Mount Olive Yatra

by Tirtha dasa

In Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 4.144) we find: sanatana kahe, - “bhala kaila upadesa tahan yaba, sei mora ‘prabhudatta desa.’” “Sanatana Goswami replied, “You have given me very good advice. I shall certainly go there, for that is the place the Lord has given me for my residence.” Srila Prabhupada’s purport states, “The words prabhu-datta desa are very significant. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotional cult teaches one not to sit down in one place but to spread the devotional cult all over the world. The Lord dispatched Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami to Vrindaban to excavate and renovate the holy places and from there establish the cult of bhakti. Therefore, Vrindaban was given to Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami as their place of residence. Similarly, everyone in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotional cult should accept the words of the spiritual master and thus spread the Krsna consciousness movement. They should go everywhere, to all parts of the world, accepting those places as there prabhu-datta desa, the places of residence given by the spiritual master or Lord Krsna. The spiritual master is the representative of Lord Krsna; therefore, one who has carried out the orders of the spiritual master is understood to have carried out the orders of Krsna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to spread the bhakti cult all over the world. Therefore, devotees in the line of Krsna consciousness must go to different parts of the world and preach, as ordered by the spiritual master. That will satisfy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”

This, then, deep within West Virginia coal country, high atop a windswept mountain, amid the rumbling echoes of mountain top removal, is our home, the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, our allotted space for spreading Krsna consciousness. We marvel how Srila Prabhupada’s mercy and influence continues to expand and spread to every corner of the world, heralding the unlimited causeless mercy of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu, to inundate the entire planet with Krsna’s name and fame in every town and village. Every morning at sun rise, after offering mangala-arati before my beautiful Gaura-Nitai Deities, I walk along the gravel track along the perimeter of the prison yard, my right hand inside my bead bag, fingers softly caressing my japa beads while I chant the maha-manta: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Then, after chanting Gayatri, I think of how our momentum grows, as each new week brings more persons interested in the phenomena that is Krsna consciousness. Yes. Even here, within our small, secluded village, so far removed from the normal society, Krsna lives. Preaching continues.

To the casual observer, Mt. Olive might bear more resemblance to a small college campus than a maximum security prison, as Mt. Olive has so far remained a relatively mellow prison. Only two men have been murdered here by fellow prisoners. In all of the states surrounding West Virginia, conditions are much more dangerous and turbulent. One would be hard pressed to find a less violent maximum security prison anywhere in the United States. And for that I am surely thankful.

Inside its razor wire topped fences, six prisoner housing units form a semicircle along the inside perimeter of the recreation yard. Like great sequoia trees, 100 feet light posts dot the inner and outer spaces. Atop these tall poles are affixed clusters of large, bring halogen lights that burn from sundown to sunup while simultaneously serving as roosts and nesting places to hundreds of birds. Unlike most other prisons, here the rec yard remains open most days from 6:30 AM until 9:45 PM. On most mornings, one or more of the Bhaktas will join me for japa. While our number sometimes fluctuates, as men are released or transferred to other institutions, we remain at around ten. Our first serious Bhakta was Mark D. Myers, who, after reading Bhagavad-gita As It Is, quickly began chanting sixteen rounds, following the four regulative principles and eating only Krsna prasadam. Then, by Krsna’s arrangement, after having only a few more weeks of his associations, Bhakta Mark was transferred to another institution. Yet, even while remaining alone there, he continues to fight on, maintaining his strict devotional practice. Some time later we were blessed with Bhakta John Price, a serious devotee who understood the need for Krsna consciousness in his life. He, too, quickly began chanting sixteen rounds and following the process carefully. With Bhakta John’s cooking expertise, we began to bake and distribute hundreds of prasadam cookies to the prisoners. After this came Bhakta Dave Plumley, a wonderful friend whom I’ve known for over twenty years. His chanting and appreciation for Krsna consciousness continues to increase. Bhakta Shawn Pethel also joined with Bhakta Aaron Tillman, as did Bhakta Tim Ward who recently signed up for Hare Krsna vegetarian meals and comes to our weekly Tuesday Chapel programs. We were especially happy to receive Bhakta Fred Church, who loves hearing and discussing our evening recitation of Krsna Book, and very devoutly chants on his japa mala beads. Bhakta Fred, while nearly deaf and mostly confined to a wheelchair, continues to inspire us all. At 67 years old, he has found new life in Krsna consciousness. In a similar way, Rusty Phillips is ever favorable and an ally of Krsna consciousness. Kenneth Chance is a transcendentalist who holds Srila Prabhupada in high esteem. Dave Horn enjoys our Tuesday programs, and whenever he sees one of the devotees, Bruce Collins greets him by saying, “Hare Krsna!” Even with such a small number of devotees, it is impossible to walk the yard and escape the sound and sight of Sri Krsna at Mt. Olive.

Gaining and maintaining ones religious rights in prison remains a constant, ongoing struggle. We continue to press forward to cook our own meals with the help of our GBC friend Mother Malati and guru Candramauli Swami. Recently, we were granted our own time in the chapel, every Tuesday at 2:00 PM. We split our time there between watching Hare Krsna DVD movies and holding kirtana. Soon our kirtana will be bolstered by kartalas and mrdanga drum, all compliments of Sriman Lokavarnottama dasa, our revered benefactor. We have also recently formed a band name “Gauranga Bhajana Band.” Included in the band are “Big Hungry” on drums, Bhakta John playing kartalas and singing, Bhakta Fred siging bass, bhakta Bruce playing electric piano and guitar, and myself with mrdanga, kartalas, singing, etc. What better way to practice our kirtana and bhajanas, enlivening one and all.

There is nothing artificial about what we do. We interact with the other prisoners and staff just as anyone might. But we do not look to others with an eye toward exploitations. The difference is our Krsna consciousness, our focus on Krsna. We don’t want to inject anything harmful or negative into our environment. Our first perspective is Krsna consciousness. As we move about in our daily business, people see our japa bags and naturally want to know something about it. In this and other ways, little by little, Krsna consciousness is spreading one devotee at a time. We simply depend on guru and Krsna and try to inspire others through our personal example. Thus, Krsna consciousness is the perfect solution for every situation. We can remain Krsna conscious anywhere, whether in West Virginia or the desert of Arizona, the dusty plains of Texas, the California hills or the Oregon coast. In any situation or condition of life, Krsna consciousness is always the perfect solution for everyone seeking happiness.