Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 15, No. 6
By Krishna-kripa das
(March 2019, part two)
North Florida
(Sent from New York City on April 9, 2019)
Where I Went and What I Did
By Krishna-kripa das
(March 2019, part two)
North Florida
(Sent from New York City on April 9, 2019)
Where I Went and What I Did
The
third week in March was the spring break at Florida State University
in Tallahassee, so I went to Gainesville to chant Hare Krishna at the
Krishna Lunch at University of Florida, which had its break two weeks
before. During that week in Gainesville I went on an additional
harinama
on
Gaura Purnima at the Gainesville Farmers Market, attended the Gaura
Purnima festival at New Raman Reti in Alachua, attended a lecture and
kirtan by Dravida Prabhu, went to the Ratha-yatra in St. Augustine,
went to Krishna Lunch Sunday, and participated in two evening
harinamas
by
the Gainesville bars and a special harinama
at
the UF Holi 2019, organized by ISA (the Indian Students Association)
and catered by Krishna Lunch. Before returning to Tallahassee for the
last week of March, I spent a day at University of North Florida in
Jacksonville chanting at the campus and advertising their weekly
Krishna Club meetings. The last Saturday of March devotees from
Alachua and Gainesville joined us in Tallahassee for Ratha-yatra, the
Hare Krishna float in the Springtime Tallahassee parade.
I
share notes on the classes and books of Srila Prabhupada, quotes from
Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Jaiva
Dharma, a
quote from Uncommon
Dialogs of
Bhakisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and several excerpts of creative
glorification of the Lord from the writings of Satsvarupa Dasa
Goswami. I share notes on lectures by Prabhupada disciples, Radhanath
Swami and Brahmatirtha, Dravida and Sesa Prabhus, and quotes from
Back
to Godhead articles
by Jayadvaita Swami, Visakha Dasi, and Caitanya Carana Prabhus. I
also share notes on lectures by younger devotees in the Krishna House
community, specifically Syamala Kishori, Tulasirani, Ekayani and
Hanan Prabhus. I share realizations by devotees and students from the
Krishna House outreach program called Taco Tuesday.
Many
thanks to Sruti Sagar Prabhu, Lila Kishor Prabhu, and Rupachandra
Prabhu for their kind donations. Thanks to the lady in St. Augustine,
who let me keep the $10 I saw fall out of her pocket.
Thanks to Dominique for the Farmers Market harinama photo. Thanks to Festival of Chariots - Bhakti Yoga Culture & Wellness Fest for their video of Tallahassee Ratha-yatra. Thanks to Ksina Valdes for the photo of me dancing on St. Augustine Ratha-yatra. Thanks to Amrita for taking the video of our Saturday night harinama by the bars. Thanks to Ekayani Devi Dasi for her photo of our UF Holi harinama party. Thanks to Sruti Sagar Prabhu for the cartoon.
Itinerary
April
8–9: New York City Yuga Dharma Harinama Party
April
10–12: Washington, D.C., harinama
with Sankarsana Prabhu by the museums
April
13–14: Albany
April
15–17: Dublin
April
18: Belfast
April
19–24: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
April
25: Leeds harinama
and
Accrington program
April
26: Liverpool harinama
and
program
April
27: Amsterdam King’s Day harinama
April
28: Rotterdam and Antwerp Sunday Feast
April
29–30: Brussels harinama
May
1–3: London harinama
May
3: Birmingham evening program with Sacinandana Swami and/or Madhava
Prabhu
May
6–11: Newcastle area harinamas
May
12: Edinburgh program?
May
14: Sheffield program
May
17–19: Simhachalam Festival?
May
20 – July 17: Paris ?
July
30 – August 3: Pol’and’Rock Festival (formerly Polish Woodstock
Festival)
August
6–12: Vaishnava Summer Festival (Lithuania)
August
14–18: Vaishnava Sanga Festival (Canada)
September
1: Liverpool Ratha-yatra
September
8: Great North Run harinama
(Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
September
9–10: Dublin
September
11: New York City
September
12 – mid October: Tallahassee
mid
October – mid January 2020: NYC Yuga Dharma Harinama Party
Chanting
Hare Krishna at the UF Krishna Lunch in Gainesville
Adikarta
Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna several times at the UF Krishna Lunch in
Gainesville during the week of March 18–22, 2019
(https://youtu.be/2QuHrptY-Pw):
Once
when
Adikarta Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna, a student who is becoming interested in Krishna consciousness, played shakers
(https://youtu.be/072NkmEjDCA):
Here
Srila Prabhupada disciple, Satyahit Prabhu, who has worked with
Krishna Lunch for many years, and Moka, who has been around a year or
so, chant Hare Krishna at UF Krishna Lunch
(https://youtu.be/o6SDo_ul2wQ):
Here
Tulasirani
Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna, and Hladini, whose parents are also
Hare Krishna devotees, plays drum (https://youtu.be/FHVQSe43akI):
Daryl
chants Hare Krishna at UF Krishna Lunch
(https://youtu.be/B7BKCx81slw):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at Krishna House in the Evenings
Animesh
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Krishna House one evening with friends
(https://youtu.be/eB_ukmTbwKs):
Daryl
chants Hare Krishna at the beginning of the Krishna House Friday
evening program (https://youtu.be/PDtbEMnJ-EM):
Dravida
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the end of the Krishna House Friday
evening program and many dance. Watch in a dark room for best
visibility (https://youtu.be/ml4ak1LwEyA):
Although
Krishna House devotees almost never do harinama
on Friday nights, inspired by Dravida Prabhu’s evening class on
spiritual priorities, after dinner they chanted Hare Krishna for an
hour, mostly by the bars across from University of Florida, their
usual Saturday spot, till past 10 p.m. and so many onlookers chanted,
played instruments, and danced. Watch in a dark room for best
visibility. (https://youtu.be/vG4mmnSMjWI):
Chanting
Hare Krishna on Gaura Purnima
On
Gaura Purnima we had a greater variety of devotees chanting during
Krishna Lunch as you can see in the following videos.
Shashikala
Devi Dasi, a disciple of Niranjana Swami from the Russian-speaking
world, whose son, Adi Syama Prabhu, is on the staff at Krishna House,
chants Hare Krishna at UF Krishna Lunch on Gaura Purnima
(https://youtu.be/g58WwJBkVlE):
Sruti
Sagar Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at UF Krishna Lunch on Gaura Purnima
(https://youtu.be/oXAbpai3RTk):
Bhaktin
Chie, despite
being eight months pregnant,
chants Hare Krishna at UF Krishna Lunch on Gaura Purnima, and Jorge
does an impressive dance (https://youtu.be/898JTYFzn-4):
For
many years we did harinama
at
the Gainesville Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Two people that we know
of became interested in Krishna consciousness from that. Recently
when Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day was Wednesday some of us
from Krishna House chanted at the Farmers Market before the evening
program in Alachua, and it was a very nice experience. I hoped to
repeat that, but Kalakantha Prabhu wanted to read about Lord Caitanya
to the Krishna
House devotees
after Krishna Lunch instead. Thus I ended up chanting with the
followers of Dhira Govinda Prabhu, many
who
came in touch with Krishna consciousness from his Satvatove seminars,
who were planning to chant at the Farmers Market anyway.
While
waiting for the others to show up, I saw a lady wearing a T-shirt
displaying accurate spiritual knowledge:
Here
Bharata Prabhu, originally from Germany but now living in Alachua,
chants Hare Krishna, and I play the drum. Thanks to Dominique for the
photo.
It
was inspiring to see the devotees’ enthusiasm to share Krishna chanting and
literature with the Farmers Market crowd on that incredibly
auspicious day.
Afterward,
while
chanting on
the way to the car, I met Gargamuni Prabhu, the disciple of
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, and he took a video of me and Bharata
Prabhu, who drove me to Alachua for the evening program (https://youtu.be/Rr3Vo3fnHrg):
At
New Raman Reti in Alachua, Bhadra Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna during
the evening arati
on
Gaura Purnima, and devotees danced with enthusiasm
(https://youtu.be/14WGUItT4WE):
Here
Amala Harinam Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Gaura Purnima feast in
Alachua (https://youtu.be/9L3tlIpNKRc):
Dhanya
chanted Hare Krishna the during final arati
on Gaura Purnima in Alachua. For best visibility turn up the
brightness and watch this video in a dark room
(https://youtu.be/hDWI9NzamQk):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at the St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
Gopal
Govinda Shyam Prabhu of
Orlando chanted first as the St. Augustine Ratha-yatra procession
began, singing a pleasant Hare Krishna tune as the devotees chanted
and pulled the Lord’s cart (https://youtu.be/R65YroZDukI):
Next
Vrinda
Devi chanted Hare Krishna powerfully on St. Augustine Ratha-yatra,
inspiring many local ladies to dance with the devotees in the
procession and one to dance in the balcony above, and
Jorge did a windmill break dance as well
(https://youtu.be/luDaHeXiY5U):
Here
Amala Harinam Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
and many devotees dance as well as a few passersby
(https://youtu.be/64-2Iby3gTM):
When I was not filming videos, I would try to dance for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha.
Finally
Godruma
Prabhu chanted
Hare Krishna at the end of the St. Augustine Ratha-yatra procession
(https://youtu.be/xJf4iOVZOv4):
After
the devotees ate
lunch, they did
a harinama
on
St. George Street. This year the authorities did not give us
permission to use amplification, so different people took turns
singing so their voices would not give out.
On
the harinama
in St. Augustine a lady dropped $10 when she pulled her cell phone
out of her pocket. I told her she dropped some money and offered it
back to her. She said to keep it. I spent $3 on an Origins
magazine for a poor local man, and the rest I donated to the devotees
putting on the Ratha-yatra, http://festivalofchariots.org/.
If you are inspired, you may want to contribute to their festivals,
too.
Two
girls, who stayed with us for almost the entire harinama
in St. Augustine,
learned the Hare Krishna mantra (https://youtu.be/5zhsq0WPwgU):
Devotees
take turns leading Hare Krishna chant on the St. Augustine harinama
on St. George Street (https://youtu.be/8Y7xQRRo6tA):
Often
devotees encourage onlookers to chant Hare Krishna in response to the
lead singer, but at the end the St. Augustine harinama,
Visvambhar Sheth and his friends enthusiastically engaged onlookers
in actually leading the Hare Krishna chant!
(https://youtu.be/wcSwywO9TSE):
Later
that night, back in Gainesville, though tired from going to St.
Augustine for Ratha-yatra, several Krishna House devotees chanted
Hare Krishna by the bars across from University of Florida and
passersby interacted by dancing, playing instruments, and chanting
the Hare Krishna mantra (https://youtu.be/ok-zgmQAiPA):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch Sunday Program
Tsurit
leads the Hare Krishna chant at Krishna Lunch Sunday program and
inspires devotees to respond with great devotion and to dance
(https://youtu.be/3brhL5zQHjQ):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at UF Holi 2019
Sruti
Sagar Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at UF Holi 2019, and Caranti Devi
Dasi dances with students (https://youtu.be/acgZqaWGSMo):
Daryl
chants Hare Krishna at UF Holi 2019, and Caranti Devi Dasi engages
students in playing instruments, dancing, and chanting the Hare
Krishna mantra (https://youtu.be/RDguh9kK9JU):
Krishna
Kripa Das chants Hare Krishna at UF Holi 2019. Video by Sruti Sagar
Prabhu (https://youtu.be/0UgDZsNOZYE):
One
devotee suggested we do a walking harinama
near
where the people were throwing colors, and Sruti Sagar Prabhu asked
the organizers if it would be OK with them and they were fine with
it.
We
had chanted Hare Krishna at UF Holi before but never in the midst of
the flying colors and spraying water, and never have so many people
happily chanted with us.
Thanks to Animesh Prabhu for leading such a
fired-up kirtan in such wild circumstances
(https://youtu.be/pkvE9Cls7YU):
Although
covered with dye, these enthusiastic devotees of Krishna Lunch took
pleasure in eating Krishna prasadam in the form of pasta.
Nadia,
also
covered
with dye, chants Hare Krishna at UF Holi 2019, and Ricky, who used to
chant with us in front of the bars sometimes, joined the kirtan,
played instruments, and got Srila Prabhupada’s books. Later that
day he joined our harinama
party on the way back to Krishna House, and he received a tour of
Krishna House (https://youtu.be/tL2JpY3CGDM):
Krishna
House devotees led by Animesh Prabhu, covered with dye but enthused
from chanting at the UF Holi 2019 festival, chanted Hare Krishna
through the campus, through the stadium, in front of a church, on a
street corner, outside a restaurant, and around the Krishna House
tulasi
plants, and Caranti Devi Dasi encouraged the people we passed to
participate by playing instruments and dancing
(https://youtu.be/2HPrC871O2o):
I
chanted for three hours at University of North Florida. As usual I
met students who were happy to hear about our Krishna Club. Felicity,
who got books from Adikarta Prabhu and learned about the Krishna Club
meetings from me previously and is a regular attender, chanted with
me for twenty minutes. A math professor who ate Krishna Lunch at
University of California in San Diego when she was in graduate school
stopped by to talk. I did not have any prasadam
to
offer her except some maha-prasadam
from
Ekachakra that was a little old, but she was very glad to receive it.
Even though it was an austerity to spend so many hours getting to
Jacksonville by bus, it was definitely worth it.
Chanting
Hare Krishna at Lake Ella
While
I was chanting Hare Krishna at Tallahassee’s Lake Ella, a
middle-aged man with a Christian shirt stopped by and asked how I got
into Buddhism. I explained that actually we follow Bhagavad-gita
which
is in the Hindu tradition. I was looking at spiritual literature when
I was in college, and I liked the teaching of the Gita
that
the soul is present in all living beings, human, animal, and plant.
It extended the idea of love your neighbor to include more living
entities. He went on to explain the usual Christian teachings. When
he described Christ as God, I said that actually most of the time
Christ referred to himself as the son of God not God Himself. There
was just some reference in John that you could interpret in that way.
He went on, continuing to explain his version of Christianity. I
mentioned the other thing I liked about the Bhagavad-gita
is
that explained that we are born in different situations according to
our activities in a previous life. If I cheat people out of money in
one life, and I am born poor in the next, it is fair, or if I am
charitable and help people flourish in one life, and I am born into
situation of plenty in the next it is fair. If you look at only one
life it looks like either God is unfair or there is no God at all. He
tried to give some explanation, but he did not convince me, as is
typical. He
was such a fanatic he told me that the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the
Mormons were going to hell, not just the Hindus and Buddhists. I
finally said, “I cannot agree with everything you say. As far as I
can understand Jesus said that the main commandments are to love thy
Lord with all thy body, mind, and soul, and to love thy neighbor as
thyself. He said all the prophets and all the scriptures point to
that. So when I speak to people, because I tell them those most
important things
that Jesus said, I think that Jesus will take me to the kingdom of
God.” He could not think of anything to say to that, and his wife
came, and he had to go.
Chanting
Hare Krishna at Florida State University
One
day a Christian group displayed several large photos of aborted
embryos on the lawn behind the library at Florida State University,
where
I daily chant Hare Krishna for three hours.
Another group presenting Planned Parenthood was
there with tables and literature. There was a microphone and
different people were speaking. Later I thought I should have asked
if I could speak, and I thought of different things to say.
I
could introduce myself as a Hare Krishna monk and talk about how life
is sacred. I could mention that many conservatives are concerned
about the rights of the embryo in the womb to live and that many
liberals are concerned about the rights of animals not to be tortured
and slaughtered. Actually from the spiritual point of view, both the
embryo and the animal are souls with a right to live, and by denying
that right, we are creating so much bad karma that although we want
to live in peace in this world, we are not allowed to live in peace.
Regarding
the ghastly photos of embryos I
thought I might explain that my mother is a peace activist. I called
her on Valentine’s Day, and she was telling me how she was just on
a vigil for peace in front of New York State Capitol in the frigid
February weather, although she is 94 years old. I was proud of her.
In theory the peace activists could display massive posters of
mutilated bodies of war victims, but they do not do that. I have many
friends interested in animal rights. I have been vegetarian for
almost forty years. The vegetarians could display large posters
showing animals being slaughtered, but typically they do not do that.
Thus I could
humbly
request those responsible for the ghastly photos of aborted embryos
to follow the peace activists and animal rights activists who
campaign for nonviolence in a more tasteful way.
After
two hours the Christian activists had packed up their displays and
left for another venue, and I felt as if a burden had been lifted and
Landis Green was again a peaceful place to chant Hare Krishna and
share God’s love.
Actually
two students chanted with me that day on the campus, so in that
respect it was better than most.
Chanting
Hare Krishna at the Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
Amala
Harinama Prabhu and friends from Alachua and Gainesville, joined with
local devotees in chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee Ratha-yatra,
the Hare Krishna float in Springtime Tallahassee, considered one of
the biggest southeastern parades and craft shows, attracting over
70,000 spectators (https://youtu.be/XDdSjOP2_yc)
As
you can see in the above more professionally done video, I was
filming my own video (https://youtu.be/aGmX_ZDg6oo):
Amala
Harinama Prabhu continued chanting beautifully
after
the
parade
as the deities came off the cart, and it was dismantled. At one
point, after watching the male devotees blissfully carrying Lord
Jagannatha to His awaiting car, followed by Lord Baladeva, the young
lady devotees spontaneously rushed forward to assist Lady Subhadra in
the same way! I do not recall ever seeing that before!
(https://youtu.be/dIXIcHZjGcw):
Later
while Amala Harinama Prabhu continued chanting Hare Krishna, some
local kids enjoyed dancing with the devotee ladies
(https://youtu.be/A_Ik9qd1F1E):
The
guy in the white shirt came to the Sunday Feast the next day, liked
the whole program, and enjoyed talking with several devotees.
Brajananda Prabhu mentioned on Facebook that he saw Hare Krishnas for
the first time in this Tallahassee parade several years ago. Perhaps
that wild male dancer will have the same good fortune as Brajananda
Prabhu has had.
I
took 112 photos of the Tallahassee Ratha-yatra, and you can see them
here:
Funny
Photo
Sruti
Sagar Prabhu shared this humorous photo with his Krishna House
friends on WhatsApp. Perhaps you will like it too:
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
4.29.46, purport:
“A
pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always thinking
of how the fallen, conditioned souls can be delivered. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead, influenced by the merciful devotees’
attempt to deliver fallen souls, enlightens the people in general
from within by His causeless mercy.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi
6.111, purport:
“All
the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu have the right to play the
roles of servitors of Lord Krishna by descending as devotees. When an
incarnation gives up the understanding of His Godhood and plays the
part of a servitor, He enjoys a greater taste of transcendental
mellows than when He plays the part of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.”
From
a class:
We
do not require any other education. Simply by associating with
devotees we can learn what we need to perfect our life spiritually.
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.16.10 in Los Angeles on January 7, 1974:
Gandhi
was very strict. His close followers would not even take tea. He
instituted prohibition in several states in India, but now the
government is encouraging drinking.
“Allen
Ginsberg told me, ‘Swamiji, you are very conservative,’ because I
restrict. But he does not know that actual benefit will be derived
when you are actually conservative. Otherwise you are going by the
waves of maya.”
There
is no scientist, no philosopher who is telling how death can be
checked.
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.16.21 in Los Angeles on July 11, 1974:
The
Vedic culture is such that a father’s duty toward his daughter is
not complete until she gets married.
The
Vyasa-puja ceremony is there to acknowledge our debt to our spiritual
master.
“Don’t
be allured by big, big highways and skyscraper building with full
advertisement of wine and cigarette. This is not life. . . . Here is
life. Let anyone come and compare this life in this temple and
outside. This is life.”
Jada
Bharata:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
5.11.16:
“The
soul’s designation, the mind, is the cause of all tribulations in
the material world. As long as this fact is unknown to the
conditioned living entity, he has to accept the miserable condition
of the material body and wander within this universe in different
positions. Because the mind is affected by disease, lamentation,
illusion, attachment, greed, and enmity, it creates bondage and a
false sense of intimacy within this material world.”
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura:
From
Jaiva
Dharma, Chapter 8:
Comment
by Rupachandra Prabhu: Jaiva
Dharma is
a summary of Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
which deals with contemporary issues not addressed by the Gosvamis,
who wrote in a previous time.
“Once,
whilst performing sankirtana,
Sri Gauranga liberated a crocodile living in these waters [of Sri
Gora-hrada Lake, a pond near the Gadigacha area on Godrumadvipa].
Thus the Lord delivered the crocodile just as Sri Gopala Krishna
delivered the Kaliya snake many years before in Vraja.”
Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From
Uncommon
Dialogues,
Conversation 5:
“Speaking
hari-katha
[topics about Krishna] is real rest – it removes all fatigue. . . .
Exalted personalities and their followers always engage in glorifying
topics about Hari in all respects. They have no other duty.
Caitanyadeva also instructed us, kirtaniyah
sada harih:
always chant the glories of Hari. The symptom of liberated persons is
that they only chant the glories of Hari at all times with body,
mind, and speech.”
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
From
Every
Day, Just Write, Volume
27, Part Two:
“We
are normal
folks
following impossible ideal.”
“Be
a serious confession-
hearer
and maker”
“Get
out of world
go
to Supreme.
There’s
no end to good things
to
do anywhere you can
always
remember the Lord
Is
that so hard?”
“I
can’t spring
it
on the hard-hearted as
another
sermon, or it will
bounce
off their stone hides.”
From
Every
Day, Just Write, Volume
28, Part One:
“Krishna
is the way and whey
He’s
the song and day
He’s
the night and play”
“O
disconsolate, O sop
you
poor sap you’ll
laugh
years from now when
you’re
a Vaishnava
to
think you enjoyed like
a
pig in the trough”
“that
Japanese monk said his peace
and
quiet might cheat him of salvation,
so,
he shouldn’t have praised his tiny
hut
his renunciation and all…
But
he said I’ll chant the
name
of Buddha instead of talking
and
poor as my chanting is
I’ll
win something”
“Beyond
this place of cruelty
there
is a home for all in
Krishnaloka”
“and
turned to Him
just
say hi God
hello
God
on
my knees before You it’s
almost
Your breakfast time
You
don’t have indigestion
and
You’re happy as I place
the
napkin before You and remove
the
Lord’s turban and flute
and
Srila Prabhupada’s bead bag
please
find some bhakti
earnest
in this pig-like fool
who
comes before You twice or
thrice
a day and never strays so
far
away.”
“make
hay while sun shines
means
read and chant
against
the end and falling apart
when
all you have is hope
He
will come to you.”
“you
met yourself once again as prone
to
weakness and doubt. Yet, you
are
called Swami. So, live up to it –
control
your lower nature. Fold
your
hands and offer respects to the
all
great Supreme Person.
Don’t
be one He calls a mudha
[fool]
stay
with the mahatma
[great
soul].”
“Krishna
is the Lord of sixes
and
sevens and twenty-fours of
Christians
and Muslims and politicians
of
no religion
He’s
Death can you
beat
that?”
“just
worship
God
Krishna
Christ Buddha
you
can it’s all right
but
for me I prefer
Nanda’s
son
because
He is the cutest
and
most strong and personal and
promises
protection from
samsara
– He teaches
the
ocean of death and
how
to cross it.
So,
why not? Besides, I
met
His pure devotee”
“Sometimes
you chant and conk out
when
that happens, I say
always
come back
make
your mind your friend
in
the time allotted, make
your
life a shaped instrument
of
service
“Japa
time, writing time
and
lecture and work
please
give all
as
ways of spreading joy”
“let
me dance for You
O
Lord
I’m
seeking release from
the
asylum. You know
what
You want me to do.”
“So
kind is Krishna. You want to stay here in so-called enjoyment (which
is actually duhkhalayam
asasvatam [miserable
and temporary]) then He will let you do it again and again. Samsara
is a blaze, you’ve got to get out. If I were you…
“I’d
get myself a set of books and beads and chant Hare Krishna as much as
possible that’s what. This is it folks, you can’t get better, so
please do as we say, it’s not our manufactured whim, it’s what
you asked – and not for Hindus only (there are no real Hindus, it’s
a misnomer – the bee and flies and birds and everyone is a part and
parcel of the Lord and should serve) please obey, the breeze is yours
for the asking, even in the lowest stage, it’s fun relief.”
“I
want to go home to Goloka
grant
me that passage I pray
Real
desire is shown in blood
and
words chosen, effort, love,
no
one goes unless
the
Lord allows.”
From
Every
Day, Just Write, Volume
28, Part Two:
“So,
they said I’ll give you just
three
minutes. I stood up and said Krishna
is
God and you people ought to
recognize
God in this age where
God
is denied. I preached like
that
and uttered the mantra for
relief
“knowing
they’d be thinking Oh no,
a
crazy Hare,
“who
is he to tell us? Krishna arranged it
that
we are looked down on
in
Kali, and we messed our
own
reputation and act but
devotees
ought to be liked.”
“Consider
who gave the food
how
He asks us for devotion
then
when you eat
you’ll
be absolved.”
“O
God, it was nice to
walk
with You – Your rain
and
sky, this world.
The
sheep took it better than me.”
“Krishna
is the one who gives
rain
and sun / you can’t figure Him out
so,
don’t try
take
info from sastras
[scriptures]
and
guru
and
just execute it
I
love trying
yes,
what they say
is
true so I will “love” my Master
at
least my spiritual master I can love
for
his taking me out of this death-
bound
trek”
“and
actually, you can be free of
fear
by clinging to Krishna as son to
Father,
he’s deep inside you,
you
know
you’ll
be escaped in His
protection
oh,
though I walk in the Valley
I
fear not evil
You
are with me.”
“‘Reading
your book, I forgot
it
was by a Hare Krishna author.’
Good
– disarm them and then
give
them Krishna”
From
Free
Write Journal #31:
“Another
success was our associating with a young man who’d graduated from
University of Minnesota. He smoked a pipe and was reading the book
The
Education of Henry Adams.
He had intellectual inclinations, and by our association he became
interested in Krishna consciousness. Later he became initiated by
Srila Prabhupada and was given the name Tattvavit dasa. Even later I
gave him second initiation.”
“I
beg to thank you very much for the magazine interview. You have so
rightly said, ‘It’s a hellish life without Krishna.’ These
words of yours have pleased me so much. Actually it is a fact, and
one who has become so disgusted with material life is actually
advanced in Krishna consciousness. This is first class propaganda,
and it will be a hammer blow to the proponents of materialism and
atheism. I am so glad that you are feeling and speaking like this,
and I thank you very much. The article appears to be in a nice
magazine, so if you can get further articles and interviews published
in the magazines, that will be a great boon to our Movement.”
(Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, written in
Bombay on 21st January 1971)
Jayadvaita
Swami:
From
Introducing ‘Ahimsa Balancing’” in “Back
to Godhead, Vol.
43, No. 4 (July/August 2019):
“Suppose
we can’t get ahimsa
milk but for one reason or another we’re unready or unwilling to
swear off milk. We can still take action against the slaughter
industry and vote with our purses and wallets – by giving a
proportionate contribution for cow protection. When I buy a dollar’s
worth of milk at the store, I can set aside a dollar for protecting
cows. (If a dollar is too much, I can set aside fifty cents – or
whatever I can.) And every month or every year, I can take the money
set aside and send it to a reliable ahimsa
dairy. (For me the nearest to my home base in New York City is the
Gita Nagari farm in Pennsylvania.)
“As
a financial tactic, this is arguably more effective than merely
boycotting the slaughter industry’s products. If I refuse to buy
slaughter-industry milk, the multi-billion-dollar dairy companies
like Nestlé, Arla, Danone, Fonterra, and Kraft Heinz will hardly
miss my pennies. All the vegans in the world, times ten, would make
hardly a dent in their cash flow. But modest contributions made to a
small ahimsa
farm can make a big difference for the farm, helping it keep going
and sustain its mission of providing milk from protected cows.”
“Individuals
can contribute, or families, or temples, or any program that uses
milk.”
Radhanath
Swami:
Lord
Caitanya taught one should accept the most humble position, for then
one can always take complete shelter of the devotees of the Lord.
Lord
Caitanya explained to His mother that one who has very bad karma dies
in the womb and then after attaining another womb, dies in that one,
and continues in that way.
Brahmatirtha
Prabhu:
When
King Pariksit went to conquer different lands, he was not just
concerned with exacting taxes but seeing how he could benefit the
people.
When
Germany lost World War I, their victors extracted all their wealth
through taxes and a program of reparation. This left the Germans very
dissatisfied. In that state they elected Hitler, who later became
dictator and abolished the government. At the end of World War II,
American General Marshall used a different strategy with Germany. He
helped them rebuilt, and thus Germany become one of America’s
greatest allies. In this way he prevented a World War III.
Portugal
concluded they had too many people in prison, so they decided to
reform them and let them out early. Those who could not be reformed
they kept in prison. The prison population was cut in half, and the
crime rate dropped to a third.
King
Pariksit’s strategy was to restrict Kali’s domain. We did that
with the naked dance bars that wanted to open in Gainesville. We gave
them ten times as much place as previously but only in the region of
the city where the industrial parks were and where no one ever goes.
Thus we did not get any more of them in Gainesville.
You
cannot really say that when Krishna appeared was during Vedic times
as Krishna says to Arjuna that at that point the Vedic knowledge was
lost.
The
Bhagavatam
teaches
a middle way, between extremes. For example, Krishna recommends in
Bhagavad-gita,
“One
should not eat too much or too little, and one should not sleep too
much or too little.”
Comment
by me: It is striking to me that Krishna actually defines yoga
as
being equanimity – samatvam
yogam ucyate [Bhagavad-gita
2.48].
They
did studies on twins who were put up for adoption and were adopted by
different parents, to figure out if nature or nurture is most
responsible for how children turn out. The result was 50% nature, 10%
parental influence, and 40% peer influence. Thus the most important
decision parents can make is who their children associate with.
When
I was at the Mayapur festival back when I had just met the devotees
for the first time, each devotee told me something different when I
asked what was most important to make advancement in spiritual life,
however, Prabhupada simply said, “Association with devotees is most
important.”
Whenever
we do a project together, the unseen hand of Krishna becomes seen.
Dravida
Prabhu:
So
much in coming to Krishna consciousness is changing our priorities.
In
the beginning of Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu
Rupa
Gosvami makes it clear that pure devotion to Krishna is the goal.
We
cannot break our relationship with Krishna, but we can forget it.
Just
like an alcoholic cannot break his habit without a good friend
intervening and engaging him a rehab program, we cannot leave aside
our material life and revive our relationship with Krishna without
the help of His devotees.
Without
that first guru who gives us a book or invites us to a program, we
would never begin.
The
human form of life is described both as easy to obtain and also as
difficult to obtain. It is easy to attain as it happens automatically
in the course of time, yet of all the living entities very, very few
are human beings.
I
lived a block from Tompkins Square Park in 1968. I would play bongo
drums and a flute, and I would look through the streets for musicians
to play with. I saw the Hare Krishnas, but I was not interested in
spiritual things at that point.
Bhakti
is sustained by philosophical understanding, but in the beginning and
in the end pure attraction to the holy names is sufficient.
Lord
Caitanya did not write the eight verses of the “Siksastaka” one
after another. Rather they were collected in the Padyavali
by
Rupa Gosvami, and it appears that Krishnadas Kaviraj put them
together in the Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita.
In
verse 4, Lord Caitanya refers to the Lord of the universe, but in
verse 5, He specifies Krishna, the son of Nanda.
In
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Lord
Caitanya gives a whole explanation of the final verse of
“Siksastaka.”
We
should never forget that this pure devotion to Krishna is the goal.
Our
priorities should be to do what is necessary to progress on the path.
Devotion
to Krishna is the only thing worth struggling for this world.
Maya
convinces
us to struggle for what is ultimately a con job because it does not
deliver what it promises.
I
discovered Gopal
Campu of
Sri Jiva Gosvami is exquisite poetry.
In
Goloka the bees are not just buzzing but are chanting Sanskrit slokas
glorifying
the Lord.
Sesa
Prabhu:
When
the Vedic culture describes seven mothers, (1) one’s original
mother, (2) the nurse, (3) the wife of the guru, (4) the wife of the
brahmana,
(5)
the wife of the king, (6) the cow, and (7) the earth, these are seen
on an equal level.
That
the bull of dharma is standing on one leg indicates an unbalanced
situation. He is wandering around on one leg, but how is that? Have
you ever seen a bull walking on leg?
Comment
by Vaninatha Vasu Prabhu: One of the purposes of sacrifice is for us
to give up the notion that we are independent.
A
mother suffers when her dependents are in distress, and so it is also
with Mother Earth. Not only does the earth provide for us, but she
feels for us. Similarly a loving child will do anything to protect
his mother.
Balance
is very important in Krishna consciousness.
We
live in a world of duality. How many dualities are described in
Bhagavad-gita
and
Srimad-Bhagavatam?
If
we are influenced by any one of the dualities, it takes us away from
Krishna consciousness.
To
begin deity worship, the GBC requires you have a Certificate of
Readiness to issue there are enough brahmanas,
enough
funds, enough space, etc., to properly worship the Lord. This year
the Cow Protection minister got approved a Certificate of Readiness
requirement for devotees who want to begin taking care of cows.
In
ISKCON attempts to introduce the ksatriyas
have
tended to move in the direction of creating martial arts academies
rather than teaching people to be rajarsis
[saintly
rulers].
Visakha
Devi Dasi:
From
Our Dream Life” in “Back
to Godhead, Vol.
53, No. 4 (July/August 2019):
“We
may consider ourselves conscious of our eternal identity as Krishna’s
part and as His servant, but if we remain absorbed in material life
rather than in devotional service to the Supreme Lord, we are
actually still dreaming. In Krishna’s words, ‘According to My
instructions, one should fix the mind on Me alone. If, however, one
continues to see many different values and goals in life rather than
seeing everything within Me, then although apparently awake, one is
actually dreaming due to incomplete knowledge, just as one may dream
that one has wakened from a dream.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.30)”
“At
any moment we can revive our Krishna
consciousness simply by waking up to the fact that ‘I have nothing
to do with anything material. I am Krishna’s
servant.’ When a nightmare becomes intolerable, we break it;
similarly, we can break our material connection at any moment and
awaken to the fact that we never were separated from Krishna.
Our original and eternal position is that we are always with Him.”
Caitanya
Carana Prabhu:
From
Overcoming Obstacles Through Devotional Purposefulness” in “Back
to Godhead, Vol.
43, No. 4 (July/August 2019):
“Remembering
Rama’s confidence in him, Hanuman felt increasingly energized to
reach Lanka as fast as possible. The windgod, the celestial father of
Hanuman, wanted to aid his son, who was performing an extraordinary
service to their Lord. Accordingly, the wind blew powerfully behind
Hanuman, helping him move faster.”
“Whenever
we do anything that challenges us in our spiritual life, we need to
ensure that our thoughts support us, not sabotage us. If we carefully
contemplate the things that inspire us, not the things that
dishearten us, our contemplations can work in tandem with our
actions.”
“When
we are rendering an important and difficult service to the Lord, we
may be offered comforts by those wanting to assist us. We may be
inclined to enjoy those comforts as due rewards for our hard work.
But if we keep our purpose foremost, we won’t be swayed.
“Simultaneously,
we need to be careful not to go to the other extreme. We may be
tempted to reject those comforts as an exhibition of our
renunciation. Hanuman’s example reminds us to be courteous,
appreciating their intention of service, even when we have to say
no.”
“For
Hanuman, proving his own greatness was not as important as carrying
out his mission.”
“Humility
doesn’t mean letting ourselves be trampled by others – it simply
means that we don’t let our ego come in the way of our purpose.”
“In
general, when one door closes in our face during our life journey, we
may feel frustrated. But instead of glaring at that door, we can
start looking for some other door that might be opening. If we let
resentment blind us, we will miss the opened door, which is often an
invitation from the Lord to increase our devotion and service to
Him.”
Madhava
Prabhu from Alachua:
Lord
Caitanya is described to be topmost in mercy because He is giving
something very great and He is giving it very freely.
The
Lord comes to manifest His pastimes to attract the fallen souls. He
knows that the people will not ultimately be happy here in this
world.
The
Lord wants real relationships with His devotees, not some official
devotion.
His
way of experiencing the bliss of devotional service in the mood of
Srimati Radharani and of establishing the dharma were the same, the
congregational chanting of the holy names.
Krishna
wondered, “What is there in Me that is so darn attractive that
Radha feels so much love for Me?”
Why
did all of Lord Caitanya’s associates not appear in Navadvipa? To
deliver all the people in those remote locations where they appeared.
Shyamala
Kishori Devi Dasi:
It
is good to meditate on where we would be if Lord Caitanya had not
appeared in this world or if Srila Prabhupada had not come to the
west, in order to increase our gratitude.
Tulasirani
Devi Dasi:
In
the beginning we do not have real emotions for Krishna. Sometimes we
look at the deities and Krishna looks very pretty, and at other times
they seem just like statues. By engaging in devotional service, we
get to the point where we do have real emotions for Krishna.
Bhoga-tyaga
is
like the five-day work week and then a weekend of enjoyment. If you
just had weekends all the time you would get bored. So there is the
alternation.
We
are too conditioned to allow ourselves to be saturated with bhakti.
In
the Nectar
of Devotion Preface
Srila Prabhupada emphasizes that devotional service is a gradual
process.
The
only way you do not achieve the goal is if you give up the process.
Ekayani
Devi Dasi:
When
Maharaja Pariksit was the king of the world he would hear the
Bhagavad-gita
from
Vyasadeva. Can you imagine how wonderful a world situation we would
have if the president today would hear Bhagavad-gita
from
Vyasadeva?
If
I think I do not know everything, and I am willing to hear from a
bona fide spiritual master, then I can progress spiritually.
Srila
Prabhupada says that the brahmanas
are
worshiped because they are the highest in human society, and the cows
are worshiped because they are highest among the animals. Brahmanas
nourish
our souls and cows help nourish our body with milk. Both help the
society to come closer to Krishna.
Whatever
we are intently desiring is what will carry us to our next body.
Once
during the Prabhupada Marathon, I had the desire to distribute big
books for a whole week because I was just distributing small books
whereas all the other devotees were distributing large books, but I
just could not do it. One day I started showing the small books to a
man, and he said, “No, I want that Bhagavad-gita.”
And it happened the same way with the next eight people. Because I
had been meditating intently on it for a whole week, Krishna
fulfilled my desire in a big way.
Comment
by Gabriel: I find if you are super enthusiastic, people will respond
in a very definitive way, either positively or negatively.
Once
we were distributing books in a city with great economic problems.
Our entire party would distribute only thirty books in twelve hours.
We were wondering what we might do. We decided to focus on our japa,
and
we got up earlier and chanted more rounds. Once I even experienced
the chanting was so sweet that I just wanted to continue. I think
that was the only day in my life my japa
was
like that. We found that day in the same city to the same people we
distributed many books, although previously only a few. All potency
comes from the holy name who is the Lord Himself.
Hanan
Prabhu:
There
is a story from India about a host who served his guests cake which
he cut into two uneven pieces being in a hurry. After the host
brought in the cake and left the room, one guest took the big piece,
leaving the small one for the other guest. The other guest asked,
“Why did you take the big piece?”
He
replied, “What should I have done?”
The
other responded, “I would have taken the small piece.”
He
answered, “Well, you got the small piece, so why are you
complaining?”
Krishna
says aversion to fault-finding is a divine quality. He does not say
one should stop fault-finding because sometimes it is necessary, but
one in the divine consciousness does not like to do it.
One
person who visited from Austria told me he cannot imagine how much
the two weeks he spent helping at Krishna Lunch has transformed him.
Compassion
is healing.
In
Caitanya-bhagavata,
Lord Caitanya advised someone who criticized devotees to use his very
same mouth to glorify them in order to rectify himself.
Bhurijana
and Jagattarini Prabhus did many wonderful puppet shows illustrating
Krishna consciousness teachings. Bhakti Tirtha Swami enjoyed seeing
these at the end of his life.
There
is a joke about a rabbi who is called to resolve a dispute. He hears
one side, and responds, “You are right.”
Then
he hears the other side, and concludes, “You are right.”
When
one of the men tells his wife the outcome, she says, “How can you
both be right?”
She
goes to the rabbi, and makes her case, and the rabbi responds, “You
are right.”
Now
we have ten minutes of kirtana.
Take it seriously. We do not always have the association of the holy
name or of the devotees.
Comment
by Marlon: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “Do not
criticize devotees or nondevotees. First look at your own condition,
and try to purify yourself. Is there any lust in you? Is there any
kutinati
(conceit)
in you, or not? Be worried about that; do not worry about others. Sri
Guru and Lord Sri Krishna are responsible for others. You cannot do
anything to help them, therefore you have no right to criticize
them.”
Comment
by Loka: My guru told me that if I am critical of others it is
because I have the same fault in myself. We can really see it in this
pastime of Ramacandra Puri.
Contributions
by different people in the audience telling about words that inspired
them recently:
A
lady on harinama
said,
“I could hear the love bouncing off the walls.”
On
Gaura Purnima my sister passed away. A devotee said that the great
separation you are feeling from your sister now is like the
separation that Krishna feels when we leave or ignore him.”
If
you want to be nice to others, you have to be gentle with yourself.
I
found the ashram difficult, and the lady in charge said, “Well, it
is an austerity.” I thought I was austere, but I then realized I
was not able to do this little austerity, so I am having to adjust my
mind.
Radhanath
Swami explains elaborately in a lecture how all obstacles are
servants of Lord Caitanya.
Bhaktimarga
Swami makes the point that guilt is a component of humility.
Realizations
Shared at Taco Tuesday, an Outreach Program at Krishna House
Monica:
I find that when I chant japa
I
am more aware of all aspects of spiritual practice.
Gabriel:
I have been here at Krishna House for 9 months. I have found
satisfying philosophical answers to life’s deep questions, and I am
hoping to learn to apply them in my life.
Lola:
I have been in Costa Rica recently and saw a lot of people growing
their own food, and I would really like to do that.
Jorge:
I realized that school was not going to do anything for me and that
by self-discipline I could do whatever I wanted, so I dropped out of
school and began training. I went to a monastery and learned
meditation, then I met the Hare Krishnas.
Medical
student: I am at my best when I am not worrying about anything.
Third-year
plant science student: I am at my best when I am free from
frustration, and I am joyful.
Caranti
Devi Dasi: When I am at my best I am completely available for myself
and others.
Aaron:
When I can put my undivided attention on one thing I am at my best.
Valerie:
When I am in nature or listening to music I am at my best.
Rich:
When I know who I am and I am functioning on all cylinders I am my
best.
Levi:
I love reading about God. I like being reminded about Him. I am at my
best when I have a challenge.
The
fear is always worse than what you are afraid of.
Gabriel:
You could say addiction is the inability to not do something that you
know is bad for you.
Levi:
The idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Serving God by serving our
fellow man I find I am my best.
Monica:
You can use your “inner child” to make your present task an
enjoyable one.
Caitanya
Carana Prabhu advises advancement through three things:
Awareness
Association
Appreciation
Caranti
Devi Dasi chanted Hare Krishna at Taco Tuesday at Krishna House. Her
kirtan was so fired up that new people who looked bored in the
beginning were dancing by the end. [Watch in a dark room for best
visibility.] (https://youtu.be/6-85aaE2t5I):
-----
At
Krishna House in late March two Bhagavatam
speakers
stressed how the devotee is not disturbed by material dualities and
avoids the extremes. It reminded me of this verse:
yoga-sthah
kuru karmani
sangam
tyaktva dhanañ-jaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh
samo bhutva
samatvaṁ
yoga ucyate
“Perform
your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success
or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.48)
This
verse shows me I have a long way to go, so I should be very humble,
and I should be very determined to practice not being disturbed in
this ocean of dualities.
