Where I Went and What I Did
For the twenty-second week of 2025, I spent four days in Maryland, one day in Delaware, and two days in New York City. Wednesday it rained, and so I chanted Hare Krishna with Gurudas Prabhu at the Bethesda Metro Station for an hour or so. Thursday I chanted with devotees from ISKCON DC in front of the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., during the middle of the day, and with devotees from ISKCON Baltimore and the Baltimore Krishna House on the Inner Harbor Waterfront in the evening to promote the Baltimore Ratha-yatra. Friday I chanted at the Inner Harbor Waterfront for three hours with Bharata Prabhu, of Augusta, Georgia, who is working in Baltimore temporarily, and who I met when he briefly worked in Tallahassee. Saturday was Baltimore Ratha-yatra. Sunday I spoke at the Sunday feast program at ISKCON Delaware, and I chanted with devotees afterward for an hour at Newark, Delaware, a local college town.
Monday and Tuesday I spent at ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn, serving Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam program by chanting Hare Krishna and distributing Ratha-yatra flyers for three or four hours each day, at Battery Park and Union Square, respectively.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead. I share quotes from Sri Caitanya-bhagavata by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura and its commentary by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and from Prabhupada Nectar by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on classes by Arcita, Nityananda Chandra, Sundarananda, and Nitai-pada-kamala Prabhus.
Many thanks to Nimai Prabhu for his kind donation toward my Delaware visit. Thanks also to Sankarsana Prabhu for his donation toward my visit to ISKCON DC. Thanks to Ryan for picking me up at Baltimore Ratha-yatra and dropping me at the Chinese bus station in Wilmington, DE. Thanks to Ahaituki Prema Prabhu for the photos and videos of NYC Harinam.
Itinerary
May 7–June 16: NYC Harinam
June 17–August 19: Paris
– June 22: Paris Ratha-yatra
– July 11: Amsterdam harinama
– July 12: Amsterdam Ratha-yatra
– July 13: Holland harinama
August 20: London harinama
August 21–22: Liverpool harinamas
August 23: Liverpool Ratha-yatra
August 24: Manchester harinama
August 25: London harinama and flight to New York
Chanting Hare Krishna in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday it rained the whole day, and because the authorities do not allow Sankarsana Prabhu to have a tent, it was impractical to chant by the Museum of Natural History as usual. Gurudas Prabhu told me that Bethesda Metro Station was protected from the rain, so he and I decided to chant there. There was a saxophonist setting up to play between the metro and the buses, so I positioned myself between the buses and the parking lots. We chanted for a little over an hour. One young guy, who was attracted to the music, played the shakers and chanted for five minutes, asking if he could keep the “On Chanting Hare Krishna” he had been reading mantra from when he left. A young Indian woman said “Hare Krishna” to us. She enjoyed attending the Potomac temple as a child with her parents. I told her about our new temple building, and encouraged her to visit. I am glad I decided to go on harinama despite the rain.
Thursday Sankarsana and I were back by the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
I lead the chanting in the beginning, with Sankarsana Prabhu playing the drum (https://youtu.be/UUUNGU60h_E):
After Sankarsana Prabhu chanted for a while, we were joined by devotees we had invited from the Potomac temple, along with two devotees visiting from the Festival of India.
Here Baldev Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with devotees from ISKCON DC and the Festival of India by the Museum of Natural History (https://youtu.be/xybIr_FCULI):
Later while Baldev Prabhu was chanting Hare Krishna, passersby, encouraged by devotees, played shakers and danced (https://youtu.be/oRU76gJobM8):
Gangadhara Prabhu of Festival of India chants Hare Krishna by the Museum of Natural History, and an Indian man plays shakers (https://youtu.be/oydlA5msHDQ):
While Ajamila chanted Hare Krishna, two women danced with two devotees and promised to come to Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/rusxdmpQKOk):
At one point, many people danced with the devotees (https://youtu.be/Fme3md1ZyOs):
Later another group of people danced (https://youtu.be/Yxeag-So7xw):
Here a woman dances with Ladali Devi Dasi, the most enthusiastic of the devotee dancers (https://youtu.be/9I2eCq_bRwk):
Here Ladadi dances with three women (https://youtu.be/uKchU9TEQvQ):
Friday I did harinama with the assistance of Bharata Prabhu of Augusta, Georgia, who I met when he was briefly working in Tallahassee but who is now working temporarily in Baltimore. We chanted Hare Krishna for three hours and passed out many invitations.
Ajamila Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the beginning of the Baltimore Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/6zywJWA6U7M):
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Baltimore Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/afcjEdx1eAo):
Vishnugada Prabhu chants prayers to Jagannath at Baltimore Ratha-yatra as the rain begins (https://youtu.be/0lKqDFJ4KOk):
Vishnugada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Baltimore Ratha-yatra, and devotees dance in the rain (https://youtu.be/lnU80Bnz1iw):
Khushi Ray chants Hare Krishna on the Inner Harbor Wavefront in Baltimore during Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/Dj6Xj-IoNOU):
While Khushi was singing, a vendor and several others filmed the procession (https://youtu.be/de1CuLbmEYY):
Isha Ray chants Hare Krishna on the Inner Harbor Wavefront in Baltimore during Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/3fDuW-beupc):
I sat in front of the kirtan tent while I took prasadam. I let people play my shakers while Vishnugada Prabhu was leading the chanting.
After I finished prasadam, Sasthivara Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at the Baltimore Ratha-yatra kirtan tent, and Vishnugada Prabhu played my pink shakers (https://youtu.be/HGqn903kSgs):
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
I chant Hare Krishna at Battery Park (https://youtube.com/shorts/yZ1olF4wTY0?feature=share):
Harinarayana Prabhu, visiting from Hungary, chants Hare Krishna at Battery Park (https://youtube.com/shorts/HoImQ9i-SEw?feature=share):
Dhrstyadhumna Prabhu, from the Krishna House in Dallas, chants Hare Krishna at Battery Park (https://youtube.com/shorts/AKZLDY1gZTU?feature=share):
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Bhagavad-gita, Introduction:
“There is complete facility for the small complete units, namely the living entities, to realize the complete [Krishna], and all sorts of incompleteness are experienced due to incomplete knowledge of the complete. So Bhagavad-gita contains the complete knowledge of Vedic wisdom.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.1.16, purport:
“A devotee is always in a renounced temperament because the worldly attractions can never satisfy him.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.7.19:
“By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is able to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distresses.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.7.19, purport:
“Service to the Lord is rendered in different transcendental mellows (relationships): neutral, active, friendly, parental and nuptial. A living entity in the liberated position of transcendental service to the Lord becomes attracted to one of the above-mentioned mellows, and when one is engaged in transcendental loving service to the Lord, one’s service attachment in the material world is automatically vanquished.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.7.36:
“O best among the brahmanas, those who are spiritual masters are very kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples and sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all that is knowledge.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.19:
“Perfection in self-realization cannot be attained by any kind of yogi unless he engages in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for that is the only auspicious path.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.45, purport:
“Impersonal meditation is a bogus invention of modern days. In none of the Vedic literatures is impersonal meditation recommended.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.46, purport:
“Everyone has to surrender to someone superior. That is always the nature of our living condition. At the present moment we are trying to surrender to someone—either to society or to our nation, family, state or government. The surrendering process already exists, but it is never perfect because the person or institution unto whom we surrender is imperfect, and our surrender, having so many ulterior motives, is also imperfect. As such, in the material world no one is worthy to accept anyone’s surrender, nor does anyone fully surrender to anyone else unless obliged to do so. But here the surrendering process is voluntary, and the Lord is worthy to accept the surrender. This surrender by the living entity occurs automatically as soon as he sees the beautiful youthful nature of the Lord.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 22.16:
“O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered these desires so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.” (Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhi 3.2.25)
From Krishna, Chapter 87:
“‘The conditioned souls can execute pious activities only when You mercifully inspire them to do so. Therefore, without taking shelter at Your lotus feet one cannot surpass the influence of the material energy. Actually, we, as personified Vedic knowledge, are always engaged in Your service by helping the conditioned souls understand You.’”
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 18.149:
“Krishna is unhappy when the demigods are offended. If one worships Krishna along with His associates, He is pleased.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 18.149, commentary:
“If one serves Krishna with His associates, Krishna becomes particularly pleased. By becoming envious of heroes like the demigods and scenes that consist of false ego in the mode of goodness, one denies that they are related to the devotional service of Lord Vishnu. When after giving up the desire for material enjoyment one begs all living entities, including the demigods, for the service of Krishna, then such natural prayers are devoid of all driving urges for material enjoyment. When living entities freed from the influence of mundane knowledge follow the examples of the Lord’s associates and their characteristics, they become liberated from material concepts. Such maha-bhagavatas are fully capable of pleasing Krishna.”
“Faith in Srimad Bhagavatam and freedom from fault finding in petty matters are symptoms of a pure devotee.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
From Prabhupada Nectar:
From Chapter 1, Number 47:
“‘Yes,’ said Srila Prabhupada, ‘you can decorate the naked dancing club and go to hell, or you can decorate the temple and go back to Vaikuntha.’”
From Chapter 2, Number 5:
“While Prabhupada was living in Los Angeles in 1969, he got a letter from one of his relatives stating that one of his brothers had died. Prabhupada received this information in the presence of some of the devotees and he informed them, ‘I have just received this letter saying that my brother died. Previously my other brother died. These two brothers were very nice. They wanted to live long, healthy lives, but they didn’t care so much for Krishna consciousness. But my sister and I,’ Prabhupada laughed softly, ‘we didn’t want to live long, healthy lives. We only wanted to do some service, and when Krishna wanted to, He would take us. Now I see that my two brothers are both dead, and my sister and I are living long, happy lives.’”
Arcita Prabhu:
I heard many classes with Srila Prabhupada in person, and he would typically allow fifteen devotees to chant the verse before he spoke on it because he wanted the devotees to remember it.
I personally heard Srila Prabhupada tell the story of the brahmana and the cobbler. That story makes the point that there is nothing that the Lord cannot do.
“We used to think, but now we know!” is a quote from a class given by Sadaputa Prabhu in San Diego. He was referring to the scientific community in general, not a particular scientist! He stated that reality was just the opposite: “They used to KNOW, but now they THINK (differently)!”
Ratha-yatra is so important because it gives persons who have absorbed themselves in matter their whole lives the chance to have darsana of the Lord and to ultimately attain the spiritual world.
In so many places of worship there are people doing business and searching for a mate and very little genuine spiritual life, so people have lost faith in them.
A rtvik is someone who is appointed by someone who cannot be present. You cannot appoint yourself as a rtvik. That is another defect of the rtvik initiation idea.
Srila Prabhupada said that the gardener who grew the rose that is offered to Krishna gets the same benefit as the person who offered it.
Referring to Rukmini Dvarakadhisa, Srila Prabhupada said that the Deity is ready to speak with you. He then suggested that one go before the Deity and say: “Sir, this is my problem!”
We should have halfway houses for those not ready to move in the temple.
Nityananda Chandra Prabhu:
There are three different ways Sanskrit verses are translated:
Mukhya-vrtti is the face (mukhya) value of the words.
Laksana-vrtti is an interpreted meaning when the mukhya-vrtti does not make sense.
Gauna-vrtti is a metaphorical meaning that does not stray far from the mukhya-vrtti.
One of the acaryas explains that the four items mentioned in Bhagavad-gita 9.34 are listed in a progression. (1) Always think of Me. If you cannot do that, then (2) become my devotee. If you cannot do all the items of devotional service, then at least (3) worship Me. If you do not have the means to worship me, then at least (4) bow down to Me.
According to Krishna, Chapter 87, if we want knowledge we should get it from someone like Sanat Kumara, who does not only have knowledge, but who is also austere and who has good character.
Sundarananda Prabhu of Baltimore:
Through the stories of the lives of great souls in Srimad-Bhagavatam, we learn how to see the events in our lives in relation to the Supreme Lord, and thus develop our relationship with Him.
We give advice when people ask for it, otherwise they likely will not take it seriously.
Duryodhana called Vidura a maidservant’s son (dasi-putra) and said he should be thrown out of the palace. Actually according to the culture, dasi-putras, although they cannot inherit the throne, are allowed to live in the palace and be maintained.
If we are mistreated we can see that the aggressors are being controlled by the material energy and therefore not have a grudge with them. We can also consider that everything is ultimately sanctioned by Krishna, and if we are upset about an action, we are upset with Krishna.
Devotees continue with their practice of bhakti, no matter what happens to them, and thus they receive the right to attain the kingdom of God.
Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami says that obstacles are not the problem but rather our attitude toward obstacles is the problem.
If someone does something nice for us, we feel gratitude both to the person and also Krishna, who inspired and sanctioned the nice act.
Comments by me:
It is offensive to consider the birth of a pure devotee, as Duryodhana does here with Vidura.
From difficulties we can always learn that the material world is a miserable place, and we can become inspired to endeavor to get out of it.
We cannot expect everyone to be nice to us because everyone is not even nice to Krishna, and He is far more qualified than we are.
Comment by Kartikeya Prabhu: We may have a problem with someone in the ashram, but then when we go to the office, we find that we have the same problem with someone else. Thus the problem is in ourselves, and we have to find out what it is and solve it.
Nitai-pada-kamala Prabhu:
Even Vyasa, the author of the Vedic literature, needed a guru to visualize the form of the Lord.
They asked Srila Prabhupada if our pictures of Krishna looked like Krishna, and Srila Prabhupada said they looked close enough that we would recognize Him.
Arjuna said he was unable to concentrate his mind, and yet he was so qualified he was the only one of Dronacarya’s disciples who could fix his mind on the target. How hard then will it be for us to concentrate our minds in the way Krishna recommends.
Acaryas explain Bg. 9.27 as being karma-misra-bhakti.
Dhruva was so enthusiastic in following the instructions of his guru, Narada Muni, he became so powerful within six months that he could influence the whole universe.
Comment by Narada Rsi Prabhu: It is said, yasya deva para bhaktir. I was told by Gopal Krishna Maharaja, Sridhara Swami, and Bhima Prabhu to manage the Mumbai BBT, and I knew nothing about printing of books. I surrendered, and by Krishna’s grace I was able to learn everything required.
Krishna Kripa Das:
From posts to Official Hare Krishna Humor:
I wondered why there was no quiet time in the ashram and why the washers and dryers can be found running at any time of the day or night, and then it came to me. New York is the city that never sleeps for devotees too!
It always disturbs me when they mispronounce rati-keli-siddhyai as ratty-keli-siddhyai. I think of the rats I see in the New York subway stations, instead of the elevated sentiments expressed in the prayer!
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Although we may have so much theoretical spiritual knowledge, we may feel a lack of practical realization. How do we get that realization? This important verse from Svetasvatara Upanisad, which was quoted over three hundred times by Srila Prabhupada, gives us a clue:
yasya deve para bhaktir
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23, quoted in Bhagavad-gita 6.47, purport)
