Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 17, No. 10
(May 2021, part two)
New York City
(Sent from Brooklyn on June 5, 2021)
Where I Went and What I Did
I continued to live in ISKCON New York in Brooklyn during the second half of May, where chanting with Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party for four hours a day was my main service.
I would lead the chanting of Hare Krishna for half an hour and spend three and a half hours distributing invitations for the New York Ratha-yatra. I also attended the Monthly Sankirtan Festival, went on additional harinamas with Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci, and attended the Bhakti Center Thursday night harinamas. I took fewer videos than in the beginning of the month because I found I was spending so much time editing videos I could not do my other services. I include more videos of myself than usual as here in New York City Kaliya Krishna Prabhu is regularly taking videos of everyone on the NYC Harinam party.
I share notes on my personal reading from Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and The Nectar of Devotion, many which describe the attractive features of Krishna and the happiness of His devotional service, and also excerpts from a Prabhupada letter and a couple of conversations of his. I share excerpts from the writings of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures by Chandrasekhara Swami, Devamrita Swami (via Zoom), Giriraj Swami (via Zoom) and Mahavishnu Swami in Brooklyn, as well as some by senior devotees such Pancaratna, Hansarupa, Rama Raya, and Nikunjabihari Prabhus, and younger devotees like Jaya Jagannatha, Natabara Gauranga and Gopal Campu Prabhus. I share notes on Back to Godhead magazine articles by Nagaraja, Visakha, Gauranga Darsana, and Mathura Vasi Prabhus.
Thanks to Elena for her very generous donation. Thanks to Vedran for his donations. Thanks to Hansarupa Prabhu for reminding me to include Radha Govinda in the kirtan videos I take in the temple room. Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for taking so many videos of me chanting with NYC Harinam.
Itinerary
May 8–June 15: NYC Harinam
June 16–23: Albany, New York, visit to mother
June 24–?: NYC Harinam
July–August ?: Europe ?
August ?–September ?: Florida college outreach
September ?–December 31: NYC Harinam
Note: I do hope to go to Dublin, The North of England, Paris, and possibly Lithuania and Czech Republic in the summer, but it depends on the COVID-19 restrictions lessening to the point where I would not have to quarantine. Potential events include:
August 20–22: TrutnOFF BrnoON Open Air Festival, Brno, CZ [Czech Woodstock]
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
On Sunday Mahavishnu Swami, Harinama Ruci, and the NYC Harinam tried a brand new venue for us, Brooklyn Bridge Park. Mahavishnu Swami wanted to rest his voice, so Hari of Columbus led the chanting of Hare Krishna most of the time, and I did a bit at the end. We met different favorable people who were willing to chant the Hare Krishna mantra and dance as you can see in this video (https://youtu.be/W5WfzkSY0bA):
At once point while Hari was chanting Hare Krishna, policemen clapped from their passing boat (https://youtu.be/UprzAPMRNLM):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at the Sunday feast program at ISKCON NYC, and attendees circumambulate Srila Prabhupada (https://youtu.be/3CwMO3K8Mv0):
Hari chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/xxzaXjNLgjs):
I chant there as well [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/DaoMdosP43s):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, Premananda Kirtan Prabhu plays trumpet, and devotees dance at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/ea2YseLSjBI):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at ISKCON NYC, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/hzu1_B2FNkg):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and Jason teaches two girls the mantra (https://youtu.be/pmkZJFQvF7k):
Nikunja Bihari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and Jason gets a variety of people to play the shakers in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/w-TkuhyQjj4).
The girl in the white shirt who walks around her two friends later in the video told me that previously she had sat down on our mat and had chanted with us, and she felt so welcomed and completely at home at that time that it brought tears to her eyes.
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna and the unicorn man, who once bought a set of seven hardbound books from the devotees and shared them with his friends, dances (https://youtu.be/PTVzPJ_cg5Q):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and a girl does podcast of herself participating by playing shakers and dancing, which she told one of us was viewed by 300 people, all of whom will derive spiritual benefit from hearing the divine sound (https://youtu.be/GELUQaKiGgA):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Columbus Circle, and Cat, who has a relationship with ISKCON Denver, dances enthusiastically (https://youtu.be/UgCiUmkMBxs):
I chant there as well [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/KljyS2W3UPY):
Sandipani Muni Krishna Prabhu of the UK, who has traveled with Harinama Ruci for years, chants Hare Krishna outside Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/JjMJ0Bow41k):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Atlantic Terminal of LIRR in Brooklyn, and a guy dances (https://youtu.be/gu-RXsISF9M):
Godruma Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on the Thursday night Bhakti Center harinama in the Lower East Side, which was attended by an amazing twenty-four devotees, and customers of the Kavasutra cafe enjoy dancing with the devotees (https://youtu.be/rylivnRrJHM):
Godruma Prana Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna through several Lower East Side outdoor cafes that night, and many cafe customers enjoyed participating by chanting, dancing, waving, smiling, cheering, filming, and playing the tambourine (https://youtu.be/42BL_eDUff0):
Chandrasekhara Swami chants Hare Krishna during Tulasi Puja at ISKCON New York (https://youtu.be/Mo1mDFafe0Y):
I chant Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal of LIRR in Brooklyn [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/eaZC2e09rI8):
Cat of Denver chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/_FFyVX6Hh7I):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with great intensity in Brooklyn, and three devotee ladies dance (https://youtu.be/SJV7BVcgutU):
Later Gopal Campu Prabhu showed her our sapta-rsi set of seven hardbound books, which sells for $50, and she ended up getting one!
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station, near the Brooklyn temple, on a Friday night, and many people, also waiting for the train, chant Hare Krishna and dance. Then we board the A train and continue chanting (https://youtu.be/jcHWBm4EVoE):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna on the A train en route to 42nd St. / Times Square on a Friday night, and a passenger plays shakers (https://youtu.be/Rt_aVcVnkg8):
Then the A train ride became even more lively, and passengers chanted, played shakers, and danced, grateful for the opportunity (https://youtu.be/QUOwE57AfXI):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna in Times Square, and two ladies chant and dance with the devotees (https://youtu.be/6CGQrm8uxkM):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station after chanting in Times Square for two hours on a Friday night and returning to Brooklyn on the A train, and a guy on the platform chants the mantra (https://youtu.be/xf4TC7cn35U):
I made a Facebook Live video of the entire two-hour Friday night harinama in Times Square that was loved by 13 people and shared by 26 people (https://youtu.be/dkBE_T6-AfQ):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park on Saturday, and passersby delight in dancing (https://youtu.be/R0Zl5XwUpkQ):
The girl in the orange, who spoke to me because I was wearing the same color as her, was despondent because of a relationship issue, and she found the chanting really lifted her spirits. Her friend, in the white dress, had seen the devotees chanting on Oxford Street in London, and had a book already.
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park on a Saturday, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/SBx2cHDqIPQ):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and passersby dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/wWrbuGo8a2c):
I also chanted Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park that Saturday [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/DO-BqTL3UdQ):
Jason chants Hare Krishna on the A train to Times Square, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/VFflr3uQ8hY):
Jason chants Hare Krishna at Times Square on a Saturday night, and passersby dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/Zjku1ff4Sgk):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna on the C train after our Saturday night harinama at Times Square, devotees dance, and a passenger plays the shakers the whole journey, accepting “On Chanting Hare Krishna” and invitations to the Ratha-yatra, the restaurant, and the temple (https://youtu.be/mmZoIrjWtJo):
I made a Facebook Live video of the entire two-hour Saturday night harinama in Times Square that was loved by 12 people and shared by 45 people (https://youtu.be/ZIFHhisBers):
Premananda Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at ISKCON New York, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/pRx0lmy3aic):
Premananda Kirtan Prabhu and Monthly Sankirtan Festival devotees chant Hare Krishna at 26 2nd Avenue (https://youtu.be/uJNttU6IVIM):
Premananda Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Lower East Side on the way to Washington Square Park, and several passersby dance with the Monthly Sankirtan Festival devotees (https://youtu.be/ipJpULO6SyQ):
Premananda Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Monthly Sankirtan Festival in Washington Square Park, and park goers dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/YrCtCcx6ZiA):
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, Premananda Kirtan and Godruma Prana Prabhus play trumpet, and a guy and girl play shakers (https://youtu.be/sd_EVFR_n1U):
After the kirtan the guy and girl each bought a Bhagavad-gita from Gopal Campu Prabhu. I was happy as I had asked the guy if he wanted to play an instrument, and he asked if we had a tambourine, and he and his friend played for awhile. It was his thirtieth birthday, and by Krishna’s grace, he chose a great way to celebrate!
Dylan chants Hare Krishna at the base of the Washington Square Arch, which is more peaceful but less trafficked than near the fountain where we usually sing but where we encountered competition this day (https://youtu.be/k-bfzX1x_sQ):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the base of the Washington Square Arch (https://youtu.be/3dls-z6_cKE):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Arch, and Premananda Kirtan Prabhu plays the trumpet (https://youtu.be/sb-3lTPyFho):
Premananda Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Arch, and a group of friends dances (https://youtu.be/VtxzLqkmTcQ):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu also took a video of Premananda Kirtan Prabhu chanting Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/Z15CO9LOxIY):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Arch, and three friends enjoyed playing the shakers and dancing to it so much that after a five-minute break they returned and played the shakers and danced some more! (https://youtu.be/5EXSCrkyKIU):
I also chanted Hare Krishna there at Washington Square Arch [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/2oBeKNPLbTM):
Later another group of friends enjoyed playing the shakers and dancing to Rama Raya Prabhu’s kirtan (https://youtu.be/A4SI13Nedeg):
I chant Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station [video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu] (https://youtu.be/j5qVRcwh56Q):
On Nrsimha-caturdasi, we had a midday abhiseka for a small deity.
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle, and kids play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/pUMkcXjY77k):
Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu chants Radhe Govinda in Washington Square Park, and nearby people dance (https://youtu.be/xCbwE9U_rbc):
Pancaratna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and people nearby play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/9_xmXt1uIm0):
Kalpavrksa Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, Pancaratna Prabhu dances and teaches a passerby the mantra, and a couple plays the shakers (https://youtu.be/r4yxvnoSbGQ):
Later a small girl, and for a while her even smaller sister, played shakers (https://youtu.be/7Od1IBAYwyg):
Ananda Bihari Prabhu, who has supported NYC Harinam since the beginning, chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/iOh_CZNMLkQ):
Champakalata Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna outside Kavasutra Cafe on the Thursday night Bhakti Center harinama, and customers chant and dance, including some I recall from the previous week (https://youtu.be/s8qnr1JgvOw):
That night Champaka chanted through several other cafes, and customers enjoyed chanting Hare Krishna, dancing, and playing the shakers with the party (https://youtu.be/S2Tc0TwCFqo):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station, and an MTA transit employee dances (https://youtu.be/aJNR7QFO-ns):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station, and a guy plays violin (https://youtu.be/9I1hYZxD_RA):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station on a Saturday, and Vraja Mohan Prabhu dances (https://youtu.be/JqjJUjaod9I):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Sunday feast program at Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/rdP_F29Iias):
Vraja Mohan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/ZnsAOBrmrKA):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/f99Oji_R_D4):
Gour Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Sunday feast program at Radha Govinda Mandir in New York City during the evening arati (https://youtu.be/bY_QYsv7zt0):
Chandrasekhara Swami chants Hare Krishna during Mangala Arati at ISKCON New York (https://youtu.be/I_Xnx69UHhQ):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna during Tulasi Puja at ISKCON New York (https://youtu.be/WgMeBfiffnw):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and Jason gets folks of all ages to play shakers and dance, often buying books and accepting Ratha-yatra festival invitations afterward (https://youtu.be/X7rWwLGZONw):
While Kaliya was singing, Jason got three friends to play shakers and dance, and he danced with at least a couple of others (https://youtu.be/KfT-3TJbGYw):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu kept chanting Hare Krishna, and Jason engaged several friends in playing shakers and dancing (https://youtu.be/IRUPjNTsoyk):
While Kaliya was singing, a pink unicorn also played the shakers and danced (https://youtu.be/EvTkitjKhRM):
Rama Raya Prabhu speaks a few words about Bhubanesvara Prabhu, at Washington Square Park, on the occasion of his disappearance (https://youtu.be/icMl84zFG4k):
Srila Prabhupada:
From a letter to Rayarama from Columbus, Ohio, on 17 May 1969:
“My advice to you under the circumstances is that at least for one hour you must all go to have Sankirtana outside on the streets or in the park. That is your life and soul, first business. The next business is completing the chanting of 16 rounds every day. The next business is your editing, and if you find extra time, then you can attend the temple ceremonies. Otherwise you can stop these activities, but outdoor kirtana, your editing work and chanting of 16 rounds must be done. Outdoor kirtana must be done, even at the cost of suspending all editorial work. That is your first and foremost business. Temple worship is not so important. If need be, the whole temple can be locked, but the outdoor kirtana cannot be stopped.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 7.73, purport:
“However, when one chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly, one can realize a transcendental position that is completely aloof from the material conception of life. Rendering service to the Lord, a devotee relates to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in one of five relationships — namely, santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya or madhurya — and thus he relishes transcendental bliss in that relationship. Such a relationship certainly transcends the body and mind. When one realizes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Supreme Person, he becomes completely eligible to chant the holy name of the Lord. Such an ecstatic chanter and dancer must be considered to have a direct relationship with the Lord.”
“Simply addressing the energy of the Supreme Lord as Hare and the Lord Himself as Krishna very soon situates the Lord within the heart of the devotee. By thus addressing Radha and Krishna, one directly engages in His Lordship’s service. The essence of all revealed scriptures and all knowledge is present when one addresses the Lord and His energy by the Hare Krishna mantra, for this transcendental vibration can completely liberate a conditioned soul and directly engage him in the service of the Lord.”
“The holy name and the Lord are identical. One who is completely free from the clutches of maya can understand this fact. This knowledge, which is achieved by the mercy of the spiritual master, places one on the supreme transcendental platform.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 24.37:
“‘My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.’” [Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 14.36].
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 24.38:
“Lord Krishna is so exalted that He is more attractive than anything else and more pleasing than anything else. He is the most sublime abode of bliss. By His own strength, He causes one to forget all other ecstasies.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 24.39:
“Pure devotional service is so sublime that one can very easily forget the happiness derived from material enjoyment, material liberation and mystic or yogic perfection. Thus the devotee is bound by Krishna’s mercy and His uncommon power and qualities.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 24.50:
“[The gopis said:] ‘Dear Krishna, we have simply surrendered ourselves as Your maidservants, for we have seen Your beautiful face decorated with tresses of hair, Your earrings falling upon Your cheeks, the nectar of Your lips, and the beauty of Your smile. Indeed, because we have also been embraced by Your arms, which give us courage, and seen Your chest, which is beautiful and broad, we have surrendered ourselves.’” [From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.39]
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 24.56:
“‘My dear Lord Krishna, where is that woman within the three worlds who would not be captivated by the rhythms of the sweet songs coming from Your wonderful flute? Who would not fall down from the path of chastity in this way? Your beauty is the most sublime within the three worlds. Upon seeing Your beauty, even cows, birds, animals and trees in the forest become stunned in jubilation.’” [From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.40]
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.17, purport:
“Spiritual feelings of happiness and intense ecstasies have no mundane comparison. Therefore it is very difficult to give expression to such feelings.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.18:
“The transcendental form of the Lord, as it is, satisfies the mind’s desire and at once erases all mental incongruities.”
“Purport: That the Lord is not formless is experienced by Narada Muni. But His form is completely different from all forms of our material experience. For the whole duration of our life we go on seeing different forms in the material world, but none of them is just apt to satisfy the mind, nor can any one of them vanish all perturbance of the mind. These are the special features of the transcendental form of the Lord, and one who has once seen that form is not satisfied with anything else; no form in the material world can any longer satisfy the seer.”
“As spiritual beings, having eternal relations with that transcendental form of the Lord, we are, life after life, searching after that form of the Lord, and we are not satisfied by any other form of material appeasement.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.19, purport:
“There is no mechanical process to see the form of the Lord. It completely depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. We cannot demand the Lord to be present before our vision, just as we cannot demand the sun to rise whenever we like. The sun rises out of his own accord; so also the Lord is pleased to be present out of His causeless mercy. One should simply await the opportune moment and go on discharging his prescribed duty in devotional service of the Lord.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.21, purport:
“Sri Narada Muni does not go into the forest, although he can turn every place into Vaikuntha by his presence only. He travels from one planet to another to convert men, gods, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, rsis, munis and all others to become devotees of the Lord. By his activities he has engaged many devotees like Prahlad Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja and many others in the transcendental service of the Lord. A pure devotee of the Lord, therefore, follows in the footsteps of the great devotees like Narada and Prahlad and engages his whole time in glorifying the Lord by the process of kirtana. Such a preaching process is transcendental to all material qualities.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.24, purport:
“Devotional service rendered to the Personality of Godhead never goes in vain. Since the Personality of Godhead is eternal, intelligence applied in His service or anything done in His relation is also permanent. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that such transcendental service rendered unto the Personality of Godhead accumulates birth after birth, and when the devotee is fully matured, the total service counted together makes him eligible to enter into the association of the Personality of Godhead. Such accumulation of God’s service is never vanquished, but increases till fully matured.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.25, purport:
“That the Personality of Godhead was not seen but only heard does not make any difference. The Personality of Godhead produced the four Vedas by His breathing, and He is seen and realized through the transcendental sound of the Vedas. Similarly, the Bhagavad-gita is the sound representation of the Lord, and there is no difference in identity. The conclusion is that the Lord can be seen and heard by persistent chanting of the transcendental sound.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.26, purport:
“The life of a sincere devotee of the Lord is thus explained in a nutshell by Narada Muni by his personal example. Such a devotee, after his initiation by the Lord or His bona fide representative, takes very seriously chanting of the glories of the Lord and traveling all over the world so that others may also hear the glories of the Lord. Such devotees have no desire for material gain. They are conducted by one single desire: to go back to Godhead. This awaits them in due course on quitting the material body. Because they have the highest aim of life, going back to Godhead, they are never envious of anyone, nor are they proud of being eligible to go back to Godhead. Their only business is to chant and remember the holy name, fame and pastimes of the Lord and, according to personal capacity, to distribute the message for others’ welfare without motive of material gain.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.33, purport:
“The Absolute Personality of Godhead is not different from His transcendental name, form, pastimes and the sound vibrations thereof. As soon as a pure devotee engages himself in the pure devotional service of hearing, chanting and remembering the name, fame and activities of the Lord, at once He becomes visible to the transcendental eyes of the pure devotee by reflecting Himself on the mirror of the heart by spiritual television. Therefore a pure devotee who is related with the Lord in loving transcendental service can experience the presence of the Lord at every moment. It is a natural psychology in every individual case that a person likes to hear and enjoy his personal glories enumerated by others. That is a natural instinct, and the Lord, being also an individual personality like others, is not an exception to this psychology because psychological characteristics visible in the individual souls are but reflections of the same psychology in the Absolute Lord. The only difference is that the Lord is the greatest personality of all and absolute in all His affairs. If, therefore, the Lord is attracted by the pure devotee’s chanting of His glories, there is nothing astonishing. Since He is absolute, He can appear Himself in the picture of His glorification, the two things being identical. Srila Narada chants the glorification of the Lord not for his personal benefit but because the glorifications are identical with the Lord. Narada Muni penetrates into the presence of the Lord by the transcendental chanting.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.34:
“It is personally experienced by me that those who are always full of cares and anxieties due to desiring contact of the senses with their objects can cross the ocean of nescience on a most suitable boat — the constant chanting of the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.35:
“It is true that by practicing restraint of the senses by the yoga system one can get relief from the disturbances of desire and lust, but this is not sufficient to give satisfaction to the soul, for this [satisfaction] is derived from devotional service to the Personality of Godhead.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.37, purport:
“Every living being is anxious for full freedom because that is his transcendental nature. And this freedom is obtained only through the transcendental service of the Lord. Illusioned by the external energy, everyone thinks that he is free, but actually he is bound up by the laws of nature. A conditioned soul cannot freely move from one place to another even on this earth, and what to speak of one planet to another. But a full-fledged free soul like Narada, always engaged in chanting the Lord’s glory, is free to move not only on earth but also in any part of the universe, as well as in any part of the spiritual sky. We can just imagine the extent and unlimitedness of his freedom, which is as good as that of the Supreme Lord. There is no reason or obligation for his traveling, and no one can stop him from his free movement. Similarly, the transcendental system of devotional service is also free. It may or may not develop in a particular person even after he undergoes all the detailed formulas. Similarly, the association of the devotee is also free. One may be fortunate to have it, or one may not have it even after thousands of endeavors. Therefore, in all spheres of devotional service, freedom is the main pivot. Without freedom there is no execution of devotional service. The freedom surrendered to the Lord does not mean that the devotee becomes dependent in every respect. To surrender unto the Lord through the transparent medium of the spiritual master is to attain complete freedom of life.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.6.38:
“All glory and success to Srila Narada Muni because he glorifies the activities of the Personality of Godhead, and so doing he himself takes pleasure and also enlivens all the distressed souls of the universe.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6, purport:
“Revival of the dormant affection or love of Godhead does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting, but it solely and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. When the Lord is fully satisfied with the sincere efforts of the devotee, He may endow him with His loving transcendental service. But even with the prescribed forms of hearing and chanting, there is at once mitigation of the superfluous and unwanted miseries of material existence.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.7:
“Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.”
“Purport: The ultimate result of devotional service is to develop genuine love for the Supreme Personality. Love is a word which is often used in relation with man and woman. And love is the only word that can be properly used to indicate the relation between Lord Krishna and the living entities. The living entities are mentioned as prakrti in the Bhagavad-gita, and in Sanskrit prakrti is a feminine object. The Lord is always described as the parama-purusa, or the supreme male personality. Thus the affection between the Lord and the living entities is something like that between the male and the female. Therefore the term love of Godhead is quite appropriate.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.37, purport:
“The highest achievement of perfect civilization is to work with valor but at the same time depend completely on the Lord.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.29, purport:
“Actually every living entity is the marginal potency of the Supreme Lord. In Bhagavad-gita (5.18), therefore, it is explained that one who actually sees the spirit soul does not distinguish between a learned brahmana and a dog, an elephant or a cow. Panditah sama-darsinah: one who is actually learned sees only the living entity, not the outward covering. Differentiation is therefore the result of different karma, or fruitive activities, and when we stop fruitive activities, turning them into acts of devotion, we can understand that we are not different from anyone else, regardless of the form. This is only possible in Krishna consciousness. In this movement there are many different races of men from all parts of the world participating, but because they think of themselves as servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they do not differentiate between black and white, yellow and red.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.52, purport:
“Srila Jiva Gosvami has also cited the Caturmasya-mahatmya of the Skanda Purana concerning the necessity of chanting Hare Krishna in this age:
“tatha caivottamam loke
tapah sri-hari-kirtanam
kalau yuge visesena
vishnu-prityai samacaret
“In this way the most perfect penance to be executed in this world is the chanting of the name of Lord Sri Hari. Especially in the Age of Kali, one can satisfy the Supreme Lord Vishnu by performing sankirtana.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Preface:
“The root cause of our dissatisfaction is that our dormant loving propensity has not been fulfilled despite our great advancement in the materialistic way of life. The Nectar of Devotion will give us practical hints how we can live in this material world perfectly engaged in devotional service and thus fulfill all our desires in this life and the next.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 1:
“Actually, a pure devotee does not aspire after any of these perfections, because the happiness derived from devotional service in Krishna consciousness is so transcendental and so unlimited that no other happiness can compare to it. It is said that even one drop of happiness in Krishna consciousness stands beyond comparison with an ocean of happiness derived from any other activity. Thus, any person who has developed even a little quantity of pure devotional service can very easily kick out all the other kinds of happiness derived from religiousness, economic development, sense gratification and liberation.”
“Srila Rupa Gosvami says that if brahmananda, or the happiness of becoming one with the Supreme, is multiplied by one trillionfold, it still cannot compare to an atomic fraction of the happiness derived from the ocean of devotional service.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 3:
“On account of his association with mahatmas, or great souls one hundred-percent in the devotional service of the Lord, one may attain a little bit of attraction for Sri Krishna. But at the same time one may remain very much attached to fruitive activities and material sense enjoyment and not be prepared to undergo the different types of renunciation. Such a person, if he has unflinching attraction to Krishna, becomes an eligible candidate for discharging devotional service.”
“The wise man is he who has thoroughly understood that he is spirit soul and not simply a body. Because he realizes that he is spirit and Krishna is the supreme spirit, he knows that his intimate relationship should be with Krishna, not with this body.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 4:
“Those who are impersonalists are satisfied by simply being liberated from the material circumstances, but those who are devotees can automatically give up material life and also enjoy the transcendental bliss of hearing and chanting the wonderful activities of Lord Krishna.”
From “Krishna: Such a Nice Friend” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 55, No. 5 (September/October 2021):
[Edited transcript of lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.11 in Geneva on June 2, 1974.]
“We are now entangled. Actually our position in this material existence is not very good. Everyone sees it practically. Still they want to adjust. ‘Let us make it good. Let us make it good.’ That is called punah punas carvita-carvananam: ‘again and again chewing the chewed.’”
“Vairagya means renunciation. You have enough of this material enjoyment. You have enjoyed. Or you have seen that there is no actually profit. . . . That is natural. If one has enjoyed very much, the next stage will be renunciation. This is natural. So because you have got a renouncing spirit, you are understanding or taking Krishna consciousness very nicely, at least, very eagerly.”
“The Pandavas were devotees, but at the same time, they were king. There was attachment. So therefore Krishna took away their everything—their kingdom, their wife, their position, their honor—test him, and still, they did not give up Krishna. Therefore they came out victorious.”
“You are eternal. Why should you hanker after these things which will exist for some few years? You are eternal. Accept the eternal position. That is Krishna consciousness movement.”
“He’s such a nice friend. Although we have left Krishna, Krishna has not left us. Here He is living with Me within my heart to give me advice, ‘Please come back.’”
From a conversation Seattle, Washington, on October 10, 1968:
“These are the subject matters of meditation. But when you come to the point of understanding that ‘I am not this body – I am spirit soul,’ then the next stage will be ‘What is the function of the soul?” That function of the soul is Krishna consciousness, working in Krishna consciousness.”
Vyasadeva:
From “Vyasa-gita” of the Kurma Purana:
“Offending the guru is billions of times worse than offending the Lord. But denying scriptural knowledge and not accepting the authority of the Vedas is ten million times worse than offending the guru.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Caitanya Bhagavata, Adi 1.8, purport:
“As stated in the Padma Purana:
aradhananam sarvesam vishnor aradhanam param
tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarcanam
arcayitva tu govindam tadiyan narcayet tu yah
na sa bhagavato jñeyah kevalam dambhikah smrtah
“‘Of all types of worship, worship of Lord Vishnu is best, and better than the worship of Lord Vishnu is the worship of His devotee, the Vaishnava. 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.’”
“The Mundaka Upanisad (3.1.10) states: tasmad atma-jñam hy arcayed bhuti-kamah – ‘By worshiping the devotees of the Lord, all one’s desires will be fulfilled.’”
“In Madhvacarya’s commentary on the Vedanta-sutras (3.3.47), he quotes the following from the Posayana-srutis: tanupasva tanupacarasva tebhyah srnu hi te tamavantu – ‘Worship the devotees of the Lord, serve the devotees of the Lord, and hear from the devotees of the Lord, for they will protect you.’
“In the Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda, it is stated:
arcayitva tu govindam tadiyan narcayet tu yah
na sa bhagavato jñeyah kevalam dambhikah smrtah
tasmad sarva-prayatnena vaishnavan pujayet sada
sarvam tarati duhkhaugham mahabhagavatarcanat
“‘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. One should always worship the Vaishnavas by all means, for by worshiping the great devotees one is freed from all miseries.’”
From Caitanya Bhagavata, Adi 1.34, purport:
“The word rama means ‘He who makes Krishna enjoy.’ It is therefore understood that since Krishna and Balarama had sported together since Their births, They enjoyed mutual feelings of friendship. The mood of friendship between Krishna and Balarama was particularly prominent in Vraja, while in Dvaraka Balarama acted more in the role of an elder brother.”
From Caitanya Bhagavata, Adi 1.55, purport:
“Even if he be distressed or degraded, any person who chants the holy name of the Lord, having heard it from a bona fide spiritual master, is immediately purified. Even if he chants the Lord’s name jokingly or by chance, he and anyone who hears him are freed from all sins. Therefore how can anyone seeking disentanglement from the material clutches avoid chanting the name of Lord Sesa? Of whom else should one take shelter?”
From Caitanya Bhagavata, Adi 1.64:
“Lord Anantadeva is known as Sesa [the unlimited end] because He alone ends our passage through this material world. By chanting His glories, everyone can be liberated.”
From “Initiation into Spiritual Life,” in Sajjana-toshani, Vol. 16, No. 1:
“Sri Krishna Himself helps us in finding the really good preceptor in two ways. In the first place He instructs us regarding the character and functions of a great preceptor through the revealed sastras [scriptures]. In the second place He Himself sends to us the good preceptor at the right moment when we are at all likely to benefit by his instructions.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Japa Transformation:
“I believe in the chanting because it has been given to me in disciplic succession and because I have chanted for many years with solidity. Chanting is real exchange. Chanting is Krishna Himself. I will never stop chanting, because of my vows and because of the taste I receive. I believe that I have to chant in order to practice for leaving this body and getting a next body favorable to Krishna consciousness. I will never stop chanting because I believe it is the highest form of worship of Krishna. It is easy, and it has been given to us in Kali-yuga as the only means for God-realization. One should never think of stopping. This morning’s chanting was good because I hung in there and did not give up, despite obstacles. The rest of my morning’s chanting at the beach will be even better. I will be determined.”
From Memory in the Service of Krishna:
“I always wanted to be included in the intimate, confidential dealings of Prabhupada, but for my own satisfaction. At least that taint was there. I wanted a special place and recognition. I preferred Prabhupada my way, not his way. The completely surrendered servant does not demand special intimate moments with his master. He does not mind if his master reminds him of his subordinate place by excluding him from certain meetings. The servant waits outside the door with a pure heart, and he goes to fetch other devotees who the master wants to see, and he cleans up the master’s sitting room and workroom and bathroom with equal relish for each task. If the pure servant is reprimanded, he does not become envious of the master who holds the weapon of chastisement. He doesn’t think, ‘This is unfair. I have surrendered to you, and now you are taking advantage.’
“There is a correlation between envy and confidentiality. The disciple who is non-confidential may yearn for what he thinks of as confidential moments, but because he has his own concept of sweet intimate times, and because he rejects and accepts what is good in relation to his guru, he misses out on the dynamics of confidential service.”
From Calling Out to Srila Prabhupada:
“O Srila Prabhupada, the waves of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana were spread by you much further than the waves made directly by Gaura-Nitai, although you are simply extending Their mercy, and your mercy is also the personified grace of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati;
“O Srila Prabhupada, true teacher, who never invented theories to surpass the original truth, but who handed the delicate and delicious mango-truth of Gaudiya Vaisnavism and passed it into the hands of thousands of hungry followers;
“O Srila Prabhupada, transplanter of the tulasi of Krishna consciousness, your personal work continues now and will grow in importance into the twenty-first century and beyond that, as willed by Lord Caitanya;
“O Srila Prabhupada, you are the representative of all bhaktivedantas, but you are an individual, rare soul. You kindly came to the Lower East Side of New York and acted humbly as if it were something not impossible, and yet you performed kirtana and cooked and spoke as no one before or since has done;
“O Prabhupada, where is there purity such as yours? Where is there dedication to guru and Krishna such as yours? Where is there an example of humility and daring such as yours? Where is there an example of such a benefactor as you?
“O Prabhupada, in your absence what can we do? Please enlighten us again, take us by the hand and lead us through the dark of Kali-yuga.
“O Prabhupada, whose followers never tire of praising him because he is their life-breath;
“O Prabhupada, who is like the cow that protects the devotee-calves, and who is like a policeman to catch the Mayavadi thieves by the throats—all glories to your actions in this world;
“O master, whose instructions bind us to the regulative principles of devotional service, whose timely presence in our lives has saved us from descending to painful lower species of life;
“O master, who reinforces the teachings of the previous acaryas, and who says ‘No!’ to illicit desires;
“O Prabhupada, who invites us to the Sunday prasadam feast of many excellent preparations, such as spiced sabjis, tender puris, sweet rice and halava, all prepared personally by him and his servants, and who induces us to ‘Take more!’ until we forget all our wayward desires, being satisfied with krishna-prasadam;
“O Prabhupada, who leads us from event to event, like the gracious host of a festival, who points the way as the leading explorer on the expedition, and who waits for us at the destination in Krishnaloka—may we never lose connection to you.”
From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 3 (A Sojourn in Tapo-bhumi):
“Some people say I’m not a guru. I should agree. But I have to dance. And it’s not a monkey’s dance. There’s no turning back from this basic commitment. I simply have to purify it.”
“Prabhupada is convinced. No doubt other gurus are also convinced in what they say, but he is the one who convinced me. He is my spiritual master. I don’t cling to him sentimentally, but because I know he can help me.”
“When all is said and done, chanting is left. It’s the first and last spiritual practice. It’s what I do.”
From “Vrindavan” in Every Day, Just Write, Volume 3 (A Sojourn in Tapo-bhumi):
“Vrindavan is
my spiritual home. I aspire to die here.
That will be the end of
another ISKCON chapter when
Brahmananda, Satsvarupa, etc., finish up—
the class of ’66 one by one goes
(we hope) to join with Swamiji.
And Vrindavan? Go to Krishna
and His friends if you
have the laulyam,
and that comes after
lives of sincere practice
with His full mercy.”
From “Ahimsa” in Journal and Poems, Book 1:
“1.
Green head, yellow beak,
brown and white shades of down;
better arrayed than any man.
Who made them so?
Why kill them?
What’s the need?
Eat corn with butter, cups of milk,
juicy melons,
soft potatoes cooked by fire—
no need to kill
the cows, the birds,
the innocent.
But you hunt, shoot,
tear out their vitals,
eat their inner parts.
Gliding backwards,
carried by the stream,
graceful on the water,
the duck rides on,
by God’s grace.
But you kill him.
And you too will ride
on the dangerous waters.
“2.
Floating downstream,
swimming deer stroke, fast-moving—
is he being carried away in panic?
Or is it sport?
routine travel?—
I thought it was a log—
a swimming deer!
If you had been here, hunter,
you would have shot him.
But try to understand:
he has a soul as good as you.”
From Japa Walks, Japa Talks:
“Devi dasi also asked me a personal question. She thinks I put a lot of effort into chanting—apparently because I make a big fuss about it. ‘So I would like to ask you, what inspires you?’
“I don’t know if I can call it inspiration, but I have a drive which comes from sastra itself, that doesn’t let me forget the importance of chanting. I find chanting easy. I can’t do everything in Krishna consciousness. For example, I find it difficult to live in close association with other people, to manage their problems or their money. I also find it difficult to confront nondevotees in certain preaching situations. But chanting is easy. Even a child can chant.
“What inspires me? Lord Caitanya’s mercy inspires me. He has given us such easy access to Him through the holy names. I don’t want to turn down the opportunity, even though I don’t get immediate good results. I am inspired to put at least some effort into my chanting and remind myself of its prime importance.
“Also, chanting appeals to me in an aesthetic sense. Maybe I was a monk in my last life—at least I aspired to be a man of prayer. It’s so beautiful—Prabhupada and the acaryas have given us the chance to take up our beads in hand and to repeat again and again the japa of the holy name. Similarly, the congregational singing of kirtana appeals to me. It’s so disarming and wonderful of Krishna to think of such a process! This chanting movement is such a nice movement, and it’s so easily introduced. Therefore, although I don’t get the results I hanker for, whenever I think of chanting, it always appeals to me. It’s always available to me and easy enough to keep trying. No matter how many times I fail, I never think of abandoning the attempt. I am always ready to try again.”
From Prabhupada Meditations, Volume 4:
“Dr. Harvey Cox said, ‘Prabhupada is one in a million.’ He founded the Hare Krishna movement, which continues to grow and establish roots in countries all over the world. It was seen as a near impossible task by other Vaishnava sannyasis, to fulfill Lord Caitanya’s prediction that His name would be known in every town and village of the world. Prabhupada fulfilled the Lord’s prediction. He must be an extraordinary person, someone fully empowered by Krishna, to possess so much pure devotion and determination.”
From My Dear Lord Krishna: A Book of Prayers:
“My dear Lord Krishna . . .
“I am writing to You to thank You for all that You have done for me. You have given me the human form of life and put me in contact with Srila Prabhupada, a pure devotee spiritual master. By Your grace, he accepted me as a disciple and initiated me into the Hare Krishna mantra. He gave me second initiation into the Gayatri mantras, and he awarded me sannyasa, the renounced order of life. He has given me much service unto You in the Krishna consciousness movement. He has planted the bhakti-lata-bija—the seed of devotional service to You—in my heart.
“You have let me live considerably long so far, with many opportunities to serve You. You have given me life and tolerable health. You have always given me a place to live and food to eat. I’ve had to endure some oppression in serving in ISKCON, but You have always given me the resources to tolerate it and the attitude to see the bright side and remain loyal to ISKCON. I have had to deal with some difficult persons, but You have enabled me to survive my relationships with them without intolerable stress. You have given me strength in difficult times.
“You have forgiven me my trespasses, as I have forgiven those who trespassed against me.
“You have given me a growing taste for chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. You have enabled me to write many books in Your service, and You have given me appreciative readers.
“You have allowed me to travel to Mayapur and Vrndavana and live there, although I have encountered difficulties, and You will give me more chances to visit the holy dhamas.
“You have given me knowledge of You, appreciation of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Caitanya-caritamrita, and the ability to grasp the knowledge in these books. And You have given me faith in You and Your pure devotees. I am especially grateful for the faith I have in You as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I love to hear accounts of Your lila and descriptions of knowledge about You—scientific knowledge of the Vedic literature.
“I thank You for implanting hope in me that some day I will go back to Godhead and live with You with a spiritual form in eternity, bliss and knowledge. I repeat: I thank You for giving me Srila Prabhupada as my spiritual master, because he is the hope that I can go back to Godhead. It will be by his mercy, by his recommendation to You.
“I thank You for my friends who serve me and whom I try to serve.
“I thank You for being the most beautiful person in existence, and I thank You for loving Srimati Radharani, who is also the most beautiful person in existence.
“I thank You for being kind to me in my imperfectness. Please always let gratitude pour from me to You for all the wonderful things You are and all the wonderful things You do for me and for all living entities.”
Chandrashekhara Swami:
The material world is bewildering to the devotees, to the demons, to the scientists, to the materialists, etc., but the Vedic description of it explains more about it than any other tradition. Other explanations can describe parts of it nicely but leave gaps.
It is not surprising that people mistake stories about Krishna and Radha to be like the boy-girl stories of the material world because the boy-girl stories of this world are perverted reflections of the pastimes of Krishna and Radha in the spiritual world.
Scientists describe nicely about how light makes impressions on the retina, impulses travel down the optic nerve, and data is processed in different parts of the brain, but our experience of vision, how we see the panoramic seen before us, remains unexplained.
We learn in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that there is no reason for the senses to exist without sense objects and there is no reason for the sense objects to exist without senses.
In the creation of the universe, we encounter the Supreme Lord, the controlling deities of the senses, the sense objects, and the senses.
It is not that humans ascribe a humanlike form to God, but rather just the reverse. We have a form with a head, two hands, and two legs because God does.
When we are children we take pleasure in playing with toys, and when we become adults we are still playing with toys, just different ones. Ideally we become tired of this and decide to use our senses for spiritual advancement rather than just playing with toys.
Gangadhara Pandit happened to pass through Katwa the very day that Lord Caitanya was going to take sannyasa. Seeing Lord Caitanya in His shaved up state, all he could do was say, “Caitanya! Caitanya!” Indeed he chanted “Caitanya!” all the way back to his home, and so much so that people began to call him “Caitanya Das.” He and his wife visited Lord Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri. Lord Caitanya advised them to see Lord Jagannatha, which they did. When they returned, Lord Caitanya told them they would have a child, which is what they actually wanted although they they had not mentioned it. That child, the Lord said, would be a great devotee, Srinivasa Acarya.
Jiva Goswami played the role of gathering together the teachings of Rupa and Sanatana Goswami so they could be presented in an organized way to the people of the world.
When discussing the talks between Lord Caitanya and Ramananda Raya Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada explains that the varnasrama system deals with morality and ethics and it is possible to follow it without actually advancing in devotion to the Supreme Lord.
If one gives a portion to Krishna while he goes on with the mentality of enjoying the material world, that is also not sufficient.
Lord Caitanya rejects sarva-dharma parityaja because if one gives up all his activities to engage in Krishna’s service all of a sudden, he may not be able to maintain that level of renunciation.
Lord Caitanya rejects jnana-misra bhakti as it may be influenced by one’s own speculation or that of others.
Jnana can mean to know something as it is or jnana can be mean knowledge acquired by speculation.
From a comment on my class: Pam Reynolds had a well known near death experience when her body was frozen during brain surgery.
Devamrita Swami:
From a Zoom lecture on Nrsimha Caturdasi in Brooklyn:
Srila Prabhupada said that for us Nrsimhadeva means three things:
1. protection of the devotees
2. protection of the guru
3. protection of the society of devotees
The devotion of Prahlad is exalted by the fact that none of the great demigods could pacify Lord Nrsimha in His angry mood but Prahlad could.
The benedictions offered by Lord Nrsimha that were rejected by Prahlad:
1. material opulence
2. liberation from material existence
3. liberation as an eternal servant in his spiritual form
Lord Nrsimha is about affection, and He is also about terror. In this form both are manifest in a big way.
Obstacles, if you have not noticed, are always part of our material existence.
We have Lord Nrsimha to protect us from these impediments.
Lord Nrsimha also protects us from fear.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura speaks of rolling on the ground at Nrsimha Palli begging for unconditional love of Krishna. He offers five prayers to the Lord:
1. Within my sinful heart the six enemies headed by lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire for fame plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimha I hope that He will mercifully purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada says Hiranyakasipu the personification of material desire.
2. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimha for the benediction of worshiping Radha and Krishna in Navadvipa perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari, whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show me His mercy.
3. Even though Lord Nrsimha is terrifying toward the sinful souls He offers great auspiciousness unto the devotees of Lord Krishna headed by Prahlad Maharaj. When will he be pleased to speak words of compassion unto me, a worthless fool and thereby make me fearless.
4. He will say, “Dear child! Sit down freely and live happily here and Sri Gauranga Dhama. May you nicely worship the Divine Couple, and may you develop loving attachment for their holy names. By the mercy of My devotee, all obstacles are cast far away. With a purified heart just perform the worship of Radha and Krishna, for such worship overflows with sweet nectar.”
5. Saying this, will that Lord delightedly place his own divine lotus feet upon my head? Suddenly I will experience sublime love with the Divine Couple Radha-Krishna and undergo the ecstatic transformations called sattvika. Falling on the ground, I will roll about by the door of Sri Nrsimha’s temple.
How is that it say the favor bestowed on Prahlad was not given to the Lord’s eternal associates in Vaikuntha up to Laksmi? Because Prahlad had to risk so much to maintain his devotional service in the association of his demoniac father.
Although we may call ourselves Nrsimha bhaktas and wear Nrsimha T-shirts, for us, Nrsimha is protecting us from obstacles in our devotional service to Radha Krishna.
When Prahlad prays to Lord Nrsimha to be free from the demoniac desire for fruitive activities in this material world, Srila Prabhupada explains that means freedom from the desire to achieve happiness through material activities.
It is amazing about bhakti that the greatest devotee really feels that he is nothing.
Giriraj Swami:
Srila Prabhupada emphasized that brahmana means very clean, both internally and externally. Take three baths daily or at least two.
They say you must cover your hand when you chant gayatri, but there is a picture of Srila Prabhupada doing gayatri without his hand covered.
It is also said you should not chant gayatri in a moving vehicle, but sometimes you cannot avoid it.
Mahavishnu Swami:
As a kid I went to a Christian church. I did not know who God was. That was my problem. I knew who Jesus was. He was a preacher, and he talked about his father and some things about the soul. I recall he said, “What value is it if I gain the whole world but lose my immortal soul.”
We are not free in this world. We are conditioned at every moment.
Radha Govinda are incarnations who have descended from another realm.
We can try to make our home in this place of birth and death, or we can inquire how we can attain the eternal realm.
Radha and Govinda are the original female and male. Krishna and Radharani are childhood sweethearts.
In Srila Prabhupada’s books we learn who God is. We learn what the Bible could not give us, what the Koran could not give us, what the Torah could not give us, etc.
How is this a secret? We are chanting Hare Krishna on the streets. What is secret about it? God is revealed according to our love. That is why it is a secret.
In the spiritual world there is no pollution, no radiation, no disease.
We have the disease of material life. This chanting of Hare Krishna is a way of becoming immortal.
Many people like to chant to Hare Krishna. We have been going to South America, Mexico, Miami, and New York. We see there are people everywhere who like to chant Hare Krishna.
Q: Is it true that your family also goes with you to the spiritual world?
A: No, it is not true if they are not qualified. Dhruva, when he was boarding a airplane to the spiritual world was anxious that his mother also come for she was his siksa-guru, and she was able to. If one is a pure devotee, it is said many generations of your forefathers are delivered.
If we take complete shelter of Krishna, then Krishna looks after our obligations.
The Pandavas had so many obligations, but by Krishna’s mercy they were victorious.
The fish in the fish bowl are limited in so many ways. What can they understand about life outside their environment? But are we any different? We are also restricted in so many ways, and we cannot understand what is going on beyond our purview.
Even important people do not understand their constitutional position.
As tatastha-sakti, the marginal energy of Krishna, we are like grains of sand on the beach, sometimes covered by the water and sometimes covered by the air.
Racism is a big problem in the world, but it could be solved if people would read Srila Prabhupada’s books.
There is truth in the Bible that God created, but in the Srimad-Bhagavatam we learn in great detail how He created.
We used to think that psychedic drugs expanded our mind, but Srila Prabhupada’s purports open our eyes to the great wonder of creation.
The Lord is such a great person that universes are coming from His pores like bubbles.
COVID is just one disease. What about all the other diseases?
The Bhagavatam gives us the big picture.
The Hare Krishna movement is bringing a spiritual renaissance through the chanting of the holy names.
America is a wonderful nation in that “In God we trust.” is written on the money.
Why are we fighting if it all belongs to God?
Q: I heard that you donated your inheritance to put on the 1973 London Ratha-yatra. Can you say anything about Srila Prabhupada’s reaction to that?
A: A brahmacari should think that everything belongs to his guru anyway. He does not have private property. When Srila Prabhupada heard about it, he said, “He spent his aunt’s money well.” The Guardian said the Ratha-yatra was rival to the Nelson column. In his travels Srila Prabhupada several times spoke of defeating Lord Nelson.
From my perspective the controversy between sannyasis and grhasthas during Srila Prabhupada’s time which practically consumed a whole GBC meeting was caused because of putting ashram as a concern before the mission.
Srila Prabhupada’s concentration on his mission enabled him to cut through his disciples’ preoccupation with distractions.
One cannot take the relationship with one’s guru like just another relationship that one can take casually.
When people read Srila Prabhupada’s books they are amazed that a person could write so many books with such realization.
The analogies in Srila Prabhupada come alive in India, such as the camel enjoying eating the thorns mixed with his own blood.
God is everything we know and everything we do not know.
We, as it is said in the book distribution slogan, live to give.
Everyone in the material world is crying out for help, but only the devotees can hear it. They may not be literally crying, but we can see it in their actions.
There is a special transcendental relationship between Srila Prabhupada and New York.
Q: You say we are about the holy name. But people say these people just give you a book and take your money. What to do?
A: If they think it is all about money, then give them a pamphlet and give them prasadam, and they will come around again.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
The tendency of the conditioned living entity to usurp the position of God is demonstrated in that the scientists are determining the point when the fetus becomes alive rather than accepting God’s opinion that life begins at conception.
In Bhagavad-gita Krishna is trying to get Arjuna to act in a certain way, and ultimately to abandon various misconceptions of dharma and act according to His direction.
When one reads Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6 one can understand this is the absolute truth: “The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.”
These books of Srila Prabhupada are useful to give people knowledge of their eternal spiritual identity.
We can explain by our practical experience that by approaching a spiritual master, inquiring from him, and rendering service unto him we can become enlightened.
We used to make life members by showing BBT videos like the old “Hare Krishna People” films. We had projector called a Fairchild that was like a briefcase with a screen that popped up.
Without Srila Prabhupada’s presence small problems tend to become bigger than they should be.
Knowing what is to be done and knowing what is not to be done is evidence we are in the mode of goodness.
The memory that must be preserved is that at the time of initiation we have taken a vow to serve the spiritual master in all circumstances.
When we encounter people with a different view, we can present the truth that we have heard according to our realization, and in this way give them additional knowledge by which they can make an informed decision.
If you have read Bhagavad-gita and you are convinced, you should preach.
In 1976 when Srila Prabhupada came to New York City, we could not rent a car to pick him up because we did not have a credit card, so we had to somehow find a suitable car. My father had a brand new car, so I thought maybe we could use his car. Jayananda Prabhu was going to drive the proposed rental car, but when we used my father’s car I was planning to drive. Jayananda, who worked as a cab driver for years, insisted, “Hansa, I have to drive the car.” So, I let him.
We do not do self-denigration in Krishna consciousness but self awareness.
We have to understand that we know nothing. Otherwise we will see the whole universe through our polluted consciousness.
There is no pessimism in Krishna consciousness for one who is serious.
Along with the order of the spiritual master all the facility is given to execute it.
Jayananda Prabhu was good at making people feel comfortable with Krishna consciousness.
Jayananda Prabhu’s personality preached more than anything he could say.
You don’t get a second chance at first impressions.
What is there that keeps us from being fully surrendered to the order of the spiritual master? That we have to ask ourselves.
The first task we give people at the temple is to wash pots. That separates serious people from casual people.
The pandemic is what it is. But as we all know, the Supreme Lord has His own plan, and we are waiting to see that manifest.
This is the 50th anniversary of the installation of the small deities of Lord Jagannatha in Henry Street temple in 1971.
Nagaraja Prabhu:
From “The Self-Evident Vedas” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 55, No. 5 (September/October 2021):
“When we read the Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and other books that Prabhupada gave us, we discover so much information about God and the nature of reality that dismissing it as mere conjecture becomes difficult. The picture is just too complete. We get to the point, often quite quickly, where we have to say, “This must be true.” Prabhupada’s full faith in the message, revealed in his purports, no doubt nourishes our conviction.
“Even with non-theological topics, a reader can often sense when an author is speaking with authority, demonstrating mastery of the subject. A similar response awaits any openminded person who carefully reads Srila Prabhupada’s books.
It’s unfortunate that many people today find it difficult to read books, but there’s still hope for them. They can receive the information revealed in Prabhupada’s books in other ways and in easily digestible doses. And besides the book Bhagavatam, there are exemplars of the Bhagavatam, ‘book bhagavatas,’ who embody its truths and can thus inspire conviction in its unerring words.”
Pancaratna Prabhu:
For me, verses like this, Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.18, raise more questions than they answer.
Srila Prabhupada would speak of the ‘so-called scientists.’ He would also use other terms which I do not have authority to use.
Here we have a description of gradual evolution, not of evolution of species, but evolution of the ingredients making up the bodies of the living beings.
The descriptions of the evolution spoken of by the scientists does not include the ‘controlling deities’ which the Srimad-Bhagavatam mentions.
My relatives have a gigantic fish tank. One of them was describing the eating of the fish, the sleeping of the fish, and the mating of the fish. I made the point that if we are simply absorbed in these things, how are we better off than the fish? When we begin to question beyond this, then we can be said to have begun our human life.
We perceive the adhyatmic, namely our self, and we perceive the adhibhautic, the world around us, but who among us can perceive the adhidaivic, the controlling deity?
We are residing in our bodies, which are like machines, and they break down, and we try to repair them, but we cannot do it.
There is a lifetime of inquiry to understand this material in the Srimad-Bhagavatam description of creation and to appreciate the living force in all aspects of existence.
We ignore the controlling deities of this world because we cannot perceive them, but they do not ignore us.
People who want power in this world take up processes to link them with these controlling deities, which are described in the Vedic literature, but the result is that they will continue to accept temporary material bodies for continued material existence.
Thus the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s message is that we are eternal servants of Krishna, and with the help of a guru, we can transcend the control of the controlling deities attain the eternal spiritual realm.
The idea of the devas [the controlling deities] is known in all cultures.
From a conversation with NYC Harinam devotees about follow up:
I inquired from a professional about improving our reputation in NYC in the 1970s. He said, “You are famous for always asking people for things. You should do something where you just present and you do not ask for anything.” So we did that. We would cook papadams on the spot and give them out for free. We would not come up to people and hand them things, but wait until they came up to us.
Visakha Dasi:
From “Longing for Our Distant Home” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 55, No. 5 (September/October 2021):
“The dire social, political, economic, and environmental situations we’re confronted with in this world are absent in Krishna’s world.”
“In other words, since Krishna, or God, has created everything, everything is related to Him and everything belongs to Him. Naturally He is the proprietor of everything, and therefore everything is rightfully engaged in His service. With this understanding we realize that our business is to use whatever the Lord has kindly provided in the service of the Lord. And we understand that the results of our activities are beyond our control; the result of what we do is up to the Lord. In other words, a person with the enjoying/renouncing mood acts according to the dictates of his or her material body and mind, but a person with this understanding knows that the body and mind are Krishna’s property and should therefore be engaged in His service. With this mentality – of endeavoring for Krishna – we go beyond the enjoying/renouncing mood and become less and less affected by the goings on in the material realm, just as the lotus leaf, though lying in the water, is not wet.”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
It is Srila Prabhupada’s genius that he was able to make it seem cool to a whole generation to go completely against what everyone else was doing by renouncing intoxication and illicit sex.
Srila Prabhupada quoted many times Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1: “Prahlad Maharaj said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life — in other words, from the tender age of childhood — to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.” He stressed the importance of taking care of the children born to devotee parents.
It is an important point that material education is not required to understand bhakti.
“Material education is infected by the three modes of nature, but spiritual education, for which there is a great need in human society, is transcendental.” (From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6, Chapter Summary)
One of the most important prayers of Prahlad in pacificing Nrsimha is Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.43: “O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.”
Radha and Krishna, and Their associates are absorbed in Their pastimes, and may not respond to devotees’ prayers, but Lord Nrsimha is very eager to protect the devotees from all obstacles.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura prays to Nrsimhadeva to be able to render service to Radha and Krishna without disturbance in the land of Navadvipa.
The pure devotee knows all the arguments of the nondevotees.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says the idea of seeing God with our imperfect mental speculation is as foolish as using a lantern to find the sun in the nighttime.
We can take inspiration from the dedication of the materialists in their service to maya and aspire to be as dedicated to the Lord’s service.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura likens one who does not accept the mercy of the Supreme Lord, which is spread everywhere and is open to everyone, to a person who cannot take advantage of the sunlight because he remains indoors.
The spiritual master has lowered the rope of his instructions into the material well we have fallen into. We simply have to grab that rope by taking those instructions seriously.
Nikunjabihari Prabhu (Shobhamayi’s husband):
It is Kali-yuga. When the coronavirus goes away, another disease will come.
Gauranga Darsana Prabhu:
From “Srimad-Bhagavatam: The Book Form of Lord Krishna” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 55, No. 5 (September/October 2021):
“The Twelfth Canto corresponds to the head of Lord Krishna and describes the topic of nirodha, or destruction. There are four types of destruction (pralaya), namely nitya pralaya, the constant deterioration of material objects that happens at every moment; naimittika pralaya, the destruction of planets at the end of Brahma’s day; prakrtika pralaya, destruction of universe at the end of Brahma’s life; an yantika pralaya, the final destruction of the conditioned soul’s false ego, thus causing the soul’s liberation. In comparison to these great destructions or changes, the small losses we experience in the material world, including death, are insignificant.”
“The authenticity and supremacy of the Bhagavatam are acknowledged in other Puranas as well. For instance, the Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 193.3) states:
puranesu tu sarvesu
srimad-bhagavatam param
giyate bahudharsibhih
“‘The Srimad-Bhagavatam, in whose every word Lord Krishna is praised in many ways by the sages, is the topmost among all Puranas.’”
“The study of the Bhagavatam done in line with the explanations of bona fide Vaisnava acaryas gives the sincere reader an unparalleled understanding of the Absolute Truth, which is not possible by one’s own speculative efforts. In fact, it is Lord Krishna Himself who speaks through the disciplic succession to enlighten the serious students of the Bhagavatam. Fortunate are those people who effectively use their valuable time to relish this condensed nectar even slightly.”
Jaya Jagannatha Prabhu:
Without intelligence we cannot perceive anything, and thus we are dependent on the Lord who has supplied us intelligence.
The living entity cannot do anything independently. He can only think of doing something independently.
Although we are very much conditioned physiologically, psychologically, and sociologically, we can still choose to go in another way. If we could not choose another way, then what value would the scriptures have, as they are always advising what choices to make?
Persons who claim to be independent have to demonstrate that.
People say things like “I will always be there for you.” But only someone who is completely independent can give such shelter. Thus the only real shelter is Krishna.
Sadhus give shelter by directing people to take shelter of Krishna.
Comment by Gopal Campu Prabhu: I was hearing Srila Prabhupada saying that the fragrance of the flowers regulates the life airs.
In their aversion to God, the scientists have become averse to God’s nature, but that is not wise because they are dependent on nature, and by figting nature they are putting themselves and everyone else in difficulty.
Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi:
From “The Royalty of Loyalty” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 55, No. 5 (September/October 2021):
“According to a recent survey of married couples conducted by a global dating website, 86% men and 79% women don’t feel that marital infidelity is morally wrong.”
“I have a vivid childhood memory of my mother reciting the following story to me at bedtime. I’ve always treasured the story, originally told by Bhismadeva to Yudhisthira.
“In a forest near Kashi lived a giant tree with its branches spread around for miles and towering over all other vegetation. The glorious tree gave shelter to many living creatures. Monkeys swung from its strong branches and joyfully jumped around, chattering with delight as they relished its succulent fruits. The green foliage was accented with myriad colors as birds of all varieties fluttered around and built nests on its branches. Rabbits gleefully made burrows under its shade and lived with their families. Squirrels scampered with excitement and sheltered in the holes of its trunk while lizards and snakes crawled beneath the tree and into the burrows around the roots, seeking shade from the blistering sun. Bees and ants built their homes in the tree, occupied in their toil and confident of their tomorrow. All these living creatures were secure and happy under the protection of the tree.
“One day a hunter accidentally launched a poisoned arrow into the trunk of the tree while chasing his prey. The leaves fell, the fruits and flowers withered away, and the branches slouched. All the inhabitants of the tree ran away as soon as they smelled trouble. Insects stumbled upon each other in a rush to abandon their protector. Birds flew away to take shelter of neighboring trees.
“But one parrot refused to leave the tree, his shelter, even in its tragic condition. Everyone tried to persuade him to leave for his wellbeing. But having lived in the tree hollow all his life, the parrot refused to join the exodus. Out of affection, loyalty, gratitude, and compassion, He was just not ready to abandon the tree.
“Krishna always notices the noble acts of His creatures. He was amazed by the parrot’s conduct and surprised that a small bird could have such divine traits when humans fail to have them. He appeared in front of the bird in the guise of a priest to test him further and advised him to leave the tree.
“The Lord said, ‘There are many excellent trees in this forest, covered with leaves and heavily laden with fruit. Exercising discrimination and wisdom, O patient one, abandon this unqualified tree that is incapable of producing any good.’
“The bird replied, ‘This is the place where I was born. Here in this tree I gained all the good traits of my character, and here I took shelter from all my enemies and natural hazards. Should I now abandon the one who has always been my support? The Vedas themselves teach us to honor our mother, father, and guru like God. This tree has been all to me. Should I abandon it now?’
“Pleased by the bird’s explanation, Lord Krishna revealed His identity and offered the virtuous parrot a boon. With tearful eyes the parrot pleaded, ‘Please save the tree!’ The Lord sprinkled the tree with divine nectar. Its branches were immediately laden with fresh green leaves and delectable fruits. It regained its grandeur through the penance of the parrot. Thus we see that the tree was saved because a small bird had a sense of gratitude toward his benefactor.
“The parrot fulfilled his debt to the tree, showing the highest level of loyalty, and at the end of his life won the eternal companionship of God through his act of compassion and sacrifice.”
“If we are unable to see God in the one who has of the great virtue of loyalty, then we can never see God anywhere.”
Gopal Campu Prabhu:
Seeing we are always hampered by one of the threefold miseries, an intelligent person should conclude that he is controlled by a higher power.
This detailed knowledge of how we are controlled is to convince us that we are not independent.
Our attempts to control in the material world will be frustrated because there is always someone higher than oneself.
Comment by Mahavishnu Swami: There was a guy dying on the platform at Howrah [across the Ganges River from Kolkata in India]. Acyutananda Swami told him, “You are dying. Chant Hare Krishna.” He said no and asked for a cigarette. At least he got to hear the holy name at the end of life.
Jitendra Savanur:
From “A Superior Definition of Mukti” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 55, No. 5 (September/October 2021):
“Material activity can be likened to the negative axis on a graph, and impersonal liberation to zero. But there is also the positive axis, which is devotional service to the Supreme Lord with the awareness of the soul’s eternal relationship with Him.”
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This is one of my favorite verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Hansarupa Prabhu mentioned it in one class this month, saying that it is easy to see that it is absolute truth. One reason I like it is that it is a very liberal definition of dharma that practically any monotheistic tradition could accept. Another is that it gives a clue why were are dissatisfied. Generally people imagine they are dissatisfied because they do not have enough sense gratification. Everyone is thinking if I had this money, this property, this boy, this girl, this cat, this dog, etc., then I would be happy. No one is thinking the cause of their dissatisfaction is that their service to the Supreme Lord is either motivated by some material goal or else it is interrupted. Because we are souls, who are part of God and eternally servants of God, we can be only completely satisfied by unmotivated, uninterrupted service to Him. Thus this verse reveals the cause of our ultimate satisfaction and the cause of our present dissatisfaction!
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6)
