Saturday, December 21, 2019

Travel Journal#15.23: New York City and Upstate New York

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 15, No. 23 
By Krishna Kripa Das 
(December 2019, part one) 
New York City 
(Sent from New York City on December 21, 2019)

Where I Went and What I Did
,
For the first half of December I lived at the Yuga Dharma Ashram and chanted with them at different New York City subway stations for six hours a day and six days a week. On Sundays we have our own Sunday feast program at the ashram, and then we chant for one hour outside at Times Square in the late afternoon. I took a break from New York City for two days, one to attend the Vyasa-puja Festival of my guru, His Holiness Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami in Stuyvesant Falls in Upstate New York, and the other to visit my mother, who was at a rehabilitation center in Albany, slowly recovering from wounds she received in a fall. After the Vyasa-puja festival, about fifteen devotees chanted Hare Krishna at the annual Hudson Winter Walk which was that evening, and I tell about that.

I share many quotes from different books and lectures by Srila Prabhupada. I share some quotes from the humble servants of Srila Prabhupada from the latter cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. I share many excerpts of the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on classes by Radhanath Swami, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, Vaisesika Prabhu, Kadamba Kanana Swami, and Vishnu-citta Prabhu. I share quotes from Back to Godhead articles by Gauranga Darsana Prabhu and Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi. I share notes on conversations with Ravinda Svarupa Prabhu, Ekendra Prabhu, and Govind. After these insights, in a special section, I share my notes on the speeches at the 80th Vyasa-puja festival of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, along with videos of the kirtans there.

Many thanks to the devotees at the Wednesday night program at 26 Second Avenue for their very generous donation. Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for the photo of the four disciples of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami in saffron on the harinama at Penn Station subway station. Thanks to Anya Kulberg for her photo of us last summer in Paris at Montmartre.

Itinerary

October 1 – December: NYC Yuga Dharma harinamas
December 22–24: visiting relatives in Albany
December 28: Bhagavad-gita class at 26 Second Avenue
December 31: New Year’s Eve harinama [details to be worked out]
January 4 – early April 2020: North and Central Florida colleges, mostly Florida State University

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City


On our harinamas during the beginning of December we had one very special guest. Yadunandana Swami of Spain, disciple of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, who had come to serve his guru for several days and to attend his Vyasa-puja, joined us at Penn Station subway station for over two hours on December 9. He came with Narada Rishi Prabhu from the Brooklyn temple, also a disciple of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. Not only did Maharaja lead kirtan himself, but he participated in the kirtans of three other devotees.

Here Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station during the visit of Yadunandana Swami and Narada Rishi Prabhu (https://youtu.be/39bLvVX55sA):


Yadunandana Swami chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station (https://youtu.be/LVmzEJJ6AAY):


Narada Rishi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station (https://youtu.be/TWb52JhZB-Q):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station (https://youtu.be/EMlYTZdPthk):


As happens frequently we gained some devotees and lost some devotees.

Here Rasika Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station (https://youtu.be/VzyvGqwKbZ4):


This was Rasika’s last kirtan this visit before leaving the next day to Australia via Mayapur. We thank him for his several weeks of assistance on the party playing drum, singing, and helping to cook and clean. We hope he joins us again.

Here Chanchal, visiting from Australia for several months, chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens (https://youtu.be/pkXhfK8H3M4):


Chanchal has been at our Yuga Dharma Ashram before, and it is great to have him back for another season.

As my personal contribution to the Prabhupada marathon, I decided to go out for an hour or two on some days and chant Hare Krishna, with books on display and a donation bowl, thus sharing the holy name and Srila Prabhupada’s books with additional people.


The first day on the uptown F/M platform at Herald Square I met a Chinese man who watched me chant and glanced at the books. I gave him an “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and he started looking at it. Seeing the picture of Srila Prabhupada, he said, “I know that man.”


I asked him how he knew Srila Prabhupada, and he showed me Srimad-Bhagavatam in Chinese on his phone!


He has different issues he is dealing with in life, and he shows people this paper to gain support. I encouraged him that by taking shelter of the chanting of Hare Krishna and the reading of Srimad-Bhagavatam, his life would improve.

On the uptown 1 platform at Columbus Circle, one lady took a Bhakta Stack, consisting of Bhagavad-gita, Science of Self-Realization, Sri Isopanisad, and Nectar of Instruction, for her husband who likes spiritual literature. She said she was attracted to look at the books from hearing the chanting.

I share the following videos of the Yuga Dharma Ashram harinamas in chronological order:

Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn, and a boy plays the shakers and accepts prasada (https://youtu.be/1vwDVdiwjy0):


Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and Jason, Robert, and an Hasidic Jew dance (https://youtu.be/1DW0Tw-zRBQ):


The Jewish man later explained to me that the founder of the Hasidic branch of Judaism considered this world to be identical with God and therefore to enjoy this world is quite alright. I thanked him for the information, gave him an “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlet and explained that we also see this world as identical with God but we differentiate between activities that increase our love for God and those that do not.

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays subway station in Brooklyn, and several people dance (https://youtu.be/t6vbYW67NYs):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays subway station in Brooklyn, and Jason and a kid dance (https://youtu.be/7dyCZoPIY5c):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Jingle Bells” tune in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays subway station in Brooklyn, and Jason and dances (https://youtu.be/9svIpHQx5IY):


Tulasirani Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/_Jd6cdO5ays):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/wK2gq_kNtIE):


Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/o9F9waQ4krg):


That day we went on a walking harinama because we faced competition our last fifteen minutes at our usual location.

Priya Krishna Prabhu, on his way home from work, chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens (https://youtu.be/LVCF2fnBFF4):


Murli Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens (https://youtu.be/Kc6w9QNwdM8):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Jingle Bells” tune at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens, and a regular local plays shakers (https://youtu.be/WGhxR_UW0lY):


Chanting Hare Krishna in the Hudson Winter Walk

After Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Vyasa-puja about fifteen devotees, mostly families, chanted Hare Krishna for over an hour at the Hudson Winter Walk. Several devotees, including the children, passed out “On Chanting Hare Krishna” to favorable people.

Here Damodara Priya Devi Dasi from Czech Republic, who remembers me from the Polish Woodstock festival and has lived in the USA for fourteen years, chants Hare Krishna at the Hudson Winter Walk (https://youtu.be/1jyUe9M0ecA):


I talked to two separate people from the crowd who seemed more attracted to our chanting party than the others, and I asked if they had encountered Hare Krishna before. They both said they had – at New York City’s Union Square!


One was a lady who was dancing and filming our chanting party at the same time as you can see in this video (https://youtu.be/uHtfOyVPTI4):



The other was the lady in red, who is dancing in this video of Haryasva Prabhu chanting Hare Krishna during the fireworks show at the end of the Winter Walk (https://youtu.be/Dm7OL0gwUAU):


Haryasva Prabhu and Vishnu Aradhanam Prabhu, also in the above video, are senior disciples of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami based in Philadelphia.

Here Krishna Kumari Devi Dasi, who organized our chanting party at the Hudson Winter Walk, chants Hare Krishna as we return to our cars (https://youtu.be/Q9AzP8uZI8o):


Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City Again

Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and a college girl, who had visited India and who was aware of and attracted to kirtan, happily played the shakers for half an hour (https://youtu.be/9uxz00GhkVo):


Devarsi Narada Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chant at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn, and Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi, Daryl, and Marissa, visiting from Florida, dance with enthusiasm (https://youtu.be/wwR26C5IPOs):


Devarsi Narada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/tKINlwoJPQU):


Daryl, president of the Bhakti Yoga Club at University of Florida in Gainesville, chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/g4rUWyMsnMM):


Daryl chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and a passerby dances (https://youtu.be/RH78KEHfrnA):


Daryl chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi dances (https://youtu.be/haZEp-VR-H0):


Brajananda Prabhu, temple president of ISKCON Tallahassee, Florida, chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/zEuHsUoKrZ8):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn, and a whole family dances (https://youtu.be/VoxyuWsqBTs):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and a passerby dances (https://youtu.be/ig0Z01ot_wY):


Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square, and a passerby, encouraged by Jason, plays the shakers (https://youtu.be/e-0-ug4Mdxg):


Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna in the Lotus Room at ISKCON Brooklyn (Radha Govinda Mandir) (https://youtu.be/2VWMjEU-zaM):


A Memory from the Past


A Facebook friend, Anya Kulberg, shared this photo from our summer chanting Hare Krishna with Tulasi Das Prabhu and other friends, in Paris. Here we are at Montmartre on the steps leading up to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Cœur). All glories to the Sri Krishna sankirtana!

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 11.7, purport:

If one tries to write under superior authority, he becomes purified. All Krishna conscious activities should be undertaken for personal purification (apana sodhite), not for material gain.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 15.22, purport:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees who come to this world are executing a mission, and therefore sometimes they act in a way that is very difficult to understand. It is said, therefore, vaishnavera kriya-mudra vijñeha na bujhaya: even if one is a very learned and intelligent scholar, he cannot understand the activities of a Vaishnava. A Vaishnava accepts anything favorable for executing his mission. But foolish persons, not knowing the purpose of such exalted Vaishnavas, indulge in criticizing them. That is forbidden. Since no one can understand what a Vaishnava does for the purpose of executing his mission, to criticize such a Vaishnava is the offense called sadhu-ninda.

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 16.1, purport:

Narottama dasa Ṭhakura has sung, sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu daya kara more. He prays for Lord Caitanya’s mercy because He is the mercy incarnation, having appeared especially to reclaim the fallen souls. The more fallen one is, the greater one’s claim to the favor of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One must only be very sincere and serious. Despite being contaminated by all the bad qualities of this Kali-yuga, if one surrenders unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord will surely and certainly deliver him. The best example is Jagai and Madhai. In this Age of Kali practically everyone is like Jagai and Madhai, but the sankirtana movement inaugurated by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is still flowing like a great river, inundating the entire world, and thus the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is successfully claiming all fallen souls to free them from contamination.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 16.8, purport:

Although Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees in disciplic succession can defeat all kinds of learned scholars, scientists and philosophers in arguments, thus establishing the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead, their main business as preachers is to introduce sankirtana everywhere. Simply to defeat scholars and philosophers is not the occupation of a preacher. Preachers must simultaneously introduce the sankirtana movement, for that is the mission of the Caitanya cult.”

From a class on Bhagavad-gita 1.16–19 in London on July 16, 1973:

Krishna was so affectionate to Arjuna that He made a plan whereby Arjuna could marry Subhadra, His sister, as Arjuna desired, although His elder brother, Balarama, had a different idea.

From a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.13 in Hyderabad on November 18, 1972:

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He says, ‘If anyone wants to understand Me, then he has to take the process of devotional service,’ not by the speculative process or by fruitive activities, or by yogic process, mystic yogic process. It is clearly stated. Not only in Bhagavad-gita. In all other Vedic scripture.

athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-
prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi
janati tattvam bhagavan-mahimno
na canya eko ’pi ciram vicinvan [SB 10.14.29]

One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His mercy only. Athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi. Anyone who has received a small particle of the prasadam, mercy of the Lord, he can understand the Lord.”

Spiritual enlightenment means, first of all, we must try to understand the jiva [soul]. Because jiva is the small particle of the Lord. So that we can understand the quality of the Lord. Just like if you test a small particle of gold, then you can understand the composition of gold. If you test a little drop of water from the ocean, you can analyze the chemical composition of the sea. Similarly, if you can analyze the characteristics of the living entity, then you can at least understand what is God, what is the characteristics of God. Therefore the beginning of spiritual education is to understand one’s self, this self-realization.”

All these great sages, great acaryas, they came from your South India. So you are fortunate in that sense. So we have to follow the acaryas. All these acaryas accept Krishna, the Supreme Lord. All these acaryas. And later, . . . Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago, He also accepted that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

You are searching after God. You are taxing your brain so much. But in spite of taxing your brain, you say sometimes that ‘There is no God,’ or ‘God is dead,’ or ‘Everyone is God,’ and so on, so on. But our proposition is that why you are taxing your brain? Here is God. Here is God, Krishna. By authorities, by Vedic version, by His activities. If we read life of Krishna, we can see that He’s Krishna, God, from the very beginning of His birth.”

“So every one of us is little, a small controller. Somebody controls in his office. Somebody controls in his family life. Somebody controls a few factories. There are controllers. But nobody can say that ‘I am the supreme controller.’ That is not possible. The supreme controller is Krishna.”

“Generally, one who is in service, he hankers after government service. Because it is natural conclusion that ‘If I have to serve somebody, why a petty merchant? Why not take government service?’ So that is our proposition, that we have to serve. We cannot do but serve. Any one of us. That is our constitutional position. . . . Every one of us is servant. So our proposition is that you are servant in any case. Why not become servant of God? That is our proposition. That is Krishna consciousness movement.”

Liberation means to become liberated from the wrong consciousness. That is liberation. The wrong consciousness is that ‘I am master.’ So we have to change this consciousness. That is Krishna consciousness movement. One has to understand thoroughly that he’s not master. He’s servant. He's completely dependent on the supreme will. If we do not surrender unto the supreme will, then we have to surrender unto the will of maya. We have to remain a servant.”

“Our only ambition is that to place Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is our proposition. We don’t want to become Krishna, but we want to become the most obedient servant of Krishna. That is our proposition. So we invite everyone, from all parts of the world, and they are coming, they are joining. . . . We request everyone to join this movement, study the philosophy and become happy. That is our proposition.”

From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.9 in Vrindavan on August 6, 1974:

Real atma-rucih: to be attracted by the self or Superself. That is atma-rucih.

“When our attraction is in Krishna, that is supreme.”

So Narada Muni, he was a small boy. It was not possible for him to study Vedanta or philosophy. He was not even educated. But still, simply by eating the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotees, dvijaih, he became so exalted.”

“Just like father and son. However, there may be misunderstanding, but if the father and son come together and their affectionate dealing is begun, immediately original relationship is revived. It does not take much time.”

We are eternally related with Krishna, nitya-siddha krishna-bhakti, and we’re eternally very affectionate and obedient servant of Krishna. That is our position. Somehow or other, it is covered. So that garbage that’s covering has to be moved.”

We are already devotee of Krishna, but we have forgotten, or the consciousness is covered. Now, by this process, devotional process, especially by kirtan, by chanting, glorifying the holy name of the Lord, the cleansing process is accelerated. Very soon it takes place.”

Everyone in this material world is a criminal because everyone is making plans to enjoy Krishna’s property.

When one forgets that Krishna is the enjoyer, Krishna is the proprietor, as soon as he forgets and tries to become himself the enjoyer or himself the proprietor, immediately maya [illusion] captures.”

“Therefore every one of us, the members of Krishna consciousness, should remain purified always by the regulative principles given and chanting so that everyone is Vaishnava and everyone is serving everyone.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.17 in Nairobi on October 26, 1975:

“Every father, even in this material world, if father is very big man, great man, he wants that ‘My son also, let him become bigger than me.’”

Krishna says, sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayo-yah tasam mahad yonir brahma aham bija-pradah pita – ‘I am the seed-giving father of all living entities.’ [Bg. 14.4] It doesn’t matter in different forms. He does not say that ‘I am the father only of the white, not of the black.’ He never says. He has no such distinction – white, black, European, American, or poor, rich, bird, beast, human being. No. He does not make any discrimination. He is always ready to bestow favor as the original father. That is God.”

Therefore you are seeing now a new thing in the history of the world, that the Africans and Indians and the Americans and the Europeans are dancing – ‘Hare Krishna.’ Just understand. Don’t be rascal and fools, that you do not understand what is the potency of Hare Krishna mantra. If you become so rascal and fool, if you do not understand, then you are animal. Here is a practical example. How it has become possible that the white Americans, Europeans, and other colors and the black African, they have forgotten everything? When they chant Hare Krishna and dance, do they remember that ‘I am African,’ ‘I am American,’ ‘I am Indian’? No. Brahma-bhutah [spiritual consciousness].”

Krishna wants this, that ‘These rascals they are suffering in this material condition of life, three miserable condition, and still, they are so rascal, they do not come to their senses. Still, they want to remain servant of maya. So let Me directly say, “You rascal, give up all this engagement. Surrender unto Me.”’ That is Krishna. But they will not do it. ‘Why shall I surrender to You? I have got so many things. I have got my nation, I have got my family, I have got my this, I have got . . . Why shall I surrender to You, give up everything?’ Such a rascal. Cannot be convinced any way. Whole world is servant of somebody, but he declines to become servant of Krishna. This is the disease, material disease. He will remain servant of thousands and millions of establishment and person, but he will disagree. As soon as Krishna says that ‘You give up. You become My servant,’ ‘No, no. Why can I? Why shall I do it?’ This is materialist.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.14 in Mayapur on June 27, 1973:

When Krishna left Dvaraka the ladies were shedding tears because of love, but they were trying to stop their crying because they did not want to create an inauspicious scene for Krishna’s departure. Thus their situation was perplexing.

“‘Without seeing Govinda, the whole world is vacant.’ This is love.”

“‘What I am? I am insignificant person. Why Krishna come and see me?’ This is right. ‘Why shall I aspire after seeing Krishna? What qualification I have got?’ This is bhajana.

Why should I be proud that ‘Now I shall see Krishna’? What I am? That is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va adarsanat [Cc. Antya 20.47]. Adarsana. ‘Without giving me audience, You kill me, You break my heart; still, You are my Lord, You are my worshipable Lord, nobody else.’ This is love.”

“‘Krishna may not come. I may not see Krishna for thousands and thousands of lives. I may rot in the hellish condition of life for many, many births. That doesn’t matter. Still, I cannot give up Krishna consciousness.’ This is required. I may be sent to hell, heaven; it doesn’t matter. What qualification I have got that I want to see back to home, back to Godhead? It is not so easy thing. So why should I be sorry for that? I should be happy even in the hell simply by thinking of Krishna. That is wanted. That is wanted. That is Krishna consciousness.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.10 in Geneva on June 1, 1974:

“So human society, there must be some religious process; otherwise, it is animal society. And in every religion there is recommendation to go to the place, holy places of pilgrimage.”

Those who are devotees, they are themselves maha-bhagavata. They are first-class devotee. They themselves are the holy place. Not only they are themselves holy place, but wherever they go, they make that place holy place.”

We don’t criticize you because you try to live comfortably in the material . . . Do that. But don’t associate with the modes of ignorance. That is very risky. That is very risky. So at least, either you remain in the householder life or brahmacari life or, . . . sannyasa life, you keep yourself always in goodness. Then your position is all right. Otherwise, it is very risky. But these people, the Western people, they do not do that. They keep themselves in the modes of ignorance. That is very risky civilization. So at least you Europeans and Americans, you should know it, and you distribute this knowledge. It is your duty to save them.”

“Therefore every one of you should become pure devotee, first-class devotee. . . . In this age it has been made very easy. Simply keep yourself cleansed, not to indulge in the four principles, prohibition, and chant Hare Krishna, then you will be all first-class devotees. And wherever you will go, you will be able to purify there. Wherever you go. Wherever you speak, wherever you’ll sit. So keep this spiritual strength intact.”

“If you simply carry Krishna within your heart always in a very devotional service, exalted devotional service, and chant Hare Krishna and think of Krishna, wherever you will go, you will purify the whole place.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.61 in Vrindavan on August 28, 1975:

Brahminical culture means sama, dama, controlling the mind, controlling the senses. A real brahmana will never agree to embrace the opposite sex in public way.”

The sudras, they embrace the opposite sex in the public street.”

If I see one engaged in lusty or sex affairs, naturally my sex desire also becomes awakened. Even though I am trying to control in the neophyte stage, still, if I see in front of me some lusty affairs, naturally I will be inclined to such.

So our these rules and regulation, restriction, means to keep one on the vasudeva platform. We should remember always that. And if you keep yourself on vasudeva platform, these things will not entice you. Otherwise we shall be enticed and fallen down.”

Sometimes we go to hear or see rasa-lila. But unless we are advanced in spiritual consciousness, this hearing of or seeing some rasa-lila . . . sometimes it brings us down. If one is actually seeing rasa-lila, the result will be hrd-roga-kamam apahinoty acirena dhirah. This is the injunction in the Srimad-Bhagavatam [10.33.39] . . . One who is actually advanced in spiritual consciousness . . . and hears from the realized person . . . not from ordinary person, professional reciter, but from a realized person  the result will be . . . our natural lusty desires will disappear.”

The test is whether he has given up his lusty desire. That is the test. If he has given up, then, after seeing rasa-lila, he should not have returned to home. My Guru Maharaja used to say, ‘Do not go to Vrindavan with return ticket.’”

If you keep yourself always engaged in chanting Hare Krishna, your heart will be cleansed – ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12].

“If you follow the rules and regulation in chanting, then you will not be victimized. You’ll make your progress without any fear.”

From Prabhupada Speaks Out” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):

[An edited conversation with disciples in New Vrindaban, WV, on June 26, 1976.]

“There is hope. It is not hopeless. Don’t be discouraged. But this is the job. You have to meet with cats and dogs. That is my point. When you go to preach, you must know that ‘I’ve come to preach among the cats and dogs, and I have to deal with them carefully. Otherwise, they will bark.’

“That was why, upon arriving in your country, I wrote a poem with an apparent air of disappointment. The idea was, ‘What will these people be able to understand about this sublime spiritual philosophy?’”

“So where is that institution for training people to acquire these transcendental qualities? There is no such institution. We are attempting to train people in transcendental qualities. This is the only institution. Other than our International Society, where is the institution for training people in transcendental qualities? I don’t think throughout the whole world there is any institution for training the students in transcendental qualities. Who cares about transcendental qualities?”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.49 in New Orleans on August 1, 1975:

This is our advancement of science, that we do not know what I was before this life and what I shall become after this life. Life is continuation. That is spiritual knowledge. But they do not know also even that life is continuation. They think, ‘By chance I have got this life, and it will be finished after death. There is no question of past, present and future. Let us enjoy.’ This is called ignorance, tamasa, irresponsible life.”

Tamasa. So they are simply interested in the present body – does not care what is going to happen, and has no knowledge what he was before.”

They have no knowledge of past life, neither they are interested in the future life. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. And fully engaged in sinful activities, because they have no knowledge of the past life. Just like a dog. Why he has become dog, that he does not know, and what he is going to have next? So a dog might have been in his past life the prime minister, but when he gets the dog’s life, he forgets. That is also another influence of maya. Praksepatmika-shakti, avaranatmika-shakti. Maya has got two potencies. If somebody for his past sinful activities has become a dog, and if he remembers that ‘I was prime minister; now I have become dog,’ it will be impossible for him to live. Therefore maya covers his knowledge.”

“The more we become elevated from ignorance to knowledge, that is success of life.”

“So our Krishna consciousness movement is to raise a person from ignorance to knowledge. That is the whole scheme of Vedic literature, to deliver a person.”

Sat-sanga required. This sat-sanga, satam prasangat. By the association of devotee we awaken our inquisitiveness about God. Therefore the centers are required. It is not unnecessarily we are opening so many centers. No. It is for the benefit of the human society.”

So in the human form of life, where there is chance of getting the real light, if they spoil in this way like cats and dogs the whole world, what is the position of the world? Very precarious condition. So paropakara. Therefore those who have got enlightenment, they should try to raise these rascals who are in ignorance. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.”

“In the spiritual world all the varieties are there, and they are all spirit. There is no touch of matter. They are all conscious. When the flower is there in the hand of Krishna, in the lotus hand, he is conscious. He is enjoying, that ‘I wanted to serve Krishna as flower; now I am enjoying.’ That is spiritual. They are all conscious.”

We must be responsible, that ‘We have got this birth,’ labdhva su-durlabham bahu-sambhavante, ‘after many, many births, after much suffering in so many species of life, one after another . . .’ And unfortunately, the people are so dull-headed, they do not care for it. But this is the most important subject matter of life. So those who are devotees of Krishna, they should take charge, that ‘These rascals are suffering. Let them have some idea about Krishna.’ That is wanted. This is Krishna consciousness movement.”

And the grhasthas [family men] may come here, have some small cottage, and grow your own food grains, vegetables, and have your cow’s milk. Get nice foodstuff, save time. Why should you go in the city, hundred miles in car and again hundred miles come back and take unnecessary trouble? Stick to this spot and grow your own food, your own cloth, and live peacefully, save time, chant Hare Krishna. Very nice program. This is actual life.”

From a class on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in December 10, 1976 in Hyderabad:

I gave up my education to join Gandhi’s movement in 1922 as many students did.

Dr. Bose, who I was office manager in the chemical company of, said the only thing he liked about Gandhi’s movement was his promotion of garments of homespun cloth as it would promote local industry.

From my guru, I got the impression of preaching Lord Caitanya’s cult.

Although doing my business, I was always remembering I had met a very nice sadhu.

When his followers came to my shop looking for my assistance, I was happy to encounter them again and pleased to assist them.

When I was recommended for initiation, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “I shall initiate this boy. He is very nice. He hears. He does not go away.”

That philosophy he was speaking was very high, and I could not always follow it, but I enjoyed listening to him speak.

I thought that Vyasa-puja offering I made was lost, but some disciples found it in some old issues of The Harmonist.

After millions of years, we arise to the human form to inquire about God, but this precarious civilization denies that opportunity.

The scientists are theorizing in the middle, but what is the beginning of everything? That they do not know.

They can analyze how the seed is growing, but they cannot make a seed themselves or understand where seeds originally come from.

We got this knowledge from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and through me, and it will go through you to your students.

We always remain a foolish student before our guru, but at a certain point we pass the knowledge on to disciples.

Being obedient students of our guru is our qualification.

I was not very much inclined to take sannyasa, but my guru was so kind.

We have nothing to do new, we simply present it as it is.

Our real aim of life is to understand our spiritual nature and search after God.

We have to find ways to turn the current of personal sense gratification to the sense gratification of Krishna.

It appears that gopis were attracted to the young boy, Krishna, for their own enjoyment, but actually they would dress themselves nicely just to please Krishna’s senses.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura knew the art of turning our activities toward Krishna’s sense gratification.

The energy we are getting to understand Krishna instead we are using to manufacture things for sense gratification.

Krishna is the proprietor, but we are claiming: “This is my land; this is your land.”

From a sannyasa initiation lecture in Calcutta on January 26, 1973:

So this sannyasa means do not care for personal sense gratification—‘Oh, this is inconvenience. This is convenience.’ Simply go on preaching Krishna consciousness. So this sannyasa.

Just like offering foodstuff to the stomach, the senses automatically become healthy, then now, if you say, . . . ‘Yes, I shall offer foodstuff to the stomach as well as to the ears and eyes.’ Then what the result will be? The result will be that your eyes and ears will be stopped functioning. Therefore this very example is given. This, this is not required at all. Similarly, by worshiping Krishna, you don’t require to endeavor to worship the demigods, to worship the daridras [the poor], to worship the this and that. It will be automatically done.”

Temple worship means to distribute the prasadam to the poor. That is temple worship. Temple worship does not mean that you, you bring some rice from the neighborers and cook it and eat yourself and sit, sleep down, nice. No. Temple worship means you must distribute prasadam.”

Everyone who is spiritually poor, he should be given prasadam.

We are prohibited to take prasadam anywhere and everywhere. Because if there is no Deity worship, if we take food from their house, then we partake the sin, resultant action of their sinful activities. We should be careful. Unless it is prasadam, if we accept invitation from anywhere and everywhere, that means we are accepting the sinful activities, resultant action of the sin, person. Therefore a sannyasi . . . And it was, formerly, this was the regulation, that sannyasi would take prasadam in the house of a brahmana, because a brahmana is supposed to worshiper of Narayana.”

Krishna, what does He want? He wants that this philosophy of Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, should be spread all over the world. You take up this determination and be steady in your sannyasa. That is my request.

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.13–14 in Honolulu on May 14, 1976:

Just like if I become agitated by seeing a beautiful girl, or for woman, a beautiful boy... That is natural. . . . Young boy, young girl, they are naturally attracted. There is nothing surprising. But tapasya [austerity] means that ‘I have taken vow, no illicit sex.’ . . . ‘Even if I am attracted, I shall not do this.’ This is tapasya. And ‘Because I am now attracted, now we shall enjoy’—that is not tapasya. Tapasya means even one is attracted, he should not act. That is tapasya. There may be some difficulty to control, but that should be practiced. It can be practiced. It is not very difficult. But one has to practice the determination: ‘Now I have taken vow before Deity because at the time of initiation, it is promised before the Deity, before the fire, and before the spiritual master, before the Vaishnava, that “I’ll not have illicit sex.” That is promised. How can I break it?’ This is tapasya. ‘I have taken vow before the Deity, before fire, before my spiritual master, before the Vaishnavas, “No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no drinking or intoxication, no gambling.” I have promised it. If I am gentleman, how can I break my promise?’”

“‘If by practicing little tapasya, restraint, I can get relief from this repetition of birth and death, why shall I not do it?’ This is knowledge.”

“One should consider, ‘The sex indulgence is given to the hogs and dogs, and for the same enjoyment I’ll have to work so hard?’ This is knowledge.”

I have got this human form of life for understanding Krishna, for understanding God, my position, what I am. I am not this body. I am spirit soul. I have been put into this body. . . . the body is material . . . it must be finished. Anything, it has got six changes. Anything material, it has got birth, it has got growth, it has got aftereffect, then dwindles, and then finished, everything, anything you take, the material. This is called sad-vikara, six kinds of changes. So I am eternal. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. I do not die after this body is finished, and again I will have to... Tatha dehantara-praptih [accept another material body] [Bg. 2.13]. So this is knowledge. One has to always think of this. That is called tapasya.

Grhamedhi means one who does not know what is the aim of life.”

Grhastha means although he is living with wife and children, but he knows what is the aim of life. That is the grhastha asrama.

Along with Deity worship we should always pray, ‘Krishna, kindly save me from the pitfalls of maya.’ He'll do it.”

From a class Bhagavad-gita 9.10 in Calcutta on June 29, 1973:

Bhava-samanvita means a person who has understood Krishna or who is in Krishna consciousness, he feels the presence of Krishna everywhere.”

Sentiment must be there, but that is after understanding. That is spiritual sentiment. That is bhava. That is another thing. Budha bhava-samanvitah. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s . . .He also exhibited His spiritual sentiments: ‘Where is Krishna?’ – yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me – this is sentiment. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was thinking one moment as twelve years. Yugayitam nimiesena. Nimesa means twinkling of an eye, moment. But He was thinking twelve years. And before Him, the gopis also, they used to condemn the creator, Brahma, because he created the eyelid and twinkling of the eyes which has obstructed seeing Krishna.”

“We say that: ‘Matter is the cause of life. We do not accept this theory that life is the cause of matter.’”

“So this ordinary lemon tree is producing so many lemons. And the lemon means citric acid. So if you take all these lemons, and take their juice, so one ordinary lemon tree produces tons of citric acid. It is a small living entity. . . . The chemists, the scientists, they’re beginning from chemical, but wherefrom the chemical came? That came from Krishna. If some chemicals come . . . from an insignificant lemon tree, how much chemicals can come from Krishna?”

“Those who are less intelligent, foolish rascals, they cannot understand Krishna. Because they cannot understand Krishna, they do not take to Krishna. They do not surrender to Krishna.”

Therefore, we first of all try to make people sukrtinah [pious]. Hare Krishna. Chant Hare Krishna. He’ll become sukriti. He'll get some pious assets. Then he’ll be able to understand Krishna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has introduced this method, and actually this method has been successful now all over the world. We began: ‘Simply chant Hare Krishna. Simply chant.’ So all these foreign students who have taken to Krishna consciousness very seriously, they began simply with chanting Hare Krishna. It is not difficult. Everyone can chant. What is the difficulty? Everyone can chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare . . . Where is the difficulty? But they'll not chant. They’ll not chant. They’ll talk so many rubbish things, but as soon as you ask him to chant Hare Krishna, he’ll be silent. That we have experienced. But still our thankless task is to induce everyone: ‘Chant Hare Krishna.’”

The humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.90.48, purport:

“Lord Krishna is especially glorified for giving pleasure to the
gopis and the queens of Dvaraka. Sukadeva Gosvami glorifies Lord Krishna for His enchanting smile, by which He enchanted not only the gopis of Vṛndavana but also the queens at Dvaraka. The exact words used in this connection are vardhayan kamadevam. In Vṛndavana, as the boyfriend of many gopis, and in Dvaraka, as the husband of many queens, Krishna increased their lusty desires to enjoy with Him. For God realization or self-realization, one generally has to undergo severe austerities and penances for many, many thousands of years, and then it may be possible to realize God. But the gopis and the queens of Dvaraka, simply by enhancing their lusty desires to enjoy Krishna as their boyfriend or husband, received the highest type of salvation.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.1.6–7:

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the reservoir of all beauty. All beautiful things emanate from Him, and His personal form is so attractive that it steals the eyes away from all other objects, which then seem devoid of beauty in comparison to Him. When Lord Krishna was on the earth, He attracted the eyes of all people. When Krishna spoke, His words attracted the minds of all who remembered them. By seeing the footsteps of Lord Krishna, people became attracted to Him, and thus they wanted to offer their bodily activities to the Lord as His followers. In this way Krishna very easily spread His glories, which are sung throughout the world by the most sublime and essential Vedic verses. Lord Krishna considered that simply by hearing and chanting those glories, conditioned souls born in the future would cross beyond the darkness of ignorance. Being satisfied with this arrangement, He left for His desired destination.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Vandanam:

“All good prayer will lead to good action.”

From Wild Garden:

“He said, ‘I think there is a bacterium in Vrindavan with my name on it, and it’s just a matter of time until it catches up to me.’”

From Karttika Papers:

“Tomorrow we’ll try a new strategy of just completely closing the windows, because the bugs are coming right through the screens. Prabhupada talks about it in his lectures, how in Mayapur during the night these creatures are born and live and die in one night, and how in the morning you see heaps and heaps of bodies. Sometimes when I heard the lecture, I felt he was exaggerating when he said that there were thousands and thousands of bugs and heaps and heaps of bodies in the morning and that you could sweep them away. Now I see it’s true. Why don’t I take Prabhupada literally true on face value all the time? Just a matter of time before you find out that what he says is true.” (Notepad #3, p. 36)

“You say, ‘Get me out of here,’
but the secretary can’t do it, not in his powers.
You are trapped in
the world of Durga by your
own desires to enjoy.” (Notepad #3, pp. 143–44)

A devotee here gave me this verse printed on a card like a place mark: ‘I praise Sri Mayapur, where a dabbler who walks down many paths at once, a fool, one who has rejected proper religious duty, an independent person who will not follow the rules of the scriptures, a person who has not the slightest scent of the touch of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and those who live here only out of lust and greed, all attain the supreme destination.’ (Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati, Sri Navadvipa-sataka, Text 39).” (Notepad #3, pp. 143–44)

“O Ugra Lion-Man,
Your black body, Your
stance of ready-to-fight,
massive black head
plainly silver teeth and
ten arms and hands. I can
almost see them all—be real for me,
I don’t fear You because
You are our protector against
evil. Therefore, I ask You
please come alive—and
tear out the roots
of my anarthas.” (Notepad #4, p. 150)

“a pure
devotee has no desire for anything
except his immediate engagement.
And that is spontaneous bhakti.” (Notepad #4, p. 150)

From Vrindavan: Krishna Balaram Mandir Guesthouse, September 6, 1993”:

“I vow to live and die in this Movement.”

Radhanath Swami:

When we take shelter we can realize the eternal love for us that Krishna has within our heart.

Babies seek the shelter of the mother in all circumstances.

Sat-sanga is the environment in which we awaken faith within our souls.

Faith is the instinctive nature of the self.

Patanjali says in Yoga Sutras, “The perfection of samadhi is to seek shelter of isvara [the Supreme Lord].”

We need community to help us get past the false shelters.

That which awakens our love for the supreme is dharma.

Love require sacrifice.

The very origin of love is the love between Krishna and Radha.

One successful Indian ophthalmologist who had everything but satisfaction, heard about our eye camp in Varsana and came there despite the austerities of living in the cold, in tents, etc. One elderly lady, who he cured of cataracts, was so happy to see Radha and Krishna, she leaped out of bed, and slapped him repeatedly, and said, many times, “May Radharani bless you!” He cried, appreciating her loving sentiments. He had been ready to leave because it was so austere, but that caused him to stay on and and to return every year.

To aspire for that love described in “Siksastaka,” verse 4, that is without desire for profit, fame, sexual partners, or liberation, is to understand what dharma truly is.

Prahlada wanted to stay in this world and suffer whatever was required to benefit others.

To be an instrument of God’s mercy is the highest joy.

Watching the California surfers, I saw that they do not control the waves. Rather the best surfers know how to adjust themselves to the waves.

Those who take shelter of the supreme being do not suffer, and even their apparent suffering awakens deeper love and deeper joy.

As the song says, “Sri Krishna saranam mama – Sri Krishna is my shelter.”

Adjust to events as they come so you keep making progress.

When we focus on helping others we transcend our own difficulties, but we also have to take care of ourselves so we can care for others.

The Bhakti Center is to help us recalculate or recalibrate so we make progress.

From a class in Brooklyn:

To manifest our vision in New York City will take great struggle. Krishna likes it when we struggle. Why? Because when we struggle He reveals Himself.

Radha and Govinda are already here. Srila Prabhupada has brought them here. They are waiting for us.

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu:

Q: How to take shelter of Krishna?
A: In this age, in any circumstance, all we have to do is chant the Hare Krishna mantra. Even if you cannot speak it, you can think it in your mind.

Remember you are dealing with Krishna, who controls the whole universe and makes arrangement for His devotees. Without Krishna’s help this whole movement would not have gotten off the ground, especially in the West.

Sometimes lamenting too much about the past is just false ego.

Whatever we have done in the past, just try to do better now.

If we wonder about why our mind is wandering that is just another wandering of the mind.

Best always to do what you can and not worry about how you could have done better.

From a conversation:

Years ago the FBI wanted me to testify about the corruption in New Vrindaban. I was in India at mangala-arati at Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan. The phone rang in the lobby, and the devotees got me out of the kirtan.
The caller said, “This is the FBI.” And he explained what they wanted.
I said, “How did you know where I was?”
The caller replied, “We are the FBI!”

Vaisesika Prabhu:

From a class at the Yuga Dharma Ashram on the disappearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:

Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji had no interest at all in the material world. None whatsoever.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at the age of 15, was honored by the university with an appointment as professor and head of the department in astronomy.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura performed the austerity of taking fourteen bites of food the first day of the month and one less each after that, and then repeating that. He did this to prove his seriousness to his guru.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura was his primary siksa guru from whom he took that mandate to preach Lord Caitanya’s movement all over the world.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura quotes Bhaktivinoda Thakura more than any other acarya.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura made many points. I shall speak of two:

1. We are seen by the Lord. We are not seers.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would stand in the back of the temple near the Garuda stamba. He would say when the Lord looks toward Garuda, He would see him standing at his lotus feet.
He would say, “Do not try to see the Lord, but act in such a way that the Lord will want to see you.”
At a program in glorification of Bhaktivinoda Thakura one elderly man was glorifying Bhaktivinoda Thakura and then mention that he had written a Bhagavad-gita commentary that Bhaktivinoda Thakura liked. In the audience, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “You never saw Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He is a transcendental personality.”

2. To cleave the soul from matter one has to hear to sabda-brahma, spiritual sound, with the proper state of consciousness.
He stressed that the Lord is not different from the sound vibration.
If you are submissive to this transcendental sound everything is revealed.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appreciated our Srila Prabhupada because he liked to hear and did not go away.

Srila Prabhupada was meticulous in following the mood of his guru.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that there were better off at Ultadanga, where they lived in a slum and could get barely enough for rice because they had a preaching spirit. When they got the bigger temple, some of the devotees acquired an entitlement spirit, thinking that they deserved certain rooms. They were misusing yukta-vairagya for their personal contentment.

He said, “If I could sell all these Gaudiya Math temples and make one pure devotee, that would be sufficient for me.”

The first ISKCON owned property was on Beacon Street. Why did Srila Prabhupada want a building? For a printing press. When they got the press, Srila Prabhupada bowed down to it, and chant the mantra to his guru, “Jaya Om Vishnupada . . . Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja Prabhupada.”

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura put the printing press next to the altar in the temple indicating its importance to him.

When we visited the Bag Bazaar temple, after a lot of negotiation I was able to see the press, which was housed in a soon-to-be-opened musuem. I bowed down to it as I saw Srila Prabhupada do. I noticed it said “Cleveland, Ohio” on it. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had a state of the art printing press shipped all the way from America.

Comment by Rama Raya Prabhu: When Srila Prabhupada spoke on the appearance and disappearance days of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he would stress vani over vapu, and say that although alone, he always felt his spiritual master was with him.

An instruction of the guru is considered to be a manifestation of the internal potency of the Lord, and it acts to reveal the Lord.

If you just try to help the acaryas and the great devotees, you are in.

When working with Sura on temple book distribution, we see that the temples that continue after December into January, February, and March distributing many books, do better off in general.

When Srila Prabhupada was asked about book distribution strategy he answered in a general way, “Just encourage them to be sincere, for if they are sincere the master in the heart will teach them how to do it.”

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

From a class at the Lotus Room in Radha Govinda Mandir:

Lord Caitanya appeared in the 1400s and displayed symptoms of love of God that were no longer in this world and which no human being had ever displayed.

The Six Goswamis were extraordinarily empowered.

Everyone has a role to play, and that is chosen by the Lord. It may related to our nature but sometimes things go in another direction.

Everyone, even those who oppose that Lord, are still following His path and are used by Him as instruments but instruments of punishment.

I speak tonight of those who are surrendering and are willing instruments of the Lord.

We become assigned the necessary powers.

Even if we are fully empowered, how much is our power compared to that of the Lord?

Krishna told the gopis that they were they were contaminated by sin because they supported the demon Aristasura who although he appeared as a bull was actually a demon.

Krishna effortlessly made a hole and asked the holy rivers to appear in Shyama-kunda while the gopis had to undergo so much trouble excavating Radha-kunda and filling it.

The pure devotee attracts the mercy of the Supreme Lord.

Madhvacarya said the Lord follows the devotees from behind as He is attracted to them, and the dust from His feet rises in the air and falls on His devotees.

Vrindavan is a place of inspiration.

I visited Govinda-kunda, the place of Madhavendra Puri. The name Mathuranatha gives great pain to Madhavendra Puri because Krishna left Vrindavan.

Rupa and Sanatana came from a family of South Indian brahmanas from Karnataka. The family had attained a lot of opulence through charity. There was a land dispute in the family, and one of the members, Rupesvara, the grandfather of Rupa and Sanatana, decided to leave. He was a leader of brahmanas and brought a whole village of brahmanas, who were dependent upon him, with him.

That Govinda-kunda was the place where the kind of bhakti that is prevalent in Vrindavan is manifest with Madhavendra Puri.

Then we went to Madhana-mohan and the grantha samadhi of the books of the Goswamis, and the samadhi of Sanatana Goswami.

Anupama is not well known, but he played the role of the father of Jiva Goswami and that was also a very significant role.

In 1978 Vrindavan was a sleepy town surrounded by a path of soft sands that could not be driven in and was very peaceful. There were peacocks everywhere and cows.

Vrindavan has changed so much in the last 31 years. How much did it change in the 5,000 years before?

Brahmanas would stay in their own villages so they could keep a high standard of goodness.

Nawab means a district head, but actually Hussian Shah was more of sultan or king of Bengal.

The main contribution of the Six Goswamis was to search though the Vedic scriptures to support the teachings of the Lord Caitanya.

Pure devotional service is to be found in their teachings.

The bhaj dhatu is the source of the word bhakti. In English it is often translated as worship, but it includes love and service as well.

We have to serve. Even to enter a country we serve by submitting to the visa process.

Sanatana Goswami’s life had all been planned for his future mission.

Professor O’ Connell, who Srila Prabhupada liked, drew up a list of the devotees of Lord Caitanya who served in the Muslim government of the time, which was quite extensive. These devotees stacked the government library with Vaishnava literature, and also invited other scholars to come and study.

The Muslim leaders encountered a lot of politics and even murders when they had Muslim ministers so they found it safer to have Hindu ministers.

Often the disappearance day of the Vaishnava is more significant because his full contribution known by the time of his disappearance.

My disciple, Gita Govinda, from the Caribbean had a grandfather, who used to chant mantras. At the end of his life, he cooked a big feast and served it out, and then he left this world. Now he has a granddaughter who is Vaishnava.

Guru-tattva is one. In the course of time, we see guru-tattva manifesting in different ways.

We see more and more what we are destined to be.

I gave someone a name once and they said, “Oh, no!”

We are not meant to be copycats. Not that we have to figure it out. Destiny will manifest it.

Life is like a river. It never goes in a straight line. Somehow will we find our way using natural gravity.

The gopis only aim is to increase Krishna’s love and His enjoyment from that love.

From a class at 26 Second Avenue:

Due to the influence of the material energy, we are imagining ourselves to be in the material world, but that is dissipated by hearing the congregational glorification of the Lord, and we come to realize we are already in the spiritual world.

When love of God is awakened, Krishna becomes purchased.

We are lifted up by Krishna and do not ascend by our own strength.

The Ganga and Yamuna are transcendental because they are touched by Krishna.

The pure devotee carries Krishna in his heart and can transform places and people.

It is said that a pure devotee of Lord Caitanya can deliver the world.

The pure devotee sees himself as being very fortunate but not deserving.

When one gets older one feel vulnerable and wonders how he will be taken care of.

You may have this insurance or that insurance, but the best insurance is the good will of the devotees. What care is complete without being reminded of Krishna?

People in this material world are starving for hearing about Krishna.

No only does the association of devotees reduce our material miseries but it awakens our desire to serve Krishna.

Devotees may seem to have this imperfection or that imperfection but that is truly insignificant compared to their devotional service.

A devotee who has nistha can give sraddha.

Of course, a devotee who does not have nistha can give us the book of a pure devotee.

One with faith understands that all good can come from Krishna consciousness and no good can come from anything else, even if he still has some tendency for sense gratification.

All of the faith of a madhyama is in devotional service.

A devotee in bhava can give ruci according to Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Chaya-bhava [the shadow of bhava, the preliminary stage of love of God, caused by the association of a pure devotee] can bring people above their natural level of Krishna consciousness. Actually this whole movement began from the chaya-bhava created by the association of Srila Prabhupada. With continued association, that chaya-bhava becomes permanent.

“I have no taste.”
“But it is your duty.”
“Yes, I know. How long I can do this?”

With each bite of meat the cruelty in the heart is increasing, and one becomes dull, not caring about others.

Finer sentiments involve compassion.

What it means that the pure devotee comes down to a lower platform is that he deals with people having all kinds of desires that he does not have for the sake of uplifting them.

We are talking about Krishna on Second Avenue, and someone is talking about Krishna on First Avenue, and there should be someone on every avenue talking about Krishna, because all avenues are meant to lead to Krishna.

One who is in prema can give everything.

The books do not just benefit one person. Several people often end up reading them. Even when they are eaten by worms, each worm will become a devotee.

My first Bhagavad-gita I got from a friend. I would have never have bought a book from a Hare Krishna. I did not want to get too near those people.

Do not worry if you make it back to Godhead. From there, you can see how the Golden Age of Lord Caitanya comes to pass.

Sometimes we wonder what the end of Kali-yuga will be like if after 5,000 years it is already so bad!

Srila Prabhupada’s golden qualities shine on the black backdrop of Kali-yuga.

Srila Prabhupada is flooding the world with transcendental mercy.

Q: What is the proper understanding of grace and work?
A: It begins with grace, but that grace is not cheap. The gift is a seed that must be watered. It is not that I do not have to do anything because I have the grace as the Protestants say. Devotional service is the gift of the Vaishnavas. We also need mercy all the way. Service can attract mercy. So let us serve Krishna and the Vaishnavas, and attract their mercy. At the end of life the sum total of what we have done will be overshadowed by the sum total of the mercy we have received.

Srila Prabhupada explained that nitya-baddha means fallen for a very long time not literally eternally.

Q: How do we get here?
A: It is curiosity that kills the cat. Just that thought alone that “I could be master” could arise, and I have a choice to throw it off and go back to the pastime with Krishna, or think, “Interesting . . .”

Gauranga Darsana Prabhu:

From Who the Cause Is of My Suffering?” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):

“We may sometimes suffer more than necessary by holding grudges, carrying negative impressions, making biased decisions, dealing with people based on conceptions and perceptions born of our suffering, and so on. All this leads to unnecessary suffering that we unconsciously create for ourselves and others.

“Being caught up in dealing with the immediate or intermediate causes of suffering creates more suffering through blame and imagination. Without maturely understanding the ultimate cause, we only find ourselves entangled in the process of blaming. Blaming inspires others to blame, and this contagious blame game can expand to multiple people for a long time and create more suffering.” (p. 26)

“So a mature person externally addresses the situation with responsibility while internally reconciling it as the Supreme will. Rectification shouldn’t be done with revenge, however, but with responsibility towards the damaged situation and even the one who ‘caused’ it by faulty actions.” (p. 26)

“Blaming, arguing, and lamenting are natural during a calamity, but one should surpass that stage and maturely consider what is the best one could do in the situation. And the best thing to do, apart from whatever is humanly possible, is to seek God’s shelter. One can be hopeful in the most hopeless situation by taking shelter of Krishna.” (p. 27)

“Suffering is inevitable in this world because that is how the Supreme Lord has made it. But by understanding that suffering is sanctioned by the Lord for our purification and by learning to tolerate suffering with a forgiving heart while responsibly taking necessary action according to the divine teachings, one can transcend this world of suffering.”

Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi:

From Subbornness: Vice or Virtue” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):

“Studies show that even when people see that spirituality has transformed innumerable lives for the better, they fail to take up a life of enlightenment and wisdom.”

Vishnu-citta Prabhu:

Krishna says, “O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its knower is called knowledge. That is My opinion.” So to understand the body, the soul, and the supreme soul is knowledge, and if one does not understand these, he is ignorant. It is like riding on the MTA subway and not knowing what train you are on and where you going to get off.

How long are you American for? How long are you Russian for? 70 or 80 years.

We have become conditioned for many lives and thus it takes a lot of practice to realize our spiritual nature.

We are like tenants because we do not live permanently in any particular body. Thus we have to consider the desire of the landlord in the course of performing our activities.

By chanting Hare Krishna, we associate with Krishna and develop a relationship with Him.

Krishna does not just explain how to get around karma, but how to escape the system altogether.

All Eastern philosophies talk about how to break the cycle of birth and death and creation and destruction.

Ekendra Prabhu:

From a conversation:

Q (by me): Are you still writing and performing songs as a Krishna comedian of sorts?
A: I am taking a break from that. I was talking to Jayadvaita Swami about it. Satire has its limits; no one really takes what you say seriously, it doesn’t change anything, and it can just be a way of expressing frustration. I’m thinking it might be a more worthwhile and challenging project for me to become more of an actual sadhu. Either way, my hope is to be able to give practical guidance to newer people that might be of tangible spiritual benefit.

Govind:

From a conversation:

[I mentioned that Bhagavad-gita 8.14 was one of my favorite verses.]

Caitanya Carana Prabhu points out that Bhagavad-gita 8.14 is the only place in the Gita where Krishna says He is easily attained: For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pritha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service.”

Notes on the 80th Vyasa-puja Festival of His Holiness Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

Rama Raya Prabhu, at the request of his guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, chants Hare Krishna at the beginning of his 80th Vyasa-puja festival in Stuyvesant Falls, New York (https://youtu.be/n40OSWrn_yw):


Baladeva Prabhu of Trinidad gave a brief summary of the life of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami: He became personal typist for Srila Prabhupada. He managed ISKCON Boston and ISKCON Press. He took sannyasa. He led the library party. Till 1991 he was in charge of Back to Godhead. He was GBC and initiating guru.

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

In our sampradaya we celebrate on the guru’s appearance day, although other groups do it all on the same day.

Vyasa is the original guru. Our seat is still known as vyasasana.

In Journal and Poems, I published a poem telling what kind of guru I am, “A Castor Tree Guru”:

“A Castor Tree Guru

“When there are no trees,
a castor tree is a big tree.
‘I may be imperfect,’
Prabhupada would say,
‘but if I speak what Krishna says,
then that is also perfect.’
And a prabhupadanuga
is in touch with the shakti.

“The tree in the courtyard is also small,
but sturdy, even in winter.
And in springtime it will bud green.

“Let me grow as I am able,
even if I am small.
And let me also shelter sisya birds.
I am his foot dust,
his boy, his saved, his son,
his typist, a bringer of a mango.
But I cannot rest on these credits.
Today also I am traveling
to his Mayapur.

“I pray to stay a small tree
since that is what I am,
and to deliver these sisyas given to me.
By chanting and hearing
and always living with the Vaishnavas,
by preaching and urging myself and them,
I’ll help keep these ISKCON places sound
until the end of my life.”

I have nothing new to say. Everything is in Srila Prabhupada’s books, and I urge you to read them. As my disciples, you have an added responsibility of reading my books.

I could be accused of making you bookworms, but what can I do? The Brahma-Gaudiya samprayada is known as the book samprayada.

If you take time to read some of my writing, I could die a happy man.
Srila Prabhupada said if you read Gaudiya Vaishnava literature twenty-four hours a day, you would not come to the end of it in one life.
I read twenty minutes of Srimad-Bhagavatam, twenty minutes of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and I listen to a Srila Prabhpuada lecture each day.
We read 2½ hours a day, some after breakfast and some after lunch.

Many of you are approaching early old age. You can take vanaprastha. Do not spend so much time with your grandchildren. Preaching may be too strenuous, but you can read and chant.

In Reading Reform Notebook I quote from Srila Prabhupada on reading, and I comment.

“In my books the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is explained fully. So if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily, the knowledge will be revealed to you, and by this process your spiritual life will develop . . . you will please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein.” (Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Bahurupa, November 22, 1974)

Reading is not just to acquire knowledge, but it is to cut through material conditioning.

If we are Krishna conscious any sort of occupation will suit us.

When Pusta Krishna advocated devotees read and have classes eight hours a day, temple managers wrote Srila Prabhupada inquiring about this. In Srila Prabhupada’s reply he said morning and evening classes for an hour plus an hour of personal reading is sufficient.

Offerings

[Some of these offerings can be found in Sri Vyasa-puja, the SDG Vyasa Puja book, which can be downloaded at https://satsvarupadasagoswami.com/sdgnews/vyasa-puja-book-2019-download/. In some cases disciples and well-wishers read their offerings from the book. Others gave shorter impromptu offerings to save time, even if they also had offerings in the book. I just wrote down a few things from the offerings I heard that struck me, but I did not attempt to summarize all the many nice points that the speakers made.]

Jayadvaita Swami (from a letter):

“After the years and decades when you served on active worldwide duty—temples! travels! men! meetings! programs! Library Party! GBC! zones! money! management!—it’s quiet there, a few close servants and friends with you, helping you in this time of your devotional career.

“Downstairs, Gaura-Nitai extend blessings—Vrindaban upstairs, Mayapur on the ground. And even at the kitchen table, at lunchtime, sounds from the spiritual world invoke the presence of Krishna, in his many forms, in his pastimes with his devotees, through the reading of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

“Outside the borders of this mostly unknown land, people live in a world of flags and fire trucks and Hudson Valley illusions. But here, your Krishna consciousness creates the world of Vrindaban, the world of Krishna, the true home for the soul.

“And for your fortunate readers, friends, and followers, your words dispel illusions and lead the way, following Srila Prabhupada, back to the land of eternal service to Krishna.
“Forever in your debt,
“Your servant and friend,
“Jayadvaita Swami”

Giriraj Swami (from a letter):

[Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami read more of the offering. I just include some excerpts especially striking to me. You can find the whole offering in the book.]

“You are my mentor, exemplar, and inspiration for writing about Srila Prabhupada.”
“I would refer to Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita, and marvel at how beautifully it was written.”
“Even now, your emphasis on your personal japa is guiding me and inspiring me.”
“You have nurtured me in Krishna consciousness from my very first days, as a student at Brandeis University, until today. And I know that you will continue to do so.”

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu:

Sridhara Swami is the original commentator on the Bhagavatam. I wish to offer you this benediction from his comment on Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.87, the chapter called “Prayers by the Personified Vedas.” There he glorifies his worshipable deity, Nrsimhadeva, as He who has the goddess of eloquence, He who has the goddess of fortune, and He who has the goddess of learning, in His heart.”
I wish that Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami may be blessed by Nrsimhadeva, with eloquence, fortune, and learning.

Anuradha Devi Dasi:

Thank you for the “Life and Teachings of Srila Prabhupada” course in Vrindavan – the best course I ever took.
Each of your books is a testimony of creative genius engaged in the pursuit of truth.
Thank you particularly for Entering a Life of Prayer.
Thank you for teaching not to waste time by your example.
You once wrote me that “Krishna is more merciful than you are dumb.” I share that every year with new students at Bhaktivedanta College.

Sesa Prabhu:

My life in Krishna consciousness is nondifferent from your blessings to me. Some of my best years in Krishna consciousness were serving with you. As your secretary for your writing Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita, I recall you wrote an article for Back to Godhead, “Turning 40.” You are still giving your wonderful example 40 years later.
Once I could not get to sleep. Then I thought, “Oh, I did not give Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami his towel.” I knocked on your door, bringing a towel. You said, “I was just wondering what I would do without a towel.” We were so in tune from working closely together in those days.

Syama Gopa Rupa Devi Dasi:

You have said the subject of your books is love.

Pyari Mohan Prabhu:

When I first met you, I found you humble and peaceful.
You were surprised to see me in white for the first time but were not disgusted. In those days we were brahmacaris for life, although 90% of us ultimately got married.
I read your Free Write Journal weekly. I regularly read Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita and He Lives Forever. You will also live forever in your books.

Silavati Devi Dasi:

Vyasa-puja is a very sobering time for me which encourages me to dig deep and embrace the reality of being connected to the parampara. In you, what a connection I have!
Your love is like this Shakespeare quote, “Love is not love which alters it when alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove: O no! It is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.” [Sonnet 116]
You are kindness personified. You are a master of bhakti, you are a master of words, and you are a guiding star for me on this boat in the material ocean.

Yadunandana Swami:

Your writing is your greatest contribution. It is found at sdglegacy.com.
Your writing encompasses your entire life.
Despite old age and its medical challenges, you expand your writing.
Your writing is not stereotyped but full of realization.
Your writing is of many various genres.
It is hard to calculate how many books you have actually written.
Your readers get inspiration from what you share. They become inspired to use their natural abilities and qualities in Krishna’s service.
Your writing is timeless and is Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta manifest in a unique way.
Your writing deserves a Ph.D. to help fully appreciate it and share it.

Bhadra Prabhu:

Your first question to Srila Prabhupada was, “Is suffering eternal?” Srila Prabhupada said yes, in this material world, but he taught the way out and you are following.
When your father rejected you, Srila Prabhupada said he was your spiritual father, and you happily accepted that.

Madhumati Devi Dasi:

Sesa said regarding you, “He is our foundation.”
You have trained us in so many things, Vaishnava qualities, to see the good in other religions, etc.
Before people started doing seminars, you were doing seminars.
I remember that one on Vrindavan pastimes in 1991.

Muktavadanya Prabhu:

You were the first one to hear Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna book. And now after 53 years, you are hearing it with rapt attention. That shows your purity.

You explained that we should not be envious if someone is better than ourselves because they are meeting our common goal of pleasing Krishna.

Krishna Dasi:

You are giving us what Srila Prabhupada gave to you, his compassion and love.
You meditate on every word you hear in our daily readings of Srila Prahupada’s books.

Hari dasa Prabhu:

I am convinced you are the most transparent presenter of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna’s teachings. You went through many challenges but came out victorious.

Dina Bandhu Prabhu:

For hundreds of years in the future Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s teachings will be relevant.

Tulasi Priya Devi Dasi:

How you manage yourself regarding time is most impressive to me and the thing I most fail to emulate.
You wrote that we worship the moments we were with Srila Prabhupada. “If by chance such a moment comes when I can once again see Krishna, then I shall worship those seconds, moments and hours with flower garlands and pulp of sandalwood and decorate them with all kinds of jewels and ornaments.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 2.38)
“When I again see His [Krishna’s] form I shall decorate the phases of time with many jewels.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 2.36)

The light you have reflected from Srila Prabhupada and Krishna is illuminating.

Sthita-dhi-muni Prabhu:

As Krishna and His devotees are together, so you are together with your disciples. Thank you for this family you have collected and brought to Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet.

Haryasva Prabhu:

I used to tell you sankirtana stories. You said you liked that.
Later you would engage me in helping with kirtan, getting this or that person to participate in this way or that way.
Your voice in your books is uncompromising and is not going to accept my nonsense. That voice in your literature is my favorite voice.

Lady who was in Puerto Rico:

Your letters inspiring me in sadhana and sankirtana greatly benefit me.

Kirtan Rasa Prabhu:

I remember reading your article “Turning 40.” I thought that sounded very old. Now you are 80 and me 62.
Love binds us.
You are writer. It is not something you do but who you are.
You have manifest art and literature at an impressive rate. That demonstrates your empowerment.
I feel gratitude for all you have given.

Tattva-vit Devi Dasi:

It is obvious you are the living representative of Srila Prabhupada.
You also add your own realizations to make it more meaningful.

Guru dasa Prabhu:

You are kind enough to overload me with work and service. It is hard to keep up, but I do not want it to stop.

Rama Raya Prabhu:

Usually I am surrounded by those not engaged in the spiritual energy, so I am so grateful to be here.
Srila Prabhupada repeated said that the secret of success to dedicate oneself to execute the order of one’s guru.
Love for the spiritual master raises one to the highest goal.
As soon as you came across Srila Prabhupada, you were struck with wonder.
When Srila Prabhupada said, “If you love me, I will love you,” that was the game changer for you.

Older man:

I was impressed with the Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita.
By seeing you at a disciples meeting, I understood you were my spiritual master.
Engaging the reader is the hallmark of your writing style.
Devotees speaking their realizations are like adding sauce and chutney to a meal of Krishna-katha.

Vedavyasa Prabhu:

I used to cook for you at Saranagati in 1991.
In 1989 you came to Vancouver as a GBC and spiritual master. I was a temple president. I told the Deities, “I do not why You gave me this position.”
When you came, you said, “How can I serve you?”
I said, “No, I am here to serve you.”
We went back and forth a few times. I was reminded of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who would say, “Daso ’smi – I am your servant.”

Sastra Prabhu:

You have so much love for all of us.

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

For art’s sake, I like do to poetry although it is not as popular with others. It is my calling. We should find out how we can contribute, and go with it, even it is imperfect at first.

Robert Frost as a boy wanted to be a poet. His father had doubts but said he could do it for two years. Robert said, “Give me fifty.”

About fifty percent of my writing is prose, but I wanted to speak this about my poetry.

Reading from a poem . . .

Just say what the books say. They do what they like as they are able.

Rev. John Endler:

I suggested that we put out four books each year. Guru Maharaja said, “I would like that.”
You never have to feel bad about whatever you can donate.
I know you are giving from the heart as Guru Maharaja is writing from the heart.
What better way to celebrate his 80th birthday than to put out four books this year!

Bhadra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the end of the Vyasa-puja festival (https://youtu.be/0IIBxNJjh1U):


-----

In this verse, Krishna makes the point that devotional service gives the benefit derived from all the other popular processes, but also guarantees that one reaches His supreme abode. It is the final verse of Chapter 8, which is entitled “Attaining the Supreme.” Although Krishna uses the word yogi not bhakta here, he has mentioned previously in the last verse of Chapter 6, that the yogi who is absorbed in Him is the best yogi and thus devotional service to Him is the best process to attain the supreme destination as well as the other benedictions. People worry about being bereft if they give up their favorite process and instead engage in devotional service. Krishna assures them here that they need not worry. The verse also has a pretty meter:

vedesu yajñesu tapahsu caiva
danesu yat punya-phalam pradistam
atyeti tat sarvam idam viditva
yogi param sthanam upaiti cadyam

A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, undergoing austerities, giving charity or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities. Simply by performing devotional service, he attains all these, and at the end he reaches the supreme eternal abode.” (Bhagavad-gita 8.28)