Travel Journal#15.22: New York City and Albany

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 15, No. 22 

By Krishna Kripa Das 

(November 2019, part two)

New York City and Albany

(Sent from New York City on December 7, 2019)

Where I Went and What I Did

The second half of November I spent five days taking care of my mother in Albany and ten days chanting Hare Krishna daily with the Yuga Dharma Ashram party in New York City, one day outside at Times Square and the other nine days in different New York City subway stations. During that time, Janananda Goswami, who I work with in The North of England and Paris in the summer, visited our harinama party in New York City.

I share notes on lectures by Srila Prabhupada. I include many excerpts from Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s series, Every Day, Just Write, both poetry and prose, and a few from his Free Write Journal. I share notes on lectures by Prabhupada disciples: Romapada Swami, Hansa Rupa Prabhu, and Ramesvara Prabhu. I also share notes on classes by Rama Raya, Vishnu-citta, and Gopal Campu Prabhus. I share quotes from an article by Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi in Back to Godhead magazine. I share some comments made during and after my class at 26 Second Ave. by Glykeria, who has been attending programs there for several years. I share notes on a meeting of the Capital District Border Watch, an Albany group concerned about human rights violations at U.S. borders.

I would like to thank the devotees at the Wednesday program at 26 Second Avenue for their very generous donation, following my visit to their weekly class on the Science of Self-Realization. I thank my mother for contributing to my travel to Albany.

Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for the nice video of Janananda Goswami chanting Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station and devotees dancing.

Itinerary

October 1 – December: NYC Yuga Dharma harinamas

December 7: Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Vyasa-puja in Stuyvesant Falls

December 24: visiting relatives in Albany

December 28: Bhagavad-gita at 26 Second Avenue

January–April 2020: North and Central Florida colleges

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City

Prabhupada disciple, Janananda Goswami, a great advocate of the public chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra who I work with in Paris and The North of England in the summer, chanted Hare Krishna in the Times Square subway station with the Yuga Dharma Ashram devotees, and devotees danced in jubilation.

It was beautiful to see the inspiring influence Janananda Goswami had on the youthful members of our party.

Kaliya Krishna Prabhu took this nice video which is the source of the above snapshot (https://youtu.be/-a38yr4Btvk):

I also took some video of Janananda Goswami chanting there (https://youtu.be/vlkjLM9V2GY):

Chaitanya Thomas, the young man playing drum in the above videos, visited us from North Carolina when our party was understaffed for several days. He greatly helped out by both his drumming and his enthusiasm, and he plans to return again in January or February, when he gets more free time.

Here Dina Bandhu Prabhu, a disciple of Janananda Goswami from New Jersey, chants Hare Krishna at Times Square (https://youtu.be/hU5tJvFAW1w):

Janananda Goswami has several disciples in New Jersey he visits almost every year, and he often comes to join us on harinama in New York City at least once during his visit. He came the previous day during this visit to the USA, but as I was in Albany, I could not participate.

On that same day I took the video of Janananda Goswami, one older woman seemed to be enjoying our chanting so I offered her some free literature. 

She said she was familiar with the devotees since the late 1960s in Heidelberg, Germany. She said the devotees stayed at her place. When they wanted their own place, because of not being German citizens they could not rent one, so she and her husband leased an apartment and let them use it. I asked her if she knew Sivananda, the devotee Srila Prabhupada originally sent to Germany, and she said yes. She explained at that time she sang in the opera, but now she is a lawyer in New York, and she said was struck by the joy in our chanting. Her name is Jackie, and she let me take her contact details and her photo.

Here Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station, and a man plays shakers (https://youtu.be/8q_VJ3gDCoc):

Later Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there in Jackson Heights, and Bhakta Avatar Prabhu and Mahagopi Radhika Devidasi danced (https://youtu.be/3E2GYjLdWCw):

Braja-raja Prabhu, who regularly led the chanting for our Yuga Dharma party when his life was simpler, chanted with us recently when he and his wife encountered us at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/nzERpJgSlgM):

It was great to see and hear Braja-raja again!

Later Kalki Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and a young lady who was passing by joyfully danced (https://youtu.be/g3aLMVScKO4):

Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 26 2nd Avenue, the first ISKCON temple in the USA, in the presence of his guru, Romapada Swami, after the swami’s Saturday evening Bhagavad-gita class there (https://youtu.be/SXzJz5uQlyA):

Here Deva Damodara Prabhu, visiting from Ukraine for several months, chants Hare Krishna, and Mr. Liberty plays whompers on our outdoor harinama on Sunday at Times Square (https://youtu.be/hF3GK2t03D8):

While Deva Damodara Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at Times Square, many danced (https://youtu.be/V7LL0gi_y0M):

Gaura Hari Prabhu, originally from Denmark, who I knew from my summers in Europe, chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/NvwWhFxavCA):

Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and Gaura Hari Prabhu plays flute (https://youtu.be/STWwtDaXkGo):

Kalki Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and two moms play shakers (https://youtu.be/PSlsagX5Ucs):

Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at our usual location in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn, and passersby dance (https://youtu.be/j0XTiGpGi24):

Deva Damodara Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/ebewRLNDaD4):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and a devotee lady passing by dances (https://youtu.be/uUDaalOwVBQ):

Deva Damodara Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/10b8YpdFQcA):

Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/gctQkbXGTKk):

Mina Devi and JayaJagannath Prabhu chant Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Tuesday Night Kirtan (https://youtu.be/9fR8sWSZvgA):

Ananda-bihari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Thanksgiving in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/SMC7bD2DpGw):

After Ananda-bihari Prabhu’s kirtan, his wife, Cinmayi Radha Devi Dasi, assisted by her daughter, Gaurangi, served pumpkin pie she made for the Yuga Dharma Ashram harinama party. 

The couple has been supporters of our party for many years. Although from Ukraine and Russia, respectively, the husband and wife have assimilated the American custom of having pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving to our great benefit.

As it was Thursday, I attended the evening kirtan at the Bhakti Center, getting there late as I obtained some Thanksgiving feast leftovers from Radha Govinda Mandir for my friends in our harinama ashram.

Here Lalita Priya Devi chants Hare Krishna on Thanksgiving at the Bhakti Center Thursday night kirtan (https://youtu.be/agwQrpNLwgI):

Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Jingle Bells” tune in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/Gu4xfyp42Yo):

Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to a lively tune in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/Tyo_kpsUwyg):

On the last day of November, Rama Raya Prabhu, a senior disciple of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami and leader of the Yuga Dharma Ashram harinama party, chanted Hare Krishna at 26 2nd Avenue, following his lecture on Bhagavad-gita 18.67 at the weekly Saturday program there, where he speaks several times each year (https://youtu.be/F-uLs4fSjLQ):

Chant and Be Happy

Srila Prabhupada disciple and performer, Parividha Prabhu, sent me these photos of me chanting on harinama in Europe, probably in Amsterdam, where he is based. Seeing my obvious happiness on the chanting party, I am reminded of this verse which tells of the joy of the pure chanting we all aspire for. It is Krishna’s kindness we get glimpses of that joy as we traverse our path to perfection.

“The Absolute Truth is Sri Krishna, and loving devotion to Sri Krishna exhibited in pure love is achieved through congregational chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all bliss.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 1.96) 

Also this “Siksastaka” verse number one is relevant, All glories to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.”

“

Visiting Albany

While I was visiting my mother in Albany, a couple hours after I dropped her off at the Sustainable Living Fair, she tripped on the edge of some Astroturf while holding a plate of food, and fell on her elbow and knee. Neither were fractured, but she had a really bad cut on her knee that required stitches and her lower leg. Fortunately many of her friends were at the festival to assist her and call my sister, and the hospital was just an eighth of a mile away. That was Saturday. They kept her in the hospital two nights to make sure the swelling was going down. Sunday was the day she goes to her Quaker meeting. It was the one Sunday a month the Quakers have a potluck meal after the meeting for worship. I usually make the carrot-coconut rice from Yamuna Devi’s cookbook and coconut burfi for it, and my mother makes salad. I had already made the coconut burfi before my mother’s accident, and I had purchased ingredients for the salad and rice. I did not have time to make both the salad and the rice, so I made the salad. Thus I represented my mother at the Quaker meeting by making the salad and by making one announcement about a Monday event speaking event regarding the U.S. government agents mistreating immigrants at the border.

From attending so many Hare Krishna programs which end with prasadam distribution, when I saw a couple college students who had attended the Quaker meeting were leaving before lunch I made sure they got some of my coconuts sweets before they left. I had not realized how deeply I imbibed that idea that a spiritual gathering is not complete without distribution of spiritual food. During the luncheon I was happy to find my coconuts sweets were very popular, and one older Quaker lady had three of them. Afterward I went to the hospital to check on my mother, who was visited by my sister and her partner Victor since that morning.

While visiting my mother I cooked oatmeal for breakfast and soup for lunch every day but the last. That day I made kofta balls and sauce and Victor made spaghetti and apple crisp for dinner. I also took my mother to the doctor and purchased medicine for her.

Thinking about taking care of our parents in their old age, it occurs to me that even if we were completely dedicated to it, we could not match the amount of service our parents, especially our mothers, did for us throughout our babyhood, childhood, and youth. Thus we should not be miserly in taking care of them in their infirmity. I still have to come to the point of acting on that level. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to implement varnasrama dharma, and part of that is sons taking care of their mothers.

Lord Caitanya, the incarnation of Krishna as the ideal spiritual preceptor in this age, expresses the feelings of indebtedness He has to his mother in these words, “My dear mother, please hear. This body belongs to you. I do not possess anything. This body was raised by you, and it comes from you. I cannot repay this debt even in millions of births. Knowingly or unknowingly I have accepted this renounced order. Still, I shall never be indifferent to you. My dear mother, wherever you ask Me to stay I shall stay, and whatever you order I shall execute.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 3.145–48) After saying this, the Lord offered obeisances to His mother again and again.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.10 in Vrindavan on September 9, 1976:

“If we fix up our mind always at the lotus feet of Krishna, then everything will follow very perfectly. That is promised by Krishna. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. If one is engaged always in love and affection. . . . Not as official love. Ecstatic love, spontaneous, that is wanted.”

Less intelligent people say the typewriter is doing the writing when it is actually the person using the typewriter who is the author. Similarly the rascals speak of things being done by nature, when actually it is the Supreme Lord who is behind the nature who is the doer.

“So this is a wrong idea, that matter is doing independently. That is not possible. Therefore it is clearly said in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. Matter does not work. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His different energies, He is working. That is Krishna. You have to understand like that. Krishna is in the background.”

“For the sake of knowledge, everyone should study this Vedic literature. And it is summarized in Vedanta-sutra. Therefore it is called Vedanta-sutra. Sutra means summarized. Athato brahma jijñasa. Now these two words, atha atah brahma-jijñasa –four words – it contains volumes of knowledge. Therefore it is called sutra.”

“As advised by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, siddhanta baliya citte na kara alasa, don’t be lazy. Always try to understand Krishna, siddhanta, by siddhanta, by Vedic conclusion—not by manufacturing ideas. Siddhanta. Don’t be lazy.”

From an Arrival Address in Los Angeles:

“Our movement is very easy because we haven’t got to manufacture something. We simply repeat the words and the instruction given by the predecessor.”

“So we have to simply take instruction from guru, and if we execute that to our heart and soul, that is success. That is practical. I have no personal qualification, but I simply tried to satisfy my guru. That’s all. My Guru Maharaja asked me that ‘If you get some money, you print books.’”

“Dr. Stillson Judah, he has written one book, perhaps you know, Hare Krishna and [the] Counterculture, a very nice book about our movement, and he is giving importance. He has admitted that ‘Swamiji, you have done wonderful thing because you have turned the drug-addicted hippies into devotees of Krishna, and they are prepared for the service of humanity.’”

“This is Krishna consciousness movement. . . . It is not unnatural. Otherwise how you European, American, you are so much attracted to Krishna? If Krishna is artificial and Krishna consciousness is artificial something, so how you should be attracted? That they are surprised. They are attracted because that attraction is there already. We are trying simply to awaken that attraction.”

“Our position is, natural position is, to be attracted by Krishna. If we do not become attracted by Krishna, that is unnatural. And to become attracted by Krishna, that is not unnatural. That is natural.”

“When we become cleansed of all dirty things of material modes of nature, then we are prepared to serve Krishna.”

From a story about Bilvamangala Thakura:

Bilvamangala Thakura said, “When Krishna comes to supply me milk what need is there for mukti [liberation].”

From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6 in Calcutta on February 23, 1972:

“The Pandavas were put into distress artificially. Prahlada Maharaja was put into distress by his father, but ultimately he came out victorious. So we should not be disturbed even if superficially we see that a devotee is in distress. A real devotee does not take anything as distress. He takes everything as Krishna’s mercy. Otherwise, that is not pure devotion.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, pages 78–79:

“Why would such an inconsequential person

write and publish so much? I’ve written fifty

times more than Saint Thérèse and much more

than Teresa, I rival Dostoevsky, Shakespeare…

in volume. Out did Thoreau long ago.

Shut up, enough already some shout from

the reader’s balcony. But when you’ve been

given a pen and time you just keep

going…”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, pages 82–83:

“I used to be involved in mentally burdensome

management I’d escape to a woods or park or hill

and feel immediate solace, in Allston, in Dallas,

in Vrindavan, in Mayapur GBC…You climb

up and feel clear – Paramatma park.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, pages 95–96:

“They got their poems you got

your own, everybody’s making some

propaganda, trying not to be impeached,

imprisoned, trying to win a prize,

ascend to the throne temporary

or eternal.

“‘We’re saving souls.’ Madhu makes fun

of ISKCON preachers who on high horses

don’t notice their own souls are enmired.

Yeah, stay away. So I was saying,

everyone is making his propaganda.

On a horse,

in a house,

you make a song or game and

hope to mesmerize, then slip them

the mickey…”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, page 130–31:

“And praying before Him with an

inner wink – he has to see

the good or I am lost.

It’s He who gives the bhakti

and the process and the ability to

say the prayers and the words.

He might as well take me,

but that’s my job –

to give.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, page 142–43:

“We will turn to Krishna as our master

says – no boat can save you,

no doctor or doting parent –

if your number is up. So you

might as well turn to Providence alone.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, page 160–61:

“Dear Lord, dear Brother of Gaura,

remember I used to worship Your murti,

and now I have your picture and my

Srila Prabhupada is the guru-tattva…

please link me in my chanting.

“Gaura-Nitai. Hare Krishna.

Write as you will and may the

spirited madness descend on you

from the great avadhuta,

hari-nama is free

but you have to put your head down

at His feet if you’re lucky,

as was Raghunatha whom He told

to prepare a big feast

for the devotees. And he did and

prospered a million times –

gained direct shelter of Gauranga

and residence at Radha-kunda.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, page 164–65:

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, you have to

answer the inner call. You have to

answer the master and sastra,

you have to die and be reborn.

But it’s your choice at every step. So

pray for that – make your

pictures in KC or not at all.”

“The Lord has

given us a hand and will give us

a hand, we have only to reach out

and renounce this world

the controlling, malicious greed.

I don’t know. It’s just

what I heard

and believe.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 39, pages 393–95:

“I’ve been given a stubborn and rascal mind, because

I wanted it, from past karma. It plagues me and does

not assist me in the real work of surrender to Krishna

and guru.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, page 21:

“Krishna means He attracts

Rama means He’s in bliss

Syama means dark and beautiful

Now, say the holy names

and be happy in simple life.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 180–81:

“I have nothing to say but

what I’ve heard

Krishna say

and no reason to say it

except my master says speak.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 184–85:

“Some words and you and I

some pills and when done no

pills, some life duration and then

none, giggles then sorrows. Pride

that something great happened through me

and reduction to nothingness.

I ask God to carry me

and me to carry Him.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 198–99:

“I have the same non-vague philosophy

of God to speak and the form of God

is not concocted by a poet or artist.

He is Krishna. I accept and believe,

but I need huge help and

great advancement before I’m anywhere.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 212–13:

“Should care for others. My own body hurts –

does it make me more compassionate? How much

trouble we take on ourselves and cause for others

when we leave the Lord’s abode.

We should be smart and get back to Godhead.”

“O God, Hare Krishna, take each moment and

try to transcend. Be aware of Swami’s

teachings, reach in yourself for wisdom

to be respectful at his feet. And ask

yourself please can I take an assignment

in his cause?

“The sankirtana movement keeps

flowing like a Ganges

of many tributaries and tribulations too. It keeps

cutting its way, don’t doubt that. Make

a list of all souls who come here, all passed

away and all return. Only one sustains

them: Eko yo bahunam yo vidadhati kaman

All glories to Sri Krishna and His parisads

all glories to the pure devotees who teach it

I write this day in poverty.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 216–18:

“All that matters is you and God and

whatever you did – if you are sincere

He’ll know it. He is infinitely kind,

but you can’t cheat Him.

He sees your Swami in your heart and

your faults and He decides and

I decide, am deciding even now

I call for help.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 249–50:

“I can

repeat what I heard in the book and

can imitate Tukarama and say, ‘Reading

the scripture about you, Govinda is not enough –

I want realization. Please give it to me or

your reputation will be hurt.’”

“Tuka says it’s the

most difficult thing in the world to

please Lord Hari by writing poems.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 267–68:

“Rise up to Lord Krishna. You should be so fortunate as

to phone

Him in the spiritual world. Lord? This is me,

(I wouldn’t have to say, ‘Stephen Guarino

in Ireland,’) – but

it’s me Satsvarupa dasa (forget Goswami) –

Do You love me,

remember me? I know You do. God is infinite, and

He wouldn’t give you the impression

that this phone-call

better be brief because He’s busy with

other erring and pure

souls. He can give you all His time.

“And yet I can call Dr. Krohe but not

the Supreme Lord.

Prabhupada says (can I call him?) that chanting the

Lord’s names is as good as being with Him.

Why don’t I feel it? Why not chant

with the expectation

and willing submission with which I call my doctor?”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 270–71:

“Your job is to preach. Sorry about

that word. Canvass. Enlighten.

Share, take your pick.”

“Tell. Educate. Trick. Food for life.

Life for life. God is Krishna. Krishna is Krishna.

The devotee lives in his own world and goes

out to make propaganda, sell books, polish

slippers, collect laksmi, bear witness and

then he comes back to the temple mandir

house (takes shoes off outside, wears dhoti,

shaves head, puts on tilaka) – smiles to the

arriving guests and gets ready to honor

prasadam perhaps the most favorite

part of the day – brief (ten minutes) as it

is, take rest, fry out, don’t believe

you’ll ever die, aham brahmasmi

I am Krishna’s slave.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 305–6:

“You better love God

or you’ll soon be a dog

you jerk, wake up

don’t meat-eat sup,

take prasadam from my hand

I’m better than you –

you belong in the zoo.”

[I include the above because it is humorous and not as a recommended preaching strategy.]

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 319–20:

“I just hope I don’t get reborn

but if so, I pray like Maharaja Pariksit –

another renounced man – for fixed

devotion unto Krishna, friend to devotees

and giving love to all.

That’s all.”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40, pages 334–35:

“holy dhama

you should be glad – don’t offend,

Radharani’s watching. And the GBC.”

From “Awaiting Krishna’s Appearance” in Every Day, Just Write, Volume 31, Part Two, pages 24–25

“I am however, waiting for that, for Krishna to appear in me more than He has done so far. I don’t want to peter out with less and less Krishna consciousness due to old age and disease. I like my Krishna consciousness to flourish. You become more auspicious, and even as you die you are not condemned but auspicious. The peaceful devotee goes to Krishna because he’s full of Krishna.”

“The ‘Kamsa’ of inattention has been preventing me from chanting with awareness of God’s presence, but if Krishna nama will appear in me, I’ll suddenly be able to light the fire of sankirtana-yajna.”

“I fear it [my free-writing] may stray outside the Krishna conscious canon. But I am already straying every hour and every minute in my consciousness. The writing is only catching some of it and holding it up for my attention and that of others: ‘Look, this is how we actually live. We claim we are devotees, but this is what passes through our minds.’”

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 29, Part One:

“You do have something to say. You discover it by writing. Writing is a most important spiritual discipline for me.” (pages 84–85)

“The life force of my words is Krishna. Krishna is the life force of everything. I say ‘my words’ but I don’t own them. They pass through me. By convention we say my house, my head, my soul. But a pure devotee thinks that whatever he has actually belongs to Krishna. Hrsikesa hrsikena…Krishna is the controller of the senses and my senses should be used in His service. My words should be used in His service. He gives the power. If you take the power but don’t serve Him with it, you are a thief. You will be punished. You will cheat only yourself. I like this thought and feeling that Krishna is the life force (prana) of my words. The words become energetic (not just madness or wheels spinning in vain) when they are used in devotional service. It also means there is no wearing out of energy or valuable things to say if you link up to the force. Whether you acknowledge it or not, your source of strength is Krishna.” (pages 139–40)

“You write free-write, soft write, right words and whatever you can. May He come through me so it’s an engaging Krishna conscious stream.” (page 149)

“I have no life in words or any kind of life except that it’s given by Lord Krishna. He is the Supersoul and the individual soul is His part and parcel (mam evamsah jiva loka jiva bhuta sanatanah). I am the entangled living being who cannot speak anything but the modes of nature unless He gives me some transcendental inspiration.” (pages 156–57).

“Try to make the make the writing more Krishna conscious – it’s like saying try to make yourself Krishna conscious. A worthy aspiration. Not to be shrugged off as “it’s impossible to improve in anyway; we are stuck with repetitive writing, low level bhajana.” Pray to Krishna to help you.” (page 183)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 29, Part Two:

“Krishna is the life force of my words, my writing, my chanting. I could not write or speak unless He gives me the power. I am able to write sentence after sentence due to brain power, intelligence. This is not a random event, not mere electrical connections or atoms in a void. I therefore ask permission of the Supreme Lord who dwells in the heart as Supersoul and of whom I am an eternal part and parcel – to please allow me to speak.” (page 179)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 30, Part Two:

“You are a small timer and will have to say good-bye to all things in this life, they will be utterly forgotten as you transmigrate. Why don’t you (and the people of the world) take this seriously? Kirtaniya sada hari, keep Lord Hari’s names with you and you will be saved from being plunged into the samsara ocean.” (pages 26–27)

“Radha and Krishna are not mere statues. Please Lord, be kind. He’s here in our home. The people may not see what I see. He’s in the core of the heart. Serve Him. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to spread the word. Bring Krishna consciousness to as many people as possible. Make hay while shines or even if it rains.” (pages 75–76)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 31, Part Two:

“Hare Krishna, you better get your quota in, the hour is getting late. Nice sunny day, wind rustling the August trees and I’m pain-free. Of course, I’m a spirit soul and so always pain free, but I don’t know that. I live in conditioned consciousness. I have forgotten my relationship with Krishna and am trying to revive it.

“Read out loud and recording Sri Hamsaduta with Madhu. Radha’s suffering in separation as related to Lalita is completely beyond my experience. It seems strange to remain ‘pain-free’ and sit listening or reading in an easy chair about Her extreme despair. She’s kept alive only by one friend, Her hope that Krishna may return.

“Hearing of Her serves to underscore the separation that we do know. We have a dull separation of the conditioned soul. Our grief is covered over. We don’t want to discover it. We want to be happy in relative forgetfulness of Krishna. But that’s not possible. One has to go through the intense feelings of love in separation especially if one wants to follow Krishna in the mood of the gopis.

“Remembering Srila Prabhupada also requires feelings of separation. So, I think it will be good for me to hear repeatedly this very sad tale by Lalita to Krishna. It may open up the actual feelings of separation. I will grow in worshipful respect for what Sri Radha goes through, even if I can’t understand it.” (pages 169–70)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 32:

“‘The spiritual master is not a particular man but a truth,’ Srila Prabhupada said on the occasion of Vyasa-puja in Hamburg, 1969. The truth is to deliver people from samsara. He does it by pouring God’s mercy on those burning in the forest fire of material life. ‘He must inherit the power from a superior source.’” (page 67)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 35:

“Krishna science will save us, I hope. It can as long you hang on through the worst things that start happening. Krishna won’t abandon you as long as you don’t abandon Him.” (page 164)

From Absence is a Form of Presence – Every Day, Just Write, Volume 40:

“Seeing Krishna within the cloud of my illnesses; within the scattered dust of my mind; within the complex and moving web of trains of thought; seeing Krishna where He is fully present in His name and form and pastimes and instructions – although I can’t see Him fully there. Because I have chosen to live under a cloud. Because I can’t come out from under it. Better something than nothing. I’m sure that somehow He is present even though I only see the cloud around Him.” (page 297)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 35:

“O Prabhupada, who gave us books to learn the science of Krishna and who directed us into the secrets of realization. O Prabhupada, who taught us by example, to always work for Krishna, and who expected us to work as hard. Master, I am tired, I cannot do as you did or I did when you were here with us. But I want to serve you still, master, and that is your blessing on me.

“Prabhupada, you are still leading the charge in your temples and in the hearts of all your devotees. Devotees come to you by reading your books and hearing and seeing the devotion in your older disciples. But all can become your disciples. I am one of them. Do you see us meeting and quarreling? But you may also see good signs. You said as long as the holy names are being sung…” (page 187–89)

“Although we’re tiny in corpus, within our heart is a powerful soul. Even more powerful than a material planet. Hear from the Vedas, that’s theism. Prabhupada said theism isn’t just to say ‘I believe in God’ but to accept the Vedic injunctions and directions.” (pages 172–73)

“So many lectures. You used to give them every day, squeeze them out, so what’s the big deal? Squeeze it like you’re a toothpaste tube, remember what you’ve heard Srila Prabhupada say on the subject. Surrender in that way, as a mouthpiece. Srila Prabhupada said he was a mouthpiece for the previous acaryas, so why shouldn’t I be too? Yes, that’s fine with me.” (pages 265–66)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 36:

“No loving attention to the holy names but at least warming myself by them, happy, chirpy knowledge that I’m safe within this Krishna conscious realm.” (page 7)

“You have to be ready for whatever Krishna wants. He moves everyone around just like a player moves pieces on a chessboard. He’s free to do as He likes, and He has special care for His devotees. There is always a purpose behind His moves.” (page 7)

“It could all dry up. You could run out of words, inspiration. ‘Good!’ Some beleaguered writers might say, and certainly some critics. Good old enemy critics inspire me to keep writing just so they can’t have the last word. I’ll keep going until the last breath.” (pages 169–70)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 37:

“Roots of a tree well established by its meeting Srila Prabhupada and serving him as his son when ISKCON had just begun. Prabhupada planted it, and it grew well, first a sapling under his protection, then opening its branches. ISKCON itself is a branch of the Caitanya tree, as it is so elaborately described in Caitanya-caritamrta. I am one living entity wishing to live as an offshoot of that tree. I’m not more than that, not really a tree of my own, but rooted like one, sending my tap roots deeper in order to withstand the icy blasts of this age. O, rooted kalpa-vrksa of my heart, please take to pure Krishna consciousness.

“Think of it (bhakti, my life, devotion) as language, making letters. I follow the given idiom, but write something of my own from my personal experience and in hopes to find what I don’t yet know. Krishna consciousness has a common language of the heart, and by shaping it into letters from one’s own pen, it can set us free.” (page 48)

“A devotee told me she was shocked at the garbage, poverty, and cheating she met in India. Instead of going out, she spent her time reading in her room. Later, in America, she wondered why she had to travel ten thousand miles to read Prabhupada’s books. My point exactly.

“But there’s a truth to be found in Vrindavan under all that garbage. We only wonder whether if we don’t understand it or have faith in what we don’t understand, will it still work?

“Reality: whenever I’m in Vrindavan, there will always be someone who wants to see me (talk with me) and I am never able to refuse. Ireland is remote. I’ll be kicked out of here soon enough, but let make this my Vrindavan for now. I want to seek the simple truth of that other Vrindavan and come to understand it here. Therefore, the question is not whether or not it is better to reside in Vrindavan. We all know what the scripture says. The real question is whether we can practice Vrindavan bhajana in the West. Or should we not even bother with that but only preach and depend on Prabhupada to bring us to Goloka Vrindavan in the end?” (page 63)

From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 41:

“A journal written with all expectations of publishing is a very suspicious thing. I have to kind of block out that thought when I write. I think there’s no harm in publishing, but there has to be a division between writing without worrying how it comes out and then deciding to publish it later.” (pages 184–85)

“Krishna is your captain in your heart, telling you go, go, left, right, left, right, do what I say. And so, the little rebel part in me says, ‘Why do I have to do what you say?’ Then Krishna says back, ‘You can do what you want, but you’ll have to suffer. Do it My way and you’ll be happy. If you do it My way, you’ll actually find the freedom you want. It’s a different kind of freedom. It’s not possible to be free in this material world.’” (page 201)

“If I don’t regularly read sastra [scripture] my life and writing become thinned out like watery milk, gossip, body talk, and so on.” (pages 222–23)

“It’s God who lets the good things happen. Non-devotees won’t give the Supreme the credit for what they do. But I will not forget it’s due to Him.” (pages 240–41)

From Free Write Journal #66:

“Will Krishna take up residence in my heart and not be consigned to an abstract wing in my house? Will I realize my house (body) is actually His dwelling place and I am His eternal servant? When will I surrender and cry tears as I chant His holy names? “When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your Names?”

“This is Mayapur where

you can’t commit offenses.

Everything you do is blessed.

The Two Brothers reign.

They bring you to gopi-bhava.

I’m on good behavior.

“I’m setting an example,

sending a message by this

year not traveling to Vrindavan.

“Dear Child Nimai, give me blessings of foot dust

of Nadia.”

[Those attracted by the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami can find it at this web site: http://www.sdglegacy.com/books/]

Romapada Swami:

Rupanuga Prabhu liked to do programs at colleges. When he would do a program, he would start by setting out a cloth, putting a picture of Krishna on it, lighting a stick of incense and offering the incense to Krishna. Then he would turn to the students and say, “What’s the highest truth you know?”

Our wholesome and natural position is to offer everything to Krishna. When we are so situated, we are protected.

For those who directly take shelter of Krishna, there is no need of previous purification because taking shelter of Krishna itself is completely purifying.

Other processes are meant to ultimately bring us to full surrender to Krishna.

Other dharmas are like crystals on a chandelier, but the supreme dharma is the illuminated chandelier itself.

Srila Prabhupada would often make the point that Krishna is interested in knowing how much we are holding back.

Meditation is a popular idea, so I often speak about meditation at colleges. I ask people why they meditate, and I suggest one important reason is to connect to a place of higher consciousness.

The place of higher consciousness is not static but ecstatic.

The goal of human life is to know who you are and to connect with that place of higher consciousness which is the source of everything. That is where Bhagavad-gita is taking us.

When you come to the point that you do not want anything material, then Krishna gives you the intelligence to engage whatever you are given in His service without becoming bewildered.

Krishna not only mentions surrender in Bg. 18.66 [Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.] but also Bg. 18.62 (O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him [the Lord in the heart] utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.)

There are three places that Krishna says just to hear from Him, the beginning of Chapter 7, the beginning of Chapter 9, and here at the end of Chapter 18.

Arjuna has difficulty in hearing he should fight his demoniac relatives who had committed many punishable acts because of his attachment to those relatives. We also have difficulty in hearing certain things because of our attachments.

Although Krishna consciousness is simple, the application gets complicated because we are complicated.

Devotional service in transcendence is performed simply because Krishna wants it.

It is said that Jiva Goswami worshiped Radha Damodara with such devotion that the deity would dance for him or else the deity would play His flute and Jiva Goswami would dance.

Once Krishna was late to meet Srimati Radharani, and in an angry mood, Radha took the golden belt from around Her waist and used it to bind Krishna. Krishna was ecstasy, and He accepted the name Damodara from this pastime, and He explained to Radha that in the future, when He descended as a child Yasoda would again bind Him with a rope.

We associate with devotees to remind ourselves of the supreme goal because it is so easy to become distracted.

The six aspects of surrender are mentioned in a Hari-bhakti-vilasa verse which is quoted in Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Bhagavad-gita 18.66. This verse is also mentioned in the Padma and Vayu Puranas, and in other places.

For one who has faith in guru and Krishna, there is no question of something being impossible. That faith which Srila Prabhupada had, he could also pass on to others, and he did.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that people fall away because when their submission slackens, the protection is not there anymore.

If your only needs are for the purpose of serving Krishna, that is still pure devotion.

Gradual change is best as it is less uncomfortable and will not disturb your focus.

Jiva Goswami mentions in his Bhakti-sandarbha that chanting is most important, but to chant you first have to hear, thus hearing and chanting are the most important. Even if you ultimately become attached to other of the nine items of devotional service still the hearing and chanting should be maintained because they are so important.

When your consciousness is more strongly fixed on Krishna, you become more focused and can do things in less time.

Silavati asked Srila Prabhupada if she could have fifteen more minutes to dress the deities. Srila Prabhupada said no and that he would show her how to do it. Srila Prabhupada did it faster than she did, even though he had never dressed that deity before.

Hansa Rupa Prabhu:

The ISKCON leaders declared Radha Govinda Mandir to be an international project. The only other international projects are all in India, Mayapur, Vrindavan, and Mumbai. New York City is special because that is where Krishna consciousness began in the West and thus it is worthy to be an international project.

The only deity photo in Srila Prabhupada’s room in Mayapur is one of Radha Govinda in New York City.

We wanted a temple in Alachua, but we had no money to speak of, just a few thousand dollars in the bank. We decided to show our sincerity by trying to clean up the property and buildings we had as best we could. A local religious leader from another tradition saw our endeavor and came forward offering to help. After seeing our plans, he wrote us a check for $40,000, which was a lot of money back in 1994, and thus we were able to construct that temple.

If you have faith in Krishna that is all that is required. Krishna is not a poor man.

We try to please Krishna, and Krishna will send people to contribute. We do not have to please the people ourselves.

The BBT gave us $250,000 in books in 1975. One day of the marathon that year all the devotees in New York City went out, and they did $10,000–15,000 of books in a single day. Devotees stayed out till mangala-arati.

In the year 1975, for the first time the devotees went out dressed as Santa Claus. Nirantara Prabhu was in ecstasy when he read in Bhagavad-gita, “The devotees of the Supreme Lord, or the persons who are in Krishna consciousness, are called santas, and they are always in love with the Lord as it is described in the Brahma-samhita (5.38): premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. The santas, being always in a compact of love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda (the giver of all pleasures), or Mukunda (the giver of liberation), or Krishna (the all-attractive person), cannot accept anything without first offering it to the Supreme Person.”

Sridhara Swami went out as Santa Claus. He did not need any padding and filled out the Santa Claus suit quite nicely. He wondered about what to do with his danda. We decided to decorate it like a candy cane.

We have had many Christmas marathons in the past, but not with such support of the international leaders in our movement as this year.

Ramesvara Prabhu:

From a conversation:

We have to get hung up on the principles not the details.

From a class at the Yuga Dharma Ashram:

Madhya-lila is when Lord Caitanya is going out and preaching all over.

Our whole process is whatever we receive we pass on. We are meant to be vessels. We receive these potencies and pass them on.

You have to have absolute faith in the order of the Lord to become empowered.

The potency to carry it out is in the order of the Lord.

“I took up those words from his lips,” Srila Prabhupada would say. Thus he came to New York City with weak health, no money, and at an advanced age.

The persons who did amazing things for Srila Prabhupada would be the first to say that it was not them but the Lord’s potency working through them.

The Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 7.99, purport explains how to become empowered:

“In his Amrita-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that this spiritual potency is the essence of the pleasure potency and the knowledge potency. By these two potencies, one is empowered with devotional service. Lord Krishna Himself or His representative, the unalloyed devotee, can mercifully bestow these combined potencies upon any man. Being thus endowed with such potencies, one can become an unalloyed devotee of the Lord. Anyone favored by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was empowered with this bhakti-shakti. Thus the Lord’s followers were able to preach Krishna consciousness by divine grace.”

The more we can keep our false ego out of the away, the more we can become empowered.

It is an act of mercy that you take people’s time and money and engage it in Krishna’s service and thus save them many births of unnecessary suffering in this world.

People wonder with all the millions of books distributed where are all the devotees. But in the next life those people will take human births.

Science has already demonstrated that consciousness is different from the brain since in the out-of-body experiences people can perceive things although their brains are not functioning.

It is against the law to teach that consciousness is different from the body although it is a practical fact and not just some religious dogma.

People should be asking, “If there anything at all I can do to effect what body I get in the next life?”

Srila Prabhupada said that all the colleges and universities should have a billboard or banner saying that “Come here and we will to teach you how to become hogs, dogs, camels, and asses” because by not giving the students spiritual wisdom that is what they are doing.

Considering “what Krishna wants the most” is higher than “what I want to do for Krishna.”

Srila Prabhupada was always in anxiety seeing the souls entrapped in material life. Thus he wrote to me, “Your book scores are the only thing giving me solace.”

Imagine if for the whole two hours of japa every morning you pray “let me be your instrument to save the fallen souls” how empowered you will become!

So much energy comes out from insignificant atoms in the atomic bomb, but that is nothing compared to the love waiting to burst forth from the soul when it awakens to love of God.

All religions talk about going to the kingdom of God, but they never talk about what is going on there.

There were five or six paintings that Srila Prabhupada wanted in every temple, so originally the artists would copy these paintings for all the temples. That was before the book production began.

Srila Prabhupada wanted his artists to reveal the unlimited beauty of God to the world. They suggested that they study in Europe how the great masters painted. Srila Prabhupada said that that was from the material point of view but not the spiritual point of view.

Srila Prabhupada explained that two things make art spiritual:

(1) what is depicted is described in the authorized scriptures

(2) it is imbued with bhakti

He said the artists should sit in front of their canvas for 8 or 10 hours a day, chanting Hare Krishna, and praying to be empowered: “Take control of my hand, take control of my brush, so I can reveal Your beauty.” Helplessly and desperately call out to Krishna for that will develop your bhakti.

If you look at the pictures in the original Krishna book you will see in just six months the progression from very simple paintings to very mature ones.

Srila Prabhupada’s best arrival address is in June 1975 in Los Angeles.

One difficulty in doing the 17 volumes of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita in 2 months was the Sanskrit department did not know Bengali. They were just beginning to learn. Every aspect of the idea, the printing, the artwork, etc., would defy the law of physics.

Srila Prabhupada immediately answered any question we ever asked of him. He did not have to research.

When Prabhupada asked us to do the 17 volumes in two months, I exclaimed, “That’s impossible!”

He replied, “Impossible is a word in a fool’s dictionary!”

As I thought about it, I began to realize how foolish I was. How can you say to God that something is impossible. I reminded myself that Srila Prabhupada was the ambassador of God Himself. Our only qualification to do it was that we accepted the order.

Because Srila Prabhupada wanted it so badly, Krishna was going to make it happen

because Srila Prabhupada was so dear to Him.

We got so many extra ideas.

It was like everything was planned out for us as we were sitting on the beach.

I made four conditions which I requested from Srila Prabhupada:

1. I need you to spend two or three extra weeks in Los Angeles to train the Sanskrit editors in Bengali.

2. I want to write a letter to every temple in the movement telling the skills I need and asking temple presidents and GBC men to loan people for two months to work on the project.

3. I would like to bring Hayagriva in to help with the editing.

4. I need to be able to call your secretary where you are anywhere in the world, and get an immediate answer to my questions.

Tulasi Das, the temple president, organized the Los Angeles temple to take care of all the needs of the devotees working on the marathon.

We had a team of devotees read the entire Sri Caitanya-caritamrita in three days, and we got the names of the key places in the book. We had a devotee take photos of these places in India. By using two or three photos in each book, we would need only four or five paintings.

You become empowered with the knowledge potency, knowing what to say, and the bliss potency to enjoy it.

We are living in Caitanya-lila as we do this Prabhupada book marathon.

Rama Raya Prabhu:

There is a story of one disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Assam who ended up returning to sinful activity and neglecting to chant the holy name. He was dragged to hell for punishment. He was standing before Yamaraja, who asked him, “Have you done even one pious act in your whole life?”

He said, “I was once initiated by Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.”

Yamaraja, upon hearing the name of that great Vaishnava, became humble and filled with spiritual ecstasy. Then Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura personally appeared, and Yama showed his respect. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura chastised his disciple. Yama then humbly asked what should be done. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that his disciple should find Dayita Madhava Maharaja, a local forceful preacher who had greatly pleased Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and take complete shelter of him, never leaving his company and always following his instructions. The disciple had been in a coma, and he regained consciousness on his funeral pyre, as the people were just about ready to light a match. The disciple screamed, “Prabhupada! Prabhupada!” as he threw the wood off his body, and asked the whereabouts of Dayita Madhava Maharaja, and immediately went there, without visiting home, and began to explain to him what happened. Dayita Madhava Maharaja interrupted him, and said, “I have already been informed.”

Harinama is for the mass; philosophy is for the class. Lord Caitanya never talked about the highest conclusions of the scriptures with the people in general.

Prabhupada’s intimate relationship with Krishna resulted in his empowerment.

Until we are completely self-realized, we are always asking questions.

Jadurani joined the devotees from hearing Srila Prabhupada’s kirtan at Tompkins Square Park.

Generally in Kali-yuga it is better for a person in equilibrium to let a person who is not in equilibrium get it all out before he offers some helpful advice.

Association with a bona fide spiritual master immediately takes one out of material perplexity and situates one in a spiritual position.

Satyavrata Muni expresses gratitude to the Lord in His Matsya incarnation for becoming his personal guru. He also mentions the misfortune of those who have false gurus.

Someone asked Srila Prabhupada what it meant to be Krishna conscious, and Srila Prabhupada thought briefly, and said, “I have no fear.”

Vaisesika Prabhu was telling us at a seminar in Vrindavan that he was talking to a staunch atheist. He let the guy go on and on and give all his arguments. When the guy stopped, Vaisesika Prabhu asked him, “What are you going to do at the time of death?” Because Vaisesika Prabhu had treated him so respectfully, he gave a donation and accepted a book.

Prahlada Maharaja could offer such nice prayers to Lord Nrsimha because he had absolutely no ulterior motives.

People are put in a similar situations because of similar karma. Thus the people placed similarly make themselves feel good about their situation.

Any contact with devotional service can completely change our karmic destiny.

If a devotee takes birth again, it could be to further the mission of the Lord or to increase the enthusiasm of the devotee to take complete shelter of Him.

The karma of any bad action is temporary, but the result of any act of devotional service is eternal.

Bhakti is so powerful it can destroy the sinful reactions of a lifetime. Certainly it can dissolve the occasional impediments the devotees have in the course of their practice for those who keep it up.

A real motivational speaker motivates one to go back to Godhead.

To be someone who can be trusted confidentially by advanced devotees is a valuable attainment.

Srila Prabhupada advised one immediately back up one’s statements with evidence from the revealed scriptures.

Srila Prabhupada would emphasize that sex life causes one to be “bahu-duhkha-bhajah” [SB 7.9.45] — subjected to various types of material unhappiness.

We follow in the footsteps of Haridasa Thakura by being so fully engaged in devotional service we have no time for maya.

The good thing about Kali-yuga is that life is very short so it is not like we have to practice brahmacarya for ten thousand years.

Sign on Baptist church: “Jesus paid. You keep the change.”

Q: In Bg. 18.67 Krishna says this confidential knowledge cannot be distributed to those who are not austere, not devoted, etc., but you have been distributing Bhagavad-gita for over forty years to people on the street. How is this?

A: “In distributing love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates did not consider who was a fit candidate and who was not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no conditions. Wherever they got the opportunity, the members of the Panca-tattva distributed love of Godhead.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.23) So in this age, we follow the Panca-tattva.

When Jagai and Madhai were accepted by Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, they began chanting 64 rounds daily.

In all circumstances it is always right to engage in spiritual activities.

For all of us, Srila Prabhupada’s books are our intelligence.

Comment by Murli Krishna Prabhu: There is a letter to Subal on November 12, 1967, where Srila Prabhupada writes, “The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord and not to attract a crowd. If Krishna hears nicely then he will ask some sincere devotee to gather in such place.”

In Hari-bhakti-vilasa it is said if kirtan is performed for money those who charge, those who pay, and those who listen all become infected with material desires.

Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi:

From “Rupa Goswami’s Superlative Travel Guide” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):

“Prabhupada often used the term ‘the Hare Krishna movement’ to refer to his organization or Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission in general. While ‘movement’ in this sense means ‘a group of people tending toward a common goal,’ ISKCON is surely a movement in another sense: It is meant for moving people from one place to another – from the material world to Goloka Vrindavana.”

Vishnu-citta Prabhu:

Narada Muni said he would send the ex-hunter enough food for him and his wife, but it is not like he hired someone to bring him food. Rather it means that if we act according to dharma then by the mercy of Krishna and the spiritual master all our needs will be met.

There is sufficient supply for everyone’s need and not everyone’s greed. We learn to be satisfied having only what we need in the brahmacari ashram.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that opulence used in Krishna’s service was far better than poverty only used for nirjana bhajana while maintaining desires for sense gratification.

During the time of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, overweight disciples would fast until advised to resume eating.

Gopal Campu Prabhu:

Bhakti Vikas Swami mentions that he has to explain to his initiates in South India what is meant by illicit sex.

Narada asked the hunter to break his bow and give up killing animals which is something he had been doing his whole life. Similarly our spiritual masters have asked us to give up meat eating, illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling, things that we had been doing our whole lives.

If there is inquiry but no submission we will not accept what the spiritual master says.

We cannot whimsically offer anything to Krishna.

There is a story that Vallabhacarya and his disciples came across an old snake that was being eaten alive by ants. Vallabhacarya explained to his disciples that that snake was a bogus guru in his previous life and the ants were the disciples he mislead who were taking revenge on him.

Bhakta Blake:

We have a japa club at the beginning of the Brooklyn Sunday feast. If there are newcomers, we explain the mantra to them.

Glykeria:

When I first started coming to 26 Second Avenue, I recall noticing that all the tension from working a full day in New York City completely disappeared as I entered the store front, and that was one of the reasons I kept coming.

My twenty-year-old sister visited me for a few weeks, and she saw I would offer everything I cooked on the altar. Once she was home alone and had to cook for herself. She decided because she was staying in my place, she should follow my rules, so she put the food she cooked on the altar, and not knowing the prayers, she said, “Please accept it.”

Once I decided not to cook because we had some leftover food in the refrigerator. My sister exclaimed, “That food is four days old!”

I said, “Well, let’s see if it is still good.” It smelled OK, so we ate it.

I heard my sister tell my mother on the phone, “The food Glykeria cooks does not go bad!”

I had a friend who was a lawyer who worked as a prosecutor for the government, but when the Trump administration took over, she was so disturbed by what was going on that she quit her high paying job and became a lawyer for immigrants at the border in Texas.

Notes on Capital District Border Watch meeting:

[This is a group in the Albany, New York, area in which my sister, Karen, plays a leading role. It is concerned with human rights issues regarding immigrants at U.S. borders.]

Karen:

More children are detained without their parents in the United States than any another country.

Trump programs to deter asylum seekers have made a mockery of the USA being a country that respects human rights and the law.

Sarah:

The qualifications for asylum are past persecution or certainty of future persecution. Unfortunately many things like gender discrimination and domestic violence are not counted as persecution.

“The Out Crowd Podcast” is excellent on the topic.

Because of Trump’s new policy there are refugee tent camps on the Mexican side of the border with 2,500 people. Many places are where the Mexican police do not have a strong hold, and there is a lot of crime. Some people have been kidnapped more than once.

You can be denied asylum without having a lawyer or without seeing a judge.

It used to be if you were persecuted in your country, you could come to the USA, and answer questions later.

Ashoka Mukpo, a guest speaker from New York City:

The elimination of the asylum system is promoted by white supremacists and actually results in people being hurt and dying.

People are not given the opportunity to seek asylum in USA. 50,000 people have been returned to Mexico from the USA, and the Mexican police have no ability to protect them.

The present USA policy is designed to make people suffer and thereby discourage them from seeking asylum in USA.

The previous asylum policy was set up after World War II in light of the holocaust and the world responding by saying, “Never again!”

Carrie:

50,000 people have sought asylum in Canada from the USA since the last election.

Those not allowed into Canada are returned to detention camps in the USA and are placed in conditions no better than prisoners.

Different organizations are pushing pressure on the Canadian government to respect human rights.

In Quebec while asylum claims are processed the immigrants have the right to temporary housing, assistance finding permanent housing, financial aid, preschool, school, and high school, employment assistance, French classes, etc.

There are small anti-immigrant groups in Quebec, but it appears that white nationalism is not as important in Canada as in the US or Europe.

In the provinces that promote immigrants, there is little backlash. Just there is some complaint that the federal government is slow in paying for their portion of the expenses of maintaining the asylum seekers.

Thus Canada and Quebec offer some hope to asylum seekers that is not there in the USA.

Karen:

Ideas about what we can do:

Send people to the border.

Provide food for people at the border.

Contact our representatives and reminding them that asylum is an important issue.

Comment by Victor to me: You should have some Hare Krishnas distribute food at the border.

Sarah:

Let your favorite candidates know that asylum is an important issue to you. The louder you are the more response you get.

Guy:

Write letters. Call.

Carrie:

Call the switchboard at Congress and get your congressman’s staff, and tell them, “Please decrease funding for ICE and the CVP in the budget.”

Sarah:

If you feel comfortable about telling your story, that is probably powerful thing you can do.

Guy:

If you want people to care, then care, and tell people why they should care.

Guy new to Albany:

They was a group of women in Baltimore, mostly sixty years old and up, who would each adopt an immigrant family and make sure as many of their needs as possible were met.

Sarah:

I see that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights may hear cases of the USA breaking their agreements in their handling of asylum cases.

The cross border shooting case is something to watch.

New York State spends 16 million dollars for lawyers for asylum seekers facing removal.

Not investing in financial institutions that fund detention centers makes a difference.

Guy:

All these things certainly break national and international law, but at present, we are not sure that a majority of the Supreme Court will rule favorably on them.

This immigrant abusive mentality did not begin with Trump, and it will not end when Trump leaves. So it is important we make a steady voice for reform.

Liberty Lady:

There is a group called Project Reunify (reunify.org) that tries to bring the children who are separated back to their parents.

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It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that this age of Kali is an ocean of faults. The cruelty of the USA government to asylum seekers you just read about is just one. Listening to the news on the TV we can hear of many more like war and climate change. But it is also said that this age has one good quality: Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna one can attain liberation. However, there is another verse less commonly known that is even more emphatic. It stresses that holy name is so powerful that it more than compensates for all the faults of the age. In fact, it makes this otherwise faulty age worthy of the worship of the most enlightened people. This verse appears just four verses after the verse describing the avatar of this age of Kali, Lord Caitanya. It indicates everything we value in life can be easily attained in this age simply by the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord.

kalim sabhajayanty arya

guna jnah sara-bhaginah

yatra sankirtanenaiva

sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate

“Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana [the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord].” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.36)