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):
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):
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.
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?”
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.
-----
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)
