Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 19, No. 12
By Krishna Kripa Das
(June 2023, part two)
(Sent from Paris, France, on July 8, 2023)
Where I Went and What I Did
The second half of June, I finished my five-day stay near Albany, taking care of my mother. I made a sweet for Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s disappearance day, chanted for an hour and a half on NYC Harinama, and spoke on Bhagavad-gita at 26 Second Avenue. The next day I attended Hartford Ratha-yatra, had lunch with Niranjana Swami and Bhusara and Rama Raya Prabhus and heard Radhanath Swami speak in the evening in Brooklyn. The following day I chanted Hare Krishna for half an hour before flying to London in the evening, bringing 300 copies of the French “On Chanting Hare Krishna” for distribution, mostly in Paris. I chanted Hare Krishna one day in London with Harinama Ruci and Ananta Nitai Prabhu.
Then I took the train to Paris, where I spent the last ten days of the month chanting Hare Krishna in public three hours a day with Tulasi, Revatinandana, and Gaura Nataraja Prabhus every day, with the Paris harinama devotees two days a week, and with Harinama Ruci the day before, the day of and the after the Ratha-yatra. For six days, we were also joined by Madhupati Prabhu of Ukraine, who has resided in Germany many years and who leads a lively kirtan with the accordion. Govardhana Puja Prabhu, a senior brahmacari from Italy, also joined us for several days as well. On June 25 we had Paris Ratha-yatra, and many devotees participated, some from other countries, including Srila Prabhupada disciple and performer, Parividha Prabhu, and many people were attracted.
I share notes on the writings and talks of Srila Prabhupada, and on classes given by Mahavishnu Swami, Janananda Goswami, Radhanath Swami, Parividha Prabhu, and Hansarupa Prabhu.
Thanks to the Paris temple for paying for my July metro pass. Thanks to Janananda Goswami for his donation of foreign currency. Thanks to Ahaituki Prema Prabhu for his photos and videos of me on NYC Harinam. Thanks to Bhakta Sunny of Harinama Ruci for his videos of me on harinama in London and in Paris, and one from April in Radhadesh as well. Thanks to Ekanath Prabhu of Lyon for his video of Mahavishnu Swami chanting on the stage at the Paris Ratha-yatra. Thanks to Yugala Piriti Devi Dasi for the prasadam sweets in New York.
Itinerary
June 21–August 1: Paris harinamas
August 2–7?: Lyon harinamas
August 8–14: Paris harinamas
August 15: NYC Harinam
August 16: Montreal harinama
August 16–20: Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada
August 21–25: Montreal harinamas
August 26–27: Kirtan Festival Celebration in Quebec
August 28: Montreal harinamas
August 29–September 6: Syracuse harinamas
September 7–13?: NYC Harinam
September 14–21?: take care of mother near Albany
September 22: Philadelphia harinama
September 23: Philadelphia Ratha-yatra
Taking Care of My Mother in Albany
I spent five days helping my 98 year-old mother with her meals and her medicine. She was grateful and thanked me for taking care of her so nicely, even pushing her to take her medicine when she did not want to. I said that we could never take care of her to the extent that she took care of us when we were growing up. She said that she enjoyed taking care of us, most of the time, and that we were a lot better than many children.
She likes to listen to the PBS NewsHour, and on Friday with the NewsHour plus all the weekly local and national news programs, we end up hearing about three hours of news, way too much for me. There is a certain amount of violence in the news which does not lift one’s consciousness, and the news is presented in such a way as to absorb you more in the material world.
I asked my mother if she remembered any spiritual songs from her youth, because it is good to hear spiritual sound, especially at the end of life. She mentioned a song called “Dona Nobis Pacem” from her Catholic childhood which literally means “Grant Us Peace.” I found a recording online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bURklF4aULM), and I set the Safari browser of her iPhone to play it for her. It is interesting that the song implies that peace is actually a gift from God. In reality, if we follow the good advice of the omniscient, all merciful Supreme Lord, we can actually attain the peace we desire. Many verses from the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam tell how we can achieve the supreme peace.
The last day at my mother’s place was the disappearance day of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. I had so much leftover prasadam, I did not have to cook anything new for myself or her, and thus I made a special sweet to honor that holy day, as I like to do when I have the time and the ingredients. I decided to serve it after the Bhagavad-gita class at 26 Second Avenue that night.
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
Between my mother’s place and Second Avenue I spent about an hour and a half on the NYC Harinam, singing for a half an hour, distributing the free literature and temple cards, and taking a couple of videos:
Here Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/o1KHHpMYN_Y):
Later Narada Muni Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/ErsTJFwpVDw):
Ahaituki Prema Prabhu took a video of me chanting there as well (https://youtu.be/czpaK6xaFX0):
I was clearly happy to be back on the party, after so many days away.
Two days later, on the day I left New York City for London, I could only come for half an hour of the harinama. It was frustrating to drag all my luggage with me to harinama for just half an hour, but I did save a certain amount of time and money by doing it that way rather than making two trips.
Here I sang at Union Square Park, video courtesy of Ahaituki Prema (https://youtu.be/WeDVMbQpoQo):
Chanting Hare Krishna in Hartford
The Hartford Ratha-yatra is in nearby Glastonbury and is largely attended and organized by devotees of Indian backgrounds.
I did have a nice talk with an older lady from Eastern Europe who attended because she met some devotees in the town the day before. I gave her “On Chanting Hare Krishna.”
One of the main reasons I went was to see Niranjana Swami, who originally invited me to live in our New York temple on West 55th Street back in 1979. He was so kind that he invited Rama Raya Prabhu and I to join him for lunch after the Ratha-yatra procession. We were both his bhaktas in New York in 1979, and he was our bhakta leader. Otherwise he was mostly in Boston. Once he told the devotees at the Lithuanian summer festival that he only lived in Boston. Just one year he went to New York to pick up Rama Raya and Krishna Kripa, and then he returned to Boston.
I took a couple of videos at the Ratha-yatra:
Bhusara Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Hartford Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/ORnX0qZ5IdI):
Pancharatna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Hartford Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/M9juzM92-eg):
Chanting Hare Krishna in London
When I was staying with my mother, I was confused about what things are recycleable, and what things are not, but when I arrived in London’s Gatwick Airport, I noticed they make it very clear.
On the bus to the London temple, I encountered a friendly African man, who was training up the driver to drive that particular route. He spontaneously said to me, “The people who are trying to make money are trying to control nature, but that is not possible. They do not know that God has created nature to control man.” It is rare to meet people who have advanced transcendental knowledge and freely share it.
There was a friendly young guy behind me in the line at Govinda’s Restaurant, and I ended up having lunch with him. He was named Jesse, and he was from Holland. While visiting London for a Sadhguru conference, he became a devotee of Govinda’s, especially liking their desserts. When I invited him to ISKCON Amsterdam, he told me he’d been to ISKCON Bangalore and Tirupati.
When I returned from an errand, Jhulan Lila had sold him a Gita, and she thanked me for doing the ground work.
I hoped to join Harinamananda Prabhu for harinama in London on the day I spent there between New York and Paris, but both he and Mahavishnu Swami, two of the main kirtan leaders for Harinama Ruci, were resting up for the all-night Stonehenge harinama event that evening. Thus unexpectedly I played the role of lead singer for Harinama Ruci for two hours that afternoon. Visnu Jana Prabhu really assisted me, and thus we were able to encourage people to chant the mantra along with us, just as the usual singers for Harinama Ruci do.
Here I chant Hare Krishna in the Soho region of London, and ladies at a cafe play shakers and try chanting the maha-mantra (https://youtu.be/OMm3Bdr7ZEU):
Later two more ladies learned the mantra and danced (https://youtu.be/1mpbt3Q06ac):
Once, ladies working in a cafe danced, and a boy tried chanting the maha-mantra (https://youtu.be/a8mmpeS3URI):
As we chanted Hare Krishna along Oxford Street while returning to the temple, young ladies passing by danced with the devotee ladies (https://youtu.be/WrdBxyS-SG0):
Harini, who I knew from Paris, was expert at inducing the ladies to dance, and then selling them Srila Prabhupada’s books.
One Argentinian couple also was expert at dancing and book distribution. The wife would dance with the ladies, and the husband would sell them books.
Because I only chanted for two hours with Harinama Ruci, I decided to go with Ananta Nitai Prabhu to Camden and sing for another hour during the daily prasadam distribution there. Dedicated devotees served passersby khichri, bread rolls, and halava, and I stashed some of the many rolls for my journey to Paris the next day.
Here Ananta Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna during Food for Life in Camden (https://youtu.be/aKx4oQzSwnA):
Chanting Hare Krishna in Paris
The day I arrived in Paris was June 21, and it is known as Fête de la Musique or Music Day, where all over France people do music in the streets. Because we do music in the street every day, we fit right in. We have to keep walking, otherwise we would be drowned out by other performers setting up near us. The Paris harinama party which usually chants on Thursdays and Saturdays chanted on Wednesday instead of Thursday that week to take advantage of the festival.
Here Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Hotel de Ville, and kids dance (https://youtu.be/8DVF_EMGfzI):
While Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there, some young adults joined the kids in dancing, and they played the shakers as well (https://youtu.be/dZl8Qc8IxiA):
Next the kids began playing shakers as they danced (https://youtu.be/I8CRlVJ5qCs):
Then seeing that we were distributing Ratha-yatra flyers, the kids demanded that we give them some to pass out, too (https://youtu.be/VGigRs9CGdQ):
Patita Pavana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna between Hotel de Ville and Les Halles in Paris, and young tourists dance (https://youtu.be/StvLtIYOyLk):
Govardhan Puja Prabhu of Italy chants by the Pompidou Center, and several groups dance (https://youtu.be/XDoTbrmDI98):
Revatinandana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Les Halles (https://youtu.be/J12AEri4wMk):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci on metro line 9 on the way to Trocadero to chant at the Eiffel Tower (https://youtu.be/BFkYfv-gQFM):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci at the Eiffel Tower and Columbian tourists dance (https://youtu.be/5fXUqyCyEhw):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at the Eiffel Tower, and a guy plays guitar (https://youtu.be/IzRa30tIyqE):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at a garden near the Eiffel Tower (https://youtu.be/OUOj3DcxITA):
While Mahavishnu Swami was chanting Hare Krishna there, a lady chanted the mantra with us (https://youtu.be/TItzvqHd1TQ):
Later as Mahavishnu Swami chanted, a whole group joined in, chanting the mantra and dancing (https://youtu.be/pidrC1sZ948):
I talked to one boy in that group, the tall thin bare-chested one wearing glasses, and he told me he was from Bushwick in Brooklyn, so I gave him a card for our Brooklyn temple and restaurant. I was so focused on promoting Ratha-yatras that I told him about the Philadelphia Ratha-yatra as the New York one had already happened.
Later as Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna behind the Eiffel Tower, a family from Slovakia chanted and danced (https://youtu.be/zcmpp0BO5Sw):
While Mahavishnu Swami chanted Hare Krishna there, a group of young ladies danced as well (https://youtu.be/wmKUQ6qO6IU):
The next day, Madhupati Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna as the Jagannatha Deities and Srila Prabhupada left the temple for Ratha-yatra in Paris (https://youtu.be/3X3rLbxdlOA):
Here Parividha Prabhu chants Hare Krisnna to a Sound of Music tune before the Paris Ratha-yatra procession (https://youtu.be/2WUk4pvyGt4):
Here Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna in the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/yYLPZho0OOI):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/NFJoD30_huM):
Chandrashekhara Acharya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/vNmzvdelBaU):
Valentine chants Hare Krishna in the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/AXvp9CYao7Y):
Taptakanchana Gauradhama Prabhu leads the final Hare Krishna kirtan at the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/1Nju49bYv8Q):
People watch Paris Ratha-yatra from their apartments (https://youtu.be/T9QxvpMlSC4):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at La Republique, where the Paris Ratha-yatra ends (https://youtu.be/NyGY7TtXLnA):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci on the Paris Ratha-yatra stage (https://youtu.be/XVb0R2KakQg):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna on the RER B after the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/DTGGCnMBe-s):
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at Gare du Nord after the Paris Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/4rCuxQ1WUgw):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on a suburban train to Paris, and a man chants and claps (https://youtu.be/vsw-ybKvuHM):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna through the Marcadet - Poissonniers metro station and on the downtown platform of metro 12 (https://youtu.be/T3Hz_UNGkeQ):
Here Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Paris metro line 12, and a girl plays shakers (https://youtu.be/D0WYXUOGiPA):
One girl who got on the train was pleasantly smiling upon seeing our chanting party, and I offered her “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” which she began reading.
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the metro 12 station called Abbesses in Paris, and two Dutch girls chant, dance, and take books (https://youtu.be/X0mF34-YJFE):
I also invited them to the Amsterdam Ratha-yatra on July 15.
As Madhupati continued chanting while waiting for an elevator, a girl passing by began dancing (https://youtube.com/shorts/hCB-y8dFRkM?feature=share):
Here Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna outside the Abbesses station of metro 12 in Paris, and a boy happily dances with devotees (https://youtu.be/HR9yZlAKXhA):
Nearby, just after that, a Mexican family played shakers as Madhupati chanted Hare Krishna (https://youtube.com/shorts/e_lGNx9DQ24):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna en route to Montmartre, and a couple chants and dances (https://youtu.be/JPbyahgfhbw):
Many more people also participated in different ways (https://youtu.be/zx_Hl2GSaWU):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna while beginning the ascent of Montmartre, and people participate (https://youtu.be/zIInPj2xCRY):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna while ascending Montmartre (https://youtu.be/PEG5uh7oxUE):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Montmartre, and people chant and dance (https://youtu.be/gYYpfYBzMNs):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci, a drummer jams with us and tries the mantra, a Dutch guitarist sings “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and devotees chant Hare Krishna to that tune (https://youtu.be/CDfKG3AyETQ):
I suggested that the lady guitarist learn “My Sweet Lord,” and I told her to send me a recording of her playing it. She said that she always wondered about Hare Krishna and took “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” although she would not chant the mantra with us despite repeated requests. Thanks to Sunny for his videos.
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Montmartre, and a man plays guitar and a cafe worker dances (https://youtu.be/PkkxuXKB-Yo):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Montmartre with Harinama Ruci, and several people participate [portrait orientation] (https://youtu.be/enUh6SK-IQQ):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Montmartre with Harinama Ruci, and people participate (https://youtu.be/ssWZhGSpMZg):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Montmartre, and two ladies dance and take prasadam (https://youtu.be/i5cSemyiKSs):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci while descending from Montmartre, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/TgxZMBtOgd8):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci in a sweet shop at Montmartre (https://youtu.be/HBaOB35u4yk):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Harinama Ruci at Montmartre, and visiting students interact (https://youtu.be/jM9q3hfiQ2w):
Tuesday we decided to chant at the Sarcelles Market which we had done in previous years, but somehow we didn’t do last summer when I was here.
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on a bus in Sarcelles, and a kid in a stroller plays shakers (https://youtu.be/AIbndIwq1uU):
Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sarcelles Market, and vendors and shoppers react in different ways (https://youtu.be/Iu98bv_FehQ):
One man was so opposed to me taking video of our chanting in the market that he grabbed my camera and moved the videos to the trash. When he returned the camera, I restored the videos. I was going to cut out the section of the video with him in it out of respect for him, but he did not appear in it, so I decided to keep the whole video.
Here Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sarcelles Market (https://youtu.be/6ibC-UHBHiM):
We met a jovial Jewish man in the Sarcelles Market, who placed his black kippah on the head of Gaura Nataraja Prabhu.
Here he wears the hat that I had just purchased and holds the book that Nataraja gave him in exchange for a donation.
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sarcelles Market, and kids clap and dance (https://youtu.be/wc0Bc51Div0):
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sarcelles Market, and several African ladies dance to the music with great enthusiasm (https://youtu.be/I_3OXrGDrR0):
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Sarcelles Market, and a man tries chanting the mantra (https://youtube.com/shorts/a8hyR9Ev_cE?feature=share):
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Garges/Sarcelles station, and a girl chants and dances (https://youtu.be/LPwaXa70ouw):
The next day we decided to sing at Saint-Michel, a popular tourist place in Paris.
Here Madhupati Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Saint-Michel in Paris (https://youtu.be/7IwQe2S7eNI):
Facebook reminded me that I chanted at that same place seven years before on the same day:
“I chanted at Saint Michel for an hour or so, and was joined by Caroline, who has been living in Paris for three years as a sadhu, with just a small plastic bag of possessions, and depending only on God for food and accommodation. Next Sasha (Oleksandr Kravets), who I know from the NYC Harinam party and who is studying in Paris for two weeks, joined us. Then came Valentin Morice, a Paris student dedicated to harinama, and the four of us chanted for two more hours. Valentin sponsored a Bhagavad-gita for Caroline, so she can perfect the life of a sadhu.”
You can see the fountain at Saint-Michel more clearly in this video of Tulasi Prabhu chanting Hare Krishna there (https://youtube.com/shorts/HtpoyKuwXww?feature=share):
While chanting Hare Krishna at Saint-Michel, I met this nice Indian man from Himachal in the Himalayas who does post doc work in Prague. I told him about the next Sunday’s Ratha-yatra there, and he promised to go. I am pleased to invite people to Ratha-yatras wherever I go!
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles, and a lady does a poi performance (https://youtu.be/foO-yCI6lYE):
I also chanted Hare Krishna at Les Halles, and Janananda Goswami and Madhupati Prabhu danced, as well as one drunk who is a harinama regular (https://youtu.be/HDmvYcn0q_4):
Patita Pavana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles, and a lady dances with the devotee ladies (https://youtu.be/XPixT2LENys):
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Canal Saint-Martin (https://youtu.be/X2if04_Hz3E):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the canal, and a Nepali devotee lady distributes books (https://youtu.be/zSGKv4oKiaA):
Ian, who teaches yoga at Jivamukti on the other side of the canal and who formerly taught it at the Bhakti Center in New York City, chants Hare Krishna at the canal, too (https://youtu.be/JHrqv65_iuI):
While we were chanting at Canal Saint-Martin, I noticed a lady sitting near us appeared to be listening to the music. I talked to her and gave her an “On Chanting Hare Krishna.” I learned that she was from Connecticut, and she and her husband, who was at the shop, were on their honeymoon. I gave her the card for Govinda’s and the temple in Brooklyn as she sometimes goes to New York. She asked about things going on in Paris, and I told her about Visvambhara’s kirtan at Jivamukti the following night, as she liked our kirtan. Apparently, she and her husband attend some Buddhist temple in Reading, Connecticut.
Special Video
When Harinama Ruci was in Radhadesh after King’s Day back in April, we had many harinamas. On Sunday we chanted at Radhadesh itself. Caitanya Candrodaya Prabhu led a very lively Hare Krishna kirtan in the Radhadesh kitchen, which I just received a video of from Bhakta Sunny when he came to Paris with Harinama Ruci, and I share it for your entertainment (https://youtu.be/8tMzVa7kiL0):
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.3:
“O my lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls, who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.”
From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.12 in Los Angeles on August 15, 1972:
“The gopis are another example of great eagerness to see Krishna. The gopis came to Krishna, being captivated by His beautiful features. They were young girls, and Krishna was so beautiful. Actually they were lusty when they came to Krishna, but Krishna is so pure that they became first-class devotees. There is no comparison to the gopis’ devotion, because they loved Krishna with heart and soul. That is the qualification. They loved Krishna so much that they didn’t care for family or reputation when they went out in the dead of night. Krishna’s flute was sounding, and they were all fleeing their homes. Their fathers, their brothers, their husbands all said, ‘Where are you going? Where are you going in this dead of night?’ But the gopis didn't care. They neglected their children, their family, everything. Their only thought was, ‘We must go to Krishna.’
“This eagerness is required. We must be very, very eager to see Krishna. Many gopis who were forcibly stopped from going to Krishna lost their lives because of their great feelings of separation. So this eagerness is wanted; then you can see God. Whether you are lusty or a thief or a murderer or whatever it may be—somehow or other you must develop this eagerness, this desire: ‘I must see Krishna.’ Then Krishna will be seen.”
From a morning walk in Bombay on March 23, 1974:
“If one man understands rightly, he can deliver the whole world.”
From a Rotary Club Address at Hotel Imperial in New Delhi on March 25, 1976:
“Krishna does not personally punish. He has got many agents. Just like in the government, the president does not punish directly, but there are many departments.”
Srila Vyasadeva:
From Mahopanisad 6.71–75:
ayam nijah paro veti ganana laghucetasam udaracaritanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam
“Only men who think small discriminate, saying that one person is a relative and the other is a stranger. But those people who live magnanimously know that the entire world constitutes their family.”
Mahavishnu Swami:
The result of an explosion is destruction, yet the scientists say the result of the Big Bang is creation.
Many religions do not tell much about God other than that He is the creator, maintainer, and destroyer.
In Nairobi, in Kenya, once a British colony, Srila Prabhupada asked, “Why did the British spread their empire all over the world?” People said different things. Srila Prabhupada rejected them, and jokingly said, “Because they only had potatoes at home!”
Once Srila Prabhupada said he came to give the British the one thing they did not take from India, its spiritual knowledge.
You have to fight with maya to stay alive in spiritual life.
Once I was in plain clothes in Bangladesh, and I visited a mosque. Taking us as tourists they began to preach to us. They said that this human life is special because we can develop our relationship with God and not just engage in the activities that we share with the animals. I was surprised with the similarity.
We do not say American chemistry, Indian chemistry, or Kenyan chemistry. We just speak of chemistry. Similarly there is spiritual knowledge. It should not be designated as Christian, Moslem, or Hindu religion.
I was brought up in the Christian tradition, and I read the New Testament. I accepted Jesus Christ as a guru because he gave me some knowledge of God. But still I had so many doubts. What was my actual identity and what should be the goal of my life?
In democracy you tend to have ambitious people striving to get votes so they can exploit people for their sense gratification.
As a hippie, I was meditating on myself as being God, but after a while I became hungry, and I remembered you could get free food at the Radha Krishna temple. I was humbled by hunger. Hunger humbles everyone. At Bury Place only one devotee was there, Malati. The devotees had had lunch and went out on sankirtana, and dal was all that was left, so Malati gave me a liter of dal. She did not try to preach to me. Sometimes it is best to say nothing. She knew I thought I knew everything, so she just gave me the dal.
My mother would make us say grace when we were young. “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.” She gave up after a while as we grew up.
My brother visited the temple in London once. He looked at the deities like someone checking out sculptures in an art gallery. He was most impressed with Jagannatha.
Janananda Goswami:
We have all kinds of things within our hearts, but a pure devotee does not. There is only Krishna there, and thus we can experience Krishna’s presence in his association.
God reveals Himself according to how we surrender, so people perceive Him differently.
There are many blessings to being born in India, but the intensity of family attachment is one challenge for Indians desiring to dedicate themselves completely to Krishna.
Fasting is not an item of pure devotional service, but it may be a side effect of it since a pure devotee may find he has no time or inclination to eat.
In Bhagavad-gita Krishna tries to help us connect different features of our experience with the universal form of the Lord.
The jaws of the crocodile attacking Gajendra are compared to the attack of maya.
The Lord is the only one who can give one release from the entire material condition.
The real enemy is the consciousness of seeing the products of the material energy as meant for our material enjoyment, that is, when we are seeing things are mine instead of Krishna’s.
We come to this world by our own will and leave by our will and Krishna’s.
The songs and dances of the devotees at Ratha-yatra were according to Lord Caitanya’s will.
The more our desires are compatible with the Lord, the more bliss we will feel.
Once in a Back to Godhead there was a photo of the San Francisco Ratha-yatra. 90% of the people were Indian, and half of them were on their cellphones! I wrote to the publishers about it.
Lord Krishna’s favorite residence is in the heart of Vakresvara Pandit.
When Srila Prabhupada gave sannyasa to Vishnujana Swami he said: “Your duty is to dance and to get everyone else to dance.”
What is the value of legs if you do not use them for dancing!
The Russian devotees tell this story: In Moscow there was a man who would curse at the devotees whenever he saw them chanting in the street. Later he got into an accident, and he went into a coma. He saw a horrible place with many people suffering and people being judged. One judge told him you have done intoxication, eaten meat, gambled, and engaged in illicit sex, and thus you will have to suffer in hell.
The senior judge asked, “Has he done even one thing good?”
The judge reviewing his case replied, “Several times he saw the harinama party.”
“Oh,” said the senior judge, “he saw the harinama party! So we will let him live under the condition that he joins the Hare Krishnas.”
So the man came out of the coma, and immediately went to the Hare Krishna temple, desiring to move in, and he told the devotees that story.
It is not that two cellphones can get together and produce a baby cellphone.
Knowledge is needed to get out of a miserable situation, not just theoretical knowledge, but realized knowledge which is applied.
This world is not a reflection of the brahmajyoti. That would not create much of a reflection.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that this world is characerized by annoyance.
Just to ask God for this or that, is not on the transcendental plane.
There is a book called Bhakta Greedy by Vimala Devi Dasi, which I recommend. It is about a devotee who was too much attached to taking prasadam.
Comments by me:
Regarding your statements on dancing in Krishna consciousness, a few things come to mind, some verses from the scripture and some personal experiences:
“This is the result of sadhu-sanga — consequent association with Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and promotion back home, back to Godhead. This result is possible even for a dog, by the mercy of the Vaishnava. Therefore, everyone in the human form of life should be induced to associate with devotees. By rendering a little service, even by eating prasadam, what to speak of chanting and dancing, everyone can be promoted to Vaikunthaloka. It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become pure Vaishnavas, so that by their mercy all the people of the world will be transferred to Vaikunthaloka, even without their knowledge. Everyone should be given a chance to take prasadam and thus be induced to chant the holy names Hare Krishna and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes, although performed without knowledge or education, even an animal went back to Godhead.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.32, purport)
My guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, told me back in the mid 1980s to dance more in the kirtana. I did not feel like dancing, and I wondered how to become inspired. One devotee said that Prabhupada said if you just force yourself to dance, the feeling for it will come. I had no doubt that that was true, but it still seemed too artificial. I asked Vishnugada Prabhu, and he said, “What does it say about dancing in the The Nectar of Devotion?”
I said, “It is one of the ecstatic symptoms.”
“Yes,” he said. “If you completely absorb yourself in hearing the mantra and chanting the mantra then you will automatically feel like dancing!”
That was what I wanted to hear. Now if I notice I am not dancing, I just try to focus on hearing and chanting the mantra, and I get back into it.
Lord Caitanya considered dancing so important, He would appoint dancers in His kirtana parties.
“Ecstatic love of Krishna makes Krishna and His devotees dance, and it also dances personally. In this way, all three dance together in one place.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 18.18)
“Please look at this devotee of the Lord who is dancing just from remembering the lotus feet of Krishna. Simply by observing his dance you will lose all interest in even the most beautiful women!” (The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 49)
Radhanath Swami:
Sanatana-dharma is meant for purification.
Human life begins when we inquire about the source of everything.
Bhagavad-gita 4.10 says that when we are purified we can understand and love Krishna.
Love has its origin in the desire to serve Radha and Krishna.
Krishna is in the heart of every living entity, even if they do not want Him to be there and even if they deny His existence. He never leaves under any circumstance.
Bhakti-yoga is to make our heart a place that Krishna is pleased to be.
The mirror of the heart is meant to reflect the life, the love, the beauty, etc., of the Lord.
The Hare Krishna mantra reveals the form of the Lord, the pastimes of the Lord, the abode of the Lord, and our eternal relationship with the Lord.
The “Siksastaka” was spoken in the Gambhira to the most intimate devotees. To think that we do not have to begin with this is a mistake.
The idea of Ratha-yatra is that we are bringing Krishna back into our hearts.
Lord Caitanya performed Ratha-yatra to teach everyone the meaning of Ratha-yatra.
At Puri when I was there for Ratha-yatra, there were 900,000 people. Sometimes there are 1,500,000 people. There is no crowd control.
Sivananda Sena made all arrangements for the devotees to go from Navadvipa to Puri so they could just chant and dance, and thus he pleased the Lord.
At the Gundica marjana festival, people were happy to sweep the floor just to please the Supreme Lord.
When the Lord takes the role of a devotee, He does it with the most enthusiasm.
When we put Krishna in the center, our diversity is unified.
Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada would correct people for their own benefit, but when we criticize people to raise ourselves up and bring others down that is a manifestation of false ego.
When the Gundica temple was cleansed, Lord Caitanya was satisfied, and because Lord Caitanya was satisfied, everyone was satisfied.
In the sankirtana after the cleansing of the Gundica temple, Lord Caitanya bathed the devotees in His tears of ecstasy.
When Sri Gopala, the son of Advaita Acarya, fell unconscious on the ground in ecstasy, the devotees cried with such concern the entire universe was shaking. Lord Caitanya spoke to Sri Gopala, telling him to stand up, and he did so immediately, and everyone continued dancing in ecstasy.
Enjoyment is a thin veil over the suffering in this world.
Advaita Acarya cried for Krishna appear out of compassion for every one of us.
We do not deny relationships but we try to treat people in those relationship such that we benefit their souls through the medium of our relationship with them.
Parividha Prabhu:
Q (by me): What attracted you to Krishna consciousness?
A: That in the spiritual world every word is a song and every step is a dance. There are no mosquitos and no war. No old age. No wrinkles. No jobs.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
In the material world people are always looking for happiness, but they are looking in the wrong places.
We are like a dehydrated food that you just have to add water to for it to become edible. We just have to add Krishna to our lives, and then we will flourish.
When Srila Prabhupada, the senapati bhakta, came, he raised an army of devotees just like that, within a few years. How he did that bewilders the historians.
We have to eliminate doubt to progress toward Krishna.
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In the course of inviting people to Ratha-yatras and distributing free spiritual literature, I encounter a lot of apathy – lot of people not interested in taking advantage of the spiritual opportunity. This morning this powerful verse came to mind which tells of the bad effect of lack of interest in the spiritual as far as our ultimate benefit is concerned.
natah parataro loke
yad-adhy anyasya preyastvam
atmanah sva-vyatikramat
“There is no stronger obstruction to one’s self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than one’s self-realization.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.32)
It is spoken by the great sage, Sanat-kumara, to King Prithu in the course of a very enlightening conversation that is worth reading in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 4, Chapter 22, verses 12 to 48 (https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/4/22/).
