Travel Journal#20.17: The North of England, Ireland, New York

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 20, No. 17
By Krishna Kripa Das
(September 2024, part one)
Manchester, Newcastle, Dublin, Cavin, Govindadvipa, New York City, Albany
(Sent from Albany, New York, on September 21, 2024)

Where I Went and What I Did

After the Liverpool Ratha-yatra on August 31, I stayed in Manchester another day to attend their Sunday harinama. Then I spent five days doing harinama in Newcastle with a couple of devotees who would join me after work. That Friday I spoke at their monthly First Friday program there. Saturday I did a day trip to Manchester to speak at their program for new Westerners. Sunday I joined several Newcastle devotees in chanting Hare Krishna to the 60,000 runners in the Great North Run half marathon race for their spiritual benefit, and many people appreciated our presence there. After giving the Sunday feast lecture, I took an evening flight to Dublin, where I did harinama for three days, culminating in Radhastami, which I celebrated both at Dublin and Govindadvipa, and in Cavan, where we did harinama. September 12 I took a morning flight to New York City so I could chant with NYC Harinam devotees for three hours at Union Square in the late afternoon. The next three days I spent in the Albany area with my relatives who were attending a memorial service for my mother held on September 14, the 100^th anniversary of her birth. I made some prasadam sweets for that event which were appreciated, as were the samosas that the Schenectady devotees made, which I had sponsored. It was impressive to see how many people’s lives my mother had touched.

I share quotes from quite a variety of Srila Prabhupada’s books, lectures, letters, and conversation, many of which Bhakti Vikasa Swami, quotes in his soon-to-be-published book on Srila Prabhupada’s mood and mission. I share notes on lectures by Janananda Goswami and Niranjana Swami. I share notes on a conversation with Prithu Prabhu. I share quotes from articles in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025) by Nagaraja, Ramanath Sukha, Satyaraja, Visakha, Karuna Dharini, Suvarna Radha, Caitanya Carana, Gauranga Darsana, Brajanatha, Dinabandhu Caitanya and Cakrapani Krishna Prabhus.

Many, many thanks to Satya Medha Gauranga Prabhu for his very generous donation. Thanks to the Irish and to the residents of Newcastle for their donations on harinama. Thanks to Prema Bhakti Prabhu for bringing me from downtown Manchester to the temple and back. Thanks to Vasusrestha Prabhu for sponsoring my metro ticket to Heworth for the Great North Run harinama. Thanks to Victor for his getting me at the bus in Albany. Many, many thanks to my sister, Karen, for organizing the nice memorial program for my mother. Thanks to those who assisted and those who attended.

Itinerary

September 13–26: Albany
– September 22: talk on “Bhagavad-gita and the Inner Light,” Albany Friends Meeting
September 26–27: Philadelphia harinamas
September 28: Philadelphia Ratha-yatra
September 29–January 2025: NYC Harinam

Chanting Hare Krishna in Greater Newcastle

I was happy to see my friends in Newcastle again. I selected 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. for harinama so Satya Medha Gauranga and Vasusrestha Prabhus could both join me after work. People give me more donations in Newcastle than in Paris, so I can give out more books. More people also interacted with our party in terms of moving to the music, playing shakers, and inquiring.

Satya Medha Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Northumberland Street in Newcastle (https://youtu.be/1p66mlN4gLI):

On harinama one day in Newcastle I was talking to a couple from near Tirupati about how amazing it is that people wait in a queue 24 hours to see Balaji. I said that in the West people do not think God is worth waiting for. The man then said that Balaji Himself is very patient, standing there for centuries, listening to everyone’s prayers, waiting for that special person who prays, “I want You.”

It is rare to hear a young Indian man on the street speak with such devotion!

Meeting the devotional Indian couple from Andhra was not the only thing in Newcastle that reminded me of Tirupati. A less auspicious reminder was this shop:

Although named after the famous Tirupati deity, Balaji, it advertises on its exterior three of the four sinful activities we give up. Probably the fourth is available inside. Such is the Age of Kali!

Temple president, Caitanya Vallabha Prabhu, chants Hare Krishna in the Newcastle program on the first Friday of the month (https://youtu.be/dC5Mv4bs2l0):

ISKCON Newcastle UK devotees, headed by Prema Sankirtana Prabhu and his family of four, blessed 60,000 participants in the Great North Run with the transcendental sound of the Hare Krishna mantra.

Here Vasusrestha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Heworth, at the beginning of the Great North Run harinama (https://youtu.be/hk1WyDbSq8M):

As Vasusrestha Prabhu continues chanting Hare Krishna, runners in the Great North Run increase in number (https://youtu.be/cxVLauCj_Mc):

Vasusrestha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna to more runners (portrait orientation): (https://youtu.be/KBMmnJRWKlc):

View Vasusrestha Prabhu chanting Hare Krishna to runners from behind: (https://youtu.be/duLHPkQ-oMg):

Prema Sankirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the Great North Run (https://youtu.be/Esb33_HOBLE):

It is Prema’s favorite harinama of the year because it reaches the most people and because people respond with the most appreciation by raising their arms, clapping, waving, smiling, touching the hands of the devotees, and offering heartfelt words of thanks. Here are photos of some of the runners happy to encounter the Hare Krishnas:

Temple president Caitanya Vallabha Prabhu participated this year as a runner, doing his best time ever for the half marathon.

Take inspiration, O devotees, and chant Hare Krishna at a marathon near you!

Chanting Hare Krishna in Manchester

Inspired by hearing that devotees in Manchester have a program for new Westerners on Saturdays, I decided to take a day trip there from Newcastle, although it involved nine hours of buses.

Here is the flyer they used to advertise the program.

I did harinama in Manchester both before and after the program, and one devotee joined me and played the karatalas for half an hour.

One devotee who sells stickers in the street had invited one young woman to that program on three occasions, and she finally decided to come. She had done meditation, and she really got into the chanting.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Ireland and Northern Ireland

I chanted Hare Krishna in Dublin for three days. Mostly I was too busy playing instruments to take videos.

Here Shyamasundar Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Dublin, Sundar Nitai plays the drum, and a Chinese girl plays shakers and dances (https://youtu.be/LIkPk4D0MZI):

I had a desire to go to see Radha-Govinda on the Krishna island called Govindadvipa for Their Radhastami festival. That Janananda Goswami, who I serve in Paris was there at Govindadvipa was another reason to go. I delayed deciding to the last minute because I was worried I could not get my three hours of public chanting of Hare Krishna in, but by the mercy of Radharani, it all worked out.

I traveled to Govindadvipa with Sundar Nitai Prabhu, who loves harinama and who decided to do harinama in Cavan from 10 to 11 a.m. on the way. 

Just outside Dublin, there was a large cross where the pope had once spoken to a crowd of people. 

In Cavan we chanted in a sunny area in front of the Cavan Post Office, and amazingly enough, people gave us 16 euros just for singing, and they accepted four books! What a way to start off Radhastami!

Then we chanted another half an hour on the way to the island, beginning at the boat dock across from it.

Here Manu Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Radhastami, while waiting for the boat to Govindadvipa in Northern Ireland (https://youtu.be/oj62N4leUSU):

Later Sundar Nitai Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there as we continued to wait for the boat (https://youtu.be/QBT08t94MJA):

Here Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna and “Jaya Jaya Radhe” on Radhastami on the boat to Govindadvipa (https://youtu.be/qpwyhBQ9Z1M):

Sundar Nitai Prabhu chants Hare Krishna on Radhastami from the boat dock on Govindadvipa to the temple (https://youtu.be/5jya1beAkXw):

The Radhastami feast was great,
especially the curd sabji.

And the srikanda.

About 25 years ago I wrote a poem based on the Krishna book chapter on Radharani and the bee. Sometimes I share it on Radhastami . . . https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ye2cDbxK18KKQ9A6PA9OV9KVl8Y2l2De/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103872792410945983719&rtpof=true&sd=true

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York

Gopal chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and a young woman plays shakers and dances (https://youtu.be/EPbx1shAXQM

It was great to see Radha Govinda again. I had not seen Radha Krishna deities much since leaving France.

  Memorial for My Mother and Prasadam Distribution in Albany

It was impressive to hear the attendees’ remembrances of my mother. About thirty or forty people spoke. One interfaith minister said the first time she attended the Albany Friends Meeting, my mother took her out to lunch afterward. Daniel, who had cooked lunch for our family, said the first time he met my mother, someone mentioned liking my mother’s T-shirt, and she gave it away to that person on the spot. Often my mother was one of the first people that newcomers to Albany met. I knew my mother attended Grannies for Peace events, but I never knew she started the organization itself! I praised her dedication to her Quaker religious practice and her activism as an expression of compassionately “loving thy neighbor,” and I suggested that both my sister and I have religion and nonviolence in our lives because of her. I also invited attendees to pray to the Supreme Being that she might attain the supreme destination, or as she had once mentioned to me, her desired destination.

There were photos of her activist events.

And photos of her family members, including me.

Everyone at the memorial service for my mom loved the samosas from ISKCON Schenectady, and my cinnamon coconut burfi was also popular. 

Daniel said he loved Govinda’s in Dublin, which I had eaten at and advertised for myself earlier in the week, and Govinda’s in Prague, where I ate and which I advertised in August. An attendee whose kids live in Brooklyn, was happy to hear of Govinda’s there and Divya’s Kitchen in Manhattan. All glories to prasadam distribution!

Because it was the 100^th anniversary of my mother’s birth and because she was a peace activist, someone arranged 100 cupcakes in the form of a peace sign!

I met a couple of family members for the first time, a niece and her child. She was getting back into Christianity after going through a secular phase. We talked about the importance of religion as far as keeping morality alive in society and preventing personal and societal degradation.

I made pineapple lassi for a family gathering the next day, and it was well received.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.16, purport:

“Even a great fighter like Bhisma could not win the Battle of Kurukshetra because the Lord wanted to show that vice cannot conquer virtue, regardless of who tries to execute it. Bhismadeva was a great devotee of the Lord, but he chose to fight against the Panḍavas by the will of the Lord because the Lord wanted to show that a fighter like Bhisma cannot win on the wrong side.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.30, purport:

“One who is transcendentally advanced can gain direct inspiration from the temple Deity, and thus a devotee of the Lord always takes shelter of a recognized temple of the Lord in order to make tangible advancement in transcendental knowledge by the grace of the Lord.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.31:

[Lord Krishna said:] “Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way because he is never affected by the modes of material nature. Therefore he may remain in this world in order to disseminate specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.32, purport:

“Undoubtedly the Bhagavad-gita was spoken by the Lord on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra just to encourage Arjuna to fight, and yet to complete the transcendental knowledge of the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord instructed Uddhava. The Lord wanted Uddhava to fulfill the Lord's mission and disseminate knowledge which He had not spoken even in the Bhagavad-gita.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.35, purport:

“Vidura was overwhelmed by the ecstasy of love when he understood that Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thought of him at the last moment. Although he thought of himself as insignificant, he was remembered by the Lord, by His causeless mercy. Vidura accepted this as a great favor, and thus he cried. This crying is the last word in the progressive path of devotional service. One who can cry for the Lord in love is certainly successful in the line of devotional service.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.1, purport:

“Vidura had already surpassed the fallible nature of the living entity in conditional life due to his being acyuta-bhava, or legitimately absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord. This stage of life is called acyuta-bhava-siddha, or perfection by dint of devotional service. Anyone, therefore, who is absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord is a liberated soul and has all admirable qualities.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.2:

“Vidura said: O great sage, everyone in this world engages in fruitive activities to attain happiness, but one finds neither satiation nor the mitigation of distress. On the contrary, one is only aggravated by such activities. Please, therefore, give us directions on how one should live for real happiness.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.40, purport:

“The real essence of sabda-brahma is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. By vibrating this transcendental sound, the meaning of everything, both material and spiritual, is revealed.”

“The consciousness of both the soul and Supersoul is all-pervading; the limited consciousness of the living entity is pervading the entire material body, and the supreme consciousness of the Lord is pervading the entire universe.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.42, purport:

“Because so-called philosophers and scientists are unable to find the real cause, they foolishly say that everything happens by chance.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.8, purport:

“Unless one is meek and humble, to make progress in spiritual life is very difficult.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.11, purport:

“By glorifying the Lord constantly, the living entity becomes purified in the core of his heart, and thus he can understand that he does not belong to the material world but is a spirit soul whose actual activity is to advance in Krishna consciousness so that he may become free from the material clutches.”

From Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 4.192–193:

“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts him to be as good as Himself. When the devotee's body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.”

From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 2:

“Srila Rupa Gosvami suggests that the person eligible for Krishna consciousness, or devotional service, can be classified by his particular taste. He says that devotional service is a continual process from one’s previous life. No one can take to devotional service unless he has had some previous connection with it. For example, suppose in this life I practice devotional service to some extent. Even though it is not one-hundred-percent perfectly performed, whatever I have done will not be lost. In my next life, from the very point where I stop in this life, I shall begin again. In this way there is always a continuity.”

“Devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the natural instinct of every living entity.”

“When we wish to develop our innate capacity for devotional service, there are certain processes which, by our accepting and executing them, will cause that dormant capacity to be invoked. Such practice is called sadhana-bhakti.”

“As a man’s mental disease is cured by the directions of a psychiatrist, so this sadhana-bhakti cures the conditioned soul of his madness under the spell of maya, material illusion.”

“It is the duty of the acarya, the spiritual master, to find the ways and means for his disciple to fix his mind on Krishna. That is the beginning of sadhana-bhakti.”

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us an authorized program for this purpose, centered around the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. This chanting has so much power that it immediately attaches one to Krishna. That is the beginning of sadhana-bhakti.”

“Let everyone be engaged in whatever occupation he now has. Simply let him worship Lord Krishna by the result of his activities in Krishna consciousness. That will adjust the whole situation, and everyone will be happy and peaceful within this world.”

From Second Chance:

“The holy name of God is all-auspicious. Therefore for one who constantly practices chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, there cannot be any inauspiciousness. Just by chanting, one is put into an auspicious condition of life perpetually.”

From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.15:

“This body itself is a punishment. People do not know that. They are trying to enjoy this body by satisfying the senses of the body. Even the hog is doing that.”

From “Vrindavane Bhajana,” section 26, end:

“All the mundane newspapers endlessly carry
trivial, intolerable chattering about maya’s endless distractions.
Just counteract all this by publishing the Lord’s glories
and distributing these newspapers everywhere in the world.”

From a morning walk in Toronto, Canada, on August 7, 1975:

“If we preach, it will be all right. That is going on perpetually, darkness and light. If you bring light, darkness will go out, will be driven away.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.20, purport:

“Everything created by the material energy can be dovetailed with the Absolute by an attitude of service. The pure devotee of the Lord knows the art of converting everything into its spiritual existence by this service attitude.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.23.5, purport:

“Westerners or anyone else can follow in the footsteps of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura by living in a temple, which is transcendental to residence in a forest, and to vow to accept Krishna-prasada and nothing else, follow the regulative principles, and chant sixteen rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra. In this way, one’s spiritual life will never be disturbed.”

From a letter to Atreya Rsi on October 20, 1973:

“Just depend upon Krishna. Simply we have to desire to please Him, and not desire anything for ourselves. Then we become simply instruments for His will. This is the important essence of Krishna consciousness.”

From a letter:

“That is my only credit, that I have remained pure where all others have failed. Therefore this Hare Krishna movement is becoming stronger everywhere while the others are failing everywhere. And this Krishna consciousness movement is running simply on the purity of its regulative principles. If the devotees, preachers, of our movement remain always pure by strictly sticking to the rules and regulations as I have given, that is, no flesh eating, no intoxication, no illicit sex, and no gambling, then without any doubt we shall conquer all other so-called spiritual cultures in the world very soon.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 17.126:

“If we stick to the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we shall get spiritual strength without a doubt, and we shall be free to preach this cult of the Hare Krishna movement and not be hampered by anyone.”

From a letter to Locanananda on July 7, 1975:

“Purity is attractive to people. Our only asset is our purity. Pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. You cannot reach Krishna without being pure, because He is the supreme pure.”

From a letter to Raja Laksmi on February 17, 1976:

“My advice is to always chant 16 rounds minimum and follow the four regulative principles. All of my disciples must agree on this point otherwise they are not my disciples. Let one live anywhere, but stick to the principles. Disagreements will continue in this material world. So one may live in a suitable place, but one must follow these five principles. My disciples must follow these principles living either in heaven or hell.”

From a room conversation with Siddha-svarupa in Honolulu on July 15, 1975:

“For them, engage them in kirtana. If you find such men, don’t give them instruction. It is no use sowing some seed in the sand; there will be no result. Better let them hear this chanting, chant Hare Krishna. By hearing, hearing, hearing, when their heart will be cleansed, they will surrender. Therefore for the general mass of people, don’t talk instructions. They will not be able to understand. Let them come, chant, dance, take prasada, and go away. And when they are prepared to follow the rules and regulations, they are initiated. But give them a chance. ‘All right, please come, chant, dance, take prasada, and go. But if you want to live with us, then you have to follow the rules.’”

From a letter to Karandhara on November 13, 1970:

“We should tax our brains as to what is the best way to present Krishna consciousness to particular people at a particular time and place.”

From a letter to Jadurani on January 3, 1975:

“Because one thing is stressed that does not mean other important things should decrease. Everything must continue.”

From a letter to Yogesvara on June 12, 1971:

“We have to adjust things. Everything is important. Not that we have to do something at the expense of something else.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 16.187, purport:

“It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy that He advises everyone – even candalas, mlecchas, and yavanas – to chant the holy name of the Lord. In other words, one who has taken to chanting the holy names ‘Krishna’ and ‘Hari’ has already received Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy.”

From letter to Jayananda on December 1, 1973:

“The best service is to chant Hare Krishna always and spread it to every town and village.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.101, purport:

“As far as possible, the devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement gather to chant the holy name of Krishna in public so that both the chanters and the listeners may benefit.”

From a radio interview in Los Angeles in June of 1971:

“Because people are so much forgetful of Krishna, or God, they require to be reminded, and this Hare Krishna movement is transcendental vibration. If we chant on the street or loudly, whoever hears this sound becomes purified, cleansed of the dirty things from his heart. Therefore we go and chant so that others may hear and cleanse their heart.”

From a letter to Sudama on July 8, 1970:

“Sankirtana should be done by you in the streets and at gatherings, and in this manner display what is this Krishna consciousness movement and how it is for everyone’s eternal welfare and happiness.”

From a letter to Swami Jara Kumar on August 20, 1974:

“We experience that people are becoming more friendly and helping our movement in America simply because we are performing this sankirtana-yajna.”

From a letter to Krishna dasa on May 17, 1969:

“This is making our movement very popular more and more, so in any circumstances, you all go together outdoors for kirtana at least for one hour daily.”

From a letter to Raya Rama on May 17, 1969:

“At least for one hour you must all go to have sankirtana outside on the streets or in the park. That is your life and soul, first business.”

“Outdoor kirtana must be done. That is your first and foremost business. Temple worship is not so important. If need be, the whole temple can be locked, but the outdoor kirtana cannot be stopped.”

Letter to Shyamasundar on February 25, 1970:

“Our general plan is always the same – chanting, dancing, and distributing prasada.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 17.88:

“On principle, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would distribute prasadam at the end of kirtana performances. Similarly, the members of the Krishna consciousness movement must distribute some prasadam to the audience after performing kirtana.”

From a Ratha-yatra lecture in London on July 16, 1972:

“Our Hare Krishna movement is standing on three principal things: chanting, dancing, and eating prasada. It is not very difficult. It is very enjoyable to chant, dance, and take prasada. And if you like, you can hear a little philosophy of this movement. Or even if you do not understand the philosophy, even you do not read the books, if you simply take part in these three things – chanting, dancing, and eating prasada – you will gradually progress in spiritual advancement of life. And if you continue this, then some day will come, even in this life it may come, that you will understand what is Krishna. And as soon as you understand Krishna, then after leaving this body you go back to home, back to Godhead, directly.”

From a letter to Danavir on August 2, 1972:

“Preach like this, very simply, hold sankirtana widely all over the city, and distribute prasada profusely, especially to the young people and the students, and everything will be increasingly successful more and more.”

From a class on Bhagavad-gita 7.3 in Nairobi on October 29, 1975:

“Chant Hare Krishna and give them food. They are hungry. Then it will be successful. Chant Hare Krishna, let them come and dance with you, and give them prasada. They are hungry. It will be successful. It is not difficult at all. That was Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s preaching to the mass of people. He would chant for four hours, and after finishing kirtana, He’ll give them sumptuous food to eat. So chant Hare Krishna and distribute prasada; your movement will be a success.”

From Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 6, “Crime: Why and What to Do?”:

“You should give us the facility to chant the holy name of God and distribute prasada. Then there will be a tremendous change in the population. I came alone from India, and now I have many followers. What did I do? I asked them to sit down and chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and afterward I distributed a little prasada. If this is done on a mass scale, the entire society will become very pleasing. This is a fact.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.13, purport:

“The entire world is suffering because of spiritual thirst. Every living being is Brahman, or spirit soul, and needs spiritual food to satisfy his hunger and thirst. Unfortunately, however, the world is completely unaware of the nectar of krishna-katha. The Krishna consciousness movement is therefore a boon to philosophers, religionist, and people in general. There is certainly a charming attraction in Krishna and krishna-katha. Therefore the Absolute Truth is called Krishna, the most attractive.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.35, purport

“Animalistic envy exists in human society as long as there is no performance of sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of the holy names – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

From a class on Bhagavad-gita 6.35–45 in Los Angeles on February 20, 1969:

“We invite everyone to join, and the process is very simple. Simply chant Hare Krishna and you’ll feel. There is no difficult process. The children also can take part and actually they are taking part. You don’t require any previous qualification, that you must have passed your master of degree examination or this or that. Whatever you are, you simply come and join this association and you become Krishna conscious. This is the advantage of this society.”

From his address on the Happening album:

“Anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration [by chanting Hare Krishna], without any previous qualification, and dance in ecstasy.”

From an arrival address in New Vrindaban on June 21, 1976:

“Because a dog is running on the street with four legs and you are running with greater speed with four wheels, that does not mean you have improved. You are still a dog. You must remember that. You are not even a human being. Because in the form of a human being your business is to understand Krishna.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.32–22, purport:

“The offenseless chanters of the holy name of the Lord are as auspicious as the Lord Himself, and the movement of such pure devotees of the Lord all over the world can at once change the troublesome face of the world. Only by the propagation of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord can we be immune from all effects of the Age of Kali.”

From a class on Bhagavad-gita 1.36 in London on July 26, 1973:

“People are trying to elevate the status of the society by so many things. But they do not know the secret. The secret is that if one is trained only to become a devotee of Krishna, all good qualities automatically will be visible in his person. There is no need of separate endeavor to make a man honest, to make a man religious, to make a man high-thinking, simple living. Samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam [Bg 18.42]. All these qualities immediately develop.”

From a letter to his spiritual sons and daughters in Evanson on July 27, 1973:

“The real problem is not over-population or pollution, malnutrition, etc., but the actual problem is godlessness.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.1.17, purport:

“People are suffering, but if people take this Krishna consciousness movement seriously, if they stop their sinful activities and chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, all their problems will be solved without difficulty.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.37, purport:

“The sufferings of human society are due to a polluted aim of life, namely lording it over the material resources. The more human society engages in the exploitation of undeveloped material resources for sense gratification, the more it will be entrapped by the illusory material energy of the Lord, and thus the distress of the world will be intensified instead of diminished.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.18, purport:

“There is a great need to propagate the Krishna consciousness movement in the world so that even though people sometimes become angry and malicious toward one another, because of their being Krishna conscious such rivalry, competition, and envy can be adjusted without difficulty.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 5.32, purport:

“If people actually become God conscious, all quarrels can be settled outside of court, as happened in the case of the two brahmanas whose disagreement was settled by the witness Gopala.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.1.16, purport:

“The coherent purpose of Lord Ramacandra, Lord Krishna, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to teach human society how to be happy by following the instructions of the Supreme Lord.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 9.45, purport:

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most benevolent personality in human society because His only desire is to make people happy. His sankirtana movement is especially meant for the purpose of making people happy.”

The humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.27.49:

"My dear Uddhava, all persons are engaged in activities, whether those indicated in the revealed scriptures or ordinary worldly activities. If by the result of either of such activities they worship Me in Krishna consciousness, then automatically they become very happy within this world, as well as in the next. Of this there is no doubt."

Vrindavan Das Thakura:

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 9.244:

“One who does not blaspheme the Vaishnavas attains Krishna by developing love and devotion at His lotus feet.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 9.246:

“Krishna will certainly deliver anyone who chants His names without offense or blasphemy.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.85–86:

“Haridasa folded his hands and said, ‘Although I am less fortunate, I have a great desire. May the remnants of the servants who worship Your lotus feet be my foodstuffs.’”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

From “Notes on the Bhagavata,” 29:

“Modern civilization does not suspect its own degradation in exclusively seeking mundane enjoyment. The mind and body have a natural aptitude for sensuous gratification, and all mundane activities are practiced for its realization. The few can grasp that the unalloyed essence of the soul has a natural aptitude for exclusive service of the Absolute that is utterly incompatible with mundane sensuous living.”

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.36, purport:

“Whether a devotee lives in Vaikuntha or anywhere else, his sac-cid-ananda body appropriate for the Lord's service is spontaneously manifest. By the awakening of devotional service his material body born of five gross elements transforms into sac-cid-ananda. The birth and death of such a body is exactly like the appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Lord’s sac-cid-ananda body. Those who consider the appearance and disappearance of the devotees and the Supreme Lord to be like the birth and death of conditioned souls, who are forced to accept the fruits of their karma, repeatedly suffer material miseries rather than obtain liberation.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.38–39, purport:

“The gravity of the offenses committed by persons who are envious of the Lord’s devotees is so great and beyond the general laws that the Supreme Lord personally judges them.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.40, purport:

“The tolerance of the Lord’s devotee is so great that even if someone desires his inauspiciousness, rather than taking revenge he prays in such a way that the sinner obtains auspiciousness.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From his latest journal:

“I will always be grateful that You have provided me with people to help me through my days.”

From Reading Reform:

“There is no particular merit either in going fast or slow, or in reading ten books or one or two. What counts is the quality and devotion you give during the reading.”

Janananda Goswami:

How to please Radharani? Not by chanting “Radhe Radhe!” By chanting “Krishna Krishna!” And by engaging others in Krishna’s service.

“Sin” comes from a German word which means to separate.

How would you feel if your child disappeared? Anyone could give you great solace simply by reuniting you with your child. And so it is with the Supreme Lord.

Comment by Prithu Prabhu: “My mother said, ‘First God, then God, then God, then others, then others, then others, and then yourself.’”

Srila Prabhupada makes the point that everyone is looking for Krishna. But Krishna is after Radharani.

Devotees as they age become happier and fearless.

Srila Prabhupada answered the question “Why is Krishna blue?” once by saying “Because His devotees like blue, and He wants to please His devotees.”

Krishna consciousness is simple. We just find out what Krishna wants and do it.

If you accept knowledge, but you do not give a contribution to the provider, the knowledge will remain theoretical. [I gave him 2 euros after the class because of hearing this.]

We should think, “I exist only for assisting Radharani and Her assistants for bringing pleasure to Krishna.”

Chanting the holy name is the main harmonizing feeling.

We used to sing “Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava Dayite” at the 9 p.m. arati for Radha-Londonisvara in the 70s. We used to sing four or five bhajanas a day in those days.

It is said that Radharani is the daughter of the Vindhya Mountains, because they were envious of the Himalayan Mountains for having Parvati as their daughter and prayed to have a beautiful daughter of their own. She was stolen by Putana from that region. Putana dropped her in Raval, when brahmanas chanted a witch-killing mantra which gave Putana distress.

Niranjana Swami:

From classes on Brhad-bhagavatamrita at Bhakti Sangama in 2021:

Even faithless worship of the deity results in unrestricted material happiness unmixed with distress, but not love of God. If one continues that worship ultimately he attains first class devotion.

That faulty devotion delays attainment of perfection, and thus it is criticized by the sages.

If one has not heard the glories of bhakti, liberation may not sound so bad.

The devotees feel themselves fallen, but because they have hope, they continue hearing and chanting about Krishna, and thus Krishna recognizes them. Thus we shouldn't be worried about statements that prema-bhakti rarely attained. We should just continue with hope.

Nagaraja Prabhu:

From Lord Krishna the Protector,” “Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“Srila Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura tells us in a memorable instruction in one of his songs, ‘Take shelter of the holy name as your only business.’ If we put that instruction into practice – taking shelter of the maha-mantra rather than anything material – we’ll feel Krishna’s presence and transcend the fear that pervades material existence.”

Ramanath Sukha Prabhu:

From “Kashi Visvanatha: Shiva-linga of Light,” Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“When the sagacious American humorist Mark Twain visited Varanasi in the late nineteenth century, he quipped, ‘Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.’ He also said, ‘In religion, all other countries are paupers. India is the only millionaire.’”

“Lord Caitanya, by regularly visiting Kashi Visvanatha, established the metaphysical truth that Lord Shiva can be worshiped as the topmost Vaishnava.”

“Lingaraja in Bhubaneswar is the protector of Jagannath Puri, and Gopisvara Mahadeva protects the holy land of Vrindavan. Lord Caitanya visited these respective shiva-lingas to establish the correct etiquette and reverence for Lord Shiva as the personality who grants entrance to the spiritual realm. When sincere pilgrims want to visit either of these two sacred cities, they must first get permission from the respective shivalinga, who then helps them with issues of false ego.”

“As the destroyer, Shiva helps devotees of the Lord by smashing false, materialistic ego so that their real ego can manifest in relationship to the Supreme Lord.”

“Lord Caitanya's two-month visit to Banaras, His regular darsana of Visvanatha, and His transforming the impersonalist sannyasis into Vaishnavas are testaments to Lord Shiva's auspicious potency in helping bring the misled souls of Kali-yuga to appreciate the genuine Sanatana Dharma of eternal loving service to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Prithu Prabhu:

Krishna is selfless. He gives and gives. And yet, we always say, “God, give me this, give me that. Give me more.”

From a personal conversation on Radhastami at Govindadvipa:

Srila Prabhupada asked me to try to arrange a meeting with the famous German philosopher, Martin Heidegger. I came to his house, and his wife answered. I explained my purpose, and she said it would not be possible as her husband was very uncommunicative. I asked if I could go up and see him, and she allowed me to. He was laying in bed, and I spoke to him, but he did not respond. I put Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita in his hand, and he held it. Looking at the book, he exclaimed excitedly, “I know this book!” Then he fell back into bed, still holding the book. His wife said she had not gotten a response like that out of him in five years.

Toward the end of Srila Prabhupada’s life a doctor said that there was one Ayurvedic medicine that could help him, makardhwaj. Devotees obtained some, but it was manufactured improperly and contained too much acetic acid, and thus had bad negative effects. Therefore they had to stop using it. People talk about Srila Prabhupada being poisoned at the end, but that is my understanding of the actual story.

Satyaraja Prabhu:

From “Mirabai and the Gaudiya Vaishnava Tradition” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“Srila Prabhupada here calls her [Mirabai] a ‘staunch devotee’ and a ‘very high grade devotee,’ and he says that he has ‘no objection for Mirabai’s songs.’ This is, indeed, high praise, especially coming from Srila Prabhupada, who holds consideration of his devotional forebears to the highest standard.”

“But what is also fascinating, and indeed revealing, is that in one of the many songs attributed to her, she sings in praise of Lord Caitanya, articulating a distinctly Gauḍiya Vaishnava perspective.”

“‘Now I have a burning desire to chant Hari’s name. This butter thief to all the world has taken on the name of a renunciate. Where did He leave His enchanting flute? And where are all the gopis? He shaved His head, tied a strip of cloth around His waist, and adorned Himself with a charming headdress. He whose feet mother Yasoda tied to prevent Him from [stealing] the butter, that dark-skinned youth has become like fresh gold, and His name is Caitanya. Though clad in torn loincloth, His yellow garment as well as His inner loving sentiments are revealed to me. As a result, Krishna lives upon the tongue of Mira, the maidservant of Gaura-Krishna.’”

Visakha Devi Dasi:

From “The Glories of Self-Realization” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“It’s because the soul is knowledgeable that we’re uncomfortable with ignorance and want to be informed. And it’s because the soul is happy by nature that we’re always seeking happiness.”

“Unfortunately, people often don’t take the opportunity to understand their identity, even though without such self-understanding all activities result in ultimate defeat in the struggle for existence.”

“The Bhagavad-gita’s first lesson – that we are spiritual beings – is completely revolutionary, for if we take this knowledge as true, even theoretically, we can understand why we’re not really satisfied with all the things this world offers. We can understand why we’re confused about life’s goal and frustrated with our attempts to find lasting pleasure and happiness in this world.”

“Throughout the world, innumerable academic institutions offer knowledge to innumerable students, yet it’s unlikely that those students are offered the preliminary teachings that Sri Krishna offers Arjuna as the Gita begins: understanding the distinction between matter and spirit.”

Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi:

From “Help from a Small Book” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“Taking compassion upon him, Narada initiated Dhruva into chanting the names of God: om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Dhruva readily took up chanting this mantra daily with great determination, and one by one his requirements for food, water, and even air became less important to him. He took complete shelter in the sound of the chanting.”

Suvarna Radha Devi Dasi:

From “The Causeless Mercy of Krishna, the Selfless Autocrat” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“In His conversation with Arjuna, Lord Krishna spoke 574 of the Gita’s 700 verses. He uses the first-person pronouns ‘I,’ ‘Me,’ and ‘Mine’ at least 160 times, presenting Himself as the source of everyone and everything and the perfect focus, goal, and object of everyone’s love, devotion, and surrender.”

“samo ’ham sarva-bhutesu
na me dvesyo ’sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
mayi te tesu capy aham

“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 first two lines of the verse show Krishna as the Supersoul, equal to everyone. The second two lines show Krishna’s relationship with His devotees. This is His Bhagavan feature, His original form from which His Supersoul (Paramatma) feature expands to oversee the material world. As Bhagavan, Krishna reciprocates with others in a very personal way according to how they approach Him.”

“If there are unwanted qualities in us, the Lord may protect us from them through small punishments.”

“From Gita 15.7 we understand that everyone is part of Krishna, so if Krishna is selfish, then His selfishness is also for our good; we benefit when He benefits.”

“This all-encompassing beneficial selfishness is unique to Krishna, and hence He is transcendental to the implications of ordinary selfishness. Therefore we must have faith in the Lord’s integrity and intentions. We’ll achieve peace only when we realize that He is our greatest advocate and benefactor. Until then, we shall keep becoming frustrated and upset.”

“The Bhagavad-gita gives us instructions on how to reach Krishna’s realm. Is there anything more sublime than this? Can someone get wealthy just by thinking about money? Or is it possible to just consider running for office and be elected right away? No. These things don’t just happen. However, the greatest accomplishment of all, reaching Goloka Vrindavana, is readily attained by meditating on Krishna.”

“While He [Krishna] delivered a few souls in His incarnations, His name has purified countless souls who have chanted it with faith and devotion.”

Caitanya Carana Prabhu:

From “Q&A” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“Material frustration can be an impetus to take to a spiritual way of life, but it is neither sufficient nor necessary.”

Gauranga Darsana Prabhu:

From “Unqualified Yet Qualified” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“Even Laksmi Devi, Lord Narasimha’s consort, was reluctant to approach Him. She admitted her fear, noting that she had never seen her Lord in such an intense state of anger. Her hesitation underlined the extraordinary nature of Narasimha’s wrath, the gravity of the situation, and the challenge of pacifying Him.”

“He [Prahlada] showed no pride in receiving the privileged opportunity to appease the Lord; rather, he humbly declared his incapability to do so, despite being capable.”

“While people tend to misjudge things, the Lord is perfect in His evaluation and judgment. He never rejects someone because of age, gender, wealth, nationality, education, family lineage, and so on. All He wants is sincere devotion.”

A sloka by a devotee named Sri Daksinatya, quoted in Rupa Gosvami’s Padyavali, a collection of verses from various sources, states,

vyadhasyacaranam dhruvasya ca vayovidya gajendrasya ka
kubjayah kim u nama rupam adhikam kim tat sudamno dhanam
vamsah ko vidurasya yadava-pater ugrasya kim paurusam
bhaktya tusyati kevalam na ca gunair bhakti-priyo madhavah

“Where were the hunter Dharma’s piety, Dhruva’s maturity, and Gajendra’s knowledge? Where was Kubja’s beauty? Where was Sudama’s wealth? Where was Vidura’s noble birth? Where was Ugrasena’s chivalrous strength? Lord Madhava is pleased only by devotional service and not by material qualifications.”

“Instead of being overwhelmed with our weaknesses, we should strive to rise above them by engaging our bodies, minds, senses, and intelligence in serving and glorifying the Lord.”

“Krishna’s causeless grace can overpower all our faults and deficiencies. He empowers even insignificant persons to perform inconceivable deeds in His service, provided they are sincere.”

Brajanatha Prabhu:

From “Money, Happiness, and Krishna” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2025):

“Real happiness is transcendental to material sensual experience. We must be convinced of this.”

“As Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport to Gita 3.31, even if we can’t surrender right now to doing only what Krishna desires, we will be properly situated in the beginning stages of devotional life if we don’t resent His expectations of us but instead feel humbled by our inabilities.”

“Krishna is determined to love us, but we are determined to forget Him. He is hungry for our bhakti. He can get anything in this world, but there is one thing He cannot get unless we give it to Him, and that is our love. Krishna feels extremely charitable toward any soul who offers his love to Him. That is the nature of Krishna’s heart.”

Dinabandhu Caitanya and Cakrapani Krishna Prabhus:

“In the Bhagavad-gita (10.41) Lord Krishna establishes that all opulent, beautiful, and glorious creations are but tiny manifestations originating from His supreme grandeur. Artificial intelligence is one such creation. It is empowered by human (natural) intelligence, which in turn traces its origin to the supreme intelligence (‘I am the intelligence of the intelligent,’ Gita 7.10). Further, Gita 7.5 makes it abundantly clear that any form of mechanistic (machinelike) intelligence belongs to the inferior (external) energy of the Lord and that it is the living entities (superior energy) who are attempting to exploit this inferior energy.”

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Mahavishnu Goswami of Gujarat especially liked this Bhagavad-gita verse because it lists quite a number of qualities of Krishna, and he would encourage people to memorize it:

kavim puranam anusasitaram
anor aniyamsam anusmared yah
sarvasya dhataram acintya-rupam
aditya-varnam tamasah parastat

“One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as the one who knows everything, as He who is the oldest, who is the controller, who is smaller than the smallest, who is the maintainer of everything, who is inconceivable, beyond all material conception, and who is always a person. He is luminous like the sun, and He is transcendental, beyond this material nature.” (Bhagavad-gita 8.9)