Prison Ministry: Preaching to Jose
Posted October 16, 2004

A letter from an inmate to the ISKCON Prison Ministry

Thursday, Sept. 9th, 2004

Dear Mother Shyama Priya;

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Mother Shyama, I'd like to share something with you. Last night my neighbor and I stayed up till 4:00 in the morning talking about Krsna and the Bhagavad-gita. His name is Jose. He was asking me many beautiful questions, and I answered many of them.

Jose was back here for 10 months waiting to be transferred to Mule Creek State Prison. After one night of hearing and learning of Krsna, he was transferred. He just left at 10 a.m. Hare Krsna! I know now I was placed here for a reason: to get deeper in touch and speak more about our Lord Sri Krsna.

I gave him your address so that he can learn more from the real teachers. He's real interested in Krsna consciousness and learns pretty quick. If and when he writes to you, please let me know.

I need to ask you a favor. Can you please send me the following three pictures—Radha-Krsna, Srila Prabhupada, and Lord Caitanya—so that I can construct my altar here in my cell.

I must close for now, but I pray the Lord keeps blessing and teaching all of us.

My best wishes. Hare Krsna!

Sincerely,

Your humble and devoted student,
Ricardo Ontiveros
K63599 D8 AD/SEG
Salinas Valley State Prison
PO Box 1050,
Soledad CA 93960-1050

From Mother Shyama Priya:

Many of us can remember the first time we met a devotee or the first time we heard about Krsna. It was a very exciting time. The first time I met a devotee I stayed up all night and listened to Krsna Katha. It was so amazing to me. I thought, "How does this person know so much about God?"

Also the person speaking may think, "I'm so fortunate to have someone who is interested in hearing." It is such a wonderful experience: someone to hear and someone to speak Krsna katha.

Would you like to help?

Financial donations pay for

• Postage for 400 Back to Godhead magazines
• Vaishnava books
• Vaishnava journals
• Postage for our regular newsletter

Other donations accepted include but are not limited to

• Books
• Tulasi neck beads and japa beads
• Music and lecture tapes
• Music and lecture CDs
• Devotional videos

Please contact us for more information. Become part of a wonderful preaching program. Help finance this worthy cause or get personally involved.

ISKCON Prison Ministry
Shyama Priya devi dasi
PO Box 261
Alpine, CA 91901
619-659-0108
shyamapriya@aol.com

Please make checks payable to:

Marguerite Hull c/o ISKCON Prison Ministry

Candrasekhara das, Director IPM
PO Box 2693
Toledo OH 43606
419-508-2291

© dipika.org October 16, 2004