Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 14, No. 3
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2018, part one)
North and Central Florida
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on February 18, 2017)
Where
I Went and What I Did
I
began February by chanting Hare Krishna at the
University
of South Florida in Tampa with Ramiya Prabhu and his wife, Ananta
Dasi, as Adikarta Prabhu distributed books. The next day after
chanting at Krishna Lunch and attending a meeting of Bhaktivedanta
Institute devotees with our guest Akhandadhi Prabhu of the UK where
we talked about the Mayapur Temple of the Vedic Planetarian, I went
with six Krishna House devotees to Tallahassee to chant and
distribute books and
spiritual food
at an event called First Friday. The next day I worked a lot on the
previous issue of this journal, and the day after that, I celebrated
Sadaputa Prabhu’s birthday at a pizza party with other devotees who
have a relationship with Bhaktivedanta Institute of Gainesville, to
be renamed, in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s original desire,
Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. Then I went back to
Tallahassee to chant for two weeks at Florida State University and to
interest
students and
others in
Krishna Lunch, Srila Prabhupada’s books, temple programs, and free
vegan prasadam
cookies,
and
to chant on the weekend in between at Lake Ella. On Shiva Ratri we
had a program at the Tallahassee temple which I tried to make as
Krishna conscious as possible.
I
share many, many more quotes than usual from Srila Prabhupada’s
books and lectures. This
is because I have more time to read in Florida, and in Tallahassee,
when I do not have people to give class to, I hear Srila Prabhupada
lectures instead.
I also share notes on talks by Varsana Swami, Rtadhvaja Swami,
Adikarta Prabhu, Akhandadhi Prabhu, Madana Mohan Prabhu, Nagaraja
Prabhu, Garuda Prabhu of Tallahassee, Murali Gopal Prabhu, and Hanan
Prabhu. I share quotes by Prishni Devi Dasi and Nama Kirtan from
conversations and by Jagannatha Misra Prabhu from his latest book,
The
Book III.
Many,
many thanks to my friend, Dhamesvar Mahaprabhu Das Prabhu, for his
very generous donation the end of January. Many, many thanks to
Rasaraja Prabhu, who has been associated with Krishna House for many
years, for his very generous donation this month.
Thanks to Florida State University for the photos of their staff members from their web site, www.fsu.edu. Thanks to pinterest.com for their photo of Lord Shiva.
–27: Vaishnava Summer Festival in Lithuania
Chanting
Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch in
Gainesville
At
Krishna Lunch devotees sing for 2½ hours and distribute about 1,000
plates of prasadam (spiritual food) five days a week, inspired by
Srila Prabhupada’s words, “So do something wonderful there in
Gainesville. Wonderful means simply you chant loudly and distribute
prasadam. That is not very difficult. It is very easy. Simply
if you do it enthusiastically and sincerely, then success will be
there.” (Letter, June 29, 1971)
Kalakantha
Prabhu, temple president of Krishna House, chants Hare Krishna at
Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/uIoWD3Mmtts):
Lavanga
Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch, and
I play the drum and then dance when Animesh takes over the drumming
(https://youtu.be/vvquJrn0e0g):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at First Friday in Tallahassee
I
accompanied Krishna House
devotees to Tallahassee
where we joined local devotees
for an event called
First Friday at Railroad Square Art Park. Devotees distributed
books, cups of halava,
and invitations to Krishna Lunch at Florida State University and
to the Tallahassee temple. These videos will give you a feel for what
it was like.
Champaka-lata
Devi Dasi, visiting from New York City’s Bhakti Center, chants Hare
Krishna at
First Friday (https://youtu.be/jimopOvk9VQ):
Here
Bhaktin Aris chants Hare Krishna, and one lady tries to sing along
(https://youtu.be/X7PlueGizRM):
The
young ladies on our party distributed 33 books in the two and a
quarter hours we were in Tallahassee, and we also distributed about
50 cups of halava
from
Gainesville’s Krishna Lunch.
We
kept running out of forks for the
halava, and
Shruti Sagar Prabhu got persons working in a bar to donate them to
us.
Three
devotees wanted to leave at 9:00 p.m., the
official end of the event,
but I insisted we stay to 9:30 p.m. because
there were still many people there and because we had driven 2½
hours to get there.
During that last half hour, we met the nicest people we saw the whole
evening. People would just come up to us, curious about what we were
doing, and eager to take the halava
prasadam, invitations,
and books. It was Krishna’s mercy we stayed.
It
was a big sacrifice driving 2½
hours each way for the event, but the devotees were happy to make the
sacrifice, and I was glad to be part of the team and to have
encouraged them to attend the event, which definitely helps
facilitate awareness of Krishna in Tallahassee, where
I am spending three weeks a month to enhance our program there.
I
hope the Krishna House devotees will come up for First Friday in
March and April as well.
Chanting
Hare Krishna by the Bars Near the University of Florida Campus
Here
Abhimanyu
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Krishna House devotees by the bars
near the University of Florida campus as part of their weekly
Saturday night harinama.
Passersby enjoy dancing to the music (https://youtu.be/yAwAvenN1GY):
I
led the chanting at one point, letting others play the instruments,
so I could continue to video the people dancing with us
(https://youtu.be/Fs5qhZ9l13Q):
Bhaktin
Aris led the chanting on the way home, and a few people interacted
with us before we left
the
region of the bars (https://youtu.be/PzEUxUQ9u-A):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at Florida State University in Tallahassee
At
Florida State University, one young lady said hi as she passed me as
I was chanting at my Bhakti Yoga Club table, which I do three hours a
day. I explained I was chanting a mantra that was part of a practice
of yoga and meditation described in Bhagavad-gita.
I said the Gita
contained universal truths also described in other traditions but
included the ideas of past lives and the presence of the soul in all
species. I gave her a dollar off coupon for the FSU Krishna Lunch. As
she left, she said, “I like your booth the
best
of all the ones on campus. You are giving joy, and everyone else is
just yelling.”
My
book table presentation at Florida State University has different
features that attract passersby: the free vegan cookies, the “Ask a
Monk” sign, the colorful books of Srila Prabhupada, coupons for $1
off for Krishna Lunch, the harmonium, and the chanting itself. I talk
to people who stop by, and usually do not make a special endeavor to
get people to stop, as so few are interested anyway it distracts from
the chanting of Hare Krishna which I want to share with everyone.
One
day two
students who already read Science
of Self-Realization expressed
interest in Journey
of Self Discovery, one
actually buying it.
As
previously, some students attended Krishna Lunch the very day I told
them about it, and some told me later that they liked it. There were
also students who had just recently become vegetarian and
who
were excited to hear about Krishna Lunch.
One
young man, who was studying education, said he was not so much
interested in the educational system in America, but preferred an
approach more centered on the needs of the individual. I read to him
that verse where Krishna says He created the four divisions of
society based
on the qualities and work of the individuals, and I briefly described
the intellectual, administrative, productive, and laborer classes and
their activities. Hearing my explanation he commented, “You see
those divisions everywhere.” I smiled. It reminded me that Srila
Prabhupada would make the
point that
because
the divisions are created by Krishna, you can see them in all
societies. I mentioned how the guru could understand the mentality of
his disciple and educate him accordingly. I took the opportunity to
explain, as I often do, that the Hindu caste system was a corruption
of the four divisions based on birth, which is not mentioned in
Bhagavad-gita,
instead of being based on qualities and activities which are. To
distinguish the Hare Krishna teaching from Hindu polythesism, I
also often
point out
that worship of many gods is not recommended
in this most fundamental of the Hindu scriptures, but rather worship
of the one
Supreme
Lord is.
A
Ph.D. student in English literature from Delhi stopped by to talk.
Her father was a musician who played the harmonium. As she studied
English literature, I read Henry David Thoreau’s quote on
Bhagavad-gita
to
her, “In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and
cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita,
in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems
puny and trivial.” I think she liked that quote better than anyone
I ever read it to, and she said, “I am also a transcendentalist.”
She was happy to hear of Krishna Lunch and was familiar with the
upma
on
the menu for the next day.
Not
only do students stop by my book table, but also members of the staff
and faculty.
Julia
Zimmerman, director of University Libraries for over ten years,
stopped by my book table at Landis Green at Florida State University.
She was familiar with Bhagavad-gita,
and
she had eaten Krishna Lunch years ago. Yoga was part of her life, and
she been involved in different yoga groups in her youth. She was
happy to see me on the campus as
example of diversity
and to receive an invitation reminding her of Krishna Lunch, so she
can make that part of her busy life again.
Dennis
Smith, Planner-in-Residence, in the Florida State University planning
department,
stopped by my book table twice. The first time he got a flyer for
Krishna Lunch, and the next time he came with a friend to say how
much they liked it and to inquire about the menu.
Shiva
Ratri
The
Indian congregation wanted to do a program of Shiva puja
on
Shiva Ratri at our Tallahassee Hare Krishna temple. I tried to make
it as Krishna conscious as possible. We chanted ten minutes of Hare
Krishna to the evening melody before the puja,
and
after the puja
I
read from Bhagavad-gita
and
the writings of Bhaktivinoda Thakura about Lord Shiva.
Lord Krishna says, “rudranam shankaras casmi – Of
all the Rudras I am Lord Shiva.” (Bhagavad-gita
10.23).
Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport, “There are eleven Rudras,
of whom Shankara, Lord Shiva, is predominant. He is the incarnation
of the Supreme Lord in charge of the mode of ignorance in the
universe.”
In
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura’s, “Gaura
Arati”
song,
which we sing every Sunday, you may or may not know that Lord Shiva
is mentioned.
shiva-suka-narada
preme gada-gada
bhakativinoda dekhe gorara sampada
“Lord
Shiva, Sukadeva Gosvami, and Narada Muni are all there, and their
voices are choked with the ecstasy of transcendental love. Thus
Thakura Bhaktivinoda envisions the glory of Lord Sri Caitanya.”
As Lord Krishna has his abode Vrindavan, Lord Caitanya has His abode, Navadvipa. As Lord Shiva resides in Vrindavan, guarding that dhama, he similarly resides in Navadvipa. Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes about this in his Navadvipa Dhama Mahatyma:
As Lord Krishna has his abode Vrindavan, Lord Caitanya has His abode, Navadvipa. As Lord Shiva resides in Vrindavan, guarding that dhama, he similarly resides in Navadvipa. Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes about this in his Navadvipa Dhama Mahatyma:
“One
time during Satya-yuga, Lord Shiva began madly dancing, while
chanting the name of Gauranga. Parvati asked him, ‘Please tell me
who is Gauranga. By seeing your astonishing dance and hearing the
name of Gauranga, my heart is melting. All that I have heard in the
way of mantra and tantra till now only leads to more entanglement for
the living entities. Dear husband, please tell me something of this
Gauranga. By worshiping Him will I receive actual life?’ Hearing
Parvati’s words, Shiva meditated on Gauranga and said, ‘Unto you,
who are the primordial energy, one portion of Sri Radha, I will tell
the crest-jewel of all truths. Accepting the spiritual emotions of
Sri Radha, Krishna will descend in this Kali-yuga at Mayapur in the
womb of Saci. Lord Gauranga, intoxicated with pastimes of kirtana, will distribute the jewel of prema to everyone without discrimination. Whoever does not drown in that flood of prema is most unfortunate. O Devi, just by remembering the Lord’s promise that He will come, I pass my life drowning in love of God. Being unable to control myself, I have given up my own city of Kasi. Within Mayapur, on the bank of the Ganges, I will live in a hut and worship Gauranga.’
“Hearing
Shiva’s words, beautiful Parvati quickly went to Simantadvipa. As
she constantly meditated on the form of Gauranga and chanted His
name, she became immersed in prema. After some time, Gauracandra appeared with His associates to bestow mercy on Parvati. His complexion was like molten gold. He had long arms, wavy hair, and beautiful limbs. He was wearing a long dhoti folded thrice, and from His neck swung a garland of flowers, which was very attractive to behold. In a voice choked with love, Gaura Raya said, ‘O Parvati, why have you come here?’
“Parvati
fell at the lotus feet of the master of the universe and with an
agitated mind explained her sorrow: ‘O Prabhu Jagannatha, life of
the universe, though You are merciful to all, You have deceived me. O
deliverer of the fallen, You have appointed me to bind up all the
living entities in the material world who are averse to You. I have
come into the material world to do this work, and have thus been
cheated of Your unlimited prema. People say that wherever Krishna is there is no Maya. I am therefore forced to always remain outside Your spiritual realm, in the material world. So how will I ever see Your pastimes? If You do not offer a way, I am without hope.’
“Saying
this, Parvati put Gauranga’s foot dust on her simanta
(part in the hair) in great distress. From that, the name of
Simantadvipa came. Ignorant people call the place Simuliya.
“Gauracandra
was pleased, and He said to Parvati, ‘O supreme goddess, listen
carefully to My words. You are My energy, you are not separate or
different from Me. My one energy has two forms. Within the spiritual
kingdom, My original energy has one form as Sri Radha, but for
carrying out activities in the material world She has expanded
Herself as you. Without you, My lila
could not be accomplished, for in the form of Yogamaya, you are
necessary in My pastimes. In Vraja, you are eternally present as
Paurnamasi, and in Navadvipa you are present as Praudha Maya along
with Ksetrapala Shiva, guardian of the dhama.’
“Saying
this, Gauranga disappeared, and Parvati became overwhelmed with love.
Parvati stays in one form as the goddess of Simantadvipa, and in
another form as Praudha Maya in Mayapur.”
Godly
T-Shirts
I
encountered two T-shirts with theistic messages worn by students at
two Florida universities:
At
the Marshall Student Center at University of South Florida in Tampa,
one young man reminds us that God more important than money.
At
Landis Green at Florida State University in Tallahassee, one young
lady reminds us that God has a plan and we are part of it.
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.15.32 in Los Angeles on December 10, 1973:
“I
am absorbed in thought of this mortal consciousness, ‘This is my
country, this is my body, this is my family, this is my community,
this is my nation . . . ’ They are all mortal. But immortal
consciousness is that ‘I am Krishna’s.’ That is immortal
consciousness. ‘Krishna is mine, and I am Krishna’s.’
This is immortal consciousness. When you come to this consciousness –
that is called Krishna consciousness – then you are saved.”
“However
rich you may be, however prosperous you may be, at your home or in
your nation or in any way, . . . you have to think that ‘Actually
these things are temporary. I am eternal. So what is my eternal
function?’ That is meditation. ‘What is my eternal function? What
is my eternal duty? Where is my eternal home?’ That is Krishna
consciousness.”
“As
soon as there is discrepancies in the understanding of eternal life,
He appears. He teaches. So Krishna is teaching somewhere.”
“So
at the time of death, when that thought is prominent, then I get the
next moment a body like that. So if you simply think of Krishna only,
then you get a body where by which you can go to Krishna. You can go
to Krishna. Tyaktva
deham punar janma
[Bhagavad-gita
4.9]. It is very scientific and very practical. So by going to
Krishna, you can talk with Krishna personally. You can play with
Krishna personally. You can dance with Krishna. That is Krishna-loka.
Just like we have got a picture, rasa
dancing. Here is picture, Krishna’s. Everyone can get this
opportunity. Therefore Krishna comes to show practically how
enjoyable life with Krishna in Vrindavan. Krishna is simply jolly,
anandamayo
’bhyasat.
In Vrindavan life you will see, everyone is jolly. The birds, trees
and the water, the land, the cows, the calves, the inhabitants, the
cowherd boys – everyone is happy simply by loving Krishna. Simply
by loving Krishna. So Krishna therefore manifests His lila
that ‘Why you are rotting in this material world? Come to Me and
enjoy life eternally.’”
“Maithuna
means sex intercourse. That is their life and soul. They do not know,
they have no information, there is better pleasure, eternal pleasure.
That they do not know.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.2.20, purport:
“The
movement will go on increasing more and more, provided the leaders of
the movement remain firmly Krishna conscious by following the
regulative principles and the primary activities of chanting the Hare
Krishna mantra regularly.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.2.24, purport:
“Krishna
consciousness, favorably cultivated, makes one completely happy, so
much so that a Krishna conscious person does not consider
kaivalya-sukham,
or merging into the existence of Krishna, to be a great gain.
Kaivalyam narakayate.
For a Krishna conscious person, even merging into the existence of
Krishna, or Brahman, as impersonalists aspire to do, is
uncomfortable. Kaivalyam
narakayate tridasha-pur akasha-pushpayate.
Karmis
hanker to be promoted to the heavenly planets, but a Krishna
conscious person considers such promotion a will-o’-the-wisp, good
for nothing. Durdantendriya-kala-sarpa-patali
protkhata-damstrayate. Yogis
try to control their senses and thus become happy, but a Krishna
conscious person neglects the methods of yoga. He is unconcerned with
the greatest of enemies, the senses, which are compared to snakes.
For a Krishna conscious person who is cultivating Krishna
consciousness favorably, the happiness conceived by the karmis,
jñanis and yogis
is treated as less than a fig.”
“Although
Kamsa was always absorbed in thoughts of Hari, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, he was not happy. A devotee, however, whether
sitting on a throne or beneath a tree, is always happy. Srila Rupa
Gosvami resigned from office as a government minister to sit beneath
a tree, yet he was happy. Tyaktva
turnam ashesha-mandalapati-shrenim sada tucchavat
(Sad-gosvamy-astaka
4). He did not care for his comfortable position as minister; he was
happy even beneath a tree in Vrindavan, favorably serving the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. This is the difference between a devotee and
a nondevotee. For a nondevotee, the world is full of problems,
whereas for a devotee the entire world is full of happiness.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.2.26, purport:
“sakrid
eva prapanno yas
tavasmiti
ca yacate
abhayam
sarvada tasmai
dadamy
etad vratam mama
‘If
one surrenders unto Me sincerely, saying, “My Lord, from this day I
am fully surrendered unto You,” I always give him protection. That
is My vow.’ (Ramayana,
Yuddha-kanda 18.33)”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
9:
“In
other words, one should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should
learn this small technique, and he should be very eager and actually
cry to become engaged in some particular type of service. This is
called laulyam,
and such tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one
develops this laulyam,
or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a
particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God.
Otherwise, there is no material calculation for the value of the
ticket by which one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for
such entrance is this laulyam
lalasa-mayi,
or desire and great eagerness.”
“In
the temple it is the custom that the caranamrita
be kept in a big pot. The devotees who come to visit and offer
respects to the Deity take three drops of caranamrita
very submissively and feel themselves happy in transcendental bliss.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
10:
“A
devotee who is not perfectly freed from the resultant actions should
therefore continue to act in Krishna consciousness seriously, even
though there may be so many impediments. When such impediments arise
he should simply think of Krishna and expect His mercy. That is the
only solace. If the devotee passes his days in that spirit, it is
certain that he is going to be promoted to the abode of the Lord.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.1.1 in Caracas on February 20, 1975:
“A
cat and dog cannot enquire about the origin of a thing. But a human
mind is developed in such a way that he enquires, he makes research
to find out the original cause. Just like nowadays the scientists are
enquiring about the origin of life.”
“The
child enquires, ‘What is this, father?’ Similarly, we should also
enquire, ‘What is the origin of this universe?’ Not only
universe, but any item within our experience, naturally we are
inclined . . . Just like here is a microphone. So an intelligent
person is inquisitive to enquire, ‘Who is the manufacturer of this
microphone?’ Just like we enquire about a child, ‘Whose son he
is? Who is his father?’ Similarly, this is human mind, to enquire
about the origin. That is the only business of human being. In the
Srimad-Bhagavatam
it is said, jivasya
tattva-jijnasa .
. . Jiva
means all living being, but above all living beings, the human being
is the most awakened consciousness. Therefore his business is to
enquire about the Absolute Truth.”
“Now
you are also animal because you don’t enquire about the Absolute
Truth. But you are developed, so now your business is to enquire
about the origin of everything.”
“One
should be satisfied like the animals. They are satisfied with their
position. They are not agitated. Similarly, we should be satisfied
whatever is available automatically by the gift of nature or by God.”
“This
is a fact, that Krishna is the origin of everything, but the
intelligent man can understand it very easily. Therefore he takes to
Krishna consciousness. And those who are not intelligent, he tries to
understand whether Krishna is the origin of everything, therefore it
takes some time. Therefore persons who are making research what is
the origin of everything, they are also learned scholars, but because
they are doing in their own way, therefore it takes many, many births
to understand that Krishna is the origin of everything. So in this
way of material research, one will come to the conclusion, if he is
really a research scholar that vasudevah
sarvam iti
[Bhagavad-gita
7.19]. But those who are more purified, instead of making research,
he immediately accepts that Krishna is the origin of everything.”
“The
guru means he gives light to the persons who are living in darkness.
So that is the motto in our Back
to Godhead
paper, that ‘Godhead is light, and nescience is darkness. Where
there is God, there is no nescience.’ So Krishna or God or light,
the same thing. If you take to Krishna consciousness, there will be
no more ignorance. Just like here there is light, electric light.
There is no darkness. The darkness is there, but when there is light,
darkness automatically goes away. Similarly, if you take to Krishna
consciousness, then darkness of life immediately goes away. And that
is required in human life. The animal life means full of darkness,
and the human life, although full of darkness, it can be dissipated.
So our request is – we are pushing this Krishna consciousness
movement everywhere all over the world – just to drive away the
darkness of ignorance and come to the light of knowledge. So this
center is open for this purpose. I request you, all of you, to take
advantage of this Krishna consciousness movement and be enlightened
and be happy in your life.”
“Q:
There
are many religions that speak of the light. How can we know we are
actually facing the real light?
A:
Light is to be realized personally. . . . Just like this room is
dark. When there is light, it doesn’t require to be enquired, ‘Is
it light?‘
You personally perceive it is light. Just like you are hungry and
foodstuff is given to you and when your hunger is satisfied, appetite
is appeased, then you naturally you feel, ‘Yes,
I am satisfied.’
You don’t require to enquire [from] anyone. Therefore it is called
self-realization. Automatically you realize.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.1.1 on February 21, 1975 in Caracas:
“Krishna,
or God, says that ‘I am expanded in My impersonal form everywhere.
Everything is existing on account of Me. But still, I am not
everything.’ Just like God has expanded in this microphone. The
microphone is also expansion of God’s energy, but that does not
mean we have to worship the microphone. So God has got that power,
that although He has expanded Himself in His impersonal form
everywhere, still, He has got His original existence. A small example
can be given in this connection. Just like a father. He has given
birth to hundreds of children. That does not mean the father is
finished. These children is expansion of the father, but father keeps
himself as father. So in this way He is Vasudeva, means He is present
everywhere. He says in the Bhagavad-gita,
sarvatah pani-padam tat:
‘He
has got His hands and legs and eyes everywhere.’
Because the part and parcel expansion of God, either vishnu-tattva
or jiva-tattva,
they are everywhere.”
“Bhagavata
says, sa
vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje:
[Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.2.6] ‘That is first-class religion which helps one to love God.’
So we are propagating teaching people how to love God. That is our
mission. We don’t say that you become Christian or Hindu or Muslim
or . . . , no. You become a lover of God. So comparatively, the
process which we are recommending, that is the easiest process. That
is admitted by one priest in Boston. He said that ‘These boys and
girls are our countrymen or our boys. Before this movement, they did
not come to the church, and now how they are mad after God?’ So
therefore this is the easiest process, to become pure and go back to
home, back to Godhead.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.2.28, purport:
“Not
being disturbed by the Lord’s various features, one should
concentrate upon and worship the Supreme Lord (mam
ekam saranam vraja).
This should be the guiding principle of one’s life.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita,
Antya 8.93 and 8.95:
“Because
of His full independence, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sometimes behaved
like a common man and sometimes manifested His godly opulence.”
“Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu behaved exactly like the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, beyond the restriction of anyone’s intelligence. He did
whatever He liked, but all His activities were very beautiful.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
11:
“In
the Mahabharata,
Draupadi says, ‘My dear Govinda, Your promise is that Your devotee
can never be vanquished. I believe in that statement, and therefore
in all kinds of tribulations I simply remember Your promise, and thus
I live.’ The purport is that Draupadi and her five husbands, the
Pandavas, were put into severe tribulations by their cousin-brother
Duryodhana, as well as by others. The tribulations were so severe
that even Bhismadeva, who was both a lifelong brahmacari
and a great warrior, would sometimes shed tears thinking of them. He
was always surprised that although the Pandavas were so righteous and
Draupadi was practically the goddess of fortune, and although Krishna
was their friend, still they had to undergo such severe tribulations.
Though their tribulations were not ordinary, Draupadi was not
discouraged. She knew that because Krishna was their friend,
ultimately they would be saved.”
“In
the Skanda
Purana
there is another statement about tulasi,
as follows: ‘Tulasi
is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching,
simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before,
simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, there is
always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the tulasi
tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha
world.’”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.15.33 in Los Angeles on December 11, 1973:
“Why
not experimental knowledge now? If you say that life is generated
from matter . . . You are writing so many books and getting Nobel
Prize. Why not by experimental knowledge prove that ‘Here are some
matters and chemicals and here is life’? That they say, ‘We are
trying.’ This is their escape. But actually, science means two
things: observation and experiment. If you do not experiment
practically in the laboratory, simply observation is not sufficient.
That is not science. That is theory.”
“Ekanta-bhakti
means unalloyed devotion. This is the secret of devotional life. Even
God is not physically present, a devotee can be very much exalted by
devotional service. That is the teaching of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.”
“Just
like Gosvamis. They were living at Vrndavana. And what sort of
living? Simply in separation and search. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also
taught us like that. He was searching, ‘Where is Krishna? Where is
Krishna?’ and feeling separation. Just like you feel sometimes with
your lover separation and you search, this is our process. Always
feel separation from Krishna and try to search out. This is ekanta.”
“So
it is the question of advancement. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His
followers taught us that if you feel separation . . . . How you will
feel separation unless you love? And you simply worship the Supreme
in a feeling of separation, then that is perfection.”
“They
[The Six Goswamis] were ministers. Their associates were very big,
big men. . . . Because they were minister, everyone used to come to
see, and they were associated with. But they gave up. . . . How it
was given up? . . . ‘Oh, it insignificant. What is this?’ . . .
Why? Why they gave it up? . . . Under the instruction of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, they understood that ‘So many mass of people are
suffering without Krishna consciousness. So we have to do something
for them.’ Therefore they gave up.”
“If
you become so much dependent on the bodily necessities of life, then
you cannot become fully and wholly for the benefit of the mass of
people.”
“We
claim, ‘This is my hand.’ Actually this is not my hand. It is
Krishna’s hand. Krishna has given me to use it. . . . Just like my
hand is utilized for my benefit. I am not using this hand for your
benefit. This is natural. My hands, my legs, my eyes, are used for my
purpose. So if it is actually Krishna’s hand, how it can be used
for your purpose? So when you learn this science, that ‘This hand,
I am claiming, it is not my hand; it is Krishna’s hand. It should
be utilized for Krishna,’ that is Krishna consciousness. That is
Krishna consciousness.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.7.19:
“Let
me become a sincere servant of the devotees, because by serving them
one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of
the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material
conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
12:
“The
importance of chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is very
strongly stressed in the Second Canto, First Chapter, verse 11, of
Srimad-Bhagavatam
in the following way. Sukadeva Gosvami tells Maharaja Pariksit, ‘My
dear King, if one is spontaneously attached to the chanting of the
Hare Krishna maha-mantra,
it is to be understood that he has attained the highest perfectional
stage.’”
“The
same thing is confirmed in the Adi
Purana
by Krishna. While addressing Arjuna He says, ‘Anyone who is engaged
in chanting My transcendental name must be considered to be always
associating with Me. And I may tell you frankly that for such a
devotee I become easily purchased.’”
“One
should, therefore, be encouraged to develop his service attitude
toward the Lord, because this will help him to chant without any
offense. And so, under the guidance of a spiritual master, the
disciple is trained to render service and at the same time chant the
Hare Krishna mantra. As soon as one develops his spontaneous service
attitude, he can immediately understand the transcendental nature of
the holy names of the maha-mantra.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.15.34
in
Los
Angeles on December 12, 1973:
“Devotee
means who accepts the Supreme Lord as the supreme controller and
accepts himself as subordinate. This is devotee. . . . Actually, we
are subordinate to the laws of nature, and the nature is being
manipulated by the Lord, therefore, ultimately we are subordinate to
the Supreme Lord. God is great; everyone knows it. But I am not
great; I am subordinate. Acceptance of this philosophy means . . .
godly conscious or Krishna conscious.”
“Why
we have opened this society? I could have initiated, and let him
remain at his home. No. The society required. So by association we
become good or bad. If you associate with goodness, then you acquire
goodness quality, and if you associate with bad, passionate,
ignorant, then you get that quality.”
“What
is the difference between a demon and devotee? A demon is puffed up.
That’s all. Falsely. That is demon. And a devotee is submissive,
meek and mild. This is the difference. . . . We go, ‘My dear sir,
we have got these books to understand Krishna, the Supreme Lord. So
you kindly read this book. You will be benefited.’ ‘Ah, what is
God? Who is God? I am God.’ This is demonism. And demigod or a
devotee means ‘Oh, here is a book, something about God, Krishna.
All right, let me read it.’ That is the difference.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.2.35,
purport:
“The
appearance of Krishna is the answer to all imaginative iconography of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone imagines the form of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead according to his mode of material
nature. In the Brahma-samhita
it is said that the Lord is the oldest person. Therefore a section of
religionists imagine that God must be very old, and therefore they
depict a form of the Lord like a very old man. But in the same
Brahma-samhita,
that is contradicted; although He is the oldest of all living
entities, He has His eternal form as a fresh youth.”
“When
Krishna came, He was actually present on the Battlefield of
Kuruksetra, and everyone saw Him. But not everyone could understand
that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, everyone who
died in His presence attained complete liberation from material
bondage and was transferred to the spiritual world.”
“One
should have the common sense to ask why, if Krishna or Rama were
fictitious, stalwart scholars like Sridhara Svami, Rupa Gosvami,
Sanatana Gosvami, Viraraghava, Vijayadhvaja, Vallabhacarya and many
other recognized acaryas
would have spent so much time to write about Krishna in notes and
commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.2.36,
purport:
“In
the material world there is a difference between form and name. The
mango fruit is different from the name of the mango. One cannot taste
the mango fruit simply by chanting, ‘Mango, mango, mango.’ But
the devotee who knows that there is no difference between the name
and the form of the Lord chants Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and
realizes that he is always in Krishna’s company.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
13:
“Rupa
Gosvami has stated that five kinds of devotional activities—namely
residing in Mathura, worshiping the Deity of the Lord, reciting
Srimad-Bhagavatam,
serving a devotee and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra—are so
potent that a small attachment for any one of these five items can
arouse devotional ecstasy even in a neophyte.”
“In
the Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter, verse 9, of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
the Lord Himself says, ‘One should execute the prescribed duties of
varna
and asrama
as long as he has not developed spontaneous attachment for hearing
about My pastimes and activities.’”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
14:
“Devotional
service is dependent on nothing other than the sentiment or desire
for such service. It requires nothing more than sincerity. . . .
Actually, Krishna consciousness—devotional service itself—is the
only way of advancing in devotional life. Devotional service is
absolute; it is both the cause and the effect. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead is the cause and effect of all that be, and to
approach Him, the Absolute, the process of devotional service—which
is also absolute—has to be adopted.”
“Mental
speculators neglect the process of devotional service, and by simply
trying to defeat others in philosophical research they fail to
develop the ecstasy of devotion.”
“If
we are unable to execute all the different items of devotional
service, we must try to execute at least one of them, as exemplified
by previous acaryas.
. . . With the first complete engagement, one becomes automatically
detached from material contamination, and liberation becomes the
maidservant of the devotee.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.1.2
on February 23, 1975, in Caracas:
“So
we have scattered our love for so many things in the material world.
We have to collect everything and transfer everything for loving God.
That is successful life. So if we think of God, then how we become
purified, and next we become transferred to the kingdom of God. And
if we think of material things, then again we shall be transferred to
another material body.”
“This
Krishna consciousness movement is for educating people how to think
of God constantly. And if we practice like that, then, after giving
up this body, we are going to get a body which is exactly like God.
This body is called sac-cid-ananda.
Sat
means eternal, cit
means full of knowledge, and ananda
means full of bliss. This body, this material body, is just the
opposite number. It is neither eternal, neither full of knowledge,
neither full of bliss.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.1.2,
purport:
“In
the material world there is keen competition between animal and
animal, man and man, community and community, nation and nation. But
the devotees of the Lord rise above such competitions. They do not
compete with the materialist because they are on the path back to
Godhead where life is eternal and blissful. Such transcendentalists
are nonenvious and pure in heart. In the material world, everyone is
envious of everyone else, and therefore there is competition. But the
transcendental devotees of the Lord are not only free from material
envy, but are well-wishers to everyone, and they strive to establish
a competitionless society with God in the center.”
Varsana
Swami:
Satsvarupa
Maharaja wrote to Srila Prabhupada about his plans for preaching, and
Srila Prabhupada wrote him back that there is no point in preaching
if we cannot properly maintain the devotees we already have. He used
the analogy of boiling milk.
Srila
Prabhupada was so grateful for any assistance. He would said, “You
are representatives of my Guru Maharaja.”
The
sweetness of the loving relationships in Gaudiya Vaishnavism comes
from the mood in Vrindavan.
Krishna
is irrestibly attracted to stealing butter, which comes from cream,
the essence of milk.
Why
does Krishna steal the neighbor’s butter? They want him to.
Why
does Krishna feed butter to the monkeys? To reciprocate with the
monkeys who assisted Him in Rama-lila.
Krishna,
stealing Radharani’s heart and halo, came as Lord Caitanya.
Lord
Caitanya came to relish loving relationships. It was all Ramananda
Raya could do to keep Lord Caitanya in this world.
The
Six Goswamis developed a sadhana
[practice]
by
which anyone can enter into these sweet pastimes of Krishna.
Mercy
is superior to justice, and grace is even superior to mercy, because
it compensates for deficiencies.
We
are all seeking eternal bliss [nityananda]
because we are part of Krishna.
Narottama
began writing his songs before he and the other devotees knew that
the lost books of the Goswamis would be recovered thus the songs
contain the essence of those books.
“Be
bold, be fearless, we are all with you,” the Pancatattva and their
associates told Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura when he began his
preaching work.
Rtadhvaja
Swami:
The
chanting of the holy names is the way to awaken our love of God.
The
holy name is like an antibiotic against karma.
The
Lord’s prayer mentions the name of God is holy and concludes “Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
God
loves us. He never abandons us.
The
simple understanding ‘I
am not my body’
breaks down boundaries caused by racism, sectarian religion, etc.
In
the 1960s, we were not going to serve anyone, but we still had to
service our bodies.
Adikarta
Prabhu:
This
chanting is the most powerful way of freeing ourselves from anxiety.
In
this age, people are so disturbed by a variety of anxieties, they
need a simple way of self-realization.
This
society is very shallow as it teaches us to make plans simply for our
physical existence.
Everyone
is living an artificial life, and therefore, it makes sense that
sensitive people would be in anxiety.
If
you are in prison and you do not consider what put you there and how
you can avoid imprisonment again, you are not very intelligent.
Similarly, it is not intelligent to fail to consider how we came into
this material world.
I
have been chanting 45 years. I used to listen to all this pop music,
but it was truly meaningless.
The
average person spends five years on the cell phone.
India
has the highest percentage of vegetarians: 40%.
I
think Krishna allowed man to create technology because it can be used
to spread Krishna consciousness widely throughout the world.
The
material world is a miserable place, and the best way to escape it is
to hear the beautiful Vedic literature.
From
a conversation on the campus of University of North Florida:
Q
(by me): How is it that you are so successful on book distribution?
A:
I never take “no” for an answer.
Akhandadhi
Prabhu:
From
a meeting of Bhaktivedanta Institute of Gainesville:
Padasevanam
was by training a graphic artist, and his design for the Temple of
the Vedic Planetarium was striking. All the GBC members were very
impressed with it.
Alan
Baxter, an expert on the St. Peter Cathedral’s dome, was called in
for input.
We
had experts in acoustics called in for the TOVP to make sure the
kirtans would sound OK.
Gregorian
chants were developed to work with the architecture of the
cathedrals.
“What
are the different messages the different models of the universe are
meant to give us?” is more important than all the details of the
models.
The
four dhamas
convey
the total universal experience.
Inconceivability
is one of our messages, but we have to be careful that it is not our
only message.
Comment
by Murali Gopal Prabhu: Sadaputa Prabhu included inconceivability in
one of the four models of the Bhu-mandala system, but the other
three, the planisphere model, the map of the solar system, and the
map of Central Asia, are all conceivable.
Our
plan for Mayapur was that we start by building faith by presenting
what is conceivable, and we let the inconceivable come later.
The
Vedic approach is very contextual.
The
satellite
map works on a geocentric model.
I
think every devotee has felt the pull of Western materialistic
science on our minds which has made us feel uneasy, and just to know
that there existed someone who was not disturbed by this, namely
Sadaputa Prabhu, was reassuring.
We
wish to organize a conference that asks these questions: What if
consciousness is an irreducible feature of reality? And what if
consciousness is primary?
We
may not be able to win over the die-hard materialists, but we may win
the masses. Most people are schizophrenic, speaking the words of
science, but feeling within that something is missing in that
outlook.
We
cannot convince people of our philosophy using science, but we can
show that it is science consistent.
What
would a nonmechanistic science look like? What can you do to build
this science?
Brahmatirtha
Prabhu:
From
a meeting of Bhaktivedanta Institute of Gainesville:
Mao
Zedong said, “Never attend a meeting you do not know the results
of.”
It
is Sadaputa Prabhu’s fidelity to Srila Prabhupada that brought us
Mysteries
of the Sacred Universe.
Madana
Mohan Prabhu:
Everything
in the Bhagavatam
is
not whimisical but is supported by examples in the whole culture.
Here it is said a brahmana
cannot
act as a sudra
by
accepting wages and working for a master. Canakya Pandit refused to
accept remuneration from the king he was minister for because felt it
would compromise his truthfulness.
Although
we are eternal and blissful, we find ourselves in a material body and
overcome by desire and hate (Bg. 7.27). We are forced to act
helplessly according to our nature (Bg. 3.5), but Krishna has created
the varnasrama
system
(Bg. 4.13), and by worshiping Him, who is the source of all beings
and is all-pervading, one can attain perfection by working according
to his nature (Bg. 18.46).
Our
success in performing our varnasrama
duty
lies in pleasing Krishna (Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.2.13).
A
military man kills so many men and gets a medal, but if he comes home
and kills one man, he is punished. Similarly if we act according to
Krishna’s direction we will attain perfection, otherwise we will be
bound up heavily by our actions.
Everything
is under Krishna’s control. We have a choice to work under the
internal
energy of Krishna or under His external
energy. In other words, we can do it the easy way or the hard way.
After
giving all this knowledge in Bhagavad-gita,
Krishna asks Arjuna to think about it. Do not rush into anything.
Carefully consider the options.
Yudhisthira
says it is the first duty of the leader to consider how his
dependents can be benefited. If one adopts this mentality, Krishna
will give guidance how to do it.
People
work so hard to acquire things, and yet the brahmanas
are
just giving things away. That is a head scratcher for the
materialist.
Greed
is one of those things that completely disturbs one.
Those
who really know about God are not interested in accumulating many
things here.
Prahlada
Maharaja advises discussing “the disadvantages of accumulating
wealth.” How many conversations on the internet do you see about
“the disadvantages of accumulating wealth”?
Once
there was a conversation during Srimad-Bhagavatam
class
about the disadvantages of going to heaven. Where do you ever hear
the disadvantages of going to heaven discussed?
The
psychologists explain three crisis periods in life, at twenty years
old, when one is just out of school and begins working, at forty
years old, when he is dissatisfied, and
he
decides he chose the wrong occupation, and he moves in another
direction, and then at sixty because he decides that was also a wrong
direction and worries he has wasted his life.
Krishna
advises, “Always think of Me. And if you cannot do that, I will
give you something else to do, some regulations, whereby you will
develop the desire.” (Bg. 12.8–9)
The
expert liers are so good they can pass a polygraph test because they
actually believe what they are saying.
Can
we trust Krishna? If I always think of You, will You protect me? That
trust we are developing.
In
the history of ISKCON, not every leader represented Krishna by
properly maintaining those under him, but we should remember that
Krishna is still there.
In
absolute mathematics, whether a number is +5 or -5 is not considered,
just the 5 is considered. In our relationship with Krishna, there may
be happiness or distress, but both can intensify our relationship
with Him.
My
wife went through a lot of endeavor to prepare something to satisfy
our eight-year-old daughter who was a very picky eater. When the food
was placed before her, she did not seem particularly happy about it.
I said to her, “Do you know how much love your mother put into
preparing something just to meet your requirements?” She replied,
“That is her job.” We tend to take Krishna for granted in the
same way instead of feeling gratitude for all He has done for us.
What
is japa?
Krishna is saying, “Let us spend some quality time together. I know
you are very busy, but . . .”
Comment
by Guru Prasada Devi Dasi: A lady who was always busy but just barely
had a enough money, went to consult her priest. The priest suggested
she use half her money in the service of God. She said, “I have so
little money. That is what I came to see you about. How can I give
half to God?” The priest said, “That was just a suggestion. Think
about it, and see what you can do.” She put half aside for God
whenever she got some money, and in a year, she had more money than
she knew what to do with. She wrote a book about it.
Nagaraja
Prabhu:
Dictionaries
both describe and proscribe language, that is, they tell how language
is used and how it should be used.
Devotion
sometimes means to love something and sometimes means to be dedicated
to something for a long time.
Taking
shelter of Krishna sounds more positive than surrendering to Krishna,
but both are the same.
In
Krishna consciousness, at the stage of realization, one cannot be
moved.
Srila
Prabhupada indicates that formerly brahmanas
would
go door to door and offer astrological and medical advice and receive
donations.
You
can find on the internet the layout of Nanda Maharaja’s [Krishna’s
father’s] house. It has many rooms.
Srila
Prabhupada said so many times that the devotees do not need to worry
because Krishna will provide for their needs.
Comment
by Madana Mohan Prabhu: Generally vaisyas
are
envious, and by giving to the brahmanas,
they
are in effect giving away their envy, and because they are becoming
from free from envy they become free from the threefold miseries.
Srila
Prabhupada detected that some of his disciples who were doing life
membership were critical of the wealthy people they met. Srila
Prabhupada did not like that. He saw it as the hippie mentality.
These people have legitimately obtained their wealth and were willing
to offer it in Krishna’s service, and therefore, they should be
respected.
Comments
by me:
Srila
Prabhupada sometimes would explain the difference between Vaishnavas
and brahmanas
by
saying that Brahman has three features, the Brahman effulgence,
Paramatma, and Bhagavan, and a brahmana
may
know the first one or two, but a Vaishnava knows all three.
We
think of brahmanas
as
poor, but Advaita Acarya was a wealthy brahmana.
It
is not that brahmanas
just
receive charity. They also have the duty to give charity.
The
Protestants made bankers out of those who could not be preachers, so
they could support the preachers financially.
Comment
by Mother Madhumati: There was one brahmana
in
Vrindavan who would rise at 4:00 a.m. and rinse his mouth, and chant
till 5:00 p.m. Then he would take a shower, and cook a green papaya,
and offer it to Krishna, and eat it. Then he would chant to 1:00 a.m.
People knew that and would supply green papayas to him.
Krishna
makes sure people have what He feels they need at a particular time,
sometimes giving and sometimes taking away.
Prishni
Devi Dasi:
From
a conversation:
If
hearing one phrase messes up your game, then your game has issues
with it.
Murali
Gopal Prabhu:
From
a class on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s Appearance Day and
Gaura Govinda Maharaja’s Disappearance Day:
Recently
I learned that Bhaktivinoda Thakura
was
well enough to go to the brahmana
versus
vaishnava
discussion,
but because his guru was there, he thought it better that he not go,
so he sent Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura instead.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura was given a car by his disciples. Cars were so rare
at that time it would be today like if your guru descended in a
helicopter or had his own private jet.
If
we feel any gratitude, we can pray today to be able to serve
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura according to our capacity.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura told his Western preachers that the Western people
are very proud, and that in order to preach to them, you must become
humble.
Comment
by Kaliya Damana Prabhu: That diksa
(spiritual
initiation) is important is shown in that Bhaktivinoda Thakura took
initiation even from a caste goswami.
From
an early age Gaura Govinda Swami would go with his uncle to different
towns and do preaching.
When
he learned how to read, Gaura Govinda Swami would read the Bhagavatam
incessantly.
It was his life and soul.
Gaura
Govinda Swami was looking for a guru for many years but was not
inspired by anyone. When he got an ISKCON pamphlet, he noticed it
mentioned the holy name and Lord Caitanya, two things he was looking
for in a guru.
When
Gaura Govinda Swami met Srila Prabhupada he offered prostrated
obeisances at his feet. Srila Prabhupada asked if he had taken
sannyasa,
and
when he replied no, Srila Prabhupada said, “I will give you
sannyasa.”
Very
quickly Srila Prabhupada engaged him in translating his books into
the Orissan language.
Srila
Prabhupada gave him first initiation, second initiation, and sannyasa
within
months of each other.
Outside
India he preached in Spain first. There was a drought there. He said
you have to do yajna
[sacrifice].
So
they did the chanting of the holy name, and it rained like anything.
People were glorifying him for that, but he wanted to leave that
place because he did not want glorification.
He
would make the most advanced topics of bhakti assessible to
neophytes.
Comments
by Kaliya Damana Prabhu:
People
would sit as far away as possible from him because he would hammer on
a particular devotee.
He
saved my life. I was on padayatra
with
him. I was the only one not his disciple. We were in places where
they had never seen a white person. Even the British did not go
there. Our water filter broke. I got diarrhea. I was so sick I told
them to go on without me. I stayed there in a school a couple of
days. I was so sick I thought I would leave my body right there. He
heard I was sick and so he sent his disciples with his personal
limousine to take me back to Bhubhanesvar.
Garuda
Prabhu of Tallahassee:
We
need more beads here in the temple because chanting on them is such
important part of Krishna consciousness. I am going to donate $20
right now [he pulls out a $20 bill and holds it up], and I am asking,
would anyone would like to match my donation? [Five people raised
their hands and thus $120 was collected for tulasi
japa beads
within two minutes.]
At
a certain point we come to realize
that we have to chant just to be happy inside.
In
Bhagavad-gita
2.44, Krishna is trying to inspire us to come to a higher level.
In
the spiritual world, that is where the big party is going on. That is
where all the joy and bliss are.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura speaks of another kind of pure devotee, one with pure
intentions.
Pure
intentioned souls have these four qualities beginning with “H”:
Humble, happy, helpful and honest.
The
Sudharma assembly hall in Dvaraka was so exalted that people who were
crippled found their limbs functioned properly while they were there.
They
say that if you pray for patience, God makes you wait.
The
monkey assistants of Lord Rama were advised to observe Vijaya Ekadasi
to be victorious and so they did and they were.
The
king, his minister, and the beautiful princess came to visit a dying
man, and although the king and his minister were the most important
people in the kingdom, the dying man could not take his eyes off the
princess.
The
more we take the instruction of those ahead of us on the path, the
more we become connected with the Supersoul within.
To
advance it is important to understand which of the nine stages of
bhakti
we are at.
In
the association of devotees we get caught in the crossfire of pure
bhakti.
Anartha-nivrtti
is
automatic. When you become attached to Krishna, these unwanted
things
go away.
If
we get opulence we can use it in Krishna’s service, but if we
struggle working so many hours overtime to acquire and maintain
opulence, that is not favorable for devotional service.
When
Krishna gives us opulence, He is looking to see how trustworthy we
are.
Comments
by me:
Prasakta
means
too attached. Some attachment is natural because we have body
composed of senses which require some satisfaction.
But
when the attachment gets in the way of our devotional service, that
is too much attachment.
Visvanatha
Cakravati Thakura says at nistha
the
pull of the spiritual and material energies on us is equal.
Here
is some nectar about
Isvara Puri as
his
disappearance day is
today:
CC
Adi 7.92
— [Lord Caitanya said:] “[Isvara Puri said:] ‘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.’
CC
Adi 7.93
— “Saying this, My spiritual master taught Me a verse from
Srimad-Bhagavatam.
It is the essence of all the Bhagavatam’s
instructions; therefore he recited this verse again and again.
CC
Adi 7.94
— “‘When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in
chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is
agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries,
becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for
outsiders.’
CC
Adi 7.95-96
— “I firmly believe in these words of My spiritual master, and
therefore I always chant the holy name of the Lord, alone and in the
association of devotees. That holy name of Lord Krishna sometimes
causes Me to chant and dance, and therefore I chant and dance. Please
do not think that I intentionally do it. I do it automatically.”
Jagannatha
Misra Prabhu:
From
The
Book III:
“After
all, one’s faith defines his fate. Faith is either in Krishna and
His spiritual energy, or dictated by the 3 modes of nature. It is
that simple.”
Nama
Kirtan Prabhu:
From
a conversation with an employee:
We
should not ask God for an easy life but for the strength to handle
difficulties.
Hanan
Prabhu:
During
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s time, one brahmacari
associated
too much with a woman, and the other devotees were so hard on him, he
left the ashram. When Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura returned for
the opening ceremony for the new temple and found out the brahmacari
had
left, he was upset and delayed the opening until he returned. His
feeling was, “I do not care for big temples or big programs. I am
concerned that a person who has come to the shelter of the devotees
has now left.” The brahmacari
who
had left later said to the devotees who ultimately found him, “I
was praying to Krishna that I wanted come back to the temple, but I
was ashamed.”
-----
Here
Lord Krishna reminds us not to become attached to things that
distract us from Him. We are so materially attached such reminders
are frequently necessary. The more we are absorbed in Krishna, the
more we taste the transcendental bliss of His association, which
Krishna knows is more relishable for us than the material things we
are foolishly attached to and are reluctant to give up, and so He
reminds us of
this truth,
and so I am also reminding you!
bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam
tayapahrita-cetasam
vyavasayatmika
buddhih
samadhau
na vidhiyate
“In
the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and
material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the
resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord
does not take place.” (Bhagavad-gita
2.44)
