The Hare Krishna International Restaurant and Guest House
BY: MADHAVADASA DAS
Dec 19, CANADA (SUN) — I believe that Srila Prabhupada wants me to travel to different temples and do what I am doing. What I read, what I remember him telling me, and the correlation of events that I am experiencing all support my conviction that I am on the right path.
I’m now in ISKCON Murari Sevak, Mulberry, TN with Rama Vigraha and his wife. This morning, they took me on a tour of the farm in the rolling hills of Tennessee, southeast of Nashville. My arriving here was an adventure that only Krishna could have choreographed.
Because there are only two devotees living here, it is hard to reach the community by phone. So there was no way for me to get directions yesterday. Instead, I downloaded a map from MapQuest and ended up on a hilly serpentine rock road at 11:30 PM near a farm that looked like it might be the place. But I did not drive unto the property because, if I were wrong, I might get someone upset, get myself arrested, or even get shot. There was no sign, but I thought that this might be an unfortunate no sign of the times, another example of our lack of accommodation for visitors.
I am finding fault with the devotees in America, but the faults are also mine. Krishna was always there to help me had I ever wanted to dedicate my time to creating better accommodations for new and visiting devotees. Instead, I was lamenting and hankering after the illusory satisfaction of the mind and senses.
My attempts to reach Murari Sevak by phone continued to fail, and I spent the night sleeping on an air mattress in my car, chanting Hare Krishna, playing a large four-hole bamboo flute that I purchased, along with transcendental gifts, from DAS, the mystical, musical, sweet madman in Atlanta.
Playing the flute reminds me of Krishna, but I haven’t played the flute much since I joined Prabhupada’s movement, largely because so many of my Godbrothers criticized that I would have been trying to imitate Krishna. If any of us could remember the sound of Krishna’s flute, I am sure no one could think I was trying to imitate Him.
Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Antya 16.125
venu dhrishta-purusha hana, purushadhara piya piya,
gopi-gane janaya nija-pana
aho suna, gopi-gana, bale pino tomara dhana,
tomara yadi thake abhimana
TRANSLATION
"That flute is a very cunning male who drinks again and again the taste of another male's lips. It advertises its qualities and says to the gopis, 'O gopis, if you are so proud of being women, come forward and enjoy your property -- the nectar of the lips of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'
Shri Krshna’s flute, a cunning male, drinks… drinks Shri Krishna’s nectared lips,
And then informs the Gopis. His regale:
“If you have pride of womanhood, hear this and then do as you should;
Come claim your property of sweetest bliss.”
Poetic rendering by Madhavadasa Das
I was very comfortable and peaceful there in the semi-darkness of the what might be Near-Murari night; but I couldn’t sleep. So, I listened to Shruti Kiriti’s lecture on remembering Prabhupada. It was unaccustomedly comforting to hear that Shrila Prabhupada slept very little at night. He would say that for old men, sleep is often difficult. He could only sleep for a few hours at a time. For the past seven or more years, I have also been unable to sleep much a night without the assistance of medication. For a few years I used to drink hot milk at night and soak my feat in hot water. But somehow, in my estranged family life, that became too troublesome, and I started using medication. Now, I find that I prefer to stay up at night and rest once or twice during the day. The day is too full of passion and activity. Night time is more suitable for reflection and writing. I think if I could engage in more Hari Nama Sankirtana, more of the daytime would be just as attractive to me.
I also listened to the excellent reading of Shrimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter Two from www.Sadhusanga.com. “Prabupada Bhajans” CDV 04-1 of The Vintage Series of Prabhupada’s music MP3s is, for me, the sweetest most mellow recording I have ever heard of Prabhupada simply chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krihsna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare. He sings slowly and with deep feeling while he accompanies himself on the harmonium. “Ei nama gaya Gaurdachand madhur svare.” Prabhupada is singing that Lord Chatanya is singing the holy names in a sweet voice, and thus both he and Lord Chaitanya are tasting the endless nectarean ocean of the sweetness of the Holy Name.
After sunrise, I drove back to town, parked for a few minutes by the Best Western motel in Lafayette (I recommend it highly for those who are shy of such adventures as sleeping on airbags in cars in strange country neighborhoods) downloaded another map, this time from Google, and set out a second time to find my way in the light of day. Once again, I was lead across a narrow serpentine hilly rock road the wended its way though now more gorgeous landscapes, providing an adventure and delight that I can associate only with the lotus face of that King of Dvaraka who decorates the front cover of the BTG reflecting in my windshield from the dark dash of my car.
But then, again, the Internet directions went awry. Left appeared to be right, right left, and neither seemed correct. I tried calling Murari several times, to no avail. I was resigned to despair. I could never get there.
Then the phone rang, and it was Rama Vigraha. But the signal was broken and I could not understand him, or even recognize his voice. I tried to call back, but could not get a connection. Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna can be so exasperating!
But then, finally, we connected. I read the name of the next road sign I saw to Rama Vigraha.
Preston Road.
“You are at Preston Road?!” his voice danced warmly and excitedly. “Oh, then you are almost here. It is a dead end.”
“It’s a dead end?” I despaired.
“Just come down the road Prabhu a few miles, and you will see our sign. We’ll see you in a few minutes, because you will be here.”
MapQuest, Google Maps, and Yahoo Maps somehow had unconsciously conspired to hide Murari Sevak from my discovery. But Krishna’s inconceivable mercy had greeted me.
[ I just visited AverageSoul.net and downloaded this video. Please watch it. You might want to grab some tissues first. ]
The Hare Krishna International Guest House and Restaurant. The world is desperate.
