Kadamba
Kanana Swami Disappearance Day Anniversary
Notes
on Program in ISKCON NYC on Anniversary by Solar Calendar (March 9)
Keshava
Swami:
From
a recording:
Kadamba
Kanana Swami said to me that the opposite of easy is not difficult
but
impossible, and difficult is the middle point.
Don’t
avoid difficulty. It is the middle part, and will help us to attain
Krishna
There
is a final Zoom call that they took offline because it was too
painful to see.
Seeing
it, I
realized it was time to go to Vrindavan.
As
soon as I arrived there, I apologized for not coming earlier,
saying I was very busy.
He
told me to be ready to embrace the difficulty for Krishna.
“Get
your laptop,” he
said.
Then
he
dictated a letter about resolving situations in NYC.
“I
have given you sannyasa,
now
I do not want you to be a low key sannyasi,
but
reach out more.”
He
lamented how often people after initiation take a step back as
if initiation is the goal.
He
asked me, “Are you willing to do anything for Krishna?” That is
the standard he set and that he wanted us to come up to.
Vasudeva
Prabhu:
Indradyumna
Swami
says in the Gaudiya sampradaya
the disappearance of the acaryas
is
more important. The activities of someone are most important, and on
the disappearance day, we focus on their complete life.
At
the point of death everything is stripped away from you, and the
essence of the person is there.
We
do not know if Kadamba Kanana Swami appeared as an acarya,
but we know he left as an acarya.
We
know he was absorbed in the sastra,
in
Srimad-Bhagavatam
and Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita.
He
was living the Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita,
spreading the holy name everywhere.
He
was absorbed in Krishna, bhakti,
and
Krishna prema,
all
experienced
through nama-sankirtana.
He
once said, “The day I cannot do kirtana
anymore,
I am ready to go.”
When
I saw his consciousness in his last phase, he was very grave and very
absorbed. He was chanting japa
and
listening to Prabhupada kirtans at the end. He could not speak, but
he
was chanting as best he could sixteen rounds. He was still with
clarity of mind. He would also listen to Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita
and Gopal Campu.
He
did not eat, he hardly drank, and he could not sleep very well. He
did not take any pain killer.
Jayadvaita
Swami
looking at Kadamba Kanana Swami at the end, said
he
appeared
to be someone whose every desire was satisfied. Blissful thoughts
shone from his face.
The
last day, I came early because his servant said he would leave in a
few hours. We called B. B. Govinda Swami who
led a soft kirtan of the Prabhupada melody for hours. Kadamba Kanana
Swami had specified he wanted B. B. Govinda Swami to sing while he
left.
Jayadvaita
Swami
came out of the room during that time, impressed by his effulgence,
obviously relishing the kirtan.
He
left during the time of the Abhijit muhurta,
considered
under the protection of the Vishnu and His sudarsana,
and
along with Brahma muhurta,
the
most auspicious time of the day.
He
was very noble. He never backed down. He was very exemplary.
Madhupati
Prabhu:
The
spiritual master enters the eternal pastimes of the Supreme Lord.
I
made Kadamba Kanana Swami went he was temple
president
in Vrindavan. He engaged me in the 24-hour kirtan.
When
he visited ISKCON
of Central New Jersey
he would do kirtan after the lecture for three hours and take
prasadam
at
the end of the whole evening.
He
was always busy engaging people in the service of the Lord.
I
came to Vrindavan in mid February and spent time with him everyday.
He
said he was in difficulty but he was still chanting his 16 rounds,
and he told me to always chant 16 rounds, even when it is difficult.
Just
a few days before he left, they wanted someone to sit in his room
always, and they invited me. I was sitting there, chanting in my
mind. Soon he turned on his flashlight, checked the time, and shined
the flashlight at me, and said, “Your chanting keeps me awake.”
He
served the mission throughout his life going beyond the call
of duty.
People
were recalling in
Vrindavan
that he was the only temple president who actually collected money
for the temple.
The
great saint Tukarama also passed away at the Abhijit muhurta,
in
the presence of kirtan.
Tulasi
Prabhu:
I
personally find Kadamba Kanana Swami present in this book, Forever
Present.
From
Forever
Present:
Let
my disappearance, whenever it occurs, cause you to think, “Now I am
going to be what my guru wants me to be.
Carry
this mission in your heart, realize the essence of it, and spread it.
My
desire is that you meet Krishna.
My
personal instruction is to take the process, realize it, and spread
it,
making a contribution in this world.
---
Even
at the end, Kadamba Kanana Swami wanted to be as independent as
possible.
Jayadvaita
Swami
at Kadamba Kanana Swami’s departure said everything was completely
auspicious.
Kadamba
Kanana Swami when he left NYC said, “Tulasi, be more aggressive.
Matanga, be sweet like an angel, and Jayananda, be like Jayananda.”
Whenever
Jayadvaita
Swami
had a desire, Kadamba Kanana Swami picked up on it, and carried it
out.
Hari
Vilasa Prabhu:
It
was a big part of his mission that Forever
Present
book
was printed.
Vandana Devi Dasi:
Reading
from Forever
Present
book:
When
Srila
Prabhupada
left, his disciples realized their only connection with him was
following his instructions.
By
following the instructions of the guru after he has left, the
relationship becomes deeper.
In
Krishna
consciousness
there is reciprocation now, and there is reciprocation at the end.
Even though I did not communicate with you, I never stopped being your
well-wisher.
There
is nothing more powerful than Krishna’s mercy.
The
appearance of the sankirtana
movement
is the most valuable event in our lives.
Heavenly
Culture, World Peace, and Restoration of Light (HWPL)
International
Religious Peace Academy
Buddhism (Venerable Dr. Dhammapiya):
An
impure mind is the cause of all suffering.
Buddhism
promotes a compassionate heart.
Bhavachakka
is the wheel of life, of birth and death.
Hinduism (Gauranga
Prabhu
of Chowpatty):
Nothing
material cannot affect the supreme potency of the holy name.
At
the time of death other forms of worship will be unavailable to you,
but you can call out the name of the Lord.
Chanting
the holy name purifies the mind from lifetimes of impure activities.
Islam (Ahmed Jasem Hmood Al-Maliky):
After
40 years old, one must change his activities.
A
person is asked five questions regarding how they spent their lives.
Did they benefit people? Did they cause distress to others?
An
atom of good and an atom of bad will each be seen.
Good
deeds are demanded from everyone.
Humans
are meant to assist God in this world by promoting righteousness.
God
will ask what we have done for the benefit of our family, our
society.
Sikhism (Mr. Karmjit Singh):
Why
are we sad because of death or happy at birth? If the soul goes to
God, he is in a better state.
If
the body goes to dust, why are we here? To listen to God’s words
and reconnect with Him.
We
have become completely distracted by the rat race, and we have
forgotten someday we have to leave this place.
We
should live each day as if it is our last day. Then we will not hate
or lust.
Sikh
scriptures encourage one to live a high moral standard, help others,
reconnect with God.
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
2.4.1,
purport:
“The
whole Vedic adventure is to draw one’s attention entirely unto the
lotus feet of Lord Krishna without any diversion.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.29.22,
purport:
“Persons
who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the
presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living
entity, and everywhere else, are in the mode of ignorance.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
4.24.23,
purport:
“Impersonalists
are generally worshipers of Lord Shiva, but Lord Shiva is never without
variety in his abode. Thus wherever one goes, whether to the planet
of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu or Lord Brahma, there is variety to be
enjoyed by persons full in knowledge and bliss.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
4.28.62,
purport:
“My
dear friend, I, the Supersoul, and you, the individual soul, are not
different in quality, for we are both spiritual. In fact, My dear
friend, you are qualitatively not different from Me in your
constitutional position. Just try to consider this subject. Those who
are actually advanced scholars, who are in knowledge, do not find any
qualitative difference between you and Me.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
6.10.6,
purport:
“At
the present moment the entire world is in a dangerous position under
the spell of a godless civilization. The Krishna consciousness
movement needs many exalted, learned persons who will sacrifice their
lives to revive God consciousness throughout the world. We therefore
invite all men and women advanced in knowledge to join the Krishna
consciousness movement and sacrifice their lives for the great cause
of reviving the God consciousness of human society.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
7.8.9:
[Prahlada
Maharaja said:] “My dear father, please give up your demoniac
mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and
friends; make your mind equipoised toward everyone. Except for the
uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world.
When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to
the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly.”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
9.24.65:
[Srila
Sukadeva Gosvami said:] “Krishna’s face is decorated with
ornaments, such as earrings resembling sharks. His ears are
beautiful, His cheeks brilliant, and His smiling attractive to
everyone. Whoever sees Lord Krishna sees a festival. His face and
body are fully satisfying for everyone to see, but the devotees are
angry at the creator for the disturbance caused by the momentary
blinking of their eyes.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
8.214, purport:
“Srimati
Radharani and the gopis
are not interested in their personal happiness derived from
association with Krishna. Rather, they become happy by seeing one
another associate with Krishna. In this way their dealings are
further nourished by love of Godhead, and seeing this, Krishna is
very pleased.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
15.163, purport:
“One
who executes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission must be considered
eternally liberated. He is a transcendental person and does not
belong to this material world. Such a devotee, engaging in the
deliverance of the total population, is as magnanimous as Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.”
From
Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya
15.166:
[Lord
Caitanya said:] “Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master,
Lord Krishna doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to
fulfill the desire of His devotee.”
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
“Bhakti on the Transcendental Platform” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
58, No. 4 (July/August 2024):
[Edited
transcript of a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.2.33
in Vrindavan, India, on November 12, 1972.]
“If
we execute devotional service with some material purpose, that
purpose may be served, but we cannot rise to the transcendental
platform. So we should be very careful that we may not take to
devotional service with some material motive. Or even though you take
to it in that way, still it is recommended that you prosecute, you go
on, with devotional service by the regulative principles. Then you’ll
come to the uttama
platform.
“There
is no question of disappointment, but we must know that if we remain
on the material platform, then we have to take so much time. From the
material platform we have to go to the spiritual platform. That means
we require to follow the regulative principles very strictly and
sincerely. Then we’ll be promoted to the nirguna
platform.
“Without
performing the regulative principles, one cannot come immediately,
all of a sudden, to the nirguna
platform. Maybe, by the grace of Krishna, one can come, but the
regular way is first of all, let us follow the regulative principles
strictly. Then gradually we shall be purified and come to the
spiritual platform. And that will be the success of our life.”
Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
From
Notes
on the Bhagavata
29:
“Modern
civilization does not suspect its own degradation in seeking
exclusively for mundane enjoyment. The mind and body of man have a
natural aptitude for sensuous gratification, and all his mundane
activities are practiced for its realization. The few can grasp the
fact that the unalloyed essence of the soul has a natural aptitude
for exclusive service of the Absolute which is utterly incompatible
with mundane sensuous living.”
Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From
Sri
Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi-kandha
16.25, commentary:
“Only
those devotees who are nonduplicitous, surrendered worshipers of the
Lord are qualified to serve the Lord, and the Lord reciprocates by
awarding His own rare, loving devotional service to such liberated
souls.”
From
“Foreword” in The
Harmonist,
Vol. XXV, No. 1, June 1927 (441 Chaitanya Era):
“‘Toshani’
is in the feminine form and means one who is desirous of pleasing.
The journal aims exclusively at pleasing ‘Sajjanas’.
The feminine form of the word is indicative of her attitude of
humility in regard to ‘Sajjanas’.
The word ‘Sajjana’
is not really narrow in its denotation. To him who possesses the
clearest spiritual vision all living beings without exception are
‘Sajjanas’.”
From
“The Daughter of Vrsabhanu” from the preface of Sri
Radhika Astotara Satanama Stotram, Srimati Radharani – 108 Names and
Pastimes:
“Without
Sri Radhika, all other gopis
combined cannot give Krishna pleasure. Rather, all the other gopis
are there simply to enhance the mellows of Krishna’s sporting
activities with Sri Radha.”
“It
is difficult to change the mentality of foolish persons attached out
of ignorance to fruitive activities. If the jñanis
try to stop them, they themselves will also become attached to
temporary, fruitive activities.”
“When
will that day come when we will be qualified to engage in the most
wonderful eternal nectarean service of Sri Sri Radha Govinda under
Sri Radha as our divine mistress? To achieve that service, we will
have to give up, like a crow’s excrement, our desire for material
enjoyment, the insignificant fruitive activities mentioned in the
smrti,
and attachment to insignificant impersonalistic knowledge, austerity,
mystic yoga, and so on. Attainment of Sri Radha’s service is not
possible when one is full of anarthas.
Those who hurry to discuss the transcendental pastimes of Sri Radha,
who is the topmost maidservant of Krishna, while still full of
anarthas
and without qualification, are sense enjoyers, illusioned enjoyers of
matter, and mundane sahajiyas.”
Satsvarupa
Dasa Goswami:
From
Niti-sastras:
“When
Prabhupada was in Australia, a reporter asked, ‘Why is it that such
a small percentage of the population accepts this philosophy?’ In
his response, Srila Prabhupada quoted this sloka.
‘According to percentage, the moon is nothing. There are so many
stars in the sky, and by percentage the moon is nothing. But the moon
is more important than all the nonsense stars.… Because he is the
moon, he is more important. What is the use of taking percentage of
the stars in the presence of the moon? Let there be one moon, that is
sufficient.… One ideal man. Just like in the Christian world, one
ideal Lord Jesus Christ.’”
“A
qualified person will have so much influence. ‘If I create one
moon, that is sufficient. I don’t want many stars. That was my Guru
Maharaja’s principle, and that is my principle. What is the use of
having numbers of fools and rascals? If one man understands rightly,
he can deliver the whole world.’”
“Srila
Prabhupada and his own spiritual master lived by the conviction that
all their efforts would be worthwhile if they could convince even one
person to become a pure devotee of Krishna. By his own testimony,
Srila Prabhupada was happily surprised to find that his efforts were
rewarded beyond his initial expectations. ‘One moon is sufficient.
Our propaganda is to create one moon. . . . But fortunately, by
Krishna’s grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me.’”
“All
our preaching, all our prasadam
distribution, all our public lecturing and touring and public
relations are simply meant to inspire love of Krishna in our hearts
and in the hearts of those we meet.”
“An
unqualified person, no matter how powerful he may be, or how popular,
cannot do anything good or lasting. Therefore, teachers, governments,
and institutions should always seek to encourage pure spiritual
qualities in their followers and aspire to attain those same
qualities themselves. That is how they can benefit society.”
“Of
course, we cannot understand the acarya’s
mind, but we certainly knew that Prabhupada wasn’t using
manipulative techniques to motivate us. Prabhupada wasn’t trying to
win friends and influence people. There was no cynicism in his
reprimand, and he wasn’t being calculating. If Prabhupada looked
sad and disappointed, he was sad and disappointed. ‘You are my
disciple. Why did you do this?’ Prabhupada was para-duhkha-duhkhi.
His compassion made him feel the disappointment at a disciple’s
misbehavior, and a reprimand was a consequence of his compassion.”
“In
one Srimad-Bhagavatam
lecture, Prabhupada described his relationship with his disciples as
that of the father with grown-up children:
‘It
is not desirable that in grown-up ages, you should also be chastised.
That is also difficult because when the disciple or son is grown-up,
if he is chastised, then he breaks.... We should be conscious that
“this is our rules and regulations. We must observe.” It is
advised by Canakya Pandita, prapte
tu sodase
varse/ putram mitra-vad-acaret,
“After the sixteenth year, the disciple or son should be treated as
a friend.” So our request is that instead of chastising, with
folded hands I request you, don’t become hippies again by growing
hair. Keep your head cleansed at least once in a month. Neither can I
chastise you. I am also an old man; you are young men.’”
“Friends
and enemies are determined by their behavior. That doesn’t mean
that everyone who disagrees with us is an enemy. Often, devotees
become entangled in offense because they don’t understand this
point. For example, Lord Caitanya spoke strongly against
Vallabhacarya. He called him a prostitute for criticizing Sridhara
Svami. All this was said between scholars and devotees. Despite the
Lord’s criticism, Vallabha continued to invite the Lord for lunch
and the Lord continued to accept. There was no offense taken.”
“Yukta-vairagya
means to renounce something not by giving it up, but by using it in
Krishna’s service. When we consider that we will be forced to
renounce life itself, then we can respond by giving our lives into
the fire of devotional service.”
“We
can say that Srila Prabhupada was militaristic in his approach to the
preaching mission and that he wanted his disciples to respond in
kind, but Prabhupada also exemplified the life of a Vaishnava saint.
He never acted in the mode of passion. He was methodical in his use
of time. He was clean and brahminical. He spoke strongly but was
always a gentleman. He was never overcome by external events, and he
was never fanatical. Those qualities, which are simply the qualities
of a Vaishnava,
lifted him above the passionately spinning wheels of crisis
management. He never thought he had to give up brahminical qualities
and the sadhaka
life to achieve his goals for preaching.”
“One
thing that many devotees have already given is their youth. That is
already a great sacrifice and for those who have given the best years
of their lives, there is no loss, no matter what their experience in
ISKCON has been.”
“We
are holding onto our material desires, thinking that when we get the
signal, we will run to Vrindavan
and renounce everything. It may be too late. We may never get notice
of our impending death. That is why we should emphasize giving
everything up by living, not by dying. We should sacrifice every
minute of our time to Krishna consciousness in this spirit.”
From
Day
by Day: A Record of a 7-Day Japa Vrata:
“Hare
Krishna Hare Krishna. I will not abandon Thee, precious mantra given
to me by my spiritual master. I will chant You all the days of my
life until and including the hour of my death.
“Please
stay with me, holy names. I don’t know anything. I need your love.
You are God in most convenient form.
“I
embrace you, Harer Nama. You reciprocate.
“You
are given to me in disciplic succession.
“Hare
Krishna is my days and nights. On beads he gave me. My Swami, my
leader has kindly said chant Hare Krishna. We are writing and that’s
good too. But don’t neglect your chanting.”
From
Renewal:
“I
am thinking, ‘Will I learn to give this up beforehand?’ If you
give it up too soon, it’s false renunciation. But you have to know
when to give up one thing and do another.”
“‘I
give you my blessings from Srila Prabhupada.’ I repeat those words
and in an exclamatory way. When I give him his glass of medicine
drink (which prevents cramps) I say out loud, “Blessings to
Baladeva.” He receives the blessings with great relish. When this
happens, I feel my love for Srila Prabhupada—which seemed to be
lost—flowing back to me. He loves to receive the blessings, and I
love to give them. out As I give a blessing, I put my fist on his
heart and repeat the words: ‘My blessings from Srila Prabhupada! My
blessings from me.’ When we do this, we are slowly regaining our
enthusiasm for loving Krishna and the whole parampara,
the whole world.”
“I’ve
written so many books. Someone may ask, ‘Why so many?’ But the
reason is, I am trying to reach everyone in Krishna consciousness, or
people coming to Krishna consciousness, with a variety of books, and
I find I have written deliberately different books which aim at
different audiences. I get many letters from people who say they read
a particular book that has helped their Krishna consciousness.”
[The
next few paragraphs deal with his memories of “The Happening Album.”]
“Prabhupada
and the boys made the album in the winter of 1966, before he parted
for California, leaving us all alone—except for wonderful relics
and memories, like this album.
“Our
little storefront and its band of a few, over a dozen, were going
strong at that time. It was too cold to go out any more and chant in
Tompkins Square Park, but the meetings at 26 Second Avenue were going
strong. We were becoming known in the Lower East Side and other parts
of Manhattan. People, especially young people, liked to come to the
storefront, particularly to chant with Prabhupada leading and we
following as a chorus. Not many people could understand Prabhupada’s
talks, partly because of his accent, but everyone understood the Hare
Krishna sound vibration, “transcendental sound vibration.” As we
were beginning to be a bit known on the Lower East Side, one night a
man, whose name was Alan Kallman, came to visit the storefront, and I
think his wife was with him. He was a recorder of record albums,
especially off-beat productions of rock bands and other
presentations. It was a winter night when he came and took part in
the chanting with the devotees. He was very impressed by the Hare
Krishna mantra in the company of Prabhupada and the boys (and one or
two girls). He had a little prestige being a record album producer,
and he got to see Prabhupada privately. Soon, he proposed to
Prabhupada, or maybe Prabhupada proposed to him, that the Happening
Record Company could record a 33 rpm LP of the devotees chanting.
There were some preliminary arrangements made, not much talk of where
the money would go or come from, and finally a date was arranged for
when we could actually go up to Kallman’s studio in Uptown
Manhattan.
“We
dressed warmly, and made the trip to Uptown Manhattan. We were a
jolly group, close-knit, and eager to spread the mantra and the
teachings of Krishna consciousness. Here are some snips of memories
of that night.
“We
arrived there early, and another band was in there recording before
us. We went into the streets and held kirtana
before we got our turn. Hayagriva was playing a large bass drum, the
way you see in people playing in a parade. We were happy and proud of
being led by Swamiji and getting a chance to record the mantra with
him in a bona fide recording studio in New York City. Mr. Kallman was
very enthusiastic about our group, and wanted the recording to go off
well. While we were waiting to go on and record, a young man from the
music group that had just recorded, told us the name of their group
(some rock and roll name). He then asked us what was our name, who
were we? Hayagriva, in his booming voice, proudly said, “We are the
Hare Krishna Chanters!” He made the name up on the spot, and we
went by that name on the recording. Swamiji wanted to record with a
mrdanga,
but we had none. Finally, on that very day of recording, a guest
hippie came into the storefront, and with Prabhupada’s coaxing, he
admitted that he had a kohl—a
wooden drum like a mrdanga
but with a different sound. Prabhupada spoke politely with him and
convinced him to lend us the drum for the evening when we recorded.
The man needed some coaxing before he would part with his precious
drum, but Swamiji assured him we would return it with no damage, so
we got the drum for the evening, and that was a big plus. We had our
own karatalas,
and we had one harmonium which Allen Ginsberg had given us. So we
were pretty well equipped, and we were well acquainted with the Hare
Krishna mantra, having played it many, many times in the storefront,
and we were led by a master kirtaneer and great bhakti philosopher in
Prabhupada.
“When
our time came to actually record, there were over ten of us, and we
gathered in his studio. We did one beginning ‘take’ with Alan and
his engineers recording. After a few moments of playing, Alan stopped
us and asked us to do it again in an improved way. He then supplied
us with sticks and asked us to play them along with the other
instruments. The sticks were a great addition to the performance.
There were a number of pairs of sticks, and you can hear them on the
recording.
“We
sang very heartily, happy to be with our Swami, and playing in the
recording capital, New York City. I believe we had to do one more
entire take before Mr. Kallman and his engineers were satisfied. In
fact, they were very satisfied, and the whole atmosphere of good will
spread in the record studio.
“I
remember that the engineers were pleased that it went so quickly and
smoothly. Maybe two takes, and that was all that was necessary, and
they thought that was good enough. We were excited to be out in the
city and making a record album at a place where rock and roll artists
made their albums. Alan Kallman thought he had something special in
us, and he was eager to make the record.
The front cover was entirely
covered by a picture of Radha and Krishna. When the sleeve was
produced for the album, one of the boys said to Prabhupada, ‘You
look so philosophical here in the picture.’ Prabhupada replied, ‘A
swami should look philosophical.’ His hair wasn’t completely
shaved, but grown in a little, and that made him look handsome.
“Prabhupada’s
address regarding the Hare Krishna mantra, which he made in a
recording studio in approximately December 1966, was released on what
became known as The Happening Album. It was not long after this that
he left New York for California. But he left us a great preaching
tool in New York and a wonderful, worshipable object. The devotees in
New York would listen to it again and again, and when Prabhupada
traveled, he would take it with him and he would play it for
dignified persons, people he met who didn’t know anything about
Krishna consciousness. It was very well received by them.”
[More
memories of “The Happening Album.”]
“Mr.
Alan Kallman had been to the 26 Second Avenue storefront and liked
the chanting. He made an agreement with Prabhupada to make a
recording for a Hare Krishna album, with an accompanying speech. I
remember the night of the recording. In particular, I remember that
after we recorded it, the engineers, Mr. Kallman, and Srila
Prabhupada and the devotees (all perhaps fifteen of us), listened to
the recording of the singing being played back to us. The studio was
fairly big, and as the music played back, we began to dance to it.
Everyone was blissful to hear it, and they knew they had a success.
It was a very happy occasion, as we danced, we Hare Krishna people,
to the vibrations of the mantra led by Prabhupada. Even the engineers
began to dance within their studio, and Srila Prabhupada took part in
dancing and singing along with the voices on the recording. Mr.
Kallman was very happy and pleased with the way it had come out, and
Prabhupada was particularly pleased, as he knew the value of this
recorded mantra for his preaching to people.
“One
thing that stood out for me was that the recording was non-sectarian.
In school, we used to call the Catholic school parochial, and the
public school was non-parochial. So, this was a non-parochial speech.
Prabhupada didn’t even use the word ‘God’ in the speech. This
made it the more acceptable to all people. It was completely
spiritual but it wasn’t addressed to one religious denomination at
the expense of another. That stood out in this speech. He used words
like ‘transcendental,’ ‘spiritual,’ and ‘intellectual,’
but it was all non-prejudiced. It was a message for the whole world.
But Prabhupada’s message is not watered down or timid. At least
twice, in a strong voice, he speaks the whole mantra—Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama
Rama Hare Hare. He spoke in strong tones, with his Bengali accent,
and it was commanding and charming.
“There
was one unpleasant thing in the dealings between Prabhupada and Mr.
Kallman. Kallman delayed the production and delivery of the record.
He took so long that Prabhupada even invented a name for him,
indicating his inability to deliver the record on time. Prabhupada
didn’t think that Mr. Kallman was a cheater in any way, but he sure
was a procrastinator.
“We
certainly liked Prabhupada’s expression, ‘the Great Chanting for
Deliverance,’ and his statement that there was ‘no need of
understanding the language of the mantra.’ The indirect reference
to Radha and Krishna, as he explains the words Hara and Hare, makes
the speech esoteric.
“It
was very memorable that our little Krishna gang left the confines of
26 Second Avenue (Lower East Side), and ventured out to the more
sophisticated realm of Manhattan Uptown, and mingled with recording
people.
“My
personal experience of going out with Prabhupada and recording the
record in big-time New York City, was one of the most memorable
events of his sojourn with us.”
[More
memories of “The Happening Album.”]
“Prabhupada
was exhausted, but immediately after the singing had stopped for the
recording, Prabhupada asked Mr. Kallman to play the mantra over the
studio speakers. The mantra came on, and everyone became happy; it
was very ecstatic. The devotees chanted along with the singing, and
even the engineers joined in, raising their arms like us, and
dancing. Prabhupada was dancing too. It was a great moment, the
culmination of a great evening and the beginning of a new era—the
introduction of the Hare Krishna Movement in America. Prabhupada had
begun to extend his mission beyond the Lower East Side. This was a
great, triumphant moment, an occasion of triumphant celebration, when
we all sang together, including Srila Prabhupada and the engineers in
the studio, who raised their arms along with us and chanted with us
and danced.
“Listening
to Prabhupada’s dynamic speech, and taking part personally in the
singing and then the dancing, I felt completely free. I was with my
best friends, although some of them I had only known for a few
months. I felt the ecstasy of the Swami’s love for Krishna, and
felt we had done a great thing and that it would become popular and
widespread. I felt happy to have been a participant of the first
recording, of The Happening maha-mantra
record.”
Sri Radhika Astotara Satanama Stotram, Srimati Radharani – 108 Names and Pastimes:
“Once,
Radharani was displeased with Krishna. To appease Her, the Lord
inquired how He might calm Her. Radharani declared that should anyone
seek refuge in Him, regardless of their past, He must embrace them
forever. Krishna agreed to Her plea, and thus She was appeased.”
“When
Lord Krishna departs Vrndavana for Mathura, escorted by Akrura, and
does not return, Radharani’s grief is boundless, Her tears
unceasing. In this moment of profound sorrow, even Candravali, often
seen as Radharani’s rival, is moved to compassion. Setting aside
their differences, Candravali consoles Radharani, assuring Her of
Krishna’s eventual return. This act of empathy unites them,
transcending rivalry into friendship, as Candravali is deeply touched
by Radharani’s unwavering devotion to Krishna and yields to it.”
Nagaraja
Prabhu:
From
“Maya’s
Authorized Deceit” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
58, No. 4 (July/August 2024):
“Out
of the many lessons given in the Vedic literature, an essential one
to grasp is that the miseries of material existence are meant to
inspire us to give up trying to enjoy the material world and turn to
Krishna.”
“Maya’s
job is to make sure we belong in Krishna’s world. The miseries she
sends us, under Krishna’s ultimate supervision, are meant to prod
us to take up the practices of Krishna consciousness and move
steadily forward. We must become free of all impurity in our heart
and all attachment to whatever Maya deceptively offers us. We must
come to the point of relinquishing our false, material ego and
discovering our true, spiritual ego as an eternal servant of Krishna.
Our love for Krishna must be natural, focused, and pure.
Paradoxically, Maya’s deceit can help us reach that goal by forcing
us to strengthen our resolve to fully take shelter of Him.”
Rama
Raya Prabhu:
Sometimes
when
Srila
Prabhupada detected insincerity in asking questions he
would
reply, “What is this? I am not an answering machine.”
Devotees
used to do a play in which year after year a man deposited money into
the wrong bank account, and thus ended up with nothing. It was to
show the fallacy of spending all one’s time on materialistic
pursuits and none
on spiritual development.
Srila
Prabhupada makes the point that if one is following guru, sadhu, and
sastra,
there
is no need for despondency even in the most trying circumstances.
Once
a disciple expressed to Srila Prabhupada that he was completely
devoted to him but had difficulties in ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada said
not to worry and
that
he himself had difficulties with his guru’s organization.
Tamal
Krishna Goswami was having a minor operation in Bombay, and while
under anesthesia he
had
a dream where Srila Prabhupada was explaining
how his preaching was going to the previous acaryas.
He
said his disciples had so many disqualifications but the one good
thing is they would do whatever he wanted.
Our
purpose is to extend the personal mercy of Srila Prabhupada.
Q
(by Siddha Hari Prabhu):
Rupa Goswami says to always chant the holy name.
A:
Srila
Prabhupada himself did so many things besides chanting. I
understand that to mean to always engage in devotional service.
Baladeva
Vidyabhusana SDG describes 26 Second Avenue as Krishna Consciousness
101. The same loving mood Srila Prabhupada showed there we need to
have today to inspire new people in Krishna consciousness.
Comment
by me:
One
analogy that is sometimes given is that of the radio. In this room,
so many radio waves are there. On one station there is the news, on
another the weather, or this kind of music or that kind of music. We
are not aware of it. But if we have radio tuned to the right
frequency we can pick it up. Similarly the Supreme Lord is situated
everywhere, but through engagement in devotional service, we can tune
in to His presence.
Bhisma
and Drona suffered due to the bad association of Duryodhana and
company.
Karuna
Dharini Devi Dasi:
From
“Our Inner Best Friend” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
58, No. 4 (July/August 2024):
“In
the Bhagavad-gita
Krishna says of His presence in the body as the Supersoul that He is
the transcendental enjoyer, the supreme proprietor, and the overseer
and permitter. He gives us the intelligence to fulfill both ignoble
and heavenly desires, or to opt for transcendental knowledge by which
to develop self-realization.”
“A
person’s taking to Krishna consciousness is the most marvelous
change. Sensing what the circumstances have to offer, the superknower
begins a series of incremental adjustments in that person’s life.
‘This person has taken notice of Me!’ He exclaims. ‘I am here
for him.’”
Maithuna
Prabhu:
From
a conversation:
Krishna
consciousness is meant to end material existence and not to
supplement material existence.
Jai
Nitai Prabhu:
As
a kid I wondered how God could hear all the billions of prayers
offered to Him by the earth’s residents each day. When I
encountered Krishna consciousness, I learned the answer: Krishna
expands as Paramatma in everyone’s body.
The
soul desires, the Supersoul sanctions, and the modes of material
nature carry out the
actions.
Everything
in the spiritual world and in the material world as well is based on
relationships. If you cannot figure out how to have good
relationships in this world, it is unlikely that
Krishna
will let you
into the spiritual world.
Kadamba
Kanana Swami
was always cultivating loving relationships with devotees.
They
say the best way to give love is to spend time.
Radhanath
Swami
says
devotees just need someone to give them some time by hearing them.
Nityananda
Chandra Prabhu:
Brahman
will not shed tears upon seeing you. Neither will Paramatma.
Bhakti
is the easiest process because Krishna helps you.
In
the heart of the atheistic, Krishna supplies the arguments against
His own existence.
Once
Srila Prabhupada asked what is the most important verse. One devotee
offered “yare
dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa
amara ajñaya guru haña tara’ ei desa
– Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krishna as
they are given in the Bhagavad-gita
and
Srimad-Bhagavatam.
In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in
this land.” Prabhupada
agreed.
Caitanya
Carana Prabhu:
From
“Q&A” in Back
to Godhead, Vol.
58, No. 4 (July/August 2024):
“Knowledge
about the soul is not like knowledge about some abstract theoretical
concept like a quark that has no bearing on our practical lives.”
“Aldous
Huxley put it well: ‘It is because we do not know who we are . . .
that we behave in the generally silly, the often insane and the
sometimes criminal ways that are so characteristically human.’”
From
“Sacrificing for a Higher Cause” in Back to Godhead, Vol.
58, No. 4 (July/August 2024):
“The
Gita
(15.7) explains that we all are part of the Lord. And in His plan for
the welfare of the world, we all have a part to play. Some of us may
have bigger parts; others, smaller parts. While playing our parts,
some of us may meet with success; others, with failure. Nonetheless,
whatever be our parts and fates, we all will be blessed and elevated
by playing our parts. But to play our parts, we may need to sacrifice
some of our desires. Even if the sacrifice is painful, it will
sacralize us –make us sacred – purifying us of the negativities
that cover the divinity of our souls.”
“Most
of us will never be called upon to sacrifice as much as Ghatotkaca
was. But whatever little sacrifice we are called to do, if we take it
up unflinchingly we will contribute to creating a better future for
the world and ourselves.”
Pandava
Prabhu:
From
Tuesday program lecture:
Only
when people are free from selfish desires can they have meaningful
relationships. For that reason, Krishna advises Arjuna to surrender
to Him.
Krishna
is not an envious deity who will make you suffer in hell if you
choose to worships someone else.
We
can test our spiritual master before we accept initiation but
afterwards we cannot choose to disagree with him.
Comments
by me:
Krishna
explains that knowledge of Him results in devotion to Him in
Bhagavad-gita
10.8:
“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything
emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My
devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.”
And
also in Bg. 4.10: “Being freed from attachment, fear and anger,
being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many
persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me—and thus
they all attained transcendental love for Me.”
If
something is different from us, it could be better or worse, but the
tendency is to think that it is worse.
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.29.21:
We
have to regularly
hear the scripture to change our behavior.
Children
can see if their parents are really attached to chanting Hare Krishna
and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam.
So
can Krishna who is in the heart.
Krishna
has
a recipe for social peace. If we follow it there will be peace.
People
are fighting for the rights of certain sections of society, lacking
universal vision.
Giving
time to devotees is also devotional service because it gives pleasure
to Krishna.
Krishna had all the time in the world for Arjuna.
Comments
by me:
Suruci
and her son, Uttama, had to die prematurely because they offended
Dhruva Maharaja before he became a pure devotee, in fact even before
he met his guru, so
it is not good enough just to not offend someone who is not presently
a pure devotee. If you offend bhakta
so-and-so, you better watch out!
Lord
Caitanya said that one who chants the holy name and does not offend
any living entity easily
attains Krishna-prema.
Mukunda
Maharaja has
a remembrance
of experiencing
that Srila
Prabhupada had
all the time in the world for
him, although Prabhupada had many ambitious plans for spreading
Krishna consciousness all over the world.
Comment
by Narada Muni Prabhu:
Sometimes we see the Supersoul in everyone’s heart but ignore the
jiva
that
is in every heart as well, and we ignore that individual jiva
has
his own relationship with Krishna.
Comment
by Tulasi Prabhu:
Once Kadamba Kanana Swami said, “I do not know why people always
come to me to complain. Why don’t they sometimes tell me something
good that is going on in their lives?”
Tulasi
Prabhu:
From
Tuesday program lecture:
The
Bhagavad-gita,
especially
chapters
1 to 6, talk about how to do our duty.
We
have to be active, to be focused, and to be determinated to meet our
goals.
When
the result comes, then Krishna says, “You have to give the result
to Me.”
In
addition we have to remember Krishna as we do the duty.
Krishna
gives us so much knowledge about Himself so we may feel inspired to
do things for Him.
The
last six chapters of the Bhagavad-gita
talk
about how we can become from impediments that occur in the course of
doing our duties for Krishna while remembering Him.
Bhagavad-gita
is
a great book for individuals who have identity crises.
Even
Arjuna, although practically the greatest warrior in history, had an
identity crisis at the beginning of Bhagavad-gita.
It
would be easy if we just had intelligence but we also have the mind,
and the mind does not always agree with the intelligence.
From
a
Sunday Feast lecture:
The
brahmacari
develops
good character through spiritual activities, and thus when he enters
household life he can live with his wife peacefully and not act out of
lust or anger.
After
the age of fifty, one is expected to cultivate renunciation and not
sense gratification. Why? So he can remember Krishna at the end of
life instead of sense enjoyment.
Srila
Prabhupada said that if at the end of life, you are chanting sixteen
rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra and not engaging meat eating,
illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling, he guarantees you will go
back to the spiritual world.
My
guru said that devotees laugh about things that are not important,
but they are serious about things that are important.
Do
not miss Gaura Purnima. It is a opportunity for getting great mercy.
You will see if you
come.
Gauranga
Darsana Prabhu:
“Duly
acknowledging and empathizing with the feelings of those in pain,
instead of dismissing them, makes our hearts grow bigger and their
hearts brighter.”
Gopala
Prana Prabhu:
There
are different kinds of hearing:
incidental
hearing: hearing occasionally such as when traveling one visits a
temple
purposeful
hearing: hearing about a specific topic
practiced
hearing: hearing every day to make spiritual advancement
specific
hearing: hearing about advanced topics, like the gopis
It
is important for a devotee to make time for hearing and chanting to
advance.
If
we do not develop a taste for hearing, we will seek pleasure in sense
gratification.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura
mentions that simplicity, saralata,
is
important and is very pleasing to Krishna.
Usually
an author does not glorify an another author in his books, but
Krishnadasa Kaviraja takes great pleasure in praising Vrindavan Das
Thakura, author of Caitanya-bhagavata.
Rasikananda
Prabhu was loved by everyone in his village. His mother always
encouraged him to read Srimad-Bhagavatam.
He
was eager to find
a guru. A voice from the sky said, “Do not be in anxiety. Your guru
is Syamananda Pandit.”
He
was such a great preacher that atheists, thives, and rogues were
converted.
Some
envious people engaged an elephant in trying to kill him, but he was
able to pacify the elephant. He even befriended tigers.
Jaganntha
Das Babaji had great taste for chanting the holy name.
Comments
by me:
Gaining
a taste for hearing is done in this way:
“O
twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed
from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains
affinity for hearing the messages of Vasudeva.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.2.16)
Chowpatty
does harinama
every
day.
London
Soho does, too.
In
Paris we did five days a week.
Arjunananda
Prabhu:
Krishna
gave Sisupala’s mother the assurance that he would not kill her son
until he committed a hundred offenses.
Kaikeyi
actually wanted that Rama be killed, but because it would not be
socially acceptable to ask her husband for that boon, she asked that
He
be sent to the forest for 14 years, hoping he would be killed by some
animal in the forest.
If
you are envious you can get knowledge, but you cannot get
realization.
The
Vedic knowledge is locked with a padlock, and the key is
nonenviousness.
If
we are envious of anyone that means we are envious of Krishna because
all living entities are part of Krishna.
If
we practice envy throughout our lives, we will be envious at the time
of death.
Radhanath
Swami teaches that appreciation is an antidote to envy.
Superficial
words of praise will not be as effective as true appreciation from
the heart.
Janaki
Devi Dasi:
When
I think about speaking on a verse, I zoom back and look at the whole
context, and I
consider who is speaking and to whom.
There
are many parallels between the conversation between Kapila and
Devahuti and the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.
We
do not want
to stay in our little bubble in the temple. We want this bubble to
expand and engulf the entire world.
Krishna
is just as present in the Times Square subway station when we are
doing harinama.
When
I go to the temples where the devotees are happily serving together
and the pujaris
are always attentively looking after the Deity, the Deities in those
places look especially beautiful.
Once
Mahatma Prabhu told us that our japa
beads are actually worshipable, and he gave us incense and had us
offer it to our worshipable beads.
Comments
by me:
In
addition to chapters 2 and 13, which you mentioned, chapter
7
of the Gita
has
sankhya,
specifically
Bg.
7.4.
At
the
2005
Rainbow gathering in
West Virginia,
we put tilaka
on
everyone who visited our camp, acknowledging
the presence of soul and Supersoul in everyone.
Nitai
Dasi, who was head pujari
in
Alachua even when I lived there twenty years ago, shows realization of
Krishna in everyone’s heart as she goes on harinama
every
week and distributes more books than everyone else.
One
evening pujari noticed
the sweets for the morning offering were not made so he stayed up for
three or four hours making them. The next time he saw the deities
They looked more beautiful than They ever had before, and he realized
They were reciprocating with his service.
Many
pujaris
are very friendly to the devotees because they have become purified
by their deity worship, and they
see all
as servants of the deities and encourage them.
C.
S. Lewis:
From
Mere
Christianity:
“If
we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can
satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for
another world.”
-----
Different
verses in the revealed literature stress the great value of
remembering the Supreme Lord always. This one which Srila Prabhupada
quotes in a purport is among the most powerful.
“In
the Vishnu
Purana
it is written:
sa
hanis tan mahac chidram
sa
mohah sa ca vibhramah
yan-muhurtam
ksanam vap
vasudevam
na cintayet
‘If
even for a moment remembrance of Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, is missed, that is the greatest loss, that is the greatest
illusion, and that is the greatest anomaly.’” (Srimad-Bhagavatam
2.9.36,
purport)
