Travel Journal#15.14: The North of England, Ireland, Berlin

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 15, No. 14 

By Krishna Kripa Das 
(July 2019, part two) 

The North of England, Ireland, Berlin 

(Sent from Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc, Québec on August 14, 2019) 

Where I Went and What I Did 

I chanted in Newcastle upon Tyne for four days and then took two trains to Sheffield on Saturday, where I chanted for three hours in the afternoon with devotees from different parts of the UK at an event called Tramlines. After chanting there, I took another train to Leeds where I chanted in the evening with two devotees for an hour. The next I day I went to the Birmingham Ratha-yatra, and I did harinama in Manchester the day that. The next day I chanted in Sheffield and spoke at the nama-hatta program there, now on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Quaker Meetinghouse. The following day I flew from Manchester Airport to Dublin to join Harinama Ruci in doing harinama to advertise the Ratha-yatra there the next Saturday, which I also attended, along with the Belfast Ratha-yatra the following day. Then next day I flew to Berlin en route to the Polish Woodstock festival. I chanted in Berlin with one devotee that rainy evening for three hours, and we both took the train to Kostrzyn, Poland, for the Woodstock the next day. I will describe all of the Polish Woodstock experiences in the next issue which covers the first half of August, although the first two days of it were in July.

I share quotes from the classes and books of Srila Prabhupada and from a later canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam by his followers. I share excerpts from the Free Write Journal of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share insights from Back to Godhead articles by Nagaraja, Satraraja, Caitanya Carana, and Nandini Kisori Prabhus. I share notes on talks by Bhakti Prabhava Swami and Dayananda Swami at the Birmingham Ratha-yatra. I share notes on a class by Adikarta Prabhu in Newcastle and by Harinamananda Prabhu in Dublin.

Many, many thanks to Satya Medha Gauranga Prabhu of Newcastle, who is always my biggest benefactor in the UK. Many thanks to Adikarta, Jaya Krishna, Vrajendralal, Saradiya, Yavat Vasi, and Adi-Guru Prabhus for their kind donations. Thanks to the people who gave donations on harinamas in Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, and Berlin. Thanks to Vishnujana Prabhu for his donation of British coins in Dublin. Thanks to Janardana and Priya Sundari Prabhus for letting me stay over at their place in Leeds and for the awesome pasta. Thanks to Vrajendralal Prabhu for driving me from Birmingham to Manchester and to Prananatha Prabhu for maintaining me while there. Thanks to Aharada Devi Dasi and Hare Krishna Festivals for their photos of our harinama during Tramlines in Sheffield.

Itinerary

August 14–18: Vaishnava Sanga Festival (Canada)

August 20: Dublin harinama and Tuesday Evening Kirtan

August 21–22: harinamas in the Newcastle area

August 23: Janmastami in Newcastle

August 24: Vyasa Puja at Soho Street

August 25: Leeds harinama and program?

August 26: Manchester harinama

August 27: Sheffield harinama and program

August 29: Accrington program?

August 30: Liverpool harinama and program

August 31: Liverpool harinama

September 1: Liverpool Ratha-yatra

September 2–6: Newcastle area harinamas

September 7: York harinama and program

September 8: Great North Run harinama (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

September 9–10: Dublin

September 11–December: NYC Yuga Dharma harinamas

January – April 2020: North Florida colleges

Chanting Hare Krishna in Newcastle

I was happy that Krishna sent me assistants to chant with for all four days I spent in Newcastle.

A special thanks to Satya Medha Gauranga Prabhu, who came out twice.

One day a man, accompanied by his wife, asked me if I knew Brian, the legal name, of Bhakti Rasa Prabhu. He recalled doing printing for the temple perhaps fifteen years ago. He remembered the nice food that Bhakti would bring him, and he gave a donation and took a book.

Here Dayananda Swami chants Hare Krishna with Prema Sankirtana Prabhu and family in front of Fenwick’s on Northumberland Street in Newcastle (https://youtu.be/KQ_gOZOvui8):

Later Vishnupriya Devi Dasi, the wife of Prema Sankirtana Prabhu, chanted Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/ltkXDmB37mI):

On Friday, Adikarta Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna between a Burger King and a casino on Northumberland Street with two other enthusiastic book distributors, Adi-Guru Prabhu on the karatalas and Caitanya Vallabha Prabhu on the drum, and along with myself (https://youtu.be/LOWSoyhlrNA):

At one point Adikarta Prabhu sang Hare Krishna to the tune of the famous Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace” (https://youtu.be/fy4azhfEnzE):

As you can see, comparing this earlier video to the two above, Caitanya Vallabha Prabhu really added a lot to the kirtana (https://youtu.be/FEYJD7OiXRc):

Here Adi-Guru Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Newcastle upon Tyne temple at the Friday evening program (https://youtu.be/n0hYLA9BeHw):

Then Adikarta Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna during the same Friday evening program (https://youtu.be/XuvzeATi3nA):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Sheffield

For three years devotees have been taking advantage of Tramlines, a music event in Sheffield, to share the chanting of Hare Krishna with many people there. I went last year and this year. 

I sang in the beginning as I was impatient to start, having to leave early and catch a train to Leeds. 

Later I played the drum for Dayananda Swami. 

Mostly I distributed free literature to people who seemed interested.

Here Dayananda Swami chants Hare Krishna at Tramlines, joined by devotees from London, Manchester, Newcastle, Blackpool and other places, and two guys play djembe (https://youtu.be/B2D5PQ1e5iI):

Here Karsna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, accompanied by his wife, Aharada Devi Dasi, on the harmonium (https://youtu.be/EecJifZk5uQ):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Leeds

Last year I learned that the Leeds devotees had sometimes done harinama on Saturday night by the bars in Leeds and reached a lot of people partying in the street. Thus I decided to arrange a harinama with them in Leeds in the evening after the Tramslines harinama in Sheffield last year. Because it worked out so well, I decided to do it this year too.

Here Janardana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Greek Street in Leeds, and ladies play shakers and dance, encouraged by Manoharini Radha Devi Dasi (https://youtu.be/Eb4ufEAkwro):

Earlier a guy played shakers and danced (https://youtu.be/JXaBN1boaqs):

Later I chanted Hare Krishna on Briggate Street in Leeds, and two ladies played the shakers and danced in great happiness as their male companions watched with curiosity. (https://youtu.be/U5zktSy3q_M):

Immediately after that, members of a bridal party called “Pink Ladies” took pleasure in trying to play all our instruments and dancing as well (https://youtu.be/A-2umX3iHPw):

It was amazing to me that although we were just a party of three devotees and we only sang for an hour, so many more people participated by playing instruments and dancing than in Sheffield earlier in the day when we had fifteen devotees chanting for three hours!

Chanting Hare Krishna at the Birmingham Ratha-yatra

I did not take much video of the beginning of the Birmingham Ratha-yatra as in the beginning the sound system was so loud I did not want to be anywhere near the kirtana party.

The Ratha-yatra route there is very minimal, and so Birmingham is probably my least favorite Ratha-yatra, but still Ratha-yatra is Ratha-yatra and always worth going to!

The Ratha-yatra cart always attracts attention of passersby by.

These Muslim girls were happy to play the shakers along with the music.

Here Bhakti Prabhava Swami chants Hare Krishna in the Birmingham Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/Tdq321-EWUs):

Nitai Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna as Lord Jagannatha dismounts His chariot in Birmingham (https://youtu.be/c7IlE6YJGpY):

Khushali chanted Hare Krishna at the Birmingham Ratha-yatra stage show (https://youtu.be/VXblM6hj5zg):

Here Parasurama Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham Ratha-yatra stage show, and one Muslim girl has a great time dancing with the devotee ladies (https://youtu.be/UA3Z4TgVtEo):

After the line for the free feast considerably diminished, the servers left, so I ended up serving the last hour or so by myself. I felt happy serving prasadam because I know that both Lord Jagannatha and Srila Prabhupada are very enthusiastic to see that as many people get as much prasadam as possible. Parasurama Prabhu cooked the feast, and the curd sabji and the srikhand were excellent as usual. I also helped clean up, which I do not usually do. Thus I feel I got some special mercy.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Manchester

Karsna Prabhu, his wife, Aharada Devi Dasi, and his son, Mark, chant Hare Krishna, along with three other Manchester harinama regulars on Market Street in Manchester. Two devotees left earlier, so we had nine altogether on this rare Monday evening harinama (https://youtu.be/vWHDJgOaz0k):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Dublin with Harinama Ruci

I was very happy that although I missed chanting with Harinama Ruci in London before the London Ratha-yatra, I was able to join them in chanting in Dublin before the Dublin Ratha-yatra.

Dublin is a great place for chanting Hare Krishna because the people are religious, musical, and charitable.

As you arrive at the airport, a clock tower near the parking lot proclaims, “God is love”!

Dublin is more peaceful, the devotees are able to take a little more variety of items from the restaurant, I always get enough sleep there, and I think the people are more likely to interact with us, so it is just as well.

So many people had a great time chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and dancing with us I would take 6 GB of video a day of the highlights, and it took me so long to edit, upload, and describe it all!

Here Harinamananda Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Dublin and many dance (https://youtu.be/ORWR2OUNtP8):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Dublin, and many dance, including several groups of visiting students (https://youtu.be/efjutRyUA1c):

In addition to chanting and dancing, sometimes people would play the shakers.

Waitresses at Le Petit Parisien cafe in Dublin delight in chanting Hare Krishna and dancing with Harinama Ruci, led by Harinamananda Prabhu (https://youtu.be/LOh-WhGhLvU):

Harinamananda Prabhu, leading the chanting of Hare Krishna for Harinama Ruci, boldly decided to bring the party into The International Bar. The young man behind the counter seemed uncertain about what to do, but the customers were happy to interact with us by singing, dancing, taking photos and banging on the instruments (https://youtu.be/6PUGzVUN-2g):

Here Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna accompanied by a Brazilian guitarist in Dublin (https://youtu.be/0AvD4zCaAFE):

Later the Brazilian guitarist sang My Sweet Lord”, and Sundar Nitai Prabhu sa“ng the Hare Krishna chorus (https://youtu.be/gwIKG5XVH_M):

Here Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna accompanied by a Dublin bass player, and passersby dance (https://youtu.be/stxvaQaE_CQ):

Later some youthful Italian tourists, who used to dance together for fun, enthusiastically danced to the Hare Krishna chant (https://youtu.be/jlQUeVCcReM):

Later those Italian youths joined us in chanting Hare Krishna in the Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics shop (https://youtu.be/7bBVntpAQ08):

The Lush cosmetics workers enjoyed the experience so much they gave everyone in our party some natural deodorant in charity!

Harinamananda Prabhu of Harinama Ruci engages Dublin residents and tourists in chanting Hare Krishna and dancing (https://youtu.be/DEANsh_ne-s):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Dublin on the Friday before Ratha-yatra and induces many to chant and dance (https://youtu.be/mjiW68cmD64):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci engages a whole group of Dublin tourists in chanting Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/_OcI26l0zN8):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci engages still more Dublin tourists in chanting Hare Krishna and dancing (https://youtu.be/-GEbFkKe0zc):

Sometimes street performers would interact with us.

Vishnujana Prabhu encouraged this group of youths to dance.

He also tried to interest people in spiritual literature.

Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Dublin while street performers act (https://youtu.be/vsosrsUS1bA):

Kurma Prabhu of Australia, now based in Ireland, chants Hare Krishna wonderfully at Dublin Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/Hp9TWRYzOZw):

People on passing tour buses would take photos of the Ratha-yatra procession.

Janananda Goswami, who is full of spiritual enthusiasm, chants Hare Krishna in Dublin Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/i6BpDDXYs1w):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Dublin Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/KDPz_lfDUgI):

Emma, one young lady who had been to India and was vegetarian, followed almost the entire procession and came to the stage show afterwards. Here she plays shakers along with her boyfriend.

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna as Srila Prabhupada, followed by Lord Baladeva, Lady Subhadra, and Lord Jagannatha, enters St Stephen’s Green Park where we have the stage show after the Dublin Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/LlMJDK5SCFU):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Dublin Ratha-yatra stage show final kirtan in St Stephen’s Green Park (https://youtu.be/dAjq3wQdZuo):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on the way back to the temple from Dublin Ratha-yatra, and passersby dance with Harinamananda Prabhu (https://youtu.be/JBdN9PTsDoE):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the midst of a crowded street, and several people dance (https://youtu.be/wb3D7DOC2JE):

Sundar Nitai chants Hare Krishna while a guy plays bagpipes and ladies dance in Dublin (https://youtu.be/Eo681oTacSg):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Dublin, and two ladies happily play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/DqLxe3FqINA):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Carrolls Irish Gifts shop (https://youtu.be/Z6EKF-FZ45Q):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Dublin, and kids dance (https://youtu.be/T1vuHvSBZmU):

That night Lord Jagannatha stayed in the Dublin temple en route to Belfast for the next day’s Ratha-yatra, rather than returning to Inis Rath Island, his home, which was out of the way. Karunesari and Silavati Devi Dasis dressed Him in the evening, and encouraged me to perform mangala-arati for Him the next day, which I did. All glories to Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Belfast

Savyasaci Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the rain before the Belfast Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/PXCLceF6od4):

Savyasaci Prabhu continues to chant Hare Krishna in the rain as Lord Jagannatha boards His cart, and Janananda Goswami dances (https://youtu.be/0GgFaDDf60c):

Manu Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Belfast Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/MV-v2y6cJ-k):

Savyasaci Prabhu chants Hare Krishna as Lord Jagannatha, Lady Subhadra, Lord Baladeva, and Srila Prabhupada are carried from the Ratha-yatra cart to the Shaftesbury Community & Recreation Centre, where a program of chanting and prasadam distribution was held after the Ratha-yatra in Belfast (https://youtu.be/wS0HMivTca0):

Manu Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after the Belfast Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/MV-v2y6cJ-k):

The one day I was in Belfast two devotees told me how the writings of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami saved their spiritual lives. Ananda Hari Prabhu, who has home programs at his place in Wicklow, said it was difficult for him to read Srila Prabhupada’s books but he found he could read Srila Prabhupada-lilarmrita, and in that way greatly deepen his appreciation of Srila Prabhupada. Thus he expressed great gratitude to Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami for that book. Sri Rupa Prabhu, who is now living near the Inis Rath island and appreciating the devotional association there, said that he learned by reading Gurudeva and Nimai that it is alright to be yourself in Krishna consciousness, an important lesson that saved his devotional life.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Berlin

I advertised on Facebook that I wanted to do harinama in Berlin, and Gaura, originally from Greece, but living in Germany for many years, was the only one who took me up on my offer. As it was pouring rain we decided to chant at a train station where we would be protected from the downpour. We lasted seven minutes at the S-Bahn station at Berlin-Gesundbrunnen, before security asked us to move. During that time, however, Gaura was able to sell a German Krishna book which was auspicious. We continued for the remainder of the three hours we planned to chant, at the U-Bahn station nearby. Although authorities and locals encouraged us to reduce our volume, we were permitted to continue. Some people moved to our music, others gave donations, one girl played the shakers briefly, and some people were genuinely curious about what the chanting was all about. I was encouraged by the response.

Harinama Report

I decided to record and report where I do harinama each day, how long we chant for, and how many devotees participate. The numbers of the devotees for the Ratha-yatras are just estimates. In this two week period at the end of July only one day did I chant by myself, which is better than usual. Thanks to all the devotees who assisted.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.32 in Los Angeles on December 10, 1973:

“‘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.”

“Perfect in Krishna consciousness means no more material desire. That’s all. Only Krishna. That is perfection. So long you will have a pinch of material desire, you will have to take birth. According to your desire, Krishna will give you facility.”

“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.’ That is Krishna business. He is so kind.”

From “Krishna, the Supreme Controller” [an edited transcript of a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.2 in San Franscisco on September 11, 1968] in Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2019):

“You cannot deny God just by saying, ‘There is no God.’ God is the controller, the supreme controller. You cannot say that you are not controlled. There is a controller. . . . And the supreme controller is Krishna. There is one controller over another controller. If you go on searching out who is the ultimate controller, then you’ll find Krishna.”

“Always remember that Arjuna surrendered himself to Krishna and therefore Krishna is speaking to him.”

“God and how things are working and how things are being controlled – these are to be known. We should not go simply by sentiment. Religious sentiment is good for persons who follow blindly. But at the present moment people are advanced in so-called education. Bhagavad-gita gives you full information so that you can accept God with your reason, with your arguments, with your knowledge. It is not blind following. Krishna consciousness is not a sentiment. It is backed by knowledge, or jñana, and practical knowledge, vijñana.”

“The process to understand this knowledge is to be a surrendered soul. Therefore one becomes a disciple, or one who accepts the discipline. Without accepting discipline, we cannot make any progress. It is not possible. If you want to be aware in any field of knowledge, any field of activity, scientifically and factually, then you should accept the controlling principle.”

“When we are fully convinced that ‘I am part and parcel of Krishna,’ that is Krishna consciousness, and that is purification of your senses.

“As part and parcel of Krishna you have to serve Krishna. That is your pleasure. Now you are trying to satisfy your senses, your material senses. When you realize that you are part and parcel of Krishna, then you’ll satisfy the senses of Krishna, Govinda. And by satisfying His senses, your senses will be satisfied.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.25, purport:

“A summary of Krishna consciousness is given in Bhagavad-gita (9.27):

yat karosi yad asnasi

yaj juhosi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kurusva mad-arpanam

‘Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you give in charity and whatever penances you undergo should be done in Krishna consciousness, or for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ If all the people of the state, including the government servants, are taught the techniques of spiritual life, then although everyone is liable to be punished in different ways by the stringent laws of material nature, they will not be implicated.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.26:

[King Prithu said:] “I request all the pure-hearted demigods, forefathers and saintly persons to support my proposal, for after death the result of an action is equally shared by its doer, its director and its supporter.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.26, purport:

“Since the Krishna consciousness movement going on at the present moment is genuine, perfect and authorized and is following in the footsteps of Prithu Maharaja, anyone who cooperates with this movement or accepts its principles will get the same result as the workers who are actively propagating Krishna consciousness.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.7.21:

[Prahlada Maharaja said:] “An expert geologist can understand where there is gold and by various processes can extract it from the gold ore. Similarly, a spiritually advanced person can understand how the spiritual particle exists within the body, and thus by cultivating spiritual knowledge he can attain perfection in spiritual life. However, as one who is not expert cannot understand where there is gold, a foolish person who has not cultivated spiritual knowledge cannot understand how the spirit exists within the body.”

The servants of Srila Prabhupada who finished translating Srimad-Bhagavatam:

From Srimad-Bhagatavam 10.87.25, purport:

“The Yoga-sutras acknowledge the Personality of Godhead in an oblique way, but only as a helper whom the advancing yogi can utilize. Isvara-pranidhanad va: ‘Devotional meditation on God is yet another means of achieving concentration.’” (Yoga-sutra 1.23)

“As the Katha Upanishad (1.2.5) says: avidyayam antare vartamanah svayam dhirah paṇditam-manyamanah janghanyamanah pariyanti mudha andhenaiva niyamana yathandhah ‘Caught in the grip of ignorance, self-proclaimed experts consider themselves learned authorities. They wander about this world befooled, like the blind leading the blind.’”

“Srila Sridhara Svami prays: ‘For the bewildered soul wandering within the darkness of those exalted philosophies promoted by the harsh methods of false logic, the path of true knowledge of You, O Lord of magnificent glory, remains invisible. O Lord of Madhu, husband of the goddess of fortune, when will I become liberated by joyfully chanting Your names – Madhava, Vamana, Trinayana, Sri Sankara, Sripati and Govinda?’”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Free Write Journal #49:

“My most widely-accepted book, Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, was begun almost immediately after Prabhupada’s disappearance. I was commissioned to do the authoritative biography of His Divine Grace by the GBC. I worked with a team of devotees who assisted me in getting interviews, typing, editing, etc. While I wrote the Lilamrta, I felt personally empowered by Prabhupada and Krishna to continue the work, volume by volume. The warm and enthusiastic reception of the biography as it was published volume after volume was very inspiring to me. My writing career was validated by that one book.”

Adikarta Prabhu:

The Vedas are meant to give knowledge, and the highest knowledge is Krishna consciousness.

The highest realization is to understand Krishna is God.

One time Srila Prabhupada said that the trouble with my disciples is they want to go to the heavenly planets.

The devotees who sacrifice everything for Krishna are the most satisfied.

England is great because we have the freedom to chant Hare Krishna in public. That is not true everywhere, for example, the Middle East.

It is hard being in a materialistic country. When the Russians come to America, they become less generous than they were in Russia when they had less.

It is amazing that the mayor of London is a Muslim. A lot of places would discriminate against such people but the British are liberal in that way.

I feel I was able to fulfill practically whatever material desires I had in my Krishna conscious household life so I do not have so many material desires.

I used to listen to all kinds of music, but I do not now. The people who play that kind of music are not satisfied, so how can we be satisfied by hearing it?

I feel that if I did not go out preaching and experience that bliss, I would probably have a lot more material desires.

Nagaraja Prabhu:

From Essential Qualities” in “Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2019):

“Learning the philosophy of Krishna consciousness should naturally make us enthusiastic. Prabhupada writes, ‘One should accept this opportunity to return home, back to Godhead, very enthusiastically.’ Enthusiasm in our spiritual practices shows that we truly understand what has been made available to us.”

“Patience is not a quality our modern lives tend to inspire. Today we can get almost anything we want very quickly. But material things are impermanent, and therefore not of ultimate value. Being patient about reaching the perfection of Krishna consciousness shows that we truly appreciate its value. As Prabhupada repeatedly told us, ‘Don’t take it as a cheap thing.’

“There’s simply nothing more valuable than entering our relationship with Krishna. Our longing for it and our determination to work for it for many lifetimes, if need be, are the attitudes that will inspire Krishna to grant us His priceless company.”

Satyaraja Prabhu:

From “Bhagavata Mahatmya: The Journey and Rejuvenation of Bhakti Devi” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2019):

“The Bhagavata Mahatmya gives readers inspiration to read this best of all Puranas. ‘After the Bhagavatam’s recitation,’ the Bhagavata Mahatmya tells us, ‘Jñana, Vairagya, and Bhakti were at their best. Being young and enthusiastic, they attracted the hearts of all living entities. . . . In the midst of everyone, Bhakti, Jñana, and Vairagya danced like expert performers.’”

Bhakti Prabhava Swami:

Simply by pulling the cart of Lord Jagannatha we purify our hearts so we can experience love of God, the greatest love, for we all aspire to love and to be loved.

Dayananda Swami:

It said it is better to give than to receive. Why? Because we feel pleasure when we give.

In Ratha-yatra, Lord Jagannatha is teaching us how to give.

Srila Prabhupada said that everyone who sees Lord Jagannatha on His cart is ultimately liberated.

Caitanya Carana Prabhu:

From Lust Bites the Dust” in “Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2019):

“The Ramayana is an Itihasa, a genre of spiritual literature based on historical accounts. Yet its significance extends far beyond mere historical reporting. It depicts timeless values that can guide people through all times in history to attain the world beyond history – the timeless spiritual arena of existence.”

“Seen from this value-centered perspective, Ravana’s reappearing heads might represent our lower desires. Even if we reject one such desire, others keep appearing, as did Ravana’s heads. Just as Rama succeeded only when He directed His arrow not towards the heads but towards the heart, similarly we can succeed when we direct our purificatory effort not towards specific desires but towards our heart, towards the misdirection of our love away from the Lord to the world.”

“Ravana’s ten heads were conspicuous. Yet his strength lay not there, but in a less conspicuous part: his heart. Similarly, gross wrongdoings are conspicuous. But what corrupts us most is not such specific wrongdoings, but our fundamental wrongdoing of being disconnected from divinity. Wrongdoing refers not just to the wrong we do, but also the right we don’t do. As long as we don’t do the right of connecting devotionally with our Lord, we will keep succumbing to one wrong desire or another – the heads will keep reappearing. When we make our heart right by practicing bhakti-yoga diligently, our lower desires soon get exiled from our heart, fully and forever.”

Nandini Kisori Devi Dasi:

From MotelGita: Solace for the Traveling Soul” in “Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2019):

“It was business as usual at a Ramada Inn in New Jersey. The receptionist was busy at the front desk when suddenly a customer stormed through the door. While the receptionist assigned him a room, the man, who appeared angry, noticed a random book on the counter. He grabbed the book along with his room key. The next morning, he emerged from his room peacefully, and gladly thanked the hotel’s manager for the book. “I checked into your hotel last night to commit suicide,” he said. “But I found this book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I read, and kept reading, and forgot my plan. This book saved my life.”

“Seventy percent of motels in the United States are owned by Gujaratis. This widespread venue for planting the Gita has the potential to spiritualize the lives of countless people for many years to come.”

Harinamananda Prabhu:

Desire brings us to the material world, and desire can get us out of the material world.

If the desire for unalloyed for devotional service is not present then we will have desires for sense gratification.

We develop all kinds of desires simply by hearing.

Q (by Ananta Gauranga Prabhu): How can we engage fully in devotional service if we have material desires?

A: My spiritual master, Kadamba Kanana Swami, says what you do is you put all your material desires in a box, and just fully engage in devotional service. Then later when you look in the box you find that Krishna removed them.

I was engaged by the devotees in cutting fruits for Krishna in the morning during the morning program. I was not inclined. I did it anyway, but after awhile I developed a taste for it, and I looked forward to it.

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Why perform devotional service to Krishna? The sages tell us, from their own experience, that it enlivens the soul. I recall loving this verse ever since the mid 1980s:

ato vai kavayo nityam

bhaktim paramaya muda

vasudeve bhagavati

kurvanty atma-prasadanim

“Certainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional service to Lord Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.22)