Where I Went and What I Did
During the twentieth week of 2026, I returned to ISKCON New York in Brooklyn where I lived and chanted with the NYC Harinam party of Rama Raya Prabhu for three or four hours each day. Saturday night I gave the lecture at 26 Second Avenue. Sunday I participated in the Bronx Ratha-yatra with devotees from all over New York City and even some from Gitanagari.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, The Nectar of Devotion, and Light of the Bhagavata, as well as from two letters of his. I share quotes from ISKCON in the 1970s by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami and The Vanaprastha Adventure by Jayadvaita Swami. I share notes on lectures by Rama Raya, Caitanyananda, Yugal Kishore and Prabhavishnu Prabhus.
Many, many thanks to Dattatreya Prabhu for his very generous donation. Thanks also to Saunaka Rsi Prabhu for his kind donation. Thanks to Madhu of Queens for his donation as well.
Itinerary
May 4–June 14: NYC Harinam
– May 29: Baltimore harinama
– May 30: Baltimore Ratha-yatra
– June 7: Schenectady 60-hour kirtan
– June 13: New York Ratha-yatra
June 16–August 13: Paris harinama
– June 20: Antwerp Ratha-yatra
– June 28: Paris Ratha-yatra
– July 2–3: Liverpool harinama
– July 4: Liverpool Ratha-yatra
– July 5: Birmingham Ratha-yatra
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
Pandava Bhandava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, a kid plays shakers and dances, and a lady who passing by claps and chants enthusiastically (https://youtu.be/5jDIqWMKscM):
Tulsi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/diFjkyPs3lU?feature=share):
Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/de9NS5TmiUI?feature=share):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and a girl dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/IxPJbqE7frE?feature=share):
Mani Manjari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/lnc6k6e9sqA?feature=share):
This woman was happy to see the Hare Krishnas at Union Square, remembering when it was our only venue in New York. I said we started in 2012. She said that she moved here from Virginia that year, and her six-year-old daughter would dance to our music. Now the girl is twenty and is in college. The woman was happy to hear about the Ratha-yatra, the temple, and the restaurants, and she accepted the cookie. Here a devotee tries to interest her in a book.
The man revealed to me that he was initiated with the name Radhastami Das by Bhakti Bhusana Swami, who he referred to as a German swami, in Ecuador. I mentioned that his guru will be visiting New York for Ratha-yatra, and I promised to put him in touch with him.
Devotee Lady 1 from Arizona chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/Aa-f8c5NM98?feature=share):
Devotee Lady 2 from Arizona chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/EzAlqrUD8k8?feature=share):
Vasudeva Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/DQtAXsU5rx8?feature=share):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/SE2REznusms?feature=share):
Here’s another video of Rama Raya (https://youtube.com/shorts/o1o1A2AR9-k?feature=share):
Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/PZxCm9hE0Yw?feature=share):
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Bronx before the chariot proceeds (https://youtube.com/shorts/tL23V_y1aFo?feature=share):
Damodhara Mowla chants Hare Krishna in the Bronx before the chariot proceeds (https://youtube.com/shorts/9n2gzNNEn4o?feature=share):
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Bronx Ratha-yatra (https://youtube.com/shorts/agcWfq7XZdU?feature=share):
A daughter of Hari Chakra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Bronx Ratha-yatra (https://youtube.com/shorts/A2mhlUXq4Kg?feature=share):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Bronx Ratha-yatra (https://youtube.com/shorts/f7nzNYLjulg?feature=share):
Hari Chakra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Bronx Ratha-yatra (https://youtube.com/shorts/7ZNDBPNUoec?feature=share):
Attendees and performers at Bronx Ratha-yatra dance during Hare Krishna kirtan of Hadai Prana Prabhu there (https://youtu.be/eSZVTbKZujo):
Yugal Kishore Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON NYC Sunday Gaura Arati (https://youtube.com/shorts/7wks1-DidiA?feature=share):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sunday Lotus Room program (https://youtube.com/shorts/G-OSGgtHG80?feature=share):
Pandava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtu.be/llokKF25xaY):
Here is another video of him in portrait orientation (https://youtube.com/shorts/hDgdQ3nl83k?feature=share):
Param Brahma Prabhu chants in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/A1bxuewr0P0?feature=share):
Srikar chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/ymVaZD9aQGc?feature=share):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/MCq-p3qZrSA?feature=share):
When on Monday I noticed the sign for State St. in Manhattan across the street from our chanting party, it occurred to me that eight days before I chanted along State St. in Schenectady and the last Monday I chanted along State St. in Albany.
Keshava Madhava chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/ZpMgZZT6LEA?feature=share):
On harinama on Tuesday Rama Raya Prabhu learned through conversing with a mutual friend that Lee, a regular on harinama for years, had passed away.
Here Rama Raya Dasa says a few words about Lee (https://youtube.com/shorts/yJ0h2HIRUeA):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu wrote back in 2020, “This nice gentleman is Lee or as some call him ‘Hippie Lee’ or as some of the Harinam devotees more appropriately simply call him Bhakta Lee! He’s been participating in the NYC Harinam practically since it was started over 8 years ago. He walked by the harinama in Union Square Park one summer and has been coming ever since. He’s a flute enthusiast who brings several different types of flutes to play along with the kirtans. A wonderful person who likes the association of devotees and enjoys spending his retirement years chanting the holy name instead of playing shuffle board! He just recently shared one of his realizations by saying: ‘NYC Harinam is the best thing that’s happening in town man!’”
Please give him your blessings that he may attain the full mercy of Lord Caitanya!
Indradyumna Swami chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON NYC (https://youtube.com/shorts/CxZ6JmESTos?feature=share):
While waiting in the prasadam line after Indradyumna Swami’s wonderful kirtan, Alex told me he remembered me from when he attended our Krishna Club at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Now he lives in Brooklyn.
Gokulendra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and kids play shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/hHM_FM9qFHU?feature=share):
Later the kids and another passersby danced with Tulsi Prabhu (https://youtube.com/shorts/8dpXoHOt20w?feature=share):
Piu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/KRHUZb0iP18?feature=share):
Keshava Madhava chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/PwhVI-rLMs0?feature=share):
Srikar chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/9_w7yB38X9A?feature=share):
Photos
Thanks to Raj, who enthusiastically bought three books of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami from my book table on Sunday.
Sadhus like secluded places away from the general mass of people. On my Metro North ride from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station for the first two stops I was the only person in my car on the train.
I could peacefully have a light lunch and work on my proofreading, with the view of the forest along the Hudson River in the background.
When kheer glues its cup to the plate cover, this is what can happen when the cover is removed!
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.18.13:
“The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even with the value of attaining the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which are for those who are meant for death.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.42, purport:
“In all circumstances one should try to develop love of Godhead, and that will solve all contending problems.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.18.4:
“One who follows the principles and instructions enjoined by the great sages of the past can utilize these instructions for practical purposes. Such a person can very easily enjoy life and pleasures.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.18.5, purport:
“One can immediately become a spiritual master by having full faith in the transcendental words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.14.5:
“A sincere devotee of the Lord tries to invent some ways to earn his livelihood, and when he does so Krishna helps him.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.19.27‒28, purport:
“Thereafter, Devayani, the daughter of Sukracarya, understood that the materialistic association of husband, friends and relatives is like the association in a hotel full of tourists. The relationships of society, friendship and love are created by the maya of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exactly as in a dream. By the grace of Krishna, Devayani gave up her imaginary position in the material world. Completely fixing her mind upon Krishna, she achieved liberation from the gross and subtle bodies.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.18.42:
“The main religious duties of a sannyasi are equanimity and nonviolence, whereas for the vanaprastha austerity and philosophical understanding of the difference between the body and soul are prominent. The main duties of a householder are to give shelter to all living entities and perform sacrifices, and the brahmacari is mainly engaged in serving the spiritual master.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.188, purport:
“In Vrindavan, however, although Krishna is covered by the hazy darkness of the dust, the gopis can nevertheless understand that within the dust storm is Krishna. Because they are His topmost devotees, they can perceive His hand in everything. Thus even in the dark or in a hazy storm of dust, devotees can understand what Krishna is doing. The purport of this verse is that under no circumstances is Krishna ever lost to the vision of exalted devotees like the gopis.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 12:
“The association of pure devotees is so transcendentally valuable that no kind of material happiness can compare to it.”
From Light of the Bhagavata, verse 19:
“We should always remember that the society, friendship, and love we are supposed to enjoy in family life are only shadowy representations of the real society, friendship, and love reciprocated in the kingdom of God. There is no reality in the conditioned life of material existence, but because of our ignorance we are attached to the mirage. The idea of society, friendship, and love is not at all false, but the place where we search for it is false. We have to give up this false position and rise to the reality. That should be the aim of life, and that is the result of cultivating the human spirit.”
“According to the varnasrama principle, it is compulsory that one retire after the age of fifty, without considering other circumstances. Business offices close at a fixed hour no matter what balance of work remains. Similarly, after the age of fifty one must retire from the active, external life and devote oneself to the introspective cultivation of the human spirit.”
From a letter to Sri Srinivasan on December 23, 1974:
“I think the best thing is for you to either go to our Vrndavana center or our Mayapur center or our Bombay center and live there for the rest of your life, chanting Hare Krsna, feeling the bliss of being fully engaged in the service of Sri Krsna. By association of devotees and eating Krsna prasadam, constantly engaged in the service of the Lord you will become purified from all unwanted things and it will be very easy for you to absorb yourself in thoughts of the Supreme Lord only. Then when it comes time to leave your body at the end of life you will go to Krsna. You will not have to take another birth in this material world. But you will go to the spiritual world, the Vaikuntha world.”
From a letter to Mr. Suresh Candra on June 18, 1973:
“Restraint in the matter of these four sinful activities is achieved by tasting the superior mellows of Krsna Consciousness.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From ISKCON in the 1970s:
“Original kindness comes from Krishna. He wants to save them.”
“Giriraja Maharaja is making tapes about Prabhupada’s struggles here. He told a gem. He said Srila Prabhupada was inviting Mrs. Nair to surrender to him and promising he would protect her. Giriraja thought that if by surrendering she could immediately be protected, what about him, why doesn’t he take advantage of the opportunity?”
“I am a poor, lost soul, but seeking shelter in this authorized service to Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement.”
“If you serve the spiritual master in Krishna consciousness, even if you cannot understand the spiritual master, Krishna will reveal Krishna consciousness to you. Service to the spiritual master will not go in vain.”
“The world or my own body may be destroyed today or tomorrow with ‘a bang’ or a ‘whimper.’”
“Follo w Prabhupada’s preaching about compassion. Save the most fallen. Preach all over the world. He didn’t mean that the devotees in the temple where he was preaching should all get up and go preach all over the world; rather they should take compassion on the people in their own area; the sannyasis can preach all over the world, but the others should go out in their own city and distribute books and prasadam. Yes, this is compassion.”
“Prabhupada, you appeared in your murti form in nice shiny silks, and I fanned you all the way from Columbus Circle to Washington Square. I never stopped.”
“Evening after the parade
“Warm, 90 degrees. Proud, futile Empire State Building—top floors lit up with flood lights. Saturday night. But the town seems different, a warm feeling as if the beast has a heart, the sinful machine has a soul within somewhere and it has been touched by Ratha-yatra.
“All glories to the ISKCON family, boys and girls chanting sincerely, distributing books, taking part in the spiritual energy.”
“Then how to establish that relationship with the Supreme Person? By doing it His way. You cannot see the president your way, but it has to be his way. His way is through His devotee.”
“One doesn’t think that by asking a question in the Bhagavatam class, his life will suddenly change, his devotional service will improve for good, and he will be free of anarthas. But it is possible, if one is submissive and if the speaker is authorized.”
“Everyone who met Prabhupada certainly had respect for him, although some were surprised at how such a humble person had gone on to do such tremendous work in building a world religion. It was an almost universal response from those who had met Prabhupada that he was a great preacher of Bhagavad-gita, which they usually knew by attending some classes he had held in their area. This, of course, was not limited just to those who knew him after he had become a sannyasi, but as far back as we found people, they all said he was a preacher of Krishna consciousness.”
“Mortal flesh, life temporarily kept within the vessel of this body. At any moment, by jarring or poking, the life can run out. Then by karma, another birth in another vessel some of them horrible, stunted lives, all of them suffering. Ignorance brings sin brings reaction. This science I know.”
“Why Vrindavan? The material mind demands. What is the purpose of this town? It is for remembering God.”
“I’m trying to speak something of the meaning of these years—how no one suspected he would do what he did, nor could anyone else do it, nor could anyone in Vrindavan even dream of such a thing. He went and conquered the Westerners.”
“Prabhupada was often hearing the maha-mantra at this temple [Radha-Damodara in Vrindavan], the same maha-mantra he would bring to the West. He had plans beyond dying here and going back to Godhead. He wanted to save the world.”
“His figure then, certainly the same saffron as anyone here, japa-mala, eyeglasses we have seen in photos. Walking the streets, sitting down to write. (How different he seems than after he became leader of a world movement yet he did not change essentially, but seemed to take on more grandeur and beauty to fulfill the office.)”
“Srila Prabhupada also said that if you feel mentally tired from one book, then read a different one.”
“He lived and breathed the Gita and the conviction of preaching.”
“My Vyasa-puja—I am not a great person. I am being honored for my place in parampara. That means I am like the tax collector on behalf of the king. I think you will agree and accept this analogy. Therefore, on this day when you give special tribute to me as guru (tax collector) I request on behalf of him:
Do not leave.
Do not go away.
‘Live, not leave.’
Chant and follow the four rules.”
“Five kinds of ignorance which are cured by Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda:
(2) Making sense gratification one’s standard of enjoyment.
(4) Lamenting.
(5) Thinking that there is anything beyond the Absolute Truth.”
“Vamanadeva and Bali Maharaja. Sukracarya warned his disciple that Vishnu would take everything away. This warning is also given by one’s friends and relatives Krishna will take away all your possessions and even your mind. It is true. Hari means He takes away inauspicious things. But this is good. Srila Prabhupada felt this in his own life, and the verse yasyaham anugrhnami harisye is applicable. That is the Lord’s kindness on Bali, on Srila Prabhupada, on anyone who wants Him but is attached to material possessions.”
Jatayu explained to Lord Rama the reason for his sacrificing his life for Him, “I wanted to show that serving You is more powerful that searching for You.”
“I am weak and powerless to do anything about a strong GBC. I have always been so. But I have been an instrument for His Divine Grace and seen him in unquestionable purity and with the vision of his spiritual master intact, guide this world movement, gathering together the discordant leaders and purging the decadence. Now can we do it in his absence?”
Jayadvaita Swami:
From The Vanaprastha Adventure:
“Keep your computer off in the morning until you’ve completed your sadhana. Let that time be entirely for hearing and chanting and direct devotional activities.”
“We should know that ultimately each one of us is dependent, and that Krishna is ultimately dependable.”
“Materially speaking, in terms of practical risk assessment we should be prudent and realistic. Ultimately, though, there’s no risk. Krishna will maintain us, and Krishna will protect us. In that sense, all risks are imaginary.”
“The more we give up material security and throw ourselves at Krishna’s mercy, the greater our material risk—and the greater the mercy from Krishna we receive.”
“According to the sastras, our essential duty to our children is not to send them to college but to send them back to Godhead, in this way saving them from the clutches of repeated birth and death.”
“In essence, to advance on the path of vanaprastha life there are three things we can do: up our sadhana, up our sadhu sanga, and up our seva.”
“Sadhu-sanga is different from just hanging out with devotees. Its essence lies in Krishna consciousness, awakened and nourished by hearing about, chanting about, and serving Krishna.”
“One most important way to get sadhu-sanga—and for spiritually-minded householders this is a core practice—is to invite sadhus to your home. This means not just feeding a sadhu nicely, giving him a donation, asking for blessings, and snapping a photo. It means taking the opportunity to hear from a saintly devotee about Krishna and spiritual progress, to inquire about how we can advance in spiritual life, and by such association to further cultivate detachment, spiritual knowledge, and enthusiasm in devotional service (vairagya-vidya nija-bhakti-yoga). Otherwise we can “associate but not associate.” We can hang out with devotees but not get the same spiritual benefit. But if we take the opportunity to associate with devotees in Krishna consciousness and serve them, and especially to associate with devotees more advanced on the path of devotional service performed with knowledge and detachment, this becomes our life: to come together with other devotees to focus on spiritual progress and Krishna’s service.”
“Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.91) commends ‘associating with superior devotees with whom one shares affection and a similar nature and taste’ (sajatiyasaye snigdhe sadhau sangah svato vare).”
“Looking back, I think of my time on padayatra as one of the spiritually most rewarding times in my life.”
“Included in our [Indian padayatra] party were about two dozen Gujarati men and women in their sixties, seventies, and eighties who were not ISKCON devotees but who took the opportunity to take part in the pilgrimage from Gujarat to Kanyakumari to Sridhama Mayapur. Instead of staying home with their families, they had the extraordinary experience of traveling to holy places throughout India, walking and serving and chanting Hare Krishna on the way. By the time they reached Mayapur, several of them had come forward for initiation.”
“We say ‘The Vanaprastha Adventure.’ It’s like a new life. ‘I’ve freed myself, or I’m in the process of freeing myself, from so many burdens and responsibilities. So now I can do all these things for Krishna that I always wanted to do, or that I used to do but I’m missing.’”
“So rather than looking after a few biological grandchildren, older devotees can become the grandparents of many grandchildren spiritually.”
“Sometimes a wife more detached than her husband may encourage progress from family life to the vanaprastha asrama. In this way too a woman can render a great service.”
“The inconveniences of vanaprastha life are small compared to what Srila Prabhupada sometimes called the ‘inconveniences’ of birth, death, old age, and disease.”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada told Bhagavata Asraya if you just chant your sixteen rounds and chant your gayatris, everything else will be revealed.
Krishna advised the Pandavas that they were suffering because they did not follow the Purusottama month. They followed it and regained their kingdom and returned back to Godhead.
Purusottama month is more holy even than Karttika.
Get your japa together. That is the best advice to give everyone.
Srila Prabhupada said, “Just give your life to Krishna, and you will not be the loser.”
The only planet with Bhauma Vrindavan on it is this earth, where Krishna appeared 5,000 years ago.
When you are captured by the illusory energy, you lose the ability to discriminate between what should be done and what should not be done.
Caitanyananda Prabhu:
As we progress in devotional service, we differentiate between our needs and wants, and endeavor only for our needs. Later, even our needs become less.
We desire to become favored by the Lord as soon as possible.
Yugal Kishore Prabhu:
We should come to Srimad-Bhagavatam class to hear attentively, to remember what we heard again and again, and to desire to change.
Everyone else is telling us we are our bodies, and that we should get money, get sense gratification, and enjoy life.
Our intelligence does not advise our mind, “Remember yesterday’s Bhagavatam class.”
We need to feel that we have nothing and that we need mercy to go forward.
Patience is most important of enthusiasm, determination, and patience. With patience we will continue.
Prabhavishnu Prabhu:
There are activities for the benefit of this life and activities for the benefit of the next life. In this society by preparing for career and economic gain we are focused only on this life. We cannot even take a penny with us on to our next life, but as Srila Prabhupada repeatedly said, we are completely lacking preparation for the next life.
The rules of varnasrama are designed to help us to make more and more progress in our Krishna consciousness.
Although there are laws of nature and laws of man, we ignore the more subtle laws of God and imagine ourselves to be completely independent.
Comments by Pancaratna Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada was also advocating the “spiritual and not religious” idea in that he promoted bhakti and was not concerned about this religion or that religion. We need to introduce Krishna consciousness to people in terms that they are used to speaking in and not using too religious terms for otherwise they will reject it as another dogmatic religion.
The Vedic culture stresses that women be protected, but Srila Prabhupada mentioned for some women, Krishna Himself can be that protector.
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Some verse are real eye openers like this one spoken by Sanat-kumara to King Prthu:
natah parataro loke
yad-adhy anyasya preyastvam
atmanah sva-vyatikramat
“There is no stronger obstruction to one’s self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than one’s self-realization.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.32)
