Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 16, No. 1
By Krishna Kripa Das
(January 2020, part one)
New York City and North Florida
(Sent from Tampa on January 24, 2020)
Where
I Went and What I Did
I
chanted Hare Krishna with the Yuga Dharma Ashram harinama
party
in New York City for the first three days of 2020. One day the
devotees celebrated the Vyasa-puja of Bhakti Vikasa Swami, who has
several disciples there. While in New York City I also brought some
prasadam
cookies
and doughnuts to some relatives. Then on January 4, I flew to
Jacksonville and spoke at the semimonthly program at the Bhakti
House, which I am grateful to Lila Kishor and Amrita Keli Prabhus
for maintaining. The next day I took the bus to Tallahassee and spoke
at the Sunday feast. During the week I would chant Hare
Krishna at Landis Green on the Florida State University (FSU) campus
and advertise our Krishna Lunch, our Krishna Club, and our ISKCON
Tallahassee Sunday feast program. On the weekends I was in
Tallahassee I would chant at Lake Ella, except one day when it was
sprinkling, and Melanie found us a new venue downtown at Kleman Plaza
that was protected from the rain.
I
share notes on the classes and books of His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I also share some notes on the Eleven Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam translated by the humble servants of Srila Prabhupada. I share many excerpts from the books
of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on a recorded lecture by
Niranjana Swami. I share notes on classes by Brajananda Prabhu, the
new temple president of ISKCON Tallahassee. After these insights, I
share notes on Vyasa-puja offerings made to Bhakti Vikasa Swami.
Many
thanks to Lila Kishor Prabhu of Jacksonville for his kind donation.
Thanks to Melanie for driving us to and attending two weekend
harinamas
in
Tallahassee. Thanks to Daniel for joining me on all my weekend harinamas.
Thanks
to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for the photos of me at our book table in
Times Square subway station and for the video of my last kirtan in
New York City. Thanks to Brajananda Prabhu for his photos of the
ISKCON Tallahassee temple.
Itinerary
January–April
2020: North and Central Florida colleges, mostly Florida State
University
Special
events in Florida:
January
25: Tampa Gasparilla pirate parade Ratha-yatra
February
8: Ocala Rainbow Gathering
March
14: Daytona Beach Ratha-yatra
March
21: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
March
28: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
April
10: FSU Kirtan Event
April
11–12: Albany
April
12–13: Yuga Dharma Ashram harinama
party
April
14–16: harinama
in
Washington, D.C., with Sankarsana Prabhu
April
18: Newcastle Sacred Street Party
April
19: Newcastle Sunday feast
April
24: Liverpool harinama
and
program
April
26: harinama
at
Antwerp 10-Mile Race
April
27: King’s Day harinama
in
Amsterdam
May
weekend: Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan
mid
May–mid July: Paris harinama
July
28–August 1: Pol’and’Rock festival
August
19–23: Canada Vaishnava Sanga Festival
August
24: Montreal harinama
September
15: Brighton harinama
September
16–December 31: Yuga Dharma Ashram harinama
party
Chanting
Hare Krishna in New York City
As
usual, during my last three days on harinama
in New York City, I spent much of my time at the book table.
When
people gave a dollar, I would generally give them Bhakti-yoga:
The Art of Eternal Love, because
it contains the sweet section from The
Nectar of Devotion where
Srila Prabhupada advises us to engage our loving propensity in the
service of the supreme beloved, Krishna, to find the ultimate
happiness we are looking for.
Gokulendra
Prabhu, visiting for three days from North Carolina, chants Hare
Krishna on New Year’s Day in Times Square subway station, and
passersby play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/rt5vTMhdspY):
Ananda
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and two
guests, who had previously come to the Sunday feast program at the
Yuga Dharma Ashram, play shakers and chant
(https://youtu.be/rh3ktGtQthw):
Kaliya
Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station
while the two guests continue to participate
(https://youtu.be/RO7ODbaklD8):
Those
guests must have stayed at least two hours, which is very rare.
Krishna
Prasad Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station, and
a man plays djembe
(https://youtu.be/ABFh82O3XjQ):
I
chanted Hare Krishna in Penn Station subway station for the last time
before going to Florida to do outreach at the colleges during the
spring semester, and Kaliya Krishna Prabhu took this video
(https://youtu.be/WHMOkqT55Ds):
It
was wonderful to be chanting with such enthusiastic devotees.
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Tallahassee
Our new temple president in Tallahassee, Brajananda Prabhu, has made many improvements. The devotees repainted the temple room and illustrated it with some of Puskar Prabhu’s “Windows to the Spiritual World.”
The
temple is cleaner, they have a weekly program on campus with regular
attenders, and there is an increase of 20% in attendance at their
Krishna Lunch on the campus.
It
is nice to be chanting in the sunshine at FSU in Tallahassee and not
underground in New York City. One young lady seemed to recognize me.
I asked if I talked to her last year. She said, “You talked to
me three years ago. I am a senior, and I double majored in politics
and religion. Somehow I never took a Hindu Studies course. Could you
tell me about Hinduism?” I talked to her for 45 minutes about
Gaudiya Vaishnavism, varnasrama,
the modes of material nature, attaining the spiritual world, etc.,
showing her passages in Bhagavad-gita
As It Is,
and I invited her to Krishna Lunch and Krishna Club to learn more.
She told me her name was Caroline. In New York City recently the big
questions I was getting were: “How do I get to Queens?”, “Where is Port Authority?”, and “How do I get to South
Ferry?” so “Could you tell me about Hinduism?” was a
refreshing change!
When
I got back to the temple I looked at my email list for 2017 and found
one Caroline, and I wrote her, “Are you the Caroline I talked to at
Landis today?”
She
replied, “Yes, I am. I am so grateful for our encounter earlier
today. I could feel the presence of God the entire time. I look
forward to seeing you around more and hopefully learning as much as
possible before you leave town.”
Seeing
my “ASK A MONK” sign, one guy expressed displeasure that he was
already in college but he was still a virgin, and asked what he could
do about it. I said it is recommended that one not have sex before
marriage, so that was actually good. I suggested he take advantage of
the fact he did not have a girlfriend to focus on his spiritual life,
and then he would attract a woman of a higher consciousness. He liked
the answer.
Here
Daniel chants Hare Krishna, accompanied by Jorge on the mrdanga,
during an evening kirtan in the Tallahassee temple
(https://youtu.be/Dt36gSEfeJM):
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.7.26 in Vrindavan on September 2, 1976:
“Modern
science has not reached to that point of subtle existence. Therefore
they cannot understand how transmigration of the soul takes place.
The modern science has no knowledge. Imperfect knowledge. They see
the gross body, but they have no knowledge about the subtle body. But
the subtle body is there. Just like we do not see your mind, but I
know that you have got mind. You do not see my mind, but you know
that I have got mind. Mind, intelligence and ego. My conception,
identity, ‘I am,’ that conception is there. That is ego. And my
intelligence and my mind, you cannot see. Neither I can see.
Therefore how the mind, intelligence, and personal identity or
egotism carries the soul to other body, they do not see it. They
cannot see it. They see the gross body is stopped, everything is
stopped.”
“We
are human being. It is better than the uncivilized man. And the
uncivilized man’s standard of life is better than the animal life.”
“The
uncivilized man, they cannot produce food; therefore they kill
animal. In the forest they live, and they kill some animals and eat.
. . . They have no such knowledge that the forest can be cleared and
we can till the ground and we can get very nice foodstuff, food
grains, vegetables, so many things.”
“The
animal killing is for the uncivilized man, one who cannot get the
necessities of life by intelligence.”
“The
whole material world is nothing but an imitation of the spiritual
world by intermixture of earth, water, and fire – and nothing
else.”
“Ordinary
way to accumulate crores
[tens of millions] of rupees, it may not be possible in your life.
But if some friend or some rich man becomes kind upon you and
delivers you, ‘Take it,’ you can get it immediately, without any
hard labor. Similarly, Krishna, the supreme rich man, supreme rich
being, is offering you, sarva-dharman
parityajya mam...
[Bg. 18.66]. ‘You haven’t got to do anything. Come on. You
surrender unto Me, and I give you immediately liberation.’ Aham
tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah.
There is no anxiety. So that is Krishna. He can give you immediately
liberation. Simply you have to surrender.”
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
7.6.1 in Vrindavan on December 2, 1975:
“Real
mukti
means change of consciousness. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “jivera
svarupa haya nitya krishna dasa”
[Cc. Madhya 20.108–109]. Actually, every living being is part and
parcel of Krishna. Mamaivamso
jiva-bhutah
[Bg. 15.7]. So when we forget this position—I do not become the
servant of Krishna but I become the servant of my society, my family,
my nation, my dog, my cat—this kind of dharma is not mukti.
When one understands aham
brahmasmi,
when one understands properly that ‘I am not this body. I do not
belong to any particular nation, family or relationship,’ aham
brahmasmi,
this is called brahma-bhutah
[the
spiritual platform].”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi
17.1,
purport:
“Even
Christian priests are greatly surprised that all these boys from
Jewish and Christian families have joined this Krishna consciousness
movement; before joining, they never regarded any principles of
religion seriously, but now they have become sincere devotees of the
Lord. Everywhere people express this astonishment, and we take great
pride in the transcendental behavior of our students. Such wonders
are possible, however, only by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
They are not ordinary or mundane.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
1:
“So
that was the position of the Pandavas; although Krishna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, the greatest among all greats, He
remained with those royal brothers, being attracted by their
devotion, by their friendship and by their love. That is the proof of
how great this process of devotional service is. It can attract even
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. God is great, but devotional
service is greater than God because it attracts Him. People who are
not in devotional service can never understand what great value there
is in rendering service to the Lord.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
3:
“Lord
Krishna says in Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Eleventh Canto, twentieth chapter, verse 8, ‘My dear Uddhava, only
by exceptional fortune does someone become attracted to Me. And even
if one is not completely detached from fruitive activities, or is not
completely attached to devotional service, such service is quickly
effective.’”
“The
wise man is he who has thoroughly understood that he is spirit soul
and not simply a body. Because he realizes that he is spirit and
Krishna is the supreme spirit, he knows that his intimate
relationship should be with Krishna, not with this body.”
“Anyone
who has any desire or aspiration for satisfying his senses by
becoming more and more important, either in the material sense or in
the spiritual sense, cannot actually relish the really sweet taste of
devotional service. . . . While these aspirations for material
enjoyment or spiritual oneness with the Supreme remain, no one can
relish the actual transcendental taste of devotional service.”
“Srila
Rupa Gosvami remarks in this connection that one who is actually
attracted by the beauty of the lotus feet of Sri Krishna or His
service, and whose heart, by such attraction, is always full with
transcendental bliss, will naturally never aspire after the
liberation which is so valuable to the impersonalists.”
“In
Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Fourth Canto, ninth chapter, verse 10, King Dhruva says, ‘My dear
Lord, the transcendental pleasure derived by meditation upon Your
lotus feet, which is enjoyed by the pure devotees, cannot be
approached by the transcendental pleasure derived by the
impersonalists through self-realization. So how can the fruitive
workers, who at most can aspire to promotion to the higher heavenly
planets, understand You, and how can they be described as enjoying a
happiness similar to the devotees’ happiness?’”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
17.78, purport:
“The
members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness cannot
even call themselves brahma-bandhus.
Therefore our only means for satisfying Krishna is to pursue the
injunctions of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who says:
yare
dekha, tare kaha ‘krishna’-upadesa
amara
ajñaya guru haña tara’ ei desa
‘Whomever
you meet, instruct him on the teachings of Krishna. In this way, on
My order, become a spiritual master and deliver the people of this
country.’ (Cc. Madhya 7.128) Simply trying to follow the orders of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we speak to the people of the world about
Bhagavad-gita
As It Is.
This will make us qualified to satisfy the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Krishna.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
7:
“In
the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
third chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Maharaja Nimi, ‘My dear
King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no
happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness
here, because this place is full of nothing but miserable conditions.
Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must
seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by
initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must
have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and
arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions.
Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme
Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be
understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to
find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his
mission of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of
spiritual bliss.’”
“Generally,
we recommend our disciples to chant at least sixteen rounds on their
japa
beads daily, and this should be completed. But if one is not even
able to chant sixteen rounds, then he must make it up the next day.
He must be sure to keep his vow. If he does not strictly follow this
out, then he is sure to be negligent. That is offensive in the
service of the Lord. If we encourage offenses, we shall not be able
to make progress in devotional service. It is better if one fixes up
a regulative principle according to his own ability and then follows
that vow without fail. That will make him advanced in spiritual
life.”
“In
accordance with the particular nature one has acquired in conditioned
life, whatever one does with body, words, mind, senses, intelligence
or purified consciousness one should offer to the Supreme, thinking,
‘This is for the pleasure of Lord Narayaṇa.’”
“This
is the statement of Mahabharata:
‘A person who does not disturb or cause painful action in the mind
of any living entity, who treats everyone just like a loving father
does his children, whose heart is so pure, certainly very soon
becomes favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
9:
“Arcana means worship of the Deity in the temple. By executing this process
one confirms himself to be not the body but spirit soul.”
“One
should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should learn this small
technique, and he should be very eager and actually cry to become
engaged in some particular type of service. This is called laulya,
and such tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one
develops this laulya,
or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a
particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God.
Otherwise, there is no material calculation for the value of the
ticket by which one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for
such entrance is this laulya-lalasa-mayi,
or desire and great eagerness.”
From
The
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter
11:
“Sri
Yamunacarya, in his prayers to the Lord, has expressed a similar idea
in the following words: ‘My dear Lord, I may be living within some
body as a human being or as a demigod, but whatever mode of life, I
do not mind, because these bodies are simply by-products of the three
modes of material nature, and I, who am in possession of these
bodies, am surrendering myself unto You.’”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
17.141, purport:
“In
the present day also, people all over the world may join together in
the Krishna
consciousness movement and protest against the present degraded
governments of the world’s godless societies, which are based on
all kinds of sinful activities. Srimad-Bhagavatam
states that in the Age of Kali, thieves, rogues and fourth-class
people who have neither education nor culture capture the seats of
governments to exploit the citizens. This is a symptom of Kali-yuga
that has already appeared. People cannot feel secure about their
lives and property, yet the so-called governments continue, and
government ministers get fat salaries, although they are unable to do
anything good for society. The only remedy for such conditions is to
enhance the sankirtana
movement under the banner of Krishna
consciousness and protest against the sinful activities of all the
world’s governments.”
“The
Krishna
consciousness movement that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started by
chanting the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra
still has its potency. Therefore people should understand it
seriously and scientifically and spread it all over the world.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
17.203, purport:
“Despite
all the activities of these pasandis
[atheists],
however, the prediction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu will triumph:
prithivite
ache yata nagaradi grama/ sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama.
‘In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard.’
No one can check the spread of the Krishna consciousness movement
because upon this movement is the benediction of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
The
humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.2.11:
“Sri
Narada said: O best of the Satvatas, you have quite correctly asked
about the eternal duty of the living entity toward the Supreme Lord.
Such devotional service to the Lord is so potent that its performance
can purify the entire universe.”
“Sri
Kavi said: I consider that one whose intelligence is constantly
disturbed by his falsely identifying himself with the temporary
material world can achieve real freedom from fear only by worshiping
the lotus feet of the infallible Supreme Lord. In such devotional
service, all fear ceases entirely.” (SB 11.2.33)
“The
four pillars of sinful life are illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling
and intoxication. Such activities are never acceptable as offerings
to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The example may be given that
although in a free society each person is allowed to choose his own
occupation, even a democratic government will not allow a citizen to
choose the occupation of thief or murderer. In the same way,
according to the laws of God one is invited to work according to his
own nature in the varṇasrama
system, but one is forbidden to adopt a criminal life of sinful
activities violating the laws of God.” (SB 11.2.36, purport)
“Srila
Jiva Gosvami has quoted several verses that very nicely show the
development of love for Godhead. Anena
durvasana-duhkha-darsanena sa karuna-mayah karunam karotu:
“May the merciful Lord show mercy on me by demonstrating the misery
created by sinful desires.” Ya
pritir avivekanam visayesv anapayini / tvam anusmaratah sa me
hridayan napasarpatu: “Unintelligent
persons have unflinching affection for the objects of sense
gratification. Similarly, may I always remember You, so that that
same attachment, applied to You, never leaves my heart.” (Vishnu
Purana
1.20.19) Yuvatinam
yatha yuni yunam ca yuvatau yatha / mano ’bhiramate tadvan mano me
ramatam tvayi:
“As the minds of young girls take pleasure in thinking of a young
boy and those of young boys take pleasure in thinking of a young
girl, may my mind take pleasure in You.” Mama
sukarmani duskarmani ca yad raga-samanyam, tad sarvato-bhavena
bhagavad-visayam eva bhavatu: “Whatever
attraction I have for pious or sinful activities, let that attraction
be wholeheartedly invested in You.” (SB 11.2.36, purport)
“The
illusory potency of the Supreme Lord is duratyaya;
it is impossible to escape without the direct mercy of Krishna (mam
eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te).
The example may be given that when the sun is covered by clouds, no
man-made apparatus can remove them from the sky, but the sun itself,
which created the clouds, can immediately burn away the cloudy
covering and reveal itself.” (SB 11.2.37, purport)
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
From
Free
Write Journal #72:
“Before
I gave class I thought (and wanted to thank the devotees there): ‘I’m
doing this for my purification. By speaking these things about
audarya-dhama
and madhurya-dhama,
I’m being benefited. It’s a form of concentration for me that’s
barely matched in my day—and it’s preaching.’ I began in a good
state of mind, knowing I was probably getting more out of that class
than everyone else. In a sense, I also need it as much as any of
them.”
‘“O
Lord who makes mercy in vraja-
and gaura-lila,
O Lord who stole the complexion and mood of Radha, O Lord who is
above the petty squabbles of ISKCON members and the bloody fights of
nations and tribes; O Lord who is involved in all these disputes in
an inconceivable way by karma, yet who remains aloof . . .’”
From
Every
Day, Just Write,
Volume 41:
“Krishna
chanting solves London,
swallows
sins, serious chanters
before
assemblies of students
or
on the street for anyone –
a
person became a devotee that way,
hearing
the harinama.”
“Wants
mercy. They say the mercy
is
in the books, sastras,
and you have to
systematically
study, no exceptions
nowhere
to please God except
stern
overviews, memorization
and
passing exams. The God
of
study. The science for
furrowed
brows.
“Oh,
my God dances and loves
us
all. Can be found in any of
bhakti’s
nine perfections, even by a child
offering
a flower. But yes, you’ve
got
to understand – but it’s not so hard –
the
meaning of the Gita
where
Acyuta
steers the chariot for
His
friend.”
“But
He knows and you know this
is
not pure devotional service. But you
thank
Him and do some portraits of
Prabhupada
and always sadhus
with
beads
and kirtana
and meditation –
recognizable
spiritual subjects as a
way
to thank Lord Krishna for the freedom.”
“I
fear but
feel
He’s here.”
“Be
original so they won’t think we are
brainwashed.
I want to win
points
for Sri Krishna, for Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu,
for Prabhupada’s ISKCON.
That’s
what all my scribbling is
about.
I’m not like Jack Kerouac
trying
to become a writer.”
“But
so many religions. Which one is right?
Not
just one, any person living the life
of
devotion and obedience.”
“Being
steady
being
a devotee of the devotees
until
death.”
“You
wanted to be a devotee and then
honest
person. Those two things form
an
uneasy alliance. Admit
honestly
you just want to relax
and
you have to live with the
doubts.
I can’t even explain
what
they are because if I do
it
comes out wrong.”
“Now,
when the life has to be
settled
and summed up, take the role
of
a sadhu,
devotee and chant
God’s
names – you’ve been
doing
it long enough so
you
could forget all else
but
God consciousness and ask
Him
to take you and please
no
more karma or
please
never forget
to
call Him.”
“Spin
the Krishna top – every-
one
wins. Remember His
classic
lines, Bhagavatam,
Gita
too, NoD,
Cc.
See
the Deity in your mind.
“Race
home free
I
didn’t want to be
alone
and stranded here
in
a samsara
dread
please
save me, Lord
from
my enemy worst
make
him your friend,
your
servant.”
From
Every
Day, Just Write,
Volume 42:
“And
in several letters, I stopped short
thinking
that’s all I can give. Judge
me
not you who read this now
at
least I wrote to you
and
loved you. (True or not?)”
“I
wanted to believe in God so
He
sent me to the Swami. Now,
after
thirty-four years where will He
send
me? My desire is not
so
great, I can hardly travel,
and
I’m not leaving the Swami and the
society
he started. But I do need
God,
miss Him and don’t know
what
to do.
“When
you lecture that may help
your
belief. Don’t get worse. Don’t
atrophy.
Go through the motions at least
like
a set of physical exercises I do each
morning
– March in place, knee bends…
dedicate
to God and your search.
Your
poor ability to do more.”
“God
is Krishna lovable, truthful
sweet
to His Pure devotees, who
have
paid the price / whom He favors.
Srila
Prabhupada is surrendered to Him,
lives
in his vani,
in his books
one
can be with him. I want to
I
want to want. Don’t want
to
diminish, cool off
or
fall away. Please help me
master,
doctor of my soul.”
“I
read how important
is
‘association with devotees,’
but
thought to myself, ‘Yes, but he
doesn’t
say how many or where.’
It
can be one or two, you
don’t
have to be packed in with
people
you don’t like.”
“The
days are clicking off
you
don’t know how many
left.
It could be a surprise.
Write
while you can,
chant
hari-nama
be
kind, give up
grip
on matter and
stop
hating – ”
“Oh,
mighty Steve,
I
dig you the most.
But
please acknowledge
Lord
Krishna is the host.
“It’s
He who lets you live
here
in this body and
make
these poems.
His
Goloka is your home.
“But
you will learn it soon
or
you will die to roam
seeking
happiness in another
place
of pain and horror?”
“God
is blessing, but I just hope
is blessing, but I just hope
I’m
not asking for ashes of
He
who wants to give me
the
best.”
From
Every
Day, Just Write,
Volume 43:
“O
Lord, this night
and
always please give me
shelter
at Your lotus feet.
“May
I also cherish Srila Prabhupada’s note
to
me, ‘May Krishna protect you
from
calamities.’”
“Srila
Prabhupada commented that he feels that he is crippled in many ways,
but if one of his disciples becomes strong like Dhruva Maharaja, then
he’d carry Srila Prabhupada with him.
“It’s
not me, Srila Prabhupada. Most of us depend on you, and we are
stumbling on our own. We don’t think that you are crippled, but
your humility is touching. We would like to go with you.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said it too – ‘One pure devotee is
worth the effort of the whole mission.’”
From
Every
Day, Just Write,
Volume 44:
“I
want to
love
God and that everyone feel His
love
and guidance.
“I
believe that He is the
One.
We have to follow Him.
We
suffer for lack of Him, for
disobeying
Him.
He
is the friend
hidden
in the heart.
His
pure
devotee
should be our teacher.
Even
while in this world you’ll be
better
off chanting His names and
hearing
His glories and teachings.”
“If
you can’t brave it to meet
passersby
on the street, ‘excuse me, sir’ –
then
could you at least
pray
for them, bless them?
Don’t
be hung up only on
the
self.”
“And
I’m a disciple of Prabhupada
although
I seem to be degrading
he
won’t leave me, I won’t
leave
him and KC,
the
simple truth.”
“It
has been twenty-two years
since
Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance.
I
knew him along with thousands
who
knew him. We each know
something,
not all of his character and
his
closeness to Lord Krishna.
“Now,
we are moving along toward
our
own deaths, hoping to
keep
linked to Srila Prabhupada like a person
in
a well who holds onto the rope
lowered
by his rescuer.
“Finish
your days with your
prescribed
duties. Remember
him,
cherish some way
of
personal service – puja
to his
murti,
hearing his words,
following
the path of
the
Hare Krishna movement.”
“Look
at your watch and
remember
– soon worship
Prabhupada
and hear him lecture –
“The
most important thing is God
and
learning your relationship with Him,
but
this they put aside.
Listen
to Him, give faith,
it’s
as easy as that.
“Tell
these things, don’t
be
ashamed.”
“Your
hill
is behind and ahead
keep
walking now
in
this kind light
He
provides.”
“Thank
Lord Hari always.
He’s
giving you so much nectar.
Be
His servant like the
sadhus;
show compassion
to
others.
“Krishna
please be my Lord always.”
“Faith,
even if it goes away,
He’ll
uphold my faith in Him.
I
just have to ask Him.”
“God
reveal Yourself to us
if
You think we can take it
God
is all good I
repeat
what the guru says
“He’s
so great but also
very
sweet and intimate in
Vrindavan.
Krishna is the best.”
“The
days of yore when a man
thought
ISKCON takes care
and
all he had to do was wear
the
saffron and preach and teach,
and
God would pay the bill.
The
society for Krishna all over
the
world in union under
the
pure devotee.”
“may
my Lord see me and
see
some good in me
“believe
in God and your
master’s
kind and stern guidance don’t
give
bad lip to the
one
who guides you.”
“the
young woman smiling is now
an
older woman, the men
have
disappeared, some are
different.
Everything is different, but
we
still have Prabhupada and
chanting
if you want it.
Krishna
in Vrindavan
if
you want Him.
Krishna
in Vrindavan
in
His home.”
“the
cows poor cows
the
green land of pastures
is
their concentration camp”
“I
say, ‘I’m faithful to one guru
and
believe in myself capable
of
serving and calling
on
Krishna at the end.’”
“Atmarams take pleasure in
the
self – means they are
attracted
to Krishna
whose
enigmatic smile
claims
all Vrajavasis.
Believe
it.”
“I
am shaking off bugs / let them live
but
not on me. God is Krishna,
and
after we all die He remains
in
His unmanifested world
“don’t
be snide, don’t be a rebel
against
the Vedic truths,
I
want only service to Krishna
and
a desire to do it
“work
for Him / Lord of all
please
forgive me for
scattering
precious time
“I
meant it all as
service
to my masters
Prabhupada
and Krishna.”
“You
have to accumulate some
time
and merit in service and
eliminate
all material desire.
A
tall order but Krishna can
do
it in you if you’re
open.”
From
Free
Write Journal #74:
“The
thing is falling apart. The body. You can hold it together for a
certain amount of years. It’s a material machine and can’t endure
forever. Life, or the soul, lives within, but when the body is too
decrepit or gets diseased, then there comes a point where the soul
can’t stay, so it moves on. It’s really good if you can realize
this duality between body and soul. They are not one. The body is a
machine and will be disentangled, but the self will move on. There is
nothing to lament.
“In
this limited time, let’s work at self-realization.”
Niranjana
Swami:
From
a recorded lecture at the Boston Sunday feast on December 19, 2010:
We
cannot see the subtle. We cannot see the intelligence. We can see
evidence of intelligence.
We
can try to demand, we can try to pay Him, but Krishna is not obliged
to reveal Himself.
Instead
of demanding to see Him, first we have to hear Him.
When
you chant Krishna’s name, He will act to cleanse your heart.
To
the degree we chant with faith, we can experience the presence of
Krishna in His name.
If
we have an existence beyond the body, we have a necessity beyond the
necessities of the body. That is to connect with the Supreme Lord by
chanting Hare Krishna.
Brajananda
Prabhu:
I
was attracted by seeing that Srila Prabhupada offered an actual
process by which one can advance spiritually.
We
can do devotional service with a fruitive mentality, but that is not
as desirable as pure devotional service.
We
are trying to give everyone the opportunity to engage in devotional
service. Thus in his lectures Srila Prabhupada is always encouraging
the audience to please take advantage of these opportunities.
In
making a strategic plan, first one must understand where he is.
Satsvarupa Maharaja does that in his Japa
Reform Notebook.
Krishna
always keeps me humble. If I have a lot of success, I see that
Krishna makes an arrangement for me to become humble.
If
you want to be a millionaire, a doctor, a musician, etc., you
associate with those similarly engaged, and it is also true if you
want to be a pure devotee.
Srila
Prabhupada dealt with many people who could not grasp what he was
saying because of an ego problem.
If
we invite people to serve, they will become purified and get a taste
for service.
Offerings
from a Vyasa-puja Ceremony for Bhakti Vikasa Swami
Vishnu-citta
Prabhu:
Although
I am not in your physical presence, these days I find often in my
decision making I am thinking of how you would act in the situation I
am facing.
I
find that having the association of several of your disciples is
holding me up to a standard of devotional service I would not even
have dreamed of having come close to.
In
my last phone call, you seemed to perfectly understand my situation
immediately whereas I thought it would take me a long time to
familiarize you with it, and I can see that is due to your
empowerment as my spiritual master.
Mahotsaha
Prabhu:
You
have instructed me to bring book distribution up to the level it was
during Srila Prabhupada’s time.
I
want to report to you our success in this area. We started
distributing a set of seven hardbound books in last year’s
marathon, and it was so successful we kept distributing them
throughout the year. As you want us to make Srila Prabhupada famous,
we decided to also distributed the seven-book Srila
Prabhupada-lilamrita. I
was praying to you for inspiration and was given this idea.
In
a lecture you spoke of distributing hundreds of Srimad-Bhagavatam
sets,
and
we now have this challenge – to apply our intelligence to accomplish
this.
Natabara
Gauranga Prabhu:
In
your lecture on kirtan, you said nothing about music. You stressed
going to the whole morning program and doing full time service.
In
your book, Speaking
Strongly, although
the title sounds really heavy, you tell about subtleties of speaking,
giving examples from Srila Prabhupada.
Chanchal
Prabhu:
Although
I am not a book distributor, I find that by chanting your pranama
mantra
and that of Srila Prabhupada, I am able to distribute those saptarsi,
seven-book sets. Sometimes people just come up to me and ask about the
books.
You
inspire me in kirtan so much by your own your pure kirtan, I find I
can chant for hours.
Kalki
Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada often said there is no love in the material world, and I
was reflecting how that has been true in my life and is true for the
people in general.
How
fortunate I am to have someone to really care for me in Guru
Maharaja.
We
have a goal, so we know where we are going, pure devotional service
to Krishna. I have found this by hearing from Srila Prabhupada and
Guru Maharaja.
Krishna
has shown His mercy to me by giving me Guru Maharaja as my spiritual
master. Now I just have to follow for eternity.
Krishna
Kripa Das:
I
was friends with Guru Krishna Prabhu, the editor of Bhakti Vikasa
Swami’s Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, and
so he recommended to Maharaja that he engage me as a proofreader.
Normally I just read Srila Prabhupada’s books and my guru’s
books, so I probably would not have read Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava otherwise,
although it was well worth reading.
I
am deeply indebted to Bhakti Vikasa Swami for sharing in Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava
the most inspiring quote on Sri Krishna-nama-sankirtana
that I have ever heard since meeting the Hare Krishnas forty years
ago:
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura wrote, “Srinama-sankirtana
is the best sadhana.
If other sadhanas
help us in Krishna-sankirtana,
then they deserve to be called sadhana;
otherwise they are simply impediments to sadhana.
Sri Krishna-nama-sankirtana
is the emperor of sadhanas.
It is the only infallible sadhana
capable of bringing us to siddhi.”
As
we can see at the Yuga Dharma Ashram, the brahmacari
followers
of Bhakti Vikasa Swami are very dedicated to sharing Krishna
consciousness with others. In the UK, I experience a similar
dedication by his householder disciples. One couple, Karshna and
Aharada Prabhus, were instrumental in starting and maintaining the
Liverpool Ratha-yatra, which happened last year for the third time.
They also doubled the harinamas
in
Manchester. Later I happened to go through Manchester on a Monday
night, and they inspired eight or nine devotees to join me on
harinama
there.
They were so inspired by that experience they decided to do a Monday
night harinama
every
second week, on the weeks when they do not do a Saturday harinama.
So
now they have four harinamas
a
month in Manchester, instead of just one.
Rama
Raya Prabhu:
Srila
Prabhupada’s converting people all over the world, not just to
Hinduism but to pure Gaudiya Vaishnavism, has sort of got revenge for
the centuries of oppression of the British and the Muslims who
considered India’s culture barbaric. When people in India would
praise him for his accomplishment, Srila Prabhupada would say, “I
am simply a representative of my spiritual master. That is all.”
Srila
Prabhupada said his books would be the law books for the next ten
thousand years. Bhakti Vikasa Swami is very faithful to Srila
Prabhupada and his teachings, and therefore, he is empowered in so
many ways.
Srila
Prabhupada’s presence was so elevating he interested many people in
trying for pure devotion. Unfortunately not everyone has been able to
maintain that interest in his absence.
Comment
by Vishnu-citta Prabhu: Practically the only physical association of
Srila Prabhupada that Bhakti Vikasa Swami got, was getting second
initiation from him.
Aindra
Prabhu had Srila Prabhupada speak personally to him once. In Potomac
after the devotees climbed the little hill outside the temple, one
devotee thrust a mrdanga
in
Aindra’s hands and told him to lead kirtan. That was before he was
known as a kirtan leader. He played and chanted enthusiastically, and
Srila Prabhupada smiled and said, “Jaya!” But that one word
sustained him for years.
Bhakti
Vikasa Swami is concerned that Srila Prabhupada’s movement is
healthy, and he considers our humble project is something worthy to
support, and we are grateful.
Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava is
an amazing contribution for the whole sampradaya
revealing
the glories of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
We
wish him good health and longevity.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura said there was not a single bona fide babaji
at
Radha Kunda. Why? They were not taking up the mission of Rupa
Goswami, the mission of Lord Caitanya, to spread the holy name all
over the world.
Aindra
Prabhu said, “There is only one yuga
dharma for the next 427,000 years. It is not going to change.”
The
best thing we can do to honor Bhakti Vikasa Swami is to maintain the
purity of this program.
Gopal
Campu Prabhu:
Your
presentation of Krishna consciousness reminds me of the line Srila
Prabhupada offered to his own guru, “Absolute is sentient thou hast
proved; impersonal calamity thou has moved.”
Your
influence has greatly helped me in my devotional life. I listen to
50% your lectures and 50% Srila Prabhupada.
I
hope to assist you in the spreading of varnasrama.
-----
Many
people consider the desires that arise in their minds to be their own
and think that happiness is obtained by satisfying them. In
Bhagavad-gita,
Krishna
presents
a completely different paradigm – happiness lies in ignoring such
desires – a simpler strategy.
apuryamanam
acala-pratistham
samudram
apah pravisanti yadvat
tadvat
kama yam pravisanti sarve
sa
santim apnoti na kama-kami
“A
person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that
enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is
always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives
to satisfy such desires.” (Bhagavad-gita
2.70)