Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 19, No. 17
(September 2023, part one)
Syracuse, New York City, Stuyvesant Falls, Schodack Center
(Sent from Stuyvesant Falls, New York, on September 16, 2023)
Where I Went and What I Did
I continued staying at Mantra Central for the first week of September, chanting at the campus of Syracuse University, at the New York State Fairgrounds, and at Green Lakes State Park. For me, I encountered the most positive personal interactions at the fairgrounds parking lot. I observed both Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja at Mantra Central, and the following day I returned to New York City in time for the afternoon four-hour harinama. I also chanted there with Rama Raya Prabhu’s ecstatic NYC Harinam party for two more days.
Sunday I did harinama over Brooklyn Bridge with a couple of brahmacaris, visiting Tompkins Square Park and 26 Second Avenue with one of them. On September 12, I chanted with a couple of devotees around the Brooklyn temple for twenty minutes, on the subway for another twenty, and about half an hour while waiting for an Amtrak train to Hudson. I helped take care of my guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami from September 13 to 15, and my mother on September 14 and 15. September 14 was my mother’s 99th birthday, and I made sure she got a lot of prasadam.
She was happy to have me donate some of the flowers she was given on her birthday to my guru’s ashram, where Krsna Dasi used them to decorate the altar.
I share notes on Srila Prabhupada’s The Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and Srimad-Bhagavatam. I also share notes from a lecture and morning walk of his. I share notes on the commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share notes on A Compilation of Excerpts from Teachings of Lord Caitanya by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Along with Reading Notes and Cc. Asraya, both by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures by Hansarupa, Yasoda Dulal, Padmanayana, Matanga, and Rama Dasa Prabhus. I share an interesting point from Prishni dd. I share interesting observations by a couple of attendees from India at Mantra Central.
Many, many thanks to Rama Dasa Prabhu of Mantra Central and his congregation for their very generous donation. Thanks to Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu for the use of our guru’s car, so I could take care of my mother as well as my guru.
Itinerary
September 14–20: take care of mother near Albany
September 21–22: Philadelphia harinamas
September 23: Philadelphia Ratha-yatraSeptember 24: Philadelphia harinama
September 25–November 16: NYC Harinam
November 17–19: BIHS Conference, Gainesville
November 20–23: Gainesville harinamas
November 24–25: Festival of the Holy Name, Alachua
November 26: Gainesville harinama
November 27–January 2024: NYC Harinam
Chanting Hare Krishna in Syracuse, New York
Although we chanted for several days at the Syracuse University campus, because we had a small party and I was always playing the instruments, I only have one video of that, but I have many of our kirtans at our Syracuse center called Mantra Central.
Here Rama Dasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Sunday program at Mantra Central in Syracuse (https://youtu.be/l6t87PnNeag):
After the Mantra Central Sunday feast I played harmonium and chanted Hare Krishna for three hours to thousands peoples between the New York State Fairgrounds and its orange parking lot, a new venue (https://youtu.be/sgyx6y-u8Pk):
A young Indian lady smiled and said, “Hare Krishna” and “Radhe Radhe!” as you can hear at the beginning of the video.
Five people donated, although I did not have a donation box, some smiled and moved to the music, two stayed for some minutes and listened, a Nepali student was happy to learn of our programs, as was an Indian family, a young lady said “I like it,” a young parking lot attendant, who had moved to the music, later offered me dinner, another lady offered to promote our programs using the social media for her pizzeria, a student wanted a photo of me for her photography class, one guy was interested in the free food at our programs, and a young Muslim lady said, “That’s amazing!”
I was thinking of chanting there the next day, which was Labor Day and the final day of the fair. Rama Dasa Prabhu, however, had arranged to sing at a local park, so we did that instead.
Rama Dasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Green Lakes State Park (https://youtu.be/1VyXZUzMF3s):
This sweet mom and kid joined our harinama at Green Lakes State Park for 20 minutes twice. The mom, who relocated from New York to Syracuse recently, had many of the books already. Where did she encounter Hare Krishna? Fourteenth Street / Union Square.
NYC Harinam ki, Jaya!
We displayed Srila Prabhupada’s books there at the lake resort, and someone bought a Bhagavad-gita.
Sita Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at the Syracuse University campus, and a young lady chants and dances (https://youtu.be/i9oW-0-WC5c):
The young lady is named Olivia, and one time previously she bought all the books that Rama Dasa Prabhu had on the table.
Returning back to Mantra Central from Syracuse University, just five minutes by car, we encountered a few deer in the forest on the side of the road. It is amazing to have deer living right in the middle of a city.
We did a program the Saturday before Janmastami at an Indian center. Bala Krishna, the organizer, very liberally allowed us to do kirtan, speak on Bhagavad-gita and cater most of the food at the event. The people at that venue are more into jnana and moksa, so it was impressive they let us speak about bhakti to Krishna on Janmastami.
I made laddus for Janmastami at the Indian center, and because people liked them so much, I decided to make them again for the actual day.
We had a lot of kirtan at Mantra Central on Janmastami itself!
Here Rama Dasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Mantra Central on Janmastami (https://youtu.be/sBeH_Q3NlfI):
Here Pooja plays mrdanga and chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/X1PTMsQskJI):
Karuna Gopi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/K95zkQOUMC4):
Kesava Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and many dance (https://youtu.be/PsgBAWmyYYw):
Rama Dasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and many dance, including quite a few Syracuse University students (https://youtu.be/tghEw18Eoh0):
Rama Dasa Prabhu encouraged us to break fast at solar midnight (1:02 a.m. in Syracuse), so I decided to chant japa while I waited for that auspicious time. While sitting alongside of the road about 200 feet from the temple, I saw four groups of Indian students, with six to eight in each group, returning home from our event, a good half hour walk. I was impressed to see that so many had the enthusiasm to celebrate Janmastami with foreign devotees in a foreign land at midnight such a long walk from their homes!
On the campus the next day, a Christian preacher sang,
“What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Then he asked what I thought of it.
I said, “Three times in the Bible it says, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,’ so I am going back to doing that,” and I resumed chanting Hare Krishna before he could reply.
My last full day in Syracuse was Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day, known as Vyasa Puja. I was happy to participate by giving a lecture on Srila Prabhupada and making blueberry halava for the feast.
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
My first day back in New York City we chanted in the Time Square subway station near the Port Authority Bus Station because it was raining.
Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/L-HERuT0f20):
While she was singing a passerby exclaimed how it beautiful it was.
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/msJpA8BWuUE):
Yasoda Dulal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/Oy_Mr55xVxM):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/AyVXqLR6eGs):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/ygZPdENsE-k):
The next day we chanted nearby, in another part of that subway station, as the rainy weather continued.
Jayananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/OBebTq9VckU):
Yasoda Dulal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station again (https://youtu.be/6ncldzA498o):
I was happy a couple of brahmacaris, including Matanga Prabhu, who is leading here, joined me for harinama on the Brooklyn Bridge one Sunday (https://youtu.be/7mLW37dUOIw):
We passed out many temple invitations and “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlets. Some people filmed themselves dancing with us.
The rest of us went to the Hare Krishna tree and 26 2nd Ave.
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and high-school kids dance with Nityananda Chandra Prabhu (https://youtu.be/U3GnpniYJ54):
Nityananda Chandra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and a 95-year-old lady gets into it (https://youtu.be/sI_6fr7I5oc):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square subway station, and passersby dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/B0CW9HeLZMs):
Finally one guy became really fired up (https://youtu.be/EGO6vmMh2pg):
My train to Hudson the next Tuesday was delayed 38 minutes so I chanted Hare Krishna as I waited (https://youtu.be/SK2BX2FcAIQ):
Three Amtrak employees passed me but didn’t ask me to stop. An Indian lady from New Jersey was happy to learn of our Brooklyn temple.
Stuyvesant Falls
My guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, had too few caretakers from September 13 to 17, so I offered to come. I said I would need a car from September 14 to September 17 to take care of my mother, and they said they could provide it.
I would clean my guru’s room, make breakfast, and clean the kitchen and all the dishes every morning. Then I would drive 25 minutes to my mother’s place, and wake her up and give her breakfast. Then I would return to my guru’s place for lunch, to clean the kitchen, to get dinner ready, and to clean up after dinner. Then I would drive to my mother’s place and give her dinner, and then return to my guru’s place to sleep, so I would be ready to go in the morning. My mom’s caretakers thought it sounded too complicated. I knew I could do it for four days, but not for a month!
Schodack Center
My mother got lots of prasadam on her 99th birthday. Waffles with blueberry syrup from me for breakfast, and veggie shepherds pie, tomato soup made with fresh tomatoes, and apple pie for dinner from my guru’s cook, Anuradha Devi Dasi.
Here she eats the apple pie.
There was also a bouquet from pujari, Krsna Dasi.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 30:
Thoughtfulness
“In the Tenth Canto, Sixtieth Chapter, verse 39, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is an account of Rukminidevi’s writing a letter to Krishna requesting Him to kidnap her before her marriage to another person. At that time the specific attachment of Rukmini for Krishna was expressed by Rukmini as follows: ‘My dear Lord Krishna, Your transcendental glories are chanted by great sages who are free from material contamination, and in exchange for such glorification You are so kind that You freely distribute Yourself to such devotees. As one can elevate oneself simply by Your grace, so also by Your direction alone one may be lost to all benedictions, under the influence of eternal time. Therefore I have selected Your Lordship as my husband, brushing aside personalities like Brahma and Indra—not to mention others.’ Rukmini enhanced her love for Krishna simply by thinking of Him. This is an instance of thoughtfulness in ecstatic love.”
Endurance
“In another instance a devotee says, ‘I am always swimming in the nectarean ocean of the pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, and as such I have no more attraction for religious rituals, economic development, sense gratification or even the ultimate salvation of merging into the existence of Brahman.’ This is an instance of the mind’s endurance due to achieving the best thing in the world. The best thing in the world is absorption in Krishna consciousness.”
Happiness
“It is stated in the Tenth Canto, Thirty-third Chapter, verse 11, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, ‘Upon seeing that Krishna’s arm was placed on her shoulder, one of the gopis engaged in the rasa dance became so ecstatically happy that she kissed Krishna on His cheek.’ This is an instance of feeling happiness because of achieving a desired goal.”
Haughtiness, Resulting in Dishonorable Words
“The gopis spoke as follows: ‘Dear Krishna, there is extreme distress in being out of Your presence, and there is extreme happiness simply in seeing You. Therefore we have all left our husbands, relatives, brothers and friends and have simply come to You, being captivated by the sound of Your transcendental flute.’”
Dizziness
“The gopis were advised by their superiors to bolt the doors at night, but they were so carefree that they did not carry out this order very rigidly. Sometimes, by thinking of Krishna, they became so confident of being out of all danger that they would lie down at night in the courtyards of their houses.”
“There is an authoritative statement in the Garuda Purana about mystic yogis who are under the direct shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: ‘In all three stages of their consciousness—namely wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep—the devotees are absorbed in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, in their complete absorption in thought of Krishna, they do not sleep.’”
Alertness
“A devotee once stated, ‘I have already conquered the mode of ignorance, and I am now on the platform of transcendental knowledge. Therefore I shall be engaged only in searching after the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ This is an instance of alertness in ecstatic love. Transcendental alertness is possible when the illusory condition is completely overcome. At that stage, when in contact with any reaction of material elements, such as sound, smell, touch or taste, the devotee realizes the transcendental presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
“When Srimati Radharani first saw Krishna, She suddenly became conscious of all transcendental happiness.”
“When Krishna was touching the body of one gopi, the gopi addressed her companion thus: ‘My dear friend, whose hand is this touching my body? I had become very afraid after seeing the dark forest on the bank of the Yamuna, but suddenly the touch of this hand has saved me from hysterical fits.’ This is an instance of alertness caused by touching.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.39:
“If even only once or even by force one brings the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead into one’s mind, one can attain the supreme salvation by the mercy of Krishna, as did Aghasura. What then is to be said of those whose hearts the Supreme Personality of Godhead enters when He appears as an incarnation, or those who always think of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the source of transcendental bliss for all living entities and by whom all illusion is completely removed?”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 14:
“According to the various divisions and gradations of devotees, permanent devotional attitudes can be divided into five categories: (1) peacefulness, (2) service to Krishna, (3) friendship with Krishna, (4) parental affection toward Krishna, and (5) conjugal love for Krishna. Each division has its own taste and relish, and a devotee situated in a particular division is happy in that position.”
“The purport of this is that the acaryas (spiritual masters) are authorized by higher authorities. Instruction alone cannot make one an expert. Unless one is blessed by the spiritual master, or acarya, such teachings cannot become fully manifested. Therefore one should seek the mercy of the spiritual master so that his instructions can develop within oneself.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 15:
“God is so kind and merciful that He gives Himself in exchange for the devotional service of the devotee. His transcendental qualities are such that His perfect beauty, His perfect reciprocation of love between Himself and His devotees, and the fragrance of His transcendental qualities attract different kinds of transcendentalists and liberated souls. For example, Krishna attracted the mind of Sanaka and the other Kumaras simply by the aroma emanating from the flowers offered to Him, and He attracted the mind of Sukadeva Gosvami by His transcendental pastimes. The minds of the damsels of Vrindavana were attracted by His personal beauty, Rukmini’s attention was attracted by His bodily features and transcendental qualities, and the mind of the goddess of fortune was attracted by His flute-playing and other transcendental features. In this way Lord Krishna attracts the minds of all young girls. He also attracts the minds of elderly ladies by His childlike activities, and the minds of His friends by His friendly activities. When He appeared in Vrindavana, He even attracted the birds, beasts, trees and plants. Indeed, everyone became attracted in love and affection for Krishna.”
“It is when the devotee understands and becomes attracted by Krishna’s transcendental qualities that he wholeheartedly engages in devotional service.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 17:
“When one thinks there is a possibility of arguing about transcendence, he is called an agnostic, and when he thinks that there is a possibility to criticize transcendence, he is called an atheist.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 23:
“Srimad-Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedanta knowledge and one who relishes the knowledge of Srimad-Bhagavatam has no taste for studying any other literature.”
“… when the truth of simultaneous oneness and difference is understood, the imperfect concepts of monism and dualism cease to satisfy.”
“The desire to hear with interest is the primary qualification for assimilating transcendental knowledge.”
“An intellectual person can believe in the assurances of the great sage Vyasadeva and patiently hear the messages of Srimad-Bhagavatam in order to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. One need not struggle through the different stages of realization, for one can be lifted to the position of a paramahamsa simply by agreeing to hear the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam with patience.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 26:
“Being so pleased, Lord Caitanya embraced Bhattacarya and they both began to dance in transcendental ecstasy. In that ecstasy Lord Caitanya exclaimed: ‘My mission in Jagannatha Puri is now fulfilled! I have converted a person like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. I shall now be able to attain Vaikuntha without fail.’”
“The missionary goal of a devotee is to convert simply one person into a pure devotee. In this way his admission into the spiritual kingdom is guaranteed.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 28:
“Because most people are fallen and because there is no time to elevate them by a gradual process, the course, according to Lord Caitanya, is to let them remain in whatever condition they are in, but to engage them in hearing of the activities of the Supreme Lord as those activities are explained in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 29:
“One who attains his particular relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be known to be in the best relationship for him.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 30:
“The devotees cannot relish the beauty of the Supreme Lord more than damsels of Vraja.”
“If one tries to follow in the footsteps of the gopis, he may become situated in the highest stage of transcendental love. Thus, one who wants to be elevated to the transcendental stage of perfection should follow in the footsteps of the damsels of Vraja as an assistant maidservant of the gopis.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 31:
“There are different kinds of relationships with Krishna, and anyone who is attracted to Krishna by a particular relationship is glorified.”
“In His spiritual form, Krishna enjoys His spiritual energy, and that is the sum and substance of the Radha-Krishna pastimes. These pastimes can only be understood by elevated devotees. One should not try to understand the Radha-Krishna potencies and pastimes from the mundane platform. General people misunderstand these as being material.”
“Maha-bhava svarupa, the personification of maha-bhava, is applicable to Radharani only. Maha-bhava is full of pleasure potency, and it is an exhibition of the highest love for Krishna. Radharani is therefore known throughout the world as the most beloved of Krishna, and Her name is always associated with Krishna as Radha-Krishna.”
“Srimati Radharani is fifteen days younger than Krishna. She always keeps Her hand on the shoulders of Her friends, and She always talks and thinks of pastimes of Krishna. She always offers Krishna a kind of intoxication by Her sweet talks, and She is always prepared to fulfill His desires. In other words, She supplies all the demands of Sri Krishna, and She possesses unique and uncommon qualities for Krishna’s satisfaction.”
“Govinda-lilamrita confirms that Radharani is the expansion of the pleasure potency of Krishna and is compared with a creeper, and Her associates, the damsels of Vraja, are compared to the flowers and leaves of that creeper. When Radharani and Krishna enjoy Themselves, the damsels of Vraja relish the pleasure more than Radharani Herself.”
“The process of transcendental realization is to follow the footsteps of the associates of the Supreme Lord; therefore, if one thinks himself to be a direct associate of the Supreme Lord, he is condemned. According to authorized Vaisnava principles, one should follow a particular devotee, and not think of himself as Krishna’s associate.”
From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 32:
“In conditional life, the soul is captivated by sex. All fictions—dramas and novels—and material song describe love between men and women. Since people are so attracted to this kind of literature, Krishna appeared in this material world and displayed His transcendental loving affairs with the gopis. There is an immense literature dealing with the transactions between the gopis and Krishna, and anyone who takes shelter of this literature or of the stories about Radha and can Krishna enjoy actual happiness. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.36 it is said that the Lord displayed His pastimes in Vrindavana in order to reveal His actual life. Any intelligent person who tries to understand the pastimes of Radha and Krishna is most fortunate. The songs that tell of those pastimes are the greatest songs in the world.”
“By hearing the pastimes of Radha and Krishna one can get rid of all material lust. If one does not become freed from material lust in this way, then he should not indulge in hearing of the pastimes of Radha and Krishna.”
From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatan 2.14 in Delhi on November 7, 1973:
“He [Krishna] is situated in everyone’s heart. You haven’t got to go somewhere to search Him. He is within you personally. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrid-dese [Bg. 18.61]. Simply you have to become sober to hear from Him. He talks with devotee.”
“[In] Europe and America, they say sometimes that ‘Krishna is Hindus’ God.’ Why Hindus’ God? He says, sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayo yah aham bija-pradah pita: ‘I am the seed-giving father of all different forms of life.’ [Bhagavad-gita 14.4] . . . Therefore, because He is the father of all living beings, therefore there is response from Europe and America. Otherwise, what connection they have got? They have got their Jesus Christ or something else. But why they are attracted to Krishna?”
From a morning walk in Paris on June 12, 1974:
Devotee: “Prabhupada, what is the devotee’s greatest enemy? A devotee’s greatest enemy?”
Prabhupada: “He, he himself. Because he’s a rascal, he’s his greatest enemy. So just get out of this rascaldom, and you become your friend. Nobody is enemy. You are yourself your enemy. Nobody is enemy.”
The humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.12:
“Pure devotional service rendered to the Supreme Lord is spiritually so potent that simply by hearing about such transcendental service, by chanting its glories in response, by meditating on it, by respectfully and faithfully accepting it, or by praising the devotional service of others, even persons who hate the demigods and all other living beings can be immediately purified.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.343, purport:
“In the Srimad Bhagavatam (7.1.32) Narada Muni speaks to Maharaja Yudhisthira as follows: tasmat kenapy upayena manah krishne nivesayet—‘Somehow or other, one must engage his mind in thinking of Krishna.’”
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.403, purport:
“Upon the inauguration of the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna, the Lord’s scholastic pastimes were completed. The word sankirtana refers to congregational glorification of the names, forms, qualities, associates,and pastimes of Sri Hari, as well as the hearing of such topics by service-inclined persons. This is the special characteristic of sankirtana. Unless the names, forms, qualities, associates, and pastimes of Krishna are properly glorified, or unless they are glorified without offense, there is no possibility for materialistic people forgetful of and averse to Krishna from time immemorial to give up their absorption in material objects. If topics of the spiritual abode, or transcendental topics of Krishna, do not reach materialistic persons attached to sense gratification, then various concocted ideas or attempts for sense gratification will become prominent in the name of religion and thus create chaos in this world. Under the influence of His all-auspicious, causeless mercy, the all-auspicious ocean of mercy and most magnanimous Sri Krishna Caitanyadeva protected the inhabitants of this world, who were acaitanya, devoid of spiritual conscious, from their absorption in matter resulting from ignorance; in other words, He awakened the pure spiritual propensity for serving Krishna in the hearts of the animate and inanimate entities who were devoid of spiritual consciousness by preaching that the ultimate result of cultivating spiritual knowledge is to achieve the perfectional platform of serving Krishna.”
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.405, purport:
“The Lord said, ‘As a result of studying and hearing linguistic literatures for so long, I have understood that chanting the names of Krishna is the only essence and fruit of such studying and teaching. It is the only purport of the Vedas. Therefore, O students, you should constantly engage in sri-krishna-sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years, which extinguishes the fire of the conditional life of repeated birth and death, which is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon, and which is the life of all transcendental knowledge.’”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From A Compilation of Excerpts from Teachings of Lord Caitanya by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Along with Reading Notes:
“Srila Prabhupada’s Teachings of Lord Caitanya has always been special to his disciples and readers. The subsequent publishing of the full Caitanya-caritamrita did not in any way ‘replace’ the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, which contain his own charm and emphasis.”
“When the spiritual master plants the seed of devotion in a person’s heart, it doesn’t mean that he plants love of God there. Love of God is already there. The pure devotee plants the instructions that awaken this love of God.”
“Prabhupada later wrote a letter to Bhagavan dasa in which he said that there are devotees everywhere and the preaching parties were meant to go and find them.”
“All so-called revolutions in this material world, military take-over, so-called freedom movements, advancements in science and culture, are not really qualified as revolutions in the most auspicious and permanent sense. Devotees therefore are real revolutionaries in their attempt to change their own consciousness and the consciousness of the people of the world.”
“Prabhupada goes on to say that unless there is realization of the transcendental form of the Lord, there is no question of love of God. And without love of God there is no perfection in human life.”
“Prabhupada once explained in a lecture that Radha and Krishna are like the flower and aroma of the flower, and they cannot be separated.”
“The TLC volume is like a flask of intoxicating drink. I uncap it, sip, then somehow, I can’t take much so I put the cap on again. But I’ll be back again.”
“‘I’ve heard this many times before, beginning in 1966’—the teachings of Lord Caitanya to Sanatana. But hear it once more. You are still not liberated in devotional service. The threefold miseries still give you trouble. And can you honestly say that you know your constitutional position as pure spirit soul, eternal servant of Krishna?”
“Each five minutes you gain in attentive reading goes to your eternal benefit, and a minute lost can never be regained.”
From Cc. Asraya:
“We have to give up our sectarian prejudices (‘Krishna is an Indian god’) and accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Our Swami has ordered us to do so.”
“Even birds, animals, and trees are attracted to Krishna’s qualities in Vrindavana. Seek to be attracted. Remain open to it. Don’t block your ear holes, don’t deny yourself the darsana of the arca-vigraha, and perform other favorable practices to inspire attraction.”
Hansarupa Prabhu:
The spiritual master knows how to remove the doubts from the heart of the disciple.
Realization comes from performing devotional service.
Temples exist to give people the chance to offer obeisances, see the Deity, do some service and begin their devotional service.
When Srila Prabhupada was in New York in 1976 and he gave lectures morning and evening, he included Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir ki, jaya! in the prema-dhvani prayers.
Association with devotees is the most valuable asset in spiritual life.
There is a class of people who get involved in some spiritual activities for some spiritual taste but who are unwilling to completely surrender and get the full experience.
The VIHE has a web site with amazing lectures for free on the different books we study.
What did Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura say of our Srila Prabhupada? He does not go away.
The key to success is to take whatever you hear in class and act on it.
Srila Prabhupada said as soon as you wake up, you should chant the name of the deity, such as “Jaya Radha Govinda.”
In the middle of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Srila Prabhupada stopped translating and translated The Nectar of Instruction because he saw the movement growing and realized we needed more instruction.
We know what is pure devotion and pure love. 99% of the people do not know this.
In what tradition does the Lord become one’s dear most friend? What we have been given is very rare.
We have to come to the point where love of the spiritual master and Krishna is our only motive.
Comments by me, not spoken due to a lack of time:
There is one Prabhupada memory tape where a new person has his first meeting with Srila Prabhupada. The person has some doubts, but Srila Prabhupada keeps destroying them one after another as they arise, and this new person was inspired to surrender.
In The Nectar of Instruction, text 4, purport, Srila Prabhupada writes, “Contributing or distributing the holy name of the Lord is a sublime example of contributing or giving charity (the dadati principle).”
Prishni Devi Dasi:
From a Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies Zoom meeting:
Sadaputa said the Bhagavatam only describes 18 of the 400,000 humanlike species.
Yasoda Dulal Prabhu:
The Six Goswamis bring so much light into our lives by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada’s step off the boat into New York was a gigantic step for humankind. He did not step into New York as a sightseer but with the intention of spiritually benefiting humanity.
We speak of the Six Goswamis but actually there are eight. Lokanatha Goswami and Kaviraja Goswami are also there, and all eight in the spiritual world are the most intimate manjari associates of Srimati Radharani.
There is harmony in the spiritual world because everyone wants to be lower than the others. There is chaos in this world because everyone wants to be higher than the others.
Even if one is ugly, if one is humble, people will be captivated by him.
“Our true form is not this body. Like Sanatana Goswami, we should also be asking, ‘Who am I?’ It is not enough to know ‘I am the eternal servant of Krishna.’ We need to know which eternal servant of Krishna we are.”
Gaura Govinda Maharaja said that chanting means crying, and if we are not crying then we are not chanting.
Radharani is the embodiment of the highest mahabhava.
Prema-vaicittya is when Radha imagines being separated from Krishna although Krishna is present.
If we feel the pain of Krishna, then we can feel the suffering of all living entities.
When Krishna feels separation from Radha, He goes to Radha Kunda, because Radha Kunda is the heart of Radha.
There is a pastime when Radha felt so much separation from Krishna that she was practically on the point of death. Her friends chanted the Hare Krishna mantra to revive her.
Comment by me, not voiced because of no time for questions or comments:
The pastime of Krishna washing the feet of those at the Rajasuya ceremony shows His humility.
Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja said the syllables of the holy name will reveal our eternal relationship with Krishna.
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu says when he began to take his japa seriously, the first result was that he began to feel bad that he left Krishna.
My sister’s partner, Victor, after seeing Hare Krishna: The Mantra, the movement, and the Swami who started it all, said of Srila Prabhupada, “His eyes are filled with tears of a compassion that is not only occasional but an integral part of his being.”
Padmanayana Prabhu:
Scientists create, parents create, Brahma creates, etc., but where do they get the ingredients to create with? They do not supply their own ingredients. That we should inquire about.
We have been using oxygen for years. If we are without oxygen for 5 minutes we will die. Have we been paying for this oxygen? No. We should feel grateful for that person who has supplied us with so much oxygen.
We take everything from Krishna, but we are neglecting Him.
We are stealing from Him, but He is not punishing us.
Matanga Prabhu:
Some people saw Srila Prabhupada just once or heard him just once. At the time they could not become devotees, but they did so many years later because of that seed of faith that was planted by him.
In the beginning, we cannot discriminate between our mental speculation and caitya-guru, the Lord in the heart. Thus we need guidance from the devotees.
Comment by Candrasekhara Swami: Krishna consciousness is just trying to reconnect everything to Krishna. When we associate with devotees that is easier because they are also trying to reconnect everything to Krishna. But when we associate with nondevotees, who are not connected to Krishna, they tend to drag our consciousness away Krishna
Rama Dasa Prabhu:
I was familiar with all the sinful activities that we give up, but I did not experience any lasting happiness from them.
My Christian cousin challenged me to say to God: “God, if you are real, then show me.”
So I looked up to the sky and said almost facetiously, “God, if you are real, then show me.”
Within several months, I had an out-of-body experience, and from that I realized I was not my body, and I encountered a being that was far greater than myself, and I realized I was very arrogant.
I realized from reading another translation of Bhagavad-gita that sensual pleasures could not give me happiness, but I was attached to all of them.
I had become attracted to Krishna from that other translation of Bhagavad-gita, so I was interested in Srila Prabhupada because he was the ultimate promoter of Krishna, and I started reading his books. I read the Krishna book, but although I liked the book, I could not appreciate Srila Prabhupada always condemning the pleasures I was attracted to and felt some negativity toward him. Finally I read Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita, and I could see that he was actually giving the real message, and that it is actually Krishna who was saying to give up sensuality. I also realized that Srila Prabhupada was actually following the message of Bhagavad-gita, and that increased my respect for him.
Q (Rama Dasa): Why do we chant Hare Krishna? There are so many people we could chant to, Kali, Brahma, Shiva . . .
A (Ben): Because Krishna is the source of everything that we could be chanting to.
Some spiritual teachers say to follow your heart, but if your heart is not clean, that is not a good idea. Better to clean your heart, and then follow it.
Getting arrested for selling marijuana was one of the best things that happened to me. When they handcuffed me, I started chanting Hare Krishna in great helplessness, and I was so blissful. I chanted so incessantly in the police station that they released me after three hours.
Satyajit, a Syracuse University student from Jagannatha Puri:
In Orissa we do not see Jagannatha as God, we see Him as our friend. We pour out our emotions to Him as we would with a friend.
Ankit, a young Indian doctor in Syracuse:
In India we hang pots of yogurt on Janmastami, and we break them. The yogurt is considered prasada, and everyone is happy to take it.
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When we give away spiritual knowledge, we end up having more. This principal is explained in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita:
lutiya, khaiya, diya, bhandara ujade
“Although the members of the Pañca-tattva plundered the storehouse of love of Godhead and ate and distributed its contents, there was no scarcity, for this wonderful storehouse is so complete that as the love is distributed, the supply increases hundreds of times.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 7.24)
Srila Prabhupada comments in the purport: “A pseudo incarnation of Krishna once told his disciple that he had emptied himself by giving him all knowledge and was thus spiritually bankrupt. Such bluffers speak in this way to cheat the public, but actual spiritual consciousness is so perfect that the more it is distributed, the more it increases.”
