Los Angeles SD Newsletter VOL. 2, ISSUE 24
MY STORY
BHAKTA ISIDRO
By Sunil das and mataji Sara Bock
At New Dvaraka, Bhakta Isidro is always engaged in Krishna’s service. He can usually be found at Govinda’s restaurant, keeping the buffet clean and organized, and welcoming the customers with a friendly smile. He also cooks delicious prasadam, and helps run the Sastra Dana program. It is hard to imagine bhakta Isidro not engaged in Krishna’s service. But like most of us, there was a time when he didn’t know about Krishna. Bhakta Isidro shares his story about how he came to Krishna Consciousness.
Bhakta Isidro had recently become a vegetarian, and was searching for something new in his life, like meditation or yoga. His English teacher invited him to a vegetarian restaurant in Laguna Beach. Bhakta Isidro accepted the invitation, not realizing that this decision would change his life. The vegetarian restaurant turned out to be the restaurant at the ISKCON Laguna Beach temple. Bhakta Isidro enjoyed the prasadam and was very curious about everything he saw at the temple. The beautiful pictures of Krishna impressed him the most. He asked devotees questions about the pictures and learned some basic Krishna Conscious philosophy. Then bhakta Isidro saw the deity of Srila Prabhupada. He looked into Srila Prabhupada’s eyes and felt a strong connection. Bhakta Isidro left the temple with some books, and with a newfound interest in Krishna Consciousness. Association with devotees, prasadam, and darshan of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada had planted the seed of devotional service in his heart.
This seed continued to grow as Bhakta Isidro read Srila Prabhupada’s books, and started doing service at the Laguna Beach temple. He considered moving into the temple, but did not feel ready yet. Instead, he took a gradual path to Krishna Consciousness by doing service on his free days, and having faith that Krishna would arrange a favorable situation for him. One year later, Krishna’s arrangement came into play. Bhakta Isidro was able to quit his job and move into the ashram here at New Dvaraka.
Bhakta Isidro’s life has changed drastically since this move. Now he is able to completely devote his life to Krishna’s service, and doing so has made him very happy. He enjoys his service at Govinda’s. Since Bhakta Isidro’s first contact with devotees was at an ISKCON restaurant, he recognizes Govinda’s as an excellent place for preaching. He notices that many customers initially come just to eat. Gradually however, they develop curiosity about the devotees’ lifestyle and about the philosophy. Bhakta Isidro answers their questions, and distributes Srila Prabhupada’s books to interested customers. He is also involved in book distribution through the Sastra Dana program. He thinks this program is very important, because it gives congregational devotees the opportunity to get involved in book distribution.
We thank Bhakta Isidro for sharing his story with us. This is a beautiful story of faith and surrender. When we open our hearts to spiritual life, God reveals Himself. When we make sacrifices for Krishna, He rewards us with His love and protection. Krishna’s love is available to everyone. We simply have to ask for it by chanting the holy name. Hare Krishna.
