Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 19, No. 14
(July 2023, part two)
Paris
(Sent from Lyon, France, on August 5, 2023)
Where I Went and What I Did
I remained living at ISKCON Paris, in Sarcelles, for the second half of July. I would go on harinama every day for at least three hours and wake up the deities and do mangala-arati three days a week. I was part of a four-man party with Revatinandana Prabhu, who mostly distributed books, Tulasi Prabhu, who exclusively chanted Hare Krishna, and Gaura Nataraja Prabhu, who did both and played the role of leader. During this period of time, Tulasi Prabhu and Gaura Nataraja Prabhu were traveling for several days, and occasionally it was just Revatinandana and me. Gaura Nataraja Prabhu liked to do five days a week and take two off, but when he was out of town, Revatinandana Prabhu was happy to just take one day off so I had dedicated partner on two Mondays. I would advertise my extra Sunday and Monday harinamas to our harinama contact list, and I got a varying response. One Monday six people joined me. One Sunday no one joined me.
The next week, however, I was joined by eleven devotees who came after the Yoga Lyrique program and stayed for an hour and a half.
Sometimes the public chanting in the cities is so overwhelming, with all the distractions like the sirens, the cars, the pollution, the apathy of the people, the things that attract, the things that disgust, etc., that I am eager to finish my quota for the day. One particularly intense day, I decided to close my eyes for the last forty minutes of the harinama, and I obtained great relief. A lot of the distraction is visual, and freed from that, I could focus on the holy names and be spiritually nourished. I felt great peace. When I opened my eyes, everything seemed brighter, clearer, and less disturbing than before. So now I know what to do when it gets to be too intense!
I share notes on Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and The Nectar of Devotion, as well as on a couple of his lectures and Back to Godhead articles. I share notes on Caitanya-bhagavata by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura with commentary by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share a quote on enthusiasm by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. I share notes on My Relationship with Lord Krishna, which I am proofreading for its author and my diksa-guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on articles in the November/December 2023 Back to Godhead by Visakha Dasi and Vraja Vihari, Caitanya Carana, Gauranga Darsana, and Purusottama Nitai Prabhus.
I share notes on talks by Satyanarayana, Gaura Hari, Tulasi, Revatinandana, Patita Pavana, and Gaura Nataraja Prabhus in Paris.
Thanks to Gaura Nataraja Prabhu for his kind donation of U.S. dollars and euros. Many thanks to Patita Pavana Prabhu for fixing my harmonium, by replacing the strap with a much better one and by filling holes in the bellows. Thanks to Yumi for her photos of harinama in Paris.
Itinerary
August 2–7: Lyon harinamas
August 8–14: Paris harinamas [August 13: lecture at Yoga Lyrique]
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 harinama
August 29: Albany
August 30–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
September 24: Philadelphia harinama
Chanting Hare Krishna in Paris
Marat chants Hare Krishna at Caumartin in Paris (https://youtu.be/ggOFVWbE4TM):
Bhavani Gopi Devi Dasi, formerly Amelle, chants Hare Krishna at Caumartin in Paris (https://youtu.be/05OByMElZyU):
Sita Devi Dasi of Philadelphia, who was visiting Paris briefly with her daughter, took the above video. She told me that ISKCON Philadelphia is planning to start a daily harinama program. They are allocating four rooms, with two devotees per room, and $200 per person for expenses, for up to eight devotees who want to do full time harinama there.
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles (https://youtu.be/SaHnOQdtuLs):
Gaura Hari Prabhu of Denmark chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles (https://youtu.be/df_I7PkW4lc):
Revatinandana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles in Paris, and some guys passing by dance (https://youtu.be/DLNLINF6XuM):
Revatinandana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles in Paris (https://youtu.be/EVnHUqN-ucc):
Gaura Hari Prabhu of Denmark chants Hare Krishna at Les Halles in Paris (https://youtu.be/8UAhreWmmlM):
Later a woman who was into yoga stopped to listen to our kirtan. She was familiar with mantras and said that Hare Krishna was her favorite mantra.
Revatinandana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Hotel de Ville (https://youtu.be/I7PrO6tZWs4):
Next Tulasi Prabhu led the Hare Krishna chant there (https://youtu.be/6GhW7Br4R6g):
A friendly guy from Philadelphia, visiting Paris with his family, donated $4 but did not want a book. He was happy to hear from me of the details of our Philadelphia Ratha-yatra on September 23 and said he would try to make it.
I got so soaked that I played the drum in the sun, across the sidewalk from the rest of the party, to dry off.
Marat of Russia, who has lived in Paris for years and is retired, chants Hare Krishna across the street from Hotel de Ville, and refugee kids dance with Yumi and learn to play karatalas from Elenora (https://youtu.be/oZCOPMkwi8M):
Tulasi Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the base of Montmartre with devotees from Yoga Lyrique, and Yumi teaches a boy to dance (https://youtu.be/QQIKAABzmkM):
While Tulasi Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there, more kids danced with the devotees (https://youtu.be/BHm61DwhBdE):
An Argentine lady, who previous accepted the Spanish “On Chanting Hare Krishna” along with the address our our Buenos Aires temple from me, also danced, as her friend filmed it (https://youtu.be/VVSC4DW9yIM):
Patita Pavana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna as Yoga Lyrique devotees ascend Montmartre in Paris (https://youtu.be/YQ5KJ0MxOlA):
Patita Pavana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Montmartre with Yoga Lyrique devotees, and tourists dance with devotees (https://youtu.be/ft68Io1UB5g):
Heere Patita Pavana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Yoga Lyrique devotees on top of Montmartre (https://youtu.be/9WYH-8fCx8E):
Chandrashekhara Acharya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Hotel de Ville in Paris [portrait orientation] (https://youtu.be/c27fK7PFNDE):
While Chandra chanted Hare Krishna there, a refugee boy played karatalas (https://youtu.be/ESJHCgd-a3o):
Some devotees liked seeing the photos of the Paris deities, and thus I decided to take more. The new temple management has plans to start posting them daily again.
Special Photos
This lady donated 40 euros, and thus Revatinandana Prabhu loaded her up with books, and both of them were very happy.
While Gaura Nataraja Prabhu, who does a book table at the Sunday feast in Paris to please his guru, Janananda Goswami, was gone for two weeks, I did a book table, also desiring to please Maharaja.
The first week it started sprinkling, so I relocated under a tree.
The second week, I thought I might get more sales if I put my table next to the prasadam queue, and I was right.
Madhuri, a 18-year-old Bangladeshi girl visiting my table, said she went on harinama once and she really liked it. I told her that because Lord Caitanya is pleased that we go out chanting, we always feel happy when we do it.
During one Paris harinama, although the whole rest of the street had no vendors on it, one vender decided to set up on the pavement right next to our book table and kirtan party. When a book distributor sold books in front of his “shop” he would complain, although we were actually there first, and he could have set up anywhere else on the street! Typical Kali-yuga foolishness!
Because we live in a very materialistic age, he would have more people checking out his stuff than we had looking at our books.
I discovered another use for the third prong on the British plugs. You can use it to open your coconut water.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Bhagavad-gita 4.36, purport:
“Proper understanding of one’s constitutional position in relationship to Krishna is so nice that it can at once lift one from the struggle for existence.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.10, purport:
“Men with a poor fund of knowledge, however, become astonished by studying the physical laws both within the construction of the individual body and within the cosmic manifestation, and foolishly they decry the existence of God, taking it for granted that the physical laws are independent, without any metaphysical control.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.12, purport:
“The living entities are therefore completely dependent on the mercy of the Lord, and all their so-called enjoyments by scientific improvement are crushed into dust when the Lord desires.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.16, purport:
“No one has independent existence, just as no electric lamp has independent effulgence. Each and every electrical instrument depends fully on the total powerhouse, the total powerhouse depends on the reservoir of water for generating electricity, water depends on the clouds, the clouds depend on the sun, the sun depends on creation, and the creation depends on the movement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all causes.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.19, purport:
“An irresponsible life of indiscrimination is risky, and that is the declaration of all scriptures.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.22, purport:
“Knowledge does not mean knowledge only of the laws of nature or physical knowledge, which are working by the direction of the Lord. The scientists are eager to hear about the physical laws working in material nature. They are eager to hear through the medium of radio and television about things taking place far away from them on other planets, but they should know that the power of hearing and the instruments for hearing were given to them by the Lord for hearing about the Self, or about the Lord. Unfortunately the power of hearing is misused in hearing the vibrations of mundane affairs.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.25, purport:
“Because they have been captivated by the external energy of the Supreme Lord, they have completely forgotten the Supreme Lord Vishnu, and thus they have taken it for granted that this life, as presently manifested under the conditions of material nature, is all in all for enjoying the highest amount of sense gratification. But such a wrong conception of life cannot give anyone the desired peace of mind, and thus in spite of all advancement in knowledge by use of the resources of nature, no one is happy in this material civilization. The secret is that at every step they should try to execute sacrifices toward the path of world peace.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.30, purport:
“An intelligent person can detect the awkward position of material existence and thus begin to inquire as to what he is, why he is subjected to different kinds of miseries, and how to get rid of all miseries, and thus, by good association, an advanced intelligent person can turn towards the better life of self-realization. It is advised, therefore, that an intelligent person associate with the great sages and saints who are on the path of salvation. By such association, one can receive instructions which are able to slacken the conditioned soul’s attachment for matter, and thus the intelligent man gradually gets rid of the illusion of matter and false ego and is promoted to the real life of eternity, knowledge and bliss.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.23.34, purport:
“This material world is full of dangers at every step, but a devotee has no fear because devotional service is so auspicious that it automatically counteracts all kinds of bad luck.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.14.5, purport:
“Certainly one requires some means of livelihood, and according to one’s varna and asrama this means of livelihood is prescribed in the sastras. One should be satisfied with this. Therefore, instead of hankering for more and more money, a sincere devotee of the Lord tries to invent some ways to earn his livelihood, and when he does so Krishna helps him. Earning one’s livelihood, therefore, is not a problem. The real problem is how to get free from the bondage of birth, death and old age. Attaining this freedom, and not inventing unnecessary necessities, is the basic principle of Vedic civilization. One should be satisfied with whatever means of life comes automatically. The modern materialistic civilization is just the opposite of the ideal civilization.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.22, purport:
“Various demoniac states all over the world are increasing their military power in many ways, and the whole situation has become distressful. Therefore Krishna has appeared by His name, in the Hare Krishna movement, which will certainly diminish the burden of the world. Philosophers, religionists, and people in general must take to this movement very seriously, for man-made plans and devices will not help bring peace on earth.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.11.58, purport:
“Through our Krishna consciousness movement, we are trying to distribute Srimad-Bhagavatam so that anyone in any part of the world can be absorbed in the Krishna consciousness movement by chanting and hearing about the activities of Krishna and be free from all material tribulations.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.48.26:
“Uddhava to Krishna: ‘What learned person would approach anyone but You for shelter, when You are the affectionate, grateful and truthful well-wisher of Your devotees? To those who worship You in sincere friendship You reward everything they desire, even Your own self, yet You never increase or diminish.’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 5:
“One must be very vigilant to remember that he is the part and parcel of the transcendental body of Krishna, and that it is his duty as part and parcel to give service to the whole, or Krishna.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 7:
“In the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Third Chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Maharaja Nimi, ‘My dear King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing but miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss.’
“One who is fortunate enough to come under the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master is sure to traverse the path of spiritual salvation without any doubt.”
“It may be said that one should chant the Hare Krishna mantra at least one hundred thousand times daily on his beads. But if this is not possible, then one must minimize his chanting according to his own capacity. Generally, we recommend our disciples to chant at least sixteen rounds on their japa beads daily, and this should be completed. But if one is not even able to chant sixteen rounds, then he must make it up the next day. He must be sure to keep his vow. If he does not strictly follow this out, then he is sure to be negligent. That is offensive in the service of the Lord. If we encourage offenses, we shall not be able to make progress in devotional service. It is better if one fixes up a regulative principle according to his own ability and then follows that vow without fail. That will make him advanced in spiritual life.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 9:
“In the Naradiya Purana it is stated, ‘If person stays in the Lord’s temple even for a few moments, he can surely achieve the transcendental kingdom of God.’”
“Chanting a mantra or hymn softly and slowly is called japa, and chanting the same mantra loudly is called kirtana. For example, uttering the maha-mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) very softly, only for one’s own hearing, is called japa. Chanting the same mantra loudly for being heard by all others is called kirtana. The maha-mantra can be used for japa and kirtana also. When japa is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter, but when kirtana is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 10:
“Some way or other, if someone establishes in his mind his continuous relationship with Krishna, this relationship is called remembrance. About this remembrance there is a nice statement in the Vishnu Purana, where it is said, ‘Simply by remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead all living entities become eligible for all kinds of auspiciousness. Therefore let me always remember the Lord, who is unborn and eternal.’ In the Padma Purana the same remembrance is explained as follows: ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Krishna, because if someone remembers Him, either at the time of death or during his span of life, he becomes freed from all sinful reactions.’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 11:
“In the Naradiya Purana there is a statement of how this servitorship is transcendental. It is said there that a person who is constantly engaged in devotional service by his body, mind and words, or even a person who is not practically engaged but is simply desiring to be so, is considered to be liberated.”
“Sri Yamunacarya, in his prayers to the Lord, has expressed a similar idea in the following words: ‘My dear Lord, I may be living within some body as a human being or as a demigod, but whatever mode of life, I do not mind, because these bodies are simply by-products of the three modes of material nature, and I, who am in possession of these bodies, am surrendering myself unto You.’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 12:
“A similar statement is in the Third Canto, Seventh Chapter, verse 19, of Srimad-Bhagavatam: ‘Let me become a sincere servant of the devotees, because by serving them one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”
“The same thing is confirmed in the Adi Purana by Krishna. While addressing Arjuna He says, ‘Anyone who is engaged in chanting My transcendental name must be considered to be always associating with Me. And I may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become easily purchased.’”
“Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended that everyone chant the Hare Krishna mantra just to cleanse the dust from the heart. If the dust of the heart is cleansed away, then one can actually understand the importance of the holy name. For persons who are not inclined to clean the dust from their hearts and who want to keep things as they are, it is not possible to derive the transcendental result of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. One should, therefore, be encouraged to develop his service attitude toward the Lord, because this will help him to chant without any offense. And so, under the guidance of a spiritual master, the disciple is trained to render service and at the same time chant the Hare Krishna mantra. As soon as one develops his spontaneous service attitude, he can immediately understand the transcendental nature of the holy names of the maha-mantra.”
“In the Vedic literature it is also stated, ‘How wonderful it is that simply by residing in Mathura even for one day, one can achieve a transcendental loving attitude toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead! This land of Mathura must be more glorious than Vaikuntha-dhama, the kingdom of God!’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 13:
“A devotee once said, ‘It is very astonishing that since I have seen this Personality of Godhead, who is washed by the tears of my eyes, there is shivering of my body, and He has made me a failure in executing my material duties. Since seeing Him, I cannot remain silently at home. I wish to go out to Him always.’”
“In the Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter, verse 9, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Lord Himself says, ‘One should execute the prescribed duties of varna and asrama as long as he has not developed spontaneous attachment for hearing about My pastimes and activities.’”
“In the Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter, verses 32 and 33, of Srimad-Bhagavatam the Lord further instructs Uddhava, ‘My dear friend, the profits derived from fruitive activities, austerities, the culture of philosophical knowledge, renunciation, the practice of mystic yoga, charity and all similar auspicious activities are automatically achieved by My devotees—those who are simply attached to Me by loving service. These devotees have everything at their disposal, but they desire nothing outside of My devotional service. If ever a devotee should desire some material profit, like promotion to the heavenly planets, or some spiritual profit—to go to the Vaikunthas—by My causeless mercy his desires are very easily fulfilled.’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 15:
“Sri Rupa Gosvami has defined ragatmika-bhakti as spontaneous attraction for something while completely absorbed in thoughts in it, with an intense desire of love. Devotional service executed with such feelings of spontaneous love is called ragatmika-bhakti.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 16:
“Spontaneous love of Krishna as exhibited by the Vrishnis and the denizens of Vrindavan is eternally existing in them. In the stage of devotional service where regulative principles are followed, there is no necessity of discussing this love, for it must develop of itself at a more advanced stage.”
“We must always remember, however, that such eagerness to follow in the footsteps of the denizens of Vraja (Vrindavan) is not possible unless one is freed from material contamination.”
From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15 in London on August 3, 1971:
“Anyone who is in this material world—he may be Brahma or a small, insignificant ant—it is to be understood that he's sinful. It doesn't matter whether he is Brahma or an insignificant ant. Everyone has got a different type of body according to the desires of sinful activities.”
“At the time of death the situation of mental situation, according to that mental situation he gets the next body. How? The example is: just like air passing over a nice rose garden. The air is carrying the flavor of the rose garden. And if the air is passing through some filthy place, stool, urine, then it carries the smell of stool and urine. The air is pure, but according to the blowing of the air under certain situation, it is carrying the flavor, or smell, a bad smell or good smell.
“Similarly, we spirit souls, we are all parts and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, qualitatively we are one. . . . That is my position. But as I am carrying different airs by my association with this material nature, I am getting a different body. It is very simple to understand.”
“So for another body, that will be created according to the mental situation we made here at the present body.”
“Therefore, this human form of body is specially meant for creating a favorable situation so that when we pass through this body, or we leave this body, and we accept another body, we'll get exact a body like Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness movement. We are trying to change the consciousness of the people so that this preparation will help him to get exactly a body like Krishna in next life, and he may dance with Krishna in rasa dance. That is our propaganda.”
“The whole Vedic civilization is to elevate people.”
“If you simply understand that Krishna is the only enjoyer, then your propensity to become false enjoyer will be vanquished, that ‘I am not enjoyer. Krishna is the enjoyer.’ Then there is no question of renunciation also. Bhoktaram yajña-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram. And He says that ‘I am the proprietor of all planetary systems.’ . . . Then what you have got to renounce?
“If Krishna or somebody is proprietor of something, what is the meaning of your renouncement? And if He is the only enjoyer, then what is the meaning of ‘you are enjoyer’? So if you enjoy, then you become a thief. And if you renounce, you become a pretender—because we have nothing to renounce, and you cannot enjoy others’ property. This is your position. So one who knows this perfectly well, he’s in Krishna consciousness. This is sum and substance of Krishna consciousness.”
“Whatever there is, it is the property of God. But because you are all sons of God, you have got the right to enjoy the property of the father. There is no denying. But you cannot enjoy the property of your other brother. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha. Whatever the father says, ‘My dear boy, you enjoy this,’ you be satisfied with that. Don't try to encroach upon others’, other brothers’ property. Then you’ll be criminal.”
“So this opening of different centers in different parts of the world means we are trying to give association of Krishna to everyone. There is no discrimination.”
“So these are simple truths, all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. It is open to everyone. Krishna is everyone’s father. You may take Krishna Indian God, or Krishna Indian or Hindu, but Krishna says that sarva-yonisu kaunteya [Bg 14.4]:
‘In all forms of life, in all species of life, whoever he may be, I am the seed-giving father.’ So don’t think that Krishna is for the Hindus, for the Indians or for the human being. No. Krishna is for everyone.”
“The real knowledge is that God is one, God is great, we are part and parcel of God, and therefore we have to serve God. This is knowledge.”
“This is a place simply for suffering. Therefore everyone’s business is how to get out of it. You cannot stop what is going on in Bangladesh. It may be in Bangladesh or it may be in Vietnam or it may be in some other places—this is nature’s law; it will go on. You cannot stop it.
“The best thing is to get out of the scene. That is your business. You cannot stop it. Even if you show sympathy, that is useless. Because this is the way of nature.”
“Because we are marginal potency of Krishna, there is possibility of falldown always. But those who are strong in Krishna consciousness, they do not fall.”
From “Essential Questions” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2023):
[Edited transcript of a lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 20.102, in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 7, 1976.]
“The fly is coming, disturbing. I can simply make some spray to kill it, as you do generally. That killing is another risk, but those who do not know, they kill it. You have no right to kill. Suppose a man is disturbing you. If you kill him, you become a murderer and you’ll be taken into the court and you’ll be punished. And if you say, ‘This man was disturbing me; therefore I have killed him,’ that is no excuse. You have killed this man; you must suffer.”
“So in the state of the Supreme Lord, you cannot kill even a mosquito or even a fly. You’ll be punished. Because God says, ‘Everyone is My child.’ Suppose I have got so many brothers. One brother is a fool, so he creates some disturbances for me, and I kill him. Will the father be happy? If you say, ‘Father, your child was disturbing me. I have killed him,’ the father will be sorry. ‘Why have you killed him?’ This is natural. Because one child of the father is a fool, the other, intelligent child cannot kill him. Then the father will be angry or sorry.”
“The modern theory is that we are in a struggle for existence. There are troubles, and you try to save yourself, and there is survival of the fittest. But nobody is fit, nobody survives. Nobody wants death. We are talking of survival; who can escape death? There is no possibility.”
From “The Chant Will Enter Your Heart” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2023):
[Edited transcript of a conversation in London, England, on August 14, 1971.]
“Let us cooperate. Don’t think that it is against Christianity or that it is sectarian. Let us cooperate fully. Jointly let us preach all over the world, ‘Chant the holy name of God.’ Let us join together. That should be the real purpose of devotees of God.”
Vrindavan Dasa Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.154–156:
“Even if one studies all the scriptures, if he has no affection or inclination for the name of Krishna, he is certainly degraded. If a poor fallen person takes to chanting the holy names of Krishna, he attains the abode of Krishna in spite of having many faults. This is the purport of all scriptures. Anyone who doubts this fact suffers.”
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.162–164:
“The entire world is purified by the name of Krishna, yet wretched living entities abstain from chanting His glories. Even the demigods headed by Brahma are overwhelmed by Krishna’s festivals, yet people give up such festivals and take pleasure in inauspicious dancing and singing. The holy names of Krishna delivered Ajamila, yet those who are intoxicated by wealth, good birth, and education do not know Him.”
Srila Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura:
From Sri Bhaktyaloka, Chapter 7:
“If one has enthusiasm in the beginning of devotional service, and that enthusiasm does not become cold, then one will never become apathetic, lazy, or distracted in chanting the holy names. Therefore enthusiasm is the only support for all types of devotional service.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
“From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.148, purport:
“All Vaishnava literatures have no aim other than Krishna. As stated in the Hari-vamsa: vede ramayane caiva purane bharate tatha adav ante ca madhye ca harih sarvatra giyate – ‘In the Vedic literature, including the Ramayana, Puranas, and Mahabharata, from the very beginning (adau) to the end (ante ca), as well as within the middle (adaumadhye ca), only Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is explained.’”
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.188, purport:
“Unless a person properly initiated in the chanting of Vishnu mantras includes tulasi-mañjaris in his offering of foodstuffs, Lord Vishnu will not accept the offering, because Tulasi is the eternal maidservant of Krishna, and therefore her leaves and flowers, or mañjaris, are certainly dear to Kesava. It is prescribed that one should offer tulasi-mañjaris in worship to the Deity form of Sri Govinda, for Tulasi has incarnated in the form of a tree. The arrangement for offering tulasi-mañjaris in worship to the Deity form of Lord Vishnu is confirmed by all transcendental Vaishnava smritis. After worshiping Sri Tulasi in her manifested worshipable form as tadiya by sprinkling water on her, Sri Gaurasundara worshiped His family Deity, Sri Govinda; in other words, He offered pure worship to the Deity form of Vishnu. By performing this pastime, the Lord set the ideal example of mandatory daily duties for God-conscious householders. Every Vaishnava householder should follow this ideal example of the Lord by engaging in the worship of the Deity form of Lord Vishnu and accepting with faith and humility the remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord.”
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.195, purport:
“In his commentary, Sri Madhvacarya quotes the following verses from the Skanda Purana:
rg-yajuh-samatharvas ca bharatam pañcaratrakam
yac canukulam etasya tac ca sastram prakirtitam
ato ’nya grantha vistaro naiva sastram kuvatma tat
‘The Rg, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva Vedas, as well as the Mahabharata, the Narada-pañcaratra, and the Ramayana, are certainly known as sastra. Those books that favorably follow in the footsteps of these authorized scriptures are also counted among the sastras. All other literatures simply lead one down the wrong path and can never be known as scriptures.’”
“The following verses from the Matsya Purana are quoted in the Tattva-sandarbha:
sattvikesu ca kalpesu mahatmyam adhikam hareh
tad-vad agnes ca mahatmyam tamasesusivasya ca
sankirnesu sarasvatyah pitrinams ca nigadyate
‘The Puranas in the mode of goodness glorify the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna; those in the mode of passion promote the glories of Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe; and those in the mode of ignorance celebrate the greatness of Agni, Siva, and Durga. In addition many other scriptures consisting of various mixtures of goodness, passion, and ignorance glorify the ancestors, the demigods, and demigoddesses like Sarasvati.’”
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 1.195, purport:
“In his commentary on the Chandogya Upanisad, Sri Madhvacarya quotes from the Sama-samhita as follows:
arjavam brahmane saksat
gautamastv iti vijñaya
satyakamam upanayat
‘A brahmana possesses the quality of simplicity, and a sudra possesses the quality of crookedness. Knowing this fact, Gautama awarded sacred thread initiation to Satyakama and made him a first-class brahmana.’”
In the Mahabharata (Vana-parva 180.26) it is stated:
yatraital laksyate sarpa
yatraitan na bhavet sarpa
tamsudram iti nirdiset
‘O snake, only a person endowed with the characteristics of a brahmana can be called a brahmana, otherwise he is a sudra.’”
“In his commentary on Mahabharata (Vana-parva 180.23–26) Sri Nilakantha has written: ‘In the same way, if a sudra has qualities like truthfulness, then he is a brahmana. The symptoms of a sudra, such as lust, are not present in a brahmana, and the symptoms of a brahmana, such as peacefulness, are not present in a sudra. If someone born as a sudra has qualities like peacefulness, then he is a brahmana. And if someone born as a brahmana has qualities like lust, then he is a sudra. There is no doubt about it.’”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From My Relationship with Lord Krishna:
“It’s up to each of us. Krishna is waiting. ‘As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha’ (Bg. 4.11). We already have a general, functional relationship with Lord Krishna. It can be compared to the relationship all citizens have with the king. The king is generous, kind, and he maintains everyone. But for his more intimate dealings, he is more selective in his relationships. Most conditioned souls don’t want a personal relationship with Krishna. Therefore, He doesn’t force Himself on them. But those who want Him and who qualify become intimate with the Lord through personal dealings. ‘I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him’ (Bg. 9.29).”
“The best kind of prayer is to ask for pure devotional service. O Lord Krishna, O energy of the Lord, Hara, please engage me in Your service. I am already serving You, but now I ask to serve You in love.”
“Turn to Him, turn to Him. We don’t really need to have our minds completely jammed with sensory input. Our bodies function automatically. The heart beats, the breaths go on. We will survive or not survive, but we can keep our minds fixed on Krishna. We don’t have to make a feverish effort to survive. Our survival is not in our power. All that’s in our power is to remain fixed on Krishna or not.”
“I certainly do have a reliable connection and true relationship with Lord Krishna. May He reveal it to me as He desires, and may I increase my appreciation for it.”
“He looks for devotion and reciprocates.”
“I love to contemplate the goal of bhakti. It satisfies me intellectually and theologically. I will defend it as superior to all other goals. It is the purusartha.”
“Krishna is the ability in man. He is the intelligence by which I can write. He gives the brain and hand, the ink and paper, and He gives the only worthy subject matter, the practice of devotional service to Him.”
“I see Krishna in all things and in myself.
I want to see Him where He wants me
to see Him, in innocent conditioned souls.
Give them a chance, the Lord is in their heart.”
“Vaidhi-bhakti means serving Krishna even when we don’t feel spontaneous love. This kind of regulative service is not as pleasing to Krishna as raganuga-bhakti, yet it is recommended because it leads to raganuga-bhakti.”
“If you can’t distribute books, then preach in another way. Do something that takes courage but is possible for you. Show Krishna your earnestness, and He will remove the obstacles on the path.”
“Sometimes devotees tell me they intend to write me letters, but because they are afraid their expression will be inadequate, they don’t write at all. I tell them it’s better to write, even if the letter is faulty—I won’t hold it against them. None of us are perfect. I tell them it’s better that they write and stay in touch. How else can we be friends and share Krishna consciousness?”
“Once a devotee wrote to Srila Prabhupada that New York City is uninhabitable for humans. Srila Prabhupada replied: ‘A devotee is satisfied whether in Vaikuntha or in hell. His satisfaction is not the particular place, but his sincere service attitude toward Krishna.’”
“One day I will forget the false ego and assume my place in the spiritual world. Srila Prabhupada encouraged us to work now as a disciple of our spiritual master. He said that was sufficient spiritual identity for now. He also told us to be humble. Humility is the perfect behavior for the soul.”
“Regarding my own relationship with Krishna, is there more to say? I can go on citing my shortcomings, but it would be better to spend my time hearing about His name, form, pastimes, and qualities. This is the medicine I need. If I feel a shortcoming in my relationship with Krishna. I simply need to increase sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam, not in a general way, but specifically about His form in Vrindavan.”
“I remember the days when Srila Prabhupada was dictating Krishna book and sending me the tapes to type and edit. I was often the first lecturer who knew directly from Prabhupada the extended pastimes of child Krishna in Vrindavan. When Prabhupada visited Boston in 1968, I had the opportunity to speak to an audience at Prabhupada’s request in his presence. After some preliminary philosophy, I began to tell one of the pastimes I had recently heard on tape. I told how Krishna was a naughty child and had stolen yogurt and butter from a neighbor’s stock. Krishna and Balarama then distributed this butter to Their monkey friends. When the monkeys were satisfied and wouldn’t take more, the boys said, ‘This butter is useless. Even the monkeys won’t take it!’ When the neighbors caught the boys and accused Them, They said, ‘You think We don’t get sufficient butter at home? We didn’t steal anything.’ As I spoke, I saw my audience break into wonderful grins. I sensed that there was more to their smiles than my own presentation. Glancing at Srila Prabhupada by my side and slightly behind me, I saw him smiling with pleasure to hear Krishna’s pastime repeated by his little son. I pray that I may never give up the practice of speaking krishna-katha as ordered by Prabhupada and that I may bring a smile to his face and, by reflection, to the hearts and faces of the audience.”
“Krishna, Krishna, Krishna—just say His names. Feel the joy in chanting. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to have a genuine taste for chanting. How can we propagate His holy names if they have not become a spontaneous joy in our own lives?”
“Turn to Krishna. He is the friendly bird on the tree of our bodies, witnessing our attachments and bitter and sweet experiences in the material world. Turn to Him for solace.”
“If possible, be a part-time pujari. Srila Prabhupada said that the pujari is the most fortunate person in the universe.”
“This day belongs to Krishna. I have nothing to sacrifice or renounce because everything already belongs to Him.”
“Krishna appeared in the storefront in
NYC in Swami’s singing and even when
the Swami was in India recuperating,
Krishna’s chant went to Santa Fe, L.A.,
and Boston and SF and straggling youths
became bright-faced.
‘Krishna Chant Startles London.’
Krishna’s pure devotee wrote letters to his
American children, Hold on, I’m coming and
will settle quarrels and clear doubts
and ignite the flame of the
Krishna consciousness movement.
He’s no myth. Faith in him built
temples of India and sent Swamiji
teaching from Sanskrit books all about
Krishna. The six Gosvamis personally knew
His pastimes. Krishnadasa Kaviraja, Narottama,
and Visvanatha and Baladeva and Bhaktivinoda
and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati . . . Srila Prabhupada,
all Krishnaites, and I am following them
praising Urukrama.”
Satyanarayana Prabhu:
I was studying to be a doctor at the university in Buffalo in 1969.
The prasadam smelled like it was from another world. The devotees seemed to enjoy their company as if they had a higher knowledge in common.
I was attracted and regularly came to the temple.
I was also attracted to France, and so I bought a Peugeot bicycle, and rode my bicycle from New York City to New Vrindaban. I wasn’t there very long, and the devotees told me they were driving to Detroit to see Srila Prabhupada.
When Srila Prabhupada arrived at the airport, his effulgence was so great that I fell to the ground as if struck by something from behind. At the same time there was a wave of love that brought everyone to tears. I felt every atom was permeated with love.
As Prabhupada was coming up the escalator, it was as if he kept rising after the escalator ended, and he floated to the vyasasana. No one else seemed to have that same experience, until I met Suresvara Prabhu 28 years later. Whenever I meet Suresvara Prabhu, we talk about how we were in the “floaters club.” I do not think I got this vision because I was especially exalted but because I was especially fallen and I needed more mercy.
It was like Prabhupada’s smile was lighting up the universe.
The pure devotee, such as Srila Prabhupada, asks God to enter the deity form.
Prabhupada said the most important service one can do is to tell someone about Krishna.
I have been to about 45 countries.
The aroma you smell when you get off the plane in India is like that of the dust of ancient chariots mixed with cheap cigarettes.
It was hard to meet Srila Prabhupada in the West as he was surrounded by sannyasis, but in India it was completely different. He had a secretary, but you could speak with him.
I had written Srila Prabhupada about becoming an Ayurvedic doctor and studying under Srila Prabhupada’s Ayurvedic doctor, and he did not respond.
I wanted to be a Western doctor, but I thought if I said that I wanted to be an Ayurvedic doctor, because it was Vedic, he would have to accept it. But he did not have to accept anything.
When I met him I said I wanted to be a Ayurvedic doctor, and he said, “Western medicine is very advanced.”
Srila Prabhupada would say something that would make you speechless, and he would do that all the time.
Then he said, “Just work with my books and be a spiritual doctor.”
Right after than I ran into Guru Kripa, and he said, “You are a pujari, right? Why don’t you do something that benefits the whole world.” It was as if Srila Prabhupada’s desire for me was being immediately confirmed.
When Srila Prabhupada heard I got an order of books from a Muslim university, he was very surprised.
Srila Prabhupada said, “Anyone who preaches in Middle Eastern languages or in Middle Eastern countries, I take the dust from his feet and put it on my head.”
Now Arabic people are beginning to take an interest in Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Some people think it is difficult to talk to Muslim people about Srila Prabhupada’s books, but in 90% of cases that is not true. They are actually reaching out for them.
Spiritual knowledge is above religion.
If there is one God, and we are all his children, then you are my brother. Why should I harm my brother? This is spiritual knowledge. Srila Prabhupada taught these spiritual truths.
It is important as human beings that we endeavor for spiritual knowledge. A dog cannot inquire spiritually nor can a tree.
You are the most intelligent people in all of Paris right now because you are endeavoring for this spiritual knowledge.
At a UN interreligion conference, a devotee made the presentation that was the most popular. Many Muslim scholars took interest in Srila Prabhupada’s books.
95% of Arab books distributed are purchased by Arab tourists. We have sold 250,000 books. My email is on the last page of each book, and I have not gotten one complaint.
Authorities in the Muslim countries do not care if citizens return with two or three books on yoga. Maybe if they brought a case it would be a different thing.
Q: What is your view on Islam?
A: As I said before, every religion has some truth in it. Srila Prabhupada compared it to learning mathematics. In the beginning, in arithmetic, you learn 2 + 2 = 4, but in calculus there is so much more, yet they are both truth. Christ Himself said he had more to give, but people were not ready to hear it. In 1965, Srila Prabhupada came to New York to distribute this complete Vedic knowledge which he translated into English by the order of his guru. So that was considered that time the human society was ready get this complete knowledge. One way many religions are limited are they are impersonal. Little is known about the form of God. Many religions speak of loving God, but how to love God is not very much described. If you ask a Catholic, a Jew, or a Muslim what God looks like, they cannot offer much of a description. Why can’t God have a form, if He can do anything? We are not telling people to stop their religion and become Hare Krishna. We invite them to go deeper their tradition. If a person is serious about developing his relationship with God, God will reveal His form to Him. Seeing the Muslims dancing in the kirtan, we can see it is for everyone. Many of the Muslims are very serious about God, and when they get Bhagavad-gita and look at it, they say, “Allah!”, and they sit down on the curb and begin reading it. People from other parts of the world do not do that.
Now we are very fortunate to have to books translated in Persian or Farsi for the Iranian people. There are four of them, and they are being printed in China. The Perfect Questions has a pilgrim walking toward the Himalayas on the cover. They should arrive from the printer in about three weeks.
There was a kirtan in New Vrindaban started by Baradraja, continued by Vishnujana, and finally completed by Srila Prabhupada himself, where it was as if love of Godhead poured from the sky and the devotees were in tears. Radhanath Swami describes it in his book.
Visakha Dasi:
From “Simplicity: A Not-So-Simple Concept” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2022):
“High thinking leads to an inner satisfaction that in turn fosters sublime simplicity. A person who lives simply and thinks high remains firmly focused on a worthwhile goal.”
Gaura Hari Prabhu:
Where do you find such detailed accounts of relationships between the Lord and His devotees. Many conversations of sages interwoven has become Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Even in the heavenly planets, there is no pure enjoyment. There is always some distress.
It does not matter the reason we turn to Krishna. In any case, the Lord will reciprocate.
Once Tribhuvanatha Prabhu was in Mayapur when Srila Prabhupada was there, and he suggested to a friend that they visit Srila Prabhupada, so they went to his quarters. They saw Srila Prabhupada through the window. When they got to the door, Satsvarupa Maharaja wouldn’t let him in. However, Srila Prabhupada had seen them coming, and was standing behind Satsvarupa Maharaja, and he called Satsvarupa Maharaja a rascal for not letting the devotees see Srila Prabhupada.
It is not so bad to make a mistake, but to make a mistake and be unwilling to admit it and unwilling to rectify it, is the bigger mistake.
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu defined humility as to always consider oneself in need of rectification.
Sometimes we do not understand what we did wrong, but we should accept that it is a possibility that we did something wrong.
Madhava Prabhu, disciple of Bhakti Raghava Swami:
Lord Nityananda has the same intention as Lord Caitanya.
Until we have the emotion of serving (seva-bhava), we will always encounter problems with Krishna.
All the different expansions of Lord Vishnu are expansions of Krishna to give Him pleasure.
Without a spiritual guide, one will not see the love that is present in all the activities of the Lord and His expansions.
What to speak of the spiritual world, in the material world there are many amazing things. Take for example, the baby kangaroo. When born it is the size of a peanut, and it has to know enough to climb up within the mother’s pouch to find the nipples. If it was not programed or guided by the Lord, how could it do it?
Balarama acts to make the pastimes more relishable.
Comment by me:
If we are mixed devotees we go to heaven.
It is a nice point that devotional service is so relishable that the Lord expands as Nityananda to relish it.
Umapati Swami would make the point that the Mayavadis want to become God, but Nityananda, who actually is one with God, wants to serve God because it is more relishable.
Natures IQ gives many examples of amazing features of different species that are difficult to explain with an evolutionary model.
Caitanya Carana Prabhu:
From Q&A in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2022):
“Genesis 1:30 declares that all creatures, whether on land, in the sea, or in the sky, have a ‘living soul’ within their body. God uses the words nephesh for ‘soul’ and chayah for ‘living,’ which are the same two words used at other places in the Bible to describe the soul in human bodies.”
From “From Knowledge to Devotion” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2022):
“The second half of the first verse [Bg. 10.8] states the result of knowing about Krishna: one becomes enlightened and wholeheartedly devoted to Him. This indicates that knowledge of God is not meant to be merely theoretical or informational; it is meant to be profoundly transformational. To appreciate why, consider the metaphor of an orphan boy who gets some amazing information: he is the lost child of a billionaire. That knowledge would spur him to learn how to reconnect with his father and make all efforts to be reunited with him. If he didn’t make any such efforts at all, it could well be argued that he hadn’t understood the information. The same applies to our knowledge of God.
“To know God means to know that we are all His beloved children. Just as He is eternal and eternally blissful, so too are we meant to be. But when we see Him merely as a source for fulfilling our worldly desires or freeing us from worldly problems, then we don’t really know Him.”
“Left to themselves, reason and emotion consider different things to be of the foremost value. Uniting them, Gita wisdom reveals the object of foremost value to be the supreme reality, Krishna. He is the perfect object for reason: contemplating Him can provide the greatest intellectual fulfillment. And He is the perfect object for emotion: loving Him can provide the greatest emotional fulfillment. In Him the head and the heart can find a healthy synergy.”
Vraja Vihari Prabhu:
From “Spiritual Lessons from a Dog” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2022):
“In one lecture, Srila Prabhupada graphically described that when Krishna returned from the pasturing grounds of Vrindavan, the gopis did not check Krishna’s pockets to see what He had brought for them. They wanted nothing but His pleasure and love.”
Gauranga Darsana Prabhu:
From “Dealing with Distresses the Vrindavan Way” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2022):
“Soon thereafter, another demon, named Bakasura, appeared in the form of a crane and swallowed Krishna. Balarama and the other boys fainted, and several devatas, including Brahma, Siva, Indra, Vayu, and Agni, appeared on the scene to kill Bakasura, but were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Krishna within Bakasura’s gullet became like a fireball, forcing Bakasura to spit Him out. Krishna then split the demon Bakasura’s beak and nonchalantly killed him.”
“While we hear, read, or discuss the pastimes of the Lord, our mood shouldn’t be that of a mere information-seeker; rather, it should be that of a transformation-seeker. Information-seeking involves knowing things, but transformation-seeking involves making an honest attempt to practically apply the teachings one has learned.”
“The degree of transformation we experience is proportional to the degree of our absorption in the hearing process. Until we internalize, absorb, and realize the principles of proper hearing, we can’t really say we’ve capitalized on them. We must not only hear, but also internalize what we hear and act on it. That will lead to great spiritual bliss and enable us to transcend material tribulations.”
Purusottama Nitai Dasa:
From “The Exalted Qualities of Prahlada Maharaja” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2022)
“Hiranyakasipu tried his best to kill Prahlada, and Prahlada tried his best to make Hiranyakasipu a devotee of the Lord.”
Tulasi Prabhu:
Even traditions that are very devotional, like the Christians and Muslims, have a very impersonal idea of God, because the form of God is not clearly described in their scriptures.
Comment by me: There is a nice pastime where Lord Caitanya discusses the Koran with a Muslim scholar. The scholar presents the impersonal conception of God from the Koran, and Lord Caitanya refutes it using the same scripture, concluding, “The Koran certainly establishes impersonalism, but at the end it refutes that impersonalism and establishes the personal God. The Koran accepts the fact that ultimately there is only one God. He is full of opulence, and His bodily complexion is blackish. According to the Koran, the Lord has a supreme, blissful, transcendental body. He is the Absolute Truth, the all-pervading, omniscient and eternal being. He is the origin of everything.” (Cc. Madhya 18.190–192) The Muslim scholar replies, “All that You have said is true. This has certainly been written in the Koran, but our scholars can neither understand nor accept it. Usually they describe the Lord’s impersonal aspect, but they hardly know that the Lord’s personal feature is worshipable. They are undoubtedly lacking this knowledge. Since You are that very same Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, please be merciful upon me.” (Cc. Madhya 18.199–201) The scholar then requested Lord Caitanya speak of life’s ultimate goal and the process by which it could be obtained.
Revatinandana Prabhu:
There are people who do bad things thinking that by doing so they will make Jesus Christ appear sooner, and thus they conceive of benefiting society in that way.
It seems that the brahmanas are very much attached to protecting the varnasrama institution. That includes demanding that the ksatriya class properly respect them, knowing if they don’t the whole society will degrade.
Parinistha bhaktas could just do the nine kinds of devotional service, but they play a role in the varnasrama institution to set a good example for the people in general.
We do not have enough information to take sides as to whether King Indradyumna or Agastya Muni is right.
The Lord settles misunderstandings between His devotees.
The Lord inspires both the more conservative and the more liberal devotees with inspiration to do their preaching, and He is pleased with their endeavors, and thus they both flourish.
Although there is dissension among devotees within ISKCON and there will continue be so, ISKCON is continuing by the mercy of the Lord, who wants the chanting of His name spread all over the world.
If we are well intentioned, like King Indradyumna, even if we make an offense, then we will be protected by the Lord.
If we see the principle of sankirtana as the focus and do not get carried away with politics, we will progress individually and collectively.
I was stung by a wasp on the feet yesterday. Later a devotee told me that he drank a drink with a wasp in it, and he got stung on the palate. I thought actually that should have happened to me. Then I thought of all the parts of the body that I could have got stung at and realized the foot was not so bad.
Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura said that our bhakti is alive if we experience anxiety in our service.
If we are frustrated in our devotional service we can criticize the devotees around us, or we can take shelter of Krishna.
It says multiple places in Caitanya-bhagavata that Lord Nityananda is the personification of the holy name. As Lord Nityananda is a avadhuta and did not consider who he was giving mercy to, the holy name is also like that.
If we are willing to be corrected, we can benefit more and more people.
Brahmanas value truth over peace.
There is a Gallup poll that shows the more people believe in God, the lower the suicide rate, and the more people are unbelievers, the greater the suicide rate.
Comment by me:
I wanted to go to London Ratha-yatra, but I could see it was Krishna’s mercy that I stayed and went on harinama at because all the Yoga Lyrique people joined and some individuals got great mercy, and that would not have happened if I went to London.
Patita Pavana Prabhu:
In spiritual life, we have to consider who we are not and who we are.
Arjuna in Mahabharata was always conscious to act in the way to get the best result.
If we understand who we are, we can understand how to act.
People recite the mantra om to understand the spiritual nature.
The derivation of the namah comes from na – not and ma – my pleasure. It means we give up our pleasure to please you.
Regarding Garuda’s drying up the ocean, it is said that he was using his wings.
The spiritual practitioner is compared to a soldier, but the fight is not external. It is with our internal desires.
Being part of a religious organization does not guarantee liberation. It depends on the individual soul’s relationship with God.
The psychologists consider that mind is a product of matter, but the Vedic conception is completely different. Matter itself is a product of spirit. Scientists do not accept that, and thus they do not try to understand the logic behind the Vedic conception.
A soul covered by lust is compared to the embryo covered by the womb. One can understand very little about the embryo in that state, and people who are very lusty cannot understand anything about the soul.
It is said that all the cells in the body are replaced every seven years. A prisoner could argue after seven years that he should be released because he is a new person from the one who committed the crime. The fact that that argument would not be accepted indicates some implicit understanding that we are not the body.
The Vedic civilization was designed to increase people’s faith. People were encouraged to perform sacrifice to attain success in life.
Faith is transmitted. Faith attracts us to spiritual association, and in that association our faith increases.
You can compare the mind to a five-year-old child in a waiting room.
Some people see the mind as an enemy and struggle with the mind. A better strategy is to negotiate with the mind.
Krishna describes different kinds of yoga for people of different mentalities.
In bhakti-yoga we learn that whether conditioned in material existence or liberated, we are eternal servants of Krishna, and thus we can always perform service for Krishna.
In bhakti-yoga, it is not sufficient just to give your money in the temple. You have to do it with a devotional consciousness.
The spiritual master understands the difference between the soul and the ignorance that is covering him.
Buddhists consider desire is a weakness because desire is a cause of suffering.
It is a quality of the soul to seek perfection, but it cannot find that perfection in this material world.
In the spiritual realm our love is not limited while in the material world it is constrained.
It is uncomfortable for us to be around people who excel in some way because we feel minimized. The best mentality to have around superiors is to serve them.
There is such an enjoying spirit in the heavenly planets it is not likely their residents will attain pure devotional service very soon.
The Lord displays pastimes in the material world that could not be performed in the spiritual world. For example, Lord Rama laments the death of his father in this world but that could not happen in the spiritual world.
Prayers are a great way to completely absorb our minds in Krishna.
Once Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati told a disciple to take notes on what he was saying as he felt he was being empowered to say things he was not usually aware of. He was disgusted later when he found his disciple failed to do so because he did not have a pen.
We can learn from devotees things about Krishna that they gain by realization that we would not find by reading books.
Comments by me, some not made verbally:
Formerly people would get faith by seeing fires light by Vedic mantra, seeing animals get new bodies by Vedic mantra, or seeing demigods or God Himself appear, being pleased by the sacrifice. How do we get faith now?
One may gain faith in Christianity by doing some Christian practice and conclude that Christianity is the true path, but one could also chant Hare Krishna and realize some benefits, and conclude Hare Krishna is the true path. Actually there is truth in both paths.
According to Bhismadeva, all who died in the Battle of Kurukshetra seeing Krishna attained their own spiritual forms.
Giving Srimad-Bhagavatam class completely absorbs the mind in Krishna.
When we have some ability that we do not usually have we can understand the Lord is empowering us.
It is important to always record the classes because sometimes by the grace of the Lord one can give an amazing class.
Gaura Nataraja Prabhu:
I asked a Christian priest, who God was, and he said, “The Father.”
So I asked him, who the Father was, and he said, “The Father is God.”
Lord Shiva can give people the liberation of attaining his planet but not Vaikuntha.
Radhanath Swami saw a man trying to launch his boat. The waves kept washing the boat ashore until he was able to get it beyond the waves. It is like that with us in sadhana bhakti.
Balarama killed Dhenakasura, motivated by His challenging friends who doubted His abilities as compared to those of Krishna.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura says the burden of the ass is the misconception that regulated devotion is the goal as opposed to spontaneous love.
By hearing of Krishna’s pastimes in Vraja one develops the eagerness required to attain one’s own relationship with Krishna.
Comment by me:
Krishna describes the Supreme Lord in a very general way in Bg. 18.46 as all-pervading and the source of all beings.
Although the sweetness covers the opulence in Vrindavan, when the Vraja-vasis encounter danger they take shelter of Krishna, knowing Him to be their infallible protector.
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As it is the month of Purusottam, I am chanting the Purusottam Yoga chapter of Bhagavad-gita [Chapter 15] every day. I memorized it 30 years ago when I lived in San Diego, inspired by Mahavishnu Goswami of Gujarat. A famous verse in that chapter that inspired me in my spiritual journey is verse 15. That verse mentions that Krishna is in the heart providing inspiration and also that He is the source of the Vedic literature. Thus Krishna, the Lord in heart, and the Vedic literature are a single voice speaking to us for our enlightenment. Growing up as a Quaker, I heard about the Inner Light, the voice of God from within. In the Quaker services, anyone is allow to speak because the Lord can inspire anyone with divine wisdom. Thus it was exciting for me to learn that Krishna is that Inner Light, and the wisdom of the Vedic literature is what He is desiring to tell us, if we have the inclination to listen.
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham
“I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.” (Bhagavad-gita 15.15)
