By Krishna Kripa Das
(October 2024, part two)
New York City and Stuyvesant Falls
(Sent from Stuyvesant Falls, New York, on November 2, 2024)
Where I Went and What I Did
The second half of October, I was happy to stay in ISKCON NYC and serve NYC Harinam through October 27. I would chant with Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam party from Monday through Saturday for three or four hours in the afternoons, and on Sundays I would do a walking harinama with ISKCON NYC devotees around Brooklyn or over the Brooklyn Bridge for an hour and then chant with the Bhakti Center Soul Spot group in Washington Square Park for two hours in the afternoon. On October 28, I traveled upstate to Stuyvesant Falls to cook breakfast and do other services for my guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, replacing Mathuraprana Prabhu who had family responsibilities in Queens. Mathuraprana Prabhu and I chanted together at the Hudson train station for half an hour as I was coming and he was going. On Halloween, to take advantage of that day when people are more open to interacting with the Hare Krishnas, I spent the afternoon and evening doing harinama in New York City, making a day trip there.
I share many quotes from the books, lectures, conversations, and letters of Srila Prabhupada, many I read in Bhakti Vikasa Swami’s soon-to-be-published book on the mood and mission of Srila Prabhupada. I also share quotes from Prabhupada’s godbrothers, religion professors, and even George Harrison which are quoted in that book. I share notes on classes by Srila Prabhupada disciples, Hansarupa and Smara Hari Prabhus, speaking at ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn. I also share notes on ISKCON NYC classes by Rama Raya, Natabara Gauranga, Matanga, Prabhavishnu, and Hadai Prana Prabhus.
Many, many thanks to Chandrasekhara Swami for his kind donation to me for giving the Sunday lecture in Freeport. I’d like to thank Rupachandra Prabhu very much for his generous donation. Thanks to Rafael for his kind donation. Many thanks to Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu for the use of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s car go to Hudson to catch the train to NYC for Halloween harinama.
Itinerary
October 5–January 2025: NYC Harinam
– December 7: Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Vyasa-puja / Hudson Winter Walk harinama
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Tulasi Kirtan at ISKCON NYC (https://youtu.be/SOYVW79voNg):
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station in Manhattan (https://youtu.be/SR7kezZHWrs):
Jagaddhatri Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station (https://youtu.be/jOgDvvKhnQY):
Narada Muni Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station (https://youtu.be/DgKrlAPMXps):
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station (https://youtu.be/so_2GYyXh6Y):
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/M-O7wjQUP4A):
Sukanti Gaurangi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/vZJTwV5-baE):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/WjXgnO-IvZE):
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Battery Park (https://youtu.be/J5ByMgANFjY):
I sold my first sapta-rishi that day in Battery Park. This Indian restaurant worker from Charlotte, NC, saw the stack of 7 books on the table and asked the price. I said $50, and he gave $100. Like Vaisesika Prabhu says, "The more you show, the more you sell."
Although he was flying home that evening, I encouraged him to come to the temple, just two subway stops away, for darshan in 40 minutes.
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/eY2oQWRiBLk):
Sachin Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Gita Life devotees in Downtown Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/OyUPCcT4LKE):
This gentleman visited the Brooklyn temple regularly perhaps 30 years ago as one leader encouraged him. A couple weeks ago while vacationing in Athens, devotees invited him to their Sunday feast. He went and had a great time, and he described to me the Tulasi puja and guru puja there. Looks like Krishna is encouraging him to increase his devotional service.
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/EiJ171fMCho):
At Union Square that day I was amazed to count 5 devotees I knew from Gainesville/Alachua on NYC Harinam! Aravind Ithikkat, who led the above kirtan, is serving our chanting party for 2 weeks.
Jaya Sri Krishna (Hemant J. Patel), near NYC on business, invited the others. Harinama sankirtana is a great activity to do with friends as you accomplish the two most important items of devotional service, sadhu-sanga and nama-kirtana, simultaneously!
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/E5hIKoqatyY):
Kanai Krishna Prabhu, visiting from Europe for a month, chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/fIekeuZ2__o):
Divyangi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/6q16bZBfEQs):
Aravind chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/y4pF04bAHC8)
Jayananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/J5wjbq9FYoE):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and passersby offer lamps to Damodara (https://youtu.be/7ka3DHyxYw4):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park the next day (https://youtu.be/_ugQTysk4Ow):
I also chanted there, before going to 26 Second Avenue to give the evening lecture (https://youtu.be/q2QVBS_A_Xg):
Ryan chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and a performer dances while balancing a bicycle on his head (https://youtu.be/eVxPoGfvxhk):
While Ryan continued chanting, the performer danced, this time balancing a tire on his head (https://youtu.be/CoKfDE3SueY):
Peter recalled me and Adikarta Das from Gainesville in 2003. I invited him to 26 Second Ave., and he came for the first time. I suggested he visit the Hare Krishna Tree before moving to DC on Wednesday and told him of the Govardhan festival there Nov. 2.
On the last Sunday in October, I chanted Hare Krishna with Dillon for an hour, from the temple to the Brooklyn Bridge via the subway, and then across the bridge. It was crowded and many heard the holy names.
Then I chanted with Anupama Prabhu and another devotee at the Bhakti Center Soul Spot Kirtan on Sunday afternoon at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/bu58iZlpEcQ):
Here the family and friends of Acyuta Gopi chant Hare Krishna after the ISKCON NYC Sunday feast (https://youtu.be/pk9krXq5Mqw):
The following day I went to serve Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami upstate, but I took a half-day break on Thursday to come to back to New York City for harinama on Halloween because it is one of the best days to engage others in chanting Hare Krishna and dancing. My main service upstate was cooking breakfast, so I left after breakfast on Halloween, and I returned in time to cook breakfast the next day.
Param Brahma Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park on Halloween (https://youtu.be/mfZk2As3SzQ):
Janananda Goswami, who I serve in France in the summer, chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park (https://youtu.be/bWBGXOMJCxs):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Washington Square Park, and many dance (https://youtu.be/nn6tm7XYiK0):
After our usual harinama ended at 7:00 p.m., devotees from NYC Harinam, the Brooklyn temple, and the Bhakti Center chanted Hare Krishna through the streets of Greenwich Village until 9:45 p.m. led by Premananda Kirtan Prabhu, who played the accordion. Many people, mostly wearing costumes, danced, chanted, and took films, attracted by the kirtan party. For many it was their first encounter with Hare Krishna, and it was a very positive one.
On that Halloween harinama I offered some shakers to a couple who was attracted to the music, and Premananda Kirtan Prabhu engaged the two in chanting Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/nBw4TcEIERc):
I shared a Yoga Lyrique card with the girl who was from Paris and the ISKCON LA website with the guy who was from Santa Monica.
Half an hour later they participated again. They were just two of many who got a spiritual taste on that Halloween harinama (https://youtu.be/bK8YbUhbEmU):
Here are 45 minutes of our ecstatic two and a half hour Halloween harinama (https://youtu.be/BtuydIBa5zE):
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Krishna, Chapter 6:
“The lotus feet of Krishna, which are worshiped by great sages and devotees, were placed on the body of Putana. People worship Krishna and offer Him food with great reverence and devotion, but automatically He sucked the milk from the body of Putana. Devotees therefore pray that if simply by offering something as an enemy Putana got so much benefit, then who can measure the benefit of worshiping Krishna in love and affection? Therefore only Krishna should be worshiped, for so much benefit awaits the worshiper.”
From Krishna, Chapter 11:
“All the cowherd men, including Nanda Maharaja, used to talk of the wonderful activities of Lord Krishna and Balarama, and they were always so much absorbed in those talks that they forgot the threefold miseries of this material existence. This is the effect of Krishna consciousness. What was enjoyed five thousand years ago by Nanda Maharaja can still be enjoyed by Krishna conscious persons simply by talking about the transcendental pastimes of Krishna and His associates.”
From Krishna, Chapter 12:
“Who can estimate the transcendental fortune of the residents of Vrindavan? They were personally seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, He whom many yogis cannot find even after undergoing severe austerities, although He is sitting within their hearts. This is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita: One may search for Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through the pages of the Vedas and Upanisads, but it is difficult to find Him there. However, one who is fortunate enough to associate with a devotee can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. After accumulating pious activities in many, many previous lives, the cowherd boys were seeing Krishna face to face and playing with Him as friends. They could not understand that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they were playing as intimate friends with intense love for Him.”
From Krishna, Chapter 12:
“It is said that it is the nature of a devotee to constantly apply his mind, energy, words, ears, etc., in hearing and chanting about Krishna. This is called Krishna consciousness, and for one who is rapt in hearing and chanting about Krishna, the subject matter never becomes hackneyed or old. That is the significance of transcendental subject matter in contrast to material subject matter. Material subject matter becomes stale, and one cannot hear a certain subject for a long time; he wants change. But as far as transcendental subject matter is concerned, it is called nitya-nava-navayamana. This means that one can go on chanting and hearing about the Lord and never feel tired but remain fresh and eager to hear more and more.”
From Krishna, Chapter 29:
“If a woman accepts You as the supreme husband, then she will never be bereft of her husband, as in the bodily concept of life. If we accept You as our ultimate husband, then there is no question of being separated, divorced or widowed. You are the eternal husband, eternal son, eternal friend and eternal master, and one who enters into a relationship with You is eternally happy.”
“You are the only enjoyer, You are the only proprietor, and You are the only friend. As such, we have come to You, leaving aside all so-called friends, society and love, and now You have become our enjoyer. Let us be everlastingly enjoyed by You. Be our proprietor, for that is Your natural claim, and be our supreme friend, for You are naturally so. Let us thus embrace You as the supreme beloved.”
“Please do not discourage our long-cherished desires to have You as our husband. Any intelligent man who cares for his own self-interest reposes all his loving spirit in You.”
“Dear Krishna, as women, we are certainly satisfied when our hearts are engaged in the activities of family affairs, but our hearts have already been stolen by You. We can no longer engage them in family affairs.”
“You have given us a chance to be enjoyed by You in the forest and have touched our breasts once in the past, which we accepted as a blessing, as do the goddesses of fortune, who are enjoyed in the Vaikunṭhalokas by You. Since we have tasted this transcendental enjoyment, we are no longer interested in going to anyone but You for the satisfaction of our lust.”
From Krishna, Chapter 36:
“Vrindavan was always absorbed in the thought of Krishna. Everyone remembered His pastimes and was constantly merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss. But the material world is so contaminated that even in Vrindavan the asuras, or demons, tried to disturb the peaceful situation.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.8–13 in New York on July 24, 1971:
“So many things are going on. But what we know? We say that ‘It is my body.’ What do you know about your body? Still he says ‘I am God.’ He does not know what is going on within his body, and still he’s supposed to be God.
“… This bag of stool, urine, blood, bones, if one takes it that intelligence comes out of this stool, urines and blood and bone, then he’s a fool. Can you create intelligence by taking stool and urine and bones and blood and mix it in laboratory, make some intelligence? Is it possible? But they’re thinking like that: ‘I am this body.’”
From Krishna Consciousness, The Matchless Gift, Chapter 4:
“For example, Krishna, in the guise of Vamana, a dwarf brahmana, went to beg from Bali Maharaja. Even though He is sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29], the proprietor of all the planets, He nonetheless says, ‘Please give in charity to Me.’ Why? It is for our interest, for the sooner we return Krishna’s money to Krishna, the better situated we will be.”
From Krishna Consciousness, The Matchless Gift, Chapter 6:
“Real civilization is not concerned simply with man’s animal needs but with enabling man to understand his relationship with God, the supreme father. One may learn about his relationship with God by any process—through Christianity, through the Vedic literatures or through the Koran—but in any case it must be learned. The purpose of this Krishna consciousness movement is not to make Christians into Hindus or Hindus into Christians but to inform everyone that the duty of a human being is to understand his relationship with God. One must learn this, otherwise he is simply wasting his time by engaging in animalistic propensities. We must all try to love Krishna or God. If one has a process, he should practice it, or he can come and learn this process. One should not begrudge the selection of one process over another.”
From a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.1 in Melboure on June 29, 1974:
“Those who are inmates of the temple should be such nice devotees that anyone who will come in the association of devotees will immediately develop a sense of devotion.”
From a letter to Kausalya on January 12, 1974:
“So please work with the other ladies and with your Godbrothers at Bhaktivedanta Manor and make it such a blissful, peaceful atmosphere that many persons will be attracted to come and live with us.”
From a letter to Mukunda on January 12, 1974:
“All the temple members without exception must rise by 4:00 AM and attend mangala-arati. Everyone living in the temple must agree to the standard by proper understanding of the philosophy of tapasya. We cannot expect our guests to follow all our principles, but whoever lives in the temple must follow: That means all must sit down together and hear the Bhagavatam class. . . . There should be a regular daily schedule of events and it should be followed closely. After the class and breakfast everyone should go to their respective duties, deity worship, sankirtana, clean-up, and so on throughout the day. This atmosphere of constant engagement will produce the truly happy result of transcendental life. Our buildings are not for our sleeping and eating in like hotels, but whoever wants to join us should understand the philosophy of regulated devotional service.”
From a letter to Damodara on July 1, 1970:
“Temple worship is not so important as sankirtana on the public roads and selling our literatures.”
From a letter to Ramesvara on August 3, 1973:
“The temple is a place not for eating and sleeping, but a base from which we send out our soldiers to fight with maya. Fight with maya means to drop thousands and millions of books into the lap of the conditioned souls. Just like during war time the bombs are raining from the sky like anything.”
Quoted in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita, Volume 3, Chapter 27:
“Wherever there is a new branch of our Society for Krishna consciousness I become very, very happy. And my blessings in heart and soul are with you.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.16.60, purport:
“Especially for this Age of Kali, the process accepted by the Krishna consciousness movement is to open hundreds and thousands of Vishnu temples (temples of Radha-Krishna, Jagannatha, Balarama, Sita-Rama, Gaura-Nitai, and so on).”
From Mayapur Temple Inauguration:
“We have got centers all over the world, but that is not sufficient. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted in every village and every town all over of the world.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.35 in Mayapur on October 15, 1974:
“All these centers are being opened only for this business – chanting, dancing, worshiping – so that we may not forget Krishna.”
Sripada “Akincana” Krishnadasa Babaji Maharaja:
From a conversation with B. B. Govinda Maharaja:
“There has never been an acarya in history who has performed miracles like your spiritual master. Because in history there was never a greater servant of Krishna’s holy name than your spiritual master, because your spiritual master had so much absolute understanding of Krishna’s holy name and so much absolute faith in Krishna’s holy name that he personally carried Krishna’s holy name through the length and the breadth of the world. Therefore, he is the greatest acarya who has ever existed.”
Bon Maharaja:
From a conversation with Srila Prabhupada:
“Infinite mercy is upon you. You have performed immense service that is beyond compare. Our Prabhupada’s [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s] immeasurable energy is with you, and that is why you have achieved the impossible. We are linked to the immensely potent gaura-vani because of your writings. I hear your glories everywhere. Everyone sings your glories. You have accomplished unlimited service. You are turning Mahaprabhu’s vani into reality. Through you, Mahaprabhu has done it: prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama – through you, this is materializing. Our Prabhupada selected you only. Your books are the real contribution. You were able to do so many sastras, and that will remain intact forever, will live forever.”
Ananda Prabhu:
“The way you have preached, you have fulfilled the desire of Srila Prabhupada [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati]. You have fulfilled the desire of Mahaprabhu. Whatever opulence comes you accept for the service of the Lord without any attachment. You have purified everyone. This is the greatest thing you have done. Srila Prabhupada started it thinly and you have completed it in a massive way. You have delivered the fallen souls. Therefore you are maha-patita-pavana. As fire purifies contaminated gold, you are also like fire, you have purified the contaminated heart. This is the greatest exhibition of compassion. They have tilaka on the forehead, tulasi beads on the neck, chanting the holy name of Hari, and they don’t eat anything other than prasada. This fact is known to everyone everywhere. What could be more important than this?”
“It was Mahaprabhu’s desire to preach everywhere. Bhaktivinoda Thakura foresaw white and dark-complexioned persons together singing ha nitai, ha gauranga and embracing, floating in waves of ecstasy and rolling on the ground. You fulfilled this desire of Mahaprabhu. Not everyone can do it.”
Puri Maharaja:
“Na bhuta na bhavisyati, it neither happened in the past nor will in the future. Nobody has preached like that in such a short time. So much you have done in ten, twelve years. Nobody has done before nor anybody can do in future. Let anybody say whatever he wants. But we must admit and appreciate your work.”
Srivatsa Goswami, (a much-respected scholar and spiritual leader from Radha-ramana temple in Vrindavan):
“What the Muslims could do only by the tremendous sword, and the Christians could do only with great financial resources and state power, has been done by one solitary man, without any ill effects.”
The humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.18.25):
“One in the vanaprastha order of life should always practice taking charity from others, for one is thereby freed from illusion and quickly becomes perfect in spiritual life. Indeed, one who subsists on food grains obtained in such a humble manner purifies his existence.”
Mukunda Goswami:
“Srila Prabhupada was not just another oriental scholar, guru, mystic, yoga teacher, or meditation instructor. He was the embodiment of a whole culture, and he implanted that culture in the West. To me and many others he was first and foremost someone who truly cared, who completely sacrificed his own comfort to work for the good of others. He had no private life but lived only for others. He taught spiritual science, philosophy, common sense, the arts, languages, the Vedic way of life – hygiene, nutrition, medicine, etiquette, family living, farming, social organization, schooling, economics – and many more things to many people.”
[Srila Prabhupada was:] “a teacher who was so perfect, who enjoyed what he was teaching so much, not because it was his personal teaching or his personal method, but because he was witnessing Krishna’s energy pass through him to a conditioned soul like myself.”
Hansarupa Prabhu:
Not only do the words of the spiritual master purify one’s consciousness, they empower one’s consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada once said that it is worse for a brahmana to fall down to anger than to fall down to sex life.
In anger you may do things that cause such damage to your spiritual life that you never recover from it.
Lord Shiva is in charge of the destruction of the universe. Who would want to mess with such a personality? Yet Daksa was so illusioned by anger he did so.
By our endeavor to please Krishna, we become eligible to attain the truth.
In the temple, everything is related to Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada said that chanting in the temple is more powerful.
In Vrindavan the benefit of any spiritual activity is increased, but the reaction to sinful activities is also increased.
Devotional service begins with faith, but if you lose that faith, you will not complete the nine stages and attain the goal of love of God.
Now there is a spike in deaths, and a lot of young people are dying from diseases that old people would die from.
Anyone who takes the responsibility to act for Srila Prabhupada carries the authority of the spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada once said sincerity is all that is necessary for success in spiritual life.
We are so blessed by Srila Prabhupada that we cannot calculate it, but we can attempt to pay our debt by serving him.
We have to learn how to do things quickly and expertly.
How do we understand if we have attained Krishna’s mercy? If we are fully engaged in His service according to our capacity.
Another a devotee and I were surrounded by a group of 20 Naxalite students chanting slogans at us at a Calcutta train station. I reached into my brahmacari bag and pulled out The Nectar of Devotion and starting reading it in a loud voice. In 5 minutes they all disappeared.
I got the chance to work in Srila Prabhupada’s quarters until practically the day he arrived.
Your youth is meant for intensive service to Krishna. In your old age, you can go to the dhama and read.
Don’t be so consumed by some material activities that your spiritual life is compromised.
Smara Hari Prabhu:
The sastra says that one who bathes in Radha Kunda on Bahulastami becomes very dear to Krishna.
Lord Caitanya rediscovered Radha Kunda on that Bahulastami day.
The Vedic literature, especially the Srimad-Bhagavatam, is to inspire appreciation of and devotion to Krishna. It is not intended to give exact measurements.
At one point in their battle, Krishna pulled out one of the horns of Aristasura, the bull demon who was harassing the the residents of Vrindavan, and beat him with it.
The gopis advised Krishna to perform atonement for killing Aristasura, who was a male cow, although a demon.
Bahula was a cow who was being attacked by a tiger. She convinced the tiger to let her feed her calf one last time and say goodbye to her owner. Neither the calf nor the owner of the cow wanted Bahula to be eaten by the tiger, so they offered themselves as a replacement. Bahula did not agree to that, so all three of them appeared before the tiger. Krishna then appeared, and convinced the tiger to be lenient in light of the honesty of the cow, Bahula, in fulfilling her promise to return to him. The tiger agreed. Krishna had that forest where the pastime occurred named Bahulavan and the day called Bahulastami.
Vaisesika Prabhu:
“You spoke to police chiefs, cardinals, reporters, musicians, businessmen, parents, poets, doctors, professors, students, derelicts, and dropouts, giving each the perfect answer, explanation, or insight to bring each one closer to Krishna.
“How many hundreds and thousands of questions did you answer? How many thousands of letters did you write? How many hundreds of thousands of miles did you travel, all while translating, writing, and publishing volumes of transcendental literature for the welfare of your disciples and the people of the world?
“Contemplating the sheer volume of your accomplishments, we must say that you are the greatest of all the mahatma transcendentalists. You are Krishna’s empowered agent who has come to this world to widely distribute the mercy of the Lord.”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Everyone is nothing compared to Lord Vishnu.
Everyone has a right to offer their prayers to the Lord. The Lord wants to see the heartfelt prayers of everyone.
They have a sign in the subway, “Don’t become someone’s subway story.” We might say, “Don’t become someone’s ISKCON story.”
If a friend betrays us, that causes such pain and inner turmoil that it may take years to recover, yet Krishna remains within our hearts as a loving friend although we betrayed him and He never gives up on us.
It is the Lord’s extreme kindness and mercy that all we have to do to attain an intimate relationship with Him is to chant His holy name.
The best service to Krishna is to expand His message all over the world.
Srila Prabhupada said this ISKCON movement is an extension of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes.
Devaki Devi Dasi:
From her soon-to-be-published book on the vanaprastha-ashrama:
“I remember meeting a family in Croatia who had entered family life at an early age, raised three children and were only in their late forties when the kids had left home and got married or had accepted jobs. And in a youthful spirit the couple had moved on to the next phase of life, fully taking advantage of all the service opportunities that had opened up. Seeing this real-life example once again made it clear to me that Krishna’s system is simply wonderful and perfect.”
“During our vanaprastha life, we strive to come to the deep realisation that Krishna protects us by arranging whatever we need to keep body and soul together. What will then gradually grow is our faith and conviction that Krishna and His devotees will do the needful if we are satisfied with the simple necessities of life. So far, we have not seen any ISKCON devotees starving or living in the gutter.”
“The shastra is full of instructive examples of great kings who lived their lives in royal opulence; when the time came, they divided the kingdom amongst their sons and courageously left for the forest accepting an austere life in full dependence on the Lord. They left everything behind – so much wealth and riches. We may be attached to our house or flat, but they were residing in a gigantic palace. Still, they walked out and never turned back. This demonstrates their highly elevated consciousness – they were great devotees of the Lord, fixed in detachment. Indeed, they manifested the opulence of renunciation through their detachment.”
“To this day, in countries like India and Bangladesh, we can see that people within the extended family have maintained the culture of supporting each other in need. When, for example, a young family man suddenly leaves his body, his widow and his children become the members of his brother’s or sister’s family. The widow does not have to struggle through life as a single mother; she is nicely maintained as a part of her extended family and can peacefully raise her children.”
“In old age we will have to restrict ourselves in our activities as time goes by. It is humbling to accept the fact that our energy level gradually decreases, and we may no longer be able to do what we used to do with great pleasure just six months earlier. In this way, we need to gradually let go of external activities and achievements, and turn towards internal endeavours.”
“This is Krishna’s perfect arrangement. As a rule, we tend to give more attention to external successes in life because they give us recognition and false-ego satisfaction, and when thus falsely satisfied, we tend to neglect our internal life. In our old age however, Krishna gives us an affectionate and merciful push to make us move towards our internals, since that will be most helpful in preparing for our final exam of meeting death.”
“Having the courage and detachment to conclude a certain phase of life and move on is the price to pay in order to embark on new opportunities.”
“A mature devotee who knows the art of empowering the younger generation is not afraid of losing his post. He will happily assist others to become even more glorious and successful than he was – it will give him the greatest satisfaction. He will accept the role of giving guidance and advice, sharing his life experience and wisdom. At the same time, he will be open to new and innovative ideas and will endeavour to protect the young generation from failures and deviations. Such a leader will be respected as a dear, well-wishing friend; people will be eager to inquire and learn from him. In this way, the older and younger generations work cooperatively, with mutual respect and a service attitude.”
“If this does not take place and an organisation sticks to outdated and rigid forms of autocratic leadership while hanging onto their posts until the moment of death, the young generation will not feel inspired to be a part of it. As a result, such an organisation will not thrive; it will most certainly become stagnant due to the loss of its youthful and dynamic spirit. Particularly the intelligent and capable people will see no room for their development that will ultimately enable them to make valuable contributions to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Hence, they may rather devote their time and energy to developing their material career, or join other spiritual organisations.”
“Or, becoming frustrated, they will start criticising and indulging in politics – even to the point of getting together and planning a revolution. They may recognise such a strategy as their only hope to remove a leader and create room for the next generation. Needless to say, such behaviour is against Vaishnava etiquette and invites conflicts. It is therefore crucial for leaders and managers to recognise the importance of handing over their responsibilities and posts and moving on to greater fields of activities at the right time – before a health crisis or revolution may force them to. Once again, serving under the guidance of a well-experienced mentor can greatly help us to take this important step. Thus, cooperation between the older and younger generations will be harmonious, and Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan movement will become even more attractive and glorious.”
“For so many years, we have considered our residence to be our true home! Our title and position have given us a sense of importance, making us accept it almost as the core of our very identity! The idea of giving them up seems rather frightening. Let us remember that a gradual process of meditation and planning is required to reach the summit of true detachment. Whenever we have the courage to close one door, Krishna will open many others, giving us new opportunities. We should know that an exciting life phase is ahead of us, with transcendental adventures of ever-deepening realisations and spiritual experiences awaiting us.”
“On our journey back to Godhead, the luggage allowance is zero – not 23 kg check-in and 7 kg hand luggage, but zero!”
“In the days leading up to my father’s departure, he took great pleasure in giving things away – he felt true joy in passing things on to friends as a final act of loving exchange. And my mother began to get rid of things years before her departure, saying, ‘I’m tidying up the house, so you will have less work once I’m gone…’”
“After my father left his body, it took me six weeks to clear out all his belongings from the house – so much work. In countries such as Germany, it is difficult to sell second-hand items, even if they are still in good condition. In fact, it is an endeavour to even give them away (nobody wants them), as everyone already has more than they need. So, a lot of things ended up in the bin: all kinds of souvenirs, photo albums and diaries from his travels around the world, etc. Getting rid of such things gave me the clear realisation how most belongings that were so dear to us will one day simply end up in the rubbish dump. In the ultimate sense, they have no importance.”
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu:
The guru helps you attain Krishna. It’s like you can’t go to a party unless you know someone there. If you know someone there, you can easily get in.
We offer Damodara the lamp of our love.
Humbly asking the Lord for service is the best thing because He can easily make all kinds of arrangements for us to serve.
We are eternal so we have to figure out how to have eternal relationships with people.
The more we hear that there is another nature, the more we will want to get out of this inferior nature.
Matanga Prabhu:
These world wars show the great trouble caused by people identifying with their bodies.
Because the modes of nature are always fluctuating, we are always open to be affected by the mode of ignorance.
By engaging in chanting Hare Krishna and service we can protect ourselves from the mode of ignorance.
Just like in school, you have all types, the nerd, the bully, the beauty queen, etc., there are different types of people in the society of devotees, so you have to be careful who you associate with.
The case of Pariksit insulting the sage shows how even a great personality can be affected by ignorance, although in his case it was the arrangement of the Lord.
We have to put aside the shortcomings of the devotees because very soon they will be completely purified.
It is not enough just to apologize. We have to be willing to do something to make up for our offense.
Our free will is the only thing we have to surrender to Krishna, because Krishna already possesses everything we are thinking we possess.
Comment by me:
You mentioned that the qualification for achieving Lord Caitanya’s mercy is to be unqualified, but actually the qualification is that we realize that we are unqualified. People who think they are qualified although they are actually unqualified unfortunately will not be interested in Lord Caitanya’s mercy.
Prabhavishnu Prabhu:
Anger leaves a trail of destruction.
Daksa identified himself so much with his material position that he became angry when not respected by Lord Shiva.
When you offend a devotee you get karmic reactions, but worse than that, you lose mercy.
If you just talk and do not listen to the other people, how can you have a positive relationship with the other people?
If you continue to visualize devotees in a material way, your progress in devotional service slows down.
If we acquire a taste for hearing about Krishna we can progress in the other practices of bhakti.
Hadai Prana Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada makes the point that “the knowledge is lost” means not that the books are lost but that no one is acting according to the knowledge within them.
Comment by me:
Janani means mother, so bhakti-janani literally means “mother of devotion.”
Regarding people not knowing what is going on in heaven, in the Bible it says in the kingdom of God, that the lion lays down with the lamb. I joked with one Christian girl who I was encouraging to become vegetarian, “Don’t think you’ll enjoy lamb chops with Jesus in heaven.”
Is taking the dhoti of another brahmacari an offense?
George Harrison:
“Srila Prabhupada has already had an amazing effect on the world. There’s no way of measuring it. One day I just realized, ‘God, this man is amazing!’ He would sit up all night translating Sanskrit into English, putting in glossaries to make sure everyone understands it, and yet he never came off as someone above you. He always had that childlike simplicity, and what’s most amazing is the fact that he did all this translating in such a relatively short time – just a few years. And without having anything more than his own Krishna consciousness, he rounded up all these thousands of devotees, set the whole movement in motion, which became something so strong that it went on even after he left. And it’s still escalating even now at an incredible rate. It will go on and on from the knowledge he gave. It can only grow and grow. The more people wake up spiritually, the more they’ll begin to realize the depth of what Prabhupada was saying – how much he gave.”
Professor Thomas Hopkins:
“Bhaktivedanta Swami’s success story is an unlikely one to say the least. He was seventy years old when he arrived in America. It was his first trip outside India, he had no money and no local means of support. But he did have a revitalized and spiritually rich Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that had been imbued, by both Bhaktivinoda and Bhaktisiddhanta, with a spirit of universality and of relevance to the modern world. But it must be admitted, certainly, that not anybody could inherit and transmit that legacy. Other disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta had tried and failed to bring the devotional message of Caitanya to the Western world. And after Bhaktisiddhanta passed away, his organization, the Gaudiya Matha, was torn asunder by internal power struggles and other kinds of upheaval. Bhaktivedanta Swami, obviously, was a very special person, a spiritual leader of rare power. His success in bringing the message to the West and planting it in a place where it took root and flourished without compromising his tradition has to be seen as largely an effect of his tremendous personal spirituality and holiness, and his incredible determination.”
“It’s an astonishing story. If someone told you a story like this, you wouldn’t believe it. Here’s this person, he’s seventy years old, he’s going to a country where he’s never been, he doesn’t know anybody there, he has no money, he has no contacts. He has none of the things, you would say, that make for success. He’s going to recruit people not on any systematic basis, but just picking up whomever he comes across, and he’s going to give them responsibility for organizing a worldwide movement. You’d say, ‘What kind of a program is that?’ There are precedents, perhaps. Jesus of Nazareth went around saying, ‘Come follow me. Drop your nets, or leave your tax collecting, and come with me and be my disciple.’ But in his case, he wasn’t an old man in a strange society dealing with people whose backgrounds were totally different from his own. He was dealing with his own community. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s achievement, then, must be seen as unique.”
Dr. Larry Shinn (Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bucknell University):
“Srila Prabhupada’s personal piety gave him real authority. He exhibited complete command of the scriptures, an unusual depth of realization, and an outstanding personal example, because he actually lived what he taught.”
Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Prime Minister of India):
From his inauguration speech at the Glory of India Vedic Cultural Center (a major ISKCON temple in Delhi) on 5 April 1998:
“If today the Bhagavad-gita is printed in millions of copies in scores of languages and distributed to all the nooks and corners of the world, the credit for this great sacred service goes chiefly to ISKCON. For this one accomplishment alone, Indians should be eternally grateful to the devoted army of Swami Prabhupada’s followers. The voyage of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to the United States in 1965 and the spectacular popularity his movement gained in a very short spell of twelve years must be regarded as one of the greatest spiritual events of the century. What accounts for the rapid spread of the ISKCON movement globally? The answer should be sought in two factors – internal and external. The external factor was, in my opinion, the disillusionment within the leading minds of the Western world arising out of the domination of the materialistic ideology and culture prevailing in the West. Both capitalism and communism gave birth to disillusionment, since both are essentially materialistic ideologies and are incapable of satisfying the real needs of man. Young, sensitive, and searching minds could not have reconciled themselves to the reality of wars, violence, greed, excessive consumerism, and degradation of both the human being and his natural environment. They had to seek answers elsewhere, and ISKCON was the one movement where the answers could be found.”
“The internal factor was of course the inherent strength of ISKCON’s message, a message founded in the philosophy of the Gita. It answers all the moral concerns and needs of the world, be it man’s quest for inner peace, his need for belonging to the rest of the human community, his concern for the environment, his attitude toward work, and his attitude toward death. The Gita provides comprehensive and internally consistent answers to all these concerns. It is in this respect that ISKCON differs from other passing fads and fashions that appealed to the disillusioned Western minds in the sixties and seventies. These fads come and go, but the ISKCON movement is growing from strength to strength.”
——
How important is it to remember Lord Caitanya? It makes all the difference in the world, as this quote from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 14.1 indicates:
kathañcana smrte yasmin
duskaram sukaram bhavet
vismrte viparitam syat
sri-caitanyam namami tam
“Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. But if one does not remember Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu I offer my respectful obeisances.”