Tallahassee
(Sent from Tampa, Florida, on September 18, 2021)
Where I Went and What I Did
I continued staying at our Tallahassee Krishna House and chanting Hare Krishna on the campus for three hours each weekday, promoting our newly resumed Krishna Lunch and our temple programs and giving out small books to interested people. On the weekends and on Labor Day we chanted Hare Krishna at Lake Ella thrice, at Cascades Park once, and once at the stadium before the first FSU Seminoles football game of the season. At the stadium thousands of people heard us, with a few playing the shakers and dancing, and occasionally even chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.
When the World Holy Name Festival began on September 10, I increased from three to four hours of public chanting each day. Once while chanting on the campus, I met one lady who had been coming to Krishna Lunch for 22 years! Many students I talked to were very excited about our Krishna Lunch, and almost everyone who came really liked it. A few students came to our temple programs, and a couple became helpers at Krishna Lunch.
I share excerpts from Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially Bhagavad-gita, The Nectar of Devotion, and Nectar of Instruction. I share excerpts from the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share quotes from Vrindavan Das Thakura’s Caitanya-Bhagavata and from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s commentary on it. I was living in place without live morning lectures, so I heard recorded lectures while cooking and taking prasadam, but I did not take notes on them.
Thanks to Jorge for his generous donation for my old smartphone.
Itinerary
September 18: Clearwater Beach Ratha-yatra
September 19: Tampa harinama and Tampa and Orlando (via Zoom) Sunday talks
September 20–22: Tampa harinamas and college outreach
September 23–24: Philadelphia harinamas
September 25: Philadelphia Ratha-yatra
September 26–January 3, 2022: NYC Harinam
January 5‒April: Tallahassee harinamas and college outreach
Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee
Jorge chants Hare Krishna at our first Wednesday night kirtan for the fall semester, and students join in (https://youtu.be/QGCgSCFLacM):
Madhumangala Prabhu spoke to Max, who plays the two-headed drum and chants the mantra in the above video, on Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja Day as we were chanting at the campus and gave him Chant and Be Happy, and he came to this kirtan program the next day and enthusiastically participated. He came the next week as well, and he promised to come two weeks after that as he was busy during the intervening week.
Jennifer Clark, who works in the field of data science in the Florida State University Graduate School, has been enjoying Krishna Lunch since she began working at FSU in 1999, 22 years ago. She told me she bought her vegetarian son his first seven-meal Krishna Lunch card. She was very happy to hear we were resuming Krishna Lunch on the campus after having been shut down for 18 months because of COVID.
The most successful harinama in terms of numbers of participants was one that Jorge organized with his many spiritually minded friends. Here I chant Hare Krishna at First Friday at Railroad Square, and Jorge and his friends join in, chanting, dancing and playing the mrdanga, didgeridoo and shakers (https://youtu.be/rs7OzkoaW9Q):
Madhumangala Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the second Wednesday evening kirtan this semester in Tallahassee, and students participate (https://youtu.be/V9TYtvxbzLs):
Connie, the student sitting against the wall, knew the devotees from Alachua, She was happy to encounter our Tallahassee temple and community now that she is a student at Florida State University.
The Indian couple is from Bangalore, and the husband is working on his Ph.D. at Florida State University.
Here Skylar plays guitar and chants Hare Krishna at her residence in Tallahassee (https://youtu.be/8nvy1QTEpew):
I had been chanting japa while looking at a photo of Radha Govinda on my computer for the last several weeks. I decided it would be better for my eyes if I printed it on glossy paper and laminated it.
As I was chanting Hare Krishna at Cascades Park on Sunday, a group of five young black ladies passed by, some looking in my direction. Because the blacks are famous for being into rhythm, I said, “I have extra instruments if you want to play along.” They laughed and kept walking. Half an hour later they came back, and two asked if they could play the instruments. I played a simple lively tune for eight mantras, and they all played the instruments, danced, or filmed themselves doing so! (https://youtu.be/TZDdzK8HRzA):
Also at Cascades Park, Carrie, the owner of a local restaurant called the Blue Tavern, happily recalled eating Krishna Lunch when it was served on Wednesdays outside the Student Union back in the 1990s. She gave us $10 and took the Higher Taste cookbook, while her partner, Renee, ultimately took Beyond Illusion and Doubt after looking at some of the others. I asked Carrie if the devotees could do music at her restaurant, and she was optimistic about the suggestion and gave us her contact information.
I chanted Hare Krishna on Landis Green, and Rubin, a philosophical Florida State University student, tried playing the karatalas (https://youtu.be/6uSBArc7GoM):
Madhumangala Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Radhastami in Tallahassee (https://youtu.be/QDwNpBREjM4):
Kaliya Damona Prabhu chants “Radhe Radhe Radhe Sri Krishna Radhe Radhe” on Radhastami, and Madhumangala Prabhu plays the bass (https://youtu.be/XkC1P-mgNMw):
Kaliya Damona Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Radhastami (https://youtu.be/fEd-FyQ4ZAc):
I like to make sweets for the festival days, and I decided to make sweet rice for Radhastami. As some of the people who come are vegan, I decided to make vegan sweet rice with almond milk, which of course, is just not as tasty or as creamy as sweet rice made with real milk.
I threw in a couple of cans of organic coconut milk along with the 6 quarts of almond milk in hopes of improving its taste, and that proved successful. Even people highly skeptical of the concept of vegan sweet rice praised its taste. Of course, the real secret is to pray to Radharani for the blessing to make something wonderful for Her beloved Krishna on the auspicious occasion of Her appearance.
Kaliya Damona Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at our Wednesday kirtan in Tallahassee, and a student participates (https://youtu.be/Y-jiHkpzVS4):
OCHK refers to the pamphlet On Chanting Hare Krishna. At the stadium harinama, devotees did pass out pamphlets and books, but I do not know how many. I left Tallahassee midday on September 17, so the harinama was shorter than usual.
Toward the end of my stay in Tallahassee, we had several days of about sixty people at our Krishna Lunch which is good when you consider that two classes of our regular customers have graduated since we were last serving on the FSU campus. As long as we have consistently good food and consistently friendly behavior I am optimistic that Krishna Lunch will become as popular as, and quite likely more popular than, before.
I look forward to returning to Tallahassee around January 4, or thereabouts, and trying to increase Krishna consciousness on the Florida State University campus.
Meanwhile I am very happy to go to New York, where I do not have to beg people to join me on harinama, but where I can assist Rama Raya Prabhu’s well established NYC Harinam Party, a team of enthusiastic devotees chanting four hours a day in the city.
Funny Video
Jorge demonstrates how one can play mrdanga and didgeridoo at once, and young ladies dance to the beat at First Friday in Tallahassee’s Railroad Square Art Park (https://youtu.be/ftyKwiTZK9c):
Srila Prabhupada:
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 42:
“There is a nice example of the friendship between Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. When the fighting was going on, Asvatthama, the son of Dronacarya, unceremoniously attacked Krishna, although according to the prevailing rules of chivalry one’s chariot driver should never be attacked by the enemy. Asvatthama behaved heinously in so many ways that he did not hesitate to attack Krishna’s body, although Krishna was acting only as charioteer for Arjuna. When Arjuna saw that Asvatthama was releasing various kinds of arrows to hurt Krishna, he immediately stood in front of Krishna to intercept all of them. At that time, although Arjuna was being harmed by those arrows, he felt an ecstatic love for Krishna, and the arrows appeared to him like showers of flowers.”
“There is another instance of ecstatic love for Krishna in friendship. Once when a cowherd boy named Vrsabha was collecting flowers from the forest to prepare a garland to be offered to Krishna, the sun reached its zenith, and although the sunshine was scorching hot, Vrsabha felt it to be like the moonshine. That is the way of rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord; when devotees are put into great difficulties – even like the Pandavas, as described above – they feel all their miserable conditions to be great facilities for serving the Lord.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 43:
“There is a similar prayer by a brahmana who says, ‘Let others worship the Vedas and the Upanisads, and let others worship the Mahabharata if they are afraid of material existence and want to become liberated from that condition. But as far as I am concerned, I wish only to worship Maharaja Nanda, because the supreme absolute Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is crawling in his courtyard as his own child.’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 44:
“A pure devotee follows in the footsteps of the gopis and worships the gopis as follows: ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances to all the young cowherd girls, whose bodily features are so attractive. Simply by their beautiful attractive features they are worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.’ Out of all the young gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most prominent.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 46:
“The activities of a person, even if they are not very extraordinary, create an impression of wonder in the heart and mind of the person’s friends. But even very wonderful activities performed by a person who is not one’s friend will not create any impression. It is because of love that one’s wonderful activities create an impression in the mind.”
“Persons who execute religious rituals for the satisfaction of Krishna are steady in devotional service, whereas persons who execute religious rituals without intending to please Krishna are only called pious.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 47:
“In the Hamsa-duta, the following incident is described. The gopis requested Hamsa-duta to search after the marks of Krishna’s lotus feet and to accept them as Lord Brahma had accepted them on his helmet after he had stolen all Krishna’s cowherd boys. Regretting his challenge to Krishna, Lord Brahma had bowed down before the Lord, and his helmet became marked with the footprints of Krishna. The gopis reminded Hamsa-duta that sometimes even the great sage Narada becomes very ecstatic by seeing these footprints, and sometimes great liberated sages also aspire to see them. ‘You should therefore seek very enthusiastically to find the footprints of Krishna,’ they urged. This is another instance of devotional service in compassion.”
“There is an instance when Sahadeva, the younger brother of Nakula, became greatly gladdened at seeing the effulgent glowing of Krishna’s footprints. He began to cry and call out, ‘Mother Madri! Where are you now? Father Pandu! Where are you now? I am very sorry that you are not here to see these footprints of Krishna!’ This is another instance of devotional service in compassion.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 48:
“It is to be understood that any person who is constantly engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare – has attained a transcendental affection for Krishna, and as such, in any condition of life, he remains satisfied simply by remembering the Lord’s name in full affection and ecstatic love.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 49:
“There is another statement as follows: ‘Please look at this devotee of the Lord who is dancing just from remembering the lotus feet of Krishna. Simply by observing his dance you will lose all interest in even the most beautiful women!’”
From Nectar of Instruction 1, purport:
“The meaning of controlled speech conveyed by Srila Rupa Gosvami advocates the positive process of krishna-katha, engaging the speaking process in glorifying the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. The tongue can thus glorify the name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Lord. The preacher of krishna-katha is always beyond the clutches of death.”
“The devotee’s attitude is that he will eat only when Krishna gives him prasada. That is the way to control the urge of the tongue. One should take prasada at scheduled times and should not eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops simply to satisfy the whims of the tongue or belly.”
“In his Anuvrtti explanation of Upadesamrta, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes that our material identification creates three kinds of urges – the urge to speak, the urge or demands of the mind and the demands of the body. When a living entity falls victim to these three types of urges, his life becomes inauspicious. One who practices resisting these demands or urges is called tapasvi, or one who practices austerities. By such tapasya one can overcome victimization by the material energy, the external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
“The conclusion is that only when we talk about devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead can we refrain from useless nonsensical talk. We should always endeavor to use our speaking power solely for the purpose of realizing Krishna consciousness.”
From Bhagavad-gita 1.24, purport:
“In this verse Arjuna is referred to as Gudakesa. Gudaka means sleep, and one who conquers sleep is called gudakesa. Sleep also means ignorance. So Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with Krishna. As a great devotee of Krishna, he could not forget Krishna even for a moment, because that is the nature of a devotee. Either in waking or in sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of Krishna’s name, form, qualities and pastimes. Thus a devotee of Krishna can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Krishna constantly. This is called Krishna consciousness, or samadhi.”
From Bhagavad-gita 1.29, purport:
“There are two kinds of trembling of the body, and two kinds of standings of the hair on end. Such phenomena occur either in great spiritual ecstasy or out of great fear under material conditions. There is no fear in transcendental realization.”
From Bhagavad-gita 1.32–35, purport:
“Materially, everyone wants to satisfy his senses, and he wants God to be the order supplier for such satisfaction. The Lord will satisfy the senses of the living entities as much as they deserve, but not to the extent that they may covet. But when one takes the opposite way – namely, when one tries to satisfy the senses of Govinda without desiring to satisfy one’s own senses – then by the grace of Govinda all desires of the living entity are satisfied.”
From Nectar of Instruction 2, purport:
“Human life is meant for God realization, and the human being is given higher intelligence for this purpose. Those who believe that this higher intelligence is meant to attain a higher state should follow the instructions of the Vedic literatures. By taking such instructions from higher authorities, one can actually become situated in perfect knowledge and give real meaning to life.”
“The higher intelligence of a human being should be trained to understand basic dharma. In human society there are various religious conceptions characterized as Hindu, Christian, Hebrew [Jewish], Mohammedan, Buddhist and so on, for without religion, human society is no better than animal society.”
“Jivasya tattva jijñasa: the real purpose of life is to inquire about the Absolute Truth. If our endeavor (prayasa) is not to inquire about the Absolute Truth, we will simply increase our endeavor to satisfy our artificial needs. A spiritual aspirant should avoid mundane endeavor.”
“Those outside of the Krishna consciousness movement are interested in reading heaps of newspapers, magazines and novels, solving crossword puzzles and doing many other nonsensical things. In this fashion people simply waste their valuable time and energy. In the Western countries old men, retired from active life, play cards, fish, watch television and debate about useless socio-political schemes. All these and other frivolous activities are included in the prajalpa [unnecessary speech] category. Intelligent persons interested in Krishna consciousness should never take part in such activities.”
“Association with those engaged in a similar line of business is very conducive to advancement in that business. Consequently materialistic persons form various associations and clubs to enhance their endeavors. For example, in the business world we find such institutions as the stock exchange and chamber of commerce. Similarly, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give people an opportunity to associate with those who have not forgotten Krishna. This spiritual association offered by our ISKCON movement is increasing day by day. Many people from different parts of the world are joining this Society to awaken their dormant Krishna consciousness.”
“Modern warfare waged between capitalists and communists is due to their avoiding the advice of Srila Rupa Gosvami regarding atyahara. Modern capitalists accumulate more wealth than necessary, and the communists, envious of their prosperity, want to nationalize all wealth and property. Unfortunately the communists do not know how to solve the problem of wealth and its distribution. Consequently when the wealth of the capitalists falls into the hands of the communists, no solution results. Opposed to these two philosophies, the Krishna conscious ideology states that all wealth belongs to Krishna. Thus unless all wealth comes under the administration of Krishna, there can be no solution to the economic problem of mankind. Nothing can be solved by placing wealth in the hands of the communists or the capitalists. If a hundred-dollar bill is lying on the street, someone may pick it up and put it in his pocket. Such a man is not honest. Another man may see the money and decide to let it remain there, thinking that he should not touch another’s property. Although this second man does not steal the money for his own purposes, he is unaware of its proper use. The third man who sees the hundred-dollar bill may pick it up, find the man who lost it and deliver it to him. This man does not steal the money to spend for himself, nor does he neglect it and let it lie in the street. By taking it and delivering it to the man who has lost it, this man is both honest and wise.
“Simply transferring wealth from capitalists to communists cannot solve the problem of modern politics, for it has been demonstrated that when a communist gets money, he uses it for his own sense gratification. The wealth of the world actually belongs to Krishna, and every living entity, man and animal, has the birthright to use God’s property for his maintenance. When one takes more than his maintenance requires – be he a capitalist or a communist – he is a thief, and as such he is liable to be punished by the laws of nature.”
“Unfortunately, materialists who have neither faith in the plan of God nor any aspiration for higher spiritual development misuse their God-given intelligence only to augment their material possessions. They devise many systems – such as capitalism and materialistic communism – to advance their material position. They are not interested in the laws of God or in a higher goal. Always anxious to fulfill their unlimited desires for sense gratification, they are conspicuous by their ability to exploit their fellow living beings.”
From Nectar of Instruction 3, purport:
“Devotional service is not a matter of sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy. Its substance is practical activity.”
“Meditation means stopping all nonsensical activities, at least for the time being. Devotional service, however, not only puts an end to all nonsensical mundane activities, but also engages one in meaningful devotional activities.”
“One should accept this opportunity to return home, back to Godhead, very enthusiastically. Without enthusiasm, one cannot be successful. Even in the material world one has to be very enthusiastic in his particular field of activity in order to become successful. A student, businessman, artist or anyone else who wants success in his line must be enthusiastic. Similarly, one has to be very enthusiastic in devotional service.”
“Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one has to make everything favorable for Krishna’s service. For example, at present we are using a dictaphone. The materialist who invented this machine intended it for businessmen or writers of mundane subject matters. He certainly never thought of using the dictaphone in God’s service, but we are using this dictaphone to write Krishna conscious literature. Of course, the manufacture of the dictaphone is wholly within the energy of Krishna. All the parts of the instrument, including the electronic functions, are made from different combinations and interactions of the five basic types of material energy – namely, bhumi, jala, agni, vayu and akasa. The inventor used his brain to make this complicated machine, and his brain, as well as the ingredients, were supplied by Krishna. According to the statement of Krishna, mat-sthani sarva-bhutani: “Everything is depending on My energy.” Thus the devotee can understand that since nothing is independent of Krishna’s energy, everything should be dovetailed in His service.”
“One should not be impatient in Krishna consciousness. Indeed, this Krishna consciousness movement was started single-handedly, and in the beginning there was no response, but because we continued to execute our devotional activities with patience, people gradually began to understand the importance of this movement, and now they are eagerly participating.”
“Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore recommends, tat-tat-karma-pravartanat: “One must strictly follow the regulative principles of vaidhi bhakti.” In addition to these four prohibitions (yama), there are positive regulative principles (niyama), such as the daily chanting of sixteen rounds on japa-mala beads. These regulative activities must be faithfully performed with enthusiasm. This is called tat-tat-karma-pravartana, or varied engagement in devotional service.”
“The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is opening many centers just to invite people to live in the company of devotees and practice the regulative principles of spiritual life.”
“Engagement in the devotional service of the Lord is the life and soul of the living entity. It is the desired goal and supreme perfection of human life. One has to become confident about this, and one also has to be confident that all activities other than devotional service – such as mental speculation, fruitive work or mystic endeavor – will never yield any enduring benefit. Complete confidence in the path of devotional service will enable one to attain his desired goal, but attempting to follow other paths will only succeed in making one restless.”
“Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once having begun, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success.”
From Nectar of Instruction 3, purport:
“Since Krishna consciousness is inherent in every living entity, everyone should be given a chance to hear about Krishna. Simply by hearing and chanting – sravanam kirtanam – one’s heart is directly purified, and one’s original Krishna consciousness is immediately awakened. Krishna consciousness is not artificially imposed upon the heart, it is already there. When one chants the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the heart is cleansed of all mundane contamination.”
“Not only is the chanter of the maha-mantra purified, but the heart of anyone who happens to hear the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is also cleansed. Even the souls embodied in lower animals, insects, trees and other species of life also become purified and prepared to become fully Krishna conscious simply by hearing the transcendental vibration. This was explained by Thakura Haridasa when Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired from him how living entities lower than human beings can be delivered from material bondage. Haridasa Thakura said that the chanting of the holy names is so powerful that even if one chants in the remotest parts of the jungle, the trees and animals will advance in Krishna consciousness simply by hearing the vibration. This was actually proved by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself when He passed through the forest of Jharikhanda. At that time the tigers, snakes, deer and all other animals abandoned their natural animosity and began chanting and dancing in sankirtana. Of course, we cannot imitate the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but we should follow in His footsteps. We are not powerful enough to enchant the lower animals such as tigers, snakes, cats and dogs or entice them to dance, but by chanting the holy names of the Lord we can actually convert many people throughout the world to Krishna consciousness. Contributing or distributing the holy name of the Lord is a sublime example of contributing or giving charity (the dadati principle). By the same token, one must also follow the pratigrhnati principle and be willing and ready to receive the transcendental gift.”
“Religion is the special function of human society, and it constitutes the distinction between human society and animal society. Animal society has no church, mosque or religious system. In all parts of the world, however downtrodden human society may be, there is some system of religion. Even tribal aborigines in the jungles also have a system of religion. When a religious system develops and turns into love of God, it is successful.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Journal and Poems, Volume Two (July–December 1985):
“I repeated the few simple things I first heard from Srila Prabhupada about Srimati Radharani— that She is the best devotee because She loves Krishna better than others; She is kind; She is the mother of bhakti; the spiritual master is Her representative. Every year I will be saying these same few things about Radha. If I like, I may say many more things, quote from Prema-vivarta and Krishna-karnamrita. . . . But those few things Srila Prabhupada said in 1966 will always be most important for me; they are vijnana, realized knowledge, because I heard them innocently and faithfully from Her pure devotee.”
“Tributes Book
“I especially liked the homage by Jayadvaita Maharaja. It was titled, ‘Thoughts.’ The title reminded me of the philosopher/theologian Pascal’s Pensies and my own ‘Lists,’ where I put numbered subjects of ten or twenty random thoughts. I like that Jayadvaita Swami’s homage. I don’t like the long, long ones. He got right to the point:
Thoughts:
Srila Prabhupada has brought the pure holy name.
We can understand Srila Prabhupada by the grace of
Srila Prabhupada.
He kept it pure.
He kept it simple.
When we remember him, he is with us.
“J.S. may feel modest about this year’s homage, but I liked it the best.”
“The sastras advise us to serve a devotee like the spiritual master, who is a representative of Krishna, with equals we should make close friends and reveal our minds. With those who are innocent, we should help them to purify and raise themselves to the Vaishnava standard (even though I do not claim to reach that standard for myself). But I know I need association with living devotees, like those who wrote their homages to Srila Prabhupada in the Tributes book.”
From A Poor Man Reads the Bhagavatam, Volume 1:
“Prabhupada praised what might appear as the naive conversion of his disciples. He didn’t call it naive, but he appreciated that within a few short years, people who had never even heard about Krishna had now made Him the goal of their lives.
“The other half of Prabhupada’s comment on that subject: ‘They were not envious.’ Therefore, we could hear from him. That nonenviousness was (and is) our qualification.”
“I can answer most questions. Even if the questions are too technical, I’ve learned to scale them down to basic and important points. I can see people’s motives in their questions. I assert and defend the Bhagavatam conclusion. It’s a performance, but a sincere one.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t be writing a spiritual diary here, tracking my progress and noting my faults. Such a diary is valuable, but why put it side-by-side with Bhagavatam purports? I’ve told you (and me) why I do it, but I know it’s odd. What else can I do? ‘Repairs are underway to make a better airport for you. Please excuse the temporary inconvenience.’”
“Each one of us is his own engineer and can take folks along his own journey—if they’re willing to go. Yes, I do it all as service to guru.”
From Shack Notes: Moments While at a Writing Retreat:
“The man next door: He is angry all day long. He is on holiday, but keeps yelling at his two big dogs, ‘Get out of here!’ They try to come up on his deck. Why keep them if you don’t want them? This is the man with the blue wooden duck on top of his house. Its wings revolve in the wind. One day, sudden death or some other disillusion will hit his family. The husband and wife will look at the blue painted duck, and it will occur to them, ‘We have created this home with millions of details. We worked hard, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to create it, and now it has ended—it is a dream world, topped with a blue duck whose wings revolve in the wind.’
“Will death and similar disillusion not strike this house too? Yes, in every house there will be lamentation. The season of happiness will give way to the season of unhappiness. But a devotee of the Lord will say, ‘Let us chant and hear of Lord Hari. This alone cannot be destroyed by time. Let us remember Him now and at the time of death.’ The house of a devotee cannot be defeated, despite inevitable loss, dwindling, and death.”
From The Wild Garden: Collected Writings 1990–1993:
“All the junk I have done in this life makes it difficult for me to fully enter Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Yet Prabhupada assures us that it’s difficult, but not impossible.
“When I spoke with an abbot of a Carmelite monastery in Belgium, he seemed to think it was incredulous that Westerners were trying to live as Indian monks. I couldn’t believe he couldn’t see the essence of it. I don’t claim to be an Indian or a Hindu, and neither does Srila Prabhupada make such an artificial imposition on us. The real strain and awkwardness is not to wear the dhoti or recite Sanskrit prayers—but the purity required. Any spiritual discipline I attempt, whether in a Western or Eastern tradition, will demand pure faith, spiritual vision, and heartfelt participation. I will have to bump up against my old conditioning until I finally throw it off. When we are free of sex desire and are convinced that the material world is miserable and useless—and when Krishna desires—we can enter His rasa dance, His pure spiritual world.”
From Journal and Poems, Book 1:
“To say that no one can have absolute knowledge is to become an absolutist oneself.”
“Jagannatha Bliss”
“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.”
“‘Prabhupada, how can we love Krishna?’ Our questions are sometimes impertinent, sometimes sincere. Prabhupada responds deeply, but it depends on the listener to remember and follow what he says.”
From Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name:
“During any japa round, at any time that we are even aware that we are inattentive, and thus make an effort to be attentive—that is a brilliant moment.”
“Just showing interest in my japa-sadhana, chanting extra rounds, and reading statements about it has been helpful in combating pramada. Just to become aware of the enormity of the problem seems to be healthy. And also this dawning awareness for me that I have to work at the ABCs, and particularly on inattention, seems to be right. It gives me a purpose in life; it gives me more conviction that at least I know where I am situated and what I have to do next. Pay attention when you chant! Bring the wandering mind back again under the control of the higher self.”
From Write After Puja:
“Hare Krishna people even if taxed will have that tax paid by Krishna.”
“Don’t worry. Just be an unalloyed devotee. You will be blessed, and when you meet people it will be a treat.”
From A Poor Man Reads the Bhagavatam, Volume 1:
“My soul is young, but
I sometimes feel sad and tired, an old monk,
at different times of the day.
I just want to be myself.”
When we say, ‘Oh, when will I attain love of Krishna?’ but at heart wonder whether there will be milk with breakfast today, we become ashamed.”
“We get
pushed around, but we conquer
if we are calm and go on
chanting Hare Krishna and show ourselves
not petty but detached.
It’s a great thing we hope to
achieve, so we have to work for it.”
From “Vrindavan Is . . .” in Every Day Just Write, Volume 3: A Sojourn in Tapo-bhumi:
“Ask me, ‘Do you love
Radha’s seva?’
I’ll say only that I love to hear.”
From Truthfulness, the Last Leg of Religion:
“Admitting that I may be wrong—is that what honesty is? Or does it possibly mean that I’m right? Why does honesty mean I’m wrong? One reason to say that honesty usually means admitting I’m wrong is because I’m in this material world for a basic wrong. I can’t rationalize my way out of it and say that I came to the material world for divine purposes. I came out of a serious misuse of free will, out of hatred of God and desire. I was wrong, and I am still wrong. Honesty means to return to my rightful position as servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord. Therefore it doesn’t seem surprising that success in honesty means admitting to more wrongs.
“Another reason to think that honesty is closely connected to admitting wrongs is that I don’t find in myself the symptoms of the advanced Vaishnava. This is wrong. I should feel blissful when I chant Hare Krishna. I should be a more active devotee, more surrendered, more detached from what other people say of me and think of me. So many verses that I look at which describe the symptoms of a devotee don’t describe me. These are reasons why I’m wrong, and honesty means to know that I’m wrong.
“A good symptom will be that I feel lighthearted and happy to catch a wrong, and to aspire to rectify it. Even if I have to suffer a setback, if I’m happy to see a gain in honesty, that’s a good symptom.”
From Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name:
“‘When Lord Krishna sees a devotee sincerely and enthusiastically attempting to chant, He will reciprocate by removing the neophytes mental inertia with the power of His name, and bring him into the association of advanced devotees.
“‘One must diligently complete the prescribed number of holy names according to his vow, and he must always check that he chants his rounds sincerely. Those who chant distractedly are always eager to somehow complete the fixed number of holy names and be done with it. It is important to concentrate on the quality of the chanting and not on trying to artificially increase the number of holy names. The name of the Lord should be pronounced distinctly. Only by the grace of the Lord can this be achieved.
“‘The devotee should make it a regular practice to spend a little time alone in a quiet place and concentrate deeply on the holy name.’ (Harinama Cintamani, p. 84)”
From Passing Places, Eternal Truths: Travel Writings 1988–1996:
“We human organisms are capable of hearing about God and our loving relation with Him. We should take advantage of our ability.”
From A Poor Man Reads the Bhagavatam, Volume 1:
“And we have to give answers. Are our replies verbose or superficial? Why bluff that we are capable answer-men? We can repeat what the books say, but the answers should live in our hearts. Don’t give solutions if we can’t follow them ourselves.
“Ask only how you can serve. If you don’t know how to ask, keep an inquiring mood by reading Prabhupada’s books. Ask Prabhupada every day and answer the question with affirmative action. Then you’ll stop feeling the need for so many sentences ending in question marks.”
“Who could be happy
jawing his japa in such
a mechanical way?”
“‘Krishna doesn’t work in the spiritual
sky. He plays His flute. He
goes to the forest with calves
and cows as a playing sport.
His friends go with Him.
‘Did you ever see a picture of Krishna in a factory
or working a machine or smoking a
cigarette? Did you ever see?
No, He is always jolly.’
“And Radha doesn’t approach Krishna
at the end of His karmi work day
and say, ‘What money do You have
in Your pocket?’
They are innocent boys and girls
in Vrindavan village, far beyond this
rat race.
We can go there.
Work for it.”
From Remembering Srila Prabhupada: A Free-Verse Rendition of the Life and Teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness:
“And the Mississippi kitchen
is the place
where Prabhupada cooked
nine preparations in an hour
in his shiny brass boiler,
his thin arms moving, his expert, swift
chemist’s pinching of spices
tossing them in the pot, and deft
home-grown secrets known only to him.”
From Karttika Moon:
“Tolerate means you put up with all sorts of inconveniences and dovetail your actions in service of the Supreme.”
Vrindavan Dasa Thakura:
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.180–184:
“How can we describe the happiness that this earth planet will enjoy when You dance along with Your servants? The mere presence of those who constantly meditate on Your lotus feet vanquishes all inauspiciousness. As such persons dance, the touch of their lotus feet destroys all the inauspiciousness of the world. By their glance, the ten directions are purified. Such are Your glories, such is the dancing, and such are Your servants that when they dance with their arms raised, the disturbances in the heavenly planets are destroyed. ‘My dear King, when Krishna’s devotees dance in kirtana, they destroy the inauspiciousness of the earth by the touch of their feet, the directions by their glance, and the higher planetary systems by their upraised arms.’”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.1–5:
“Behold Gauracandra’s marketplace, where the jewels of love of God are stacked high. In this way, Lord Gauranga appeared by first inaugurating the sankirtana movement. From all directions people went to the Ganges for bath while chanting the name of Hari. Even persons who never chanted the name of Hari in their lives also chanted the name of Hari as they ran to the Ganges for bath. The sound vibration of Hari’s name filled the ten directions. The Lord, who is the best of the brahmanas, appeared with a smile on His face.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.19:
“Just by seeing Him [Lord Caitanya], the people of this world will develop love for Him, compassion for other living entities, and detachment from material enjoyment.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.49–50:
“Whoever hears about the appearance of Lord Gauracandra will never feel distress, either during this life or at the time of death. By hearing the topics of Sri Caitanya, one attains the fruit of devotional service to the Supreme Lord and accompanies the Lord in His pastimes life after life.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.58–59:
“Whoever was blessed by Visvambhara’s smiling glance was filled with happiness. Whoever took Him on their lap did not like to put Him down. In this way the ladies held on their laps He who is rarely attained by the demigods.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.86–92:
“[Saci and Jagannatha Misra said:] ‘We have never before heard of such behavior in a child. He continually dances and smiles upon hearing the sound of the holy names. Whenever He cries, He is not pacified until He hears the loud chanting of the name of Hari.’ In the morning all the ladies would gather around the child and perform sankirtana. As they clapped their hands and chanted the name of Hari, Gaurasundara would enthusiastically dance. The Lord would become covered with dust as He rolled on the ground, and then He would smile and climb onto the lap of His mother. Everyone felt incomparable happiness on seeing the various postures that Gauracandra exhibited as He danced. In this way no one could understand how the Lord as a child induced others to chant the holy names.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.95–98:
“Sometimes the Lord would go alone outside the house and ask people for whatever He saw—roasted paddy, bananas, or sandesa. Captivated on seeing the Lord’s enchanting form, even strangers gave Him whatever He requested. They would give the Lord bananas and sandesa, and He returned home satisfied. He then distributed those items to the ladies who chanted the holy names. Seeing the child’s intelligence, everyone laughed and chanted Hari’s names while clapping their hands.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.106:
“Everyone showed more affection to Him than to their own sons, for the Lord stole everyone’s heart just by His presence.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.139:
“Everyone said, ‘The statements of the scriptures cannot be false. It is said that children as well as old and helpless people are protected by providence.’”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.141:
“In this way the Lord of Vaikuntha performed amazing pastimes. Who can understand those pastimes unless the Lord reveals them?”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 5.127–134:
“At that time the Lord exhibited a wonderful eight-armed form to the brahmana. In four hands He held a conch shell, disc, club, and lotus flower. In one hand He held a pot of butter from which He ate with another hand. Then with two other hands He played a flute. He was decorated with the mark of Srivatsa, while the Kaustubha gem and a jeweled necklace hung on His chest. All of His limbs were decorated with jeweled ornaments. His head was decorated with a garland of fresh gunja seeds and a peacock feather. His moonlike face was beautified by His red lips. The Lord smiled as He rolled His eyes. His Vaijayanti flower garland and shark-shaped earrings swayed to and fro. His lotus feet were adorned by jeweled ankle bells, and all darkness was dissipated by the shining of His toenails. The brahmana also saw the abode of Vrindavan filled with wonderful kadamba trees and the chirping of various birds. He saw cowherd boys and girls in all directions. Indeed, whatever he had meditated on he saw manifest before him.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 5.151–152:
[Lord Caitanya told the brahmana who had cooked for Him three times:] “I have incarnated to inaugurate the sankirtana movement, and I will preach this process of chanting throughout the world. I will freely distribute the love and devotion that is desired by Brahma and others to each and every house.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 5.165–167:
“After recognizing his Lord, the brahmana secretly remained near the Lord in Navadvipa. He would beg alms here and there and come daily to see the Lord. One who hears these wonderful topics that are confidential to the Vedas certainly attains the lotus feet of Krishna.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 6.34:
“When one is blessed by Krishna he receives the intelligence to engage in devotional service. Unless one is a servant of the Lord he cannot have such intelligence.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 6.86:
“In spite of Nimai’s mischief, everyone ultimately felt fully satisfied.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 6.105:
“[The neighboring brahmanas said to Jagannatha Misra:] ‘How can one be affected by hunger, thirst, or lamentation if he has such a son at home? You are certainly most fortunate to have the Supreme Lord as your son and serve His lotus feet Even if Visvambhara commits millions of offenses, we will still keep Him in our hearts.’”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 7.41–43:
“[When Visvambhara entered the assembly of devotees at Advaita Acarya’s house, who were studying under Visvarupa:] On seeing the Lord’s enchanting form, all the devotees were stunned and they continually stared at Him. The devotees practically entered samadhi; they were even unable to speak about Krishna. Devotees are by nature overwhelmed on seeing their Lord; indeed, even before the devotees realized His identity, the Lord stole away their hearts.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.96:
“Sri Caitanyadeva performed His pastimes of chanting the holy names of Krishna in Srivasa Pandita’s courtyard, which is nondifferent from Sri Vrindavan.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.101:
“The associates of Sri Caitanyadeva were as good and as magnanimous as the Lord Himself. They had no interest in the living entities other than engaging them in the service of Krishna.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.107:
“Sri Advaita Prabhu and the Vaishnavas tried to explain the science of self-realization to the people of this world, but no one could understand them.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.118–119:
“Sri Advaita Prabhu said, ‘O Suklambara! O Gangadasa! O Srivasa! Please listen. The people of this world are misguided due to a lack of Krishna consciousness. I will bring Sri Krishna and show everyone. Sri Krishna will personally appear and deliver everyone. Along with devotees like yourselves, He will deliver everyone by teaching them the necessity of devotional service.’”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.177:
“The words ‘krishna-rupe vihara gokule’ are described in the following verses from Laghu-bhagavatamrita (334, 520, 538): ‘The various wonderfully enchanting sweet pastimes exhibited by the Lord in this world are superior to the opulent pastimes exhibited by Narayana among the demigods. Although Lord Krishna performs His pastimes in Gokula, Mathura, and Dvaraka, His sweet pastimes of Gokula are the topmost. All animate and inanimate living entities become jubilant upon seeing the form of Gopendra-nandana, Sri Krishna, whose beauty is inexhaustible, nectarean, and incomparable.’ It is stated in the Brahmanda Purana:
‘All My various forms are full with six opulences, but there is no comparison to My form as a cowherd boy.’ The Padma Purana says:
‘The characteristics of Krishna are certainly wonderful, and His pastimes as a cowherd boy are most enchanting.’ The Tantras state:
‘I meditate on Nanda-suta, whose beauty surpasses that of millions of Cupids, who thus adore His lotus feet and toenails. His transcendental effulgence is beyond the description or vision of material senses.’
The Gokula pastimes of Sri Krishna are most perfect because they include all of Krishna’s sweet sportive pastimes as well as the pastimes of all His other incarnations.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.179:
“The pastimes of Sri Gauranga are nicely described in the prayers of the demigods. The whole world will achieve complete happiness by proper glorification of Lord Krishna. Then loving service to the Supreme Lord will be preached in every house. From this we get an indication that the Lord wants each person to become adept at kirtana and preaching.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.181:
“Each of the Supreme Lord’s incarnations preach and benefit some particular persons, but in Your incarnation as Gauranga You will benefit the entire world by inaugurating the process of kirtana. You will dance with innumerable servants and make the entire world jubilant.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 2.209:
“When the sun and moon are at opposite extremes in their orbits, their shadows form Rahu and Ketu. When the sun and moon are six rasis, or signs, from each other, or when they are at 180 degrees, the residents of this planet see the shadow of earth fall on the moon. This shadow is called Rahu. When the sun is covered by the shadow of the moon it is said to be eclipsed by Ketu or Rahu. Also at the time of the lunar eclipse the earth’s shadow is called Rahu. The word kavala means ‘swallowed.’
“At the time of the lunar eclipse, or the swallowing of the moon by Rahu, people chant the holy names of the Lord and the flag of victory over Kali is raised.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.16–17:
“The brahmana said, ‘This boy is Narayana Himself, Lord of all lords. He alone will properly reconcile the conflicting principles of various religious preachers.
“‘This child will distribute throughout the world the splendor of devotional service, which has never before been preached. He will deliver everyone from their narrow-minded desires for material enjoyment, fruitive activities, and speculative knowledge and fix them in their eternal occupation—devotional service to the Supreme Lord.’”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.18:
“In the Caitanya-candramrita (18 and 55) it is stated: ‘The dear devotees of Lord Gaura happily enjoy pastimes on the splendid path of pure devotional service, which great sages like Vyasadeva could not thoroughly understand, which material intelligence has no power to enter, which Sukadeva Gosvami could not reveal, and which merciful Lord Krishna never revealed to His devotees. O Lord Caitanyacandra, who enlightens the ignorant, if You grace me with Your merciful glance, then even though I am a wretch I will not be far away from the wonderful path of pure devotion, which is rarely attained by Siva, Sukadeva, Uddhava, Narada, and other great souls.’”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.20:
“In the Caitanya-candramrita (2) it is stated: ‘Those who are untouched by any piety, who are completely absorbed in irreligion, and who have never received the merciful glance of the devotees or been to any holy place sanctified by them are still ecstatically dancing, loudly singing, and even rolling about on the ground because they are intoxicated by tasting the nectar of the transcendental mellows of pure love of God, given by Lord Caitanya. Let me therefore glorify that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.’”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.48:
“By observing these two auspicious days—the thirteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Magha (January-February) [Nityananda Trayodasi] and the full moon day in the month of Phalguna (March-April) [Gaura Purnima]—a conditioned soul’s nescience is destroyed and his propensity for serving Krishna is awakened. One may observe the appearance day of the Lord by fasting and holding a festival.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 3.52–53:
“In the Mahabharata (Santi 339.44–45) it is stated:
‘Do not consider that I am visible because I have a material form. If I wish I can disappear within a second. I am the controller and spiritual master of the universe. O Narada, the form of Mine that you are now seeing is the creator of the illusory energy, therefore you should know that I am completely unaffected by the three modes of material nature.’
“Regarding the appearance and disappearance of the Lord, the Brahmanda Purana says:
‘The form of Lord Hari is neither abominable nor meant for rejection. His manifestation in this world is called “appearance,” and the ending of His manifest pastimes is called “disappearance.”’”
“In his commentary on the Srimad Bhagavatam (4.23.11) Sri Madhvacarya writes as follows:
‘The Lord appears and disappears for the sake of the wise, but He also appears to enlighten the ignorant.’”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 4.132:
“The good fortune of the two thieves is indescribable, because thousands of spiritual practitioners engaged in thousands of spiritual practices cannot achieve the service of the Lord, which is rarely attained by even Lord Brahma. Yet in spite of traveling the sinful road of thievery, due to previous piety the two thieves carried the Supreme Lord Gaura-Narayana on their shoulders.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 5, Chapter Summary:
“When the brahmana meditated on offering the foodstuffs to Bala-gopala for the third time, Gaura-gopala again came and ate the offering. Sri Gaurasundara then appeared before the brahmana in a four-armed form holding conch, disc, club, and lotus; He ate butter with one hand from a pot held in another hand and with two other hands He played flute. After appearing in that wonderful form along with His own abode, the Lord bestowed unlimited mercy on the pious brahmana. He explained to the brahmana His own identity, the brahmana’s position as His eternal servant, and the cause of His incarnation, and then the Lord forbade the brahmana from disclosing these secret topics to anyone. After this incident the brahmana would beg alms here and there during the day, but one time everyday he would visit the house of Jagannatha Misra in Navadvipa to see his worshipable Lord.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 5.152:
“In Satya-yuga the transcendental Absolute Truth, Sri Gaura-Krishna, manifested His own names, forms, qualities, and pastimes in the heart of Brahma, the first created being. Now the Lord will personally distribute from house to house the bright mellows of His service, which have never before been distributed. In other words, the Lord will manifest and distribute His service in the heart of everyone, without discriminating between women, men, brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, or brahmacaris, grihasthas, vanaprasthas, and sannyasis.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 6, Chapter Summary:
“Sometimes Gaura-gopala pleaded for His parents to give Him birds flying in the sky or the stars and moon from the sky. When He did not receive these things, He began to cry. Then there was no way to solace the child other than by chanting the names of Hari. One day, however, Nimai did not stop crying in spite of everyone repeatedly chanting the names of Hari. When they inquired from Nimai about the cause of His crying, they learned that Nimai was displaying His pastime of crying in order to eat the foodstuffs offered to Vishnu on the day of Ekadasi in the house of the two brahmanas, Jagadisa and Hiranya Pandita, of Navadvipa. The relatives of Nimai solaced Him by promising Him Vishnu’s remnants. They then went to the house of those two great devotees and related to them the whole story. Considering Nimai an extraordinary personality, the two brahmanas then gave Him the foods that they had offered to Vishnu. As a result Nimai stopped crying.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 6.3, purport:
“The inactive Mayavadis consider that keeping a sikha is meant for karma-kanda, so they shave off their sikha in order to free themselves from karma-kanda. Vedic tridandi-sannyasis, however, do not shave off their sikha; they keep it as a sign of giving up karma-kanda and progressing on the path of devotional life.”
From his commentary on Caitanya-Bhagavata, Adi 6.34, purport:
“Krishna as the Supersoul appears in the hearts of the living entities as the instructing spiritual master within to inspire one to serve the Supreme Lord. The living entities prove their intelligence by accepting that mercy of the Lord. No one other than the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord can ever exhibit such a service attitude.”
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In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna informs humanity of a spiritual pleasure that beats any material pleasure. Rather than pursuing temporary sensual pleasure, the transcendentalists seek unlimited and eternal spiritual pleasure. How? By concentrating on the Supreme. In the Hare Krishna movement we concentrate on the Supreme by concentrating on the names of the Supreme in the form of the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and we share this good news with others who find sense enjoyment fails to satisfy their soul’s yearning and are looking for a positive alternative.
bahya-sparsesv asaktatma
sa brahma-yoga-yuktatma
sukham aksayam asnute
“Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.21)
