New York City and Upstate New York
Where I Went and What I Did
The first half of Decembr, I was happy to remain in the ashram of ISKCON NYC and serve NYC Harinam.
I would chant with Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party from Monday through Saturday for three or four hours in the afternoons.
I would lead the chanting for half an hour and distribute the invitations and free literature the rest of the time, occasionally also selling a book.
In addition to chanting with NYC Harinam I would do additional hours of harinama for the Prabhupada Marathon, chanting for two hours in another subway station in the morning or at noontime several days a week, hoping to do thirty hours for the month.
Sometimes I would give the Srimad-Bhagavatam class in the temple, which is recorded on the ISKCON NYC YouTube channel.
At ISKCON NYC this month I made orange coconut burfi for Radha Govinda to have on Ekadasi.
On Saturday, December 7, Rama Raya Prabhu, myself, and other devotees from NYC Harinam and ISKCON NYC went upstate to participate in the Vyasa-puja of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami during the day and the Hudson Winter Walk harinama in the evening.
I share many quotes from the books, lectures, conversations, and letters of Srila Prabhupada, most of which I read in Bhakti Vikasa Swami’s soon-to-be-published book on the mood and mission of Srila Prabhupada. I share a quote from Caitanya-bhagavata by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura. I also share quotes from The Delaware Diaries, a soon-to-be-published book by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami and from his brief Vyasa-puja lecture. I also share notes on classes in New York City by Jayadvaita Swami and Smara Hari, Hansarupa, Rama Raya, Sri Prahlada, Yugala Kisora, Dharmaraja, Hari Vilasa, Param Brahma, Venu Madhurya, Aditya, and Natabara Gauranga Prabhus.
Many, many thanks to my sister, Karen, for reimbursing the cost of my flight back to Paris after my final visit to my mother early this summer. Many thanks to Devaki Devi Dasi for her donation for assisting her in proofreading her book on the vanaprastha ashrama. Thanks to Prishni for reimbursing the cost of my travel from Tallahassee to Gainesville for the January 2025 conference on evolution. Many thanks to Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu for getting me from and dropping me at the Hudson train station and for all the prasadam for my journey when I came to dress the deities of our guru upstate.
Itinerary
October 5–January 2025: NYC Harinam
– December 28: lecture on Bhagavad-gita at 26 Second Avenue
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York
Bali Prabhu, now frequently comes on harinama while staying in New York City, along with his wife, chants Hare Krishna at Grand Central subway station (https://youtu.be/egT1UPiqPyw):
Nityananda Chandra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station (https://youtu.be/ZpHHwEXCLeo):
While I chanted Hare Krishna at Atlantic/Barclays some passersby danced and later return to dance again (https://youtube.com/shorts/RdM41CV7PMA?feature=share):
Srikar chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station, and ladies dance with books (https://youtube.com/shorts/Rnw2ItXjrm0?feature=share):
Srikar chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station, and a lady as well as devotees dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/Zm7iUq1OymU):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station, and a family plays shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/ztnr65YxnX0?feature=share):
Param Brahma Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station (https://youtu.be/pFUMZa_LKJw):
Sushree chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue (https://youtu.be/pjValc3EHBw):
While Hadai Prana Das was chanting Hare Krishna there at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue, a young woman waiting for the train on the platform below just had to come upstairs to see what was going on. I gave her a temple invitation and “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and Ryan sold her a Bhagavad-gita. I pointed out to her the words to the mantra on the cover of the pamphlet, and she enjoyed following along (https://youtu.be/KwgjGJYkHkA):
During Rama Raya Prabhu’s final Hare Krishna chant there in Jackson Heights passersby played shakers and dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/mTueA2IyO4M):
Here Diyvangi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/SQWGBrQoI4g):
At Times Square that day one woman who had encountered Hare Krishna in South America was attracted by hearing our kirtan while waiting for the subway, and she came to listen for some time. Ryan sold her some Spanish books.
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and two guys dance, including a young man from Belgium, who came to several programs during his New York visit (https://youtu.be/eftGAeNb09E):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to “Jingle Bells” tune at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/xwHe26tWI2Y):
Sri Prahlada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sivananda Yoga Center (https://youtu.be/3lwive8zboU):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Vyasa-puja (https://youtu.be/pbDw92mJ32c):
Meru of Ukraine, who likes to take selfies, took this video, which includes me dancing in it (https://youtube.com/shorts/48ovfjprv6g):
My guru encouraged me to dance more in kirtan forty years ago, so I always try to do that.
During his brief Vyasa-puja lecture, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami encouraged us to distribute his books. It occurred to me that just as I distributed his books at our Alachua temple Sunday feast during the time I lived there, I could distribute his books at the Sunday feast in ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn, which I visit in the fall for three months each year.
Meru also took a selfie with Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami from a distance.
He also took a photo of Rukmavati Devi Dasi, who was married to Gitanagari Prabhu and who remembered me from Gitanagari, where I was initiated in 1983 and which I would visit for festivals occasionally.
I took a photo of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami cutting his birthday cake.
Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Hudson Winter Walk, and a guy dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/R3KNAVa45pw?feature=share):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in a Hudson shop during the Winter Walk (https://youtube.com/shorts/seXoYP3G2qo):
Later as Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna, street musicians played djembes (https://youtu.be/o6K96otzq84):
Gurudasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Hudson Winter Walk, and kids play shakers and dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/HmbhiAU3RnQ?feature=share):
Later while Gurudasa Prabhu was chanting Hare Krishna, two girls played shakers and danced (https://youtube.com/shorts/t9wrggfokOc?feature=share):
Evette of Philly chants Hare Krishna at the Hudson Winter Walk, and three kids and the Grinch dance and later two more kids play shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/kxWPUsgdUoo?feature=share):
Sachin chants Hare Krishna at Smith St. and Atlantic Ave. in Downtown Brooklyn on Sunday morning (https://youtu.be/LY-NfJGk3y8):
Narada Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station in Manhattan and a kid plays shakers (https://youtu.be/d_IYGOvSeCw):
Two devotees dance during Hare Krishna chant at Fulton Street.(https://youtu.be/cmil-VQA0wo):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/Kmi3tWLLmxo):
Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street (https://youtu.be/YUs6NWqF2-Y):
Sevika Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street (https://youtu.be/dEQM2_2KLFk):
Premamani Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street (https://youtu.be/mDejPTn6Szk):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Grand Central Subway Station, and a woman dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/LM1BzJtMwvE?feature=share):
Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Grand Central (https://youtu.be/0TJcd1VlzMo):
Narada Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Grand Central (https://youtu.be/H6sxL6Mw2-s):
Narada Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station, and kids play shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/SozPUuWtw30):
Narayana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center (https://youtu.be/bNzd5Vi8xdk):
After lunch I performed arati for all the deities, chanting “Gurvastakam”and “Hare Krishna.” Then I ate a quick lunch and returned to New York City so I could distribute my guru’s books at the ISKCON NYC Sunday feast.
Photos
This fall I got my senior citizen Metrocard, another reminder that I reside in a changing body!
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.10, purport:
“Lord Caitanya advised all His disciples to preach Krishna-katha all over the world without discrimination because the transcendental value of Krishna-katha can purify one and all from material contamination.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.13:
“For one who is anxious to engage constantly in hearing such topics, Krishna-katha gradually increases his indifference towards all other things. Such constant remembrance of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna by the devotee who has achieved transcendental bliss vanquishes all his miseries without delay.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.2.11, purport:
“Through the popularizing of hari-kirtana, or the sankirtana movement, the brahminical culture and ksatriya government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.4.38, purport:
“A small child, while being cared for by his mother, does not know how the needs of the body for eating, sleeping, lying down, passing water and evacuating are being fulfilled. He is simply satisfied to be on the lap of his mother. Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja was exactly like a small child, being cared for by Govinda. The necessary activities of his body were performed without his knowledge. As a father and mother care for their child, Govinda cared for Prahlada Maharaja, who remained always absorbed in thoughts of Govinda. This is Krishna consciousness. Prahlada Maharaja is the vivid example of perfection in Krishna consciousness.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.13, purport:
“The entire world is suffering because of spiritual thirst. Every living being is Brahman, or spirit soul, and needs spiritual food to satisfy his hunger and thirst. Unfortunately, however, the world is completely unaware of the nectar of Krishna-katha. The Krishna consciousness movement is therefore a boon to philosophers, religionists and people in general. There is certainly a charming attraction in Krishna and Krishna-katha. Therefore the Absolute Truth is called Krishna, the most attractive.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 17.141, purport:
“The Krishna consciousness movement is not a sentimental religious movement; it is a movement for the reformation of all the anomalies of human society. If people take to it seriously, discharging this duty scientifically, as ordered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the world will see peace and prosperity instead of being confused and hopeless under useless governments.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 11.102, purport:
“When one’s intelligence is sharp, he can increase the interests of common men in loving Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and through Him, in loving Radha-Krishna.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 25.265:
“Krishna consciousness means understanding the truth of Krishna, the truth of devotional service, the truth of love of Godhead, the truth of emotional ecstasy, the truth of transcendental mellows and the truth of the pastimes of the Lord.”
From a lecture at a school in Montreal on August 13, 1968:
“So unless we dovetail our activities with the supreme consciousness, or God consciousness, there cannot be equality, fraternity or universality as we are hankering after. It is not possible. You can go on crying in the wilderness for universal fraternity, friendship, equality, but if you keep your individuality, individual consciousness, selfish consciousness, there is no possibility of peace or tranquillity in the world.”
From a class on Brahma-samhita 5.29–30 in San Francisco on September 22, 1968:
“As soon as you try to love Krishna, then you will see, ‘Oh, the cows are my brothers. Oh, the black people are my brothers, the white people are my brothers, the ants are my brothers, the dogs are my brothers, the trees are my brother, everyone my brother.’ That is universal brotherhood.”
From a room conversation with devotees in New Orleans on August 1, 1975:
“Save them. If it is not possible to save everyone—as many as possible. This is human life. This is Krishna consciousness, to save others who are in the darkness.”
From a letter to Hitsaran Sharma on January 19, 1968:
“This movement is the only movement which can unite all the people in the world in oneness. This is practically proven. The American boys and girls are neither Hindus nor Indians nor they have any knowledge of Sanskrit; and still they have taken this movement wholeheartedly, and that is the proof that Krishna Consciousness movement will be accepted all over the world.”
From a letter to Bhagavan on September 22, 1969:
“Actually, in every town and city there are many, many devotees of Krishna; now it is our business to go around the world wherever people are congregating and pick up these sincere souls. The world is suffering for want of this knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, and we experience practically that many people will take to this spiritual line simply if we make this information available to them.”
From an interview in Pittsburg on September 9, 1972:
“Interviewer: ‘Can you convert the world?’
Prabhupada: ‘Yes provided you listen to me. I say that you love God. If you think that “I shall love dog” then how can I convert you? You may ask what is the difference between loving God and dog. The difference is if you love God then you can learn to love everyone, but if you love dog you simply love dog, nobody else. That is the difference.’”
From Bhavan’s journal, questionaire 2, in New Vrindaban, June 30, 1976:
“This Krishna consciousness movement is that we are presenting Krishna as the supreme guru. You take instruction from Him and be benefited.”
From a letter on Tamal Krishna Goswami on October 1, 1969:
“We can, by sincere cultivation of bona fide spiritual science attain to the state of pure, unending blissful consciousness, free from anxiety in this very lifetime.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.22.19 in Tehran on August 8, 1976:
“Krishna consciousness movement is very scientific movement for the total benefit of the human society. If it is properly carried out, then everyone will be satisfied and happy and go back home, back to Godhead.”
From a letter to Bahulasva on November 30, 1971:
“We stand on our Krishna philosophy, and because it has the full potency of Krishna Himself, there is no limit to the effect it will have upon the world if we remain sincere and convinced for spreading this philosophy purely.”
From an interview with a Newsday reporter in New York on July 14, 1976:
“No, it is not surprising, it is natural. . . . just like if you do business in proper way there will be profit. Similarly, as it is enjoined in this book of knowledge, if you do like that it will expand, it will prosper. Two plus two equal to four. Mathematical calculation. If you make two plus two, it will become four. It will neither become three nor five. So here it is said, . . . ‘One who is engaged twenty-four hours in My service, so I,’ yoga-ksemam vahamy aham, ‘I supply whatever he requires, and I protect whatever he has got.’ So if you actually serve Krishna, then everything you want, it will come.”
“The human intelligence is meant for understanding the spiritual identity and the goal of life and act accordingly. That is Krishna consciousness movement. It is an educational movement to enlighten the people from gross ignorance to the highest enlightenment of spiritual understanding.”
Quoted in TKG’s Diary on “Prabhupada’s Final Days”:
“God is one. He is a person. He is Krishna and we have to follow what Krishna says. Then our life is successful.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.5 in Delhi on November 8, 1973:
“We are not doing any miraculous thing. People say that ‘Swamiji, you have done miracles.’ But what miracles I have done? I am simply repeating Krishna’s words. That’s all. So everyone can do that.”
From a conversation and lecture at the house of Ksirodakasayi das in London on July 25, 1976:
“This Krishna consciousness movement, it is not actually a so-called religious movement, but it is an educational movement to give information to the human society about God, that ‘Here is God.’ You are searching after God, and somebody, in disappointment, saying that ‘God is dead.’ God is neither dead, nor it is fictitious, but it is factual, and here is this God, Krishna.”
From a letter to Karandhara on June 18, 1975:
“We require money. Lakshmi is the immediate assistant of Narayana. Narayana is always preceded by the word Lakshmi. The Mayavadi philosophers do not touch Lakshmi, but we accept for the service of Krishna. We are not of the mentality of Ravana who took Lakshmi from Narayana and became ruined. Keep Lakshmi and Narayana always together and you will become as powerful as Hanuman. He is always worshiped along with Lord Rama and Lakshmi, Sita.”
From a letter to Amarendra on June 12, 1972:
“More and more I am urging my students to recognize their grave responsibility for saving this fallen human society from gliding down into hell.”
From a letter to Makanlal on January 10, 1972:
“Our routine work – rising early, cleansing, chanting, temple worship, sankirtana, study – these things must go on very nicely, and if they become improved more and more, and are not neglected or in any way decreased, then all our other activities will be successful.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.15 in Geneva on June 4, 1974:
“We have created these GBCs. So they should be very responsible men. Otherwise, they will be punished to become a sudra. Although Yamaraja is a GBC, he made a little mistake. He was punished to become a sudra. So those who are GBCs should be very, very careful to administer the business of ISKCON. Otherwise they will be punished. As the post is very great, similarly the punishment is also very great.”
Vrindavan Dasa Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.99:
“Good birth, noble family, pious activities, and material wealth cannot award one the treasure of love of God. Only by intense desire can one achieve Krishna.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From The Delaware Diaries, Volume 1, “Tachycardia,” Part 1:
“The holiest pinnacleis Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sankirtana.When they chanted as the Pope passed in parade,the media registered us as ‘protestors.’“They don’t understand.We were celebrating the holy namesnot in opposition to theCatholic church. All-one.”
“My writing is in a slump. That’s because my life is in a slump. . . . Japa, writing, reading and walking should be enough. You’re shallow, maybe that’s the problem. Lethargic. A man of your age and experience should be mature enough to sustain bhajana.”
“Chant early in the morning. Chant audibly. Have trust in the holy names. That is, be confident that if you ‘just hear’ attentively, you will make immense gains.”
“At least I always emphasized Prabhupada to them [my disciples] so it’s natural they will link stronger to him, and that is a good thing I gave them.”
“The journal of a quiet man. He helps others by sharing Krishna consciousness. He tells his own way so they can reflect on theirs.”
“On Nrsimhadeva’s appearance day in 1972 I was given sannyasa, and Prabhupada told me, ‘Preach, preach, preach.’”
“Dive deep like a snorkeler. Into your spiritual heart. Keep your eyes off the billboards that jump into your vision. Same with the live women on the boardwalk.”
“I said all my Krishna mantras, but not with joy.”
As the years go by, woes pile up. Tolerant fellows roll with the punches and turn to Krishna.”
“My talk with Nirañjana Swami was heart-to-heart. I told him about my falldown, but he said he never read any letter or knew anything about it because he’s keeping off the internet. He said he knows me and is grateful to me, and that’s what counts. I began to cry and asked him to forgive me. He got up and came over and embraced me. He said the important thing is to bounce back from a fall, and he told how Prabhupada was so compassionate to all his disciples. I like Nirañjana Swami very much, and I’m so glad I got to talk to him.”
“They also serve who only wait.”
“When you’re dead, your human saga is over, and survivors soon forget the details and the essence. Some grieve. But it does the dead person no good; he’s gone to his next journey in another body, a new birth. He doesn’t remember his past life. But his present life determines the next life, karmic reaction. Those who practice devotional service get a better next life. The perfection of the next life is to transfer to the spiritual world, where life is eternal, full knowledge and bliss. If you’re not perfect but are a practicing devotee, you take your next life in a good family of devotees, with advantages for further spiritual progress. You may need more seasoning, more tapasya, more preaching. They say a pure devotee doesn’t even aspire to attain the spiritual world. All he wants is to go on serving Krishna wholeheartedly, for Krishna’s pleasure, anywhere in the universe.”
“Watermelon snack: ‘Oh Lord, this material body is a lump of ignorance . . . But Krishna is very kind to us. He has given us this nice prasadam just to control the tongue. Now let us take this prasadam to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and in love call upon Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda to please help us.’ Then you taste the sweet red core of the watermelon. Don’t forget Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda. They should be there in every bite. Not that you recite the prayer and then pig out.”
“Krishna plays sports in Vraja, and is the best, but sometimes He loses and has to carry a cowherd boy on His shoulders. He could win every time if He liked, but He prefers sometimes being defeated by His beloved gopas. He’s the best kind of friend.”
“The cowherd boys don’t kill the demons. When Krishna killed Dhenukasura, the ass demon, many other donkey demons joined in to attack, and Krishna’s friends joined the fight. But on their own, they wait for their hero to dispense with the wizards. They have great confidence in Him, as when they marched into the open mouth of Aghasura, knowing Krishna would save them. They are sometimes genuinely afraid of dangerous situations, as when they were trapped in the forest fire, and they called on Krishna to save them. He doesn’t fail them. He swallowed the forest fire after first asking the boys to close their eyes. (Madhava Maharaja said Krishna asked the boys to close their eyes because He didn’t want them to tell Mother Yasoda that Krishna had eaten fire, as when they told on Him when He ate dirt.)”
“It is hard to explain how the faith originates, but it does so by hearing and associating with a pure soul who is in knowledge and coming in disciplic succession. It is very hard to create this faith in nonbelievers. But it happens to fortunate persons who expose themselves to chanting the holy names, hearing the scriptures (reading them and hearing them explained by realized souls). Honoring Krishna prasadam helps. Hanging around with disciples of the spiritual master is a very powerful impetus for gaining attraction and faith in Krishna consciousness. These things happened to me, and there’s no real need to analyze how it occurs. Having become fortunate, one should be very careful to protect his good fortune and not fall into misfortune again.”
“In one sitting I read Rahasya Nama, by Sacinandana Swami. It’s a very good book on perfection in chanting. He draws mostly from the works of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Some of the aspirations and techniques are beyond me, but it was good to read them and realize the prime importance of harinama. It’s a small book, and everyone ought to read it.”
“Love of God is our natural and blissful state of being. A person who has attained it is the most fortunate person in the world. A symptom of love of Krishna is wanting to tell others about Krishna.”
“One year, on the anniversary of the day Prabhupada took sannyasa, a group of ISKCON sannyasis and senior devotees went to the Kesavaji Maṭha in Mathura, where Srila Prabhupada accepted sannyasa from his Godbrother Kesava Maharaja. Narayana Maharaja was present, and each of the ISKCON devotees gave a little talk on sannyasa. True to Srila Prabhupada’s spirit, we all mentioned that sannyasa meant renunciation of material duties so that one could preach. When we were finished, Narayana Maharaja ‘corrected’ us and said sannyasa was not for preaching but for entering the rasika mood of meditation on the pastimes of Radha and Krishna. We were all shocked at his statements. Later, we crowded into his room, and he elucidated on his point: sannyasa was for raganuga bhakti. But Prabhupada said preach.”
“Too much suffering to want to return to another birth in this world, but what are you doing to escape the cycle of birth and death? Too many lures by maya to stay here and enjoy.”
From Vyasa-puja:
Help distribute my books but not at the expense of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Jayadvaita Swami has even invited his disciples to help me distribute my books, and they are very organized about it.
If my books are available, they sell on their own merit, so no one has to be a super book distributor.
Nitai has selected fifty titles that appeal to Indians. He has a web site, and he distributes those titles at the Mayapur and Vrindavan festivals.
I keep my disciples in mind when I write the books. They are for you.
Jayadvaita Swami:
The most elevated person does not see anyone’s bad qualities but only good qualities. The most degraded person just sees bad qualities, and those in between discriminate between good and bad qualities.
Being stingy is a bad quality, but for a treasurer, it is a good quality.
Vrindavan Dasa Thakura says according to the amount of goodness one has within him one is considered sadhu.
When several devotees practically demanded that one godbrother who did something really bad be expelled, Srila Prabhupada said, “If I removed people who had some fault, none of you would be here.” The devotees became humbled. Prabhupada added, “But if he is not willing to be reformed, he must leave.”
Srila Prabhupada reminds us when speaking on spiritual topics we must cite Vedic authority. Thus the Six Gosvamis searched through the Vedic literature for evidence.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu would devastate the Mayavadi’s arguments so completely that they could say nothing, and thus He made them peaceful.
We are not dry jnanis or stern vairagis. We are interested in relishing Krishna’s pastimes, yet we do have knowledge and detachment.
Srila Prabhupada was not criticized for having female disciples but for having female disciples in living in the ashram. Thus they are kept as separately as possible.
We should not try to be mahajanas. We should try to follow the mahajanas.
Srila Prabhupada set the standards, and we have to follow the standards.
One definition of God is He who has no one who is equal to Him and no one who is greater than Him.
The idea that all devatas are equal is not supported by Bhagavad-gita because Krishna says here in Bg. 7.7 that nothing is superior to Him. This verse also defeats the idea that the impersonal Brahman is supreme.
It is good to know that the building is on fire, but one must act to get out of the building. Similarly, is good to know that Krishna is God, but one must engage in His devotional service. That is the natural result of knowing that Krishna is God.
Sankaracarya says narayano paro ’yaktat – Narayana is transcendental, and who is that Narayana, Devaki-putrah, the son of Devaki.
In one purport Srila Prabhupada was describing the impersonalist philosophy in some detail. I wrote him asking if I edited it correctly because it didn’t seem to make sense. Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, you edited it correctly. Yes, it does not make sense.”
Comment (by Meru at 26 Second Avenue): Thank you for coming here.
Reply: Thank you for being here. If I would be here alone, it would be really boring.
Krishna is saying, “Take shelter of Me and all other shelters will be included.” Krishna is the shelter of all of those who give shelter.
Krishna is the most affectionate person, and He knows what our problem is. He knows everyone is suffering.
Other people do not understand what we are going through, but Krishna is in everyone’s heart and he is aware of what everyone is going through.
We are not happy because we are not our body and satisfying the body will not satisfy us.
If we have Krishna, even if people think we are a failure, we will be a success.
We experience that our attempts to take shelter of things other than Krishna do not actually satisfy us.
Devotees of Krishna, even if they do not have this or that, are happier than the richest man or most famous movie star.
Krishna will never die. Nor will He ever turn against us.
Q: How do deal with doubt?
A: With knowledge. We have doubts because we don’t know. By hearing from someone who knows we become free from doubt.
Smara Hari Prabhu:
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the natural commentary on Vedanta-sutra because Vyasadeva is the author of both.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
We are hearing these pastimes Srila Prabhupada performed over 50 years ago. This is valuable because a moment’s association with a pure devotee does not mean just physical association.
The ritual death by chaste women entering their husband’s funeral pyre, hoping to achieve the same spiritual destination as their husband, is named after Sati, who self-immolates herself in this chapter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, because of her husband being insulted.
The sincere disciple is never confused about what to do.
Sadhana bhakti is not a Chinese restaurant where you take something from column A and something from column B.
“Literally we were delivered just by sitting in Srila Prabhupada’s classes. Our doubts were dissolved without us even having to voice them.”
The hearing and chanting can never be neglected.
If one is no longer connected with the spiritual energy one becomes overwhelmed with confusion. This is obvious to the more advanced devotees.
Irjasvat as the bhakta leader would say to the new people, “If you have questions, that means you do not have answers. Because you do not have answers, why not then accept Krishna’s answers?”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
It is important to understand that an advanced devotee always sees the goodness in all aspects of the Lord’s plan.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is tailor-made for Kali-yuga.
Because Maharaja Bharata was a little inattentive he had to remain two more births in this world.
Our relatives are like actors in a movie who are temporarily put together.
At the Gaura Purnima festival of the Gaudiya Math in 1936 Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura predicted that one of his disciples, perhaps a long time in the future, would cross over the ocean and deliver the whole world.
Srila Prabhupada was so attached to Gandhi’s movement he renounced his college diploma yet just a few words from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura switched his alligence.
Because there are so few practicing devotees of Krishna in society, they are very rare and very special.
As a parent whose child is abducted will come to the police station every day to learn if there is progress in the search for the child, the Lord comes to this world in every day of Brahma to recover forgetful souls.
An employee from Macmillan ordered a copy of the Happening album of Hare Krishna mantra. Srila Prabhupada suggested that Brahmananda hand deliver the record, and at the same time, mention that he had a Gita to be published. Brahmananda went there but was dismayed to find the person ordering the record was only an clerk. However, shortly after he got there, a gentleman came in the office and the clerk respectfully greeted him. The clerk told Brahmananda that the gentleman was in charge of selecting manuscripts for publication. Brahmananda Prabhu mentioned that he worked for a swami who has a Bhagavad-gita manuscript, and the man said he was looking for a Bhagavad-gita and agreed to publish it on the spot.
Comment by me:
You talked about how dishonor can be equal to death. I know three devotees who were so affected when their spouse dumped them after 20 years of marriage that they all got cancer, and two of them died.
As Sati was of two minds, to follow her husband’s advice or to go to the sacrifice as she desired, I was indecisive whether to live in the temple or continuing traveling with my friends to the West Coast. I did not remember that I was indecisive at that time, but perhaps twenty years later, Niranjana Swami, who convinced me to move in the temple said, “You were the hardest person I ever convinced to move in the temple. I had to pray to Krishna.” Thus it helpful to have devotee well-wishers when confronted with indecision to choose the best alternative.
Sri Prahlada Prabhu:
The musicians do not make the kirtan but the sanga.
Yugala Kisora Prabhu:
The son of the king of Nepal wanted to marry an Indian girl who was also from a royal family. The mother said no. The father said we will discuss. The son got a gun and killed his parents and his sisters. When he realized what he had done, he killed himself. That is the power of anger caused by frustration of desire, which Krishna mentions in Bg. 2.62–63.
We become angry according to the degree we want to enjoy the material world.
Dharmaraja Prabhu:
Here it is mentioned that women need protection, but actually we all need protection. Children need protection. The disciple needs the protection of the guru.
Draupadi was not just a housewife. She had the keys to the kingdom. She would meet with ministers when her husbands were out protecting the kingdom.
As Sati, due to attachment, neglected to do her duty of following her dharma of service to her husband, Arjuna was inclined to ignore his duty of fighting as warrior due to attachment to his family members.
It is important for authorities to explain the wisdom behind their instructions so their subordinates are more inclined to follow them.
I know a case where the husband did not really like his wife doing devotional service but after many years of the wife acting nicely as both a wife and a devotee, he ended becoming a devotee himself.
Hari Vilasa Prabhu:
We may do so many spiritual practices, but ultimately it is the higher taste that saves us.
The official stance of the Catholic Church is that animals do not have eternal souls, just some temporary living symptoms. Therefore it is alright to kill them.
Genocide involves depersonalizing a class of people to the extent that we feel it is OK to kill them.
Param Brahma Prabhu:
It is said that the men’s body and the women’s body are like different jackets. When we put them on, we experience all the particular features of that particular jacket.
One advanced in bhakti is always ready to offer respects to others and not to ask respect for himself.
In all the Vedic scriptures only one duty is assigned to the wife: to follow the instructions of the husband.
When the wife ignores the instructions of the husband, then calamity results for herself and for the whole family.
The Vedic society the women have natural protectors, the father, the husband, and the son, but when they step outside the bounds of these protectors then there is no one to protect them, and they get exploited.
Before saying something, if it is not good for you, for the other person, or for the people in general, then do not say it.
When we are surrounded by people who do not criticize others, it reduces our tendency to criticize others.
Gaura Govinda Maharaja was asked how to increase our tolerance. He said by increasing our sadhana.
In his previous ashram, Kadamba Kanana Swami would never criticize his wife in front of others and she would never criticize him in front of others. They would sort out their disagreements in private and focus on serving the Lord.
Comment by me, some I actually made and others I just wrote down:
When I go to a temple sometimes I am given my own room and assigned someone to cook for me, while at other temples I am asked to pay rent. Thus I can see I have to be detached from honor and dishonor!
I was engaged to a woman who once said to me, “I do not like the idea that I have to adjust my behavior to satisfy your mind.” That conception is just the opposite of chastity, and I worried what it would be like to marry someone with that mentality!
I do not make important decisions unless I have chanted sixteen rounds, gotten enough sleep, and gotten enough to eat.
You mention how grhamedhis are envious. One time when I was in my mid-twenties and I was visiting my mother, my aunt, and my cousin for Thanksgiving, they asked if I was going to get married. It occurred to me they had all been married but were now single. My mother and aunt were widowed, and my cousin was divorced. I asked them which they liked better, being married or being single. They all said they liked being single better, so I asked them why they were encouraging me to get married. A well-wisher would not encourage someone to embark on a path that he himself found problematic. That experience reminded me of the statement that grhamedhis are envious.
Venu Madhurya Prabhu:
Of all the Puranas only two have commentaries by the acaryas, Vishnu Purana and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Of these, Vishnu Purana has two commentaries and Srimad-Bhagavatam has eighty-one commentaries.
It is said Yudhisthira’s toes were burned by the radiation from the angry eyes of Gandhari who wanted to see those people who killed her sons.
Fear is there, but by guru, sadhu, and sastra we have to adjust our fear.
One day I was doubtful about going out on sankirtana one cold day in Ukraine. I did anyway, and one man bought three books, Bhagavad-gita, Isopansad, and Teachings of Lord Caitanya. I thought with that nice selection of books that man could become a devotee. Five years later that man contacted me on social media and told me that he was studying Bhakti-sastra and distributing prasadam to those attending the tours he organizes.
Bhakti is based on consulting with our seniors.
Aditya Devi Dasi, vice president of ISKCON NYC:
If we do not accept the reception we are offered, the person offering it will be offended.
Sati was so disturbed that her father did not honor Lord Shiva or herself that she did not accept the reception offered by her mother and sisters.
Although people may get an invitation from a smiling devotee, the people actually come to the temple being directed by Paramatma.
People appreciate that the devotees are offering them something genuine.
A neophyte may think that he is as qualified as the other devotees because he sees he is engaging in the same activities that they are, and thus become proud.
The external things help us come to the platform of doing the internal things.
Although morality changes in human society, Vaishnava behavior has remained the same for thousands of years.
Comment by me:
“Lord Caitanya said, ‘My dear Sanatana, although you are the deliverer of the entire universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaishnava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaishnava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.’” (Sri Caitanya-caritamria, Antya 4.129–130)
“Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others.” (Bhagavad-gita 13.8)
Comment by Rama Raya Prabhu:
Our job is not done until the people who visit the temple come to the point of being embraced by Krishna in Goloka Vrindavana like Gopa Kumara.
By respecting senior devotees who are deeply committed to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, we are respecting Srila Prabhupada, who has empowered them to a greater or lesser degree.
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu:
Gopala Campu is like Jiva Goswami’s Krishna book, Ananta Vrindavana Campu is Kavi Karnapuri’s Krishna book, and Garga Samhita is Garga Muni’s Krishna book.
Tapovana is the place where the gopis performed their austerities to attain Krishna as their husband, known as their Katyayani vrata.
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A recent ISKCON NYC Bhagavatam speaker reminded us that Srila Prabhupada considered that this verse from Bhagavad-gita summarizes Krishna consciousness:
mat-karma-krn mat-paramo
nirvairah sarva-bhutesu
yah sa mam eti pandava
“My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is friendly to every living being—he certainly comes to Me.” (Bhagavad-gita 11.55)
