Diary
of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 11
By Krishna-kripa das
(June 2015, part one)
By Krishna-kripa das
(June 2015, part one)
The
North of England, Edinburgh, Brighton, London and Birmingham
(Sent from Newcastle-upon Tyne on July 6, 2015)
(Sent from Newcastle-upon Tyne on July 6, 2015)
Where
I Went and What I Did
After
so much traveling around The North of England in
May, and even visiting
London, I finally settled down in Newcastle for a week, except for
two one-day trips, one on Tuesday to Edinburgh to do harinama
and
speak at their weekly Tuesday evening program,
and one on Saturday to York, to do harinama
and
speak at their monthly evening program. While in Newcastle I did
harinama there
and in the nearby cities of Chester-le-Street, Durham, and
Sunderland. The following week I did harinama
and
an evening program in Chester.
Then
to Sheffield for their Wednesday evening program and Thursday
afternoon kirtana,
and
to Brighton to do harinama
and
spend time with Janananda Goswami on Friday and Saturday. Back to
London for the Ratha-yatra on Sunday. Monday I chanted in Birmingham
with Sutapa Prabhu and devotees from the Manor and the world harinama
party,
Harinam Ruci, on our way to chant in the cities around Manchester for
the next several days.
I
share a quote by Srila Prabhupada from Srimad-Bhagavatam, a
quote by Sanatana Goswami from Brihad-bhagavatamrita,
quotes from the books and
journal of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, a story by Jayadvaita Swami, and
notes on lectures by Janananda Goswami, Jagadatma Prabhu, Parividha
Prabhu, and Sadbhuja Prabhu.
Thanks
to Agi for the pictures of Chester harinama
and
evening program,
Dharmatma
Prabhu for the picture of Parividha Prabhu and me at the London
Ratha-yatra, the Hare Krishna Festivals devotees for two pictures of
the London Ratha-yatra stage show, Martine for two pictures of
Brighton, and Harinama Ruci for two pictures of Birmingham.
I
would like to thank Janananda
Goswami, Clive of Chester,
Lochan Das Thakura Prabhu of Brighton, Rima of Edinburgh, and Gaura
Karuna and Vishnujana Prabhus of the Harinama Ruci world traveling
harinama party
for their kind
donations.
Itinerary
July
5–6: Newcastle
July
7: Edinburgh
July
8–9: Newcastle
July
10: Leeds
July
11: Chester
July
12: Manchester
July
13–15: London
July
16–17: Prague
July
18: Munich Ratha-yatra
July
19: Prague Ratha-yatra
July
20–26: Baltic Summer Festival
July
28–August 2: Polish Woodstock
August
3–15: Czech Padayatra?
August
16–18: Bratislava?
August
19: Prague?
August
20–23: Trutnov (Czech Woodstock)
August
24: London
August
25: Edinburgh?
August
26: Newcastle
August
27: Preston
August
28: Liverpool
August
29: Manchester
August
30: Leeds
August
31–September 1
September
2–3: Sheffield
September
4–7: Ireland
September
8: New York City
Harinama
in Chester-le-Street
I
was simply amazed by the positive response we received in
Chester-le-Street, a city of 37,000 near Newcastle. One devotee named
Atula Krishna Caitanya Prabhu lives there. His health is not good,
and it is hard for him to come to the temple regularly. It means a
lot to him for us to chant in his town, and he always joins us.
Prema
Sankirtana Prabhu, Radhe Shyam Prabhu, Madhuri Devi Dasi, who are all
young and enthusiastic, came from Newcastle. We chanted for ten
minutes to and from our car to the front of a shopping center where
there was a steady flow of people.
One
lady, who gave us a donation, passed by our party a second time
telling Madhuri, “It is nice to hear some music that makes you
happy for a change.” A few school children, dressed in their
uniforms, moved with the music and joked with us.
Considering
the smallness of the place, the sorts of people you find there, and
that we stayed barely an hour, I was surprised that people donated
£10.96 and took four or five books!
Harinama
in Durham
After
Chester-le-Street, Prema Sankirtana Prabhu, Radhe Shyam Prabhu,
Madhuri Devi Dasi, and I went to Durham. They are so enthusiastic, it
was great to be chanting with them.
I
thought it was humorous we stood near a Marks and Spencer display
entitled “Tastes of the British Isles.”
One
favorable young man from Singapore, who had come to one of the Durham
programs, was happy to see the devotees again.
Still
it was striking to me that although people are more sophisticated in
Durham, a university town, much fewer people gave donations and took
books than in Chester-le-Street.
Harinama
in Edinburgh
In
Edinburgh we have a new storefront called Gauranga Mantra Centre,
which is run by a Lithuanian couple, Lucas and Rima, who have three
programs a week there, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
I
chanted in Edinburgh for three hours the day of our Tuesday program
and an hour the next day. Yamuna Devi Dasi, a devotee who lived in
Scotland for many years, and who was up from London visiting her
daughters that go to the university there, joined me most of the
time. We had a busy location and amazing weather for Scotland. We met
a couple of Indian families and a couple of local musicians who were
interested in hearing of our programs in Edinburgh, but otherwise not
so many people interacted with us.
There
were a few Scottish people at the program and many Bengali speaking
people who had emigrated there. The final kirtana
was
very lively.
Harinama
in Newcastle
I
decided to encourage the devotees in Newcastle to do harinama
before
our two-hour
evening
kirtana on
Wednesday, and I was very happy that six of them came out.
One
kid played the karatalas
with
us.
Some
Muslim kids enjoyed dancing with us.
Their
mom enjoyed taking a video of the kids.
The
Muslim
family
gave a £5
donation, and I gave them a Higher
Taste cookbook.
On the way back to the temple, we met some partying young people who got into dancing to our music.
One
young lady delighted in playing the karatalas.
As I was doing harinama one day, an Indian student stopped to purchase Bhagavad-gita. He was from Iowa but getting his masters in organic farming at Newcastle University. He attended Hare Krishna programs in New York’s Lower East Side but had not met devotees in Newcastle yet.
He
chanted with me for half an hour.
Later
that day
a young lady majoring in psychology at the same school and interested
in Hinduism’s oneness and altered states of consciousness also
bought a Gita.
Harinama
in York
Harinama
in York was amazing. We had nine devotees coming from Newcastle and a
couple from Leeds. Many groups of people danced with us, mostly
ladies. Govardhan Dasi of
Scarborough,
is the inspiration behind the York harinama,
and
she sings in this video and many people dance
(https://youtu.be/6BecU_ZP9KU):
One
man holding a tray of pizza samples really enjoyed dancing with us,
but because I was playing karatalas
I
could not take a photo of it.
A
married couple danced in front of our kirtana,
and
if you have Facebook, you can see Govardhan Dasi's video of it:
https://www.facebook.com/jackie.parcellgovardhana/videos/vb.100007077215749/1638889076356984/?type=2&theater
We
also chanted in a fast food place, where all the employees were
delighted to take part (https://youtu.be/96nd-H82aPE):
Another
lady tried playing our instruments, both drum and gong.
Priya
Sundari Devi Dasi swung one lady around.
Later
when Radhe Shyam Prabhu was singing, another group of ladies danced
with us (https://youtu.be/hIRIo-0vJ-g):
Two
young men who were friends stayed with us for over two hours, one
coming to the entire program and taking japa
beads.
During
the kirtana at
our evening program, he accompanied the singer on the harmonium.
Later he admitted to being a musician himself and said his favorite
instrument is a 14-string lute.
He
also danced with the men.
The
ladies also danced at the program.
Harinama
in Sunderland
We
met a 55-year old man named Colin who asked me if I knew a devotee
named Janananda. He remembered him from 35 years ago. He had been to
Soho and the Manor, Juhu, Vrindavan, and Kurukshetra. He was more
into yoga and said bhakti was not for him. Too bad.
Harinama
in Chester
I
chanted with Clive for two and a half hours in Chester. Agi, Clive’s
wife, was there for almost all the time, except when she picked up
their boy, Mark, who stayed for the end of the harinama.
Then
Chand and his two kids joined.
About
the harinama, Agi
wrote, “We chanted for 3 hours in Chester yesterday. Many people
stopped, listened and talked to us. The kids were fascinated by the
chanting. Some of them even tried to play the little drum we had. One
man stopped and was taking pictures of us. We were sitting in front
of a shop, which was closed, but it seemed like had a new owner and
was getting ready to open, so this man came and we asked ‘Is this
your shop?’ and he said yes. Clive told him that we were blessing
his shop. . . . He was from London, but took a leaflet and a book and
gave a small donation.”
Some
social activists from a group called Concern were enlisting support
for their cause. I noticed two of them seemed attracted to the
kirtana, the
guy moving to the music and the red-haired young lady glancing at us
and smiling. I found they were from Manchester, and I gave them
invitations to our temple there. The lady said she liked the
chanting.
We
learned from one busker that we were supposed to relocate every hour,
and he relocated us after we had sung two hours in one place.
We had an evening program after the harinama, and three people who had come to a program the Hare Krishna Festivals devotees did in Chester earlier in the year came, all having a good time.
Harinama
in Liverpool
While
traveling between Chester and Sheffield, I had to change trains at
Liverpool Lime, and I had about 25 minutes to do harinama
there.
I
set up on the ramp leading up to the station, across from the steps
where people were smoking cigarettes and eating, while waiting for
trains or rides to their next destination. After my brief kirtana,
I
made a short announcement thanking the people for listening, telling
them that Hare Krishna was a spiritual sound vibration and offering
them invitations to our programs in Liverpool. A lady and her
daughter, who had taken some pictures of me, applauded, and I
inquired if they were from Liverpool. They said they were from
Brighton, and I told them I would be there this Friday, and one swami
was doing a program there at the Phoenix Center from 7:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m. I also gave them a “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and an
invitation to our Soho center in London, which is just an hour from
Brighton on the train. As I began to pack up my books, a guy asked if
they were sale. I said yes, and he asked the price. I told him the
Gita was
£5,
but the others were just £1. He took two small books for £2. I felt
victorious that I had connected with some people in Liverpool. I had
chanted half an hour in Chester before starting my journey that
morning, but no one had interacted with me there.
Chanting
in Sheffield
Hari
Suta Devi Dasi came up and chanted for two hours with me in
Sheffield, and a couple of her friends had positive interactions with
us. A few people gave donations, a couple books went out, and a few
people learned of our weekly program.
The
second day I chanted by myself for three hours in the morning. I
thought people would be more interested in the morning, as goodness
is more prominent then, but it was slow. One lady who wished I had
some Hindi books gave a pound and took Krishna
Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System.
The
chanting at the Burngreave Ashram was very inspired.
Calib, a Christian preacher in his early seventies with a very universal vision, was dancing both indoors and outside.
He
even danced on a chair,
and
then the table!
Many
people looked in the window and smiled, with several giving the old
thumbs up in appreciation. The devotees and attendees decided to do a
harinama in
the town the next week to spread the mercy beyond the Burngreave
Ashram and its passersby, and since I was to be based in Manchester
then, I decided to join them.
Harinama
in Brighton
Taking
advantage of a cheap £5 advanced purchase ticket, I took a midday
train to Brighton on Friday to do harinama that afternoon,
instead of arriving just in time for Janananda Goswami's evening
program there.
I
chanted by myself for three hours, getting a mixed reception,
although expecting a more positive one from this community, largely
of descendants of the hippies.
I
set up first in between two shops, hoping to avoid antagonizing
anyone. Because one shop was displaying clothes in front of it, I was
actually to side of the shop adjacant to it. After I played no more
than 7 minutes, the lady from the clothes shop went into the shop
next door, and told the owner to kick me out, which he did in not a
very polite way. I was not enthusiastic to pack up so soon after
setting up, but I did so anyway. As I left, I told the clothes shop
lady that usually people let me play half an hour or an hour before
they tell me to leave, and I expressed surprise. She said something
about business. I could not see how her business would suffer if she
let me sing for half an hour before complaining. I was not blocking
traffic to her shop nor singing so loud she could not talk to her
customers.
Next
I set up in front of a vacant shop. A couple people gave donations in
the course of an hour, but I think neither wanted books. One guy, who
claimed to be a Buddhist, told me that my chanting was agitating
everyone's mind and that I should stop. He thought it was cruel that
I was forcing the chanting on people. I pointed to my donation bowl
and said, “Well, some people liked it, otherwise they would not
have given anything.” He scoffed at what he called £1.20 which was
in reality more like £1.80. Completely disgusted with his mentality,
I decided to move to another location where he would not be bothered.
I was planning to stay only an hour at each location anyway, as some
towns have rules like that for buskers. Before I could pack up even
one of my books, a lady from a nearby shop came up to me, saying she
could hear me singing in her shop, and that she just wanted to give a
donation. She gave £1, and I gave her a book. I was very pleased to
see the arrogant rascal's statement that everyone disliked my
chanting proved false immediately!
I
chanted over an hour at my next spot, which was near a bank machine,
and as luck would have it, the Buddhist guy came by to take money
out. He used the opportunity to say more negative things to me,
calling me a Nazi for forcing my beliefs on people. This time I did
not move. Several other people had appreciated my chanting by then,
and I knew the guy had no authority in Brighton despite his threats
and that he would go away. Thus I just chanted, being happy I was
doing my duty, and giving pleasure to more open-minded people. People
gave £8.22 and took two books that afternoon in Brighton.
After
chanting by myself for three hours, I did harinama with
Janananda Goswami and local devotees from the library to the Phoenix
Community Centre. I was happy to be in the association of the
devotees again, after a more stressful afternoon than usual.
On
Saturday, there
was a music festival in The Level, a park near the devotees regular
meeting place, the Phoenix Community Center, and we did harinama
there
for three hours.
The
presence of Janananda Goswami was a great inspiration. He has a lot
of faith in the holy name and interacts nicely with both the devotees
and the onlookers.
Many,
many people were there, and the venue was big enough we could chant
and be heard in several places in the park and still not disturb
people who wanted to hear the music on the stage.
She
did a video phone call with Sita Dasi so she could show her that she
encountered the Hare Krishnas in Brighton.
The girl was happy when I told her and her friends about tomorrow’s Ratha-yatra in London, and she said she would try to go.
The girl was happy when I told her and her friends about tomorrow’s Ratha-yatra in London, and she said she would try to go.
It
was beautiful to see the happy smiles of those dancing with us.
Sometimes
people would raise their arms like dancing devotees.
One
couple swung each other around.
Another
danced with us for fifteen minutes.
One
young mom wanted blessings for her baby.
One
girl who sometimes attended our Brighton programs danced the best she
could on her rollerblades.
One
devotee lady delighted in swinging onlookers around.
She was so bold, she
even swung one police lady.
At
one point we chanted in a nearby indoor market.
Janananda
Goswami had to leave after 2¼ hours, but I like to chant three hours
a day, so I was overjoyed that several devotees were willing to stay
out another forty-five minutes.
We chanted at the entrance to the
park.
One devotee got separated from the harinama party. He expressed to his friend some worry that he would not be able find the Hare Krishnas in the festival crowd. His friend reassured him, “They will be easy to spot. They will be the ones who are smiling.”
London
Ratha-yatra
I
was very happy that when I got to the Soho temple, Radhe Shyam
Prabhu, Veera, and Priyanka, who I did harinama
with
in Newcastle, were there at reception to greet me.
Erzsebet was organizing a harinama to the Ratha-yatra site, and I arrived with my harmonium and amplifier, and there at reception were four friends I had done harinama with before. Thus we chanted together to Hyde Park Corner, the start of the procession. I led for ten minutes.
Madhuri led the rest of the time.
Madhuri’s
mother came with us, carried
the Hare Krishna sign, and
liked her experience on harinama.
Radhe Shyam Prabhu
played the drum.
Although
devotees traditionally have three carts in the London Ratha-yatra,
this year Titiksu Prabhu broke his foot, so they did not have enough
cart drivers. Rather than having two carts, they had just one, as we
do in the smaller cities.
I
like to dance for Lord Jagannatha, so I like to be in the chanting
party closest to His cart. In
the procession, there were some kirtana
parties
with powerful sound systems, but immediately in front of Lord
Jagannatha there was Parividha Prabhu, a great performer, with only a
bull horn.
I joined
him, and played
the kalatalas.
Ratnavali
dd played the djembe,
and
Rupa Manjari dd played the mrdanga.
Later
I
let Parividha Prabhu use my amplifier to supplement his bull horn.
At
one point, there was no kirtana
near
the deities between the lines of rope pullers, and I lent Govardhan
dd, who does harinama
in
York and other cities in The North of England, my karatalas
and
amplifier to start a kirtana
for
the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha and His chariot pulling devotees.
At
London Ratha-yatra I saw devotees from Newcastle, York, Leeds,
Sheffield, Preston, Manchester, Chester, Leicester, Birmingdam,
Brighton, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin.
I
talked to onlookers from Ireland, Sweden, and Australia.
One
group of four young ladies asked about this one man was sitting on a
platform by himself the whole time, pointing to the Prabhupada murti.
I
explained that Prabhupada left this world in 1977, and that was like
a statue of him, which we consider worshipable. They were surprised
because he looked so real. One of them who was from Ireland had been
to Govinda’s there. The ones who lived in London I gave an
invitation to a couple of introductory programs we are having at our
Soho temple in the summer. I also gave that invitation to others who
showed some interest in our stage program and festival.
Jayadvaita
Swami had a questions and answer booth, and was answering questions
and promoting his book, Vanity
Karma, about
Bhagavad-gita,
Ecclesiastes, and
the purpose of life.
Sometimes
I would dance with those chanting on the stage.
Generally
I felt satisfied being engaged the Lord’s service in many ways.
After
the festival, the Harinama Ruci world harinama
party
led a harinama
back
to the temple that lasted for one and a half hours. Especially at
Piccadilly Circus, many people interacted with us. I took some video
of it but lost my best video because my memory card was full. Here is
what I have (https://youtu.be/6Z-Z1nwIx2Q):
My
friends in Newcastle passed by that harinama
on
their way to the train station, and joined us for fifteen minutes.
I
took a little video of that (https://youtu.be/_vwvyU-KazY):
Chanting
in Birmingham
The
day after the London Ratha-yatra, I chanted in Birmingham with Sutapa
Prabhu, devotees from the Manor and the world harinama
party,
Harinam Ruci, on our way to Manchester to
chant
in the cities around there
for
the next several days.
We
chanted through a shopping center of several buildings called the
Bullring, and after the security kicked us out, we posed for a
picture at the bull that was their mascot.
While
in Birmingham, a young lady advertising for an oriental restaurant
danced with us.
We
also chanted in a Clark's shoe shop, and a couple workers especially
loved it
(https://youtu.be/EbKHed7PCDY):
We
chanted at the Lush Natural Cosmetics shop as well
(https://youtu.be/QSRa-EGOtuQ):
The
workers in these shops are often open to having the devotees chant
there, and we have chanted in the ones in Leeds and York before.
It
was wonderful to be chanting with such a large and enthusiastic
harinama party there in Birmingham.
Unusual Picture of the Month
I have seen people using two computers before, but when Kanwar of Sheffield works at home, he uses three!
To
see pictures I took but did not include in this issue, click on the
link below:
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
from
Srimad-Bhagavatam
6.14.10,
purport:
“Simply
ruling the land cannot solve man’s
problems unless the leader has spiritual capabilities. He must be
like Maharaja Yudhisthira, Pariksit Maharaja or Ramacandra. Then all
the inhabitants of the land will be extremely happy.”
Sanatana
Goswami:
From
Brihad-bhagavatamrita:
“Indeed,
without prema
[love
of God] the
nine kinds of devotional service are like vegetables without salt, an
elaborate meal without hunger, scriptural study without understanding
or gardens without fruit.”
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
“Chanting
Hare Krishna brings happiness
to the self like no other thing.
If you take a fish out of the
water and offer to wine and
dine it, it will remain
miserable. It can only
be happy if it is returned
to the water. Our natural,
constitutional situation is
to serve Krishna and we
cannot be happy if
we are not doing that.
Even if we have profit,
fame and adoration.
The scriptures say that
in the present age intelligent persons
will perform congregational
chanting, ‘in order to worship
the Lord who always sings
the names of Krishna.’ The chanting
of Hare Krishna pleases Lord Caitanya,
the yuga-avatara, and therefore
fills our heart with bliss
because He is our Lord and savior.”
to the self like no other thing.
If you take a fish out of the
water and offer to wine and
dine it, it will remain
miserable. It can only
be happy if it is returned
to the water. Our natural,
constitutional situation is
to serve Krishna and we
cannot be happy if
we are not doing that.
Even if we have profit,
fame and adoration.
The scriptures say that
in the present age intelligent persons
will perform congregational
chanting, ‘in order to worship
the Lord who always sings
the names of Krishna.’ The chanting
of Hare Krishna pleases Lord Caitanya,
the yuga-avatara, and therefore
fills our heart with bliss
because He is our Lord and savior.”
“The
harinama
chanters
are empowered. To a superficial
observer they may look
like ordinary street singers
or religious sectarians.
But they are delivering
the completely transcendental,
potent sound vibration,
the Hare Krishna mantra.
This chant, composed
of the names of Radha and Krishna
is confidential even to
the Vedas, but it has
been made easily
accessible by Lord Caitanya.
He requested His followers to always
chant the holy names.
And He predicted the
day would come when the Name would be heard
in every town and village. Those
who are actually assisting in His
mission are very dear to Him,
and they are making the world auspicious.”
are empowered. To a superficial
observer they may look
like ordinary street singers
or religious sectarians.
But they are delivering
the completely transcendental,
potent sound vibration,
the Hare Krishna mantra.
This chant, composed
of the names of Radha and Krishna
is confidential even to
the Vedas, but it has
been made easily
accessible by Lord Caitanya.
He requested His followers to always
chant the holy names.
And He predicted the
day would come when the Name would be heard
in every town and village. Those
who are actually assisting in His
mission are very dear to Him,
and they are making the world auspicious.”
“Kirtana
is the life and soul
of the harinama devotees.
They go out every day
and sing in public
for many hours until
their voices become
hoarse. Krishna re-energizes
them so they can
sing another day.
of the harinama devotees.
They go out every day
and sing in public
for many hours until
their voices become
hoarse. Krishna re-energizes
them so they can
sing another day.
They
taste the
kirtana
as the greatest nectar
and have no higher
desire than to do it
perpetually. They
are direct descendants
of Lord Caitanya,
who appeared
to inaugurate congregational chanting
and who personally took
part manifesting many
physical transformations
of ecstasy. Lord Caitanya stayed
in India, but He wanted the mission
to be sung in every town and village.
Those who are carrying out
His mission are empowered by Lord Caitanya
with direct sakti.”
as the greatest nectar
and have no higher
desire than to do it
perpetually. They
are direct descendants
of Lord Caitanya,
who appeared
to inaugurate congregational chanting
and who personally took
part manifesting many
physical transformations
of ecstasy. Lord Caitanya stayed
in India, but He wanted the mission
to be sung in every town and village.
Those who are carrying out
His mission are empowered by Lord Caitanya
with direct sakti.”
JAPA
REPORT
“I
prayed to Lord Caitanya
that the chanting not feel monotonous.
The audarya Lord revealed to me
that the mantra is ever-fresh. You
have to concentrate, be alert, creative,
and mindful. Hare Krishna is like a vaidurya
stone and as you turn it on your
tongue it lets you perceive
new jewel-like features.”
that the chanting not feel monotonous.
The audarya Lord revealed to me
that the mantra is ever-fresh. You
have to concentrate, be alert, creative,
and mindful. Hare Krishna is like a vaidurya
stone and as you turn it on your
tongue it lets you perceive
new jewel-like features.”
From
Japa
Transformations:
“The
Hare Krishna mantra is Him. It’s nothing else. It’s not about
Him, it’s Him. The song is made up of His Names—His
Name and the Name of Radha. The song is Him. The song is Her. Listen
closely and you won’t miss it. The song is Krishna embodied,
Krishna personified. The song is not another thing but Krishna
Himself, and that’s what’s so wonderful about it. The song is
Radha, the song is Krishna.”
“Harinama
brings
together
many varieties of people,
and they all get along
amicably and chastely.
They may have different
opinion and moods,
but when they get together
and sing Hare Krishna they are
a unified group. Harinama is a
great melting pot
where all people
of different backgrounds
mix harmoniously.
This is because beneath
all the external differences
we are all spirit souls,
servants of Krishna.
In harinama the
superficial differences
are forgotten, and
the spiritual oneness
becomes prominent.”
many varieties of people,
and they all get along
amicably and chastely.
They may have different
opinion and moods,
but when they get together
and sing Hare Krishna they are
a unified group. Harinama is a
great melting pot
where all people
of different backgrounds
mix harmoniously.
This is because beneath
all the external differences
we are all spirit souls,
servants of Krishna.
In harinama the
superficial differences
are forgotten, and
the spiritual oneness
becomes prominent.”
“Lord Caitanya then asks how the
trees and insects can be saved.
Haridasa replies that when there
is loud kirtana an echo occurs.
He says this is not actually an echo
but the chanting of the non-moving living entities.
Then Haridasa says, ‘When loud chanting
of the Hare Krishna mantra is performed
all over the world by those who follow in Your
footsteps, all the living entities moving and
nonmoving dance in ecstatic love.’ (Cc. Antya 3.72)
This verse is appropriate to present-
day harinama chanters, and they should
frame it and put it in a prominent place.”
Jayadvaita Swami:
from
a question and answer session after the London Ratha-yatra 2015:
A
nurse told me how she became a devotee. One lady said to her in great
anxiety, “Nurse! I am dying. What do I do?” The nurse said she
did not know. The lady died. As she was packaging the body, the nurse
considered, “I am also going to die. It is a problem that I do not
know what to do at the time of death. I should find out.”
Janananda
Goswami:
Sometimes
we feel there has got to be something more to life. I remember when I
was young I felt like that when I was watching a football game.
The
real happiness and peace is within, but it is covered over by our
attempts to find it in a material way.
We
cannot enjoy in this material world as it is a reflection of the
spiritual world. We cannot really enjoy a reflection of a person.
When
you are attached to someone, then their picture is more than a piece
of paper. Thus it is not hard to understand that the picture of the
Pancatattva, Lord Caitanya and His principal associates, is special.
I
was talking with a Sioux Indian, and I learned from him that they
believe in reincarnation. He explained, “If we have to kill some
animal, we offer prayers because that soul could be our grandfather.
We do not know for sure.” According to their history, they came
from India 20,000 years ago, and their totem poles were originally
Garuda stambas.
In
one Chinese city, some government officials asked the devotees to
chant in public in their devotional clothes.
When
I became vegetarian in 1969 that was such an uncommon thing that my
parents thought I should see a psychiatrist.
The
consciousness, not the work itself, is the key.
When
I was treasurer we had so many unpaid bills. We had not paid the rent
on Bury Place since we moved in six years before. The bailiff came to
the Manor to see if he could get anything to pay off the debts, but
because the property was in George Harrison’s name he could not
seize it. Had George Harrison given it to us, the court would have
taken away.
The
Queen’s counselor told Sivarama Swami at the time of the court case
against the Manor, “You do not know what a great thing your teacher
has done.” When
he saw that Sivarama Swami could not understand what he meant, he
explained, “You do not know what a great thing he did, nor can you
know, because you are in your forties, but I am in my seventies, and
that your teacher started his worldwide movement in his seventies is
not humanly possible.” The Queen’s counselor had read Srila
Prabhupada-lilamrita to
understand the case,
and
that was his realization.
Let
us all try to realize that we are of the same quality spiritually
though not materially. That is what the Ratha-yatra is all about.
Q:
I was trying collect money for Food for Life in Nepal, and when I
mentioned Hare Krishna, the person I was talking to said, “I do not
give anything to religions.” What do I do?
A:
It is just some covering from their past experience. You can ask
them, if you want, what is their issue with religion. Just be humble.
Everyone is entitled to his opinion.
Q:
Have you found the truth?
A:
Yes. In my encounters with my teacher, Srila Prabhupada, in the five
or six years before he left this world, I realized he was someone who
was living, loving, and giving the truth. I may not have fully
realized the truth myself. It is not a monopoly. Jesus Christ also
was giving the truth, maybe in different dosages and in different
details.
All
truly spiritual persons have feelings of goodwill for everyone.
Host:
“This His Holiness Janananda Goswami.”
Janananda
Goswami: “Not his holiness, his lowliness.”
Lord
Vishnu is not so impressed with the demigods who come to Him to pray
that He descend to kill the demons so the demigods can continue to
enjoy a life of sense gratification.
Some
of the pastimes in the Bhagavatam
take
place on the heavenly planets, so when it says something happened on
the bank of the Narmada River, it may well be in the celestial
Narmada and not the Narmada on this earth.
We
are like postmen since we are just delivering the message of Krishna.
We are not manufacturing it.
We
think because we are born in a country, it belongs to us, and we can
keep other people out. This discrimination takes place all over the
world and is based on this false premise.
In
Papua New Guinea, people did not recognize anyone beyond their rift
valley, and thus on this small island, there were 750 languages.
In
Kali-yuga, in a society of rascals, the biggest rascal becomes a
leader. There are not pious leaders. If someone is pious, he gets the
ax.
If
Srila Prabhupada did not come to the Western world, there would be no
sankirtana movement,
even in India.
About
fifteen years ago on Prabhupada’s disappearance day in Vrindavan,
one of Puri Maharaja’s disciples said, “No one else actually
understood the message of Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati, but Swami
Maharaja [our Srila Prabhupada] alone. While others sat around
discussing philosophy, he took the message and preached and boldly
attacked science and sense gratification.”
There
are 1 billion phones in India, which has a population of 1.2 billion.
In
Chinese they have ant farms where they cultivate ants for human
consumption. Still, eating ants and frogs is much less sinful than
eating cows.
It
makes no difference if we are in the mode of ignorance, passion, or
goodness. If we take shelter of the holy name, we will be delivered.
When
Bhaktivinoda Thakura encountered the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya,
his love for Krishna immediately awakened, and he realized how much
deviation had occurred in the practice of Gaudiya Vaishnavism since
Lord Caitanya’s time.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura predicted, “A personality will soon appear to preach the
teachings of Lord Caitanya and move unrestrictedly over the whole
world with His teachings.”
Srila
Prabhupada in his Back to
Godhead was
very topical. He wrote about topics that were on the peoples’
minds.
Jaladuta,
the
name of the boat on which Srila Prabhupada traveled to America, means
“messenger of the water.”
For
about twelve days there was a break in his Jaladuta
diary
because Srila Prabhupada was too sick to write.
One
year we distributed 500 Bhagavad-gitas
from our book table on the Boston Common to students attending the
hemp
festival there.
Srila
Prabhupada’s song, “Markine Bhagavata Dharma” is his mission
statement. It a revelation from his heart.
Jagatatma
Prabhu:
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura was born into a situation where his family ate meat and
worshiped the goddess Kali.
Lord
Caitanya appeared in a dream to Bhaktivinoda Thakura and told him to
take initiation from a jati-gosai
guru,
Bipin
Bihari Goswami,
because
that was all that was available and so he did. This guru was one of
those who thought Navadvipa, not Mayapur, was the birth site of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura had the place in Mayapur excavated and found broken mrdangas
and
evidence for Vaishnavas.
Jagannatha
Dasa Babajai chanted Gauranga ecstatically and leaped six feet in the
air when brought to Mayapur, although he was 120 years and carried in
a basket by his disciple.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura was the first person who was not British to be a high order
judge during the British Raj.
The
British were happy to let Bhaktivinoda Thakura worry about the
Jagannath temple. They considered it was a Hindu place, and they did
not want to deal with. It was actually the British Christians who
originally discouraged Westerners from going into the Jagannath
temple, not the Indians.
The
British were afraid of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. One of them considered,
“This Hindu is so powerful and so pure he could take over the
world, minimizing Christianity, Islam and the other religions. He is
a real saint.”
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura is very strong and strict and has the full mercy of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. He was especially empowered to write so many books, to
establish a world Vaishnava organization, and to reestablish the
teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura has written confidential things beyond what the Six Goswamis
had given, and thus he was considered the seventh Goswami.
Parividha
Prabhu:
All
my material desires were satisfied in my early twenties, but I was
not satisfied at heart. Thus I was looking for what life was all
about.
We
are always in maya,
either
maha-maya
[the
material energy of the Lord] or yoga-maya
[the
spiritual energy of the Lord] .
If
you become rich or famous, it is difficult because you do not know
who you can trust. You do not know who likes you or who is attracted
by your opulence. Thus rich and famous people have friends from their
youth, before they became rich or famous.
London
is one of the temples where they have plenty of flowers. Srila
Prabhupada said that many flowers make for opulent deity worship. If
you worship the Lord with opulence, you will find you will be blessed
with opulence.
“Pajama” you can say is related to yamini in Sanskrit which means “night.”
What
is not in relationship with the Lord becomes boring, but that which
is in relationship to the Lord is ever fresh.
I
went to a reunion of my secondary schoolmates about ten years ago,
when I was 55 years old, and most of them appeared to be at the end
of life. Their bodies were aching. But we devotees still have lots of
energy.
If
we find a hobby we can do in devotional service, we can find our
niche and be very satisfied.
Sadbhuja
Prabhu:
People
seek harmony and peace, but love is higher than these.
For
one to give one’s complete love, requires the perfect object. That
is Krishna, who is the complete whole.
There
is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
that says if you worship Krishna you may come to Him but if you
worship His devotee, you will definitely come to him.
Lord
Caitanya said, “When Vrakresvara Pandit is dancing I am present.
Indeed, when he is dancing both the demigods and demons are in
ecstasy.”
-----
mad-asrayah
katha mrstah
srnvanti
kathayanti ca
tapanti
vividhas tapa
naitan
mad-gata-cetasah
[Lord
Kapila said:] “Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus [saints] do not
suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with
thoughts of My pastimes and activities.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.25.23)
