Diary of a Traveling
Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 24
By Krishna-kripa das
(December 2015, part two)
By Krishna-kripa das
(December 2015, part two)
New York City Harinam,
Albany
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on February 12, 2016)
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on February 12, 2016)
I
rejoined the New York City Harinam party for the second half of December, except
for a one-day excursion to see my family in Albany for Christmas Eve. Because
of the cold, our NYC Harinam party sang in the subway stations except for a
couple days in Union Square and one night in Times Square. New Years Eve was
special in that I did harinama with
the NYC Harinam party at the subway stations at Times Square and Grand Central,
and outside at Bryant Park, and with the Bhakti Center devotees all the way
from the Bhakti Center, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, over the Manhattan
Bridge, to Radha-Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn.
I share notes on Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and books. I share a
quote of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share excerpts from the
online journal of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. I share notes on a Prabhupada
remembrance video wherein devotees talk about Prabhupada coming to the London
Ratha-yatra. I also share notes from devotees speaking at the Harinam Ashram,
including full-time residents like Abhiram Prabhu and Rama Raya Prabhu, and
visitors such Bhagavat Purana from the 24-hour kirtana in Vrindavan, Yashoda-dulal Prabhu, a brahmacari doing outreach in Montreal, Deva Madhava Prabhu, who
does harinama in Michigan, Isvari
Jahnava Devi who does harinama in
Vancouver, and Bhima-Karma Prabhu, who teaches mrdanga. I also have notes on a recorded lecture by Kadamba Kanana
Swami.
As it is the end of the year I provide my accounting report so
people who give me money know how I spend it.
Income and Expenses for 2015
Category Amount
Book Sales 67.31
Donations 3,796.15
Loans 8.16
Total Income $3,871.62
Category Amount
Book Purchases 13.60
Festival Fees 54.21
Gifts 377.09
Health 74.22
Electronics 3.64
Maintenance 49.07
Prasadam (Food) 53.67
Travel 3,347.22
Total Expenses $3,972.72
Balance -$101.10
I would like to thank all the people who kindly contributed in
2015 to make my extensive travel possible. These include, in descending order
by amount: Sivam of Maryland, Kaliya Krishna Prabhu of New York City, Baladeva
Vidyabhusana Prabhu of Gitanagari Press, Vishnu-priya Devi Dasi of Jacksonville,
Nanda Kumar Prabhu (IDS), Sivananda Sena Prabhu of Rotterdam, Janananda Goswami,
who covered my trip to Paris for Ratha-yatra and harinama, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne temple, Atmanivedana Prabhu, who
runs the Saturday evening program at 26 Second Ave., Sankarsan Lila Prabhu of
Gainesville, Sankarsana Prabhu of Potomac, Mother Sukhada of Alachua,
Prahladananda Swami, for my doing proofreading for him, Alan Miles and the
Liverpool Nama-hatta, Janardana Prabhu and the Leeds Nama-hatta, Anthony Bate
and the Preston Nama-hatta, my sister Karen, the Bhakti Yoga Club of UNF, Nama
Kirtan Prabhu of Tallahassee, Todd of Tampa, Dhruva Prabhu of Kansas City, my
sister’s partner Victor, Gaura Karuna Prabhu of the Harinama Ruci traveling
party, Janardana Prabhu & Amy, Lukas of Edinburgh, Kishor of Orlando and Tampa,
my mother, Kalki Prabhu of Newcastle, Lovelesh of Jacksonville, Sthita-dhi Muni
Prabhu (SDG), Jagannath Kirtan Prabhu (Havi Prabhu’s son), Ali Krishna Devi Dasi, Malini
Devi Dasi of Edinburgh, Bhakta Larry of Brooklyn, Martin from Leipzig, Clive of
Chester, Eleanora of Ireland, Punya Palaka Prabhu from Czech Republic, Ananta
Nitai Prabhu of Dublin, Govinda Prabhu from Scotland, Doug Rowling of Preston,
ISKCON South London, Haladhara Baladeva Prabhu of Leeds, Joe of Sheffield, John
of Leeds, Locan Das Thakura Prabhu of Brighton, Rima of Edinburgh, other devotees
from the Leeds congregation, my niece Fern and her friend Oliver, Kanwar of
Sheffield, Vishnujana Prabhu also of Harinama Ruci, Mariana of Sheffield,
Caitanya Candrodaya Prabhu from Ukraine, a lady on Dublin harinama, Govardhan Dasi, the Munich public, a Warsaw devotee,
Srinivas Prabhu of France, a man in Ybor City, an Oriental man at Lake Ella, a student
at FSU, and Krishna Kirtana Prabhu of Warsaw.
Thanks also to my many drivers and those who gave me a place stay
for the night. Thanks again to Jagannath Kirtan Prabhu for the Macbook he gave
me so I can work on this blog.
Thanks to the many people who were willing to chant Hare Krishna
with me in public and those who allowed me to chant with them. Striking among
them was Rama Raya Prabhu and his amazing New York City Harinam party with
dedicated souls doing harinama in New
York City six hours a day.
Itinerary
February 10–24: Gainesville area (and UNF and USF
campuses)
February 25: New York City
February 26–28: Dublin, Ireland
March 1–3: Mumbai
March 5–10: Mayapur Kirtan Mela
March 12–21: Rishikesh Harinama
March 22–April 11: Vrindavan?
April 13: Mumbai
April 14–: Dublin, Ireland
April 27: King’s Day, Amsterdam
April 30–May 1: Birmingham 24-hour kirtana
May 2–: The North of England and Scotland
July 12–16: Polish Woodstock
September 13–: New York City Harinam
New
York City Harinam
We chanted Hare Krishna in the Times Square subway station the
first Saturday I was there, and people interacted with us in different ways (https://www.youtu.be/v5J-ENYbmVw):
Once as we were chanting Hare Krishna in the Times Square subway
station, a friendly Afro-American guy eagerly asked me, “What do you guys
believe?” I explained we come in the Hindu tradition, but we worship “the one
God,” as many religions do. According to the ancient Vedas of India, the most
powerfully transformational spiritual practice is to sing the names and glories
of God with others.” He replied, “That is the best thing I have ever heard!” I
think he found it refreshing that we were not just another group claiming we
were better than the others, but that we gave him universal knowledge.
I offered one young man who glanced favorably at our Times Square
subway station chanting party a Bhagavad-gita.
He said he already had it and that it was the best book ever written! I
encouraged him to take a Science of
Self-Realization, but he declined saying he already had the Gita. I offered to give him an
invitation to our weekly Bhagavad-gita classes,
but he said he would not come, because he was “a free thinker.” Such a mixture
of fortune and misfortune!
One Sunday we had an especially lively harinama in the Union Square subway station. Nikunja Bihari, Rama
Raya, and Kishor Prabhus all led some lively chanting of Hare Krishna, inspiring
people to dance and take photographs and videos. Devotees distributed books and
sweets. Here are some highlights (https://youtu.be/CqyNYoLx71k):
One smiling Muslim lady watched our chanting party briefly in the
subway station at Union Square, and I offered her an “On Chanting Hare
Krishna.” She asked what this was about, and I explained it was a practice of
worship of the Supreme Being, Allah, Jehovah, etc. She asked what we were
singing, and I said, “As you have one hundred names of Allah in your tradition,
in India they have a thousand names of Krishna, and we are singing some of
these names.” She danced to the music, and swung around, smiling the whole
while. The devotee ladies offered her shakers, and she happily played them with
the music.
Here Rama Raya Prabhu sings at the Union Square subway station (https://www.youtu.be/UQDTxdFpR28)
Sometimes Rama Raya Prabhu sings Hare Krishna to seasonal
melodies, such as the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” (https://www.youtu.be/souv1-FQEsc):
Some kids delighted in playing with the shakers on NYC Harinam at
Union Square subway station later in the week (https://www.youtu.be/IE-IgR_S6vI):
Once Rama Raya Prabhu sang at Union Square, inspiring Murali Gopal
Prabhu to dance, who in turn inspired others to dance (https://www.youtu.be/d2dJNq-pMbc):
Another place we chanted each week was Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center
subway station. On December 22, several devotees chanted very nicely and people
were attracted to participate in different ways (https://www.youtu.be/oHRl4d3e7_g):
Even though the month of Karttika had ended, we still gave people a chance to offer lamps to a picture of Krishna for an hour in the evening, and some people participated, sometimes along with their kids.
Christmas
Eve
I brought one of the Doughnut Plant’s seasonal doughnuts, the
Christmas Tree doughnut, to show to and share with my family. Unfortunately, it
lost some of its decoration in transit.
A week earlier, I had met by sister Karen and niece Fern at Penn
Station, and shared with them a cocout crème doughnut and a Christmas Tree
doughnut, but I wanted the others to see the Christmas Tree doughnut so I
brought one home at Christmastime.
I went to the Quaker Christmas Eve program with my family. As
usual there was a nice spiritual feeling when singing the songs about the appearance
of Jesus in this world.
There was a little nativity drama depicting the story of the
appearance of Jesus Christ. I volunteered to be a “wise man from the East” as
there were too few volunteers.
While at the Quaker meeting, I read an interesting quote by E. B.
White expressing difficulty in trying to improve the world without being
seduced by the world. Ideally by working to enlighten people about their
spiritual potential and how to achieve it, we can be so much engaged we will
not have a chance to be seduced by the material world, and we will purify
ourselves and others so much so that the world will benefit both spiritually
and materially from our actions.
I made carrot coconut rice and coconut burfi for the Quaker potluck, but I did not stay as my
family likes to eat at Indian restaurants on Christmas Eve. My Quaker friends
encouraged me to stay, and I promised next year I would come in another vehicle
so I could spend half an hour with them before going off with my family.
Christmas Eve was special as my family went to new Indian
restaurant this year, and it turned out that the proprietor had visited
Gitanagari, the Hare Krishna farm in Pennsylanvia that my mother had also
visited at the time of my initiation. He had attended the Chicago Ratha-yatra
as well. Because I was a devotee, he gave us all free galubjamuns, and he gave my friend Victor, a free mango lassi, as I let him try mine and he
liked it.
Christmas
Christmas was warm enough for us to chant outside in the fresh air
at Union Square during the day, a pleasant change from the subway station.
We were also able to sing at Times Square, which was Abhiram
Prabhu’s inspiration, in the evening (https://www.youtu.be/VMQqg8KSy8Q):
A Hispanic mother and daughter delighted in watching and listening
to the chanting at Times Square, taking pictures, and trying to sing along,
reading the mantra from a card.
Some people took great pleasure dancing with the devotees, as did
these girls. One of them told me she was from Wisconsin and seeing the Hare
Krishnas chanting was a new experience for her.
After
Christmas and Before New Years Eve
A young lady who learned of the 26 2nd Avenue program
from our harinama came to visit it
the day after Christmas. She joined us again on NYC Harinam, this time in the Times
Square subway station soon after that.
December 27 was warm enough to chant outside at Union Square.
Some
passersby played our instruments.
They also
took pictures of each other with us.
Some kids
also participated with us.
The next day at Grand Central subway station Rama Raya Prabhu
ended Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s disappearance day with a fired-up kirtana getting the devotees dancing.
Stella, visiting from Montreal, was delighted to record and share it (https://youtu.be/YkiulL-U9EU):
I also took some video of it (https://www.youtu.be/PYS_sHw2MGo):
New
Years Eve
We began chanting at the Times Square Subway Station on New Years
Eve at our usual spot just above the 7 train on the long corridor to Port
Authority.
It was great chanting with Bhagavat Purana Prabhu as he is so
enthusiastic and interactive, and he helped me sing the lead. Deva Madhava Prabhu
was also a great asset, playing the drum and loudly singing the response. It
was sufficiently fired up passersby took photos and movies. Stella took a video of me chanting, which you can see if you are my
friend on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/krishnakripa.das/posts/10153896073293665).
Then a large group of Christians came. One would pace back and
forth and evangelize into an amplifier directly in front of our party. He was
so rude. The police solved the problem by telling both of us that the corridor
was not wide enough for either of us and we would have to move. Although the
police said we could go the subway station at Eighth Avenue, Rama Raya Prabhu
thought it would be too chaotic there, and relocated us to Grand Center Subway
Station. Around 5 p.m. Abhiram Prabhu took half of our party on a walking harinama from Grand Central up to Bryant
Park. People from different parts of the world appreciated the devotees singing
on the sidewalks there. Because I like walking harinamas, I went with Abhiram Prabhu and distributed Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasure. After
what seemed to be a couple of hours I was so cold that when we passed the
Bryant Park subway station I left the party to return to Grand Central only to
find that rather than staying out extra late for New Years, our harinama party had finished at 7:30 p.m.
as usual. At first we were told that Abhiram Prabhu’s party would be
continuing, and so I grabbed another stack of Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasures and planned to rejoin them. Then we
learned that party had also finished for the evening. Hladini, of the Bhakti
Center, who I knew from doing harinamas in
Florida, invited me to their Thursday evening kirtana which was to be followed by a harinama across the Manhattan bridge to Brooklyn, and then kirtana at Radha-Govinda Mandir till
midnight. I was not enthusiastic enough to chant till midnight for
Radha-Govinda, as I would still be woken up between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. for our
morning service, but I was up for the Bhakti Center kirtana and the harinama. I
told my friend Deva Madhava Prabhu about the opportunity, and I was happy that
he was eager to come along. He was a great asset on the harinama across the Manhattan Bridge as he has a loud melodious
voice and a lot of enthusiasm.
Little Italy was the liveliest spot we passed through.
I found that in each group of people that liked our chanting party
at least one was willing to take the Krishna:
Reservoir of Pleasure.
My camera does not take videos nicely in dim light, so I waited till we reached
a well lit area of Brooklyn to take a little video (https://www.youtu.be/T9aHGfl3sE8):
To see photos I took but did not include above, please click on
this link:
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From a class on Caitanya-caritamrita,
Adi-lila 1.5, in Mayapur, on March 29, 1975:
Bhagavan means full of six kinds of opulence. Not as nowadays
there are so many Bhagavans, they have no aisvarya
[opulence].
“We should know this, that in the spiritual world, to remain as
girlfriend and boyfriend, that is the topmost pleasure, and in the material world,
the same thing is the most abominable thing.”
“So when Krishna wants to enjoy—the enjoyment means these loving
affairs between man and woman—that is a fact. That is not an artificial thing.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained Vedanta-sutra, janmady asya yatah [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.1]. He has
said, adi rasasya janma yatra. Adi-rasa. There
are twelve kinds of rasas, mellow. Of
all of them, the adi-rasa... Adi-rasa
means the loving affair between man and woman. This is called adi-rasa. So, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
explains, janmady asya means the adi-rasa, loving affairs between man and
woman, that is from the Supreme Person. That's a fact. Unless the loving
propensity is there in the Supreme, how it can be reflected? Because this is
perverted reflection only, so there must be the origin.”
“Our Kaviraja Gosvami says that this Radha-Krishna prema, loving affairs between Radha Krishna,
it is a fact. It is not imagination. It is a fact. But this fact is different
from the fact we have got experience in this world. That is to be understood.
Don’t take... Just like sahajiyas.
They take the Radha-Krishna prema
just like ordinary lusty affairs in this material world. But that is not the
fact. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is a verse that the
loving affairs of gopis and Krishna,
Vishnu, it is not ordinary thing. If one can hear from the proper source, and
if he understands the real fact of rasa-lila,
then the result will be that his heart, which is full with lusty desire, that
will vanish. There will be no more lusty desires.”
“Sannyasa means giving
up everything for the Supreme. So for simply to relish a little bit of brahma-sukha [spiritual pleasure], these saintly persons, great, great
saintly persons, they are giving up everything. . . . This is very important
point. If for understanding little bit of brahma-sukha
we are giving up all material enjoyment, how Krishna can enjoy materially? He
is Param Brahman. Therefore those sahajiyas,
those who are taking that Krishna is enjoying with ordinary girls, they are
very, very, much misled. That is not the fact. Therefore it is said, hladini shakti. This is different. This
is in the spiritual world the topmost mellow, hladini shakti.”
Comments by Abhirama Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada is always reminding
us that the loving affairs of Radha and Krishna are completely different from
the loving affairs of the material world.
It is like there are two parties
going on. One, with Krishna in the spiritual world, where everyone is loving
Him and He is perfectly reciprocating everyone’s love, and everyone is feeling
spiritual ecstasy. Another one in the material world, where Krishna is not
present and everyone is trying to take His position. There everyone is
pretending to have a good time, but no one really is.
Prabhupada once explained that the devotee
is always looking at Krishna’s feet, and then after some time, when Krishna is
satisfied, He bends down to the level of His feet, and smiles at the devotee,
and says, “Here I am!”
Our materialistic society, through
the media, creates all kinds of illusory stereotypes that people become
frustrated trying to live up to because they have no basis in reality.
In America, we are living on land
that we obtained by murdering the previous residents, and which we stole. We
cannot expect positive cultural stereotypes to come from such a background.
If one has a bias to the truth, he
will be the best scientist, because he will lean in the right direction.
From Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.171, purport:
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to preach the sankirtana movement of love of Krishna throughout the entire world,
and therefore during His presence He inspired the sankirtana movement. Specifically, He sent Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana
Gosvami to Vrindavan and Nityananda to Bengal and personally went to South
India. In this way He kindly left the task of preaching His cult in the rest of
the world to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The members
of this Society must always remember that if they stick to the regulative
principles and preach sincerely according to the instructions of the acaryas, surely they will have the
profound blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and their preaching work will
be successful everywhere throughout the world.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,
Madhya-lila 19.159, purport:
“Kutinati, or diplomatic
behavior, cannot satisfy the atma,
the soul. It cannot even satisfy the body or the mind. The culprit mind is
always suspicious; therefore our dealings should always be straightforward and approved
by Vedic authorities. If we treat people diplomatically or duplicitously, our
spiritual advancement is obstructed.”
From a room conversation with Allen Ginsberg, May 12, 1969, in
Columbus, Ohio:
“If one loves Krishna, he must love Lord Jesus also. And if one
perfectly loves Jesus he must love Krishna too. If he says, ‘Why shall I love
Krishna? I shall love Jesus,’ then he has no knowledge. And if one says, ‘Why
shall I love Jesus? I shall love Krishna,’ then he has no knowledge either. If
one understands Krishna, then he will understand Jesus. If one understands
Jesus, you’ll understand Krishna too.”
From Path of Perfection, Chapter
3: Learning How to See God:
“As Lord Jesus Christ said, we should hate the sin, not the
sinner. That is a very nice statement, because the sinner is under illusion. He
is mad. If we hate him, how can we deliver him? Therefore, those who are
advanced devotees, who are really servants of God, do not hate anyone. When
Lord Jesus Christ was being crucified, he said, ‘My God, forgive them. They know
not what they do.’ This is the proper attitude of an advanced devotee. He
understands that the conditioned souls cannot be hated, because they have
become mad due to their materialistic way of thinking. In this Krishna
consciousness movement, there is no question of hating anyone. Everyone is
welcomed to come and chant Hare Krishna, take krishna-prasada, listen to the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, and try to rectify material, conditioned life. This
is the essential program of Krishna consciousness.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam
5.18.11, purport:
“Simply by hearing of the powerful activities of the Lord, the
devotee’s heart becomes almost completely cleansed of material contamination,
and thus his original position as an eternal servant who is part and parcel of
the Lord becomes manifest. While the devotee engages in devotional service, the
passionate and ignorant modes of material nature are gradually vanquished, and
then he acts only in the mode of goodness. At that time he becomes happy and
gradually advances in Krishna consciousness. All the great acaryas strongly recommend that people be given a chance to hear
about the Supreme Lord. Then success is assured. The more we cleanse the dirt
of material attachment from our hearts, the more we will be attracted by Krishna’s
name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and activities. This is the sum and
substance of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
From The Nectar of Devotion,
Chapter 30:
“It is stated in the Tenth Canto, Thirty-third Chapter, verse 11,
of Srimad-Bhagavatam, ‘Upon seeing
that Krishna’s arm was placed on her shoulder, one of the gopis engaged in the rasa
dance became so ecstatically happy that she kissed Krishna on His cheek.’ This
is an instance of feeling happiness because of achieving a desired goal.”
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura:
From his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.17.53:
“Unless a householder worships child Krishna, his attachment for
his children will remain strong. As long as the Lord’s pastimes in madhurya rasa do not become the subject of one’s meditation, one will
continue to think of his wife as the reservoir of all pleasure. Unless one
becomes a pure devotee of the Lord, accepting Lord Krishna as one’s only
friend, just like Sridama, one will not be able to give up the hankering for
temporary and superficial material relationships. Until one’s propensity for
rendering devotional service to Lord Krishna is awakened, one will continue to
foolishly demand service from others. One who is actually intelligent should
understand that there can be no satisfaction for the self on any planet within
the material world. Therefore, like a traveler who has become very tired while
traveling, one should go back home, back to Godhead. Eternal peace is the
condition of the faithful servant of Sri Krishna.”
Satsvarupa
dasa Goswami:
From My Search Through
Books:
One time, some of us told Srila Prabhupada that Camus and Sartre saw life as absurd. Srila Prabhupada replied, “It is absurd for him.”
From “Poem for December 19” in Viraha Bhavan:
From “Poem for December 19” in Viraha Bhavan:
“Today’s drawing shows three
bhaktas dancing and chanting
with upraised arms.
They are dressed very
colorfully and are dancing
with abandon. The
harinama movement brings
out the spontaneous spirit
of a person. It
is the original nature
and is evoked by
chanting. It breaks
up the material modes
of nature and brings
one to the transcendental platform.
While these men are
chanting Hare Krishna
they forget their material problems
and come directly
in touch with Krishna consciousness.
They even forget
their material bodies
and live as spirit souls.”
bhaktas dancing and chanting
with upraised arms.
They are dressed very
colorfully and are dancing
with abandon. The
harinama movement brings
out the spontaneous spirit
of a person. It
is the original nature
and is evoked by
chanting. It breaks
up the material modes
of nature and brings
one to the transcendental platform.
While these men are
chanting Hare Krishna
they forget their material problems
and come directly
in touch with Krishna consciousness.
They even forget
their material bodies
and live as spirit souls.”
From
a Prabhupada Remembrance Video about Prabhupada at London Ratha-yatra:
-----------------------
Shyamasundara
Prabhu:
I picked up Srila Prabhupada up in a helicopter when he came for
the London Ratha-yatra.
Prabhupada did not sit on his vyasasana
[seat of honor] on the Ratha-yatra cart, but danced and walked the whole parade.
We were all surprised because Prabhupada was sick.
Devotee lady:
After the helicopter ride, I heard Srila Prabhupada say, “I never
want to travel this way again.”
Mahavishnu
Swami:
I inherited £10,000 from my aunt. I was made in charge of London Ratha-yatra,
and I spent the money for the festival.
Devotee
lady:
The hairs of my body stood on end. Then I turned around and saw Prabhupada
dancing. I felt Prabhupada before I saw him.
Srutakirti
Prabhu:
The police wanted Prabhupada to stop dancing because it made the
devotees go wild. I ignored their request the first time. The next time I
tapped Srila Prabhupada’s shoulder, and said, “They want you to stop.” He
turned and looked at me, and then swung around and went back to dancing. I told
the police, “If you want him to stop, you will have to tell him yourself
because he will not listen to me.” They didn’t, and Prabhupada kept dancing.
Devotee
lady:
The way Prabhupada looked at Jagannath was the face of a man in
love.
-----------------------
Abhiram
Prabhu:
From a lecture on the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura:
Srila Prabhupada is an emissary from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura, empowered to expand his mission.
Srila Prabhupada spoke on this day in the last year he was present
(1977) and made some important points:
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s
appearance and disappearance was like that of Krishna in that he came to this
world from the spiritual world to execute a certain mission.
This human form of life is a rare
chance to attain spiritual perfection.
We are called vimudhan (foolish) because although Krishna has come to invite us
back to the spiritual world, in this rarely attained life, we are not
interested.
To convert us from vimudhan to intelligent, Krishna sends
His representative into this world. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is such a
representative.
The Vaishnava is unconcerned with
mundane profit, adoration, and distinction. He is busy doing good to others by
enlightening the people with spiritual knowledge.
Mundane people do not know how to do
good for humanity because they do not how to elevate them out of this cycle of
birth and death.
The human being can take instruction
from the scripture that he is a spiritual being and should endeavor for
spiritual perfection.
If we do not think of Krishna, we
remain in this cycle of birth and death.
The Vaishnava has the great
responsibility to share this great knowledge.
The real business of the Vaishnava
is not for himself but to help others.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s
spiritual gift is that he wanted every one of his disciples to go out and
spread this knowledge.
Lord Caitanya advised everyone to
become guru. How to become guru? Just repeat what Krishna has said.
This Mayapur is meant for this
purpose to preach Krishna consciousness all over this world.
Take Western money and Indian
culture and make the whole world happy.
Notes from a summary of the life of Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati
Thakura’s life:
Acyutananda, brother of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, became deathly sick, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
took karatalas and chanted Hare
Krishna for six days without eating. After that time his brother said that in a
previous life he was a Sri Vaishnava and he committed an offense against a
Gaudiya Vaishnava. By the pure chanting of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura the
offense was destroyed, and Acyutananda left this world.
At age seven, Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati saw Bipin Bihari, the guru of his father, Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
placed his foot on Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s head. When his father left the room,
he questioned that action. He said, “Do you know that my father is a nitya-siddha [eternally perfect] devotee
of the Lord. Are you really qualified to place your foot on his head?”
Because of the degraded Vaishnava sampradayas, the shaktas and the followers of Vivekananda and Ramakrishna became
prominent.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
would take on and defeat anyone and everyone to establish unalloyed Krishna
consciousness.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
knew the philosophies of all the Vaishnavas.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura considered
that to awaken the dormant attitude of service to the Supreme Lord is more
important than any other activity.
Whatever Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura asked others to do, he followed himself.
He cited Mundaka Upanisad verse
1.2.12: “Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum
evabhigacchet samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistam – To understand these
things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual
master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth”]
as describing the qualities of a guru.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s
presence was so impressive that people were humbled by it.
Of Hari-katha, he especially liked
to glorify Govardhan Hill.
Kadamba
Kanana Swami:
From a recorded lecture:
Keshava Bharati Maharaja, the guru who initiated Lord Caitanya
into the renounced order of life, sannyasa,
told him at that time: “I am calling you Krishna because You will make the
whole world chant Hare Krishna. I am calling you Caitanya because You will
bring life to the hearts of all people.”
Yashoda Dulal Prabhu [brahmacari preaching in Montreal, Canada]:
Even an insignificant living entity can speak nicely by the mercy
of the Vaishnavas.
Unfortunately we have been raised in such away as to develop our
attachment to our bodies.
You can say Krishna arranged the shop be named Matchless Gifts to
remind the devotees of the value of what Krishna is giving. His first gift is
the association of his confidential devotee Srila Prabhupada. Then Srila
Prabhupada gave us the holy names of Radha and Krishna.
Pure chanting is for the pleasure of the Lord.
The material world is controlled by the Lord, but everyone in the
spiritual world is controlled by love [prema],
including Krishna Himself.
Even as devotees, our experience of the unlimited is limited.
If we make the holy name the center of our life we can come to
experience the matchless gift.
Sincerity has no limit. If we think we are sincere, we are not
sincere.
The inner experience of great souls like Srila Prabhupada and the
Six Goswamis is only love.
Rupa Goswami’s definition of raganuga-bhakti
is to follow an associate of Radha Krishna.
Comment by Bhakta Avatar Prabhu: The Radharani and Lalita deities
at the Tota-Gopinath temple are black instead of their usual golden color, and
their pujari says the reason for this
is that they are absorbed in thinking of Krishna.
Like the fans of Brad Pitt, while watching his different movies, see
only Brad Pitt acting, although he is playing different roles, the Gaudiya
Vaishnavas see the incarnations of God as Krishna appearing as Nrsimha or as Krishna appearing as Lord Rama, etc.
We are already in Gaura-lila. If we are going on harinama every day or distributing books
every day, or if we are worshiping the deity every day under Srila Prabhupada’s
direction, we are already in Gaura-lila. It is just a question of realizing it.
Gopala Bhatta, as a nine-year-old boy, for four months massaged
the feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, cooked for Him, and ate His remnants. As a
result Gopala Bhatta’s eyes were always filled with tears of love of God, and
he was victorious in all scholarly debates because Lord Caitanya was present in
his heart.
The Gaudiya Vaishnavas prefer to see Lord Caitanya standing by the
side of the Garuda stambha rather
than to see Lord Vishnu riding on Garuda, His carrier.
Prabodhananda Sarasvati Goswami says that worshiping the feet of
Lord Caitanya leads to the supreme realization.
In Krishna book Srila
Prabhupada describes in one chapter about the gopis feelings of separation. There Srila Prabhupada indicates that
we are advanced to the extent that we feel separation for Krishna.
As the gopis felt
separation from Krishna, Krishna felt separation from the gopis. However the gopis, because
they were many, could console each other, while Krishna had to suffer
separation alone in Dvaraka.
Sivaram Swami says that the holy name of Krishna is more reliable than Krishna Himself, because you can count on Krishna being present in His holy name, while otherwise Krishna is sometimes here and sometimes not.
Prabhupada disciple Mandakini said when Prabhupada was present they would feel that love of God was even emanating from the walls.
Verses that came to my mind during the class:
“O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.34)
“Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind, as the wind agitates a boat, which has no resting place.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.1)
“One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” (Bhagavad-gita 14.26)
Sivaram Swami says that the holy name of Krishna is more reliable than Krishna Himself, because you can count on Krishna being present in His holy name, while otherwise Krishna is sometimes here and sometimes not.
Prabhupada disciple Mandakini said when Prabhupada was present they would feel that love of God was even emanating from the walls.
Verses that came to my mind during the class:
“O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.34)
“Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind, as the wind agitates a boat, which has no resting place.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.1)
“One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” (Bhagavad-gita 14.26)
Rama Raya
Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada wanted 24-hour kirtana in all our temples.
When Lord Caitanya went on harinama
everyone went—the scholar Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the king Prataparudra.
Also during Srila Prabhupada’s time, everyone wanted to go on the Saturday
night harinama in Times Square. Some
two or three people had to stay back to take care of the deities. They would
take turns so they all could go on harinama
sometimes.
Offering all respects to others in the ultimate issue means to
respect them as spiritual souls by engaging them in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement.
Either we are going to give our life to maya or we are going to give our life to Krishna.
Comment by Nihal: I met one person while distributing books who
remembered the Saturday night harinamas.
There were 60 to 80 persons chanting with such enthusiasm that the traffic
would stop. The man telling me the story still felt the wonder of it after so
many years.
There are people out there who are suffering and praying for God
to help them. Srila Prabhupada said that we have many customers out there.
Seeing prema-bhaktas chanting
the holy name is the ultimate coolness.
Lord Caitanya is the supreme revolutionary.
Srila Prabhupada’s prayer in “Markine Bhagavata Dharma” to Krishna
“I wish that you may deliver them” was backed up by forty years of service.
“I just tried to blindly follow the order of my spiritual master” –
look at how far it got Srila Prabhupada.
Jhansi was a failure, but he got the whole world.
Abhiram Prabhu tells that Stanley Kubrick said in an interview,
just before his death from terminal cancer, that he was approached by NASA to
make a moon-landing film.
Bhagavat
Purana Prabhu:
From an after dinner conversation:
Q (from new devotee): What are salagram-silas?
A: You could describe them as anti-material pet rocks.
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
8.5.32:
Scientists, by doing things like cloning, try to imitate the
original creator while at the same time they deny the existence of that
original creator. They are not humble enough to understand the existence of the
original creator.
Although the scientists have advanced intelligence from their past
pious activities, they still are subjected to the four material defects of imperfect
senses, the tendency toward illusion, the tendency to make mistakes, and the
propensity to cheat.
Although people try to insure their friends will be happy by
giving them gift cards so they can purchase their own gifts, their friends
still purchase items which are temporary sources of satisfaction and incapable
of giving them the ultimate happiness they desire, and so they are ultimately
frustrated.
As I recall, Srila Prabhupada advised to make harinama banners having gold letters on a light blue background.
Comment by Isvari Jahnava Devi: When I was young in Russia,
America seemed to us like a heavenly planet. We somehow got a Sears catalog,
advertising things we never had in Russia, and it was like a Bible to us.
Krishna arranged that now I came to Times Square, when I had no more material
desires. Times Square was hell for me, and I vowed to never come there again,
unless I am on a harinama party.
Isvari
Jahnava Devi:
One reason Krishna consciousness has become popular in Russia is
that the Russian people in Soviet times were brought up with ideals and people
who lived for ideals, and they understood value of community.
The communist goal was that people would work and would receive
whatever they needed. That is not possible in materialistic consciousness, but
it is possible in Krishna consciousness.
Deva Madhava
Prabhu:
The demigods teach by their example to first glorify the Lord
before asking Him for a benediction, even when they are experiencing supreme
distress and want relief.
Arjuna also, before asking Krishna to counteract the weapon fired by
Asvatthama, offered prayers to the Lord.
If we understand that Krishna is present everywhere, then we
should not feel anything is lacking anywhere at anytime. If we feel such a
lack, our realization of Krishna is not complete.
We should not think that seeing Krishna and hearing from Krishna
is different.
If we are not thoughtful, we will miss out on the fruit of the
experience.
Saying the prasadam prayers
helps us to take the prasadam in a
devotional consciousness and to get the full benefit of it.
After Christmas and New Years people are down because their
expectations are never met by their material enjoyments.
In the beginning of our devotional service, we are more running
away from maya, and at the stage of ruci, we are more running toward Krishna.
Bhima-Karma
Prabhu:
From a class on kirtana:
The mrdanga is a primary
instrument in the sankirtana.
Whenever the question of instruments in kirtana came up, Srila Prabhupada was firm in insisting that mrdanga and karatalas were essential for kirtana.
For some temporary preaching purposes, other instruments can be used, but
whenever we present kirtana, mrdanga and karatalas should be the main instruments.
In India, among classical musicians, the mrdanga is considered a simple folk instrument.
The natya-sastra covers
the art of performance and is a commentary by Bharata Muni on the section of
the Sama Veda dealing with that
topic.
Kirtana has musical
aspects, but primarily it is a spiritual activity.
Srila Prabhupada defines rasa
in two ways. One is relationship, such as the mother-child relationship
Yasoda has with Krishna.
The ratio of the distance between the big head and the widest part
of the drum and the distance between the small end and the widest part of the
drum is the golden ratio (0.618).
The difference between a classical musician and a kirtaniya is the classical musician
tries to please the audience and the kirtaniya
tries to please the Krishna.
Rasa is
expressed in terms of kriya or
activities.
Before we even touch the mrdanga,
we offer respect:
mrdanga-brahma
– rupaya lavanya – rasa-madhuri
sahasra-guna
samyuktam mrdangaya namo namah
[Unto the mrdanga, that
supreme Brahman formed as a clay drum which is infused with the sweet mellows
of graceful enchantment, and endowed with thousands of transcendental qualities,
I bow down again and again.]
Just as Krishna is the ocean among bodies of water and Krishna is
the sun among the luminaries, Krishna is mrdanga
among the drums.
The mrdanga mantra te, re, ke, ta is used to help develop
rhythm.
Visakha [the intimate associate of Radha and Krishna] plays the mrdanga.
The example that we can learn from Srila Prabhupada’s mrdanga practice is that he went to a mrdanga guru in the tradition and he remained
chaste to his guru, not inventing beats of his own.
-----
This verse reminds us of the fact that if the holy name of the
Lord is chanted, despite many different discrepancies, the function is a
complete success:
mantratas
tantratas chidram
desha-kalarha-vastutah
sarvam
karoti nishchidram
anusankirtanam
tava
[Sukracarya, the spiritual master of the demons, said to Lord
Vamana, the incarnation of Krishna, regarding sacrifice:] “There may be
discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative
principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place,
person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted,
everything becomes faultless.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam
8.23.16)