Diary of a Traveling
Sadhaka, Vol. 12, No. 3
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2016, part one)
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2016, part one)
North Florida
(Sent from Mayapur on March 10, 2016)
(Sent from Mayapur on March 10, 2016)
Where
I Went and What I Did
The
first half of February I was based mostly in Gainesville, singing at Krishna Lunch,
but I made one final trip to Tallahassee to chant at Lake Ella and behind the
Florida State University library and to talk to students. With youthful,
enthusiastic devotees from Krishna House who pleased me by their cooperation, I
sang at three special events in North Florida: the Jacksonville Art Walk, First
Friday in Tallahassee, and the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering in Ocala
National Forest. While at Krishna House, I attended their Tuesday night program
for new people, and I tell briefly about that.
I
share insights from Srila Prabhupada’s conversations and from his books. I
share a quote from Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Jaiva
Dharma. I share excerpts from Viraha
Bhavan, the online journal of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. I had the good fortune to hear more
from Giriraja Swami, and I share useful realizations from that. I share notes
on lectures by Prabhupada disciples Akuti Devi, Adi Karta Prabhu, Brahmatirtha
Prabhu, Kalakantha Prabhu, Mother Nanda, Ramiya Prabhu, and Sesa Prabhu. I also
share insights from Madhava Prabhu from New Raman Reti, Pran Govinda Prabhu,
Kalki, and Audrey.
I
would like to thank Krishna Keshava Prabhu from Alachua, Nama Kirtan Prabhu
from Tallahassee, Adi Karta Prabhu from Alachua, and Sravan Ananda Prabhu from
Orlando for their kind donations toward my traveling expenses. I would like to
thank Dhruva Prabhu from Kansas City for kindly loaning me the entire cost of
my ticket from Dublin to Mumbai, almost $500, so I could go to India this year.
I would like to thank Prishni Devi Dasi for paying my expenses so I could
attend the Bhaktivedanta Institute meeting in Gainesville when I was in Orlando
doing college outreach. Thanks to Vanna for her picture of the Ocala Rainbow
Gathering and to Ekayani for her picture of First Friday.
Itinerary
March
5–10: Mayapur Kirtan Mela
March
12–21: Rishikesh Harinama
March
22–April 9: Vrindavan
April
10–13: Mumbai
April
14–21: Ireland
April
22–24: Newcastle, England
April
26: Radhadesh (Kadamba Kanana Swami’s Vyasa Puja)
April
27–29: Holland (including King’s Day in Amsterdam on April 27)
April
30–May 1: Birmingham 24-hour kirtana
May
2–July 9: The North of England and Scotland
July
10: Prague Ratha-yatra
July
12–16: Polish Woodstock
July
30: Berlin Ratha-yatra
August
5–11: Baltic Summer Festival
August
18–21: Trutnoff (Czech Woodstock)
September
13–: New York City Harinam
Krishna
House Tuesday Night Program
There
is a program every Tuesday to introduce students to the Hare Krishna philosophy
and practice at the Bhakti House, one of the Krishna House buildings. Different
devotees give the lecture each week. Recently the programs have become quite
lively with people who are inquisitive and people who like kirtana participating. Here is some video of Adi Karta Prabhu and
his wife, Rucira Devi, doing kirtana the
first Tuesday in February (https://youtu.be/sIrk334EuH8):
Jacksonville
Art Walk
The
first Wednesday of the month, devotees from Krishna House do harinama and book distribution at the
Jacksonville Art Walk. This month it was just me, Bali, Ekayani, Christiana,
Audrey, and Vanna. Bali later said he came so I would not be the only guy.
Although we were a small party, the devotees were very cooperative and
participatory. We did not have a single book distributor but encouraged
everyone to distribute books at least part of the time, and four out of the six
of us did. I just talked to people who were obviously attracted by our small
but enthusiastic chanting party, and relatively easily distributed a Bhagavad-gita, a Science of Self-Realization, and four small books. We met
interesting people. One young lady knew Christiana from Gainesville and Vanna
from Ann Arbor.
Several people danced with us.
One
older man danced for a while, his arms raised in the air. I asked his wife,
while he was dancing, if he had some connection with Hare Krishna earlier in
his life, but she was not sure of the extent of it. They lived in West Virginia
and had been to New Vrindavan. She had read the abridged biography of our
founder, Srila Prabhupada, and told me, “I love that Prabhupada.”
Another
older man wearing a National Park ranger’s uniform, expressed some interest,
bought a small book, and offered to give us a tour of the National Park, with
its Fort Caroline, which is near the beach in Jacksonville, and which includes
the highest point in Florida, with a ten-mile view.
One young lady, who delighted in dancing with us, told me she had danced with us at a previous Art Walk.
One young lady, who delighted in dancing with us, told me she had danced with us at a previous Art Walk.
Vanna got one guy to chant.
I wrote down the details of our University of North Florida Krishna Club for at least five people who were attracted by the chanting and the literature. I was happy how everything worked out well and everyone had a great time, although I was the leader and our party was smaller than usual. We were blessed with excellent weather. Although the first week in February, even at 9 p.m. when we ended, I was warm enough wearing a short-sleeved kurta.
In
this video you will see how Christiana’s singing attracted lots of people to
take part by dancing with us in Jacksonville and how Audrey was so enthusiastic
she kept the chanting going at the van for a while before we left. (https://youtu.be/WaF_tpRCtYE):
Chanting
Hare Krishna at First Friday in Tallahassee
I
was happy we had a party of eight devotees to chant at Tallahassee’s First
Friday this month, including Gauranga Prasad Prabhu, who is full of positive
energy. At first I was annoyed that the people across from us were playing
recorded music at too loud a volume, but I recalled I had my amplifier with me,
and that helped to combat it a lot. I was impressed that we had more people
listen to us for a longer time than before.
One guy listened to us for half an hour. He told me he first became interested in Hare Krishna in New York City, hearing and getting a book from the devotees who chant in Union Square, but he had recently moved to Tallahassee. He remembered some of the names of the devotees on that Union Square harinama party. He said he was planning to look up our temple in Tallahassee but was too busy getting settled to do that. He came to First Friday and some people told him that the Hare Krishnas were serving food and explained where, and so he joined us. I invited him to the Tallahassee temple and he came for two Gita classes and developed friendly relationships with Nama Kirtan Prabhu and Elias. I found out he worked for a company that collected food that was past the expiration date and arranged to give it to charities, and I invited him bring some of the food to the temple. He brought 15 avocadoes on his next visit.
Audrey (on right) and Nickole talked to some of the young people who enjoyed listening to us. In conversation, Nickole discovered that one of them had gone to the same high school as she did in Miami.
At the end, Gauranga Prasad Prabhu led harinama not just once, but twice, around the Railroad Square. The organizers of an art and music festival to be held at the Square later in the month, upon hearing us sing, invited us to perform at it. Again I was so happy my friends at Krishna House came and shared their enthusiasm for devotion to Krishna with others.
One guy listened to us for half an hour. He told me he first became interested in Hare Krishna in New York City, hearing and getting a book from the devotees who chant in Union Square, but he had recently moved to Tallahassee. He remembered some of the names of the devotees on that Union Square harinama party. He said he was planning to look up our temple in Tallahassee but was too busy getting settled to do that. He came to First Friday and some people told him that the Hare Krishnas were serving food and explained where, and so he joined us. I invited him to the Tallahassee temple and he came for two Gita classes and developed friendly relationships with Nama Kirtan Prabhu and Elias. I found out he worked for a company that collected food that was past the expiration date and arranged to give it to charities, and I invited him bring some of the food to the temple. He brought 15 avocadoes on his next visit.
Audrey (on right) and Nickole talked to some of the young people who enjoyed listening to us. In conversation, Nickole discovered that one of them had gone to the same high school as she did in Miami.
At the end, Gauranga Prasad Prabhu led harinama not just once, but twice, around the Railroad Square. The organizers of an art and music festival to be held at the Square later in the month, upon hearing us sing, invited us to perform at it. Again I was so happy my friends at Krishna House came and shared their enthusiasm for devotion to Krishna with others.
Here
is a rather fuzzy video clip with Gauranga Prasad Prabhu singing and showing
Audrey dancing with one girl (https://youtu.be/5tdqwBnmmOQ):
Chanting
Hare Krishna Elsewhere in Tallahassee
Because
a wedding was going on near where I usually chant at Lake Ella in Tallahassee,
I chanted by the playground.
At least seven kids were excited to play my instruments as I sang for three hours on a sunny but brisk North Florida winter day. I would show the kids the standard one-two-three karatala beat and the four different sounds you can make with the drum, open and closed on the big and small ends. Then I would let them play as best they could, without additional instruction, as my mission was to allow people to hear the chanting of Hare Krishna and not teach the playing of musical instruments.
They were happy playing with me and stayed longer than I would have expected. The parents did not object much to the kids associating with me.
At least seven kids were excited to play my instruments as I sang for three hours on a sunny but brisk North Florida winter day. I would show the kids the standard one-two-three karatala beat and the four different sounds you can make with the drum, open and closed on the big and small ends. Then I would let them play as best they could, without additional instruction, as my mission was to allow people to hear the chanting of Hare Krishna and not teach the playing of musical instruments.
They were happy playing with me and stayed longer than I would have expected. The parents did not object much to the kids associating with me.
I
was happy that Ramiya Prabhu and his wife joined me for the final day of
chanting at the Florida State University campus. Kirtana is so much more powerful with even one or two more people.
Chanting
at the Rainbow Gathering in Ocala National Forest
We
had a small but enthusiastic party of three guys and three girls chanting and
distributing prasadam and literature one Saturday
afternoon to those attending the Rainbow Gathering at the Ocala National
Forest. I was happy Vanna chanted her mind and decided to go the last minute. As
the previous year, we put our prasadam buckets
in a cart which we pulled from one group of people to the next.
We met one guy who very, very happy to get Bhagavad-gita. One young mother told us that she read Bhagavad-gita every night to her child as the kid was taking rest. While serving prasadam and while people were eating it, we would chant. Then we would move on to the next group of people. Usually we go into the forest looking for people, but this year we found enough people parked and camped along the road that we were fully engaged. We had brought five buckets of halava, each a different flavor, from the five days of Krishna Lunch that week. The mint carob was especially tasty. The peach was pretty good too. At the end, I went to each of the different Rainbow kitchens to donation the rest of the halava. The lady, who was in charge of the first kitchen where we played earlier in the day, was very happy to take a bucket of halava. She said that for the moment she is living in the Gainesville area, and I invited her to come visit us sometime. The Jesus Kitchen took the last two buckets of halava. Some people sang with us or played their instruments. One young guy who sang with us a while helped pull our cart of prasadam. Thanks to all the devotees who came and made it possible to share Krishna music, food, and books at that event.
People were very happy to get the prasadam.
Bali and Abhi were great in chanting and playing the instruments.
Audrey helped out in different ways.
Vanna pulled the cart and served out.
Amrita encouraged people to take mantra cards and books.
Here Amrita teaches a guy the Hare Krishna mantra.
We met one guy who very, very happy to get Bhagavad-gita. One young mother told us that she read Bhagavad-gita every night to her child as the kid was taking rest. While serving prasadam and while people were eating it, we would chant. Then we would move on to the next group of people. Usually we go into the forest looking for people, but this year we found enough people parked and camped along the road that we were fully engaged. We had brought five buckets of halava, each a different flavor, from the five days of Krishna Lunch that week. The mint carob was especially tasty. The peach was pretty good too. At the end, I went to each of the different Rainbow kitchens to donation the rest of the halava. The lady, who was in charge of the first kitchen where we played earlier in the day, was very happy to take a bucket of halava. She said that for the moment she is living in the Gainesville area, and I invited her to come visit us sometime. The Jesus Kitchen took the last two buckets of halava. Some people sang with us or played their instruments. One young guy who sang with us a while helped pull our cart of prasadam. Thanks to all the devotees who came and made it possible to share Krishna music, food, and books at that event.
Here
is some video showing the first kitchen we stopped at to give you a feel for
what it was like (https://youtu.be/CxRzzKr38HI):
Funny
Pictures
This
sign on the Krishna House men’s ashram box of communal health and body care
products reminds me of this Sri
Isopanisad verse (1): “Everything animate or inanimate that is within the
universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only
those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should
not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.”
Giriraja
Swami’s servant carried the Swami’s books for sale in a bag from All Souls Chapel and
Crematory at St. Michael’s Cemetery. One of the books was entitled Life’s Final Exam. I thought that was so
funny I had to take a picture of it!
For
photos I took but did not include, click on the link below:
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From
a conversation New Vrindaban, West Virginia, on June 24, 1976:
“People
see, with their own eyes, how the soul is transmigrating from one body to
another body to still another body. Nevertheless, with their dull brains they
cannot understand that at death, when the aged body is finished, the soul goes
on to yet another body, material or spiritual. But people cannot understand
this. They are so dull-brained. They cannot make the simple distinction between
the body and the soul. It will take five hundred years to teach them this
simple truth – their education is so advanced.”
From
Srimad-Bhagatavam 8.5.48, purport:
“The
Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the only object of our love. As long
as we are in this material world we have so many desires to fulfill, but when
we come in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we immediately become
perfect and fully satisfied, just as a child is fully satisfied when he comes
to the lap of his mother. Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest to achieve some
material result by austerity and penance, but when he actually saw the Supreme
Personality of Godhead he said, ‘I do not want any material benediction. I am
completely satisfied.’”
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
From
Jaiva Dharma:
“A
natural human sentiment, compassion finds its highest expression in the works
of devotees of the Lord. The tenderness of the heart experienced toward Krishna
is known as bhakti. All other jivas are servants of Krishna. When one
experiences tenderness of heart toward them, it is known as daya, compassion. Therefore, compassion
is included within bhakti.”
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami:
From
“Poem
for February 2” in Viraha Bhavan:
“All
creative work
comes from Krishna in the heart.
A devotee shouldn’t
chant hoping to
get personal, creative
ideas. He should pray to serve
Krishna nicely. We are
not egoistic creators
but ‘subordinate lovers of the Supreme.’”
comes from Krishna in the heart.
A devotee shouldn’t
chant hoping to
get personal, creative
ideas. He should pray to serve
Krishna nicely. We are
not egoistic creators
but ‘subordinate lovers of the Supreme.’”
From
“Poem
for February 4” in Viraha Bhavan:
“Today’s
drawing shows four
devotees dancing and chanting
with upraised arms.
They are happy and jumping.
Even if harinama devotees
are chanting sitting down,
they are dancing
in their hearts. The
more enthusiastic and
physically nimble among
them will actually get
up and dance. This
adds to the ecstasy.
Lord Caitanya and His associates
used to chant and dance.
The people were so amazed
at Mahaprabhu’s
physical manifestations.
He used to leap high, and
Lord Nityananda would run beside
Him to catch Him if He fell. We
may not be so empowered and
we may be growing old and
not inclined to dance, but
on occasion, we may rise to our feet
and fill our spirit
and the spirit of the group
and what to speak of the onlookers!”
devotees dancing and chanting
with upraised arms.
They are happy and jumping.
Even if harinama devotees
are chanting sitting down,
they are dancing
in their hearts. The
more enthusiastic and
physically nimble among
them will actually get
up and dance. This
adds to the ecstasy.
Lord Caitanya and His associates
used to chant and dance.
The people were so amazed
at Mahaprabhu’s
physical manifestations.
He used to leap high, and
Lord Nityananda would run beside
Him to catch Him if He fell. We
may not be so empowered and
we may be growing old and
not inclined to dance, but
on occasion, we may rise to our feet
and fill our spirit
and the spirit of the group
and what to speak of the onlookers!”
From
“Poem
for February 5” in Viraha Bhavan:
“The Hare Krishna chanters in
the City go out every day
and situate themselves
in public in a sacred spot.
They sing kirtana for long
hours and purify the
atmosphere. They do
congregational chanting
of the Hare Krishna mantra, which is
the only sacrifice recommended
for the Age of Kali.
They are doing the
most important
welfare work for
humanity because
the chanting removes
sinful reactions and
awakens love of Godhead
in the hearts of those who hear.
No other philanthropic or altruistic
work is as important
because all other endeavors cannot
break the cycle of repeated birth and death.
Harinama can do that, and that is why
its servants are the best friends and rescuers.”
the City go out every day
and situate themselves
in public in a sacred spot.
They sing kirtana for long
hours and purify the
atmosphere. They do
congregational chanting
of the Hare Krishna mantra, which is
the only sacrifice recommended
for the Age of Kali.
They are doing the
most important
welfare work for
humanity because
the chanting removes
sinful reactions and
awakens love of Godhead
in the hearts of those who hear.
No other philanthropic or altruistic
work is as important
because all other endeavors cannot
break the cycle of repeated birth and death.
Harinama can do that, and that is why
its servants are the best friends and rescuers.”
From
a letter to a disciple:
“The
simple explanation of the fight between the Kauravas and the Pandavas was that
Dhrtarastra was favoring his own sons over the Pandavas, but in a way which was
contrary to dharma. And since Krishna’s mission is to reestablish dharma for
humanity at large, and since the Kauravas were not willing to act according to
dharma in a peaceful way, Krishna used such a major fight to catch the
attention of the whole world to His personal teachings about the ultimate
dharma: surrender unto Him in loving devotion. This is the heart of the Mahabharata, as
can be read in the Bhagavad-gita.”
Bhakti Tirtha Swami:
From
a recorded lecture:
My
mother said, “Give me my flowers while I can see them.” As a kid I could not
understand, but as an adult I appreciate her love for life.
Giriraja Swami:
The
cowherd boys asking Krishna for food are under the influence of the spiritual
energy (yogamaya), while ordinary
people asking God for food are under the influence of the material energy.
The
yogamaya energy causes the devotees
to forget that Krishna is God and also causes Krishna to forget that He is God,
so they can act in an intimate relationship.
Krishna
did not want to his friends to tell the wives of the brahmanas performing sacrifice that He and Balarama were hungry
because that would cause them too much pain. Rather they should say Krishna and
Balarama are nearby.
Krishna
is atma-priya, the most beloved of
the soul.
We
are naturally attracted to Krishna, as iron is attracted to a magnet, but as
rusty iron is not attracted to magnet, when we are covered by material
contamination that attraction is not manifest.
Krishna
gave the wives of the brahmanas’ suggestions
how they could advance in devotion to Him while remaining at home: “It is by
hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and chanting My
names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical proximity.
Therefore please go back to your homes.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.23.33)
We
also have not met Krishna this life, but we are attracted to Him by hearing
about Him.
Anu means both
“continuously” and “following.”
These
pastimes of Krishna’s kindness to His devotees should awaken in our hearts a
desire to have such a relationship with Krishna.
When
the brahmanas’ wives returned home
and their husbands saw their advanced devotion to Krishna, they accepted them
as gurus who knew how to transcend the path of birth and death whereas they
were actually ignorant of it.
Adi Karta Prabhu:
Our
civilization is not very advanced because people are simply trying to benefit
their own bodies and those of others without considering the soul within the
body and its needs.
The
body ages, but the person within the body remains the same.
According
to the Vedas there are multiple universes. Now even the scientists have decided
there is more than one universe.
Practically
everyone in India has a name that has some relationship with Krishna.
Just
outside of London we have a temple and 70,000 people come each year to
celebrate Krishna’s birthday. You will not find such attendance at Anglican
Churches to celebrate Christmas.
Krishna
never likes to be worshiped as God because it takes the intimacy out of the
relationship.
Akuti Devi:
The
cure for our egoistic protest about hearing extensive glorification of Krishna
is to continue to hear such glorification.
Krishna
is for everyone, those who like the sweetness of His childhood pastimes and
those who like to see his amazing opulence.
Srila
Prabhupada could glorify both the opulence and the sweetness of Krishna.
We
can feel we are reeled into Krishna’s shelter, away from the craziness of
materialistic life.
A
lot of us are on a marathon, as we do not have so much time left, we who are
more than 50 years old.
Prabhupada’s
essay on the ideal varnasrama community
includes morning and evening kirtana.
It
costs no money to realize the soul, but it takes a lot of time and energy.
We
cannot imagine we will have a great spiritual life if we cheat on our sadhana [daily spiritual practice].
Comments
by Pran Govinda Prabhu: Giriraja Swami was telling us if we can eliminate the
offenses to Vaishnavas and inattention that the other offenses will be reduced.
Giriraja Swami also said if someone is going to criticize someone to him, he
asks the person why he thinks he needs to hear the criticism, to make the
devotee consider what he is doing. Radhanath Swami said if we focus on the good
qualities of the devotees, we will not be disturbed by things we may not like
about them.
Brahmatirtha Prabhu:
As
a cat playing with a rat and a cat playing with its kitten may seem from a
distance to be the same thing, the love between the gopis and Krishna may seem like the relationship between girls and
boys of the material world, although they are completely different.
To
achieve higher consciousness, we must be willing to give up those things that
keep us in lower consciousness.
Sacinandana
Swami decided to pervade all his regular spiritual practices with gratitude to
improve his devotional consciousness.
Sacinandana
Swami expresses realization that there is a lover of God within his heart, and
through prayers to the Lord, he found hope that he could be uncovered.
Comment
by Shyamala Kishori Devi Dasi: Prabhupada was once asked about how one who
could not hear or see or even touch could become Krishna conscious.
Prabhupada replied, “Well, he can bow down.”
Once
Srila Prabhupada said, “When my disciples are hungry, they will eat any damn
thing.”
If
we really believe that as part of Krishna that we have something lovable about
us, that belief will help us conquer lust. That will help us develop humility
and confidence.
Comment
by Bali: You cannot lie to Krishna. Why lie to everyone else?
Comment
by Naomi: As far as bumps on the road, you can go around them. If you hit them,
you may have to change a tire, which is something we could use help with. You
can use them to humble yourself.
When
I had a conversation with Srila Prabhupada about advancing in spiritual life,
he began and ended the conversation with the very same verse, which was the
only verse I knew: “Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is
engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is
properly situated in his determination.” (Bhagavad-gita
9.30)
Srila
Prabhupada explained that if accidentally one makes some mistake due to
conditioning it is forgiven but not if one intentionally does something wrong.
We
have trouble accepting that the real self we are hearing about is really us.
Kalakantha Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada asked the devotees, “Who is stronger Krishna or Balarama?” Seeing
their bewilderment, he explained that all the planetary systems rest on Lord Balarama,
but as in our deities in Vrindavan, Balarama rests on Krishna.
Pralambasura
is the first demon who was killed without having first attacked and the first
killed outside the immediate precincts of Vrindavana.
Balarama
is the original spiritual master. He takes care of those who have rejected
Krishna and tries to elevate them. Thus He is very important to us.
Laksmana
was upset that as the younger brother of Lord Rama He could not prevent Him
from suffering exile in the forest, thus He came as the elder brother,
Balarama, of Krishna, in Their next appearance. He found even as the elder
brother, Krishna would not listen to Him, thus in frustration He appeared as
the avadhuta Nityananda, and He did
as He pleased.
A
friend had this exchange with his college professor:
Student:
“I am not sure that what you are teaching us is true.”
Professor
of Psychology: “Where in the contract does it say it has to be true? We are
just teaching you what you need to get ahead in this field.”
Thus
disillusioned, my student friend dropped out of school.
The
distress of the householders is they work hard for success, but after attaining
what society taught them would satisfy them, they find they are still
dissatisfied.
Comment
by Dhrstadyumna Prabhu: When there was a terrible blizzard in Denver, it was
one of my most memorable and ecstatic experiences as we read Srila Prabhupada’s
books ten hours a day. Previously, before I was a devotee, when we were shut in
it was just suffering.
Almost
all medicines are toxic, and therefore they have to be taken in very regulated
doses. Krishna consciousness is not like that. With Krishna consciousness, it
is the more the better.
Because
we have no taste for devotional service in the beginning, our regulated
devotional service is our greatest investment. If we can take it seriously, the
rest of our life will be an experience of deep fulfillment.
Although
driving Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, as a pacca [first-class] brahmana,
Akrura stopped part way to take his midday bath.
Some
parents see Krishna House as the termination of their kids’ lives. Other people
find it to be an oasis from the madness of society. Others think, “Why are
these people wasting their time? They could be earning money.” Similarly people
misunderstand the pastimes of Krishna and their value.
Mother Nanda:
Even
with the cows, Krishna has a personal relationship with each. It is not just a
few great personalities in the Bhagavatam,
but actually every living entity, including ourselves, has a intimate
relationship with Him.
The
blazing fire that Krishna swallowed can be compared to the blazing fire of
material existence.
Our
saga in the material world did not just start 18 or 23 years ago [with the
beginning of this life], it has been going on for thousands of years.
The
cowherd boys did not call out, “Father”, “Mother”, “Indra”; they only took
shelter of Krishna.
We
may not solely take shelter of Krishna. We may find we are taking shelter of
our credit or debit card. But we can pray to able to full take shelter of
Krishna soon.
Kunti
prayed for calamities because calamities force you to take shelter of Krishna.
Comment
by Bali: Sometimes when things are going well with our devotional service, we
think that we are perfect, and then we start accepting things that are
unfavorable, and then we get into trouble, and that is not a good thing.
Chanting
your rounds with concentration, associating with devotees, and having a friend
in devotional service are all helpful if we get distracted and can help us get
back to normal.
One
acarya said that Krishna advised His
friends to close their eyes before He swallowed the forest fire because He got
into so much trouble when His friends saw Him eating dirt He was worried what
would happen if they saw Him swallowing fire.
Comment
by Naomi: We can see from this pastime that surrendering to Krishna makes one
fearless because the cowherd boys were in such anxiety, but they became
completely fearless by taking shelter of Krishna.
Ramiya Prabhu:
If
your professor told you that you are speaking like a learned person, but
actually you are a fool, you might walk out of the class, but when Krishna
spoke that way to Arjuna, Arjuna stayed to hear Krishna’s wise words.
Regarding
being in his seventies, my father there is nothing “golden” about it.
Like
a car gets old, breaks down, and needs to be repaired, so it is true with the
body.
Yoga
is to get your body and mind in a peaceful state, so you can consider what is
beyond the body. After you practice yoga, when you walk out of this room, if
you get caught up in the external world, you will lose your peace.
A
proper teacher does not just speak. You can see in his life examples of what he
is teaching.
Do
you know anyone who is sometimes a friend and sometimes an enemy? One moment they
are friends, and then next moment they are enemies. It is very scary. The mind
is like that.
As
far as enjoyment, it is beyond our control. Sometimes it is there and sometimes
it is absent, but we cannot let ourselves be disturbed in either case.
We
struggle internally, I want it, I don’t want it, but when we give it to
Krishna, we are freed of the struggle.
Radha
makes a special manohara-laddu that
is most attractive to Krishna. Once when Krishna received one and put it in his
mouth, he made a terrible face as it if it was disgusting, and then He
distributed them to His friends, including Radha to please them, because they
all love His remnants. She understood this and was not disturbed by his
behavior.
Comment
by Zoë: The Latin word humus means
soil, and this word humble is
related, as soil is lowly.
Sesa Prabhu:
Q:
One may ask, “Why did Krishna create an arrangement to punish Indra which
involved His devotees getting so much distress in terms of the heavy rainfall?”
A:
One answer is that it is arrangement not of Krishna but of His pastime potency (lila-shakti). Because this pastime
potency can act independently from Krishna, it can be said that it is not the
doing of Krishna.
na tasya karyam
karanam ca vidyate
na
tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca dá¹›syate
parasya saktir
vividhaiva sruyate
svabhaviki
jñana-bala-kriya ca
“The
Supreme Lord has nothing to do, and no one is found to be equal to or greater
than Him, for everything is done naturally and systematically by His
multifarious energies.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad
6.8)
The
real glory of the Govardhan-lila is
that Krishna very wonderfully reciprocated with all of His different devotees
simultaneously. His lila-shakti made
this amazing arrangement.
If
we see meaning in everything that happens to us, then we can get an
understanding of how Krishna is acting for us.
There
are activities and relationships both in this world and in the spiritual world.
The
name Vaikuntha, which means without anxiety, contrasts with our experience of
this world, which is full of anxiety.
Comte
de Mirabeau said, “Short absence quickens love, long absence kills it.”
Bhaktimarga
Swami said in a class, “In the material world, love is accompanied by fear,
according to Srimad-Bhagavatam.”
Because
of the [absolute] nature of Krishna, love of Krishna is different than the love
of the material world. Being with Krishna, desiring to be with Krishna, and
lamenting the absence of Krishna, are all ways of associating with Krishna and
experiencing His presence.
Understanding
the difference between love in the spiritual and the material world can help us
move toward spiritual love.
Comment
by Kalakantha: The gopis address Krishna as Govinda because He has stolen their
senses, Damodara because his absence will kill Mother Yashoda who addresses him
by that name, and Madhava, indicating that He is the husband of the goddess of
fortune and not them, and thus He is guilty of harming other men’s wives.
When
ordinary people criticize God, it brings condemnation upon themselves, but
those in love with Krishna can criticize Him like anything without being
degraded, and still Krishna does as He wishes.
Madhava Prabhu [from New
Raman Reti]:
Srila
Prabhupada explains that because this world is a reflection of the spiritual
world the highest thing, the relationship between the gopis and Krishna, when reflected in the material world in the
relationships of unmarried girls and boys, becomes the lowest thing.
If
we cannot see the pastimes between Krishna and the gopis in a pure way, it is better to leave them aside and focus on
other pastimes.
We
may be hiding things, but when we come to Krishna to surrender, we cannot, for
He knows all.
From
a talk on “Building Strong Relationships”:
There
are three features of relationship:
1.
Understanding
our relationship.
2.
Acting
according to that relationship.
3.
Reaching
the ultimate goal of that relationship – love.
When
the soul looks toward Krishna, the material influence slackens.
Pran Govinda Prabhu:
Advaita
Acarya Prabhu asked Lord Caitanya to see the same universal form that He had
shown Arjuna. And so Lord Caitanya showed him Arjuna, his chariot, and the same
universal form that Krishna had shown. Advaita did this not for Himself, but to
establish that Lord Caitanya was Krishna Himself.
The
spiritual world is centralized [in the sense that it has a center, Krishna]
while the material is decentralized.
Advaita
Acarya was so attractive as a child, when he came with His father to a Durga
Puja festival, which His father, as a minister, was invited to, people looked
at Him instead of Durga. He did not bow to Durga, which bewildered the brahmanas. He said that he did not have
to as Durga was His maidservant. He further said if He bowed to the deity, she
would shatter. They pushed him to bow to her anyway, and the deity shattered.
Kalki Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada makes the point that an acarya
must propagate devotional service to Krishna and that Lord Caitanya is the
original acarya.
In
a caption to a picture of his guru in Bhagavad-gita,
Srila Prabhupada glorifies his guru for spreading Krishna consciousness all
over the world. He does not use that glorification as the caption for his own
picture.
Serving
the guru is the means of pleasing the Krishna.
Comment
by Abhimanyu Prabhu: The determination of Advaita Acarya was, “Either I will
bring Lord Krishna to this world, or I will destroy it by My Sudarshan cakra.”
Audrey:
From
a dinner conversation:
I
prayed that I did not want to have to worry about school or a job but that I
would have hours to read Srila Prabhupada’s books every day. I find here at
Krishna House, that Krishna gave me exactly what I wanted. I did not even know
this place existed before!
-----
We
may be frustrated by all the bad qualities of this age, but the situation is
not hopeless. If we chant Hare Krishna it can be the best age, because we can
awaken our love for God and attain the spiritual kingdom. We can also offer
this solution to others. This verse explains that:
kaler dosa-nidhe
rajan
asti hy
eko mahan gunah
kirtanad
eva krishnasya
mukta
sangah param vrajet
“My
dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good
quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra,
one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental
kingdom.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.51)