Wednesday, September 18th, 2024
Butter, Pennsylvania
A perfect day was upon us for a road trip to New Vrindavan, West Virginia, in preparation for a men’s retreat called MANtra. But first there had to be a planned visit to Butter, Pennsylvania, where our guru, Prabhupada, first planted seeds of bhakti, devotion, in the western world. With a 15 minute diversion from the principle highway, we landed ourselves in the in the middle of downtown Butter where in September of 1965 Prabhupada stayed for one month at the town’s YMCA.
The five of us in the car arrived just in time for me to sit on the steps of the Y to log in with Gita Chat zoom call with South Africa. We began speaking from Chapter 2 verse 1 on the topic of compassion when Janey, an African American senior lady came to join me at the steps of the Y.
“Are you with some order?”
“Yes, I am. Hare Krishna ! It all started here at these steps and inside the building with our guru from India.”
She asked if I had any literature and I was embarrassed to say No, but we exchanged numbers so I said I’ll get back to her. We hugged and she had to go saying she was proud to have a new friend. “Bye, Janey.”
Then Sam came, also older, but couldn’t join me on the steps. He had his wheel chair. He had heard of us and also wasn’t aware that the Hare Krishna movement was born right here in Butter. Sam knew about mantras and how powerful they are. Adios !
Off through the Appalachians we drove and there, happy to be in the dhama, a sacred space that Prabhupada frequented.
MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!
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