Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 18, No. 11
By Krishna Kripa Das
(June 2022, part one)
NYC and London
(Sent from Paris, France, on June 20, 2022)
Where I Went and What I Did
The beginning of June was very intense in New York City. We were preparing for Ratha-yatra, and devotees were coming from all the world. Kadamba Kanana Swami, who vowed to come to New York City four months a year for four years to help develop the project, came, and on June 1 he announced to the devotee community that he had fourth-stage cancer and only several months to a year and a half to live. Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci were there as well as Radhanath Swami, Sacinandana Swami, and Sri Prahlada and Madhava Prabhus. I did harinama with Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party for four hours each day except for Sundays when I chanted with Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci by Brooklyn Bridge and once with The Bhakti Center party at Washington Square Park as well.
I promised I would pass out a thousand invitations to the Ratha-yatra, and I did over 1,600. The New York Ratha-yatra, according ISKCON NYC temple president Hansarupa Prabhu, was the biggest since the first one in 1976, which was personally attended by Srila Prabhupada. But there was much more than Ratha-yatra. The day before there were initiations by Vaisesika Prabhu and Kadamba Kanana Swami, a program at Tompkins Square Park by the Bhakti Center, featuring Radhanath Swami, and a Hare Krishna Festival by NYC Harinam at Times Square. Then the day after Ratha-yatra there was the 50th anniversary of the installation of Radha-Govinda festival, initiations by Sacinandana Swami at the Bhakti Center, harinama with Harinama Ruci by the Brooklyn Bridge, and a kirtan program at Radha Govinda Mandir for the afternoon and evening. It was not physically possible to attend all of it. After New York City I flew to London and chanted one afternoon with Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci there, accompanied by Vayu Prabhu, who I sang with in Miami in May and Urugaya Prabhu, who I sang with in Mayapur in March, as well as Ananta Nitai Prabhu, who I chanted with many times in Dublin.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and I share excerpts from the writings of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share excerpts from the text of Caitanya-Bhagavat by Vrindavan Das Thakura and its commentary by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I also share notes on classes by Candrasekhara Swami, Guru Prasad Swami, Mahavishnu Swami, Sacinandana Swami, Hansarupa Prabhu, Pancharatna Prabhu, Vaisesika Prabhu, Kadamba Kanana Swami, Rama Raya Prabhu, Radha Jivan Prabhu, Navina Nirada Prabhu, as well as an interesting realization shared by Tripada Prabhu. I also share in an separate section notes on many remembrances of ISKCON history from the first half of the Radha-Govinda 50th Anniversary Festival.
I would like to thank Atmanivedana and Rupachandra Prabhus for their very generous donations. Thanks also to Jaya Govinda Prabhu, Gaurav, and the two devotees who gave me donations on Ratha-yatra for their merciful contributions. Thanks to Jeff Blair for unlocking the phone he gave me so I can use it in Europe and for volunteering to pay for my French phone plans for the next two months. I get by with a little help from my friends!
Itinerary
June 15–August 16: Paris harinamas with the following exceptions
[July 1: travel to Wroclaw
July 2: Wroclaw Ratha-yatra
July 3: Prague Ratha-yatra
July 4: travel to Paris
July 8: flight to Manchester
July 9–10: Birmingham 24-hour Kirtan
July 11: flight to Beauvais]
August 17: Flight to USA
August 18–21: Observe Janmastami and Vyasa-puja and travel to Florida
August 22–September ?: Tallahassee, Gainesville, Tampa harinama and outreach
September ?–21: Syracuse harinama
September 22?–September 25: Philadelphia harinamas and Ratha-yatra
September 26–November 22: NYC Harinam
November 23–December 14: three weeks of service to Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
December 14–January ?, 2023: NYC Harinam
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
With more and more devotees arriving for Ratha-yatra the kirtans at the Radha Govinda temple programs became more and more lively.
Here Harinamananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/5P8CUvFANT0):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Jaya Radha Madhava and Hare Krishna at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/P0H9eRNEmHk):
Arjunananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/qreC9ef9HKA):
Radhika chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/Znc7KAGMqO0):
Hari chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and a Mexican girl plays a Mexican drum (https://youtu.be/nzetv-9eckE):
It started raining at Washington Square Park, so we had to relocate. I led a walking harinama through the park and on the subway to Times Square. I like to do that because I can keep the chanting going steadily despite the different challenges of swiping Metrocards, and entering and leaving subway cars, whereas sometimes others get distracted and the chanting is not continuous.
Here Jaya Jagannath Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/Gdmz6Fgktpg):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and passersby dance (https://youtu.be/LVoEVG7V6JM):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and passersby and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/sfRcy4Ujb4I):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Tulasi Kirtan at Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/4iR84kcdxWM):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal, and a passerby dances (https://youtu.be/5_2edM-hOS8):
Nate chants Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/S9H-WFSCgkg):
A mother and her son dance to the Hare Krishna chant (https://youtube.com/shorts/Mo6Cwx517DQ):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn as a storm begins (https://youtu.be/Nmo-9JPDNKg):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna at Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/9RgTXujQ2eY):
“O son of Kunti [Arjuna], one who becomes joyful upon seeing a person who is inclined to chant the holy names of the Lord will also go back to Godhead and enjoy the association of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, My advice is that you go on chanting My holy names with firm determination, because one who is attached to chanting My holy names is very dear to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Adi Purana, quoted in Hari-bhakti-vilasa 11.470–471)
Here are several photos of people happy to see the devotees chanting the holy names in Washington Square Park one day:
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna at mangala-arati at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/4nzuYmNEg6o):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station, and guys chant and dance (https://youtu.be/fqph1HKPhcc):
When we got to Times Square, we discovered that on Saturdays they have a market, with many vendors on both sides of the street, which continues northward a few blocks past 50th Street, so we decided to chant there.
Here Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna at Times Square Market, and four people chant and dance (https://youtu.be/kQjsC7MdOiE):
While chanting Hare Krishna with Mahavishnu Swami, Harinama Ruci, and NYC Harinam on market day in Times Square, I gave the girl on the right a Ratha-yatra invitation and Vedran Hajsok sold her Science of Self-Realization. Later she asked me, “Were you ever in Tallahassee?” I explained that I chant in Tallahassee behind the FSU library in the winter. She just graduated from FSU in International Relations with a concentration in religion. She and her vegetarian sister on the left, who lives in NYC, were happy to hear about our Govinda’s Restaurant and Sunday feast with singing, dancing, philosophy and vegetarian food, all of which they like.
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant in Times Square, and people chant and dance (https://youtu.be/5Lit0-WFVXc):
Harinamananda Prabhu and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna on the New York City subway on the way back to the train from our harinama in Times Square (https://youtu.be/hfOCyUNN11Q):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at mangala-arati at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/bxcenLmNwhU):
Harinamananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Tulasi Kirtan at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/W33V44RMDM8):
Harinamananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/04GlsRYPr98):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna on Schermerhorn Street, at the other end of the block from the temple, and a couple chants and dances (https://youtu.be/optl87KTE2k):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and girls chant and dance (https://youtu.be/Wkhi5_en82A):
Mike on the right, who met Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci on harinama at Brooklyn Bridge Park that day, said he knew Hare Krishna from Krishna Lunch at UF.
He introduced me to Natalie and Sebastian, also Krishna Lunchers. They all remembered Adikarta Prabhu and Hanan. I recalled Adikarta said he was so successful at book distribution because he never takes no for an answer. They laughed when I said that, especially Mike. I invited them to Govinda’s in Brooklyn to keep them connected with Krishna prasadam.
Harinamananda Prabhu and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and a group of kids enjoy chanting and dancing with them (https://youtu.be/stHlGR7Wd-Q):
Harinamananda Prabhu and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna by Brooklyn Bridge, and two kids chant and dance (https://youtu.be/KeMpgs_dGtk):
Anusuya Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and Krishna House ladies dance (https://youtu.be/QTZHZX0VVRw):
Janaki Devi Dasi of Krishna House in Gainesville chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/7Wis8Flqh8o):
Murari Gupta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and a lady who had studied dance felt inspired to demonstrate her skills (https://youtu.be/yY74QBIc_74):
Pancharatna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and both male and female devotees dance (https://youtu.be/2jSNd3beGQI):
Vraja Mohan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/KUDaSMhIkLg):
While Pancharatna Prabhu led the chanting, passersby also danced (https://youtu.be/krtRxME9LwQ):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and passersby and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/QZISGDVx2KM):
A dog dances as Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/u0kLSMNO6m0):
A Peruvian lady wearing an orange dress, dances to the Hare Krishna chant of Rama Raya Prabhu, following the lead of the brahmacaris (https://youtu.be/Thh36dHNv3U):
Even between singers the chanting of Hare Krishna continued with enthusiasm at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/uhE5_MbScok):
Keshav chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/qOJh_wWtY6c):
Keshav chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and passersby and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/5Ex8sl9DUV8):
Keshav chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and passing musicians play along (https://youtu.be/HHcTJQZlMxU):
Bhakta Dylan chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/IvI-CcFtrL4):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/OU5XkLjrbkQ):
Hadai Prana Prabhu (also known as Hari Ramesh) chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and a lady has a great time dancing (https://youtu.be/hP4KQenjyIA):
Lady dancer scares away a male dancer as Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/niGgRFBoa-0):
Sakshi Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/oe4MqEcIgrU):
Deva Damodara Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at Radha Govinda Mandir, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/v7KSoWnZrqQ):
While Isana Thakura Dasa Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna, the lady dancer wearing white recognized me from when she danced with us last year [see https://youtu.be/R0Zl5XwUpkQ below]:
Then she said her sister was dressed in orange, and the whole rest of the day after dancing with us was magical. Her sister had said the chanting really lifted her spirits. Although we invited her to Ratha-yatra last year, she never came, but she promised she would definitely come this year (https://youtu.be/Kt5LA3WcAQ8):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and a passerby and a devotee dance (https://youtu.be/XZZeCEFpXWo):
Madhava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/xiWAsOs0tPM):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Tulasi Kirtan at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/NkeXcexEhEw):
Radhika chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and two devotee ladies dance (https://youtu.be/CzgM8hQ7haA):
Acyuta Gopi chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/GV1DB4V-63I):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, a guy plays bass, and a lady plays violin (https://youtu.be/9j_xQbxDyRA):
Keshav chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/OJksoBjpjUs):
The day before Ratha-yatra was very intense. Beginning at 8 a.m. there were initiations by Vaisesika Prabhu and Kadamba Kanana Swami.
Radhanath Swami attended part of that initiation event, and I spoke to him very briefly. I asked him to pray for my mother that she attains Lord Caitanya’s full mercy. He said, “Tell her I send her my love.”
[In Hartford at the Sunday Feast, my mother heard him first tell the story of Dorothy, the lady with cancer who freaked out when her flight was delayed and who Radhanath Swami calmed by his words and the Hare Krishna mantra. The incident happened that very day, and his lecture was delayed because of the flight. My mother also read his two books.]
During the initiation, some enthusiastic helpers in the ISKCON NYC pujari department received initiation. Hari Ramesh, of our harinama party, received from Vaisesika Prabhu, the name Hadai Prana Dasa.
Next there was a program at the Hare Krishna Tree at Tompkins Square Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. which was organized by the Bhakti Center. I visited only briefly as I wanted to take a nap before chanting five hours at the next event.
Here Radhanath Swami chants Hare Krishna at Hare Krishna Tree in Tompkins Square Park (https://youtu.be/IedncHZpSI4):
We advertised a Hare Krishna Festival at Duffy Square, which is within the region of Times Square from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 10, the day before the Ratha-yatra. As it turned out, the event went from 3:40 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Arcita Prabhu of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, visiting New York City for the 50th Anniversary of Radha-Govinda there, took a several photos of me at the Times Square festival.
At our Times Square Hare Krishna Festival, I talked to two young ladies who appeared attracted to the chanting, and I invited them to the Ratha-yatra the next day. I thought they were sisters, but the one on the left is the daughter of the one on the right. The mother told me her cousin was a devotee named Shaun. I inquired if he was the Shaun from Philadelphia, who has two daughters, and she said he was. She said she had attended programs of Hare Krishna chanting at Mantra Central in Syracuse, New York. I mentioned that Keshava Gopal, the proprietor of Mantra Central, actually lives in Madison, Florida, just an hour from Tallahassee where I am based in the winter. She said that her daughter was going to begin studying in Tallahassee at FSU, which happens to be the school where I chant at! I found a flyer for Krishna Lunch at FSU, which they were pleased to take a photo of, so she can come when she moves to Tallahassee in August.
Two guys told Janaki of Krishna House at the Times Square Hare Krishna Festival that they had heard of Hare Krishna in college at FSU. She found me, and they recognized me as the guy who chants Hare Krishna on the Landis Green behind the main library on that campus.
Vaisesika Prabhu chants at the Hare Krishna Festival in Times Square the day before the New York City Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/f5WvzEEokl8):
Amala Harinama Prabhu chants at Hare Krishna Festival in Times Square the day before NYC Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/TxBzFqYXjcc):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants at Hare Krishna Festival in Times Square the day before NYC Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/ZaYk6MkcGkA):
I did not take many videos during the Ratha-yatra. As I like to have plenty of room to dance for Lord Jagannatha and it is very crowded near the center of the kirtan party, I was way up in front. There the kirtan was mixed with the conversations of devotees, and I did not think it would make for a good recording.
I took a few photos to share the impressive sight of the Jagannath car proceeding down Fifth Avenue.
Madan Gopal, a Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami disciple based in New Jersey, took this photo of us in the Ratha-yatra procession.
Amala Harinama Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in New York City Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/EC4XYbhTY3o):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna at New York Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/ohpppj_tSD4):
Here is the live streamed video of the entire Ratha-yatra from ISKCON NYC TV (https://youtu.be/CWlmYHMEqZo):
I was the first to chant at the New York City Ratha-yatra Kirtan Tent after the Ratha-yatra, and I began while the sound system was being set up.
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in New York City Ratha-yatra Kirtan Tent (https://youtu.be/8eCGiXj7yqw):
Kirtan Premi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the New York City Ratha-yatra Kirtan Tent (https://youtu.be/D4CHuTrNAwU):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna in New York City Ratha-yatra Kirtan Tent (https://youtu.be/mC78yt6k0ws):
Kadamba Kanana Swami chants Hare Krishna in New York City Ratha-yatra Kirtan Tent, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/Wwl7SCKX2fk):
Here is the Facebook Live video of all the kirtans in that tent, beginning with Vishnugada Prabhu, who sang after me (https://youtu.be/s9CtzUceSNY):
Vishnugada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at mangala-arati at Radha Govinda Mandir (https://youtu.be/S9RH_7qHvuo):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna by Brooklyn Bridge, and people chant and dance (https://youtu.be/-66POgWwKho):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna by Brooklyn Bridge and people interact, part 1. [This is a Facebook Live video from my phone.] (https://youtu.be/V0gnNCbn2rI):
When our party entered the Time Out Market New York we lost our internet signal, so I ended my Facebook Live video and took a regular video on my phone. As Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chanted Hare Krishna through the market, many employees and customers chanted and danced (https://youtu.be/OZRexAQhlOw):
Upon leaving the Time Out Market, I continued my Facebook Live video of Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chanting Hare Krishna, using the phone of Caranti Devi Dasi, as mine was practically dead (https://youtu.be/x8B92IkUSa0):
Saci Suta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on the evening of the Radha Govinda 50th Anniversary Festival (https://youtu.be/woI8mzGfKjU):
Vishnugada Prabhu chants Hare Krishna after Guru Puja at Radha Govinda Mandir, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/OJrmh772nS4):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna in front of the Soho Street Temple in Central London (https://youtu.be/7xt-KMhzIZI):
Mahavishnu Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna along Oxford Street in London (https://youtu.be/M0xiNsHF7fY):
Sundara Caitanya Swami and Harinama Ruci chant Hare Krishna, and London diners repeat the mantra (https://youtu.be/O4GfE210sjo):
Perhaps looking into a temple refrigerator you have felt the same way!
Memories from the 50th Anniversary of the Installation of Radha Govinda Festival
Srimati Devi Dasi:
On the way to India I went through New York, and Rukmini asked me to pick up a black marble Krishna as we did not have any black marble Krishnas. I found one at a murti wala in Jaipur. There was a pandal program with Radha Govinda, Prabhupada, and mayor of Jaipur. The Queen of Jaipur did not actually donate the deities, but she assisted in us getting them and she did want to donate some land. We had a parade in Jaipur with Prabhupada on a palanquin, and it ended at a pandal behind the Jaipur temple. The Queen of Jaipur wanted to see Prabhupada, and she sent an ox cart to give him a ride to her place. There were eight days of programs at the pandal.
Malati Devi Dasi:
The queen sent an ox cart for Srila Prabhupada because it was marriage season and all the elephants and white horses were rented out.
I cooked for Srila Prabhupada, and he lent me his cane to scare the monkeys which would steal the eggplants even when they were in the pot.
The installation ceremony was performed on the small deities, and Yamuna assisted him instead of the senior men who often did.
It takes a lot of work to organize pandal programs, and it is impressive that Srimati and Kausalya were so successful.
Other deities first used in pandal programs were Radha-Gokulananda of Bhakivedanta Manor and Kisora-kisori of Chicago, who first appeared in Bombay pandals.
Vishnugada Prabhu:
As a new devotee, I was engaged in washing pots. I washed one of the pots of Srila Prabhupada’s three-tiered cooker, removing every spot of black. I did not have time to do the others so carefully. Later I found that Srila Prabhupada was very pleased to see that shiny pot.
Jayadvaita Swami:
Srila Prabhupada said, “What are these bust pictures? They are not meant for decoration but for worship. Vande guroh sri caranaravindam. [I bow down to the lotus feet of my spiritual master.]”
Srila Prabhupada was getting up to leave a program, but upon hearing Baradraja begin singing a song, he froze in ecstasy. Everyone was astonished. Srila Prabhupada was looking at Radha Govinda, and Baradraja was chanting. This went on for a minute or two, but it seemed like a very long time.
Pancharatna Prabhu:
There are accounts of devotees being sprayed with tears from Srila Prabhupada as he gazed at Radha Govinda.
Anuttama Prabhu [the non-GBC]:
Saturday night was the maha chanting party between 42nd and 45th Streets and Broadway. About 50–70 devotees were there.
Another devotee lady:
It was awesome to dress Govinda for the first time. Govinda’s face would stick in my mind all day. I was like a teenager in love.
Male devotee who had not been back since Henry Street:
The kirtans at Henry Street were addictive. Vishnugada, Baradraja, Jaya Sacinandana, etc.
When Prabhupada arrived at the airport, I noticed he floated. I watched his head. It did not move up and down.
Once I had a question during class. I did not ask it. At the end of class Srila Prabhupada turned me and answered my question. That was Srila Prabhupada.
Arcita Prabhu:
I was studying at a polytechnic college on Jay Street. I got a Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasure. I came to the Henry Street temple. The devotees were very enthusiastic to share Krishna consciousness with anyone who came.
So many devotees from that time are still active in ISKCON so take advantage of their association.
Urmila Devi Dasi:
In NYC a reporter asked, “Why are you dressed like that?”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “So that people will know that we are Hare Krishna people.”
The kirtans in NYC were so good it did not matter how your body or mind was, you went and you felt better off.
At 55th St. we had 1,200 people for the Sunday feasts, and we had to serve in shifts.
On Mondays the small deities would go on procession through the entire temple. People spontaneously cleaned their rooms and greeted them with incense, flowers, recitations, etc. There was a competition to see who could greet the deities better.
I had heard Stalin had an operation without anesthesia, and Srila Prabhupada said that was possible by fixing your mind. Govinda had one really gaudy belt that was easy to fix your mind on, and I would practice every day meditating on Govinda wearing this belt. My daughter was born on the 9th floor of the temple, and the ladies were having kirtan outside my door. I had practiced that meditation so well I did not experience any discomfort during the childbirth. I can still picture Govinda wearing that belt. My next child was also born on 55th St.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Preface:
“Since Krishna is all-attractive, one should know that all his desires should be focused on Krishna. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the individual person is the proprietor or master of his own body, but that Krishna, who is the Supersoul present in everyone’s heart, is the supreme proprietor and supreme master of each and every individual body. As such, if we concentrate our loving propensities upon Krishna only, then immediately universal love, unity and tranquillity will be automatically realized. When one waters the root of a tree, he automatically waters the branches, twigs, leaves and flowers; when one supplies food to the stomach through the mouth, he satisfies all the various parts of the body.
“The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krishna consciousness. We have inaugurated the Krishna consciousness movement so that everyone can satisfy his propensity for loving others simply by directing his love toward Krishna. The whole world is very eager to satisfy the dormant propensity of love for others, but the various invented methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism and nationalism, along with whatever else may be manufactured for the peace and prosperity of the world, are all useless and frustrating because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Krishna. Generally people think that by advancing the cause of moral principles and religious rites they will be happy. Others may think that happiness can be achieved by economic development, and yet others think that simply by sense gratification they will be happy. But the real fact is that people can be happy only by loving Krishna.
“Krishna can perfectly reciprocate one’s loving propensities in different relationships called mellows, or rasas. Basically there are twelve loving relationships. One can love Krishna as the supreme unknown, as the supreme master, the supreme friend, the supreme child, the supreme lover. These are the five basic love rasas. One can also love Krishna indirectly in seven different relationships, which are apparently different from the five primary relationships. All in all, however, if one simply reposes his dormant loving propensity in Krishna, then his life becomes successful. This is not a fiction but is a fact that can be realized by practical application. One can directly perceive the effects that love for Krishna has on his life.”
“In the ninth chapter of the Bhagavad-gita this science of Krishna consciousness is called the king of all knowledge, the king of all confidential things, and the supreme science of transcendental realization. Yet we can directly experience the results of this science of Krishna consciousness because it is very easy to practice and is very pleasurable. Whatever percentage of Krishna consciousness we can perform will become an eternal asset to our life, for it is imperishable in all circumstances. It has now been actually proved that today’s confused and frustrated younger generation in the Western countries can directly perceive the results of channeling the loving propensity toward Krishna alone.”
“The Krishna consciousness movement is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age. It is a very simple method which has actually been carried out during the last four years in the Western countries, and there is no doubt that this movement can satisfy the dormant loving propensities of humanity. This book, Krishna, is another presentation to help the Krishna consciousness movement in the Western world. This transcendental literature is published with profuse illustrations. People love to read various kinds of fiction to spend their time and energy. Now this tendency can be directed to Krishna. The result will be the imperishable satisfaction of the soul, both individually and collectively.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.12.9, purport:
“There is no difference between matter and spirit for the Lord, although there is a gulf of difference between the two in the case of the conditioned living being. For the Lord there is nothing but spiritual existence, and similarly there is nothing except spiritual existence for the pure devotee of the Lord in his intimate relation with the Lord.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.42:
“Any person who is engaged one hundred percent in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, at His lotus feet, is very dear to the Personality of Godhead Hari, and the Lord, being situated in the heart of the devotee, excuses all kinds of sins committed by chance.”
From Bhagavad-gita 3.20, purport:
“Although one who is situated in Krishna consciousness may not have any interest in the world, he still works to teach the public how to live and how to act.”
From Bhagavad-gita 3.27, purport:
“The materialistic person has no knowledge that ultimately he is under the control of Krishna. The person in false ego takes all credit for doing everything independently, and that is the symptom of his nescience. He does not know that this gross and subtle body is the creation of material nature, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such his bodily and mental activities should be engaged in the service of Krishna, in Krishna consciousness. The ignorant man forgets that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as Hrsikesa, or the master of the senses of the material body, for due to his long misuse of the senses in sense gratification, he is factually bewildered by the false ego, which makes him forget his eternal relationship with Krishna.”
From Bhagavad-gita 3.30, purport:
“Nirasih means that one has to act on the order of the master but should not expect fruitive results. The cashier may count millions of dollars for his employer, but he does not claim a cent for himself. Similarly, one has to realize that nothing in the world belongs to any individual person, but that everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. That is the real purport of mayi, or ‘unto Me.’ And when one acts in such Krishna consciousness, certainly he does not claim proprietorship over anything. This consciousness is called nirmama, or “nothing is mine.”
From Bhagavad-gita 3.31, purport:
“An ordinary man with firm faith in the eternal injunctions of the Lord, even though unable to execute such orders, becomes liberated from the bondage of the law of karma. In the beginning of Krishna consciousness, one may not fully discharge the injunctions of the Lord, but because one is not resentful of this principle and works sincerely without consideration of defeat and hopelessness, he will surely be promoted to the stage of pure Krishna consciousness.
From Bhagavad-gita 3.35, purport:
“One should therefore discharge his prescribed duties in full Krishna consciousness rather than those prescribed for others. Materially, prescribed duties are duties enjoined according to one’s psychophysical condition, under the spell of the modes of material nature. Spiritual duties are as ordered by the spiritual master for the transcendental service of Krishna. But whether material or spiritual, one should stick to his prescribed duties even up to death, rather than imitate another’s prescribed duties. Duties on the spiritual platform and duties on the material platform may be different, but the principle of following the authorized direction is always good for the performer. When one is under the spell of the modes of material nature, one should follow the prescribed rules for his particular situation and should not imitate others. For example, a brahmana, who is in the mode of goodness, is nonviolent, whereas a ksatriya, who is in the mode of passion, is allowed to be violent. As such, for a ksatriya it is better to be vanquished following the rules of violence than to imitate a brahmana who follows the principles of nonviolence. Everyone has to cleanse his heart by a gradual process, not abruptly. However, when one transcends the modes of material nature and is fully situated in Krishna consciousness, he can perform anything and everything under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. In that complete stage of Krishna consciousness, the ksatriya may act as a brahmana, or a brahmana may act as a ksatriya. In the transcendental stage, the distinctions of the material world do not apply. For example, Visvamitra was originally a ksatriya, but later on he acted as a brahmana, whereas Parasurama was a brahmana but later on he acted as a ksatriya. Being transcendentally situated, they could do so; but as long as one is on the material platform, he must perform his duties according to the modes of material nature. At the same time, he must have a full sense of Krishna consciousness.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 7.73, purport:
“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.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From He Lives Forever:
“And now that Srila Prabhupada is gone, according to Krishna’s arrangement, the world will have to go on without him. The world that never appreciated him anyway will have to go on without him.”
“Krishna in the heart encourages us to follow the instructions of the spiritual master, and then when we follow them, Krishna in the heart reveals Himself. This is the simple system. We should have full faith in this process.”
“As long as a person is fully in cooperation with the wishes of the Lord, guided by bona fide brahmanas and Vaishnavas and strictly following the religious principles, then there is no cause for despondency, no matter how trying the circumstances of life may be. This was one of Bhisma’s instructions. ‘Don’t feel sad. As long as you’re Krishna conscious, it really doesn’t matter what else happens to you.’ As he could have said, ‘Just like me. Here I am in such a terrible condition, on a bed of arrows; but I am not sorry. This is all Krishna’s arrangement, and, Yudhisṭhira, it is the same with you.’”
From Free Write Journal #199:
From One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #69:
“They thought Prabhupada was abstract
whereas the problems of the world
are real and multifarious.
But he rejected that and said
the one common disease is material identification,
and we all suffer from it.
Just chant Hare Krishna and be cured.
But they laughed. He knew they laughed.
He was disgusted with them,
but didn’t give up on them.
A relatively few came to him,
his boys and girls.”
From One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #70:
“While talking to a roomful of devotees yesterday
I discovered
that Srila Prabhupada was a perfect psychologist.
He assured us that we were fortunate and happy.
We have given up sinful life and
attained Krishna consciousness
so no one should be despondent.
But Prabhupada also made it clear
we are not Vaishnavas
but servants of the Vaishnavas.
A pure devotee is very rare.
He was expert and did it subtly
so no one noticed how—
giving us confidence and humility at the same time.
And what he gave we accepted.”
“He’d prefer to see me battling like him
but if all I can do is discover
some of his expert ways and admire them
he will accept that too as a kind of service.
But if you admire him, you really ought to preach.”
From Twenty-Six Qualities of a Devotee, “A Devotee is Magnanimous, Vadanya”:
“Although reforms can be made in the standard of prison life, a reformer is not allowed to make the prison a free, happy place. One purpose of the prison is to restrict the normal, free movements of its inmates. Similarly, this material world is designed to give trouble to all who come here under the laws of birth, death, disease, and old age.”
“If a do-gooder dives into a river, swims out to save a drowning man, but returns only with the man’s shirt, leaving the man in the river to drown, everyone will consider such a rescuer a useless fool. Similarly, the real person within each of us, the eternal soul, can never be saved by welfare attempts that only tend to the ‘shirt’ of the material body, which is covering the self.”
From Prabhupada Meditations, Volume 1:
“Such pride exists even in the Supreme—Lord Krishna is proud of Srimati Radharani, and She is proud of Him. Srila Prabhupada was proud of his Guru Maharaja, who was never defeated, and his Guru Maharaja was proud to be the son of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. All devotees of Lord Caitanya are proud to belong to the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya.”
“When we forget him [Srila Prabhupada],
easy things become impossible,
association becomes dry,
everything breaks
into cliques and voting blocks—
when we forget him.
And the powerful maya
lures us
into independent action.
“He does not say,
‘Simply sit idle
and think of me.’
To remember him means
the inspiration
to work together
with basic trust.
When we forget him,
we stumble,
staring blankly
at Radha-Krishna.
When we remember,
Krishna comes
into our view again;
we return
to Krishna consciousness.”
From Japa Walks, Japa Talks:
“If you worry so much about money that you conclude beforehand that you can’t chant in the morning, then you are making a big mistake.”
“Krishna has been kind and given me a life in which I have time to chant my rounds. I know just having time to chant my rounds is not perfection, but if a person doesn’t even give himself time to chant properly, then he’s not even as far along as I am.”
From Free Write Journal #200:
“I met Radhanath Maharaja many times at New Vrindaban in the early years, and we had loving exchanges. I would lecture there and attend the festivals. After he left New Vrindaban, Maharaja continued to meet with me on a yearly basis, and we had intimate exchanges. After my falldown he said to me, ‘You may no longer be stainless, but you are still much beloved by the devotees in ISKCON.’ That statement gave me much solace.”
From One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #73:
“I said some people speak against milk
purchased from stores. They say it’s supporting
cow slaughter. But Prabhupada took it.
He wanted people to drink milk and then
when they were convinced it was good
they’d stop killing cows.”
“ISKCON has to get itself together first
before we can hope to unite the world.”
From One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #75:
“He [Prabhupada] sees
death camps in the suburbs and skyscrapers,
ignorance in all books.
No wonder he looks grave,
and his mouth corners turn down.
But he is happy and generous.
He drives his aging body to travel
to spread Krishna consciousness although it’s not easy.
He did the most significant act of anyone
in the 20th century and
the world has yet to recognize it.”
From Vandanam: A Krishna Conscious Handbook on Prayer:
“If I become doubtful that my prayers have any power, I remind myself of Prabhupada’s statement, ‘But one thing you must know—that any prayers you offer to your Spiritual Master . . . are conveyed to Krishna, so no sincere prayers go in vain.’”
From Prabhupada Appreciation:
“Bali Maharaja satisfied his spiritual master and therefore became strong enough to drive the demigods from the heavenly planets. Srila Prabhupada comments that by the pleasure of the spiritual master, ‘One can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement.’ The blessings of the spiritual master are more potent than our own endeavors to advance spiritually. The parampara system endows an individual with the original power coming down from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Vrindavan Dasa Thakura:
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.137:
“The yuga-dharma for the Age of Kali is the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. The four religious principles for the four ages are all meant for the deliverance of the conditioned souls.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.139:
“Therefore the essence of all religious principles in the Age of Kali is the sacrifice of chanting the holy names of the Lord. One cannot be delivered by following any other religious principles.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.140:
“The Vedas are unable to fully describe the glories of one who chants the Lord’s names day and night, while even eating and sleeping.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.143:
“By congregationally chanting the holy names you achieve everything, including the goal of life and the means for attaining it.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.147:
“If you continually chant this maha-mantra, the seed of love of God will sprout in your heart. Then you will understand the goal of life and the process for achieving it.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.118, commentary:
“In devotional scriptures there are sixty-four limbs of sadhana described. And among these limbs of sadhana, five limbs have been described as the best. Among these five, the topmost limb of sadhana, congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, is the path demonstrated by Sri Caitanyacandra. None of the limbs of devotional service can be performed properly until and unless one accepts the support of chanting the holy names. Without sadhana, one can never achieve peace of mind—the purport of this statement is that chanting the holy names, the basis of pleasing Krishna, is the only sadhana, and until one develops love for Krishna, which is the only sadhya, achieving perfection in sadhana is difficult and incomplete.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.133, commentary:
“In Kali-yuga, even the one-fourth principles of religion have begun to diminish. Therefore there cannot be any means of progress other than congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. The only yuga-dharma for the Age of Kali is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Wherever propagation of Krishna’s names and topics is lacking, there will be temple ceremonies based on solitary worship devoid of preaching, external performances of sacrifice, and the process of meditation and remembrance also based on solitary worship. The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna Caitanya, established the superiority of nama-sankirtana over the three processes of the three previous ages. It is to be understood that those who do not accept the glories of krishna-sankirtana have never heard topics of pure devotional service to the Lord.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.140, commentary:
“The Vedas have nothing to prescribe or prohibit for those who are constantly engaged in hearing, chanting, and remembering topics of the Supreme Lord. This natural propensity is situated in the core of their hearts. The holy names of the Lord are completely spiritual objects. They are not designations or sounds perceivable by the senses of the enjoyment prone living entities of this world. Therefore one who has taken shelter of the holy names of the Lord, who is the only worshipable object of both animate and inanimate worlds, is certainly a supremely liberated soul; it is impossible to evaluate him by worldly standards.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.142, commentary:
“Sense enjoyers, fruitive workers, yogis, and mental speculators do not endeavor to obtain love for Krishna; they are busy gratifying their own temporary senses. By such activities, however, they do not actually achieve any eternal benefit. If such insignificant desires are prominent in one’s heart, then the taste for chanting the names of Krishna will not awaken.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.143, commentary:
“Love of Krishna is the sadhya, and congregational chanting the names of Krishna is the sadhana. Any questions that may arise in this regard can be resolved only by chanting the names of Krishna. The uselessness of the insignificant desires of the sense enjoyers, fruitive workers, and mental speculators is easily realized by persons who are under the shelter of the holy names through the process of sankirtana.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14.146, commentary:
“These sixteen holy names composed of thirty-two syllables in the form of an address are called the maha-mantra. According to the process of Pancaratra, this maha-mantra should be chanted both in japa and in loud kirtana. For one who chants this maha-mantra in loud kirtana, the seed of love of God sprouts within his heart by the influence of that loud kirtana; and by the progressive mercy of the holy names, that person soon becomes expert in the science of the goal of life and the process for attaining it. But if one’s chanting is either mixed with concocted overlapping mellows or simply for the purpose of musical entertainment, or if one thinks the holy names should only be chanted in japa and one thus becomes averse to loud kirtana, then he is surely producing offenses rather than love of God. The science of the goal of life and the means for attaining it never manifest in the hearts of those who are determined to commit such offenses. Such offensive rebels against the spiritual masters are tightly bond by the chains of maya. They continue to be envious of the pure devotees, and instead of attaining auspiciousness, they go to hell forever.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi 14.149, commentary:
“The purport is that there were many Mayavadis under the shelter of speculative knowledge and opposed to the chanting of the holy names of the Lord residing in Varanasi. Later on, when Tapana Misra will ask the Lord about the topics of sadhya and sadhana and when the Lord will personally present the scriptural conclusions on sadhya and sadhana, then persons who desire liberation will be delivered from that mentality and obtain the opportunity to serve the Lord without duplicity by hearing these conclusions from the Lord. That is why the Lord sent Tapana Misra, His own devotee, to reside at Kasi.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi 15, chapter summary:
“Whenever the Lord saw His students without tilaka, He told them that they have certainly not performed their morning rituals. Saying this, the Lord again sent them home. When the students returned after duly marking their bodies with tilaka, then they were eligible to study with the Lord.”
“If a living entity hears the eternal marriage pastimes of Lakshmi-Narayana, then he is cleansed of the desire for conjugal happiness that joins together male and female in this material world as enjoyer and object of enjoyment. At that time his good intelligence is awakened and he understands that Lord Narayana alone is the enjoyer of the entire universe.”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 15.4, commentary:
“One should perform acamana while chanting the mantra, om tad vishnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayo diviva caksur atatam—‘The Personality of Godhead Vishnu is the Absolute Truth, whose lotus feet all the demigods are always eager to see. Like the sun-god, He pervades everything by the rays of His energy. He appears impersonal to imperfect eyes.’”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi-lila 15.8, commentary:
“In the Narada Purana it is stated: ‘A Vaishnava who marks his forehead with urdhva-pundra [tilaka] immediately purifies the entire world.’”
“Sastric injunction is that a king should take the initiated twice-born who does not wear tilaka, sit him backwards on an ass, and have him driven out of town. Therefore every initiated Vaishnava must always wear tilaka. That is why the Lord, who is jagad-guru, the teacher of everyone, gave such instructions in His childhood pastimes.”
“The Lord has stated in Padma Purana: “My devotees always put on tilaka, which destroys all kinds of fear.”
“It is stated by Narada Muni in Padma Purana: ‘If one performs sacrifice, gives in charity, undergoes austerity, studies the Vedas, or offers oblations to the forefathers without putting on tilaka, then all these activities will be useless. If a person does not decorate his body with tilaka he is not to be seen, because his body is as impure as a crematorium.’”
From Caitanya-Bhagavat, Adi 15.28, commentary:
“Although the Lord often engaged in mischievous childish activities, He never encouraged any misbehavior in connection with women. What to speak of enjoying women, if a living entity even considers that women are meant to be enjoyed, his moral and spiritual life are ruined—this was demonstrated by the Lord, who is jagad-guru and teacher of all, by remaining aloof from all kinds of association with women.”
Candrasekhara Swami:
The material nature sets us up to make mistakes.
Although there is no reaction for sinful acts performed only in the mind, if you continue to think of sinful acts, you will ultimately do them. Thus you have to control the mind.
If you fight the battle in the mind, you will not have to fight the battle on the physical plane.
The mind is like a loose cannon, shooting off fireworks.
The mind can also be compared to a dog that is being walked and is wandering all over the place, doing something obnoxious here and there.
You can beat up on the mind or the mind will be beat on you. It is your choice.
There is so much garbage in the mind, but you do not have to worry about where it came from or why it appears. Just let it pass by.
We have to arrange our lives so there are no opportunities to pursue illicit sex.
What do the Vedas say about sex:
“Sex life is compared to the rubbing of two hands to relieve an itch. Grhamedhis, so-called grhasthas who have no spiritual knowledge, think that this itching is the greatest platform of happiness, although actually it is a source of distress. The krpanas, the fools who are just the opposite of brahmanas, are not satisfied by repeated sensuous enjoyment. Those who are dhira, however, who are sober and who tolerate this itching, are not subjected to the sufferings of fools and rascals.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.45)
“The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties together the hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of ‘I and mine.’” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.8)
Those who pursue household life have to remember not to get lost in its complexity and thus forget their spiritual direction.
If we always bring the mind back, everything will be alright.
If we engage our senses, usually the mind comes along too.
Q: How to destroy sex desire?
A: You cannot wish it away. You can positively engage in service. If you get busy about other people’s problems, you forget about your own problems. It will pass away in time, just as extreme weather does not last very long.
It is simpler not to get married, but it cannot be done artificially.
It is powerful if both the husband and the wife are attached to preaching. The man can preach to the men, and the wife can preach to the women.
Guru Prasad Swami:
We follow the mahajanas, the great souls, because logic and studying different scriptures cannot give us a clear path.
The Bhagavatam is there to guide all humanity. Some verses may not seem relevant to us now, but they exist to help others.
The veins and bones of Brahma are much more subtle than ours.
When our thoughts and acts are not engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord, they become a disturbance.
Srila Prabhupada would respond to people in ways that would benefit them in the long run not necessarily the way they hoped he would.
The whole universe is meant for spiritual upliftment.
The devotee is happy to encounter the frustration of the material world because He sees that the Lord is reminding him of the actual nature of the material world to motivate him to attain the spiritual.
Twenty-five of the twenty-six qualities of a Vaishnava may be present in nondevotees, but the twenty-sixth quality, surrender to Krishna, makes the other qualities Vaishnava qualities.
There is great benefit when ignorant people somehow vibrate the holy name, but when one knows the glories of the holy name, he must chant it with proper feeling.
One of the things the most upset Srila Prabhupada was when disciples did not follow instructions that Srila Prabhupada had given them and he had to repeat them.
There is a story of a boy in San Diego, who wanted so much to be a devotee, although he was underage, that he could not focus on his studies. The devotees encouraged the boy to do his studies, but he was so enthusiastic in doing the devotional activities, he did not have the time or inclination for them. His parents were upset. They decided to commit their son to a mental hospital. When the psychologist interviewed the boy, he was impressed with his answers which were based on the wisdom of Bhagavad-gita, and he concluded he was more sane than most people. When the father heard about that he was so upset that he hyperventilated, and the psychologist decided the father should be committed.
In the practice of Krishna consciousness we have to make sure that we are going in the right direction.
We cannot stay stagnated in devotional service. Either the material or spiritual energy will pull us in one way or another.
Mahavishnu Swami:
The Biblical tradition gives a very summarized description of creation.
Our philosophy begins with the complete whole, Krishna.
Although the Big Bang theory is popularly accepted, it does not really make sense that you would get creation from an explosion.
I had a father. He had a father. My grandfather had a father, and so on, so there must be an original father.
The scientists are discovering that modern man lived at the same time as the Neanderthals, which is something that Drutakarma mentioned in Forbidden Archeology years ago.
They are spending millions of dollars drilling through the arctic ice caps, and they are finding living things down there, but I could have told them that.
They are looking through the telescopes that cost millions of dollars, but they do not even know who they are.
Our chanting party, Harinama Ruci, was very nicely received in Nepal because the people there follow the Vedic culture.
Although the Bible and the Koran give little information of the form of God, it makes sense that God is a person.
Srila Prabhupada said that we should learn from the Bhagavad-gita and the Vedas who God is and how to trust Him.
The nonmechanistic science of bhakti-yoga should be taught in all colleges and universities to give practical realization of God.
This Hare Krishna is very practical and has a wonderful practice.
Half the people of the world are starving, and the Americans are eating too much and getting diabetes and cancer. Is this intelligent?
This life I may be born in this nation, but next life I may be born in another nation. We are fighting over nations, but we should be fighting to end this transmigration.
Sacinandana Swami:
From the lecture at Rukmini Poddar’s initiation at The Bhakti Center:
First is initiation, then learning instructions and following the wealth of knowledge given by all of the teachers.
The desired goal is service to Radha-Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan.
Let this not be a train station of coming and going. Please focus. It will be good for you.
For Rukmini’s parents, advancement in Krishna consciousness is of prime interest.
By initiation into the samprayada the impure can become pure.
Transformation means taking one who is thinking of me and mine and bringing them to think about serving Krishna’s interest.
I feel for many the feeling is “Stop your talk. Let’s hear the new name, so we can put it on Instragram.” But that is not the essence. It goes much further.
Getting up early in the morning is more difficult than getting a spiritual name.
One meaning of urdva-pundra [a term for tilaka] is the road that leads upward.
If you do not follow the regulative principles of freedom you will remain bound to bodily consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada reminds us that chanting 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna is the most important instruction of the spiritual master.
Yajna is given to human beings so people get a direct connection to the deity.
By initiation you enter into the alchemical process of the Vedic tradition of transformation.
Willing cooperation is required and the more enthusiastic the cooperation is, the sooner the destination will be achieved.
Srila Prabhupada once said of the Ratha-yatra, that although it is a very wooden affair, with a wooden deity, a wooden chariot, with wooden wheels, that this wood is conducting the spiritual energy. Thus when we do these yajnas we can feel the presence of Krishna and His spiritual energy.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada was very practical when it came to health. He took a massage to help the circulation of his life airs.
Whenever possible it is good to take advantage of the Vedic knowledge in medicine, architecture, musical, and military science.
Musical performances are never meant for remuneration. In the scripture it is said both the performers and those who hear them are condemned in that case.
The New York evening kirtans have been digitized, and you can find them online. They are very sweet and satisfying to hear. Baradraja, Agnideva, and others.
We confront global mismanagement by distributing spiritual knowledge.
Urjasvat would ask the people that the sankirtana devotees brought back to the temple if they had questions about spiritual life. When they said yes, he would say, “you have questions because you do not have answers,” and he would share with them the wisdom from Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Srila Prabhupada told us if you are getting fat you are not making spiritual advancement.
Pancharatna Prabhu:
Modern intellectuals, such as scientists, instead of turning to the Vedas for answers about the creation engage in speculation.
Brahma is teaching us how to understand this world through the Vedic knowledge.
Krishna’s greatest quality is His unlimited kindness to all, especially His devotees.
When a devotee decides to give His life to Krishna, He comes under the protection of Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada speaks of accidentally falling from the path. My understanding is that this means that we have already committed ourselves to Krishna, but we are temporarily distracted.
Hurricanes can thrash cities, but maya can thrash everyone.
Q (by Gopal Campu Prabhu): Krishna is all-powerful. Why does He not remove all our contamination immediately?
A: He wants us to endeavor. Even Mother Yasoda had to endeavor so much to bind Krishna. He has lessons He wants us to learn.
Comments by me:
One point that is not ever made is that Brahma is a special case because he is the first living being, and thus if he feels sexually inclined, the only potential objects would be his daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, etc.
Hearing how Krishna protected the prestige of Lord Brahma despite his deviation, it is interesting for me to see that in our society different devotees have suffered different amounts of loss of prestige when they deviated in different ways.
Response: We do not want people to think there are no consequences for their acts, but at the same time there must be compassion. There is always the question of justice and compassion. Because the devotees are especially dear to him, Krishna has special compassion for them.
From a Sunday feast lecture before Ratha-yatra:
A friend describes Ratha-yatra as God escaping from institutional religion, leaving the confines of the temple and taking to the street.
I think all of you who have been on Ratha-yatra will agree, Ratha-yatra gives you a transcendental experience.
Vaisesika Prabhu:
I have developed a respect for Kadamba Kanana Swami working with him on different projects over the last couple of years, seeing his patience, his intelligence. I like his kirtans more than anyone’s. They bring me to a new level.
As jivas we need to be backed by someone, but unfortunately we take shelter in the wrong places.
If you are acaryavan, if you have the backing of the acaryas, then you know what to do.
If all else fails, and it will, chant Hare Krishna.
If you want to start a new life, you can officially chant your name. We will change your name so maya cannot find you.
The acaryas recommend people to take second initiation to attain perfection.
Srila Prabhupada advised book distributors to be sincere, saying, “When you are sincere, the master in your heart shows you what to do.”
Please use your youth, your middle age, and your old age in Lord Caitanya’s movement.
These initiations are to invite people to dedicate their lives to Lord Caitanya’s movement.
[Hari Ramesh from Columbus, now Hadai Prana Dasa, also vowed to systematically study Srila Prabhupada’s books, avoid criticizing Vaishnavas, especially on the internet, and to always help Lord Caitanya’s movement.]
There is a temple with a beautiful deity of Krishna at the place where Lord Nityananda Prabhu broke the danda of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Spontaneous love of Krishna results from submissive hearing.
Srila Prabhupada once said during a Ratha-yatra that it is a very feeling festival.
If one becomes attracted to the devotional mood of the residents of Vrindavan he can conquer over lust. This opportunity is being extended to all the residents of New York City through this Ratha-yatra.
By worshiping Lord Caitanya by chanting Hare Krishna and teaching the chanting of Hare Krishna love for Radharani will fill one’s heart.
Kadamba Kanana Swami:
When we bow down, we are admitting that the Lord is the supreme controller, supreme director, and He is omniscient. Because Lord has a heart, we can feel He will be merciful unto us.
We learn to see the Lord in His manifestations. Thus we learn to see deeper.
Even though Lord Brahma was bewildered by lusty desires, Lord Krishna made an arrangement to save him.
If we make everything favorable for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then we will find that we make a favorable situation for ourselves as well.
Our aspiration is to give up our personal agenda and do what the Lord wants us to do.
We want to be in the play but in the main role. But Krishna decides who will play which role.
Offense is our habit. We must try to minimize our offensiveness.
Krishna arranges we are very weak after we are born, and we have to be taken care of. Then we rise to the peak of our power. Then we are reduced, and we have to take shelter of others. Krishna set it up that way, and if we are fortunate we will take shelter of Krishna at the end.
At death everything is taken away, but what is everything? This insignificant body and some paltry possessions.
Never is there a time when we are abandoned.
We are trying to force destiny, but destiny is never under our control.
We are marionettes. We have a choice: Do we want the strings to be pulled by maya or do we want the strings to be pulled by Krishna?
It is easy to understand Krishna’s will. He wants to deliver all the living entities.
It is too much to be married, and it is too much not to be married. It is too much to be in the material world. But it is simpler to not be married because we have more time to do service to Krishna.
We want to go back to Godhead and take as many people back with us. There is nothing else to do.
At the end of life, we go to Krishna with our meager life as our offering.
Krishna heard every name we chanted. We didn’t, but Krishna did.
We ask the Vaishnavas, “Please save us. Please pray on our behalf.”
We are fortunate to be part of this movement which offers so much protection from maya.
We are injured by maya’s influence so we cannot walk on the spiritual path. The varnas and the asramas are like two crutches. In our injured condition they are required. Pure devotion to Krishna is our goal. Varnasrama is just a support structure, but if we do not take the varnasrama duties seriously we will be lost because our love for Krishna is not developed yet.
Q: How to become absorbed in devotional service?
A: By bhakti. Bhakti comes from bhakti.
Comment by Matanga Prabhu: Devaki Mataji says if you just try to serve the devotees, so many opportunities will come.
Kali is finished. He is out of business. He is trying hard. The sankirtana movement will prevail. Individuals may become distracted by Kali, so we should be careful, but the sankirtana movement cannot be stopped. Lord Caitanya is ruling this yuga. It is not Kali’s yuga.
Faith is a gift of those who have it. Srila Prabhupada created our faith. Reading the books creates faith. Everything is reconfirming our faith.
Read the books, chant deep rounds, fall flat before the deities and pray for faith and pray for service.
I find the holy name which is full of mercy is touching my life, giving me something to share. The more you give, you attain some real selflessness. It is a real liberation to be selfless rather than self-centered. In that way, the mantra brings diamonds.
I open my heart to everybody, but just to give. I do not want anything from anyone. Thus my opening of my heart is not a cause of disappointment.
If you get your loving propensity satisfied by loving the supreme, you will not have to look for love in so many places.
We are not the body. We are not the mind. We are just observers, so just be an observer. If the mind is full of negative emotions, just observe it. Realize it is not you, and you do not need to be absorbed in it. Fix yourself in positive spiritual engagement. But it does not happen in a day.
I tried to elevate myself through music, but it only worked to a point. When I got the association of spiritual people I became strong. I got inner strength.
If you feel really happy about something, you do not need all these things.
[He sings a little song:]
These old, old hungry eyes
have told me many lies,
but maybe this one time
I will be satisfied.
From an initiation lecture:
It is the extraordinary mercy of the Vaishnavas and Srila Prabhupada and the line of gurus we are here.
It is the mercy of Srila Prabhupada that the books were there and the temples were there. Even if we from our culture knew that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we did not know exactly how to worship Him, but now it is clear.
The Vaishnavas are giving freely with their heart what they have received. We learn from giving out, we have more ourselves.
When there is no other way to become purified, we can become purified by the chanting of the holy name. However, if we commit offenses the result is delayed.
Cultivation of pure devotional service takes time.
It is helpful to read the first nineteen chapters of The Nectar of Devotion after initiation.
Lord Caitanya showed us absorption in love of Godhead.
We are fortunate to be part of a movement where these topics are discussed.
There is more distraction than ever in the world. Maya has a new tool, the internet in our pocket.
This is the domain of distraction. This world is meant to distract us.
We should never think we have so much time because death can come at any moment.
Today let us embrace this transcendental knowledge and where we are weak let us take association.
I imagine we are in a caravan. Pancatattva are chanting and dancing in front, then the Six Goswamis, etc., and then us, by unbelieveable mercy.
It is up to us to turn to this mercy always.
We take our vows from Krishna via the disciplic succession.
Wherever the mercy flows, catch it. Catch it wherever you can find it. Then the desire to go back to Godhead will become strong in your heart.
The youngest Raval, Madhavendra Puri, vowed at chant 32 rounds on Janmastami.
I have my disciples vow no meat, no fish, and no eggs [not just no meat].
New York is a gateway to the world. Srila Prabhupada came here to give Krishna consciousness to the world. So stay here and help give Krishna consciousness to the world.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada said that the benefit that Visvamitra Muni attained by meditating for 60,000 years can be attained in this age just by doing book distribution for just a few days.
Srila Prabhupada wanted us to be focused. Our penance is to preach pure devotional service.
Radha Jivan Prabhu:
I am very proud of Rukmini. For parents, for their children to led a pure life and endeavor to back to Godhead, is the greatest achievement in their lives.
Namadev of Maharashtra was so great that the Lord would come to him and play with him. Although Krishna would play with him, Krishna would not embrace him. Namadev wanted Krishna to embrace him, but He said He would not because he did not have a guru. Namadev was surprised that Krishna would play with him but not embrace for that reason, and Krishna replied that even He Himself had a guru. Krishna advised him to go to a certain Shiva temple, and said he would find a guru there. He went to the temple and saw a man lying with his feet on the Shiva linga. He was shocked and advised the man to move his feet. He did so, but another Shiva linga appeared under his feet. Amazed, Namadev realized that was the special personality Krishna wanted him to accept as his guru. The man initiated him and taught him that according to Bhagavad-gita 7.19, you must see the presence of Krishna in everything.
Brahma-sambandha is what another sampradaya calls initiation. It means connecting with brahma, the spirit.
One thief, who hid in a Bhagavatam assembly to avoid the police, heard that one can get free from all karma by getting initiation and start a new life. Thus after the class he asked the acarya for initiation and was initiated. Later he was caught by the police. When questioned whether he had stolen, he replied, “I have not stolen anything in this life.”
Although there are challenges on the path, by the Vaishnavas’ mercy everything is easy to do.
Navina Nirada Prabhu:
If we are still engaged in economic development and sense gratification, we have not retired from active life.
If they say “I am a Buddhist [or whatever]”, I ask them, “What is your practice?” If they appear surprised, I add, “Or are you just dabbling in it.” Often they admit they are just dabbling in it.
If you can recognize a person’s nature, they will trust you.
If we are actually interested in benefiting people that will have an effect on them.
If we are interested in the people we approach on book distribution, then they will be interested in what we have to offer.
We must appreciate the varied contributions of different devotees without losing the unity coming from hearing and chanting about Krishna.
If we are not interested in preaching, we will simply become concerned about our own comfort.
Culture cannot be legislated; it must be imbibed.
People want to know what these books have that will benefit them.
Sankirtana is a team effort. It is not about our personal performance but whether our team is winning or not.
If it is not impactful, you need to have a leader who will recognize and do the needful.
You can eat an old shoe with almond dressing, the special sauce. In devotional service, the special sauce is enthusiasm and endeavor with confidence.
Inspiration and a pinch of desperation are helpful.
I ask people I meet, “What is your greatest challenge these days? The phone, the mind, or anxiety?”
We should be in anxiety for Krishna, feeling the pain of the people.
There is only one winning team, the sankirtana movement. It is not like some people are my friends, and I can exploit them for my own benefit and others are enemies.
You should not advertise your devotional service because it will give rise to false pride.
I speak strongly as I have been coming here for thirty years, and every time it is a new team.
A well dressed man once asked me, “What are you trying to do?”
I was surprised. Krishna gave me some inspiration.
I replied, “I am trying to develop introspection and humility by selfless service.”
He reflected on what I said, and replied, “How much?”
I ask people, “Are you a scroller or are you a reader?”
If you do not have lines that impact people then ask someone who is more experienced.
On the battlefield, confusion is the worst enemy.
Do not get hijacked by separatists or anarchists. That will just prolong our journey.
Get serious. New York is not a place to be naive.
Consider these questions:
Who am I?
What is my relationship to this Hare Krishna movement?
What am I willing to do?
If people see we do not have a team, they will not be attracted to stay.
Prabhupada said if someone leaves 50% is their fault and 50% is our fault.
When has it every been easy? Have you read the Ramayana and the Mahabharata? The Pandavas persevered because of their devotion for Krishna.
One Swiss food company asks new potential employees? What does it take to retain you for life? We should be like that.
Some people should not be out distributing books. The leaders can determine who should do what.
The vision gets revealed according to the degree of surrender.
Principles stay the same. The details are always adjusted.
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books an hour a day, and if you want to be a preacher, two hours.
Q: How to have a team?
A: Have a sankirtana meeting at least once a week. 50% katha, 25% experiences, and 25% operations.
There are free courses on book distribution.
[Here are some of his:
book distribution course promo video: https://youtu.be/1tVU5KWkNqA
book distribution course link: https://www.udemy.com/course/book-distribution/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCju1oKyE9o-v_c9tAnFIFzQ/]
If you are the servant of the servant of the servant, you get the mercy from everyone above. If you think you have to be number one, you are in competition with Krishna, and you will miss out on a lot of mercy.
Comment by me: According to Mahanidhi Swami’s Gaudiya Vaishnava Samadhi in Vrindavan, “Madhukari is a babaji’s daily practice of begging a little food from one to seven houses.”
The pastime of Brahma becoming attracted to his daughter shows that human fraility exists among even the greatest people in society.
To know your weakness is a strength.
We have to be careful what we desire for Krishna will fulfill it, and we will become attached.
At the Ratha-yatra festival, anyone who got into that vortex got completely mesmerized.
I asked one guy who had listened to “Wisdom of the Sages” which books he had and which books he did not have, and I stacked them all up.
Rather than condemning people, it is better to try to see what we can learn from them.
Anyone who walked through the door, Srila Prabhupada treated as a future leader of the Hare Krishna movement, and some of them became future leaders of the Hare Krishna movement.
We should use the tendency to find fault to find fault in ourselves.
Balance is a key theme in Bhagavad-gita.
Krishna is always there in full splendor, ready to engage.
Tripada Prabhu of ISKCON London Reception:
From a conversation:
A friend of mine got divorced. It was his fifth marriage. I asked him what his plan was. Was he going to try for a sixth? He said no. He was going back to his first wife. He said that they all had good and bad qualities but on the whole the first one was the best.
-----
I have a special connection with this verse of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita. When I lived in Mayapur for 7½ months I learned to transliterate the Bengali from reading signs. I noticed some Bengali inscriptions beneath the Gaura Nitai deities in the middle of the street that greet us when we take the boat to Navadvipa, and I attempted to read them. To my great surprise I found this rarely quoted verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, one of about ten verses I know from that book. Lord Caitanya told the Mayavadi sannyasis that His guru instructed him thus:
krishna-mantra haite habe samsara-mocana
“‘Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.’” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 7.73)