PRABHUPADA’S PIONEERS
Spiritual Journeys of His Disciples of New Raman Reti.
Interviews ~ Articles ~ Photos of Their Lives in Service
compiled and edited by
Sri Devi Dasi
proofreading: Vegavati Devi Dasi.
Krpasindhu Dasa
Krpasindhu Dasa first encountered the devotees in 1968, performing harinama and distributing prasadam in the East Village, New York City. A bit later he moved to Montreal, and it was there that he first felt intrigued by the devotees on the streets. Inwardly, he was not impressed with modern life, and thought how everyone was suffering very much. He had been reading some books on metaphysics, and was curious about the idea of Supersoul. However every book he read was vague at best – until he received On Chanting Hare Krishna.
Upon reading it, he first began chanting. Krpasindhu felt Supersoul pushing him to attend the Montreal temple, despite his hesitations. There he became enchanted with prasadam and took to chanting very seriously. Feeling increasingly that Krishna was “reeling him in,” he began attending the Toronto temple every Sunday. After four months, he decided to move in. Led by Jagadisa Dasa, the devotees at Toronto temple would engage in a very strong sadhana and Krpasindhu would go on harinama every single day. In 1971, he became initiated. Upon initiation, he received a letter from Srila Prabhupada, in which he personally requested Krpasindhu: “try to help make Toronto temple a smashing success.”
In 1972, he helped to open a small temple in Ottawa. There he had the opportunity to give a book to the Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeaux. In 1973, Krpasindhu returned to the Montreal temple. His main service was always harinama as well as being a cook/pujari. On a trip to New Vrindaban, he felt Srila Prabhupada looking into his soul. He realized on that trip how in Srila Prabhupada we have found “the perfect person.” That same year a group of brahmacharis from Toronto took a big bus on a preaching trip all across Canada, where they would put on programs at different venues, such as libraries and civic centers.
In those years he also helped to open temples in Regina, Winnipeg, and Halifax, as well as being transferred around to whichever temple in Canada needed him. From 1987-91, he served at the Los Angeles temple as Deity cook as well as nighttime restaurant manager. Krpasindhu moved to New Raman Reti in 1991, desiring a better environment for his children. Here his main service is cooking, including Sunday feast preparation. He is also well-known for his samosas. Service keeps him going in Krishna consciousness, as described in Bhagavad Gita 10.9: “The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” He is still seeking the direction of Supersoul, in the way that Srila Prabhupada has described: “intelligence is the form direction of Supersoul.” And as Srila Prabhupada has written about his own spiritual master, these words embody Krpasindhu prabhu’s feelings towards him: “struggle for existence, a human race, the only hope, His Divine Grace.”
To read the complete book please click here: (51MB pdf file)
https://www.alachuatemple.com/files/PDFs/SP_Disciples_of_Alachua_2021.pdf