Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 14, No. 15
By Krishna-kripa das
(August 2018, part one)
Polish Woodstock, Berlin, Dublin, Vaishnava Sanga Festival (Canada), York
(Sent from Chester, UK, on August 17, 2018)
Where
I Went and What I Did
I
spent the last day of July and the first four days at August at the
Polish Woodstock festival inviting people to take part in our
Krishna’s
Village of Peace, giving mantra cards to those attracted by the
chanting, listening to a lot of great souls chanting Hare Krishna,
and taking videos of Woodstock attenders inspired to join in the
chanting and dancing. Then I chanted the next day in Berlin at
Mauerpark with Tulasi and Sandipani Muni Krishna Prabhus and a couple local
devotees, Toby and Oly, and others we encountered in the park. The
following day I chanted with Harinama Ruci, who I was happy to
encounter in Dublin. The next day, Ekadasi, I chanted lots of japa
as
I flew to Montreal for the five-day Vaishnava Sanga Festival, two
hours to the north at the International Art of Life Center, where we
heard lots of Srila Prabhupada memories by the grace of Srutakirti
Prabhu and Siddhanta Prabhu, we heard Bhaktimarga Swami tell us
about kirtan standards, Candramauli Swami give us tips on preaching
and Ekavalya Prabhu give us tips on purity, and we did harinama
twice
in the city of Shawinigan and once at a yoga gathering. The next day I
chanted in Dublin, en route to the United Kingdom, for the second
ever York Ratha-yatra, attended by Janananda Goswami, Dayananda
Goswami, and Harinama Ruci.
I
share notes on a lecture of Srila Prabhupada. I share an ocean of
nectar from the Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada including notes on
classes by Bhaktimarga Swami on kirtan standards, Candramauli Swami
on preaching, and Ekavalya Prabhu on the power of the holy name and
on purity. I also have notes on Srila Prabhupada memories from
Srutakirti Prabhu and from the Prabhupada memories videos of
Siddhanta Prabhu, who was personally showing them and discussing
them. In addition to all that, I have notes on classes by Prabhupada
disciples from Canada, Krishnadasa Kaviraj Prabhu (Toronto) and
Laksminatha Prabhu (Montreal), and
notes on a class by Bhakti Purusottama Swami, who visited the
festival for one day.
Many,
many thanks to Krishna Dulal Prabhu and the devotees organizing the
Vaishnava Sanga Festival for a wonderful festival, for contributing
to my travel to and from Canada, and for giving me a donation besides
all that. Thanks to my friend and godbrother, Vedavyasa Prabhu, from
Canada, for his kind donation. Thanks to the Dublin temple for
reimbursing my travel from and to the airport and for giving me half
the harinama
profit.
Thanks to Gokulananda Prabhu for getting me at the Montreal airport
late at night. Thanks to Jagannatha Prabhu for taking us to the
Vaishnava Sanga Festival from Montreal and to Samuel for bringing us
back.
Thanks
to Tulasi Prabhu for his videos of the Polish Woodstock festival and
for the use of his phone to take more videos. Thanks to Samuel and
Kyle for allowing me to use their phones to take videos of our
Shawinigan harinama. Thanks to John for letting me use his phone to take videos of Harinama Ruci in Dublin. Thanks
to Vishnu Jana Prabhu and Alek for their videos of Harinama Ruci
playing with a brass band in Dublin. Thanks to Harinamananda Prabhu
for his video of the York Ratha-yatra kirtan with Dayananda Swami.
Thanks
to Frank Dwyer of York Press for all the photos of the York
Ratha-yatra, except the one with me sitting down, for which I thank Vilasa-manjari Devi Dasi of Newcastle.
Itinerary
August
17–18: Liverpool harinama
and
Ratha-yatra
August
19: Newcastle retreat
August
20: Newcastle
August
21–22: Edinburgh harinamas
and
programs
August
23: Newcastle
August
24: Leeds harinama
and
program with Mitrasena and Adi-Guru Prabhus
August
25: Backpool harinama
and
program with Mitrasena and Adi-Guru Prabhus
August
26: Manchester, Leeds, or Newcastle
August
27: York harinama
with
Mitrasena Prabhu and Adi-Guru Prabhus
August
28: Sheffield harinama
with
Mitrasena Prabhu and Adi-Guru Prabhus
August
29: Sheffield harinama and possible program
August
30: Liverpool harinama
August
31: Liverpool harinama
and
program
September
1: York harinama
and
program
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 at the Polish Woodstock
Every
year I meet some friends who came to Woodstock for the first time.
This time they included Murali Gopal Prabhu, who performed great
austerities by cooking six hours each day but got lots of
opportunities to dance for Krishna, both on Ratha-yatra and during
the nocturnal kirtans, Tulasi Prabhu, who did security, and Gopinatha
Prabhu, who played bass for several of the evening kirtan singers. In addition, Tribhangananda Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada disciple from the UK, came, and he greatly assisted me in distributing mantra cards to those attracted by the kirtan in the Mantra Yoga tent, and he had many rewarding conversations with some of the people who received them.
Ratha-yatra:
We
did four Ratha-yatras from August 1 to August 4. They were scheduled to be three
hours each, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but some days were so hot we ended
a little early.
As
usual many festival goers danced with the devotees and a few also
pulled the cart of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra,
and chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
I
would distribute invitations to our Krishna’s Village of Peace
during our daily Ratha-yatra. When I saw people pulling the cart or
people watching the cart or the chanting devotees, I would show them
mantra cards, and encourage them to chant the mantra. Some of them
took it seriously.
Once
some girls who chanted the mantra with me off to the side of the
Ratha-yatra, later encountered the Ratha-yatra again, and this time
they chanted and danced with the devotee girls in front of the
Ratha-yatra cart.
As
I was talking briefly with Indradyumna Swami in front of our
Ratha-yatra procession, a young Christian guy came up and offered to
bathe Indradyumna Swami’s feet. He explained that as a service to
the Lord, they were bathing the feet of people attending the
festival, and I saw the tubs of soapy water near the side of the
road. Indradyumna Swami said he almost let them do it but he was
fearful of what his detractors would say when it was written up on
Dandavats! Tribhangananda Prabhu commented that the Christian guy did
not know what an amazing opportunity he missed by not bathing
Indradyumna Swami’s feet.
Because
Ratha-yatra was when the sun was the highest in the sky, I was
worried I would get sunburned. During one Ratha-yatra I looked at
hats in a shop, desiring to get a very large one that would keep all
the sun off. I found one that was very colorful, but I wanted to
check with Indradyumna Swami to make sure it was not too far out. The
shop keeper would not let me take it out of the shop, so I took a
photo of it to show Indradyumna Swami, and he approved it.
Mantra
Yoga tent:
Every
afternoon, evening, and night we would chant in the Mantra Yoga tent
for hours. The
first day we started around 6 p.m. and ended around midnight, the
next three days we started around 4:00 p.m. and ended around 2:00
a.m. the next morning, but the last day we started at 3 p.m. and
ended around 3:50 a.m. the next morning, almost thirteen hours of kirtan!
I gave mantra cards to people who were attracted by the kirtan. About four devotees helped me this year, many more than before, and we found fewer mantra cards on the ground afterward. Perhaps people are developing a greater appreciation of the value of the mantra!
I gave mantra cards to people who were attracted by the kirtan. About four devotees helped me this year, many more than before, and we found fewer mantra cards on the ground afterward. Perhaps people are developing a greater appreciation of the value of the mantra!
I
talked to different people coming out of the Mantra Yoga tent:
One
young lady named Malwina (pronounced Malvina), now living in London, remembered me from
Woodstock 2006. She attended Bhakta Adam’s program in Katowice as
well as devotee programs in Krakow as she was becoming a devotee. She
was very happy to be back at Woodstock and seeing all her Polish
devotee friends.
One
guy, who remembered me from Zary in 2002, stops by to say “Hi”
every year.
One
girl from Berlin remembered me from 2014.
One
guy who has been coming for ten years remembered Chaturatma Prabhu,
who he described as short, blond, and from America and who he had a
very high regard for.
Six
girls from Berlin loved both kirtana and
prasadam, and I gave
them an invitation to our center in Berlin.
One
lady, who was looking for lively music to dance to, was sorry that
the tempo of Madhava’s kirtan was too slow. I told her
to come back in forty-five minutes. She said she had seen videos of
Hare Krishna on YouTube, and she was hoping to dance to our music,
but it was too slow. I suggested she take prasadam or
attend the question and answers booth in the interim. She went to
questions and answers.
One
devotee lady, almost appearing drunk with happiness from chanting the
holy name, danced at the entrance to our Mantra Yoga tent facing
outward. Some attenders drunk on alcohol sometimes danced with her,
and it was a funny sight.
Madhava
Prabhu’s kirtan the day before the last day was so ecstatic I felt
like praying as in Siksastakam, verse 6, “When will tears of love
flow constantly from my eyes when I chant your holy name!”
The first day, before
the Ratha-yatras and evening kirtans start, we do an afternoon
harinama to advertise
our Krishna’s Village of Peace, with its musical, cultural, and
culinary offerings.
Here
Arjuna Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on the initial harinama,
and many dance (https://youtu.be/oPnfqOJScEo):
Polish
youths chant Hare Krishna with devotees on the initial harinama
(https://youtu.be/3yb0Iapz5rE):
Indradyumna
Swami chants Hare Krishna in our first evening kirtan in our Mantra Yoga tent, and many dance
(https://youtu.be/sXvNt_RcaOQ):
Bada
Haridas Prabhu inspires Polish youth to chant Hare Krishna and dance
(https://youtu.be/cwMOcUxDiho):
Madhava
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and a Polish family dances with joy
(https://youtu.be/h2qLGpq9FFo):
Day
Two:
Arjuna
Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Ratha-yatra and many dance
(https://youtu.be/T8nELBWwhf8):
Syama
Rasa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Ratha-yatra and a lady dances
(https://youtu.be/mtBcA5vaeuY):
Bada
Haridas Prabhu inspires Polish youth to chant Hare Krishna and dance
(https://youtu.be/186K93L3a94):
B.
B. Govinda Swami and Akincana Krishna Prabhu chant Hare Krishna, and
many dance (https://youtu.be/2qR1m5pJyVQ):
Madhava
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and several Polish youths have a great
time singing along and dancing as well. To see the kids really get
into to the kirtan like this makes the austerities of the Polish
Woodstock all worthwhile (https://youtu.be/fve7UBBNgVY):
My
camera died back in April during King’s Day, and the iPhone I was
using to take videos since then died after the second day of the
Woodstock. I could not even reinstall the operating system on it! I
thank Tulasi Prabhu of New Zealand for kindly sharing his videos with
me and allowing me to take videos of Madhava Prabhu singing on the
final day of the Woodstock with his phone.
Day
Three:
Chaturatma
Prabhu leads Hare Krishna chant while crowd surfing at Polish
Woodstock Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/zrUkvFQTHIE):
B.
B. Govinda Swami chants Hare Krishna in Ratha-yatra at the Polish
Woodstock (https://youtu.be/VRK_zmoEanE):
Day
Four:
B.
B. Govinda Swami chants Hare Krishna, and Indradyumna Swami and
Murali Gopal Prabhu dance on the Polish Woodstock Ratha-yatra
(https://youtu.be/YmGa1c7Ck58):
B.
B. Govinda Swami chants Hare Krishna, and Murali Gopal Prabhu dances
on the Polish Woodstock Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/etupU7BC8Ag):
Chaturatma
Prabhu crowd surfs as B. B. Govinda Swami chants Hare Krishna at
Polish Woodstock (https://youtu.be/1xJf6gloh88):
Day
Five:
Seeing
the Polish Woodstock Ratha-yatra from a distance with Syama Rasa
Prabhu chanting Hare Krishna. Video by Tulasi Prabhu
(https://youtu.be/yG8Qz_CEvOU):
Madhava
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and many dance. This was special for me
as it was the final kirtan of the final evening of the Polish
Woodstock and three of my friends who came to the Woodstock for the
first time were participating . . .
Murali Gopal and Tulasi Prabhus by
dancing with great enthusiasm, and
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Mauerpark in Berlin
Tulasi
and Sandipani Muni Krishna Prabhu had flights to Paris two days after
the Polish Woodstock, and I had one to Dublin the same day. We
decided to spend the day after the Woodstock doing harinama
in
Berlin’s Mauerpark, where I had chanted with Harinama Ruci the
previous year. Sandipani distributed all the books he could get his
hands on, finding Berlin to be one of the best places for book
distribution in Europe because of all the alternative people there.
We were so inspired by our experience, we are planning to do harinama
there
after the Woodstock next year.
Here
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Mauerpark in Berlin, the day
after the Polish Woodstock, and some street performers participate by
drumming and dancing. Video by Sandipani Muni Krishna Prabhu, who
loves distributing books and is based in London
(https://youtu.be/EfNhGZ2BpHs):
Sandipani
Muni Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna as Tulasi Prabhu plays drum,
and I dance with local devotees in Mauerpark. Video by Oly (Olivka),
who loves distributing books and is based in Berlin
(https://youtu.be/GIpvPUD3Hjw):
Here
a local devotee, Bhakta Toby, chants Hare Krishna as Tulasi Prabhu
plays drum and I dance, also in Mauerpark
(https://youtu.be/n6YbFc4gbiA)
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Dublin with Harinama Ruci
I
knew that Harinama Ruci was planning to go to Dublin and that they
were there recently, but I did not know they were still there. It was
impressive to see their influence. Devotees that I could rarely get
to come out on harinama
happily
went out with them.
We
encountered many favorable people in Dublin as usual.
One
formally dressed man with a friendly demeanor, who looked liked he
must be seventy years old, took at least two video clips of the
chanting devotees, one in a Clarks shoe shop and another outside on
Grafton Street. I asked if he encountered Hare Krishna before,
thinking him to be a relic of the 1970s, but he said he saw the
devotees just a few years back in Dublin. He added, “The world
needs more of this.” I concurred, saying that our present society
was too materialistic, and he agreed.
I
told one lady who was attracted by the chanting that we were trying
to create a spiritual revolution. She replied, “The world needs
a spiritual revolution!”
A
young Muslim lady, wearing a Viking hat with horns over her head
scarf, happily danced in a circle with the devotees. I asked where
she was from, and she replied, “Palestine!” I do not recall
meeting anyone on harinama
from
Palestine before.
Dharmaraja
Prabhu of Harinama Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Dublin and students
dance. During the entire harinama,
students from Italy, Spain, and France danced with us, and some of
them also chanted (https://youtu.be/IY2C7H8odz0):
Harinama
Ruci chants Hare Krishna in a Dublin music store, and two people play
drums, including the guy in charge (https://youtu.be/1N6ZH3TOj3I):
Harinama
Ruci chants Hare Krishna in Dublin, and people on a balcony respond
(https://youtu.be/5ZP8Q1fUHnM):
A
trombone, tuba, and sax play as Dharmaraja Prabhu of Harinama Ruci
chants Hare Krishna in Dublin. The Huntertones, a brass band from
Brooklyn, plays with Harinama Ruci in Temple Bar. Video by Vishnu
Jana Prabhu of Harinama Ruci
(https://youtu.be/b9hUtiMCKBI):
More
video of the same kirtan from a Facebook post by Alekananda Shanti
(https://youtu.be/6FydRSUMsbI):
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada
One
young lady who was on a spiritual search and had been reading some
Buddhist literature watched the devotees chanting Hare Krishna from across the street in downtown Shawinigan.
After some time, she crossed the street and sat on a bench near the
devotees and got some literature from a book distributor. After
listening to the chanting and watching the dancing, she joined the
ladies who were dancing, and not only did she dance, she chanted the
mantra, and she followed our harinama party
back to our cars. We told her about our retreat just twenty minutes
away, and we hoped she would come. She told us she had been having a
bad day, and she became so joyful by hearing the chanting. We
explained that the chanting was so joyful because it is composed of
names of God and is actually God in the form of sound.
A
young man named Godfrey came up to us at the end of the harinama,
and we invited him to come to
our retreat. He got his car and followed us to the retreat, where he heard
Srutakirti Prabhu talk about Srila Prabhupada for about an hour, he took
prasadam, talked with
the devotees, and he heard some of the evening kirtana.
Ekalavya
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada, during the
Vaishnava Sanga Festival, and devotees dance
(https://youtu.be/0Uk3azTux5M):
Local
devotees made an arrangement for us to chant for thirty minutes at a
yoga gathering near Shawinigan, but I think we chanted at least forty. Many, many people there enjoyed
dancing with the thirty-five devotees who went and a good number also
chanted as Ekalavya Prabhu led the chanting of Hare Krishna.
Candramauli Swami went and contributed nicely by dancing and speaking
briefly about the chanting. Gokulananda Prabhu cooked a tasty feast,
and the people were so happy they donated 200 Canadian dollars above
what they had agreed give the devotees for the prasadam.
The event was so successful devotees spoke about scheduling next
year’s Vaishnava Sanga Festival the same time as the yoga gathering
near Shawinigan. ISKCON Ottawa promised they would put a nice video
of the chanting at the yoga gathering on their YouTube
channel. It was not there last time I checked, but you are welcome to see for yourself.
Chanting
in Dublin Again
I
chanted in Dublin for nearly three hours the day I returned from
Canada, after a couple naps and prasadam
at
Govindas. Only one devotee joined me. Thirteen-year-old Laura from
Lithuania played karatalas
for
at least an hour and a half. One young guy with some spiritual interest came up to my book table with a few buddies and decided to get a Bhagavad-gita
for
€7.
I
met Indian people who did not know about our Dublin temple before and
were happy to learn of it. All
together people donated €23.35
and took six books.
York
Ratha-yatra
We
had the second ever Ratha-yatra in York this year.
A member of parliament, Rachel
Maskell, gave a short speech, which sounded fairly good for a
political leader.
The former Lord Mayor, Barbara Bryce, sitting to my right, liked coming
last year enough to come again, although she was not still in office. [Photo by Vilasa-manjari Devi Dasi.]
As usual, having Harinama Ruci there adds a lot to the ecstasy.
The
York Press did a nice story on the festival,
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/16418102.hare-krishna-chariot-paraded-through-york/?ref=mr&lp=18,
with some really nice photos, including all but one of the previous ones and these:
A
costumed street performer dances with a devotee lady.
The
ladies danced nicely in front of the procession.
A couple guys danced with the devotees.
Ratha-yatra
for me means dancing and distributing flyers.
At
the end of the stage show, Dayananda Swami chanted Hare Krishna and a
group of fourteen-year-old girls from Leeds, as well as an alligator,
danced with devotees and a few onlookers after York Ratha-yatra.
Thanks to Harinamananda Prabhu of Harinama Ruci for the video
(https://youtu.be/9fUM2O351Tw):
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.15.20
on November 30, 1973, in Los Angeles:
We
must always remember that as a saintly person can elevate one from
being a mouse to being a tiger, he can degrade one from being a tiger
to being a mouse.
The
British were a most powerful nation, with their British Empire, but
now they are not because they misused their power.
If
you want full protection from Krishna you must surrender fully to
Krishna. What is that protection? Protection from sinful reactions.
A
devotee thinks, “I have dedicated my life to Krishna. Krishna is
not so ungrateful that He will not protect me.”
Bhaktimarga
Swami:
From
a seminar on Kirtan Standards:
“I
am going to Montreal on Monday, June 3rd, and if I find Montreal
quite suitable, I shall call you and some other students to assemble
there to practice Sankirtana in a systematic way. Of course, chanting
Hare Krishna does not require any artificial artistic sense, but
still, if the procedure is presented rhythmically, then the people
may be attracted more by the transcendental music.” (Srila
Prabhupada, Letter to Upendra, June 1, 1968)
“Within
these Vaisnava standards which I have put forward lies the spiritual
strength of our movement.” (Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Sudama,
February 16, 1973)
This
is the Hare Krishna movement. Thus we are meant to move.
At
26 Second Avenue, Srila Prabhupada was very liberal in allowing
visitors to bring whatever instruments they had to play along with
the kirtana.
We
are trying to reach out and include as many people as we can.
Harmoniums
were created by Germans in the 1800s, but the Indians really took to
them, like with the British tea.
Comment
by Candramauli Swami: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that the
qualification for leading kirtana
is
trinad api
sunicena . . . [humility
and tolerance]
Smiling
is important. All of the deities in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition
smile. When Krishna hears of Arjuna’s depression, He is still
smiling.
Comment
by Siddhanta Prabhu: Mukunda asked Srila Prabhupada if he had any
last instructions about preaching in England when he sent the three
couples there in 1968. Srila Prabhupada told the story of the Charlie
Chaplin film in which Chaplin dances so enthusiastically, though his
coattails were ripped by a prankster, that others follow him by
ripping their own coattails and dancing wildly, considering it a new
fashion.
Lokanath
Swami says, “Dancing is what makes the sankirtana
complete.”
Comment
by Candramauli Swami: When you dance, you connect more and more with
the spirit of the kirtana.
Srila
Prabhupada chanted at a speed that everyone could get into it from
the beginning.
Respect
the instruments. Have the instruments ready for the beginning of the
kirtana. Play
them from the beginning to the end. Have a nice place for them. Learn
to play them properly.
It
would be nice if our dress was more uniform.
It
is good to have a few plain-clothed devotees on harinama
to
encourage onlookers to take part.
Srila
Prabhupada did not give us haribol.
When
devotees went to India in 1974, they picked it up.
Srila
Prabhupada was totally against “jaya
gurudeva”
and “jagat
guru.”
An
occasional “haribol”
or “jaya
sacinandana”
is not the problem. The problem is introducing it as a regular part
of the kirtana.
“But
there is no harm chanting ‘Radhe.’ But sometimes it is degraded
to make something new, invention. Therefore better to stick to ‘Hare
Krishna’ and to ‘Sri- Krishna Caitanya Prabhupada-Nityananda.’
Otherwise . . . Just like the sahajiyas,
they have invented: ‘Nitai-Gaura Radhe Syama, Hare Krishna Hare
Rama.’ These things will come gradually. But they are not approved.
They are called chara
kirtana,
means ‘concocted kirtana.’
But there is no harm chanting ‘Radhe, Nitai-Gaura.’ So better
stick to this Pañca-tattva, and maha-mantra.
Just like ‘Nitai Gaura Radhe Syama, Hare Krishna Hare Rama.’
There is ‘Nitai-Gaura, Radhe Syama,’ but it is not approved.
Mahajano yena
gatah sa panthah [Cc.
Madhya 17.186]. We have to follow the mahajana.
In Caitanya-caritamrita
you’ll find ‘Sri-Krishna-Caitanya Prabhu-Nityananda, Sri-Advaita
Gadadhara...,’ never ‘Nitai Gaura, Radhe Syama.’ So why should
we do that?” (Morning Walk, Mayapur, April 8, 1975)
Candramauli
Swami:
In
the U.S.A. there has been a 25% increase in suicides over the last 25
years.
There
was a statistic about 15 years back in the USA, 5% of people are
happy, 5% of people are unhappy, and 90% of people are bored.
Preaching
is better than ever before, and it will remain so as Kali-yuga
progresses.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura says counseling one on one is more effective than
lectures.
Srila
Prabhupada said there should be prasadam
distribution
within fifteen miles of the temples.
When
people ask if I am a Buddhist, I say, “No, I am a Hare Krishna, and
we chant this mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”
At
the Brooklyn Sunday Feast there were many activities for people to
get involved with. They would swing the deities, even though it was
not the time for the Jhulan Yatra. They would have the Vaikuntha
Players doing dramas. They would ask if people wanted to do
meditation and teach them japa.
Srila
Prabhupada said for the Indian community to make the deity worship so
opulent they want to come back.
Preaching ideas suggested by the audience:
Book
distribution
harinama
prasadam
distribution
bhakti-vriksa
acar
(etiquette, behavior)
festivals
bridge
preaching (vegetarianism, yoga, astrology, cooking classes)
devotee
appearance in public
videos
Sunday
feasts
writing
(books, articles, blogs, newsletter)
deity
worship (doing and teaching)
kirtana
home
programs
university
clubs
door-to-door
padayatra
school
programs
gurukulas
farm
communities and cow protection
exhibition
solving
material problems (droughts, plagues)
cultural
education (music, dance, instruments, language)
VIP
(people in positions of influence)
Gita
Contests
Drama
(street, theaters, our temples)
Story
Telling
Puppet
Shows
Food
for Life
prison
preaching
interfaith
Grihastha
couples are more likely to be listened to than swamis at the colleges
because the people can relate to that lifestyle.
Srila
Prabhupada said we have two solid programs, book distribution and
farm communities.
One
devotee distributed 2,000 japa
kits
during a Ratha-yatra festival.
In
1993 on a radio show with disc jockey Bill Cunningham in Cincinnati
heard in 38 states by 40 million people, the radio host asked
Kirtanananda Swami during a three-month drought, “Can you make it
rain?”
He
said, “Yes.” The host was amazed.
Maharaja
explained, “We will chant Hare Krishna, and we will invite everyone
in radio land to chant along.”
Cunningham
encouraged the audience, and they chanted for two or three minutes.
Around 11:30 a.m. someone called from Dayton reporting clouds. Then
after the show, beginning at 2:30 p.m., it rained torrentially for
three days. Bill Cunningham was so impressed he encouraged the mayor
to give the devotees the key to the city, the highest award the city
gives out, and the mayor did.
We
have 1,600 to 2,000 people chanting Hare Krishna in prisons in the
U.S.
At
interfaith programs Jews and Muslim have difficulty with deities. The
people did like our cooking, but when they found we offered the food
to the deities they objected. We said we would not offer it to the
deities, and we offered it to Srila Prabhupada instead.
What
is Stopping Us from Preaching (Externally / Internally)
Indianization
of ISKCON
|
Governments
being inimical
|
Very
low level of trust
|
Social
climate has changed
|
No
cultivation program
|
Lack
of confidence
|
Mind
and intelligence
|
Avadhuta-ness
|
Lack
of determination / conviction
|
Weather
|
Unhappiness
|
Unhappiness
|
Job
security
|
Job
security
|
Thinking
there’s only one way to preach
|
Inexperience
in preaching
|
Lack
of strong sadhana
|
|
Attachment
to a certain result
|
When
I took sannyasa they told me I should be able to speak on any
topic at any time.
In
a prison lecture, you have focus on how to get out of this place or
how to be happy in this place. If it is too theoretical, they will
not be able to relate to it.
Brahmananda
Prabhu:
I
asked Srila Prabhupada the best way to lead kirtana. He
replied, “You sing in such a way that you never get tired.”
Jayasri Devi Dasi:
Srila Prabhupada was like the best friend you were looking for.
It was obvious that Srila Prabhupada was God’s representative.
I told Srila Prabhupada I noticed whenever I wanted something it would appear. He replied that Krishna takes care of all living entities but He takes special care of His devotees, so I should not be surprised.
Krishnadasa
Kaviraj Prabhu:
The
more advanced devotees are putting Krishna in their lives more and
more.
By
sharing realizations, the realizations become more concrete.
If
we have an open attitude, in other words, if we come with the
attitude that we need to learn more and more about Krishna, we can
advance.
If
we have no false ego, we will never feel offended.
We
should maintain positive relationships with people, even those who
may have hurt us in the past.
We
should go out and re-cultivate people who have once been engaged in
devotional service. That may actually be harder than cultivating them
initially.
Any
sort of disagreement which diminishes our ability to cooperate to
serve Srila Prabhupada, hurts ourselves, hurts others, and deprives
the sankirtana movement
of much needed resources.
“Now
this displeasing of godbrothers has already begun and gives me too
much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya Math people fought with one
another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have
already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned
about it. . . .
“Material
nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali
yuga. But, for this Krishna consciousness movement its success will
depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements.
In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement.
In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement.
That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust
the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They
cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krishna in
the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called
unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet
in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how
to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity,
then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the
philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement
successful. One section of men have already gone out, therefore we
must be very careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the
story in Aesop’s Fables of the father of many children with the
bundle of sticks. When the father asked his children to break the
bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them could do it. But,
when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the
sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we
are bunched up, we can never be broken, but when divided, then we can
become broken very easily.” (from a letter written on October 18,
1973, to Kirtanananda from Bombay)
In
a kirtan when everyone is chanting and dancing together, you feel a
bond with the other devotees, and it really carries over.
It
was said at the GBC meeting last year that everyone, every GBC, every
temple president, should have a mentor for their personal Krishna
consciousness.
Comments
by Srutakirti Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada was always concerned, “What did I do to make you leave?”
That should be also our concern.
Srila
Prabhupada would ask me my opinion. None of my godbrothers would ask
for my opinion, but Srila Prabhupada would.
Comments
by Laksminatha Prabhu:
Sometimes
we shun people who disagree with us because we are afraid of being
influenced by them, because we are weak in our own convictions,
rather than being willing to hear them out.
I
think the GBC should be like a coach who keeps us working together.
Comment
by Siddhanta Prabhu: After a temple president used the money a
devotee gave him for life membership to take a vacation from temple
life, Srila Prabhupada told the complaining devotee, “Do not be
upset with the instrument of your karma.”
Laksminatha
Prabhu:
By
approaching the Supreme Lord, eventually we will become purified.
Those who approach demigods to fulfill desires get the result they
aspire for but do not get purified.
Deena
Bandhu Prabhu explains sampradaya means inheritance. We are
inheriting the knowledge from the spiritual lineage of previous
teachers.
When
I was becoming a devotee I was still into smoking pot. A couple of
times I got high before going to the temple thinking it would enhance
the experience, but I was wrong. I found it harder to get into it.
My
mind freaked out when I joined the temple, being worried about my
making the commitment. I pacified my mind by saying I have done other
things for seventeen years. Now let’s try this for seventeen years,
and we can compare. It worked.
Srila
Prabhupada encouraged the book distributors by saying, “if you stay
brahmacari and distribute books there is 90% chance you will
go back to Godhead and if you get married 25%.” Later a devotee
asked Srila Prabhupada, “What will please you the most?” The book
distributors all thought he would say “book distribution,” but
being sensitive to encourage everyone, he said “if you love
Krishna.”
Being
excited to chant the holy name, talk about Krishna, and be with the
devotees is a sign of advancement.
Krishna
consciousness is not like an aspirin just to cover the pain.
Comment
by Srutakirti Prabhu: When Nitai felt that no one in ISKCON was
advanced enough to hear from and he wanted to go outside, Srila
Prabhupada told him then he should give the classes. He did not like
people to go outside.
Lord
Nrsimha insists that Prahlad Maharaja accept a benediction although
he refuses, not wanting to act as a merchant. That is the love of the
Lord for His devotee.
Comment
by Gukulananda Prabhu: There is letter where Srila Prabhupada makes
the point that the temple is meant for guests, and that if you are
doing the worship you should stop the worship and take care of the
guests.
Comment
by Laxmimoni Devi Dasi: Srila Prabhupada wanted us to always have
prasadam on hand.
Comment
by Gokulananda Prabhu: You get immediate rewards by pleasing Srila
Prabhupada by preaching.
Mukunda
Goswami:
George
Harrison liked the verse about wanting millions of ears and tongues
to hear and chant the holy name.
Srila
Prabhupada awoke from a nap to speak with George Harrison, saying, “I
do not like this sleeping. It is just a waste of time.” George
liked that.
Srutakirti
Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada was not just performing wonderful activities, but he was
teaching us by his activities how to be a pure devotee of the Lord.
Srila
Prabhupada took two and a half hours of massages and an hour long
walk. That is three and a half hours a day to take care of his body
so he could engage in service to Krishna. That is a lesson to us that
it is important to take care of the body to engage it in Krishna’s
service.
Srila
Prabhupada never approved of a “no program” program. If we had no
program, he would tell us that we had to have a program. He would
say, “Get a book. Read from it.”
“Which book?” we would ask.
“Which book?” we would ask.
“Any
book,” he would reply.
“Where?”
we inquired.
“Anywhere!”
he would answer.
Srila
Prabhupada was a very forgiving personality who just wanted you to
serve Krishna no matter what was going on.
If
we think that Srila Prabhupada cannot make us into pure devotees,
that is an insult.
Devotees
tell me, “It is difficult because Aindra Prabhu left” or “It is
difficult because this swami left.” When I hear that, I think,
Srila Prabhupada left, and we somehow had to figure out how to keep
going.
Srila
Prabhupada had standards. You could not sleep in. You could not waste
money.
Question:
Tell about Srila Prabhupada and frugality.
You
could never make phone calls. Telegrams were rare.
Srila
Prabhupada would say, “You think you can solve anything with
money.”
He
would say, “If your pants are too long, you cut them. You are so
wasteful. Just roll them up.”
“Who
has left prasadam
crying?”
he would say.
“Who
has left his bead bag crying?” Srila Prabhupada felt you should be
chanting on your beads, or they should be kept in a safe place.
Srila
Prabhupada once said, “Do not cut the grass when I am around
because I can hear it crying.”
He
said that deity outfits should last for thirty years.
Srila
Prabhupada wanted us to care for each other as he tried to take care
of the devotees.
We
take care of people who are prominent and do big things. I see people
in kitchens and on altars all day. They are not to be ignored. That
was Srila Prabhupada’s mood.
One
German swami left the association of devotees and got involved in
intoxication. He died prematurely. His female partner who knew
nothing of Krishna consciousness said at the end of his life, he sat
up straight and said, “Srila Prabhupada you are here.” Then he
left his body. That is what Srila Prabhupada does. You just have to
do some service for him.
Question:
Speak of Srila Prabhupada as the ideal sannyasi.
He
would not sit alone with his own sister. He would say, “They will
say things.” Especially in the holy dhama,
he
wanted us to be very strict.
We
have all been struggling through different species of life in many
births. Who is better than another? Our only good fortune is we have
taken shelter of Srila Prabhupada.
When
I left his service and Hari Sauri took over, Srila Prabhupada told
me, “Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.”
I
feel closer now than when I was rubbing his body. Separation is
necessary to increase our feelings.
Krishna
does everything. That is how Srila Prabhupada would see things.
Krishna did it. We have to learn how to see Krishna in everything.
If
we take care of Krishna, Krishna will take care of us.
Whenever
you were in the association of Srila Prabhupada, it was always
exciting.
When
Srila Prabhupada heard about my son’s birth, he gave him the name
Mayapur Candra and had a brahmacari
go
to Navadvipa and get bangles and ankle bracelets, my son’s first
gift.
Srila
Prabhupada told me I could massage him as hard as I liked. I massaged
him harder and harder, but I could never reach a point where he said
it was too much. In that way he defeated me.
If
I brought Prabhupada five chapatis,
one
at a time, I would bow down each time. He never said it was too much,
because he knew I was becoming purified, and it was good for me.
I
never heard him chanting japa.
He
chanted very softly. You would hear his beads moving. When he was in
anxiety about Juhu,
he chanted loudly, and he told me you can chant loudly when you are
in anxiety.
From
1967 to 1971 he would just have plain hot milk for dinner. When I
joined him in 1972 he would have three or four puris
and
a potato eggplant sabji,
a sweet, and sweetened milk.
You
never brought him a puri
or
chapati that
did not puff up.
For
breakfast, he would have yogurt and fruit and practically no grains.
Srila
Prabhupada once said, “If it was not for the chanting of Hare
Krishna, my disciples could not accomplish anything, they had done so
much intoxication and illicit sex.”
Srila
Prabhupada wanted us to do something practical. Srila Prabhupada
wanted to see proof of love.
Srila
Prabhupada once mentioned that one women ahead of him on the plane
was very pretty. She overheard that and thanked him for the
compliment. He replied that it was not a compliment, but he was just
stating a fact.
He
told me he wanted one wet vegetable sabji
seven
days in a row. It was cauliflower, potato, peas, and curd. The
cauliflower, potato, and curd were fried but not the peas.
He
liked a banana and a sweet at the end of lunch.
Silavati
was the model pujari.
Others
would come to learn from her. Once I told Silavati how I served Srila
Prabhupada lunch because she asked. She started to bring the deities hot
puris
in the middle of their lunch like I did for Srila Prabhupada. I told
Srila Prabhupada, and he was upset with her concoction saying it was
a disturbance to their meal.
For
Ekadasi Srila Prabhupada would have potato sabji.
Peanuts
and raisins were always there. Carrot halava
was
always there. We avoided powered sugar because it had corn starch in
it, but that was the only restriction besides no beans and no grains.
Srila
Prabhupada taught by his example: You eat what is good for you. You
eat variety.
Srila
Prabhupada was walking around the German castle. He turned to go down
a path. Hamsaduta told him not to. Srila Prabhupada asked why.
Hamsaduta explained there was wheat down there, and if we walk there
the dust from the wheat will be stirred up, and we will breathe it
and break Ekadasi. Srila Prabhupada told him not to be a fanatic.
I
found Whole Foods canned organic tomatoes are very good.
Srila
Prabhupada was very meditative, whether he was putting on tilaka
or
eating his meals.
Satsvarupa
was the only person who received instructions on being his servant. I
taught him, and he took elaborate notes. Srila Prabhupada asked him
what he was doing during the massage. He said he was taking notes on
the massage. Srila Prabhupada said that was like learning to swim on
the land!
This
is a preaching mission, and you have to see how you can contribute.
Srila
Prabhupada was asked about whether Gandhi chanted “Rama” at the
end of his life. He replied, “I do not know. I was not there.”
The
most fun for me was traveling, to see how Srila Prabhupada dealt with
every situation.
During
Srila Prabhupada’s time airport security was them putting you on a
stool and patting you down. Srila Prabhupada was annoyed and
remarked, “They do not even trust a sadhu.”
Srila
Prabhupada did not like flying first class. He felt it was a waste of
money, and mostly it was just better food that we do not eat anyway.
Srila
Prabhupada was always Krishna conscious, and when you are always
Krishna conscious, you are everything conscious.
When
the sannyasis
began
growing beards during Caturmasya, Srila Prabhupada had them shave
them off. He said, “My disciples want to have so many rules and
regulations, but they cannot even chant sixteen rounds and follow the
four rules.”
Our
big thing was sankirtana.
There
was no other big thing.
Anyone
who engaged in giving Krishna consciousness knows you feel good.
I
was the only person in maya
for
going to mangala-arati.
Srila
Prabhupada wanted me nearby in case he needed something, and the one
time I went to mangala-arati
he
called for me, although he rarely called for me at that time of day,
and I was not there, and he was upset about it.
Srila
Prabhupada liked to unhinge you and make you think.
He
wants us to know how this process works, how our godbrothers are
advancing.
At
the initiation where Paramahamsa Swami took sannyasa
Srila
Prabhupada said Narada Muni was present. That was not the only time
he said that.
Srila
Prabhupada’s quality of loyalty was there eternally. Once Srila
Prabhupada accepted you, he would never reject you.
It
has always astounded me that some of my godbrothers or godsisters
have felt that they had to go elsewhere.
All
you have to do is remain in Srila Prabhupada’s society. There is
nothing else you need.
I
am happy to visit his temples all over the world and see all the
dedicated devotees there.
Srila
Prabhupada had a way he could glance at everyone. All you needed was
that glance.
When
I felt despondent that I did not feel the ecstasy of those eager to
greet him at his arrival, Srila Prabhupada said, “Service is love.
Just do your service, and everything will be alright.”
You
never start a conversation with your spiritual master. When he talks,
everything begins.
One
brahmacari asked
Srila Prabhupada, just as his morning walk ended and he was about
ready to drive off, “How do I become Krishna conscious?” He
answered in one word, “Desire.”
I
knew even before I became his servant never to say anything to defend
myself. That was because I saw the previous servant get yelled at.
Srila
Prabhupada wanted you do take full advantage of his association by
attending his classes because he knew by his association you would
improve.
He
knew the only thing that could damage the society was changing
things. Thus he was so much upset about changes.
We
show our loyalty by understanding that Srila Prabhupada knew what he
was doing.
Even
in some case if a small change would be beneficial it is better not
to change, because when we start making changes we do not know when to
stop, and by deviating we will lose all potency and lose everything.
Srila Prabhupada did not want that to happen.
In
the course of feeding George Harrison more and more prasadam,
Srila
Prabhupada said, “Prasadam
can never hurt you.”
Srila
Prabhupada answered promptly every letter. If there were twenty
questions in the letter, he would answer them in the order they
appeared.
Srila
Prabhupada said he learned by watching. Cooking in particularly he
said he learned by watching his mother.
Srila
Prabhupada said he allowed women in the temples because he looked at
our society and he realized that he would not be successful
otherwise. Though he was successful, his godbrothers criticized him
for this.
Srila
Prabhupada made very infrequent demands because he wanted people to
follow voluntarily.
When
I foolishly knocked over the mustard oil during his massage, he said,
“You will be intelligent when you are eighty.” Later I thanked
him for his blessing that I would become intelligent when I was
eighty, saying that I thought it might take longer, and he laughed
and laughed.
Hawaii
is not trying to make things grow but trying to cut things back.
From
the first time I saw Srila Prabhupada his eyes were sparkling with
tears of ecstasy, happy tears.
I
left ISKCON in 1983, and I missed a lot of things that went on in
ISKCON, and I think that was good in that it made it easier to do
this service now.
Srila
Prabhupada considered: We all have the same goal, and we have to
respect each other for that. We are all working to our capacity.
When
Srila Prabhupada wanted to go, he wanted to go. There was no waiting
around.
Srila
Prabhupada said the sky is blue because of Krishna’s effulgence.
I
would give him a night blooming jasmine, and he would smell it, and
tell me, “This smell is Krishna.”
Question:
What was Srila Prabhupada’s favorite prasadam?
Everything.
He liked variety. Of course, he was kachori-mukhi.
In
Caracas he said, of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, “They have traveled very
far to come to you.” Then he went to Miami, and then Atlanta. Those
three days in Atlanta were famous. His arrival address is just two
minutes, but it is so full of Krishna consciousness.
It
was so cold in Atlanta Srila Prabhupada offered that I could use his
socks. I declined, but he said, “If I say it is OK, then it is OK.”
So I accepted them.
On
two occasions Srila Prabhupada said, “I like the cowherd boys very
much.” In Atlanta he told a pastime of Krishna and the cowherd boys
where the boys try to keep Krishna from his lunch tiffin. Then he
said, “I just want to go back to the spiritual world and eat
kachoris
and laddus
with Krishna.”
The
only time Srila Prabhupada would speak to me was when I was doing
some service, like massaging him.
When
I saw his godbrothers with Srila Prabhupada, there was no getting
down on the ground. They would hug and embrace.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura told Srila Prabhupada in 1935, “Sridhara Maharaja
is very shy, so you should encourage him to preach.” So whenever
Srila Prabhupada saw Sridhara Maharaja, he would encourage him to
assist him in preaching in the west, just as he followed the other
instructions of his guru.
Srila
Prabhupada said it was his guru’s mercy that Krishna consciousness
was spreading. Then he said, “Bhaktivinoda Thakura predicted
someone would preach Krishna consciousness all over the world and
bring people to Mayapur and that person may be me.” Then he changed
the subject, asking Jayapataka Swami what types of bananas they were
growing in Mayapur.
Svarupa
Prabhu:
In
explaining to me that I should not send out form letters but should
respond individually, Srila Prabhupada said to me that he answered
letters in Bose’s laboratory, and he would immediately answer every
letter and would continue corresponding with every person until they
became a customer.
Srila
Prabhupada said to one lady:
“Krishna
is everywhere. [silence] You cannot see?” [more silence]
Do you want to see God?”
The
lady replied, “No.”
Srila
Prabhupada said, “Therefore you cannot see.”
On
the top of Srila Prabhupada’s to do list was "Save the world
from Godlessness."
A
Prabhupada disciple:
Prabhupada
ate a sweet ball from a container. A devotee asked Srila Prabhupada
if it was offered. Srila Prabhupada replied, “You do not have to
have any.”
Another
Prabhupada disciple:
A
man in the audience dressed in robes asked Srila Prabhupada in a
challenging way, “Can you see God?”
Srila
Prabhupada replied, “No, you are in the way.”
The
man actually smiled and stayed for the rest of the program.
Still
another Prabhupada disciple:
A
disciple conceived of a plan to buy slippers identical to Srila
Prabhupada’s slippers and then swap these new slippers with Srila
Prabhupada’s after he entered the temple. Then when Srila
Prabhupada returned to his room, he would swap them back. In this
way, he would have a pair of slippers that Srila Prabhupada had worn
once. He executed the plan, but Srila Prabhupada, contrary to his
usual behavior, wore the new slippers into his room thus confounding
the devotee. Five minutes later a swami came to that devotee with a
message from Srila Prabhupada: “Thank you for the new slippers. You
can keep the old ones. But most importantly, it is not nice to play
tricks on the spiritual master.”
A
lady Prabhupada disciple:
I
praised Srila Prabhupada for presenting the complex philosophy of
Krishna consciousness so simply. He replied, “The philosophy is
simple. God is great. You are not great. Therefore you should
surrender to God.”
Bhakti
Purusottama Swami:
I
met Tamohara and another devotee from Canada. I invited them to my
home. They spoke from Bhagavad-gita.
They
gave me Easy
Journey to Other Planets. I
very much liked it. Then they gave me Perfection
of Yoga, and
I liked that very much.
We
get bhakti from
the heart of the bhakta.
Just
reading the scriptures is not sufficient.
Krishna
did not impart any knowledge as long as Arjuna acted as a friend, but
when Arjuna became a disciple Krishna enlightened him.
When
we are envious we do not enjoy because of how much we have but how
much less others have than we do.
The
more fallen you are, the better the holy name works for you. That is
Mahaprabhu’s mercy. The only problem we have is that we do not
recognize how fallen we are.
To
give a lecture on the vyasasana
is
easy, but to be humble is hard.
The
descriptions of devotional service contaminated by the modes of
nature [Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.29.8–10]
can help us understand where we are at.
Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura explains the word separatist as meaning “thinking
the interests of others are different than one’s own.”
Devotee
means one who goes with the desire of Krishna.
When
we identify with the interest of the devotees and Krishna, when the
devotees and Krishna are very opulent, we become very happy.
In
devotional service contaminated by goodness we think there is a
difference between mukti
and bhakti when
in reality bhakti
is
the real mukti.
The
sense gratification of the devotees is discussing Krishna.
Ekalavya
Prabhu:
Being
free from all sins is just a by-product of the chanting of the holy
names.
It
is the beauty of the Vedic culture that by naming the children names
of Vishnu everyone who says their names is benefited.
Vrindavan,
Aindra Prabhu’s mrdanga
player,
was formerly named Vishnu by his father. As a child he was a talented
pitcher on the baseball team in school, and teammates would encourage
him by chanting “Vishnu! Vishnu! Vishnu!” thus making great
spiritual benefit.
The
acaryas say
that four Vishnudutas appeared to protect Ajamila because he chanted
the four-syllable name of Narayana.
Comment
by Mother Laxmimoni: Srila Prabhupada attributed fall downs to past
bad habits and bad association.
Purity
is mentioned as an important quality in Bhagavad-gita 4.38.
We
should not be angry at a messenger who brings a displeasing message.
Similarly we should not be angry with one who causes us harm because
he is just a messenger delivering the reactions to our past
activities.
If
am worried about eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, I am not
focused on developing purity.
Sanskrit
has 56 letters and English has 26 letters, thus we need diacritics to
represent the additional letters.
Charlie
Chaplin:
“Nothing
is permanent in this wicked world – not even our troubles.”
[I
found the above quote as I was checking the spelling of Charlie
Chaplin. It is interesting that Krishna twice describes the material
world in very much the same way in Bhagavad-gita,
using the words “temporary” (asasvatam, anityam)
and “miserable” (duhkhalayam, asukham):
“After
attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never
return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because
they have attained the highest perfection.” (Bg. 8.15)
“.
. . Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage
in loving service unto Me.” (Bg. 9.33) ]
-----
This
is not a verse but an excerpt from a Bhagavad-gita
purport
by Srila Prabhupada. It came to me at the Polish Woodstock festival
as I was thinking of the great spiritual benefit everyone was getting
hearing and chanting the holy names, eating the sanctified food, and
associating with devotees of the Lord:
“The sage feels transcendental pleasure in the gradual advancement of spiritual culture, whereas the man in materialistic activities, being asleep to self-realization, dreams of varieties of sense pleasure, feeling sometimes happy and sometimes distressed in his sleeping condition.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.69, purport)
