Travel Journal#16.3: North and Central Florida

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 16, No. 3 

By Krishna Kripa Das 

(February 2020, part one) 

North and Central Florida 

(Sent from Tallahassee on February 22, 2020)

Where I Went and What I Did

I spent the first weekend and the first week of February in Tallahassee, chanting Hare Krishna at Lake Ella on the weekend and at the Florida State University campus during the week. I celebrated the first half of Lord Nityananda’s appearance day in Tallahassee and the second in Alachua and Gainesville. Then the next weekend I chanted in Ybor City, Tampa, before the Knights Parade with devotees from Alachua and Tampa on Saturday, and I chanted on the FSU campus on Sunday. The next week I spent the first three days chanting at FSU, Thursday chanting in Gainesville and Tampa, Friday chanting at three venues in Gainesville, and Saturday chanting in the afternoon with both Gainesville and Tallahassee devotees at the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering and at the JAX Krishnas event at Memorial Park in Jacksonville in the evening. Sunday I chanted at Kleman Plaza in Tallahassee as the rain made Lake Ella a less attractive venue. We were blessed to have Gabriel and Parker, two traveling book distributors from Krishna House, joining us for several days in Tallahassee the second week of February. Gabriel had an amazing day distributing in six hours 140 books at FAMU (Florida A&M [Agricultural and Mechanical] University).

I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books and the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto, written by his humble servants. I share excerpts from the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on recorded lectures by Janananda Goswami speaking in Paris and Madhumati Devi Dasi speaking in Alachua. I share notes on classes in Gainesville by Madhumati and Tulasirani Devi Dasis and in Tallahassee by Brajananda Prabhu, Gabriel, and Parker. I share an interesting observation from Madhumangala Prabhu from a car conversation.

Thanks to Krishna Lunch in Gainesville for their photo of me chanting on the University of Florida campus. Thanks to Daniel for his photos of me chanting on the Florida State University campus. Thanks to Andrew Bourne for sharing with me the film he and his fellow students made of Florida State University students talking about trees.

Itinerary

January–April 2020: North and Central Florida colleges, mostly Florida State University

Special events in Florida:

   February 29: VegFest in Tallahassee

   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: Manchester harinama

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 2–3: Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan

mid May–mid July: Paris harinama

July 28–August 1: Pol’and’Rock festival

August 7–8: Liverpool harinama

August 9: Liverpool Ratha-yatra

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 Tallahassee

Now in Tallahassee each day after serving the Krishna Lunch at Florida State University, the other devotees join me in chanting for an hour at Landis Green, behind the university library. 

Daniel, who took these photos, invites students to chant with us for at least five minutes. 

Sometimes I take prasadam as it is past 2:30 p.m. when the others come, and I am hungry.

Here Brajananda Prabhu, our Tallahassee ISKCON temple president, chants Hare Krishna on Landis Green, and a Florida State University student dances with devotees (https://youtu.be/rcxsLlS25x4):

Later another student came by and played the gong with us (https://youtu.be/d1_kWd3pEzU):

Next Arjuna Abhimanyu Prabhu, who joined us recently in Tallahassee and who is quite a musician, chanted Hare Krishna at Landis Green (https://youtu.be/Q1dTmlg_6wQ):

Here Parker, a traveling book distributor from Gainesville Krishna House, chants Hare Krishna on Landis Green (https://youtu.be/15fMwfVURbc):

Here Brajananda Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chant at the Florida State University Krishna Club meeting, and two new students participate (https://youtu.be/hy1IgTQ298U):

Brajananda Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chant outside after the Krishna Club meeting (https://youtu.be/vtVAjpflAwM):

Lexi, president of the Buddhist Student Association at Florida State University, played guitar and chanted Hare Krishna to the Prabhupada tune which I told her the chords to (https://youtu.be/-CIXV1btrWE):

Daniel chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/JFLSfmb4iFE):

One day we were joined by Skylar, a FSU student, Krishna Lunch attender, and songwriter who learned the Hare Krishna mantra from Jorge and played guitar and sang it to tune of her own, and Colin, who came to our Krishna Club two weeks ago, having received a invitation from me earlier in the day, who surprised me by playing harmonium. Arjuna Abhimanyu Prabhu plays drum, and Daniel, our dancer, the karatalas (https://youtu.be/8o7n7loljfU):

Here Gabriel, another book distributor visiting from Krishna House, leads a rocking mangala arati kirtan at ISKCON Tallahassee (https://youtu.be/x_o2hBIPM2Q):

Once a group of Florida State University students in a course on documentary interviewed fellow students, including myself, about what trees mean to them, and they got to hear some Krishna philosophy, along with the Hare Krishna maha-mantra (https://youtu.be/TyXbjH_9IeY):

Our Tallahassee center was written up in an article by Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News, and you can read it at this link: https://iskconnews.org/tallahassee-krishna-house-rebuilds-community,7262/

Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day

As I was encouraged by Ramiya Prabhu to preach in Tallahassee, and it was my duty to perform mangala-arati, I had a class at the university, and I felt I should make sure we had some kind of celebration for Lord Nityananda in Tallahassee, I spent the first half of the day there, instead of spending the whole day in Alachua as I might have.

I did the mangala-arati, contributed to and organized the glorification of Nityananda during the morning class, made peanut butter barfi for the midday feast, and chanted on the FSU campus for 1:45 hours on Nityananda’s appearance day in Tallahassee. Then I had midday prasadam and took a bus to Gainesville, going to Alachua for the evening kirtan and feast, and returning to Gainesville for the end of their Friday program and two harinamas in honor of Lord Nityananda. Thus I was fully engaged till midnight.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Gainesville

Here Krishna House devotees chant Krishna House on Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day at their Friday evening program (https://youtu.be/-CRYu-HXdJc):

About twenty-three Krishna House devotees chanted Hare Krishna by the bars near the University of Florida in Gainesville on Nityananda Trayodasi, and passersby interacted with them (https://youtu.be/at5F4tRohko):

Haripriya, younger daughter of Yadubara and Visakha Prabhus, chants Hare Krishna in the Krishna House van en route to downtown Gainesville on Nityananda Trayodasi for the second harinama of the evening. Watch this one in a dark room for best visibility (https://youtu.be/VQRDFrUPBlM):

Arianna, a young, enthusiastic devotee lady who came in touch with Krishna through Krishna Lunch, leads Krishna House devotees in the Hare Krishna chant in downtown Gainesville on Nityananda Trayodasi (https://youtu.be/R3P-usl5Zgo):

Krishna House devotees chant in downtown Gainesville on Nityananda Trayodasi, and many chant and dance (https://youtu.be/5EYjbVzwQLo):

Haripriya chants Nitai Gauranga and Hare Krishna in the van back to Krishna House as the blissful devotees return home after the second of two harinamas on Nityananda Trayodasi (https://youtu.be/V50LG2JcK7o):

Ananta Vallabha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Krishna House late Saturday night, the day after Nityananda Trayodasi (https://youtu.be/oQJIzz1ug-8):

On Thursday, which happened to be the appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, I ended up leading the chanting at Krishna Lunch at the University of Florida for two of the two and a half hours. I reminded the devotees the next day during the mangala-arati announcements that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to go out on harinama every day for at least an hour, and the next day more devotees came out.

On Friday, Bhismadeva Prabhu, who took the photo of me above, chanted Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch at University of Florida (https://youtu.be/qv8Ph8lTMJ4):

Ananta Vallabha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/ZpDR7XZxcvI):

Caitanya Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/HRrrizDm5mY):

Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/nUbv0ytVSeY):

Since before I moved to Alachua County in 1994, devotees have been chanting Hare Krishna at the entrance to the University of Florida on the corner of Thirteenth Street and University Avenue on Friday afternoon.

Nagaraja Prabhu, editor of Back to Godhead magazine, chants Hare Krishna at the University of Florida entrance (https://youtu.be/R8E1PKusF2c):

Rishimurti Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/YTw6Go4KgE0):

Parijata Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/CVxh0_XwVzI):

An Alachua devotee lady chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/R7aRmHvmPmM):

Yash Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the beginning of the Krishna House Friday evening program (https://youtu.be/ykaKtn3Uyds):

Bhismadeva Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the end of the Krishna House Friday evening program (https://youtu.be/IGtIeLXt63Y):

About twenty-one Krishna House devotees chanted Hare Krishna in downtown Gainesville on a Friday night, and many people chanted, danced, smiled, and took photos and videos (https://youtu.be/e3ZCkKKZQ1g):

Here Sruti Sagar Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Krishna House van after the downtown Gainesville harinama (https://youtu.be/KoeGRyUAh5I):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Tampa

Here Vivasvan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with devotees from Tampa and Alachua before the Knight Parade in Ybor City in Tampa on the Saturday after Nityananda Trayodasi (https://youtu.be/lJr8ziyh95w):

The next Thursday afternoon I went with Ramiya Prabhu to University of South Florida in Tampa, and I chanted for an hour before our program there, inviting more people to attend. 

I also chanted during the program itself.

I was pleased that Ananta Dasi, the wife of Ramiya, said she really liked my lecture.

Chanting Hare Krishna at the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering

Hare Krishna devotees from the Krishna Houses in Gainesville and Tallahassee chant Hare Krishna and serve Krishna prasadam, spiritual food, at the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering, where they were well received as usual (https://youtu.be/42wEaJhrmg0):

The lady on the right named Lisa Moon, a resident of Gainesville who knows and likes the Hare Krishnas, gave me directions to this year’s gathering and was happy to encounter us there.

This lady named Sparrow, who has a daughter and who was talking with Moka in the video, said she and a friend are trying to nourish the heart of the gathering in Ocala as she feels it had degraded in recent years, and she is very optimistic about it improving.

This lady enjoyed dancing to our chanting.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Jacksonville

Here Adikarta Prabhu and friends chant Hare Krishna at the JAX Krishnas event at Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Usually the JAX Krishnas meet at the Bhakti House on the first and third Saturday in the month, but occasionally, as on this day, they gather in Memorial Park (https://youtu.be/TeiLoXuRLUE):

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 30:

“In another instance a devotee says, ‘I am always swimming in the nectarean ocean of the pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, and as such I have no more attraction for religious rituals, economic development, sense gratification or even the ultimate salvation of merging into the existence of Brahman.’ This is an instance of the mind’s endurance due to achieving the best thing in the world. The best thing in the world is absorption in Krishna consciousness.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 2.87:

“If one does not understand in the beginning but continues to hear again and again the wonderful effects of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes will bring love for Krishna. Gradually one will come to understand the loving affairs between Krishna and the gopis and other associates of Vrindavan. Everyone is advised to continue to hear over and over again in order to greatly benefit.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.40, purport:

“Sri Naradaji advised Vyasadeva to describe the glories of the Lord just to do good to all eight classes of men, both good and bad. Srimad-Bhagavatam is therefore not meant for any particular class of men or sect. It is for the sincere soul who actually wants his own welfare and peace of mind.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 4.77, purport:

“The devotees understand Krishna through revelation. It is not possible for a mundane scholar to understand Krishna and His pastimes through research work on the nondevotional platform.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 4.79, purport:

“The Krishna consciousness movement has spread all over the world within a very short time (within five years), and mundane people are very much astonished at this. However, by the grace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we understand that everything is possible by the grace of Krishna. Why does Krishna have to take five years? In five days He can spread His name and fame all over the world like wildfire. Those who have faith in and devotion to Krishna can understand that these things happen so wonderfully by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We are simply the instruments. In the fierce Battle of Kuruksetra, Arjuna was victorious within eighteen days simply because Krishna’s grace was on his side.

“yatra yogesvarah krishno 

yatra partho dhanur-dharah

tatra srir vijayo bhutir 

dhruva nitir matir mama

“‘Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power and morality. That is my opinion.’ (Bg. 18.78)

“If the preachers in our Krishna consciousness movement are sincere devotees of Krishna, Krishna will always be with them because He is very kind and favorable to all His devotees. Just as Arjuna and Krishna were victorious in the Battle of Kurukshetra, this Krishna consciousness movement will surely emerge victorious if we but remain sincere devotees of the Lord and serve the Lord according to the advice of the predecessors (the six Gosvamis and other devotees of the Lord). As Narottama dasa Ṭhakura has stated: tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa, janame janame haya ei abhilasa. The Krishna consciousness devotees must always desire to remain in the society of devotees. Bhakta-sane vasa: they cannot go outside the Krishna consciousness society or movement. Within the society we must try to serve the predecessors by preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult and spreading His name and fame all over the world. If we attempt this seriously within the society, it will be successfully done. There is no question of estimating how this will happen in the mundane sense. But without a doubt, it happens by the grace of Krishna.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 81–82:

“By personally tasting the mellows of love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught His direct disciples the process. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a wealthy capitalist possessing the touchstone of love of God. Not considering whether one is a proper or improper recipient, He gives His treasure to anyone and everyone. Thus He is the most munificent.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.36, purport:

“The Personality of Godhead has personally spoken Bhagavad-gita, which is the blazing fire of perfect knowledge that burns to ashes the insignificant speculations and theories of so-called philosophers and scientists regarding the ultimate truth.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.37, purport:

“The material world is not false in the imaginary sense of the Buddhists and Mayavadis, who state that in fact the material world does not exist outside the mind of the observer. The material world, as the potency of the Absolute, has real existence. But the living entity becomes bewildered by the temporary manifestations, foolishly taking them to be permanent. Thus the material world functions as an illusory potency, causing the living entity to forget the spiritual world, wherein life is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge. Because the material world thus bewilders the conditioned soul, it is called illusory. When a magician performs his tricks onstage, that which the audience apparently sees is an illusion. But the magician actually exists, and the hat and rabbit exist, although the appearance of a rabbit coming out of a hat is an illusion.”

From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, introduction:

“Maharaja Pariksit expressed himself very frankly: ‘Hunger and thirst may give trouble to ordinary persons or to me, but the topics of Krishna are so nice that one can continue to hear them without feeling tired because such hearing situates one in the transcendental position.’”

From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, preface:

“Since Krishna is all-attractive, one should know that all his desires should be focused on Krishna. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the individual person is the proprietor or master of his own body but that Krishna, who is the Supersoul present in everyone’s heart, is the supreme proprietor and supreme master of each and every individual body. As such, if we concentrate our loving propensities upon Krishna only, then immediately universal love, unity and tranquillity will be automatically realized. When one waters the root of a tree, he automatically waters the branches, twigs, leaves and flowers; when one supplies food to the stomach through the mouth, he satisfies all the various parts of the body.

“The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krishna consciousness. We have inaugurated the Krishna consciousness movement so that everyone can satisfy his propensity for loving others simply by directing his love toward Krishna. The whole world is very eager to satisfy the dormant propensity of love for others, but the various invented methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism and nationalism, along with whatever else may be manufactured for the peace and prosperity of the world, are all useless and frustrating because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Krishna. Generally people think that by advancing the cause of moral principles and religious rites they will be happy. Others may think that happiness can be achieved by economic development, and yet others think that simply by sense gratification they will be happy. But the real fact is that people can be happy only by loving Krishna.

“Krishna can perfectly reciprocate one’s loving propensities in different relationships called mellows, or rasas. Basically there are twelve loving relationships. One can love Krishna as the supreme unknown, as the supreme master, the supreme friend, the supreme child, the supreme lover. These are the five basic love rasas. One can also love Krishna indirectly in seven different relationships, which are apparently different from the five primary relationships. All in all, however, if one simply reposes his dormant loving propensity in Krishna, then his life becomes successful. This is not a fiction but is a fact that can be realized by practical application. One can directly perceive the effects that love for Krishna has on his life.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 4.133, purport:

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged the public chanting of the holy name on a huge scale for as many hours as possible.”

The humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.21, purport:

“Sri Prabuddha said: ‘Accepting the roles of male and female in human society, the conditioned souls unite in sexual relationships. Thus they constantly make material endeavors to eliminate their unhappiness and unlimitedly increase their pleasure. But one should see that they inevitably achieve exactly the opposite result. In other words, their happiness inevitably vanishes, and as they grow older their material discomfort increases.’”

“According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, one who has understood the futility of material existence can approach a bona fide spiritual master.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.22, purport:

“Although one may experience many seemingly wonderful or important events in a dream, one’s real life begins when he wakes up. Similarly, since the spiritual master gives birth to the disciple by awakening him to spiritual life, a bona fide disciple understands that his spiritual master is the very basis of his life.”

“Within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness there are many thousands of authorized engagements pertaining to the Society’s missionary activities. And by hearing the Srimad-Bhagavatam and performing such engagements the Society’s members feel relief from soka (lamentation), moha (illusion) and bhaya (fear).”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.23, purport:

“In the Garuda Purana it is stated:

visesatah svottamesu

vina sangam na mucyate

sva-nicesu tu devesu

vina sangam na puryate

‘One cannot be liberated without association with a pure devotee of the Lord. And unless one shows mercy to those in an inferior position, one’s life will be superficial.’”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.26, purport:

“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura mentions that one cannot develop the godly qualities mentioned in the preceding verses unless one accepts the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide Vaishnava spiritual master. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijñasuh sreya uttamam. In this connection, he has quoted the following statement: arcayitva tu govindam tadiyan narcayet tu yah na sa bhagavato jñeyah kevalam dambhikah smritah ‘One who performs worship of Lord Govinda but fails to worship His devotees should be understood to be not a devotee of the Lord but simply a victim of false pride.’ For one who has accepted shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee of Krishna, it is very easy to execute worship of the Lord Himself.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.31:

“The devotees of the Lord constantly discuss the glories of the Personality of Godhead among themselves. Thus they constantly remember the Lord and remind one another of His qualities and pastimes. In this way, by their devotion to the principles of bhakti-yoga, the devotees please the Personality of Godhead, who takes away from them everything inauspicious. Being purified of all impediments, the devotees awaken to pure love of Godhead, and thus, even within this world, their spiritualized bodies exhibit symptoms of transcendental ecstasy, such as standing of the bodily hairs on end.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.4.38, purport:

“In this regard Srila Madhvacarya has quoted the following statement from the Moksa-dharma section of the Mahabharata:

aham hi jiva-samjño vai

 mayi jivah sanatanah

maivam tvayanumantavyam

 dristo jivo mayeti ha

aham sreyo vidhasyami

 yathadhikaram isvarah

“‘The living entity, known as jiva, is not different from Me, for he is My expansion. Thus the living entity is eternal, as I am, and always exists within Me. But you should not artificially think, “Now I have seen the soul.” Rather, I, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will bestow this benediction upon you when you are actually qualified.’”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Free Write Journal #77:

“Of course, if one chants loudly, the very utterances of the syllables of the Hare Krishna mantra become a way to cry out and express emotion. Just as with loud shouting you can chase away a bear, so you can likewise try to banish inattention. But sometimes if one continues to chant loudly, it becomes a vociferous bellowing without the delicate feeling of serving and loving Krishna. So whether it’s yelling or whispering, whether it’s attentive or inattentive—any kind of utterance of the holy names is within Krishna consciousness. We can think of it as many concentric circles drawn with a compass, a bull’s eye. All utterances of the holy names are within some circle, but usually they’re in the outer circles. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. Who is chanting thoughtfully? Who is trying to hit closer to the bullseye? Are we just haphazardly scattering mantras? Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna.”

“We won the game because we didn’t abandon our spiritual master.”

From Japa Walks, Japa Talks:

“Bhaktin Sioban referred to trying to ‘win a losing battle’ when she tries to control her mind during japa. I think until we are liberated, it’s always going to feel like that. It’s not realistic to expect to quiet the mind completely. We have to learn to dovetail some of our mental flow. Or ignore it. Or tolerate it (trnad api sunicena). Be tolerant. Tolerant means tolerating all the mind’s chatter. For example, you can’t control the world and make everyone nice, peaceful devotees. Rather, the nondevotees are always doing things to disturb us. Similarly, our mind is filled with nondevotee sub-persons and voices and lack of control and indulgence in nonsense, and we can do nothing but tolerate them. Don’t take them so seriously. Don’t invest energy in them. And don’t become disturbed or disheartened by the fact that the mind is ‘running wild.’”

From Free Write Journal #78:

“Once, on a visit to Boston, Srila Prabhupada had a meeting with his ISKCON Press workers. Satsvarupa dasa complained to Prabhupada that he had so many duties in the temple that he was distracted in trying to do all of them and at the same time do press work. Prabhupada said, ‘Real management means to delegate it to others. You have so many responsible devotees there, so you can delegate it to them.’”

“Once, in India, Prabhupada was joined in his room by his senior disciples Bhagavan, Brahmananda and Giriraja.

“‘You are the future hope of the world,’ said Srila Prabhupada, and he began to instruct them about the importance of attentive management.

“‘Just like your American Express corporation,’ he said. ‘What have they done? They have simply taken pieces of paper, and for those pieces of paper you pay good money. But what have they done? Actually they have done nothing. It is simply management. You pay them some money and they give you a piece of paper, and if you lose that piece of paper, they say, “All right, we will give you another piece of paper.” It is organization. Simply from that management they have made millions of dollars.’”

“Tu Fu said, ‘That poetry which lasts thousands of generations comes from an unappreciated life.’”

“He [Lord Caitanya] came back to Puri and wanted to stay in a secluded place. They gave Him Kasi Misra’s house because it was near the temple and yet secluded, ‘calm and quiet.’ Even a great sannyasi and preacher like Lord Caitanya likes a quiet place for bhajana.”

“Lord Caitanya’s arms upraised, imploring everyone to chant like Him, surrender to Lord Krishna by chanting His holy names.”

Janananda Goswami:

From a recorded lecture on the disappearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Paris:

Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita knowledge can relieve fear.

Theory is great. But we have to act on it. It is like having a recipe. You’d rather have the food itself.

When we actually see things as they are, there are no problems.

This whole movement is based on the vision of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “Those who think they can change this world are in need of change.”

The only reform required is a reform of the way we see the world. It is not a change of politics or religion, etc., but seeing things from the spiritual perspective.

By the force of time, this world is always changing.

One Polish devotee lady cooked the mangala-arati sweets every day for 30 years at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Although she passed the recipes on, the taste was not the same because the same love was not there.

Lust is a perversion of love.

If you want something, you have to go to someone who has it. It is the same with spiritual knowledge. You go to the flower shop if you want flowers . . .

If you apply the knowledge you get the realization, and that realization comes from Krishna.

For me echinacea is the best immune system medicine. I have not had a cold in years. It may not be the same for everyone, but it works for me.

We have to approach someone who knows the secret of spiritual life.

Madhumati Devi Dasi:

From a class in Alachua on Lord Varaha’s appearance day:

We can understand that Lord Varaha is Krishna Himself by seeing how He interacts both with His devotees and with the demoniac. His action is exactly the same.

That the voice of the roaring Lord Varaha is described as gorgeous is befitting because He is Krishna Himself.

Lord Varaha puts on a good show. Accepting the prayers of the sages by roaring, He pleases His devotees with His illuminating glance.

From a class at Krishna House:

Unfortunately people in India see Narada Muni as a comedian or an instigator. Srila Prabhupada has done a great service by revealing his actual glory.

The great thing about Narada Muni is that everybody respects him because Narada is actually telling the truth.

Akrura had never seen Krishna before, and now Kamsa was sending him to get Krishna in Vrindavan. Imagine his mood on the way to see Krishna. His horses were taking him to Vrindavan, but his mind had already taken him to Vrindavan right away.

When Kamsa took power, some people fled, some people were arrested, and some people decided to serve Kamsa. Akrura decided to work for Kamsa because he thought if he did so, then he would see Krishna.

Because Kamsa gave him the mission of taking Krishna to Mathura to be killed and Akrura was a devotee of Krishna, his mind was in turmoil until he considered that Krishna would completely understand the situation and would not think ill of him.

Akrura is a government official and a spy and yet he is rolling around in the dust of Vrindavan thinking of Krishna and Balarama. This means at that point he did not care anymore what Kamsa thought.

The gopis were stunned when Krishna left Vrindavan perhaps like the Prabhupada disciples were stunned when Srila Prabhupada left the planet. Although Krishna was not leaving the planet, he was leaving them forever.

Tulasirani Devi Dasi:

What is not love is that intense infatuation with the body or personality of another.

66% of marriages end in divorce.

Because we are conditioned to think that infatuation is real love, when that dies after 9 months or so, we think, “we are out of love, so why should we stay together?”

Most people think of love in terms of romance, but there are so many other manifestations of love, including desiring what is best for the other person, even if it is inconvenient for oneself, and that is before we even get to spiritual love.

Real love starts with sacrifice.

If you understand each soul has a connection with Krishna, you can begin to think about spiritual love.

Real love is a reciprocation.

If a child has everything he needs, if his parents are not around, he will be dissatisfied, because he is looking for that relationship.

Bhakti is not completely described by the word “devotion” because true devotion is expressed in service.

Q: If we understand someone is a soul what is best thing we can do for him?

A: Acquire knowledge of the needs of the soul and act to provide that. We have been given knowledge of chanting God’s names. It is not something you believe or do not believe, but something you can experience.

Lust in and of itself does not lead to love, but it can be transformed into love.

There is an amazing book called Transforming Lust Into Love by Bhakti Tirtha Swami, which I highly recommend.

There are places in some parts of Africa where they are so impoverished people eat clay because of being so hungry. Of course, eating clay does not really satisfy or nourish them. If such people are taught how to grow food and given the facility to do so, and they eat really nourishing food, then if they are given clay to eat, they will not be attracted to it. It is the same when people taste what is actual love. Lust then seems disgusting.

Brajananda Prabhu:

Agni, the demigod of fire, is conscious wherever there is fire. Vayu, the wind god, is conscious wherever there is wind. The demigods have a certain jurisdiction, but the Supreme Lord is aware of everything.

Although your devotional service is mixed in the beginning, if you keep performing it, it will become more pure.

One devotee said that you use a tongue scraper to keep your tongue clean so Krishna can dance on it in the form of His holy name.

In speaking if you get the people to say themselves “I am a spirit soul” they are more likely to remember that.

I did dramas and asked the participants how to be spiritual in different situations. It was amazing to hear what the students said. Some of them had some genuine spiritual realizations from whatever Krishna consciousness they had assimilated from coming to the programs.

Krishna does not have to be personally present to reciprocate with us.

Duryodhana did not realize that just to have Krishna on your side is sufficient for victory.

Srila Prabhupada considered that unemployment or lack of good engagement would be a problem in America.

Kaunteya has a presentation analyzing ten points why religious movements fail. If we are thoughtful we can present Krishna consciousness in a way that it is easy for people to accept.

People study the lives of great personalities to get a widened perspective on life.

Krishna does not say, “Do what I say or go to hell.” Rather He persuades Arjuna in the course of the Bhagavad-gita to choose the right path.

Intelligent people like to hear that they can engage their individuality in Krishna’s service.

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become competent managers so he could focus on writing his books and not have to worry about it.

Vyasadeva was a very competent disciple, who approached his guru only for the most important concern, why he was dissatisfied although he had written the Vedas.

Comment by me: I appreciate what you said about the importance of having an ultimate goal. Srila Prabhupada writes, “If one is not in Krishna consciousness, there cannot be a final goal for the mind. Disturbance is due to want of an ultimate goal, and when one is certain that Krishna is the enjoyer, proprietor and friend of everyone and everything, then one can, with a steady mind, bring about peace.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.66)

Comment by Arjuna: Actually the Bhagavad-gita helped me to understand all religions a lot better because they all have some truth in them.

Madhumangala Prabhu:

from a car conversation:

If Jesus had preached in India, he would have barely been noticed as there are so many pure personalities there with amazing powers.

Bhakta Gabriel:

I do the book distribution as duty. I could not imagine enjoying all the opportunities Srila Prabhupada has given us without sharing them with others.

One of the best things I find I have learned on book distribution is the ability to glorify practically anyone and show genuine appreciation of them.

Comment by Brajananda Prabhu: I found the seven years on traveling book distribution I learned so many practical skills like interacting with people, being self-satisfied, and accomplishing goals, that help me in my service as a temple president.

Bhakta Parker:

There is a story of a therapist in San Diego who treated people with advanced cancer by forgiveness workshops and 54% of the people with a few weeks to live ended up living five years or more.

Krishna House ice breaker:

Q: What causes us to do sinful activities against our will as if engaged by force?

A (by different people): Social pressure.

The mind overruling the intellect.

The desire to show off to others.

Boredom.

Lust.

Desire.

Greed.

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: ‘It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.’” (Bhagavad-gita 3.37)

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I learned this mantra glorifying Lord Nityananda when I dressed the Gaura Nitai deities in San Diego in the early 1990s. It describes three of His exemplary transcendental characteristics, and I like to chant it for the pleasure of the devotees on His appearance day.

nityanandam aham naumi

sarvananda-karam param

hari-nama-pradam devam

avadhuta-siromanim

“I bow down to the Supreme Lord Nityananda Prabhu, who is the awarder of the highest joy to all, the bestower of the holy name, and the crest-jewel of all paramahamsa mendicants.”