Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 12
By Krishna Kripa Das
(Week 12: March 19–25, 2025)
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on March 29, 2025)
Where I Went and What I Did
For the twelfth week of 2025, I remained living at ISKCON Tallahassee. I chanted Hare Krishna every day at Landis Green, behind the main Florida State University library. In Tallahassee, I distributed a Bhagavad-gita, three “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlets, and seventy-one little cups of halava to promote our Krishna Lunch at the campus.
I tell about the exciting visit of three book distributors from Krishna Life for two and a half days.
I share a quote each from a book and a lecture of Srila Prabhupada. I share quotes from Miracle on Second Avenue by Mukunda Goswami, and from The Delaware Diaries and Beginning at Second Avenue by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share an amazing sankirtana story from Ambarish Maharaja Prabhu from the book distribution mailing list.
Thanks to Satyaraja Govinda Prabhu for his donation of bhoga and laksmi in memory of his mother who passed away recently. Please give her your blessings to return to Krishna soon.
Itinerary
– March 29: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
April 12: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
April 13: Gainesville harinama
April 14–15: USF harinamas in Tampa
April 16–20: Washington, D.C., harinamas with Sankarsana Prabhu
April 21–22: NYC Harinam
April 23: Flight to Brussels
April 24: Layover in Oslo
April 25: Kadamba Kanana Swami Vyasa-puja at Radhadesh
April 26: King’s Day in Amsterdam
April 27: Liege harinama
April 28–May 1: Paris harinamas
May 2: Sarcelles market harinama
May 3–4: Amsterdam Kirtan Mela and Sacinandana Swami seminar
May 5 and 6: harinama in Amsterdam, Antwerp, or Brussels
May 7: Flight from Brussels to New York City
May 8–June 15: NYC Harinam
mid June–mid August: Paris
– June 22: Paris Ratha-yatra
– July 11: Amsterdam harinama
– July 12: Amsterdam Ratha-yatra
– July 13: Netherlands harinama
Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee
The most striking feature of this week in Tallahassee for me was the visit of three book distributors from Krishna Life in Atlanta. Last year, Mahosaha Prabhu from there distributed an entire Srimad-Bhagavatam set to a FSU student on the campus here. Mahosaha is legendary, so that is not so surprising, but this year two of the visiting devotees from Krishna Life each distributed at Bhagavatam set to a student.
Wednesday Janardana Prabhu distributed this Bhagavatam set to this young woman.
And the next day, Jagat Trata Prabhu distributed a Bhagavatam set to this young man. One interesting thing about that is the Krishna Life devotees found a video online in which book distributor, Parama Karuna Prabhu, really heavily criticized the same student for eating meat and thus cruelly and unnecessarily causing pain to God’s creatures although considering himself a follower of Jesus Christ. Apparently he had a change of heart. The student told Jagat Trata that later he met Adikarta Prabhu and got a book from him.
The Krishna Life devotees were happy to participate in our morning and evening programs here in Tallahassee, and it was wonderful to have additional devotees. I got to dance in kirtan for a change. Here Janardana Prabhu of Krishna Life chants Hare Krishna at our Tallahassee daily evening kirtan (https://youtu.be/iplQ5kw21uE):
The following Monday as I was chanting Hare Krishna at FSU I saw that student who bought the Bhagavatam set from Jagat Trata Prabhu on Thursday. I learned his name is Josh, and he got the First Canto, Part 1, from Parama Karuna Prabhu initially, then later he received Bhagavad-gita from Adikarta Prabhu. When Adikarta heard he got the Bhagavatam set he congratulated him, saying that he had made the best possible investment. Josh felt very good about getting the set and considered he got a great deal. I shared verse 1.2.6 with him, saying that universal spiritual wisdom is the standard of the Bhagavatam. I told him that I read the Bhagavatam every day for an hour after breakfast until I finished it. I mentioned that I encountered the tradition 45 years ago, and I am still finding additional knowledge within it.
The “Tally Preacher” writes chalk messages on the sidewalk near where I chant Hare Krishna. Although he has specifically blasphemed Krishna in his writings once in the past, this time he stuck to glorifying Jesus as the only savior. I thought of editing out the word “only” as Krishna also saves. So does the holy name of the Lord, which is mentioned in three places in the Bible as a savior. Of course, I didn’t actually alter the sign because I am fully engaged in chanting Hare Krishna and advertising our Krishna Lunch. Two female students independently poured water from their water bottles over the sign and smeared it, even as the Tally Preacher protested. That is why it looks smudged. I thought of taking a photo of the students doing that, but I didn’t think that would enhance my reputation with the Tally Preacher, so I just kept chanting.
Someone donated a sports drink to the preacher, which he did not want, and so he gave it to me when he left, thus improving our relationship. As it had no objectionable ingredients, I later offered it to Gaura-Nitai. It tasted pretty good.
On Fridays, Ananga Mohan Prabhu joins me for harinama for an hour or two. This week I brought out a mat so we could sit down.
Rather than print lots of little flyers to promote the Krishna Lunch, I started asking people to take photos of our poster.
To those who already love Krishna Lunch, I give additional posters they can put up on kiosks near where they live or study or at a departmental office where they work.
Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu, our temple president, chants Hare Krishna at the ISKCON Tallahassee Saturday evening program (https://youtu.be/7xW6z4owLw8):
On Tuesday a student asked me if I was Daru, who was temple president and Krishna Lunch cook here for many years. I said no but that I am a friend of Daru. He said his parents, Eric and Claire, remember Daru from when they studied at FSU about twenty years ago. I asked if he thought Daru would remember them. He said that they were thinking of having Daru perform their marriage ceremony, but it did not work out at the last minute, and thus Daru would probably remember them. I wrote an email to Daru, but I have not heard back.
Photos
Our Krishna Lunch menu for Wednesday includes kofta balls, and our menu for Thursday includes chili. If you break the koftas into pieces and add them to the chili, the result tastes amazingly delicious.
I never really encountered puris and ice cream before, but the brother of a devotee attending our Saturday feast in Tallahassee expanded my awareness.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From The Nectar of Instruction, text 4, purport:
“Not only is the chanter of the maha-mantra purified, but the heart of anyone who happens to hear the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is also cleansed. Even the souls embodied in lower animals, insects, trees and other species of life also become purified and prepared to become fully Krishna conscious simply by hearing the transcendental vibration. This was explained by Thakura Haridasa when Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired from him how living entities lower than human beings can be delivered from material bondage. Haridasa Thakura said that the chanting of the holy names is so powerful that even if one chants in the remotest parts of the jungle, the trees and animals will advance in Krishna consciousness simply by hearing the vibration. This was actually proved by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself when He passed through the forest of Jharikhanda. At that time the tigers, snakes, deer and all other animals abandoned their natural animosity and began chanting and dancing in sankirtana. Of course, we cannot imitate the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but we should follow in His footsteps. We are not powerful enough to enchant the lower animals such as tigers, snakes, cats and dogs or entice them to dance, but by chanting the holy names of the Lord we can actually convert many people throughout the world to Krishna consciousness. Contributing or distributing the holy name of the Lord is a sublime example of contributing or giving charity (the dadati principle).”
From a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.49–51, Bowery loft, New York, April 5, 1966:
“And I am here, always working, something reading or writing, something reading or writing, twenty-four hours. Simply when I feel hungry, I take some food. And simply when I feel sleepy, I go to bed. Otherwise, always, I don’t feel fatigued. You can ask Mr. Paul whether I am doing this. So, I take, I take pleasure in doing that. I don’t feel fatigued. Similarly, when one will have that spiritual sense, he won’t feel … rather, he will … he will feel disgusted to go to sleep, to go to sleep: ‘So, sleep has come just to disturb me.’”
Mukunda Goswami:
From Miracle on Second Avenue:
“The Conway Hall lectures proved an important body of knowledge and an inspiration for the devotees around the world who eagerly awaited recordings of each one. One of the lectures, ‘Wisdom of the Vedas,’ became the introduction to Prabhupada’s book Sri Isopanishad. And a profile photo of Prabhupada taken at Conway Hall became part of the banner logo on the cover of Back to Godhead magazine.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Beginning at Second Avenue:
“Swamiji used to sit with us in the morning and say, ‘Chant one round.’ Then he would give us a japa lesson.
“We didn’t have bead bags in those days, and when we chanted together, Swamiji took his beads out of his bag and held them in his hands. We hung our beads around our necks as we chanted. We wore them out on the street, too. Those red beads became the mark of the Hare Krishna chanters.
“In his lectures, he implored the audience to chant. He promised peace and prosperity, and he assured us it didn’t cost anything. He begged us to chant the holy name anywhere—in the factory, in the subway, in hell. How could we have chanted without Swamiji’s japa lessons? He was happy to give them to us. More than anything, he wanted us to chant. This is how he hoped to satisfy his guru and all the acaryas. It had to start with us practicing sadhana.
“This is what it was like to be with him. This is an off-moment, in a sense. That’s why I wanted to paint it. He wasn’t lecturing. He was simply sitting with us, leaning over his table and allowing us to approach him to learn the art of chanting.”
From The Delaware Diaries, Volume 2 (Tachycardia):
“Connect everything to the Lord. Everything is already connected to him, but it is the writer’s job to make it clear.”
“Each person has to do it on their own. Prabhupada may help them, Bhaktivinoda Thakura may help them, but we each have to go alone. It’s between me and Krishna, you and Krishna.
“Affectionate chanting draws Krishna’s attention, and He gives you personal service in Krishna-loka. Nonaffectionate chanting doesn’t produce the result. We’ve heard that the outer form of chanting, the mere pronouncing of the syllables, is not the holy names. You have to enter the inner experience by calling to Krishna through the maha-mantra. My counting mantras, mounting numbers, is not enough. You reach your bare minimum and put aside your beads until the next day. After sixteen rounds, your work is done; you are free to do whatever you please. And the sixteen were done in a fruitive way, just to fulfill the precious obligation. If this is all you do, you have not entered the life of prayer.”
“Real chanting is crying out, ‘Dear Radha, dear Krishna, please engage me in Your service.’ Or it is like the cry of the child for the mother. Mother Hara will come to you and fulfill your desire to serve the Lord, if that is your intention. Chanting Hare Krishna is powerful and supportive when we actually do it seriously. We need faith in Krishna and in the fact that Krishna is in His names.”
“Even if your chanting is offensive, it must be continued and worked through. From imperfection, purity will come about. I am doing the right thing when I am attempting. Remember, the names are absolute, so even a poor chanter is within the magic circle. He’s not wasting his time. He just has to endure and pray to improve. Don’t give up and go do other things besides chanting, thinking that you are hopeless. No, you are auspicious. If you just keep on chanting, you will gain success.”
[An item on a list:] “Sastra’s admirable remark that devotees who served Prabhupada and who have now strayed from him made eternal acts of service never to be denied them, and we should not speak against them now.”
“Krishna is the Lord. He is adhoksaja, beyond my senses to know. But I love him from hearing about him from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam through the purports of Srila Prabhupada.”
“Meditate on Radha and Krishna through their holy names in the maha-mantra. He chanted with us in the storefront and started us off. That’s a lifelong kirtana memory. Whatever kirtana I do now is a shadow of that early kirtana, the best, with him leading. But fingering the beads is the same, as he started us off. He chanted on my red beads, which I now keep on my altar. No, my head is not calm; it is still twinging behind the right eye. But I have said my quota for the day.”
“I have a right to talk of my headache syndrome. How I deal with it is part of my spirituality. It has severely hampered my active service. But for over thirty years, it is the definition of who I am as a conditioned soul, and so it is integrally involved with my relationship with Krishna. The fact that I live under its yoke is part of my submission to Krishna’s will. I do not complain to Him or blame Him. I accept it as a mystery, either my karma (token reaction) or Krishna’s personally handling me for His best interest in my advancement. If I despaired and whined about it, it would be better left unsaid. But since I am so committed to personal writing, I can’t omit it anymore than I can omit reports of my daily japa.”
“I’ve always used what pain-free hours I have to perform my basic sadhana and preaching and writing, painting, and occasional lecturing and meeting with disciples.”
Krsna-bhajana Prabhu:
Quoted in Renewal by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami:
“Personally, this is my favorite recording of Srila Prabhupada [the one on the Happening album]. When I first met my wife, Satya-sara, she had this album and we listened to it every day, many times a day. I find Prabhupada to be very present in this particular recording, more so than any other that I have heard, whether songs, lectures, or conversations. It is as if Prabhupada is speaking to everyone in the world, from the spiritual realm, through the portal of this recording, urging us all to come back to our original Krishna consciousness, and return home.”
Ambarish Maharaja Prabhu:
From a post on the book distribution mailing list:
“I went to one factory in Russia to distribute books. On meeting the secretary I asked to see the director. She went to tell the director that someone wanted to meet him. When he came out and saw me, he asked if I was a Hare Krishna. I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ He then said to the secretary, ‘Don’t let him go, I’m going to call the police. These people should be crushed like cockroaches.’ I quietly slipped out the door and went on to other places.
“What happened afterwards was amazing. When the director went home, he found his daughter crying because his wife had had a severe heart attack. The next day, for no apparent reason, his son was imprisoned. The next day the director’s superiors, also for no reason, put him on leave and said from that day forward he should consider himself fired. To top it off, when he went home the next day, he found his house on fire. Luckily, the fire wasn’t big so the firemen were able to put it out.
“Feeling hopeless from all his misfortune, the man sat down with his religious daughter to discuss how all this could have happened. She asked her father if he had committed any grievous sins recently. Reflecting on the days before the calamities came, he remembered the Hare Krishna person he had condemned. She immediately said, ‘That’s it, you offended a saint. We have to find out where he lives and beg for forgiveness. They have temples. We have to find out where the nearest temple is.’
“Looking on the internet, they found the temple address, went to the temple, and entered the temple room. Looking around, the man said to his daughter, ‘That’s him sitting over there.’
“They both came over to me. With tears in his eyes and begging for forgiveness, he spoke about all the misfortunes that had happened since he had insulted me. I was kind to them and said he should be careful about judging people. ‘Now you’ve learned a lesson.’
“Some time passed and he again came to the temple and gave a donation to the deities. He invited me to the factory and said I should bring a lot of books and he would help me distribute them. He told the employees if anyone didn’t buy a book, they would lose their jobs.
“He told me that after he had asked for forgiveness, his wife was discharged from the hospital; she hadn’t had a heart attack after all. Then his son was let out of jail owing to wrongful prosecution, and finally he had been reinstated at work. The only thing that remained from the offense was the fire damage, to remind him.”
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I once memorized this verse, having read it in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, where it occurs in Madhya 19.150 and 25.83, as well as in the purport to Madhya 8.249. It describes the rarity of perfection in devotional service to the Supreme Lord and some of its characteristics.
muktanam api siddhanam
su-durlabhah prasantatma
kotisv api maha-mune
“O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krishna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.5)
