Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 16, No. 9
By Krishna Kripa Das
(May 2020, part one)
Tallahassee
(Sent from Tallahassee on May 15, 2020)
Where
I Went and What I Did
I
continued staying at
ISKCON Tallahassee, chanting Hare Krishna three hours a day on the
porch with local devotees and sharing it on Facebook Live. We have
received
some more
appreciation from our online
audience. Krishna Lunch has
a steady group of people who regularly eat our meals,
and we are thinking of different ways to increase it, like offering a
free lunch to people who bring a friend for the first time. In
Tallahassee we celebrated Nrsimha Caturdasi by having a four-hour
kirtan, offering flowers to our murti
of
Lord Nrsimha, and getting all our residents to contribute at least
one preparation to an ecstatic feast in His honor.
I
share several inspirational
quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books. I continue
to share
many insightful
quotes from the “Uddhava Gita” wherein Lord Krishna personally
enlightens His great devotee Uddhava with additional knowledge not
included in Bhagavad-gita.
This is found in Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Canto
Eleven, by the humble servants of Srila Prabhupada. I share excerpts
from the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on
recorded lectures by Janananda Goswami and
Niranjana Swami,
and notes on classes in Tallahassee by Brajananda Prabhu and Daniel.
Thanks
to Daniel for
the the
videos of Brajananda
Prabhu, Dharmaraja Prabhu and
Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi leading kirtan.
Many
thanks to the many devotees and organizations that shared
our Facebook Live harinama
videos
including Keli
Vrndavana Devi Dasi, Caitanya
Mangala Prabhu,
Food
4 Life Krishna Mantra Yoga Citizens Of NAm, Gary Mc Carney, Alik
Balatov, Hridoy Sutradhat, Vishwa
Hindu Mahasabha, and
Politics
of Rajasthan. In
particular, Keli Vrndavana Devi Dasi, a disciple of Kadamba Kanana
Swami from London, shared almost every video. Thanks also to Jayasri
Radha Devi Dasi of Florida, who has shared many of my harinama
videos
past and present on her Facebook pages, Hare
Krishna Sankirtana Movement World Wide and
JOIN
Hare Krishna. Thanks
to the Internal Revenue Service for their kind donation.
Itinerary
March
23–June?: Tallahassee temple porch
harinamas
June?–early
August?:
Paris harinama
August
7–8: Liverpool harinama
August
9: Liverpool Ratha-yatra
August
19–23: Canada Vaishnava Sanga Festival
August
24: Montreal harinama
September
16?–December 31: Yuga Dharma Ashram harinama
party
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Tallahassee
We
continued chanting Hare Krishna for at least three hours each day on
the porch of the temple and streaming it on Facebook.
Kumari
Sakhi Devi Dasi writes, “Just
wanted to share your kirtan here is well-received by many!!
“From
a friend who met devotees in Australia while WWFing and who I met in
Jacksonville, who now lives in New York with her family: ‘I’ve
popped on and watched parts of the ISKCON Tallahassee porch streams!’
“From
a nice Indian girl who has come to few programs in Gainesville: ‘I
follow your kirtan sessions on Facebook. I’m always happy to see
and hear you 🙂’
“From
a friend who came often to Jacksonville programs and now lives in
Colorado: ‘I recently saw a recording of your chanting I think even
in Tallahassee.’
“And these are just a few people I’ve reached out to. Hare Krishna!”
Later
Kumari mentioned that
all
three of
the people
above subsequently gave donations for the spiritual care packages she
and Brajananda Prabhu are distributing.
Among
people who appreciated on Facebook were devotees who are very
committed to sharing the holy names themselves, such as Govardhan
Devi Dasi, a Prabhupada disciple who does harinama
in
the North of England and Paris, Madhava Naidoo, who is famous for
promoting kirtana
all
over the world, and Gaura Sundara Prabhu of
Ukraine,
who does harinama
in
different countries, and
who I have chanted with in Paris at least two different summers.
Here
Brajananda
Prabhu plays guitar and chants Hare Krishna on the Tallahassee temple
porch (https://youtu.be/nLgAj2NrzbU):
Dharmaraja
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Tallahassee Krishna Lunch on Rukmini
Dvadasi (https://youtu.be/grr14dkdVMg):
Daniel
chants Hare Krishna in Tallahassee evening kirtan on Jayananda
Prabhu’s disappearance day (https://youtu.be/-NyDcp6obv4):
We had played a record lecture by Deena Bandhu Prabhu on Jayananda Prabhu that morning, and I made one of his favorites, peanut butter halava, for breakfast.
Brajananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Tallahassee Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/r6DrEC7f7BI):
We
did our Nrsimha Caturdasi program outside so guests could come, and
Daniel chanted Gaura Arati and Brajananda Prabhu chanted the Nrsimha
Prayers. Jorge, in the back right, is the only nonresident who came
(https://youtu.be/6gZyOq3tr1s):
During
the Nrsimha Prayers we offered flowers to our murti
of Lord
Nrsimha.
The
devotees also did a brief drama of the pastime of Lord Nrsimha
killing the tyrant, Hiranyakasipu, who was so demoniac he had tried
to kill his godly son, Prahlada, in several different ways.
I
encouraged everyone to cook something for the feast and everyone did.
Brajananda Prabhu made strawberry simply wonderfuls, a favorite of
the legendary Vishnujana Maharaja, Dharmaraja Prabhu made sweet
potato pakoras,
Kumari Sakhi
Devi Dasi made dal,
Chris and
Linda each made a vegetable preparation, Daniel made a fancy kind of
rice, and I made sweet rice and coconut burfi. There was also a green
coconut chutney to go with the pakoras.
Kumari
Sakhi took of photo of it.
So
did I.
Daniel
chants Hare Krishna in the Tallahassee evening kirtan, this day on
the temple lawn to accommodate Deva Sanga Devi Dasi, a longtime
resident of Tallahassee, who
came for the program
(https://youtu.be/bsGqZWaeji0):
All
seven devotees at ISKCON Tallahassee chanted Hare Krishna during four
minutes of our daily three-hour harinama at Tallahassee Krishna
Lunch. Playing the harmonium is Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi, and
clockwise, Brajananda Prabhu, me, Linda, Chris,
Dharmaraja Prabhu (playing gong), and Daniel (who is walking around
the tulasi
plant and whose left arm you occasionally see)
(https://youtu.be/KgnxUuPbZLU):
Here
is video of Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi chanting that day by Daniel using
his own phone
and
including
closeups of the individual devotees (https://youtu.be/Ah2Po3NnIBE):
And
one by myself using my iPhone (https://youtu.be/aFYt-YutsGE):
Saturday
Brajananda
Prabhu chanted
Hare Krishna in front of the Tallahassee temple, and seven devotees
participated
(https://youtu.be/g4TrpDi7ykA):
The
next week Kumari
Sakhi Devi Dasi played
harmonium and chanted Hare Krishna at Tallahassee Krishna Lunch
(https://youtu.be/vDU2CyRt_Y8):
Brajananda
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Tallahassee Krishna Lunch, and devotees
dance (https://youtu.be/lH00eW9Iliw):
A
friendly
guy from Haiti just moved into an apartment next door. He was
attracted by the music and looked in the direction of our chanting
party for a while. I saw he was unloading a djembe
and
a box drum from his car, so I invited him to play, saying we needed a
drummer.
You can hear him playing in the background of this video of
Kumari Sakhi Devi Dasi chanting Hare Krishna, but you cannot see him as he
was behind the camera (https://youtu.be/joi-2wFjZQQ):
We
offered him a free lunch, but he did not accept it at this time.
I share statistics for the harinamas during the first half of May:
I share statistics for the harinamas during the first half of May:
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
9.266:
“‘As
long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened
his taste for devotional service by sravanam
kirtanam vishnoh,
one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic
injunctions.’” [Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.20.9]
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
9.289, purport:
“The
spiritual master who is fully surrendered unto the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and has no business other than the Lord’s
service is called the best of the paramahamsas.
A paramahamsa
has no program for sense gratification; he is interested only in
satisfying the senses of the Lord. One who has control of the senses
in this way is called a gosañi
or a goswami,
master of the senses. The senses cannot be controlled unless one is
engaged in the service of the Lord; therefore the bona fide spiritual
master, who has full control over his senses, engages twenty-four
hours a day in the Lord’s service. He can therefore be addressed as
gosañi
or gosvami.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
10.14, purport:
“Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya was a brahmana
and a realized soul, whereas Prataparudra was a ksatriya.
Ksatriya
kings used to obey very faithfully the orders of learned brahmanas
and saintly persons, and in this way they would rule their country.
Similarly, vaisyas
used to follow the king’s orders, and sudras
used to serve the three higher castes. In this way the brahmanas,
ksatriyas, vaisyas and
sudras
used to live cooperatively, performing their respective duties.
Consequently society was peaceful, and people were able to discharge
the duties of Krishna consciousness. Thus they were happy in this
life and able to return home, back to Godhead.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
10.119:
“O
ocean of mercy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Let there be an awakening of
Your auspicious mercy, which easily drives away all kinds of material
lamentation by making everything pure and blissful. Indeed, Your
mercy awakens transcendental bliss and covers all material pleasures.
By Your auspicious mercy, quarrels and disagreements arising among
different scriptures are vanquished. Your auspicious mercy pours
forth transcendental mellows and thus causes the heart to jubilate.
Your mercy, which is full of joy, always stimulates devotional
service and glorifies conjugal love of God. May transcendental bliss
be awakened within my heart by Your causeless mercy.” [written by
Kavi-karnapura in his Sri
Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka
8.10]
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
10.139–40:
“Lord
Krishna’s mercy is dependent only on affection. Being obliged only
by affection, Lord Krishna acts very independently. In conclusion,
dealings in affection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead bring
happiness many millions of times greater than dealings with Him in
awe and veneration. Simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, the
devotee is merged in transcendental bliss.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
11.10, purport:
“The
mind is always accompanied by six enemies — namely, kama,
krodha, mada,
moha,
matsarya and
bhaya
— that is, lust, anger, intoxication, illusion, envy and fear.
Although the mind may be merged in spiritual consciousness, one
should always be very careful in dealing with it, just as one is
careful in dealing with a snake. One should never think that his mind
is trained and that he can do whatever he likes. One interested in
spiritual life should always engage his mind in the service of the
Lord so that the enemies of the mind, who always accompany the mind,
will be subdued. If the mind is not engaged in Krishna consciousness
at every moment, there is a chance that it will give way to its
enemies. In this way we become victims of the mind.
“Chanting
the Hare Krishna mantra engages the mind at the lotus feet of Krishna
constantly; thus the mind’s enemies do not have a chance to
strike.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
11.29–30:
[Lord
Krishna says to Uddhava:] “My devotees take great care and respect
in rendering Me service. They offer obeisances to Me with all their
bodily limbs. They worship other devotees and find all living
entities related to Me. For Me they engage the entire energy of their
bodies. They engage the power of speech in the glorification of My
qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me and try to
give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are
characterized.” [from Srimad-Bhagavatam
(11.19.21–22)]
From
Krishna:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter
58:
“Krishna
is called Mukunda because as soon as one comes in constant touch with
Krishna or sees Him in full Krishna consciousness, one immediately
becomes freed from all material anxieties. Not only that, but one is
immediately blessed with all spiritual bliss.”
The
humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.12.13:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “All those hundreds of thousands of
gopis,
understanding Me to be their most charming lover and ardently
desiring Me in that way, were unaware of My actual position. Yet by
intimately associating with Me, the gopis
attained Me, the Supreme Absolute Truth.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.1, purport:
“Real
truth is eternal, and real mercy means to situate people in eternal
truth.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.6:
“Until
one revives one’s direct knowledge of the spirit soul and drives
away the illusory identification with the material body and mind
caused by the three modes of nature, one must cultivate those things
in the mode of goodness. By increasing the mode of goodness, one
automatically can understand and practice religious principles, and
by such practice transcendental knowledge is awakened.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.26, purport:
“By
himself, the living entity does not have the potency to give up his
false identification with the material mind and sense objects, but by
worshiping the Lord in the mood of being His eternal part-and-parcel
servant, one is infused with the Lord’s potency, which easily
drives away the darkness of ignorance.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.27–28:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “Waking, sleeping and deep sleep are
the three functions of the intelligence and are caused by the modes
of material nature. The living entity within the body is ascertained
to possess characteristics different from these three states and thus
remains as a witness to them. The spirit soul is trapped in the
bondage of material intelligence, which awards him constant
engagement in the illusory modes of nature. But I am the fourth stage
of consciousness, beyond wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep.
Becoming situated in Me, the soul should give up the bondage of
material consciousness. At that time, the living entity will
automatically renounce the material sense objects and the material
mind.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.30:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “According to My instructions, one
should fix the mind on Me alone. If, however, one continues to see
many different values and goals in life rather than seeing everything
within Me, then although apparently awake, one is actually dreaming
due to incomplete knowledge, just as one may dream that one has
wakened from a dream.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.30, purport:
“One
who is not Krishna conscious cannot understand that everything is
resting within Lord Krishna, and thus it is impossible for him to
retire from material sense gratification. One may adopt a particular
process of salvation and consider oneself to be ‘saved’;
nevertheless, his material conditioning will remain and thus he will
maintain his attachment to the material world. While one is dreaming
he sometimes imagines that he has awakened from a dream and is
experiencing normal consciousness. Similarly, one may consider
oneself to be saved, but if he remains absorbed in making material
value judgments between good and bad, without reference to
devotional service to the Supreme Lord, he is understood to be a
conditioned soul covered by the illusory identification with matter.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.31, purport:
“Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks in this regard that just as
one soon forgets the experience of a dream after awakening,
similarly, a liberated soul in Krishna consciousness does not see
anything substantial in even the most exalted rewards offered by the
Vedas, such as promotion to the heavenly planets.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.32:
“While
awake the living entity enjoys with all of his senses the fleeting
characteristics of the material body and mind; while dreaming he
enjoys similar experiences within the mind; and in deep dreamless
sleep all such experiences merge into ignorance. By remembering and
contemplating the succession of wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep,
the living entity can understand that he is one throughout the three
stages of consciousness and is transcendental. Thus, he becomes the
lord of the senses.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.34:
“One
should see that the material world is a distinct illusion appearing
in the mind, because material objects have an extremely flickering
existence and are here today and gone tomorrow. They can be compared
to the streaking red line created by whirling a fiery stick. The
spirit soul by nature exists in the single state of pure
consciousness. However, in this world he appears in many different
forms and stages of existence. The modes of nature divide the soul’s
consciousness into normal wakefulness, dreaming and dreamless sleep.
All such varieties of perception, however, are actually maya
and exist only like a dream.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.35:
“Having
understood the temporary illusory nature of material things, and thus
having pulled one’s vision away from illusion, one should remain
without material desires. By experiencing the happiness of the soul,
one should give up material speaking and activities. If sometimes one
must observe the material world, one should remember that it is not
ultimate reality and therefore one has given it up. By such constant
remembrance up till the time of death, one will not again fall into
illusion.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.36:
“Just
as a drunken man does not notice if he is wearing his coat or shirt,
similarly, one who is perfect in self-realization and who has thus
achieved his eternal identity does not notice whether the temporary
body is sitting or standing. Indeed, if by God’s will the body is
finished or if by God’s will he obtains a new body, a self-realized
soul does not notice, just as a drunken man does not notice the
situation of his outward dress.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.13.37:
“The
material body certainly moves under the control of supreme destiny
and therefore must continue to live along with the senses and vital
air as long as one’s karma is in effect. A self-realized soul,
however, who is awakened to the absolute reality and who is thus
highly situated in the perfect stage of yoga, will never again
surrender to the material body and its manifold manifestations,
knowing it to be just like a body visualized in a dream.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.8, purport:
“Srila
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has given a most interesting example,
as follows. The water of the Ganges is always pure and very sweet. On
the banks of that great river, however, there are several types of
poisonous trees whose roots drink up the Ganges water from the soil
and use it to produce poisonous fruits. Similarly, those who are
atheistic or demoniac utilize their association with Vedic knowledge
to produce the poisonous fruits of atheistic or materialistic
philosophy.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.9–13:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “O best among men, the intelligence
of human beings is bewildered by My illusory potency, and thus,
according to their own activities and whims, they speak in
innumerable ways about what is actually good for people. Some say
that people will be happy by performing pious religious activities.
Others say that happiness is attained through fame, sense
gratification, truthfulness, self-control, peace, self-interest,
political influence, opulence, renunciation, consumption, sacrifice,
penance, charity, vows, regulated duties or strict disciplinary
regulation. Each process has its proponents. All the persons I have
just mentioned obtain temporary fruits from their material work.
Indeed, the meager and miserable situations they achieve bring future
unhappiness and are based on ignorance. Even while enjoying the
fruits of their work, such persons are filled with lamentation. O
learned Uddhava, those who fix their consciousness on Me, giving up
all material desires, share with Me a happiness that cannot possibly
be experienced by those engaged in sense gratification. One who does
not desire anything within this world, who has achieved peace by
controlling his senses, whose consciousness is equal in all
conditions and whose mind is completely satisfied in Me finds only
happiness wherever he goes.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.16, purport:
“Lord
Krishna thought, ‘I have established this strict rule that one can
enjoy My transcendental bliss only through devotional service
obtained from the dust of the lotus feet of My devotees. Since I also
desire to experience My own bliss, I will observe the standard
procedure and accept the dust of My devotees’ feet.’”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.17:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “Those who are without any desire for
personal gratification, whose minds are always attached to Me, who
are peaceful, without false ego and merciful to all living entities,
and whose consciousness is never affected by opportunities for sense
gratification — such persons enjoy in Me a happiness that cannot be
known or achieved by those lacking such detachment from the material
world.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.20:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “My dear Uddhava, the unalloyed
devotional service rendered to Me by My devotees brings Me under
their control. I cannot be thus controlled by those engaged in mystic
yoga, Saá¹…khya philosophy, pious work, Vedic study, austerity or
renunciation.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.22, purport:
“In
the eternal kingdom of God, loving reciprocation between the Lord and
His devotees is manifest. One who has not come to this stage of
enlightenment must remain on the material platform, which is always
full of discrepancies and contradictions. Thus everything is
incomplete and imperfect without loving service to the Lord.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.23:
“If
one’s hairs do not stand on end, how can the heart melt? And if the
heart does not melt, how can tears of love flow from the eyes? If one
does not cry in spiritual happiness, how can one render loving
service to the Lord? And without such service, how can the
consciousness be purified?”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.25:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “Just as gold, when smelted in fire,
gives up its impurities and returns to its pure brilliant state,
similarly, the spirit soul, absorbed in the fire of bhakti-yoga,
is purified of all contamination caused by previous fruitive
activities and returns to its original position of serving Me in the
spiritual world.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.26:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “When a diseased eye is treated with
medicinal ointment it gradually recovers its power to see. Similarly,
as a conscious living entity cleanses himself of material
contamination by hearing and chanting the pious narrations of My
glories, he regains his ability to see Me, the Absolute Truth, in My
subtle spiritual form.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.27–28:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “The mind of one meditating upon the
objects of sense gratification is certainly entangled in such
objects, but if one constantly remembers Me, then the mind is
absorbed in Me. Therefore, one should reject all material processes
of elevation, which are like the mental creations of a dream, and
should completely absorb one’s mind in Me. By constantly thinking
of Me, one becomes purified.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.14.31, purport:
“The
acaryas
explain that one cannot fully appreciate the beauty and perfection of
bhakti-yoga
unless one sees its superiority to all other processes. Through
comparative analysis, the devotees become fully ecstatic in their
appreciation of bhakti-yoga.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.15.29, purport:
“If
a human being falls into the middle of the ocean he quickly drowns,
whereas the fish enjoy happiness sporting in the same waves.
Similarly, the conditioned souls have fallen into the ocean of
material existence and are drowning in the reactions to their sinful
activities, whereas the devotees recognize this world to be the
potency of the Lord and enjoy pleasurable pastimes within it by fully
engaging in the loving service of Lord Krishna.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.15.33–34:
[Lord
Krishna speaking to Uddhava:] “Learned
experts in devotional service state that the mystic perfections of
yoga that I have mentioned are actually impediments and are a waste
of time for one who is practicing the supreme yoga, by which one
achieves all perfection in life directly from Me. Whatever mystic
perfections can be achieved by good birth, herbs, austerities and
mantras can all be achieved by devotional service to Me; indeed, one
cannot achieve the actual perfection of yoga by any other means.”
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
From
Seeking
a New Land:
“My
heart is broken over what became of this official religion. But there
is still joy in the words of the acaryas
and sincere hearts in relation to Krishna.”
“It’s
a dangerous world where people will accuse you and claim they have
proof you have committed the worst crimes. You say you hope it isn’t
true but, ‘I don’t remember – what do they say I did?’
“In
such a world, attacked by dreams, the guru, Prabhupada, is our
invincible protector. Stay with him, little child.”
“Dear
Srila Prabhupada, A. C. Swami Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada…thank you.
Please let us always engage in your service. You protect us, you give
us security, you we choose. You are capable, intrepid. You spread
Krishna consciousness. To you I bow, I wish to serve.”
“he
protects us,
he’s
a great sacrifice,
a
hundred percent he obeyed
his
own Guru Maharaja.”
“Spoke
how Srila Prabhupada gave up bodily comforts, left sweet Vrindavan,
torn quilt and broken water pot of Gaudiya Vaishnava and daily Yamuna
bathing – to go to NYC. Signs of a paramahamsa.”
“Probation
is a trial period during which somebody or other determines whether a
person is qualified – you know. And, ‘The supervised release of a
convicted offender on the promise of good behavior.’ We may say we
are all probationers, or worse.”
“This
is Prabhupada’s Appearance Day, by his grace we are operating.”
“‘Prabhupada,
you are the friendly face in all the Hare Krishna temples,’ said
one man today. He seemed happy with his life as a resident in various
ISKCON places.”
“Is
love palatable? Love. We want to love God. Ah. But we can’t do it
easily. You have to be convinced in His greatness. ‘I don’t know
even what to say,’ said Hemanta to himself. Heard the soft sound of
a car passing. ‘Therefore, I must remember what Srila Prabhupada
said on this subject. And I have to keep going.’
“‘Is
there a spiritual advancement you can make from which you won’t
fall back?’
“‘Yes,’ he said.”
“‘Yes,’ he said.”
“What
about love, protection? ‘When we don’t feel trust in Krishna
isn’t that an insult to Him?’
Yes,
I expressed.”
“I
may sleep, the island won’t sink,
we
won’t be attacked by a bigger predator.
We
will remember Lord Hari
and
His holy names.”
“And
Prabhupada, they can’t really see your face just by looking at the
pictures. You are now a mysterious and personal presence in vani.
Now, despite my faults, you accept me. I could not explain the full
weight of this at this year’s Vyasa-puja because I’m not expected
to give a less than perfect, loyal profile. This is another greatness
of yours, Prabhupada, that you tolerate our slowness and don’t
reject us. I depend on you for this. I could not say it.”
“Some
like banana ice cream, some like Italian cooking. And some like the
Prabhupada-flavored Krishna consciousness.”
“This
book is an offering. Don’t quarrel
go
about your work to please Lord
Hari
and He’ll like you
“just
for that
and
you’ll get your reward
No,
that’s enough motive.”
“Prabhupada,
keep
me
and
revive me
in
your studentship
like
I used to be –
or
in a new way
vital
to share with
others
true when I
say
I depend on
him
totally, and need no
other
guru, love.”
“And
so, we rushed to the end signaling personal doom or good ending, just
reward, don’t judge the stern ones as too stern
or
blame those who
relaxed
after
the book marathon”
“I
do
believe
there are kind
devotees
still in
ISKCON
“and
we needn’t run
to
the mountains of live
gurus
other than Srila
Prabhupada,
but
it’s better to do
your
loyalty in Wicklow
said
the cabbage to the
cat.”
“The
namnam
akari
verse (Siksastakam 2) is ‘my’ verse. I theoretically believe and
even teach that the holy names are fully infested with God’s
potencies. But because of my offenses I am not able to pay attention
to or taste the nectar of the holy names.
“If
I truly felt this, it might plunge me into remorse and humility which
is expressed in trnad
api sunicena.
You call out to Krishna to pick you up from the ocean of death and
allow you to serve Him by chanting. Yes, I can speak something on
this topic.
“We
all desire to chant better, and we’re committed to it. We don’t
want to think our main method of meditation is ineffective.
“O
Lord, kindly
appear
in Your names.”
“the
bhakti-yogi
is never
alone
as God is in
his
heart”
“Be
careful you don’t take advantage of someone who offers to help.”
“Hey,
the trains hit head on above Calcutta and the volcanoes…earthquake,
they want to put God into the dock and ask him how come he made it
happen.”
[Regarding
Radhastami:] “No lecture on an esoteric topic but at least a
reading. Read together, ‘Don’t even utter Her name. You are not
qualified,’ said a brother. But it makes me happy to know She is a
person with beautiful pastimes with Krishna, under expert guidance.
‘We have not taken a vow to boycott the gopis.’”
“Are
you convinced?
‘If
you don’t believe
Bhagavad-gita
and Krishna that
it
is a different thing. But
it
is a fact.’”
“‘If
you have a combative spirit,’
he
said, ‘use it to fight
maya
and pay attention to
japa.
It’s a declaration of
war.’
“But
blessed are the peace-
makers
who find that
way.
You cannot beat the
mind
finally
or
kill desires.
“Make
peace, brother
bring
the mind back gently
to
hearing Hare Krishna
and
reach out your hand
to
that of God the Father
the
Friend.”
“You
thought it would be
more?
Or worse? Thank
God
it is what it is
“you
can be sorry you
failed
but even that in
restrained
measure. Speak
it
true no pose”
“Memories,
I live in them
cozy
cubbyholes that
don’t
exist.
“Live
in illusion. In one
body
after another.”
“At
least enter the scriptural world if you are going to leave this one.”
“‘What
about after
you
die?’ he asked. I
said
I have no plans.”
“may
you be blessed
and
pass the test”
“He’s
a lover, He’s a cheat
and
His love, it can’t be beat
-
Govinda’s theme
That’s
who He is. The Lord of all beings, the one supplier of everyone’s
needs. Write about the Supreme Self. We are all part and parcel of
Him. We are individual sparks. Eternal fragments.”
“I
don’t do obscure deep knee
bends
like some.
I’m
just walking briefly
in
the rain.”
“Get
away from playing the role of the monk so you can become the monk.
You are a person you don’t know.”
“We
read of Radha and Krishna. They love each other so much. They faint
when They have to separate.”
“He
wanted to properly observe Vamanadeva’s appearance by taking a big
step of his own.”
“Srila
Prabhupada in the [1966] lecture said people nowadays in Kali-yuga
don’t even have the basic necessities of life, eating, mating,
sleeping and defending. It struck Hemanta to hear that, and he
recalled his own plight in 1966. He was without mating and suffering
and suffering for it. And without any real residence, just a horrible
slum hole, and same without food, and always fearing. How accurate
Srila Prabhupada was, and he also saw it himself when he came over to
live amidst the Americans on the Lower East Side.”
“remember
Krishna conscious truth
is
what we came for”
“In
an age of crackpots…my pot may seem sane enough, decorated and
garlanded.”
“Lord,
Lord can a body
(person)
call out
to
his God, please guide
me
in a way that’s bearable
to
me and give me strength.
The
predicament we’re in is not
so
bad, is it?”
“I
don’t deplore
all
worlds
just
this one.”
“Surely
Srila Prabhupada’s way alone
will
deliver us and
my
patience will be rewarded.”
“But
if you offend
even
in the slightest a devotee
or
even a creature you’ll lose
your
spiritual potency
so
be careful. I’m just a boy, and that’s
not
good enough.
“Therefore
we ask Lord
Krishna
please help us
win
this life of
self
over pride.”
From
Free
Write Journal #90:
“So
many disciples claim I am their only shelter, but they will not
follow my instructions. So what is the basis of the relationship? It
is sentimental.”
From
The
Summer Marathon:
“The
devotee who gave class today spoke about the need to use our
intelligence in Krishna’s service. He also spoke about surrender.
He quoted a letter by Prabhupada to Upendra dasa in which Prabhupada
recited a prayer we can make to Krishna. The prayer goes like this:
‘I’m unwilling to surrender, so You please put me in a situation
where I’ll be forced to surrender.’ The lecturer said, ‘The way
out is the way through.’ We should ask Krishna to put us through
whatever karma we are due. Otherwise, he said, it’s possible to
live in this institution for forty years and not be more advanced in
bhakti
than we were forty years ago. Instead of trying to choose our own
form of surrender, we should pray to Krishna to put us through
whatever we need. If we do that, our lives will be more glorious than
we could imagine. He said that Prabhupada exemplified this attitude
when although he didn’t want to take sannyasa,
he finally did and everything became glorious.
“These
seem to be solid points, but I’m still left with the question of
how to surrender. We have to act. What, then, does it take to make
such a sincere prayer? How to prove my willingness to accept
Krishna’s guidance? We learn this, it seems, in small increments.”
“Twenty
or thirty people here. Girls grow older like wilting flowers. Men get
pudgy and old. All die. So fast, it happens.”
From
a Zoom lecture for ISKCON of NJ on May 9, 2020:
I
hesitated to tell the humorous Gopala Bhan stories which Srila
Prabhupada introduced us to, as now is a distressful time with the
global pandemic. But then I thought that Srila Prabhupada saw the
world as always in a distressful condition, and yet he told these
stories. I think a little comic relief in times of duress is not
unwelcome.
Jayapataka
Swami knows all the Gopala Bhan stories. There was a group of
sannyasis
gathered
and he told many of them, and we were all laughing. He told them in
both English and Bengali.
Jagattarini
tells how Krishna has His parrots, and Radharani has Her parrots.
There
is a story where as Queen of Vrindavan Radharani is offered an
abhiseka.
Krishna
is in the audience and offers to be her constable. She offers that He
sit on an equal level with Her. She ends up sitting in His lap.
In
1969 Boston was the most populated temple in America because ISKCON
Press moved there with all its workers. I was temple president, and
we had sixty devotees.
When
Srila Prabhupada visited Boston one hundred and fifty devotees were
there to see him.
“This
is the heart of ISKCON,” Srila Prabhupada said, as he embraced the
devotee in charge of ISKCON Press.
A
devotee said, “You are the heart of ISKCON.”
Srila
Prabhupada said, “This is my heart.”
Prabhupada
said, “Print my books, at least one every two months, and you will
go back to Godhead.”
When
Srila Prabhupada was in India, he would keep the door open and the
devotees had more access to him. This made the austerities living
there worthwhile.
When
the train arrived at Kurukshetra you stood up and said, “They say
Kurukshetra is a mythical place,” to demonstrate its reality.
[Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami read “Pandal” from Remembering
Srila Prabhupada, Book
4, which I reproduce here completely:]
It
is not so easy to hold a pandal.
When
Prabhupada first introduced the idea
to
his followers in Bombay,
they
didn’t want to say no,
but
they wondered:
Where
could they collect so much money?
How
could they erect such a big tent?
Where
would they get so much food?
And
how would they be able to cook it?
Prabhupada
smiled and said,
“If
you are going to hunt,
go
after the rhinoceros.”
A
pandal is a triumph in preaching.
The
helium balloon hovering over the city . . .
And
in the newspaper
a
beautiful picture of the Founder-Acharya,
superimposed
over a globe,
and
the words, “ Bhagwat Dharma Discourses . .
A
pandal is anxiety,
a
chance to work hard
and
surrender to Krishna.
A
pandal is a marriage of two disciples on stage
a
boy from Sweden and a girl
(with
a red sari and a nose ring)
from
Australia.
A
pandal is a particular event,
and
it is also a symbol
of
a great endeavor
to
convince people
by
cultural presentation—
a
mass festival.
Rathayatra
or any big preaching is similar,
and
Prabhupada wanted it.
“Don’t
be satisfied that you have understood.
This
knowledge should be distributed.”
Janananda
Goswami:
True
humility is to think: “I only exist for Krishna’s pleasure.”
Niranjana
Swami:
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura says in Amrita
Vani that:
“Among
the limbs of devotional service, chanting Krishna’s holy name is
the best. Activities such as hearing and chanting about the Lord’s
pastimes are subordinate to chanting of the holy name. Without the
holy name’s mercy, we cannot experience the Lord’s pastimes.
Trying to remember the Lord’s pastimes without chanting is nothing
but an attempt to achieve mundane fame.”
We
have to hear the holy name by the descending process and not impress
our mundane conceptions on the holy name.
Brajananda
Prabhu:
All
of Srila Prabhupada’s books are for the personal enlightenment of
everyone just as Krishna’s speaking of Bhagavad-gita
to
Arjuna was.
My
friend, Bhakta Vatsala, gave Bill Clinton a Bhagavad-gita.
About
this ISKCON
News writes, “On Thursday 14 June 2012 ISKCON devotee, Bhakta Brian
[now Bhakti Vatsala Das],
dressed as a devotee, was out distributing books on a crowded
sidewalk on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, California when
all of a sudden former U.S. President Bill Clinton chose him out of
the crowd, walked up to him, shook his hand, and gave him a warm
hug.”
To
hear Bhakta Vatsala Prabhu tell more details of the story, click
here: http://www.backtohome.com/audio/Bill.Clinton.gets.Gita.mp3
]
Daniel:
From
a reading of Navadvipa
Mahatmya:
Lord
Nityananda said that although it appears that Lord Caitanya took
sannyasa
and
left Navadvipa, He never really leaves Navadvipa and the devotees can
perceive His daily lila
(pastimes)
there.
Seeing
the fortune of Yamuna Devi of having Krishna perform pastimes in her
waters, Ganga Devi did austerities and the Lord appeared to her
saying He would appear as Lord Gauranga and sport in her waters.
Lord
Caitanya appeared to Lord Brahma and told him how he would appear in
His pastimes as Haridasa Thakura. He would be completely devoid of
pride and chant 300,000 holy names. At the end of his long life as
Brahma, he would attain his eternal rasa
in
Navadvipa.
One
who fasts, bathes in the Ganges, and worships Lord Gauranga on Gaura
Purnima, attains Goloka along with a thousand of his ancestors.
Chand
Kazi’s home is the Mathura of Navadvipa.
In
Navadvipa offenders are given prema,
while
in Vrindavan, the demoniac who are killed by Krishna, merge into His
existence.
-----
The
Supreme Lord is the supreme knower of religious principles. We learn
from Srimad-Bhagavatam
that
He appears in this age of degradation as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
along with with His associates, and He is worshiped by intelligent
people chiefly by the sankirtana-yajna,
the
sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy name. Thus when
Sarvobhauma Bhattacarya, one of the greatest scholars of his time,
who had just accepted the path of krishna-bhakti,
devotional
service to Krishna, asked Lord Caitanya, “What is the most
important practice of devotional service?” He responded,
“Nama-sankirtana
– the
congregational chanting of the holy name.” Thus
it is good for those who are followers of Lord Caitanya to remember
that nama-sankirtana
is
the most important spiritual practice in this age, and thus I am
sharing this verse to remind myself and others, as dharma is easily
obscured these days.
bhakti-sadhana-srestha
sunite
haila mana
prabhu
upadesa
kaila nama-sankirtana
“Then
the Bhattacarya
asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
“Which item is most important in the execution of devotional
service?” The Lord replied that the most important item was the
chanting of the holy name of the Lord [nama-sankirtana].”
(Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila
6.241)