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| | Enviado Sábado, 08 de Enero de 2005 - 10:59 pm: |  |
April 24
We make it to Highway 98 west, just 4 miles from Mississippi and nearly 85 miles from New Talavana dhama/ farm community, where we plan to stop briefly.
Viththalesvar prabhu is dressing the Lord, and even on this hot day looks very fresh.
Tulasi Devi is growing nicely now after a month of temperatures reaching down to 30-40° at night. We would keep her in bucket wrapped in cloth in the backside (covered) part of the wagon; and in the sun during the day. Sometimes we have to keep her in the bucket during the day in the sun if there was heavy wind (and from the big whoosh of the cargo trucks). She is flourishing now, enjoying the warmer weather.
Oh, Jwala Nrsimha, lead us through the roads of USA, Mexico, Central America, South America and from there wherever You desire.
If the Lord desires to go, nobody can stop Him, and i pray to simply participate as His servant, and with a proper consciousness move on....
Hare Krsna.
In a small town very close to the border, Mr. Al Brooks invites to stay at his place for a few days.
The interaction was very sweet, and Mr. Al agreed that there is more to religion than sectarianism. We were surprised to meet Mr. Al on his way back from Dallas a few days later on the road (he drives a cargo truck). While taking morning prasadam he related an experience that while at a “revival” (very common in the Christian community-a gathering outside the regualr Sunday services) he experimented with the chanting of Hare Krsna, and was extremely pleased to discover it to be “of the same spirit”. Haribol!! He left with some beads for chanting (japa mala) and a Srimad Bhagavatam (first canto.) We hope his experience will grow and grow!! *F3 0083
May 2004
Mississippi-Louisiana
Along our way, we stopped in New Talavana community- Carrierre, MS.
For 2 weeks where we received necessary supplies to continue and observed a festival for Lord Nrsimhadeva.
Candrabhaga writes:
“stopping in a temple community was just as busy as being on the road. Still we were meeting with people, caring for the Deities, cathcing up in the communications department, researching roads and routes in Central America, shoeing horses, repairing paraphenalia-and i realized that this is the aspiration of a devotee...to be 24 hours a day engaged in devotional activities. Padayatra is such a rare instance to afford full time engagement and wholeheartedly i am feeling more and more thankful for such a fortunate opportunity.”
Here on the farm, everyone is receptive and they all have helped out in so many different ways. And we have seen the devotional attitude toward welcoming the Deities onto the main community altar.
The heat of summer is coming on now, more humidity.
We leave the farm on the 12th of May. It´s raining everyday for the last week now and getting wet is just part of our daily activities. 15th May brings us into Louisiana. As we come over the bridge on a rare and glorious sunny afternoon, we celebrated by throwing of fragrant magnolia flowers. The local newspaper welcomed us and the next day published a thoughtful article.
Many people greet us as we go through town the next day, recognizing the yellow wagon from the front page of the newspaper, bringing donations. As we stop at the local farm and feed store, the owner greets us with a smile (along with all the workers) and happily fills us up with food for the horses (no charge).
The holy name is distributed, lots of literature, new friends leave behind....Hare Krsna moving on....
Going west on route 10 towards the great Mississipppi River, we are coming close and a police gentleman informs us that there is no bridge- only a ferry. At this point we don´t have many options. There are 3 bridges over the River- New Orleans (completely impossible); Baton Rouge -still a large city; or 100 miles north up back through Mississippi state out of the way. The Lord will have to make some arrangement- either they let us on the ferry or help us to find a truck.
On the afternoon of May 25th we pull off the road for our afternoon rest break as usual. The owner came and welcomed us, and even went so far as to call the local sherriff Mr. Daniels who is very fond of horses. Being sympathetic to the mission, the local people were able to get us across the ferry the very next morning.
Mr. Bryant of St. Francisville, LA graciously invited us to his home, and the next morning carried the horses and enlisted other individuals to carry the wagon over the old Mississippi River; within 45 minutes we were across!! Hare Krsna, moving on!
The local people had told us “on the other side is another world”. This side of the river
has french descendents, and for the first time in our journey we see the Catholic church predominant; everywhere we are seeing the deity of Virgin Mary. The Catholic tradition presents more wisdom towards Krsna consciousness, in the sense that they have concepts of “parampara” (a disciplic sucsession) and Deity worship- essential in our progress toward a transcendental loving relationship based on service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We even crossed a pilgrimage of devout Catholics one afternoon of probably 100 people walking down the highway on way to route 190.
Moving on....lots of swamps, mosquitos, horse flys, the temperature is 90° and humid. The austerities in heat or cold are always a source of purification.
Candrabhaga writes:
“padayatra is that unique opportunity to very soon attain the result of lifetimes of purification, it is very sublime. In previous ages, austerities and penance were the process by which one was able to reawaken or discover our purpose or duty as a living entity. Now, as civilization has degraded and all sources of discipline become next to impossible for the general person, the Lord has declared that simply chant His names and perform some kind of devotional practice throughout your life. Here, on padayatra we are broadcasting this message- and the Lord is pleased with the sacrifice and inconveniences we are undertaking to do that. Therefore He awards “causeless mercy”. It was said by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura “don´t try to see God, but act in such a way that God sees you.” Devotional service is the means by which to attract the Lord, not austerities- but if by your austerities you can please the Lord- you w!ill get mercy.”
We are coming close to Texas.
As we come over the border, immediately we will see the congestion of Houston- the biggest city of the state and 4th largest in the US. A nice couple came one afternoon and suggested to take the coastal route through Port Arthur and Galveston Island. This is the only way to “avoid” Houston, but the only way onto the Island is a 30 minute ferry ride across the ocean. We will go in that direction, and if the Lord blesses us in 10 days we can pass the congestion of the metropoliton area and then it will be time to work out the veterinery papers for the horses to cross the Mexico border.
Hare Krsna
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