Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 18, No. 23
By Krishna Kripa Das
(December 2022, part one)
Stuyvesant Falls, Hudson, Schodack
(Sent from Albany, New York, on December 17, 2022)
Where I Went and What I Did
I continued to serve my diksa-guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami at his ashram, Viraha Bhavan, in Stuyvesant Falls, New York, for the first two weeks of December, which included his Vyasa-puja festival on December 3. While at Viraha Bhavan I would assist my guru in bathing and dressing, make breakfast, clean the kitchen after breakfast, assist in the cleaning the kitchen after lunch, make an evening snack, participate in the morning and evening readings, and sing for the deities morning and evening and wake them up and put them to rest.
When it was not too cold, I would go for a twenty-minute walk, sometimes visiting the falls after which the small village is named. The NYC Harinam devotees came to sing at the Vyasa-puja and do harinama with local devotees at the Hudson Winter Walk afterward. I proofread a book of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s 1991–2002 Back to Godhead essays and essays from his Among Friends, as well as his Free Write Journal. In the evenings I would work on my own journal and my correspondence, and I would bring prasadam to my mother once a week. Then before rejoining NYC Harinam, I spent two days taking care of my mother in Schodack, halfway between Viraha Bhavan and Albany. There I cooked and washed dishes, and I served some of the nice prasadam I had brought from Viraha Bhavan.
I share many quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially Srimad-Bhagavatam, as well as a couple from his lectures. I share quotes from Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s 1991–2002 Back to Godhead essays and essays from Among Friends, as well as his Free Write Journal. I share some quotes from Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Kalyana-kalpataru, and I share a few points from the final lecture of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share an interesting quote on fasting from Mahabharata from a Facebook post by Chaturatma Prabhu.
I would like to thank my guru’s longtime assistant, Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu, for the wool socks, the medicine, and the prasadam he provided to facilitate my stay at Viraha Bhavan, in addition to his friendly behavior and a few jokes. Thanks to Amith for singing the evening kirtan with me at Viraha Bhavan and driving me to my mother’s place. Thanks to Victor for the ride to the bus station, and along with Karen, for the accommodation.
Itinerary
December 17–January 7, 2023: NYC Harinam
January 3: Jury Duty
January 7: lecture at 26 Second Avenue
January 8: Miami Ratha-yatra
January 9: Miami harinama
January 10–12: harinama at USF in Tampa and USF Wednesday evening program
January 13–April 15: harinama and college outreach in Tallahassee and Tampa
January 16: harinama in Apopka Martin Luther King Day parade near Orlando
January 28: Ratha-yatra in Gasparilla Parade
March 18: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
April 1: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra
April (3rd week): 3 days of harinama with Sankarsana Prabhu in Washington, D.C.
April 27: King’s Day in Amsterdam
May 4: Nrsimha Caturdasi festival at Simhachalam in Bavaria, Germany
May 20: Newcastle Monthly Sankirtana Festival
May 27: Baltimore Ratha-yatra
June 10: New York Ratha-yatra
July and August: harinama in France
Chanting Hare Krishna in Upstate New York
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with NYC Harinam and upstate devotees to one of the tunes I can play on the harmonium at the Hudson Winter Walk (https://youtu.be/4eNMdJ9eBr4):
The NYC Harinam party chants Hare Krishna to “Jingle Bells” tune at that event, and attendees dance (https://youtu.be/Tx60-r5_4mw):
Bhadra Prabhu also chanted Hare Krishna there in Hudson, and attendees danced, beginning with friends of Krishna Kumari Devi Dasi, who happily danced in a circle with her (https://youtu.be/C2dqadgob0U):
Later local drummers happily joined in (https://youtu.be/z980g7mV1ZQ):
The joy of the devotees was striking and in the course of the harinama, many people were attracted (https://youtu.be/PHsHyiU6vw4):
I showed the videos to Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, and he was happy to see them.
The next Saturday I noticed on the Facebook page of NYC Harinam a very ecstatic video with lots of people dancing to Rama Raya Prabhu’s kirtan at the Times Square subway station above the downtown A train, and I showed it to my guru. He originally was only going to watch two or three minutes of it, but he ended up watching the whole video of over nine minutes (https://youtu.be/znMaTBFHgic):
Impressive to me was that this girl who really enjoyed dancing with the devotees, later bought a Bhagavad-gita and a small book, and then came back after a couple of minutes to dance even more!
Vyasa-puja of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
Rama Raya Prabhu and his NYC Harinam party chant Hare Krishna at Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Vyasa Puja in Stuyvesant Falls, New York (https://youtu.be/z6QeR4i_I1M):
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
I have two emergency announcements.
1. While returning from India, Guru dasa was removed from the plane in Germany where he is now hospitalized because of the condition of his leg became much worse.
2. Thus I need typists to assist me immediately in my weekly Free Write Journal.
This year 2022, my book publishing team set as a goal to reprint all my books on Srila Prabhupada, many which had gone out of print. In July I presented eight books, and I present the final eight now.
The main function I performed for you was initiating you into the Gaudiya Vaishnava society, and in particular, I connected you to Srila Prabhupada. Thus these books about Srila Prabhupada should be very important to you.
This section of a lecture in New York in March 1966 is one of the sweetest sections of Srila Prabhupada’s lectures. Srila Prabhupada starts talking about holy places. He says it is not enough to see and take bath, but you have to hear from the sadhu.
“I shall be very happy to return to Vrindavan, that sacred place,” he says.
They ask, “Why are you here?”
“I have a duty to my spiritual master,” he explains.
He speaks of how much love he has for Vrindavan. He did not hide the reason he came to the West. He did not mind reminding people his heart was in Vrindavan. He was not complaining about coming here but just explaining the facts.
Here is another favorite line: “Krishna consciousness is the highest gift which can be bestowed on anyone whom we presume to love.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.8, purport).
My friend Steve Kowit said what I was doing it was difficult, to be true to yourself and also your own spiritual path. He thought it was impossible.
From a morning walk which Prajapati was on: Srila Prabhupada said: You can’t see, but I can see. You have a cataract. I can remove it.
Samadhi Diary about verse 2 of “Gurvastakam”: “The Samadhi Mandir is special because I can think of the spiritual master as he is described in the “Gurvastakam” verses. You chant the holy names, you dance in ecstasy, you sing and play musical instruments. In your Samadhi, you hold a gong and mallet early in the morning and you chant with us. Now you hold your japa-mala.”
Srila Prabhupada said, “I do not remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Krishna.”
Srila Prabhupada taught a lot about love and death at the end of his life.
Srila Prabhupada placed himself in a position of dependence on his disciples to draw out their love.
Srila Prabhupada taught us how to love Krishna by making his loving exchanges with Krishna so visible to us.
Atreya Rsi felt maya was acting because of so many disagreements, Srila Prabhupada disagreed, and replied:
“It is not so much that because there may be some faults in our godbrothers and godsisters, or because there may be some mismanagement or lack of cooperation, that this is due to being impersonalists, no. It is the nature of the living condition to always have some fault. Even in the Spiritual World there is some fault and envy—sometimes the Gopis will quarrel over Krishna’s favor, and once Krishna was so much attracted to Radharani that by mistake he tried to milk the bull instead of the cow, and sometimes when the Gopis used to put on their dress and make-up for seeing Krishna, they would be too much hasty and smear kumkum and mascara in the wrong places and their ornaments and dresses would appear as if small children had been trying to dress themselves and they were not very expert, like that. There are so many examples. But it is not the same as material fault or material envy, it is transcendental because it is all based on Krishna. Sometimes when one Gopi would serve Krishna very nicely, the others would say, Oh, she has done so nicely, now let me do better for pleasing Krishna. That is envy, but it is transcendental, without malice. So we shall not expect that anywhere there is any Utopia. Rather, that is impersonalism. People should not expect that even in the Krishna Consciousness Society there will be Utopia. Because devotees are persons, therefore there will always be some lacking—but the difference is that their lacking, because they have given up everything to serve Krishna—money, jobs, reputation, wealth, big educations, everything—their lackings have become transcendental because, despite everything they may do, their topmost intention is to serve Krishna.” (Letter of February 4, 1972, to Atreya Rsi)
When a TV reporter asked Srila Prabhupada for his complaint about America, he replied that he had no complaint as some people were taking to Krishna consciousness.
I am glad to read from my Prabhupada books today. I may not do that again. I have used up my Prabhupada memories. I will write on other Krishna conscious topics. So you got a last treat.
A few points that stuck in my mind from the homages:
Radha Ramana Prabhu:
You search your heart with honesty and sincerity to share with your readers.
You expand the readers’ appreciation of Srila Prabhupada.
Bakula:
My baby appeared on your Vyasa-puja day in 1978, and Surottama Prabhu asked you for a name, and you gave it: Mangala Arati.
You have made our devotional service so much easier.
I beg for your blessings.
Haridasa Prabhu of Washington, D.C.:
He told you service with love would bring his love.
The old time religion is good enough for you and me.
Haryasya Prabhu:
All I wanted in this movement was to love and serve Srila Prabhupada, and he gave me you. You gave me as much Prabhupada as I could consume. You gave me Krishna by giving me the gift of the holy name.
When I read your books, I hear Srila Prabhupada, his purports.
You teach us for hours each day, “Just hear.”
I have so many reasons to be grateful to you.
Hari Dasa Prabhu of Schenectady:
You are the chosen one. I am honored to have you for my spiritual master.
You are the rightful one to write Prabhupada’s biography.
I am grateful for all you have offered me in your books and in your personal service.
I am so thankful to the Supreme Lord, that you have passed through many challenges to be with us today.
Madana Gopal Prabhu:
That I remain in the association of the devotees is your mercy.
I receive Srila Prabhupada through your books and example.
You teach to find authenticity each day to approach Krishna.
Muktavandya Prabhu:
I saw the devotees at Copley Square on kirtan at age 18.
When I came to the Boston temple, I heard about you.
When I went to college, I got the Bhagavad-gita from the library, and reading it, I realized I had to become a devotee.
You asked, “Do you have faith in Krishna consciousness?”
I said, “Yes.”
You said, “You should find a temple and move in straight away.”
I didn’t for two years.
I was happy you were the zonal acharya of Boston.
Damodara Prabhu:
After forty years, I have realized how much you had to put up with me over the years.
In every interaction I had with you, I gained inspiration.
My favorite time was in Boston, when you visited, during greeting of the deities. I always stood near you after I dressed the deities, although you were surrounded by many senior devotees, and I would ask you how They were.
I asked you which was better, personal association or vani, the instructions of the spiritual master. You said, “Personal association is good, but I know many disciples of Srila Prabhupada who had a lot of personal association but are no longer here, and I know many who had none but are still present, so vani is more important. But if you get a chance for personal association, you should take it.”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
You have done a great service as an early disciple, telling us so many Prabhupada pastimes.
Planting the Seed is an amazing tour guide to help us enter into Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes in New York.
Your description of the first Tompkins Square Park kirtan evokes deep transcendental emotions every time one reads it.
Your literary contribution connects us with Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for always being there for me.
Ekesvara and Bhakti Yoga of Guyana:
Your daily reading is so wonderful, connecting with the spiritual teacher and Krishna every day.
Sankarsana Prabhu:
When I first came to the temple in Newark, Delaware, and I heard your lectures, I felt I knew you.
Our walks in Gitanagari, my visiting you in Vrindavan, and my two weeks of personal service each year for ten years are my favorite times.
Bhadra Prabhu:
Rama told Vibhisana, “I have the chariot of dharma, with the armor of good qualities, driven by sadhana and disciplic devotion, armed with the weapon of knowledge, and I am prepared to destroy evil qualities.” You are similarly equipped and engaged.
Krishna Dasi:
Srila Prabhupada in his concluding words in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita said he was successful because of his faith in his guru, and I thought of you as having similar faith.
When I delayed sending your dictation tapes, I apologized, and you said, “This is my most important preaching.”
Krishna Kripa Das:
On this day we honor you as the representative of Srila Vyasadeva, the compiler of the Vedic literature. It is easy to see how you are representing Srila Vyasadeva by presenting the truths you heard from Srila Prabhupada in an astounding variety of literature in pursuance of the Vedic version, in many different genres to attract various kinds of people. You also glorify Srila Prabhupada so nicely that you create faith in both him and his literary contribution as well.
In particular, your books give guidance based on your own experience as a Westerner applying the teachings, which are invaluable assets to not only your disciples but all others from similar backgrounds also engaged in the great attempt to become Krishna conscious.
While proofreading Gurudeva and Nimai, I regularly found myself reading more than the daily quota I needed to meet my deadline because it was so interestingly written, even though I have never liked fiction. I also found some parts of the book helped me with issues I was confronting in my own practice.
Srila Prabhupada credited his success to his faith in his guru’s order and his faith in the holy name, and you also are blessed with success because of similar faith.
Please bless us that we may follow your glorious example of engaging your talent in Krishna consciousness, and spending the remainder of your life dedicated to chanting the holy name, hearing Krishna-katha, offering some literary contribution, worshiping the deity, and remaining in the association of serious devotees. Please bless us that we can follow you back to Godhead in this way.
Thank you for your life of inspiration.
My Guru Maharaja replied in writing when I gave him a hard copy of the offering I read:
“Thank you for your Vyasa-puja homage. I like that you wrote about my experience as a Westerner accepting the teachings of Srila Prabhupada and spiritual India.
“Yes, you can follow my example of engaging your inclinations in Krishna Consciousness, going on harinama, chanting the holy name, hearing Krishna-katha and remaining in the association of serious devotees. You have my blessings that you may follow me back to Godhead in this way.”
Baladeva:
I encourage people to get sets of Guru Maharaja’s books about Srila Prabhupada, putting them on your shelf if you do not have time to read them now.
After the homages Bhadra Prabhu led a lively kirtana that got many devotees dancing (https://youtu.be/sDBXwYSBFNQ):
Here is a video of the end of that kirtana in portrait orientation (https://youtu.be/CrbEzCB-Qjw):
Life at Viraha Bhavan
The main activity we do at Viraha Bhavan is having the Zoom readings of Srimad-Bhagavatam for an hour during breakfast and an hour and a half during lunch. I am so used to doing things while I listen to lectures, I would clean the kitchen while I listened. It is inspiring to see that sometimes as many as twenty people join us on Zoom, and there are many regulars who attend both the morning and evening session every day. Sometimes Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami reads for as long as twenty or twenty-five minutes which is impressive since he is 83-years-old and has different health issues.
In the afternoon, when it is warmest, I would go for a walk for twenty or twenty-five minutes, usually by Stuyvesant Falls.
On December 11, Krishna Dasi, with the assistance of Anuradha Dasi, decorated our Christmas tree.
On December 12 we had a lot of snow.
Here is the falls in the snow.
Amith moved in recently, and he chants the evening arati song with me each night, along with 15 minutes of Hare Krishna and the Nrsimhadeva prayers. I chant the “Gurvastakam” and 5 minutes of Hare Krishna and the Nrsimhadeva prayers with Krishna Dasi in the morning. This is an increase for me, as the last time I was here I sang by myself both morning and evening.
Krishna Dasi dresses Radha Govinda, and I took this photo of them so we can take it with Guru Maharaja to the eye doctor and make sure he can see the deities nicely with his next pair of glasses.
Visiting My Mother in Schodack
My mother is 98-years-old, and she has people come by each day and help her for four hours. Her main caretaker, Diania, was on vacation, so my sister suggested I help fill in as the gap was right after I finished taking care of my guru just 21 minutes away.
Diania is really into Christmas and decorated the place.
I made pancakes for breakfast one day.
And I made dal and vegetables for lunch for another.
I will not be here for Christmas, so I learned how to play my mother’s favorite Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” on the harmonium. Singing Christmas carols in my youth was the only activity from that part of my life that was similar to the daily chanting of Hare Krishna I do now. Both have a spiritual joy associated with them that is different from ordinary music.
My mother had an amaryllis plant with an incredibly beautiful flower.
In September I visited my mother, and it happened to be on International Peace Day, September 21. I took her to a Grannies for Peace vigil in Albany.
I found it impressive that although my mother was 98-years-old, she was enthusiastic to attend the event. Her friends were happy to see that she came out.
Special Photos
Seeing this beautiful photo of Srila Prabhupada at 7 Bury Place, our first London temple, which Kavicandra Swami shared on Facebook, I was reminded of a couple stories:
Guru das took devotees on a tour of places Prabhupada visited in London. Now 7 Bury Place is a dental office. Formerly, he said it was transcendental. 🙂
At the 40-year anniversary of the installation of Radha-Londonisvara, Titiksu Prabhu told this story that he heard from Tribhuvanatha Prabhu: “We would clean the temple for half an hour after breakfast. Then we would do harinama from Bury Place to Marble Arch and back, and then back to Marble Arch, where we would have lunch and then go to Bury Place, back to Marble Arch, and then back to Bury Place for the 7:00 p.m. arati. Then after the arati we would do harinama from Bury Place to Marble Arch and back. We get back around 10:30 p.m.” According to Google, it is 1.8 miles from 7 Bury Place to Marble Arch, so that is 14.4 miles of harinama a day! Janananda Goswami says that so many people were attracted to join from the harinamas that some devotees would sleep on the stairs, and one even slept with his head under the sink in the bathroom!
Ah! The glory days of harinama sankirtana!
If you are not motivated to eat the leftover cream of wheat, keep in mind that if you add enough maple syrup to it, it becomes a great dessert.
If you do not have time to make your own tomato sauce, my sister found some you can buy without garlic and onions, amazingly enough.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Bhagavad-gita 2.57, purport:
“There is always some upheaval in the material world which may be good or evil. One who is not agitated by such material upheavals, who is unaffected by good and evil, is to be understood to be fixed in Krishna consciousness. As long as one is in the material world there is always the possibility of good and evil because this world is full of duality. But one who is fixed in Krishna consciousness is not affected by good and evil, because he is simply concerned with Krishna, who is all-good absolute. Such consciousness in Krishna situates one in a perfect transcendental position called, technically, samadhi.”
From Bhagavad-gita 4.24, purport:
“The more the activities of the material world are performed in Krishna consciousness, or for Vishnu only, the more the atmosphere becomes spiritualized by complete absorption…. Matter dovetailed for the cause of the Absolute Truth regains its spiritual quality. Krishna consciousness is the process of converting the illusory consciousness into Brahman, or the Supreme.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.34:
“If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with self-realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.”
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 1.19.19, purport:
“The natural beauty of a living being is enhanced by rising up to the platform of devotional service.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.3, purport:
“Because human life is a combination of matter and spirit soul, the whole process of Vedic knowledge is directed at liberating the spirit soul from the contamination of matter. The knowledge concerning this is called atma-tattva. Those men who are too materialistic are unaware of this knowledge and are more inclined to economic development for material enjoyment.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.4, purport:
“This material world exists only as a dream, due to our attachment to it. Otherwise, the living soul is always different from the material nature. The great ocean of material nature is tossing with the waves of time, and the so-called living conditions are something like foaming bubbles, which appear before us as bodily self, wife, children, society, countrymen, etc. Due to a lack of knowledge of self, we become victimized by the force of ignorance and thus spoil the valuable energy of human life in a vain search after permanent living conditions, which are impossible in this material world.
The whole materialistic advancement of human civilization is like the decoration of a dead body. Everyone is a dead body flapping only for a few days, and yet all the energy of human life is being wasted in the decoration of this dead body.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.6:
“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.8, purport:
“Srimad-Bhagavatam, or, for that matter, any other scientific literature, cannot be studied at home by one’s own intellectual capacity. Medical books of anatomy or physiology are available in the market, but no one can become a qualified medical practitioner simply by reading such books at home. One has to be admitted to the medical college and study the books under the guidance of learned professors. Similarly, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the postgraduate study of the science of Godhead, can only be learned by studying it at the feet of a realized soul like Srila Vyasadeva.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.2, purport:
“The materialistic advancement of civilization is called ‘the civilization of the demons,’ which ultimately ends in wars and scarcity.
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.6.6, purport:
“Whatever a person may be in the estimation of the social order of things, if a person tries to reciprocate a feeling of love towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is satisfied with the blessings of the Lord, he will at once feel the highest peace of mind for which he is hankering life after life.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.6.20, purport:
“Any form of religious principles in which the followers are trained to pursue the vow of celibacy is good for the human being because only those who are trained in that way can end the miserable life of material existence. The principles of nirvana, as recommended by Lord Buddha, are also meant for ending the miserable life of material existence. And this process, in the highest degree, is recommended here in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, with clear perception of ideal perfection, although basically there is no difference between the process of Buddhists, Sankarites and Vaishnavites. For promotion to the highest status of perfection, namely freedom from birth and death, anxiety and fearfulness, not one of these processes allows the follower to break the vow of celibacy.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.4:
“Persons who hear Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna manifested in their hearts within a short time.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.36, purport:
“In the Narasimha Purana it is said that as the hellish inhabitants began to chant the holy name of the Lord they began to be elevated from hell towards heaven. Durvasa Muni has also supported this view: mucyeta yan-namny udite narako ’pi. ‘Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord the inhabitants of hell became released from their hellish persecution.’”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.10, purport:
“As the yoga system mainly based on bodily exercises is meant for the person who is too much attached to the bodily conception of existence, similarly the Lord’s pastimes related to the creation and destruction of the material world are for those who are too materially attached. For such mundane creatures the functions of the body and the functions of the cosmic world through physical laws in relationship with the Lord are also therefore included in understanding of the lawmaker, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
“The scientists explain the material functions by so many technological terms of material law, but such blind scientists forget the lawmaker. The Srimad-Bhagavatam points out the lawmaker. One should not be amazed by the mechanical arrangement of the complicated engine or dynamo, but one should praise the engineer who creates such a wonderful working machine. That is the difference between the devotee and the nondevotee. Devotees are always full with praising the Lord, who directs the physical laws.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.37–40, purport:
“Some of the living entities are relatively happy in better conditions of life, whereas others are in distressed conditions of life. But factually, none of them are actually happy in material conditional life. No one can be happy in prison life, although one may be a first-class prisoner and another a third-class prisoner. The intelligent person should not try to be promoted from third-class prison life to first-class prison life, but should try to be released from the prison altogether. One may be promoted to first-class prisoner, but the same first-class prisoner is again degraded to a third-class prisoner in the next term. One should try to be free from prison life and go back home, back to Godhead. That is the real goal for all types of living entities.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.49–50, purport:
“Behind that physical law is the direction of the complete consciousness of the Supreme Lord; otherwise things cannot take shape so systematically. The artist draws a picture of a rose very nicely with all attention and artistic sense, and yet it does not become as perfect as the real rose. If that is the real fact, how can we say that the real rose has taken its shape without intelligence behind the beauty? This sort of conclusion is due to a poor fund of knowledge.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.1.32, purport:
“Constant thought of the Lord is the antiseptic method for keeping oneself free from the infectious contamination of the material qualities.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.2.12, purport:
“The Lord’s pastimes never stop, just as the sun never leaves the sky. The sun is always in its right orbit in the sky, but it is sometimes visible and sometimes invisible to our limited vision. Similarly, the pastimes of the Lord are always current in one universe or another, and when Lord Krishna disappeared from the transcendental abode of Dvaraka, it was simply a disappearance from the eyes of the people there.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.2.14, purport:
“In His boyhood at Vrindavana, Lord Krishna was notorious as a teasing friend in transcendental love to all the girls His age. His love for them was so intense that there is no comparison to that ecstasy, and the damsels of Vraja were so much attached to Him that their affection excelled that of the great demigods like Brahma and Shiva. Lord Krishna finally admitted His defeat before the transcendental affection of the gopis and declared that He was unable to repay them for their unalloyed affection. Although the gopis were seemingly anguished by the Lord’s teasing behavior, when Krishna would leave them they could not tolerate the separation and used to follow Him with their eyes and minds. They were so stunned by the situation that they could not finish their household duties. No one could excel Him even in the dealing of love exchanged between boys and girls.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.27.24, purport:
“Apparently, a devotee may grow old, but he is not subjected to symptoms of defeat experienced by a common man in old age. Consequently, old age does not make a devotee fearful of death, as a common man is fearful of death…. A devotee knows that after death he is going back home, back to Godhead; therefore, he has no fear of death. Thus, instead of depressing a devotee, advanced age helps him to become fearless and thus happy.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.33, purport:
“For the devotee there is no need to pray to the Lord for transferal to the Vaikuntha world. A pure devotee can create Vaikuntha or Vrindavana anywhere simply by chanting the glories of the Lord without offense.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.35:
“Whenever pure topics of the transcendental world are discussed, the members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12, purport:
“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaishnava thinking. There is no question of enmity between servants. Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability, and everyone should appreciate the service of others.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.8.9:
“My dear father, please give up your demoniac mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and friends; make your mind equipoised toward everyone. Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.8.10, purport:
“One who is in Krishna consciousness knows that there are no enemies but those within oneself—the uncontrolled mind and senses.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.43–44:
“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.
“My dear Lord Nrsimhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Krishna consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 7.101, purport:
“In order to become an empowered preacher, one must be favored by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His devotee, the spiritual master. One must also request everyone to chant the maha-mantra. In this way, such a person can convert others to Vaishnavism, showing them how to become pure devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
From Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Chapter 6:
“Our austerity is very nice. We chant Hare Krishna, dance, and Krishna sends us very nice foodstuffs and we eat. Why are you people not agreeable to such austerity?”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.20 in Vrindavan on October 31, 1972:
“Because we are trying to understand Krishna through Caitanya Mahäprabhu, therefore it has become easy. Otherwise it is very difficult subject. . . . But as we are fallen, Krishna is also as much liberal also, this age. So if we still . . . do not take advantage, then how much unfortunate we are.”
From a Nectar of Devotion lecture in Vrindavan on October 28, 1972:
“In the beginning we have to force, that ‘You rise early in the morning. There’s mangala-arati. You have to perform it.’ But when this function will be done spontaneously—‘Oh, this is the time to offer mangala-arati to my Lord!’—that is wanted. That is wanted. Not that, ‘Oh, it is a heavy burden…’”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From “Serving the Vaishnavas” in Back to Godhead, 25(2) (March 1991):
“I have come to think that everything in Krishna consciousness is part of preaching. The distribution of books is the front line, but even private practices, even how a husband and wife get along together in Krishna consciousness, is part of the preaching mission.
“People want to see whether the Krishna consciousness movement is sincere or hypocritical. So even the way we walk or dress or how we deal with merchants is preaching. No one need feel guilty that he or she is not preaching; everyone can take part in some way.”
“When Srila Prabhupada was a young man, his spiritual master told him to become a preacher. Yet Prabhupada had to wait many years in household life. Then when he tried to spread Krishna consciousness, he went through many rejections. But Prabhupada writes, ‘Success or failure has no meaning for the pure devotee, who is like a soldier on the field.’ And in time success came to him in spreading Krishna consciousness worldwide.”
“The traveling sannyasi has to serve wherever he goes, according to his realization. Simply by serving the Vaishnavas, the devotees, one is molded into a serviceable preacher.”
From “Turning Fifty” in Back to Godhead, 25(3) (May 1991):
“When you start getting older, people begin to respect you for your seniority, so you shouldn’t let them down by behaving like a young fool who can’t make up his mind whether he wants to be a devotee of Krishna or something else.”
“Some things are getting better. The essence of Krishna consciousness stands out to me more clearly. I’m getting down to the basics of chanting Hare Krishna and hearing from Bhagavad-gita. I also think I’m advancing in my attraction for Radha and Krishna.”
I can hardly wait to appreciate more what it really means to be a follower of Prabhupada and Radha-Krishna, but I understand that the key is humility and service, as always. I just hope it’s not too late for me to make it.
“Srila Prabhupada, your old age was glorious! Though I can’t imitate you, how can I think of retiring when you, my own spiritual master, kept traveling, preaching, and writing even into your eighties? Dear Srila Prabhupada, please give me the strength to serve you.
“Let me dedicate my remaining life to serving you with youthful vigor.”
From “Janmastami in Czechoslovakia” in Back to Godhead, 25(4) (July 1991):
“The question was ‘In Czechoslovakia, we do not have Prabhupada’s biography except for the one-volume edition. Could you tell us more about what it was like when Prabhupada went to sing in the park in New York City? Did he bring a carpet? Were you there? What was it like?’
“That was a nice setup.
“I said, ‘Yes, there was a carpet. We had an old carpet someone had given us. We started out, about ten or twelve devotees along with Prabhupada, and walked to the park. Once we got to the park, we were a little shy. I thought some of my old friends might come around and see me, and I was embarrassed. But when Prabhupada began to sing the names of the previous spiritual masters, and then Hare Krishna, we sat close to him.
“‘He was like a mother and a father. Just as little children stay close to their parents when afraid, we stayed close to our spiritual parent. We sat with him on the rug, inside his world, which he had created within the ‘big’ world of Tompkins Square Park.’
“I told the devotees how the Swami encouraged us to get up and dance in the park. Brahmananda and Acyutananda did it regularly. Once Prabhupada looked at me and gestured that I should dance. At first, I wasn’t sure he meant me, so I turned around and looked behind me. I looked at him again. Yes, he meant me.”
“I am fortunate to be deep in the heart of Janmastami at the Czech farm. It’s the same ecstasy available anywhere in ISKCON, and one should not miss out on it. You can find it in a big or a little temple. Simply follow the basic program: fast all day, fully engage in chanting and hearing or cooking or whatever, and then, having fasted and attended a day and night full of classes about Krishna, gather for a last couple of hours of kirtana until midnight. Then open Lord Krishna’s gifts, attend the arati, and honor prasadam.”
From “Who is God?” in Back to Godhead, 25(5) (September 1991):
“God is revealed not only in the Vedic scriptures but in other scriptures of the great world religions. The worshipers appear to have different understandings, yet the expert spiritual master knows that the essence of religion is one—love of God. The details differ with the time in which religion is taught, the persons to whom it is taught, and the place where it is taught.”
From “Preparing for a Pilgrimage” in Back to Godhead, 26(2) (March 1992):
“Lord Caitanya taught that while chanting we should think ourselves lower than a blade of grass and should be more tolerant than a tree. Then no one can obstruct us from our constant chanting.”
“The internal journey is not a fragile state I will lose at someone’s whimsical words. It doesn’t depend on whether our plane connections go smoothly or I am surrounded by gentle friends or the prasadam is hot or the pen refills remembered. These are not what I depend on to practice Krishna consciousness.
“I am going home. I will have to travel so far to recognize that my home is in Krishna and that Krishna is everywhere. I will have to travel so far to remember that the material world offers no home, no peace, no shelter, no comfort. Whatever comforts I am attached to serve only to strand me in a barren wasteland of godlessness. I will have to travel so far to see that home means chanting sixteen rounds and serving Srila Prabhupada, that home is not a place but a shelter in Krishna consciousness.”
From “Vrindavan Meditations” in Back to Godhead, 26(3) (May 1992):
“I want to complain that I am being forced to stay awake and listen to his recitation, but being in Vrindavan means learning to adjust. One cannot simply call the police and complain, ‘Some guy is broadcasting his prayers over a loudspeaker. He is disturbing my rest.’ No policeman would dream of interfering with the sadhu any more than he would round up dogs or hogs or thieving monkeys. All creatures in Vrindavan from the sadhus to the monkeys have somehow gained shelter in Radharani’s earthly Vrindavan.
“It is we Westerners, our minds spinning over petty ambitions, who are an anomaly to Vrindavan’s live-and-let-live mood. We, who think we are better than the residents of the dhama, the Lord’s abode, are the ones who need to adjust.”
“Vrindavan frees us from doubts in God’s existence by standing as witness to Radha-Krishna’s pastimes.”
“Srila Prabhupada and all the previous spiritual masters have insisted we learn to keep Vrindavan in our hearts and minds, no matter where we are in the world. To do this, we have to imbibe deeply the Vrindavan mood when we are present in the dhama. We have to allow Vrindavan to work on us, to adjust and shape us. We have to have faith that Vrindavan will allow us to reclaim our real selves and leave our false selves behind. Then we have to go back to our duties in the West ready to be a little freer, more dependent on the dhama, and more responsive to working on ourselves in ways the dhama taught us. Everything is possible by the mercy of Srimati Radharani, the queen of Vrindavan.”
From “Is Krishna a Myth?” in Back to Godhead, 26(5) (September 1992):
“Professed atheists whose authority is the speculation of the mind and who study religion only as an academic or historical exercise cannot satisfy the needs of the self.”
From “Italy Diary” in Back to Godhead, 27(2) (March 1993):
“I want to chant regardless of the storm, like an experienced mariner in the sea of the mind.”
“One devotee asked me how we can develop compassion. Krishna will give us whatever we want in Krishna consciousness. If we pray for compassion and try to practice it, Krishna will award it.”
From “In Happiness and Distress” in Back to Godhead, 27(3) (May 1993):
“Suffering is caused by our past acts. Therefore, a devotee should not expect immediate relief from his or her past karma. Prabhupada has assured us that Krishna minimizes our karmic reactions when we take up devotional service. But a devotee also looks at the suffering in the material world as a reminder of the harshness of illusion. Suffering is a teacher. Our hands are being rapped: ‘Pay attention! Work to get out of this material world! Remember Krishna!’”
“Yudhisthira’s sufferings were not reactions for sins committed in his past, but ‘everyone has to bear the actions and reactions of time as long as one is within the conditions of the material world.’ Even the most pious person has to suffer because of material nature. If this were not so, the material world would be nondifferent from the spiritual world, Vaikuntha—the place of no anxiety.”
From “Tat Srnu: Simply Hear” in Back to Godhead, 27(6) (November 1993):
“There are many benefits to reading Prabhupada’s books, but I would like to point out this one: if we read of Lord Caitanya’s ecstatic expressions or the service of the vrajavasis, our reading can serve to cut away any self-image we have of ourselves as advanced devotees. We become humble before the love of God expressed by Lord Caitanya and the gopis. The gopis aren’t buoyant because they are anticipating lunch or because something good has come to them in this world. They are wholly absorbed in Syamasundara, Krishna. When He is not with them, their hearts catch fire; they change color and dry up. Where is our love? Where is our Krishna consciousness? At least we should know about this pinnacle of devotional love. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu quotes Srimati Radharani: ‘If by chance such a moment comes when I can once again see Krishna, then I shall worship those seconds, moments, and hours with flower garlands and pulp of sandalwood and decorate them with all kinds of jewels and ornaments’ (Cc. Madhya 2.38).”
From “Blessed Forgetfulness” in Back to Godhead, 28(6) (November 1994):
“Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that He is the source of all knowledge and forgetfulness. It is by His permission that we forget our constitutional position as His servants, and it will be by His mercy that we can forget our bodies and be fully reinstated in remembrance of Him.”
From “Meditation on Krishna” in Back to Godhead, 29(1) (January 1995):
“In a purport to Bhagavad-gita (18.57), Srila Prabhupada gives us a phrase to think of while we work: ‘I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by Krishna.’ While thinking and acting in this way, Srila Prabhupada says, one naturally has to think of Krishna, and this is perfect Krishna consciousness.”
From “Idealism, Maturity, and Realism” in Back to Godhead, 29(3) (May 1995):
“One ideal for which a person often comes to Krishna consciousness is truth. We want to be true to ourselves. People often say they joined the Hare Krishna movement because they saw truth here and couldn’t refuse it.”
“These things have not changed: the truth of Krishna, the promise of the holy name, our invitation to go back to Godhead, if not in this lifetime, then in later ones. And these also have not changed: the dangers of material life and the fact that no matter how hard we work for material security in the shape of home, job, family, or money, everything can be knocked apart in a minute because it’s based on the material body.”
From “Where Are the Enemies?” in Back to Godhead, 29(4) (July 1995):
“These are the enemies—lust, greed, envy, anger, illusion, and madness—and they reside within us. These are the faults that prevent us from seeing everyone as an eternal servant of Krishna. The uncontrolled mind is our worst enemy. Therefore, conquering enemies begins with conquering our own mind, and then the senses.
“Facing these enemies, devotees often become sorry they cannot progress in spiritual life. We all want to be ideal devotees, yet years go by and we are still hampered by our own mind and senses. Therefore, we should direct all our energy to conquering these enemies, which are stopping us from attaining Krishna consciousness, and not waste time and energy in the imaginary battle with others.”
“A devotee doesn’t hate anyone, because he sees everyone as Krishna’s servant. He sees those who would attack him as misguided and deluded by bodily consciousness. How can anyone in that condition understand that Krishna consciousness is not inimical to them? Therefore, a devotee works to enlighten his enemies, not obliterate them.”
“Conquer the enemy within yourself and preach with compassion for those still caught in the grip of their own internal enemies. Otherwise, we will descend to the level of sorting out our friends from our enemies and have no time left to think about Krishna.”
From “Why Did This Have To Happen To Me?” in Back to Godhead, 29(6) (November 1995):
“When Krishna directly or indirectly punishes us, we must have faith that He is acting to bring us closer to His lotus feet. We should pray to have this realization in times of difficulty or confusion, and to understand that the real purpose of life is to satisfy the Supreme Lord, not to satisfy ourselves. Satisfying Krishna is not difficult. We simply have to take whatever situation in which we find ourselves and transform it into an opportunity for devotional service.”
From “Temple of Vishnu” in Back to Godhead, 30(1) (January 1996):
“A devotee recognizes that he does not own his body; the body is only rented from Krishna. Like any rental, it should be treated responsibly.”
From “Renunciation and Devotion” in Back to Godhead, 30(2) (March 1996):
“To attain devotion we must practice renunciation, but we should not be frightened by this. Although renunciation may at first seem painful, it provides us with relief by freeing us from the much greater pain and entanglement that follows any attempt to enjoy matter.”
From “Srila Prabhupada’s Compassion” in Back to Godhead, 30(3) (May 1996):
“Srila Prabhupada wanted to influence people everywhere to give up their sinful activities and to surrender to Krishna. He was successful because he combined humility, dependence on guru and Krishna, and confidence in Lord Caitanya’s power to deliver the fallen souls.”
“If we find ourselves sometimes taking ISKCON for granted, we should remember that ISKCON did not develop automatically. It developed because Srila Prabhupada made such a careful and relevant presentation of the Krishna consciousness philosophy. It developed because Prabhupada expended great love and care to adjust Krishna’s eternal message for the Western world.”
“Following Srila Prabhupada’s example, we too should be compassionate with our fellow devotees. Instead of finding fault with them for their minor discrepancies, we should remember that it took great effort for Srila Prabhupada to introduce them to Krishna consciousness. We should also remember that whoever takes to Krishna consciousness is dear to Prabhupada. And each of us, as servant of Prabhupada, should help the others become properly situated, thus preserving what Prabhupada worked so hard to establish. If we do this, then Krishna will be compassionate toward us, despite our many faults.”
From “Pure Bhakti–‘It Requires Nothing More Than Sincerity’” in Back to Godhead, 30(6) (November 1996):
“Prabhupada said that he was not invited to come to America but he came anyway. No one here asked him to present the Bhagavatam, but he did it anyway. No one here asked him for the holy name, but he gave it anyway. Reluctantly, slowly, we have taken it. Prabhupada planted seeds of pure devotion indiscriminately. On Lord Caitanya’s order, He did not screen prospective candidates. Rather, he distributed his mercy unconditionally just as the moon shines in everyone’s yard whether one is rich or poor.”
“What does Srila Prabhupada say about the best way to attain pure devotional service? ‘Whenever you find time—you must find time—… read all these books, or chant. But when you are hungry, take prasadam. When you are sleepy, take a snap [that is, a nap], not very much, just to refresh. And go on, either chanting on the beads, reading the books, or talking about Krishna. In this way always remain in Krishna consciousness.… Krishna consciousness means to remember Vishnu always, twenty-four hours a day, some way or other.… Everything Krishna. This is Krishna consciousness.’—(Lecture, May 31, 1972)”
From “Accepting Suffering” in Back to Godhead, 31(2) (March 1997):
“When a disciple asked Prabhupada why the devotee suffers, Prabhupada said that whenever a devotee suffers, he can take solace in knowing that he is suffering for the last time: by tolerating the suffering, he is becoming detached from the body and eligible to return to the spiritual world.”
“Suffering strips away our material attachments. It lets us see our bodies, families, homes, and world for what they are. We are suffering because we have been born in the material world. We are born and then we die. At death, our identity and accumulated possessions are ruthlessly ripped from us and we are forced into another womb.
“This suffering is so horrible and all-encompassing that the Bhagavatam frequently reminds us of the cure: we simply have to inquire into the Absolute Truth.”
“Only by making such inquiries in this world can one be successful and perfectly cognizant, for such inquiries invoke transcendental ecstatic love unto the Personality of Godhead, who is the proprietor of all the universes, and guarantee cent per cent immunity from the dreadful repetition of birth and death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.39)”
From Free Write Journal #224:
From Prabhupada Meditations, Volume 1:
“One of the first times Swamiji corrected me, he did it without saying a word. I was in his room when he was unwrapping a parcel he had received from India. I don’t remember the contents, but it was wrapped in a piece of saffron cloth about the size of a handkerchief. Swamiji put this cloth aside as if to discard it. I looked at it and said, ‘Can I have that?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ and I took it as a prize.
“The next morning when I came to Swamiji’s morning class, I had tied the saffron handkerchief around my neck, like a pirate’s bandanna. Part of my motive was pure whimsy, to create a new clothing fashion. But also I wanted to show the Swami that I was his man, and so I wore his cloth. But saffron kerchiefs around the neck are not part of the brahmachari dress. While lecturing on the Bhagavatam, Swamiji noticed the scarf, and he looked a bit alarmed. His glance was clear, and so I removed the kerchief and never wore it again.
“Srila Prabhupada liked to exchange gestures of love, but he didn’t like concoctions. Years later, when he heard that some of his disciples were taking the used brahmana thread that had been worn by the temple Deity and putting it on their own wrist, he said it was a concoction. The sentiment behind these gestures was nice, but we should be willing to do it in a way that actually pleases Prabhupada and Krishna.”
From Prabhupada Meditations, Volume 3:
“You went on a walk with Prabhupada. Ducks started quacking. He said, ‘They think we are disturbing them and we think they are disturbing us.’ Devotees laughed with Prabhupada. We were all close to him.”
From “Two Energies, Two Choices” in Back to Godhead, 31(6) (November 1997):
“When we stop blaming others for the pain they seem to cause us, and understand our role in causing our own karma, and when we see our powerlessness against the material energy, we will become more dependent on Krishna. Then the material energy will become spiritual in our hands. Instead of dragging us further into material life, our happiness and distress will elevate us in Krishna consciousness. Rather than causing us pain, our predicaments and perplexities will provide us another chance to meditate on Krishna. And that will make us happy.”
From “Work Done as Sacrifice” in Back to Godhead, 32(1) (January 1998):
“Although there are thousands of occupations one can take up in this world, there are actually only two categories of work: work done to gain a material result, and work done as sacrifice.”
From “Following the Voice of Inspiration” in Back to Godhead, 32(3) (May 1998):
“Our aspirations for increased service may not be received in a vision while we are asleep. Rather, they may be awakened by our constant hearing of the lives of great souls. It is imperative to listen to the voice of aspiration if we are going to avoid mediocrity.”
From “Ultimate Freedom” in Back to Godhead, 32(4) (July 1998):
“To be free we abandon our conquest of the world to turn to love of God. Then Krishna, the unconquerable, consents to be conquered.”
From “What Is Real?” in Back to Godhead, 32(5) (September 1998):
“The constitutional relationship between God and the soul is objective reality, but covered. By studying reality, we can come to see that only God’s mercy keeps us alive and arranges all our adventures and misadventures in this world. I say mercy because it descends from the spiritual world to cleanse us of false concepts and awaken us to our inherent spiritual nature, and ultimately to grant us love of God.”
From “Saints Offer Proof” in Back to Godhead, 33(3) (May 1999):
“I hadn’t met any great souls before I met Srila Prabhupada in the summer of 1966. I was raised Catholic, but in my nominally Catholic family I had never even heard about the lives of the Catholic saints, nor did I meet anyone who claimed to follow them. By the time I met Srila Prabhupada, I was a professed atheist. But I recognized Prabhupada’s saintliness at once, and it was both his saintliness and his own faith in Krishna’s existence that convinced me there was more to spirituality than I thought.”
“Every major religion has scriptures, most have an institution, and all have a mixture of adherents, some following strictly, some nominally, and others somewhere in the middle. Every religion also has a line of saints who have established and developed and directed the congregation’s faith. That small group of inwardly renounced stalwarts, who truly identify with the ultimate perfection being professed, are the living force behind the religion. Without their presence, people are not inspired to achieve the goal themselves.”
“We cannot become a saint by imitating his or her activities. All we can do is appreciate the saint’s perfection and learn to aspire as the saint aspired. Admitting our fallen nature, we can nevertheless follow the instructions of the saintly teacher. We can also take courage from his or her example when we execute our own devotional service, and we can fall at the saint’s feet to beg for mercy and help. We can trust the saints, and trust their spiritual process.”
From “Distraction in Chanting” in Among Friends, Volume 5 #2 (1997):
“Haridasa Thakura’s instructions in chanting are given in Harinama Cintamani. There he assures us that we cannot chant free of distraction by our own power. Rather, we must fervently pray to Krishna that we may learn to pay attention and taste the nectar of the holy name. Attention and prayer are synonymous in chanting.”
“As Prabhupada says in his Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is, we have to follow Arjuna’s example of thinking of Krishna while doing his duty of fighting. If we can’t think of Krishna in the midst of an active and sometimes disturbing existence, how will we think of Him at the time of death?”
From “Follow Your Dream” in Among Friends, Volume 5 #3 (1997):
“Who could have known what Srila Prabhupada would accomplish when he responded to his spiritual master’s call to accept sannyasa? And who could have measured the gratitude so many people have since felt that he didn’t abandon his dream?”
From “Holding Fast in Times of Stress” in Back to Godhead, 34(3) (May 2000):
“Krishna is the anchor in any storm. He will never change. Therefore, if we are fixed on Krishna, then we will remain fixed in the face of any calamity. Otherwise, if our attachment and fixity is on matter, and our faith was based on the idea that matter won’t change in our particular situation, then when our small world dissolves and our plans go spinning off into meaninglessness, our complete sense of identity will also spin off. A devotee’s fixed point is on Krishna, not on matter. And Krishna doesn’t change.”
“Devotee may then ask, ‘What about when our duty changes due to some upheaval in the material world?’ Then we may have to examine what really constitutes our duty. The basis of it is sadhana and the understanding that we are the eternal servant of Krishna. We tend to allow ourselves to identify with what has become the status quo for us, the work for which we are often appreciated. We think of ourselves as writers or managers or cooks or mothers. Krishna may, at any time, change that designation, however. Therefore, we must see our ultimate duty as taking shelter of the holy names and following the four regulative principles according to our vows, and we should embrace this no matter in what condition of life we find ourselves. We must also regularly hear about Krishna. These activities constitute a devotee’s unchanging duty. If our service is changed, we can take up a new service. After all, we are servants. Such dutifulness will provide real shelter. It is a tangible way in which to contact Krishna.”
“I personally have felt assured that Arjuna was not being condemned for crying or shaking before the battle, nor for his fears or attachments. Rather, he was condemned for not acting on Krishna’s order despite those obstacles. It’s human to grieve and to feel afraid or insecure in the midst of upheaval. We don’t have to pretend to be unmoved if we are quaking inwardly. Neither should we pretend we are callous if we’re actually upset. What is required of us is actual not pretense but steadiness. We should not give up our duty under any condition.”
“Seeing Krishna’s hand doesn’t mean that we can or even need to always understand the reasons behind His actions. We simply accept that His plans are inconceivable to us. We don’t even need to inquire into them. Our faith is that Krishna is our well-wishing friend; everything is happening by His arrangement ultimately for our own good.”
From “Wonderful Krishna” in Back to Godhead, 34(5) (September 2000):
“Krishna is wonderful, amazing—inconceivably so—but we have not touched on the most mysterious and inconceivable of all His qualities. His most wonderful quality is His ability to express love. He is powerful, He is wise, He is strong and famous, but His inclination to love all living beings, and His expression of that love in a variety of ways, is His most attractive feature. And even more attractive than that is His love for His devotees. Therefore, a devotee, while recognizing Krishna’s mastership over his or her life does not ever forget this greatest glory of Krishna’s love.
“I recently heard Srila Prabhupada speaking on tape on the topic of suffering. A devotee was asking Prabhupada how we should understand that even though we are devotees, we still have to suffer. Prabhupada took a strong position. He said it was not our right to question that we have to suffer. And we should never think that we would love Krishna more if we didn’t have to suffer. Nor does Krishna have to explain to us why we are suffering. A devotee sees Krishna unquestionably as master. ‘Whether You make me broken-hearted or You handle me roughly in Your embrace, You are always my worshipful Lord, birth after birth.’ A devotee never doubts Krishna’s loving intention toward him.”
From “The Spirit of Preaching” in Among Friends, Volume 5 #6 (1998):
“This is the paradox of Lord Caitanya: while being totally absorbed inwardly, He was outwardly distributing the holy name.”
“He [Srila Prabhupada] makes it sound easy to be empowered in preaching. It doesn’t appear to take extraordinary qualification. We simply have to accept the mantle of responsibility. I once heard Srila Prabhupada speaking to professors of Hinduism on the same point. In a discussion on surrender, a professor argued that a person would have to have adhikari (qualification) before he could attain a high level of devotion. Prabhupada said, ‘Adhikari means you have to accept. Krishna says, “Surrender to Me.” If you accept, then you have adhikari. Krishna is canvassing, so you just accept it and become empowered. It is very simple.’”
From “No Fear!” in Back to Godhead, 34(6) (November 2000):
“Our endeavor is simply to put ourselves in line for mercy and to accept the mercy when it is given. We are wayward children and Krishna is a loving father. His actions are always to rectify us to our original loving relationship with Him. Since Krishna will reciprocate with our own desire, we have to learn to desire Him. We cannot be defeated in this because if we want Krishna, He will give Himself to us.”
“We find in the material world that more money, more enjoyment, more anything is always lost at death, and at death we will face the greatest loss—that we wasted our time on matter and did not develop our spiritual lives. We will never be able to make up that time. It will be a total loss, just as much as a beautiful car becomes worthless in minutes during a bad accident.”
“Death is never fearful for those who practice Krishna consciousness. Krishna personally carries the soul forward either to the spiritual world or to the next life where the soul can again continue his activities in spiritual life. A devotee who takes shelter of this merciful Krishna has nothing to fear.”
“We are interested simply in Krishna’s pleasure. If we cannot yet love fully, if we cannot yet give up all our interests for Krishna’s interests, then we should be humble enough to cry over our failure. We should cry to receive prema. We are so fallen that all we can do is beg to be engaged in Krishna’s service. If with so many disqualifications we remain proud, however, then how can we hope to achieve Krishna’s mercy?”
From “Envy” in Among Friends, Volume 5 #12 (1999):
“In the same chapter, there is also a description of the glories of Tulasi-devi. Why do all the entities appreciate Tulasi? Because they know of the Lord’s preference for her. Prabhupada comments that this is a Vaikuntha attitude, and from this attitude comes harmony among the devotees.”
“As devotees we may think we are beyond such envy, and that we do not want Krishna’s position any longer, but sometimes we see that original envy come out when we are asked to surrender to Providence (the will of God). It is especially noticeable in young children; as we age, we learn to hide it. Still, even as devotees we often find ourselves struggling against inevitable time. Therefore, we can say that we are still envious of the fact that we are forced to be subordinate to God.”
“Often, we find fault with others because we bear them a grudge for having hurt us in some way. Both the injury and the pain of our wound may be real, but that does not mean we have to turn such persons into enemies. We must learn to forgive. We can think of the different persons who have hurt us and simply forgive them, knowing that neither they nor we are perfect. There are so many things we come to see as imperfections in others; we don’t like the way they raise their children or the way they talk or the way they dress or the way they give lectures or the way they lead kirtana or respond in kirtana. We have to forgive them their imperfections as we would hope to be forgiven our own. To the degree that we live in the fantasy that we are the judge of other people’s activities, we should try to forgive them, then bless them with good, Krishna conscious hopes, for the way they are. Then we should get back to our own purification. Don’t condemn others.”
From “Krishna Protects Our Bhakti” in Back to Godhead, 35(1) (January 2001):
“We should acknowledge the truth of the Lord’s gestures of protection. If we accept the fact that our service is defective, that our hearts are filled with gross and subtle material desire, and that we are lost without Krishna’s guidance, we will better be able to accept that guidance in the form that He gives it. He is always giving it. We can pray to Him to protect us, to help us give up the lower stages of bhakti in favor of the higher forms of surrender, and to clarify our intelligence so that it is filled only with Him.”
From “The Need For Faith” in Back to Godhead, 36(3) (May 2002):
“I once wrote to Prabhupada that I had realized that to understand Bhagavad-gita, I needed more than scholarship. The knowledge would come to me by more mystical transference. Until Krishna blessed me, I wouldn’t be able to understand it. Prabhupada replied, ‘You are a sincere devotee, so Krishna will give you the intelligence to understand Bhagavad-gita.’ Faith comes from sincerity.”
From “An Eye for An Eye, A Tooth for a Tooth: Ending the Cycle” in Among Friends, Volume 6 #6 (1999):
“Much fighting in this world still goes on based on caste, race, and ethnic group. To understand that essential truth that one is not the body but spirit soul, and that whatever position one has attained in this life is simply the mercy of God can help to eliminate the pride that leads to conflict.”
“As Prabhupada indicates, a devotee wants to see nonviolence practiced in all spheres—the outrage of animal-killing should be stopped, the outrages perpetrated on mother earth should be stopped, and the outrages toward one another should be stopped.”
“Forgiveness means being willing to release the pain we have been caused. Refusing to heal a breach in a relationship helps neither ourselves nor the other persons involved.”
“At one sannyasa initiation Srila Prabhupada handed out the dandas and said, ‘Now don’t use these to engage in fratricidal war.’”
From “Freedom” in Among Friends, Volume 6 #7 (2000):
“Because bhakti is based on freedom, we should not force others to engage in devotional service. Rather, we should try to bring out from others their own free inclination to serve the Lord. Sometimes anti-cultists have accused the devotees of brainwashing people and exploiting them for their work. Our attitude should not be cultish toward ourselves or others. When someone comes to Krishna consciousness, we should welcome them with the information that this is the place where service is rendered to Krishna freely. This is the place where people can evoke their own eternal nature of free loving service.”
“Surrender doesn’t mean giving up our ability to will; we don’t have to become robots. Rather, surrender means becoming free to exercise our will and proclivity in Krishna’s service.”
“That we have surrendered once to the spiritual master does not mean that we have to continue to surrender. We also have to make that choice day after day.”
From “My Books Are Your Books” in Among Friends, Volume 6 #8 (2000):
“When all is said and done, chanting is left. It’s the first and last spiritual practice. It’s what I do.”
“Each of us has felt or will feel restriction in our lives. What can we do but make the best of such a situation? Already so many devotees see their energy flagging; they can’t do as much active service as they used to due to aging or ill health. We will each have to learn how to accept the limits Krishna establishes for us. And we certainly have to learn how not to blame Krishna for our suffering, but to love Him through the pain.”
From “Faith” in Among Friends, Volume 6 #11 (2001):
“Another way of discussing faith is to think of it as the waiting period between knowledge and full realization. That is, it is the thing we have to develop and upon which we depend to carry us through the period when we know what spiritual life should be but our experience of it is still immature. We hear that if we chant Hare Krishna, we will feel ecstasy. But we don’t feel ecstasy when we chant. If we wish to continue chanting and reach that ecstatic stage, we have to chant on faith.”
“I was religiously eclectic when Prabhupada came, and sometimes I favored Taoism, other times Buddhism, other times something completely different. But when I met Prabhupada, I quickly became single-minded, wanting only krishna-bhakti.”
From “Japa Reform” in Among Friends, Volume 6 #11 (2001):
“Few of us were born into Krishna consciousness. Rather, often at personal risk we joined this movement. We had real zeal when we joined. Our conversion was exciting. Has that excitement faded? Are we no longer practicing with the same enthusiasm? What are the symptoms of a devotee whose enthusiasm has ebbed? Is it that he or she is no longer living in the temple? Not necessarily. Is it that he or she distributed books for some years, then stopped? No, that’s not a sign that a devotee is not practicing Krishna consciousness seriously. Or perhaps someone now has a regular job. Maybe they’re gaining weight. Maybe they’re growing old. None of these determines whether a devotee can feel the fire of Krishna consciousness blazing in their life. The real symptom of a loss of fire is how the devotee is practicing sadhana, and in particular, whether or not he or she is chanting and hearing.”
“We can do more than we think we can, because the holy name is powerful. If we simply practice the chanting diligently and conscientiously, we will emerge from our difficulties. It’s when we get too desperate and give the chanting up completely that we’re actually lost. Therefore, I would like to introduce the idea that chanting on any level is good, because by chanting we are reciting Krishna’s name and Krishna’s name is powerful. Krishna appreciates our attempts to worship Him in His holy name.”
“Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes [in Harinama Cintamani], ‘If the holy name is chanted just once, although impurely, or if it is simply heard, the sound penetrating within, then the living entity is immediately liberated, regardless of his high or low caste. This is a spiritual fact.’”
“He adds, ‘The namabhasa state [the shadow of the holy name] is not to be underestimated, for it avails many positive benefits to the jiva and increases his piety. Verily, namabhasa is one of the jiva’s greatest virtues.’ It frees us from sinful reactions and the influences of malefic planets. Chanting namabhasa is more potent than going to all the pilgrimage places. The four goals of the Vedas can be attained by chanting namabhasa. The holy name is endowed with unimaginable powers and can reclaim any living entity from the material world. It bestows unlimited joy, and elevates even derelicts to an exalted stage of realization.
“‘Namabhasa offers eternal residence in the spiritual abode of Vaikuná¹ha, especially in Kali-yuga.’”
“I think we can all situate ourselves fully in namabhasa, then go on chanting with faith. Don’t say like these devotees did, ‘I can’t think of Krishna,’ or, ‘I can’t cry for Krishna.’ Just take up the beads and chant with faith in the holy name, knowing that even this situation, this platform of chanting, so foolish and ignorant, so full of anarthas, is auspicious. Just continue to chant regardless.”
From Songs of a Hare Krishna Man, #28:
“Don’t expect
to write a hundred excellent
verses at speed of wind like
Sarvabhauma did after he was converted.
Do what you can.”
From Free Write Journal #225:
From Wild Garden:
“Some of us get cushioned by past good karma, then we sit on our cushions, caring neither for others nor to attain real safety in eternal life.”
Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
From Kalyana-kalpataru (Upadesa, Texts 5–6):
“My dear mind, you are falling into the illusory mistakes of the insensitive world of matter, and so your own real self has been transformed into an entirely different, false personality. Now just heed my advice, dear friend, and don’t cheat your own soul any longer. From now on, please keep yourself in the company of the devotees of the Lord.
“By the power of the Vaishnava’s compassion, all your doubts will be long gone, and your soul will become yours once again. You will attain the transcendental abode of Vrindavan, and there you will wait upon Radha-Syama in your eternal spiritual body, shivering in ecstasy and shedding torrents of joyful tears. Thus, the real wealth of Bhaktivinoda is to keep continuous, intense absorption in the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Radha-Krishna.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From his last lecture:
8. “While living in this world, we encounter many difficulties; but there is no need for us ever to be bewildered by these difficulties.”
9. “We need make no effort to remove any of these obstacles. What is necessary for us, while we are still here, is to learn what is beyond – what will be the nature of our eternal life.”
11. “If you wish to triumph over attraction and repulsion, then you should remember that by becoming attracted to the transcendental holy name, you will be delivered from them.”
“The safest place in the material world is in the kirtan of the holy name.”
Chaturatma Prabhu:
From a Facebook post:
“Regarding fasting and what and how............here is a definitive answer from our Goswamis. Hari-bhakti-vilasa (12.100) quotes the Udyama Parva of Mahabharata:‘astaitany avrata-ghnani apo mulam phalam payah havir brahmana-kamya ca guror vacanemausadham—Water, fruit, roots, milk, ghee, the advice of a brahmin, the words of the guru, and medicine—these eight do not break the vow of fasting.’”
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There are many verses that reveal the importance of remembering the Supreme Lord.
Here is one quoted in the Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.36, purport, which impressed me by its profundity ever since I first read it. The remembrance of the Lord is not to taken lightly!
“In the Vishnu Purana it is written:
‘sa hanis tan mahac chidram
sa mohah sa ca vibhramah
yan-muhurtam ksanam vapi
vasudevam na cintayet
‘If even for a moment remembrance of Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is missed, that is the greatest loss, that is the greatest illusion, and that is the greatest anomaly.’”
How important it is that we remember the Lord! Simply by remembering the Lord, Prahlada Maharaja was protected from so many attempts by his own father to take his life. In desperation, his father asked the source of his power. Prahlada explained that the source of his power, the source of his father’s power, and in fact, the source of everyone’s power is one, the Supreme Lord, Vishnu.
