My back and forth thoughts on listening to CIMP (jazz) are recorded in EJW 16 in early October. Some days I’d be very sober and renounced; gradually I gave in or accepted it. I felt it could aid my life as an artist (writer) in Krsna consciousness. The love, the life, the art these men express through music. The improvisation.

I think every ISKCON devotee will always remember where he was and what he was doing at the precise moment he learned of Srlla Prabhupada’s departure. At our Nairobi temple we were just about to begin mangala aratl when a call came from far away Los Angeles from Srlla Ramesvara Maharaja. It was probably as difficult for him to tell me the news as it was for me to accept it…

This is one man’s confession and public apology. In Harinama Cintamani, by Bhaktivinoda Thakura, public confession is recommended to counteract offenses against the holy name. For example, if one commits the offense of interpreting the holy name, Bhaktivinoda Thakura advises…

Art has an undeniable way of reaching in and moving into a sacred place within us. Whether we are artists or we simply appreciate art, the experience of entering that hidden, mysterious world is the same and from there we sense the desire to offer our best, our most dear, from the deepest part of our beings—to touch and share the song that feels and lives within us.

A few years ago, I thought of writing on the themes in Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Saranagati. I was attracted to them because in Saranagati, Bhaktivinoda Thakura confesses and laments his fallen nature. He takes the position of an eternally conditioned soul, and through his songs, leads us to perfection…

My writing retreat in Castlegregory, Ireland, in the late winter of 1993, was a productive one. 1 had been doing some writing at the very beginning of the year at Samika Rsi’s. I wrote at that time The Rddhardni Express and two short books about writing, Why / Write and Writing in Gratitude.

In 1994,1 privately published a compilation of excerpts I gathered while reading the Bhaktivedanta purports of Srlmad-Bhagavatam. I presented these at seminars attended by ISKCON devotees. We would read an excerpt aloud together along with my occasional comment on Prabhupada’s purport. This led us to further discussion, questions, and answers.

Throughout his books, Srila Prabhupada repeatedly speaks out against “Mayavacfis.” The term “Mayavadl” is often misunderstood to mean, “a materialistic person, who delights in the pleasures of this world.” But actually, “MayavadI” means “a follower of Mayavada” “Mayavada” is another name for the Advaita-vada of Adi-Sankaracaya.

Begin in Geaglum. The hall is empty and clean. Despite hay fever and asthma, Madhu stayed up and packed and cleaned. I dreamt of being an artist. A retreat house attracted another brother who wanted to come there and take it over. I decided that when he came, I’d leave. Phlegm rising in my lungs and nose.

I don’t intend to record my dreams here. That I’ll do on tape. I want to make notes, which may include fragments of dreams, dream talk, analysis, notes. I’m not sure what. This may supplement the recording of the dreams.