Travel Journal#14.9: Belgium, England, and Scotland

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 14, No. 9

By Krishna-kripa das 

(May 2018, part one) 

Belgium, England, and Scotland 

(Sent from Paris, France, on May 19, 2018)

Where I Went and What I Did

The first two weeks in May I chanted Hare Krishna in public in Brussels, Antwerp, London, Newcastle, and Edinburgh for two days each, and for one day each in Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester. Only one day I didn’t go on harinama, attending the Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan instead, and on two days I chanted in two cities, one day in Brussels and Antwerp and another in Edinburgh and Newcastle. I also saw the film Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It for the second time, this time in Liverpool, proud to be the birthplace of the best band in the world, The Beatles [according to their web site, www.visitliverpool.com]. I ended my month of traveling in Europe and doing harinama in thirteen cities, by taking the bus to Paris, where I hope to remain in one place, and do harinama for nine weeks, except for a possible visit to London for the Ratha-yatra.

I share many quotes and notes from Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures and one from a conversation. I include a quote from Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Jaiva Dharma. I share quotes from Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s new book, Viraha Bhavan Journal, to be published later in the year. I include notes on a class by Bhakti Charu Swami in London and notes on Sacinandana Swami and Madhava Prabhu speaking on the holy name at the Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan. I share notes on a class by Krishna Priya Devi Dasi of Antwerp, who is very dedicated to sharing Krishna with others, and Revati Ramana Prabhu, the temple president of Tirupati. I share a comment made during my class in Leeds by Govardhan Devi Dasi and a realization from a conversation with Ananta Nitai Prabhu. I also include notes on an interfaith meeting at our Newcastle temple on the topic of “Believing and Belonging.”

Many thanks to Krishna Priya Devi Dasi of Antwerp for her very liberal donation. Thanks very much also to Vaishnavi and Janmastami Prabhus of Brussels, who although they are a couple, both individually gave me donations. Thanks to Karsna Prabhu who sponsored my trip from Leeds to Liverpool to see the Hare Krishna! film and onward to Manchester, as well as the cost of the theater ticket and the cost of stashing my bags while we watched the movie and did harinama. Thanks to Suparno’s family for their accommodation and donation in Edinburgh. Thanks also to a member of their congregation, whose name I did not catch, for his donation. Thanks to Madhavi and Kanwar Prabhus for their donation, accommodation, and prasadam in Sheffield. Thanks to Govardhan Devi Dasi for donating our Leeds harinama collection. Thanks to Jude, Jude’s friend, and Barbara for giving me donations in Liverpool. Thanks to my Polish friend Pandava Prabhu for giving me a donation at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan as he does every year. Thanks to Raj, who used to live in Newcastle, and the wife of the Latvian kirtan singer, who both gave me donations in Manchester. Thanks to Janardana Prabhu of Leeds for his accommodation and donation, and to Priya Sundari Devi Dasi, his wife, for the amazing doshas. Thanks to Aharada Devi Dasi for her photos of our Liverpool harinama before the film and to Jude for her photo of our harinama party on the escalator at Liverpool One after the film. Thanks to my sister Karen for her photo of her and her daughter, Fern, at the Doughnut Plant in New York City. Thanks to the Bombay Nomad for his photo of the Belgian beer sign.

Itinerary

May 15–July 18: Paris

July 19: London harinamas and program at Parasurama Prabhu’s place

July 20: Northampton harinama and program

July 21: Sheffield Tramlines harinama and possible night harinama in Leeds

July 22: Birmingham Ratha-yatra

July 23: Fly to Lithuania via Nuremberg with possible harinama and program

July 24–30: Vaishnava Summer Festival in Lithuania

July 31–August 4: Polish Woodstock

August 5: Berlin

August 6: Dublin

August 7–13: Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada

August 14–15: Montreal harinama with Ekalavya Prabhu

August 16: London

August 17–20: Newcastle retreat

August 21: Edinburgh program?

August 26: Leeds program?

August 28: Sheffield program?

August 30: Accrington program?

August 31: Leeds program?

September 1: York

September 2: Newcastle

September 3–28: Mayapur

September 29: Newcastle

September 30: Dublin

October 1–January 5, 2019: New York City Yuga Dharma Harinama Party

Chanting Hare Krishna in Brussels

I chanted Hare Krishna at Brussels Central, accompanied on the drum by my friend Janmastami Prabhu, who is very musical and devotional, and who likes harinama at least as much as I do. An Asian man who appreciates Hare Krishna and talked with us briefly, recorded this video using my iPhone (https://youtu.be/u6oMb_3-v8M):

We lasted 1:38 hours in that spot before being stopped by the city police who said we could not play music there. We decided to play in the train station, and there we lasted 15 minutes before the rail police told us we could not sing there. They recommended a hallway between the metro and the train station, and so we relocated.

At our new location, we displayed our books nicely so passersby could see them.

Here Janmastami Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in that hallway, accompanied by me on harmonium (https://youtu.be/vmnE60-3bQQ):

We lasted 30 minutes there until the metro police stopped us. Thus we went back outside for the final 15 minutes before our harinama was scheduled to end. Fortunately we did not again encounter the city police who originally stopped us, although we were in their jurisdiction.

Because of being stopped by police three times at Brussels Central in three hours the previous day, the next day we shifted to Porte de Namur, where we chanted a total of four hours over the next two days, without being stopped by anyone.

Here Janmastami Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the entrance to the metro at Porte de Namur in Brussels (https://youtu.be/JSdgQjZGC2o):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Antwerp

Here Krishna Priya Devi Dasi, who has a program at her place in Antwerp every Wednesday evening, chants Hare Krishna and her guests respond. The audience was very international. I spoke English, one young lady spoke Russian, three people spoke Dutch, and three spoke Polish. Krishna Priya, originally from Poland, spoke with all of them in their native languages during the course of the evening of kirtan, discussion, and prasadam (https://youtu.be/Zj4jI5mbzH0):

Krishna Priya has a great attachment to the form of the Lord and the forms of His representatives, both in the Gaudiya Vaishnava and the Christian traditions, as you can see from these photos of her apartment.

Krishna Priya is very enthusiastic to share Krishna consciousness with others, and for many years she would play harmonium and chant Hare Krishna in downtown Antwerp from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., six days a week, advertising a program at her place which she would have on the seventh day. One day she chanted with me downtown during my visit this time, and she was the only person to join me for more than ten minutes.

I chanted by myself for the remaining two hours, but the last hour and a quarter I had to keep moving because the police said our permission letter did not cover a sitting down harinama.

I chanted to Veganation, a vegan restaurant run by a devotee named Alex. He was very friendly and had nice prasadam, the soup and the smoothies being especially good.

He is very busy, having few helpers, and if you feel inclined to help out with a restaurant in Antwerp, he would be very grateful.

Chanting Hare Krishna in London

Every time I pass through London on the way to and from Europe, I schedule my visit so I have time to participate in the daily afternoon harinama.

Here Sundar Nitai Prabhu, who sometimes travels with Harinama Ruci, chants Hare Krishna on Oxford Street in London and a girl dances and two ladies and a baby watch (https://youtu.be/zGamnJDiyps):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Greater Birmingham

Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in West Bromwich Town Centre, not far from the venue for the Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan in England (https://youtu.be/gijKJUuR4OU):

Here a Birmingham devotee leads the chanting of Hare Krishna at the same venue (https://youtu.be/27EAIFv42eQ):

Chanting Hare Krishna in the Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan

The Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan was wonderful as usual this year, although there were some challenges as the venue was smaller, leaving less room for dancing, and it did not have a proper facility for the few souls who stayed there overnight to take a shower.

The prasadam was pretty good as usual.

I liked this pasta with curd and black olives, something you do not get everyday.

Instead of chanting 24 hours straight this year, the organizers decided to not to keep the kirtan going from 12:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, except for a few youthful Vaishnavas who were enthusiastic to keep chanting. I was a bit enthusiastic to keep it going, but I did take a nap from 1:30 to 3:30 a.m. and from 5:45 to 7:15 a.m.

I personally had the rewarding experience of being able to lead some kirtan this year, leading the mangala-arati for Lord Jagannatha from 5:15 to 5:30 a.m. and then chanting again from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., which also included another arati.

Gopibhava Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan, and Newcastle devotees dance (https://youtu.be/vkXoJ9BNQVs):

Yadubara Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan a tune that has two parts which are each chanted by half the congregation simultaneously (https://youtu.be/8FN7j3qlSf0):

Bhagavata Purana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan, and Caitanya Vallabha and Brajananda Prabhus of our Newcastle temple dance (https://youtu.be/0f4Ncaw4zXo):

Here Madhava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan (https://youtu.be/OS36Jb-dBD0):



Madhava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/NjR0ABbBDNA):

Sacinandana Swami performed arati during the bathing ceremony for the Gaura Nitai deities.

Madhava Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna during that bathing ceremony (https://youtu.be/i6_FARlosso):

Parasurama Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/FtrjIvr6VkU):

Caitanya Vallabha Prabhu and his wife, Jagannathesvari Devi Dasi, chant Hare Krishna at the Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/8GjEgRUbR28):

Candramauli Swami chants Hare Krishna at Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan and gets everyone to dance (https://youtu.be/s8b3Lrq-rVM):

Lots of devotees danced at the end of a Sacinandana Swami kirtan (https://youtu.be/u-A9KOf6X9o):

I have more videos of Sacinandana Swami and Madhava Prabhu, and some of Vani Devi Dasi, which I did not upload because the camera had to keep refocusing because of the dim light and it makes them annoying to look at. Devotees have such a taste for chanting in dim light, but it really frustrates my attempts to video the kirtans nicely and share them with others.

A few Vaishnava Youth devotees were enthusiastic enough to stay up all night singing (https://youtu.be/f8OqZSdLhIk):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Newcastle

I chanted in Newcastle the first day by myself and the second day with Prema Sankirtana Prabhu. That second day one man gave £7 for a Bhagavad-gita, always a nice way to end a visit to Newcastle.

Prema Sankirtana Prabhu told me that he has figured out that his two young daughters can handle at most one hour of harinama, and thus the whole family regularly goes out for an hour at a time. People are attracted by the couple and their kids chanting and distributing prasadam and literature, and he is happy about it.

It was raining at the end of our harinama, and I went into a nearby Michael Kors mens fashion shop to ask for a bag to keep my harmonium dry for the twenty-minute walk home. I started out by asking the shop employees how our singing was, which was certainly a risk, and they responded, “A little loud.” I told them it was my last day in Newcastle, but I would tell my friend to face the amplifier the opposite direction next time.

They liberally donated a large shopping bag to the cause despite the loudness of our music, and I hope Krishna blesses them.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Edinburgh

The first day in Edinburgh I chanted by myself, but the next day Suparno Prabhu stayed for the first of the two hours I chanted there. People only donated £0.05 that first hour. Still Suparno gave one person a Sri Isopanisad despite the person having no money. That was not really a problem as the previous day people donated a lot and did not take a single book. The second hour, however, people ended up giving over £12 and taking three more books.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Sheffield

When I was with Sutapa Prabhu at Radhadesh I asked him his itinerary and was happy to learn we would both be in Sheffield on May 10. He had given the bhaktas a final project for their three-month bhakta course at Bhaktivedanta Manor – to put on a Hare Krishna festival in Sheffield and to advertise it, and so they would be there a few days that week.

In Sheffield I chanted for an hour and a half by myself and another hour and a half with Sutapa Prabhu’s party. While I was chanting alone a young lady with a happy expression on her face looked in my direction, and I offered her an invitation to our festival. She said she already had the invitation, and she also had gotten a book on yoga which was one of her interests. I explained that Bhagavad-gita was the ultimate yoga book which explained the whole philosophy behind yoga, and which described four different kinds of yoga, and I tried to impress upon her that any serious spiritual aspirant should have a Bhagavad-gita and this opportunity to get it should not be missed. She gave £5, and she took the Gita, and we continued our discussion about spiritual topics. She mentioned she liked to sing, and I asked her if she liked the Beatles. She said that her father was really into the Beatles, and so I explained to her about how Chant and Be Happy told of the conversation between George Harrison and John Lennon with our spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada, about chanting and meditation. She gave another £2 and took that book too. 

I told her we were going to chant with a whole party of people at 3:00 p.m., and I invited her to join us. She did for five minutes or so. She said she had to work the night of our event, but that she would come for the last hour and a half. People as favorable as this young lady who teaches dance in Sheffield are rare! In fact, when she told me her name was Jemma, I said, “That must be because you are a real gem!”

Chanting Hare Krishna in Leeds

Govardhan Devi Dasi, the disciple of Srila Prabhupada leading the Hare Krishna chant below with her beautiful voice and devotional spirit, along with her husband Nitaichand Prabhu (wearing white), drove two hours from Scarborough to chant with me in Leeds.

Since my visit last year to The North of England, Govardhan has been developing the ultimate book table for use on harinama.

Midway we were joined by Ashish, who plays the mridanga and traveled nearly an hour from York. A street musician offered to play his drum set and began setting it up, and a man whose breath smelled of alcohol danced with Nitaichand (https://youtu.be/Gf9jGXlHCkY):

Locals Manoharini Radha Devi Dasi, who distributed books and invitations, and Leeds University student, Pavitra, who played the karatalas, joined us, and passersby danced (https://youtu.be/xmkV1tY23Sc):

I stopped recording video and put the iPhone on a tripod which I purchased at Poundland for £1, and began dancing myself (https://youtu.be/denKX-zEjnI)

Having so many people participating made it the most ecstatic harinama I ever organized in Leeds!

Later Pavitra, who regularly attends our programs in Leeds, led the chanting of Hare Krishna there by the Debenhams on Briggate Street (https://youtu.be/qp3f4SzHv90):

Afterward all the devotees attended the weekly Friday night program in Leeds, and Govardhan Devi Dasi chanted Hare Krishna and Janardana Prabhu played drum (https://youtu.be/VgDJibUTZ5k):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Liverpool

We had an enthusiastic group of devotees chanting Hare Krishna for over two hours before seeing the film Hare Krishna! at the cinema in Liverpool One (https://youtu.be/Qp6dmNWW664):

At one point, some ladies danced with us.

We also chanted another forty minutes after seeing the film.

Seeing Hare Krishna! the Second Time in Liverpool

Jude brought two ladies who were friends of hers to see Hare Krishna!, and they were very impressed with the film. I said some people think Srila Prabhupada had some kind of charisma that attracted many followers, but the truth is Srila Prabhupada had something genuine to offer them spiritually and those who accepted it came to realize it and wanted to serve him and share his gift. The two friends both agreed that that was really clear in the film.

Geoff Bell commented on Facebook, “I watched the trailer for the film and the director said that on a previous showing in America, a lady left the cinema in tears. Well I watched the film today in Liverpool and I too left the cinema in tears as well. It was so emotional. It was laced with humour in parts, but it also emphasised Krishna’s message to us all. The time just flew by and all too soon it was over. If you missed it, try and see it if it comes on again. Hare Krishna.”

His words inspired me to respond, “It is true it is very emotional and absorbing. I found some parts of it stirred up my emotions this time when they had not the first time I saw it in New York City in September. Over an hour went by without me looking at my watch which is rare. Srila Prabhupada’s purity and how that touched and transformed those who met him really comes across. The beautiful scenes at the end of Krishna activities all over the world with the kirtan by Madhava Prabhu in the background is so attractive. Hearing Srila Prabhupada’s recorded voice so often throughout the video is very powerful. Also to see the whole part about George Harrison and the Beatles in a Liverpool theater is another level.”

I did not take notes on Hare Krishna! the first time I saw it, but this time I noted facts I did not know or which were striking to me in some way:

Mukunda Goswami: Srila Prabhupada was a friend having a party, and he just wanted everyone to take part and be happy.

?: Srila Prabhupada chanted with so much faith he brought the whole universe to him.

Brahmananda Prabhu:

When the article appeared in the New York Times about our chanting in Tompkins Square Park, Srila Prabhupada said, “The New York Times is the most important newspaper in the world. This article marks the beginning of my movement.”

There was one alternative radio station that played the Hare Krishna Happening album from 10 at night to 6 in the morning.

Mukunda Goswami: As I left for the West Coast, Srila Prabhupada said casually, “If you get a chance, see if you can start a temple out there.”

Gurudas Prabhu: At the promotional concert at the Avalon, we were afraid the Hells Angels would trash the place, so we made them our security guards.

Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is a historical personality and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Some say God cannot come, but that means God is subjected to our order. God is independent. Whatever He likes He can do.

Shyamasundar Prabhu:

George Harrison liked the introduction to the Happening album, and he memorized it.

All the Apple staff joined in the chorus on the Radha Krishna Temple album. 

We sold 70,000 copies the first day.

Srila Prabhupada always wanted to go where there was the least development so he could make the greatest contribution.

Many times I would be whispering to someone in the hallway, “Srila Prabhupada has no time to see you,” and I would hear his voice saying, “Who is it? Tell them to come in.”

Visiting Russia, Srila Prabhupada observed, “The Russian people are spiritual, but their leaders give them no access to it.”

Chanting Hare Krishna in Manchester

I chose to come to Manchester on the second Sunday of May because for at least a couple of years they did harinama as part of the Sunday feast program that one day a month. Now they do harinama on the first and third Saturday, which is less ideal in terms of my schedule, conflicting with the York harinama on the first Saturday and the Newcastle Sacred Street party on the third Saturday, but far better than doing harinama during the prasadam period of a Sunday feast, probably the worst time to do one, forcing devotees to choose between harinama and prasadam, which is not a recommended way of increasing attendance!

I hoped to get some devotees to join my personal harinama after the Sunday feast. As it turned out there was a meeting scheduled after the feast which the more likely candidates for harinama were expected to attend. Fortunately a very friendly and supportive young Indian doctor named Raj, who previously lived in our Newcastle temple, had relocated to Manchester, and he arranged a cab to the Market Street harinama spot, joined me in chanting the response for forty-minutes, and gave a donation on top of all that. Later while I was singing, a Western attender at our Friday night service at the Manchester temple came by and played karatalas for half an hour. People donated more than enough to cover the nine books I purchased from the Manchester temple and my bus fare back, and they accepted a Bhagavad-gita and a Beyond Birth and Death, giving me seven books to distribute in the future. Thus on the whole, the Manchester harinama was far better than a one-man harinama with little reciprocation, my worst worry.

Chanting Hare Krishna in London

A couple of very enthusiastic harinama devotees were present for our London harinama, Ananta Nitai Prabhu, who has gotten me to do twelve-hour harinamas in Dublin at least three times, and Dayal Mora Prabhu, who travels with the Harinama Ruci world traveling party, both disciples of Mahavishnu Swami, whose love and enthusiasm for harinama are legendary. Somehow, neither of them got to lead this time, but their presence added a lot.

Three of us sang, but as I was playing harmonium for two of us, I was only able to take video of one kirtan leader.

Ram Charan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in London on the daily harinama every afternoon from Radha-Londonisvara temple (https://youtu.be/ECsUMswKjcg):

Special Photos

I started a tradition in our family of meeting for Krishna doughnuts in New York City, and I was very happy to see my sister, Karen, and her daughter, Fern, continuing it by celebrating at the Doughnut Plant both Mother’s Day and Fern’s birthday, which coincided on May 13.

I wondered if there is such a thing as a Hare Krishna birthday card to send to Fern, and this was the best I could find in my brief search before taking rest that night.

While I was chanting my last 13 rounds a young lady two seats ahead of me on the Megabus to London spent 90% of her time looking at online fashion magazines. It reminded me of the Bhaktivinoda Thakura song we call “Unilo Aruna”: “You spend your nights uselessly sleeping and your days decorating your bodies! You have achieved such a rare human body, but you do not care for this gift. You remain not serving the darling of Yasoda and slowly fall through your last moments to death.”

This sign is on the bathrooms at our Govinda’s Restaurant in Central London.

This sign is on the door of the office of our Soho Street temple.

I encountered for the first time while chanting at Brussels Central a sign on the bar across the street, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” I was too busy chanting Hare Krishna to take a photo of that quote, which I later found on a web site in a photo from another Belgian city.

That is a laughable quote for someone who is elevated in spiritual consciousness and who realizes the happiness derived from drinking beer is temporary and is not advocated but rather discouraged by God: “An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.” (Bg. 5.22)

Where did that pro-beer quote come from? Some say Benjamin Franklin!

According to one web site:

“It is commonly mistaken that [Benjamin] Franklin once said, ‘Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.’ However, Franklin apparently did not like beer very much and was much more of a wine lover. The quote originally came from a letter that Franklin wrote to his friend André Morellet while he was in France. He stated, ‘Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates itself with the grapes to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy!’

“Although Franklin does love wine, here, he may be referring to the greatness of God and the wonders of the rain and the vineyards, rather than the greatness of wine. However, either way, the quote never had anything to do with beer.”

I think that Franklin was glorifying God for providing rain, needed to provide nutrients for human society, which is mentioned by Krishna in at least a couple places in Bhagavad-gita:

“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties. Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are directly manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Consequently the all-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in acts of sacrifice.” (Bg. 3.14–15) and more simply, “I withhold and send forth the rain.” (Bg. 9.19)

Of course, water is necessary for alcoholic beverages, and Krishna is the taste of water (Bg. 7.8). Srila Prabhupada, who is encouragement in devotional service personified, would make the point that if the drunkard thought of Krishna as being the taste of his drink, he would gradually progress in Krishna consciousness!

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From a conversation with Yogi Amrit Desai:

Prabhupada: You may take care as carefully as possible, but it [the body] will not exist.

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.44, purport:

“Brahma wanted to bewilder Krishna, who bewilders the entire universe. The whole universe is under Krishna’s mystic power (mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]), but Brahma wanted to mystify Him. The result was that Brahma himself was mystified, just as one who wants to kill another may himself be killed. In other words, Brahma was defeated by his own attempt. In a similar position are the scientists and philosophers who want to overcome the mystic power of Krishna. They challenge Krishna, saying, ‘What is God? We can do this, and we can do that.’ But the more they challenge Krishna in this way, the more they are implicated in suffering. The lesson here is that we should not try to overcome Krishna. Rather, instead of endeavoring to surpass Him, we should surrender to Him (sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]).”

From Nectar of Instruction, text 2, purport:

“Modern capitalists accumulate more wealth than necessary, and the communists, envious of their prosperity, want to nationalize all wealth and property. Unfortunately the communists do not know how to solve the problem of wealth and its distribution. Consequently when the wealth of the capitalists falls into the hands of the communists, no solution results. Opposed to these two philosophies, the Krishna conscious ideology states that all wealth belongs to Krishna. Thus unless all wealth comes under the administration of Krishna, there can be no solution to the economic problem of mankind. Nothing can be solved by placing wealth in the hands of the communists or the capitalists. If a hundred-dollar bill is lying on the street, someone may pick it up and put it in his pocket. Such a man is not honest. Another man may see the money and decide to let it remain there, thinking that he should not touch another’s property. Although this second man does not steal the money for his own purposes, he is unaware of its proper use. The third man who sees the hundred-dollar bill may pick it up, find the man who lost it and deliver it to him. This man does not steal the money to spend for himself, nor does he neglect it and let it lie in the street. By taking it and delivering it to the man who has lost it, this man is both honest and wise.”

“Simply transferring wealth from capitalists to communists cannot solve the problem of modern politics, for it has been demonstrated that when a communist gets money, he uses it for his own sense gratification. The wealth of the world actually belongs to Krishna, and every living entity, man and animal, has the birthright to use God’s property for his maintenance. When one takes more than his maintenance requires—be he a capitalist or a communist—he is a thief, and as such he is liable to be punished by the laws of nature.”

From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.1 in Los Angeles on December 29, 1973:

“Just like you can train even a tiger, even an animal, to dance according to your desire. That is practical. So you cannot train a human being to become a brahmana? With such intelligence? But there is no such training. They are simply training all cats and dogs. But the Vedic civilization takes this opportunity of human being, to make him perfect in his life. What is that perfection? That perfection is to understand God and become His devotee. That is perfection.”

“Just like they are putting on this theory that matter, from matter, life has come.

‘All right, matter, life has come from matter. Just prove it. Take matter, whatever materials you want, take, and produce life.’

‘That we shall see in future.’

Then why you are talking this nonsense? Science means observation and experiment. There must be experiment also. But without experiment, they are putting on this theory and getting Nobel Prize, although it is not a fact. We know. We are followers of Vedic principles. We know that matter or life, everything comes from life, not from matter. We know it certain. ‘How do you know?’

Krishna says. Mattah sarvam pravartate: ‘Everything comes from Me.’ And Krishna is the supreme life. So we have no difficulty, because we know.”

From a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.11 in New York City on July 27, 1966:

“In the Bhagavad-gita you will find that the Supreme Lord says in the Eighteenth Chapter [verse 66],

sarva-dharman parityajya

mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

mokshayishyami ma sucah

He says, ‘My dear Arjuna, I have spoken to you all about Bhagavad-gita. I do not know whether you have understood the whole thing or not, but because you are My friend and I love you and you love Me, I say you the most confidential thing to you. And what is that? You give up everything and just follow Me. You just give up all your concocted things in the mind and just become Krishna conscious.’

‘Oh, I shall give up everything and simply I shall follow You?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh, how can I do? I have got so many department of knowledge and department of things. How can I?’

No. He says, ma sucah: ‘Don’t hesitate.’

Now, what will be the result? The result will be aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami: ‘I shall deliver you from all reactions of your sinful acts.’”

“I am sitting in this tree, and as soon as I fly to another tree, the other bird, He also follows me, and sits again in that tree. He is so friendly. Just imagine how much kind and how much friendly is the Lord. He is always trying to call me back again to Him. We are trying to noncooperate with Him. We are trying to noncooperate, and He is trying to cooperate. He is sitting with me in the same branch, He is witnessing, He is observing, and He is waiting, simply waiting when we shall turn my face, when I shall turn my face towards Him. That is the whole thing.”

“Those who are elderly persons, they have got experience. If their sons go wrong, how much they are anxious. How much the father is anxious to get his son back again, back again. That is the natural instinct. And where from this instinct comes? This instinct comes from the Supreme, because in the Vedanta-sutra you will find that everything, whatever you are finding in this material world or spiritual world, everything, that has come from the Supreme. Janmady asya yatah: [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.1) ‘He is the supreme source, fountainhead of everything.’"

“Now, here Krishna says, ye yatha mam prapadyante. Ye yatha mam prapadyante. He is looking after always: ‘When the living entity shall turn his face towards Me?’ And as we turn our face towards Krishna or the Supreme Lord, He also responds in proportionately. He also responds proportionately. It is not difficult.”

“We must always know that our background of relationship is that we are subordinate, and He is great. God is great. We cannot be equal with Him. We have to follow. He is the supreme leader. Therefore Lord Krishna says that "You give up everything." He is trying to give you leadership. He is prepared to give you all leadership provided you are prepared to follow His leadership. That’s all. Reciprocation. And in proportionately, proportionately, as you accept His leadership, He also responds reciprocally.”

“So seeing God is not difficult, but we have to prepare our eyes. And how that eye is prepared, that is stated in the Vedic literature, that if you kindly smear your eyeball with the ointment of love. . . . There is an ointment. Of course, it is not available in the drug shop. (laughter) You have to prepare that ointment. You have to prepare that eye ointment, love, love ointment. And if you smear with that love ointment your eyes, then you can see Krishna always. Premañjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva (Brahma-samhita 5.38). Sadaiva means always. Always. Not a single moment you are without Krishna.”

“Just try to follow the leadership of Krishna and make an experiment [and see] how you are becoming happy.”

“Now, Krishna says that ye yatha mam prapadyante. Now the proportionately, if you agree to follow the leadership of Krishna, proportionately as you follow, so you become perfect. If you follow one percent, then you become one percent perfect. If you follow twenty-five percent, then you become twenty-five percent perfect. And if you follow one hundred percent, then you become one hundred percent.”

“Krishna, the Supreme Lord, or His bona fide representatives who come here, they can force you to go back to Godhead, but they do not do that. They want your voluntary cooperation. Unless you are prepared to cooperate voluntarily oh, there is no question of your improvement. So we must accept our voluntary cooperation with Krishna, the Supreme Lord, or His representative who comes before you to canvass, ‘My dear sir, please be Krishna conscious. Please look to the leadership of the Supreme Lord.’ Now it is up to you.”

“But that supreme leadership is vested in the Supreme Lord. And when we do not accept the leadership of the Supreme, then we have to accept somebody else, ABCD, as our leader and they will misguide us.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.51, purport:

“All living entities are serving Krishna in different ways, but when they are Krishna conscious, their service is fully manifest. As a flower in the bud gradually fructifies and yields its desired aroma and beauty, so when a living entity comes to the platform of Krishna consciousness, the beauty of his real form comes into full blossom. That is the ultimate beauty and the ultimate fulfillment of desire.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.53, purport:

“A man is known by his company. If one has the chance to live in the good association of devotees, one is able to cultivate knowledge, and naturally one’s character or nature will change for one’s eternal benefit.”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

From Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 4:

“The minuscule form of the individual jiva makes him vulnerable to the sway of the jada-jagat, material energy. Simultaneously however, because of his innate spiritual constitution, even with a slight spiritual support the jiva can become an eternal resident of the transcendental abode of the Lord and experience supreme joy.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From his latest book, Viraha Bhavan Journal, to be published later this year:

“‘Take it up a notch – the inner nature.’ It’s me chanting all sixteen rounds of japa, starting first thing in the morning (no later than 2:30 A.M.)”

“I deliberately and thoughtfully say my Gayatri mantras. After saying them in Sanskrit, I repeat them in English.”

“Question: What about your gayatri mantras?
Answer: I think I do a pretty decent job with them. I take my time and do not rush. I go slowly. I touch my thumb on the spots of my right hand. I correctly pronounce the memorized Sanskrit, and in the background vaguely think of the meaning in English. I look at my Deities while I say the mantras, looking appropriately at Srila Prabhupada for the guru mantras, at Lord Caitanya for the Caitanya mantras, and Radha-Govinda for the last two Gopala and gopi-bhava mantras. When I am finished the Sanskrit, I recite in my mind the English translation of each mantra. . . . My Prabhupada murti is perfect for looking at while I recite the English to the mantras to the spiritual master. And then Lord Caitanya, not rushing, and finally, Radha-Govinda, ending with the gopi-bhava mantra, which I have learned specifically refers to Srimati Radharani. I don’t want to be complacent; I enjoy saying my gayatris and look forward to the time when I say them again.”

[We cannot understand just how persons will perceive our interactions with them, what to speak of those advanced in Krishna consciousness. Thus it was interesting to me to read the account by my guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, of my visit last fall.]

“Krishna-kripa Brahmacari travels quickly from city to city all over the world, taking part in public harinama with the local devotees. He loves sankirtana-yajna. Some senior devotees [Niranjana Swami and Devaki Mataji] have advised him not to travel so widely but to stay longer in one place. He has now joined the New York City harinama party and will stay with them for three months. He visited us yesterday [October 8, 2017] for lunch and talked constantly about his harinama adventures. He posts a blog on the Internet about his activities and association with the devotees. Individuals send him donations, and this enables him to travel. He laughs frequently and is enthusiastic and optimistic. Baladeva prepared wraps, thick chapatis rolled around vegetables. Krishna-kripa had three of them along with dhal and potato chips with sour cream and ginger beer. He always dresses in his full brahmacari attire.”

Bhakti Charu Swami:

Kavi-karnapura, an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya, wrote a drama in which the opening scene is Lord Caitanya taking birth and Kali trembling with fear in his assembly. Kali had made demons take birth in brahmana families and destroyed dharma. But now Kali explained to his associates that this brahmana boy will establish dharma and that they would not be able to stop Him. Lust tried reassuring Kali, “By introducing intermingling of the sexes, I will destroy dharma.” Kali replied, “Due to their love for this boy, people will become so pure in their hearts, there will be no room for lust.”

Formerly in India, the men would go out and make money, and the women would stay home and spend the money.

If we are strict, then we will not fall down.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur made 27 sannyasis, and none fell down.

I asked Srila Prabhupada if avoiding looking at women was sufficient to keep one from being misled by sex attraction. He indicated that was not sufficient because if one accidentally looks at a women, he will be attracted. The solution is to develop your love for Krishna.

To remain safe, we must remain in the association of devotees.

Looking women as mothers is an important principle because then we will not consider them as objects of potential sense gratification.

Srila Prabhupada advised, “What ever happens do not leave ISKCON.”

To make spiritual advancement, one must conquer sex desire because this material world is a prison in which we are criminals for having rejected Krishna and sex desire is the chain binding us in prison.

Artificial restraining oneself does not work. Visvamitra Muni performed austerities for 60,000 years but was distracted by hearing the sound of Menaka’s ankle bells.

Even in dramas, those who respect women are heroes.

When one develops respect for women, one develops his character. One without respect for women has no character.

Respect for superiors, affection for subordinates, and friendship for equals makes a perfect human family. Fortunately by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy we are coming to know these things.

In the States people were saying that men and women are equal, but in Vedic culture women are superior. Mother is superior.

The lesson to learn from the story of Chota Haridasa is we have to be strict about what is going on in our hearts to get Lord Caitanya’s mercy.

We should not follow the example of the sannyasi disciple of Srila Prabhupada who committed suicide when disturbed by sex desire. Rather we should perform devotional service to purify our hearts.

Sacinandana Swami:

We are always shocked when we are reminded of our mortality, when someone we know dies or when someone dear to someone we know dies.

I chanted for eight hours in the presence of someone who was dying. I wondered if the doctors who were there found my chanting a disturbance, so I inquired. They said, “This is the only help. We cannot save people from death. But we can see even in our monitors evidence of a peacefulness coming from the chanting you are doing, so please continue.”

Face the altar. See the Lord. He is the only hope for one seeking immortality.

Oh holy name, you destroy whatever misery afflicts the soul.

Turn to Krishna. And if the person next to us is inclined to talk, invite them to also turn to Krishna or else go to one of the places designated for talking.

Govardhan Devi Dasi:

I heard a Bhakti Charu Swami lecture where he made the point that methane and sugar although having a simple chemical composition cannot made by man and are only created by living systems.

Revati Ramana Prabhu:

In the human form of life, our consciousness can grow. By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, this growth takes place. This is not possible for the animals.

Prahlada Maharaja was invincible because he was always contemplating the instructions of Narada Muni.

When sravanam (hearing) is very good, smaranam (remembrance) is very good.

If we do not hear regularly, we stagnate spiritually.

Srila Prabhupada says all the problems in our spiritual life are due to a lack of hearing.

The brahmana who enters the gurukula has his ears decorated because hearing is more important in education.

Narada himself after his mother died traveled around the world meditating on the instructions of the bhaktivedantas he heard from.

It is said for the duration of time that Hiranyakasipu was performing austerities, one thousand years, his son remained in the womb of his wife in the ashram of Narada, hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam.

It is said that the snakes in the pit meant to bite Prahlada Maharaja offered obeisances to him when he remembered that his Lord sleeps on a bed of a thousand-headed snake.

Hiranyakasipu was on the material platform because he did not hear from Narada Muni.

Because Prahlada Maharaja applied the instructions he nicely heard from Narada Muni even the greatest poison could not harm him. We can also become invincible by applying the instructions of Srila Prabhupada in our life. Our problems come from a lack of application.

The sadhu does not worry about his situation in this world as he understands Krishna will take care.

Although only five years old, Prahlada Maharaja became so elevated simply by hearing from Narada Muni.

Srila Prabhupada said, “When you study my books, I sit beside you and teach you.”

We can see that Srila Prabhupada was successful because he was an emblem of trnad api sunicena.

Comment by Purusottama Prabhu: Here you have to cut through the social etiquette, and the people do not how to respond, and then you present the books.

Krishna Priya Devi Dasi:

There are many mantras, but this is maha. Why, because we are asking for service. No other mantras ask for service.

Lord Caitanya gave out this mantra to everyone for free, not 100 euros like one yoga center in Antwerp.

If you have Krishna, you have everything, all benedictions.

If you chant this mantra, you will be always be protected.

If you can make Krishna happy once in your life, your life is successful.

If you give this holy name, you will become very dear to Radha and Krishna.

If you please Krishna you please everyone.

One junkie threatened to beat me, waving a broken wine bottle at me. I prayed to Lord Nrsimha. A group of twenty tourists from Nepal came by, amazed I was practicing their religion and amazed I was chanting there in the street by myself. I invited them to join me and gave them some karatalas. We chanted for two hours. The junkie wanted to hurt me, but he couldn’t reach me and finally he went away.

There was one boy who was blind from birth who eventually encountered a temple and was attracted to chanting and the prasadam. He heard the teachings and accepted them. On a couple of occasions, the boy identified the deity’s clothes, and the devotees accused him of being a fraud and not really blind, and they threw him out of the temple. The Lord ultimately fully restored his vision, but he found out that although he could see externally very nicely, he could no longer always see the Lord in the heart. Thus he repeatedly begged the Lord to give him his blindness back, and so He did. He traveled and preached and inspired many in devotion to the Lord, and returned to the Lord at the end of life.

You can learn so many things from me, and I can learn so many things from you, so Krishna has brought us together.

Krishna is in your heart and is fulfilling your desires.

Krishna told Rukmini that His devotee called Him, but He was too late. She was confused, thinking that Krishna is already in the heart and therefore it should not be difficult for Him to come quickly. Krishna said if my devotee chants my name, crying with tears in his eyes, then I come quickly.

You may cry out to the Lord, but if you call out the name of the Lord, that is more powerful.

Once Hanuman heard "Jaya Sri Rama" coming out of one residence. He wanted to glorify the person who was chanting the name of Lord. He looked throughout the residence, but he did not find the person anywhere. Finally he found someone chanting in the toilet. Hanuman was upset that the man was chanting in such a dirty place, and he slapped him. When Hanuman next saw Rama He was holding His face. Hanuman wondered why. Rama said that Hanuman himself was responsible because by slapping the devotee of the Lord he was slapping the Lord Himself.

Madhava Prabhu:

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur says kirtan is ONLY for Krishna’s pleasure.

It is our service to bring the mind back to the chanting.

Please focus. Please chant loudly from the heart.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur says everything is in the Hare Krishna mantra. There is no need to look elsewhere.

Ananda Nitai Prabhu:

From a conversation at ISKCON London:

Me: This iPhone is not really mine. It is just on loan from the New York City Harinama Ashram.

Ananta Nitai Prabhu: Krishna-kripa! Everything you have is on loan!!!

Me: Thank you for reminding me!!!

Interfaith Meeting on “Believing and Belonging”:

Richard, a Christian:

We do not like to be labeled because in many cases the labels do not fit.

You cannot have communion without having differences.

Religion is increasing in Britain, and the increasing number of Muslims plays a big role in that.

Christ advised to pray to OUR father not MY father because he wanted to bring us together as a community.

Christ talked of sheep not of this fold he was to also bring in.

We are not just a club for similarly minded people.

We say “we believe in,” but “trust in” might be a better way to say it.

Jesus is given a title as son of God, Lord, or son of man because he is a role model.

Solomon said the church is not where God dwells but where His name is celebrated.

Bhakti Rasa Prabhu:

Purpose exists in life. It is to be discovered not to created.

Much that is factual in religion we commonly accept as belief. If we accept that which is factual in the different beliefs, that can bring us together.

People consider reincarnation to be a belief. I will demonstrate how it is a fact. In this life we have changed bodies many times from baby to child to youth to adult, but we remain the same individual person. Thus we have transmigrated through different bodies. Who can deny it?

Rupa Goswami lists nine steps from belief to love of Godhead. It is interesting that the first two steps are believing and belonging.

George Harrison considered he climbed the mountain of material success, and when he got to the top and looked over the other side, he found nothing there. He developed faith then in something beyond the material. That is the first step.

The second step is associating with other faithful people.

Some of those people may especially inspire us and become role models. They may instruct us in a practice.

Following the practice, we become free from lust, greed, anger, etc. We gain faith in the practice, seeing its effectiveness, and become attached to it, and we proceed toward love of God.

Which is first, believing or belonging? In some ways, it is like which is first, the chicken or the egg.

Jewish lady:

I went to a wedding of a Muslim bride and a Jewish bridegroom. We felt a sense of belonging as both are Abrahamic religions, and we have a lot of core beliefs in common.

Jews are quite varied from the most conservative to the most liberal. How if we are so different do we all consider ourselves Jews?

If we are to accept what we are told, that is dogmatic. If we just do as we told, will we not grow.

I do not need to see a radio wave to know it exists. Similarly I do not need to see God to know He exists.

There is something in every community that invites people to be part of it.

In voluntary organizations, we are told the more we give the more we get out of being part of the organization.

You do not have to have a building, just a community of people. I believe that the Christians have a saying about two or three gathered together being sufficient for worship.

Indian man:

Modern science is directed toward producing technology more than understanding reality.

Scientist:

There is not a clear line between science and spirituality.

Q (by me): As theists, many of us see God as the creator. If you accept evolution, you are saying order comes mysteriously out of disorder whereas the principle of entropy is just the opposite, that from order comes disorder.

A: I am a physicist, but as far as evolution going against entropy, they argue that our order here on earth is creating disorder elsewhere in the universe.

[I later wrote my friend, Murali Gopal Prabhu, who is a Ph.D. in physics, about the response of that scientist, and he replied, “It’s a cop out. No one has actually measured how much order is being created here, and how much disorder is being created elsewhere.”]

Bhakti Rasa Prabhu:

As theists we understand there is a supreme being and we are all related with that being, and that creates a sense of belonging within us.

Because we are part of God, service to God is our nature. Depending on how we are brought up, that service may be expressed through this tradition or that tradition.

A place of worship is a sanctuary, where worship of God is given privacy, and it becomes dear to the people who attend.

Kirtida Devi Dasi:

I identify myself as a yoga practitioner. The idea of belief always bothered me, perhaps because I was brought up in an atheistic family. I see I perform my practice, and I get some result. It is not a question of belief.

Unidentified Man:

It seems that Jews are like a race if you can believe or not believe in the Jewish religion and still be a Jew because you were brought up as a Jew.

Some people say Buddhism is not religion but a philosophy.

Muhammud:

From an ad on the side of a bus in Leeds:

“No superiority of race except by piety and good action.”

[This reminds me of what Srila Prabhupada said about the term Aryan, which he says does not refer to any particular race, unlike Hitler thought, but indicates a civilized person of spiritual culture. This is discussed in his commentary on Bhagavad-gita 2.2 in which Krishna calls Arjuna a non-Aryan for abandoning his prescribed duty.]

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Why do we as Hare Krishna devotees emphasize the chanting of the holy name, and especially the congregational chanting of the holy name, as the best process for awakening our dormant love for God? We are simply following Lord Caitanya who said to Sanatana Gosvami:

bhajanera madhye srestha nava-vidha bhakti

‘krishna-prema’, ‘krishna’ dite dhare maha-shakti

tara madhye sarva-srestha nama-saṅnkirtana

niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana

“Among the ways of executing devotional service, the nine prescribed methods are the best, for these processes have great potency to deliver Krishna and ecstatic love for Him. Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord [nama-sankirtana]. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 4.70–71)

Interestingly enough Lord Caitanya says the same thing when Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya inquires from him about the best kind of devotional service:

bhakti-sadhana-srestha sunite haila mana

prabhu upadesa kaila nama-sankirtana

“Then the Bhattacarya asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘Which item is most important in the execution of devotional service?’ The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord [nama-sankirtana].” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 6.241)

Lord Caitanya provides evidence supporting this in the following verse, where he quotes from Brhan-naradiya Purana (38, 126):

“‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 6.242)