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Padayatra América
Sept/Oct 2004
After 3 months of resting and gearing up, the shoes of the horses in place with a healthy hoof we leave "Los Indios" Oct 3rd. During this time many people have had the opportunity to come in touch with the Lord and render some aspect of devotional service towards the mission, some more than others. Considering our situation- no transportation, no facility, not even water- it has been extremely extremely difficult to communicate with the outside world to organize supplies, website / reports, spanish books, etc. We have relied on the kind help of several local families especially Ms. Diane Gonzalez and Mrs. Dora Pena and their family- who kindly went out of their way to facilitate the mission and thus engage in devotional service.
Finally after some research our security guards are in position- "Buddha" an Akita/German shepherd mix and "Parvata" a Great Pyraneese from France who are bred as guardian dogs for ranchesThe Pyraneese are especially known for traveling with livestock herds (sheep, goats, etc) and are nocturnal, which is perfect ofr us as this is when we require attention. Definitely to have dogs in the party impart respect.
A lot of laxmi has gone out in organizing our 3rd trek USA/Mexico border-Costa Rica (approximately 1,700 miles). We are unsure how we will support export/import fees for 5 more countries and all other expenses at this rate.....nonetheless this program belongs to the Lord and surely He will provide at the proper moment. We just have to set out.
On Oct 2 we were supposed to leave in the afternoon- however Candrabhaga had to contact her mother and somehow or other the phone wasn´t available until evening so we have to wait one more day.Hare Krsna... Suddenly we hear from the forest "HARIBOL!" Bhakta Jonathon & Pepe arrive unexpectedly- somehow they made it. (We had been told some 5 weeks ago that 2 new members had left Mexico City temple to join us...but nothing, nothing) Lord Nrsimhadeva again reaffirm us with His guidance that He doesn´t forget us. If we leave yesterday, they would not have met us here; and the Lord knows how much we need some help!
Sunday- we leave at 7am under auspicious rainy skies filled with rainbow spectrums- a glorious reception courtesy of the demigods.
Sri Sri NitaiGaurasundara ki jaya!
After just one week on the road we see the results are ecstatic; already 4 newspapers, television. Our movements are smooth, our party reinforced, more Harinam is regular. Everybody wants something from us. The people are simple and pious- they inquire about the Deities with respect, look at and even pray to the Them; very easily they can relate. Everywhere we go people aglomerate around the wagon to hear, to see, or just to hang around.
Thousands in the small towns and villages -even a few big towns now (bigger than any in the US) are recieving information flyers, KC books, prasadam and hearing the chanting.
Kana and Balaji steady like always, security department work well; they are friendly but bark at night keeping people reluctant to approach. The bhaktas are busy all day with people; Candrabhaga is learning Spanish quickly and often you see her preaching to a crowd.
As we approached San Fernando, the policia escorted us into town (a lot of hills) and we spend the night at the local Catholic church. As the sun was going down all the villagers came to hear- after some time we had to ask them to leave, but invite them for the morning service....10 people showed up for the whole program- and more came and went. Very appreciative they came and participated- even one lady ask if she can touch the feet of the Deity (well, that was a little too much) but they got all kinds of mercy from the Lord. The kirtana was sweet... moving on through San Fernando
9-13
After san Fernando a huge surprise- 180 kms of nothing else but arid lands, cactus and a few houses. The roads are the worse so far- up & down and extremely narrow. Kana & Balaji can manage, steady as always the Lord´s trustworthy servants.
Tuesday was another experience / reaffirmation of Krsna consciousness.
It was 3 pm- I was feeding the horses across the street from the wagon (without needing an extravagant rest area, we simply pulled off at the proper time to rest for the afternoon few feet from the highway- horses one side under shade, wagon the other). Suddenly we heard an explosion just 500 feet from the place we parked, 2 pick-up trucks smash each other from the front and 2 more behind them who coulnd´t stop in time. One of the trucks passed us swirling out of control and a second car went to the side and bumped the wagon in the back tire.
candrabhaga write:
"I had just made the afternoon lunch offering to the Deity and was chanting Gayatri mantras with my head down. It was sunny and hot- I was groggy. A loud cracking sound, and the rumble of grinding asphalt- I feel the wagon hit- what´s happened? Without curiosity I simply look at the Deity, who is fresh and cool despite the chunks of asphalt & broken glass all across the altar and on the offering trays/food. Without hesitating we begin cleaning everything and chanting the holy name to keep the mind in reality. We are still alive by the mercy of the Lord so continue with your duties. Someone is crying deliriously in pain a few hundred feet away. After completing I go to give some sacred water and the holy name maha-mantra card. Funny, people look surprised as they drive by slow- but this happens all the time, and can at any moment. Knowing this- seeing this, again reminded by the Lord; we remain foolish to be attached to temporary things."
The result 3 trucks destroyed, one man mangled in a wreck ( it took a 22-wheel semi truck to pull apart the door to release his legs) others injured, our party ok! by the mercy of Lord Nrsimhadeva- just a strong realization that "padam padam vipadam" there is danger at every step- and every minute might be the last one. Therefore let´s engage in devotional service to God- the ultimate reality. Let´s try to glorify Krsna. It may be the last moment....who is old?? Old age is supposed to mean close to death. but who is old? If a 5 year old boy dies today & I see a 90 year old person walking down the street- who is old? The boy was older because he died today. And today may be our last day- only Krsna knows- but in padayatra it is one day of reviving our eternal relationship with the Lord.
We finish cleaning and honor prasadam. It is almost 1 & half hours before the ambulance and police arrive as we continue walking pn our way toward Soto La Marina.
15-25
We cross into the tropical zone, the humidity is raising and the lands are more fertile.
The Pena family visit us on the road- driving some 300 kms . We have a nice visit and take prasadam together. Mrs. Dora told me "I will keep you in my prayers...I am chanting almost one round everyday, and have lerned the mantra"
Hare KRsna! moving on....
The roads are very difficult, many ups and downs -like material life...
After Soto La MArina we see many more villages. We stop in San Gilberto- and a traditional padayatra scene manifests: dirt roads, pigs, chickens in the yards. We rest the horses under the shade trees outside someone´s yard in the path and all day the families are coming with vegetables, fruits, milk, questions. One lady said: "I live in the next village, I will wait for you with some corn [from her garden]"
In the afternoon, after walking a few kms at the end of a big hill to our surprise we saw at least half the village waiting for NitaiGaurasundara´s mercy with all kinds of bags in their hands. As soon as we stopped they practically lunged forward to place them in front of the saints (as they call the Deities). One mother brought her children and put one on the wagon , and she immediately went to try to touch the Deity. She asked them to give "persinar" towards the Deity, which is something we are now regularly seeing. It is a tradition of the Catholic church and it signifies sentiments of humility and respect for God, and done by placing the hands on the body in the sign of a cross.
It was quite a beautiful reception, we must leave as the sun comes low and everyone is fully grateful the Lord has come to their village.
People appreciate the message, and frequently inquire about the altar. They go away captivated by the beauty of Sri Sri NitaiGaurasundara. One lady recalls-- "My first impression is of something completely different, but honestly there is some purity- something very strong and unique that attract me, making me feel that this is something where God is!"
Jaya! Parama Karuna NitaiGauracandra
We cross many more villages- most of them named after different saints- San Geronimo, San Lucas, Santa Clara, etc. We cross a school and the teacher asks us to please stop (for a "few minutes") and share our mission with the school. Suddenly there were 150 boys & girls between 14-18 years and several teachers around the wagon. I took the microphone and introduced the program- always pointing out the importance of sacrifice ourself for the pleasure of God, therfore making Him the center of our life and introduce the maha-mantra as a prayer for glorifying God. It is not easy to keep so many jivas in the middle of a parking lot in full attention for too long -therefore I spoke only 10 minutes that everyone was in attention; then some questions and 10 minutes of kirtana. Some of the students want books to read more, we have brochures and most of them came foward to give coin donations, and we distributed some fruits that had been offered to the Deities. Everyone was attracted, and the teachers came foward to shake our hand and wish us well. I thank everybody and we move on....HAre Krsna.
At night we meet one member of the charros association of cowboys in Aldama. He proposes an idea of welcoming us into Aldama....
We won´t reach there until tomorrow -but he suggests meeting us 6 kms before town. We agree, and in the morning we move steadily towards town. At the time of stopping I was not able to find a suitable shade with water. We continue another few kilometers and find a stretch of tall trees ahead- so we plan to pull off. As we arrive to the spot we find yet another arrangement of the Lord, a public high school. Hare KRsna! the festival begins. Students & teachers flooded us from all sides. The literature is "flying" and today we ran out of books. People want beads, pictures, books, anything we can give them in relation to the "santitos" (the Deities) They were inquisitive!! and want to know about everything. Bhakta Jonathon was fired up to be preaching to the young people. We had a kirtana, and spent 5 hours there then tic tic tac tac- a group of charros arrive with their horses to escort the program and the Lord into town. Hare KRsna!
With the police in front, the charros in front of us- a nice Harinam at the wagon (one family had decided to walk with us for sometime) and a few trucks in the back. They paraded us into their place and invited us to stay the night. Of course, we oblige - such a grande & sweet reception. All the people who witnessed the procession become captivated and for the next 40 hours the whole neighborhood came bringing all kinds of gifts including fruits, tropical flowers (and crafted flowers) and money. We had visitors starting from mangala-arotik all day long. People are asking "when will be the spiritual chanting?" Everybody wants something (and are not shy to ask) incense, flyers, cards. In the first three weeks at least 1,500 pieces of literature has gone out.
Now we have to see what kind of arrangement the Lord has for getting more books for the eager Mexican population.
We leave Aldam with another procession, leaving friends touched by Krsna consciousness.
Moving on....
HARE KRSNA
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