Travel Journal#20.1: New York City, Miami, Tallahassee

 Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 20, No. 1
By Krishna Kripa Das
(January 2024, part one)
New York City, Miami, Tallahassee
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on January 20, 2024)

Where I Went and What I Did

For the first six days of the new year I remained living at ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn and participating in Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party. They decided to continue to chant in public seven hours a day Monday through Thursday and twelve hours a day on Friday and Saturday. Most of the days we did seven hours, I would come for two hours in the beginning and two hours at the end, resting up in between. On the days we did twelve hours, I would chant for the first three hours, and then take a break for lunch, a shower, and a nap. On Friday I came back for five hours in the evening. On the first Saturday of 2024 I gave the Bhagavad-gita class at 26 Second Avenue, and then I returned to Times Square to do another hour of harinama after the class.

I would sing in the beginning when we had fewer people, and I would use my portable harmonium and sit near the book table, so I could distribute the free literature and the invitations, if needed.

Sometimes I would pass out free literature near the book table.

Other times I would come up to people who seemed interested.

For Ekadasi I made walnut burfi for the deities of Radha and Govinda. On January 7, I flew to Miami to participate in the Ratha-yatra there that day, which is our float in the Coconut Grove King Mango Strut Parade. Rama and Sita Prabhus joined me for harinama after the Ratha-yatra, and in the evening we attended a kirtan with Krishna Kishora Prabhu at a Miami yoga center. The next day I took the bus to Tallahassee and did an hour of harinama on the campus when I arrived. The rest of the first half of January, I stayed in Tallahassee, chanting Hare Krishna for an average of three hours each day on the Florida State University campus during the week and in a park on the weekend. I would pass out free cups of halava to promote our Krishna Lunch program at the university, and I would also tell people about our campus and temple programs. I would have Srila Prabhupada’s books on my table for a donation, and I would give out “On Chanting Hare Krishna” for free. I had many nice experiences which I tell about. 

I share many quotes from the Srimad-Bhagavatam of Srila Prabhupada as well as many of his quotes about varnasrama. I share notes on My Dear Lord Krishna by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share a quote each from Saranagati, the newsletter of Sacinandana Swami, and from Forever Present by Kadamba Kanana Swami. I share notes on classes by Candrasekhara Swami, Acaryaratna Prabhu of Kolkata, Param Brahma Prabhu, and Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu. I share quotes from a talk by Krishna Kishora Prabhu and a quote from a yoga teacher.

Many, many thanks to Atmanivedana Prabhu for his very generous donation. Thanks to Vaninatha Vasu Prabhu for his kind donation in reciprocation for me proofreading his reprinting of Hare Krishna Dasi’s collection of Srila Prabhupada quotes entitled, Speaking About Varnasrama. Thanks to Adikarta Prabhu for letting me stay in his room in Miami, driving me to the bus station, and giving me a very nice donation. Thanks to Gaurav for his donation on December 30, which I forgot to mention in my last journal. Thanks to Ahaituki Prema Prabhu for videos and photos of NYC Harinam. Thanks to Divyangi Devi Dasi for her photo of Caranti Devi Dasi. Thanks to Murari Gupta Prabhu for the photos of 26 Second Avenue. Thanks to Rama and Sita Prabhus for the photo of our Miami harinama. Thanks to Lilakara Prabhu for driving me to the kirtan program in Miami and letting me taking a needed nap in his car on the way and before the program. Thanks to Prishni Prabhu of Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies for contributing to my bus ticket to attend their February 3 program in Gainesville and giving a little donation beyond that.

Itinerary

January 8 – April 11: harinama and college outreach in Tallahassee
– January 26: Gainesville harinamas
– January 27: Gasparilla harinama and Ratha-yatra in Tampa
– January 28: Gainesville harinama and Alachua Sunday Feast
– February 2: Gainesville harinamas
– February 3: Gainesville Bhaktivedanta Institute meeting
– March 2: Bhaktivedanta Institute presentation on Parallels, Chapter 2 (online)
– March 6: Tampa, USF harinama and program'
– March 7–17: NYC Harinam during spring break
– April 6: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
April 12: Gainesville harinamas
April 13: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
April 14–23: take care of mother in Albany
April 24 or 25: fly to Amsterdam
April 27: King’s Day harinama in Amsterdam

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City

YouTube now lists short videos separately, and thus I did not realize I had seven short videos,  mostly of NYC Harinam, from a month or two ago that I never published. I am including them here in chronological order: 

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center, and devotees dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/mCbrezIPK3I):

Narayan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and kids play shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/L3_jeJ-xAa4):

Damodara Priya Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Hudson Winter Walk, and people interact (https://youtube.com/shorts/m1JPdjpDlgY):

Narayan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and black women dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/pucXO5X4ikI):

Narayan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and white women dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/RROOeqaJipM):

I chant Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtube.com/shorts/PIhN9B6ZXck):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and a Muslim lady dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/XKtB7aIOe-g):

New Year’s Day was clear, and on the Q train to Times Square, you could see the Statue of Liberty in the distance when the train crossed the Manhattan Bridge.

Here Murari Gupta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station on New Year’s Day, and women play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/U4eP6JaCx4o):

Jaya Goracand Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there, too, and a couple, induced by Caranti Devi Dasi, celebrated New Year’s Day by playing shakers and dancing to the chant (https://youtube.com/shorts/HLnZ0JKS-0o?feature=share):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to “Auld Lang Syne” tune on New Year’s Day in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/24UBkby6Un4):

Later as Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna, a woman played shakers and danced (https://youtube.com/shorts/-AatZKymZvY?feature=share):

On January 2, as I got on the train at Dekalb, I noticed someone chanting Hare Krishna with beads draped over his body with closed eyes. Before he opened his eyes, I took this picture. I invited him to the Tuesday evening program that night, and he came.

Narada Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/hzyYV6zURn8):

When I returned to chant in the evening, I had another interesting experience on the subway:

One reaction to performing a sinful activity is increased tendency to SIN AGAIN as this passenger reminded me of by the slogan on her computer and on her bag!

Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/Ch0fFZNo06E):

Trehan Vasu Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/58uz1OZn8hE):

Krishna Kumar Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/Vx_7jmnAK74):

I chanted Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station early the next day (https://youtu.be/xWU_oEPt0Gs):

Pavan Nitai Chandra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/zB48KlxZz7c):

During lunch one new devotee was comparing the subway station where we chant to a lower planet, and it https://youtube.com/shorts/0KrumLp7e28?feature=sharemade me laugh!

An Indian man chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtube.com/shorts/0KrumLp7e28?feature=share):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and many dance (https://youtu.be/xYagv61Babw):

While Rama Raya was chanting, a couple danced wildly (https://youtube.com/shorts/wN2mudnAKt0):

Arjunananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and several dance (https://youtu.be/FAjdqTDKsgY):

Akincana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/A06XHCXtVXA):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Auld Lang Syne” tune in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/1IzNQDTZ9Vc):

Divyangi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/kYWWM9JNbNA):

Divyangi really impressed me by staying with the kirtan for 11½ hours and by arriving before any of the other devotees except myself.

Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/9uSzHCFvVAM):

Here Murari Gupta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at 26 Second Avenue (https://youtu.be/B8VbpO7up88):

It is always so ecstatic being at 26 Second Avenue. It reminds me of Srila Prabhupada’s great sacrifice.

I look forward to returning. Once I prayed to Prabhupada to chant that same name of Krishna that he brought all the way from India and chanted here in 1966, and it was so ecstatic.

Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and an eccentric man interacts (https://youtu.be/z2paMnJCxC4):

As she sang, a guy danced in the distance as the devotees danced close up (https://youtu.be/QRE2UVHuRfY):

A couple of kids also danced (https://youtube.com/shorts/Y8ogONvW4fY):

This fall I was impressed to see five young, enthusiastic devotees from Krishna House individually chose to serve ISKCON NYC, Srila Prabhupada's most important project, for several weeks, and some for even more: Amrita, Caranti Devi Dasi, Kamesi Devi Dasi, Janaki Devi Dasi, and Kaylee:

Amrita left sunny Florida for her winter break to serve NYC Harinam by distributing books and chanting and to do reception for Radha Govinda.

Caranti came on a one-way ticket and serves NYC Harinam by distributing books, chanting, engaging people in playing shakers and dancing, and giving them prasadam. She also cooks and does pujari work for Radha Govinda. Thanks to Divyangi-devi Dasi for the photo.

Kamesi, here making breakfast for Radha Govinda, bakes for Govinda’s Restaurant, and is fiancée of temple vice president, Gopal Campu Prabhu. 

One of her baked goods is blueberry scones, and this one served as my lunch on my trip from Miami to Tallahassee.

Janaki, here doing pujari work, hosts the Sunday and Tuesday programs for new people, cooks, and does many other things.

Kaylee, although preferring living in farm communities, loves to talk to new people on harinama. She also served Radha Govinda by doing reception and cleaning.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Miami

Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/mMOzUD8HpcE):

Sandipani Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/8KcVubK2VEY):

Here is another video of him and another devotee chanting Hare Krishna in portrait orientation (https://youtube.com/shorts/oflFPKfbJgc):

Keshav Prabhu from Orlando chants Hare Krishna in the Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/4zZQyo4DubI):

Laksmi Nrsimha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/leRgvxNtUMU):

Passersby dance as devotees chant Hare Krishna in Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/Jc1heKCLoUQ):

Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Swami chants Hare Krishna in Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/Lb_HL8sclNg):

A juggler performed as devotees chanted Hare Krishna in Miami Ratha-yatra (https://youtube.com/shorts/4puSUKR-U7s?feature=share):

Unfortunately he did not see the curb behind him, and he ran into it as I was filming the kirtan party. I had not realized that no one was around to warn him about it. Otherwise I would have interrupted my filming to warn him myself.

Here Adikarta and Sandipani Muni Prabhus chant Hare Krishna after Miami Ratha-yatra as devotees pull the cart a quarter of a mile to the ISKCON Miami temple parking lot (https://youtu.be/-RrtE2h4GX4):

I was very grateful to Rama and Sita Prabhus, who joined me for harinama while we walked to ISKCON Miami Outreach, where the devotees had a very nice Ekadasi feast, which I was very enthusiastic to eat, having only had six figs and a walnut burfi for a midday snack and no breakfast because it was Ekadasi.

In the evening we attended a kirtan program led by Krishna Kishora Prabhu of Alachua, and where many yoga students and devotees danced. Keshava Gopal Prabhu kindly arranged some nice Ekadasi prasadam for that event.

Here Krishna Kishora Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Ahana Yoga in Miami (https://youtu.be/0JxHFqIx1Vw):

As he chanted, people began to dance (https://youtu.be/gRDVEwlYzvE):

And they danced more and more (https://youtu.be/nkzAJY1_IR8):

Two young girls enjoyed dancing as well (https://youtube.com/shorts/wYVh0aHJwIo):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee

After my 9½-hour bus ride from Miami, I chanted Hare Krishna for an hour at FSU. 

The staff had neglected to remove the tables and chairs from the midday vendors, and there was one near a street light for me. 

I found Michelle, a neuroscience student I knew from before, has become a regular at Krishna Lunch, Suman of Hyderabad, enrolling this January, was happy to see there’s a Krishna presence at FSU, and two students, who visited ISKCON London with their summer abroad world religion class, showed me a photo of their class and Srila Prabhupada in that temple room. I was happy to return to my Tallahassee home.

FSU was closed the following day because of a tornado watch. In the late afternoon the weather cleared up, and I chanted for 2½ hours, until it got too cold and too late. I distribute halava from the previous day to promote our Krishna Lunch at FSU, and I was amazed 8 people took halava in the first half hour, and 14 for the day. The next day I did 16 halavas in the sun during 3.3 hours of Hare Krishna kirtan, and two Indian students promised to attend our Saturday evening program.

A FSU student walking by as I chanted Hare Krishna on Landis Green asked if I tired of hearing the Christian preacher 75 feet away from me. I said that I sing so loudly that it is not a problem.

One young women on the campus told me her parents were devotees. When I asked where she replied, “Belgium.” She said her name was Sarasvati and showed me her ID to prove it. She said her father was from Holland. She was happy to learn of Krishna Lunch and to accept the promotional halava. I later learned that Amita Krishna Prabhu of Belgium is good friends with her father, Baladeva Prabhu. I saw Sarasvati again the next week and told her about our programs. I found out she graduates from the law school this year.

On Friday, a young couple stopped by my table at FSU. I told the girl I liked her shirt, and she said she designed it herself. By eating the promotional mango halava, they are getting food for both soul and body. Hopefully they will become regulars at Krishna Lunch at FSU.

I’m so happy we are having weekly kirtan-lecture-prasadam programs again in Tallahassee. They are Saturdays at 5 p.m. For this we thank our new temple president, Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu. We had 16 people at the first one I was there for. I gave the lecture and made the sweet rice.

I’ve always liked such programs. When I was 28, I would drive an hour from Allentown for the Philly Sunday feast. It was the highpoint of my week.

I learned of the Tallahassee Martin Luther King Day Parade on the last day to apply. Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu, Kirti, and Jorge Enrique Arias joined me. As we chanted Hare Krishna and danced, in the course of the parade, some people waved, smiled, clapped, and moved to the music. I found a YouTube subscriber posted a video of the parade, and here is the part with us (https://youtu.be/h_-S3co3Ajo):

For Hare Krishnas, the end of the parade does not mean the end of the chanting. After the parade we chanted Hare Krishna on the way to Cascades Park (https://youtu.be/1vL_qnzRhvA):

When we passed other musicians from the parade, some of them participated by dancing or playing instruments (https://youtu.be/SeOvu7LNuZM):

At Cascades Park there was a fair celebrating Martin Luther King Day attended by many, many people, and we chanted there for another couple of hours. Here Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/Gq42K5hfdno):

Iris was happy to get the promotional halava and menu for Krishna Lunch. Her mom, who studied at FSU 30 years ago, had asked her if the Hare Krishnas still serve their lunch on the campus. Thanks to Savyasaci Prabhu (Scott McGregor), who started Krishna Lunch at FSU as a Ph.D. student in the early 1990s. May it continue and expand by Krishna’s grace.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.13.11, purport:

“Vishnu worship is the ultimate aim of human life. Those who take the license of married life for sense enjoyment must also take the responsibility to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, and the first stepping-stone is the varnasrama-dharma system. Varnasrama-dharma is the systematic institution for advancing in worship of Vishnu. However, if one directly engages in the process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it may not be necessary to undergo the disciplinary system of varnasrama-dharma. The other sons of Brahma, the Kumaras, directly engaged in devotional service, and thus they had no need to execute the principles of varnasrama-dharma.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.27.24, purport:

“Transcendental pleasure derived from loving service to the Lord is actual independence.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.14.20, purport:

“Human society . . . has artificially created a type of civilization which makes one forgetful of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Modern society even enables one to forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s grace and mercy. Consequently modern civilized man is always unhappy and in need of things. People do not know that the ultimate goal of life is to approach Lord Vishnu and satisfy Him. They have taken this materialistic way of life as everything and have become captivated by materialistic activities. Indeed, their leaders are always encouraging them to follow this path, and the general populace, being ignorant of the laws of God, are following their blind leaders down the path of unhappiness. In order to rectify this world situation, all people should be trained in Krishna consciousness and act in accordance with the varnasrama system. The state should also see that the people are engaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the primary duty of the state. The Krishna consciousness movement was started to convince the general populace to adopt the best process by which to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus solve all problems.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.29.46, purport:

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, influenced by the merciful devotees' attempt to deliver fallen souls, enlightens the people in general from within by His causeless mercy.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.24.51, purport:

“The Lord lives in the spiritual world in His original personality, and a devotee who follows the instructions of the Lord approaches Him (mam eti). As a spiritual person, such a devotee returns to the Personality of Godhead and plays and dances with Him. That is the ultimate goal of life.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.24.52, purport:

“By mental speculation one can understand that one is not the body but a spirit soul, but unless one engages in devotional service, the real purpose of life is never fulfilled. The real purpose of life is to go back home, back to Godhead, and live with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, play with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, dance with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and eat with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These are different items of ananda, spiritual happiness in spiritual variegatedness.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.18.2, purport:

“Regardless of whether one is in the mode of passion, ignorance or goodness, if one regularly hears Srimad-Bhagavatam from the self-realized soul, one is freed from the bondage of material involvement.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.18.25, purport:

“Although the profession of begging is allowed for a brahmana or sannyasi, one does better if he can avoid such a profession and completely depend on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead for maintenance.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.18.39, purport:

“Sexual desire can be stopped only when one is fully Krishna conscious, and not otherwise. As long as one has desires for sex, one must change his body and transmigrate from one body to another to enjoy sex in different species or forms. But although the forms may differ, the business of sex is the same. Therefore it is said, punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Those who are very much attached to sex transmigrate from one body to another, with the same business of ‘chewing the chewed,’ tasting sex enjoyment as a dog, sex enjoyment as a hog, sex enjoyment as a demigod, and so on.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.24.65:

“Krishna's face is decorated with ornaments, such as earrings resembling sharks. His ears are beautiful, His cheeks brilliant, and His smiling attractive to everyone. Whoever sees Lord Krishna sees a festival. His face and body are fully satisfying for everyone to see, but the devotees are angry at the creator for the disturbance caused by the momentary blinking of their eyes.”

From Transcendental Teachings Of Prahlada Maharaja:

“How can we show our mercy to everyone? There are millions and millions of poor people, so how can we show them all mercy? Are we able to supply clothing and food to all the needy persons of the world? That is not possible. How, then, can we be merciful to every living entity? By giving them Krishna consciousness. That is how Prahlada Maharaja is showing his class friends real mercy. They were all fools, devoid of Krsna consciousness, and therefore he was showing them how to become Krishna conscious. This is the highest mercy. If you want to show any mercy at all to the living entities, then enlighten them in Krishna consciousness, as Prahlada Maharaja did. Otherwise, it is materially beyond your power to show mercy.”

From class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.24 in Chicago on July 8, 1975:

“So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He knew that this is Kali-yuga; it is very, very difficult to engage people strictly in the varnasrama-dharma. Actually it is difficult. Who is going . . . If you open a varnasrama college, there will be no student. Because they will think, ‘What is this nonsense, varnasrama? Let us learn technology. We shall get good salary. We shall earn money.’ Yes. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately said, eho bahya, age kaha ara. In this age it is not possible, varnasrama-dharma.”

From an interview with Trans-India magazine in New York on July 17, 1976:

“So Krishna consciousness movement includes this system of division of society. It is perfect society. Therefore we are trying to introduce the varnasrama system, although it is very difficult nowadays.”

From a morning walk “Varnasrama College” in Vrindavan, March 14, 1974:

“Our main aim is how to give them Krishna consciousness. But if they are already disturbed in every respect, then how they’ll take it? Therefore we are taking these subjects, to help him to come to the Krishna consciousness. And this is the method—varnasrama.”

From Evening Darsana, Mayapur, February 15, 1977:

“Farm project is very nice. Krishna gives. Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya karma svabhava-jam. [Gita 18.44: “Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaisyas . . .”] This is economic problem solved. And brahmana, brain problem solved, and ksatriya, protection problem solved, and sudra, labor problem solved. Four things combined together, live peacefully, happily. Chant Hare Krishna. Introduce this farm project.”

From a room conversation in London on August 15, 1971:

“One class of men is being trained how to serve and get some money, another class is being trained how to make money by exploitation. That is capitalist and communist. The communists are the sudras. They are protesting that ‘You are exploiting us and getting money. It must stop.’ That is Communism. Is it not? And the vaisyas, they are trying to exploit others. Some way or other bring money.”

From Morning Walk, Vrindavan, March 15, 1974:

“Practically attract. Practically attract. The Hare Krishna movement will practically attract the people. If the world affairs are adjusted according to our Krishna conscious plan, there will be no difficulty for all the nations, all the countries. They will be happy. So we have to educate people gradually. And by our example, living example, we’ll have to attract.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.14, Lecture, Los Angeles, August 17, 1972:

“Therefore, because we are Krishna conscious, we are servants of God, therefore it is our duty to save this human civilization. You see. Krishna wants it. And to save this human civilization, these two classes are required very urgently. So you American boys and girls, you are intelligent, you have got all facilities. At least in your country, create these two classes, brahmana and ksatriya. The world will be saved, and you will be saved, and Krishna will be pleased.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.12 in Los Angeles on June 25, 1975:

“Krishna has nothing to do, but to maintain the human society very peaceful, advancing in spiritual knowledge, this varnasrama is required. Therefore sometimes I become very eager to start a varnasrama college. We have nothing to do with varnasrama, we Krishna . . . , But we want to see that the whole human society is peaceful. That is our mission. Sarve sukhino bhavantu.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.15, purport:

“A disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly worship and execute it.”

From a telephone interview with Abhirama Dasa, Vrindavan, India, February 18, 1996, by Hare Krishna Dasi:

“The first time, several devotees were with Srila Prabhupada. We knew that his health was getting weaker. He was talking to the devotees about his imminent departure. ‘I have no lamentation,’ Prabhupada said. He paused for a few seconds, and then he said, ‘No, I have one lamentation.’
A devotee asked, ‘Because you have not finished translating the Srimad-Bhagavatam?’
Prabhupada replied, ‘No, that I have not established varnasrama.’
On the next occasion, some time later, I was with Srila Prabhupada in his room when he made the statement, ‘Fifty percent of my work is not complete because I have not established varnasrama.’”

From a letter to Hari Sauri on August 10, 1977:

“From your letter I can understand how nice this farm is. I am very happy to see fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, grains, the devotees taking sumptuous prasada, and chanting Hare Krishna. This is the actual meaning of human life. It is a very good farm, from your letter I can understand. Whatever you build, get the building materials locally. If you can manufacture tiles locally, then your house problem is solved. Build up bamboo frame, and on it place tiles. In any event get everything locally. I wish to make a farm tour and then I shall surely visit your farm.”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

“The main reason for the cultivation of varnasrama is that maintaining the body in good health, improving the faculty of the mind, promoting social well-being, and learning the science of the Self are all conducive to the practice of pure devotional service.

“Who can deny the necessity of the varnasrama institution as long as the living being is bound up in the human body? If it is abandoned, and the above-mentioned four principles are lacking, the jiva will go astray and no good whatsoever will accrue to him. One should, therefore, strictly adhere to the rules governing varnasrama for the sake of the mind, society, and one’s advancement in Krishna consciousness.

“But the observance of varnasrama-dharma is not the sole business of the jiva. Therefore, with the assistance of varnasrama-dharma, one must cultivate pure devotional service. The purpose of the varnasrama institution is to facilitate the practice of devotional service.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From My Dear Lord Krishna:

“The most famous popular prayer taught to children is, ‘Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.’ A child can sincerely recite this with faith in the eternal soul and the well-wishing eternal Lord. A wise scholar could make that prayer near the end of his life, when it is more likely he might not make it through the night.”

“I’ll pray in the silence of the pain and be thankful it’s not worse.”

“I’ll keep steady and faithful. You give me that strength, and I thank You.”

“Krishna consciousness is the development of love of Krishna. It seems to be a hard thing to achieve, because You are so great and I am so small. How can I know You? How can I love You? But it is possible because love of Krishna is our constitutional position.”

“I don’t like being outside the intimate circle of service to my guru. I used to be so close, and I want to be close again. Without intimate service to you, Srila Prabhupada, there is no spiritual life, there is no happiness. Please show me the way back to your intimate service. This is my request.”

“When I was a child in elementary school, the teacher would always write on my report card, ‘Could do better,’ and I think I am still getting that grade.”

“Please attract me to You like iron filings to a magnet. Let me never stop addressing You with all the humility and devotion I can command, by Your grace.”

“Prabhupada said that because he went out and preached, he received the direct mercy (empowerment) of Lord Caitanya. So he could be humble and say that he did not know Krishna, but he could also be bold and say that he knew You. Certainly, his Bhaktivedanta purports demonstrate that he was a great, transcendental scholar, like the previous acaryas in line from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and that he knew Krishna very well. Because he realized Krishna and Krishna consciousness, he was able to effectively convince others to become devotees of Krishna.”

“The world is empty without You. When I connect with You, I am alive and my spirits rise. You are Krishna, my beloved, and the Lord of my spiritual master. Let me worship You and contribute to his mission.”

“I want to feel the real thing. Where I fall short, let me feel it painfully. Give me the joy of truly desiring to please You, and let me accomplish it through sincere service to my spiritual master.”

“You are my God, and Prabhupada is my guru, the one who saved me from a head-on collision with frightful maya.”

“You are attracting me with Your transcendental flute as I hear about it in the pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Gosvami literature.”

“As Lord Caitanya, You have shown the only way possible in this age of Kali. Former practices are no longer possible. Only the practices that Prabhupada has taught us are possible now, the kirtana, the japa, the reading of books with straight purports of bhakti. Through the practices given by Lord Caitanya, we can reach Your abode. We can take up our eternal service and never come back to this material world.”

“Anyone can come out of the category of being a soul merely maintained by You and become Your close friend. It is up to the desire of the living entity. When, through the grace of a spiritual master, a soul comes to know You and serve You and love You, then You take special care of him. That special care culminates in Your bringing the surrendered soul to live with You and render You intimate service in the spiritual world.”

“I am writing this prayer to remind myself and others that our most important duty and our greatest opportunity in life is to render You service. Our prayer should be to ask You to please accept our service.

“You so much like the life of the devotee that You personally assumed it Yourself as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In that golden form, You spread love of God and tasted its essence. That You could not do even in Your original form as Sri Krishna.”

“I write of Your glories and post them so others will be reminded of Your paramount position.”

“Let me solve my conflicts so I can serve You unhampered by my own mental blocks. Removal of the blocks in service to You is my greatest desire, and if I sincerely pray, You will help me kick them away. Srila Prabhupada once said he could kick all the blocks aside with one kick of his foot. May that happen for me.”

“The difficult times, however, lift us up to realize that we are still floating in the boat of Krishna consciousness. We are safe in the boat of harinama and the boat of devotional service, no matter what happens to our material body. This realization I have received from this little accident. Your boat is watertight, and it’s taking me safely and swiftly back to Godhead. A little accident is nothing to cry about.”

“If I must stay in this world, let me serve You birth after birth with increasing devotion.”

“The cover of the present Back to Godhead magazine has a headline-title, “The Best Benediction – Why Krishna’s Holy Names Are the Greatest Treasure.” The benediction comes from You. The treasure is You. But the serious practice is up to each of us.”

Sacinandana Swami:

From Saranagati Newsletter, No. 147:

“Of course we talk about the experiences of the saints – Haridasa Thakura, Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and many others – because their example can help us so much. But ultimately if you don't experience something in Krishna Consciousness yourself, then you will not be able to take deeper steps in your life.”

Candrasekhara Swami:

There are four states of consciousness: sleeping, dreaming, awake, and enlightened.

The material world exists, but it is not what it seems to be. Everything appears to be meant for our sensual enjoyment although it is all meant to be offered to Krishna.

By using things for Krishna’s service, we wake up from the dream.

The surrealistic movement is based on dream experiences.

Our night dream ends after a few minutes when we wake up while our day dreams ends after 70 or 80 years when we realize we have no relationship with the body we thought was ourselves or the possessions we thought that were ours.

The people in general resist the idea that everything belongs to Krishna and one should use it for Krishna, but we accept that idea. We just resist the implementation of that idea, but the more we practice the less we resist the implementation.

Q (by Narada Muni): How to develop a sense of urgency?
A: Some popes would have a coffin in the Vatican, and they would spend some time in it when they had free time. We want to give people a chance to encounter this knowledge.

I have been saved from the brink of death so many times I think that it will happen again.

Comment by Arjunananda Prabhu: According to the Garuda Purana, for 13 days after death the soul hovers around its body and places it used to frequent.

They say that Lincoln’s ghost is in the White House. Apparently Winston Churchill visited the White House, and while coming out of the bathroom dressed in a towel, he saw the ghost of Lincoln.

The Garuda Purana explains so many things.

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

From Forever Present:

“Our lives are made up of a long series of moments – step by step. Let us offer each step to our spiritual master. In that way, we will offer our whole life.”

“We accept that he [our guru] is somewhere on a higher level in his connection to Krishna and can therefore see what is in Krishna’s interest more than we do.”

Acarya-ratna Prabhu (TP of Calcutta):

Thank you for supporting Srila Prabhupada’s culture of nityam bhagavata sevaya by coming to Srimad-Bhagavatam class.

People think that by accumulating wealth we can become free from miseries and attain happiness. That is not actually true. We must become free from our anarthas, our impurities, and that is accomplished by hearing Srila Prabhupada.

A guy was having difficulty climbing a mountain, so he decided to get a horse. He got one mare, and everything was going well until the mare gave birth. Then she had no desire to climb the mountain because she wanted to take care of the baby. The man found that if he carried the baby horse up the mountain, then the mare would follow, and thus he felt himself very intelligent, although he was actually in a worse position than before he acquired the female horse. This story illustrates the illusion of material advancement.

In this material world, people are considering ignorance to be knowledge, and they are spending millions of dollars to propagate it.

Darkness is a cause of fear, but when the sun rises, our fear is dissipated.

In our educational system, the further one progresses, the more stressful he becomes.

Our mind makes us take for granted what we have and makes us distressed by what we have not attained.

When the dead son of King Citraketu was revived and spoke transcendental knowledge to the king and his queens, even those queens who had poisoned the child became enlightened and began to worship the Lord.

Param Brahma Prabhu:

Excess of anything but bhakti is dangerous.

Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu:

One devotee lady going to the Ukraine festival, Bhakti Sangama, got into a car accident and had an amazing experience. She found herself floating in a very peaceful way, and then she heard a very low voice announcing that her human life had ended and that she had three choices. She could take birth as an Indian girl in a wealthy family, which would not be so good for her spiritual life. She could return to her very badly damaged body and suffer in the hospital for a few years, with her husband leaving her and her friends forgetting her, before things would improve. That would be better for her spiritual life. Or she could attain the spiritual world. She felt she was not ready to attain the spiritual world, so she took choice two. She suffered for a few years exactly as predicted, but then a devotee nursed her back to a functional condition of health with Ayurveda and ended up marrying her.

Krishna Kishora Prabhu:

When you give a material thing away you have less, but it is not like that with bhakti. When you share bhakti you find that you have more.

There are many mantras, but there is only one maha-mantra.

A yogi friend said, “If you wish to relink then relinquish.” Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Dawn (a Miami yoga teacher who likes and promotes kirtan):

“We are not meant to be employees of the mind. We are meant to be employers of the mind.”

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When Krishna Kishora Prabhu quoted his yogi friend as saying, “if you wish to relink then relinquish,” it reminded me of a Bhagavad-gita verse I had just spoken on at 26 Second Avenue fifteen days before:

yam sannyasam iti prahur
yogam tam viddhi pandava
na hy asannyasta-sankalpo
yogi bhavati kascana

“What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pandu, for one can never become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.” (Bhagavad-gita 6.2)

I wish you all the best in your endeavors in this way.