rejuvenating trip to the holy dham! I'm anxious to meet with you when you return to California... it feels like it's been such a long time! I haven't heard any response from the last two letters I sent, so they should be in the blog history in case you missed them. Maybe you were busy, or no internet in India? I can also try to resend if you like...
HpS - AGTSP! Paoho. We just talked with you on the phone! Yes, we only answered URGENT letters while traveling. Too much physical interaction with devotees to also answer letters. Resend them if they are important... Was very nice to hear about your Sankirtan and Cat-Boy-Dog cure for Parkinson's syndrome. So much possibility for preaching in this area of Art and the Sacred. Abhirama Das is supposed to be signing the Memorandoms of Understanding with the National Library et al in Peru and then reporting here.
Life here in California isn't easy, and I'm still living hand to mouth, trying to do something worthwhile as an artist; but somehow or other I manage to keep all my vows and have some kind of morning program in the temple or in the van if need be and I study as often as I'm able, but not as much as I'd like. I'm working hard to carve out a niche for myself in spiritual art and like you said Krishna seems to provide everything I need for service.
Recently my sankirtan has been focused mainly on music festivals. As far as I'm concerned it's by far the most fertile field for preaching to young people in the US, so I was seeking help from devotees who have a similar vision. Since I'm kind of on my own out here, my options are limited, but at the same time I have a great opportunity to engage sincere devotees who have a hard time fitting into mainstream ISKCON.
What we do is set up a big tent and an art display and perform Kirtan by the path so all day people stop in and chant with us and I collect contact info and distribute books and paintings. My friend Arya does massage and sells wellness products, chanting beads, etc and later on I set up by the stage and paint live. The whole time people come and sit by me and ask questions and I use my art to tell them about Krishna and meet tons of really favorable, open minded people of all ages from all over the country. It's hard to find words for how amazing the last few weeks have been. By your mercy, every time I have some doubt or frustration Krishna intervenes in my life and makes a way for me to move forward.
I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel... I've got so much positive feedback and some promising leads too, and I feel like it's only a matter of time before I'll have more time to start going deeper into bhajan again and doing more to directly support your preaching also. I'm having so much fun right now, and I see so much potential with this, but at the same time sometimes I worry that I'm just being whimsical by doing what I like for Krishna. Please let me know if there's more I could be doing to serve you, Maharaj. More than anything else I just want to know that you are satisfied with my service...
Your humble servant,
Ekashma Das
HpS - Yes, it is so nice to do painting in public. It naturally attracts people. They like to see the Puris being cooked, they like to see the art being drawn. Watch "Category B".
