Living For Krishna: 01/01/2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A Bike Ride To Venice Beach: Los Angeles CA

Today I decided to put some use into my grandfather's old bike that my dad brought for me. I rode the bike all the way to Venice Beach. It was quite a distance. It took me about 45 minutes to an hour to get there by bike. I got back just in time as it was getting dark. It gets dark here around 5pm. When it gets lighter in the evening I can spend more time at the beach.

When I got to the beach, there really wasn't anyone there, only a few people either walking or jogging along the water's edge. I then went down to the water myself to catch the nice breeze that was coming in. It was not too hot and not too cold. I can hardly wait for it to be lighter out in the evenings again so that I can come to the beach and maybe chant some japa or read the Bhagavad Gita out on the beach. It's a good meditating place esepcially if no one is around you. I walked along the water's edge for about 15 minutes enjoying the sea breeze. It was a bit windy and my hair was pretty much flying behind me as I was walking. I noticed along the shore were a lot of seashells and empty clam shells. I found this really interesting looking seashell that looks like it has a flower imprinted on it! I never saw one like that before. Here is what it looks like you have to look really close at it because it's kind of faded.

So I had a nice visit at the beach. No one there bothered me at all. I had a safe journey there and back. However on the way back I saw this red car speeding down Venice BLVD like a maniac! He must have been going at least 80 miles per hour! People now a days are crazy driving! What is this world coming to? That's Kali Yuga for you. Im happy Lord Caitanya brought us Krishna's Holy Names so as to stay sane in this world and try to get out of it to go back to Him. This world would be a lot more peaceful if people out in the world could surrender to Krishna but it's the devotee's job to go out and try to distribute Prabhupada's books to help people surrender to Krishna to make it a safer place.

Today's Darshan Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish 1-31-2011

Yesterday's Darshan of Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish 1-30-2012

Yesterday's Darshan 1-30-2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Harinam Party Santa Monica 1-27-2012

I managed to go to the harinam last night. I had missed out twice on two harinams due to back problems. So I took an asprin for my back last night and today so that I am not in too much pain whenI go.

This time there was at least 40 of us devotees that went on this harinam. It was a lot of fun. There were these group of young boys that saw us and joined in on the dancing. Other people just stood by and watched. I over heard some girls asking what the deal was with the way we were dressed and why the men had sikhs. I was just joining in on the dancing. We've been told that people will make some nasty remarks about us because we are different but we are to ignore those nasty comments and just continue to glorify Krishna and let everyone hear His Holy Names. I often hear some of those nasty comments and i just let it go one ear and out the other. Now had this been four years ago when I was new to the movement it would have bothered me a great deal but I have gotten over that fear of what other people think of me being in the KC movement. In some ways I have learned tolerance but there are somethings that I still need to learn to be tolerant with though however.

Anyway at 7pm we walked down the street to where we have another spot where we sing and dance. for the second half of the harinam I decided to attempt book distribution again. For about a half hour to an hour I handed out yellow cards that advertises our temple on it. I was almost giving up hope on distributing some books because no one seemed interested. Until suddenly a young man about my age maybe younger asked me if I can have one of those yellow cards I gladly gave him one. He asked if he could have a book, and I kindly told him that we ask for a very small donation for the books. Unfortunately he couldn't get one but he said thank you. Then I noticed this tall late middle aged man standing there watching us for the last half hour. I decided to go up to him. I said hello and asked him how he was doing. He was very friendly with me when I approached him. I gave him one of our yellow cards and showed him the books. I explained a little bit about the books to him. He wanted two of them and he gave a nice donation of $20.00. I gave him the third book I had in my hand. He had gotten a Bhagavad Gita, Bhakti Yoga, and Nectar of Devotion book. I was quite surprised he took the books but I was very happy. I hope Srila Prabhupada was pleased and Krishna too. I kept hoping that Krishna would send someone who would want the books and He did send someone. Something is better than nothing is how I look at this.

Doing book distribution is also helping me to get rid of my shyness but some of the shyness is still there however but as far as approaching strangers, that's getting a bit better because I am finding that most people are polite even the ones who don't believe in religion or don't want the books. I am still kind to those who do not wish to hear about Krishna and I just simply wish them a good night and move on to the next person who may be interested.

Over all it was a fun harinam. Tonight it's off to Hollywood Harinam. :)