#95 - The Holy Names Are Like Cooling Water in the Summer Heat

Haribol sweet souls, Hare Krishna, Namaste, dandabats pranams! Today we're walking through the Bronx on a hot New York City day, fire hydrants open and cooling the streets, on our way to meet His Grace Srila Bhakti Vedanta Siddhanti Maharaj in person. This isn't just a city walk. We're heading to a home kirtan, to hear and repeat the holy names together, receive prasadam, and ask a few questions of a wonderful spiritual teacher. There's something beautiful about learning from different shiksha gurus, each one offering a different flavor, mood, and insight. Along the way, we talk about the Bronx, its place in the story of hip-hop, the kindness of New Yorkers, and the way a simple fire hydrant becomes a little material reminder of spiritual mercy. Just as cool water pours into the summer heat, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is cooling water for living beings struggling through the heat of material life. Mark also shares a little about dealing with shingles and Type 1 diabetes, and how these moments can remind us that we are not only the body. The body may be struggling, but the spirit can still sing, serve, remember, and keep moving toward God. So come along for a short devotional travel vlog through New York City, with a little street life, a little philosophy, and a joyful invitation to chant and be happy.