BHAKTA DAS PART 13 --- The San Diego Temple Years 2

In this thirteenth session, Bhakta Das continues his memories of the San Diego years and reflects on why these oral histories matter. He explains that such interviews are not merely personal nostalgia, but examples of Krishna consciousness in practice: how devotees learned to surrender, serve, struggle, grow, and depend on Krishna in real-life circumstances. The discussion turns to the challenges of training new devotees in San Diego. Bhakta Das describes it as demanding work requiring patience, tolerance, and forgiveness, but also deeply rewarding when a new devotee became steady and spiritually enlivened. He remembers with gratitude the devotees who trained him, including Vishnujana and Jayananda, and reflects on the affection he feels for those he helped train. He recalls one of the sweetest moments of his life: Srila Prabhupada embracing him and thanking him after inspecting the San Diego temple. He also describes the ecstatic kirtans in the old two-story wooden house, where the temple room was upstairs and the entire building would shake from the devotees’ chanting and dancing. A major part of the interview focuses on Kusha Kratha Prabhu, remembered as eccentric, surrendered, and deeply absorbed in scripture. Bhakta Das recalls how Kusha Kratha would memorize verses while washing pots and later give classes almost entirely through recitation from Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. He also describes a mystical moment during a Bhagavatam class after the installation of Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari. Bhakta Das speaks tenderly about the San Diego devotees, saying he hopes they know he loved them and that, if he ever hurt anyone, he hopes they forgive him. He is grateful that many who joined or were trained there remained connected to Krishna consciousness throughout their lives. The interview also explores the practical lessons of temple leadership. San Diego trained him in accounting, cooking, responsibility, caring for others, and serving prasadam. He explains that Prabhupada’s simple instruction was the foundation: follow the regulative principles, chant sixteen rounds, go out on sankirtan, and Krishna will provide everything. Bhakta Das describes moving the temple into a larger house, the installation of Radha-Giridhari, and the relationship between the San Diego and Los Angeles temples. Los Angeles was the large “big brother” center, while San Diego was intimate and family-like. Everyone knew one another’s condition, and if someone missed arati, class, or sankirtan, it was noticed. He also remembers the practice of devotees washing one another’s feet before entering the temple, a humbling gesture that helped remove tension and restore respect among devotees. The conversation includes personal memories of Lila Shakti, whom both Shilavati and Jayatirtha once encouraged him to marry, though events later took a different course. Bhakta Das reflects on this with acceptance and appreciation, noting that they remained friends over the years. Book distribution becomes a central theme in the second half. Bhakta Das explains that serious large-book distribution in San Diego began around 1972, when the focus shifted from public chanting with some books to concentrated book distribution. He traveled through California, Nevada, Arizona, and later Oregon, especially enjoying places where people had never encountered Hare Krishna devotees before. He discusses distributing Krishna Book, Bhagavad-gita, early Second Canto Bhagavatam booklets, and other titles. He also remembers reading Srila Prabhupada’s letters aloud to the devotees and maintaining financial transparency by reading the temple’s weekly financial report before the deities and devotees. Bhakta Das describes door-to-door book distribution, college preaching, military payday outreach in San Diego’s Navy environment, and the kinds of people who were most receptive. He says young people and college students were often the easiest to reach because they were curious and open. The final portion returns to the training of new devotees. Bhakta Das explains that training was simple and immersive: chant japa, attend class, go on sankirtan, do service, memorize verses, and learn by living the temple program. He encouraged devotees to learn one verse a day and use it while preaching. Asked whether becoming temple president increased his ego or made him humble, Bhakta Das says it made him more humble “100%.” He felt unqualified and dependent on Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. Leadership forced him to rise early, chant his rounds, go on sankirtan, and live the standards he asked others to follow. He sees that responsibility as Krishna’s blessing.