Travel Journal#14.7: North Florida, Albany, Philadelphia, DC, NYC

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 14, No. 7 

By Krishna-kripa das 

(April 2018, part one) 

North Florida, Albany, Philadelphia, DC, and NYC 

(Sent from Newcastle-upon-Tyne on April 21, 2018)

Where I Went and What I Did

I chanted at Lake Ella in Tallahassee on April 1 and at the Florida State University campus the next five days. The evening of the last day, we also chanted at First Friday at Tallahassee’s Railroad Square Art Park, where Nama Kirtana Prabhu distributed a Krishna dinner. Saturday was the Tallahassee Ratha-yatra during the day and harinama by the bars across from the University of Florida in Gainesville in the evening. Sunday I heard Adikarta Prabhu lead the Sunday feast kirtan in Alachua. Monday I made kofta balls for my sister’s birthday in Albany, New York. Tuesday I talked about the joy of harinama with Bhakin Kate Keen at the Bhakti Garden in Philadelphia, where she hopes to increase harinama. The next three days I chanted Hare Krishna with Sankarsana Prabhu in front of the National History Museum in Washington, D.C., twice accompanied by Gurudas Prabhu. Saturday I gave the morning class at The Bhakti Center in New York City, and I chanted for at least three hours at Union Square before flying out of Newburgh airport to Dublin in the evening.

I share notes on recorded talks by Srila Prabhupada. I include many insights from Adikarta Prabhu’s lifetime of teaching Krishna consciousness which he shared in Tallahassee and notes on a Sunday feast lecture in Alachua by Nagaraja Prabhu. I share notes on lectures by Manorama Krishna Prabhu in Potomac and Dina Dayal Prabhu in Dublin. I also include notes on a devotee discussion in Potomac, and a quote from a letter to the editor my sister wrote regarding the popular issue of gun control in the USA.

Many, many thanks to Gurudas Prabhu, disciple of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, who helps a lot on his book production, for his very liberal donation to my travels. Thanks also to Victor Anderson, my sister’s partner and former Buddhist monk who has really helped take care of her during her recovery from an ankle operation, for again as usual contributing to my existence. Thanks to Sasha, supporter of the Yuga Dharma NYC harinama party and the 26 Second Avenue Bhagavad-gita class, for his kind donation. Many, many thanks to Pundarik Prabhu of Tallahassee for repairing my harmonium and Nama Kirtan Prabhu for donating for the labor. Thanks also to Ananda Sankirtana of the Yuga Dharma NYC party for printing documents and securing my mail. Thanks to Bhakta Josh and Natabara Gauranga Prabhus for letting me use a spare Yuga Dharma NYC iPhone, which is surprisingly handy, for the summer. Thanks to my sister, Karen, for her photos of our kofta party. Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for his jazzed up photo of me. Thanks to Redbubble for the T-shirt photo.

Itinerary

April 19–23: Newcastle-upon-Tyne

April 24: Edinburgh

April 25: London

April 26: Radhadesh

April 27: Amsterdam (King’s Day)

April 28: Radhadesh (Nrsimha Caturdasi)

April 29–May 1: Antwerp

May 2–3: Brussels

May 4: London

May 5–6: Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan

May 7: Newcastle-upon-Tyne

May 8: Edinburgh

May 9: Edinburgh and Newcastle-upon-Tyne

May 10: Sheffield

May 11–12: Leeds

May 13: Manchester

May 14: London

May 15–July 22?: Paris

July 24–27?: Vaishnava Summer Festival in Lithuania

July 28–30: Berlin Ratha-yatra and harinamas

July 31–August 4: Polish Woodstock

August 5: Berlin

August 6: Dublin

August 7–13: Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada

August 14–15: Montreal harinama with Ekalavya Prabhu

August 16–September 2: North UK

September 3–28: Mayapur

September 29: Newcastle

September 30: Dublin

October 1–January 5, 2019: New York City Yuga Dharma Harinama Party

Notes on Jayapataka Swami Vyasa Puja Program in Tallahassee

Satyaraj Govinda Prabhu, a disciple of Jayapataka Swami, who is enthusiastic about cultivating members of the Indian community in Tallahassee, organized a program in honor of his guru’s Vyasa Puja celebration, which had occurred a few days before.

From introduction by Satyaraj Govinda Prabhu:

Jayapataka Swami said to a lamenting disciple, “I have doubled my lectures and initiations since my stroke, so you do not need to lament for me.”

Notes on video about Jayapataka Swami:

Srinathji Prabhu: My father was in the government, and Srila Prabhupada requested him to make Jayapataka Swami an Indian citizen. My father was doubtful, but Srila Prabhupada said, “This young man is an original associate of Lord Caitanya. He will preach in the Bengali language and have 10,000 Indian disciples.”

In 1970 Jayapataka Swami organized a pandal program in Calcutta and 30,000 people attended, pleasing Srila Prabhupada very much.

He learned Bengali from local farmers.

He won the Guinness record for most traveled person in a year.

From a lecture in the video:

The guru comes, appearing as another classmate or another citizen, but because of his connection to Krishna, he can completely change your destiny.

Chanting Hare Krishna at Florida State University in Tallahassee

One long-haired male student riding a bicycle stopped by my book table as I was playing harmonium and chanting Hare Krishna. He asked if I could play “I Me Mine.”

I said that actually I know very few other songs besides Hare Krishna. I added that I was thinking of learning “My Sweet Lord” for those times when someone asked me to play another song. He told me he was just practicing “My Sweet Lord” on his guitar. I invited him to the FSU Krishna Lunch, and he told me he goes all the time. “I like the music they play,” he said. “They always play that album that George Harrison made with the monks from London.” I told him that album was my first encounter with Hare Krishna. I heard it when I was in college back in 1978. It is wonderful to see that George Harrison is connecting people with Krishna even now.

The last day I chanted on the campus was special. More people stopped to talk, and more of them were interested in hearing about our programs or philosophy. Toward the end one student bought a hardbound Bhagavad-gita for $10, which had only happened once before during this semester. It seems that Krishna always makes the last day better than usual, as if to inspire me to return.

I would chant on the campus for three hours each day, but one day each week, usually Monday, I would chant at the Krishna Lunch.

Here one happy young lady wears Gaura-Nitai’s garland from the previous day’s Sunday feast program.

Adikarta Prabhu distributed books to students for several hours each day the last week I was in Tallahassee. Sometimes he was especially successful.

This fortunate girl purchased three books from Adikarta Prabhu.

Chanting Hare Krishna at the Tallahassee Temple

It was great to have Adikarta Prabhu’s association for the first week of April in Tallahassee.

Here Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna tunes before the Tuesday evening Bhagavad-gita class in Tallahassee and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/HYauKLsdvgU):

Bhaktin Aris chants Hare Krishna at the Tallahassee morning program (https://youtu.be/4ZTolbpaPbs):

Adikarta Prabhu and Aris chant Hare Krishna, and two guests play instruments. The djembe player, having come to the Sunday feast after getting a card from Garuda Prabhu, came with a friend, who plays bass, to this Wednesday evening two-hour kirtan in Tallahassee (https://youtu.be/132hc9CvL-8):

Bhaktin Aris chants Hare Krishna at the Wednesday evening two-hour kirtan (https://youtu.be/oidxQlZyutE):

Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Tallahassee morning program (https://youtu.be/SOV0lEBUd8c):

Chanting Hare Krishna at First Friday in Tallahassee

The best part of our First Friday chanting program was that many passersby took part in playing the instruments with us, thus rendering service to the Lord in that way and also hearing the all-auspicious Hare Krishna mantra for longer than they otherwise would.

I chanted Hare Krishna at First Friday in Tallahassee with Moka singing the response. Wes, a student at FSU who comes to Krishna Lunch, played drum, and three kids played shakers, with the girl also doing a nice dance (https://youtu.be/eidkF-OdM2A):

Bhaktin Aris chanted Hare Krishna at First Friday, and two girls played shakers and danced, the one who began dancing first donating three quarters and later on, two more quarters, for which we gave her a small book and a “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlet. The parents were friendly Christians and gave $20 to Adikarta Prabhu for some of Srila Prabhupada’s books (https://youtu.be/w9HBGrRp5Do):

Bhaktin Aris chanted Hare Krishna at dusk at First Friday (https://youtu.be/xhfBdT692gI):

Bhakta Daniel chanted Hare Krishna at night at First Friday and encouraged a drunk lady to play the instruments (https://youtu.be/9I2BT9LbgWI):

The lady left her purse on our mat when she went to use the bathroom and completely forgot about it, but Daniel tracked her down and returned it. She was so grateful, she gave us half the money she had with her, which amounted to ten dollars, and we gave her a book.

Chanting Hare Krishna Before and After the Tallahassee Ratha-yatra

Our Tallahassee Ratha-yatra is our float in the Springtime Tallahassee parade, always around the end of March or beginning of April each year.

Here Jagi Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna before the Tallahassee Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/x4JV-GDXRY0):

Here Amala Harinam Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after the Tallahassee Ratha-yatra, and many devotees dance (https://youtu.be/cg9wjhKxlnI):

Later Amala Harinam Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna in a Tallahassee car park, which devotees took shelter of to escape the rain while they waited for lunch prasadam after the Ratha-yatra, and many devotees danced (https://youtu.be/8iz86Ap2eqM):

Chanting Hare Krishna by the Bars Near University of Florida

As I was returning from Tallahassee to Gainesville with the Krishna House devotees in their van, I asked what their usual Saturday night program was. They said they usually do harinama. I asked if anyone was up for it. I did not have much hope as they had spent five hours traveling to and from Tallahassee and had already done a Ratha-yatra, but it never hurts to ask. Morgan was really into it. Animesh and Richie agreed, and so did Josh. Thus five of us from the Ratha-yatra party were enthusiastic enough to go on with the evening harinama. Six others from the Krishna House community joined us, and Daryl, who attends our programs, happened to pass by our party and joined us, so we had twelve people for part of the time. I was happily surprised by the enthusiasm of the Krishna House crew, who are mostly, if not all, under thirty. It gives me faith that the public chanting of Hare Krishna will continue after some of us old timers leave this world.

Animesh Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna with the Krishna House devotees by the bars near University of Florida Saturday evening. Several people danced with the devotees (https://youtu.be/lOFRYNSQQsQ):

At the end of the harinama, Animesh led the kirtan again, and one lady inside a bar enjoyed moving with the music (https://youtu.be/PmIo8xefDCY):

Richie Prabhu also chanted Hare Krishna near the bars across from UF. One lady in a bar, seeing that the devotees were obviously having a great time, came out and asked if she could join us, and she happily danced with the devotee ladies for quite awhile. She had never heard of Krishna House or Krishna consciousness before, but she seemed very happy to participate in the kirtan (https://youtu.be/bunNZnhCP0U):

Here is more video of Richie chanting Hare Krishna on that harinama (https://youtu.be/h1hgVzOH7xg):

Chanting Hare Krishna at the Sunday Feast Program in Alachua

Here Adikarta Prabhu, playing the accordion, chants Hare Krishna with friends who he let lead sometimes at the Alachua temple Sunday feast program (https://youtu.be/J8L0Q1- nHqs):

Making Koftas in Albany

I stopped by Albany to see my mother, my sister, Karen, and her partner, Victor. Karen’s birthday was two days before, and I promised to make her spaghetti and kofta balls to celebrate. Victor kindly got me at the airport and suggested we stop at the co-op and get ingredients for dinner on the way home. I only slept 3½ hours the night before and had taken two flights to reach Albany. I hate shopping anyway, and I didn’t have the recipe so I was not very excited about the idea. I turned on data on my phone and searched for Krishna and kofta, and the recipe from The Higher Taste appeared. Victor and I split up the shopping so it was bearable, and he bought me some dried fruit and nuts for the upcoming Ekadasi.

Somehow we all cooperated together so the whole meal was a breeze. 

I made the kofta batter, and Victor made the sauce and cooked the spaghetti. 

Karen rolled the kofta balls.

I cooked the first batches, and Victor cooked the others as I was making the offering to Krishna. While I cook at home, I always play a recording of Madhava chanting Hare Krishna at the Ukraine festival the last year I attended it because it is such a mellow kirtan no one objects to it: http://audio.iskcondesiretree.com/03_-_ISKCON_Prabhujis/ISKCON_Prabhujis_-_K_to_R/His_Grace_Madhav_Prabhu/Bhajans/Madhava_Pr_Bhajans_-_Hare_Krishna_Kirtan_-_2012-09-20_Ukraine.mp3

Because Karen and I were brought up Quakers, we did the standard Quaker grace, sitting in silence, holding hands in a circle, for a few seconds before the meal. I usually say a few Hare Krishna mantras in my mind during the silence.

Karen has to keep her foot up as she is recovering from an ankle operation, so she and my mother held on to her crutch instead of holding hands, as they were sitting at a distance.

Both the sauce and the koftas came out really well, revealing The Higher Taste to have another very reliable recipe. Years ago I made the Gauranga potatoes from The Higher Taste recipe, and it came out perfect the first time.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Philadelphia at the Bhakti Garden

I scheduled my visit to Philadelphia, on my way from Albany to Washington, on Tuesday night as for years they had a program at the Bhakti Garden above Govinda’s in downtown Philly then. As it turned out, that regular program does not exist, but they still have their kirtan program on the first Friday of the month and they also have other programs from time to time. Since Devamrita Swami was speaking the next day, it was unlikely that many people would come to hear me speak, but it never hurts to invite people. As it turned out we had three people for kirtan before the Pancatattva and two people for class, but I am always happy to try to inspire even one person to appreciate more the chanting of the holy name.

Haryasva Prabhu has been talking about selling pizza at his Govinda’s restaurant in Philadelphia for years, and he is finally doing it!

Vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free pizza are available there now, and I had four pieces to keep me going during Ekadasi.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Washington, D.C., by the Natural History Museum

Chanting Hare Krishna in Washington, D.C., in front of the Natural History Museum, especially in April, is certainly an opportunity to share the spiritual sound with young people who would not otherwise be likely to encounter it. People attracted by the chanting that I talked to came from places like Rockville, Ohio, and Brunswick, Georgia, and a couple of others came from Maine. Of course, places like Virginia were more popular. Some kids clapped, some danced, some smiled, and some did a thumbs up gesture of approval. Some accepted lollipops and literature. There was little negativity or mockery.

Sankarsana Prabhu has been chanting in Washington, D.C., for decades, and he is very dedicated to making the sound of the holy name available to the locals and countless tourists there. He sings sweet tunes that one never tires of listening to, and I look forward to joining him for a few days each year.

Besides the spring breaks from school, April is especially crowded in Washington because of the cherry blossoms, a tourist attraction.

You can see lots of people would pass by our chanting party.

Here Sankarsana Prabhu and I chanted Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum, and a small girl enthusiastically did a spontaneous dance, and her mother videoed the whole scene (https://youtu.be/RYHZpExRVoA):

I chanted Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum, and two girls on a field trip with their school danced to the music (https://youtu.be/7alTH9vVDgQ):

Here I chanted Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum, and a few boys danced to the music (https://youtu.be/YZLyFISWQzs):

Here Sankarsana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum, and several boys dance, some taking photos of their friends (https://youtu.be/4WPRIy4sZTo):

Here Sankarsana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. and passersby interact, donating apples and money, accepting literature and lollipops, moving with the music, clapping, and giving the thumbs up gesture of approval (https://youtu.be/xzLMroz21FQ):

Once Gurudas Prabhu, also a disciple of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, encouraged a group of students to chant as well as to move with the music. They were from the Miami area, and I showed one of the more favorable ones (the girl wearing a red hat who is furthest to the right in the video) an invitation to the Miami temple, and she took a picture of it while exclaiming, “That’s just a few blocks from my house.” You can see the end of that encounter in this video (https://youtu.be/YyMYp2G5Zms):

Thanks to Mahotsaha Prabhu of ISKCON DC for taking the part of the video with me in it.

Here Sankarsana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and I dance and distribute pamphlets (https://youtu.be/rlCtNvu-g_E):

Here Sankarsana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum several melodious tunes pleasant to hear (https://youtu.be/ZLW29xjtHTQ):

Here Gurudas Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. (https://youtu.be/add40_cnU6k):

Here I chant Hare Krishna in front of the Natural History Museum, sometimes leading and playing the drum and sometimes singing the response while Sankarsana Prabhu plays his synthesizer (https://youtu.be/Nq5QaOBefu0):

Sankarsana Prabhu is experimenting with chanting Hare Krishna to different popular tunes to capture the attention of passersby in front of the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. This is just one example (https://youtu.be/VJdj2wDX7dc):

Chanting in New York City with the Yuga Dharma NYC Party

[The above photo was jazzed up by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu, a regular on the Yuga Dharma NYC harinama party. If you have Facebook, you can see photos he jazzed up of other members of the party and frequent attenders at https://www.facebook.com/charles.sullivan.31508/media_set?set=a.10157087473819622.1073742019.819559621&type=3.]

It was great to spend a day with my friends from the Yuga Dharma NYC harinama party and The Bhakti Center. Usually I just spend four hours there on my way to Europe for the summer, but people encouraged me to stay the whole day and attend the morning program, and so I may change my program in the future. Chanting in New York City with the Yuga Dharma NYC party was wonderful. The weather was excellent, sunny and in the 70ºs F (20ºs C), and because it was Saturday, we began harinama at 11:30 a.m. instead of 1:30 p.m. to take advantage of all the extra people at Union Square for the Greenmarket. Navina Nirada Prabhu was visiting for a week, and it was inspiring to see his absorption in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. The devotees let me lead for two half-hour blocks, and it was most rewarding for me to see the book distributors selling books to those who had stopped to listen to the chanting.

I also manned the book table and was able to encourage some people to get books.

I took videos of almost all those who chanted before I left at 4:20 p.m. except myself.

Braja-raja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/dlqBaG4ByNg):

Abhaya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/qYNAbgDncQQ):

Krishna Prasad Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/EoijTpNx0L0):

Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/G0o4mYgm8LE):

I flew out of Stewart Airport in Newburgh for the first time as Norwegian Airlines has some really budget flights to Dublin and a few European destinations from there. Hari, son of Mayapur Chandra Prabhu, whose family runs an Ayurvedic clinic and a vegetarian restaurant and catering business (http://www.nimaisbliss.kitchen/) in Newburgh and another employee kindly picked me up at the Beacon train station and drove to the airport twenty minutes away. Hari, who reads my blog, remembered me from seeing me on the Polish Woodstock twice, and it was nice to connect with him.

Photo with a Message

While on the Florida State University campus, I saw several times students with the T-shirt saying “Respect Existence or Expect Resistance.” It reminded me of how the law of karma works: whatever violence you do comes back upon you. Also Sri Isopansad (1–2) makes the point: “Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong. One may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.”

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From a recorded talk:

Not that we have to live in a palace and then we can chant.

From a conversation:

One disciple commented that psychology is very popular in the schools, and 80% of the students take a course in it. When asked why they take classes in psychology, they say that they want to find our more about themselves. Thus it seems in the west psychology is the closest thing to self-realization.

One disciple mentioned that at one university they had to put glass around the tower to keep students from jumping off of it.

One disciple mentioned that some psychologists, although still having a bodily concept speak of transcendence as the goal.

Disciple: Some scientists admit their knowledge is relative, and there could be something much greater than they presently know.

Srila Prabhupada: There is, rascal, but you do not take it. That is Bhagavad-gita.

Adikarta Prabhu:

Most people’s only goal is to enjoy their bodies, but that is just like an animal.

It is inconceivable that people can give up devotional service after ten or twenty years of practice, but it happens, and it is because they still have some unfulfilled material desires.

Actually anyone who even tries to be Krishna conscious is very rare and should be respected.

I spend my whole time trying to find people who are completely serious about spiritual life, but it is very difficult. You find people who seem like they are really into it, and who may be for awhile, but many of them do not last.

Even if the Vedas were imaginary, still the person who came up with them would have be glorified as supremely intelligent.

We have to be very serious to read Srila Prabhupada’s books because that is how we learn about Krishna.

We can understand the mood of acaryas [spiritual teachers] by reading their books.

Lord Jesus never wrote any books, nor were his conversations recorded. We are so fortunate that Srila Prabhupada left us so many books and recorded lectures and conversations.

We see through the scripture because we are lost, identifying ourselves with our material bodies.

When we read this literature, we understand what a real devotee is, and we are reminded of how fallen we are, so we can be motivated to advance.

The wealthiest man in England is Indian.

Formerly kings used the wealth they gained in conquering other kingdoms to glorify God. Now leaders use it for their own sense gratification.

In society people have to work hard to attain modern so-called conveniences, and it is difficult to live simply.

In Krishna consciousness we are so satisfied from our spiritual practice that we do not need to pursue material pleasures. This is a far cry from our modern civilization in which almost all activity is aimed at sense gratification.

We should not be surprised that not many people are coming to the temple because people have come to the material world to forget God.

In the USA 6% of the world’s population uses about 45% of the world’s resources.

We have to be careful to use all our time in Krishna consciousness, otherwise we will act in material consciousness.

Many devotees realize that material consciousness is a dead end, but unless they are fixed in their spiritual practice, they will not attain Krishna.

Our dedication to our spiritual practice must be there. We may have to have a job and a house, etc., but our dedication to our spiritual practice must always be there.

Krishna comes here to tell us how to get back to the spiritual world.

We should always aspire to be better devotees. If we do, Krishna will help us. It is hard, but if we are enthusiastic and determined, it is possible.

This knowledge is available for everyone, but it is the most secret of all secrets because people do not have the intelligence to pursue it.

Comment by Nama Kirtan Prabhu: Universities now are like corporations which get as many students as possible and put them in debt, paying off student loans for years, while the universities make money on the interest.

Anyone who is serious about Krishna consciousness should do service for the cows.

Maharaja means great king. A sannyasi is a great king because he can control the senses, and that is a great accomplishment.

Formerly girls would get married before puberty because at puberty sex desire is very uncontrolled.

I was reading an article that was saying that although Indian girls wear blue jeans and shorts and go to parties, they still largely avoid illicit sex and accept arranged marriages.

If women do not have children when they are young and breastfeed them, they have a higher incidence of breast cancer. In the cities in India breast cancer is increasing although formerly in the villages it was practically unheard of.

The Western intellectuals tend to be atheists because the example of religion they are aware of is Christianity, which they have seen to have so many faults in its teachings and practice in the course of history.

You cannot ascertain your varna by yourself. Traditionally the guru would tell you.

You just have to do your own duty, and if you try to do someone else’s you will probably make a mess of it.

Srila Prabhupada wanted brahmanas with good qualities to inspire others.

The varnasrama system benefits all living beings because they are all ultimately engaged in the service of the Lord.

The enjoyment people pursue in this world all has strings attached – karma.

We do not how far our karma goes back.

We cannot tell how much karma we have left.

We also cannot tell why Krishna does a particular thing.

Lord Brahma must have felt really bad after having stolen Krishna’s boyfriends or else he would have not spoken such a verse as “my dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.”

Whatever happens to us, we have to remember that actually Krishna is our friend. Krishna is very friendly toward all living entities. Although Putana approached Krishna to kill Him, Krishna accepted her offering of milk and elevated her to the spiritual world.

Kubja was Surpanakha in her previous life.

Krishna cannot do anything bad. He can only do good.

Jayapataka Swami, although having severe physical challenges, has a mind that is as sharp as ever, and according to Bhakti Charu Swami, he points out discrepancies at the GBC meetings in their following of the proper meeting protocol.

Nagaraja Prabhu:

Srila Prabhupada would often divide the world into two classes, the materialists and the transcendentalists. The materialists, even though they may have some conception of God, are focused on being happy in this world, and the transcendentalists, often called mystics in the west, want to experience God.

I like Srila Prabhupada’s analogy of the train to explain the levels of transcendental realization. The train from a distance appears as a light, as it comes closer you see it is made of metal and makes noise. When it is right up close you can see so many people and so much variety. Seeing the light of the train is compared to Brahman, seeing it closer is compared to the Supersoul, and seeing the train with all its variety of activity is compared to Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

All three phases of Brahman are pleasurable because in all cases one is contacting Krishna.

Realizing Brahman, you are joyful because you do not have to die anymore.

As you cannot get close to celebrities without their permission, similarly you need God’s sanction to come close to Him.

The source of the Brahman which is so amazing and the Paramatma who is so amazing is Krishna. How amazing must Krishna be!

Srila Prabhupada has convinced us that Krishna exists.

He is akhila-rasamrita-murti, the complete form of pleasurable spiritual tastes.

Although there are a lot a problems with relationships, still we seek and find happiness in relationships.

Relationships are disappointing in this material world because of its very nature as temporary.

The impersonalists teach, “You are God, but you have forgotten somehow.” We think this is ludicrous.

Why did God create me? I did not ask to be born. These are expressions of frustration in this world.

It is more enjoyable to serve God than to be God, thus Krishna comes as a devotee to experience that.

The devotees are described to be containers of love for Krishna. Krishna wants to see what is it like to be the container of that love.

Srila Prabhupada points out the absurdity of desiring to become God or merge into God by comparing it to a child wanting to return to its mother’s womb.

Realizing Brahman is insecure compared to being situated in devotional service to Krishna. It is like standing on a rock instead of standing on the earth. You can fall off a rock, but you are not going to fall off the earth.

We depend on Krishna, whether we are materialists or transcendentalists, therefore we might as well just worship Krishna.

Q: What is meant that everyone is on Krishna’s path?

A: Srila Prabhupada first breaks it down into the different kinds of transcendentalists and shows how each of them is on Krishna’s path. Then he explains how the different results of the materialists are rewarded by Krishna.

Comment by me: Just because we are on Krishna’s path does not mean we are going toward Krishna. We might be going away from Krishna. It is said Krishna engages people in pious activities so they can go to heaven and in sinful activities so they can go to hell.

Amsa-visesa avatar is an incarnation of a part of Radharani.

The Lord does not only want to only taste sweetness but other tastes as well. Thus He appreciates anger also, when it springs from pure devotion.

Once Lord Jagannatha would not move, even when two hundred people tried to lift Him. The head priest came out and chastised the Lord, and then just two people could pick Him up.

Manoram Krishna Prabhu from ISKCON DC:

As the children get the qualities of the parents, the disciples get the qualities of the guru, and the gopis get the qualities of their leader, Radharani.

In Dvaraka, Rukmini and Satyabhama think that the gopis have what they do not have. The queens wanted to worship them, considering them as superior devotees. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but in His dreams He speaks of the gopis. How great they must be!

Radharani is called Hema Gaurangi. Hema means liquid, and thus Radharani has the complexion of liquid gold.

A drop of hot milk spilled on Krishna, and Satyabhama noticed it made a red spot. Later when Satyabhauma saw Radharani, she noticed on Radharani’s beautifully effulgent body there was also a spot of red. Thus she came to realize the nondifference of Radha and Krishna.

Satyabhama said to Radharani in glorification, “Krishna is with us physically, but He is with You mentally.”

It is said Radharani appeared from the left shoulder of Lord Krishna. It is said one meaning of “Radha” comes from “ra” meaning immediately and “dha” refers to “dhavati” meaning running.

Himacala and Vrindacala were brothers. Himacala had one daughter Parvati, who married Lord Shiva. Vrindacala was jealous, and prayed to have a daughter who would marry the master of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu considered only Radha could be His wife. Thus Radha appeared as son of Vrindacala. Kamsa heard that the person Radha married could never be defeated, and he sent Putana to kidnap Her. Putana took Her away from Vrindacala, but the sages performing sacrifice offered an oblation to reduce the power of the demoniac and thus Putana had to release Her. She landed on a lotus and was later found by Vrsabhanu who wanted a child.

Radha kept Her eyes closed at birth because She had received the boon of seeing no one first but Krishna.

ISKCON DC devotee discussion:

One should not be envious of those less advanced but should be compassionate toward them.

Serving is the best way to counteract envy.

Forgetting the source of our qualities and achievements causes us to be proud.

Our envy of others derives from our envy of Krishna, and that can be removed by service.

If we are not compassionate to those who do not have Krishna consciousness and give them the opportunity then we are acting enviously of them.

Sometimes on book distribution we want to benefit the people but they deal with us in such a way that we give up on them, and we find our compassion has a limit, but if we were completely free from envy that would not be.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami said that if you are not envious you will go beneath someone and push them up, not considering advancing your own position.

Helping someone comes from appreciating their value not from thinking we are superior and have something to give.

Glorifying those we are envious of counteracts the envy, but it is hard to do.

The Christian saint Theresa describes the most elevated persons see themselves as least qualified just as we understand from our tradition that the maha-bhagavata, highest devotee, does also.

Someone may have done so many things, but they are all insignificant compared to Krishna’s mercy.

It is not that we just offer respect to the Supersoul in others and neglect the souls themselves.

If I am superior and I am happy about it, or if I am inferior and I am unhappy about it, it is really the same thing.

Every soul has the potential to please Krishna eternally, so how valuable they are! Thus I should serve them.

We are not just receiving from superiors, but we receiving in all our relationships.

Relationships that are give, give, give, or take, take, take, are imbalanced.

When you are envious of someone you are distant from them, but when you serve them you start developing affection for them, and then they start developing affection for you.

Attention is the beginning of love.

Although Srila Prabhupada hated Mayavadis, when Dr. Mishra was sick, Srila Prabhupada cooked for him, and Dr. Mishra said that Swamiji had saved him by his love.

Comments by me:

Yudhisthira could not find anyone lower than himself because he appreciated everyone good qualities.

Satsvarupa Goswami mentions humility is based on truthfulness. [I did not mention this in class.]

“Nonviolence is generally taken to mean not killing or destroying the body, but actually nonviolence means not to put others into distress. People in general are trapped by ignorance in the material concept of life, and they perpetually suffer material pains. So unless one elevates people to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence. One should try his best to distribute real knowledge to the people, so that they may become enlightened and leave this material entanglement. That is nonviolence.” (Bhagavad-gita 13.8–12, purport) [I did not mention this in class.]

Karen Beetle (my sister), Licenced Mental Health Counselor:

From a letter to the editor of the Times Union (Albany, New York):

“As a mental health professional, I see it as my job to stand for an end to gun violence, in all its forms, and for the right of all children to safety and legal protection.”

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At The Bhakti Center one of the verses I gave class on had a purport which mentioned that deserts were impure and not suitable places to perform sacrifice. Nirada Nirada Prabhu had doubts that this restriction applied in the case of the sankirtana yajna, the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy name. This called to mind a wonderful verse by the spiritual master of the demons, Sukracarya, spoken to Vamanadeva, who had asked him to analyze the sacrifice of his disciple, Bali Maharaja:

mantratas tantratas chidram

desa-kalarha-vastutah

sarvam karoti nischidram

anusankirtanam tava

“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.16)

Nagaraja Prabhu told me about this verse when I once asked him for verses glorifying the holy name many years ago.