Diary
of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 19, No. 21
By
Krishna Kripa Das
(November 2023, part one)
Stuyvesant
Falls, Schodack Center, Albany, New York City
(Sent
from Gainesville, Florida, on November 18, 2023)
Where I Went and What I Did
For the first thirteen days of November I lived in Viraha Bhavan in Stuyvesant Falls, New York, the ashram of my diksa-guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, where I performed aratis for, sang for the pleasure of, and dressed the deities. I also would cook breakfast every third day and wash the dishes after lunch, and I made three sweets while there. While upstate, I visited my mother two days a week, always bringing her some of the nice prasadam from the ashram. I also attended the Upper Hudson Peace Action Annual Gathering, where my mother was honored for five decades of peace activism, and I brought an ahimsa milk sweet for dessert. Once I attended the Sunday feast at ISKCON Schenectady, where I gave the lecture and led the “Damodarastakam” prayers. I went to a kirtan program in Chatham the next Sunday and to a Govardhan Puja celebration at the Supersoul Farm of Raghunath Prabhu in East Chatham the next day.
On November 14, after my morning duties at the ashram, I returned to New York City for three days of harinama, to give the Tuesday evening lecture for new people, and to attend the festival for Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance. For the month of Karttika a couple of the enthusiastic NYC Harinam devotees extended the harinamas to seven hours each day, beyond the four the party was doing previously.
I share notes from Srila Prabhupada’s books, including Srimad-Bhagavatam, The Nectar of Devotion, and Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead. I share a quote from the Naradiya Purana about Lord Caitanya. I share notes on a reading of Garga Samhita. I share notes from Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s books, A Trip to Spain and Guru Reform Notebook. I share notes on classes by Candrasekhara Swami and Hansarupa Prabhu. I share notes on offerings to Srila Prabhupada on his disappearance day by Locanananda Prabhu and Bhusara Prabhu. I share quotes by scientist, Dr. Tiziano Valentinuzzi, from his article, “Advanced Astronomy in Bhagavata Purana,” in Purva-paksa, Volume 2. I also share notes on a talk by David Cortright, speaker and writer on peace topics.
Thanks to Amith for driving me from Viraha Bhavan to catch the bus in Albany as the train was canceled. Thanks to Conner and Narayana Prabhu for taking my harmonium back to the temple. Thanks to Ahaituki Prema Prabhu for videos and photos of NYC Harinama.
Itinerary
November
17–19: BIHS Conference, Gainesville|
November
20–23: Gainesville harinamas|
November
24–25: Festival of the Holy Name, Alachua
November
26: Tampa harinama?
November
27–January 2024: NYC Harinam
– December
2: Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s Vyasa Puja
– December
9: Bhagavad-gita
class
at 26 Second Avenue
– January
6: Bhagavad-gita
class
at 26 Second Avenue
Chanting Hare Krishna in Upstate New York
I have no videos of the kirtans at ISKCON Schenectady because I was busy singing, playing the instruments, and dancing, and at the Chatham Sunday kirtan I danced the whole time.
At the Supersoul Farm of Raghunath Prabhu of Shelter in East Chatham, New York, on Govardhan Puja, however, I was just doing a little dancing, so I was able to take this video of Patrick chanting Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/Z2zW_vrgiQQ):
In addition to the chanting, Raghunath Prabhu read from Garga Samhita.
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
Jaya Goracand Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station above the 7 train (https://youtu.be/7YZ3dUzqjLE):
Narada Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there also (https://youtu.be/3GUSG8iiikk):
I gave a talk at the ISKCON NYC Tuesday evening program for new people on the topic of the three modes of material nature and transcending them (https://youtu.be/haojGjWUGms?si=IFWgbDa4vxOGMC6y):
Afterward Janaki Devi Dasi chanted Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/VHEe-XPPBy0):
By the time she chanted “Jaya Prabhupada” at the end, people were dancing together in a circle (https://youtu.be/LXrFJNtxnX8):
Jaya Goracand Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station above the 7 train the next day (https://youtu.be/0UMquohEPeE):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station above the downtown A train (https://youtu.be/lJyNIx0C_o4):
Pavan Nitai Chandra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there, too (https://youtu.be/SbkIFB_Dzdk):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/LpMdY1zToYE):
While Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there, women played shakers and danced (https://youtu.be/eNy2EfK6ahU):
At one point during Rama Raya Prabhu’s kirtan, a man offered a lamp and took a selfie with the devotees (https://youtube.com/shorts/H9Bd52shSGs?feature=share):
On Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day, the weather was warmer, so we chanted outside at Union Square.
Here Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and young people play shakers and dance (https://youtu.be/YYR8cvSMX2M):
I chanted Hare Krishna after Gopal (https://youtu.be/vyKm7Mu1vSQ):
Premanjali chants Hare Krishna in Union Square, and people play shakers (https://youtu.be/w4q-khD6To8):
Premanjali chants Hare Krishna in Union Square, and kids play shakers and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/H3CEql3J4vI):
Pavan Nitai Chandra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Union Square, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/lpZsanYgqy0):
I took lots of photos of the amazing prasadam that Manohar and Anuradhu Prabhus cooked for Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s lunch.
Here is Anuradha’s Irish crumpet.
Here is her khichri, which was served so infrequently that it was actually a treat.
Manohar made some homemade pasta.
He also had a dessert made with an Italian cheese with mango on top.
One time we had the best scrambled tofu I have ever had.
At Viraha Bhavan every night around 7:00 p.m. we chanted “Damodarastakam” and offered lamps.
Here is the Govardhan Hill we had at Viraha Bhavan. Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu made the banana halava, and Lalita Kishori made many sweets and decorated the hill.
We had no broccoli for trees, so I suggested the cilantro for vegetation.
I dressed Radha Govinda at Viraha Bhavan several times.
My sister and I went to the Upper Hudson Peace Action Annual Gathering, on Saturday, November 11, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Albany, where my mother got an award for her fifty years of peace activism.
For that event I made pineapple coconut burfi using the ahimsa milk from Krishna Kumari’s cow. Some people liked it so much they took seconds. People ask me for the recipe, so I include it here:
Coconut Burfi
4 cups milk (or soy or almond milk)
¼ lb. butter (or vegan butter or vegetable oil) [½ cup]
2 cups sugar
4–5 cups finely shredded or powdered coconut (unsweetened dry is better than moist)
Boil together milk, butter, and sugar. Cook until the mixture gets a little thick. Lower heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until a drop placed in cold water holds its shape when pushed. Remove from flame. Stir in coconut a little at a time, stopping after it is not so sticky but before it gets so dry it doesn’t stick together at all. Put in an 8 inch by 8 inch pan and refrigerate. Cut into squares or rectangles. Makes 48 to 64 pieces depending on size.
To give it flavor, you can add cardamom, saffron, orange rind, lemon rind, or rose water, etc., to the boiling mixture or you can add a cup of diced dried pineapple when you add the coconut.
While upstate, I visited my mother two days a week.
Once I gave her the garland given to the speaker at the ISKCON Schenectady Sunday feast. She said she did not think she was worthy of it.
One of my mother’s favorite foods is palak paneer. Once Anuradha made it for my guru with fresh spinach, and it was incredible. I stashed some to bring to my mother a few days later, and even then it tasted pretty good.
I also brought her samosas from our Govardhan Hill at Viraha Bhavan.
I brought three desserts from the hill, my sweet rice, which my guru said he liked, along with Baladeva’s banana halava, and Lalita Kishori’s raspberry cashew balls. She liked them all.
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.1.19, purport:
“The first and foremost duty of a pilgrim is to satisfy the Supreme Lord Hari. While traveling as a pilgrim, one should not be worried about pleasing society. There is no need to depend on social formalities or occupation or dress. One should remain always absorbed in the function of pleasing the Lord. Thus sanctified by thought and action, one is able to realize the Supreme Lord by the process of a pilgrim’s journey.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.1.20, purport:
“The history of the world cannot give any systematic account for more than three thousand years into the past, but before that the whole world was under the flag and military strength of Maharaja Yudhisthira, who was the emperor of the world. At present there are hundreds and thousands of flags flapping in the United Nations, but during the time of Vidura there was, by the grace of Ajita, Lord Krishna, only one flag. The nations of the world are very eager to again have one state under one flag, but for this they must seek the favor of Lord Krishna, who alone can help us become one worldwide nation.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.1.21, purport:
“The comparison of the friction of forest bamboos to that of passionate human societies is appropriate. The whole world is compared to a forest. At any moment there may be a flare-up of fire in the forest due to friction. No one goes to the forest to set it on fire, but due only to friction between bamboos, fire takes place and burns an entire forest. Similarly, in the greater forest of worldly transaction, the fire of war takes place because of the violent passion of the conditioned souls illusioned by the external energy. Such a worldly fire can be extinguished only by the water of the mercy cloud of saints, just as a forest fire can be extinguished only by rains falling from a cloud.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.22, purport:
“The example of Dhruva Maharaja is very fitting. Simply by becoming agreeable to the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by developing love of Godhead, Dhruva got the chance to personally meet the confidential servants of Lord Vishnu face to face. What was possible for Dhruva Maharaja is possible for everyone. Anyone who very seriously engages in devotional service can obtain, in due course of time, the same perfection of the human form of life.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 47:
“The activities of a person, even if they are not very extraordinary, create an impression of wonder in the heart and mind of the person’s friends. But even very wonderful activities performed by a person who is not one’s friend will not create any impression. It is because of love that one’s wonderful activities create an impression in the mind.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 48:
“It is to be understood that any person who is constantly engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare – has attained a transcendental affection for Krishna, and as such, in any condition of life, he remains satisfied simply by remembering the Lord’s name in full affection and ecstatic love.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 49:
“There is another statement as follows: ‘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!’”
“One devotee boldly said, ‘My dear Lord, now I am turning my face from any thought of association with young girls. As far as Brahman realization is concerned, I have lost all interest because I am completely absorbed in thinking about You. And being absorbed so blissfully, I have lost all other desires, even the desire for mystic powers. Now my mind is attracted only to worshiping Your lotus feet.’”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 9.61, purport:
“Initiation means receiving the pure knowledge of spiritual consciousness.”
From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter 59:
“The surabhi cows and all the demigods and their mothers joined the heavenly king, Indra, in worshiping Lord Krishna by bathing Him with Ganges water and the milk of the surabhis. Thus Govinda, Lord Krishna, was pleased with all of them. The residents of all higher planetary systems, such as Gandharvaloka, Vidyadharaloka, Siddhaloka and Caranaloka, all combined and glorified the Lord by chanting His holy name as their wives and damsels danced with great joy. They very much satisfied the Lord by incessantly pouring flowers from the sky. When everything was very nicely and joyfully settled, the cows overflooded the surface of the earth with their milk. The water of the rivers began to flow with various tasty liquids and give nourishment to the trees, producing fruits and flowers of different colors and tastes. The trees began to pour drops of honey. The hills and mountains began to produce potent medicinal plants and valuable stones. Because of Krishna’s presence, all these things happened very nicely, and the lower animals, who were generally envious of one another, were envious no longer.
“After satisfying Krishna, who is the Lord of all the cows in Vrindavan and who is known as Govinda, King Indra took His permission to return to his heavenly kingdom. As he passed through cosmic space, he was surrounded by all kinds of demigods. This great incident is a powerful example of how Krishna consciousness can benefit the world. Even the lower animals forget their envious nature and become elevated to the qualities of the demigods.”
From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter 59:
“In their dealings as husband and wife, Krishna and His queens would smile, talk, joke, embrace and so on, and their conjugal relationship ever-increasingly developed. In this way, Krishna and the queens enjoyed transcendental happiness in their household life.”
From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter 82:
“No one can even imagine how eager the gopis were to see Krishna again. As soon as Krishna became visible to them, they took Him inside their hearts through their eyes and embraced Him to their full satisfaction. Even though they were embracing Krishna only mentally, they became so ecstatic and overwhelmed with joy that for the time being they completely forgot themselves. The ecstatic trance they achieved simply by mentally embracing Krishna is impossible to achieve even for great yogis constantly engaged in meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krishna could understand that the gopis were rapt in ecstasy by embracing Him in their minds, and therefore, since He is present in everyone’s heart, He reciprocated the embracing from within.”
[Krishna said to the gopis:] “‘Fortunately, you have developed loving affection for Me, which is the only way to achieve the transcendental position of association with Me. Any living entity who develops such unalloyed devotional affection for Me certainly at the end goes back home, back to Godhead. In other words, unalloyed devotional service and affection for Me are the cause of supreme liberation. . . . As the Supreme Absolute Truth, I am transcendental to the living entity, as well as to his material embodiment. The two energies, material and spiritual, both act under My supreme control. My dear gopis, I request that instead of being afflicted, you try to accept everything with a philosophical attitude. Then you will understand that you are always with Me and that there is no cause of lamentation in our being separated from one another.’”
“The gopis, having been instructed by Krishna in this philosophy of simultaneous oneness and difference, remained always in Krishna consciousness and thus became liberated from all material contamination. The consciousness of the living entity who falsely presents himself as the enjoyer of the material world is called jiva-kosa, which means imprisonment by the false ego. Not only the gopis but anyone who follows these instructions of Krishna is immediately freed from the jiva-kosa imprisonment. A person in full Krishna consciousness is always liberated from false egoism; he utilizes everything for Krishna’s service and is not at any time separated from Krishna.”
“The gopis continued: ‘Dear Krishna, we are always busy in our family affairs. We therefore request that You remain within our hearts as the rising sun. That will be Your greatest benediction.’”
“But the inhabitants of Vrindavan, the gopis, were not interested in the idea of going with Krishna to Dvaraka. They wanted to remain busy in Vrindavan and thus feel the presence of Krishna in every step of their lives. They immediately invited Krishna to come back to Vrindavan. This transcendental emotional existence of the gopis is the basic principle of Lord Caitanya’s teaching. The Ratha-yatra festival observed by Lord Caitanya is the emotional process of taking Krishna back to Vrindavan. Srimati Radharani refused to go with Krishna to Dvaraka to enjoy His company in the atmosphere of royal opulence, for She wanted to enjoy His company in the original Vrindavan atmosphere. Lord Krishna, being profoundly attached to the gopis, never goes away from Vrindavan, and the gopis and other residents of Vrindavan remain fully satisfied in Krishna consciousness.”
From Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter 83:
[Yudhisthira said to Krishna:] “Since You are the Supreme Person, there cannot be any ill luck for one who has fully surrendered unto You.”
[Rukminidevi said to Draupadi:] “It is my eternal desire that life after life I be engaged in the service of Lord Krishna, who is the reservoir of all pleasure and beauty. This is my only desire and ambition in life.”
Naradiya Purana:
“The Lord said: ‘Concealing My real identify, O vipra [Markandeya Rsi], I appear in Kali-yuga in the garb of a devotee and always protect my devotees.’” (5.47)
Garga Samhita:
[In this Vedic literature, Garga Samhita, Krishna’s pastimes are described from the point of view of Garga Muni. Raghunath Prabhu read the parts about the pastime of Govardhan Puja at Supersoul Farm.]
Govardhan is born from the chest of Lord Hari.
Obeisances to you who are Goloka's crown . . .
Krishna advised: When not near Govardhan Hill make a hill of cow dung, decorate it with vines . . .
At the original Govardhan Puja:
The mountain kings from Meru came and offered obeisances to Govardhan.
The Samvartaka clouds were a variety of colors.
When the residents of Vraja appealed to Krishna for protection. Krishna said, “Govardhan accepted your offering. Take shelter of Him. He will protect you."
Sesa drank the water above the hill, so it would not come in from around the sides of the hill when Krishna lifted it.
Seeing his plans thwarted by Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill, Indra threw his thunderbolt to destroy Vraja, but Krishna paralyzed both the weapon and Indra’s arm. Being terrified, Indra fled.
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From a lunch conversation:
“My wife complained to Prabhupada that I controlled her too much. Srila Prabhupada said, ‘Forgive and forget or how can you live?’”
From A Trip to Spain:
“Do
you remember your dreams of forty years ago?
Of
course not. So why remember the
waking
dreams? Why even try for it?
There’s
no need. You can gradually let them go.”
“For
Krishna there’s no anxiety. We
make
trouble for ourselves. He can
get
us out if we only turn to Him.”
“Work
against the void and Mayavadi doctrines
that
make people believe there’s no God.
You
live with God, and that’s
the
proof.
First
prove it to yourself.”
“‘Oh
where do I get that bhakti?’
It’s
in you, man,
it’s
your love which you’ve been
giving
to unworthy objects,
now
refine it and offer love to God.”
“Where
is God? Who’s He? He’s in the Bhagavatam.
In
the doubter’s heart, in the ferryboat
making
waves and crunching against the wooden
pier,
He’s
the sound in the air,
gulls
and Mickey Mouse and Beethoven on street
corners,
God
is everywhere,
but
there’s a science to knowing
how
He comes in person, what He
does
and how He disappears. Learn that
science,
and go to Him.
This
is not for ordinary folks
but
to those with devotion or
whoever
will hear.”
“We want our van to move safely to Spain. Everyone else wants their car and van and truck and plane to also move safely. But it can’t happen that everyone gets protected. Some perish. Some cause the perishing of others, or so they think. The Bhagavatam tells us that everything is carried by people’s karma. And karma, the law, is under the operation of the material energy, who metes out reward and justice, punishment, giving bodies next life and fit reactions now and tomorrow.”
“Srila Prabhupada was a most compassionate worker on behalf of the Supreme Lord. The Lord gave Srila Prabhupada the shakti to convince people to take up Krishna consciousness against so many objections and difficulties. He made it seem easy. I’m very glad he did!”
“My plan is to always follow Srila Prabhupada and not suddenly fall down and go away, another casualty with a sad story.”
“Serving
Srila Prabhupada
is
not so easy.
It’s
easy to be somewhat connected within his vast
empire
of
forgiveness and mercy and encouragement. But to
really
measure
up—is
hard.”
From Guru Reform Notebook:
“Another application of the history of Dhruva Maharaja is that he acted on the platform of friends and enemies. This was exemplified in Dhruva’s desire for revenge against his stepmother and his attempt to outdo all leaders. This has also become prominent in our ISKCON dealings, and so we are sometimes divided into bitterly contesting parties, although we are actually one party—the followers of Prabhupada.”
“Another material conception which occurred to Dhruva Maharaja and for which he later regretted was his attachment to proprietorship. He wanted personal empire and sovereignty, which are never desired by a pure devotee. ISKCON leaders may also have become confused about the nature of proprietorship over followers and possession of an empire. Who actually ‘owns’ the disciples? Who actually is the ruler of a particular zone of management? Can spiritual leadership deteriorate into material proprietorship? Facing these questions may make us feel regret at our actual position.”
“Sukadeva Gosvami was the siksa-guru of Pariksit Maharaja. He delivered him back to Godhead, but his diksa-guru was Kripacarya. Sukracarya was the diksa-guru of Bali, but Prahlada Maharaja, his grandfather and siksa-guru, delivered him. Krishna (playing the role of a human being) was given diksa by Gargamuni, but later, when talking with his class friend Sudama Vipra, Krishna ascribes all His success and knowledge to Sandipani Muni, His siksa-guru. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was initiated by Yadunandana Acarya, one of the great eternal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. However, he was the Raghu of Svarupa Damodara, his siksa-guru. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura was given diksa by Bipin Bihari Gosvami, a caste Gosvami, but siksa by Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who is credited as his eternal master by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Krishnadasa Kaviraja appears to have been initiated by Nityananda Prabhu, but gives eternal credits, at the end of every chapter of Caitanya-caritamrita, to Rupa and Raghunatha, his siksa-gurus. The list could go on forever. The siksa-guru can certainly deliver the conditioned soul back to Godhead.”
“It seems good to make meditative farewells a few days in advance of actual departure.”
“The last time I came to the London temple (five years ago) was also in the wake of a guru’s falldown. There is an eerie similarity in the circumstances. Both gurus lived in very opulent quarters, and now both are gone. Each one left behind a stack of expensive sweaters and gold and silver paraphernalia. Maya is ready to extend the offer to anyone else foolish enough to commit the same mistake.”
“Let’s
go ahead and do it,
step
down nimbly
declare
ourselves as equal
it’s
what we are—at best.
Before
guru titles become duncecaps
we
had better give them up.”
“Someone said of me, ‘He’s written Japa Reform Notebook and Reading Reform. Now why doesn’t he write a Guru Reform Notebook?’”
“TO GODBROTHERS
“I
sat on a throne above your heads
as
you sat on the floor.
My
lectures were not superior to yours
but
we pretended
that
I was supreme, ‘almost
as
good as Prabhupada.’
Now
I’m stepping down
to
be what I am,
a
fool before our Guru Maharaja.
“I
should not have ascended above you,
even
though you offered it to me.
And
you said, ‘Here are your disciples’
although
it was you
who
brought them to surrender.
I
blessed them and gave them
the
maha-mantra
and spiritual names,
but
I never told them, ‘He is your siksa-guru.’
“You
know all this and you are
willing
to forgive me,
but
the wrong will linger.
Please
let me offer
my
repeated apologies,
and
please teach me
how
to honor
my
Godbrothers.”
“I am appreciating more my Godbrothers as guides for myself. It’s not only by the grace of Prabhupada but also by the grace of our Godbrothers that we became spiritual masters. It was the Godbrothers who provided followers for us and said, ‘You be their guru.’ Let us hear from the Vaishnavas and correct our attitude so that this ISKCON movement, which is now in a seriously disarrayed state, can be brought back into unity. That will be a great achievement. And if we have to admit to making mistakes along the way, that will be nothing compared to the gain that we make.”
Candrasekhara Swami:
Only philosophies that come from the East have the idea of reincarnation.
Even if we cannot fully understand the Sankhya philosophy, at least we can understand we are not the body.
At the time of death, we will understand that we do not possess what we thought we possessed, that we are not what we thought we were, and that we do not live where we thought we lived.
Our material desires are just bad habits from many lifetimes. As we advance in Krishna consciousness, we see these desires as something we once had.
The people we meet are arranged by Krishna for our benefit, if we can just understand how.
As we advance we act according to the direction of the Supersoul more often.
We come to realize that we are not here to have exciting sensual experiences but to learn what Krishna is trying to teach us.
The best way is both a positive and negative approach. We learn the benefits of doing the right thing and the problems that result from doing the wrong thing.
Comment made privately after class:
There are Native Americans like some Eskimos that include reincarnation in their philosophy, and some of these look for evidence that an ancestor has been reborn in their family.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
There is a distinct change in the body that happens at the moment of death. The light goes out of the eyes. It is as if someone turns the light out.
My father lent his Ford LTD car for us to pick up Srila Prabhupada at the airport. He also saw Srila Prabhupada at the Ratha-yatra.
I was the eldest and was expected to give some eulogy at the time of my father’s death. I explained that his body was present, but his soul had left and had attained liberation. On the strength of his service to the pure devotee Srila Prabhupada, I was confident about his liberation.
In Mayapur Srila Prabhupada once described ourselves as parampara servants.
Sometimes devotees feel that if they work in certain situations they have to cut their sikhas. I worked in many situations, even some high level ones, and I never felt I had to cut off my sikha.
Vishnujana Swami had a phrase “impure reminiscence” to refer to recalling aspects of our previous materialistic life.
Pornography is so prominent they have rehabilitation centers for it.
Purity means sincerity.
You may want to confess your sins, but you may not know what things you have done that are actually sinful. The chanting of the holy name can deliver you from all kinds of sins.
I had some friends who went into the priesthood, but because they did not engage in a process that purified their minds, they remained attached to the materialistic things that we used to do together.
Unless one comes to understand that he is the servant of God, he will always think that God is meant for fulfilling his own desires.
The chanting of Hare Krishna has cleansed our hearts and given us realizations that 99% of the people do not have.
Surrender to God is more than a one time thing. You have to surrender at every single moment.
We show our gratitude by fully engaging whatever talent we have in devotional service.
Comments:
You referred to those religionists who think everyone outside of their group is going to hell forever. That reminds me of one evangelical Christian in a Tallahassee park who said, “Not only are the Hindus and Buddhists going to hell, but also the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Regarding your father being liberated, I was reminded that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura tells of the power of having devotee relatives. If you are a first-class devotee you deliver 100 generations of relatives, if you are a second-class devotee, you deliver 14 generations of relatives, and even if you are only a third-class devotee, you still deliver 3 generations of relatives. I found that very encouraging.
Regarding your point that it is very dangerous to habitually meditate on sense gratification, I was reminded of this verse: “When one's mind and senses are attracted to sense objects for enjoyment, the mind becomes agitated. As a result of continually thinking of sense objects, one's real consciousness almost becomes lost, like the water in a lake that is gradually sucked up by the big grass straws on its bank.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.30)
On Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day:
Srila Prabhupada said, “I am not leaving you. I am going into your heart.”
One guru godbrother said, “My disciples should listen to my lectures 1% of the time, and Srila Prabhupada’s lectures 99% of the time.”
Locanananda Prabhu:
Even the Encyclopedia Britannica says that Srila Prabhupada astonished the world by the volume of his output of transcendental literature.
When he met Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada had a doubt whether Lord Caitanya’s message could be spread at that time. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said in effect, “It can be done, and I want you to do it.”
Srila Prabhupada spread his movement without assistance from his contemporaries because Lord Caitanya wanted to give him the full credit for his having done so.
When Srila Prabhupada visited London during his Vyasa Puja in 1977, in Amsterdam we were installing the first murti of Srila Prabhupada on a vyasasana in an ISKCON temple room. I called Prabhupada on the phone and his secretary, Pradyumna, relayed Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on worshiping the murti to me.
The morning of the day Prabhupada disappeared from this world, we had received in the mail the book, Preaching is the Essence, and I told the devotees in Amsterdam that it is important we keep the preaching going in Srila Prabhupada’s absence.
This movement creates glorious individuals.
Srila Prabhupada said, “I have taken cats and dogs and turned them into paramahamsas.”
I think the New York temple is coming back to life.
Srila Prabhupada said, “By association, faith develops.”
Bhusara Prabhu:
On a train, a homeless person threw a magazine on the floor, and it landed face up, right in front of me. It was Back to Godhead. When I saw Srila Prabhupada’s photo in the magazine, it was as if he was looking right at me.
I was at the Henry Street temple when Prabhupada visited. We would see Prabhupada at each part of the morning program, and by the time prasadam came around, we felt like we were liberated from material bondage.
It seemed that Srila Prabhupada floated off the ground when he moved.
Our Krishna consciousness is based on memories of our spiritual master.
We get strength from being around devotees.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami writes in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita, “Our hope is that by hearing about Srila Prabhupada the reader will become himself a Prabhupadanuga, a follower of ÅšrÄ«la Prabhupada. We can wish no better fortune upon anyone.”
Dr. Tiziano Valentinuzzi:
From Advanced Astronomy in “Bhagavata Purana” in Purva-paksa, Vol. 2:
“I was diagnosed with diabetes about five years ago. In the last few years, I have been given a great deal of speculative advice for this health issue based on people’s direct experience or inference from existing scientific information. One doctor told me, ‘You will be on insulin for the rest of your life. You will never heal. All of your pancreatic cells are gone.’ Others said, ‘Eat fruits,’ ‘Don't eat fruits,’ ‘Start a keto diet,’ ‘The keto diet is dangerous for vegetarians,’ ‘Become a crudist,’ ‘Take these pills,’ ‘Cook your vegetables,’ ‘Eat your rice raw,’ etc. Everyone I was consulting had different ideas, and it was obviously impractical to try to follow them all. Then, just one week ago, my friend sent me a paper by Dr. Roy Taylor MBE of Newcastle University, Great Britain, which said that the pancreas regains its lost volume and shape when type 2 diabetes is put into remission through a low-calorie weight management program. Two months of weight loss, and your diabetes is gone. This has been proven in hundreds and hundreds of clinical demonstrations.”
“When I read this, I laughed and said, ‘Oh, this is Bhagavad-gita.’ All of this research took 40 years with a team of 55 PhDs, and this conclusion is already in Bhagavad-gita verse 6.16: ‘There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.’ So what does this show? The transcendental knowledge in the Puranas and Itihasas is also very practical. Meanwhile, we are using big telescopes and big microscopes and investing hundreds of years and enormous amounts of effort to come to the same conclusions.”
“What is the use of ‘big data’ and the enormous effort invested in obtaining it if we do not try to understand why this universe exists – the purpose of its creation?”
“The Vedic thinkers had great concern for connecting all human experience to the divine, because they knew well that this was the only way to find happiness in this life and in the next (as explained in Bhagavad-gita). This is the fundamental recurring point of their works. Perhaps we – both Westerners and those in India – could reintroduce this perspective into modern cosmology and into science in general by considering the spiritual dimension of man as central to our existence. This concept is very important to me, and this surely is the primary message that Vedic culture has been communicating to us from long ago: that we very much need this type of information, ideas, mental models, and ways of thinking, now more than ever.”
David Cortright, speaker and writer on peace topics:
I do not know of a more difficult time to speak about peace, nor a time when it is more necessary to speak about peace.
So many scientists involved with the nuclear bomb gave so much advice against future development, especially Oppenheimer, and there is a three-hour film about that.
The nuclear freeze was on the ballot in ten states, and 11 million people voted for it.
The war of aggression against Ukraine included threats of the use of nuclear weapons by Russia.
Two dozen countries have given up developing nuclear weapons because of nuclear nonproliferation agreements.
States can be persuaded to give up the bomb, by stressing security agreements with other countries and better economic well-being.
Different agreements reducing nuclear weapons are not being honored by Russia at present.
Our nation tends to invest more in weapons and less in diplomacy, when diplomacy could be successful.
Since the UN advised the US against using force in Iraq and the US ignored that, the US has been distanced from the UN and is not working with it to the extent that it could.
People are discussing changing the UN security council so that one of the five superpowers cannot veto a proposal, but nothing has changed yet.
Unilateral initiatives, although the US would see this as capitulating to the Russians, have been recommended by social scientists.
Gorbachev unilaterally stopped nuclear testing.
Bush did eliminate five to seven thousand weapons and asked Gorbachev to reciprocate, and he did soon after.
Krishna Kripa Das:
From his Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day offering:
One greatness of Srila Prabhupada’s compassion was that he was not only concerned about benefiting people during his span of life, but he wanted to create an institution that would benefit people for millennia after he left this world.
Over 80% of the people on harinama today were not born when Srila Prabhupada left this world back in 1977. They are only part of his movement because he set it up in such a way that the movement would continue after he left.
Book
distribution story from Vijaya Prabhu’s Treasures
of the Brhad-Mrdanga:
“One
time in America, at a book table, an old man approached the book
distributor and asked him, ‘Do you have the Bhagavad-gita?’
“‘Yes,
sir,’ the devotee replied.
“‘Let
me see it.’ He took the book in his hand, turned it around, saw
Srila Prabhupada’s picture, and said, ‘Yes, I’ll buy this one.’
“‘Why,
sir?’ the devotee asked.
“Pointing
to Srila Prabhupada’s picture, the man replied, ‘This man has
been coming to me in dreams for years and telling me, “Buy my
Bhagavad-gita,
buy my Bhagavad-gita.”
When I saw you dressed in the same color as him, I thought that maybe
you would have his Bhagavad-gita.
Now I’ve found it.’”
Srila Prabhupada wanted us to maintain and expand this movement he created. I pray that I may always assist his followers in these glorious endeavors.
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I am reviewing chapter seventeen of Bhagavad-gita this month. Different verses are relevant to us. Good food is important for maintaining the health of our bodies. Krishna reveals that the best food is in the mode of goodness.
When we offer Krishna food in the temple, it is best to offer Him food in the mode of goodness. Also that kind of food will help the devotees to maintain their health.
ayuh-sattva-balarogya-
sukha-priti-vivardhanah
rasyah
snigdhah sthira hridya
aharah
sattvika-priyah
“Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.” (Bhagavad-gita 17.8)
Foods in the modes of passion and ignorance are not recommended as they destroy health: “Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease. Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.” (Bhagavad-gita 17.9–10)
