By Krishna Kripa Das
Where I Went and What I Did
My main focus of the first half of June was the three-day New York City Ratha-yatra festival, both advertising it and taking part in it. The first day of the festival, the day before Ratha-yatra, the Bhakti Center devotees had a three-hour kirtan program at Tompkins Square Park and the NYC Harinam party did a four-hour kirtan program at Times Square. For Ratha-yatra, we chanted and pulled Jagannath deities on a chariot, along with Srila Prabhupada on another chariot, along Fifth Avenue from 45th Street to Washington Square Park, where we had our usual festival which was well-attended and much appreciated. The next day Harinama Ruci did a harinama on Brooklyn Bridge, and we had kirtan in the Brooklyn temple from noon till 6:30 p.m., followed by the Sunday Feast lecture. Monday we did harinama with Mahavishnu Swami, Kavicandra Swami, and Harinama Ruci in Brooklyn. Tuesday the NYC Harinam party left for New Vrindaban for a kirtan festival, and I chanted with friends from Florida and New York at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn in the morning and with Yamuna Bihari Prabhu, also from Florida, and his kirtan group from the Hudson, NY, area in a Hudson park in the afternoon.
I share notes on my personal reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially The Nectar of Devotion and Srimad-Bhagavatam. I share notes on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s commentaries on Caitanya-caritamrita and excerpts from the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures by Candrasekhara, Guru Prasad, Kavicandra, and Mahavishnu Swamis and by Hansarupa, Pancharatna, Vaisesika, Rama Raya, Navina Nirada, and Acarya-nishta Prabhus. I share interesting points from conversations with Anuttama (non-GBC), Dasarath Suta, Chinese Chandra, and Anupama Prabhus.
Thanks to the visiting devotees who gave me donations at Ratha-yatra. Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for all the videos of me leading kirtan on harinama in New York City. Thanks to Mukunda Ashraya Prabhu for his videos of Snana-yatra at ISKCON NYC. Thanks to Yamuna Bihari Prabhu getting me at the train station in Hudson and to Krishna Kumari for taking me to Stuyvesant Falls.
Itinerary
July 1–August 19: Paris harinamas [except July 9–11: New Mayapur Mellows]
August 20–22: Czech Woodstock (Brno)
August 23: Prague harinama
August 24: flight from Prague to Tallahassee
August 25–September ?: Tallahassee harinamas and college outreach
September ?–December 31: NYC Harinam
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
As usual I chanted at different venues in New York City with the NYC Harinam party of Rama Raya Prabhu for four hours a day, six days a week. I would chant with the Bhakti Center devotees for three hours in Washington Square Park on Sundays.
Radha Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/jxkqx-WkrbM):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/8wGQdfeYoP0):
I also chanted Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/VG5BvI7emVQ):
Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Columbus Circle, and a passerby dances (https://youtu.be/ydJkO4LWG2g):
Namarasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there, and devotees and a passerby dances (https://youtu.be/rn23kKwirPQ):
His wife, Tulasi, chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/dmk08DcbtiA):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there, and devotees and a passerby dance (https://youtu.be/KJXUmgKs6rQ):
Acarya-nistha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 42nd St. / Times Square subway station above the downtown A train (https://youtu.be/C1bmmyLpQzs):
Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there, and a Latino family happily played shakers and danced with devotees (https://youtu.be/ODCHp0r9MCM):
Here I chant Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station in Manhattan (https://youtu.be/llXQnwlA4nQ):
Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra come to Radha Govinda Mandir for Snana-yatra and are greeted by the Hare Krishna chanting of Their devotees [video footage by Mukunda Ashraya Prabhu and edited by myself] (https://youtu.be/ByGDXj9xO54):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON New York Snana Yatra, and children dance (https://youtu.be/QM4ndK_e3cs):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON New York Snana Yatra (https://youtu.be/QU4NVGb-BLE):
Bipin Bihari Prabhu chants at ISKCON New York Snana Yatra (https://youtu.be/eWUV3nkbmlY):
Keshava chants Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Sunday kirtan in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/C4WRUDtvSek):
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Sunday kirtan in Washington Square Park, and devotees and park goers dance (https://youtu.be/c9px9F8NE4k):
Vasudev chants Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Sunday kirtan in Washington Square Park, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/dTXPo9qJaw0):
Jahnavi chants Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Sunday kirtan in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/a4PnoM8qv3w):
Jahnavi chants Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Sunday kirtan in Washington Square Park, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/UhfsQu0qgSk):
We had not chanted Hare Krishna in Union Square since the COVID-19 lockdown back in March 2020, and we encountered some people who were happy to see us.
One older man recalled Srila Prabhupada from his many visits to 26 2nd Ave. in 1966. He also fondly remembered the early love feasts!
A young lady asked if I had been in Jacksonville. I said yes. Turns out she remembered seeing me chant at UNF, and she knew of Amrita Keli, our Krishna Club president there. Amrita told me later, “I remember her well, she was such a special Krishna clubber. Her name is Jessie.”
Two passersby dance to the sound of Hari chanting Hare Krishna in the rain in Union Square (https://youtu.be/WfMfEwAOAHo):
I also chanted Hare Krishna there [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/W6J5JakmQPc):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and a kid plays the shakers (https://youtu.be/wAguLVvHQNE):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/CYKwfZqV38w):
Acarya-nistha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/QjogJPlaPo8):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/PmvPeMAzCDs):
Navina Nirada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna during Tulasi Kirtan at ISKCON New York, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/8YV8uPj3I7I):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station, and a lady plays the shakers (https://youtu.be/NwC1CPHrJ7Q):
Tulasirani Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/UhyiVq7tk-A):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there also (https://youtu.be/0bbu55iGun4):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna during Tulasi Puja in New York City (https://youtu.be/C6UEyi62kCA):
Candrasekhara Swami chants Hare Krishna at mangala-arati ISKCON NYC two days before Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/RgIvf5L9gh0):
I chanted Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park as more devotees come to New York City to celebrate the Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/OA7R2rMHlWc):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/EwlaeDy6F9M):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and a young performer, who is a friend of the devotees, breathes fire and does other fire tricks (https://youtu.be/9WdQ9DeesuM):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna on the NYC Subway after Times Square harinama, and three youthful passengers enjoy playing tambourine and dancing (https://youtu.be/vI7f6DarWIs):
Dayal Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Tompkins Square Park during a three-hour kirtan event organized by The Bhakti Center for the first day of the three-day Ratha-yatra celebration in New York City (https://youtu.be/BSdoNuQacbU):
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Tompkins Square Park (https://youtu.be/bDv7JsUDADw):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival, a four-hour kirtan event the first day of the three-day Ratha-yatra celebration in New York City (https://youtu.be/FKi1OSFA2C8):
Vraja Mohan Prabhu chants at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival (https://youtu.be/qvFCFj1B0NQ):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival (https://youtu.be/G7rvLNOjmIw):
Govind chants at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival (https://youtu.be/LcHmWw3HBLk):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival (https://youtu.be/Wofq7aS-8rY):
Passersby play shakers and dance as Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/TnJE2kdceHg):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival, engaging the crowd in chanting and dancing (https://youtu.be/UfA_ruRKFM0):
While distributing Ratha-yatra flyers at a gathering of anti-vaccine people at the John Lennon memorial in Central Park on Memorial Day, I met a lady who had experimented with chanting different mantras. She told me she always chants Hare Krishna when she has to go to the bathroom really bad because it helps her hold it. I told her that was just a side effect of chanting the mantra.
New York City Ratha-yatra
When I lived in Alachua I would go to the New York City Ratha-yatra every year, often traveling by car the sixteen-hour journey. However, since 2008 I have been going to Europe in April for the Queen’s Day (or King’s Day) maha-harinama. Because I would stay in Europe for the Polish Woodstock festival ending the beginning of August, I have not attended the New York City Ratha-yatra since 2007. I would go to the London or Paris Ratha-yatras, and sometimes both, but never the New York one for fourteen years.
I passed out hundreds of Ratha-yatra invitations during the previous few weeks before the event on our daily harinamas. In some places, like Columbus Circle, I could only distribute 84 in 3½ hours, while in others like Fulton Street subway station in Manhattan, I could distribute 387 in the same length of time. Washington Square Park was intermediate with 201. The reluctance of people to take the invitations was disheartening, but when the Ratha-yatra day arrived, I was elated to see all kinds of people attracted by the Ratha-yatra procession and mentioning how beautiful it was and expressing gratitude that we put it on. Many people were happy to hear about the program in Washington Square Park after the procession, and they promised they would go. I was given a bag of welcome packets and was able to distribute all of them in the procession. I only have videos from the beginning and end of the procession as I was busy distributing the welcome packets in the interim.
Here Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at the start of the New York City Ratha-yatra procession and many, many devotees from all parts of the country respond (https://youtu.be/pcPejAfeV7k):
Although devotees who regularly attend the New York Ratha-yatra say there were fewer devotees from other places than usual, still devotees came from quite a variety of places. I encountered devotees from Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Miami, Alachua, North Carolina, Columbus, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Hartford, and Puerto Rico, to name a few.
A tall, thin, blond lady was looking at the Ratha-yatra procession with great eagerness. I explained to her that it was a traditional spiritual festival from India that has been observed for thousands of years and which we perform in all the big cities, and I offered her a welcome packet which she gratefully accepted. She said she had a showroom several buildings away from Fifth Avenue on a side street, and she was so attracted by the sound of the procession, she just had to see what it was all about!
Often when people ask me to explain what the Ratha-yatra is, I say, “Many traditions have some place of worship where people go and sing songs of praise together, however some people are too atheistic, too agnostic, or too lazy to go. In this festival, the Lord and His devotees bring the songs of joy out to the people to benefit them spiritually.” People often really resonate with that nice spiritual sentiment.
I met a young man from Miami who was brought up in a devotee family and was briefly visiting New York. He was unaware of that Ratha-yatra was happening in New York that day. By Krishna’s mercy, he was wandering around and happened encounter the procession, and he was happy to do so.
Here a man dances wildly as Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at the end of the New York City Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/FHXEJYIGXsM):
Two young Brazilian ladies joined the end of the New York City Ratha-yatra procession and chanted, played my pink and green shakers, and danced, staying over five minutes, as Mahavishnu Swami led the Hare Krishna chant (https://youtu.be/qrvV5Kzuzj8):
Several passersby chanted and danced as Mahavishnu Swami continued chanting Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/M-VncaDaHaU):
Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party had their own stage, and because I am a member of their party, I remained there for the rest of the festival.
Here Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the New York Ratha-yatra festival on the NYC Harinam stage, and a crowd appreciates (https://youtube/6azLoedBbUo):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and many dance (https://youtu.be/lyJUsx7RrNE):
I gave different people my pink and green shakers to play, and they enjoyed playing them in the kirtan.
One guy filming Rama Raya’s kirtan at the New York Ratha-yatra festival site recalled that I gave him an invitation a few weeks back. On the festival day itself he was traveling in the opposite direction in the city when the card fell out of the Nietzsche book he was reading. Seeing the festival was that day, he immediately changed his direction and came. He said he had a good time, and he thanked me for the invitation. I think Krishna arranged my meeting him to encourage me in my future distribution of invitations.
Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/NbB8K_p5N3M):
I chanted Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/TJ1w-ucEHgM):
The festival was successful in many ways. Many people were attracted. The Govinda’s Restaurant and Govinda’s Gifts sold out of all their items. Devotees said the stage show captured the attention of the attendees more than usual.
The police and the park people were happy with us. Groups of rowdy people have recently caused so much trouble in the park that neighbors would call the police to complain, and the officials were happy to see them displaced by the Hare Krishna devotees and those attending their festival, at least for a day.
The main thing we need to improve is the free feast. We need to increase the quantity and serve smaller amounts so we do not run out, and we need to try to speed up the serve out. Otherwise it was an ecstatic festival, and I was happy to have dedicated so much time to promote it.
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City the Day After Ratha-yatra
Bipin Bihari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Tulasi Kirtan at ISKCON NYC (https://youtu.be/hXJhvTTfM90):
Navina Nirada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Guru Puja at ISKCON NYC the day after Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/4vHDFa28eu4):
Mahavishnu Swami continues the Hare Krishna chanting after Guru Puja at ISKCON NYC the day after Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/XdlZruNGRfk):
Srila Prabhupada disciples, Jagat Purusa and Anuttama Prabhus, dance together in kirtan at ISKCON NYC the day after Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/J3pNN4Z1mb4):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the ISKCON NYC Sunday program the day after Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/hZI6Jib8tuk):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at that Sunday program (https://youtu.be/YIoCfXzg18Q):
Locanananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at that Sunday program (https://youtu.be/gWenbSpPB7s):
Kavicandra Swami chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Mall in Brooklyn with NYC Harinam, Harinama Ruci, and visiting devotees the day after the three-day Ratha-yatra festival, and many devotees dance (https://youtu.be/eKJ-_LbqtLk):
A construction worker chants one Hare Krishna mantra with devotees in New York City, and J.R. interviews him about his experience (https://youtu.be/wkqBVE6r8Lw):
Kavicandra Swami encourages a Brooklyn pedestrian to chant Hare Krishna, and Jennii dances with her (https://youtu.be/ABnC9so9tEA):
A Brooklyn lady does very well chanting Hare Krishna mantra for the first time with Harinama Ruci (https://youtu.be/UaBVvejdVFU):
Mahavishnu Swami engages temple visitors in dancing to Hare Krishna kirtan in lobby of ISKCON NYC (https://youtu.be/0-szfiiCykY):
Early Tuesday morning Rama Raya Prabhu and the resident devotees from his NYC Harinam party went to New Vrindavan for the 24-hour kirtan and a few days of transcendental relaxation. I planned to visit my diksa guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, and my mother, who is ninty-six years old. My train upstate was not till the afternoon, so I organized a harinama in the morning, which was attended by six devotees and took place at nearby Atlantic Terminal.
Here Jennii of Krishna House in Gainesville chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn, and Amrita encourages a guy to chant (https://youtu.be/6NxXpznhqvw):
Elaf chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/y24QZxTusPk):
I learned from Krishna Kumari Devi Dasi at the Ratha-yatra that the devotees from Hudson were having a kirtan program on Tuesday, the same day I planned to go upstate, and thus I arranged my schedule so I could attend it.
Here Lila Vrindavan Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Harrier Hill Park in Hudson (https://youtu.be/YrST0el4T_c):
Then Sri Radha Devi Dasi chanted Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/JQpqwYzZG9M):
As she chanted, devotees became inspired to dance (https://youtu.be/atLW-UvcnKE):
Seth, a natural musician, chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/UfP4tnYI4JU):
I chanted Hare Krishna as an expected rain shower began there in the park. I said I would chant for nine minutes or something like that, and because I am used to chanting in rainy places like England, I just covered up the harmonium and kept playing when the rain began. I think our sacrifice of the congregation chanting of the holy name was the cause of that rain shower which had not been predicted.
Ananda Murari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the end of the park program, and devotees dance enthusiastically (https://youtu.be/zo6lY6R5YMQ):
Accompanying the rain shower was a beautiful rainbow.
I was very impressed with my friend, Yamuna Bihari Prabhu, who said I was the first devotee he ever saw, chanting on the campus at University of North Florida where he went to school. Although not even in Hudson for a full year, he organized a kirtan program attended by twenty-one devotees!
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 4:
“One must be very vigilant to remember that he is a part and parcel of the transcendental body of Krishna, and that it is his duty as part and parcel to give service to the whole, or Krishna. If we do not render service to Krishna then again we fall down.”
“Srila Rupa Gosvami gives evidence from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto, twenty-first chapter, verse 2, in which Lord Krishna says to Uddhava, ‘The distinction between qualification and disqualification may be made in this way: persons who are already elevated in discharging devotional service will never again take shelter of the processes of fruitive activity or philosophical speculation. If one sticks to devotional service and is conducted by regulative principles given by the authorities and acaryas, that is the best qualification.’”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.26, purport:
“Anything that is presented before the Personality of Godhead should be so done after due presentation of respectful prayers. That is the standard procedure, and Sri Arjuna, although an intimate friend of the Lord, is observing this method for general information.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.35, purport:
“As by birth only one does not become a high court judge, so also one does not become a brahmana [priest] simply by birthright but by acquiring the necessary qualifications of a brahmana. As the high court judgeship is a post for the qualified man, so also the post of a brahmana is attainable by qualification only. The sastra [scripture] enjoins that if good qualifications are seen in a person born in a family other than that of a brahmana, the qualified man has to be accepted as a brahmana, and similarly if a person born in the family of a brahmana is void of brahminical qualification, then he must be treated as a non-brahmana or, in better terms, a relative of a brahmana.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.41, purport:
“Every living being is thus related with the Supreme Lord by some sort of affectionate relation, either as servant or as friend or as parent or as an object of conjugal love. Everyone thus can enjoy the company of the Lord in the spiritual realm if he at all desires and sincerely tries for it by the process of bhakti-yoga.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 7:
“In the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, third chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Maharaja Nimi, ‘My dear King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing but miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss.’”
“In the Naradiya Purana it is said, ‘If one is actually very serious about devotional service, then all of his purposes will be served without any delay.’”
“The real reason for observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly.”
“Practically, if one very carefully reads Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya and this Nectar of Devotion, that will give him sufficient knowledge to understand the science of Krishna consciousness. One need not take the trouble of reading other books.”
“A devotee should not be subjected to lamentation or illusion. There is the following statement in the Padma Purana: ‘Within the heart of a person who is overpowered by lamentation or anger, there is no possibility of Krishna’s being manifested.’”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.44, purport:
“A description of this transcendental land of Krishna is given in the Brahma-samhita, which is considered by Lord Sri Caitanya to be the most authentic literature in this connection.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.22, purport:
“Krishna is almighty and is especially the cause of fearlessness for the devotees. A devotee of the Lord is always fearless because of the protection given by the Lord. Material existence is something like a blazing fire in the forest, which can be extinguished by the mercy of the Lord Sri Krishna. The spiritual master is the mercy representative of the Lord. Therefore, a person burning in the flames of material existence may receive the rains of mercy of the Lord through the transparent medium of the self-realized spiritual master. The spiritual master, by his words, can penetrate into the heart of the suffering person and inject knowledge transcendental, which alone can extinguish the fire of material existence.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 9:
“In the Naradiya Purana there is a statement about bowing down and offering respect to the Deity. It is said there, ‘A person who has performed a great ritualistic sacrifice and a person who has simply offered his respectful obeisances by bowing down before the Lord cannot be held as equals.’ The person who has executed many great sacrifices will attain the result of his pious activities, but when such results are finished, he has to take birth again on the earthly planet; however, the person who has once offered respects, bowing down before the Deity, will not come back to this world, because he will go directly to the abode of Krishna.”
“In the Naradiya Purana it is stated, ‘If person stays in the Lord’s temple even for a few moments, he can surely achieve the transcendental kingdom of God.’”
In the Linga Purana there is a statement about glorifying and singing about the Lord. It is said there, ‘A brahmana who is constantly engaged in singing the glories of the Lord is surely elevated to the same planet as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Krishna appreciates this singing even more than the prayers offered by Lord Shiva.’
When a person loudly chants the glories of the Lord’s activities, qualities, form, etc., his chanting is called sankirtana. Sankirtana also refers to the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.”
“In the First Canto, Fifth Chapter, verse 22, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Narada Muni tells his disciple Vyasadeva, ‘My dear Vyasa, you should know that persons who are engaged in executing austerities and penances, studying the Vedas, performing big sacrifices, chanting the hymns of the Vedas, speculating on transcendental knowledge and performing charitable functions have for all their auspicious activities simply to gain a place in the association of devotees and chant the glories of the Lord.’ It is indicated here that chanting about and glorifying the Lord is the ultimate activity of the living entity.”
“In the Padma Purana there is a statement of submission in feeling by devotees praying to the Lord: ‘My Lord, I know that young girls have natural affection for young boys, and that young boys have natural affection for young girls. I am praying at Your lotus feet that my mind may become attracted unto You in the same spontaneous way.’ The example is very appropriate. When a young boy or girl sees a member of the opposite sex there is a natural attraction, without the need for any introduction. Without any training there is a natural attraction due to the sex impulse. This is a material example, but the devotee is praying that he may develop a similar spontaneous attachment for the Supreme Lord, free from any desire for profit and without any other cause. This natural attraction for the Lord is the perfectional stage of self-realization.”
“One should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should learn this small technique, and he should be very eager and actually cry to become engaged in some particular type of service. This is called laulyam, and such tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one develops this laulyam, or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God. Otherwise, there is no material calculation for the value of the ticket by which one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for such entrance is this laulyam lalasa-mayi, or desire and great eagerness.”
“In the Nrsimha Purana it is stated, ‘Any person who comes before the Deity of Lord Krishna and begins to chant different prayers is immediately relieved from all the reactions of sinful activities and becomes eligible, without any doubt, to enter into the Vaikunthaloka.”
“Caranamrita is obtained in the morning while the Lord is being washed before dressing. Scented with perfumes and flowers, the water comes gliding down through His lotus feet and is collected and mixed with yogurt. In this way this caranamrita not only becomes very tastefully flavored, but also has tremendous spiritual value. As described in the Padma Purana, even a person who has never been able to give in charity, who has never been able to perform a great sacrifice, who has never been able to study the Vedas, who has never been able to worship the Lord—or, in other words, even one who has never done any pious activities—will become eligible to enter into the kingdom of God if he simply drinks the caranamrita which is kept in the temple. In the temple it is the custom that the caranamrita be kept in a big pot. The devotees who come to visit and offer respects to the Deity take three drops of caranamrita very submissively and feel themselves happy in transcendental bliss.”
“In all festivals the Lord is seated on a car, and the car moves through different streets of the city so that people may take advantage of visiting the Lord. In the Bhavisya Purana it is said, ‘In such a ceremony, if even a candala [dog-eater], simply out of curiosity, sees the Lord on the cart, he becomes counted as one of the associates of Vishnu.’”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.13, purport:
“When the Lord saw that there was no time for the Pandavas to counteract the brahmastra of Asvatthama, He took up His weapon even at the risk of breaking His own vow. Although the Battle of Kuruksetra was almost finished, still, according to His vow, He should not have taken up His own weapon. But the emergency was more important than the vow. He is better known as the bhakta-vatsala, or the lover of His devotee, and thus He preferred to continue as bhakta-vatsala than to be a worldly moralist who never breaks his solemn vow.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.20, purport:
“The Lord is so kind that He does not show special favor only to one who is a great philosopher. He knows the sincerity of purpose. For this reason only, women generally assemble in great number in any sort of religious function. In every country and in every sect of religion it appears that the women are more interested than the men.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.25, purport:
“This material world is certified by the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita as a dangerous place full of calamities. Less intelligent persons prepare plans to adjust to those calamities without knowing that the nature of this place is itself full of calamities. They have no information of the abode of the Lord, which is full of bliss and without trace of calamity. The duty of the sane person, therefore, is to be undisturbed by worldly calamities, which are sure to happen in all circumstances. Suffering all sorts of unavoidable misfortunes, one should make progress in spiritual realization because that is the mission of human life. The spirit soul is transcendental to all material calamities; therefore, the so-called calamities are called false. A man may see a tiger swallowing him in a dream, and he may cry for this calamity. Actually there is no tiger and there is no suffering; it is simply a case of dreams. In the same way, all calamities of life are said to be dreams. If someone is lucky enough to get in contact with the Lord by devotional service, it is all gain. Contact with the Lord by any one of the nine devotional services is always a forward step on the path going back to Godhead.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.27, purport:
“The devotees of the Lord are called akiñcanas because they have practically no material assets. Such material assets are all products of the three modes of material nature. They foil spiritual energy, and thus the less we possess such products of material nature, the more we have a good chance for spiritual progress.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 1.117, commentary:
“Ordinary munis describe topics other than those of the Lord. But since Srila Vyasadeva does not describe topics other than those of the Lord, he alone is addressed as Mahamuni, while others are munis only in name. Topics not related with Krishna are known simply as the urge of speech. One who controls this urge through the service of Krishna is a real muni.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 1.131, commentary:
“By the Lord’s mercy, Kazi Mahasaya became attached to the service of the supreme worshipable object. Sriman Mahaprabhu benefited one and all by getting the process of continuous chanting of the holy names sanctioned throughout Navadvipa, the jurisdiction of the Kazi.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 1.166, commentary:
“Pure devotees give up gossiping on topics not related with Krishna and become maddened by performing kirtana in the association of other pure devotees.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 1.174, commentary:
“Hari-sankirtana refers to a group of many devotees offenselessly chanting together the names and glories of the Supreme Lord Hari.”
From Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.3, commentary:
“Simply by hearing the pastimes of Sriman Mahaprabhu, one’s constitutional position is revived. The activity of one in that constitutional position is the devotional service of Lord Krishna. Knowledge of Sri Caitanya, His manifestations, and His glories is nourishment for the living entity’s ears. When the living entity awakens to his constitutional activities, he fully engages in the service of Sri Gaura-Krishna. In other words, he performs pure devotional service with knowledge of his relationship with the Lord.”
From Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.18, commentary:
“No one should doubt the Lord’s impartiality when He kills the demons, because the demons who are killed by the Lord attain liberation. This chastisement of the demons is a display of the Lord’s mercy. (Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana)”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Entering the Life of Prayer:
“Krishna is actually there with boundless love, and He wants to reciprocate. If I am not feeling it, it must be that I don’t want it. I have to show Him that I want it. To begin with, just think of Krishna, hear about Him; it’s so easy.”
From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 3 (A Sojourn in Tapo-bhumi):
“A haiku, like a Hare Krishna mantra, may be inexplicable by nature, but a lover likes to talk of the one he loves. Even a struggler or offender like me wants to be focused on chanting.”
“Recently I decided my writing should serve the interests of my pursuit for better sadhana. Also, sadhana should be done to please my spiritual master. Make it contribute to his movement. Stay in his movement, even though it’s inconvenient sometimes.”
“Tapasya for me is to chant despite dryness, to worship, to go to Trinidad and Guyana and America with good will and gratitude.”
“Sixteen rounds done. I’ll try for extra. Just to say I’ve done more? Yes, because I see it as a virtue. To scale higher on the wall. Hare Krishna. Maybe it will help me to overcome mechanical chanting.”
“We should pray as one who is completely dependent, who is impoverished, but who wants to serve Krishna nicely. Beautiful things, bold and exciting acts, will come from chanting. Therefore, we should pay attention to the peaceful, simple chanting process and remember our constitutional position, not as creators, but as subordinate lovers of the Supreme.”
From Passing Places, Eternal Truths:
“When I saw two young men not listening but talking to one another, it diverted me. I wanted everyone’s full attention. It gave me a glimpse of how Prabhupala lectured tirelessly and considered it an important part of his mission—to speak to live audiences about Krishna. He spoke to his own disciples and to uninitiated audiences, in room conversations, on morning walks.”
From Journal and Poems, Book 3:
“The Bhagavatam verse I spoke on stated that a king should be tolerant with his subjects even if they don’t always follow. So I talked about community life in ISKCON. The leaders should be tolerant of devotees who don’t follow, and all devotees should be tolerant of the austerity of community life. Or else, how can we qualify for going back to Godhead?
“From behind the movie camera, Paramananda asked a question. He said we each have our subjective viewpoint. ‘You have been speaking from the viewpoint of a guru about a disciple’s surrender, but a disciple has his own emotions. So isn’t it intellectually difficult to accept another’s viewpoint about us even if it’s our guru?’ I replied that when we surrender to the spiritual master, we accept that he knows how to direct our lives. We may say this is the austerity of being a disciple, but it is for our own happiness. Our guru is he who is leading us back to Godhead.
“I don’t know how all this will sit with Paramahamsa and his wife. I glanced at them several times while making these points. She looked downward, embarrassed. He was sometimes smiling, pleased with me for making strong and proper replies as his spiritual master. Now let us see how each of us lives up to his words.”
From “Writing Sessions” in June Bug (1996):
“The Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita is most confidential. I’m reading for myself. I’ll become a better lecturer and devotee. Others may also do this. Some may be better at it than me, but I have to do it for myself. Now, I could say I have to do it because I have so many disciples. They create a pressure of responsibility on me. That’s true. The GBC creates another pressure. An obligation to the spiritual master is heavy, so for these reasons, I need to keep fresh interest in topics of Krishna. But I’m saying that will all come naturally. Don’t read primarily out of pressure. Read out of some natural urge of the self. Take it in that way and read it in that way.
“As long as I can function in this way, I will do so, use eyesight and brain to read Krishna’s sacred words and Prabhupada’s explanations. I won’t always have it.”
“June is cold and wet in Ireland. After waiting so many months through winter and spring, you get more of the same in this country. Better stay indoors and hear krishna-katha.”
Candrasekhara Swami:
Without the Lord having it or doing it first, there is no possibility of anyone else having something or doing something.
The Supreme Lord is independent and does not need anyone, but we are all dependent upon the Supreme Lord, and this puts Him in a category by Himself.
How many problems in the world have been created as a result of sex indulgence!
Probably 80% of one’s free life is occupied with sex and things related to it.
Although sex life is necessary to bring children into this world to be trained to attain spiritual perfection, preoccupation with the complexities of family life is a distraction from self-realization.
Grhamedhis are those who get lost in family life and pursuit of sexual pleasure and forget life’s aim of self-realization.
Comment by me: Sadaputa Prabhu tells of a study by a Kenneth Ring of out-of-body experiences by people who have been blind from birth. In the out-of-body state they were able to see, although they had never seen in their entire lives. Not only that, but in addition to seeing the side of an object that was facing them, they could see 360 degrees around the entire object. This is supportive of the Vedic idea expressed in Sankhya philosophy that the sense of sight is different from the five gross elements that make of the physical body.
Researchers have done experiments where they hypnotize people and tell them that they will not see a certain person when he enters the room, and when that person does enter the room, they do not see him. But then they put a paper with a word written on it behind the person they cannot see, and they can see that!
Krishna is the ultimate screenwriter. He has plots and intrigue, everything you would want in a great movie.
In the material world, there are amazing arrangements of cause and effect. There is what is called the blood clotting cascade, something like eleven steps that all have to be there for the blood to clot.
Guru Prasad Swami:
I was impressed by the books, but prasadam really solidified everything for me.
I have one disciple who does not know how to read or write, but by hearing the classes he became convinced of the philosophy,
Mostly in Kali-yuga we just have tamo-guna, with just a little rajo-guna to put it into action.
You never see a two-year-old kid hankering for a cigarette. The desire develops by association. It is not a natural desire.
I saw dictator Samoza of Nicaragua. I was dressed as a brahmacari, and I ran up to him a gave him a Bhagavad-gita. He was actually looking for Bhagavad-gita, and he invited me to his place for lunch.
Kavicandra Swami:
Sometimes we wonder why certain things are mentioned in the Bhagavatam, but Sukadeva Goswami felt it was necessary to include them to properly answer the questions of Maharaja Pariksit.
Sometimes it is hard to see how Vrindavan is Krishna’s transcendental world if you go there now, but that is just the covering meant to keep the nonsense people out.
Krishna’s flute is an example of devotion in neutrality. Krishna just uses it.
There is a Chinese man who has the understanding that the Chinese culture originally comes from India, and he has evidence to prove it. He takes Chinese businessman on trips to India as part of a course on Chinese culture.
It depends on our faith and our desire what Krishna reveals as a result of our devotional service.
Even though very few people take the chanting or the literature seriously, Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas are pleased with our attempts to share them.
King David in the Bible chanted the holy name all day. Some people thought he was crazy.
Mahavishnu Swami:
They say the Hoover Dam which supplies Southern California is running out of water.
Nature is kicking us because we are not performing sacrifice.
Formerly there were many Ratha-yatras and harinamas, but now devotees are afraid to go out into the streets.
Our duty as devotees, as brahmanas, is to perform sacrifice.
Nothing can stop the sankirtana movement.
Anuttama Prabhu (non-GBC):
Damodara Prabhu would give checks to Srila Prabhupada for donations because then he would get the checks back with Srila Prabhupada’s signature. He showed me some of them.
[Chinese] Chandra Prabhu:
From a conversation after the Sunday feast:
There are those who preach by managing and those who manage by preaching.
Dasarath Suta Prabhu:
From a conversation on Messenger:
“I helped Jayananda Prabhu build the carts for Srila Prabhupada’s triumphant ride down Fifth Avenue on July 18, 1976. Jayananda said that festival was the pinnacle of his career in Krishna Consciousness. We lived with him for 3 months down at the old Conrail docks by the Hudson River. After his disappearance in 1977, we rebuilt the same carts at that same location in 1977 and 1978. It was owned by Mr. Trump’s company, and we rented the space. He DID NOT ‘donate’ the space for Lord Jagannatha’s service. We RENTED it. Just so ya know...”
Hansarupa Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada liked the story of the prodigal son. The father is waiting for his lost son return and is eager to reinstate him in his original position. So it is with Krishna, who is eager for us to return.
There are many obstacles still, even within our own minds. One should not be complacent. Maya has the potency to cover us and to throw us out.
We have to be very careful in our spiritual life. There is a saying that you treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
The tendency to criticize is a cause of many falldowns.
Comment by me: Srila Prabhupada gave an analogy that shows the foolishness of criticizing a person engaged in devotional service. Devotional service is so powerful that it can free one from all material qualities, and therefore, any lingering material qualities a devotee may have are very insignificant and soon to be vanished. Thus to criticize a devotee for them is as foolish as it is it to criticize a person who is in the shower for being dirty.
The police and the parks people were very happy with us on Ratha-yatra. Usually they want us to pack up the festival at 7 p.m. sharp, but this year they were very lenient. The people who come at dusk and play loud music, drive motorized vehicles, and trash the park saw we were still there, so they immediately left. The police appreciated that. They could see the difference between good and evil.
The devotee who distributed books from the book table at the Ratha-yatra festival said he was fully engaged from the beginning to the end of the festival. He could not even visit the other booths.
Pancaratna Prabhu:
We sometimes have many plans to execute, and we wish that they would become manifest without any endeavor on our part. For Krishna, it is that way. Krishna desires and things manifest, and they manifest as abhibhuta, the gross form, adhyatma, the sensual experience, and abhidaiva, the controlling deity.
Hearing this we can understand our conception of ourselves as independent controllers is illusory.
From this verse, we are reminded that we cannot even control our own bowels.
Also the devas, the abhidaivic element, are not independent controllers.
The creation is sometimes said to arise because of the Lord’s desire and sometimes said to arise because of the living entities’ desire.
There is a certain rasa the Lord enjoys in saving us, although it is not His desire we are here.
Srila Prabhupada sometimes makes the point that you can attain whatever you want, materially or spiritually, if you follow the right method.
The desire to experience Krishna’s presence inspires us to engage in a variety of devotional activities in hopes of regaining Krishna’s association.
To bring Lord Jagannatha back into the association of His beloved Radha is the meaning of the Ratha-yatra festival. The devotees bring Jagannatha with the ropes of their love to the village of their hearts.
Lord Caitanya came to Puri to experience this love.
We all must cleanse our hearts to receive the Lord.
After the 1975 Philly Ratha-yatra, a man wrote Srila Prabhupada praising the festival and saying how much he liked it. Srila Prabhupada replied, “This is not at all surprising because it says in our scriptures simply by seeing the Ratha-yatra cart one’s entrance to Vaikuntha, the spiritual world, is guaranteed.”
My father, upon seeing the Budapest Ratha-yatra, commented, “I have never seen such happy people.”
Vaisesika Prabhu:
From an entering the grhastha ashram ceremony for Gopal Campu Prabhu:
Shrama means hard work for nothing. Ashrama means connecting one’s hard work to Krishna.
The varnashrama allows people to connect all parts of their lives with Krishna.
Canto Seven describes that the grhastha nourishes the other ashrams.
Divyanga Prabhu speaking about Gopal Campu Prabhu: Every time he is not doing service, he is reading. He would introduce me as a Prabhupada disciple and my guru’s best friend, and I always felt happy to be introduced in that way.
Navina Nirada Prabhu: This is a graduation ceremony, a joyous occasion. Gopal has successfully completed the brahmacari ashram. He is not just a person who gets things done but a person who cares about people.
Pancaratna Prabhu: One of Srila Prabhupada’s innovations is to engage grhasthas in preaching very successfully.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Bhubanesvara Prabhu of Vrindavan and Pankajanghri Prabhu of Mayapur, who left this world within a month of each other, were both glorified for their steadiness in devotional service. Have you ever thought of what it would be like to stay in India for all the seasons of the year?
Once Bhubanesvara Prabhu had to come to the USA for visa issues. Vaisesika Prabhu arranged a ticket for him, and he also planned a few programs for him spanning a period of two weeks. Bhubanesvara, however, was so eager to return to his service in Vrindavan, he was ready to leave after two days. Only with great endeavor was Vaisesika Prabhu able to convince him to stay for three more days.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.44 is a great verse and purport to speak on on Janmastami.
Harinama sankirtana is the method approved of, distributed by and relished by Lord Caitanya.
Navina Nirada Prabhu:
In the Bhagavatam the question of what the duty of a man is at the time of death is discussed. This is relevant because we are all about to die. People think that religion is irrelevant, but actually it is very relevant.
A lady at Washington Square Park said, “I come through the park every day, and your chanting is my favorite part of the park.” So people can notice something special is going on.
So many people became attracted by the Jagannatha festival. People were mesmerized, puzzled, etc. The books were flying. To distribute books at Ratha-yatra is spiritual sense gratification. People were asking about books to complete their sets and asking about how to apply the teachings in their lives.
As Srila Prabhupada could display anger at will, he could withdraw it at will.
Instead of criticizing devotees, we should praise them.
Tolerance is the first quality. Titiksava karunika suhrdah . . .
We are making spiritual advancement because we are looking for the good in others and trying to increase it.
In the beginning the people in the kirtan at 26 Second Avenue were drug crazed hippies, but Srila Prabhupada saw them as the future leaders of ISKCON, and they became the future leaders of ISKCON.
People are coming to us because they are looking for opportunities.
Krishna is testing our tolerance. “You are proclaiming you are a Vaishnava. Let’s see how you deal with this situation.”
Every night Srila Prabhupada sacrificed his sleep to write six pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Acarya-nistha Prabhu:
People without knowledge of the spiritual are forced to try to find enjoyment in the material world.
Unless we become to attracted to the beauty of the Supreme Lord, we will seek material beauty.
It is said the beauty of the Supreme Lord is His most attractive quality, and thus it is no surprise that people unaware of this, seek beauty in so many ways in this world.
Because the form of the Lord is not materially perceivable, we can learn about it from those situated in transcendence and from the revealed literature.
Anupama Prabhu:
Lord Caitanya did not preach Bhagavad-gita from a soap box, but He gave people a higher taste through kirtan.
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In different religions a state of ultimate happiness is promised in the next life. Krishna also promises a spiritual adept transcendental happiness in this life in several places in Bhagavad-gita, and this is one. Although not often quoted, I consider it a relevant verse. Who doesn’t want to enjoy nectar even in this life?
gunan etan atitya trin
janma-mṛtyu-jara-duhkhair
vimukto ’mritam asnute
“When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.” (Bhagavad-gita 14.20)
