Where I Went and What I Did
I had many amazing experiences on harinama the first half of May. The first week I spent with Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci in Miami. The next five days I spent with Rama Raya Prabhu and his NYC Harinam party in New York City. The final three days were most amazing because I was with both parties together at the same time in New York City. Two notable days were one day in Miami when I sang in Coconut Grove by myself for three hours and I had some positive interactions with local people, and one day in New York City when I went on three harinamas and when I met a lady who was Srila Prabhupada’s nurse during his 1967 illness in New York City. During the NYC Harinam program, my main duty was to distribute invitations to the New York Hare Krishna Festival, a three-day festival June 11–13, with June 12 being the New York City Ratha-yatra, one of the few Ratha-yatras happening in the U.S.A. this year.
During the first half of May, Pankajanghri Prabhu, who was dear to the entire Vaishnava community, left his body in the most sacred of all places, Sridham Mayapur. To honor him, I share some notes on his lectures that I heard and a quote from a letter he wrote to my diksa-guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamrita commentaries. I share many writings of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on classes by Mahavishnu Swami, Chandrasekhara Swami, and Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Swami. I also share notes on classes by Hansarupa, Nikunjabihari, Rama Raya, Navina Nirada, Vicaru, and Natabara Gauranga Prabhus. I was especially impressed by many of the points that Mahavishnu Swami and Navina Nirada Prabhu made.
I also share photos of the Srila Prabhupada Museum in New York and a photo of a spiritualized phone.
Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for the several videos of me chanting Hare Krishna with NYC Harinam. Thanks to Rama Raya Prabhu for his video of Mahavishnu Swami chanting Hare Krishna on the A train and the three girls dancing. Thanks to Parvat Muni Prabhu for taking me to the Miami airport and to Anupama Prabhu for picking me up from JFK in New York City. Thanks to Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Swami, Jayadhvaja Prabhu, and the ISKCON Miami Outreach community for facilitating our accommodation, prasadam, and harinamas in Miami.
Itinerary
May 8–August ?: NYC Harinam
August ?–September ?: Florida college outreach
September ?–December 31: NYC Harinam
Note: I do hope to go to Dublin, The North of England, and Paris in the summer, but it depends on the COVID-19 restrictions lessening to the point where I would not have to quarantine.
Chanting Hare Krishna in Miami
Except for a couple small harinamas I organized in Coconut Grove and one we all did at Hollywood Beach, all the harinamas were in Miami Beach, mostly on Ocean Drive, with a couple including Lincoln Road Mall.
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach on Saturday, and people respond by chanting, dancing, smiling, and clapping (https://youtu.be/henakuVrg00):
Kids enjoy chanting Hare Krishna and dancing with Mahavishnu Swami and the Harinama Ruci on Hollywood Beach in Florida on Sunday (https://youtu.be/nIxAaL3_WOM):
Two guys also had a great time dancing as Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/HvLVHXbntI0):
While Mahavishnu Swami was chanting Hare Krishna on Hollywood Beach with Harinama Ruci, many passersby joined in singing and dancing (https://youtu.be/pfNSDYHwjv0):
Here three girls enjoy dancing with devotee ladies and a guy enjoys dancing with Mahavishnu Swami as the swami chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/KStB7NR7gF8):
Because Mahavishnu Swami was speaking at the ISKCON Miami Outreach Sunday feast program which begins at 7:00 p.m. and was half an hour by car from our harinama spot on Hollywood Beach, we were not able to chant for the full three hours which I like to do on harinama. Other devotees were also dissatisfied with the shortness of the harinama, especially because Hollywood Beach was the best place we did in the Miami area, so one carload of devotees decided to continue the harinama. I lead the chanting for half an hour and then Ananta Vallabha Prabhu continued for another forty-five minutes. Vishnujana Prabhu got the attention of interested passersby and I engaged them in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra two words at time, following the example of Mahavishnu Swami. I was surprised that although I do not have the nature of a performer, and so it felt a bit artificial for me, many of the people did enjoy chanting the mantra just as they do when Mahavishnu Swami does it. Ananta Vallabha Prabhu did a good job of getting people to chant the mantra as well.
Here Ananta Vallabha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Hollywood Beach in Florida, and two shop workers enjoy chanting and dancing (https://youtu.be/RZQYYjZwrV4):
We reached the ISKCON Miami Outreach ashram just in time for the feast which concludes the program. There Mahavishnu Swami chanted a lively prasadam prayer before the devotees and guests took prasadam [spiritual food offered to Krishna] (https://youtu.be/BCQjWLylpmI):
The next day spontaneously Mahavishnu Swami chanted an upbeat Hare Krishna tune at ISKCON Miami Outreach, inspiring the devotees (https://youtu.be/FqfWi9hHjVs):
Some devotees were interested in doing a harinama in nearby Coconut Grove, so we decided to go out for an hour at lunchtime. Some people were happy to see us and to chant the mantra. Vedran distributed enough books to cover the cost of my parking for two days and to give a small donation to the ashram.
Here Arianna chants Hare Krishna in Coconut Grove, and passersby dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/eA7mtxF8FHg):
That afternoon Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna and Happy Birthday in Miami Beach to happy partiers (https://youtu.be/ut40PJ975MQ):
Many people responded favorably when Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna on Ocean Drive on Monday (https://youtu.be/00XWOOzdcbs):
Athena, a Florida State University student whose life recently took a turn in a spiritual direction and who got Science of Self-Realization, chanted with us briefly on the campus, and attended a program at our Tallahassee Krishna House, met us on Ocean Drive after learning from my Facebook posts I was in the area.
She is from North Miami and came to visit our chanting party with a high school friend named Alex (lower left).
She wanted to have her picture taken with me.
Tuesday we began our harinama at Lincoln Road Mall. There we met Nay Rozé, a street violinist who does yoga. Here Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna and she plays along (https://youtu.be/N2G6DbGyaKw):
Vishnujana Prabhu asked her later why she had a string of Hare Krishna meditation (japa) beads around her neck, and she said that a friend gave them to her for her birthday.
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna in Miami Beach with Harinama Ruci on a Tuesday, and many people dance (https://youtu.be/W7-Ya_Je-4A):
A group of guys enjoys chanting Hare Krishna and dancing with Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci on the porch of a Miami Beach hotel (https://youtu.be/_2-8hTWIMek):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach with Harinama Ruci on a Wednesday, and many people take part in chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in great happiness (https://youtu.be/WdXQkNjq4yA):
On Thursday, even with all my naps I only slept four and a half hours before it came time for leave for harinama. It was unthinkable for me to do harinama in that exhausted condition. I took a forty-minute nap and decided to do a three-hour harinama in Coconut Grove by myself, as Harinama Ruci had already left for their harinama. I had several nice experiences.
A friendly middle-aged man named Carlos gave five dollars, and I gave him a book and invitation card for the ISKCON Miami Outreach Sunday program. He mentioned to me that he was vegan. Later he returned and gave me a vegan cookie as a gift. He also inquired in more detail about the location of our programs.
A waitress from a nearby restaurant, who had talked to me briefly and accepted “On Chanting Hare Krishna” when I passed by her a few days before, stopped to visit during her break from work. She was somewhat interested in the Beatles, and I told her about how George Harrison made a recording of Hare Krishna, and I played the beginning of it for her. She asked if I wanted a bottle of water and later returned with one.
To save time, I decided to play the harmonium and chant Hare Krishna on the twenty-minute walk home. As I passed by one restaurant, a girl of no more than six or seven years came out to the sidewalk and said to me with a smile, “I like the songs you sing very much.”
I can see spending a week chanting in Coconut Grove each year and promoting the local Hare Krishna programs.
On my final harinama in Miami Beach on Friday, one vacationer wanted to play the drum, and he did an impressive job. He was even able to play it as Mahavishnu Swami swung him around. When the kirtan was over, he told us he was a Prabhupada disciple, Markandeya, visiting from California (https://youtu.be/ttoxWhCJ1yQ):
Another special experience that day was when Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna inside a shoe shop and workers happily chanted Hare Krishna and danced (https://youtu.be/WVHV-VYDkJo):
As you can see, when Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna in Miami Beach that day, many people happily took part (https://youtu.be/VRprIR1aq70):
On our way back to Coconut Grove, Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna for the benefit of our Lyft driver (https://youtu.be/j29VTzbPyeE):
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
It is great to be back in New York City, chanting with a group of very dedicated devotees.
The day I arrived in New York was a rainy one, so we chanted in the Times Square subway station.
Here Hari of Columbus chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/Pc_W4CaFOeQ):
Vraja Mohan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/dA51YMV1EDk):
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/Qv-uz4TKmSg):
Nikunja Bihari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/wFkkpHLW4zQ):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/TWJ1XwrAvZw):
While Rama Raya continued to chant, passersby became inspired to play the shakers, the lady on the left after buying a big Spanish book from me (https://youtu.be/KUcr4ofObPU):
Hari of Columbus chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at ISKCON New York, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/nRs9PBb5_hE):
Doyal Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Sunday Kirtan in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/ERD8QJrkTTU):
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/KGjO4Vxug2w):
Emily chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/f7lG_BtaF_s):
Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna during the Sunday program at ISKCON New York before the Gaura Arati (https://youtu.be/1qv6QtQBsoI):
Bipin Bihari Prabhu chanted after the Gaura Arati (https://youtu.be/-bUwhzY8Mxs):
Hari of Columbus chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/e4-PrV73v0I):
Darpan of Columbus, visiting New York for a week, chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/gCM85T3N2sc):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu took a video of me chanting Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/dyhP1utmuvg):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in (https://youtu.be/5rm4NoEw2DU):
Premananda Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/vD2Pi9dJ-YA):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/A2DxumdcyVU):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu took a video of me chanting Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park on Tuesday (https://youtu.be/OCZuaEu20LY):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/zUtqdGKCNkU):
The weather became worse suddenly, and we decided to continue our harinama at the Fulton Street subway station because it is on our way home.
Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station until policemen stopped us two minutes before we were scheduled to finish, claiming we were too loud (https://youtu.be/FOQD8jUTWIo):
For variety, NYC Harinam chants at Columbus Circle on Wednesdays.
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu took a video of me chanting Hare Krishna in Columbus Circle on Wednesday (https://youtu.be/Cz6eljb-RHs):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/w6AsMsI8h4A):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci at lunchtime in Brooklyn, and locals respond (https://youtu.be/GIDOFyu-FrE):
A Metro by T-Mobile worker dances while Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci in Downtown Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/twjY3S4AIdY):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu took a video of me chanting Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park on Thursday (https://youtu.be/37wFItPTrac):
Kaliya also took a video of the same kirtan in landscape mode (https://youtu.be/LsmlbosdOy4):
Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/raUeHvtigCY):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and a girl plays the shakers (https://youtu.be/gCjUyN28vfk):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and many dance and enjoy the scene, some taking photos and videos. Special thanks to Jason of the UK, who recently rejoined us, along with Dylan and Darpan, for helping draw out of the passersby their natural urge to dance for Krishna! (https://youtu.be/14kW2AC0vB0):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and devotees and passersby dance (https://youtu.be/Ri9iuB3mHyA):
Originally, just the devotees beginning dancing as Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/FZc4ro-dScw):
Later so many passersby joined in, as you could see in the other videos above.
Here Godruma Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Thursday night Bhakti Center harinama in the Lower East Side (https://youtu.be/5bVWvBjUyEo):
Sometimes people would move with the music (https://youtu.be/MBLa_U9S1vc):
That Thursday was special, chanting with Harinama Ruci at midday in Brooklyn, with NYC Harinam in Washington Square Park in the afternoon, and with the Bhakti Center in the Lower East Side in the evening, passing out Ratha-yatra flyers everywhere. At the park, a nurse said, “I took care of your guru in the 1960s.” Then she walked away. I wondered what she meant so I caught up to her and inquired. She explained that she studied nursing 1964–1967 at Beth Israel Hospital, where Prabhupada was hospitalized briefly in May 1967. She described Srila Prabhupada as being a good man, and she said his disciples often came to the hospital to help him. She did not want me to take her photo.
Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park on Friday, devotees dance and locals play shakers and also dance (https://youtu.be/ZnU6DB5t1SA):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/5sE_AmS8Pqk):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and passersby play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/mn5cjiekEOk):
In order for myself and the other NYC Harinam devotees to be able to join Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci for their evening harinamas at Times Square, we would chant from 3 to 6 p.m., instead of 7 p.m., at our usual venue, and then they would meet us at 6 p.m., and we would travel to Times Square together and others would meet at Times Square at 6:45 p.m. As you can see in some of the videos below, Mahavishnu Swami liked to chant on the trains en route to Times Square.
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and devotees and park goers dance with joy (https://youtu.be/H2qa7ZkfmZ4):
Street musicians accompany Mahavishnu Swami as he chants Hare Krishna through Washington Square Park to the delight of devotees and onlookers (https://youtu.be/vx61lrZg2nU):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci on the D train in New York City between West 4th Street and 42nd Street / Bryant Park on the way from Washington Square Park to Times Square to do harinama on a Friday night (https://youtu.be/adFgxBchuBI):
Here are some highlights from Times Square, in which you can see the people were willing to respond (https://youtu.be/7y6rXYgdGWA):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci and local devotees on a Friday night in Times Square, and many passersby dance with the devotees [from a Facebook Live video] (https://youtu.be/HVIhABOApTA):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna on Waverly Place, and cafe goers chant the mantra (https://youtu.be/FDrf6Ajqvnc):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci on the A train in New York City between West 4th Street and 42nd Street / Times Square on the way from Washington Square Park to Times Square to do harinama on a Saturday night (https://youtu.be/8pzmaRgPSYI):
Here Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci and local devotees on a Saturday night in Times Square, on the A train to Brooklyn, and at the Brooklyn temple, and many passersby dance with the devotees [from a Facebook Live video] (https://youtu.be/mt-fy4WhfpA):
Pankajanghri Prabhu
I share notes on some of the classes of Pankajanghri Prabhu which I heard to honor him on the occasion of his disappearance:
From a class in Mayapur in February 2008:
The Vedas are bewildering, even to their author, Vyasadeva, thus his guru, Narada, had to “straighten him out.”
From a class in Mayapur in December 2009:
One of those films on life in the womb corroborates the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s descriptions. They say it takes one month for the baby to become accustomed to being outside the womb.
If we act for Krishna, tolerating duality, we advance. If we set aside our desire and instead fulfill Krishna’s desire, we will become very dear to Krishna.
To try to control maya is an illusion, for maya is controlling us. Krishna says if we surrender unto Him, he will call off maya.
The body is like a monster than is making demands all day, and we foolishly serve it. We spend our whole life foolishly meeting the demands of the body. If that is not foolish, I do not know what is!
Q: If the mind is above the senses, the intelligence is above the mind, and the soul is above the intelligence, then why is it so hard to act that way?
A: The mind has been king since time immemorial, and he is not going to give it up without a fight.
Q: Do we have to give up adjusting for bodily dualities?
A: No, just engage in it in Krishna’s service.
From a class in Mayapur in April 2012:
If we cannot always remember Krishna, the rules are to keep us from straying off the path of self-realization.
The Supersoul is always there, but Vrindavan Krishna does reciprocate with anything but pure devotional service.
Krishna is not responsible for our happiness and distress. It comes from the choices we make. He sets up the rules, but we choose what to do. “These are the social positions. These are the rules. It is up to you to choose how to act.”
Because in vaidhi-bhakti our love is not spontaneous, it does not reach Radha-Krishna. But Radha-Krishna as Lord Caitanya, however, will accept our regulative worship and bring us to the higher stage.
From Karttika Notes by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
[Pankajanghri Prabhu once wrote me in a letter]: “Opposite to any other place I’ve stayed, Sri Mayapur gets more and more attractive the longer one stays and one’s attachment to it increases proportionately.”
Special Photos
After our Saturday night harinama, Hansarupa Prabhu, our temple president, gave us a tour of the Srila Prabhupada Musuem, now on the ground floor of the temple just across the corridor from the temple room and next to the pujari room.
There is Srila Prabhupada and his desk, arranged with his paraphernalia.
His sweaters.
His shoes.
A painting of Lord Caitanya from the 1960s in New York City.
Some devotees spiritualize the appearance of their phones.
This devotee shows his Jagannatha phone to me,
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 20.52, purport:
“A pure devotee has no way of sensing happiness except by seeing that Krishna is happy in every respect. If Krishna becomes happy by giving him distress, such a devotee accepts that unhappiness as the greatest of all happiness.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 20.58:
“Krishna is My life and soul. Krishna is the treasure of My life. Indeed, Krishna is the very life of My life. I therefore keep Him always in My heart and try to please Him by rendering service. That is My constant meditation.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 20.65:
“If anyone recites or hears these eight verses of instruction by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, his ecstatic love and devotion for Krishna increase day by day.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.23, purport:
“One should therefore choose a bona fide servant of the Lord constantly engaged in His service, accept such a servant as the spiritual master and engage himself in his (the spiritual master’s) service. Such a spiritual master is the transparent medium by which to visualize the Lord, who is beyond the conception of the material senses. By service of the bona fide spiritual master, the Lord consents to reveal Himself in proportion to the service rendered. Utilization of the human energy in the service of the Lord is the progressive path of salvation. The whole cosmic creation becomes at once identical with the Lord as soon as service in relation with the Lord is rendered under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. The expert spiritual master knows the art of utilizing everything to glorify the Lord, and therefore under his guidance the whole world can be turned into the spiritual abode by the divine grace of the Lord’s servant.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.32, purport:
“The entire material existence is full of miseries. Foolish people have manufactured, out of their tiny brains, many remedial measures for removing the threefold miseries pertaining to the body and mind, pertaining to the natural disturbances and in relation with other living beings. The whole world is struggling very hard to exist out of these miseries, but men do not know that without the sanction of the Lord no plan or no remedial measure can actually bring about the desired peace and tranquillity. The remedial measure to cure a patient by medical treatment is useless if it is not sanctioned by the Lord. To cross the river or the ocean by a suitable boat is no remedial measure if it is not sanctioned by the Lord. We should know for certain that the Lord is the ultimate sanctioning officer, and we must therefore dedicate our attempts to the mercy of the Lord for ultimate success or to get rid of the obstacles on the path of success.
“One should try to engage in the service of the Lord everything for which one has specific attraction, and that is the way of peace and prosperity.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.33, purport:
“When everything is thus employed in the service of the Lord, we can experience that there is nothing except the Supreme Brahman. The Vedic mantra that ‘everything is Brahman’ is thus realized by us.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 22.14–15, purport:
“The ever-liberated person who works on Krishna’s behalf enjoys Lord Krishna’s company through his engagement.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.36, purport:
“Lord Caitanya has taught a very simple method in this connection. He has taught the lesson for preaching the transcendental message through singing, dancing and refreshment. As such, fifty percent of our income may be spent for this purpose. In this fallen age of quarrel and dissension, if only the leading and wealthy persons of society agree to spend fifty percent of their income in the service of the Lord, as it is taught by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there is absolute certainty of converting this hell of pandemonium to the transcendental abode of the Lord. No one will disagree to partake in a function where good singing, dancing and refreshment are administered. Everyone will attend such a function, and everyone is sure to feel individually the transcendental presence of the Lord. This alone will help the attendants associate with the Lord and thereby purify themselves in spiritual realization.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.40, purport:
“Sri Naradaji advised Vyasadeva to describe the glories of the Lord just to do good to all eight classes of men, both good [Bg. 7.16] and bad [Bg. 7.15]. Srimad-Bhagavatam is therefore not meant for any particular class of men or sect. It is for the sincere soul who actually wants his own welfare and peace of mind.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.21, purport:
“Since He has nothing to do with the material conception of life because He is absolute spiritual identity, there is for Him no superior or inferior action. Being the Absolute Personality of Godhead, He has no false ego, and so He does not identify Himself with anything different from Him. The material conception of ego is equibalanced in Him. He does not feel, therefore, inferior by becoming the chariot driver of His pure devotee. It is the glory of the pure devotee that only he can bring about service from the affectionate Lord.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 8.73:
“By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel joyful to have such a fitting master?” [from Yamunacarya, Stotra Ratna 43]
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.6, purport:
“Some of the conditioned souls, who follow the transcendental sound in the form of Vedic literatures and are thus able to go back to Godhead, attain spiritual and original bodies after quitting the conditional gross and subtle material bodies. The material conditional bodies develop out of the living entities’ forgetfulness of their relationship with Godhead, and during the course of the cosmic manifestation, the conditioned souls are given a chance to revive their original status of life with the help of revealed scriptures, so mercifully compiled by the Lord in His different incarnations. Reading or hearing of such transcendental literatures helps one become liberated even in the conditional state of material existence. All the Vedic literatures aim at devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, and as soon as one is fixed upon this point, he at once becomes liberated from conditional life. The material gross and subtle forms are simply due to the conditioned soul’s ignorance and as soon as he is fixed in the devotional service of the Lord, he becomes eligible to be freed from the conditioned state. This devotional service is transcendental attraction for the Supreme on account of His being the source of all pleasing humors. Everyone is after some pleasure of humor for enjoyment, but does not know the supreme source of all attraction (raso vai sah rasam hy evayam labdhvanandi bhavati). The Vedic hymns inform everyone about the supreme source of all pleasure: the unlimited fountainhead of all pleasure is the Personality of Godhead. And one who is fortunate enough to get this information through transcendental literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam becomes permanently liberated to occupy his proper place in the kingdom of God.”
Vedavyasa:
From Vishnu Purana (6.2.17):
dhyayan krte yajan yajnais
tretayam dvapare ’rcayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam
“Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of sacrifice in Treta-yuga, and by the worship of Lord Krishna’s lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is obtained in the age of Kali simply by glorifying the name of Lord Keshava.”
Jiva Goswami:
From his Vaishnava-toshani commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.65.16):
“Sri Baladeva, who is nondifferent from Sankarsana, solaced the damsels of Vrindavan by singing the glories of Krishna’s names. Sometimes Sri Baladeva draws Krishna from Dvaraka by His mind and presents Him before a particular gopi in a secluded place, therefore He is known as Sankarsana.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From The Wild Garden:
“Is this just a pleasant, sentimental memory? No, it is the true story of Prabhupada’s compassion. He did what no one else dared to do or could do. He went alone with the blessings of his spiritual master. I never want to tire from telling these stories and describing my own participation in those early days.”
“Vrinda-devi, I don’t know how best to pray to you. I expect things to turn out as I want them to and then I consider that I am blessed. But please don’t cheat me by awarding my inferior desires. Whatever I have to go through—whatever austerity, poverty, humility, or pain—take me through it to loving service to Radha and Krishna. I can only attain this goal by Srila Prabhupada’s intimate direction. Vrinda-devi, you know my heart. Please grant me only those desires that are best for the growth of my bhakti creeper.
“Dear Vrinda-devi, your Radha-Syamasundara are beautiful. I am not qualified to be here, but I am allowed to come to Vrindavan by your grace and by the grace of my spiritual master. Although I am here, I cannot perceive the spiritual reality. Still, I honor it. I have placed my prayers, requests for self-improvement, and prayers for others at your lotus feet. May you destroy my false ego and the false attachments that prevent me from serving you, even if those attachments are dear to me. Please do the same for other devotees I know and live with. We call it purification. Please take away the anarthas.”
From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 3 (A Sojourn in Tapo-bhumi):
“And I want to write it down, my secret report on the adventures of a sadhaka or whatever it is I am. I will probably never be completely certain of the value of what I’m doing—I tremble with uncertainty—because in a sense, Prabhupada’s mission is in my hands, as it is in the hands of each and every one of his followers.”
“Hogs, cats and dogs, Prabhupada told them at Uppsala University. I listen today, and it’s not always easy to hear. It’s a workout to hear him urge them to take to Krishna consciousness. He recommends the Krishna consciousness movement, his ISKCON, which gets the LSD-addicted hippies free of intoxicants. He advises his audience to observe the boys and girls who dance in brahma-bhuta. ‘If you are not jubilant you cannot dance like this. It is not dog’s dancing. And we have no anxiety over expenditures. We chant Hare Krishna, and Krishna meets all our needs.’”
From Prabhupada Meditations, Volume 2:
“The important thing to remember is that we were still reading Dr. Radhakrishnan’s book with its Mayavada commentaries. Many of Prabhupada’s disciples had their own copy of the book, and we were reading from it as our scripture. Prabhupada said it was all right for the time being, but he was trying to get his own book ready. He said as soon as he got his book published, we would have the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and hear what Krishna says. Prabhupada was not proud of his book—he did not even think of it as his book, but Krishna’s. He was eager to get it into our hands so that we could have a genuine Bhagavad-gita. He wanted to give us Krishna.”
“Prabhupada thought that his books could save the world, not because they were his creations, but because they were spoken by Krishna. Naturally, he was eager to read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is to his disciples.”
From Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name:
“Srila Prabhupada answered an American devotee who asked, ‘Is this Vrndavana the same as Goloka Vrindavan?’
“‘Yes,’ Prabhupada replied, ‘but your mind is in America.’”
From Prabhupada Appreciation:
“Devotees often look to Prabhupada’s letters on particular services for support in their own endeavors. There are many, many references to book distribution, and therefore we can understand the importance Prabhupada gave to this activity. ‘There is no doubt about it, to distribute books is our most important activity.’
“There may be there may only be one or two important references to other services, but these are sufficient to give the devotees the enthusiasm and support to continue. For example, he wrote to one devotee, congratulating him on running for mayor (February 2, 1972). He praised a householder couple for spreading Krishna consciousness through radio and TV shows (February 21, 1972). He wrote to one devotee and said that our men should be the chairman of the religion department, and he encouraged another in scholarly preaching. These encouragement and instructions from Prabhupada can be claimed by any devotee who wishes to serve him in that particular way.”
“In another letter Prabhupada humorously described his preaching:
“‘As advised by you the other day, I went to see Mr. Mangumal at Kaladevi, but he did not entertain the idea of missionary work. I talked with him and found him perfect gentleman, but he has spiritual realization of the lowest rank.
“‘He has, of course, honored me with Rs. 11 and a glass of milk, for which I have thanked him very much, but my mission is not fulfilled.’”
From Calling Out to Srila Prabhupada:
“O Prabhupada, who carried within himself the treasure of krishna-bhakti and who brought that treasure to the West, knowing it could not be plundered, and knowing the people were in dire need of it, but who was unsure at first whether they would accept it;
“O Prabhupada, who came to America appearing like an old Indian swami, and who felt himself ‘an insignificant beggar,’ who survived difficulties alone and gradually found a few rebellious and sinful—but spiritually innocent—persons, who were willing and eager to accept the treasure of Krishna’s love;
“O Prabhupada, who distributed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the form of the Hare Krishna mantra, and Bhagavad-gita lectures, and krishna-prasadam, and whose new followers found krishna-bhakti very delicious and nutritious, which gave their spiritual master increased hope in the possibility of wider distribution;
“O Prabhupada, who truly lived in complete dependence on Krishna in a foreign land with no income and at an old age, who followed the trail of favorable preaching as a full Vaisnava sannyasi, who went to San Francisco and there increased his hope and his followers, who wrote his translations of the best Vaishnava texts, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Caitanya-caritamrta, with purports composed while in the midst of Western preaching adventures such as no previous acarya had ever encountered;
“O Prabhupada, who paid careful attention to each person who came to him, who stopped to hear others and to convince them of spiritual reality and material falsity, who became the best friend and guru of his followers—who said, ‘If you love me then I’ll love you’;
“O Prabhupada, whose life is a shelter for thousands, who is the admiration of any intelligent person capable of appreciating extraordinary merit for the cause of God consciousness, and whose life’s activities are very, very dear to Lord Krishna, who declared, ‘There is no servant more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear’;
“O Prabhupada, please do not let us stray from your protection in the illusion that we don’t need you, and please let us grow strong and fight opposition on your behalf. But even while appearing competent, materially or spiritually, let us not be deluded to think we can survive happily in this world or go back to Godhead without pleasing you and serving you by following your instructions to be Krishna conscious devotees, your followers.”
From Truthfulness: The Last Leg of Religion:
“What is honesty? In Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, . . . Prabhupada gave this preliminary definition of honesty: ‘You should not encroach upon others’ rights.’ Recognition of others’ rights will lead us to the knowledge that everything belongs to Krishna. . . . Our talk of honesty is uninformed and useless until we realize that honesty has to be achieved in relationship to the Supreme Proprietor.”
From Upstate: Room to Write [a writing session in 1996]:
“If Krishna is pleased you are saved. If Krishna’s not pleased – but even if He is not pleased and yet He takes the time to kick you, that is a blessing too. But I don’t want to be kicked. I want the guru to be pleased with me and Krishna to reveal a tiny drop of the sweetness of the holy name.”
From Free Write Journal #143:
“In the newsletter ‘Srila Prabhupada Today’ it is reported that Prabhupada, in May 1975, was staying in Perth, Australia, and at this time he had been translating the Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam regarding the structure of the universe and the movements of the planets. On his morning walks, he would have mock-debates with his disciples, who posed as materialistic scientists. One day he said the different planetary orbits were all independent, and that the so-called ‘law of gravity’ was not mentioned in the Vedic literature. This provoked some of his disciples into asking challenging questions. Prabhupada replied, ‘We are not so interested in these details. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is just a very short summary to give some idea of the creation of the Lord. But it is not scientific. We are not interested in science; we are interested in developing our love of God.’ He went on to say that if this were to be scientific, it would take volumes to explore how the creation is done. But this was not Sukadeva Gosvami’s purpose in speaking, to explain the creation. He just wants us to understand, ‘Krishna has created everything. Develop love of Krishna.’ If you can’t understand it, you accept it because it is there in the scriptures. We do not bother our minds trying to understand how it could be like this. We just want to develop love of God.”
“I have received a few letters from prodigal disciples, long-lost children, and it warms my heart. It makes me think, ‘It’s never too late,’ and that the original bonds of obedience and love have survived the broken hearts and broken vows.”
From “CHANGING MIND” in Every Day, Just Write: Volume 3 (A Sojourn in Tapo-bhumi):
“Change mind twice a day—
are you
going to Vrindavan or the Caribbean?
Oh, go change your diapers,
your mind, your seat, your
college major.
“Each year you change your musical
tastes, but not your God
or guru.”
“My master did all he could. Now I have to carry my weight across the desert.”
“I hope to keep strong in my commitment not to be manipulated by others. GBC committees, etc., have their work to do, and I’m glad they’re protecting ISKCON, but I have a different mission. My role is not to judge relative issues. I’m not a politician. Going my way.”
“Pride myself on how I was strong not to be manipulated. I call it ‘aggressively neutral.’”
“Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhu got brain malaria, which he said is like having twenty malarias at once. People die from it. Yet while the pain was great, he dragged himself from bed and continued drawing. These drawings are later used as models for sculptures. As soon as he drew one picture, he said the pain went away.”
From “Jagannatha Bliss” in Passing Places, Eternal Truths: Travel Writings 1988–1996:
“Jagannatha is checked in to room 903.
How can the Lord
of the universe
be a Sheraton guest?
Because He consents.
First thing to do
is make up His altar—
today He’s in yellow,
Subhadra red, Balarama blue.
And I’m collapsed beside Them.
Travel is exciting
if you choose as your companion
the best friend, enjoyer,
the ruler of all.
Nothing else really matters—
jets, buses, oceans,
the enormous world of nondevotion
that’s all illusion.
But He is the center,
and I am His servant.
That’s all that matters:
surrender.
O Lord Jagannatha,
please save me,
please keep me,
take me home.
Keep me traveling.
Keep me sick.
Make me well.
Whatever You want.
Keep Your name on my mind.”
Chandrasekhara Swami:
The pastimes of Krishna playing as a cowherd boy are not just an incidental occurence but are actually the goal of life.
Matter and antimatter are basically two forms of matter. Srila Prabhupada uses the term antimatter to mean that which is not matter.
We are like in a gigantic Disneyworld and after awhile we realize we want to get out of it. Krishna allows us to outgrow the Disneyland we are inhabiting.
Mahavishnu Swami:
We have forgotten how to enjoy in relationship to Krishna.
One time Srila Prabhupada said, “All my disciples are mahatmas (great souls).” He was very generous to accept us in that way.
Comment by B. P. V. Damodara Swami: Srila Prabhupada used italics in his First and Second Cantos, not after that.
Not knowing our relationship with Krishna we are incomplete.
The Mayavadis want to become God, but the devotees can become apparently greater than God who becomes subordinate to their love.
The happiness of this world is flickering and cannot satisfy need of the soul.
When people encounter the harinama party they encounter another bhava. Sometimes their first reaction to that is they start laughing. I have to wait till they stop before encouraging them to chant the mantra.
Srila Prabhupada gave us the opportunity encounter transcendental sound, and we begin our relationship with Krishna through this sound.
Srila Prabhupada has given us the holy name, and every one of us has the responsibility of awakening the holy name in our hearts.
Krishna is amazed how Srila Prabhupada has engaged so many people in chanting his very personal name of Krishna.
My faith is that through the holy name and service to the holy name, Krishna will reveal Himself to others.
No one is scared of COVID. People are afraid of death. When they hear the holy name, they can realize they are deathless.
People are ready to hear the holy name, to take prasadam, to take books.
On Pankajanghri Prabhu, who we learned passed away within the last day: “Very friendly to me. He made a dress for my accordion from the dhoti of Lord Nityananda.”
Comment by Navina Nirada Prabhu: Pankajanghri Prabhu stayed in Zurich for almost a year because of visa issues. After that he would invite the Swiss devotees for maha-prasadam in Mayapur. He was always friendly and joking although scholarly. I knew I could always go to him and ask him a question.
Who else had brought this knowledge all over the world besides Srila Prabhupada. Why not hear from him?
If you want to fight with Indians, it will never end. They think they know better than you. Better invite them to the temple, offer them prasadam, and befriend them.
We are part of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana lila. Srila Prabhupada extended His lila in time. We are part of the inauguration of this movement. We have a long time to go, and such a long way to go. It will gain movement and grow more and more. It may seem hopeless: After chanting with us, they go back to their drinking and their meat, but there is permanent gain.We are vaccinating people against maya. Krishna will never forget a people who once chant the name of the Lord. We are pioneers. Srila Prabhupada is pleased with us.
How can we be peaceful if we are going to die?
We are teaching people where the real shelter is and how to take shelter there.
If the basic instructions of Bhagavad-gita we were taught to everyone in society, such as the soul is not slain when the body is slain, people would be so much more peaceful.
In this world we are all condemned to death. We are also condemned to old age, disease, war, etc. But unfortunately people do not inquire about why or what to do about it.
The maha-mantra is the vaccine for death.
Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Swami:
A reporter once asked Srila Prabhupada, “Why are so many young people coming to you?”
He replied, “Because I have given them something substantial.”
Suhotra Swami argues that Western philosophy is crippled by its dependence on pratyaksa (sense perception) and anumana (hypothesis), and its disregard for sabha (Vedic authority).
Krishna appeals to authority of the Vedanta in Bg. 13.5.
Arjuna speaks of authorities who accept Krishna in Bg. 10.13: Asita, Devala, and Vyasa.
Srila Prabhupada argues with the Russian professor of Indology saying, “Your process and our process is the same, the acceptance of authority. You accept Lenin, and we accept Krishna.”
I was regularly visiting 26 2nd Avenue when Srila Prabhupada was there in 1966, and I was there several times when Srila Prabhupada cut up an apple, popped a piece in his mouth, and had the rest distributed. It was the sweetest apple I ever ate in my life.
Believing that God is a person but that animals have no souls is an impediment in advancing in God consciousness.
The Lord is both immanent and transcendent.
Srila Prabhupada approved of our reading O. B. L. Kapoor’s The Life and Religion of Sri Caitanya.
It is the duty of the disciple to express his doubts but not in a challenging way.
Once when Srila Prabhupada could see I wasn’t complete grasping what he said in answer to a question I asked, he said, “Think about what I told you and come back tomorrow and we can discuss it.”
I heard the Hare Krishna mantra from Alan Gingsberg before I heard it from Srila Prabhupada. But when I heard it from Srila Prabhupada, I began chanting immediately.
I visited Alan Gingsberg’s apartment once with Martin, my brother-in-law. He was very open-hearted and let people come. I started a Hare Krishna kirtan in the middle of his kitchen floor, and he used these little karatalas you put on your fingers.
Sometimes it is described the liberated souls are independent, but that is not absolute independence. Rather it means liberation from maya.
Our actual position is complete dependence on God as was mentioned in the July 1976 lead article of Back to Godhead.
Not only is our body a physical cage, our mind is a mental cage.
In Pascal’s wager, he analyzes what you gain and what you lose, both if you are materialist and theist. He shows logically that it is better to be a theist because you have more to gain and less to lose.
We may not be so fortunate as to have Krishna personally present at our death like Bhismadeva or Haridasa Thakura, but the holy name is not different from Krishna, and if we are fortunate, Krishna will be present at our death in the form of His name.
They do not have an “exclamation” point in Sanskrit. Writers use repetition to indicate emphasis.
Liberation is not the ultimate goal of bhakti, but it comes along with it.
There are a couple of movies that I found useful in my Krishna consciousness. The Matrix, which is very philosophical, and The Day After, which shows the effects of nuclear holocaust, and which made me more serious in my japa and which I would mention in the course of distributing books.
It is amazing great fortune that we had Srila Prabhupada’s association.
Srila Prabhupada instructed not only that we should have a temple in Miami but that we should have a temple in Coconut Grove.
Q: We experience that is very difficult to practice Krishna consciousness so how can we expect many people will accept our preaching.
A: Lord Caitanya wanted the chanting spread everywhere so everyone would benefit.
A (by Mahavishnu Swami): Srila Prabhupada indicated that even if just one or two percent of the people take up Krishna consciousness the whole world would greatly benefit.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
The Germans were fond of the Vedic literature, but unfortunately they misinterpreted it. The Aryans refer to those who are enlightened.
Anyone can buy these books. How is this knowledge a secret? Not everyone can focus on it and come to realize it.
We watched Srila Prabhupada sing “Jaya Radha Madhava” on this very vyasasana [now in the Brooklyn temple] and become so choked up with spiritual emotions that he could not continue.
Disciple: How does the pure devotee see the Lord in the heart?
Srila Prabhupada: Like closed circuit TV.
Disciple: What is the difference between a nitya-siddha [one who is eternally perfect] and a sadhana-siddha [one who attains perfection through practice]?
Srila Prabhupada: When they are perfect, there is no difference.
There are so many people bowing down in so many places of worship, but they do so without complete knowledge.
It took Krishna the eighteen chapters of Bhagavad-gita to get Arjuna to the point of surrender.
You cannot expect a new person to be as expert as one who has 40 years’ experience.
In the material world, there are so many hooks that maya baits for us.
Everything is available. Some take advantage and some don’t.
If one hears one lecture of Srila Prahupada submissively one’s entire life can be changed.
When we read Bhagavad-gita, we realize we are the rascals Krishna refers to.
The beginning of enlightenment is to realize you are in denial.
It was easy to surrender to such a soul as Srila Prabhupada, who is the embodiment of transcendental knowledge.
Srila Prabhupada used everything that Krishna gave them.
The practice of Krishna consciousness becomes easy if we keep the goal in mind.
99% of the people have no conception of God, what He does, what He looks like.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
One of Srila Prabhupada’s main preaching points is that everyone is afraid of death.
Candramauli Swami makes the point in a recent class that the inevitable miseries that come to human society as a result of the many sinful activities going are not meant for the devotees, and they will be protected from them by Lord.
Srila Prabhupada told Hamsadutta, “We read these books to become convinced to chant Hare Krishna.”
When Srila Prabhupada got his green card, he said, “I will never forget the Americans. They gave me men and money. I wish to make them happy and through them the entire world.”
In Brhad-bhagavatamrita not only do we see the joy of Sarupa (Gopa Kumar) in reuniting with Krishna but we see the joy of Krishna in reuniting with Sarupa (Gopa Kumar).
Nikunjabihari Prabhu (Shobhamayi Devi Dasi’s husband):
Humility, considering only the Lord to be one’s protector, accepting those things favorable for devotional service are all part of surrender.
Vidura, after hearing about just two of the ten topics of the Bhagavatam, sarga and visarga, attained spiritual enlightenment and renounced his material life to completely devote himself to spiritual activities.
We become excited to attain a little wealth, but the business of the goddess of fortune, who is the source of all wealth, is to massage the lotus feet of the Lord.
Material detachment is a result of attachment to the devotees. Thus one becomes free from illusion, and self-realization becomes possible.
Navina Nirada Prabhu:
One former sankirtana devotee when he saw me said, “Krishna is the supreme trickster.” He explained that although had taken a break from devotional life, wherever he goes he runs into Krishna. He ended up giving $108 and taking Bhagavad-gita and several other books.
The materialists are excited about Friday night because they can enjoy going dancing, but the devotees are dancing every day.
On harinama in Miami one Jewish man described Bhagavad-gita as “the best book I ever read.” We shared some of our favorite verses.
From the incarnations of Kurma and Varaha what example do we get for leading the life of a devotee?
To distribute Krishna consciousness you have to experience the happiness of Krishna consciousness. You cannot fake it.
If we want to have impact on others’ lives we have to let Krishna have an impact on our own life.
It is a war out there, and you cannot win a war by yourself.
We are fortunate that Srila Prabhupada has given us the process and the association to follow the process.
Once Bhavananda Prabhu asked Srila Prabhupada if he could get some books of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura at the Yogapitha. Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, but you should know that he wrote those books for me, and I wrote my books for you.”
Because Tapan Misra chanted his Krishna mantra quietly for himself but did not engage in sankirtana he was unable to ascertain the goal of life and how to attain it.
Some people who were not team players ended up dropping the ball.
On harinama there are always people who want to know, “How can I continue to feel what I felt at this moment?” They are happy to encounter the books.
Srila Prabhupada said, “I had to write 80 books to get you to chant Hare Krishna.”
In the East the problem is money [too little]; in the West the problem is sense gratification [too much].
A householder is one who holds a house and everything in it.
The chariot driver, the role played by Krishna for Arjuna, is a very humble one. On the noisy battlefield, to indicate whether to turn left or right, the warrior touches the shoulder of the chariot driver with his feet.
Srila Prabhupada said many generals have died on the battlefield simply because they did not get enough water.
We cannot sacrifice someone else’s life. We have only our own life to surrender, and that surrender is not just a one time thing.
When the harinama is focused, distributing books is sense gratification.
Yesterday two men gave good donations because they felt themselves transformed by the harinama. Receiving the book is the perfect conclusion to their pleasant experience because they are curious what this is all about.
“What is the price?” people ask.
I tell, “Them sincerity.”
They laugh. That is not such an easy thing.
By the association of great devotees like Pankajanghri Prabhu, we learn how to live, how to serve, and how to pass on.
Comment by B. V. P. Damodara Swami: It is wonderful that although Krishna plays so many roles in relationship to so many people that he never loses His identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We learn from Srila Prabhupada, God has a right to be person, and to feel like and act like a person.
What suspense is there if there is no difficulty.
People should not think the difficulties of devotees are just their karma. They are orchestrated by Krishna.
It is an opulence of Krishna that He allows His devotee to manipulate Himself through his love.
Bhismadeva shows that even though you are a great soul, if you are on the wrong side, you still will not win. We have seen that many qualified people did not succeed.
Comment by Parvat Muni Prabhu: I was in the emergency room. I was chanting Hare Krishna. The doctor chanted Hare Krishna. I told him to tell the nurses to chant. That was in Tucson. Weeks later the devotees told me that the doctor went to the temple. He wanted to know what it was all about.
From a conversation about sectarianism in religion:
The southern Baptists think the northern Baptists are going to hell.
Vicaru Prabhu:
Bhisma was so powerful that the Pandava armies were insignificant in comparison to him. The Pandavas had to inquire from Bhisma how they could kill him and also ask him for his blessings to do so.
Srila Prabhupada describes Krishna as a counselor. What is his counsel? “Please do not stay in this material world which is just a temporary reflection of the spiritual world.”
Krishna arranges that all the living beings gradually are elevated to the human form of life so that they can pursue dharma.
Reading the Mahabharata helps understand the Bhagavad-gita better.
Sometimes Srila Prabhupada would tell people to chant Hare Krishna and take prasadam, and he indicated that if they did that, then they would come understand.
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu:
There is a reference to a river named Sarasvati that flows through a place called Ambikavan in Gujarat. Presently a river cannot be see there, but modern satillite photos show evidence of a dried-up river bed there.
Bhakta:
I burn something every once and a while so Maharaja will not engage me in too much cooking. [Note: This is meant to be humorous and not a recommended course of action.]
-----
What is the benefit that all these people get who chant even one name of Krishna, being encouraged by Mahavishnu Swami? That is described in this verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam:
sanketyam parihasyam va
vaikuntha-nama-grahanam
asesagha-haram viduh
“One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures.” (SB 6.2.14)
People are generally uninterested in spiritual development because of the reactions to their past impious acts, but when they hear the chanting of the name of the Lord or when they chant in response, these impediments are dissolved and people can progress spiritually. Thus all the persons who heard the chanting party and those who chanted along became spiritually fortunate.
