Diary
of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 18
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2015, part two)
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2015, part two)
Boston, New
York City, Albany
(Sent from Brooklyn, New York, on October 11, 2015)
(Sent from Brooklyn, New York, on October 11, 2015)
Where
I Went and What I Did
I
went with the Harinama Ruci world harinama sankirtana party
to Boston to do harinama at
the festival honoring the 50th
anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's arrival in Boston. We stayed
through Radhastami, the day after the festival weekend. Then I
returned and chanted, danced, and distributed literature and
invitations with the New York City Harinama party of Rama Raya
Prabhu, taking a trip to Albany the next weekend to celebrate my
mother's 91st
birthday.
I
share many realizations from the senior devotees attending the
festival for the 50th
anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's arrival in Boston. These include
Bhaktimarga Swami, Candramauli Swami, Giriraja Swami, Navayogena
Swami, Niranjana Swami, Romapada Swami, and
Malati Devi Dasi. I
share wisdom from senior devotees at the Harinama Ashram in New York
City, namely Abhirama and Rama Raya Prabhus and their guest sannyasi
speakers, Jayadvaita Swami and
Candrasekhara Swami. In
particular I have notes on Radhastami lectures by Candramauli,
Giriraja, Navayogendra, and Radhanath Swamis.
Many
thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for paying for my subway expenses in
New York City.
Thanks to Kesihanta Prabhu of Alachua for his kind donation. Thanks
to the Brazilian lady living in Boston who likes Hare Krishna and
gave me a donation at Penn Station. Many, many thanks to Caitanya
Mangala Prabhu of Boston for arranging our accommodation and travel
for the Prabhupada festival there.
Thanks
to Mahavishnu Swami for posting the pictures of us doing harinama
on the Boston streets. Thanks to
the Hare Krishna Festival devotees for their picture of me on
harinama in Boston.
Thanks to Dharmatma Prabhu and Mother Dvijapriya for their pictures
of our Union Square harinama.
Itinerary
September
28–November 12: New York City Harinama
November
13: Philadelphia?
November
14–17: Washington, D.C., Harinama
November
18: Jacksonville, FL
November
19: Tampa
November
20: Orlando
November
21–December 15: Krishna House (except 5 days in Tallahassee)
December
16–January 3: New York City Harinama
Srila
Prabhupada Festival in Boston
I
found the festival for the 50th anniversary of Srila
Prabhupada's arrival in Boston to be deeply uplifting and inspiring.
The many senior devotees and their realizations contributed a lot. I
think that accepting our celebration, Srila Prabhupada must have
blessed us with some special mercy.
I
stayed with the
Harinama Ruci traveling harinama
sankirtana party
in Boston. We traveled from our hotel to Boston Common via bus and
train, and we did harinama
on
both, inspiring one or two travelers to join with us
(https://youtu.be/CGyeOJ-tL-o):
Part
of the festival was offerings to Srila Prabhupada on a boat which
sailed around the Boston harbor for a couple hours.
Jayadvaita
Swami:
Srila
Prabhupada told Abhirama Prabhu it was very difficult for him to give
up his family life. But he did that. Then he went to Vrindavan. Then
he gave up Vrindavan. Why? Because he had a duty to his spiritual
master.
Srila
Prabhupada told one disciple, “If I did not preach, where would you
be?”
There
will be difficulties, but we have to think, “How can I do this duty
despite the difficulties?” We must carry on the legacy given us by
Srila Prabhupada and make our lives glorious.
Romapada
Swami:
Complete
humility, complete dependence on his guru, and complete confidence
were the cause of Srila Prabhupada's success.
Seeing
Srila Prabhupada completely transformed my life.
Out
of gratitude for his sacrifice, make sacrifice for him.
Trivikrama
Swami:
I
am convinced that within 50 years from now, Srila Prabhupada will be
the most prominent spiritual teacher in this world.
Jagat-purusa
Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada embodies the understanding of being an instrument in the
Lord's service and shows
that in that position nothing is impossible.
Bhaktimarga
Swami:
Srila
Prabhupada did not come to
America to elevate
himself financially but to elevate everyone spiritually. Srila
Prabhupada was at the cutting edge of everything, animal rights,
reincarnation, etc. He came to change the world.
Radhanath
Swami:
As
far as we know, the first American Srila Prabhupada met in his life
was the immigration agent.
Srila
Prabhupada boarded the boat with his son and three employees of the
cargo ship company. Now 50 years later, 15,000 people gathered in
Kolkata to celebrate it.
Guru
Gouranga Prabhu:
I
was aimless before meeting Srila Prabhupada, but now I have a
direction.
Srila
Prabhupada came for me. We can each say that because he come for
everyone. We all know what to do to pay our debt to him. Everyday we
should wake up remembering that.
Niranjana
Swami:
Fortunate
is the person who is
blessed with responsible work, and if one is conscious of his
subordinate position, he will be able to act nicely.
“Markine
Bhagavata Dharma” shows Srila Prabhupada's conscious dependence on
Krishna. Srila Prabhupada
taught that from when he appeared in the West until he left this
world.
If
I forget that I am Srila Prabhupada's servant, whatever I do is not
done very nicely.
Anuttama
Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada explained, “Because of my enthusiasm, this movement is
going on and you have had a chance take
part.”
Our
goal is simply to assist Srila Prabhupada in his mission.
Visakha
Devi Dasi:
While
researching Srila Prabhupada's statements for a documentary, Srila
Prabhupada's Legacy and Life, we
found that he only rarely mentioned his heart attacks on his journey,
but many times he spoke of his meeting with his guru. He was not
interested in telling us how much he sacrificed for us. Rather he
wanted to share the divine knowledge of his guru.
He
was here to give, and he gave all the time.
Malati
Devi Dasi:
In
his letters to India soon after he arrived in America, he explained
how the Americans were getting new knowledge from him. Although their
English was different from his, they were understanding.
The
captain got Srila Prabhupada a hot plate so he could cook for
himself. He thought that if the captain had not done that he might
not have survived.
He
said he spoke in a church for the first time and the people liked it.
He
described the place to people in India: “You cannot imagine. Here
people impregnate women and take them to a doctor and abort the
child.”
He
told how some of the people began to follow him and gave up
intoxication and illicit sex, and that he was surprised by their
great reverence for him.
He
predicted, “In the future, there will be preaching all over the
world by these young people.”
Shubha Vilas Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada would say to me, “You do not know how much I went
through to go to the West.”
You
have brought us to the doorway to the spiritual world. We just have
to walk through it.
Ashalata Devi Dasi:
Because
of your austerity, humility, and determination Krishna gave you the
force to spread Krishna.
I
had the desire to touch the feet of the saint who had given Krishna
consciousness to hundreds of Westerners. I came from Toronto to
Chicago. My husband mentioned my desire in conversation to Srila
Prabhupada, and he pulled up the end of his dhoti
covering his feet and let me touch them.
Navayogendra
Swami:
When
I met Srila Prabhupada, he asked my name, and I replied, “Yogendra
Kumara Sharma.” He replied, “Your name is Navayogendra
Dasa.”
What is the gift of Srila Prabhupada to the whole world? Bhakti, unmotivated and uninterrupted.
What is the gift of Srila Prabhupada to the whole world? Bhakti, unmotivated and uninterrupted.
Srila
Prabhupada told some Britishers, “You
have taken everything from India, but you have forgotten one thing,
her culture, and I have come to give you that.”
Srila
Prabhupada said about the Westerners, “I did not come to follow
them, I came to make them follow me.”
Cintamani Devi Dasi:
Srila
Prabhupada told me, “Cintamani is the place Krishna stays. Make in
your heart a place for Krishna to stay.”
I was praying to Jesus for a year to find God, to find the truth. I became vegetarian. A devotee suggested I write Srila Prabhupada. I did and he replied, “We are followers of Jesus, just add the chanting of Hare Krishna.” I did. Within a month I got initiated.
I was praying to Jesus for a year to find God, to find the truth. I became vegetarian. A devotee suggested I write Srila Prabhupada. I did and he replied, “We are followers of Jesus, just add the chanting of Hare Krishna.” I did. Within a month I got initiated.
How
has my life changed? I really had no life. Without the holy name,
there is no life.
My
request is: “Just keep this Krishna consciousness
going.”
Mahavishnu Swami:
Mahavishnu Swami:
Seeing
that Piccadilly in London is just like a village compared to Times
Square and seeing all of the tall buildings, I realized that New York
City is center of Kali-yuga.
Everyone is suffering because they have no relationship with Krishna. Prabhupada taught this simple and joyful practice whereby we can awaken our love for Him.
Everyone is suffering because they have no relationship with Krishna. Prabhupada taught this simple and joyful practice whereby we can awaken our love for Him.
Anuttama
Prabhu [ISKCON Communications]:
Srila
Prabhupada had a vision, and he fulfilled that mission.
His
vision was that Krishna's holy name and His instructions could purify
the world.
After
the Vrindavan temple opening, Srila Prabhupada was thinking about
what next.
The
flag of India was flown over City Hall in Boston on Thursday
[September 17, 2015] to commemorate Srila Prabhupada's arrival 50th
years ago. The mayor declared that day His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Day in Boston.
What
about all those people who think intoxication, meat-eating, illicit
sex, and gambling will really make them happy? We have more to do.
Ambarisa
Prabhu [Alfred Ford]:
Fifty
years ago they were grooming me for a corporate career, then there
was the hippie scene. I do not think I would be alive today without
Srila Prabhupada. I was without direction.
I wondered about how the Mayapur temple would happen, but I kept Srila Prabhupada's order to me in the center, and it is progressing.
I wondered about how the Mayapur temple would happen, but I kept Srila Prabhupada's order to me in the center, and it is progressing.
I
would like to thank the ISKCON management for keeping things together
the almost 40 years since Srila Prabhupada left
this world. After being
attacked in so many ways, from so many different directions, ISKCON
is still going forward with the main teachings still intact.
Gopal Swami Prabhu [from France]:
Gopal Swami Prabhu [from France]:
Who
does not feel alone sometimes? We can take heart seeing Srila
Prabhupada's courage in the face of his lonely journey.
From
him we can learn
nama-ruci, taste
for the holy name of Krishna.
He
showed the example of Vaishnava-seva (service to the Vaishnava).
Sumati Devi Dasi:
Krishna arranged that Srila Prabhupada do it alone.
Sumati Devi Dasi:
Krishna arranged that Srila Prabhupada do it alone.
He
sailed into the Boston harbor and into so many of our hearts.
He
turned hippies into happies.
I
heard the chant from the musical, Hair,
and
sang it for two years, thinking it was just a cinema song.
In Boston we would do a radio show of the Krishna book. Satsvarupa would write the script. He played Krishna. I played Mother Yasoda. Satsvarupa played tapes of the shows for Prabhupada, and when Prabhupada heard Mother Yasoda screaming “Krishna!” in the Kaliya pastime, Prabhupada had them stop the tape. He asked who that was playing Yasoda. “Sumati,” Satsvarupa said. Prabhupada replied, “She should always cry to Krishna like that.”
In Boston we would do a radio show of the Krishna book. Satsvarupa would write the script. He played Krishna. I played Mother Yasoda. Satsvarupa played tapes of the shows for Prabhupada, and when Prabhupada heard Mother Yasoda screaming “Krishna!” in the Kaliya pastime, Prabhupada had them stop the tape. He asked who that was playing Yasoda. “Sumati,” Satsvarupa said. Prabhupada replied, “She should always cry to Krishna like that.”
Rukmini
Devi Dasi:
Bhakti
follows the prayers of the pure devotee, and so it did from
Prabhupada's Boston prayers.
Srila
Prabhupada said, “We hear 'Preach, preach, preach,' but they do not
know you have to be empowered to preach.”
Rangavati Devi Dasi:
Rangavati Devi Dasi:
I
was going through difficulties. I found my father could not help me.
I
prayed for the truth without any conditions, in a field of flowers.
Two days later I was in the Detroit temple.
Sarva
Siddhi Prabhu:
I
am convinced everything in my life has been due to Srila Prabhupada
since I met the devotees.
We
were at the furthest table from Srila Prabhupada. He was tossing
prasadam. I
had my head down, and when I looked up there was one almond in front
of me, and two in front of my wife, who was pregnant.
Giriraja
Swami:
Fifty
years ago I was in Brandeis University in Boston. I was looking for a
guru. I looked in different places. Each time I was disappointed. I
had given up thinking I would find one. I heard of Srila Prabhupada's
lecture. I was doubtful but something within pulled me to go. I think
it was Srila Prabhupada's prayers. I went, and then I would go every
evening.
I
felt that the disciple should go to the guru, but Prabhupada was
coming to us. Actually he was always coming to us.
We
were really struggling in Boston. Prabhupada met with the devotees
and patiently heard everyone out and suggested we meet collectively
and discuss things and make solutions. My policy was always
everything for Krishna, nothing for myself, and therefore I never
complained. I learned from this that we have to take care of devotees
because Srila Prabhupada was so concerned for devotees.
Srila
Prabhupada was like Krishna in that he was there for everyone.
I
could not exist without the association of Srila Prabhupada's
followers.
Harinama
from Commonwealth Pier to the Boston Common
After
the Boston boat ride, we did harinama from Commonwealth Pier
to the Boston Common. It was wonderful to have a chanting party with
so many devotees.
And
to dance with us.
One
devotee lady swung onlookers around.
Once
Malati Devi borrowed my friend's trumpet to play.
I
took a little video of part of it (https://youtu.be/2e8f-jZ4_f0):
At
the festival site, some of the Festival of India tents were set
up.
Several devotees taught chanting Hare Krishna on beads as a
personal meditation and distributed meditation kits to those they
taught.
After
lunch prasadam, we chanted
Hare Krishna from the Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, carrying
a full-size murti [statue]
of Srila Prabhupada. Several curious
onlookers asked about Srila
Prabhupada. I was thinking how in 1965 practically no one was aware
of Srila Prabhupada's arrival in Boston, but now
because of this festival in
2015, hundreds and perhaps thousands of people became aware of it.
A
couple girls from Switzerland and a boy from Austria (above), who had lunch
prasadam with Sundar
Nitai Prabhu and the devotees, came on that procession and danced
nicely in the kirtana. Here
is some video of it (https://youtu.be/wselo-RxEj8):
One
man I talked to even gave me $5 for a Perfection of Yoga
which Gaura Karuna Prabhu gave me to distribute.
There
was a program with chanting and talking about Srila Prabhupada at
Faneuil Hall in the evening which was scheduled to be from 5:00 to
7:00 p.m.
Because
my Harinama Ruci friends and I had not done our daily quota of
chanting in the streets, we did not attend this but continued
chanting.
On harinama I distributed temple invitations and danced as usual.
We had many nice
experiences.
Some people danced with us.
Boston
Ratha-yatra
Boston
Ratha-yatra was the second day of the weekend festival. I was busy
dancing and distributing so I did not take pictures of it. We pulled
Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra clockwise
in a circular
route around the perimeter of Boston Common. Several devotees
distributed books, invitations,
and prasadam to the
people. Many people were attracted by the procession.
After
the Ratha-yatra, we did harinama downtown.
Some other street performers participated with us at one point
(https://youtu.be/iylbw3_p2GM):
One
Russian speaking devotee had rendered a sculpture of Srila Prabhupada
walking down the gangway of the Jaladuta
in Boston. This was situated next to Srila Prabhupada's vyasasana
in the Boston temple at the end
of the festival.
Sunday
evening after the festivities,
I was there with Niranjana Swami and Jayadvaita Swami, both of whom I
knew from 1979 when I first joined the temple in New York City on
55th
Street. I mentioned how one of the speakers told how Srila Prabhupada
had sailed into Boston harbor and that he had also sailed into our lives. I
thanked the two of them for sailing into my life, as Srila
Prabhupada's representatives.
More
Boston Harinamas
The
Harinama Ruci Party chanted every day for at least three hours in
Boston. In fact, they found Boston so favorable for harinama
and book
distribution they decided to stay two more days in Boston before
returning to New York City.
I did not stay as I am part of the New York City Harinama party, and
I did not want to disappoint Rama Raya Prabhu, our leader.
Mahavishnu Swami was a great inspiration on harinama.
He would get people dancing.
Devotees
would swing the onlookers.
One
performer, a lady dressed in silver, wore a garland the devotees gave
her.
One
Boston policeman, originally from Trinidad, was captivated by the
harinama. Because there are
many Indians in Trinidad, although African himself, the policeman was aware
of the existence of Hare Krishna, but he did not know much about it.
I told him some additional details, and he spent some time with our
party the next day.
The
final day we met some people doing yoga on
the Boston Common, and Sundar Nitai Prabhu brought them to the point
of doing some bhakti-yoga
(https://youtu.be/IY8axvgt95Y):
Here
are some clips of harinamas from
all three days (https://youtu.be/rGQnpwrEIxA):
New
York City Harinama
Our
usual spot is the southwest corner of Union Square Park, right in
front of the subway station entrance.
Usually
I lead the singing for 30 or 40 minutes of the six hours we sing each
day.
Once time Ananta Gauranga Prabhu led a kirtana that got a bunch of people dancing (https://youtu.be/nbU45xQ-ykM):
This
time each year the Jews erect a small structure for a week or so in
our usual spot to chant, so we move over.
In
this video, Kishor Prabhu sings, and in the background you can see
some Jewish men, in front of their structure, dancing. Thus they are
getting credit for participating in Lord Caitanya's sankirtana
movement
(https://youtu.be/c8hQmhSC0KA):
One
day a young lady from
Turkey, enjoying watching the devotees chanting Hare Krishna in Union
Square Park, seeing their intense absorption, said to me, “By
losing themselves, they are finding themselves.” What a wonderful
realization!
On
the cold and wet days we sing in the subway stations.
At
Atlantic Ave. / Barclay's Center many people watched and some danced
with us.
One
little girl delighted in dancing.
While
Ananta Gauranga Prabhu was signing, one guy danced with Nihal Prabhu
(https://youtu.be/MLEKm5I6UK8):
It
was a Jewish holiday, and the subway was teeming with Jews in their
traditional dress. Some Jewish kids danced with us, until their
mother objected (https://youtu.be/85OFBvUPNxg):
Abhirama
Prabhu, when he is in town, does a walking harinama for
two hours or so three days of week in
the late afternoon.
Once
we did Times Square.
One
lady delighted in dancing with us.
So
did several girls who were friends.
We
met a lady from Mexico who attends our Mexico City temple.
Another
time we did harinama around
the Union Square Park and 14th
Street.
One
day Harinama Ruci chanted with us on the way back to our ashram from
Union Square. We took the “L” train from Union Square to Broadway
Junction, and Sundar Nitai Prabhu engaged many people in singing the
Hare Krishna mantra (https://youtu.be/wTXRycIKBT4):
At
Broadway Junction, one lady danced with us in the subway station
(https://youtu.be/ypMd3x-lH3Q):
My
Mother's 91st
Birthday
My
sister, Karen, decided we would celebrate our mother's birthday the
weekend of September 26-27 although September 14 was the actual day
as it worked out better with our schedules. Karen's
daughter Fern was in town, and my half-brother David's daughter,
Gwen, and her baby, Vianne. Gwen
got a break from babysitting with so many helpers.
I cooked Friday night and made dal, capatis, and two kinds of lassi, mango and raspberry. Some people merged the two lassis to have mango-raspberry lassi. I learned that raspberries are a bit tart and you have to add more sugar than what a mango lassi recipe calls for.
My
guru's servant, Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu, known as Bala, who
lives 45 minutes away, kindly made and delivered his wonderful
version of spinach paneer, along
with all sorts of goodies, like cookies, khichri, and
a whole jug of apple cider offered on Radhastami but never served
out. He also gave lots of local jams that he received by trading
prasadam with
neighbors. My sister's boyfriend, Victor, gave Bala a nice donation
for all his goods and his trouble.
Saturday
Victor made a birthday cake. There was not room for 91 candles so he
just used candles to spell “91” on the cake.
Then
they had two trays totaling
91 candles separately. My
mother told of incidents in each decade of her life as they lit each
group of 10 candles.
I
gave my mother as
a birthday present the six
flavors of fruit snacks
I got from the Czech devotees prasadam
business called “Damodara”:
date with coconut, plum with linseed, poppy, fig with carob, dates
with beetroot, and apple with chia.
To
see the pictures I have but did not include in this journal, click on
the link below:
Insights
Candramauli
Swami:
From
a Radhastami lecture:
Scholars
say two things can never be understood: Krishna's qualities and
Radharani's love.
In
order to get the mercy of Krishna one must get the mercy of
Radharani. Srila Prabhupada says in one lecture that Krishna can be
satisfied easily by offering a leaf, flower, fruit, and water, but to
make sure Krishna accepts your offering, put it in Radharani's hand.
The
great poet Jayadeva Goswami felt inspired to write “Krishna places
His head at the lotus feet of Radharani” in a poem, but then he
considered that could not be correct as Krishna is in a superior
position. He stopped to take His midday bath before lunch. After a
while, his wife saw Jayadeva had returned, and she fed him lunch.
Then he sat down at his writing table, wrote briefly, and then
stepped out. Then Jayadeva returned, expecting lunch. His wife said
she already served him lunch. He disagreed. She explained she served
him lunch, he wrote briefly, and he then stepped out. Jayadeva looked
at his writing table and saw the words he had hesitated to write
appeared there. Thus he concluded that Krishna had disguised Himself
as Jayadeva, gave his wife the chance to personally serve Him lunch,
and wrote the truth about the greatness of Radharani, “Krishna
places His head at the lotus feet of Radharani.”
Radharani
appears whenever Krishna appears, but she does not always appear in
the same way in each incarnation and thus the scriptures tell give
different accounts.
Vrsabhanu
saw a gigantic effulgent lotus flower floating down the Yamuna. Lord
Brahma congratulated King Vrsabhanu saying his austerities reached
perfection, and he brought an incredibly beautiful girl from the
lotus flower.
When
Narada Muni saw Radharani he went into ecstasy and circumambulated
Radharani many times, and he
praised Vrsabhanu for
amazing his good fortune.
Narada-bhakti-sutra
was
written by Narada Muni in the ecstasy of having just seen the newborn
Radharani.
We
can pray, “My dear Srimati Radharani, please bless me that I may
satisfy my spiritual master, who is Krishna's representative.”
One
reason that Sukadeva Goswami did not speak the intimate glories of
Radharani is that some people in the audience were not qualified to
hear them.
Every
game that is played in this world originated in the spiritual world.
We
will never completely understand Radha or Krishna, but bhakti
is
the process of trying to understand, and because bhakti
is
unlimited, we are always learning something new.
Radharani
in Vrindavana is always dancing.
Radharani
never cooks the same preparation for Krishna twice.
We
can pray to Radharani, “You are very dear to Lord Krishna so we
offer obeisances to you.”
In
playing hide and seek, Krishna would always move and it would be
difficult for Radha to catch him. Then Radha chanted the Hare Krishna
mantra in a very sweet voice, and Krishna froze, and Radha was able
to catch Him.
Jayadvaita
Swami:
The
different regions of the universe are all populated by different
grades of living entities according to their past pious and impious
acts.
The
reason we are living in the material world is we are attracted to the
nice places in the material world.
Comment
to a devotee leaning against wall and falling asleep: “That wall is
not good for you.”
One
psychologist wrote a book in which he described conditions that could
be explained by reincarnation. One was gender dysphoria [the
condition of feeling one's emotional and psychological identity as
male or female to be opposite to one's biological sex].
When
we see a female pig, it is an not attractive sight but rather
disgusting, yet a male pig is completely enchanted and excited.
For
one who has the mercy of Lord Caitanya, heavenly residences are just
phantasmagoria.
Srila
Prabhupada included “idle sports” in the category of gambling. He
referred to them as “this
ball, that ball.” When the mind becomes absorbed in sports, it has
less time for Krishna.
Better
than touching the book is to buy the book, then you can touch it
more.
We
have gardens on earth but nothing in comparison to Trikuta Mountain.
It
is natural that people want to get out of the city to beautiful
natural settings because the spiritual world is like that.
Heavenly
gardens are superior to earthly gardens, yet still, the heavenly
beauty is clearly imitation. Spiritual gardens are far more
attractive than even those on the heavenly planets.
Maya
has got something in stock for everyone. A demigod will not be
bewildered by the beautiful girls of the earth, but he will be
attracted by the heavenly damsels. One may not attracted by night
clubs, but he is attracted by saving the whales.
In
ignorance people are attracted by intoxication, in passion they are
attracted by sense enjoyment, and in goodness they are attracted by
beauty, philosophy, simplicity and peace. But still they are
attracted by maya.
If
you take even a tenth of centimeter of skin off a beautiful woman,
you will not be attracted.
So
many tourist places are just hype, an attraction built up by words.
If
you see a pornographic movie, what is it? Just some light on a
screen. The mind provides everything else.
Imagine
having a body of eternity, knowledge and joy. We would think in our
conditioned consciousness, “Then I could really enjoy.” That is
our disease. We think we are the enjoyer. Therefore we cannot go to
the spiritual world. The spiritual world is a world of service.
Here
as servants of Krishna we can enjoy living in this ashram and having
so many facilities because we are engaging them in Krishna's service.
And when we go to Union Square, we can enjoy enlightening the people
and take pleasure in their attraction for Krishna. If they become
attracted to us, we find that disgusting.
Comment
by Rama Raya Prabhu: When the devotees used to distribute books in
the airport, one demonic worker collected books people bought but
then discarded and would rip the books apart in front of the
devotees' faces and say insulting words. That man was no longer seen
for a month, and the devotees asked the other airport workers what
happened to him. He got into an accident and his back was broken, and
he was paralyzed for life.
The
purpose of any spiritual order of life is to awaken love for God but
due to illusion, people think that the purpose is sense
gratification. This sense gratification is made up to be stellar, to
be tremendous, but it is actually insignificant.
The
man gets a little sense enjoyment but has to pay so much for his home
and for the education of the kids. And now, the wife can decide she
had had enough, and kick the guy out and take the house, and the guy
will still have to pay for kids' education, but without being able to
see them.
Even
in the best of circumstances, everything will be lost in the course
of time.
In
Kali-yuga the animals do better at family life than the humans
because at least the family stays together.
We
are also trying to establishing a nice situation, but for getting out
of this world and helping others to get out, not for staying here.
Q:
Sometimes you see a guy and girl together and they seem to be having
a good time. Is it all duplicity?
A:
It may be duplicity if they are both pretending. Maya
has a covering and throwing potency. So they are covered in such a
way that they are thinking it is very nice, just as the camel who is
chewing on the thorns is thinking he is enjoying, but the taste is
his own blood.
Material
happiness is like a bubble that lasts for a few moments and is gone.
In
the material world, love disappears when the pocket is empty.
There
is a great line in Shakespeare that has a double meaning: He lies
with her and she lies with him.
Q:
Some people say by loving others that will help in loving God.
A:
Everyone is already loving some boy, some girl, some cat, some dog.
If loving someone else would help us in
loving God, then we would
have a very God consciousness world. Actually if we think by loving
someone else it will help us love God, then we should love the
spiritual master for that really will help us love God.
Why
do I love myself? Because I am part of Krishna.
Give
love to the souls of the people by connecting them with Krishna.
One
may be a Lincoln or a Kennedy, but one is not immune to death.
Q
(by me): Krishna, God, is all good, and His will is good, but
sometimes when His will causes us discomfort we have doubts.
A:
Yes, we expect God to be our order supplier, but that is not His
position. We can desire to live to pursue self-realization
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.10), but whether we live or die is up
to Krishna.
Eternity
in this body is not possible.
Mahavishnu
Swami:
Our
modern scientists are in the grip of illusion, although they are
struggling to overcome nature. We think we are conquering nature,
when in reality, we are becoming more dependent on her.
We
give up meat eating, illicit sex, gambling, and intoxication to help
us realize that we are not our bodies.
Prabhupada
brought literature telling of a civilization based on transcendental
progress rather than material advancement.
The
modern civilization is studying the material nature without first
considering the important question, “Who am I?”
We
are being held in the mode of goodness by Srila Prabhupada's mercy.
It
may seem difficult to follow the four rules prohibiting illicit sex,
intoxication, meat eating and gambling, but in the association of
devotees it is not so hard.
All
these things are Krishna's energy, but we know how to use them for
Krishna, and so we are free. Srila Prabhupada has set us free.
Repression
will not work. In this we agree with the psychologists. We have to
get a higher taste.
Srila
Prabhupada could see everyone was following America and thought if
America became Krishna conscious, then the world would also. Thus he
chose to come to America.
Commenting
on “Krishna Taba Punya Habe Bhai”:
Srila
Prabhupada as he was coming to America wrote, “O, brothers, the
Supreme Lord Krishna will bestow virtue upon you—but He will do
this only when Srimati Radharani first becomes pleased with you. This
I surely declare to you.” What does he mean by brothers? I take it
to mean his godbrothers. Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura wanted all
the godbrothers to preach in the West.
In
Africa there are 54 countries, but we have only 20 centers, a few
centers in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, one each in Uganda and
Congo.
We
need pioneers. Srila Prabhupada was a pioneer. He wants us to be
pioneers. The mood of Radharani is to bring others to Krishna.
The
Sanskrit Department in Varanasi is named after Jiva Goswami, he is
such a famous philosopher.
Navayogendara
Swami:
From
a lecture on Radhastami:
This
life is to attain Krishna-prema
[love
of Krishna].
While
we are in this body, which is temporary, we must always remember our
real business is to attain Krishna.
Without
the mercy of Radharani, no one can have Krishna-prema.
How
is the chanting of Hare Krishna spreading all over the world? By
Radharani's mercy.
This
is obtained through the link of spiritual teachers.
Why
is Radha so great? Because Her only desire is to please Krishna.
We
should pray to Radha, “O Radha, please bless me to become a devotee
of your beloved Krishna.”
One
man named Kapoor left home to Surabhi Kunja in Vrindavana about two
hundred years ago, being inspired by Krishna in a dream. He kept
thinking someday Krishna would reveal Himself, but years went by and
he did not see Krishna. He did not eat. He went blind and was
suffering greatly. Radha noticed this and went to Krishna presenting
the situation and asking Krishna to reveal Himself to the man. He
replied, “You are the queen of Vrindavana, without your permission
I cannot reveal myself to him.” She replied, “Let us go together
so he can see Us.” They went and Radharani applied ointment to
Kapoor's eyes, and he could see both of Them in great happiness. The
Deity of Krishna in this place is called Nayanananda [He who gives
bliss to the eyes].
Radharani's
qualities are so super Krishna likes to be controlled by Her.
Once
I offered obeisances to Lord Shiva, and one devotee was upset,
saying, “Prabhupada said we only show respect to Krishna.” I was
confused so I asked Srila Prabhupada. He replied, “People say
'Prabhupada said this, Prabhupada said that,' but I did not say this
or that. What to speak of respecting Lord Shiva, who is the lord of
the demigods, we should respect even an ant.”
Srila
Prabhupada said the real Ramayana
is that composed by Valmiki. Another book called Rama-carita-manasa
is
sometimes mistakenly called Ramayana.
British
Lord Macauly said he traveled throughout India and found no beggers
and no thieves. He wrote that to rule the Indians they would have to
destroy the educational system and cow protection and so they did.
We
must give this wonderful Vedic culture to everyone without
discrimination.
Srila
Prabhupada said that the Lord is peaceful because he is eternal. That
which is temporary causes agitation.
Radharani
is Jagan-mata, mother of the universe. Without respecting mothers, we
will not get Radharani's mercy.
When
Srila Prabhupada was present, devotees were very careful and austere.
If you find people not up to the standard, do not lower your
standard. People will be attracted by the devotion and join.
Srila
Prabhupada advised that grhasthas
who
live near the temple not to have their own Deities but to participate
in the temple Deity worship.
Srila
Prabhupada is the emblem of the mercy of Radharani.
On
a couple occasions Srila Prabhupada asked me to cook for him. I said
I could not cook. The second time Srila Prabhupada said, “One lady
is cooking for me, but I cannot eat her cooking.” I said I would
try. I prayed to Radharani, “You are the best cook, please bless me
with the ability to cook for your devotee Srila Prabhupada.” As I
cooked I thought about how Srila Prabhupada was dear to Srimati
Radharani. That meal Srila Prabhupada ate three capatis
which
he had not done in seventeen days. Thus I became Srila Prabhupada's
cook by Radharani's mercy.
Lord
Caitanya is in the mood of Radharani and that is why we are getting
the opportunity of chanting Hare Krishna all over the world.
Radhanath
Swami:
From
a lecture on the 50th
anniversary of arrival of Prabhupada in America:
Srila
Prabhupada had only a sponsorship of one month, and when he boarded
the boat, he did not know if after than 38-day voyage whether he
could stay for more than a month. When he arrived in New York City,
the immigration official asked him how long he wanted to stay. He
decided to stretch it, and he said, “Two months.” And so they
stamped it.
Vrindavan
Candra De, Prabhupada's youngest son, arranged for Prabhupada's ride
from the dharmasala
he stayed at [because he was a sannyasi
and
could not stay at home] to
the Calcutta docks. His oldest son would not do it. Vrindavan Candra
came to the festival in Calcutta celebrating the 50th
anniversary of his departure. He said
when the boat pulled out, “I cried incessantly.” “Why is my
father doing this?” he
thought. But at the same time he said, “But I was proud of my
father.”
Srila
Prabhupada said, “I had some cases of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
and
faith
in the order of my guru and in the holy name of Krishna.”
Vrindavan
Candra De also told us that when his father arrived in Boston, with
the help of the ship's captain, he sent him a message in India that
he made it to Boston but he had heart attacks. He told him, “Please
go to this particular pharmacy and get this certain medicine, and
send it to Butler, Pennsylvania.” And he did that.
From
a Radhastami lecture at the Bhakti Center:
Srila
Prabhupada said we could even offer cut glass jewelry to the Deities
if we do it with devotion. That would be more valuable than offering
a pearl because the real pearl is the devotion.
Srila
Prabhupada told us there is a saying in India illustrating how karma
follows you, “Wherever you go, your forehead goes with you.”
Calcutta was seen as a place of prosperity, and so people would say,
“Even if you go to Calcutta, your forehead will go with you.”
There
is no use wasting time and energy trying achieve happiness or avoid
distress because these things are ordained. Better to satisfy the
Lord, because if the Lord is pleased, what is there left to achieve?
When
I first met Srila Prabhupada in Boston, after hearing him for several
days I was convinced about the value of Krishna consciousness. After
one class I asked Srila Prabhupada about welfare work? Srila
Prabhupada replied, “Why are you coming here? Are we not offering
you service?” He explained that by engaging people in devotional
service we were saving them from the material nature and all its
miseries. He used the example of Dhruva Maharaja who was so satisfied
by his devotional service that he wanted nothing else, and he asked,
“Is it not service to bring someone to the point of being so
satisfied they do not want anything? There would be no stealing, no
pickpocketing.” Although I was very truthful, by bad association I
developed a habit of putting things in my pocket when I went into a
shop, and when he said that it made me feel guilty.
Alexander
the Great came across a yogi
meditating
in the scorching sun. He was so impressed he wanted to give the yogi
something.
He approached him, and offered the yogi
anything
he wanted, and the yogi
just
asked that he move slightly as he was blocking the sun. Otherwise he
was completely satisfied.
When
Srila Prabhupada was in Boston, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he gave
classes at the temple and on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday he would
speak elsewhere, usually at a college engagement.
Srila
Prabhupada spoke at Harvard Divinity School. Many people asked
questions.
Q:
You say chanting the name of God will solve all problems. In Russia
there have been movements of people chanting God's names, but what
improvements have been there until the revolution?
A:
Are the people happy after the revolution?
Q:
No.
A:
What is the use?
Q:
Why chant Hare Krishna? Why not chant one, two, three?
A:
You can try counting, and when you get tired, you can try chanting
Hare Krishna.
Q:
Have you seen God?
A:
If I say I have seen God, will you accept my answer?
Q:
No.
A:
Then why are you asking the question?
The
students were impressed with the brilliance of Srila Prabhupada's
answers.
He
made it clear you cannot make an enduring change by political
activitism or another material method.
Question
by Navayogena Swami: Why, although Prabhupada was a maha-bhagavata,
did
he have to suffer so many troubles struggling alone, traveling by
cargo ship, etc.?
A:
Srila Prabhupada said, “Krishna tested me in the beginning by
taking everything away from me and in the end Krishna gave me
everything.”
Srila
Prabhupada was ready to do whatever he asked us to do and much, much
more.
Srila
Prabhupada shows it is never too late.
At
the ardha Kumbha
Mela in 1971 it was so cold that we were having difficulty getting
out of our sleeping bags and taking a cold bath. When Srila
Prabhupada heard that he got up himself.
Comment
by Navayogendra Swami: I asked Srila Prabhupada why he was sick. He
said, “Because of you. I have taken so many disciples, and because
of their karma, I am sick.”
At
the end of his life, Srila Prabhupada gave an amazing translation and
purport to the final verse in the Brahma-vimohana-lila. His health
was so bad, but his intelligence was so clear.
Radha
and Krishna are present in Their glorification, and They purify us.
The result of this purification may be that we experience unwanted
things we were not even aware of.
One
disciple told Srila Prabhupada he felt he was more advanced before he
became a devotee. Srila Prabhupada explained that it is just like
when you begin to clean a room, at first you stir things up and it
may seem to be more dirty than it originally was.
We
do not have the power to cleanse our hearts, but the Lord will take
up that work.
Hearing
how love conquers God, I thought of some examples from Srila
Prabhupada's life.
Srila
Prabhupada was in Bombay about to start a meeting about the next step
in the attempt to secure the land for Radha-Rasabihari. A muscular
laborer came to the door, entered the room, came right up to Srila
Prabhupada, and set a bunch of wild flowers on his desk, bowed down,
and glanced at Srila Prabhupada and left. Srila Prabhupada was
speechless for a few
seconds. Then
he exclaimed, “How did he
know I was here? Where did he get the idea to get the flowers? Where
did he gather them from?
I am an insignificant entity and I am so moved, how much is Krishna
moved by love!” Then Srila
Prabhupada, quoted
Bhagavad-gita 9.26,
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit
or water, I will accept it.”
All
the spiritual masters in the line of Lord Caitanya have the mission
of distributing the love of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada was special in
that he brought it all over the world. We are all indebted to him.
Srila
Prabhupada was asked about his eternal identity, and Srila Prabhupada
answered indirectly, “If I were to tell you, you would faint.”
When
asked who was the greatest of Radha, Krishna, and Caitanya, Srila
Prabhupada paused and said, “Srimati Radharani is the greatest,”
pointing to the picture on the wall of Krishna kneeling before
Srimati Radharani. Then pointing to a picture of Krishna carrying
Nanda Maharaja's shoes on his head, Srila Prabhupada said, “Nanda
Maharaja is best. The devotee is best, because the Lord becomes
subservient to the love of the devotee.”
Krishna
likes to be conquered by love. That is also service to Krishna.
How
can Lord Caitanya give such a great treasure to anyone without
discrimination to whoever will take it? The example is that of a king
who is intoxicated and goes into his treasury and gives out the
contents to everyone. Lord Caitanya is intoxicated with love of
Godhead and in that state he is distributing his treasure to everyone
without consideration.
Romapada
Swami:
At
the time of Lord Caitanya, there was a tradition of Bengali devotees
going to Puri every year. That is why Lord Caitanya's mother wanted
Him to make His residence in Puri, because she would be able to hear
of Him.
Even
as a child Srila Prabhupada understood that prasadam
distribution
is an important part of a religious festivals, and he included it in
his Ratha-yatra festival as a child.
Regarding
preaching in the West, Srila Prabhupada considered, “Somehow let me
try.”
Toshan
Krishna Prabhu was told “no” when he first asked for Fifth Avenue
for the New York Ratha-yatra procession. He went back again. The
government official offered other streets in New York, like Madison
Avenue, but Srila Prabhupada wanted Fifth Avenue so Toshan Krishna
would not accept them. Toshan Krishna cited from Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita
that the most prominent street must be used for Ratha-yatra, and thus
he would only accept Fifth Avenue. The man said I do not know why I
am doing this, and he signed
the paper, and Ratha-yatra has been on Fifth Avenue ever since.
Gaur
Mohan De gave the seed of the Ratha-yatra festival to his son, Srila
Prabhupada. Prabhupada explained he got the seed of devotion from his
father. In our movement of Krishna consciousness, the parents' great
responsibility is to give their children this seed of devotion. From
the example of Srila Prabhupada we can see if the parents are
qualified and the children are receptive, miraculous results can be
there.
Ratha-yatra
is Lord Jagannath coming to the public to give His mercy, and the
devotees are assisting Him in this.
The
foundation of education is character. What is the value of other
education if there is no character? Actually education can be
dangerous in the hands of one with no character.
It
is amazing to hear all the “mission impossible” stories given by
Srila Prabhupada.
Even
the second generation devotees have been able to do amazing things.
Everyone
who has done service for Lord Jagannath, especially on Ratha-yatra,
has the realization that Lord Jagannath is very merciful.
If
we care for devotees nicely, then Krishna will send more people to
become devotees. It takes a lot to care for devotees. It is such an
important service.
It
makes it more inviting if newcomers see the devotees treating each
other nicely, what to speak of pleasing Krishna which is our ultimate
aim.
One
Christian evangelist said, “Do not try to make the church grow. If
you take care of God's children who He sends to you, then God will
make the church grow.”
Of
those persons who come, many will go. Initiation is for those who are
serious.
When
people go, part of it is our fault and part of it is their fault. We
cannot bend our principles so that people will stay.
We
may feel deeply connected to some people, and they may go away
anyway. Generally, people do not forget those relationships, even
though they may try to.
If
we try to have spiritual relationships with the people who come, that
is the best thing. If people see that our desire is to benefit them,
they will return.
Candrasekhara
Swami:
We
will never know the universe as a whole. The material energy has more
resources than we do.
Nineteenth-century
scientists thought they could give a complete picture of the
universe.
In
reality, the scientists know a lot about a few things, but there are
many gaps in their knowledge which they fill with speculation.
Scientists
presently say 96% of the universe is invisible. How then can they say
much about it?
We
do not see what is going on in the heavenly dimension. We are not
supposed to.
For
a devotee, death is like being released from prison.
As
a sannyasi, you
have to make the whole world your family. Then you will not feel the
need to have a family, because you have the family of people you are
trying help.
Only
Krishna can help us overcome the fire of sex desire.
At
least 99% of the people in New York City do not see you as a sannyasi
but
just as a guy dressed in a weird outfit. That is good in that it
keeps you humble.
If
you want to be respected, if you want a position of power in ISKCON,
or if you want to escape your family problems, do not take sannyasa.
If
you think that getting married means finding someone who will make
you happy, then you are in trouble from the beginning. Better to
think of entering an ashram that will help you overcome sex desire.
It will also be a facility to preach to people in a similar
situation.
The
physical attraction between two people never lasts. It never has and
it never will. What keeps the relationship together is the sense of
duty.
The
heavenly damsels have a natural perfume. They do not have to go
Macy's and purchase it.
We
can learn from the Gajendra pastime that if we are too comfortable in
our family situation, Krishna will send a crocodile to shake things
up.
When
the night is the darkest, Krishna's hand is the closest.
The
material world is not designed to be a rosy place. We can take solace
that at least everyone else here is also suffering. No one gets a
break. Man or woman, old or young, godly or demonic, everyone
suffers. The side effect of devotional service to the Lord is that
one is less concerned with his body and thus the suffering is
minimized.
Because
of the Krishna consciousness movement, the Christians have changed
the Bible. The Bible used to say “Thou shall not kill” but now it
says “Thou shall not murder.”
The
Christians, Jews, and Muslims have added elements of superior
philosophies to their own in the course of time, and it is
conceivable they could add some points from the Vedic literature.
Before
you get married, you will always see the best side of the person and
never the dark side. Then very soon after marriage, you will see the
dark side. If you are both prepared for the fact you will have to
deal with a
side of the person that you did not originally see, then it will be
easier for you.
Successive
monogamous relationships waste people's lives.
In
any culture successful marriage is there when there is recognition
that there is a basic duty involved.
A
zigzag path indicates offenses are being committed. Otherwise there
is steady gradual progress.
Malati
Devi:
Srila
Prabhupada referred to ghee as “liquid gold.”
Srila
Prabhupada entrusted
us with the seva
(service)
of Lord Jagannatha although he had not introduced brahmana
initiation.
He
explained everything we ate must be offered to the Deity, and we
should purchase a globlet, two bowls, and a plate, that no one had
previous eaten from, to be His own plates.
Abhirama
Prabhu:
Prabhupada
in his poem calls out to his only friend, Sri Krishna, revealing his
mind.
The
Jaladuta
was a tramp steamer. I have been on such boats. The stench of oil is
everywhere. The noise of engines resounds throughout the craft. It is
not a glamorous way to travel but hellish.
Srila
Prabhupada said in Miami, “All of
you have joined because of prasadam.”
And then seeing me, the temple president, in the back of the
audience, he added, “Even you, Abhirama!”
Srila
Prabhupada told me, “You cannot call it a temple unless full
prasadam is
available 24 hours a day.”
Rama
Raya Prabhu:
As
we are engaged in preaching, we do not have to worry about how we
will get krishna-prema
(love
of Godhead). That will come gradually.
The
mercy of Radharani is a very great thing. Not that we just chant
“Radhe Radhe!” like the sahajiyas.
In
1977, when Abhirama Prabhu got Srila Prabhupada his green card, Srila
Prabhupada said, “America has given me everything, men and money. I
want to make the Americans happy, and through them, the world.”
If
we could die on the streets doing harinama
sankirtana, that
would be the perfection of our lives.
Lord
Shiva protects the dhama
of
Vrndavana at four directions.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura said that the faith that the holy name is nondifferent than
the Lord is true faith in God.
That
a New Yorker stops racing to his next appointment for sense
gratification and listens to the chanting of the holy name for a
while is no small thing.
This
is Lord Caitanya's sankirtana
movement
not Lord Caitanya's yoga movement or Lord Caitanya's movement for
feeding the poor. Such other things may go on but they are not the
essential point.
Mahavishnu
Swami told us that Srila Prabhupada said that if you simply do
harinama
sankirtana, management
will follow you like your shadow.
We
tell people to come on harinama
and
bring a friend because we want this movement to expand.
-----
This
is the end of the poem Srila Prabhupada wrote at Boston Harbor in
1965. It is inspiring to see his complete faith in and submission to
the will of the Lord:
aniyacho
jadi prabhu amare nacate
nacao
nacao prabhu nacao se-mate
kasthera
puttali jatha nacao se-mate
bhakti
nai veda nai name khub daro
“bhaktivedanta”
nam ebe sarthak koro—
“O
Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought
me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me
dance as You like.
I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.” (“Markine Bhagavata Dharma”, verses 14 and 15)
I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.” (“Markine Bhagavata Dharma”, verses 14 and 15)