Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 16, No. 4
By Krishna Kripa Das
(February 2020, part two)
Tallahassee
(Sent from Tallahassee on March 7, 2020)
Where I Went and What I Did
For the second half of February I stayed put in Tallahassee and chanted Hare Krishna on the Florida State University campus during the weekdays and at Lake Ella on the weekends. One Sunday the weather was so bad, I had to chant downtown at Kleman Plaza, which is protected from the rain. The last Friday of the month, we did not serve Hare Krishna lunch at Florida State University, so we took the devotees engaged in that service to another college, Florida A & M University, to give those students a chance to hear the holy names. We joined the Krishna House book distributors, Parker and Gabriel, who did a book table there that day. The last Saturday of the month was the Tallahassee VegFest, which had three Hare Krishna booths, and was attended by devotees from Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Alachua.
When I am in Florida in the winter I have more time, and so I have been reading Srila Prabhupada’s books very regularly. Now I daily read Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead for fifteen minutes each, and so I am able to share many of my favorite inspiring quotes from these books. I also recite a chapter of Bhagavad-gita each day. I proofread Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Free Write Journal each week, and I share material from that. I also include notes on a lecture by Janananda Goswami given in Paris. I share notes on classes in Tallahassee by Garuda Prabhu, who has been sharing Krishna consciousness there for years, and Brajananda Prabhu, who is our new temple president.
I
thank Shaney for driving me to Kleman Plaza to chant on a rainy
Sunday. Thanks to Ananta Vallabha Prabhu for the new dhoti
and
cadar.
Thanks
to Daniel for the photo of us chanting at Landis Green and the photo
of the Sunday feast in Tallahassee. Thanks to Harvey Wallace Cohen
for the photo of the ad for the Mantra-Rock Dance in San Francisco in
1967.
Itinerary
January–April 2020: North and Central Florida colleges, mostly Florida State University
Special events in Florida:
March 12: USF harinama and program (Tampa)
March 12: USF harinama and program (Tampa)
March 14: Daytona Beach Ratha-yatra
March 21: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
March 28: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
April 3: FAMU harinama and First Friday
April 3: FAMU harinama and First Friday
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
May 4–6: Newcastle area harinamas and Nrsimha Caturdasi (May 6)
May 7–9: Manchester harinamas and Ratha-yatra (May 9)
May 12: Sheffield harinama and program
May 4–6: Newcastle area harinamas and Nrsimha Caturdasi (May 6)
May 7–9: Manchester harinamas and Ratha-yatra (May 9)
May 12: Sheffield harinama and program
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
We
continued chanting Hare Krishna at Landis Green, behind the library
on the Florida State University campus, for an hour after Krishna
Lunch, so other devotees could take part, and sometimes many students
participated.
Once
a
student
was tabling next to me at Landis Green and after two hours when I
began to pack up to move to a better location he said to me, “Your
singing is so relaxing. Thank you so much.”
Here
Colin,
who became interested in meditation and learned about Krishna Club
and Krishna Lunch just a month before, plays guitar and chants Hare
Krishna with devotees and students on Landis Green
(https://youtu.be/0rUAn-MAYzw):
Colin
chants Hare Krishna on beads for five minutes a day and plans to
increase.
Here Jorge chants Hare Krishna at Landis Green, and a young lady dances, as does Arjuna Abhimanyu Prabhu (https://youtu.be/BT8kPNXUbBE):
Here
Garuda
Prabhu plays guitar and chants Hare Krishna at the Tallahassee Sunday
feast (https://youtu.be/uaVPCvWkgF4):
We
get both newcomers and regulars practically every week at our Sunday
feast.
Here
Jorge
chants Hare Krishna at the weekly Tuesday evening FSU Krishna Club
meeting (https://youtu.be/wINDHM5StiE):
Skylar,
hearing the kirtan at the end of our Krishna Club meeting from
distance, came and joined us, playing the harmonium and leading the
chanting of Hare Krishna for another 25 minutes
(https://youtu.be/q77UqpEkg78):
Shanti
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Lake Ella, and wedding attendees play
instruments and dance, and one boy even learns the mantra
(https://youtu.be/mSNKDeaWETE):
When
we did not have Krishna Lunch at Florida State University one Friday
when two Krishna House book distributors were visiting we all decided
to focus on Florida A & M
University (FAMU), also located in Tallahassee, ourselves doing
Hare Krishna chanting and themselves doing
a book table.
Here
Parker and Gabriel distribute books at FAMU.
Chris
chants Hare Krishna at FAMU, and two passersby play instruments
(https://youtu.be/fvUXRwhdl2c):
Gabriel
chants Hare Krishna FAMU, and Daniel dances and induces others to
dance (https://youtu.be/hWEyLIyHPnI):
Jorge
chants Hare Krishna at FAMU, and Daniel dances and induces others to
dance (https://youtu.be/Y2cEg3SjCjE):
Christine,
who is an attender of Krishna Lunch, invited us to be a vendor at the
VegFest she was organizing. We cooked our most popular item at
Krishna Lunch, our Thursday menu highlight, the Asian stir-fry with
tofu, and served about 300 people. Devotees from our community in
Alachua had a book booth and a prasadam
booth.
The
book booth had an impressive changing bodies photo on the tent
itself, as well as a changing body exhibit within, and the devotees
were
amazed by the number of people who took books. They also had about
eight hundred cookies to give away for free.
We
found a place to sit down and chant Hare Krishna where we would not
disturb any vendors but would get lots of visitors. We had extra
instruments for passersby to play
and many “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlets. Two dedicated
harinama
devotees
from Alachua, Keshava and Trivikrama Prabhus,
kindly drove two hours to chant Hare Krishna at
the event.
While
we were chanting we met a man who remembered the Hare Krishna
devotees from San Francisco back in 1967.
He
had attended
the famed
Mantra-Rock
Dance at the Avalon Ballroom, which was attended by Srila Prabhupada,
Allen Ginsberg, The Grateful Dead, and others. That man also
regularly attended Srila Prabhupada’s morning program at the
storefront in San Francisco and saw Srila Prabhupada and Allen
Ginsberg at Tompkins Square Park in the New York’s Lower East Side
as well. He had an unusual drum called a handpan with him which he
played with us for over half an hour, and during that time at least
four others came by and played the extra instruments we had brought.
Five years before that man had brought his djembe
to
First Friday, a monthly Tallahassee event where we share Krishna food
and music, to play at a drum circle that never happened, and he
decided to play with me for an hour and a half instead. It was
awesome to see him again and hear more of his previous experiences
with Hare Krishna. See him in action (https://youtu.be/QRX1D1Yrhgc):
Later Satyaraja Govinda Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at the Tallahassee VegFest (https://youtu.be/VNsHvViqsVQ):
Shiva Ratri Pizza Party
I
recall reading in Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead that
the residents of Vrindavan do
not always celebrate Shiva Ratri, but they sometimes do. As it was
listed
on the Vaishnava calendar, one day
I mentioned
to
the
devotees it was Shiva Ratri. Arjuna Abhimanyu Prabhu suggested we
have a pizza party to celebrate, and as he was enthusiastic to cook
enough pizza for everyone, we did. Actually he cooked more pizza than
the devotees could eat, which was certainly rare.
We
decided to offer the maha-prasadam
pizza
and
ice cream from
Gaura-Nitai to Lord Shiva before serving the devotees.
Arjuna
Abhimanyu Prabhu was happy to serve everyone pizza.
Everyone was happy to eat it.
Our
temple president expressed great gratitude.
I
read this pastime of Lord Shiva and Lord Gauranga to please the
devotees. It is recounted in Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya
by Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
“One
time during Satya-yuga, Lord Shiva began madly dancing, while
chanting the name of Gauranga. Parvati asked him, ‘Please tell me
who is Gauranga. By seeing your astonishing dance and hearing the
name of Gauranga, my heart is melting. All that I have heard in the
way of mantra and tantra till now only leads to more entanglement for
the living entities. Dear husband, please tell me something of this
Gauranga. By worshiping Him will I receive actual life?’ Hearing
Parvati’s words, Shiva meditated on Gauranga and said, ‘Unto you,
who are the primordial energy, one portion of Sri Radha, I will tell
the crest-jewel of all truths. Accepting the spiritual emotions of
Sri Radha, Krishna will descend in this Kali-yuga at Mayapur in the
womb of Saci. Lord Gauranga, intoxicated with pastimes of kirtana
[chanting
the holy names with musical instruments and dancing],
will distribute the jewel of prema
[love
of God] to
everyone without discrimination. Whoever does not drown in that flood
of prema
is most unfortunate. O Devi, just by remembering the Lord’s promise
that He will come, I pass my life drowning in love of God. Being
unable to control myself, I have given up my own city of Kasi. Within
Mayapur, on the bank of the Ganges, I will live in a hut and worship
Gauranga.’
“Hearing
Shiva’s words, beautiful Parvati quickly went to Simantadvipa. As
she constantly meditated on the form of Gauranga and chanted His
name, she became immersed in prema.
After some time, Gauracandra appeared with His associates to bestow
mercy on Parvati. His complexion was like molten gold. He had long
arms, wavy hair, and beautiful limbs. He was wearing a long dhoti
folded thrice, and from His neck swung a garland of flowers, which
was very attractive to behold. In a voice choked with love, Gaura
Raya said, ‘O Parvati, why have you come here?’
“Parvati
fell at the lotus feet of the master of the universe and with an
agitated mind explained her sorrow: ‘O Prabhu Jagannatha, life of
the universe, though You are merciful to all, You have deceived me. O
deliverer of the fallen, You have appointed me to bind up all the
living entities in the material world who are averse to You. I have
come into the material world to do this work, and have thus been
cheated of Your unlimited prema.
People say that wherever Krishna is there is no Maya. I am therefore
forced to always remain outside Your spiritual realm, in the material
world. So how will I ever see Your pastimes? If You do not offer a
way, I am without hope.’
“Saying
this, Parvati put Gauranga’s foot dust on her simanta
(part in the hair) in great distress. From that, the name of
Simantadvipa came. Ignorant people call the place Simuliya.
“Gauracandra
was pleased, and He said to Parvati, ‘O supreme goddess, listen
carefully to My words. You are My energy, you are not separate or
different from Me. My one energy has two forms. Within the spiritual
kingdom, My original energy has one form as Sri Radha, but for
carrying out activities in the material world She has expanded
Herself as you. Without you, My lila
could not be accomplished, for in the form of Yogamaya, you are
necessary in My pastimes. In Vraja, you are eternally present as
Paurnamasi, and in Navadvipa you are present as Praudha Maya along
with Ksetrapala Shiva, guardian of the dhama.’
“Saying
this, Gauranga disappeared, and Parvati became overwhelmed with love.
Parvati stays in one form as the goddess of Simantadvipa, and in
another form as Praudha Maya in Mayapur.”
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
4.178, purport:
“When
the living entity feels spiritual separation from Krishna
(krishna-viraha),
he has achieved the prime success of life. When one becomes
disinterested in material things, he is simply experiencing the other
side of attraction for material things. However, feeling separation
from Krishna and engaging in the service of the Lord to fulfill His
mission constitute the best example of love of Krishna. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu wanted to point out this intense love of Krishna exhibited
by Madhavendra Puri. All Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotees later
followed in the footsteps of Madhavendra Puri, serving the Lord
without personal considerations.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
4.186, purport:
“An
intense lover of Krishna does not care for any number of material
discomforts, scarcity, impediments or unhappiness. It is said that
when one sees apparent unhappiness or distress in a perfect
Vaishnava, it is not at all unhappiness for him; rather, it is
transcendental bliss. In the Siksastaka
(8), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also instructed, aslisya
va pada-ratam pinastu mam.
The intense lover of Krishna is never deviated from his service,
despite all difficulties and impediments brought before him.”
From
Krishna,
preface:
“It
has now been actually proved that today’s confused and frustrated
younger generation in the Western countries can directly perceive the
results of channeling the loving propensity toward Krishna alone.”
“The
Krishna consciousness movement is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to
the fallen souls of this age. It is a very simple method which has
actually been carried out during the last four years in the Western
countries, and there is no doubt that this movement can satisfy the
dormant loving propensities of humanity.”
From
Krishna,
Chapter
1:
“Those
who are demoniac or atheistic by nature can hardly assimilate any
good instruction, however authorized it may be. That is the
difference between demigods and demons. Those who can accept good
instruction and try to live their lives in that way are called
demigods, and those who are unable to take such good instruction are
called demons.”
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Chapter 1:
“A
learned person like Vasudeva carries out his duties without
hesitation. On the other hand, a demon like Kamsa never hesitates in
committing any abominable action. It is said, therefore, that a
saintly person can tolerate all kinds of miserable conditions of
life, a learned man can discharge his duties without awaiting
favorable circumstances, a heinous person like Kamsa can act in any
sinful way, and a devotee can sacrifice everything to satisfy the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
“Those
who are addicted to unrestricted sense gratification can never be
truthful, nor can they be trusted with any faith.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita,
Madhya 5.32, purport:
“This
Krishna consciousness movement is very essential to reviving God
consciousness among the general populace. If people actually become
God conscious, all quarrels can be settled outside of court, as
happened in the case of the two brahmanas
whose disagreement was settled by the witness Gopala.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita,
Madhya 5.76, purport:
“In
the preaching work of the Krishna consciousness movement, we, as the
servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, fully believe in the words of Krishna and His
servants, the disciplic succession. In this way we are presenting the
words of Krishna throughout the world. Even though we are neither a
rich man nor a very learned scholar, and even though we do not belong
to any aristocracy, this movement is still being welcomed and is very
easily spreading all over the world. Although we are very poor and
have no professional source of income, Krishna supplies money
whenever we need it. Whenever we need some men, Krishna supplies
them. Thus it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita
(6.22): yam
labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah.
Actually, if we can attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Krishna, we do not need anything else. We certainly do not
need those things which a mundane person considers to be material
assets.”
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Chapter 2:
“When
Krishna came, He was actually present on the Battlefield of
Kuruksetra, and everyone saw Him. But not everyone could understand
that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, everyone who
died in His presence attained complete liberation from material
bondage and was transferred to the spiritual world.”
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Chapter 3:
[Vasudeva,
the father of Lord Krishna prayed to Him:] “Since You are the
Supreme Brahman, everything is existing within You, and since all the
activities of material nature are controlled by Your Lordship, none
of these activities affect You.”
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Chapter 6:
“Vedic
culture has taken advantage of keeping cows and chanting the holy
name of Vishnu since the beginning of history, and persons who are
still following the Vedic ways, especially the householders, keep at
least one dozen cows and worship the Deity of Lord Vishnu, who is
installed in their house. Persons who are advancing in Krishna
consciousness should take instruction from this pastime and also be
very interested in cows and the holy name of Vishnu.”
“Devotional
service in Krishna consciousness is so sublime that even a little
service rendered to Krishna, knowingly or unknowingly, gives one the
greatest transcendental benefit. The system of worshiping Krishna by
offering flowers from a tree is also beneficial for the living entity
who is confined to the bodily existence of that tree. When flowers
and fruits are offered to Krishna, the tree that bore them also
receives much benefit, indirectly.”
“Devotees
therefore pray that if simply by offering something as an enemy
Putana got so much benefit, then who can measure the benefit of
worshiping Krishna in love and affection? Therefore only Krishna
should be worshiped, for so much benefit awaits the worshiper.”
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Chapter 7:
“The
pastimes and activities of the Lord are not material – they are
beyond the material conception – and the conditioned soul can
benefit by hearing such uncommon activities. Hearing is an
opportunity to associate with the Lord; to hear His activities is to
evolve one’s transcendental nature – simply by hearing. The
conditioned soul has a natural aptitude to hear something about other
conditioned souls in the form of fiction, drama and novel. That
inclination to hear something about others may be utilized in hearing
the pastimes of the Lord. Then one can immediately evolve his
transcendental nature. Krishna’s pastimes are not only beautiful;
they are also very pleasing to the mind.
“If
someone takes advantage of hearing the pastimes of the Lord, the
material contamination of dust, accumulated in the heart due to long
association with material nature, can be immediately cleansed. Lord
Caitanya also instructed that simply by hearing the transcendental
name of Lord Krishna one can cleanse the heart of all material
contamination. There are different processes for self-realization,
but this process of devotional service – of which hearing is the
most important function – when adopted by any conditioned soul,
will automatically cleanse him of the material contamination and
enable him to realize his real constitutional position. Conditional
life is due to this contamination only, and as soon as it is cleared
off, then naturally the dormant function of the living entity –
rendering service to the Lord – awakens. By developing his eternal
relationship with the Supreme Lord, one becomes eligible to create
friendship with the devotees. Maharaja Pariksit recommended, from
practical experience, that everyone try to hear about the
transcendental pastimes of the Lord. This Krishna treatise is meant
for that purpose, and the reader may take advantage of it to attain
the ultimate goal of human life.”
“And
another function was observed by Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja: Krishna’s
first birthday. They arranged for Krishna’s birthday ceremony,
which is still observed by all followers of the Vedic principles.
(Krishna’s birthday ceremony is observed in India by all Hindus,
irrespective of different sectarian views.)
“All
the cowherd men and women were invited to participate in the jubilant
celebration. A nice band played, and the assembled people enjoyed it.
All the learned brahmanas
were invited, and they chanted Vedic hymns for the good fortune of
Krishna. During the chanting of the Vedic hymns and playing of the
bands, Krishna was bathed by Mother Yasoda. This bathing ceremony is
technically called abhiseka,
and even today this is observed in all the temples of Vṛndavana on
Janmastami Day, or the birthday anniversary of Lord Krishna.”
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Chapter 11:
“All
the cowherd men, including Nanda Maharaja, used to talk of the
wonderful activities of Lord Krishna and Balarama, and they were
always so much absorbed in those talks that they forgot the threefold
miseries of this material existence. This is the effect of Krishna
consciousness. What was enjoyed five thousand years ago by Nanda
Maharaja can still be enjoyed by Krishna conscious persons simply by
talking about the transcendental pastimes of Krishna and His
associates.”
The
humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.3.40:
“When
one seriously engages in the devotional service of the Personality of
Godhead, fixing the Lord’s lotus feet within one’s heart as the
only goal of life, one can destroy the innumerable impure desires
lodged within the heart as a result of one’s previous fruitive work
within the three modes of material nature. When the heart is thus
purified one can directly perceive both the Supreme Lord and one’s
self as transcendental entities. Thus one becomes perfect in
spiritual understanding through direct experience, just as one can
directly experience the sunshine through normal, healthy vision.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.3.40, purport:
“A
prisoner may glimpse through the bars the free light outside the
prison window but still remain captive behind the bars. Similarly,
although a conditioned soul may have a glimpse of the spirit soul, he
remains captured within the bondage of material desires. Therefore,
although one may have a preliminary understanding of the eternal soul
that exists within the temporary body, or even of the Supersoul that
accompanies the individual soul within the heart, a specific process
is still required to eliminate the cause of material existence,
namely material desire.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.3.43:
“Sri
Avirhotra replied: Prescribed duties, nonperformance of such duties,
and forbidden activities are topics one can properly understand
through authorized study of the Vedic literature. This difficult
subject matter can never be understood by mundane speculation. The
authorized Vedic literature is the sound incarnation of the
Personality of Godhead Himself, and thus Vedic knowledge is perfect.
Even the greatest learned scholars are bewildered in their attempts
to understand the science of action if they neglect the authority of
Vedic knowledge.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.3.48:
“Having
obtained the mercy of his spiritual master, who reveals to the
disciple the injunctions of Vedic scriptures, the devotee should
worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the particular personal
form of the Lord the devotee finds most attractive.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.3.48, purport:
“If
one artificially renounces material things useful in the service of
the Supreme Lord, he loses his spiritual qualification of seeing
everything as meant for Krishna’s pleasure and will be forced to
think of material objects as meant for his own sense enjoyment.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.4.3, purport:
“The
Brahma-samhita
explains that the Supreme Person is not at all attracted to His
inferior energy, maya,
but when the material creation is used in the devotional service of
the Lord, the Lord becomes attracted by the devotion and sacrifice of
the living entities, and thus, indirectly, He is also the enjoyer of
the material world.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.4.4, purport:
“The
conditioned soul should reason, ‘If the Lord is giving me so much
facility to merge into ignorance, surely He will give even more
facility to come out of this ignorance if I humbly follow His
direction without foolish speculations.’”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.4.5, purport:
“In
the previous verse the Supreme Personality of Godhead was described
as adi-karta,
the original person responsible for the creation, maintenance and
annihilation of the material world. According to Sridhara Svami,
adi-karta,
or ‘the original doer,’ implies subsequent creators, maintainers
and annihilators. Otherwise there would be no meaning to the word
adi,
or ‘original.’”
“Whereas
Brahma and Shiva faithfully engage in service to the Supreme Lord,
Vishnu is the Supreme Lord Himself, and therefore His activities of
maintaining the brahmanas
and religious principles, as mentioned in this verse
(dvija-dharma-setuh),
are not occupational duties but lila
[pastime].
So in addition to being a gunavatara,
Vishnu is also a lilavatara,
according to Srila Jiva Gosvami.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.4.10, purport:
“Although
there may be many obstacles on the path of the sincere devotee who is
preaching the glories of the Lord, such obstacles increase the
determination of the devotee. Therefore, according to Srila Jiva
Gosvami, the continuous obstacles presented by the demigods form a
kind of ladder or stairway upon which the devotee steadily progresses
back to the kingdom of God.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.5, Chapter Summary:
“If
because of excessive greed for one’s own pleasure one commits
violence against living beings, he is also attacking Lord Sri Hari,
who is present in the bodies of all living entities as the
Supersoul.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.5.14:
“Those
sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles, yet
consider themselves to be completely pious, without compunction
commit violence against innocent animals who are fully trusting in
them. In their next lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the
same creatures they have killed in this world.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.5.14, purport:
“‘That
creature whose flesh I am eating here and now will consume me in the
next life.’ Thus meat is called mamsa,
as described by learned authorities.” [In Sanskrit, mam
means
‘me’ and sa
means
‘he’. Thus in the next life, he eats me.]
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.5.33, purport:
“It
is not possible to save the material body, but one who takes shelter
of Caitanya Mahaprabhu loosens the hard knot of the heart that
psychologically binds him to the hallucination of identifying with
the external body or the subtle material mind. Once this false
identification is broken, one can be blissful in any adverse material
condition. Those who foolishly try to make the temporary body eternal
are wasting their time and neglecting the actual process for making
life permanent, which is to take shelter of the lotus feet of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krishna Himself.”
“Still,
one who is faithfully serving in the missionary work of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu need not fear occasional, unavoidable symptoms of
Kali-yuga. The followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu strictly follow the
four regulative principles of no illicit sex, no intoxication, no
meat-eating and no gambling. They try to always chant Hare Krishna
and engage in the service of the Lord. However, it may happen that by
accident an occasional symptom of Kali-yuga such as envy, anger,
lust, greed, etc., may momentarily appear in the life of a devotee.
But if such a devotee is actually surrendered at the lotus feet of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by His mercy such an unwanted symptom, or
anartha,
will quickly disappear. Therefore, a sincere follower of the Lord
should never be discouraged in the execution of his prescribed duty
but should be confident that he will be protected by Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.”
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
From
Free
Write Journal #79:
“Sankirtana
means the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
It purifies the heart and brings transcendental bliss. Sankirtana
is popular now, and thousands and millions of people are chanting. If
the souls suffering from Kali’s iron grip were to take to
sankirtana
en masse, it would change the world from chaotic disruption to peace
and prosperity. Such is the power of God’s holy name.”
From
Geaglum
Free Write Diary:
“Manu
has brought me the Nobel lecture delivered by Seamus Heaney in 1995.
It’s called ‘Crediting Poetry.’ It will be sensitive—Manu
called it ‘intense’—praising poetry for ‘truth to life, in
every sense of that phrase.’ But in his works and worship in poetry
lifelong, Heaney won’t give credit to Him, the Intelligence from
whom comes all poetry, life and truth, the Supreme Person. No,
because the Nobel poet is a modern secular man, and thus a true poet
for the world.”
“I
am right in Krishna
consciousness, but who will hear us? Srila Prabhupada asked of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, ‘Who will hear your Lord Caitanya’s
teachings? We first have to become an independent nation.’ But
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was adamant— Krishna
consciousness didn’t need to wait for political change. It had its
own truth and course to take. His disciple Srila Prabhupada made it
happen, and here we are.”
From
Free
Write Journal #80:
“‘Srila
Prabhupada told Subala: “Better we spend our whole life and die
just to make one person Krishna
conscious. That is our line, to become so absorbed in preaching
Krishna
consciousness, whether in Vrindavan
or anywhere.”’ (Appreciating Sri Vrindavan-dhama, p. 247).”
“Yes,
you could take a siksa-guru,
but I see it diminishes the position of Srila Prabhupada to do so.
The new guru takes an upper position, and whatever you learned from
Srila Prabhupada has to be filtered through the siksa-guru.
I need the full embrace of Srila Prabhupada and need to be fully
dependent on him. Declare it.”
“Become
yourself a genuine devotee, and then when people meet you they will
be favorably affected.”
“Please
keep awake and active.
“Work
for Krishna
in some way, as befits you and as fills an important need in the
sankirtana
effort.
“Let
a sankirtana
devotee sell books, a sannyasi wanders and lectures often. If you
think you have another service, please write it on the form and
explain it there and take extra pages if you think it’s needed. I
know this form well enough. Please help us, Lord.”
“Suffice
to say we needn’t grow impatient or sleepy with old age. One can
continue to grow and feel young and play. You are reduced from
heavier burdens. Let’s see you do it. Please relax.”
“The
Christians want to simply convert people to their own religion. Do we
want to do the same? No, we want to teach the science of God, we want
to be aware of that. This is a fine point—how Prabhupada himself
never thought that he was a Hindu but that Krishna consciousness was
a nonsectarian teaching. In the ordinary sense, it appears to be the
claim that others make, that only our religion should be followed. At
least we don’t condemn anyone else’s bhakti
practices, but we approve those practices in their own religion. We
do claim that there is more bhakti
in Lord Caitanya’s flow than anywhere else.”
“Talk
first about the soul. Even that they don’t want to know, they’re
interested in working to research God’s laws but not God Himself.”
Janananda
Goswami:
From
a recorded lecture in Paris on the Disappearance Day of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
“To
know the truth the transformation from lust to love has to be
evoked.”
“That
knowledge is the practical application according to our conditioning
which will help to purify the way we see things.”
At
Le Halle yesterday at least four people were affected when I said “by
this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of
the Supreme” (Bg. 4.35), and they purchased the Bhagavad-gita.
Garuda
Prabhu of Tallahassee:
I
am a drummer, and that means being in the back and being subservient
to everyone else. I like that because it is like devotional service
to the Lord.
If
people send me a friend request on Facebook, I invite them to spend a
day with me on a canoe trip. I
see friends as people I actually spend time with.
The
elders that advise are like the feathers of an arrow and those with
youthful energy are like the point that hits the target. Both are
required and valued.
We
get the mercy of the Lord by properly dealing with those more
advanced, our equals, and those less advanced.
When
new people enter the association of devotees they get caught
in the crossfire of the faithful interactions of the devotees and
their faith increases, but when they associate with the people in
general their doubts are increased.
Lord
Sri Krishna has been waiting for us for many, many lifetimes.
One
devotee became very enthusiastic in devotional service and ultimately
went to Vrindavan to chant all day like the babajis,
but
after awhile he got bored, returned to America, and opened up a bar.
Hopefully, he has found a spot in between where he can progress.
Brajananda
Prabhu:
People
are looking for eternity, knowledge, and bliss, but in the temporary
things of this universe.
Narada
Muni is very exalted because he assists the Lord in His pastimes. He
has no specific jurisdiction. He can go everywhere.
Srila
Prabhupada always considered that his disciples were sent by his guru
to assist him in his mission.
Madhavananda
tells that Gaura Govinda Swami considered the tea stall in
Bhubaneswar that he slept behind when he started to preach there to
be his guru’s mercy as that was the place given to him by his guru
to preach.
The
British scholars take the Mayavadi version of Advaita Vedanta to be
the complete understanding of Hinduism.
Sankaracarya’s
mission was to teach atheism in the guise of theism.
The
Vaishnavas in humility beg the people to take to Krishna
consciousness, boldly presenting it as it is.
Notes
on Hare
Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all:
[I
saw this
film
for the fifth time, and following things were especially striking to
me this
time.]
Mukunda
(regarding
Srila Prabhupada):
He appeared elderly, learned, and alone, and it made me want to help
him. He was a sincere person, devoid of hypocrisy. He was like a
friend giving a party, and he just wanted everyone to be happy.
Srila
Prabhupada (regarding
the chanting
of Hare Krishna):
It is coming from the depths of the soul.
Srila
Prabhupada (regarding
the youth of America):
They are disappointed with this modern system of education. They are
searching for something sublime.
Srila
Prabhupada (on
the fighting at the time of the partition of India):
“And after death, there was no distinction who is Hindu or who is
Muslim. The municipal men, they gathered together in piles and to
throw them somewhere.”
Srila
Prabhupada: If we say God cannot come [as an incarnation], that means
we are making God subject to our order.
Shyamasundara:
He [George Harrision] memorized the swami’s introduction on the
record, word for word.
Srila
Prabhupada: I came to your country alone with this pair of cymbals,
and now so many of you are chanting Hare Krishna and dancing. That is
my success.
-----
When
Lord Caitanya attained symptoms of love of God by
following His guru’s instructions, His guru responded by saying:
bhala
haila, paile tumi parama-purusartha
tomara
premete ami hailan krtartha
naca,
gao, bhakta-sange kara sankirtana
krishna-nama
upadesi’ tara’ sarva-jana
“It
is very good, my dear child, that You have attained the supreme goal
of life by developing love of Godhead. Thus You have pleased me very
much, and I am very much obliged to You. My dear child, continue
dancing, chanting and performing sankirtana
in association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the
value of chanting krishna-nama,
for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.”
(Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
7.91–92)
This
Hare Krishna movement, which Srila Prabhupada established in the
west, is assisting Lord Caitanya in executing this mission. Once
Srila Prabhupada said to George Harrison, “The more you chant Hare
Krishna, the more you realize what great benefit there is in the
chanting.” Unfortunately people these days are not so enthusiastic
to experiment with the chanting as they were in the 1960s and 1970s,
and so they miss out on experiencing the great benefit of it.
