Srila Prabhupada remained with us at the Kaaawa Beach house for over a month. When he first arrived, he saw that Goursundar was working so hard, at two jobs, “just to maintain.” In one lecture, he commented that “I see my disciple, Goursundar das, such an educated boy, so highly qualified, and knowing Sanskrit, still he has to work all day just to maintain. And he comes home, late evening, all energy spent!” This troubled Srila Prabhupada, as he wanted us to preach and open centers in Hawaii.
Prior to Prabhupada’s arrival, I also was working as an executive secretary in a large insurance firm. But when Srila Prabhupada’s telegram arrived, I gave notice at my job, so I could stay home and care for him properly. We were new to the Islands, having only been in Hawaii a few months, so we were struggling to pay for the basics such as rent, food, and utilities.
So, Srila Prabhupada, while staying with us in Kaaawa, saw the difficulties we faced in opening a center in Hawaii. He called upon Lord Krishna to help us, and it is nothing short of a miracle that we were able to move forward as we did; it was all by his blessings. It is all His doing. We are mere puppets in the Hands of the Master Puppeteer. Srila Prabhupada taught this by his own example.
Though he achieved grand success in his mission to the West, and certainly received great fame and honor, Srila Prabhupada never claimed to have done anything by himself. He would always say, “I have simply tried to execute the order of my Guru Maharaj, that’s all.” He taught us that, in this way, with this mentality, we will get the blessings of Guru.
This must be our mood in all endeavors, whether there is success or failure. It is our sincerity that counts. We should never think, “I am the doer.” “Oh, I have done this.” “This is MY success!” We should always consider that everything is happening by the grace of our Guru Maharaj. In this way, we will get the blessings of God and Guru.
We must remain grateful in all circumstances, success or failure, because ultimately, everything is up to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada taught this on a daily basis. He remained humble and simple, and always honored his Guru Maharaj and gave any and all credit to him.
So, before leaving for Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada instructed us to now concentrate our full efforts in preaching work, and Krishna would provide for everything. And He did.
Quite miraculously, Jayasri joined us very soon after, and helped support our little temple. Then Balabhadra received an inheritance that enabled us to eventually purchase a big three story house near the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. These events could easily be seen as miracles, for we were two twenty-somethings who had no idea how to open a temple, much less spread Krishna consciousness all over the Hawaiian Islands.
Whatever success was there is only due to Srila Prabhupada’s blessings upon us, and his special request that Krishna help us. Our efforts were sincere, but to be successful the blessings of God and Guru are essential.
So very soon after Srila Prabhupada left, Goursundar quit his job, and I also did not go back to my secretarial work. We focused entirely on preaching work as he instructed.
Just after Srila Prabhupada left for his travels, another new boy joined us, named Tony. He was initiated by mail with the name, Turya das Brahmachary. As was the system in those days, Srila Prabhupada would initiate a disciple “by mail,” sending a letter and beads, along with the initiated name. Then, Goursundar would perform a small fire sacrifice, as a ritvik priest, acting on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. There was a clear understanding that this was a formal ceremony only, and the disciples were clearly Srila Prabhupada’s disciples.
Prior to Prabhupada’s arrival, I also was working as an executive secretary in a large insurance firm. But when Srila Prabhupada’s telegram arrived, I gave notice at my job, so I could stay home and care for him properly. We were new to the Islands, having only been in Hawaii a few months, so we were struggling to pay for the basics such as rent, food, and utilities.
So, Srila Prabhupada, while staying with us in Kaaawa, saw the difficulties we faced in opening a center in Hawaii. He called upon Lord Krishna to help us, and it is nothing short of a miracle that we were able to move forward as we did; it was all by his blessings. It is all His doing. We are mere puppets in the Hands of the Master Puppeteer. Srila Prabhupada taught this by his own example.
Though he achieved grand success in his mission to the West, and certainly received great fame and honor, Srila Prabhupada never claimed to have done anything by himself. He would always say, “I have simply tried to execute the order of my Guru Maharaj, that’s all.” He taught us that, in this way, with this mentality, we will get the blessings of Guru.
This must be our mood in all endeavors, whether there is success or failure. It is our sincerity that counts. We should never think, “I am the doer.” “Oh, I have done this.” “This is MY success!” We should always consider that everything is happening by the grace of our Guru Maharaj. In this way, we will get the blessings of God and Guru.
We must remain grateful in all circumstances, success or failure, because ultimately, everything is up to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada taught this on a daily basis. He remained humble and simple, and always honored his Guru Maharaj and gave any and all credit to him.
So, before leaving for Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada instructed us to now concentrate our full efforts in preaching work, and Krishna would provide for everything. And He did.
Quite miraculously, Jayasri joined us very soon after, and helped support our little temple. Then Balabhadra received an inheritance that enabled us to eventually purchase a big three story house near the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. These events could easily be seen as miracles, for we were two twenty-somethings who had no idea how to open a temple, much less spread Krishna consciousness all over the Hawaiian Islands.
Whatever success was there is only due to Srila Prabhupada’s blessings upon us, and his special request that Krishna help us. Our efforts were sincere, but to be successful the blessings of God and Guru are essential.
So very soon after Srila Prabhupada left, Goursundar quit his job, and I also did not go back to my secretarial work. We focused entirely on preaching work as he instructed.
Just after Srila Prabhupada left for his travels, another new boy joined us, named Tony. He was initiated by mail with the name, Turya das Brahmachary. As was the system in those days, Srila Prabhupada would initiate a disciple “by mail,” sending a letter and beads, along with the initiated name. Then, Goursundar would perform a small fire sacrifice, as a ritvik priest, acting on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. There was a clear understanding that this was a formal ceremony only, and the disciples were clearly Srila Prabhupada’s disciples.
Turya das Brahmachary was a gentle brahminical youth, and was also a musician and former band member. So Goursundar, Balabhadra and Turya das began arranging chanting programs on stage at various music concerts and festivals.
We often played music, and sang the Hare Krishna mahamantra, on stage at rock concerts. Or in front of their box office entrance. Balabhadra was well connected with local promoters, so he arranged for us to chant on stage at a Jefferson Airplane concert, at the Waikiki Shell, Honolulu Civic Center and various other places.
We had big hand-painted mantra signs that we took with us everywhere. Somehow, we had received a large donation of white vinyl tablecloths, so I cut them up, and using acrylic paint, I hand painted big decorative signs bearing the Hare Krishna mantra, in bright Hawaiian rainbow colors. These big mantra signs went with us everywhere; they were our trademark at concerts, beach park programs, and they even graced the sides of our first Rathayatra car.
We were still in Kaaawa when the first big event took place. Goursundar and Balabhadra had gone to some of the neighboring islands to check out preaching opportunities, so it was just Turya das, Sudama and I that remained at the beach house. We heard about a big Jimi Hendrix concert, and though we had no transportation, we were determined to go.
Turya das and I went out to Kam Highway, and hitchhiked into Honolulu, he with his guitar and me with my kartals. Some hippies picked us up in their VW van, and took us all the way to the Waikiki Shell, over an hour drive; they were also going to the concert. It was a huge event!
Turya das and I went out to Kam Highway, and hitchhiked into Honolulu, he with his guitar and me with my kartals. Some hippies picked us up in their VW van, and took us all the way to the Waikiki Shell, over an hour drive; they were also going to the concert. It was a huge event!
Turyadas and I had no amplifier; there was only his guitar and my kartals. But we sang the Hare Krishna mahamantra in front of the Waikiki Shell while hundreds of youths entered, expecting to see Jimi Hendrix. For some reason, Jimi Hendrix never showed up, or came briefly and left, so by default, our little kirtan party was the music show of the day!
Disappointed by Hendrix’ no show, hundreds of youths poured out of the Shell, and surrounded us. Bored and wanting some “fun”, they surrounded us and chanted with us for what seemed like hours. It was a huge kirtan that lasted a long, long time! The crowd got so big that the police had to lead the burgeoning mass of youths onto the grassy fields nearby, as it was beginning to block traffic. This was an ecstatic evening, never to be forgotten by those who experienced it!
Two new and wonderful devotees joined us that evening: Dayna, who became Kusha devi, and Bill, later initiated as Babhru das. Both were attracted by the transcendental sound vibration of the mahamantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, and the “ching, ching, chang” of the kartals! Hundreds of people heard the Hare Krishna Mantra for perhaps the first time in the Hawaiian Islands!
Though Dayna had no prior contact with Krishna devotees (in this life, that is), she was wearing a peach-colored, almost saffron, silk sari to the Hendrix event. She had purchased it at an Indian import store, as she was somehow attracted to Indian attire. Though she had no idea how to wrap it, she wore it to the concert, as her “concert outfit.”
Someone in the crowd said to her: “Your people are over there,” pointing to our little kirtan party. A true prediction! Dayna, later Kusha devi, had already dreamed of Srila Prabhupada, however, so it didn’t take long for her to join us at our temple in Hawaii. She was the second girl to join full time, as Jayasri had come just after Srila Prabhupada left for Los Angeles.
Bill, later Babhru, came to our Manoa temple soon after. He said he could hear the “ching, ching, chang” of kartals while inside the Waikiki Shell, waiting for Hendrix to appear. It went on for hours, and he wondered what it was. It was a mystery to many, who had never seen or heard a kirtan party!
As it turned out, Krishna planned His own concert, at the Waikiki Shell, and Hare Krishna stole the show! We are also grateful to Jimi Hendrix and his promoters for this wonderful opportunity to spread the chanting of the Holy Names!
Later on, Balabhadra and Goursundar spoke with various promoters, and arranged for us chant Hare Krishna mahamantra onstage at various rock concerts. On one occasion, we were even the opening set for the Jefferson Airplane concert in Honolulu!
Wherever there was a big festival or concert, we would go there and chant out in front of the box office, often for hours. On one occasion we were chanting in front of the Civic Center, where thousands of people had gathered to attend a Jefferson Airplane concert. The band was late for the concert, so Balabhadra struck up a conversation with one of the “roadies.” He asked if we could take our kirtan party onstage and chant until the band arrived.
Surprisingly, the helpful “roadie” gave Balabhadra the phone number of the famous Grace Slick, head vocal for the Airplane. When Balabhadra called her to ask, her reply was “Sure, go ahead.” She was familiar with the Hare Krishnas from San Francisco, so she agreed, and told Balabhadra to let her manager know that it was fine with her.
When Balabhadra approached the band manager, however, he at first didn’t believe that he got her permission. Balabhadra showed him the phone number and it checked out fine, so we went onstage and chanted for about forty-five minutes before the Jefferson Airplane arrived. So the Hare Krishna Mantra Band was the opening set for the Jefferson Airplane!
Almost overnight, we became known as the Hare Krishna Band, and would hang our big rainbow colored mantra banners on huge amplifiers, walls, stages, and sometimes trees at park gatherings. It was a great beginning!
Disappointed by Hendrix’ no show, hundreds of youths poured out of the Shell, and surrounded us. Bored and wanting some “fun”, they surrounded us and chanted with us for what seemed like hours. It was a huge kirtan that lasted a long, long time! The crowd got so big that the police had to lead the burgeoning mass of youths onto the grassy fields nearby, as it was beginning to block traffic. This was an ecstatic evening, never to be forgotten by those who experienced it!
Two new and wonderful devotees joined us that evening: Dayna, who became Kusha devi, and Bill, later initiated as Babhru das. Both were attracted by the transcendental sound vibration of the mahamantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, and the “ching, ching, chang” of the kartals! Hundreds of people heard the Hare Krishna Mantra for perhaps the first time in the Hawaiian Islands!
Though Dayna had no prior contact with Krishna devotees (in this life, that is), she was wearing a peach-colored, almost saffron, silk sari to the Hendrix event. She had purchased it at an Indian import store, as she was somehow attracted to Indian attire. Though she had no idea how to wrap it, she wore it to the concert, as her “concert outfit.”
Someone in the crowd said to her: “Your people are over there,” pointing to our little kirtan party. A true prediction! Dayna, later Kusha devi, had already dreamed of Srila Prabhupada, however, so it didn’t take long for her to join us at our temple in Hawaii. She was the second girl to join full time, as Jayasri had come just after Srila Prabhupada left for Los Angeles.
Bill, later Babhru, came to our Manoa temple soon after. He said he could hear the “ching, ching, chang” of kartals while inside the Waikiki Shell, waiting for Hendrix to appear. It went on for hours, and he wondered what it was. It was a mystery to many, who had never seen or heard a kirtan party!
As it turned out, Krishna planned His own concert, at the Waikiki Shell, and Hare Krishna stole the show! We are also grateful to Jimi Hendrix and his promoters for this wonderful opportunity to spread the chanting of the Holy Names!
Later on, Balabhadra and Goursundar spoke with various promoters, and arranged for us chant Hare Krishna mahamantra onstage at various rock concerts. On one occasion, we were even the opening set for the Jefferson Airplane concert in Honolulu!
Wherever there was a big festival or concert, we would go there and chant out in front of the box office, often for hours. On one occasion we were chanting in front of the Civic Center, where thousands of people had gathered to attend a Jefferson Airplane concert. The band was late for the concert, so Balabhadra struck up a conversation with one of the “roadies.” He asked if we could take our kirtan party onstage and chant until the band arrived.
Surprisingly, the helpful “roadie” gave Balabhadra the phone number of the famous Grace Slick, head vocal for the Airplane. When Balabhadra called her to ask, her reply was “Sure, go ahead.” She was familiar with the Hare Krishnas from San Francisco, so she agreed, and told Balabhadra to let her manager know that it was fine with her.
When Balabhadra approached the band manager, however, he at first didn’t believe that he got her permission. Balabhadra showed him the phone number and it checked out fine, so we went onstage and chanted for about forty-five minutes before the Jefferson Airplane arrived. So the Hare Krishna Mantra Band was the opening set for the Jefferson Airplane!
Almost overnight, we became known as the Hare Krishna Band, and would hang our big rainbow colored mantra banners on huge amplifiers, walls, stages, and sometimes trees at park gatherings. It was a great beginning!