Volume 1

An Anti-Cult Offensive in Poland

Volume 1, Chapter 40 June 26, 1995. Today Prabhavisnu Maharaja left to continue his visit to Central Asia, Govinda Maharaja flew back to Western Europe, and Sri Prahlada and I flew to Moscow. It was difficult having to separate from Govinda Maharaja – we had been through so much together during the past two months. [...]

Ratha-yatra in Novosibirsk

Volume 1, Chapter 39 June 25, 1995. In the morning it seemed as though we would have to do the Ratha-yatra in coats and hats, but the weather changed by midday and we had a wonderful parade through the center of the city which was packed with people participating in the festivities. The beautiful Ratha [...]

The Rostov Temple attacked

Volume 1, Chapter 38 June 24, 1995. This morning at Chelyabinsk we received the most horrible news. The Rostov Temple, which we had visited just a few weeks ago, was attacked by thirty thugs. The attack left fifteen devotees hospitalized. The gang had entered the temple compound in four cars and three motorcycles at 7 [...]

Saintly People with a Holy Father from the West

Volume 1, Chapter 37 June 23, 1995. Today we drove for three hours from Chelyabinsk to Ekaterinburg for a Ratha-yatra, the journey taking us through the thick pine forests of central Russia. As we approached Ekaterinburg, I noticed many poor people picking the natural berries and fruits in the forest. This is one time of [...]

Following in the Footsteps of Srila Prabhupada

Volume 1, Chapter 36 June 22, 1995. I spent several hours meeting my disciples. Because there were more than forty disciples to see I had to limit each darsana to five minutes. It was difficult. each of them desiring to have as much personal association with their spiritual master as possible. Although we often say [...]

Hare Krsna and the latest Dance Fad

Volume 1, Chapter 35 June 21, 1995. I gave class this morning from the Third Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. If I think of the activities I appreciate the most in Krsna Consciousness at this stage of my advancement, I would have to say they are doing kirtana and giving Srimad-Bhagavatam class. Delivering the perfect wisdom of [...]

Exhausted from the Travel but No Time for Being Tired

Volume 1, Chapter 34 June 20, 1995. Today we flew from Siberia to Chelyabinsk in central Russia. Late for the night, the devotee driving us was speeding and taking risks by weaving in and out of the traffic. This was breaking one of my cardinal rules to my disciples – to drive safely and cautiously [...]

Man Proposes, God Disposes

Volume 1, Chapter 33 June 19, 1995. I spent most of the day giving darsanas to my disciples. For many of them it was the first time they had ever spoken to their spiritual master. One young lady, Madhu Priya dasi, told me an interesting story. She had come to my Vyasa-puja celebration in St. [...]

Book Distribution: The Best Training a Devotee Can Get

Volume 1, Chapter 32 June 18, 1995. Today I was faced with a decision whether to go back to Poland when our tour finishes on June 24th or to stay a few more days to give association to my disciples in Moscow, many of whom couldn’t come to my Vyasa-puja celebrations in St. Petersburg. By [...]

A Big Grin and a Tennessee Drawl

Volume 1, Chapter 31 June 17, 1995. Before leaving Almaty, Sri Guru Carana Padma dasi, one of my disciples who had just arrived back from India, told me an interesting story. While in Vrndavana she had met one of the devotee ladies who had traveled in my group up the Amazon River seven years ago. [...]