Friday, January 19, 2018

Travel Journal#14.1: New York City and North and Central Florida

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 14, No. 1 
By Krishna-kripa das 
(January 2018, part one) 
New York City, North and Central Florida 
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on January 19, 2017) 

Where I Went and What I Did

I continued chanting Hare Krishna in New York City subway stations with the Yuga Dharma New York City harinama party the first week of the new year, for four hours a day, while recovering from sickness for the first four days and then six hours a day for the next three. I sang on the campus of University of North Florida in Jacksonville for two days with Hare Krishna chaplain, Amrita Keli Devi Dasi, and the second day also with Adikarta Prabhu. The next day I chanted Hare Krishna with Ramiya Prabhu and his wife, Ananta Dasi, at University of South Florida in Tampa. The following day I chanted Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch in Gainesville and at the University of Florida entrance in the evening. Saturday I attended a presentation by Murali Gopal Prabhu to Bhaktivedanta Institute Gainesville members on modifying current theories of decision making to include the modes of material nature. In the evening I chanted Hare Krishna with Krishna House devotees by the bars across from the University of Florida campus. Sunday I attended a three-hour campus kirtan at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where Bada Haridas, Nanda Priya, Havi, Jagi Kirtan, and Bhadra Prabhus all chanted Hare Krishna. Monday I chanted Hare Krishna with Krishna House and New Raman Reti devotees in the Martin Luther King Day March back in Gainesville, and I took the bus to Tallahassee to help make Krishna consciousness more available there.

I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures. I share insights from classes by Jayadvaita Swami, Adi Purusa Prabhu, Rama Raya Prabhu, and Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu in New York City. I share notes on lectures by Adikarta, Nagaraja, Ramiya, and Sesa Prabhus of Alachua. I share quotes from Back to Godhead articles by Badrinarayana Swami, Caitanya Carana Prabhu, and Giriraja Govinda Prabhu. I include notes from a conversation with Adi Purusa in which he tells how devotees can, by doing bed and breakfasts, survive in an expensive Western city and share Krishna with others. I share a nice point by Mother Mukhya and another by Mother Vegavati. I tell a nice story about sharing Krishna wisdom at the airport.

Thanks to the son of Yogesvara Prabhu, Namamrita Prabhu, a pilot for Southwest Airlines, for his complimentary ticket to Florida. Thanks to Adi Purusa Prabhu, who does prasadam distribution in New York City, for his free rooms so I could get enough sleep to be able to chant six hours of harinama in a happy mood. Thanks to Rama Raya Prabhu, Sundari Gopi Devi, and Bhakta Sasha for their very kind and generous donations which will help me to go to Europe, and hopefully, India this year. Thanks to Mahotsaha Prabhu for his foreign currency for me to spend there. Many thanks to Bhakta Chris and Mother Nanda of Alachua for their very kind donations.

Thanks to Amrita Keli Devi Dasi for advertising our campus kirtan at UNF!

Itinerary

January 15–26: Tallahassee (FSU on weekdays, Lake Ella on weekends)
January 26: Gainesville Krishna House Friday program
January 27: Tampa Ratha-yatra or harinama
January 28–30: Gainesville
January 31: Jacksonville, University of North Florida Krishna Club with Adikarta Prabhu
February 1: Tampa, University of South Florida Bhakti Yoga Club
February 2: First Friday in Tallahassee
February 3–4: Gainesville Krishna House
February 5–16: Tallahassee (FSU on weekdays, Lake Ella on weekends)
February 17: Tampa, University of South Florida Campus Kirtan
February 18–20: Gainesville Krishna House
February 21: Jacksonville, University of North Florida Krishna Club
February 22–March 12: Tallahassee (FSU on weekdays, Lake Ella on weekends)
March 12–13: Gainesville Krishna House
March 14–17: Jacksonville?
March 18: Gainesville Krishna House / Alachua Sunday Feast
March 19–March 23: Tallahassee (FSU on weekdays, Lake Ella on weekends)
March 23: Gainesville Krishna House Friday Night – Talk on Ratha-yatra
March 24: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
March 25: Gainesville Krishna House
March 26–April 5: Tallahassee (FSU on weekdays, Lake Ella on weekends)
April 6: Tallahassee First Friday
April 7: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
April 8: Gainesville Krishna House
April 9: Albany
April 10: Philadelphia?
April 11–13: Washington, D.C.
April 14: New York City
April 15–19: Ireland
April 19–24: Newcastle
April 27: Amsterdam (King’s Day)
April 28–29: Radhadesh
May 1–4: Newcastle
May 5–6: Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan
May 7–14: Newcastle, Sheffield, and Leeds
May 15?–July 15: Paris
July 16–July 23: North UK
July 24–27: Vaishnava Summer Festival in Lithuania
July 28: Berlin Ratha-yatra and harinamas
July 31–August 4: Polish Woodstock
August 5: Berlin
August 6–September 2: North UK and Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada
September 3–25: Mayapur
September 26: Newcastle
September 27: Dublin


September 28–January 2019: New York City Yuga Dharma Harinama Party

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City

It was very cold the end of December and beginning of January in New York City. As I was recovering from being sick I just chanted four hours the first four days of the year. For two days I had to switch hands every fifteen minutes because the coldness of the harmonium made my fingers hurt. I did not record many videos during this period.

From January 5 to 7 we chanted in Grand Central subway station, the warmest of our winter venues, where gloves were not required, and I went back to chanting six hours a day. Because of construction, a venue for approved musicians appeared just opposite from where we chant so we moved to a new location near the Times Square shuttle which in many ways proved much better. More people hear the chanting there, and the corridor is narrower so people are closer to our party.

Rama Raya Prabhu led many enthusiastic kirtans as usual:

Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna and devotees and passersby dance at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/8nzO8k1nf5s):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station near the Times Square shuttle, and devotees dance with passersby (https://youtu.be/x4iU82uktN0):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/GMHh0fH--0A):


Rama Raya Prabhu leads a very lively Hare Krishna chant at 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station near the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/t4IQqkJvw9U):


We had one new visitor during my last week on the party. A brahmacari from Croatia, Gokulendra Prabhu, who spent a lot of time with the Twenty-Four Kirtan at Krishna-Balarama, joined the New York party on January 6 for about a month, a pleasant change for him from gardening in North Carolina. Here he chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station near the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/PEBmO2wfnf0)


Rama Raya Prabhu does not like there to be a gap without the sound of the holy name between singers so some of us try to keep the chanting of Hare Krishna going while the next singer gets ready. Even in that interim period some passersby danced with the devotees (https://youtu.be/NagSbBrgajo):


Here Bhakta Josh chants Hare Krishna at 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station as a man films our kirtan while holding a bouquet from Radharani we gave his wife (https://youtu.be/89UP8iuncXQ):


Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle and a guy dances with Mahotsaha Prabhu (https://youtu.be/sUnPJvYJlkU):


Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station near the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/AvFDHMDMYXc):


Abhaya Prabhu, younger brother of Ananda Gauranga and Kishor Gopal Prabhus, chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/MEl3XsihcaQ):


Priya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/SIDcClEoBXo)


Priya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 34th St. / Penn Station subway station on New Years Day (https://youtu.be/WO_zQdpoLew):


Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/WaVgeMfBlF0):


Abhaya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/j1eXh9i8ABQ):


Govind Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the 42nd St. / Grand Central subway station by the Times Square shuttle (https://youtu.be/qgWFxmVS5Jc):


After our six-hour harinamas in New York City, Yuga Dharma Ashram leader, Rama Raya Prabhu, speaks some words of encouragement to his staff and the passersby. On my last day, he included some words of farewell to me (https://youtu.be/NeyS36L3VTs):


It was an honor to be allowed to be part of the Yuga Dharma New York City party for four months in the autumn season. There are so many dedicated devotees there.

Leader Rama Raya Prabhu was inspired to assist Aindra Prabhu with the 24-Hour Kirtan in Vrindavan for many years. Knowing of Aindra Prabhu’s previous dedication to doing harinama sankirtana daily in New York City and of his desire that it continue, after Aindra Prabhu left this world, Rama Raya Prabhu returned to New York City to make daily harinama sankirtana a reality once again. Rama Raya Prabhu begins chanting japa every day at 2 a.m. and finishes well over 16 rounds by the time of mangala-arati. He also takes care of a Govardhan sila daily. Because of his determination the party has chanted every day since March 25, 2012.

Many devotees assist Rama Raya Prabhu in his service. Ananda Sankirtana Prabhu does accounting, prepares the newsletter, prints invitations, and pays part of the rent from his salary in the accounting field. Josh helps manage things, exterminates bed bugs, organizes maha-cleanups, and cooks meals, in addition to playing the drum, and learning a couple of tunes on the harmonium. Natabara Gauranga Prabhu does purchasing and cooking, in addition to playing the drum and singing. Krishna Prasad Prabhu cooks, plays drum, sings, and distributes books. Vishnu-citta Prabhu is very serious and very steady in distributing books. Mahotsaha Prabhu is an ocean of enthusiasm and is willing to try to distribute a book to almost anyone. He also sings and dances with passersby. Gopal Campu Prabhu is mellowness personified when he sells books and never stresses anyone out. He orders books and sets up the book table as well. Kate peacefully and joyfully distributes books for hours a day. Diane also does hours of book distribution. Abhaya Prabhu, a new addition to the party, sings beautifully and plays the drum expertly. Kanai Krishna Prabhu, temporarily in Germany to renew his visa, plays drum and sings. Kaliya Krishna Prabhu comes for several hours almost every day and sings nicely. Govind comes after work a few days a week and sings and plays trumpet. It is very inspiring to see the hours of service all the devotees perform to share the holy name and transcendental literature with thousands of fortunate New Yorkers and visitors to New York every month.

To see what is going on with the Yuga Dharma New York City party, and to see how you can help them share Krishna consciousness with New York and the world, click here: http://www.ydnyc.org/

Chanting Hare Krishna at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville


I chanted with Hare Krishna chaplain, Amrita Keli Devi Dasi, two days on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Adikarta Prabhu, joined us the second day, and sold books in addition to chanting.

The first day Darrell, Jenny, Paul, Kelly, and Srivas stopped by. We also met people interested in yoga, meditation, vegetarian food, psychology, and literature who were happy to learn of our Krishna Club programs.

Chanting Hare Krishna at UNF we always meet old friends and make new ones. Thanks Amrita Keli for her enthusiasm to share Krishna on the campus!

Here Prabhupada disciple and book distributor Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna outside the University of North Florida Bookstore. Amrita Keli Devi Dasi, Hare Krishna chaplain at the university, plays the drum (https://youtu.be/BLOZwLgiD0I):


Here Amrita Keli Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna outside the UNF Bookstore, accompanied Adikarta Prabhu on the harmonium (https://youtu.be/VMGpdfB-sNQ):


Chanting Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch in Gainesville

While serving Krishna Lunch each weekday to about 1,000 students at the University of Florida in Gainesville, devotees chant Hare Krishna for two and a half hours.

Here Bhaktin Aris chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch in Gainesville (https://youtu.be/7XRePP5teCI):


Here Bhakta Eduard, a former UF student, who Adikarta Prabhu inspired to become a fulltime brahmacari book distributor, chants Hare Krishna at the University of Florida Krishna Lunch during a brief visit en route to Miami and ultimately India (https://youtu.be/Kt-bkpA1-qQ):


Krishna-kripa Das chants Hare Krishna, and the devotees who serve Krishna Lunch play instruments and dance. I do not remember ever having group of devotees serving Krishna Lunch as enthusiastic about chanting Hare Krishna kirtan as these (https://youtu.be/0RqOj7_ZyHg):


Devotees Chant Hare Krishna at the University of Florida Entrance

Krishna Keshava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the University of Florida entrance in Gainesville during the weekly Friday harinama organized by the Alachua devotees (https://youtu.be/vnqv7lTtS2E):


Kaliyaphani Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the University of Florida entrance (https://youtu.be/dX_jQXDopNI):


Tulasirani Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at the University of Florida entrance (https://youtu.be/Y-e_3PhFnQ8):


Bhaktin Christiana chants Hare Krishna at the University of Florida entrance (https://youtu.be/2wQS10LEZo4):


Krishna House Devotees Chant Hare Krishna Near UF Campus Saturday Night

While I was traveling in Europe and the Northeast USA, Krishna House introduced a new weekly event in Gainesville, the late Saturday night harinama by the bars across from the University of Florida campus. Despite temperatures below 40° F (5° C), several students looking for a good time found it in dancing with our party. I was amazed to see how many youthful Hare Krishnas were willing to sing on such a cold winter night in Gainesville! (https://youtu.be/S6SahgHZt7Y)


University of South Florida Campus Kirtan in Tampa

The University of South Florida Bhakti Yoga Club was fortunate to have some of the best kirtan leaders and musicians that New Raman Reti (ISKCON of Alachua) has to offer play at their campus kirtan, and I share video clips of their kirtans below.

Although most of the audience was from the local Tampa nama-hatta, several students came, including roommates of club officers.

I talked to one enthusiastic young man interested in Hindu thought who bought a Bhagavad-gita and stayed for two hours of the kirtan program, singing and even dancing as he watched and listened. Another new young gentleman also stayed about two hours.

Bada Haridas Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at a three-hour University of South Florida campus kirtan in Tampa (https://youtu.be/8DpMnj73NIk):


Nanda Priya chants Hare Krishna at a three-hour University of South Florida campus kirtan in Tampa (https://youtu.be/KZKGIT2dEDk):


Havi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at a three-hour University of South Florida campus kirtan in Tampa (https://youtu.be/Tf48mEm2jVg):


Jagi Kirtan Prabhu plays guitar and chants Hare Krishna at a three-hour University of South Florida campus kirtan in Tampa (https://youtu.be/zopPMmciUiE):


Bhadra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at a three-hour University of South Florida campus kirtan in Tampa (https://youtu.be/cjdWAXsR_-Y)


Bada Haridas Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the end of a three-hour University of South Florida campus kirtan in Tampa (https://youtu.be/vTwbLzsWh9I):


Chanting Hare Krishna in the Gainesville Martin Luther King Day March

Devotees from Krishna House in Gainesville and New Raman Reti in Alachua joined together to chant Hare Krishna in the Martin Luther King Day March in Gainesville. Special thanks to Bhaktin Christiana for engaging so many onlookers in dancing, Abhimanyu and Animesh for playing drum, Brajananda Prabhu for playing harmonium, Bhakta Chris for bringing the sound system, Bhaktin Tess, Kaliya Damana Prabhu, and Christiana for book distribution, Murali Gopal Prabhu and Daniel for dancing continuously, and Bhaktin Aris, Brajananda, and Animesh for leading the chant (https://youtu.be/aMXYpkLfSuI):


Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.11, purport:

“Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita that the body, made of the gross physical elements (earth, water, fire, air and sky) and the subtle elements (mind, intelligence and ego), is completely different from the soul proper. One should therefore not be disturbed by the action and reaction of these eight gross and subtle material elements. The practical process to attain this stage of indifference is to execute devotional service. Only one who constantly engages in devotional service twenty-four hours a day can be indifferent to the action and reaction of the external body. When a man is absorbed in a particular thought, he does not hear or see any external activities, even though they are enacted in his presence. Similarly, those who are fully absorbed in devotional service do not care what is going on with the external body. That status is called samadhi. One who is actually situated in samadhi is understood to be a first-class yogi.

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya-lila 5.88, purport:

“To inundate the three worlds with nectar is the purpose of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. . . . Now that same mercy is overflooding the entire world through the Krishna consciousness movement. The present Krishna consciousness movement is nondifferent from the pastimes performed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He was personally present, for the same principles are being followed and the same actions performed without fail.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27 in Los Angeles on December 5, 1973:

“The problem which arose in the heart of Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra was solved by the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. Again, after the departure of the Lord from the vision of earthly people, when Arjuna was face-to-face with being vanquished in his great acquired power and prominence, he wanted again to remember the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita just to teach all concerned that the Bhagavad-gita could be consulted in all critical times, not only for solace from all kinds of mental agonies, but also for the way out of the great entanglements which may embarrass one in some critical hour. The merciful Lord left behind Him the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita so that one can take the instructions of the Lord even when He is not visible to material eyesight.”

“We are taking suffering as enjoyment. Just like in this winter season, we cover ourself very nicely with gloves, with overcoat. It is simply counteracting the suffering. But a man who has got a nice overcoat and gloves, he is thinking he is enjoying. This is maya. He forgets that he is simply trying to counteract the suffering. Actually, he is suffering. But having a nice coat or nice place, he is thinking that he is enjoying. That is foolishness. That is called maya. There is no enjoyment in this material world. Simply we are trying to counteract the suffering. This counteraction of suffering, we are accepting as enjoyment.”

“You can derive the same benefit as Arjuna by reading Bhagavad-gita. People say that Arjuna was enlightened because Krishna was present before Him. But Krishna is present before you also, by His words, by His sound representation. Just like Hare Krishna mantra, Krishna’s name, it is not different from Krishna. . . . abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. . . . Here in the material world the name and the person whose name, that is different because it is material. If you want water, this water substance or water is different from the name water. You cannot quench your thirst simply by chanting ‘Water, water.’ That is not possible. Because it is material. But you can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead by chanting Hare Krishna mantra. That is the significance of spiritual and material. Otherwise, how people are satisfied simply by chanting Hare Krishna mantra? Let him chant some other name, material. No. You cannot chant more than three times. Then you will feel tired. But you can go on chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra for hundreds and millions of years, . . . still you will not feel tired. That is the difference. Therefore His name and He is not different.”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

From “Sri Bhagavata Dharma Vichar”:

“Therefore, those who are simply astonished by the powers of anything in the creation of the Lord, without any factual information of the Lord Himself, are known as shaktas, or worshipers of the great powers. The modern scientist is also captivated by the wonderful actions and reactions of natural phenomena and therefore is also a type of shakta.

Jayadvaita Swami:

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.28 at The Bhakti Center on January 2, 2018:

Everything is meant to be done for Vishnu (Krishna) otherwise our activities entangle us in this world.

Sense gratification is allowed, but when it goes beyond regulation it becomes entangling, and even regulated sense gratification is a problem when not offered to Vishnu.

Feet means person. Mayavadis fall down from neglecting the lotus feet of the Lord.

Control of the mind means fixing it on Krishna’s name, form, pastimes, etc.

The soul, who has hands but does not use them to serve the Lord, who has a tongue but does not use it to serve the Lord, according to Yamaraja, is fit for punishment.

One who develops love for Krishna is free from the Yamadutas.

Unchaste mind means not thinking of distributing books.

If one is fully engaged in devotional service, varnasrama is not necessary. But Srila Prabhupada made the point, “If they are fully engaged in devotional service, then why are they falling down?” Therefore, he began stressing varnasrama.

It is not that we can hang out with girls and attend kirtan fetivals and cultivate love of Krishna and love of this world at the same time. Get married or be brahmacari.

The brahmacaris are not meant for collecting funds to pay for diapers. If you are married, you have to have your own income.

Ekada api (even once) some commentators say means once a life, once a year, once a day. Lord Caitanya said that someone who chants Hare Krishna once is a devotee.

People who are attached to degraded activities we can encourage to chant Hare Krishna and take prasadam, but we cannot condone their sinful activities and say you can be a devotee and continue them.

From another Srimad-Bhagavatam class at The Bhakti Center:

“My men have done it. Therefore I must take responsibility for it.” That is how responsible Yamaraja is. Our tendency is to always blame someone else. Yamaraja, as a mahajana [a great personality], showed by example to take responsibility.

If my dog bites you, I cannot say “My dog bit you, not me.” The dog owner is the one who is sued, not the dog, because he is responsible for the dog.

Krishna tells Arjuna, “Declare it boldly, My devotee will never be vanished.” Krishna considers, “It is known that I have to protect the word of my devotee so people will take it seriously.”

Yamaraja does not wait for Narayana to send the Vishnudutas to say “what is going on here in Yamaloka?” He recognizes, takes responsibility, and apologizes for the improper action.

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura takes sva-purusaya, here translated as “his own men” to be su-apurusaya meaning “very bad men.”

Dharma is difficult to understand, and thus we have to follow the mahajanas.

There is one devotee who tried basically to steal the temple in Hawaii, and Srila Prabhupada was very strong in that case ordering his disciples to sue him.

We have to be careful not to appoint ourselves to be the disciplinary agent for the whole world.

Avoiding responsibility can go way back. “It was the woman You gave me who gave me the apple to eat.” It can go back to blaming God.

Causes of irresponsibilty are many: illusion, fearfulness, laziness, etc.

Bhakti Charu Swami once said, “I am Srila Prabhupada’s dog, and therefore, if there is something threatening to Srila Prabhupada, I have to bark.”

Narada told his disciple the snake, who was being harassed by kids who found he had become nonviolent, “Don’t bite, but raise your hoods as if you are going to bite.”

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn tells a story during Communist times when the police were practically all-powerful and would punish anyone. Some police unnecessarily harassed some older women. Some younger women, seeing this, chewed them out, saying “These are your mothers. What are you doing?” The police retreated.

Comments by Adi Purusa Prabhu:

Your classes are like warm milk. The truth soothes when so nicely presented.

It is wonderful that Krishna is willing to forgive sins. Some people go away from the association of devotees and the practice of Krishna consciousness, feeling their sins are unforgivable, but that is not a fact.

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.31 at The Bhakti Center on January 4, 2018:

If Ajamila could be relieved from sins by chanting indirectly to indicate something else what benefit is there from chanting the holy name in the association of devotees for the glorification of the Lord?

Chanting the name of Vishnu is mentioned. Not demigod kirtan or mixed kirtan.

Atonement rituals counteract sinful reactions but do not destroy the seed of sinful desires unlike pure devotional service.

The living entity is the servant of the holy name. He does not make the holy name his servant, especially by using the holy name to neutralize the sinful reactions of activities he intentionally performs.

Comment by Adi Purusa Prabhu: The Christians identify sinful persons as those who are enthusiastic to perform sinful activities.

Q: How do we deal with devotees who are struggling with sinful life?
A: Srila Prabhupada was sometimes lenient and sometimes strict.

Q: How do we explain how intoxication is sinful?
A: Srila Prabhupada would explain, “You are already intoxicated and thus it is difficult to understand spiritual life. Why would you want to increase your intoxication?” A serious person will understand. Others may have to hear many times.

Q: What is special about Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement?
A: It is prema sankirtana. Lord Caitanya is krishna prema prada. He is giving Krishna prema, especially to those who are chanting the holy name.

Bhavanuvada, according to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, is translation of the sense of the thing. The acaryas [spiritual teachers] include explanation of the importance of the verse with the literal meaning of the verse itself.

People are very unlucky due to Kali-yuga, and thus the devotees spread the chanting and the books for the welfare of everyone. They give the people prasadam and invite them to associate with devotees.

Badrinarayana Swami:

From “In Defense of the Vedic View” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 3 (May / June 2018):

“We do not hide from the fact that Vaishnava theists describe an amazing universe. But the other side of the equation is the fact that the materialists have their own set of amazing stories. Thus, the question is not whether or not to believe in amazing stories; the question is which set of amazing stories to believe – the Vaishnava theists’ or the materialists’?”

Adi Purusa Prabhu:

We are here to perform sacrifice simply by hearing about Krishna.

The 12 step people say: “The mind is like a bad neighborhood. You should not go there alone.”

I like this temple. I don’t like that temple. I like this devotee. I do not like that devotee. That is platform of the mind and is all centered around me. The spiritual platform is to act to please Krishna out of love.

What does the Gita say to do about the river of desires entering the heart? Ignore it!

The purification of hearing from sastra is that we learn of another possibility.

Srila Prabhupada is eternally present. We should use the present tense to speak of him.

If we do the best we can, Krishna is pleased. Krishna says every endeavor is covered by fault.

Some devotees may still have issues, but don’t criticize. There may be some dirt, but they have the soap in hand.

The Catholics talk about avoiding the occasion for sin. There are things we can do decrease the likelihood of getting entangled in sin. Associating with devotees is one very powerful thing.

The nectar is in the service. Do the service with relish, feeling privileged to have some service to do, and go on in devotional service.

Focus on pleasing Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada would always preface talk of the four regulative principles, by saying: “If you want to go forward in spiritual life, following the four regulative principles will help.”

The Christians say, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and all else will follow.”

Comment by Campaka-lata Devi Dasi: There is the practice and the lifestyle that supports the practice. We have to be careful to emphasize the practice over the lifestyle that supports the practice.

When asked by Srila Prabhupada what is the highest service, he replied, “To do the service I am asking you to do.”

From a conversation about his strategy for surviving and sharing Krishna in Western cities:

Throughout the years of his mission, Srila Prabhupada often addressed the practical challenges of adjusting the organization of Krishna consciousness to Western society. In the role of Acarya, Srila Prabhupada was totally open to practical adjustments. “Preaching is the essence, Books are the basis, Purity is the force, Utility is the principle.” In other words, Srila Prabhupada was saying: If a particular organizational-strategy works, then let’s do it that way.

In several conversations Srila Prabhupada mentioned: “It might be helpful for us to look at how the Catholic Church is doing. It’s possible that Krishna has shown them some things we can imitate.”

The Catholic Church has many different monastic Orders. Each monastic Order was instituted by a powerful saintly personality. The Franciscan Order was begun by Saint Francis. The Dominican Monastic Order was started by Saint Dominic. The Benedictine Order was founded by Saint Benedict. There are also many Orders, in the form of convents . . . established for women, In our recent experience, Mother Teresa formed the Convent Order of the Sisters of Charity.

We’ve noticed some interesting practices within these religious orders. For example, when a new Bhaktin (a novice nun) enters the convent, the Order requires the new devotee nun’s family to give a donation of a large sum of money (sometimes as much as $50,000).

The religious order doesn’t spend that Laksmi. The Order carefully puts the Laksmi aside. Then they tell the new devotee: “If you ever decide that the Lord is asking you to leave the convent, we are happy to give you back this Laksmi to allow you to easily re-adjust to life outside the convent.” On the other hand, in our Krishna Consciousness movement, it is normal for young men who enter the brahmacari ashram to serve Guru and Krishna with 100% of their time and energy for two, five, or ten years, or longer. . . but then, if that person feels Krishna asking them to move on to the householder stage of life, they are left somewhat empty-handed. They have no resume, no savings, no income – perhaps only a few dhotis and a pair of flip-flops.

When this happens, we notice that Krishna’s Perfect Care for his devotees always makes some kind of arrangement for that devotee to shift to some kind of gainful employment to begin to be able to support wife and children.

Recently, there was a brahmacari who selflessly served in The Bhakti Center for six years. He was accepted as a first initiate, and one year later was given second initiation. Then he began to serve by dressing Radha Muralidhara during the morning program. This devotee was always the first one in the temple each day to chant japa. He steadily followed four regs nicely. His main service during the day was in Krishna’s Prasadam Restaurant – cooking full-time, six days each week, for over six years. During those years, the temple was giving the brahmacari $50 per week for his personal maintenance.

One day, this brahmacari told us he felt Krishna nudging him to change his ashram and get married. But he had no clue how about how he would be able to earn funds to maintain himself. He had no means to obtain an apartment near the temple where he and his new bride could live and continue their service at this temple.

Radha Muralidhara’s Temple is in the heart of Manhattan. Resident apartments within these Kali-yuga cities are ferociously expensive. Usually a married couple who feel Krishna asking them to try to continue to live hear the city temple need to go out and get karmi jobs. Once someone makes a commitment to a karmi job, they have to virtually sell-their-souls to a karmi boss for at least eight hours each day in order to be able to pay rent for an apartment near the temple. The commitment to a full-time karmi job means less time for sadhana, less time for service to the temple, less time to devote to helping to push on Lord Caitanya’s Mission. More often than not, newly married couples are not able to afford to continue to live near the city temple. Financial considerations, often force them to move far, far away from the temple . . . far from the middle of the city. They are forced to move to less expensive residential areas like New Jersey, or Brooklyn, or even move to some place like Mayapur.

By Krishna’s Grace, at the time when this devotee changed ashrams and needed a place to live and an income, we had already been taking care of Krishna’s Bed and Breakfast Guest Room Program near the temple for several years. Krishna in in His Abundant Mercy, allowed us to help this sincere brahamacari-turned-householder. We borrowed Laksmi and rented a four bedroom, duplex apartment two short blocks away from Radha Muralidhara’s temple.

The devotee and his new wife lived on one floor of the duplex. On the other floor there were three extra bedrooms. The three bedrooms served as bed and breakfast guest rooms. This bed and breakfast guest room ministry is an interesting preaching experiment. People come to stay as guests with the devotees for a few days or a week. The devotees in residence serve as hosts. The couple is able to decorate the guest rooms nicely with devotional pictures, play devotional music in the dining area, provide nice Krishna Prasadam for breakfast, keep the place spotlessly clean, and welcome Krishna’s guests, with just a few hours of service for the guest program each day. They are able to have a substantial income and are able to have time to continue their sadhana and service at the nearby temple.

The cost for guests in each of three guest rooms is $145 per night. The guest room income pays the rent and also provides nicely for the financial maintenance of the devotees. If you feel Krishna attracting you to look further into this guest program ministry, please feel free to contact us or come to stay with us for awhile to see it in operation, first hand.

This is an interesting preaching strategy that other devotees might also easily adapt. It might help them live near one of our city temples within an expensive Western cities like New York. By Krishna’s Grace, over the past sixteen years we have been able to share this strategy with other devotees. We can give you many more details about how this strategy works. This system has worked nicely for many devotees. There is some austerity involved. But for some devotees this is working very nicely. Srila Prabhupada asked us to double our service every year. We find ourselves so fully engaged it is hard to imagine how to double our service unless we train up someone else to do what we are doing,

Please help us to double our service by introducing you to Krishna’s bed and breakfast guest room program.
Contact Adi in New York Interfaith Community Services (http://www.untotheleastofthybrethren.org)

Adikarta Prabhu:

Krishna was not satisfied in Dvaraka because He had to be very formal there.

Krishna apparently goes to Dvakara, but He still remains living in the hearts and minds of the residents of Vrindavan. Thus it is said He never leaves Vrindavan.

Although He was the greatest scholar Lord Caitanya only left eight verses, and He left to the Goswamis the task of writing many authoritative books on the science of Krishna consciousness.

The pastime of the residents of Vrindavan meeting Krishna again at the solar eclipse happened after Balarama went to Vrindavan to pacify the residents and before the Rajusuya sacrifice and the Pandava’s losing their kingdom.

Although Radharani cooks a feast for Krishna in the morning, He does not eat too much as He does not want to appear greedy. That contrasts with Lord Caitanya, who at one point, eats a whole roomful of food.

We have to find out about Krishna by studying the books of the Six Goswamis. This knowledge will not just manifest in our minds.

Unlike the eight principal queens, the sixteen thousand queens, because they had heard about Krishna from Uddhava, who had been to Vrindavan, developed a special affection for the lotus feet of Krishna like the residents of Vrindavan.

Mother Mukhya:

From the morning announcements:

Nothing regularly happens unless someone takes personal responsibility to make sure it goes on every week. Thus we are grateful to Krishna Keshava Prabhu for maintaining our weekly Friday harinama for so many years.

Nagaraja Prabhu:

In the book Varnasrama Dharma by Hare Krishna Dasi there are many quotes from Srila Prabhupada.

Summarizing Srila Prabhupada’s different statements on varnasrama, it seems he is saying that it is impossible to implement varnasrama, but it is essential, and therefore, the Krishna consciousness movement is going to do it.

Srila Prabhupada makes the point that for the whole world to become Krishna conscious, varnasrama needs to be introduced. Otherwise we will continue to pick up just a few people as we are presently doing.

In one instance Srila Prabhupada makes the point that the sudras do not need much training, and the varnasrama college is meant for training the three higher classes.

Throughout history philosophers have speculated about how to organize society so everyone will become happy. Varnasrama is Krishna’s system of social organization.

How do we do the impossible? By the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Srila Prabhupada did the impossible.

Comment by Kaliyaphani Prabhu: We had small groups of little ruffians coming to the New Raman Reti farm to work off their community service hours. In the beginning they were sluggish and morose, but over the course of the day, by working with the devotees, they became more enlivened, submissive, and eager to please, hugging their devotee supervisors. So the good qualities are there, but they need the right situation to manifest.

Comment by mataji: Varnasrama is definitely the way of creating a situation when everyone feels satisfied playing their own role.

One reason Srila Prabhupada proposed varnasrama communities is so his followers would not have to interact with the materialistic society.

Comment by Sesa Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada’s idea was that all the kids go to gurukula till eleven years or so, when their specific tendencies begin manifesting, and then they would be sent to varnasrama college.

Ramiya Prabhu:

This Hare Krishna chant is attractive to people of all nations because it is based on the soul.

The inventor of Oracle databases used his wealth to buy a big house in the Hawaiian Islands. Sounds good, doesn’t it? However, he was worried about being disturbed by others, so he had to buy up all the houses on the island so as not to be disturbed.

Those who are good at tolerating are undisturbed.

We all like a good meal, but who eats just once a week? Similarly, we need spiritual food every day, not just once a week.

Sesa Prabhu:

The brahmacari ashram is a very important ashram in ISKCON, always has been, always will be.

Jayadvaita Swami was asked about those to vow to observe brahmacarya for one day. He joked that that one day would be the best day of their lives.

The Chowpatty brahmacari ashram is well known in ISKCON. The first rule to join the ashram is that you can never say “no” to an opportunity to do service. If you do, you are out. They summarize brahmacari life with five words beginning with “S”:
Sadhana [regulated spiritual practice]
Seva [service]
Svadhaya [study]
Sanga [association with devotees]
Sadacara [good behavior]

Comment by Janmastami Prabhu: Sadhana allows us to get a higher taste by being in the internal energy of the Lord.

Comment by Pran Govinda Prabhu: Sadhana keeps us fixed on the goal of Krishna prema.

Comment by Ragatmika Devi Dasi: Sadhana helps us develop our relationship with Krishna.

You cannot mix unserious people in with people who are serious and have a good result.

Comment by Kaliyaphani Prabhu: Boy is good. Girl is good. But there is something that arises between them that is not good.

Comment by Guru Prasada Devi Dasi: I find as I get older I appreciate the brahmacari ashram better. It is easier to see the brahmacaris as my sons, and I am more inclined to not talk to them unnecessarily.

Comment by Brajananda Prabhu: We are trained to respect the ladies and to not talk with them unnecessarily. You see the brahmacaris who are the most averse to women are the ones who get married first.

The brahmacarya ashram in ISKCON developed through letters that Srila Prabhupada wrote to different devotees.

Comment by Guru Prasada Devi Dasi: My daughter loves to read and loves Sanskrit, and I know she got it from the ashram. Thus I am grateful to Laxmimoni and Akuti for doing that girls ashram for so many years.

Comment by Ekadasi Vrata Devi Dasi: Those five practices apply to everyone.

Comments by Adikarta Prabhu:

Sivarama Swami was married when he met the devotees, and he took his wife back to her parents because he wanted to be a brahmacari.

Some married men become hateful toward their wives and blame them when their actual problem is their own sensual agitation. That is a real problem.

Comments by me:

The brahmacarya restriction of association with women seems extreme. This verse shows why it is necessary:

“The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties together the hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of ‘I and mine.’” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.8)

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the ultimate brahmacari, had a very positive way of seeing women: “Please perceive everything of this world as ingredients for serving Krishna, for all is actually meant for Krishna’s service. View the whole race of women as beloved consorts of Krishna and help them to engage constantly in His service. Do not consider them objects of your sense enjoyment. They are to be enjoyed by Krishna, never by the minute jiva.”

I went to a ceremony of a new Bhaktivedanta Manor brahmacari being awarded saffron, and three swamis spoke. Beyond the things you mentioned in your lecture, these things I found most striking in their speeches:

From Bhakti Rasamrita Swami:

Literally brahmacari means one who lives in relationship with spiritual truth. Brahma means spiritual truth. Acara means behavior, and acari means one who behaves.

Tolerance is very important to brahmacari life, especially for living in an ashram. It is a necessity for survival as a brahmacari.

A brahmacari should not get angry. “Why did he say that to me?” That is not living in relationship with spiritual truth.

Some of the divine qualities are cultivated in specific ashrams, but simplicity is important for all ashrams.

Wearing saffron helps us to act properly. One will think twice about doing something not appropriate for a spiritual aspirant.

From Dayananda Swami:

Lord Caitanya said that renunciation is the sustaining principle in the life of His devotees. In brahmacari life we learn this renunciation.

The brahmacari is the servant of the other ashrams, and the brahmacari is dependent on the other ashrams.

We are only renunciates because of the support of the other ashrams, and remembering this can keep us from becoming proud.

If we can understand the great opportunity we have as brahmacaris, we can be grateful, and that will help us remain steady.

Bhakti Prabhava Swami:

The brahmacari lives only to serve the spiritual master.

Whatever it takes, the brahmacari acts for the pleasure of the spiritual master.

The relationship between the brahmacari and the spiritual master is one of love.

Vegavati Dasi:

From a Facebook post:

“Make new friends, but keep the old – one is silver and the other gold.”

Rama Raya Prabhu:

From a lecture at 26 Second Ave. at our Wednesday program on meditation:

We consider what we are doing so important [chanting Hare Krishna in public] that we do it every day. If it is under 55°F we chant in the subway stations, which is about 5½ months a year.

Spirit is such it has no beginning, dwindling, or vanishing.

Srila Prabhupada was asked in the the sixties, “Why everything?”
He answered in one word, “Pleasure.”

This body is on rental from Krishna, so we have to use it properly.

Real wealth is an eternal asset which goes beyond this life.

As an actor has a portfolio of the different parts he has played, there is a history of Krishna’s different incarnations appearing in the past.

If we have a friend, it is not that we merge together and become one. The same is true if we have a beloved. So it is also like that with loving Krishna.

On Krishna’s planet everything goes on in spontaneous love.

As there are fewer people in prison than in free society, fewer people live in the material world than in the spiritual world.

So many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples experienced that he could see through them.

Once Srila Prabhupada said that nothing else is required to be done than to love God.

No matter what the material world can dish out, if you chant Hare Krishna, if you take shelter of Krishna, you will be alright.

In the spiritual world there are ever escalating relationships of love with Krishna and everyone else.

Everyone is looking to be in love all the time.

Krishna does not have to go to the factory. Krishna’s internal energy supplies what He and all His associates need.

Separating our loving propensity from all mundane objects and focusing it on Krishna is the goal.

Purva-raga is like love at first sight, although all the relationships between Krishna and the living entities are eternal.

We cannot perceive the spiritual energy through our empiricism.

Krishna has an infallible security system to keep unwanted people out of the spiritual world so that the spontaneous love there is not disturbed.

In this age, Krishna is appearing in the form of His holy name. Thus we try to chant it for six hours a day in public, and in principle, we could increase the number of hours.

There is one temple in Vrindavan where they have had kirtan continuously for 100 years.

Wherever Krishna appears, all kinds of auspiciousness result.

Christ preached only three years and made such a different for two millennia.

Krishna consciousness is revolutionary because it is meant to change the course of history.

The British empire was one of the most bigoted and ruthless of all.

Srila Prabhupada said the reason for the fall of the British empire is the British stole the jewels from the deities in the temples in India.

Srila Prabhupada refused to accept his diploma from the British-run Scottish Churches college, being a follower of Gandhi’s movement of svaraja.

When Srila Prabhupada was preaching in America, there were 90 million Americans under 25, the baby boomers.

Devotional service means doing things to please Krishna, and because Krishna is the soul of all souls, that completely satisfies the soul.

The ultimate yoga is fully realized love of Godhead.

Q: What evidence is there that a change is coming?
A: When I grew up if you said you were vegetarian people thought that you were queer, and people would litter without thinking about it. Now many people are vegetarian, and there is more concern for the environment. Now if you say things against someone’s race, people object to it, but when I was younger, racial slurs were still common. Because God Himself has come as Lord Caitanya, there is a purifying effect. We should not worry about when the change will come but try to take Krishna consciousness seriously and attain perfection.

When people ask, “Do you believe in reincarnation?” I reply, “Do you believe in being left back [failing to go on the next grade in school]?”

There are many rich men, but who can say, “I have all the money.” Only God can say that.

Christ said a rich man was unlikely to go to heaven. Rich people have a overly high estimation of themselves.

Lord Caitanya advised humility. One who is humble can always experience the mellows of love of God.

Your chanting will give you your personal relationship with Krishna which no one can interfere with.

If you chant you will become attached to it because you can’t live without love.

Caitanya Carana Prabhu:

From “Intention in Tension?” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 3 (May / June 2018):

“The point of relationships is not mutually destructive condemnation, but synergistic elevation. We are not here to see through each other; we are here to see each other through. Keeping this cooperative focus in mind can make our relationships symbiotic, not antagonistic.”

“Sometimes, we may want a God-centered relationship, but the other party may not want to be God-centered or may not act in a godly way. Still, if we center our heart on God by taking fervent shelter of Him, we can get the solace and strength necessary to endure the disappointment in that relationship. Then we will understand that we are acting in our relationships not so much to serve the other people as to serve God through them – so our behavior with them should be determined not just by how they behave but by how God would want us to behave in that situation.”

Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu:

The path of knowledge addresses the root cause of sinful activity, and thus it is superior to rituals of atonement. Its problem is that knowledge is only possible in the mode of goodness, and as Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita, the modes are always vying for supremacy, and thus it is hard to be fixed in the mode of goodness. Therefore, it is not sustainable.

Sankirtana [congregational chanting of the holy name] destroys the sinful reactions, the desires that cause the sinful deeds, and the ignorance that gives rise to those desires.

Bhakti comes from bhakti. Only sadhana-bhakti can lead to bhava-bhakti and ultimately prema-bhakti.

Jnana can purify the mind and senses, but beyond that, bhakti can purify one from his identification with matter.

Maya has two knowledge features, knowledge of one’s self as a product of matter and knowledge of one’s self as different from matter. Thus jnana is still a product of matter.

The light of the soul is like a cigarette lighter, but bhakti is luminous like the sun. Thus the darkness of maya is dissipated.

If you are always doing bhakti, there will not be any opportunity to commit offenses.

There are so many people who want to do good for the world, but because they are contaminated by lust, greed, and anger, what good can they do? Even if you are fixed in goodness, your good results will eventually come to an end.

Bad karma is good because you suffer, and it makes you philosophical, whereas the enjoyment from good karma distracts you from your spiritual life.

In the verse “Those who, even while remaining situated in their established social positions, throw away the process of speculative knowledge and with their body, words and mind offer all respects to descriptions of Your personality and activities, dedicating their lives to these narrations, which are vibrated by You personally and by Your pure devotees, certainly conquer Your Lordship, although You are otherwise unconquerable by anyone within the three worlds” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.3), the word jivanti means they get life from these devotional messages.

By the blazing light of your bhakti, you can attract the world.

The ignorance which is the unawareness of the beauty of Krishna is what Krishna dissipates in Bhagavad-gita 10.11.

Devotees may do karma and jnana, but these should not cover the bhakti.

When our bhajana increases, our offenses will decrease.

Giriraja Govinda Prabhu:

From “The Reliable Way to Gain Knowledge” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 3 (May / June 2018):

“Such an authority is the trio guru-sadhu-sastra [preceptor-saint-scripture]. They are like the three legs of a tripod, together supporting the knowledge of the Absolute Truth.”

“Who does not know Sir Isaac Newton, the father of mechanics? Even today, after three hundred years, we use Newton’s laws of motion to launch rockets and satellites into space. We use his theory of optics to make telescopes and study the properties of light. We use calculus, his invention, a special branch of mathematics. His contributions to modern science are profound. But he said, ‘Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.’ Although Newton mathematically formulated the laws of motion, he was aware that the origin of such laws could not be explained. Why the gravitational force is the way it is continues to amaze the best scientific brains even today. Newton took a spiritual perspective alongside the material perspective. He marveled, ‘This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.’”

Murali Gopal Prabhu:

From a presentation on his model of buddhi to a meeting of the Gainesville Bhaktivedanta Institute:

There are two types of theories of decision making, (1) proscriptive (how one should make decisions) and (2) descriptive (how people do make decisions).

Decision Field Theory (DFT) and Leaky Competing Accumulator (LCA) are two competing theories. DFT has been around longer. LCA, by Usher and McClelland, which was developed around 2001, includes the idea of loss aversion, which I found attractive, and so I will begin with that.

Researchers found there is a diminishing return for gain, and that a little loss causes greater pain than a little gain causes pleasure.

Comment by Brahma Tirtha Prabhu: In a book called Predictably Irrational, a study is reported where at the MIT Student Union they distributed Hersey’s Kisses for $0.01 and a higher quality Truffles chocolate bar for $0.15. The better candy was more popular. Then they reduced the price by $0.01. Free Kisses and $0.14 Truffles, and the Kisses went faster.

In the process of making a decision, in time we accumulate additional factors to solidify our decision. Our imperfect memory of all the factors affects our decision. Strong factors must be adjusted to count for more than weak ones. Minor factors must also be included. The decision can be made at a fixed time or when we best meet our criteria.

My proposed adjustments to the LCA model could also be applied to the DFT model.

Joke by Brahmatirtha Prabhu: A mezuzah is a scroll of verses from the Old Testament, which actually have lot of bhakti in them and which is hung on the home of every Jew. A Jew wanted a mezuzah on his Lamborghini [Italian sports car]. He decided to approach some rabbis to obtain one. The two most conservative rabbis he consulted asked him, “What is a Lamborghini?” The reform rabbi he approached, however, was excited to hear of the Lamborghini, and was curious about the model and other details. He asked a different question, “What is a mezuzah?”

Traditional models deal with the internal factors affecting one’s decision but do not deal with one’s external environment. I will add this missing ability to the present theory, introducing with it the principle of the three modes of material nature.

Anger appears between passion and ignorance, pictured on the base of a triangle with goodness on the top, opposite it.

Comment by Brahmatirtha Prabhu: Sometimes you have to do counter-intuitive things to break out of a cycle. You would not think that removing graffiti reduces crime, but it actually does. Similarly if you are depressed and you take a bath, you will feel better.

Both ignorance and passion steal away our ability to remember.

Two comments by Krishna Bhajan Prabhu:
Muhammad Ali used to speak words inciting his opponents to anger, knowing that if they became angry they would make mistakes, and he would win the fight.
People with anxiety disorders can be moved from panic to anxiety in a moment. The one bad experience they remember covers their memory of the many similar situations in which everything was OK.
Those in ignorance will never accumulate enough factors to ever make a decision.

If one has desires, if they are fulfilled one becomes greedy (passion), and if they are not fulfilled, one becomes angry (ignorance).

The concept of the modes of material nature is useful because it is so all-encompassing.

Comment by Krishna Bhajan Prabhu: You could use the Vedic Personality Inventory to position a person in the modes of nature, and then you can assign that which they are attracted to to the same position in the modes.

Comment by Prishni Dasi: The advertising industry is using a lot of ideas from this discussion of the modes of material nature without actually being aware of what they are.

Comment by Tamra Prabhu: I researched on the Internet, and there is a lot of talk out there about how external factors affect our decision making.

Comment by Dhira Govinda Prabhu: When talking to those unfamiliar with the three modes of nature, I often use these words: inertia (ignorance), activity (passion), and enlightenment (goodness).

A study shows that when gamblers are shown an erotic picture they become less worried about taking risks in their wagers.

Comment by Krishna Bhajans Prabhu: It is not uncommon for low income families to spend 40% of their income on cigarettes and alcohol.

Comment by Dhira Govinda Prabhu: There seem to be two things we are discussing: The extent one is moved by joy or sorrow, and the extent one’s conception of gain or loss is based on reality.

If someone can do the experimental part, I can do the theoretical part.

Comment by Brahmatirtha Prabhu: The big thing you are doing and what Dhira Govinda Prabhu was doing is adding values to it.

Comment by Krishna Bhajan Prabhu: There are studies by Isaac Ajzen showing if you know someone’s intent, you can predict the outcome of his eventual behavior. His theory is called “The Theory of Planned Behavior.”

Comment by Brahmatirtha Prabhu: When people argue, I propose to offer a solution as a mediator, and I then advise: “You are arguing over $1,000. What don’t you stop arguing and just give it to charity?” That sort of shakes them up and gets them thinking rationally again.

I need choice studies, showing the effect of the environment.

Comments by Brahmatirtha Prabhu:
If you want money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money.
Srila Prabhupada told us to find out from the Catholics how to organize things.
Krishna-kripa Das:

From a Facebook post:

“I thanked the lady cleaning around my seat at the Nashville airport as I awaited my flight to Jacksonville, saying that cleanliness was important. She expressed dismay at how sloppy some people are. I smiled and said, ‘They are forgetting it is God’s property and that they are servants of God, so they should keep it nice.’ She said it would be nice if everybody thought that way.”

-----

naca, gao, bhakta-sange kara sankirtana
krishna-nama upadesi’ tara’ sarva-jana


[Srila Isvara Puri told Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:] “My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing sankirtana in association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting krishna-nama, for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.92)