I never thought I'd actually be going to...

Burning Man 2007 is coming!

The Burning Man Festival is an annual arts festival in the desert of Nevada. Thousands of people (like 50,ooo!) descend into the desert to gather, create and camp for approximately one week of chaos. This here will be the second year Krishna Camp is attending the festival. This year's festival theme is GREEN.

"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong."-Śrī Īśopaniṣad Mantra One

As aspiring devotees, it is crucial for us to be on the forefront of ecological awareness and environmental sustainability. Click here for pictures of last year's Krishna Camp.

Last night I received a call from one of the young organizers who found out I was in Seattle. I was given no choice in the matter. I was told I must come because it isn't just any old Burning Man Festival, but it is GREEN Burning Man and, therefore, Krishna Camp needs my help. How could I turn down Lord Jagannath? How could I dissapoint the cows? So off I go. I'll be back by Labor Day.

Check out the Burning Man website.

O Captain! O Captain! Where arth me Captain?

From Vancouver the van headed back to the states to begin the long road trip back east. Fortunately, a handful of old college buddies live in Seattle so I decided to make myself cozy and stay for a few weeks to catch up and take a little vacation. Annie, Levan, Kevin and Noah- these kids know me too well. It was tough saying goodbye to the girls but Malati Prabhu gave me her blessing.


By staying I was able to attend the rest of His Holiness Radhannatha Swami's program here in Seattle. The grand finale was an evening cruise ride with kirtan, lecture, and prasadam. O captain, steer me ship across this vast ocean of material suffering!


The best things about Seattle are its blackberry patches and infinite swimming spots. I'm tossing around the idea of going to grad school so I thought I would take the opportunity to check out the university while I'm here. Definite potential.

Officially 27.

The following weekend, the van entourage made the daring pilgrimage all the way back north to Vancouver for Ratha Yatra . The trip was highlighted by a quick stop in Berkeley, where I met up with Lacie. Lacie is my soul sista' and also partly responsible for my original stay at New Vrindavan. She paved the way for my arrival and I am eternally grateful. With her encouragement and example, I was able to give ISKCON open ears and an open heart.

The best thing about the Vancouver temple is the lone brahmacharini, Su Devi Sudari Dasi, and her authority, Sri Tulasi Maharani. Su Devi is fired up and all about distributing books. She also daily clips Tulasi manjaris for Sri Krishna's garland. The entire weekend, there must have been more than 30 women using her bathroom and shower morning and night, yet being the perfect hostess, she welcomed each and everyone of them.

Su Devi's roommate, Guru Mukha dd, is also amazing. One night she described to me how she found Krishna Consciousness in China. However, in communist China, bhakti yoga must be practiced underground in secrecy. She explained the trials the devotees must undergo simply to distribute one book or gather for kirtan.

I woke up the following morning feeling ashamed at how I take for granted the temple, my freedom to worship in the temple and the access I have to an abundance of Vedic literatures. When faced with such opulence and abundance, it is easy for me to lose sight of the great fortune I have causelessly been given.

I spent all weekend living in the groves of Vrindavana, taking shelter of the lotus roots of Sri Tulasi Maharani. By the indication of Tulasi's vigorous luster and health, the devotion of the Vancouver devotees has become tangible.

By Krishna's arrangement, I met up with a long lost friend from Albuquerque who just happened to see the parade from her apartment building and who just happened to see me in the front of the procession. The last time we saw each other was one year ago to the day at my 26th birthday party last year. We spent the evening together catching up, bewildered by the spontaneous arrangement. The next morning she took me to a cafe where her classmate's cow painting exhibit was hung. Beautiful! And, yes, I am now officially 27.

LA Ratha Yatra, doin' it with style.

I've never been so enthusiastic to be in LA. In general, I would avoid it at all cost. However, the Los Angeles Hare Krishna temple has shed some new light on the scene. It's actually not new at all. The LA temple has been representing for over three decades and boasts a large community base to prove it.

LA Ratha Yatra is famous. I did some flyering the day previous and spent some time chatting with a local psychic on Venice Beach Boulevard. She was complaining that this year the devotees sent out written requests asking all the vendors to move their kiosks back one tile for the parade. She was upset at the intrusion but said she continues to allow the devotees to love her. She mentioned something about always being gifted peanut butter cups during Ratha Yatra. Little did I know the significance of her statement.

The carts were more incredible than ever. The candy garland fringe was over the top. We marched down Venice Beach, with the Pacific Ocean accompanying us to our West. Everything was magnificent. Flower petals continuously showered the onlooking public to either side of the boardwalk.

I spent the entire day distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. I met so many incredible people. So many young folks from around the world pursuing Absolute Knowledge, eager for bona-fide literature. Check out the local paparazzi studio and their photo documentary of the festival.

The free vegetarian feast was awesome. And the homemade peanut butter cups- transcendental! Undoubtedly, LA hosted my favorite Ratha Yatra of the year. All glories to the LA bhaktas!

I AM MANIFEST.

After two days and one major van breakdown in Seattle, two nights in Portland distributing books and celebrating a sweet Sunday feast with the local devotees, we made our way down to Mt. Shasta, CA. Svarga Prabhuji's apartment backed right up to the mountain making it was essential for me to sleep outside on her dock in the full splendor.

The first night we arrived was full moon and we decided to drive up to Lower Panther Camp for the monthly full moon gathering. The entire crew came and chanted Hare Krishna amongst oms, diamond sutras, exotic opera vocals, wooden flutes, rain sticks, and seven different sized, crystal singing bowls. Gotta love Callifornia.

Mt. Shasta happens to host the world's largest crystal singing bowl collection. We checked out some stores in town. After fulling aligning our chakras through sound vibration therapeutics, the demo had us spinning and grinning. Later in the afternoon we drove up to Castle Lake where I had one of the best swimming experiences in my life. Feeling water deprived this summer, I took advantage of the moment. The water was like silk and was warmer than the air. Was I swimming? Was I flying? Was I floating on clouds? All I know is that I was fully intoxicated by the lake and dizzy when I came out of the water two hours later.

Good thing we left Mt. Shasta before I got too absorbed into the New Age thang. Is there such a thing as too many crystals? Luckily, we found a monster blackberry patch on our way into town and I was able to whip together a mean blackberry pie as a grounding goodbye dessert.

Saranagati Village

Introducing Saranagati Village, a bucolic Hare Krishna community in southeast British Columbia. Bear country folks. All the houses are off the grid and the raspberries are plentiful. We spent three days here and spotted an eagle on our way out. Auspicious.

This community is the home of one of the most famous and respected chefs in the Hare Krishna movement. Her name is Yamuna Devi Dasi Prabhu and by Krishna's mercy I spent several days in her glorious company. Above are some pictures from her garden, which surrounds her straw bale house/ashram. One afternoon we were invited for lunch. I was in ecstasy. Seconds, thirds, fourths. My travelling comadres literally had to drag me out of the door.

The official ISKCON temple in Saranagati is inside a solarium. I like the way these folks are thinking. Leaving was tough but Seattle was awaiting our arrival.