Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 19, No. 10
By Krishna Kripa Das
(May 2023, part two)
(Sent from Brooklyn, New York, on June 3, 2023)
Where I Went and What I Did
For the last two weeks of May, except for four days, I stayed in our ashram at ISKCON NYC and went out with Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party. I would lead the chanting of Hare Krishna for half an hour, and spend three and a half hours distributing invitations to our three-day Hare Krishna festival in June, highlighted by the June 10 Ratha-yatra. I spent two afternoons chanting Hare Krishna with Sankarsana Prabhu in Washington, D.C., in front of the Natural History Museum. In addition to singing, I would distribute “On Chanting Hare Krishna” and tell interested people I met, many of them tourists, about our temples, restaurants, and events in their hometowns. The first day we were joined by Janardana Swami of Vrindavan, who came with his host, Jagannatha Priya Prabhu. After Washington I did harinama at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, with enthusiastic Vaishnava youths and passed out invitations to the next day’s Ratha-yatra there, which I also attended before returning to New York City in the evening.
I share notes on Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures and the articles of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. I share notes on lectures in New York City by Jayadvaita Swami, Candrasekhara Swami, Dayananda Prabhu, Pancharatna Prabhu, Adikarta Prabhu, Hansarupa Prabhu, Rama Raya Prabhu, Syamasundara Prabhu of Dallas, and Gauranga Prabhu of Chowpatty. I also have notes on a Zoom lecture by Akhandadhi Prabhu. I share notes on articles in Back to Godhead magazine by Visakha Dasi, Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi, Caitanya Carana Prabhu, Gauranga Darsana Prabhu, and Brajanatha Prabhu.
Thanks to Althea of Brighton Beach for her kind donation. Thanks to Rama Raya Prabhu for the photos and videos of me on NYC Harinam. Thanks to Nila Madhava Prabhu, Prashant Silver, and other devotees who assisted me in Baltimore. Thanks to Prabhavishnu Prabhu for the ride from Baltimore to New York City.
Itinerary
May 28–June 9: NYC Harinam
June 10: New York Ratha-yatra
June 11: ISKCON NYC Open House
June 12–17: take care of mother near Albany
June 17: Bhagavad-gita class at 26 Second Avenue
June 18: Hartford Ratha-yatra
June 19: NYC Harinam
June 20: London harinama
June 21–August 14: Paris harinama [June 25 Paris Ratha-yatra]
July 1: Wroclaw Ratha-yatra
July 2: Prague Ratha-yatra
July 3: Prague harinama
August 15: NYC Harinam
August 16: Montreal harinama
August 16–20: Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada
August 21–23: Montreal harinamas
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
I was happy to return to New York City. It was great to see Radha Govinda at mangala-arati again.
Premamani Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and two monks and a girl play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/UvGno4x1_7E):
While Premamani was singing, one young man I gave a NYC Ratha-yatra flyer to told me he had a bizarre connection to the Hare Krishna movement – his great uncle is Tejiyas [a well-known disciple of Srila Prabhupada]. Later he sat on the back of the kirtan mat, listening.
Here Vraja Mohan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and a couple plays shakers, induced by Caranti Devi Dasi (https://youtu.be/NI7fpC3945g):
Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Caranti inspired many people to participate by playing the shakers and dancing.
Arjunananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna, and two ladies play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/HtF0aBfYElo):
While Arjunananda Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna, and a couple played shakers and danced (https://youtu.be/n4fguM7IqRw):
Another couple played also shakers (https://youtu.be/MqLRygRp5oU):
This dog seemed to like the chanting of Arjunananda, and I told its owner that our spiritual teacher had said, “Even a child can take part in the chanting, even a dog can take part in it.”
She smiled and said that the dog’s name was Shanti.
Bhakta Nate chants Hare Krishna, and devotee lady and her kids dance (https://youtu.be/gSzQEpjF3R0):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, devotees dance, and passersby watch (https://youtu.be/y2LcZ6-8Cds):
Keshava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park, and passersby play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/m-2wiudFi78):
Later in Keshava’s kirtan, a lady played shakers and danced with Caranti Devi Dasi (https://youtu.be/hAewTfWD5Pk):
Here Jaya Goracand Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park the next day (https://youtu.be/G4E25VAZxmU):
Later Adikarta Prabhu and Rose chanted Hare Krishna there, and a mom and kid played shakers (https://youtu.be/9EzdJJbLxC4):
Elfie, pictured here with her sister, graduated from UF three years ago, where she loved Krishna Lunch. She was happy when I told her about Govinda’s, Divya’s Kitchen, and our free prasadam at Washington Square Park on Friday and Saturday.
Here Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/ihnhpw_8D94):
Arjunananda Prabhu chants Tulasi kirtan at ISKCON NYC (https://youtu.be/a8YWmVEOMEs):
Somehow or other, although the Bronx Ratha-yatra has happened for 15 years or so, I never heard about it. I was excited to go. I learned that it is ISKCON’s participation in a parade which happens on the final day of an event called Bronx Week, and it begins a short walk from the Yankee Station stop on the 4 and D trains, at Grand Concourse and 163rd Street.
Here Candrasekhara Swami chants Hare Krishna at the Bronx Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/3cr4qPo8bwA):
Then Adikarta Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/lWxMtLTEd-w):
Sachi Priya Devi Dasi of Gitanagari chanted Hare Krishna next (https://youtu.be/xztVmqUr_m8):
Here Hari Chakra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Bronx Ratha-yatra, and a parade announcer praises the devotees’ contribution (https://youtu.be/0nkiNHy72LQ):
After the official end of the Bronx Week Parade, devotees, led by Krsna Kumar, chanted Hare Krishna and danced back to the beginning of the route with their Jagannatha cart, past many vendors along the left side (https://youtu.be/FlzdpWCb_1k):
Hari Chakra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on harinama after Bronx Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/noiHgCdLHeg):
After Hari Chakra Prabhu finished chanting, another devotee chanted Hare Krishna on the harinama, and many devotees and some passersby did an African dance (https://youtu.be/_b4Y2u-9eVA):
That night Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at the Sunday Feast at ISKCON NYC (https://youtu.be/gVoZYlH9A2w):
Later Adikarta Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna during the Sunday feast kirtan there (https://youtu.be/qlYp1AWbeBs):
The next day Jaya Goracand Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park and two ladies played shakers and danced. They later sat down and joined the kirtan party for a while (https://youtu.be/v_SkpYRpsjk):
I chant Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/yHkj0G7WBr4):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and passersby play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/t5tKYvhT_G0):
Pancharatna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the ISKCON NYC Tuesday night program (https://youtu.be/mhgrOhOPZew):
After returning from Baltimore I set up a book table at Albee Square, three blocks from ISKCON NYC. As predicted by Divyangi-devi Dasi, the security guard immediately appeared, saying I had to move. I said to him, “The table’s pretty heavy. Perhaps you could take one side and I the other, and we could carry it across the street.” And so he did!
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Sunday Feast at ISKCON NYC (https://youtu.be/pv_kv-kHpAA):
Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna during the Sunday feast kirtan there (https://youtu.be/tNj2ZWD1n-g):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/0_deUnJB8q8):
Ishan Thakura Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/npuTLf705Ag):
Adikarta Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/UCrTY9sRqm0):
The guy on the left side of this photo asked me, “Did you ever go to FSU?”
Turns out he remembered me from chanting on the campus there. We invited him and his friend from a Queens high school to Ratha-yatra and our free Krishna Lunch at Washington Square Park on Fridays and Saturdays, and Ryan danced with him.
Here Anusuya devi dasi chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/gHUcP8UDT-g):
Jaya Goracand Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle, and Tulasirani Devi Dasi dances with her baby (https://youtu.be/ZVj5_sz9x4U):
Chanting Hare Krishna in Washington, D.C.
Sankarsana Prabhu plays the keytar and chants Hare Krishna front of the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. several hours a day, several days a week.
Here girls from Philadelphia play shakers and try to chant the mantra (https://youtu.be/2BplqcgtbpA):
While I was chanting Hare Krishna with Sankarsana, Janardana Swami and his host, Jagannath Priya Prabhu, joined us. Here Janardana Swami chants Hare Krishna at the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. (https://youtu.be/rDfyrk-K7hc):
While Janardana Swami chanted Hare Krishna, and some boys danced (https://youtu.be/Ar_cfA0Ii4M):
One boy enthusiastically danced for a long time (https://youtu.be/qxmsgmHBwS4):
Later some girls also danced and played the shakers (https://youtu.be/LAcmw1p9P1M):
A group of boys from Miami also enjoyed playing shakers and dancing as their friends took videos of it (https://youtu.be/AiBHIiATsSs):
Another couple of girls danced and played the shakers after that (https://youtu.be/Iwmm8aiIX8I):
Later Sankarsana Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at the Natural History Museum in Washington, and girls and Indians played shakers and danced (https://youtu.be/6_6GgApFT8k):
After the Indian tourists left, the girls continued to dance and play shakers, with some friends joining them (https://youtu.be/x3ln0GSt-iE):
The second day I chanted with my harmonium for half an hour, and I distributed “On Chanting Hare Krishna” for almost four hours. At least five people, high school seniors and older, expressed interest in learning more about Hare Krishna as Sankarsana Prabhu and I chanted. One local lady specifically requested to hear the Hare Krishna mantra, when Sankarsana was singing a song with spiritual lyrics to a popular tune instead.
Chanting Hare Krishna in Baltimore
Different youthful devotees led kirtan at ISKCON Baltimore on Thursday night. Usually they chant Friday nights at the temple there, but because of Ratha-yatra preparation they chanted Thursday.
Here Prashant Silver chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON Baltimore (https://youtu.be/vyw1MvS_Smg):
Isha Ray chants Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/Y455TXR4Heo):
Here Aravinda Nayana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Inner Harbor in Baltimore the day before Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/n62PkWlwyqw):
Next Gopinath chanted Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/IeQduuCpH2Y):
Shubam Shyam Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Inner Harbor, and a couple plays shakers and dances (https://youtu.be/uztkKfSDIbc):
While Shubam Shyam was chanting, a graduate, wearing her gown, danced with the devotee ladies (https://youtu.be/Zne16UOjI_Y):
Here is the full video of the above (https://youtu.be/u9UhJx05N7o):
While the young devotees were leading the Hare Krishna chant, I distributed many flyers for the Ratha-yatra. In Baltimore about 50% of the people would take the flyers while in New York City it was more like 15% of the people who would take them on a good day.
While passing out invitations to the Baltimore Ratha-yatra, I encountered Radha Madhava Devi Dasi, who I remembered from Gainesville in the past and Tampa more recently.
Here Shubam Shyam Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Inner Harbor en route to the Baltimore Festival of India site (https://youtu.be/bHCMc8syrw0):
The devotees in Baltimore regularly distribute about 200 free vegan meals
from a food truck seven days a week..
I was amazed to see they had a rather opulent breakfast in Baltimore before the Ratha-yatra.
For half of the Baltimore Ratha-yatra Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra rode on a large cart on a street with few pedestrians. I did not take any video of it as it did not seem so exciting. For the rest of the parade, the deities were on a small cart on the crowded boardwalk. I invited passersby to the festival.
Here the devotees chant Hare Krishna at the middle of the Baltimore Ratha-yatra before Lord Jagannatha changes chariots (https://youtu.be/nHE2aFms78E):
The chanting of Hare Krishna continued as the Lord changed chariots (https://youtu.be/DaHYTzMEudk):
Then the Ratha-yatra procession resumed along the waterfront at Inner Harbor (https://youtu.be/f7N_GaKsvXQ):
At the festival, I told those who liked either the food, the music or the books, about the Sunday feast, and they were grateful. Some I told about our Ratha-yatra festivals in New York City on June 10 and Philadelphia on September 23.
Shalini amazed me by distributing books to four fifteen-year-old girls from Washington, D.C., two of whom happened to be vegetarian. As they were leaving, they were happy to receive the ISKCON DC Sunday feast invitation from me which they shared among themselves.
During the Baltimore festival one bold devotee lady tried to interest two policewomen in Bhagavad-gita.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.7, purport:
“In the material world, if someone accumulates a million dollars, he is always full of fear because he is always thinking, ‘What if the money is lost?’ But the benediction of the Lord, bhagavat-prasada, is never to be lost. It is simply to be enjoyed. There is no question of loss. One simply gains and enjoys gaining.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.23.29, purport:
“That is the test of advancement in devotional service. One who is advanced in devotional service is never attracted by sex life, and as soon as one becomes detached from sex life and proportionately attached to the service of the Lord, he actually experiences living in the Vaikuntha [spiritual] planets. In the ultimate issue, there is actually no material world, but when one forgets the service of the Lord and engages himself in the service of his senses, he is said to be living in the material world.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 13.142, purport:
“If one can give up his ambition to engage in hackneyed material life and take to Krishna consciousness instead, he will be liberated from the stringent laws of material nature. One does not need to make a separate attempt to become liberated. If one simply engages in the service of the Lord, he will be liberated automatically.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 16.238, purport:
“One cannot be really renounced until one actually becomes disgusted with material activity and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual advancement.”
From Isopansad, text 9, purport:
“Modern civilization is a patchwork of activities meant to cover the perpetual miseries of material existence.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.44 in Bombay on January 19, 1975:
Somewhere in the Bhagavatam it says that when you see a flower, you are seeing Krishna smiling.
We are using our senses for society, friendship, and love, but that service should be transferred to Krishna’s senses.
Krishna’s things may be used for Krishna.
The sense objects are there for satisfaction of the senses by the arrangement of nature.
Daiva is the principle cause.
If a man imitates the barking of a dog, thousands of people will pay for tickets to see, but no one cares to see a dog bark. Similarly if scientists can create life in a test tube, people will clap.
So many people are working on a project, but one will get credit for the discovery. Why is that person successful and others not? That is Krishna’s will.
Because the devotee is a sincere servant of Krishna, Krishna wants to give him the credit. Do not take credit for yourself. The whole credit goes to Krishna.
I would tell parents, “You have several children. Give me one to train in Krishna consciousness to guide society.” But no one was interested.
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1–2:
We may not understand the meaning of Hare Krishna, but the transcendental sound is auspicious. By chanting Hare Krishna we create an atmosphere that is very auspicious for human society.
I did not bribe you American boys and girls to come after me. I just chanted Hare Krishna in that storefront on Second Avenue. In the beginning there was just this chanting.
We should always be confident that this chanting is not a vibration of this material world. Narottama Dasa Thakura says it is imported from the spiritual world.
By hearing we become cleansed, and the blazing fire of material existence ends.
This movement is the prime welfare movement for the human society.
Krishna’s business is meant for everyone. We invite everyone to come and chant Hare Krishna.
You cannot even cut a tree without Krishna’s permission. You cannot kill even an ant.
Our propaganda is to make people more intelligent.
After your death the greatness of your material position will not help you. You will go where your karma dictates.
One prominent Indian politician is said to have become one of two dogs owned by a man in Sweden.
Death means forgetfulness of the recent life.
If you strictly practice Krishna consciousness, maya will not be able to touch you.
Thus our program is twenty-four hours of thinking of Krishna. That is the highest meditation.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
[Prabandhavali is a book to be published by Touchstone Media consisting of translations of the Bengali articles that Bhaktivinoda Thakura published in the Gaudiya magazine and which I just finished proofreading.]
From “Priti, or Ecstatic Love” in Prabandhavali:
“The priti of those who are absolutely averse to Krishna is pervertedly reflected in matter. Therefore, they do not know anything other than priti for sense gratification. Being attached to sense objects, they are completely absorbed in thoughts of sense gratification. They actually forget themselves while searching for material happiness. Moreover, they adore materialism and thus praise material science, which enhances their material happiness.
“‘There is no soul, self-realization is just an illusion, instiand endeavors for elevating the self are simply mental gymnastics.’ Thinking like this, gross materialists deceive themselves. Some of these materialistic conditioned souls engage in religious ritualistic activities for the purpose of enjoying heavenly happiness and thereby become diverted from the endeavor for attaining spiritual happiness.
“Among the conditioned souls, some become detached and develop faith in spiritual inquiry. By the strength of their faith, they may become attracted to Krishna, who is like the sun of the spiritual world. Despite being involved in various wordly, scientific, and religious endeavors, such persons may begin to enjoy the pleasure of Krishna’s association.”
“Whatever reflection of love is seen is experienced in relation to the soul only. The pure living entity is spiritual and therefore a spirit soul. The soul’s love for another soul is pure priti. That priti alone is to be searched after. Universal love, or love between human and human, is just the perverted reflection of love for the soul. The love between one soul and another is the only ideal.”
“The Vedas have said: prano hy esa sarva-bhutair vibhati vijanan vidvan bhavate nati-vadi atma-kriḍa atma-ratih kriyavan esa brahma-vidam varisthah – The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the life of all. He is the Supersoul splendidly manifest in all living beings. One who knows Him becomes wise. That person turns from the logicians’ debates. He meditates on the Lord’s pastimes. He loves the Lord. He serves the Lord. He is the best of transcendentalists.”
“Ananda or bliss falls in the category of priti or ecstatic love of God. All living entities are looking for bliss. Those who desire liberation consider liberation bliss, hence they are maddened by ‘liberation, liberation.’ Materialistic persons call sense gratification bliss, hence they run after material enjoyment. Ambition for getting ananda induces them to run after such activities. The devotees try for bliss derived from Krishna’s service. Therefore, all types of people are searching after priti. What to speak of this, they are even prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of priti.”
“How can there be ananda or priti in the oneness of non-differentiated Brhaman? When the feeling of ‘I’ is totally lost, then who is the enjoyer of ananda? When everything becomes one then where is ananda? Who will feel or relish ananda? If my sense of ‘I’ is lost, then who will realize Brahman? Even if Brahman is ananda, it is useless with the absence of an enjoyer. So, where is the conviction that there is ananda at all? Destruction of ‘I am’ destroys everything and so what else remains? What goal of life will be realized? When I don’t exist then nothing exists.”
From “The Teachings of Sri Krishna Caitanya” in Prabandhavali:
“The essence of Sri Mahaprabhu’s teachings is that love of Krishna alone is the living entity’s eternal propensity. He can never be disconnected from that eternal treasure. But since he has become attached to objects other than Krishna, being bewildered by maya because of his forgetfulness of Krishna, gradually that propensity, being almost dormant, has now hidden within the core of the living entities’ heart. This is the cause of the living entity’s suffering in material existence. If again, due to good fortune, the living entity remembers, ‘I am an eternal servant of Krishna,’ then that propensity will revive and surely bring the living entity back to good health.”
“Since full trust in the words of the scriptures and spiritual master alone is the symptom of faith, it is necessary to imbibe these as one’s life and soul.”
Jayadvaita Swami:
Q (by Tulasi Prabhu): Why the Hare Krishna mantra?
A: All mantras and understandings are included in this Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
As one approaches the sun through the sunshine, one approaches Krishna through His energy.
Candrasekhara Swami:
There is a tendency of organizations to modify individuals’ behavior to fit them into some model they consider ideal. It is not just ISKCON that does this but all organizations. This tendency is called by the adjective “Procrustean” after a Greek deity, who stretched or cut off the legs of guests to fit them into his bed.
That there are exceptions does not make the rule useless, even if there are many exceptions.
The general idea is that the wife serves the husband, the children serve the wife, and the husband is not acting whimsically but is serving a guru. The whole nature of Krishna consciousness is everyone is serving someone.
A marriage is an organization although a small one, and it has the same issues that larger organizations have.
Cooperation and sincere appreciation of the other need to be there to make a marriage work.
There is a letter in which Srila Prabhupada said in a case where a woman was bringing her spouse into Krishna consciousness that she could be like a guru for her husband, although generally the husband is like a guru for the wife.
There are rules and exceptions, and some people cannot tolerate the rules and some people cannot tolerate the exceptions.
Some things that Prabhupada says and some things that the scriptures say do not apply to devotees.
Whenever you have men and women living in the same place, there is always the tendency of them becoming entangled, and thus there have to be precautions.
If you practice Krishna consciousness, the promise is you will be able to transcend bodily designations and thus those distinctions will not make so much difference.
If some people want to follow a more ancient understanding of varnasrama that is fine, but they do not have the right to force that on everyone.
There are not so many absolutes. The dasa-mula-tattva, ten understandings of Gaudiya Vaishnavas, are some.
Comment by Adikarta Prabhu: I have been married for 45 years, and I have thought about taking sannyasa many times, but I could not leave my wife wfor ith sixteen cows.
It is difficult to give up sex life, and the only way it is possible is if one is highly spiritually advanced, but to attain that state of advancement may take some time. Therefore marriage exists for heterosexuals, and perhaps there should be a facility for homosexuals, who are also working towards the ultimate goal of becoming free from sex life and attaining the spiritual platform, although I do not think we should create a new Vaishnava institution for such a thing.
My hearing is terrible because of years of ISKCON heavy metal – karatalas.
DNA is vastly overrated. It does not tell how the cells relocate, differentiate and form organs. Scientists can see that this is being done, but how they cannot explain.
Science has no handle on consciousness in a practical way.
After explaining 23 varieties of mystic powers to Uddhava, Krishna tells him they are all useless.
Mystic abilities are a distraction on the path of progressive spiritual advancement.
Krishna makes the point in Bhagavad-gita 3.39 that material desire can never be satisfied.
We can use opulence in Krishna’s service but we cannot become attached to it nor use it outside of Krishna’s service.
If you can chant the holy name carefully, having opulence will not be a temptation leading to downfall.
Most people never get beyond identifying with the persona comprised of our gross and subtle bodies.
Comment by Pandava Prabhu: This question about why not to use mystic powers in the Lord’s service is asked and answered in Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.1–5. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī says there that “after capturing animals, a cunning hunter does not put faith in them, for they might run away. Similarly, those who are advanced in spiritual life do not put faith in the mind. Indeed, they always remain vigilant and watch the mind’s action.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.2)
Dayananda Prabhu:
The highest consciousness is pure selflessness, and the lowest is pure selfishness.
The Bhagavatam does not say Devahuti was sacrificing her comfort, and her husband was enjoying like anything. He was also performing austerities.
Dasa really means a menial servant, practically a slave. It is interesting that in modern songs people talk of becoming slaves out of love to another, but if we talk about that in relationship to Krishna people find it extreme.
Love in the material world is selfish. I say “I love you” because when I am around you, I feel good.
Kardama Muni was qualified to accept the selfless service of his wife.
We do not know God directly so we serve his servants, and the servants of his servants.
In ISKCON we were all offered in the sankirtana yajna, and being thrown in a fire, we may get burned, but the spiritual result of our austerity is incredible, inestimable, and eternal. We waged war on maya, and we had some losses.
Comment by Adikarta Prabhu: In general, as devotees we do not have as many problems as others, and the remaining ones would be solved if we were living in farm communities run according to varnasrama principles. Until we develop these communities, we will continue to have problems.
Comment by me: Radhanath Swami said in New Vrindaban people were pushed to sacrifice everything for the project and many people burned out, and some went away. Thus in Chowpatty, his strategy was to look after the devotees’ needs, and he found because of that the devotees would voluntarily sacrifice for the project.
From a seminar on his books:
The Environmental Society is a reference book, while the other is abridged.
In the book, I attack the basis of modern culture: the philosophical basis of science, democracy, socialism, capitalism, humanism, and Western Christianity. These define reality for 7 billion people.
I examine where the weak points are in regard to treatment of nature.
The goal of the book is to show that other knowledge schools are less harmonious with nature than the Vaishnava culture.
Four strengths of Vaishnava Culture
1. the living essence (the soul) is equal in all kinds of living beings
2. satisfaction comes from the glorification of the names and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, which results in less consumption.
3. agrarian economy (varna)
4. joy of austerity (ashrama)
One Christian writer has criticized Christians for being against animism, the idea that there is spirit in nature.
This attempt is to create many more people interested in Krishna consciousness, such as Radheshyam from Pune did by creating groups at 200 Indian universities, which resulted in 10,000 people chanting 16 rounds over the last 26 years.
This attempt will appeal to social activists, who are common among young people.
In the small book I just focus on modern culture and Vaishnava culture, while in the other book I describe many other cultures.
I make the point that modern culture is going in the wrong direction. I recommend chanting the name of God. If you prefer another name of God that is alright, but if you examine our Vaishnava culture, you will find a lot that is valuable.
Religion is seen as an option in this society, but it is actually required to perfect our lives and to perfect society.
You have to make a choice: To continue to support the modern culture and destroy the environment, or to choose another culture that is more harmonious. We recommend the Vaishnava culture.
Akhandadhi Prabhu:
Paul McCartney, who is a friend of the Hare Krishna devotees even today, in dream heard the tune which later became his famous song, “Yesterday.” Af first he thought perhaps he had heard it somewhere else, but he couldn’t find it anywhere, and thus he concluded it was a divine inspiration.
We are not the “doer” but the “willer.”
We sometimes consider the relationship between the soul and the body to be like that between the driver and the car, but the analogy is more accurate if the car is one of the those new autonomous vehicles which takes you where you want to go without so much direction by the driver.
Sadaputa Prabhu’s project was to open up science to include more aspects of nature, like the existence of supreme consciousness.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.35 is an important verse and purport: “The Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna is in every living being along with the individual soul. And this fact is perceived and hypothesized in our acts of seeing and taking help from the intelligence.”
There Srila Prabhupada says the intelligence is the form-direction of the paramatma, and thus intelligence has a special status, being directly connected with paramatma.
Pancharatna Prabhu:
Discussion of ideal womanhood is something that may not go over well in modern society,
The two go together, to have a great husband requires a great wife, and a great wife also requires a great husband.
It is often described that the woman is the better half and gives the man the strength to do his duties in life.
As Caitanya Carana mentioned, there are those who absolutize and those who relativize, but to contextualize is better.
Because there are real differences between man and women, these must be taken into account in the interactions between them.
Satyabhama was amazed that Draupadi’s husbands did whatever she wanted. She wondered how Draupadi got them to be so obedient. She proposed different things like casting spells, etc. Draupadi was outraged at the list of materialistic ideas she mentioned, and she explained that she just served her husbands and the others in the household to the best of her ability.
Srila Prabhupada speaks of chastity in male and female relationships but also many times in the devotees’ relationships with the Lord. We should be chaste in our devotion to our Lord.
For the Vedic ideal of male-female relationships to work, both the man and woman have to take their roles equally seriously.
To free the mothers so they can properly take care of their children properly the husbands have to take their duties very seriously.
One must raise children in a protective, nuturing enviroment and teach them to be Krishna consciousness.
Man have a tendency to analyze and rationalize without feeling, which does not help relationships.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
The cursing business is fraught with danger when directed against a devotee of the Lord. The cases of Saubhari Muni cursing Garuda and Durvasa Muni cursing Maharaja Ambarisa are examples.
Women want nice houses, nice husbands, and nice children. That tendency transcends time.
Devahuti satisfied her husband so well by her service, he gave her the gift of all the spiritual realization he had acquired.
The government realized only the men were working and paying taxes and thus they encouraged the women to work to raise additional revenue.
Srila Prabhupada taught that the husband should be faithful to the service of the Supreme Lord and the wife should assist him. Then the wife would get the same spiritual benefit.
The purpose of sannyasa is to work for the benefit of the whole society, not to get some fame.
Canakya Pandit said if a man cannot get wealth, knowledge or respect he should leave that place.
We have to follow in Srila Prabhupada’s footsteps to get his mercy.
Liberation does not mean to get four arms but to be freed from the overbearing weight of the material energy.
If one is not thinking he is the enjoyer, there is no question of atyahara, over collecting.
People are encouraged to do self-assessment these days, but they do not know what is the self. If one comes to understand that he is the servant of Krishna by such self-assessment, then it is valuable.
As a result of her faithful service to her husband, Devahuti got a palace greater than she could desire.
A man and woman cannot create life. They can just create situation in which the soul can enter.
Srila Prabhupada indicated that the guru knows when to bestow a higher realization on his disciples.
Comments: Regarding Kardama Muni giving his spiritual gifts to his wife, Kadamba Kanana Swami said in a class at 26 Second Avenue that Bhaktivinoda Thakura said a person at nistha [steadiness] can give someone sraddha [faith], a person at bhava [preliminary love of god] can give a person ruci [taste], a person at prema [love of God] can give a person everything. Kardama Muni was highly elevated, since Lord Vishnu had appeared before him, thus he could easily give any such benediction to his wife.
Visakha Dasi:
From “The Rewards of Repetition” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2023):
“In truth, it’s our layers of conditioning that create interpersonal blocks and unnecessary distancing. It’s our conditioning that causes us endless problems and discomfort. If we can remove those layers, we’ll reveal an empathetic, kind, friendly person who can hear without negativity, who can help others without expectation of return, and who trusts and has confidence despite past experience. We’ll discover someone with unflinching faith in guru and God, and with genuine love for His creation and created beings. We’ll find an enthusiastic devotee of God.
“A surprising number of people are awakening to this understanding of reality and are determined to free themselves of conditioning. They’ve felt the cry of the soul and are responding to that cry. Sometimes even surprising themselves with their own earnestness, these spiritual seekers absorb themselves in hearing and chanting God’s names, in learning about Him and His teachings, and in relishing the company of likeminded souls. In short, these people want to experience the ‘free light and the spirit’ that Srila Prabhupada writes of. They want to break the shackles of conditioning that keep them bound to this temporary world, and to do so they confidently and courageously step out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. They engage in daily spiritual practices, called sadhana.”
“The practice of chanting japa, however, is different from ordinary practices. It’s liberating, and because it involves God, who is beyond the purview of our senses and mind, it brings with it the flavor and promise of mystery and wonders to come.”
“After doing it thousands of times, chanting becomes a welcomed oasis of sanity in an often insane world.”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
The associates of the Lord come to assist Lord Caitanya in His distribution of love of God to the people in general.
If we please Srila Prabhupada, he will give the greatest thing in his possession, krishna-prema.
Real opulence is love of God.
Material opulence may come or go, but a devotee is always fixed in his service to Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada asked his disciples to get a few eucalyptus twigs from a tree in Regents Park in London. Some caretaker protested. Srila Prabhupada made the point to the devotees that the British for centuries had taken so much wealth from India, and now they will not spare a few twigs from a tree in their park.
Srila Prabhupada told the Radha Damodara devotees the merit achieved by meditation for 60,000 years in Satya-yuga can be attained by doing sankirtana for just a few days.
Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi:
From “Nescience and Transcendental Knowledge, Side by Side” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2023):
“We may require so many amenities to sustain a gratifying experience for our minds and bodies, yet spiritual authorities describe the endeavor for material satisfaction as not much more than sheer ignorance.”
“Materialistic conditioning further constructs the tapestry of material existence. People promoting the needs of the body as the sole necessity of life, and indoctrinating their children from birth to find success by seeking only material profit, do the greatest harm.”
Gauranga Prabhu:
Chapter One is called the yoga of Arjuna’s lamentation. Lamentation can be the cause of us connecting with the Lord.
There are different causes of lamentation, and separation from Krishna causes the greatest lamentation.
Fallen means one knows the scriptural injunctions, but one is too weakhearted to follow.
Sadha-sanga can save us from this weakheartedness so we can follow the path of dharma.
Nothing material can impede our relationship with Krishna.
Although he is constrained in many ways at the end of life, Bhisma is determined to serve the Lord and His devotees in whatever circumstance he is in, and thus he expresses his devotion to Krishna through his prayers.
Devahuti regrets she did not take the opportunity to associate with husband in a spiritual way.
During an interview, Srila Prabhupada was eating an orange and spitting each seed perfectly into a trash can, and the reporter was so impressed seeing this he became a devotee.
We have a tendency to:
control
consume
convince
compete
Motivations:
ignorance - fear
passion - desire
goodness - duty
pure goodness – love
Love means just to consider the person you are pleasing and not the trouble involved in doing so.
The difference between bathing in the Yamuna and bathing in the Ganges is that the Ganges frees you from sinful reactions and the Yamuna frees you from both pious and sinful reactions.
Challenges in love:
Scarcity
Impediments
Discomfort
Srila Prabhupada wanted his followers to assist in the mission by adjusting their plans.
At a prison program, I asked someone who had committed twelve murders, how as a young man he had committed so much crime. He replied, “When I become overcome with anger, I cannot think of anything.”
If I continue serving, my future is bright. Krishna will take care of me, and I will attain the spiritual world.
By the grace of the devotees, if we practice the process sincerely, we will get the ability surpass impediments.
Caitanya Carana Prabhu:
From “Q&A” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2023):
“Dr. Wilder Penfield, after four decades of research, concluded, ‘The brain is a computer . . . . But it is programmed by something that is outside itself.’”
“Underwater expeditions off the coast of modern-day Dwarka discovered the submerged remains of the ancient Dwarka city described in the Mahabharata and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Recovered artifacts, such as seals and coins bearing names and insignias connected with Krishna, demonstrate that the scriptural descriptions of Krishna are not mythological but historical.”
Gauranga Darsana Prabhu:
From “The Epitome of Love” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2023):
“Although each of us has relationships with many others in this world, these begin when we enter a material body and end when we leave it. But we are eternally related to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.”
“Just as the living being is eternal, his love for God is also eternal. If we love someone, we love the things and people related to that person. Thus, understanding one’s eternal relationship with God and loving Him don’t make one indifferent to friends and family members, but make one love them in true spirit. Kindness and love centered on God make people more united and broadminded.”
Brajanatha Prabhu:
From “Krishna Will Accept and Reciprocate” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2023):
“We need to discover the principle that ‘I am an eternal lover of the Lord, and by offering service to the Lord with love and devotion I become blissful because I am part of Him.’”
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When we hear there are sixty-four kinds of devotional service, we may become bewildered about which to perform. These verses, which were accepted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, tell of the most important five items of devotional service and why they are important.
sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravaṇa
sakala-sadhana-srestha ei pañca anga
krishna-prema janmaya ei pancera alpa sanga
“One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith and veneration. These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Krishna.” (Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 22.128–129)
Nama-sankirtana is special because it combines the most important two, sadhu-sanga and nama-kirtana.