Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 15, No. 23
By Krishna Kripa Das
(December 2019, part one)
New York City
(Sent from New York City on December 21, 2019)
Where
I Went and What I Did
,
For
the first half of December I lived at the Yuga Dharma Ashram and
chanted with them at different New York City subway stations for six
hours a day and six days a week. On Sundays we have our own Sunday feast
program at the ashram, and then we chant for one hour outside at
Times Square in the late afternoon. I took a break from New York City
for two days, one to attend the Vyasa-puja Festival of my guru, His
Holiness Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami in Stuyvesant Falls in Upstate New
York, and the other to visit my mother, who was at a rehabilitation
center in Albany, slowly recovering from wounds she received in a
fall. After the Vyasa-puja festival, about fifteen devotees chanted
Hare Krishna at the annual Hudson Winter Walk which was that evening,
and I tell about that.
I
share many quotes from different books and lectures by Srila
Prabhupada. I share some quotes from the humble servants of Srila
Prabhupada from the latter cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
I
share many excerpts of the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I
share notes on classes by Radhanath Swami, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu,
Vaisesika Prabhu, Kadamba Kanana Swami, and Vishnu-citta Prabhu. I
share quotes from Back
to Godhead articles
by Gauranga Darsana Prabhu and Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi. I share notes
on conversations with Ravinda Svarupa Prabhu, Ekendra Prabhu, and
Govind. After these insights, in a special section, I share my notes
on the speeches at the 80th
Vyasa-puja festival of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, along with videos of the kirtans there.
Many
thanks to the devotees at the Wednesday night program at 26 Second
Avenue for their very generous donation. Thanks to Kaliya Krishna
Prabhu for the photo of the four disciples of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
in saffron on the harinama
at
Penn Station subway station. Thanks to Anya Kulberg for her photo of us last summer in Paris at Montmartre.
Itinerary
October
1 – December:
NYC Yuga Dharma harinamas
December
22–24:
visiting relatives in Albany
December
28: Bhagavad-gita
class
at
26 Second Avenue
December
31: New Year’s Eve harinama
[details
to be worked out]
January 4 – early April
2020: North and Central Florida colleges, mostly Florida State
University
Chanting
Hare Krishna in New York City
On
our harinamas during the beginning of December we had one very
special guest. Yadunandana Swami of Spain, disciple of Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami, who had come to serve his guru for several days and to
attend his Vyasa-puja, joined us at Penn Station subway station for
over two hours on December 9. He came with Narada Rishi Prabhu from
the Brooklyn temple, also a disciple of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. Not
only did Maharaja lead kirtan himself, but he participated in
the kirtans of three other devotees.
Here
Kaliya
Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station
during the visit of Yadunandana Swami and Narada Rishi Prabhu
(https://youtu.be/39bLvVX55sA):
Yadunandana
Swami chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station
(https://youtu.be/LVmzEJJ6AAY):
Narada
Rishi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station
(https://youtu.be/TWb52JhZB-Q):
As
happens frequently we gained some devotees and lost some devotees.
Here
Rasika
Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt
Avenue subway station (https://youtu.be/VzyvGqwKbZ4):
This
was
Rasika’s
last kirtan this visit before leaving
the next day to Australia via Mayapur. We thank him for his several
weeks of assistance on the party playing drum, singing, and helping
to cook and clean. We
hope he joins us again.
Here
Chanchal,
visiting from Australia for
several months,
chants Hare Krishna in Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway
station in Queens (https://youtu.be/pkXhfK8H3M4):
Chanchal
has been at our Yuga Dharma Ashram before, and it is great to have
him back for another season.
As
my personal contribution to the Prabhupada marathon, I decided to go
out for an hour or two on some days and chant Hare Krishna, with
books on display and a donation bowl, thus sharing the holy name and
Srila Prabhupada’s books with additional people.
The
first day on the uptown F/M platform at Herald Square I met a Chinese
man who watched me chant and glanced at the books. I
gave him an “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and he started looking at
it. Seeing the picture of Srila Prabhupada, he said, “I know that
man.”
I
asked him how he knew Srila Prabhupada, and he showed me
Srimad-Bhagavatam in Chinese on his phone!
He
has different issues he is dealing with in life, and he shows people
this paper to gain support. I encouraged him that by taking shelter
of the chanting of Hare Krishna and the reading of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
his life would improve.
On
the uptown 1 platform at Columbus Circle, one lady took a Bhakta
Stack, consisting of Bhagavad-gita, Science of Self-Realization,
Sri Isopanisad, and Nectar of Instruction, for her husband
who likes spiritual literature. She said she was attracted to look at
the books from hearing the chanting.
I
share the following videos of the Yuga Dharma Ashram harinamas in chronological
order:
Kaliya
Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays
Center subway station in Brooklyn, and a boy plays the shakers and
accepts prasada
(https://youtu.be/1vwDVdiwjy0):
Kaliya
Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and Jason, Robert,
and an Hasidic Jew dance (https://youtu.be/1DW0Tw-zRBQ):
The
Jewish man later explained to me that the founder of the Hasidic
branch of Judaism considered this world to be identical with God and
therefore to enjoy this world is quite alright. I thanked him for the
information, gave him an “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlet and explained that we also see this world as identical with
God but we differentiate between activities that increase our love
for God and those that do not.
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays subway
station in Brooklyn, and several people dance
(https://youtu.be/t6vbYW67NYs):
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Atlantic Avenue / Barclays subway
station in Brooklyn, and Jason and a kid dance
(https://youtu.be/7dyCZoPIY5c):
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Jingle Bells” tune in
Atlantic Avenue / Barclays subway station in Brooklyn, and Jason and dances (https://youtu.be/9svIpHQx5IY):
Tulasirani
Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station
(https://youtu.be/_Jd6cdO5ays):
Natabara
Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station,
and
devotees
dance (https://youtu.be/o9F9waQ4krg):
That
day we went on
a walking harinama
because we faced competition our last fifteen minutes at our usual
location.
Priya
Krishna Prabhu, on his way home from work, chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt
Avenue subway station in Queens (https://youtu.be/LVCF2fnBFF4):
Murli
Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt
Avenue subway station in Queens (https://youtu.be/Kc6w9QNwdM8):
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to the “Jingle Bells” tune at
Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens, and a
regular local plays shakers (https://youtu.be/WGhxR_UW0lY):
Chanting
Hare Krishna in the Hudson Winter Walk
After
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Vyasa-puja about fifteen devotees, mostly
families, chanted Hare Krishna for over an hour at the Hudson Winter
Walk. Several devotees, including the children, passed out “On
Chanting Hare Krishna” to favorable people.
Here
Damodara Priya Devi Dasi from Czech Republic, who remembers me from
the Polish Woodstock festival and has lived in the USA for fourteen
years, chants Hare Krishna at the Hudson Winter Walk
(https://youtu.be/1jyUe9M0ecA):
I
talked to two separate people from the crowd who seemed more
attracted to our chanting party than the others, and I asked if they
had encountered Hare Krishna before. They both said they had – at
New York City’s Union Square!
One
was a lady who was dancing and filming our chanting party at the same
time as you can see in this video (https://youtu.be/uHtfOyVPTI4):
The
other was the lady in red, who is dancing in this video of Haryasva
Prabhu chanting Hare Krishna during the fireworks show at the end of
the Winter Walk (https://youtu.be/Dm7OL0gwUAU):
Haryasva
Prabhu and Vishnu Aradhanam Prabhu, also in the above video, are
senior disciples of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami based in Philadelphia.
Here
Krishna Kumari Devi Dasi, who organized our chanting party at the
Hudson Winter Walk, chants Hare Krishna as we return to our cars
(https://youtu.be/Q9AzP8uZI8o):
Chanting
Hare Krishna in New York City Again
Rama
Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station, and
a college girl, who had visited India and who was aware of and
attracted to kirtan, happily played the shakers for half an hour
(https://youtu.be/9uxz00GhkVo):
Devarsi
Narada Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chant at Atlantic Avenue /
Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn, and Kumari Sakhi Devi
Dasi, Daryl, and Marissa, visiting from Florida, dance with
enthusiasm (https://youtu.be/wwR26C5IPOs):
Daryl,
president of the Bhakti Yoga Club at University of Florida in
Gainesville, chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center
subway station in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/g4rUWyMsnMM):
Daryl
chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi dances
(https://youtu.be/haZEp-VR-H0):
Brajananda
Prabhu, temple president of ISKCON Tallahassee, Florida, chants Hare
Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station in
Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/zEuHsUoKrZ8):
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center
subway station in Brooklyn, and a whole family dances
(https://youtu.be/VoxyuWsqBTs):
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and a
passerby dances (https://youtu.be/ig0Z01ot_wY):
Rama
Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square, and a passerby,
encouraged by Jason, plays the shakers
(https://youtu.be/e-0-ug4Mdxg):
Kadamba
Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna in the Lotus Room at ISKCON Brooklyn
(Radha Govinda Mandir) (https://youtu.be/2VWMjEU-zaM):
A Memory from the Past
A Facebook friend, Anya Kulberg, shared this photo from our summer chanting Hare Krishna with Tulasi Das Prabhu and other friends, in Paris. Here we are at Montmartre on the steps leading up to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Cœur). All glories to the Sri Krishna sankirtana!
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
11.7, purport:
“If
one tries to write under superior authority, he becomes purified. All
Krishna conscious activities should be undertaken for personal
purification (apana
sodhite),
not for material gain.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
15.22, purport:
“The
Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees who come to this
world are executing a mission, and therefore sometimes they act in a
way that is very difficult to understand. It is said, therefore,
vaishnavera
kriya-mudra vijñeha na bujhaya:
even if one is a very learned and intelligent scholar, he cannot
understand the activities of a Vaishnava. A Vaishnava accepts
anything favorable for executing his mission. But foolish persons,
not knowing the purpose of such exalted Vaishnavas, indulge in
criticizing them. That is forbidden. Since no one can understand what
a Vaishnava does for the purpose of executing his mission, to
criticize such a Vaishnava is the offense called sadhu-ninda.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
16.1, purport:
“Narottama
dasa Ṭhakura has sung, sri-krishna-caitanya
prabhu daya kara more.
He prays for Lord Caitanya’s mercy because He is the mercy
incarnation, having appeared especially to reclaim the fallen souls.
The more fallen one is, the greater one’s claim to the favor of
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One must only be very sincere and
serious. Despite being contaminated by all the bad qualities of this
Kali-yuga, if one surrenders unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, the Lord will surely and certainly deliver him. The best
example is Jagai and Madhai. In this Age of Kali practically everyone
is like Jagai and Madhai, but the sankirtana
movement inaugurated by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is still flowing
like a great river, inundating the entire world, and thus the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness is successfully
claiming all fallen souls to free them from contamination.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
16.8, purport:
“Although
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees in disciplic succession
can defeat all kinds of learned scholars, scientists and philosophers
in arguments, thus establishing the supremacy of the Personality of
Godhead, their main business as preachers is to introduce sankirtana
everywhere. Simply to defeat scholars and philosophers is not the
occupation of a preacher. Preachers must simultaneously introduce the
sankirtana
movement, for that is the mission of the Caitanya cult.”
From
a class on Bhagavad-gita
1.16–19
in London on July 16, 1973:
Krishna
was so affectionate to Arjuna that He made a plan whereby Arjuna
could marry Subhadra, His sister, as Arjuna desired, although His
elder brother, Balarama, had a different idea.
From
a lecture on Bhagavad-gita
2.13 in Hyderabad on November 18, 1972:
“Krishna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He says, ‘If anyone wants to
understand Me, then he has to take the process of devotional
service,’ not by the speculative process or by fruitive activities,
or by yogic process, mystic yogic process. It is clearly stated. Not
only in Bhagavad-gita.
In all other Vedic scripture.
athapi
te deva padambuja-dvaya-
prasada-lesanugrhita
eva hi
janati
tattvam bhagavan-mahimno
na
canya eko ’pi ciram vicinvan
[SB 10.14.29]
One
can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His mercy only.
Athapi
te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi.
Anyone who has received a small particle of the prasadam,
mercy of the Lord, he can understand the Lord.”
“Spiritual
enlightenment means, first of all, we must try to understand the
jiva [soul]. Because jiva
is the small particle of the Lord. So that we can understand the
quality of the Lord. Just like if you test a small particle of gold,
then you can understand the composition of gold. If you test a little
drop of water from the ocean, you can analyze the chemical
composition of the sea. Similarly, if you can analyze the
characteristics of the living entity, then you can at least
understand what is God, what is the characteristics of God. Therefore
the beginning of spiritual education is to understand one’s self,
this self-realization.”
“All
these great sages, great acaryas,
they came from your South India. So you are fortunate in that sense.
So we have to follow the acaryas.
All these acaryas
accept Krishna, the Supreme Lord. All these acaryas.
And later, . . . Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago, He
also accepted that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
“You
are searching after God. You are taxing your brain so much. But in
spite of taxing your brain, you say sometimes that ‘There is no
God,’ or ‘God is dead,’ or ‘Everyone is God,’ and so on, so
on. But our proposition is that why you are taxing your brain? Here
is God. Here is God, Krishna. By authorities, by Vedic version, by
His activities. If we read life of Krishna, we can see that He’s
Krishna, God, from the very beginning of His birth.”
“So
every one of us is little, a small controller. Somebody controls in
his office. Somebody controls in his family life. Somebody controls a
few factories. There are controllers. But nobody can say that ‘I am
the supreme controller.’ That is not possible. The supreme
controller is Krishna.”
“Generally,
one who is in service, he hankers after government service. Because
it is natural conclusion that ‘If I have to serve somebody, why a
petty merchant? Why not take government service?’ So that is our
proposition, that we have to serve. We cannot do but serve. Any one
of us. That is our constitutional position. . . . Every one of us is
servant. So our proposition is that you are servant in any case. Why
not become servant of God? That is our proposition. That is Krishna
consciousness movement.”
“Liberation
means to become liberated from the wrong consciousness. That is
liberation. The wrong consciousness is that ‘I am master.’ So we
have to change this consciousness. That is Krishna consciousness
movement. One has to understand thoroughly that he’s not master.
He’s servant. He's completely dependent on the supreme will. If we
do not surrender unto the supreme will, then we have to surrender
unto the will of maya.
We have to remain a servant.”
“Our
only ambition is that to place Krishna as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. That is our proposition. We don’t want to become Krishna,
but we want to become the most obedient servant of Krishna. That is
our proposition. So we invite everyone, from all parts of the world,
and they are coming, they are joining. . . . We request everyone to
join this movement, study the philosophy and become happy. That is
our proposition.”
From
a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.5.9 in Vrindavan on August 6, 1974:
“Real
atma-rucih:
to be attracted by the self or Superself. That is atma-rucih.”
“When
our attraction is in Krishna, that is supreme.”
“So
Narada Muni, he was a small boy. It was not possible for him to study
Vedanta
or philosophy. He was not even educated. But still, simply by eating
the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotees, dvijaih,
he became so exalted.”
“Just
like father and son. However, there may be misunderstanding, but if
the father and son come together and their affectionate dealing is
begun, immediately original relationship is revived. It does not take
much time.”
“We
are eternally related with Krishna, nitya-siddha
krishna-bhakti,
and we’re eternally very affectionate and obedient servant of
Krishna. That is our position. Somehow or other, it is covered. So
that garbage that’s covering has to be moved.”
“We
are already devotee of Krishna, but we have forgotten, or the
consciousness is covered. Now, by this process, devotional process,
especially by kirtan, by chanting, glorifying the holy name of the Lord, the cleansing
process is accelerated. Very soon it takes place.”
Everyone
in this material world is a criminal because everyone is making plans
to enjoy Krishna’s property.
“When
one forgets that Krishna is the enjoyer, Krishna is the proprietor,
as soon as he forgets and tries to become himself the enjoyer or
himself the proprietor, immediately maya
[illusion] captures.”
“Therefore
every one of us, the members of Krishna consciousness, should remain
purified always by the regulative principles given and chanting so
that everyone is Vaishnava and everyone is serving everyone.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.28.17 in Nairobi on October 26, 1975:
“Every
father, even in this material world, if father is very big man, great
man, he wants that ‘My son also, let him become bigger than me.’”
“Krishna
says, sarva-yonisu
kaunteya sambhavanti murtayo-yah tasam mahad yonir brahma aham
bija-pradah pita
– ‘I am the seed-giving father of all living entities.’ [Bg.
14.4] It doesn’t matter in different forms. He does not say that ‘I
am the father only of the white, not of the black.’ He never says.
He has no such distinction – white, black, European, American, or
poor, rich, bird, beast, human being. No. He does not make any
discrimination. He is always ready to bestow favor as the original
father. That is God.”
“Therefore
you are seeing now a new thing in the history of the world, that the
Africans and Indians and the Americans and the Europeans are dancing
– ‘Hare Krishna.’ Just understand. Don’t be rascal and fools,
that you do not understand what is the potency of Hare Krishna
mantra. If you become so rascal and fool, if you do not understand,
then you are animal. Here is a practical example. How it has become
possible that the white Americans, Europeans, and other colors and
the black African, they have forgotten everything? When they chant
Hare Krishna and dance, do they remember that ‘I am African,’ ‘I
am American,’ ‘I am Indian’? No. Brahma-bhutah
[spiritual consciousness].”
“Krishna
wants this, that ‘These rascals they are suffering in this material
condition of life, three miserable condition, and still, they are so
rascal, they do not come to their senses. Still, they want to remain
servant of maya.
So let Me directly say, “You rascal, give up all this engagement.
Surrender unto Me.”’ That is Krishna. But they will not do it.
‘Why shall I surrender to You? I have got so many things. I have
got my nation, I have got my family, I have got my this, I have got .
. . Why shall I surrender to You, give up everything?’ Such a
rascal. Cannot be convinced any way. Whole world is servant of
somebody, but he declines to become servant of Krishna. This is the
disease, material disease. He will remain servant of thousands and
millions of establishment and person, but he will disagree. As soon
as Krishna says that ‘You give up. You become My servant,’ ‘No,
no. Why can I? Why shall I do it?’ This is materialist.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.10.14 in Mayapur on June 27, 1973:
When
Krishna left Dvaraka the ladies were shedding tears because of love,
but they were trying to stop their crying because they did not want
to
create an inauspicious scene for Krishna’s departure. Thus their
situation was perplexing.
“‘Without
seeing Govinda, the whole world is vacant.’ This is love.”
“‘What
I am? I am insignificant person. Why Krishna come and see me?’ This
is right. ‘Why shall I aspire after seeing Krishna? What
qualification I have got?’ This is bhajana.”
“Why
should I be proud that ‘Now I shall see Krishna’? What I am? That
is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Aslisya
va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va adarsanat
[Cc. Antya 20.47]. Adarsana.
‘Without giving me audience, You kill me, You break my heart;
still, You are my Lord, You are my worshipable Lord, nobody else.’
This is love.”
“‘Krishna
may not come. I may not see Krishna for thousands and thousands of
lives. I may rot in the hellish condition of life for many, many
births. That doesn’t matter. Still, I cannot give up Krishna
consciousness.’ This is required. I may be sent to hell, heaven; it
doesn’t matter. What qualification I have got that I want to see
back to home, back to Godhead? It is not so easy thing. So why should
I be sorry for that? I should be happy even in the hell simply by
thinking of Krishna. That is wanted. That is wanted. That is Krishna
consciousness.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.13.10 in Geneva on June 1, 1974:
“So
human society, there must be some religious process; otherwise, it is
animal society. And in every religion there is recommendation to go
to the place, holy places of pilgrimage.”
“Those
who are devotees, they are themselves maha-bhagavata.
They are first-class devotee. They themselves are the holy place. Not
only they are themselves holy place, but wherever they go, they make
that place holy place.”
“We
don’t criticize you because you try to live comfortably in the
material . . . Do that. But don’t associate with the modes of
ignorance. That is very risky. That is very risky. So at least,
either you remain in the householder life or brahmacari
life or, . . . sannyasa
life, you keep yourself always in goodness. Then your position is all
right. Otherwise, it is very risky. But these people, the Western
people, they do not do that. They keep themselves in the modes of
ignorance. That is very risky civilization. So at least you Europeans
and Americans, you should know it, and you distribute this knowledge.
It is your duty to save them.”
“Therefore
every one of you should become pure devotee, first-class devotee. . .
. In this age it has been made very easy. Simply keep yourself
cleansed, not to indulge in the four principles, prohibition, and
chant Hare Krishna, then you will be all first-class devotees. And
wherever you will go, you will be able to purify there. Wherever you
go. Wherever you speak, wherever you’ll sit. So keep this spiritual
strength intact.”
“If
you simply carry Krishna within your heart always in a very
devotional service, exalted devotional service, and chant Hare
Krishna and think of Krishna, wherever you will go, you will purify
the whole place.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
6.1.61
in Vrindavan on August 28, 1975:
“Brahminical
culture means sama,
dama, controlling
the mind, controlling the senses. A real brahmana
will never agree to embrace the opposite sex in public way.”
“The
sudras,
they embrace the opposite sex in the public street.”
If
I see one engaged in lusty or sex affairs, naturally my sex desire
also becomes awakened. Even though I am trying to control in the
neophyte stage, still, if I see in front of me some lusty affairs,
naturally I will be inclined to such.
“So
our these rules and regulation, restriction, means to keep one on the
vasudeva
platform. We should remember always that. And if you keep yourself on
vasudeva
platform, these things will not entice you. Otherwise we shall be
enticed and fallen down.”
“Sometimes
we go to hear or see rasa-lila.
But unless we are advanced in spiritual consciousness, this hearing
of or seeing some rasa-lila
. . .
sometimes it brings us down. If one is actually seeing rasa-lila,
the result will be hrd-roga-kamam
apahinoty acirena dhirah.
This is the injunction in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
[10.33.39] . . . One who is actually advanced in spiritual
consciousness . . . and hears from the realized person . . . not from
ordinary person, professional reciter, but from a realized
person – the result will be . . . our natural lusty desires will
disappear.”
“The
test is whether he has given up his lusty desire. That is the test.
If he has given up, then, after seeing rasa-lila,
he should not have returned to home. My Guru Maharaja used to say,
‘Do not go to Vrindavan with return ticket.’”
If
you keep yourself always engaged in chanting Hare Krishna, your heart
will be cleansed – ceto-darpana-marjanam
[Cc. Antya 20.12].
“If
you follow the rules and regulation in chanting, then you will not be
victimized. You’ll make your progress without any fear.”
From “Prabhupada Speaks Out” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):
[An
edited
conversation with disciples in New
Vrindaban, WV, on June 26, 1976.]
“There
is hope. It is not hopeless. Don’t be discouraged. But this is the
job. You have to meet with cats and dogs. That is my point. When you
go to preach, you must know that ‘I’ve come to preach among the
cats and dogs, and I have to deal with them carefully. Otherwise,
they will bark.’
“That
was why, upon arriving in your country, I wrote a poem with an
apparent air of disappointment. The idea was, ‘What will these
people be able to understand about this sublime spiritual
philosophy?’”
“So
where is that institution for training people to acquire these
transcendental qualities? There is no such institution. We are
attempting to train people in transcendental qualities. This is the
only institution. Other than our International Society, where is the
institution for training people in transcendental qualities? I don’t
think throughout the whole world there is any institution for
training the students in transcendental qualities. Who cares about
transcendental qualities?”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
6.1.49
in New Orleans on August 1, 1975:
“This
is our advancement of science, that we do not know what I was before
this life and what I shall become after this life. Life is
continuation. That is spiritual knowledge. But they do not know also
even that life is continuation. They think, ‘By chance I have got
this life, and it will be finished after death. There is no question
of past, present and future. Let us enjoy.’ This is called
ignorance, tamasa,
irresponsible life.”
“Tamasa.
So they are simply interested in the present body – does not care
what is going to happen, and has no knowledge what he was before.”
“They
have no knowledge of past life, neither they are interested in the
future life. Nunam
pramattah kurute vikarma
[SB 5.5.4]. And fully engaged in sinful activities, because they have
no knowledge of the past life. Just like a dog. Why he has become
dog, that he does not know, and what he is going to have next? So a
dog might have been in his past life the prime minister, but when he
gets the dog’s life, he forgets. That is also another influence of
maya.
Praksepatmika-shakti, avaranatmika-shakti.
Maya
has got two potencies. If somebody for his past sinful activities has
become a dog, and if he remembers that ‘I was prime minister; now I
have become dog,’ it will be impossible for him to live. Therefore
maya
covers his knowledge.”
“The
more we become elevated from ignorance to knowledge, that is success
of life.”
“So
our Krishna consciousness movement is to raise a person from
ignorance to knowledge. That is the whole scheme of Vedic literature,
to deliver a person.”
“Sat-sanga
required. This sat-sanga,
satam prasangat.
By the association of devotee we awaken our inquisitiveness about
God. Therefore the centers are required. It is not unnecessarily we
are opening so many centers. No. It is for the benefit of the human
society.”
“So
in the human form of life, where there is chance of getting the real
light, if they spoil in this way like cats and dogs the whole world,
what is the position of the world? Very precarious condition. So
paropakara.
Therefore those who have got enlightenment, they should try to raise
these rascals who are in ignorance. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
mission.”
“In
the spiritual world all the varieties are there, and they are all
spirit. There is no touch of matter. They are all conscious. When the
flower is there in the hand of Krishna, in the lotus hand, he is
conscious. He is enjoying, that ‘I wanted to serve Krishna as
flower; now I am enjoying.’ That is spiritual. They are all
conscious.”
“We
must be responsible, that ‘We have got this birth,’ labdhva
su-durlabham bahu-sambhavante,
‘after many, many births, after much suffering in so many species
of life, one after another . . .’ And unfortunately, the people are
so dull-headed, they do not care for it. But this is the most
important subject matter of life. So those who are devotees of
Krishna, they should take charge, that ‘These rascals are
suffering. Let them have some idea about Krishna.’ That is wanted.
This is Krishna consciousness movement.”
“And
the grhasthas
[family men] may come here, have some small cottage, and grow your
own food grains, vegetables, and have your cow’s milk. Get nice
foodstuff, save time. Why should you go in the city, hundred miles in
car and again hundred miles come back and take unnecessary trouble?
Stick to this spot and grow your own food, your own cloth, and live
peacefully, save time, chant Hare Krishna. Very nice program. This is
actual life.”
From
a class on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
in
December 10, 1976 in Hyderabad:
I
gave up my education to join Gandhi’s movement in 1922 as many
students did.
Dr.
Bose, who I was office manager in
the chemical company of, said the only thing he liked about Gandhi’s
movement was
his
promotion of garments of homespun cloth as it would promote local
industry.
From
my guru, I got the impression of preaching Lord Caitanya’s cult.
Although
doing my business, I was always remembering I had met a very nice
sadhu.
When
his followers came to my shop looking for my assistance, I was happy
to encounter them again and pleased to assist them.
When
I was recommended for initiation, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
said, “I shall initiate this boy. He is very nice. He hears. He
does not go away.”
That
philosophy he was speaking was very high, and I could not always
follow it, but I enjoyed listening to him speak.
I
thought that Vyasa-puja offering I made was lost, but some disciples
found it in some old issues of The
Harmonist.
After
millions of years, we arise to the human form to inquire about God,
but this precarious civilization denies that opportunity.
The
scientists are theorizing in the middle, but what is the beginning of
everything? That they do not know.
They
can analyze how the seed is growing, but they cannot make a seed
themselves or understand where seeds originally come from.
We
got this knowledge from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and
through me, and it will go through you to your students.
We
always remain a foolish student before our guru, but at a certain
point we pass the knowledge on to disciples.
Being
obedient students of our guru is our qualification.
I
was not very much inclined to take sannyasa,
but
my guru was so kind.
We
have nothing to do new, we simply present it as it is.
Our
real aim of life is to understand our
spiritual nature and search after God.
We
have to find ways to turn the current of personal sense gratification
to the sense gratification of Krishna.
It
appears that gopis
were
attracted to the young boy, Krishna, for their own enjoyment, but
actually they would dress themselves nicely just to please Krishna’s
senses.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura knew the art of turning our activities toward
Krishna’s sense gratification.
The
energy we are getting to understand Krishna instead we are using to
manufacture things for sense gratification.
Krishna
is the proprietor, but we are claiming: “This is my land; this is
your land.”
From
a sannyasa
initiation lecture in Calcutta on January 26, 1973:
“So
this sannyasa
means do not care for personal sense gratification—‘Oh, this is
inconvenience. This is convenience.’ Simply go on preaching Krishna
consciousness. So this sannyasa.”
“Just
like offering foodstuff to the stomach, the senses automatically
become healthy, then now, if you say, . . . ‘Yes, I shall offer
foodstuff to the stomach as well as to the ears and eyes.’ Then
what the result will be? The result will be that your eyes and ears
will be stopped functioning. Therefore this very example is given.
This, this is not required at all. Similarly, by worshiping Krishna,
you don’t require to endeavor to worship the demigods, to worship
the daridras
[the poor], to worship the this and that. It will be automatically
done.”
“Temple
worship means to distribute the prasadam
to the poor. That is temple worship. Temple worship does not mean
that you, you bring some rice from the neighborers and cook it and
eat yourself and sit, sleep down, nice. No. Temple worship means you
must distribute prasadam.”
“Everyone
who is spiritually poor, he should be given prasadam.”
“We
are prohibited to take prasadam
anywhere and everywhere. Because if there is no Deity worship, if we
take food from their house, then we partake the sin, resultant action
of their sinful activities. We should be careful. Unless it is
prasadam,
if we accept invitation from anywhere and everywhere, that means we
are accepting the sinful activities, resultant action of the sin,
person. Therefore a sannyasi . . . And it was, formerly, this was the
regulation, that sannyasi would take prasadam
in the house of a brahmana,
because a brahmana
is supposed to worshiper of Narayana.”
Krishna,
what does He want? He wants that this philosophy of Krishna,
Bhagavad-gita,
should be spread all over the world. You take up this determination
and be steady in your sannyasa.
That is my request.
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
6.1.13–14 in Honolulu on May 14, 1976:
“Just
like if I become agitated by seeing a beautiful girl, or for woman, a
beautiful boy... That is natural. . . . Young boy, young girl, they
are naturally attracted. There is nothing surprising. But tapasya
[austerity] means that ‘I have taken vow, no illicit sex.’ . . .
‘Even if I am attracted, I shall not do this.’ This is tapasya.
And
‘Because I am now attracted, now we shall enjoy’—that is not
tapasya.
Tapasya means
even one is attracted, he should not act. That is tapasya.
There may be some difficulty to control, but that should be
practiced. It can be practiced. It is not very difficult. But one has
to practice the determination: ‘Now I have taken vow before Deity
because at the time of initiation, it is promised before the Deity,
before the fire, and before the spiritual master, before the
Vaishnava, that “I’ll not have illicit sex.” That is promised.
How can I break it?’ This is tapasya.
‘I have taken vow before the Deity, before fire, before my
spiritual master, before the Vaishnavas, “No illicit sex, no
meat-eating, no drinking or intoxication, no gambling.” I have
promised it. If I am gentleman, how can I break my promise?’”
“‘If
by practicing little tapasya,
restraint, I can get relief from this repetition of birth and death,
why shall I not do it?’ This is knowledge.”
“One
should consider, ‘The sex indulgence is given to the hogs and dogs,
and for the same enjoyment I’ll have to work so hard?’ This is
knowledge.”
“I
have got this human form of life for understanding Krishna, for
understanding God, my position, what I am. I am not this body. I am
spirit soul. I have been put into this body. . . . the body is
material . . . it must be finished. Anything, it has got six changes.
Anything material, it has got birth, it has got growth, it has got
aftereffect, then dwindles, and then finished, everything, anything
you take, the material. This is called sad-vikara,
six kinds of changes. So I am eternal. Na
hanyate hanyamane sarire
[Bg. 2.20]. I do not die after this body is finished, and again I
will have to... Tatha
dehantara-praptih
[accept another material body] [Bg. 2.13]. So this is knowledge. One
has to always think of this. That is called tapasya.”
“Grhamedhi
means one who does not know what is the aim of life.”
“Grhastha
means although he is living with wife and children, but he knows what
is the aim of life. That is the grhastha
asrama.”
“Along
with Deity worship we should always pray, ‘Krishna, kindly save me
from the pitfalls of maya.’
He'll do it.”
From
a class Bhagavad-gita
9.10 in Calcutta on June 29, 1973:
“Bhava-samanvita
means a person who has understood Krishna or who is in Krishna
consciousness, he feels the presence of Krishna everywhere.”
“Sentiment
must be there, but that is after understanding. That is spiritual
sentiment. That is bhava.
That is another thing. Budha
bhava-samanvitah.
Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s . . .He also exhibited His
spiritual sentiments: ‘Where is Krishna?’ – yugayitam
nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam sunyayitam jagat sarvam
govinda-virahena me
– this is sentiment. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was thinking one
moment as twelve years. Yugayitam
nimiesena.
Nimesa
means twinkling of an eye, moment. But He was thinking twelve years.
And before Him, the gopis
also, they used to condemn the creator, Brahma, because he created
the eyelid and twinkling of the eyes which has obstructed seeing Krishna.”
“We
say that: ‘Matter is the cause of life. We do not accept this
theory that life is the cause of matter.’”
“So
this ordinary lemon tree is producing so many lemons. And the lemon
means citric acid. So if you take all these lemons, and take their
juice, so one ordinary lemon tree produces tons of citric acid. It is
a small living entity. . . . The chemists, the scientists, they’re
beginning from chemical, but wherefrom the chemical came? That came
from Krishna. If some chemicals come . . . from an insignificant
lemon tree, how much chemicals can come from Krishna?”
“Those
who are less intelligent, foolish rascals, they cannot understand
Krishna. Because they cannot understand Krishna, they do not take to
Krishna. They do not surrender to Krishna.”
“Therefore,
we first of all try to make people sukrtinah
[pious].
Hare Krishna. Chant Hare Krishna. He’ll become sukriti.
He'll get some pious assets. Then he’ll be able to understand
Krishna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has introduced this method, and actually
this method has been successful now all over the world. We began:
‘Simply chant Hare Krishna. Simply chant.’ So all these foreign
students who have taken to Krishna consciousness very seriously, they
began simply with chanting Hare Krishna. It is not difficult.
Everyone can chant. What is the difficulty? Everyone can chant Hare
Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare . . . Where is the difficulty? But they'll not chant.
They’ll not chant. They’ll talk so many rubbish things, but as
soon as you ask him to chant Hare Krishna, he’ll be silent. That we
have experienced. But still our thankless task is to induce everyone:
‘Chant Hare Krishna.’”
The
humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.90.48,
purport:
“Lord Krishna is especially glorified for giving pleasure to the gopis and the queens of Dvaraka. Sukadeva Gosvami glorifies Lord Krishna for His enchanting smile, by which He enchanted not only the gopis of Vṛndavana but also the queens at Dvaraka. The exact words used in this connection are vardhayan kamadevam. In Vṛndavana, as the boyfriend of many gopis, and in Dvaraka, as the husband of many queens, Krishna increased their lusty desires to enjoy with Him. For God realization or self-realization, one generally has to undergo severe austerities and penances for many, many thousands of years, and then it may be possible to realize God. But the gopis and the queens of Dvaraka, simply by enhancing their lusty desires to enjoy Krishna as their boyfriend or husband, received the highest type of salvation.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.1.6–7:
“The
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the reservoir of all
beauty. All beautiful things emanate from Him, and His personal form
is so attractive that it steals the eyes away from all other objects,
which then seem devoid of beauty in comparison to Him. When Lord
Krishna was on the earth, He attracted the eyes of all people. When
Krishna spoke, His words attracted the minds of all who remembered
them. By seeing the footsteps of Lord Krishna, people became
attracted to Him, and thus they wanted to offer their bodily
activities to the Lord as His followers. In this way Krishna very
easily spread His glories, which are sung throughout the world by the
most sublime and essential Vedic verses. Lord Krishna considered that
simply by hearing and chanting those glories, conditioned souls born
in the future would cross beyond the darkness of ignorance. Being
satisfied with this arrangement, He left for His desired
destination.”
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
From
Vandanam:
“All
good prayer will lead to good action.”
From
Wild
Garden:
“He
said, ‘I think there is a bacterium in Vrindavan with my name on
it, and it’s just a matter of time until it catches up to me.’”
From
Karttika
Papers:
“Tomorrow
we’ll try a new strategy of just completely closing the windows,
because the bugs are coming right through the screens. Prabhupada
talks about it in his lectures, how in Mayapur during the night these
creatures are born and live and die in one night, and how in the
morning you see heaps and heaps of bodies. Sometimes when I heard the
lecture, I felt he was exaggerating when he said that there were
thousands and thousands of bugs and heaps and heaps of bodies in the
morning and that you could sweep them away. Now I see it’s true.
Why don’t I take Prabhupada literally true on face value all the
time? Just a matter of time before you find out that what he says is
true.” (Notepad #3, p. 36)
“You
say, ‘Get me out of here,’
but
the secretary can’t do it, not in his powers.
You
are trapped in
the
world of Durga by your
own
desires to enjoy.” (Notepad #3, pp. 143–44)
“A
devotee here gave me this verse printed on a card like a place mark:
‘I praise Sri Mayapur, where a dabbler who walks down many paths at
once, a fool, one who has rejected proper religious duty, an
independent person who will not follow the rules of the scriptures, a
person who has not the slightest scent of the touch of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and those who live here only out of lust and
greed, all attain the supreme destination.’ (Srila Prabhodhananda
Sarasvati, Sri
Navadvipa-sataka,
Text 39).” (Notepad #3, pp. 143–44)
“O
Ugra Lion-Man,
Your
black body, Your
stance
of ready-to-fight,
massive
black head
plainly
silver teeth and
ten
arms and hands. I can
almost
see them all—be real for me,
I
don’t fear You because
You
are our protector against
evil.
Therefore, I ask You
please
come alive—and
tear
out the roots
“a
pure
devotee
has no desire for anything
except
his immediate engagement.
And
that is spontaneous bhakti.”
(Notepad #4, p. 150)
From “Vrindavan: Krishna Balaram Mandir Guesthouse, September 6, 1993”:
“I
vow to live and die in this Movement.”
Radhanath
Swami:
When
we take shelter we can realize the eternal love for us that Krishna
has within our heart.
Babies
seek the shelter of the mother in all circumstances.
Sat-sanga
is
the environment in which we awaken faith within our souls.
Faith
is the instinctive nature of the self.
Patanjali
says in Yoga
Sutras, “The
perfection of samadhi
is
to seek shelter of isvara
[the
Supreme Lord].”
We
need community to help us get past the false shelters.
That
which awakens our love for the supreme is dharma.
Love
require sacrifice.
The
very origin of love is the love between Krishna and Radha.
One
successful Indian ophthalmologist who had everything but satisfaction,
heard about our eye camp in Varsana and came there despite the
austerities of living in the cold, in tents, etc. One elderly lady,
who he cured of cataracts, was so happy to see Radha and Krishna, she
leaped out of bed, and slapped him repeatedly, and said, many times,
“May Radharani bless you!” He cried, appreciating her loving
sentiments. He had been ready to leave because it was so austere, but
that caused him to stay on and and to return every year.
To
aspire for that love described in “Siksastaka,” verse 4, that is without
desire for profit, fame, sexual partners, or liberation, is to
understand what dharma truly is.
Prahlada
wanted to stay in this world and suffer whatever was required to
benefit others.
To
be an instrument of God’s mercy is the highest joy.
Watching
the California surfers, I saw that they do not control the waves.
Rather the best surfers know how to adjust themselves to the waves.
Those
who take shelter of the supreme being do not suffer, and even their
apparent suffering awakens deeper love and deeper joy.
As
the song says, “Sri Krishna saranam
mama
– Sri Krishna is my shelter.”
Adjust
to events as they come so you keep making progress.
When
we focus on helping others we transcend our own difficulties, but we
also have to take care of ourselves so we can care for others.
The
Bhakti Center is to help us recalculate or recalibrate so we make
progress.
From
a class in Brooklyn:
To
manifest our vision in New York City will take great struggle.
Krishna likes it when we struggle. Why? Because when we struggle He
reveals Himself.
Radha
and Govinda are already here. Srila Prabhupada has brought them here.
They are waiting for us.
Ravindra
Svarupa Prabhu:
Q:
How to take shelter of Krishna?
A:
In this age, in any circumstance, all we have to do is chant the Hare
Krishna mantra. Even if you cannot speak it, you can think it in your
mind.
Remember
you are dealing with Krishna, who controls the whole universe and
makes arrangement for His devotees. Without Krishna’s help this
whole movement would not have gotten off the ground, especially in
the West.
Sometimes
lamenting too much about the past is just false ego.
Whatever
we have done in the past, just try to do better now.
If
we wonder about why our mind is wandering that is just another
wandering of the mind.
Best
always to do what you can and not worry about how you could have done
better.
From
a conversation:
Years
ago the FBI wanted me to testify about the corruption in New
Vrindaban. I was in India at mangala-arati
at Krishna Balaram Mandir
in
Vrindavan. The phone rang in the lobby, and the devotees got me out
of the kirtan.
The
caller said, “This is the FBI.” And he explained what they
wanted.
I said, “How did you know where I was?”
I said, “How did you know where I was?”
The
caller replied, “We are
the FBI!”
Vaisesika
Prabhu:
From
a class at the Yuga Dharma Ashram on the disappearance day of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
Gaurakisora
Dasa Babaji had no interest at all in the material world. None
whatsoever.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, at the age of 15, was honored by the university
with an appointment as professor and head of the department in
astronomy.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura performed the austerity of taking fourteen bites of
food the first day of the month and one less each after that, and
then repeating that. He did this to prove his seriousness to his
guru.
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura was his primary siksa
guru from
whom he took that mandate to preach Lord Caitanya’s movement all
over the world.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura quotes Bhaktivinoda Thakura more than any other
acarya.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura made many points. I shall speak of two:
1. We are seen by the Lord. We are not seers.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would stand in the back of the temple near the Garuda stamba. He would say when the Lord looks toward Garuda, He would see him standing at his lotus feet.
He
would say, “Do not try to see the Lord, but act in such a way that
the Lord will want to see you.”
At
a program in glorification of Bhaktivinoda Thakura one elderly man
was glorifying Bhaktivinoda Thakura and then mention that he had
written a Bhagavad-gita
commentary
that Bhaktivinoda Thakura liked. In the audience, Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura said, “You never saw Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He is
a transcendental personality.”
2.
To cleave the soul from matter one has to hear to sabda-brahma,
spiritual
sound, with the proper state of consciousness.
He
stressed that the Lord is not different from the sound vibration.
If
you are submissive to this transcendental sound everything is
revealed.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura appreciated our Srila Prabhupada because he liked
to hear and did not go away.
Srila
Prabhupada was meticulous in following the mood of his guru.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura said that there were better off at Ultadanga, where
they lived in a slum and could get barely enough for rice because
they had a preaching spirit. When they got the bigger temple, some of
the devotees acquired an entitlement spirit, thinking that they
deserved certain rooms. They were misusing yukta-vairagya
for
their personal contentment.
He
said, “If I could sell all these Gaudiya Math temples and make one
pure devotee, that would be sufficient for me.”
The
first ISKCON owned property was on Beacon Street. Why did Srila
Prabhupada want a building? For a printing press. When they got the
press, Srila Prabhupada bowed down to it, and chant the mantra to his
guru, “Jaya Om Vishnupada . . . Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja
Prabhupada.”
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura put the printing press next to the altar in the
temple indicating its importance to him.
When
we visited the Bag Bazaar temple, after a lot of negotiation I was
able to see the press, which was housed in a soon-to-be-opened musuem.
I bowed down to it as I saw Srila Prabhupada do. I noticed it said
“Cleveland, Ohio” on it. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had a
state of the art printing press shipped all the way from America.
Comment
by Rama Raya Prabhu: When Srila Prabhupada spoke on the appearance
and disappearance days of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he would
stress vani
over
vapu,
and
say that although alone, he always felt his spiritual master was with
him.
An
instruction of the guru is considered to be a manifestation of the
internal potency of the Lord, and it acts to reveal the Lord.
If
you just try to help the acaryas
and
the great devotees, you are in.
When
working with Sura on temple book distribution, we see that the temples
that continue after December into January, February, and March
distributing many books, do better off in general.
When
Srila Prabhupada was asked about book distribution strategy he
answered in a general way, “Just encourage them to be sincere, for
if they are sincere the master in the heart will teach them how to do
it.”
Kadamba
Kanana Swami:
From
a class at the Lotus Room in Radha Govinda Mandir:
Lord
Caitanya appeared in the 1400s and displayed symptoms of love of God
that were no longer in this world and which no human being had ever
displayed.
The
Six Goswamis were extraordinarily empowered.
Everyone
has a role to play, and that is chosen by the Lord. It may related to
our nature but sometimes things go in another direction.
Everyone,
even those who oppose that Lord, are still following His path and are
used by Him as instruments but instruments of punishment.
I
speak tonight of those who are surrendering and are willing
instruments of the Lord.
We
become assigned the necessary powers.
Even
if we are fully empowered, how much is our power compared to that of
the Lord?
Krishna
told the gopis
that
they were they were contaminated by sin because they supported the
demon Aristasura who although he appeared as a bull was actually a
demon.
Krishna
effortlessly made a hole and asked the holy rivers to appear in
Shyama-kunda while the gopis
had
to undergo so much trouble excavating Radha-kunda and filling it.
The
pure devotee attracts the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Madhvacarya
said the Lord follows the devotees from behind as He is attracted to
them, and the dust from His feet rises in the air and falls on His
devotees.
Vrindavan
is a place of inspiration.
I
visited Govinda-kunda, the place of Madhavendra Puri. The name
Mathuranatha gives great pain to Madhavendra Puri because Krishna
left Vrindavan.
Rupa
and Sanatana came from a family of South Indian brahmanas
from
Karnataka. The family had attained a lot of opulence through charity.
There was a land dispute in the family, and one of the members,
Rupesvara, the grandfather of Rupa and Sanatana, decided to leave. He
was a leader of brahmanas
and
brought a whole village of brahmanas,
who
were dependent upon him, with him.
That
Govinda-kunda was the place where the kind of bhakti
that
is prevalent in Vrindavan is manifest with Madhavendra Puri.
Then
we went to Madhana-mohan and the grantha
samadhi of
the books of the Goswamis, and the samadhi
of
Sanatana Goswami.
Anupama
is not well known, but he played the role of the father of Jiva
Goswami and that was also a very significant role.
In
1978 Vrindavan was a sleepy town surrounded by a path of soft sands
that could not be driven in and was very peaceful. There were
peacocks everywhere and cows.
Vrindavan
has changed so much in the last 31 years. How much did it change in
the 5,000 years before?
Brahmanas
would
stay in their own villages so they could keep a high standard of
goodness.
Nawab
means
a district head, but actually Hussian Shah was more of sultan or king
of Bengal.
The
main contribution of the Six Goswamis was to search though the Vedic
scriptures to support the teachings of the Lord Caitanya.
Pure
devotional service is to be found in their teachings.
The
bhaj
dhatu is
the source of the word bhakti.
In
English it is often translated as worship, but it includes love and
service as well.
We
have to serve. Even to enter a country we serve by submitting to the
visa process.
Sanatana
Goswami’s life had all been planned for his future mission.
Professor
O’ Connell, who Srila Prabhupada liked, drew up a list of the
devotees of Lord Caitanya who served in the Muslim government of the
time, which was quite extensive. These devotees stacked the
government library with Vaishnava literature, and also invited other
scholars to come and study.
The
Muslim leaders encountered a lot of politics and even murders when
they had Muslim ministers so they found it safer to have Hindu
ministers.
Often
the disappearance day of the Vaishnava is more significant because
his full contribution known by the time of his disappearance.
My
disciple, Gita Govinda, from the Caribbean had a grandfather, who
used to chant mantras. At the end of his life, he cooked a big feast
and served it out, and then he left this world. Now he has a
granddaughter who is Vaishnava.
Guru-tattva
is one. In the course of time, we see guru-tattva
manifesting
in different ways.
We
see more and more what we are destined to be.
I
gave someone a name once and they said, “Oh, no!”
We
are not meant to be copycats. Not that we have to figure it out.
Destiny will manifest it.
Life
is like a river. It never goes in a straight line. Somehow will we
find our way using natural gravity.
The
gopis
only
aim is to increase Krishna’s love and His enjoyment from that love.
From
a class at 26 Second Avenue:
Due
to the influence of the material energy, we are imagining ourselves
to be in the material world, but that is dissipated by hearing the
congregational glorification of the Lord, and we come to realize we
are already in the spiritual world.
When
love of God is awakened, Krishna becomes purchased.
We
are lifted up by Krishna and do not ascend by our own strength.
The
Ganga and Yamuna are transcendental because they are touched by
Krishna.
The
pure devotee carries Krishna in his heart and can transform places
and people.
It
is said that a pure devotee of Lord Caitanya can deliver the world.
The
pure devotee sees himself as being very fortunate but not deserving.
When
one gets older one feel vulnerable and wonders how he will be taken
care of.
You
may have this insurance or that insurance, but the best insurance is
the good will of the devotees. What care is complete without being
reminded of Krishna?
People
in this material world are starving for hearing about
Krishna.
No
only does the association of devotees reduce our material miseries
but it awakens our desire to serve Krishna.
Devotees
may seem to have this imperfection or that imperfection but that is
truly insignificant compared to their devotional service.
A
devotee who has nistha
can
give sraddha.
Of
course, a devotee who does not have nistha
can
give us the book of a pure devotee.
One
with faith understands that all good can come from Krishna
consciousness and no good can come from anything else, even if he
still has some tendency for sense gratification.
All
of the faith of a madhyama
is
in devotional service.
A
devotee in bhava
can
give ruci
according
to Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Chaya-bhava
[the
shadow of bhava,
the
preliminary stage of love of God,
caused
by the association of a pure devotee] can bring people above their
natural level of Krishna consciousness. Actually this whole movement
began from the chaya-bhava
created
by the association of Srila Prabhupada. With continued association,
that chaya-bhava
becomes
permanent.
“I
have no taste.”
“But
it is your duty.”
“Yes,
I know. How long I can do this?”
With
each bite of meat the cruelty in the heart is increasing, and one
becomes dull, not caring about others.
Finer
sentiments involve compassion.
What
it means that the pure devotee comes down to a lower platform is that he deals with people having all kinds of desires that he does not
have for the sake of uplifting them.
We
are talking about Krishna on Second Avenue, and someone is talking
about Krishna on First Avenue, and there should be someone on every
avenue talking about Krishna, because all avenues are meant to lead
to Krishna.
One
who is in prema
can
give everything.
The
books do not just benefit one person. Several people often end
up reading them. Even when they are eaten by worms, each worm will
become a devotee.
My
first Bhagavad-gita
I
got from a friend. I would have never have bought a book from a Hare
Krishna. I did not want to get too near those people.
Do
not worry if you make it back to Godhead. From there, you can see how
the Golden Age of Lord Caitanya comes to pass.
Sometimes
we wonder what the end of Kali-yuga will be like if after 5,000
years it is already so bad!
Srila
Prabhupada’s golden qualities shine on the black backdrop of
Kali-yuga.
Srila
Prabhupada is flooding the world with transcendental mercy.
Q:
What is the proper understanding of grace and work?
A:
It begins with grace, but that grace is not cheap. The gift is a seed
that must be watered. It is not that I do not have to do anything
because I have the grace as the Protestants say. Devotional service
is the gift of the Vaishnavas. We also need mercy all the way.
Service can attract mercy. So let us serve Krishna and the
Vaishnavas, and attract their mercy. At the end of life the sum total
of what we have done will be overshadowed by the sum total of the
mercy we have received.
Srila
Prabhupada explained that nitya-baddha
means
fallen for a very long time not literally eternally.
Q:
How do we get here?
A:
It is curiosity that kills the cat. Just that thought alone that “I
could be master” could arise, and I have a choice to throw it off
and go back to the pastime with Krishna, or think, “Interesting . .
.”
Gauranga
Darsana Prabhu:
From “Who the Cause Is of My Suffering?” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):
“We
may sometimes suffer more than necessary by holding grudges, carrying
negative impressions, making biased decisions, dealing with people
based on conceptions and perceptions born of our suffering, and so
on. All this leads to unnecessary suffering that we unconsciously
create for ourselves and others.
“Being
caught up in dealing with the immediate or intermediate causes of
suffering creates more suffering through blame and imagination.
Without maturely understanding the ultimate cause, we only find
ourselves entangled in the process of blaming. Blaming inspires
others to blame, and this contagious blame game can expand to
multiple people for a long time and create more suffering.” (p.
26)
“So
a mature person externally addresses the situation with
responsibility while internally reconciling it as the Supreme will.
Rectification shouldn’t be done with revenge, however, but with
responsibility towards the damaged situation and even the one who
‘caused’ it by faulty actions.” (p. 26)
“Blaming,
arguing, and lamenting are natural during a calamity, but one should
surpass that stage and maturely consider what is the best one could
do in the situation. And the best thing to do, apart from whatever is
humanly possible, is to seek God’s shelter. One can be hopeful in
the most hopeless situation by taking shelter of Krishna.” (p. 27)
“Suffering
is inevitable in this world because that is how the Supreme Lord has
made it. But by understanding that suffering is sanctioned by the
Lord for our purification and by learning to tolerate suffering with
a forgiving heart while responsibly taking necessary action according
to the divine teachings, one can transcend this world of suffering.”
Mathura
Vasi Devi Dasi:
From “Subbornness: Vice or Virtue” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
43, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2020):
“Studies
show that even when people see that spirituality has transformed
innumerable lives for the better, they fail to take up a life of
enlightenment and wisdom.”
Vishnu-citta
Prabhu:
Krishna
says, “O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also
the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its knower
is called knowledge. That is My opinion.” So to understand the
body, the soul, and the supreme soul is knowledge, and if one does not understand these, he is ignorant. It is like riding on the MTA subway
and not knowing what train you are on and where you going to get off.
How
long are you American for? How long are you Russian for? 70 or 80
years.
We
have become conditioned for many lives and thus it takes a lot of
practice to realize our spiritual nature.
We
are like tenants because we do not live permanently in any particular
body. Thus we have to consider the desire of the landlord in the
course of performing our activities.
By
chanting Hare Krishna, we associate with Krishna and develop a
relationship with Him.
Krishna
does not just explain how to get around karma, but how to escape the
system altogether.
All
Eastern philosophies talk about how to break the cycle of birth and
death and creation and destruction.
Ekendra
Prabhu:
From
a conversation:
Q
(by me): Are you still writing and performing songs as a Krishna
comedian of sorts?
A:
I am taking a break from that. I was talking to Jayadvaita Swami
about it. Satire has its limits; no one really takes what you say
seriously, it doesn’t change anything, and it can just be a way of
expressing frustration. I’m thinking it might be a more worthwhile
and challenging project for me to become more of an actual sadhu.
Either way, my hope is to be able to give practical guidance to newer
people that might be of tangible spiritual benefit.
Govind:
From
a conversation:
[I
mentioned that Bhagavad-gita
8.14 was one of my favorite verses.]
Caitanya
Carana Prabhu points out that Bhagavad-gita
8.14 is the only place in the Gita
where Krishna says He is easily
attained: “For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I
am easy to obtain,
O son of Pritha, because of his constant engagement in devotional
service.”
Notes on the 80th Vyasa-puja Festival of His Holiness
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
Rama
Raya Prabhu, at the request of his guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami,
chants Hare Krishna at the beginning of his 80th Vyasa-puja festival
in Stuyvesant Falls, New York (https://youtu.be/n40OSWrn_yw):
Baladeva
Prabhu of Trinidad gave a brief summary of the life of Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami: He became personal typist for Srila Prabhupada. He
managed ISKCON Boston and ISKCON Press. He took sannyasa. He
led the library party. Till 1991 he was in charge of Back
to Godhead. He was GBC and
initiating guru.
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
In
our sampradaya we
celebrate on the guru’s appearance day, although other groups do it
all on the same day.
Vyasa
is the original guru. Our seat is still known as vyasasana.
In
Journal and Poems,
I
published a poem telling what kind of guru I am, “A Castor Tree
Guru”:
“A
Castor Tree Guru
“When
there are no trees,
a
castor tree is a big tree.
‘I
may be imperfect,’
Prabhupada
would say,
‘but
if I speak what Krishna says,
then
that is also perfect.’
And
a prabhupadanuga
is
in touch with the shakti.
“The
tree in the courtyard is also small,
but
sturdy, even in winter.
And
in springtime it will bud green.
“Let
me grow as I am able,
even
if I am small.
And
let me also shelter sisya
birds.
I
am his foot dust,
his
boy, his saved, his son,
his
typist, a bringer of a mango.
But
I cannot rest on these credits.
Today
also I am traveling
to
his Mayapur.
“I
pray to stay a small tree
since
that is what I am,
and
to deliver these sisyas
given to me.
By
chanting and hearing
and
always living with the Vaishnavas,
by
preaching and urging myself and them,
I’ll
help keep these ISKCON places sound
until
the end of my life.”
I
have nothing new to say. Everything is in Srila Prabhupada’s books,
and I urge you to read them. As my disciples, you have an added
responsibility of reading my books.
I
could be accused of making you bookworms, but what can I do? The
Brahma-Gaudiya samprayada
is known as the book samprayada.
If
you take time to read some of my writing, I could die a happy man.
Srila
Prabhupada said if you read Gaudiya Vaishnava literature twenty-four
hours a day, you would not come to the end of it in one life.
I
read twenty minutes of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
twenty minutes of Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita,
and I listen to a Srila Prabhpuada lecture each day.
We
read 2½ hours a day, some after breakfast and some after lunch.
Many
of you are approaching early old age. You can take vanaprastha.
Do
not spend so much time with your grandchildren. Preaching may be too
strenuous, but you can read and chant.
In
Reading Reform
Notebook I
quote from Srila Prabhupada on reading, and I comment.
“In
my books the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is explained fully.
So if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply
have to read again and again. By reading daily, the knowledge will be
revealed to you, and by this process your spiritual life will develop
. . . you will please me the most by reading my books and following
the instructions therein.” (Letter from Srila Prabhupada to
Bahurupa, November 22, 1974)
Reading
is not just to acquire knowledge, but it is to cut through material
conditioning.
If
we are Krishna conscious any sort of occupation will suit us.
When
Pusta Krishna advocated devotees read and have classes eight hours a
day, temple managers wrote Srila Prabhupada inquiring about this. In
Srila Prabhupada’s reply he said morning and evening classes for an
hour plus an hour of personal reading is sufficient.
Offerings
[Some
of these offerings can be found in Sri
Vyasa-puja, the
SDG Vyasa Puja book, which can be downloaded at
https://satsvarupadasagoswami.com/sdgnews/vyasa-puja-book-2019-download/.
In some cases disciples and well-wishers read their offerings from
the book. Others gave shorter impromptu offerings to save time, even
if they also had offerings in the book. I just wrote down a few
things from the offerings I heard that struck me, but I did not
attempt to summarize all the many nice points that the speakers
made.]
Jayadvaita
Swami (from a letter):
“After
the years and decades when you served on active worldwide
duty—temples! travels! men! meetings! programs! Library Party! GBC!
zones! money! management!—it’s quiet there, a few close servants
and friends with you, helping you in this time of your devotional
career.
“Downstairs,
Gaura-Nitai extend blessings—Vrindaban upstairs, Mayapur on the
ground. And even at the kitchen table, at lunchtime, sounds from the
spiritual world invoke the presence of Krishna, in his many forms, in
his pastimes with his devotees, through the reading of
Srimad-Bhagavatam.
“Outside
the borders of this mostly unknown land, people live in a world of
flags and fire trucks and Hudson Valley illusions. But here, your
Krishna consciousness creates the world of Vrindaban, the world of
Krishna, the true home for the soul.
“And
for your fortunate readers, friends, and followers, your words dispel
illusions and lead the way, following Srila Prabhupada, back to the
land of eternal service to Krishna.
“Forever
in your debt,
“Your
servant and friend,
“Jayadvaita
Swami”
Giriraj
Swami (from a letter):
[Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami read more of the offering. I just include some excerpts
especially striking to me. You can find the whole offering in the
book.]
“You
are my mentor, exemplar, and inspiration for writing about Srila
Prabhupada.”
“I
would refer to Srila
Prabhupada-lilamrita,
and marvel at how beautifully it was written.”
“Even
now, your emphasis on your personal japa
is
guiding me and inspiring me.”
“You
have nurtured me in Krishna consciousness from my very first days, as
a student at Brandeis University, until today. And I know that you
will continue to do so.”
Ravindra
Svarupa Prabhu:
Sridhara
Swami is the original commentator on the Bhagavatam.
I
wish to offer you this benediction from his comment on
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.87, the chapter called “Prayers by the Personified Vedas.”
There he glorifies his worshipable deity, Nrsimhadeva, as He who has
the goddess of eloquence, He who has the goddess of fortune, and He
who has the goddess of learning, in His heart.”
I
wish that Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami may be blessed by Nrsimhadeva, with
eloquence, fortune, and learning.
Anuradha
Devi Dasi:
Thank
you for the “Life and Teachings of Srila Prabhupada” course in
Vrindavan – the best course I ever took.
Each
of your books is a testimony of creative genius engaged in the
pursuit of truth.
Thank
you particularly for Entering
a Life of Prayer.
Thank
you for teaching not to waste time by your example.
You
once wrote me that “Krishna is more merciful than you are dumb.”
I share that every year with new students at Bhaktivedanta College.
Sesa
Prabhu:
My
life in Krishna consciousness is nondifferent from your blessings to
me. Some of my best years in Krishna consciousness were serving with
you. As your secretary for your writing Srila
Prabhupada-lilamrita,
I recall you wrote an article for Back
to Godhead,
“Turning 40.” You are still giving your wonderful example 40
years later.
Once
I could not get to sleep. Then I thought, “Oh, I did not give
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami his towel.” I knocked on your door,
bringing a towel. You said, “I was just wondering what I would do
without a towel.” We were so in tune from working closely together
in those days.
Syama
Gopa Rupa Devi Dasi:
You
have said the subject of your books is love.
Pyari
Mohan Prabhu:
When
I first met you, I found you humble and peaceful.
You
were surprised to see me in white for the first time but were not
disgusted. In those days we were brahmacaris
for
life, although 90% of us ultimately got married.
I
read your Free
Write Journal
weekly. I regularly read Srila
Prabhupada-lilamrita
and He Lives
Forever. You
will also live forever in your books.
Silavati
Devi Dasi:
Vyasa-puja
is a very sobering time for me which encourages me to dig deep and
embrace the reality of being connected to the parampara.
In
you, what a connection I have!
Your
love is like this Shakespeare quote, “Love is not love which alters
it when alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove: O no!
It is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.”
[Sonnet 116]
You
are kindness personified. You are a master of bhakti,
you are a master of words, and you are a guiding star for me on this
boat in the material ocean.
Yadunandana
Swami:
Your
writing encompasses your entire life.
Despite
old age and its medical challenges, you expand your writing.
Your
writing is not stereotyped but full of realization.
Your
writing is of many various genres.
It
is hard to calculate how many books you have actually written.
Your
readers get inspiration from what you share. They become inspired to
use their natural abilities and qualities in Krishna’s service.
Your
writing is timeless and is Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta
manifest in a unique way.
Your
writing deserves a Ph.D. to help fully appreciate it and share it.
Bhadra
Prabhu:
Your
first question to Srila Prabhupada was, “Is suffering eternal?”
Srila Prabhupada said yes, in this material world, but he taught the
way out and you are following.
When
your father rejected you, Srila Prabhupada said he was your spiritual
father, and you happily accepted that.
Madhumati
Devi Dasi:
Sesa
said regarding you, “He is our foundation.”
You
have trained us in so many things, Vaishnava qualities, to see the
good in other religions, etc.
Before
people started doing seminars, you were doing seminars.
I
remember that one on Vrindavan pastimes in 1991.
Muktavadanya
Prabhu:
You
were the first one to hear Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna
book.
And
now after 53 years, you are hearing it with rapt attention. That
shows your purity.
You
explained that we should not be envious if someone is better than
ourselves because they are meeting our common goal of pleasing
Krishna.
Krishna
Dasi:
You
are giving us what Srila Prabhupada gave to you, his compassion and
love.
You
meditate on every word you hear in our daily readings of Srila
Prahupada’s books.
Hari
dasa Prabhu:
I
am convinced you are the most transparent presenter of Srila
Prabhupada and Krishna’s teachings. You went through many
challenges but came out victorious.
Dina
Bandhu Prabhu:
For
hundreds of years in the future Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s teachings
will be relevant.
Tulasi
Priya Devi Dasi:
How
you manage yourself regarding time is most impressive to me and the
thing I most fail to emulate.
You
wrote that we worship the moments we were with Srila Prabhupada. “If
by chance such a moment comes when I can once again see Krishna, then
I shall worship those seconds, moments and hours with flower garlands
and pulp of sandalwood and decorate them with all kinds of jewels and
ornaments.” (Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila
2.38)
“When
I again see His [Krishna’s] form I shall decorate the phases of
time with many jewels.” (Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila
2.36)
The
light you have reflected from Srila Prabhupada and Krishna is
illuminating.
Sthita-dhi-muni
Prabhu:
As
Krishna and His devotees are together, so you are together with your
disciples. Thank you for this family you have collected and brought
to Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet.
Haryasva
Prabhu:
I
used to tell you sankirtana
stories.
You said you liked that.
Later
you would engage me in helping with kirtan,
getting
this or that person to participate in this way or that way.
Your
voice in your books is uncompromising and is not going to accept my
nonsense. That voice in your literature is my favorite voice.
Lady
who was in Puerto Rico:
Your
letters inspiring me in sadhana
and
sankirtana greatly
benefit me.
Kirtan
Rasa Prabhu:
I
remember reading your article “Turning 40.” I thought that
sounded very old. Now you are 80 and me 62.
Love
binds us.
You
are writer. It is not something you do but who you are.
You
have manifest art and literature at an impressive rate. That
demonstrates your empowerment.
I
feel gratitude for all you have given.
Tattva-vit
Devi Dasi:
It
is obvious you are the living representative of Srila Prabhupada.
You
also add your own realizations to make it more meaningful.
Guru
dasa Prabhu:
You
are kind enough to overload me with work and service. It is hard to
keep up, but I do not want it to stop.
Rama
Raya Prabhu:
Usually
I am surrounded by those not engaged in the spiritual energy, so I am
so grateful to be here.
Srila
Prabhupada repeated said that the secret of success to dedicate
oneself to execute the order of one’s guru.
Love
for the spiritual master raises one to the highest goal.
As
soon as you came across Srila Prabhupada, you were struck with
wonder.
When
Srila Prabhupada said, “If you love me, I will love you,” that
was the game changer for you.
Older
man:
I
was impressed with the Srila
Prabhupada-lilamrita.
By
seeing you at a disciples meeting, I understood you were my spiritual
master.
Engaging
the reader is the hallmark of your writing style.
Devotees
speaking their realizations are like adding sauce and chutney to a
meal of Krishna-katha.
Vedavyasa
Prabhu:
I
used to cook for you at Saranagati in 1991.
In
1989 you came to Vancouver as a GBC and spiritual master. I was a
temple president. I told the Deities, “I do not why You gave me
this position.”
When
you came, you said, “How can I serve you?”
I
said, “No, I am here to serve you.”
We
went back and forth a few times. I was reminded of Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, who would say, “Daso
’smi
– I am your servant.”
Sastra
Prabhu:
You
have so much love for all of us.
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
For
art’s sake, I like do to poetry although it is not as popular with
others. It is my calling. We should find out how we can contribute,
and go with it, even it is imperfect at first.
Robert
Frost as a boy wanted to be a poet. His father had doubts but said he
could do it for two years. Robert said, “Give me fifty.”
About
fifty percent of my writing is prose, but I wanted to speak this
about my poetry.
Reading
from a poem . . .
Just
say what the books say. They do what they like as they are able.
Rev.
John Endler:
I
suggested that we put out four books each year. Guru Maharaja said,
“I would like that.”
You
never have to feel bad about whatever you can donate.
I
know you are giving from the heart as Guru Maharaja is writing from
the heart.
What
better way to celebrate his 80th
birthday than to put out four books this year!
Bhadra
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the end of the Vyasa-puja festival
(https://youtu.be/0IIBxNJjh1U):
-----
In
this verse, Krishna makes the point that devotional service gives the
benefit derived from all the other popular processes, but also
guarantees that one reaches His supreme abode. It is the final verse
of Chapter 8, which is entitled “Attaining the Supreme.” Although
Krishna uses the word yogi
not
bhakta
here,
he
has mentioned previously in the last verse of Chapter 6, that the
yogi
who
is absorbed in Him is the best yogi
and
thus devotional service to Him is the best process to attain the
supreme destination as well as the other benedictions. People worry
about being bereft if they give up their favorite process and instead
engage in devotional service. Krishna assures them here that they
need not worry. The verse also has a pretty meter:
vedesu
yajñesu tapahsu caiva
danesu
yat punya-phalam pradistam
atyeti
tat sarvam idam viditva
yogi
param sthanam upaiti cadyam
“A
person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of
the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices,
undergoing austerities, giving charity or pursuing philosophical and
fruitive activities. Simply by performing devotional service, he
attains all these, and at the end he reaches the supreme eternal
abode.” (Bhagavad-gita
8.28)
