Ultimate Self Realization

Even a simple, pure-minded person can be transformed into a nondevotee by the influence of bad association. An example of this is Lord Caitanya's personal servant, Kala Krishnadas. He was allured by nomads or gypsies, who enticed him with women. Maya is so strong that Kala Krishnadas left Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's company to join gypsy women. The is why Lord Caitanya, when he was requested to explain the duty of a Krishna conscious person, immediately said: asat-saṅga-tyāga-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra "The first business of a Vaisnava is to give up the association of persons who are not devotees of Krishna and who are too attached to material things."--Cc. Madhya 22.87 Since we require association in order to be psychologically healthy, we must associate with pure devotees, those who are purely following the path of Krishna bhakti, as much as possible. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Lord Caitanya and His Associates (Panca Tattva) Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question:

Chaos is all around me in a world completely disconnected from Krishna. How do I keep my sanity in a world which has gone completely insane? Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare Sankarshan Das Adhikari Janmastami Celebration at ISKCON Austin 28 August 2013 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Become Free From Sin? Respected Srila Gurudeva, Kindly accept my prostrated obeisances . Repetitive sinning and atoning seem to like nothing but a waste of time just like an elephant which cleanses his body thoroughly in a lake or reservoir, but as soon as he comes onto the shores he takes dust and throws it all over his body and immediately becomes dirty again. Although one may cleanse himself in the process of atonement, if he again commits the same sinful acts, what is the use ? How can one ultimately become free from all contamination brought about by the material modes of nature? If one cannot achieve

It is not possible to measure the extent of my good fortune to have come into contact with Krishna's pure devotee, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. After wandering aimlessly in the cycle of birth and death for countless eons of confusion and misery I was most fortunate to get the shelter of this great soul. He mercifully accepted me as his disciple on 12 August 1971. Since that most wonderful day I have been living a sublime life of devotional service to Krishna tasting great happiness by being reconnected with that beautiful Lord who is the very source of my existence and of all existence. It is undoubtedly a struggle to try to spread the Krishna consciousness movement in a completely materialistic society. But this is the duty that Srila Prabhupada has given to his followers. Such a challenging life is not always easy. But because it gives great pleasure to Lord Sri Krishna it is most rewarding. On this most auspicious day I fall down at the feet of my ete

There are no words to sufficiently describe the unlimited auspiciousness of this day, Sri Krishna Janmastami, the day that Lord Sri Krishna appeared in this world some 5,000 years ago. Although He appeared within the prison of the demoniac King Kamsa, He was not bound by the influence of Kamsa. By Krishna's mystic power the prison guards fell asleep, and the doors became unlocked. Krishna's father, Vasudeva, then carried Him to Vrindavan where He grew up as the foster son of Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yasoda. Krishna is the source of all existence, but yet He played just like an ordinary village boy in Vrindavan. But His pastimes were not at all ordinary. Kamsa sent so many powerful demons with great mystic powers to Vrindavan to kill Krishna. But in each and every case it was the demon who was killed, not Krishna. Krishna gradually grew up, but yet He never aged past being a youth even when He eventually was a great grandfather. If you want to relish the unlimited amazingly ne

Beyond the realm of time with its dreadful cycle of birth, death, old age, and disease is the splendorously beautiful, unlimitedly sublime dimension of timelessness, the realm of the Supreme Person Lord Sri Krishna, from whom both time and timelessness emanate. That supreme abode is fully accessible for anyone who wishes to enter it, through the power of mantra yoga. One simply has to carefully and devotedly chant these sweet names every day: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare And then gradually he will find himself situated in that timeless realm in the association of that most amazing Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, the sound of whose flute enchants everyone. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Krishna Awaits Our Return to His Timeless Realm Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Complaint: Course Has Too Much Myth I am cancelling my subscription to your course because it contains too much myth. Shane Answ

A devotee of the Lord is never defeated in any circumstance, even the most reverse, because he utilizes everything that happens to him as an opportunity to become more dependent upon and more surrendered to his most beloved Lord Sri Krishna. This is the highest perfectional stage of self-realization. This is why for him even defeat is the greatest victory. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Devotees Ecstatically Chanting in New York City Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What is the Aim of My Life? I humbly request you to let me know in short what should I remember always as the aim of my life: To go back to Krishna, to realize my identity as Krishna's eternal servant, or is it something else ? Please help this confused and fallen soul if it pleases you. Hare Krishna Shriram B. Mumbai Answer: Remember that You're Krishna's Servant You should always remember that you are the eternal servant of Krishna. In this way at the time of death you will naturally retu

In the early morning long before dawn when the devotee arises from a refreshing night's slumber he marvels at how Krishna has blessed him with another magnificent day of Krishna consciousness. No matter what is happening in the material world every moment for the devotee is super sweet as he lovingly engages in serving the orders of his bona fide spiritual master, the pure representative of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even if his mind temporarily becomes disturbed by the dual nature of the material energy, he situates himself beyond his mind by chanting Hare Krishna or remembering the Lord, just as a pilot takes his airplane to a higher altitude when he encounters a storm. Thus the devotee continues to dive deeper and deeper into the nectarean mellows of pure devotional service throughout another magnificent Krishna conscious day. In this way he triumphs continually day after day, week after week, year after year and for all of timeless eternity. Sankars

Bliss out or stress out. There is really no middle ground. Either taste the unlimited bliss of Krishna consciousness by diving into the ocean of Krishna prema (pure love of God) or remain stressed out birth after birth in the wheel of samsara. The choice now is yours. You are the master of your own destiny. Your choice does not depend on your material circumstances. It is simply a matter of the heart. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Blissful Hare Krishna Devotees in Argentina Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Spiritual Benefit of Eating? Gurudeva, I have a further query. Does it matter how spiritually advanced the devotee is who is doing the cooking? Does it have any affect on the spiritual benefit that one gets by eating what he has cooked? Neelam Sharma Answer: Krishna Consciousness Transfered The more the devotee who cooks is spiritually advanced, the more spiritual benefit one gets by partaking of what he has cooked. The Krishna consciousness of the cook is transfer

By your very constitution you are meant to enjoy unlimited happiness at every minute. Therefore don't deceive and cheat yourself by foolishly misidentifying yourself with a rotting material body. In such a delusional state you can never be happy in spite of whatever nice arrangements you have made for yourself here in this temporary material world. Therefore you should reawaken your eternal spiritual nature and relish eternally the bliss of loving service to the Supreme Lord in any one of His many forms. Sankarshan Das Adhikari The Bliss of the Spiritual World Awaits You Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What is LSD? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Gurudeva, I have two queries. First: What is LSD? Second: When I chant one round of japa on the beads I feel very tired and don't feel like continuing my japa. Please help me. Your eternal servant, S.S. Answer: A Powerful Hallucinogenic Drug LSD is a powerful hallucinoge

Srila Rupa Goswami, one of the greatest spiritual masters in history, has written many centuries ago that the process of self-realization begins with the tongue. The two functions of the tongue are vibrating sounds and tasting. If one will engage his tongue regularly in vibrating the holy names of God and tasting the remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord with love and devotion, simply through this enjoyable process he will gradually purify his consciousness more and more until he attains the supreme perfection of pure love of God. When we lovingly offer vegetarian foodstuffs to the Lord he accepts them and transforms them from matter into spirit. Just as it is said, "You are what you eat," by eating such sanctified foods one's consciousness is gradually completely spiritualized or transcendentalized. These purified foodstuffs are called the mercy of the Lord. The Sanskrit word for mercy is prasadam. Therefore such wonderful food is called Krishna prasadam. It is the

There is no reason to be in anxiety because it is an artificial state of mind based on ignorance. Those who see things as they are never experience anxiety in any situation. They see the loving hand of Lord Sri Krishna in all situations: the so-called good, bad, beautiful, and ugly, and thus they are never disturbed. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Krishna's Devotee is Free from Anxiety Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: A Devotee Is No One's Enemy? Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada How to understand the following line from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.19.16: "A devotee of the Lord is no one's enemy, although there may be many enemies of a devotee." Humble respects, Sunil Answer: The Devotee Loves Everyone While a person may be inimical towards a devotee, the devotee has no enmity towards him. In other words, the devotee, seeing everyone as part and parcel of the Lord, repays hate with love and is thus most dear to the Lo

Instead of being tossed eternally in the waves of karma you can take control of your destiny and liberate yourself from the wheel of birth and death. Why remain a puppet in the hands of Mayadevi when you can instead be a liberated soul? The choice is yours: sink or swim. If you will take shelter of the Supreme Lord, this will be your last birth in this problematic material world. You will enter into the sublime realm known as Goloka Vrindavan where at this very minute Lord Sri Krishna is eagerly awaiting your return. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Krishna Wants You Back in the Spiritual World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Convince Materialistic People? My Dear Gurudeva, When ever I try to preach Krishna consciousness to mundane people they say although the things are temporary still they will have happy memories about the past. They say that although the family relationships, friendship etc. are temporary they will have happy memories spent with family and fri

Lord Sri Krishna states: icchā-dveṣa-samutthena dvandva-mohena bhārata sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ sarge yānti parantapa "O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate." --Bhagavad-gita 7.27 This is why, just as a prison is naturally filled up with criminals, this material world is naturally filled up with envious, hateful persons. The very reason this material world exists is to give those who are envious by nature a place where they can feel at home and at the same time become rectified of their envious mentality. Prahlada Maharaja, a great pure devotee of the Lord was not happy to see so many people completely entrapped in envy and misery. Therefore he prayed: svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī "May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envio

By Krishna's grace we now have a temporary location for ISKCON Austin until our regular location is repaired from the extensive fire and water damage. It will be probably January before we can move back in. Everyone in this part of the world is invited to attend our regular programs. From now up until 20 August we are celebrating Jhulan Yatra, the swing ceremony of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, every evening starting at 6:00pm. Our regular Sunday Love Feast program happens every Sunday starting at 4:30pm. On August 20 we will celebrate Balarama Jayanti starting at 6:00pm. On August 28 we will celebrate Janmastami followed by Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja on 29 August. Plus every morning we have Mangala Arati, Tulasi worship, and Srimad Bhagavatam class. The address is 1704 Lynnville Trail in north Austin near the intersection of Howard Land and Metric. Our phone number is 512-835-2121. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Temporary Home of ISKCON Austin Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

The material energy is extremely powerful. Therefore, there is no way that we can defeat it by our own puny endeavors. But if we take complete shelter of Krishna, who is the very source of the material energy, we can easily be free from the influence of the material energy. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita as follows: daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te "This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it." -Bhagavad-gita 7.14 So why should we suffer for one minute longer under the stringent grip of the material energy. We should have enough sense to surrender to Krishna immediately. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Krishna Liberates Us From Maya's Influence Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Intelligence Carried to Our Next Body? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisan

In this material world we are all the slaves of our senses. We have no freedom. We are tightly under the grip of our sensual desires. But these desires lead nowhere except to old age, disease, and death and then to another birth again to repeat the same cycle. But if we will serve Krishna instead of serving our rascal desires, we will become liberated souls released from the cycle of repeated birth, death, old age, and disease. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Frees Us From Maya (Illusion) Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Kill Animals for Their Own Good? In reading your answer for why meat eating should not be done a thought came to my mind: Why not sacrifice the animals so that they can be promoted to human life, so at least they have some chance of getting out of cycle of birth and death? In other words, sacrifice for the purpose of promoting them to human life rather than for eating their flesh. Is that provision there? Regards, Vishal P. Answer: Ins

Srila Prabhupada describes in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.21.12: "Real devotees of bhakti-yoga accept only the material necessities of life absolutely needed to maintain the body and soul together; they refrain completely from all exaggerated material sense gratification." This is a very important point. If we overindulge in sense gratification, it is not possible to give up the bodily conception of existence, which keeps us bound up in the cycle of repeated birth and death. Therefore, we should never think that our happiness comes from sense gratification. We must instead always remember that our only true happiness is having a loving relationship with Lord Sri Krishna. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Loving Krishna is Our Only True Happiness Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Some Scriptures Allow Meat Eating? Why some scriptures allow meat eating and others do not? Thank you Vikram Answer: To Discourage Meat Eating Just as the government gives

Srila Prabhupada has very wonderfully described how we can find Krishna in the Vrindavana within our heart: "We have to follow in the footprints of the Goswamis and search out Radha and Krishna in this way. Vrindavana is in our hearts, and we must search for Him there. This is the process recommended by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the process of worship in separation. Feeling separation from Krishna, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would throw Himself into the sea. Sometimes He would leave His room in the dead of night and disappear. No one would know where He had gone, but all the while He was searching after Krishna. Thus it is not that we are to enjoy the loving exchanges between Krishna and Radha like spectators at some sports show. We must feel separation from Them. The more we feel separation, the more we should understand that we are advancing. With our material senses, we cannot see Krishna, nor can we even hear His name. We can begin to perceive Him when we advance in devotional serv

This past weekend the devotees here in Austin were greatly blessed by the transcendental association of His Grace Sriman Vaisesika Das Adhikari, one of ISKCON's wonderful preachers, along with his good wife, Her Grace Srimati Nirakula Devi Dasi. He gave seminars on book distribution to the many devotees who had gathered in Austin to take advantage this opportunity and also took the devotees out for book distribution and public chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. It was a sublime and relishable opportunity for the two of us to share with each other our realizations about the most ecstatic process of Krishna bhakti. Especially sweet was the joint Sunday feast lecture. I led the kirtan and then we each spoke for about half and hour on the glories of talking about Krishna. Next was a question and answer session in which we took turns answering the many wonderful questions that were asked by the devotees. How nice it is to have the association of such exalted Godbrothers as Vaisesika

The sublime books written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are the most profound and powerful books written in the history of the world for the enlightenment, upliftment, and deliverance of the entire human society from the clutches of debilitating darkness, illusion, and confusion. If all the leading thinkers of the world will simply read Srila Prabhupada's books the entire world atmosphere will immediately become greatly changed for the better. Peace and prosperity will become manifest in every corner of the world. Prabhupada's chief work of translation is the Srimad Bhagavatam in which it is very aptly stated in verse 1.3.43: kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa purāṇārko 'dhunoditaḥ "This Bhāgavata Purāna is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkne

It's all too easy to be carried away by maya or illusion because we live in the midst of global society that is completely bewildered by maya. Therefore if we want to attain genuine peace and happiness we must psychologically and philosophically distance ourselves from the material society in which live while at the same time we act within it for earning our livelihoods and for even more importantly compassionately delivering these poor suffering fellows who don't even realize how lost they are. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Devotee Relishing the Bliss of the Holy Names Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Raise Kids With Godly Values? Dear Gurudeva, I read your mails everyday and I thank you so much for this life saving effort! My question is: In this material and internet world where the values are going drastically down how can we raise our kids with great moral and godly values with love and affection? Regards, Venkatesh Answer: Follow These Guideli

This material world is a very stressful place with misery and danger at every step. To be here is like being a man wandering in the desert desperately searching for water so that he will not die of thirst. But if by good fortune one can somehow or other get the association of a devotee of the Lord, his troubles are over because the association of such a great soul is first class stress relief just like an oasis in the desert. Sankarshan Das Adhikari The Bliss of Devotee Association Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Report: A Quick Thank You Dear Guru, Just a quick e-mail to you to say thanks for the past few daily messages. For what ever reason they really hit home, which is good, and they did start me thinking again more clearly. I have started chanting again, not the full sixteen rounds, but it's just nice to hear the mantra which does make me happy. Anyway once again thanks! Hope all is going well over there with you all. Hare Krishna John Answer: Your Report Gi

Five thousand years ago a gigantic snake demon named Aghasura appeared in Vrindavana and swallowed up Krishna's cowherd boy friends to kill them. But they were not at all afraid or in any kind of danger because Krishna was personally there to deliver them. Krishna entered into the gigantic snake and simply by expanding Himself inside within Aghasura's body, the rascal suffocated and died. At the present moment here in ISKCON Austin we are going through a very intense ordeal of carrying on with our routine devotional activities in the wake of the fire that badly damaged our temple building. We are facing so many difficulties that we sometimes feel like we are in the mouth of Aghasura. It is very, very stressful and intense. But we know that everything will be okay because Krishna is with us. We accept our present difficulties as Krishna's special mercy upon us to help us realize more and more that we have no shelter except for Him. In this way we experience peace and happi

This material world, in spite of so many promises of seeming happiness, is ultimately quite a nasty place. Therefore it is inevitable that everyone will sooner or later experience times of intense adversity. In such times of great stress one can either be defeated or he can victoriously survive and thrive. This depends not on the external situation. Rather it depends on his consciousness. If one remains fixed on the ultimate goal of going back to home, back to Godhead, he will utilize the stressful situation to survive and thrive by increasing his resolve to become completely transcendental to this material existence and achieve the ultimate perfection of pure Krishna prema. But if he is still caught up on the plane of false material enjoyment, he will be psychologically devastated. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy In Moscow Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How Can the Finite Realize the Infinite? If Krishna is unlimited and infinite and we

The devotee engages himself and the world around him as fully as possible in the service of Krishna. And whatever is beyond his power to engage in Krishna's service he tolerates. In this way he is peaceful and happy throughout his entire life and in the end he goes back to home, back to Godhead. Due to ignorance only the entire human population is now missing out on this sublime process and is thus suffering like anything. The devotee, therefore, fully dedicates his life to awakening everyone to the sublime process of Krishna consciousness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy In Portland   Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What Meaning to Derive from Material Loss?Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I read about the unfortunate event of fire on your Austin ashram and was very sorry for the material loss and inconvenience following it. It indeed is Krishna's grace that you and Mataj

Just as a light bulb which is not connected with the power source gives out no illumination, in the same way a person who is not connected with the ultimate source of all energies experiences a dull, superficial, ignorant, miserable existence. However, a person who is connected with that original source, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, lives at every minute in a brilliant, ecstatic, super conscious adventure. So now you make your choice whether you want to be connected or disconnected. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy In Toronto Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Extent of Fire Damage? Dear Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumata, I am sorry to hear of the fire at ISKCON Austin, but am overjoyed at the same time that this took place while you were away. It is clear Krishna is protecting you. Did the fire damage any of the Lord's paraphernalia? Were there any deities there? Is there anything I can help contribute to? I hope Krishna has n

True happiness need not remain an elusive butterfly. All you have to do to capture true happiness is be your natural self. Don't try to be something that you are not. Simply be yourself. Of course, to do this you must first of all know who you are. Our modern day educational system is a joke because it does not even teach the first thing about who you are. It is no wonder that people are so miserable and frustrated. You can learn who you are by approaching the bona fide spiritual master. He will teach you that you are not your body, that instead you are the eternal spirit-soul servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he will then teach how to become fully absorbed in your original, natural identity as the servant of God. This will bring you unlimited happiness in an immortal, eternally youthful all-loving existence. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy In Rome Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How Can I Find True Love? I am feeling

Due to the dualistic nature of this material world sometimes things are very pleasant and heavenly and sometimes all hell breaks loose. How do you remain calm, peaceful, and happy in the midst of trying, hellish situations? This can be accomplished if you will practice detachment when things are going nicely. In other words, when things are heavenly don't you try to be the enjoyer. In such circumstances you should remain in the mood of a servant and do everything for the pleasure of Krishna. If you are practiced in this way, you will not be disturbed when things become nightmarish. You will simply continue peacefully and happily doing everything for the pleasure of Krishna without any anxiety about whether you are in a heavenly situation or a hellish situation. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Devotees Ecstatically Chanting Hare Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Specific Prayers for Specific Problems of Specific Individuals My dear Gurudeva, Please accept my hu

This material world is chaotic. But behind the screen of the jumbled material energy there is the beautiful, serene, peaceful orderly dimension of Lord Krishna. If we are to experience real peace and happiness, we will not find it in this crazy, maddened material existence. We will only find it in the wondrous Krishnaloka. How do we unlock the door to enter into that sublime realm? We must chant the holy names of God with love and devotion on a regular daily basis. This devotional chanting is the key which unlocks the door to eternity, knowledge, and bliss. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Chanting Japa Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Animals Liberated from Material World Gurudeva, Please accept my respectful obeisances. The animals do not create any new karma for themselves. I may please be enlightened to my following ignorance: In this case, do animals have the possibility to get liberated after death? Your humble servant, Anil Sarma Answer: They M

Our success in life depends on one thing and one thing only. We must always remain unflinchingly dedicated to four spiritual master no matter what may happen. Dedication to guru means that we must always keep our initiation vows to chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mahamantra along with avoiding illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. We must accept our spiritual master's instructions as our very life and soul and always faithfully abide by them. This guarantees that we will attain spiritual perfection as soon as possible. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Dedication to Sri Guru is Essence of Spiritual Life Srila Prabhupada with Disciples--Venice Beach, Los Angeles--1975 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Do Animals Create Karma? That a person enjoys or suffers as a result of his past pious or impious karma is what we learn from all Vedic literature. Human birth is the top of the cycle out of 8,400,000 species. My doubt is: 1. Does one c

Another lesson to be derived from the fire calamity of ISKCON Austin is that under all circumstances devotional service can go on. We are not dependent on material circumstances to engage in devotional service. For example, many years ago here in the early days of ISKCON Austin we were evicted from our temple building and there was anxiety how our programs would continue if we did not have a building. Srila Prabhupada mercifully reassured us in a wonderful letter that he wrote to us from Delhi, India on 20 November 1971: "It is not so important that you have no temple building just now. The main thing is that somehow or other preaching work goes on and literature is distributed. We are prepared to sleep under a tree, so what is there need for a fancy house?" We are temporarily situated in the home of my disciple, Abhay Charan Das, until we can find a proper rental facility. It could possibly not be until January that our building will be fully repaired and suitable for once