Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Travel Journal#13.23: New York City, SDG Vyasa Puja, Hartford

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 13, No. 23 
By Krishna-kripa das 
(December 2017, part one) 
New York City, SDG Vyasa Puja, Hartford 
(Sent from New York City on December 20, 2017)

Where I Went and What I Did

I chanted with the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party for the first half of December for six hours a day, taking four days off, one for Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Vyasa Puja in Stuyvesant Falls, and three to visit Niranjana Swami in Hartford. Three devotees joined our party in the beginning of December, Bhagavata Purana Prabhu, who has been involved with the 24-hour kirtan in Vrindavan for many years, and Kishor Gopal and Abhaya Prabhus of Alachua. Kishor Gopal has spent time chanting with both the New York party and the Vrindavan kirtan in the past. Three devotees who love chanting kirtan visited our party for a day or two, Tulasirani Devi Dasi from Gainesville and Ananda Murari and Madhuri Pura Prabhus, who travel around doing kirtan at different venues.

I share insights from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada. I share notes on classes by Jayadvaita Swami, Niranjana Swami, Dhirasanta Goswami, and Ramesvara Prabhu. I include a Prabhupada quote from a message Vaisesika Prabhu sent to his followers. I also share notes on classes by Rama Raya, Bhagavata Purana, Shyamananda, and Virabhadra Rama Prabhus. I include a nice pastime recalled by Natabara Gauranga Prabhu in a conversation. In a separate section on the Vyasa Puja of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, I have notes on his lectures at that event and quotes he read from his new book, Looking Back, Volume Two.

Thanks to Naman Mehta for his hospitality in Hartford and his kind donations. Thanks to Sundara Gopinatha Prabhu for his cooking and driving services. Thanks to Malati Priya Devi Dasi and the two devotees at the Hartford Hindu temple program, whose names I did not catch, for their kind donations. Thanks to the wife of Dina Bandhu Prabhu of Queens for her kind donation.

Thanks to Syama Rupa Gopa Devi Dasi for her photos of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Vyasa Puja. Thanks to Bhaktin Diana for her many photos of me on harinama in Brooklyn and Jackson Heights. Thanks to Dipika Ray for her photos from Jackson Heights harinama. Thanks to Eduard for his photo of me at the hospital after my hernia surgery.

Itinerary

November 11, 2017–January 7, 2018: Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party
except:
December 24 : Christmas Eve with my relatives in Albany
January 8–March or April: North and Central Florida campuses

lectures in New York City:
December 23: ISKCON Queens
December 30: 26 Second Avenue

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City


I helped out the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party by watching the book table.


You can see what a variety of books we have in several languages.

I would also lead the chanting for half an hour or an hour each day.


As usual, Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party leader, Rama Raya Prabhu, led many kirtans with very intense devotional chanting of Hare Krishna.

Here Rama Raya Prabhu’s lively chanting of Hare Krishna inspired a group of youthful Brooklyn performers to dance for fifteen minutes attracting lots of onlookers, photographers, and a few more dancers at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station (https://youtu.be/wWbmeszZH_g):


The performers all took prasadam candy and many took “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and we invited them to join us again in the same location on Wednesdays in the winter.

When Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna in Union Square, Mahotsaha Prabhu and another group of young people danced (https://youtu.be/e6ByQUJUN1Q):


Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna in 14th St. / Union Square subway station, and a man danced (https://youtu.be/7oCWOHpr-2A):


Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station, and a lady plays shakers and dances (https://youtu.be/XaSAzCctMts):


Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna for two and a half hours at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station while a photographer took pictures for a newspaper article on Hare Krishna in New York City. The end of the kirtan was especially lively, inspiring visiting kirtan enthusiast, Jaya Radhe Devi Dasi, to dance with joy (https://youtu.be/tMnYG89bR8U):



In addition to inspiring others to dance by his enthusiastic devotional chanting, Rama Raya Prabhu occasionally dances to the chanting of others as here when Krishna Prasad Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station (https://youtu.be/uRrVc4lIhPw):


Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Jingle Bells” tune in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station (https://youtu.be/Skc4UCk04Jc):


Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Penn Station subway station (https://youtu.be/qjY2S3ds5Oc):


Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station (https://youtu.be/q9xjMIB6Ymw):


Rama Raya Prabhu also chanted there the next week (https://youtu.be/E6VGM1FPu5M):


And he chanted there the following week as well (https://youtu.be/mOCq48YvFgA):


Guests visiting our harinama party in the beginning of December included Tulasirani Devi Dasi, visiting The Bhakti Center to see and serve Radhanath Swami. She chanted Hare Krishna with the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station (https://youtu.be/irxPBWK2G5k):


Ananda Murari Prabhu, who chanted Hare Krishna in Grand Central subway station, also visited one day (https://youtu.be/vpY0BPlfrpo):


Later Jason, who we seen frequently in Union Square, danced to Ananda Murari’s chanting (https://youtu.be/dOwzKo1d6sk):


Madhuri Pura Prabhu visited with Ananda Murari Prabhu. Here he chants Hare Krishna at Grand Central subway station (https://youtu.be/z7IvBfcV7xk):


Bhagavata Purana Prabhu, who is spending the entire month of December with the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party chanted Hare Krishna at Union Square subway station, and a passerby stopped and played his djembe with us (https://youtu.be/8JxL51NEO6I):


Here Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Grand Central subway station, and a Korean man dances, plays shakers and purchases a Korean book from Mahotsaha Prabhu (https://youtu.be/5qrXTcWgowQ):


Here Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station, and Muslim kids play shakers (https://youtu.be/tBap1R5qCJw):


Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the 14th St. / Union Square subway station (https://youtu.be/_aJLD82Sm70):


Here Kishor Gopal Prabhu, now back with the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party at least for three weeks in December, chants Hare Krishna at the 14th St. / Union Square subway station, and a man plays djembe with the party as he did the previous week (https://youtu.be/srcKBriMX6k):


Kishor Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station, two boys play shakers, and Vishnu-citta Prabhu sells a Bhagavad-gita (https://youtu.be/Kjr3CPvRWZM):


Kishor Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station (https://youtu.be/qHbRPzmGBEk):


Kishor Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station (https://youtu.be/wpDy_SobLA8):


Kishor Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Grand Central subway station (https://youtu.be/9uzjPBK6WOY):


Abhaya Prabhu, younger brother of Ananta Gauranga and Kishor Gopal Prabhus, who has just joined the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party for several months, chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights (https://youtu.be/FXmeMCHFgAI):


Krishna Prasad Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station, and four kids play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/8IR4udkSLEQ):


Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station, and a group of young people danced with Mahotsaha and Chanchal Prabhus (https://youtu.be/DPw8uFejaF8):


Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station, a girl danced by the opposite wall and a guy sat on the floor reading Science of Self-Realization (https://youtu.be/uR4jYIJGRlU):


That girl spent much of the afternoon dancing to our kirtan.

Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station, and a man plays guitar (https://youtu.be/uLU2lUCxBeM):


One young lady was attracted by Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu’s chanting of Hare Krishna in the 34th St. / Penn Station subway station, and she sat down, played the shakers and moved with the music for quite some time (https://youtu.be/W3EM0g4dzbE):


Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station and inspires dancers (https://youtu.be/8Yc1HoHAY4w):


Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Grand Central, and two girls dance and accept cookies and candies offered to Krishna (https://youtu.be/0tOdu4mgCLM):


Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Union Square, and a kid plays shakers (https://youtu.be/KMvTG-1KYDs):


Krishna Prasad Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights, and a little boy dances to the delight of his mother (https://youtu.be/CaCo824R53w):


Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station, and a boy dances (https://youtu.be/jrHGy22g65s):


Natabara Gauranga chants in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station, and a man dances (https://youtu.be/OFMBqxhdfQk):


Krishna Prasad Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center and a girl dances (https://youtu.be/d1LhZ0RFkDM):


Dipika Ray chanted Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station three weeks in a row in early December. Here video clips from the first two (https://youtu.be/jGIocVTc0OE):


This is a clip from the third (https://youtu.be/PeJEnqRMJqk):


Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Union Square (https://youtu.be/aA3dkYYBzPs):


Govind Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station (https://youtu.be/O3WpSjjJPnI):


Chanchal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station (https://youtu.be/VPpyCSxt6KA):


I like to video people dancing during kirtan so much, I attempt to do it even when I lead the singing. Here while I chant Hare Krishna, Rama Raya Prabhu and Rob dance at Atlantic Ave. / Barclays Center subway station (https://youtu.be/lwAy4hLYuQ8):


While chanting Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. subway station, I wanted to video a mother and kid who played the shakers. Because I set my camera on the harmonium, unfortunately the instrument really drowned out the chanting (https://youtu.be/QpFKXBrc3Ag):


Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Vyasa Puja


In recent years, the disciples of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami have been celebrating his Vyasa Puja the first Saturday of December at his home in Stuyvesant Falls, in upstate New York, about 45 minutes southeast of Albany.

Five things were striking about this year’s event for me:

1. One is that my mother, who lives half an hour away and is 93 years old came. I had invited my sister and her partner for the prasadam feast afterward, thinking they would be more likely to come, but I mentioned they might tell my mother. Thus I was surprised to see her there. She heard some of the homages which she found interesting, and then heard the kirtan, and took prasadam with me and a devotee family from Queens who I had just seen recently at a program there.

2. Another special thing was the Vedavyasa Prabhu, from Quebec, who I had not seen for years until this summer, came to the Vyasa Puja because I invited him. He and a friend drove eight hours from Canada for the event. He was glad he came, and it was nice to see him again.

3. Gopal Campu Prabhu, a dedicated book distributor for our harinama party, was so enthusiastic to see Satsvarupa Maharaja, that he took a day off distribution and came with us to Vyasa Puja, although it was the December book marathon and although he is a disciple of book distribution guru, Vaisesika Prabhu. That was truly impressive.

4. After the feast and before the 4:00 p.m. program, a few very enthusiastic devotees, some I recognized from Queens, chanted Hare Krishna kirtan in the VFW hall where we had the event. Seeing their enthusiasm for kirtan, the dharma of this age, inspired me.

5. Finally, I noticed another very striking thing while Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami was reading selections from his book, Looking Back, Volume Two, which I had proofread twice this summer. Some of the selections he read were especially profound, both those I recalled and some I did not even recall. I came to appreciate how that the book is ever fresh, as the spiritual nature is described to be, since I was still getting more out of it hearing the selections he read, even after having read it twice myself.

Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Vyasa Puja of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, at his request (https://youtu.be/JNLJ0YYLNaU):


Notes on Speeches

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

I found I got headaches trying to memorize the English translations of the verses for my lecture, so I had to abandon that.

Jayadvaita Swami said in a seminar on public speaking that one should always look at one section of the audience or another and not just read from a paper, and so I would memorize the verses so I could do that, but this time it was not possible.

It is good to gather together and solidify our bond between guru and disciples.

In the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya we honor our individual guru on his birthday which is more personal than the Hindu tradition of honoring all the gurus on the same day.

My favorite story in the Srimad-Bhagavatam is the story of the influential guru Narada and his disciple Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva was not satisfied working for the benefit of all people. He had a realization even before his guru appeared that it might be because he did not specifically point out the devotional service of the Lord.

Disciples in the chain are respected as the original spiritual master.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam was the outcome of the relationship between Narada and Vyasadeva.

The most outstanding guru-disciple relationship is that between Krishna and Arjuna.

At first Srila Prabhupada praises Arjuna for his compassion, but as Arjuna lists the negative outcomes of the battle, he criticizes him for his family attachment and cowardice.

When Arjuna surrenders to Krishna, that was the crucial change in their relationship.

Although Krishna tells of different kinds of yoga and of action, in the end he stresses that Arjuna should engage in devotional service to Krishna Himself and go back to Godhead.

Arjuna occasionally puts questions to Krishna, but they are not challenges. They are in a spirit of submission and sincere inquiry.

Bhagavad-gita is the personal confidential teaching of Krishna to Arjuna, and it is the teaching of all gurus to their disciples. Krishna ends, “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.”

Prahlada’s enlightenment by Narada in the womb is another ideal example. The Bhagavatam is full of such examples.

Many disciples were assigned to me in the zonal acarya era. That was a rather abrupt way to begin such a relationship, but our relationships have developed over the years.

Lalitamrita Devi Dasi was initiated by Srila Prabhupada and took second initiation from me. She distributed books in Philly for years. In Ireland, she asked what she could do for me. I said I needed a typist. Having no experience, she enrolled in a typing course in Dublin and became a decent typist. She traveled with me and typed for me in different places.

Lila Avatar distributed books in the Philly airport for years. She had been in the army and knew the mentality of soldiers. She would say, “Hey soldier! Get over here!” As they are used to obeying orders, they would come over. As one was getting his money out, she would call another. As she got older, she sold my books at the Ratha-yatras. She would call me on the holidays and wish me well, just like a member of her family.

I mention these two, since they have left their bodies, in order to remember them.

My books form an important part of our relationship, and I like to think you are reading them.

I like to think our relationship is not waning but going stronger.

An important part of our relationship is helping you develop your relationship with Srila Prabhupada. I take this very seriously and have written many books about Srila Prabhupada.

I like to think that by following my teachings and example you are developing your relationship with Srila Prabhupada.

By your loving Srila Prabhupada’s dog, Prabhupada is loving you more.

Brahma Sampradaya Prabhu:

You are pioneer, an artist, a source of hope and so much more.

Kardama Muni:
I took this picture of Guru Maharaja in Trinidad in 1980. 

I saw Guru Maharaja in a gray chadar on the Life Comes From Life book cover. I wondered if he was one of the initiating guru. If he is, I thought, I would like him to be my guru. And so it happened.

Syama Gopa Rupa Devi Dasi:

Krishna expands in the form of the spiritual master so we can have a personal relationship.

He is the medium through which we develop our love for Krishna.

When Guru Maharaja speaks, I hear Srila Prabhupada.

Vyasa Puja is an opportunity to appreciate our guru.

I pray to become closer to you in transcendental service.

John Edler (a Baptist minister, who considers Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami a siksa-guru):

You gave me inspiration spiritually in my life when I met you thirty years ago.

You encouraged me in reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and your own books.

You encouraged in my plan to become a Christian minister.

After 30 years, I decided you have given me so much, I should give something back. I decided to come to Viraha Bhavan and prepare for you simple meals.

You made me a better Christian and a better pastor.

You welcome me who was gone for so many years back into your life.

You inspired me in a new and different way. You have inspired me to move my parishioners to develop love for God.

Gurudas Prabhu:

Out of great compassion you encourage us to take to Krishna consciousness, but by our great foolishness we do not take it seriously.

You wrote in Japa Reform Notebook about chanting Hare Krishna: “If you try it in a simple way, it will not be difficult. But if you listen to your nonsense mind, it will be very difficult.”

Krishna Dasi:

Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world can live. Thank you for bringing us to Srila Prabhupada.

Mukta Vadanya Prabhu:

I come here fairly often. I live just three hours away in Boston. I am understanding the importance of vapu, serving the guru in person when you have a chance. I am becoming wiser.

The spiritual master is somebody you cannot talk back to. You take it and see what you can learn from it.

I am learning also how to be the servant of the servant, helping Baladeva and Kirtan Rasa, and learning what a real servant is.

Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu:

The zonal acarya system really worked for me.

Haridasa Prabhu:

In 1977 I put in for a transfer from Puerto Rico to Dallas. I needed some guidance. I knew you were in charge there, and that is why I wanted to go.

Once, not long after Srila Prabhupada left, you were reading Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s writings about being a guru as you prepared yourself for decades to come. It was a sad yet hopeful time. It was special to be part of it.

You explained in a meeting of scholars and devotees how things would go on by following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and they have.

After we had been traveling for a day, we stopped and rented a motel room. I suggested we watch TV to relax. Surprisingly you agreed. We turned it on, and we saw the episode of the Lou Grant show in which someone on the show becomes a Hare Krishna devotee.

Once we stopped to take a break while traveling, and you pulled out your tape recorder and spoke some memories of 26 2nd Ave., saying you wanted to record them before you forgot them.

Bhagavata Purana Prabhu:

At one point, you were thinking of spending four months a year in Vrindavan. I was thinking I could serve you there in Vrindavan, and I proposed that.

Both you and your servant responded as if in one voice, “You have to do what you have to do.”

Rama Raya Prabhu:

Niranjana Swami told me after Srila Prabhupada left that Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami was going to be my spiritual master, and I immediately accepted.

The secret of success is guru-nistha (faith in one’s guru), and you have that for Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada said that his disciples helping him spread this message were sent by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

On Radhastami 2016 when you came down, seeing you with your original red japa beads from 1966, you looked so beautiful.

You are always stressing the pure chanting of the holy name, and I credit my success in New York to you.

Isvara Govinda Prabhu:

I come here to get in touch with all of you for there is no other way to become inspired in devotional service.

By preaching to one person who had doubts that Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were as authorized as Srila Prabhupada himself, I found I was preaching to myself about the importance of the association of senior devotees.

I realized that I can be in maya amidst many devotees and all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Therefore it is important to associate with devotees by honoring them and serving them, not just by being around them.

Matthew Wheelock:

By reading your EJW for 10 volumes I became inspired.

Keli-lalita Devi Dasi:

You have been the voice of honesty in Krishna consciousness – to be ourselves and offer that to Krishna.

I read as a new devotee Narada-bhakti-sutra. Whenever I come into this VFW hall, I remember in Narada-bhakti-sutra it says that by association of the devotees any place can become a tirtha [a holy place of pilgrimage].

Haryasva Prabhu:

I only know other one person who has done such a variety of things to give people Krishna consciousness and that is Srila Prabhupada.

After the speeches was a kirtan led by Sankarsana Prabhu of Washington, D.C.

You can see how many people were present looking at this picture.

I danced as usual.

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From 4:00 p.m. meeting:

In Looking Back, Volume Two, there are three previously unpublished books by me. It is all new material. The first book is New, Newer, and Newest. The theme is Krishna is ever new, and I am trying to write Krishna consciousness in a new way. The second is Resting in Mendicino: Anecdotes, Journals, and Poems from a Health Treat, written while living with some devotee caretakers, and their program was just rest, so actually I should not have been writing that book. It is a forbidden book. The final book is Last Year in the USA, about my last year in different parts of the USA, before moving to Mexico to start a devotee community there.

Reading from Looking Back, Volume Two:

Krishna is all. All else is a temporary manifestation of Him.

Western versions of Hinduism are sadly incorrect.

Even the average Hindu does not know the ABCs of Bhagavad-gita.

It is a miracle that Prabhupada carried the message of Krishna outside of India and inspired his recruits to spread it around the world. People actually try to practice the tenets of the philosophy of Krishna.

“To keep the message within oneself is good. If one feels God is calling him to do that, that is a path of perfection. Another goes out, despite the hostile ways of those they meet. He has received the calling to go among the people. As Lord Caitanya said, ‘Everyone you meet tell them about Krishna.’ Then we will meet again. You can do it according to your capacity. We try to save them, not because we are compassionate workers, but because it is Krishna’s desire we do it. They out fortified with the only protective armor there is, ‘Hare Krishna . . .’”

Other Gaudiya Vaishnavas, inspired by Srila Prabhupada, now also preach in the west.

I do not think spiritual life is spoon fed through the ISKCON institution, and therefore, I cannot spoon feed it to others.

My headaches do not abate, but I am happy to think of Krishna in pain.

I morn for the passing away and falling down of devotees. I find I do not find fault with the devotees. They [the faults] are just like little spots on the moon.

Let me write with my last breath, and let it please Krishna and the devotees.

O Srila Prabhupada, may you reveal yourself to me more and more.

It will surprise you. It’s a quote from Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is from Queen Kunti’s prayers in which she asks for calamities rather than joyous times. She says, speaking directly to her nephew Lord Krishna, ‘I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we no longer see repeated births and deaths.’ (Bhagavatam 1.8.25) This is almost a contradiction to existential life. In ‘real life’ we all want good looks, right? I’m always trying to make my face look nicer, take out the warts and pimples, especially as I grow older and the face shrinks. So this is called good looks. But actually they are a deterrent to pleasing Krishna. Of course, Krishna can use good-looking people. If a good-looking man or woman approaches a non-devotee, it could be an advantage. ‘Hello, we’re from the Krishna conscious movement just down the block. I wanted to give you this pamphlet and tell you about our activities. Have you ever read this book, Bhagavad-gita?’ If the person saying this is well-dressed and attractive, that can make them more approachable to a stranger. If he or she is well-dressed, that is certainly better than a sloppy looking person saying it. But if one cultivates good looks and good dress just for the sake of vanity, it works against your Krishna consciousness.

The same thing holds true with being well-educated. Erudition is of no use if it creates doubts about the value of receiving the simple truths presented in the Krishna conscious teachings as given by Srila Prabhupada. Scholarship can trick one into thinking Krishna consciousness is puerile or make-believe, and such a sophistic thinker would turn instead to various agnostic philosophies and religions – a dangerous and futile pursuit for anyone wanting genuine knowledge.”

That book we were reading, Why Religion Matters by Huston Smith, is a good example of using intelligence to combat atheism. But if your intelligence and your inquisitiveness lead you away from the Supreme Lord, you’ll be doomed by those qualities which could otherwise have been used powerfully.”

And the foolish people spend their time making plans to adjust to the calamities. When they hear a storm is coming, they get out all their candles or hurricane lamps and make plans in that way. Build lots of tanks if they hear the enemy is building tanks. But that is not the way to do it. The whole place will always be full of calamities. We have to transfer to the place where there are no calamities. That’s our duty. George W. Bush cannot save us from calamities by getting us better and better weapons. People don’t know why they’re going to church or why they should lead a moral life. But the fact is – impossible for the agnostic to acknowledge – that the calamities of the world do not actually exist. Prabhupada writes: ‘A man may see a tiger swallowing him in a dream, and he may cry because of this calamity. Actually, there is no tiger and there is no suffering; it is a simply a case of dreams. In the same way, all calamities of life are said to be dreams. If someone is lucky enough to get in contact with the Lord by devotional service, it is all gain. Contact with the Lord by any one of the nine devotional services is always a forward step on the path going back to Godhead.’”

You think it’s easy to just rest? Well it’s not. It’s daunting. It’s easier to do something, to be on the go, to jump and run and work and work and play and smile. But to do nothing is a discipline.”

Visiting Niranjana Swami in Hartford

Niranjana Swami is a special person in my life as he invited me to live in the ashram at the Hare Krishna temple on 55th Street in New York City during the year I took off from college in 1979. Thus I became attracted to the Hare Krishna philosophy and practice. He has been very steady in his practice of Krishna consciousness for many decades, and thus he is a great inspiration for me, and I visit him when he is nearby. Thus I decided to go to Hartford, his base for the first half of December, on the first two weekends of the month.

The first Sunday in December Niranjana Swami and Dhirasanta Dasa Goswami of the UK, who is traveling with him for a month in the USA, did programs at a Hartford Hindu temple and the new Hartford ISKCON temple, which is much larger than the old one.

Here Niranjana Swami chants Hare Krishna at Hartford Sunday feast (https://youtu.be/OWe1GFAbix4):


Dhirasanta Goswami, visiting from the UK for the first time, chants Hare Krishna at Hartford Sunday Feast. Niranjana Swami, who he is traveling with, plays the drum (https://youtu.be/XnUVG3OWzF0):


Niranjana Swami chants Hare Krishna at the beginning of the Sunday Feast in the new Hartford temple (https://youtu.be/TiUEjmeftrQ):


The next weekend their Saturday night program and Sunday morning programs were canceled due to snow. Niranjana Swami commented that although Russia gets much more snow that Hartford ever gets, they never cancel programs in Russia because of snow!

Bhagavata Purana Prabhu came with me the second weekend, and as it would have been to expensive to change our bus tickets because of the canceled Saturday program, we came on Saturday anyway.

Thus we got to do a kirtan program attended by eight devotees at the apartment of Naman Mehta, Sundara Gopinatha Prabhu, and Brandon, where we stayed. We also shared our realizations from practicing Krishna consciousness for three decades.


The next morning we went to the old Hartford temple for mangala-arati, japa, and class, which were attended by the swamis. 

We chanted japa with Niranjana Swami.


Dhirasanta Maharaja spoke, and Niranjana Swami appreciated different points he made.

Here Niranjana Swami chants Hare Krishna at Hartford Sunday feast that next week (https://youtu.be/h_9eUp_u1Ac):


Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Hartford Sunday feast (https://youtu.be/ZALzdhGH9-Q):


Naman Mehta, a very enthusiastic member of the congregation and our host, chants Hare Krishna after the Hartford Sunday feast program, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/ydf00z0rMhc):


Hernia Saga Wrap Up


This photo is from the hospital when I had hernia surgery on October 25. On November 18, I asked my doctor if I could sing six hours a day, and he said I could probably sing seven or eight hours a day. On December 8, he said I could resume activities such as lifting heavy items, jumping up and down in kirtan, and doing exercise.

Once I offered my doctor an “On Chanting Hare Krishna” which I described was about the meditation we do, but he said he was not much into reading. He said that he just liked performing operations on people. When he said that it reminded me of the Bhagavad-gita verse about “that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all.” (Bg. 18.22) I said I was glad he found his niche which was important. I am grateful that some people like to perform operations on people, even though it is not for me.

One time I offered him a maha-prasadam sweet from Radha Muralidhara, but he declined it saying he did not feel he deserved it and that I should offer it to someone more qualified. The ladies on his staff happily accepted it.

I hope Lord Caitanya blesses him for assisting me in my service to Him.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.20 in Los Angeles on November 30, 1973:

Krishna is giving protection, but not as much as He wants to give you protection, because you deny to accept it. Because you deny to accept His protection, therefore He is giving protection to you as much as you want. And if you want full protection, then the condition is sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] ‘Give up your own manufactured, concocted means of protection. You just surrender unto Me, and I will give you protection.’”

We simply say plainly that ‘You become happy by becoming devotee of Krishna. You are now devotee of your lust, anger, and illusion. You have become devotee of so many things. . . . You simply become devotee of Krishna. Then your problems will be solved.’”

If we work according to the dictation of the mind, then we become entangled, but if we work under the dictation of Krishna, then we become free. This is the process of Krishna consciousness.

Jayadvaita Swami:

The Yamadutas were speaking to Yamaraja, “You are in charge of the law, and yet these people overruled us. What is going on?” The Yamadutas thought Yamaraja was completely in charge of the law, but they had doubts. This is like Narada had doubts about whether his father, Lord Brahma, was in control of everything, so he inquired, and Brahma said that Krishna is the supreme controller.

Krishna is the supreme controller. Brahma found this out when he tried to steal Krishna’s cowherd friends. Indra found this out when he tried to retaliate against the residents of Vrindavan for stopping his sacrifice.

The empiric philosophers look for the ultimate truth within material nature because that is all they can perceive. That is like looking for your car keys under the street lamp because that is where the light is.

Since consciousness is needed for the activation of matter, matter cannot be the origin of consciousness.

Above every controller there is another controller until you reach Krishna.

One who is pious may through his speculation come to the realization: “The Absolute is great. The Absolute is powerful. The Absolute is all-pervading.” However such a person could not come to understand that Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is the Absolute Truth in this way. One may speculate that the street lights have organization and that it is involved with the city management and there is a man in a department somewhere who is in charge, but by that method, one would never conclude that person in charge is Jack O’Leary, who is 42 years old, has three kids and likes to play chess.

Comment by Adi Purusa Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada talks about how we cannot find the sun with a flashlight or candle, but when the sun rises and reveals itself we can see it.

If we do not know about the parampara [the lineage of spiritual masters] we may think a guru is someone who is very smart and who has figured it out.

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says there must be free will. Otherwise what is the value of the sastra [revealed scriptures] which advise one to act in a certain way?

You have the free will to turn toward Krishna or to turn away from Krishna.

We may have the nice sentiment of wanting to do what Krishna wants which is good, but we have to know what Krishna wants. Otherwise we will speculate “I think Krishna likes spinach because I like spinach.”

Srila Prabhupada told someone who wanted initiation: First you have to understand the philosophy. If you come by sentiment, you will leave by sentiment.

To understand the Absolute Truth completely is not possible.

There are so many professors who know the tattva [spiritual truth] better than we do. They can quote all the acaryas [previous spiritual teachers], but they cannot follow the four regulative principles [prohibiting sinful activities].

You can miss the tattva by studying the tattva if you sit around reading the books all day and not doing what your spiritual master wants.

Niranjana Swami:

Chanting Hare Krishna is the foundation of our practice of bhakti.

My only qualification is that I have been doing it for 45 years, and I have never stopped.

It was introduced to me as bringing about a change of consciousness. I can say that my consciousness is different now than it was 45 years ago.

Srila Prabhupada explained by the practice the priorities of life change. Srila Prabhupada gave an analogy that if you have a complicated equation and you make the mistake 2 + 2 = 5 in the beginning, the end result will always be wrong. No matter how complex a civilization we have, if we make the mistake of identifying ourselves with our bodies, we will not attain satisfaction.

By chanting Hare Krishna, I can say I have some realization that the self is beyond that body.

By chanting Hare Krishna we realize we are not the body, and we realize we are not the mind. The mind is more subtle and that identification is more difficult to get beyond.

From a class on “Sri Krishna Caitanya Doya Koro More”:

Narottama Dasa Thakura was always associated with his friend, Ramacandra Kaviraja, and thus they were referred to as Narottama Ramacandra.

Narottama Dasa Thakura, although not a contemporary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, very much had the same mood of love of God and of distributing of love of God.

Many Vaishnava acaryas express gratitude, appreciation, and dependence on mercy.

Many reasons are given for the descent of Lord Krishna. Essentially He wants to reestablish religion and give people the way to return to Him through surrendering to Him.

How can we surrender to Krishna if we do not know anything about Him? Therefore most people do not surrender.

Usually if someone is giving something away freely, there is some catch.

When Lord Nityananda saw people had some faith in the pure holy name, he would give them the name and give them back the faith to get more.

When you have Krishna, everything else becomes accessible to you.

Those who do not have genuine faith would not be able to get the pure holy name from Lord Nityananda, but He would awaken a little genuine faith.

Lord Nityananda would cry with tears in his eyes, begging “Please take the holy name!” By begging in this way, He would create faith.

When I first read the Bhagavad-gita, I was wondering about the motive behind the offer. Others also have testified to have also wondered.

People cannot understand how people can serve without some perceptible reward, because they have no faith in the reciprocation of the Lord in the heart.

Lord Caitanya came to teach by His example how to attain Krishna.

Lord Caitanya did not just come to deliver the fallen souls but the most fallen souls.

It is one thing to think yourself fallen, and it is another thing to make a public demonstration of how fallen you are.

Lord Caitanya had a plan. First He relished the chanting with His associates. Then He took His associates to the streets to show the people all their beautiful Vaishnava exchanges. He first gave His associates the taste of kirtan, so they could share it with others.

Lord Caitanya is in everyone’s heart, and He knows who is really interested in mercy and who is making a false show of humility.

When the milking drinking brahmacari that Srivasa Thakura allowed to enter the kirtan at his house accepted Lord Caitanya’s criticism of his misconception of thinking Krishna could be attained austerity, Lord Caitanya, seeing this change within his heart, allowed him to stay.

Q (by Narayana): I have some friends who have great faith that the holy name can give them whatever material thing they want, perhaps even more faith than I have in the holy name.
A: That is not faith in the pure holy name. Develop your own faith in the pure holy name and then you can convince them that real faith is superior.

Q: It is difficult for me to get into a humility mood because it is not my nature.
A: It is your nature, but it is just covered. If you hear the glories of pure devotional service, glorify it, or meditate on it, or praise those engaged in it, you can be immediately be purified. You can also pray to Krishna sincerely to purify your heart. Pray to Krishna, “Without your mercy, I cannot change.”

It is not just that chanting may seem mechanical in the beginning. It can go on for years like that. When will it change? Krishna knows how to pull the rug out from proud people.

Lord Nityananda gives the strength to overcome obstacles in devotional service.

People come to devotional service for four different material goals [to gain wealth, to relieve suffering, to satisfy curiosity, and to attain knowledge], but it is not till these people meet a pure devotee that their motivation will change.

Dhirasanta Swami:

There is a story of a king who dreamed he was a butterfly, and the dream was so vivid he had one doubt which he asked his minister, “Am I a king dreaming I am a butterfly or am I a butterfly dreaming I am a king?” Which do you think?

Answer by me: He was a soul dreaming he was a butterfly, and a soul dreaming he was a king.

Krishna does not waste any time, immediately giving the essential knowledge that the soul is not the body in chapter two of the Gita.

Everyone is dreaming they can squeeze some pleasure out of this world and its contents.

We are destroyers of our own self by not caring for the needs of the soul.

This place is not a place for ladies or gentlemen but a place for hogs, dogs, camels, and asses.

Srila Prabhupada was asked how many liberated souls are there in this world. He replied by asking how many people do we have in ISKCON. He explained that because his disciples were following him, they were on the platform of liberation.

The lotus flower is a symbol of transcendence.

By following the instructions of Bhagavad-gita we can transcend the material nature.

By chanting sixteen rounds of Hare Krishna, we can transcend material nature.

The Christians are asking God for their daily bread as if God is a baker in the sky.
The Muslims are asking for another wife.
The Hindus are desiring to go to Svargaloka, heaven.

The knowledge in the Gita is said to be a secret. How is it then we are selling millions of books all over the world? It is a secret that everyone is invited to learn.

Many Bhagavad-gitas interpreted Krishna’s message to Arjuna, but as soon as Srila Prabhupada presented the message as it is, so many people all over the world have become devotees of Krishna.

In Bombay Hindus would challenge, “Why Krishna, Krishna, Krishna? Why not Durga, Shiva, or Ganesh?” One sannyasi would reply, “If all the Gods are the same, then why are you excluding Krishna? You are excluding Krishna because He is Hari, one who takes away, and your ambition is to attain material things!”

If Krishna gives us material opulence, we can use it in His service, but we do not require it.

Svargaloka may be a very nice place, but still it is insignificant compared to the spiritual world.

We can understand that by performing devotional service, we have pulled the plug on the fan of our karmic reactions. In this way, we are becoming liberated.

Ganga Devi said to Krishna in the Brahma-vivarta Purana she does not want to be polluted by the sins of the Kali-yuga sinners but wanted to go back to Godhead. Krishna told her not to worry because His commander-in-chief devotee (senapati-bhakta) would appear and people all over the world would become preachers of Godhead and they would bath in her waters at Mayapur and purify it. After that period, she could go underground until the next Satya-yuga.

Srila Prabhupada created the Mayapur-Vrindavana Festival to bring the devotees to the holy dhama to become spiritually purified so they could continue preaching.

One leading devotee was concerned about spending so much money sending all the devotees to the holy dhama and expressed that concern to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada said there are other ways you can save money. For example, you can give up eating and still go on with your service. The point was that just as we need prasadam [food] to do our service, we also need spiritual nourishment by going to the holy dhama to be inspired to do our service.

[Dhirasanta Goswami quoted some powerful lyrics from a couple devotee reggae songs:

“The Vile Society”

Chorus:
They’re trying to hang their hat where their hand can’t reach
And those who don’t know nothing they’re trying to teach
Their hearts are hard like stone yet they pretend to weep
And those who don’t sow nothing they’re trying to reap

They kill their children before they’re born
And they’ll kill a cow just to get the horn
They don’t care any more what they eat
They will kill their mother just to get the meat
They’re intoxicating themselves to death
And smoke and fire is their very breath
The brain is now like a gaping hole
And they don’t know nothing ’bout the spirit soul

No matter what you may say or do you can only get what’s coming to you
And the only way you can change your fate is by going back to our spiritual state.

“Come and Join the Congregation”

“Come and join the congregation of the chanting
Of the holy name
You don’t need to change your situation but you’ll
Never ever be the same

“This is the age it’s the Iron Age everybody’s living
On the iron cage
Gone are the days of silver and gold
If you live till your twenty you’ll be very old…
So come and join… etc.

“Now listen to what the good book said
Just try and make it out while you’re still ahead
You don’t have too much time to waste
If you really want to get that higher taste…
So come and join… etc.

“Everybody here can play a part and you’ll feel
That power within your heart
You don’t have to bother with what people think
Cause they don’t really care if you swim or sink
So come and join… etc.

“You’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose
So I really don’t see how you can refuse
There’s nothing to pay it don’t cost a cent
You wouldn’t even see which way your troubles went
So come and join… etc.

“That name is going to enter every single home
Because it’s even sweeter than a honeycomb
It’s got more power than an atom bomb
Because Goloka is the place where it’s coming from
So come and join… etc.

“Now, this is the only way, it’s the only way; it’s the only way… repeat…
So come and join… etc.

Previously we had only one choice, to live a materialistic life:
Now we have the choice to live a spiritual life.

When I was a new devotee, the Sunday feast had many preparations: Two sabjis, pushpanna rice, raita, pakora or samosa, chutney, halava, srikhand, laddu, sweet rice, and nectar.

I took prasadam for three and a half months. One day I was on the top of a double-decker bus, and suddenly I found myself reciting the Hare Krishna mantra. I continued all that evening. When I saw the devotees the next day, I said, “I have a problem. I cannot stop chanting your mantra.”
The devotees told me, “The prasadam you have been eating, which is identical to Krishna Himself, has purified your tongue, and now Krishna is personally dancing on it.”

Srila Prabhupada said that only by assisting with the preaching activities can you be fully happy in Krishna consciousness.

When people ask me why I am a devotee for 45 years.
I have two secrets:
1. I have always preached.
[Once I told my wife, “Let us try not preaching for a year and see if it is something we really want to do or if we are just being pushed by the institution to do it.” We lasted just two months, and we were not really happy, so we got back into preaching.]
All we have to do is chant sixteen rounds, follow the four rules, and assist our guru in preaching.
2. I have always preached in difficult places.

First try to fill the temple with devotees. Then try to deliver the whole town.

There is one town in Russia, Murmansk, that is so far north the sun does not even clear the horizon on the shortest day of the year. One advantage is there is nothing to fall down to there.

You Indians have come to the West with the idea that it has something to offer, but now you have realized it does not have anything to offer, so you have become devotees.

Srila Prabhupada walked the streets of the Bowery in his dhoti in the cold of winter so we could be here today.

Srila Prabhupada said with the Indians you just have to get a peacock fan and fan them a bit, and they will assist in the mission.

I had to spend the first ten years of my Krishna consciousness trying to forget the first twenty years of my life.

Most people are spectators, just going along, while some are performers, who act in such a way as to make a difference in the lives of others.

Q: What was it about Srila Prabhupada that you liked the most?
A: That is hard to say because he was an ocean of good qualities. I liked that he was the only one who told the truth.

In South India, they put the wife on one side of the scale, and they put Bhagavad-gitas on the other side of the scale. They have to purchase an equal weight of Gitas.

This George Harrison song, “The Art of Dying,” has powerful lyrics,

“There’ll come a time when all of us must leave here
Then nothing sister Mary can do
Will keep me here with you
As nothing in this life that I’ve been trying
Could equal or surpass the art of dying
Do you believe me?

“There’ll come a time when all your hopes are fading
When things that seemed so very plain
Become an awful pain
Searching for the truth among the lying
And answered when you’ve learned the art of dying

“But you’re still with me
But if you want it
Then you must find it
But when you have it
There’ll be no need for it

“There’ll come a time when most of us return here
Brought back by our desire to be
A perfect entity
Living through a million years of crying
Until you’ve realized the Art of Dying
Do you believe me?

Q: Why is prasadam not mentioned in the nine items of devotional service?
A (by Niranjana Swami): Prasadam is included in worshiping the deity.

Vaisesika Prabhu:

From a message to his disciples:

In 1975 Srila Prabhupada told our sankirtana party while we were in Vrindavan that every devotee has his or her own genius when it comes to distributing books. He said, that if one is sincere then Krishna will reveal the genius in us. He said, ‘Krishna is the master within the heart of everyone, and He will teach us how to distribute books.’”

Ramesvara Prabhu:

Just imagine if that desire for family, instead of it just being like grhastha family (there is nothing wrong with it), imagine if it could be the whole world is my family, everyone in a human body is my family. Just imagine that expansion of vision of family, a much higher family concept of life.”

No one is more dear to Krishna than those who see all as their family members and do not want go to paradise and leave anyone behind. Krishna has more intimate love for those souls who are so dear to him. With faith that that is the person most dear to Krishna, one can spend his whole life in that spirit.

Rama Raya Prabhu:

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.42:

We are not meant to follow Ajamila by abandoning our devotional practice at age 20 and living for 60 years in debauchery.

Lord Caitanya accepted Jagai and Madhai on the basis that they promised to not commit any more sinful activities.

It is interesting that there is no reference to Ajamila having any contact with devotees throughout his sinful life to remind him of his previous devotional service. It is said only that the Lord in his heart inspired him to name his youngest son, Narayana.

The activity of distributing Krishna consciousness immediately lifts one to the transcendental platform and keeps one there.

No matter what the topic of the class, Srila Prabhupada would always chant “Jaya Radha Madhava” beforehand, thus reminding all of the supreme goal of attaining Goloka Vrindavan.

From a class on the Disappearance Day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:

Assisting the spiritual master in spreading Krishna consciousness is the way we can attain the ultimate realization of Radha and Krishna.

Indradyumna Swami is known for successfully spreading Krishna consciousness through his festivals and making many serious disciples all over the world.

Srila Prabhupada says in one letter, “You cannot survive without my mercy and I cannot survive without your mercy. It is reciprocal. This mutual dependence is based on love—Krishna Consciousness.” (Letter to Jayatirtha, Mayapur, 22 January 1976)

Srila Prabhupada writes that if we dedicate everything to serving the order of our spiritual master, Krishna will provide whatever we need.

Krishna has nothing to do. Everything is automatically carried by His energies, yet He takes great pleasure in making arrangements for His pure devotees. Thus we have to be become pure devotees by following the recognized pure devotees.

When Srila Prabhupada went back to India in 1967, the devotees feelings of separation from Srila Prabhupada fueled very powerful outreach in 1968.

Saridiya was a 16-year-old hippie girl who got an invitation to a meditation room in San Francisco when the devotees were doing a program there. She chanted Hare Krishna and had an amazing sweet ball. She told her family and friends she had found what she was looking for and moved into the temple.

Srila Prabhupada ends one lecture saying, “Don’t give up pushing on this movement. You will be blessed by Lord Caitanya and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.”

The final volume produced of Srimad-Bhagavatam with Srila Prabhupada’s commentary was done to the same degree of competence as the previous volumes despite his body being in a condition that an ordinary man could not tolerate it.

No one is outside the family of Lord Krishna.

Quotes by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:

One who puts everything into the hand of the Lord will see the hand of the Lord in everything.”

One’s faith in the holy name of Krishna is the sole measure of one’s theism.”

From a class on Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.23:

Krishna told Narada he had a headache, and He wanted the dust from feet of His devotees to cure it. Narada went to the smarta brahmanas, who ignored him, and to the residents of Vaikuntha, the spiritual world, who refused saying they attained that realm by the strict sadhana and therefore could not do that. When Narada asked Krishna’s queens, they refused saying that if they had to go to hell for that offense, they could not bear Krishna’s separation. Only His gopis of Vrindavan eagerly agreed, saying it was unthinkable to miss the opportunity to save Krishna from discomfort, no matter how much it caused them to suffer.

The aim of the Krishna consciousness movement is to enter Krishna’s sublime pleasure dance.

We go out every day because no activity can remotely compare to harinama sankirtana, especially when done in the spirit benefiting others.

Krishna is not a pushover. He is not impressed by two or three years of service.

If rich man had a confetti parade and showered $100 bills on the people that is like the munificence of Lord Caitanya giving love of God to everyone.

Srila Prabhupada told Tamal Krishna Goswami, “Preach vigorously now, and then when you are mature, you can retire to Vrindavan.” Tamal Krishna Goswami asked how to know when it was time to retire. Srila Prabhupada indicated that Krishna would give intelligence. Then Prabhupada added, although he was seventy-six years old at that time, “As far myself, I am not very mature.”

If we do not fully explain the process of chanting to new people, we can become implicated in nama-aparadha [offenses to the holy name].

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura mentions there are many people who make a show of being servants of Krishna or servants of the guru but are merely mundane opportunists trying to increase their name and fame.

Violence means to stop the preaching work and not give real knowledge to the people.

Love for the spiritual master raises us to the highest goal.

The statement in the song “Parama Koruna” that Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda can make the birds and beasts cry means They can elevate them to the platform of love of Godhead.

Prabhupada disciple Sunanda Prabhu says that at the Henry Street temple sixty devotees would go out on harinama from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day following a certain route, and they would make devotees from those harinamas.

When you are pulling people out of the quicksand, you have to see if you are stronger than them and you can pull them out, or if they are stronger than you and they will pull you in.

Bhagavata Purana Prabhu:

From a home program in Hartford:

I told Aindra Prabhu I wanted to chant 64 rounds. He replied, “Why not chant one round purely?”

Krishna consciousness is always party time, but it is a party for Krishna.

We chant for Krishna’s pleasure.

Aindra Prabhu would put preaching before his deity service, which he felt was according to Srila Prabhupada’s mood.

Aindra Prabhu would chant 128 rounds and have one meal.

Pyari Mohan Prabhu piloted a jet named Garuda on an aircraft carrier before he met the devotees.

From a Bhagavatam class at The Bhakti Center:

The Yamadutas could not understand that there is someone beyond Yamaraja who is the controller of everything.

This body is like a mirage.

Comment by Adi Purusa Prabhu: If you really want someone you can trust and obey, Krishna will send you such a person to act as your guru.

Shyamananda Prabhu (disciple of Radhanath Swami visiting from India):

The brahmanas are essential to the society as the head is essential to the body. You can function without a leg or an arm or with an upset stomach, but without a head there is no question of functioning. The brain is so important that it is protected by the skull.

No one does whatever they want in the Vedic culture.

Fighting is only between ksatriyas. Nowadays in war so many innocent people are killed. Thus we can see how things have become degraded.

The statement that there is no absolute truth is itself an absolute statement.

The word philosopher literally means one who loves truth.

The knowledge of the three modes of material nature can be seen as one of the greatest contributions of Bhagavad-gita because that knowledge can explain so many things that go on in human society.

One man traveled to see different sadhus in India and later in life wrote a book of his experiences. The sadhus had many amazing abilities and realizations but in parting they informed the traveler that this external world was illusion, but what the truth was, they could not actually say.

Some devotees went to purify their beads at a waterfall at a pilgrimage place, but Bhakta Rupa Prabhu advised them that was not required. “Your beads have been chanted on by your guru. You are daily chanting Hare Krishna on them. They are already pure.”

Natabara Gauranga Prabhu:

From an after dinner conversation:

Markandeya Rsi was speaking to an assembly of sages about who is most advanced. He explained advancement is indicated by the percentage of time that one’s mind is absorbed in Krishna. In that assembly, he identified Parasara Muni as most advanced, although seven years old, because of his complete absorption in Krishna. In fact, the concentration of all the other sages put together, including Markandeya Rsi himself, who was seven kalpas old, was less than the seven years of complete concentration of Parasara. This story is found in chapter 18 of Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya.

Virabhadra Rama Prabhu:

We see in the Ajamila pastime the destination of one who perfects his spiritual life.

Once we learn the path and the goal from hearing from the devotees, we can choose how directly we want to follow the path. We may go steadily toward the goal, as Ajamila did once he was enlightened, or we may go backwards or sideways.

Mercy is constantly there in our life. It is incredible the extent of the mercy that is available. We have to actively pursue it to get a greater effect.

When I look around this room, I see devotees on the progressive path back to Godhead.

Comment by Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu: The gold referred to here in the description of the vimana [aircraft] to take Ajamila to the spiritual world is not the gold of this world. It is described in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita that the earth, water, fire, air, and ether of the spiritual world are not material substances but spiritual equivalents. Similarly the black color Krishna is described as having is not the black of this world.

Comment by Adi Purusa Prabhu: We have our ticket back to Godhead, but the task before us is who are we going to bring with us. We are not concerned with our own ticket.

If we were not sharing Krishna consciousness, why would we be living in New York City?

Comment by me: Many devotees in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita were so elevated it is clear they went back to Godhead but there are no descriptions of gold vimanas coming to take them. Such descriptions are relatively rare. So if a gold vimana does not come to get your best friend, it does not mean he did not go back to Godhead.
Comment by Sundaranatha Prabhu: It is described Ajamila left his material body and thus he had a spiritual body, which could travel back to the spiritual world even without the necessity of a vimana.

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What great power there is in the eternal dharma of the soul, pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord! Different verses in the revealed scriptures try to impress this truth upon us. Niranjana Swami likes to quote this amazing one:

sruto ’nupathito dhyata
adrito vanumoditah
sadyah punati sad-dharmo
deva-visva-druho ’pi hi


Pure devotional service rendered to the Supreme Lord is spiritually so potent that simply by hearing about such transcendental service, by chanting its glories in response, by meditating on it, by respectfully and faithfully accepting it, or by praising the devotional service of others, even persons who hate the demigods and all other living beings can be immediately purified.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.12)