Jan 16, 2015 — NEW YORK (SUN) —
PAMHO AGTSP
July 6, 2003 2332
Dear Gurudeva,
I had a busy day today. I chanted my rounds at home. I went to another Queens Ratha Yatra, this time in Elmhurst, held at the Bengali Hindu Mandira. It's an externally small temple tucked away on a little side street across from an elevated section of the Long Island Rail Road tracks.
Their Lordships rode on the back of a small pick-up truck on a nicely decorated vyasasana. They rode up and down the street in front of the temple with many devotees chanting the Holy Names.
Of course, like many Ratha Yatras I have attended, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra had their fun by stalling the chariot and stopping all movement so that the Vaisnavas could spend more time chanting and dancing. Afterwards there was a very nice kirtan and prasadam feast inside and outside of the temple.
I was blessed to receive Lord Jagannatha's crown.
In the evening I went to RGM to associate with the devotees and try to sell my videos. I heard from Narada Rsi prabhu that your vyasapuja may be held in New York City this year.
PAMHO AGTSP
July 7, 2003 2400
Dear Gurudeva,
I chanted my rounds at Radha Govinda Mandira this morning and heard Srimad Bhagavatam class and honored prasadam. Jayadvaita swami is visiting with a large group of young devotees.
I spent most of the day with Bhagavatananda prabhu. We investigated some advertisements for how to attain free money via government grants. We went to an address listed in Brooklyn by someone claiming knowledge of expediting the lengthy process.
It was just your typical residential brownstone. We rang the bell and were welcomed into the apartment of a young woman who said she placed the advertisement. While attempting to discuss with her the subject of grants it became obvious to both Bhagavatananda dasa and myself that she had no real information to offer us other than some publicly available pamphlets.
What she really wanted to discuss with us were her plans to become the first Archbishop of the planet Venus! She pointed to a small, round, saucer-shaped electric clock/radio and said it was just a mock-up of the vehicle she planned to utilize to make the trip. She even claimed to have held private discussions with the president of the U.S.A. and received his permission to make the endeavor.
Later we spent some time with Bhakta Jerry. He is a long time devotee. He used to sell prasadam from a truck on Broadway near Wall Street. He was selling there on September 11, 2001 when tragedy struck. He told us what he went through - running for his life, taking shelter inside a bank vestibule which filled up with all sorts of choking blinding fallout from the twin towers - and how it has had such devastatingly detrimental effects on his body.
PAMHO AGTSP
July 8, 2003 2319
Dear Gurudeva,
Today I chanted at home. I stayed home all day. My grandson came for a visit. He loves to chant the Holy Names, as I've mentioned, and as soon as he saw me he asked for his "dun-dun" (mrdanga) and to see "Hari Hari" (video of kirtan) on my tv. He spent a while chanting and dancing and watching. It was the highlight of my week.
PAMHO AGTSP
July 9, 2003 2017
Dear Gurudeva,
I am still on the planet, at least physically, today. I am sitting in the lobby of RGM across from Bhagavatananda dasa, Adi Deva prabhu, Madhu Kanya devi dasi, and Bhakta Cosmo jr. Devotees of Sri Sri Radha Govinda are walking in the front door and going to the temple room to join the bhajans. Some are going up and down the stairs. Some are coming out of the temple room. Some are going in and out of Govinda's Boutique. It's all about Krishna.
Two devotees from Argentina just sat down on the couch next to me. They do sankirtan every day to collect for their project in South America. A third devotee is standing in front of us.
I heard today that you are going to be in Towaco, New Jersey on August 18 and 19. I hope I will be able to see you and hear from you. I am still fallen. But you know that. I am still unemployed with few prospects except that I still desire service to Guru and Krishna.
PAMHO AGTSP
July 13, 2003 1348
Dear Gurudeva,
How are you feeling today? I missed a few days of writing to you so I will give you a brief description of events.
July 10 - I did some small service in the home of Surrotama prabhu. I helped him install wall tiles in the bathroom and we also disconnected and removed an old dishwasher from the kitchen. His wife Nakula devi dasi fed us a nice Ekadasi prasadam feast.
July 11 - I spent the entire day at the public assistance office in Long Island City. In the evening I brought a friend to the evening program at 26 2nd Avenue. It was her first time in a vaisnava temple. She liked it very much. She told me she liked the energy of the kirtan, the spice of the prasadam, and the lecture. She wants to return next week.
Yesterday was spent at the library and at home copying Ratha Yatra videos. Today I am making more video copies, doing laundry and later I will go to RGM if Krishna allows me.
PAMHO AGTSP
July 14, 2003 2205
Dear Gurudeva,
How are you today? Last night I went to RGM for the Sunday love feast. Since I have no phone at home I used the payphone in the temple to call Akrura prabhu. We plan to see you in New Jersey next month if you are there. We also hope to visit Gita Nagari for their Ratha Yatra. Romapada swami gave the Sunday feast lecture.
During the feast I gave Sundarangi devi dasi some of my writings to correct and evaluate. Bushara prabhu and Madhu Kanya devi dasi gave me their association. I also associated with Surrotama dasa and Caturvyuha prabhu.
Sri Sri Radha Govinda wore a bright yellow summer outfit. Spectacular!
PAMHO AGTSP
July 15, 2003 2158
Dear Gurudeva,
I pray that your health is good today. I chanted most of my japa on a long walk home from Queens Plaza under a hot noonday sun. I was in that part of Queens for my second day at the Goodwill Job Center. I was tested for Mathematics and English language skills. Tomorrow will be resume preparation. When I got home I exercised my body and did some cleaning.
PAMHO AGTSP
July 16, 2003 2233
Dear Gurudeva,
Today I was at Goodwill all day. A whole group of persons, including myself, were given an orientation on how the whole system of resources at this facility can be used for job searches, resume preparation, etc... I chanted japa at home, on the street, and on a bus. I did not go to RGM for the evening program in order to save carfare for Friday (26 2nd Ave.) and Sunday (RGM).
PAMHO AGTSP
July 17, 2003 1337
Dear Gurudeva,
How are you feeling today? I am sitting in a waiting room with a lot of other people at 233 Schermerhorn Street. It's a public assistance office. They are going to check all the papers and documents that I have in order to determine for themselves who and what I am. Another waste of precious time.
I am just a block away from RGM. I've chanted all my rounds, half of them while I was here.
I think I am doing the wrong thing. I should be using my vending license but... I'm too shy? Timid? No guts? No self-confidence?
No faith in Krishna.
Procrastinating and hiding from reality. Ostrich with head firmly planted in a hole in the ground.
