Wisdom of the Sages Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Das

Hare Krishna! Sorry if this is too long. But this is my story into KC, I want to start this off by giving my obeisances. Please accept my humble obeisances to A.C Bhaktividanta Swami prabhupad Ki Jai! Please accept my humble obeisances to Lord Krishna and allow me to follow the devotional path of a devotee. Please accept my humble obeisances to all the devotees of the lord and allow them to continue to the devotional path of lord Krishna. This story is being submitted by Bhakta James Bhakta Chris Hare Krishna, this is how I fell into Krishna consciousness. I was working at a pizzeria back in 2020 and I was sorta struggling financially and emotionally about what I want to do with my life and how to become a better person, and while I was working I received a message on Facebook by a (at the time) strange person from Seattle. he messaged me and told me that he was meditating and had a vision of giving someone a Srimad bhagvatam set, he said that he was looking for a person to give the Srimad bhagvatam to especially during the Covid crisis to bring me back to godhead, and he found me on facebook. He reached out and told me that he wanted to donate me a whole Srimad bhagvatam set To be honest I did not Even know what the Vedas was. I was familiar with people like Buddha, Gnash, and Shiva but never really knew the stories in past times of the original personality of godhead.He asked for a small donation, and at the time I did not have the money to donate. He told me that I could donate later and that he would send me the Srimad bhagvatams anyways. The devotee from Seattle Introduced me to the Alachua ISKCON Community.He gave me the number of Nandini Kishori. And right then and there me and Nandini connected. She taught me how to chant, pronounce Sanskrit. The love that she had was unlike any other. After one week the bhagvatam’s arrived and the moment I opened up the boxes, I immediately felt strong energy and was very astonished on the graphic designs of all the pictures.The first day I got the Srimad bhagvatam’s I opened up canto one and right there I started reading. Me and my family, (Mom, Dad, Brother, and me)All went to the temple a couple of days after I receive the Srimad bhagvatams. I was very ecstatic To be going to the temple. The moment we arrive to the temple I immediately fell in love with everything. When we walked up to the temple room everyone was very welcoming they shared stories of themselves and they even inspired me to join the community. We talked and talked and talked with different Devotees and the past times of lord Krishna. We attended the morning service,We went to Nandini’s house and then we went to a really really funny devotee prema’s House and he played kirtan for me and my family. Again, I have never felt so much energy and so much love in one place ever before. Devotees really know how to show unconditional love. My brother started reading Bhagavad Gita and we both started chanting together, me and him have been on a spiritual journey for a while but the Bhakti journey is more powerful and really is the only way out to this material nescience That is pretty much my story. My brother and I joined Krishna house shortly after but the prasadam was a little hard to get used to there. We hope to one day go back and keep on this devotional path of a Bhakta. Thank you to lord Krishna - Allowing me to share my story with everyone. I love all of you and I pray for all the vashnavas to contribute on this devotional path. Hareeeeee Krishna!!! Hareeeee Rama!! Hariiiiibooolll!

I was introduced to Krsna Consciousness and bhakti yoga as a freshman in high school, when Raghunath moved into the Philly temple in the early 90’s. I would attend Wednesday night program and kirtan at the small temple above the Govindas on south street. I eventually drifted but some basic principals had been introduced to me that would stick. During my (very brief) college career in nyc I ended up working at Equal Vision Records. Part of my job was delivering things to Brooklyn Temple and again I was intrigued, but again drifted. While working as a bike messenger in London in 2001(?) I found a Govinda’s (old school style with the metal trays!) again, I felt comfortable and drawn. And it continues throughout my life…… interactions with devotees and little reminders. A little over 10 years ago a devotee I knew brought me to a yoga studio to paint some signage. A kid I knew from the music scene was working at the desk and chanting japa with some other devotees. These days I’m still a student and also an instructor at this same studio.
I’m currently an “other”. Hare Krishna
-Dan

Raghunath and Kaustubha have a simultaneously entertaining and enlightening podcast. They have brought the Srimad Bhagavatam to be accessible to the modern life. There is nothing hypocrital or mundanely religious about their presentation of the ancient teachings.

Keep up the great preaching. We are listening. Thank you!!