Sripad Bhakti Kanan Giri Maharaja, who is tirelessly serving the mission of Srila Govinda Maharaja by caring for and directing the Northeast branch of the Sri Caitanya Saraswat Math is a real "sadhu" whose life and vision are guided by the instructions of Sri Caitanyadeva and our great Arcaryas. I once had the fortune of experiencing first-hand the surrender and dedication of Sripad Giri Maharaja, as well as his affectionate and good humored personality,  when I served as his assistant and cook on a cross country jaunt (by trailer). In order to glorify His Holiness, as well as purify myself and inspire our readers, I will recall some moments of those days of intimate "sadhu sangha". 

It was the year 1984, a time of tremendous upheaval in the Gaudiya Vaishnava movement in the west. Basic concepts of our siddhanta were being questioned and clarified, such as the qualification of Guru, the difference between siksa and diksa and even "the origin of the soul". The depth of the devotees vision and faith were tested as great stalwarts seemed to fall, and substance over appearance became important guidelines. I was also caught up in these struggles, living in the Brahmachari ashram of a Vaishnava Society. Reading Srila Bhakti Vedanta Swami Maharaja's Caitanya Caritamrita was inspiring me, and I was hoping to connect with a Vaishnava who personified the high conception of Mahaprabhu. By some immense good fortune, I first heard about, and then read books by, Srila Sridhar Maharaja. However, the local authorities seemed to feel threatened by Srila Sridhar Maharaja's teachings,  which emphasized intense self observation and humble dedication to those who actually were in touch with the Divine Plane. Seeing how Srila Sridhar Maharaja had the recommendations of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, I prayed for some contact with one of Guru Maharaja's agents.

Luckily for me, I heard through a friend, (Prone Krishna das), that a devotee who had taken sannyasa from Srila Sridhar Maharaja would soon be passing through town. Several of us who were searching for Reality the Beautiful made arrangements to travel from the ashram to the home of a devotee family who were hosting this sannyasi. To our good fortune, we were then introduced to Sripad Bhakti Kanan Giri Swami, just returned from Navadwip Dham. His Holiness answered our questions to everyone's satisfaction, clearly explaining the lofty teachings of Srila Sridhar Maharaja and the importance of applying them to our lives. "What is it we are searching for, and how important is it to us?", he asked. We all had some  soul searching to do. Later I was told that Giri Maharaja would be leaving the next day, on a cross country journey, bound for the Sri Caitanya Saraswat Math of San Jose. He was looking for a brahmachari assistant or two to help with preaching, book distribution and seva of Sri Sri Gandarvika Giridhariju, his worshipful deity. When Maharaja heard that I was an experienced cook, as well as attracted to Guru Maharaja's movement, he convinced me to travel with him and meet other like-minded devotees across the USA. It would mean leaving the Ashram where I had begun my search, but remembering the expression of Guru Maharaja, "no risk, no gain", I knew that this was an important opportunity and I prepared to leave. 

Sripad BK Giri Maharaja's mobile ashram circa the early 1980s.

We set off the next morning with Maharaja at the wheel of our mobile ashram. Various emotions were welling up in me upon taking what seemed like such a big step, but Maharaja soon put a stop to that by quoting Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur, "progress means elimination and new acceptance". This was one of the first of many times I was to see how Sripad Giri Maharaja lived by the teachings of the Acharyas, and tried to help others to live that way also. There was hardly an incident that passed without evoking a scriptural lesson, or an example from the lives of the Sadhus being applied by His Holiness. Actually, I was often amazed to see how Maharaja's consciousness was permeated by Vaishnavism, especially compared with my own wandering, unsteady mind. Sripad Giri Maharaja is a wonderful example of "sastra caksus", or seeing through the eyes of the scriptures, a vision we should all pray to attain. As we traveled, we kept a regular program of sadhana, awaking early, doing mangalarcanam and Harikirtan, and then reading from the scriptures.

Sripad Giri Maharaja would illustrate the slokas with wonderful examples of applied Vaishnavism, quotes from the Acharyas and stories of Navadwip Dham and the Holy Personages there. This was my first real exposure to the lives of Srila Sridhar Maharaja and his remarkable associates and servants. I never tired of hearing of the pastimes of Srila Sridhar Maharaja, his beloved Srila Govinda Maharaja (our revered Gurudeva), Godbrothers and others. Coming from Sripad Giri Maharaja these episodes seemed very much like the Lilas of Sriman Mahaprabhu and His Associates that we read about in the Caitanya Caritamrita, and I felt fortunate to hear firsthand how the pastimes of the Lord's devotees are continuing blissfully to this very day.

After taking prasadam, we would sometimes practice our preaching skills,  usually with myself taking the part of a puffed up scientist or Marxist (a role I was well suited for),  and Sripad Giri Maharaja as the expert Vaishnava preacher.  I would really try to defeat him, and anyone who knows me can attest to my persistence in a debate,  but, Sripad Giri Maharaja always established the supremacy of the KRISHNA conception, and would end with an illustration or two of how he had once been in a situation exactly like our practice debate,  fearlessly facing down the materialists. Usually these stories ended on a humorous note, with a frustrated professor of "Leninist semantics" wiping his sweaty brow while faced with the simple, undeniable facts of Bhagwat Dharma. Speaking of humor,  Sripad Giri Maharaja has an excellent sense of humor and it was a delight to travel with him.

He would often needle me about my attraction to the material energy,  especially the natural world of trees, mountains and birds which were a real obsession with me, (I had lived in Central American rain forests and in a teepee in the Rockies) I never tired of pointing out the various species of birds we saw on small back roads,  or of jumping out of the trailer to chase a crane or alligator. "Bhakta Joseph," he would say, "you must have been a bird in your past life, and if you're not careful you'll be one again." On another occasion he said, "If you had one tenth the attraction for Krishna that you have for the mountains, you would be Krishna conscious." A very sobering thought. But Sripad Giri Maharaja was always looking out for my well-being, sometimes with amazing results.

For example, we were passing through New Mexico,  quite close to the mountains of southwest Colorado were I had spent much of my youth. my attraction for the "mode of goodness" as exemplified by country living was still strong and I tried every trick I knew to get Sripad Giri Maharaja to swing up there, probably hoping to disappear in the process.  Sripad Giri Maharaja put off any decision for a couple of days, finally saying, "if you want to go up there for a few days on your own I'll wait for you, but you better leave tomorrow, we're behind schedule." He added, "I don't think it's a good idea though, it's a material desire." But I went to bed dreaming of the Rockies. Next morning, Lo and behold, one of the worst snowstorms to hit Albuquerque in forty years was upon us! "I guess Krishna doesn't want you to go" said Sripad Giri Maharaja.  As I looked at the storm in amazement I had to agree.

There were actually a couple of incidents of this type. Sripad Giri Maharaja's transcendental qualities were always apparent.  For example, I used to suffer severe depression, and would try, usually by being argumentative to drag others down to my level, but this did not work with Sripad Giri Maharaja. He would just smile and say, "Bhakta Joseph, you cannot make me angry so give up!" Then he would read some sastra or play a tape by Srila Sridhar Maharaja and my dark moment would pass. Sripad Giri Maharaja had definite ideas about Deity worship, especially as regards his worshipful Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandarvika Giridhariju. He insisted on His Lordship being constantly supplied with milk sweets, the more the better. I was constantly at work making sandesh and "simply wonderfuls" of all types.

I especially remember one occasion,  Sripad Giri Maharaja had received a gift of sugary, homemade pralines,  and he decided that Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandarvika Giridhariju must enjoy these on top of rich Breyer's Ice Cream, (the only commercial ice cream which is egg-free),  so we set out to find some. Unfortunately, none of the local supermarkets seemed to have this brand but Sripad Giri Maharaja was determined.  We headed for the next small town,  And the next.  Finally, about 8 pm, we hit the jackpot, and stocked up on several 1/2 gallons of sweet ice cream. We prepared the offering, several varieties smothered in syrup and covered with the pralines and had a nice kirtan. Afterwards I offered the remnants to Sripad Giri Maharaja who invited me to join him. I'll never forget the smile on his face as he looked up from his dish, spoon in hand and said, "Bhakta Joseph, this is Krishna Consciousness!"

In the months we spent together we had many transcendental adventures.  I would like to mention that we were joined for a while by another "searcher", Bhakta John (now Jitendra Mohan das). Eventually we arrived at the famous San Jose Math, from which the teachings of Srila Sridhar Maharaja were spreading far and wide. Sripad Giri Maharaja went on to San Francisco, and we separated, to my misfortune, actually. But now he is with us in New York , so we can have the benefit of his association, and the opportunity to serve Srila Govinda Maharaja by helping him solidify the mission here. Personally, I always "thank my lucky stars" for the chance to meet Sripad Giri Swami, and recall with much fondness our times on the road. Gaura Bhakta Vrinda ki Jai!