Krishan Bhalla, Los Angeles businessman: "When I visit the Hare Krsna temple and hear the devotees chanting so blissfully, I am very happy to see Americans deriving so much benefit from India's Krsna-conscious culture."
Dattatreya dasa, book distributor: "I've distributed books about the science of Krsna consciousness in the airports, the shopping malls, the downtown streets-and everywhere I've seen that people are simply trying to find pleasure through their senses. But they get about as much pleasure from that as a thirsty man gets from a drop of water in the desert. These Krsna-conscious books, though, show us how real pleasure comes from serving God, Krsna. And chanting Hare Krsna brings us in direct contact with Krsna, the reservoir of pleasure."
Mahasini-devi dasi, Head Cook, Los Angeles Temple: "Lord Krsna is never hungry. He's completely self-sufficient. But just as a father is pleased when his small child offers him a morsel from his plate, so Krsna, the Supreme Father, is pleased when we offer back to Him what He has given us. Everyone knows that God provides the sun, rain, fruits, vegetables, and grains; we can't manufacture any of these things in our factories. Krsna also gives us the intelligence to make nice combinations of foods.
"Here in Los Angeles we cook for Krsna and His hundreds of guests and devotees every day. It's a big job, so I chant Hare Krsna to stay in touch with the Supreme Energetic the source of all strength and ability Krsna."
New Yorkers will be the first to admit that "Fun City" is often a hard place to be happy in. But the devotees at ISKCON's center on Manhattan's West 55th Street know the secret. By chanting the Hare Krsna mantra they've opened their minds to a whole new dimension of consciousness God consciousness, Krsna consciousness. In other words the pleasure they get from chanting doesn't come from their senses contacting something outside; it comes from their soul contacting the Supreme Soul, Krsna, within. Since Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasure, by chanting Hare Krsna they enjoy being with Him at all times, everywhere, and they stay happy and peaceful in all circumstances.
Find out more about Krsna consciousness in this issue of BACK TO GODHEAD magazine.