Leonard Francis Coogan
In this episode I’ll be interviewing the head of the ISKON of Virginia, Sriman Dasa. ISKON stands for International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which is the organization that leads the Hare Krishna movement. I’ve known Sriman since the summer of ‘22 when I started organizing shows at the heavily-affiliated Govinda restaurant directly across from the ISKON temple.
Leonard Francis Coogan
When was the ISKON of VA founded?
Sriman Dasa
That was done in 2016.
Leonard Francis Coogan
So rather recent.
Sriman Dasa
Recently. Real ISKON was set up in 1966 actually.
Leonard Francis Coogan
I read that, isn’t there a temple in West VA?
Sriman Dasa
Yes, many major city have temples and especially in WV there is a big temple with 200 acres of land. That was built in the 1970s.
Leonard Francis Coogan
Is it still active?
Sriman Dasa
Yes, very active, and they have a guest house and many people visit all the time and stay there overnight. Very enjoyable. They have cows. They found some oil in the land. Lot of visitors. They were suffering one time financially, but now they have no problem.
Leonard Francis Coogan
You’re a religious leader, right?
Sriman Dasa
Yes, I am president of this organization here. ISKON of Virginia.
Leonard Francis Coogan
What led you to this position?
Sriman Dasa
That was because for many years I had been practicing. Being from India, born and grew up. In India it’s very common for Hindus to go to temple and become servant of G-d. There are many paths in India. When I came here [in 1970, there were no other temples beside ISKON. When I went first to Chicago I found a Hare Krishna temple and went there. Then I moved to Atlanta, and there was also a Hare Krishna temple there and I started going there. From there I moved to Baltimore and DC – all those places. Slowly I started going. In those days, those were the only temples we had. Now we have many temples. I met different Hindu religion priests and many other people, but by then I was convinced that Hare Krishna was the proper way of philosophy presented about Krishna. That’s why I continued.
Leonard Francis Coogan
How is Hare Krishna different from the religion you grew up practicing?
Sriman Dasa
Other religions that I was aware of in India believe all the demig-ds as well as Krishna are on the same level. They do not have a differentiation. They were not openly pointing out what the goal of life should be. In Hare Krishna, they say Krishna is supreme … of G-dhead and that the goal of the life should be to develop love for Krishna. There are many demig-ds people in India follow and they are representative of G-d-law. It’s just like president of the govt. Secretary is in a different department. If you serve the secretary, you may get some benefits, but if know the president you can get around anything.
Leonard Francis Coogan
Have you ever seen visions of Krishna?
Sriman Dasa
I haven’t seen the G-d yet, but I look back my life and over the life I’ve been materially much better and spiritually making progress which gives me comfort in my life. Even though I’m 80 years old, at this age, I’m a happy person. Better than all my 80 years behind. Normally people when they get old, they have less happy days. Disease, not happy with the children, not happy with the govt, they don’t have enough money to survive. But in my case, I enjoy every moment of it. It looks like G-d is praising me and giving me what I want.
Leonard Francis Coogan
You said you first came here from India to Chicago. What were you doing for a living?
Sriman Dasa
I came from India as a student and went to University of Tennessee and did my masters degree. At that time I was struggling a bit financially. I didn’t have money when I came from India. But luckily within 3 months I got permission to work within the university; then I never had problems financially. Then I did my masters and started working a little bit part-time.
Leonard Francis Coogan
Didn’t you say you got a PhD?
Sriman Dasa
No, I did not finish it. I did the coursework and when I was supposed to do a dissertation I decided to move forward and work in the outside.
Leonard Francis Coogan
What were you during your PhD in?
Sriman Dasa
It was a NASA-related project, laser technologies and optical technology and searching for meteor trails falling from the sky. I was doing some mathematical model research. It was an interesting project. But I was successful to proving my master thesis. My advisor was very happy. He came one day when I finished and lifted up the paper and said, “you made my life.”
Leonard Francis Coogan
How’d you transition from that to becoming a religious leader?
Sriman Dasa
Oh really this was developing on the side, just like my regular job as an engineer continued there and there, different companies. And religiously went to this temple that temple. In the beginning not too much into it, but more and more I got involved. But slowly I got into the service more and started cleaning pots and pans and mopping the floor and praying and those things developed as I continued with it.
Leonard Francis Coogan
But how’d you stop being an engineer?
Sriman Dasa
I did not stop, I just wanted to balance out work and life and slowly I decided sooner or later I should quit the job and go on my own business so I have more freedom. So I only worked in America as an engineer for 14 years of my life. After I quit I started my own real estate business and then had more time. Do whatever I want, just go to temple. So it worked out really good, good combination.
Leonard Francis Coogan
Aren’t you a landlord now?
Sriman Dasa
Yes, yes. Means I got rid of most of my property. Live more simple life. More I’m more concentrating here (the temple) & my sadhyna. Everyday I have to put spice at least 4 times in the sadhnya. Go out and feed the homeless people. People whoever come we offer them, we preach, we discuss.
Leonard Francis Coogan
What does it mean to be Krishna of Consciousness?
Sriman Dasa
Krishna Consciousness means we all have a consciousness thinking what we think inside. Somebody have a consciousness for his family, somebody has a consciousness for his nation, somebody has a consciousness for himself, and Krishna consciousness means we think about Krishna, a supersoul inside. We are the soul, we are part of it. Clearly which is given in the Bhagavad Gita we try to develop in our consciousness so that we more become apart of it. If you say “I’m American” – then as soon as you say “I’m American” you feel that you’re part of America. Even if you’re born in Africa and you live in America, naturally your consciousness is in Africa. This is only one aspect of consciousness. So Krishna Consciousness is trying to relate yourself as a servant of Krishna.
Leonard Francis Coogan
Does the religion believe in free will?
Sriman Dasa
Oh yeah, that’s why we are here. We have a free will. That was the main fundamental situation we had that’s why we wind up in this material world. Otherwise we live in a spritual world, with Krishna, serving Him. Take a family for example, you have four children. Krishna is your father. One guy say I’m going to Africa, one guy say I’m going to New York, and father is in Richmond. Time goes by, nobody wants to come and say “hello” to his father and they’ve forgotton. One guy who was living in New York he keeps in touch with the Richmond father & mother and once a while, weekend comes by, he says “how can I help you?” So he becomes a loving child. The other guys are not getting too much health. And the father says, “let them”. That’s a free will example. We have forgotten our relation with our father. We have decided to go away from him. That’s why we have ended up in this material world. We think we are happy, but no, if we go to our father we will be much happier. Like when the New York guy goes to his father in Richmond. Father is happy, mother is happy, they take care of each other. And that is our duty as Krishna of Consciousness, to go back to home and become servant of Krishna.
Leonard Francis Coogan
We’re in the age of Kali Yuga which means the furthest from Krishna, right?
Sriman Dasa
Not furthest, we are in the material world, but Kali Yuga is such a situation that is forgetfulness and mind is not intelligent. Two days back you probably can’t remember what you ate. That’s why this formula that is given, Hare Krishna mantra, is very powerful. It has a spiritual vibration, and when you sing that mantra, the mantra connects you directly to Krishna. It penetrates this planet and goes to the spiritual plane and to Krishna – that powerful. When we call our cellular phone to Africa, that is what’s happening. Spatial frequency takes you to Africa. Same day when you chant Hare Krishna, it has a spatial frequency that connects you to Krishna.
Leonard Francis Coogan
What does the mantra mean in English?
Sriman Dasa
It’s a prayer.
Leonard Francis Coogan
There is no translation?
Sriman Dasa
Maybe not, but you can say it’s a quick prayer. That’s it? Thank you for coming.
Leonard Francis Coogan
Yep, thanks for agreeing to this.
Last modified on 2024-02-21