Diary of a Traveling
Sadhaka, Vol. 12, No. 7
By Krishna-kripa das
(April 2016, part one)
(April 2016, part one)
Vrindavan, Mumbai, Istanbul,
and Dublin
(Sent from Dublin, Ireland, on April 17, 2016)
(Sent from Dublin, Ireland, on April 17, 2016)
Where
I Went and What I Did
For
the beginning of April, I continued living in Vrindavan and being part of the
Krishna Balaram Mandir 24-Hour Kirtan Party, originally established by Aindra
Prabhu in 1986. I chanted daily from 1 to 4 p.m. in the afternoon and from 10
p.m. to 1 a.m. at night. Sometimes I would chant harinama for half an hour near the main gate of the temple with
Ananta Nitai Prabhu, who I often do harinama
with in Dublin. On April 3, I traveled with devotees from Vrindavan,
including Janananda Maharaja, to attend the Bharatpur Ratha-yatra in nearby
Rajasthan, a five-hour-long event. On April 4, I attended a program celebrating
the appearance of Aindra Prabhu in this world, and I heard and share lots of
wonderful stories about and appreciations of him. On April 8, I went to Delhi
to pick up a harmonium that Prema-sankirtana Prabhu of Newcastle kindly sponsored
for me. Ananta Nitai Prabhu accompanied me, and we did harinama at several venues throughout the journey. April 9 I took
the train from Mathura to Mumbai, where I gave a talk to college students about
how Krishna consciousness can be seen as a science. I chanted harinama at Juhu Beach with different
friends every day for at least an hour in the evening for the four days I was
there. While in Mumbai, Gaurav Bhuta, a friendly devotee dentist, whose office
is full of Krishna posters and books, and who treats the Juhu brahmacaris, kindly cleaned my teeth for
free. Then I returned to Dublin, the gateway to Europe, America, and India for
me, for two days of harinama with
Premarnava Prabhu and others, the second day being Rama Navami, when we chanted
in the streets for almost six hours.
I
share notes from Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and his books. I share excerpts
from Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s books and his online journal. I share notes on
classes by many visiting lectures and senior devotees in Vrindavan, such
persons as Prahladananda Swami, Janananda Goswami, Rama Raya Prabhu, and
Madhavananda Prabhu, to name a few, and longtime resident Deena Bandhu Prabhu
as well. I also share notes on classes by few speakers from Mumbai, including
Radha Govinda Swami, who spoke on Rama-lila for upcoming Rama Navami.
I
am sure many of you will like to join me in thanking Prema-sankirtana Prabhu of
Newcastle profusely for very kindly sponsoring a new harmonium for me, as my
previous one looked to be in a very sorry state for many years. Thanks to Gaura
Hari Prabhu of Norway, who donated his cadar
for use as a strap for the harmonium. Thanks to Gaurav Bhuta of Mumbai for
the free dental cleaning and toothbrush. Thanks to Abhinav Verma for the
recording of my college talk in Mumbai. Thanks to Karbhajan Das Prabhu for his pictures of me and himself on Juhu Beach.
Itinerary
April
14–20: Ireland
April
21–23: Newcastle, England
April
24: Leeds, England
April
26: Radhadesh (Kadamba Kanana Swami’s Vyasa Puja)
April
27: King’s Day in Amsterdam
April
28–29: Rotterdam
April
30–May 1: Birmingham 24-hour kirtana
May
2–May 9: Newcastle
May
10: Edinburgh Harinama and Evening Program
May
11–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
Vrindavan
24-Hour Kirtan
Srila
Prabhupada very much wanted a 24-hour kirtana
in Vrindavan for many years. Devotees started it, but it would always peter
out. Aindra Prabhu told me personally in 2005 that once a Godbrother of his
informed him of a dream he had in which Srila Prabhupada was lamenting the
inability of his disciples to maintain a 24-hour kirtana program in Vrindavan. When Aindra Prabhu heard that, then
and there, he decided to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire and due to his
unbreakable enthusiasm and faith, and the mercy of the Lord and His pure devotees, he was successful.
After
Aindra Prabhu left this world unexpectedly in 2010, other leaders of the party
had to arise. At present, Prabhupada disciple, Banabhatta Prabhu is in charge
of the party. He is a friend of Pancagauda Prabhu, the temple president, who
encouraged him to step up and take that role. Years ago in Miami, Banabhatta Prabhu
was temple president, and Pancagauda Prabhu was his vice president, so they
have known each other for quite some time. Banabhatta Prabhu is grateful to be
able to help with the party, and he is enthusiastic to encourage the members of
the party to increase their attendance at important temple programs, like mangala-arati and Srimad-Bhagavtam class.
Other
devotees playing leading roles are Gokulendra Prabhu of Croatia, who has been
there three years. He in charge of the 24-hour kirtana ashram. He kindly allowed me to join the team from March 21
to April 9. He said they needed help with the shift from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., and
because I have chanted during those hours for several days straight at the
Polish and Czech Woodstocks, I had a sense it would be possible for me and was
willing to try. I do not have any special talent, singing or playing
instruments, so I thought helping out on that night shift would be a good way I
could be an asset. Each person on the party takes two three-hour shifts, and so
that night shift was one of mine.
Vrindavan
Prabhu, who was with Aindra Prabhu ever since he was fourteen years old, also
looks after the party.
Originally
I would also chant at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m during the day, but it was difficult to
get enough sleep time and personal time to chant on my beads before 10 a.m.,
having taken rest at 1:20 a.m. I like to go to mangala-arati and Srimad-Bhagavtam
class and would interrupt my sleep to attend those events although the
ashram policy is you can skip mangala-arati
if you sing to 1 a.m. Thus I changed my shift to sing from 1 to 4 p.m. after eight
days. During 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. you get to see the deities and to encourage the
visiting pilgrims to participate by your enthusiasm, and during 1 to 4 p.m. you
do not have to worry about people bumping into you as you try to dance for
Krishna, which was a welcome relief.
Everyone
on the party who was dedicated to chant six hours a day was a special
personality. Still some really stood out. One devotee, Radha Shyam Vilas Prabhu,
would chant from 10 p.m to 4:30 a.m. every day. He chanted loudly with great
feeling and would help keep the party together. One Vaikuntha Murti Prabhu from
Croatia would chant the response loudly, which was a great encouragement to me.
In March, the 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. shift had devotees who would not sing the
response very loudly and that was hard for me, especially as it is difficult to
stay alert and be energetic at night. You just don’t want to be forced to sing
both parts.
As
the deity doors were closed during both my shifts, I looked at pictures of
Radha-Krishna in the temple room and offered my little song and dance to Them.
Bharatpur
Ratha-yatra
The
expedition from Vrindavan to the Bharatpur Ratha-yatra was a typically amazing
Indian adventure. Originally we heard buses would leave for Bharatpur at 10
a.m. for the 1 p.m. Ratha-yatra. The drive was said to be 1½ hours. Later they
decided to feed the devotees breakfast in Bharatpur to save time and leave
Vrindavan at 8 a.m. As I finish singing at 1 a.m. at night, there was no way I
was going to leave Vrindavan by bus at 8 a.m. It was just too austere. I heard
Janananda Goswami was going by car around 11 a.m., and that sounded like a
better deal. Later I learned they were going to take senior devotees from the
car park between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. I decided to show up at 10 a.m., and I
fortunately got a ride. Not surprisingly, it turned out it takes at least two
hours to get to Bharatpur, in the neighboring state of Rajasthan, not just 1½.
There
were lots of amazing things about the event.
The Jagannath cart had a cart with a generator behind it just to power the sound system.
The
cart rolled exactly on top of one of the coconuts used in the inauguration
ceremony and it smashed flat.
People
were enthusiastic to photograph the event from all angles.
From
atop a rickshaw.
From
the sound system truck, with its awesome speakers that practically blew your
ears out, and which had its own generator.
A policeman clapped to the kirtana.
Ladies danced.
Janananda
Goswami led a fired-up kirtana (https://youtu.be/uXYeT0DjFXU):
Several
ladies enjoyed dancing to it (https://youtu.be/dZqY4dLEF-M):
During
the procession, more people threw
flowers at us than I had ever encountered. People also sprayed us with water to
counteract the heat of the sun.
Here
is some more video to give you a feel for what it was like (https://youtu.be/MZNexafm06U):
Banabhatta
Prabhu said I could write a whole article just about all the different items
they gave us to eat or drink during the course of the procession. There were
bottles of water and bags of water. There was a mango drink. There was an
amazing red lassi that tasted like
rose water, and there was another lassi as
well. There were bags of a papaya shake. There were little cups of khichri. And there were three kinds of
ice cream. There were also sweet balls. I have a feeling there were probably
more things too, but that is all I can remember. You definitely did not have to
worry about being hungry or thirsty during the Ratha-yatra procession.
The
streets were periodically decorated with colored dyes.
Aftter
the five-hour Ratha-yatra, we took a prasadam
dinner, and returned two hours to Vrindavan, arriving at 9:15 p.m.
I
had just enough time to take a shower before singing during my shift from 10
p.m. to 1 a.m.
What
an amazing day!
Aindra
Prabhu’s Appearance Day
Radha
Madhava Prabhu was the moderator for the program. He mentioned near the
beginning of it that Aindra Prabhu says in his book that one who has realized
his svarupa-siddhi [eternal
relationship with Krishna] sometimes
feels such separation from Krishna that he feeling prays to be instated in his vastu-svarupa [constitutional position].
Pancagauda Prabhu [ISKCON
Vrindavan Temple President]:
Srila
Prabhupada says it is our duty to glorify the acaryas [the great spiritual teachers]. Aindra Prabhu did not
introduce anything new. He took what Srila Prabhupada and Bhaktivinoda Thakura
gave and inspired people to take it more seriously. By chanting the holy name
in sankirtana we advance in
devotional service. Through his traveling temple and sankirtana party in New York City, he was innovative in thinking of
ways to attract people to the chanting. His enthusiasm and desire to enter into
the pastimes of Vrindavan dhama was
inspiring. When telling the Damodar lila he
told how Mother Yasoda by getting the others in the village to supply ropes was
engaging everyone in Krishna consciousnness. That was his mood. To keep the
holy name in the center was his drive. He had a high standard of kirtana. He wanted the instruments to be
played nicely for Krishna. He wanted everyone to chant. When he talked for
hours in his room, he would remind us that we fell from Goloka and our business
was to go back there.
There
are many wonderfully constructed temples in Vrindavan now, but we want when
people come to Krishna Balaram Mandir that they become mesmerized by the kirtana and inspired to take part.
Dadhivaksa Prabhu:
Aindra
was my dear friend. In 1975 we had a 24-hour kirtana in Vrindavan, 24 people for an hour each. We developed a
friendship from our mutual interest in 24-hour kirtana. He said if ISKCON throws me out, I will live at your
house. He wanted me to make my son a devotee. I told him to pray for him. Now
my son is a brahmacari and department
head at our temple in Mumbai. That is his mercy by his prayers.
Mukunda Datta Prabhu:
We
did sankirtana together on the Radha
Damodar party in 1977.
He
was never interested in anything material. Everything he did was spiritual. He
was interested in going back to Godhead, very intently. He had no official position.
He was not an official person.
Aindra
Prabhu electrified a generation of people with enthusiasm for kirtana. He was not ordered to do this,
but it was an expression of the Krishna consciousness in his heart.
He
was very intense about chanting the holy name of Krishna.
Banabhatta Prabhu:
To
imagine the Krishna consciousness movement without Aindra Prabhu is not possible.
I
could understand he really had a taste for Krishna consciousness.
By
associating with those associated with Aindra Prabhu, I am inspired.
Like
his CD title “Vrindavan Mellows” indicated, He had developed incredible
abilities to take these mellows of devotional service he was apparently
experiencing and putting them into his kirtanas.
Bhagavat Purana Prabhu:
There
are many meanings for the name Aindra, Aindra can be explained as the energy of
Indra. Indra, although used to refer to the post of the king of heaven, means
“the best,” thus Krishna is the ultimate Indra, and His energy, is Sri Radha.
Gopal Prabhu:
One
Delhi businessman told me he would come to Krishna Balaram Mandir every day at
6:00 p.m. for the kirtana and arati.
Thank
you Pancagauda Prabhu, and the others, for keeping the 24-hour kirtana a focal point in
the temple.
Please
devotees, especially those from the West, come sit in the kirtana, during the peak darshan times, greet the pilgrims, and inspire
them to chant and dance. That is best service you can do here for Srila
Prabhupada and Aindra Prabhu.
Deena Bandhu Prabhu:
Like
no one else, Aindra Prabhu, personified the verse, “harer nama eva kevalam.” That may sound narrow minded, but in this
age chanting the holy name is the only remedy.
Although
it is so much trouble to maintain this temple, it is worth it because people
are hearing the holy name.
A
couple teenage girls told me they visit the Prem temple but were disappointed there
is nothing going on there. “We like to come Krishna Balaram because there is
always chanting. It is very alive.”
He
was the soul of Krishna Balaram Mandir.
Vrindavan Dasa:
I
grew up with Aindra Prabhu, joining his party at the age of fourteen. I worked
closely with him for ten years.
He
was goal oriented. He had the greed to attain the loving service of
Radha-Krishna in Vrindavan.
He
was very focused, emphasizing pure, alloyed devotional service.
He
was a renunciate. He never got married. He was strict with his dealing with
women. Whenever he had to talk with a lady, he always made sure there was
another person standing there with him.
He
was extremely musically expert and could play any string instrument and any
woodwind instrument.
He
was chanting suddha-nama, the pure
holy name, and he was a proponent of it. Because of this, he was influential in
spreading the holy name all over the world.
I
have seen many young devotees all over the world who were inspired to become kirtaniyas because of him. One said, “I
would be in a bar right now if it was not for Aindra Prabhu.”
He
was very learned and focused. When he spoke, you would learn so much from him.
Although
very advanced, he was still our close friend.
Once
when Amala left the room, Aindra asked him where he was going, and he replied,
“I am going to Vrindavan’s birthday party.” Aindra said, “What? Vrindavan’s
birthday party? Didn’t he invite me? Am I not his friend?”
Bhakta Charles:
We
can hear the philosophy, but until we see someone who lives the scriptures, we
will not be inspired to advance.
Aindra
Prabhu was instrumental in Lord Caitanya’s continuing sankirtana movement.
I
think Aindra Prabhu must have got some of the Krishna prema that Lord Caitanya placed in the Padma River for Narottama
das Thakura.
Aindra
decided not to return to America when his father was dying but sent a garland
of tulasi manjaris for him to wear
when he died. Later he had a dream in which it was revealed his father was a Bhaktisiddhanta
Saravati Thakura disciple who fell away but got to have Aindra as a son to
become better situated spiritually.
Mukunda Datta Prabhu (Head
Pujari), from Switzerland:
I
met Aindra Prabhu in 1984 in New York City when he was chanting sankirtana all around.
He
said once he was playing mrdanga in a
kirtana to greet Srila Prabhupada and
Prabhupada smiled and said, “Jaya!” Aindra Prabhu took that as an indication to
make kirtana his service to Srila
Prabhupada.
He
took inspiration from different Gaudiya Vaishnava kirtana singers in developing tunes.
Because
of his purity and his love he attracted so many devotees to assist him.
Even
now after six years, still people are becoming inspired by him.
Aindra
Prabhu was completely fixed in focus on Vraja bhakti which is what Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally came to
teach. Because he was fully absorbed in raganuga-bhakti
he was able to preach this.
He
was enthusiastic to speak about Krishna. He could go on for hours. Usually
class ends at 9:00 or maybe 9:15 or at most 9:30 a.m. But he would go to 10:00
a.m., 11:00 a.m., and a couple times the conch shell would blow for the noon arati and he was still speaking.
When
I would offer obeisances to him. He would stop me, saying that we were friends.
He
dressed the deities in a very natural way in Vraja-bhava. He dressed them for eight months. Because the gopis sometimes steal the flute, Aindra
Prabhu once put Krishna’s flute in Radha’s left hand, and for that he got
removed from that service.
Follow
Rupa-Raghunatha
One
devotee I knew from 20 years ago shared a book he wrote with me in Vrindavan. It is called Follow Rupa-Raghunatha, and it is about
the path of bhakti, from sraddha to prema. It talks about how there are two
paths of raganuga, an internal path,
wherein one’s spiritual identity in Krishna’s pastimes is revealed from within,
and an external path, where one approaches a guru who reveals it. He quotes
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura as rejecting the external path. Apparently one
devotee wrote a book describing the external path and neglecting to say much
about the internal path, which some people may take as endorsing the external
path, so in Follow Rupa-Raghunatha the author wanted to describe the internal path which
was recommended by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada to
correct the situation. The external path is more subject to cheating and slower
than the internal path, and those who reject the internal path to pursue it are
misled. Included in the book are different works by Raghunatha Dasa Goswami
describing the moods and activities of the residents of Vrindavan so that one
may become attracted to their mentalities. In the book the author stresses
that even hearing the different raganuga works
does not begin until the point of nistha,
and he warns about reading literature beyond one’s qualification and gives
lists of books to be read at different stages. The effect of reading the book
is to increase one’s desire to advance along the path from sraddha to prema. If the book is of interest to you, it is available on Amazon, and in Vrindavan from the publishers at followruparaghunatha@gmail.com.
Prabhupada's Favorite Picture of Radha Krishna
One friend, who worked as a care taker for Srila Prabhupada’s garden in Los Angeles, said that the Prabhupada disciples there told him this picture of Radha-Krishna, which is also hanging in the Vrindavan brahmacari ashram, was Srila Prabhupada’s favorite.
Cooking
on a Cow Dung Fire
One
brahmacari, Devananda Pandit Prabhu,
spends fifteen days living in our ashram in Vrindavan, and the next fifteen
preaching in his native Maharashtra.
He
cooks for himself in a cooker he personally built which uses cow dung as fuel. Mung dal boiling in the pot cooks the
rice and vegetables. In Vrindavan, he gets his cow dung fuel from the gosala.
A
Day in Delhi
Traveling
is always an adventure, especially in a foreign country, and even more so in
India. The day I went to Delhi to pick up my harmonium was no exception. I was
so glad Ananta Nitai Prabhu, who I have done many harinamas with for several hours each in Dublin, decided to join
me.
Thanks
to also Prahlad Prabhu of the 24-hour kirtana
party, who gave us lots of tips on getting to Delhi.
We
ended up chanting lots of harinama on
the way, Ananta Nitai with his one-headed drum and me with my karatalas. We chanted perhaps half an
hour waiting for a bus to Delhi where Chitikara Road from Vrindavan meets the
Delhi-Agra Road. After we flagged down several buses going to other places, one
driver of a car going to Delhi agreed to take us there for the same price as I was
told the bus cost. We chanted in that car for half an hour for the spiritual
upliftment of the driver and three other passengers, and no one complained. The
driver of the car dropped us at the Delhi Metro eleven stops closer to the city
center than I expected, which was a mixed blessing as the metro is cooler and
more comfortable.
We
decided to try chanting on the metro, as we have chanted on the metros in New
York, London, and Paris, and I do not recall every being told to stop. Indians,
of course, generally appreciate the chanting, so that was more reason for
encouragement. We chanted to the Delhi Musical Store, where I got the
harmonium, which Prema-sankirtana Prabhu, a friend from Newcastle had kindly
paid for. Then we chanted from there to the Radha-Parthasarathi temple, the
largest ISKCON temple in Delhi, which is easily visible as you approach the
Nehru Place metro stop to the right of the train if you are coming from
Vrindavan or to the left, if you are going toward Vrindavan. It is just a short
walk through a park to reach the temple from the metro station, although you do
have exit the metro station on the opposite side of the park, and turn left and
walk till you see the actual entrance for the park on your left.
At
our Delhi temple, a Western couple went through the temple security ahead of
us, and they had the guy toss his cigarettes into the trash before entering. I
thought I should talk to the couple, to make them feel welcome. They were from
Poland, and I told them about how I had been to the Polish Woodstock fifteen
times and I told them about the location of the Hare Krishna temple and the
Food for Life program in their native Warsaw. I also gave them my card and told
him I could tell them of many places to see in India during their 2½ month
visit. It was their first day in India, and I was glad I talked to them.
Leaving
the ISKCON temple, we boarded the Delhi Metro toward Vrindavan. This time as we
began to sing, one guy told it was not permitted that we sing on the metro. He
was obviously not someone in an official position. When he indicated we should
stop, I said, “But everyone benefits from the chanting.” He had nothing to say
to that, and so we continued chanting. When he began complaining again, I
suggested to Ananta that we move to another part of the train, and there were
no further incidents with him or anyone else. Two people gave up their seats to
us. Some people took videos. One guy decided he wanted to be the lead singer, so I
gave him a card with the words, so he would get them all right, and we tried to
follow his tune the best we could.
When
we reached the border of the city, a very friendly young Indian Krishna
devotee, who had relatives who lived in Mathura and had visited Vrindavan many
times, helped us by locating the Mathura bus, considering it was his duty to assist
us.
Half
way back, we had a 25-minute rest stop at one food place, and I unpacked my
harmonium and played a Hare Krishna tune for the people.
Two
web pages, as well as individuals I talked to, advised pilgrims to go all the way to Mathura
after 8 p.m. as it would be unlikely to get a ride from Chitikara Road to Vrindavan.
It was 11:30 p.m. and to continue to Mathura and to come back to Vrindavan
seemed laborious to me. As it was only a 5 km (3 mile or 1 hour walk) from
Chitikara Road to Krishna Balaram Mandir, if we did not get a ride, I thought
that was a better deal, so we decided to go for it. There was a rickshaw at
Chitikara, but the guys would only take us for 100 rupees. We had spent 20
rupees going the other direction earlier in the day, so I was not about to
spend 100 rupees just to avoid a walk or hunting for a better deal. We proposed
60 rupees, as usually the drivers fill a rickshaw with 6 people and charge them
10 rupees each, and thus they would get their standard fare. They rejected
this, and because I felt they were just trying to rip us off, I began walking.
I trying to flag down the few cars that went by, and after just few minutes one
guy, who has a taxi business called Hari Om and who was returning from an
airport drop, stopped and gave us a free ride. It had been a long day, and I
felt Radharani was smiling on us. I got back in time to do the last hour of the
10 p.m. to 1 a.m. shift. I was so happy to be back in Vrindavan I danced the
whole half hour that I wasn’t playing the harmonium, despite the lateness of
the night and exhausion of the journey.
College
Program in Mumbai
To
please my friend, Adbhuta Hari Prabhu, who does college outreach in Mumbai, I
gave one lecture there Sunday evening to some students about how Krishna
consciousness can be seen as a science. Here is an audio recording by Abhinav
Verma (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8G_-3HDls9WN21SeFgxaEJkbWM/view?usp=sharing).
Harinamas
in Mumbai
Because
I missed the weekly Sunday night harinama
in Mumbai, giving a college lecture, Abhinav (playing the harmonium in the
video below) and Prema Rasa Prabhu (dancing) arranged we chant on Juhu Beach
later in the evening, 8:20 to 9:20 p.m. I was amazed to see hundreds of people
on the beach at night. While we sang, at least fifteen people joined us for
some time, some singing, some dancing, one who played the drum, several who
played the karatalas, one who bowed
down to our party, and others who just listened. Here is a video clip with a
guest mrdanga and kalatala player (https://youtu.be/0ez2A1N_HDk):
The
next day Gaura Hari and Prema Rasa Prabhus came out, and Abhinav joined us at
the end. This time we went about an hour and a half. One young guy, who was not
a regular devotee, happily listened to us for well over half an hour.
The
third day, Gaura Hari Prabhu was at Mira Road, and everyone else was busy, so I
walked for half an hour down the Juhu Beach, playing the evening tune on the
harmonium and singing Hare Krishna by myself, and then I turned around, and
continued chanting until I reached the temple.
I encountered Karbhajan Prabhu, a senior brahmacari who regularly frequents the Juhu Beach, considering it a place of pilgrimage because Srila Prabhupada would daily walk there rather than maya [a place of sense enjoyment] as some devotees do.
I encountered Karbhajan Prabhu, a senior brahmacari who regularly frequents the Juhu Beach, considering it a place of pilgrimage because Srila Prabhupada would daily walk there rather than maya [a place of sense enjoyment] as some devotees do.
The
next day several devotees seeing me asked, “Where is your harmonium?”
The
final day, I invited Govinda Bhasya Prabhu, who is from Los Angeles, and is a
friend of my friend Nama Kirtan Prabhu, to join us. He added lots of youthful
energy to our party of myself and Gaura Hari Prabhu.
I
was happy to do daily harinamas at
Juhu Beach, and I think we have so many devotees there at our Juhu temple, they
could easily maintain a program of daily harinama there.
It is refreshingly cooler on the beach late in the day and hundreds of people are there to hear
the holy name, and many are happy to do so.
Chanting
Hare Krishna at the Istanbul Airport
Normally
I never would have been brave enough to chant in the Istanbul airport except
Ananta Nitai Prabhu told me he did it two years ago on the way to India and so
I tried it myself on my way back to Europe that year. I had a good experience,
so I tried it again. I only had 15 minutes till boarding was scheduled for my
flight to Dublin, so I decided to show up 15 minutes late for boarding because
I wanted to chant a full half an hour. I chose a spot on a long corridor, far
from vendors and gates, so no one could claim I was disturbing their
activities. A couple of smiling young ladies asked me if I was singing at
Laksman Jhula earlier in the year, and I smiled and said I was. They seemed very
happy to encounter us at Rishikesh and to now be reminded of the experience. I
asked where they were from, and they said “San Francisco.” I explained we had a
center in Berkeley, near the university, where we do the chanting on Sundays and
follow it with free vegetarian food. They were interested, and I told them to
look up “Hare Krishna” and “Berkeley” on the internet, and I gave them my card with
the Hare Krishna mantra on it, and saying, “If you cannot find it, email me.”
Then they rushed off to catch their flight to California. At least three people
took videos or photos, a few people smiled, and one guy gave the “thumps up”
gesture of approval. The very last minute I played, two men, maybe in their
thirties, donated change totaling 3.30 Turkish lira. In such venues, I do not put out donation boxes or books, as
sometimes authorities are sensitive. There was a Travelers Box machine in the
airport that takes your Turkish change and sends the equivalent in dollars, minus their commission, to your PayPal account, so I got $1.07 for it. When I
got to my gate twenty minutes late, they had not even begun to board the flight.
Chanting
in Dublin
The
day I arrived from India, I hoped to chant 2½ hours on harinama in Dublin, but my half-hour nap lasted 2½ hours. Still
Premarnava Prabhu and a fired-up Polish book distributor from our Irish island
joined me on harinama from 9:00 to
10:00 p.m. Many people were still on the street, and passersby donated €15.35
and took two books.
One young guy came up to me and said he remembered seeing me singing in Newcastle. I asked if he was based there, and he replied that he lived in Manchester. I told him I am singing by the Arndale in Manchester the week of May 23, and he said he would look me up.
One young guy came up to me and said he remembered seeing me singing in Newcastle. I asked if he was based there, and he replied that he lived in Manchester. I told him I am singing by the Arndale in Manchester the week of May 23, and he said he would look me up.
The
next day was Rama Navami, and we did 5½ hours of harinama. A young man from Croatia joined us much of the time, and
Manu Prabhu came out for the last two hours, greatly increasing the ecstasy.
The last hour it rained, and we chanted in a protected area in front of the
G.P.O. [General Post Office]. Here is some video of Manu singing (https://youtu.be/t7prQcilZJI):
Passersby
donated €50.80 and took a Bhagavad-gita, two
Chant and Be Happys, and three Beyond Birth and Deaths.
Doing
the dharma of the age was a great way to celebrate the appearance day of Lord
Ramacandra, the great example of dharma Himself.
To
see pictures I took but did not include, click on the link below:
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
We
are so sinful . . . because of this materialistic technological civilization we
have become so dull and rascal we cannot understand the simple truth that we
are eternal souls that transmigrate from one body to another.
We
are thinking “I am American,” “I am European,” “I am cat,” “I am dog,” but when
we understand we are spirit soul we can be done with these material
designations.
A
human can inquire “What body will I get next?”
Nature
is a machine. Have you seen a machine that works without an operator? How do we
think nature is operating without the Supreme Controller? Because we see no
machine acts without an operator, although we cannot see the operator, we must
conclude that there is some operator controlling the material nature. Human
life is meant for inquiring about the identity of that operator.
Artificially
we are thinking in terms of American consciousness or African consciousness. To
attain Krishna consciousness, we have to give up these false designations.
Narada-pancaratra explains sarvopadi vinirmuktam . . . When we give
up these bodily designations we can attain bhakti.
Everything
is dependent on consciousness. Krishna conscious is the original standard of
consciousness.
If
you do not know how the machine of nature is working, where is your education?
Material
life means misusing the independence of the soul.
Q:
It is foolish to leave the spiritual world.
A:
That is the meaning of independence. Whatever you like, you may do. Otherwise
there is no meaning to independence.
Krishna
never forced Arjuna to accept the instructions of Bhagavad-gita.
If
one does not accept this education then there is no difference between him and
a dog. A dog never inquires.
Thus
the Vedic injunction is to inquire about the soul. Go to a proper guru and take
lessons from him.
A
dog’s father never asks his child to go to school.
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.8.17, purport:
“Lusty
desires are very strong in everyone, and they are the greatest impediment to
the discharge of devotional service. Therefore those who are very much
influenced by lusty desires are advised to take shelter of Sanat-kumara, the
great brahmacari devotee.”
From
a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.34 in Mumbai on November 1, 1975:
Because
big, big scientists cannot see the soul, they do not believe it exists and
transmigrates from one body to another body.
Because
the gross body stops working, it does not mean that the soul stops working with
its mind, intelligence, and false ego.
There
is a Bengali proverb saying that everything you have been doing for your
spiritual life will be examined at the time of death.
The
dandavat is the symbolic
representation of submission.
Simply
by offering obeisances before the deity and the spiritual master, even if one
has no inclination to study Vedic philosophy, one will attain perfection.
Fearfulness
is for our next life because we do not know where we are going.
If
you have to prepare yourself to get a better situation in the next life, then
why not prepare yourself to go back to Godhead.
To
go back to Godhead is the highest perfection, samsiddhi. To attain it, you simply have to train the mind to think
of Krishna.
The
method is simple, become a devotee of Krishna, and always remember Krishna.
One
devotee in Hyderabad became so attached to serving the deity there when he was
transferred to Madras he could not stay because he was suffering so much being
separated from his deity service.
Real
intelligence to attain the stage of bhava,
and then maintain that stage of bhava at
the time of death, and enter the kingdom of God.
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.45 in
Laguna Beach on July 26, 1975:
“The
dog is also running, and a man is also running. But a man thinks he is very
much civilized because he is running on motorcar. Both of them are running, but
a man has got a particular type of body by which he can prepare a vehicle or
cycle, and he can run on. He is thinking that ‘I am running in greater speed
than the dog; therefore I am civilized.’ This is the modern mentality.”
“The
real destination is Govinda, Vishnu. . . . na
te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnu. They are running in different speed, but
they do not know what is the destination.”
“If
I do not know what is the destination and try to drive my car in full speed,
then what will be the result? The result will be disaster.”
“Our
position is such that we cannot become controller. That is not possible. If we
want to become controller, that is my [our] artificial desire. And the
resultant action we will have to suffer. First of all you must understand this,
that we are controlled. Either you agree to be controlled by Krishna or you
agree to be controlled by maya, but
you cannot become controller. Is there anyone here who can say that ‘I am
controller’? . . . I may think that ‘I am controller,’ but I am controlled by
drugs, by sense gratification, desires – kama
[lust], krodha [anger], lobha [greed], moha [illusion], matsarya
[envy]. So there is no question of the living entity's being independent. That
is not possible. He is dependent. But if he becomes dependent on Krishna, then
life is successful.”
“In
the human society there is some form of dharma. Either you are Christian or
Hindu or Muslim or Buddhist. Throughout the whole world, any civilized nation,
they have got some dharma or religious system. Why? Through it, you should
understand what is the goal of your life.”
“So
what is the difference between going to the heavenly planet and going to
Krishna? The difference is abrahma-bhuvanal
lokan punar avartino ’rjuna: ‘My dear Arjuna, if you go even to the highest
planetary system, Brahmaloka, you will again fall down.’ Then? Mad-gatva na nivartante: ‘If you come to
Me, you will have not . . . ’ So why not select this, that ‘I have to work for
the next life. Why not devote this life for Krishna? I shall go back to home,
back to Krishna’? This is intelligence.”
“Try
to make your life perfect by accepting Krishna consciousness and studying the
philosophy and practicing the method. Then you will be happy.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From
“Poem for March 31” in Viraha Bhavan:
“The
Hare Krishna chanters in the
City are a core group
of about nine devotees.
More devotees join them
in the afternoon after their
workday, and visiting devotees
and interested passerbys
sometimes sit with them
and sing. They usually begin
at 1:30 P.M. but on
‘Maha-Saturday’ they start early at 11:00 A.M.
Their regulative observance
of kirtana six hours a day, seven days
a week, is an incredible sadhana
and is like the lines in
a stone. Their example
is like a modern-day
equivalent of the bhajanas
of the Gosvamis like
Dasa Raghunatha.
They are the gold standard for harinama
parties all over the world.
I offer my humble obeisances
to the Hare Krishna chanters in the City.”
City are a core group
of about nine devotees.
More devotees join them
in the afternoon after their
workday, and visiting devotees
and interested passerbys
sometimes sit with them
and sing. They usually begin
at 1:30 P.M. but on
‘Maha-Saturday’ they start early at 11:00 A.M.
Their regulative observance
of kirtana six hours a day, seven days
a week, is an incredible sadhana
and is like the lines in
a stone. Their example
is like a modern-day
equivalent of the bhajanas
of the Gosvamis like
Dasa Raghunatha.
They are the gold standard for harinama
parties all over the world.
I offer my humble obeisances
to the Hare Krishna chanters in the City.”
From
Japa Walks,
Japa Talks:
“Prabhupada recommends that we cultivate feelings of
regret. When Ajamila expresses his regret at his sinful life, Prabhupada says
we should also adopt this mood and always remember the sins we have committed.
When Maharaja Pariksit regrets the offense he committed to the meditating sage,
Prabhupada writes in his purport that all sins can be washed away by
repentance. Repentance is appropriate when we consider our inattentive chanting
and our failures to surrender. We see our inadequacies, some of which may be
attributed to the sinful activities we have performed in this life, as well as
in our long history of rebellion against God. If these feelings of regret
induce a purified and humble state, then we welcome that. That regret and humility
is not the same as when a neophyte devotee falls into self-pity and becomes
crippled. Such a neophyte stops doing service and feels too unworthy to be a
devotee. Then he inevitably falls back into sense gratification and
degradation.”
“When Krishna says not to fear (ma sucah), it also means we should not fear His wrath. We expect our friends to forgive us if we rectify our offensive behavior. Do we think that Krishna will be less magnanimous than an ordinary jiva? Krishna is the kindest person of all, and whatever kindness we see in this world has its origin in Him.
Don’t worry needlessly. Krishna is not building a grudge toward us over
all our lifetimes of rebellion. If we sincerely turn to Him, we don’t have to
worry that He will pull our file and read the record of our misbehavior.”
From
“Poem for April 2” in Viraha Bhavan:
“In Harinama-cintamani,
Haridasa Thakura
begs Lord Caitanya
for the taste of the Holy Name.
He says he is willing to
forgo transference
to the spiritual world, but
he begs to taste the nectar
of the Holy Names. The
harinama chanters in
the City are fortunate
souls. Like Haridasa Thakura,
they have sacrificed all
other activities just
to chant the Hare Krishna mantra.
Like Haridasa, they
are begging Lord Caitanya for
the taste of the Holy Names,
and by His grace
they are already tasting it.
If not, how could they
go out every day for many hours
and sing loud kirtana in the crowded streets?
begs Lord Caitanya
for the taste of the Holy Name.
He says he is willing to
forgo transference
to the spiritual world, but
he begs to taste the nectar
of the Holy Names. The
harinama chanters in
the City are fortunate
souls. Like Haridasa Thakura,
they have sacrificed all
other activities just
to chant the Hare Krishna mantra.
Like Haridasa, they
are begging Lord Caitanya for
the taste of the Holy Names,
and by His grace
they are already tasting it.
If not, how could they
go out every day for many hours
and sing loud kirtana in the crowded streets?
They
are already recipients
of the highest nectar, but
they are greedy for more.”
of the highest nectar, but
they are greedy for more.”
From
Can You Practice Vrindavana-bhajana in
the West?:
“I
like the prayer of Sanatana Gosvami after Lord Caitanya finished instructing
him. He said, ‘You have taught me plenty, but how will I, a low person, realize
it and speak it to others as You desire? Please put Your feet on my head and
bless me with realization.’ Lord Caitanya complied with Sanatana’s request.
Sanatana knew he needed it. What good is teaching unrealized precepts of love
of God?”
Radha Govinda Swami:
From
a Hindi lecture in Mumbai before Rama Navami translated by one Juhu brahmacari:
Sita,
appealing to Rama to let her accompany Him to the forest, said “I will wash
Your feet when You are tired and make a fan and fan you, and I will be very
pleased serving You in this way. There will be no misery for me.” When one is
happy within, one is very satisfied. “I will be with You and serve You. I
cannot live without Your service. I will make a bed for You when You are tired
and massage Your feet the whole night. If I do not go, I will feel great pain
in Ayodhya, bereft of Your service. Without You there is no possibility of
happiness. O moon of the sun dynasty, without You Indrapuri [heaven] is like
hell for me. All my happiness is with You only. I will see your lotus face
which is like the full moon and be satisfied with that. My greatest pleasure is
to massage Your feet and see Your moon-like face. Therefore do not worry about
me. Please do not leave me. I want to go only because I want to serve You. Your
service is my life. Without Your service, I cannot live.” Every wife should be
so enthusiastic to serve her husband. She should feel life is like hell without
the service of her husband. The wife is always dependent on the husband. It is
his duty to always make her happy. By cooperation there can be happiness.
Sitaji is teaching what is the duty of the wife. She did not have the
experience of the opulence of Ayodhya but went to the forest. She is not
considering the forest to be a place of difficulty. Her thought of making a
comfortable resting place for her husband Rama in the forest is an exalted
thought. The world would be better if the wives’ minds were occupied with such
exalted thoughts. Rama considered the austerities of forest life would not be
difficult for Him but would be difficult for her, thus he again advised her to
stay in Ayodhya. She cried out of thought of being separated from Rama, and
Rama understood the seriousness of her feelings, and said she could come with
Him. He encouraged her to pack necessities quickly because He wanted to follow
His father’s order before any incident could stop Him. Rama had to agree to
bring Sita because practically she could not live without Him and she might
kill herself if should could not go. She was happy Rama agreed, and asked his
mother Kausalya for her permission to go, apologetic that she could not serve
her. Kausalya gave her permission and blessed her, “As long as there is water
in the Ganga and Yamuna, you will be famous as the faithful consort of Lord
Rama.” Her feelings could not be understood. She longed for the return of the
divine couple.
We
can learn from these pastimes that following religion is not always easy.
Prahladananda Swami:
People
are not informed that they are spiritual, and furthermore, that the goal of
life is Vishnu.
People
want to be deathless and there is a solution, to take shelter of Lord Vishnu,
but they do not know this, and instead they take shelter of insignificant
people who cannot help them.
We
are proud, but we do not even know we are not our bodies. Our knowledge is
actually negative
There
is a story of one man who survived the Titanic because he was covered with oil
from the boiler when it exploded, and the oil protected him from the cold water.
He was celebrating his survival in New York City a month later, and he got intoxicated
and hit his head on the curb, and went unconscious and drowned in a inch of
water on the ground.
In
the pastime of Vrtrasura, the demon Vrtrasura was actually victorious because
he took shelter of Vishnu and attained the abode of Vishnu, while Indra, the
demigod, was absorbed in materialism, ignoring Lord Vishnu.
Brahma
and Shiva, by becoming angry when insulted by Brighu, showed they were affected
by ignorance and passion, and thus that they could not protect one from the
material energy, being themselves affected by it.
When
Guru-kripa Prabhu went to make life members in India, the first people he
talked to teased him, arguing that Karna is the hero in Bhagavad-gita and not Krishna and Arjuna. Guru-kripa presented the
truth about Krishna and Arjuna. They stubbornly did not accept it, and Guru-kripa
became angry. Then they challenged, “Your guru cannot even protect you from
becoming angry.” Guru-kripa replied, “Well, last year I would have punched you
in the head, but now by the grace of my guru, I have controlled my anger.” They
liked that and became life members.
Janananda Goswami:
Indra
seems to be chosen to teach us a variety of lessons, mostly how not to act.
Even
the demons have a spiritual master.
Our
spiritual strength is not ours but is given by Krishna, and if we offend a
devotee, what to speak of our spiritual master, we can lose it.
Yajnas (sacrifices) must be
performed under the direction of an expert priest.
The
weakness of the brahmanas [the
priestly class] is the gateway through which Kali-yuga [this degraded age] has
entered.
The
brahmanas are above the
administrative class and should not present an opinion just to please the
administrators or they will become compromised.
Pride,
and the desire to gain respect, is a great danger in spiritual life.
We
all have our part to play in society, and beyond that, we have our ultimate
part to play.
All
of the activities in our life have the ultimate goal of self-realization. They
are all meant to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
We
do not have anything to give. Everything always belongs to the Lord. This
misunderstanding is the root cause of pride.
Srila
Prabhupada explains that all the property in society belongs to the brahmanas who take care of it on behalf
of the Supreme Lord. Because they have better things to do, they let other
divisions of society assist them.
If
one acts purely, without attachment to the results, under the direction of a
pure devotee of the Lord, one’s activities will be wonderful and attractive to
people.
Once
Srila Prabhupada came to the London temple room in the middle of the day. Two
of us were there, and we bowed down. The guest bowed down with his feet toward
the Deity. Srila Prabhupada asked the pujari,
“What are you doing?” He replied, “Washing the dishes.” Srila Prabhupada
responded, “No, what are you really doing? You are supposed to be teaching
people how to offer their obeisances.”
We
must be very careful to never misuse what we are given in charity because it is
all meant to be engaged in the Lord’s service.
Deena Bandhu Prabhu:
There
is danger at every step in this world.
One
devotee in Sri Lanka stepped on a mine in the recent war and lost a leg.
The
lotus feet of the Lord are our actual shelter.
Devaki
was in anxiety about Krishna going to gurukula
in Avantipura (Ujjain). Krishna reassured her, Balaram has one thousand
friends and I have millions of friends, and they can protect us. Because they
were playing the role of brahmacaris, They
decided They would walk from Mathura to Avantipura.
The
boat to carry us across the ocean of material existence is the vast accumulated
knowledge given by the sampradaya (lineage
of spiritual teachers). Just by contacting the sampradaya so much transcendental knowledge is immediately
available to us.
Muktipade means the place where even
mukti gets liberation. That is the
kingdom of God.
Just
as a son inherits the property of the father, if he merely remains alive, if we
just remain alive in Krishna consciousness, we will attain the kingdom of God.
Srila
Prabhupada said regarding George Harrison, “He has done for more our preaching
than we have done in the last ten years.”
Once
George Harrison met with Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada was explaining
how this material world is full of inevitable miseries. The next day, George
cancelled the album he was in the middle of working on, and began another one
called Living in the Material World.
George
Harrison wrote in one song, “The Lord Loves the One (Who Loves the Lord),” from
that Living in the Material World album:
“We all move around,
With objectives in mind,
To become rich or famous,
With our reputations signed,
But the few that can reach,
To this coveted slot,
Don't escape old age creeping,
Through their bodies,
Like a rot.”
With objectives in mind,
To become rich or famous,
With our reputations signed,
But the few that can reach,
To this coveted slot,
Don't escape old age creeping,
Through their bodies,
Like a rot.”
One
Gaudiya Matha sannyasi told me one story. Parvati was saying to Lord Shiva, “Is
is so easy that everyone who takes his bath at the sangam [confluence of the rivers] will get liberation?” Lord Shiva replied
by saying, “We will do a drama, and you will see just how easy it is.” Lord
Shiva dressed like an old man, and Parvati dressed as his wife. Parvati asked
people who had come to bathe and attain liberation to help her husband get to
river. They were inclined, but Parvati warned, “If you have any sin, you will
die if you touch my husband.” Hearing that they ran away. This went on until the late afternoon, when one guy who was warned that if he touched the old man
if he had sin he would die, replied, “No worries. I will first take bath [and
thus become liberated from my sins], and then I will help your husband.” At that
Lord Shiva said to Parvati, “He will get liberation because he actually has
faith.”
We
have to become so attached to chanting the holy name, that when death comes we
continue chanting, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare
Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”
Mahaman Prabhu:
Jaya
and Vijaya, understanding the desire of the Lord to fight, accepted His offer
of them taking three births as demons instead of seven births as devotees. That
would also mean they would return to the spiritual world faster.
No
one could utter the name of Vishnu in Hiranyakasipu’s kingdom, except Prahlad.
One
dog appeared at Laksman’s door in great pain. Laksman inquired from the dog why he
was suffering. The dog said he would rather talk to Lord Ramacandra personally
about it. Laksman explained this to Rama, and Rama invited the dog into the
palace and asked him to explain his situation. The dog explained that one brahmana beat him with his stick.
Hearing this, Rama sent his men to find that brahmana. They did, and Rama asked the brahmana why he was so cruel to the dog when his duty was to be
kind to everyone. The brahmana explained
that dog blocked his path and would not move. He did not want to contaminate
himself by touching the dog, so he beat him with a stick. Rama said that
usually brahmanas are not punished,
but in this case, He would like to ask the dog what he thought the punishment
should be. The dog said the brahmana
should become the head of a matha [ashram].
Rama was incredulous and the dog explained. “In my previous life I was the head
of a matha and I was very cruel to
the residents, and thus I got this body of a dog, and I think that may happen
to that brahmana.”
One
man whose son died at a young age complained to Rama there must be some anomaly
in His government that this occurred. Rama investigated and learned that
someone was performing authorized austerities in His kingdom and that was cause
of the untimely death. Rama advised them to preserve the boy’s body, and he
searched throughout the kingdom and found a sudra
torturing his body with hopes of attaining heaven. When he could not be
dissuaded from his austerities, Lord Rama killed him, and returned to his
palace. When he asked about the state of the boy who had died prematurely, he
learned that he had revived and was playing happily.
Unconditional
surrender to the order of the spiritual master is the most important quality a
disciple can have.
If
we are sincere in our purpose, by Krishna’s mercy we will be successful.
When
Prahlad affirmed the Lord was in the pillar, the Lord thought that because He
was in pillar, He should appear from the pillar to confirm His devotee’s
statement.
Sadaputa Prabhu:
From
Alien Identities, Chapter 11 [“UFOs
and Religion”]:
“This
idea of love in relation to the Supreme Person can be compared with the
“universal love” mentioned in many UFO communications. These communications
often define the ultimate One as an impersonal energy or force. Yet love is
something having to do with persons. If the One is impersonal in nature, then
how can love have a truly universal role? Note that this problem does not come
up in modern scientific theories. According to modern science, love is simply a
recent outgrowth of hominid evolution in Africa, and it has nothing to do with
ultimate causes. But if the personal quality of love is a fundamental feature
of nature, then it is natural to ask how this could be. If there is a
Transcendental Person behind the universe, then the answer is that the universe
was crafted according to the loving intentions of that person.”
“According
to the Vedas, the material world is fashioned out of an energy called maya. Maya means illusion, magic, and the power that creates illusion.
The basic Vedic idea is that the universe is created as a playground for souls
who seek to enjoy life separately from the Supreme Being. If these souls were
in full knowledge of reality, then they would know the position of the Supreme,
and they would know that such separate enjoyment is impossible. The universe is
therefore created as a place of illusion, or maya, in which these souls can pursue their separate interests.
“Another
aspect of the Vedic world view is that the Supreme Being wants the materially illusioned
souls within the universe to return to Him. But for this to be meaningful, it
must be voluntary. The real essence of the soul is to act freely out of love.
Thus if the soul is forced to act by superior power, then this essence cannot
be realized. For this reason, the Supreme Being tries to give the soul the
knowledge of how to return to the Supreme in a delicate way that does not
overpower the soul’s free will.”
Tattva-vit Prabhu:
From
a lecture on Rama Navami in Dublin:
As
the body has different limbs that are not different than the body itself, the
Lord expands as different Vishnu-tattva incarnations than are not different
from Vishnu Himself.
Rama’s
concern was to keep intact the promises of His father, and thus He went to the
forest without hesitation.
Lord
Rama’s making a bridge to Lanka of floating stones is comparable to Lord
Krishna’s lifting Govardhan Hill. Both activities indicate the supreme power of
the Personality of Godhead for no ordinary human could perform either feat.
We
are a select group here. There are not many people in Dublin today who are
seeking the protection of Lord Rama.
Vitthaleshwar Prabhu:
Sri
Visvarupa shows great humility in accepting the demigods request.
Although
the spiritual nature is unlimited, it can nonetheless increase.
To
simply inquire about the Absolute Truth is the business of human life. If we
have no interest in this, we have not attained the human platform.
By
practicing bhakti-yoga we gradually
realize the knowledge that we are hearing about, and we become more fixed.
Srila
Prabhupada thought it was more important for him to translate Sri Caitanya-caritamrita than Caitanya-bhagavata because it includes
the teachings of Lord Caitanya as well as His pastimes.
The
intelligence has to be convinced about the philosophy for us to proceed without
doubt.
It
is not that when one advances he spends the day reading Brahma-samhita and leaves the Bhagavad-gita
gathering dust on the shelf. The advanced devotee appreciates all the
transcendental knowledge.
The
devotee puts Krishna above everything else. Although most of us may not be on
this level yet, we should see that as the ideal.
The
only way we can give up sense gratification is to experience a higher taste.
Our
relationships in this material world are on the false platform of the body.
What
we look forward to in our relationships, whether they are between friends or
lovers, is perfect reciprocation. In this world, even if we found such
reciprocation, it would come to an end at the point of death.
We
have so much knowledge about Krishna in the transcendental literature we have
been given, we practically know more about Him than anybody else.
In
our spiritual practice, we have help from all the personalities in the Bhagavatam, so there is no lack of
assistance, but we have to take the trouble of taking the books off the shelf
and reading them.
As
long as Krishna sees we are trying to give our all, He will preserve what we
have and carry what we lack.
Srila
Prabhupada spoke of “a progressive march back to Godhead.” He described Krishna
consciousness as “the perfect theistic science.”
We
are not escaping reality, but we are escaping to reality. Here people are
thinking they are merely their material bodies and are forgetting their
identities as souls.
Good
karma is not really good because you have to remain in this material world to
enjoy it.
I
was doing padayatra in America, but I
could not find anyone to take care of our deities when I went to India, so I
brought Them with me.
A
real spiritual master is willing to accept the karma of his disciples to give
them the opportunity to go back to Godhead. Krishna gives him protection.
Prabhavishnu Prabhu:
Although
Visvarupa had a tendency to side with the demons, knowing the exalted position
of the demigods and that fact that Lord Brahma, the supreme authority within
the universe, wanted him to act as their priest, Visvarupa accepted the
position.
Giving
to and receiving from the Lord is done by the other classes through the brahmanas, thus the brahmanas need to be very pure.
Sometimes
we visit a temple and we are barraged by brahmanas
asking for donations, and we do not feel like going to such temples.
In
ISKCON, the devotees try to inspire the guests by speaking with them about
Krishna, teaching them to chant japa, and
inviting them to take part in kirtana.
In
Nepal I heard some gongs and karatalas coming
from a temple. I thought there must be some ecstatic kirtana going on. I looked and saw a young girl dancing and an old
lady rolling on the floor. In the corner there was a machine that was playing
gongs and karatalas.
Srila
Prabhupada considered that there should be kirtana
for every arati, not just the
ringing of the bell.
Srila
Prabhupada considered that kirtana was
sufficient for the installation of the deities, but he would employ local brahmanas to do the standard rituals so
the people would take it seriously.
The
less we follow our spiritual practice the more we will affected by the mode of
ignorance, and the more we follow it, we will be very spiritually pure.
A
reporter asked Srila Prabhupada why he came to Australia. He replied, “To save
you from a dog’s life.”
Although
Srila Prabhupada did not aspire for wealth or fame, he became wealthy and
famous, yet he used whatever he was given to uplift society.
Srila
Prabhupada was so much in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
Lord’s instructions are distributed to human society through him.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Prabhupada,
in one place, refers to the holy name as our Narayana-astra, weapon of
Narayana.
This
Narayana-kavaca is composed of many names of the Lord’s incarnations.
Srila
Prabhupada says that Lord Caitanya is the dearest and truest friend of every
living entity.
We
had a serious court case in Boston, involving a minor, and we chanted the
Narayana-kavaca mantras before Srimad-Bhagavatam class every day for two and a half years, and it worked. Had they won the court
case we would have had to liquidate the temple, but we settled out of court for
a fraction of the cost of the temple.
In
March or April 1966 Srila Prabhupada visited the Scindia steamship office, thinking
of returning to India, being frustrated by the lack of cooperation of his
Godbrothers, the lack of financial support, and the lack of interest, but then he was
advised to move to the Lower East Side, and there he met with success.
When
his chanting party was written up in The
New York Times, Srila Prabhupada said, “This coverage in the most
prestigious newspaper in the world, The
New York Times, marked the beginning of the success of my movement.”
Yamuna
Devi writes, “When Srila Prabhupada came to London, it was like he ignited a
firestorm.” So many people became then interested in Krishna consciousness.
To
follow Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas
is to have the intense desire to bring as many fallen conditioned souls to
the shelter of Lord Caitanya as possible.
I
have been gone for 4 years and 8 months, and I am sure that Srila Prabhupada is
pleased with all the developments you have made to Krishna Balaram Mandir to
make it an even better facility.
Srila
Prabhupada’s last words before leaving New York City for the final time after
the 1976 Ratha-yatra, spoken with gravity were, “I have taken the benediction
to go on like Arjuna, fighting for Krishna.”
One
who is completely surrendered to following the order of the spiritual master is
free from the illusory energy.
The
ultimate offering of a garland to Krishna is that of many conditioned souls reconnected
to His service.
Our
ultimate position is as beggers at the feet of the previous spiritual teachers.
What are we begging for? Bhaktivinoda Thakura recommends begging for the maha-mantra.
Q
(by Acarya-nistha Prabhu): What is our goal as far as delivering souls?
A:
Our task is not complete until we bring the people all the way back to the
spiritual world.
I
meet many people who know the devotees from the 60s and 70s when we were more
active. Now they are older, in their 60s, and they are inquisitive and regularly
come by and take books and talk with me.
I
also meet people who personally saw Srila Prabhupada in 26 Second Avenue and
other places in New York City.
Srila
Prabhupada commissioned the painting of Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes on top and Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana devotees
on the bottom.
We
get realization from what we actually do.
Madhavananda Prabhu:
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura says the Sankhacuda pastime demonstrates the anartha of desire for fame and lust. Lust is the end result of the
desire for fame.
Without
respect for superior persons, there is no culture.
When
the Muslim ruler entered the assembly of the brahmanas and Vaishnavas discussing the Srimad-Bhagavatam with Sanatana Goswami, all these saints immediate
stood up in respect.
Sometimes
we say that all the leaders in ISKCON are our siksa gurus, but you cannot force faith.
Raghunatha
Goswami writes in his Manah-siksa that
he is on the path of bhakti but he is attacked by robbers of desires for fame.
Sankhacuda
was advised by Narada to fight Kamsa, when he was searching a suitable
combatant. When they fought for sometime and neither emerged victorous, Garga
Muni explained that Sankhacuda could not defeat Kamsa because they were both
blessed by Lord Shiva and because they were both destined to be killed by
Krishna.
Krishna
said to Madhumangala that He gets more pleasure from the harsh words of the old
ladies of Vraja than the prayers of the personified Vedas.
Rupa
Goswami says that Krishna punched Sankhacuda ten or eleven million times before
killing him because he was such a rascal as to drag Radharani away by the hair.
Sometimes
we think conquering lust is the goal, and that if we conquer lust, we will be
advanced. But bhakti is not dependent
on renunciation.
Krishna
tells Uddhava in the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam
that bhakti is caused by bhakti.
Rupa
Goswami says that simply by bhakti we can defeat lusty desires. [for the verse]
Gaura
Govinda Swami says a sincere disciple will always hanker for the chastisement
of the guru.
Q
(Prahladananda Swami): How was Sankhacuda able to touch Radharani’s hair when
Ravana could not touch Sita but merely a maya-Sita?
A:
In the spiritual world, Sridama, the brother of Radharani, had a quarrel with Her,
and they cursed each other. Radha cursed Sridama to become a demon, Sankhacuda,
and he cursed Her to take birth in the material world. Thus Sankhacuda was not
an ordinary demon, but Radharani’s brother.
There
was one professor who knew every verse of the Gita since he was eight years old. He also knew hundreds of verses
from the Bhagavatam and many verses
of Caitanya-caritamrita and from the
Goswami literature. On the other hand, his personal opinion was that Jagannatha was
Buddha, and he liked to eat fish. Thus he had so much knowledge, but not the
beginning of bhakti.
To
think that because seva-aparadhas [offenses
in Deity worship] are not as bad as nama-aparadhas [offenses to the holy
name] that it is alright to commit
them is the seventh offense against the holy name, committing sinful activities on
the strength of chanting.
Rasaraja Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada considered that Bhaktivedanta Institute was meant for those people who would not
otherwise come to our temples. That means well over 99% of the people.
Srila
Prabhupada wanted us to challenge science. Some think he wanted us to discredit
science so we go on with Krishna consciousness. My understanding of this is
that we want to challenge science by doing science in a superior way and thus
showing scientists the value of Krishna consciousness.
Think
of some problems that they are not able to solve in science and show how Krishna
consciousness can solve them.
Vira Krishna Prabhu:
Lord
Nrsimha appeared to please His devotees, not only Prahlad Maharaja, but also
Hiranyakasipu, formerly his doorkeeper in Vaikuntha, the spiritual realm.
The
Lord takes a particular form to execute His mission.
Lord
Caitanya used to chant and dance at Nrsimha temples and offer prayers to Him.
Devotees
pray to Lord Nrsimha to become free from unwanted desires.
Association
is very important. Even associating with mayavadis
or materialists briefly can deviate us from devotional service.
Why
are there so many prayers in Srimad-Bhagavatam?
The more we hear the glories of the Lord, the more we increase our love for
Him.
In
Vrindavan, specifically Nandagram, there is a deity of Lord Nrsimha worshiped
by Nanda Maharaja. Nanda was worried that Krishna was being attacked by demons
and that Krishna may fall sick, and he approached Garga Muni for a deity to
worship for Krishna’s protection. Garga said that Krishna was as good as
Narayana and did not need another protector, but out of parental love for
Krishna, Nanda pressed him for an answer. Thus Garga advised him to worship
Lord Nrsimha. The deity is made of wood. If you visit Him, they will give you
some of the nice rice and laddus they
offer Him there in Nandagram.
The
Sri sampradaya is very close to ours
in that they strictly worship Lord Narayana only and do not worship the various
demigods.
You
can see Ramanaujacarya’s body, which is still intact, after so many centuries.
Ramanuja’s
guru gave him a mantra that could liberate everyone and send them to the
spiritual world but he warned him to not give it to non-brahmanas or he would go to hell. Ramanuja shared the mantra loudly
in a public place so everyone could hear and become eligible for liberation.
When asked why by his guru, he said that although he may go to hell, so many
people would go to the spiritual world that it was worth it.
Premarnava Prabhu:
From
a class on Rama Navami:
I
was subjected to see two or three Bollywood movies on luxury buses. I could see
that in every case the plot was modeled after Ramayana. There is always a villain who kidnaps the heros’ wife.
The difference is if you hear the original Ramayana
you make spiritual advancement.
In
Ramesvaram, there are still floating rocks. They weigh a few kilograms, but if
you put them in water, they float.
I
was in a train that stopped at Citrakuta, the forest where Sita and Rama stayed.
Even the beggars that got on the train there were chanting names of Sita and
Rama.
When
Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana, came to surrender to Lord Rama, the monkey
soldiers were all doubtful about his character and there was a lot of commotion.
Lord Rama asked Hanuman. Hanuman said he studied Vibhishana’s facial features and
considered he was truthful. Rama agreed and spoke a verse declaring how He will
accept anyone who surrenders to Him. He said He would even forgive Ravana if he
surrendered.
Last
time I went to South India, I went to Vijaya Rama, the place where Rama gave
the last rites to Jatayu, and where Jatayu returned to the spiritual world.
Hanuman
was generally always victorious because of his perfect faith in Lord Rama. However,
one time Sita and Rama needed a Shiva lingam
for a sacrifice, and Hanuman went to get one but he returned too late. Sita
made a Shiva lingam out of sand, which
they used instead for the sacrifice. When Hanuman returned, the sacrifice was
over, and he felt bad. Lord Rama felt compassionate and said, “In the future,
there will be a big temple here in which your Shiva lingam and that of Sita will both be worshiped, but the regulation
will be that yours is worshiped first.”
There
is a famous story in the Sri sampradaya that
King Kulasekhara was so much into the Ramayana
pastimes it was like they were still happening. When he heard Ravana kidnapped
Sita, he dashed off to Ramesvaram to cross the sea and chastise him. He charged
into the sea with his sword, and just before he went completely under water,
Sita and Rama appeared on a vimana [airplane]
just above the water to reassure him that They were already united and he need
not worry.
From
a conversation:
Dinadayal
Prabhu says, “He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail.”
Indian man visiting Dublin:
From
a conversation on harinama:
I
challenged one Christian man, “You tease us for having many Gods and are proud
of having just one, but in the history of Christianity, how many people have
you killed in the name of your one God whereas how many people have the Hindus
killed in the name of their many gods?”
-----
yasyam
vai sruyamanayam
krishne
parama-puruse
bhaktir
utpadyate pumsah
soka-moha-bhayapaha
“Simply
by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature [Srimad-Bhagavatam], the feeling for loving devotional service to
Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to
extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.7)