Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 8, No. 6
By Krishna-kripa das
(March 2012, part two)
Rishikesh, Delhi, Vrindavan, Mayapur
(Sent from Simhachalam, Bavaria, Germany, on May 4, 2012)
By Krishna-kripa das
(March 2012, part two)
Rishikesh, Delhi, Vrindavan, Mayapur
(Sent from Simhachalam, Bavaria, Germany, on May 4, 2012)
Where I Went and What I Did
The second half of March began with our final week of The Bhakti Experience in Rishikesh. Gopal, Amala, and other members of the Vrindavana 24-hour kirtana party increased our kirtana program, and we chanted after the Ganga Puja a couple of nights. Jyotisvara and Rasikananda Prabhu accompanied me on the train to New Delhi on March 24 and Jyotisvara Prabhu and I joined the Ratha-yatra already in progress in Delhi’s Rohini district. The next morning we did a youth program at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh, where the devotees were the ideal Vaishnava hosts, and in the afternoon we took the train to Mathura, doing some chanting with instruments as our train approached that sacred place. I spent three days in Vrndavana chanting six hours a day as part of the 24-hour kirtana party and chanting in the streets for another hour with my friends from France. On March 29, several devotees rode the same train as I did to Mayapur to celebrate Jayapataka Swami’s Vyasa Puja day there, and we did some kirtana on that train as well, what to speak of the hour of chanting on the platform in Mathura, the town of Krishna’s birth, before we began. On March 31, I arrived back home in Mayapur for three and a half more weeks of harinama.
I share more excellent quotes from Bhaktivinoda Thakura on the glories of and the practice of pure devotional service, more notes from the Rishikesh talks, and notes from the lectures of senior devotees speaking in Vrindavana.
Rishikesh
When Gopal and Amala Harinama Prabhus and their friends joined us from the Vrindavan 24-hour kirtana, our chanting came up to another level. One of the most colorful attenders at The Bhakti Experience at Rishikesh was a lady from Los Angeles who teaches bhakti-yoga there and who attends our temple in Culver City regularly. She danced with us practically every day and inspired others to dance.
After the final kirtana about at 2:00 p.m. we serve prasadam to as many as a hundred happy people.
At the ashram we stayed at, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, there is a Ganga Puja each night, and we chanted and danced a couple times there at the end of the Ganga Puja.
Delhi Ratha-yatra and Youth Program
Mohnish Goel, who is based in ISKCON Punjabi Bagh, told me in Mayapur that he liked my blog, and that he was involved with the youth program at his temple. I told him I expected to be in Delhi for one day between Rishikesh and Mayapur to book a train, and perhaps I could do a program at there at Punjabi Bagh ISKCON, if he wanted. Turned out the day we went to Delhi was the Ratha-yatra day so we decided to do the youth program the day after. Mohnish Prabhu and the devotees there were the best of hosts. They picked us up at the train station and drove us to the Ratha-yatra, which was in the district called Rohini where the devotees are building a new temple, and drove our bags to the temple. After the Ratha-yatra they drove us to two devotees’ houses for prasadam and then back to the temple. The Ratha-yatra itself was amazing. It went from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Jyotisvara Prabhu and I joined it from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., being a little wiped out from traveling six hours on the train to get there. We were slightly worried that we did not have lunch, but during the parade, devotees served water, juice, and other drinks, fruit, kitchari, and other things to eat, so no one felt hungry or thirsty. Periodically at different apartment complexes, devotees would come forward with offerings for Lord Jagannath, and arati would be performed, and the remnants would be offered to everyone in the parade. Young children took pleasure in collecting as many oranges as they could from those thrown from Lord Jagannath’s cart. It was a festive, blissful, experience for everyone, and Jyotisvara Prabhu was most impressed with the cooperation, organization, and hospitality of the devotees.
At the youth program the next day, I presented Krishna consciousness as authoritative knowledge that is essential to achieve the ultimate benefit in life and worth pursuing, and I encouraged my friend, Jyotisvara Prabhu, to speak his realizations, and Rasikananda Prabhu to share his kirtana.
Our driver took us to his home for kirtana and prasadam on the way to the train station. His extended family lives together in one dwelling and some of them were very excited about kirtana and serving the devotees. We learned a lot about Vaishnava hospitality from the devotees involved in ISKCON Punjabi Bagh, and we hope to visit again, and we hope we had something to offer them in return.
Vrindavan
Prabhupada talks about visiting Vrindavan for three days, and that is just what I did. My focus was to do kirtana in the holy dhama. I joined the Aindra Prabhu twenty-four hour kirtana program and did my quota of six hours a day. Once I got to sing for Radha-Shyamasundara’s 8:30 p.m. arati, and that was very nice. One day I sang for an hour in the afternoon, and another day, I sang half an hour. Otherwise, I would play the gong and dance. The time when the temple was closed between one and four in the afternoon was special. It was easier to focus on the kirtana because there were fewer people and fewer instruments. There was also less competition to sing. Because the Deities were not present there was a sense of chanting in separation as well. I would look at the beautiful pictures of Radha and Krishna on the walls of the temple on Prabhupada’s side to remember They are the enjoyers of our chanting. I would go on harinama in addition, for about an hour, more or less, with Gadadhara Priya Prabhu, Rama Gopala Prabhu, and Mother Sara, all friends who were living in France, and who I did Metroyoga with on the Paris subways. Once Chandrasekhara Prabhu, also of the Metroyoga team, joined us for some of the time. Some of the locals appreciated very much, and some of the ISKCON devotees did as well.
Notes on Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava
The Bhagavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology)
We can say that if all the religious scriptures of the Hindus are thrown into the ocean and only the Srimad-Bhagavatam is kept aside, there will be no harm for the Aryans or the ordinary living entities. (Sajjana-tosani 8/12)
The whole of this incomparable work [Srimad-Bhagavatam] teaches us, according to our great Caitanya, the three great truths which compose the absolute religion of man. Our Nadia preacher calls them sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana, i.e. the relationship between the creator and the created, the duty of man to God, and the aim of humanity. These three words include the ocean of human knowledge as far as it has been explored to this era of human progress. These are the cardinal points of religion and the whole Bhagavat is, as we are taught by Caitanya, an explanation both by precept and example of these three great points. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology)
The superiority of the Bhagavat consists in uniting all sorts of theistic worship into one excellent principle in human nature, which is called bhakti. This word has no equivalent in the English language. Piety, devotion, resignation, and spiritual love, unalloyed with any sort of petition except repentance—compose the highest principle of bhakti. The Bhagavat tells us to worship God in that great and invaluable principle, which is infinitely superior to human knowledge and the principle of yoga. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology)
Nowadays people love to read novels. Our duty is to teach the science of devotional service little by little through novels, like administering a dose of homeopathic medicine. By injecting small amounts of spiritual knowledge into the hearts of the materialists, their hearts will become faithful to devotional service. (Sajjana-tosani 10/12)
Am?ta-rasavali is purely a sahajiya book. In that book, it is written: “The life of one who cannot understand the meaning of sahaja or spontaneous and who does not become sahaja or spontaneous is useless.” Many such books are found among the baulas and sahajiyas. While searching for some books we came across a few of those books. After reading them, we felt disgusted; we threw them into the Ganges and became purified. (Sajjana-tosani 10/12)
“The path of bhajana displayed by the previous mahajanas is to constantly chant the holy names of Hari with firm determination and show compassion to all living entities.” (Sajjana-tosani 11/6)
“Congregationally chanting the holy names of the Lord according to one’s qualification is called Vaishnava religion.” (Harinama Cintamani)
“The jñana or cultivation of knowledge which awakens one’s devotional service and which is performed in order to achieve devotional service is the most desirable. The jñana which rejects the supreme path of devotional service and simply imparts information about the gross external world is extremely abominable.” (Sajjana-tosani 11/10)
“Just as darkness follows behind light, similarly where there is devotional service renunciation automatically follows. But renunciation with an adverse quality cannot be counted as a limb of devotional service. As shadow is not a limb of light but a concomitant, similarly renunciation is only a companion of devotional service. The conclusion is that knowledge and renunciation must accompany devotional service, but they cannot be called limbs of devotional service.” (Tattva-sutra 33)
“Performance of karma is like a dark well compared to the ocean of mellows of the Lord’s holy names. One should give up all kinds of worship and constantly chant the holy names of Hari in the association of the devotees who are attached to chanting the holy names. This is most desirable.” (Sajjana-tosani 11/6)
“Chanting the holy names of Hari is the only sadhana. Other limbs of sadhana are only support of the chanting of the holy names of Hari.” (Sajjana-tosani 11/5)
“There is no religious principle other than Vaishnava dharma. All other religious principles that have been preached or will be preached either support or are distorted forms of Vaishnavas dharma. Whenever they manifest as support one should respect them and whenever they appear as a distorted form, one should cultivate one’s own devotional service without being envious.” (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 8)
“Devotional service is fully independent. Devotional service itself is beauty and ornament; it does not depend on any other good qualities.” (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 8)
“This swanlike dharma is very simple; it is not very austere. There are two principles found in it namely attachment and good character. Attachment is applied to the Supreme Lord and the living entities. One should apply full attachment to the Supreme Lord and brotherly attachment to all living entities. Both attachment and good character can be found in their proper place.” (Tattva-sutra 50)
“Devotional service to Hari mostly awards liberation and keeps people happy, and unless it finds a qualified person it does not award pure devotional service.” (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 19)
“It is one’s main duty to take shelter of the regulative devotional service until one’s raga is awakened.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/1)
“As long as you have this material body, carefully remain fixed in the principles of bhakti. Always serve the devotees, chant the name of K???a, worship Radha and K???a, and remain indifferent to sense gratification. “With the mercy of the devotees, the name, and the dhama, keep undesirable association far away. Soon you will attain residence in the eternal dhama where pure service to Radha and K???a manifests.” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga, Verses 107/108)
If a pure devotee offers the remnants of K???a to the demigods and demigoddesses then they accept it with great pleasure and dance in ecstasy. Thereafter a devotee can take their prasada and become joyful.” (Jaiva Dharma)
“One should maintain simplicity in all of one’s activities. One should not keep one thing in the heart and display something else in one’s behavior. One should not try to collect cheap adoration from persons who are averse to devotional service by displaying some artificial symptoms of ecstatic love. One should be partial to pure devotional service and should not support any other conclusion. One’s intention and behavior should be
one and the same.” (Sajjana-tosani 8/10)
“In which ever asrama one stays one should give up the attachment for sense enjoyment and follows the principles of that asrama. One should become enthusiastic about the execution of devotional service to K???a and follow the behavior of the devotees.” (Sajjana-tosani 2/7)
“It is improper to think that it is not possible to worship Hari in one’s childhood. We find in the history that Dhruva and Prahlada achieved the Supreme Lord’s mercy in their early childhood. If any person is able to do anything then every person is capable of doing that provided he tries to do so. As such whatever is practiced from one’s childhood gradually becomes a habit when one grows up.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/1)
“As the situations of human beings throughout the world gradually change from uncivilized to civilized, then from civilized to scientific, from scientific to moral and from moral to devotional, the process for worshiping God also changes according to the differences in the language, dress, food and mental condition. If one considers from an impartial point of view, one can understand that these secondary differences do not actually cause any harm. As long as there is unanimity in the process of bhajana there will be no problem at the time of perfection.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/1)
“As the situations of human beings throughout the world gradually change from uncivilized to civilized, then from civilized to scientific, from scientific to moral and from moral to devotional, the process for worshiping God also changes according to the differences in the language, dress, food and mental condition. If one considers from an impartial point of view, one can understand that these secondary differences do not actually cause any harm. As long as there is unanimity in the process of bhajana there will be no problem at the time of perfection.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/1)
“There are mysteries in the practice of sadhana. Transcendental knowledge, devotional service and detachment for material objects simultaneously increase. Whenever a reversion is seen it is to be understood that there is a fault in the root of one’s sadhana. Without the association of devotees and the mercy of the spiritual master one can not always get protection from the danger of misguidance.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/6)
“The structure of human life is full of various levels. The life of the outcastes is on the lowest grade, Godless moral life is the second grade, the theistic moral life is the third grade, the life of the regulative devotees is fourth grade, and the life of the devotees who are agitated by raga [spontaneous devotion] is on the topmost grade.”
“The nondevotees think that their perishable material body is all in all. Whatever distress they suffer is severe. Even though they try to remove these miseries in various ways they are unable to do so. The devotees, however, know their temporary material life as the life of guests. Therefore due to the influence of their pure spiritual bliss their temporary ordinary distresses are passed off as most insignificant.”
(Sajjana-tosani 10/2)
“The misconception regarding one’s constitutional position does not go away in one day. It gradually vanquishes as one cultivates K???a consciousness. The constitutional position of a living entity is that he is an eternal servant of K???a. Cultivation of K???a consciousness with this conviction is the actual cultivation of K???a consciousness. The science of self-realization is awakened by the mercy of the spiritual master. A disciple should try to realize his constitutional position with utmost care otherwise his first anartha in the path of spiritual life will not be destroyed.” (Sajjana-tosani 9/9)
“If one has got some material desires in the heart, then with all humility one should reluctantly accept them and continue to worship the Lord without any duplicity. Then within a short period of time the Lord will sit in one’s heart, and thereafter remove all material desires except His loving service.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/7)
“Among all methods of bhajana the chanting of the holy names of Hari is the essence.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 3/3)
The auspicious symptom is that one should nullify all one’s offenses by associating with the devotees and take shelter of the holy names without any duplicity. If one carefully chants the holy names offenselessly then in a very short time the holy names appears blissfully. Gradually this bliss increases in such a way that one does not wish to give up chanting the holy names and thus one takes complete shelter of the holy names.” (Sajjana-tosani 11/5)
“Apart from the time of resting which is necessary for keeping the body and soul together one should always humbly chant the holy names. Then the offenses against the holy names will be nullified. No other pious activities of atonement can counteract the offenses against the holy names.” (Harinama Cintamani)
“By eagerly contemplating on the actual meaning of chanting of the holy names and by praying to K???a with humility, one gradually makes advancement on the path of bhajana. Unless one follows this process one will spend many births in sadhana just like the karmis and the jñanis.”
(Caitanya-siksamrita 6/4)
“Those who know that the Supreme Lord is their life and soul and thus spend their lives by dovetailing their scientific knowledge, art, morality, religiousness and thought into the devotional service to the supreme controller, though conditioned are fully introspective. This life of introspection is called life of regulative devotional service.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 8, Conclusion)
A boat moves by the strength of oars, but when the water’s current carries away the boat, the oars are defeated. In the same way, as the sadhaka tries to cross the ocean with the boat of the mind and various oars like dhyana, pratyahara, and dharana, sometimes the current of attachment quickly carries him into sense gratification. “Devotional service to Vishnu is executed with spontaneous love. The sadhaka certainly achieves spiritual
attachment in no time through spontaneous devotional service.”
(Prema-Pradeep 4)
“When the cause of the mind’s restlessness is sense gratification and this restlessness is the main obstacle in the practice of devotional service, then all sensual activities should be dovetailed in the service of the Lord and the attachment to sense gratification should be transformed into attachment for the Lord.” (Sajjana-tosani 10/11)
How many platforms are there in sadhana-bhakti? What is the doorway of love of God?
“In sadhana-bhakti there are four platforms namely sraddha, nistha, ruci and asakti. After crossing these four platforms one has to come the platform of bhava which is the doorway of prema.”
By performance of sadhana-bhakti one makes advancement on the path of spiritual life. Although a practitioner of devotional service may not be an experienced farmer, an expert businessman or a clever warrior, nevertheless according to his qualification he has matured in the tactics of the highest human life. Even though an expert royal minister may not be able to operate a tank still he arranges the battle as the head of the army. In the same way a person who sees that a practitioner of devotional service is situated on the highest platform in all respects is actually intelligent and as such has achieved the mercy of the Lord.” (Caitanya-siksamrita 1/6)
Devotional service to K???a is touchstone and if fruitive activities and cultivation of knowledge which are like iron come in contact with it then they also transform into gold. This is the influence of the touchstone of devotional service.” (Sri Rupanuga Bhajana Darpana, Song 3)
“It is not a fact that just by executing the limbs of devotional service after taking initiation, K???a becomes pleased; only one who has unflinching faith in unalloyed devotional service can please the Lord.” (Sajjana-tosani 8/10)
“Until one develops faith in devotional service even though one has other good qualities apart from the quality of full surrender to K???a, one will not achieve devotional service.” (Sajjana-tosani 5/1)
“Those who have no pious activities have no sraddha. Even if they are preached to heavily, still they will not understand anything.” (Sajjana-tosani 11/11)
“Due to sadhu-sangha, sraddha gradually increases. The more one’s sraddha increases the more one becomes eager. At that time the only endeavor of a living entity is that he always searches for an opportunity to attain the lotus feet of the Lord. He sees that he is fully influenced by his anarthas and that his constitutional nature is dormant. He then engages in devotional service without deviation in the association of the saintly persons who are devoid of all anarthas and who are self-realized. This state of sraddha is called the sraddha which brings one to the platform of transcendence. This is the seed of devotional service.” (Sajjana-tosani 9/5)
“Associating with an intimate devotee of the Lord is taking shelter at the lotus feet of a spiritual master.” (Sajjana-tosani 2/1)
“One who has awakened pure devotional service in his heart is an unalloyed devotee of K???a. His association is most desirable. The association of madhyama adhikaris is also suitable. A practitioner of devotional service should always take shelter of devotees who are superior to him. In this way he can make advancement on the path of spiritual advancement.” (Commentary on Bhajanamritam)
“By observing the pure characteristics of a devotee, in a very short time a person’s mind is changed, his attachment for sense enjoyment decreases, and the seedling of bhakti sprouts in the heart. One even gradually develops a taste for the Vaishnavas’ food and behavior. We have seen how by associating with Vaishnavas, people have given up many anarthas—taste for associating with women, thirst for wealth, desire for sense enjoyment and liberation, inclination for karma and jñana, eating meat and fish, drinking wine, smoking tobacco, and the desire to chew pan. By observing a Vaishnava’s quality of not uselessly wasting time, many people have easily given up anarthas such as laziness, oversleeping, useless talk, urge of speech, etc. We have also seen that by associating with Vaishnavas for sometimes, someone’s cheating propensity and desire for fame have been destroyed. We have seen with our own eyes that by associating with
Vaishnavas with a little affection, all other association, such as attachment for prejudices, has been vanquished. Those who are attached to winning fights, those who are expert at attaining dominion, those who are eager to accumulate great wealth—all such types of people have attained devotional service by being purified in the association of Vaishnavas. Even the hearts of persons who think, “I will defeat the world by my arguments and attain supremacy,” have been pacified. Without the association of Vaishnavas there is no alternative for rectifying the attachment for prejudices. (Sajjana-tosani 11/11)
“The sadhus award divine eyes to our hearts.” (Bhagavatarka Maricimala 15/17)
Insights from Devotees
Jyotisvara Prabhu (who lives in Denmark):
Vrtrasura, because he was a great devotee from his previous life, had many good qualities although circumstantially in the body of a demon. Thus he instructed both the demons and demigods about their duties.
Those who are innocent can be engaged in devotional service by an expert devotee.
Rishikesh is special because people do not come here for gross sense gratification. They can do that elsewhere. Generally they have a higher purpose in coming here.
Materialists cannot conceive of continuing to live without their possessions and their relationships. It is so unthinkable to them, they prefer to believe that at death everything is finished.
In the course of performing service for Krishna regardless of success or failure, we come to realize our purpose is the service to Krishna itself, not any gain that may or may not come from it.
The practical experience of detachment that always comes to my mind is where we are standing on the street distributing books. We realize that is completely up to Krishna how successful we are. It is actually the same with any other service. We have to do our service with a positive attitude, and treat people nicely so they will come back. We also see we are becoming purified. And then beyond that there is whether we are actually successful.
We cannot be friends with everyone who is a devotee but we can try to appreciate what they are doing in devotional service.
If we just facilitate people nicely, the people can do so much devotional service.
Patri Prabhu (from Russia who lives in India):
Here in Rishikesh so many sampradayas giving their idea of perfection.
Out of curiosity, I went to hear one of the most prominent teachers of yoga with hundreds of ashrams in India speaking at his ashram in Rishikesh. I was surprised to see he was giving lecture from within a bullet-proof box. Thus he did not have the initial qualification of a spiritualist, abhaya, fearlessness. After the lecture, I spoke to him, and I found him to be very suspicious. Later, I was in his presence, and he was criticizing the devotees who were distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books in Hindi. When he started criticizing Prabhupada, I told him in Hindi to stop speaking. He was surprised, and started speaking in Sanskrit. I knew enough Sanskrit to follow what he said. And that got him off guard. I talked to him in Hindi and asked if he knew the four Vedas. He did. I said there is no hope for me of studying the four Vedas, could you summarize them in two lines? He became agitated, as if that was impossible. I suggested perhaps I knew one verse that could do it, Bhagavad-gita 15.15, which I quoted. All the pujaris were happy to hear it.
We look for shelter. When we travel, when we arrive at our destination, we immediately look for a place to put our bags.
At the Kumbha-melas so many so-called spiritualists are there who cannot even control their senses in a basic way.
Prabhupada once asked Bhurijana if he understood his innermost desire. Bhurijana said that Prabhupada wanted everyone one the planet to become Krishna consciousness. Prabhupada was pleased by his answer.
A pencil has its essence within, it needs occasional sharping and it must coexist with other pencils in a box. Similarly with the conditioned soul—its essence is the soul within the body, it needs austerity to remain spiritually sharp, and it must live with others.
One boy with one arm insisted on learning judo so much the master finally relented and taught him. He only taught him a single move, but he practiced the move faithfully month after month. He was puzzled how the other students were given so many moves to learn, but he was only given one. It came time for the championship and the master told him to participate. He was doubtful as he only knew a single move, but the master assured him everything would be alright. He won contest after contest until he was the best of all. How was this possible he asked his teacher. The teacher explained, “I taught you a very difficult move. There is only one way to counter that move, and that is if they grab your right hand, but you have none, so you were always victorious.” The lesson is that even if we are handicapped in so many ways, if we have a genuine spiritual master and we follow his instructions, we will also be victorious in spiritual life.
Madhavananda Prabhu [from a lecture tape on Puri yatra]:
Jagannath Puri is vipralambha-ksetra, the place of separation.
Ambarisa Maharaja Prabhu [from Argentina]:
We have to respect everything because it is an expansion of the energy of the Lord.
Srimad-Bhagavam is the avatar of Krishna for Kali-yuga, and thus it helps all kinds of people to benefit spiritually. It is the remedy to cure our disease.
The earlier cantos show Krishna’s power so we will not take Him as an ordinary person.
Although someone can attain perfection in a week or a day, it is generally a gradual process.
In Peru they worship the Earth with flowers and leaves for prosperity.
In this age, politicians do not give up their posts till death.
Gopa Swami Prabhu:
A leader must remember he is a servant. Especially, he is a servant of the saintly persons. A leader is meant to make his subordinates happy.
There are one million people that do not even have enough water. The Lord is not happy about poor administration that is responsible lack of food and water on the planet.
Because we followed Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to stay together and preach in a big way, ISKCON is still a connection to Lord Caitanya’s mission.
I am inspired to see that so many new devotees are enthusiastic to follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.
The servants of Lord Caitanya have the duty of killing the materialistic consciousness of the people in general.
Q: What is the qualification of a good leader?
A: The leader must seek the association of serious, learned devotees who have the compassion for others.
You will improve more than you can think of now by the power of this practice of Krishna consciousness.
Samika Rsi Prabhu:
Prabhupada talked extensively about varnasrama and how the divisions should be based on qualities not birth.
If we do the varnasrama duties for our own personal satisfaction instead of for Krishna, it is external and will not satisfy our soul.
Exploitation and discrimination can be eliminated when we properly follow varnasrama.
Srila Prabhupada wanted to create some real brahmanas in order to establish the varnasrama social system. He said that wealth and strength should be used support this divine social system and otherwise it advances degradation.
One reason that Krishna played the role of a cowherd boy was to show by his example how important cow protection is for society.
comment by Sankarsana Prabhu: Krishna Himself clearly indicates in Bhagavad-gita 4.13 the divisions are based on quality and work and not birth. That is very strong evidence from the supreme authority.
The solution for the present upheaval is to establish the brahminical culture.
People who are strong in this knowledge must communicate to people on a one-to-one basis.
comment by Sankarsana: The real solution is for each of us to follow individually. If we are pure in heart, regardless of our position, Krishna will give us intelligence do to our role properly.
Janardana Prabhu:
What can you offer to one who has Krishna, who is more valuable than anything? It is like offering a lamp to the full moon which is illuminating the whole nighttime sky.
Only by telling others about Krishna consciousness can we hope to satisfy our spiritual master.
Today the hospitals are getting bigger and bigger. You do not see a hospital getting smaller. This means diseases are increasing. Similarly prisons are also increasing.
By becoming Krishna consciousness we can end the problem of repeated birth and death and make a permanent solution.
We have to tell people the truth for their ultimate benefit. Most of the time the truth hurts.
We should tell the conditioned souls how to go back to the spiritual world, where all their aspirations will be fulfilled, but because people’s degree of attachment to the material world varies, we can tell people more or less.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said we should speak about Lord Caitanya to at least person every day.
By seeing the eagerness of a person to perform devotional service, we can appreciate his advancement in devotional service.
The professional speakers of topics of Krishna may know more details about Krishna’s pastimes than we do but because of their attachment to sense enjoyment those who hear from them do not get the real benefit.
Vrindavan is like a mirror. You see your heart clearly. If you have any material attachments, they show up.
People wear T-shirts saying, “I lost my heart in Vrindavan.” But is not an easy thing. If you are not regulated and your sadhana is not good, you can lose your brain in Vrndavana.
I have seen many people who go off to Radha Kund to associate with the babajis in Vrindavan in hopes of quickly attaining the lotus feet of Radharani. Most often after some time they return to their countries and to their old habits. That is because material desires remained in their hearts.
An expert preacher listens first. You say one sentence and see how their respond. Try to be a good friend.
Pancagauda Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada has given us Srimad-Bhagavatam so we do not have to speculate about the Lord and His incarnation.
Lord Rama appeared to exhibit ideal human character and to please the demigods.
People would often try to get Srila Prabhupada’s personal opinion, but he preferred to give people the conclusions of the previous spiritual masters and the scriptures.
The bow which Lord Rama broke was carried by three hundred men.
Apparently Ravana by his mystic power could manifest ten heads at will although he also appeared in more normal form.
There are remains of the bridge constructed by Lord Rama to Lanka which you can see.
Our greatest enemy is the uncontrolled mind. But we have great weapons in the chanting of the holy name, in the association of saintly persons, and here, in the potency of Sri Vrindavan Dhama.
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punah punah piyaiya haya mahamatta
nace, kande, hase, gaya, yaiche mada-matta
nace, kande, hase, gaya, yaiche mada-matta
“Sri Panca-tattva themselves danced again and again and thus made it easier to drink nectarean love of Godhead. They danced, cried, laughed and chanted like madmen, and in this way they distributed love of Godhead.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 7.22)