(Week 4: January 22–28, 2025)
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on February 1, 2025)
Where I Went and What I Did
I spent the first three days of the fourth week of 2025 in Gainesville, chanting Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch at the University of Florida because Florida State University was closed due to snow in Tallahassee.
The next five days I was in Tampa, attending the Gasparilla harinama and Ratha-yatra the first day and promoting our Bhakti Yoga Society at USF for four days. The last day I attended the Bhakti Yoga Society meeting and led the kirtan and gave the talk. I describe that last day in Tampa in this journal although strictly speaking it was the first day of the fifth week because I want to finish up talking about my Tampa visit in this issue.
I share lots of 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 share a quote from a BTG by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I also share notes on classes in Alachua and Gainesville by Bhaktimarga Swami and others in Gainesville by Sruti Sagara and Rasika Siromani Prabhus.
Many, many thanks to Subala Gopala Prabhu and his family for the accommodation, transportation, nutrition, and donation in Tampa. Thanks to Bhakta Bill for his ride home after the USF program. Thanks to J.R. for driving us to Tampa for the Gasparilla harinama. Thanks to Madhvacarya Prabhu for driving me to Krishna House from Alachua so I could more easily chant daily at Krishna Lunch. Thanks to John for driving me to the Bhaktimarga Swami program in Alachua.
Itinerary
January 6–April: Tallahassee harinama and FSU college outreach
– March 9–16: Krishna House Gainesville harinama and UF college outreach
Chanting Hare Krishna in Gainesville
Bhaktimarga Swami chants Hare Krishna in Guru Puja kirtan in Alachua (https://youtube.com/shorts/vgH4cn1DRig?feature=share):
Gopal Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/lAsr2Nj6Oow):
Jackson chants Hare Krishna during mangala-arati at Krishna House (https://youtube.com/shorts/73CnsF-Spus):
Bhaktimarga Swami chants Hare Krishna at Krishna House guru puja (https://youtube.com/shorts/1l8oRQ_GCs0?feature=share)
Rati Manjari Devi Dasi of Amsterdam chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/XcgbSEZYkp8):
Gopal Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/XVy4ZEuYscA):
Karenna chants Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch (https://youtu.be/j_h3BTPYRQs):
I also chanted Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch after everyone else left (https://youtu.be/FHqVSSb9tyc):
Gopi Jivana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna during mangala-arati at Krishna House (https://youtube.com/shorts/w7lYF6MkLLQ?feature=share):
Trivikrama Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Alachua devotees across the street from the University of Florida (https://youtu.be/WPLoq4PJ5ag):
Godruma Prabhu chants Hare Krishna there too (https://youtu.be/_B0B24QxeGs):
Nevean Shakti chants Hare Krishna at Krishna House Friday evening program (https://youtu.be/4d1cijtFfVI):
While she was singing, I began to dance. Then others decided it was OK to dance, and they began dancing too! I took a break from the dancing to take this video (https://youtu.be/RmXmaxFXGcI):
This gentleman greeted me with a jovial “Hare Krishna” in a gas station on the way to Tampa. His parents had a shop in Gainesville, and Swami Krishnapada (Bhakti Tirtha Swami) once gave them a signed copy of one of his Spiritual Warrior books.
Himavati Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Tampa before the Gasparilla Parade (https://youtu.be/54TXSmHkzdQ):
J.R. chants Hare Krishna in Tampa before the Gasparilla Parade, and many people dance (https://youtu.be/tzG7cLfXoGE):
While I was chanting Hare Krishna with three Alachua devotees before the Gasparilla parade in Tampa, at least three students recognized me from chanting behind the main library at FSU, although it is over 4 hours away by car!
Other FSU students recognized me as I was walking from the harinama to the Ratha-yatra cart in the parade line up. Thus I was able to distribute four invitations to Krishna Lunch at FSU even in Tampa! One student said to a friend, “I love that guy!”
On my forty minute walk between where I chanted with the Alachua devotees and where the Ratha-yatra was set up, I passed this building which was called “Covent of the Holy Names.”
As I passed the building again in the Ratha-yatra procession, I saw this sign over its entrance.
Devotees chant Hare Krishna, and Nate dances with a pirate in Gasparilla Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/ln2H4d0HNTg):
Onlookers enjoy dancing from a distance to the Hare Krishna chant at Gasparilla Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/_dfrGTS7cMk):
Cheerleaders and band volunteers of East Bay High School dance to the Hare Krishna chant at the Gasparilla Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/iu0JQhYYCzI):
Bhadra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Gasparilla Ratha-yatra, and onlookers go wild (https://youtu.be/RCjsoRobDWA):
Bhadra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Gasparilla Ratha-yatra and encourages onlookers to chant (https://youtu.be/C7TK_ErPTuE):
John and others encouraged onlookers to dance by waving their arms (https://youtu.be/77gjHS7NF3c):
Here is more of the cheering crowd in portrait orientation (https://youtu.be/RogieinzQMM):
After the Gasparilla Ratha-yatra on Saturday, I spent Sunday through Wednesday chanting Hare Krishna at University of South Florida (USF). I encouraged 23 students to register for our Bhakti Yoga Society there and gave 17 of them books of Srila Prabhupada. Here are some experiences:
I met a young woman named Dvani who was happy to encounter Hare Krishna on the campus. She was happy to hear of the student club and attended our meeting. Her family goes to Janmastami in Alachua every year. I encouraged her to attend Gaura-purnima there this year as that day, Thursday, March 13, is in the middle of the USF spring break.
I was happy that Vivasvan Prabhu spontaneously stopped by to visit for an hour or so. I had chanted by myself for eleven hours at USF, and it was great to hear the chanting of someone else, especially someone who has been chanting Hare Krishna for over 50 years and who has faith in Srila Prabhupada.
Vivasvan Prabhu said he was in Srila Prabhupada’s presence when he heard Praghosa Prabhu chanting this four-part tune and that Srila Prabhupada liked it (https://youtube.com/shorts/LCtdOQbuVaU):Thanks to the Indian student who spontaneously made the above video and signed up for the Bhakti Yoga Society at USF.
The USF program went well. There must have been at least fifteen students there. There were people from last semester and new people. I talked to at least two new people. They both had a good time and planned to return. Rayn was there to enthusiastically play the drum, and we did a fifteen minute kirtan, which most everyone participated in. The yoga teacher stayed for the kirtan and the brief talk. Upendra Prabhu offered free Gitas to those who wanted them after.
An old time Bhakta Bill enrolled in USF, because it is free if you are over sixty, and he has an apartment four minutes by car from the student center which he shares with two Vietnamese students. He has known the devotees since the late 1970s when he and his high school friend Brhadsloka Prabhu skipped classes to washed pots for Vishnu Gada Prabhu, the head cook at the New York temple on 55th Street. He wants to do some preaching with the end of his life. He kindly drove me home to Subala Gopala Prabhu’s place after the program as Vaishnava seva.
While staying at Subala Gopala Prabhu’s home, I maintained my program of having an evening kirtan of the Gaura Arati song, ten minutes of Hare Krishna, and the Nrsimhadeva prayers. Many of the members of his family participated, and I hope they can continue that. I always try to encourage people to sing for their Gaura Nitai deities. The Lord is so easily pleased in this age simply by the congregational chanting of His holy names!
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 9.50, purport:
“The members of ISKCON must increase this movement more and more, according to the principles that we are presently trying to execute. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, thus being pleased, will smilingly glance upon them, bestowing His favor, and the movement will be successful.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.11.20, purport:
“Expert players in drama, dancers, singers, speakers, etc., are required for the spiritual enlightenment of the common man.”
From Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 6:
“Our mission is to bring these rascals to their senses. Now one must find out the means to do this. The rascals are suffering, but because they are sons of God they should not suffer. They do not know that there is God or that there is happiness. They know nothing of bliss or of eternal life. They are carrying on so much research and living for fifty, sixty, or seventy years. After that they do not know what is going to happen. They have no knowledge that life is eternal. Actually their position is like that of an animal. An animal does not know what is after death, nor does he actually contemplate death. He does not know why he is here, nor does he know the value of life. Under the influence of maya, the animal simply goes on eating, sleeping, defending, mating, and dying. That’s all. People are endeavoring so hard, but for what purpose? They say that they are struggling so hard to make provisions for the next generation, but what are the provisions for? They cannot reply to that. This Krishna consciousness movement is meant to give real purpose to life by establishing Krishna, God, as the center of everything. It is therefore to the scientist’s benefit to understand this important movement.”
From a conversation in Indore on December 5, 1970:
“Our mission is very grave and it should be [en]act[ed] sincerely and then we get power from Krishna. If we act sincerely as representative[s] of Krishna then we will feel His power.”
From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.28 in Los Angeles on December 6, 1973:
“As soon as we revive our Krishna consciousness, our deep relationship with Krishna as servant, as friend, as paternal relationship or conjugal love, that is already there.”
From a remembrance of Yogesvara Prabhu on Prabhupada Memories, Volume 58:
“Unless you’re following the basics, where is the question of a deeper relationship with the spiritual master?”
From a conversation with Benedictine monk Pater Emmanuel in Germany on June 22, 1974:
“If you love me, you cannot disobey me. And if you disobey me, that love is not real love.”
From a letter to Polly C. Perlmutter on June 10, 1977:
“I am struggling against so many odds. But my mission is to save the human society. That is my only aim and there are no personal motives. If I can save one person, I shall think my mission successful.”
From a room conversastion in Bombay on April 10, 1977:
“Everyone is astonished. Without any help, I started. [My] only asset was sincer[ity]. Everyone knows it. Otherwise how it is possible?”
From a letter to Rudra and Radhika on February 20, 1972:
“When one becomes fixed-up in devotional service he never allows anyone else or any condition at all to hamper his service to Krishna or discourage him in any way.”
From a letter to Tamal Krishna on December 28, 1974:
“This is our philosophy; anandambuddhi vardhanam. It means to expand or to increase.”
From a letter to the GBCs on May 19, 1976:
“Over the past ten years I have given the framework and now we have become more than the British Empire. Even the British Empire was not as expansive as we. They had only a portion of the world, and we have not completed expanding. We must expand more and more unlimitedly.”
From a letter to Bhagavan on December 10, 1971:
“I have just received intimation from Rupanuga of a very large festival he is planning for Central Park. I want that many such festivals should be held in every city. I have one suggestion, that on Sundays you make a tent in that backyard garden to accommodate many guests and provide profuse prasada to all.”
From a letter to Nevatiaji on July 16, 1970:
“We are gradually increasing the size of major festivals and eventually there will be twenty-four or two each month. The public response is always very encouraging.”
From a letter to Jadurani on July 15, 1969:
“Regarding Festivals in Boston, you may hold as many as possible. If you can hold such festivals daily, that is also nice. Our movement is for ananda, simply bliss, and the method of pushing this movement is chanting, dancing, feasting and philosophizing. So in our almanac there are many festivals in every month. I am enclosing some festivals which were already held in Los Angeles, and if you perform them, I will give you a long list of others. But don't embarrass yourself at present with greater plans than you can handle. The more you get devotees the more you will be able to perform nice festivals.”
From a letter to Tamal Krishna on August 8, 1973:
“Observe many festivals, that will keep both public and devotees alive. Temple means festivals and Festivals means chanting and distribution of Prasadam.”
“You may organize your traveling party on the lines of a festival which moves from city to city, and if there is a good field, a camp may be set up and you may carry on with our Hare Krishna Festival as long as there is a good response. In this way, you may move from country to country as the weather permits. And you can equip yourselves to be completely self-sufficient – sleeping, cooking, everything.”
From a letter to Madhudvisa on February 14, 1970:
“Wherever Ratha-yatra is performed is not different from the spiritual sky.”
From a Ratha-yatra address and press conference in San Francisco on July 5, 1970:
“If you participate in these car festivals, as it is stated in the scriptures, rathe ca vamanam drstva punar janma na vidyate: if you kindly see these Jagannatha deities riding on these cars and in procession, and as Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted the Hare Krishna mantra in front of this car, then according to our Vedic scripture, if you participate in this festival, in your next life you’ll go back to home, back to Godhead.”
From a letter to Nayanabhirama on December 22, 1971:
“I am especially pleased to hear that our Krishna conscious drama program is being developed by you nicely. We have got unlimited stock for such dramas, so go on in this way, improving more and more, and Krishna will give you direction so that one day, very soon, all your dreams will come true and you will be acting our Krishna conscious dramas on Broadway.”
Letter to Krishna Dasa on October 8, 1969:
“It is Krishna’s Grace that the walls for the advertisements may be properly utilized so the passengers in the trains can see it. You write if possible the following words: ‘We request you to chant HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE, HARE RAMA HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE, and your life will be sublime.’ The mantra may be written in big letters, and the other words in smaller letters. Another slogan may be ‘Join the Krishna Consciousness Movement. It is peaceful, and it will bring peace and prosperity to everyone.'”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From “Secretary to a Pure Devotee” in Back to Godhead, #68, 1974:
“Hyderabad, India. April 19
“At the press conference in Hyderabad one reporter asked right away whether Śrīla Prabhupada was an advaita (monistic) or dvaita (dualist) philosopher. Śrīla Prabhupada scoffed at the question. ‘What is the point of discussing such things—whether one is dvaita or advaita. Krishna says, annad bhavanti bhutani: “All living beings subsist on food grains.” Annad means grains. The people have no grains. Grains are produced from rain, and the rain from yajña (sacrifice). So perform yajña. Become Krishna conscious. Dvaita or advaita you may be, but you still need grains.’”
Bhaktimarga Swami:
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.6 at Krishna House:
Yudhisthira is one of the most celebrated people in Mahabharata. Everyone loves Yudhisthira because he was piety personified and dharma personified.
Krishna writes the script and arranges all the actors.
Although Krishna promised not to fight, he did strategize on behalf of the Pandavas.
Leaders were trained in Vedic times, which is different from today.
Even Krishna and Balarama went to school and accepted training although They did not need to learn anything, because They wanted to show an example to the people in general.
If you cannot be a leader, at least be a follower.
They have a saying in Canada, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
We tend to focus on how we were neglected by our parents, but we have to change that. Instead think how they benefited us.
I learned from both my biological father and Srila Prabhupada to be positive and upbeat.
We have two choices, to be upbeat or to be beat up. It is our choice.
On New Year’s, people gather in hopes of having a good time, but the real joy comes when they dance with the Hare Krishnas.
Srila Prabhupada showed us how to party nicely.
How did Srila Prabhupada benefit the world? [Contributions by the audience.]
He popularized vegetarianism.
He changed the lives of the people.
He translated Srimad-Bhagavatam.
He taught we are not the body and rejected racism.
He built a house in which the whole can live peacefully.
He helped to balance being nonsectarian and yet having an actual standard of spiritual practice.
He taught devotional arts.
He taught a new way of life.
He taught the extent to which love of Godhead can be developed, the rasas, the spiritiual emotions, the personality of Krishna. [by me]
He gave us halava.
He gave everything to give us everything.
He taught by dedicating everything to executing the instruction of his teacher.
He kept the siddhanta while engaging according to time, place, and circumstance.
He taught to think big.
He gave the four ashrams, prasadam distribution, and equal opportunity of engagement for women.
Satyahit is such a hit!
The body will fail, but for now maintain it nicely and engage it in Krishna’s service.
We have a Bhakti Academy Toronto like this Krishna House there.
My favorite books are those about Srila Prabhupada. For me they are better than the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana all put together.
The philosophy that Srila Prabhupada produced no exemplary disciples is an insult to him, and it has to go.
Varnasrama helps people to feel they are part of something greater.
Comment by Rati Manjari Devi Dasi: I am in my sixties, and Prabhupada taught us we can still contribute a lot even in our old age.
From a home program in Alachua:
I believe keeping busy solves a lot of problems.
We raised money for the church building which become the Toronto temple by selling lollipops. We told Srila Prabhupada they were made of sugar and syrup, and he said we could offer them.
If you walk in the morning, your health will be better.
Srila Prabhupada welcomed everyone.
People are not always ready to hear about your guru so I would tell people I was walking for the community or for myself.
I was initiated by mail. Because I was named John, I thought I would get the name Janardana or something. I was wondering why he called me Bhaktimarga [the path of devotion]. Once when I had walked for miles sharing devotional service, it occurred to me: that is why. Srila Prabhupada knew me so well.
When I walked in America, I would stay in the Patel hotels. They would offer a room and even offer to cook for me.
Q: How to keep it simple?
A: Walk every day. Don’t be lazy. Do something for yourself, and you will be doing something for others too. I also recommend starting gardens. Play ball in the water. See how long you can keep the ball up without it falling in.
Start the days with reflections on Krishna and ask for His mercy.
Krishna is giving you so much energy. Think how you can best use it.
Comment by Premananda Gaura Prabhu: When I wake up, I shout, “I am alive!”
Q: What to do when you have a creative block?
A: It is good to have a mentor. Mentors may point you in the right direction.
Q: Where to get daily enthusiasm?
A: Early morning connecting with Krishna.
There is something in Srila Prabhupada’s contribution of Krishna consciousness for everyone.
Q: How to take Krishna to work?
A: Pack prasadam for lunch. Instead of having a cigarette break, take a japa break.
From the Krishna House Friday program:
Krishna consciousness is not so interesting to people because it does not make money, but it does give you happiness.
Material pleasure is cheap. Easy come. Easy go.
Too much futurism is like when you have your head in the clouds.
Friedrich Nietzsche said, “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.”
You are successful when performing a drama if you can get the rasa, the feeling, out there to the audience.
The Krishna book and its revealing that you may be able to play with God was an early Krishna conscious attraction for me.
I started my marathon walks during 1996, the Prabhupada centenary year. I wanted to see the world for what it was, the real organic way, like a sannyasi or a sage is supposed to.
People would ask what I was doing, and I would say, “I am walking across the country for the spiritual healing of the nation. The world is sick.” Sometimes people would say, “You better believe it.”
That people are going into schools and killing innocent children is one of the most objectionable things going on these days, and we are not doing enough to stop it.
Everything starts with small talk, and then it goes deeper.
Sometimes people would want to talk because there is a lot of loneliness out there.
In this age of advanced communication, our communication skills are actually going down.
Srila Prabhupada just wanted to make sure we had some ananda, spiritual pleasure, in our lives.
Once someone asked why I walked and I replied, “I do this walk every day so I can be of service to My lord and His servants.”
I met an American native for the first time about half way across the USA, and I told him that. He replied, “Well, you are first monk that I have ever met!”
For centuries art was used to expressed religious themes, then people reacted against that, and now mundane art has become the standard.
Dwelling on the negative is tamo-guna.
My body will die, but I will live on. That is progressive, and we have to highlight that.
Bhakti can be formal and rigid, but it does not have to be. That is not how Srila Prabhupada presented to us.
Friday night most everyone else is getting drunk, but we have found a positive alternative.
They say that knee and hips are first things to go when the body ages.
Putting clay on your poison ivy and letting it dry will cure it over night.
Q: What is the secret to your perpetual joy?
A: I do have grave thoughts during the day, but when I am with people I am happy.
Pop culture puts the worst people on a pedestal, people who should not be followed.
Utah was my favorite state. The people are more spiritual. They are further apart. You can see the stars there.
Pop music is mostly rajas and tamas, nothing elevated. It knocks you down.
Q: What would you like to see the younger generation do?
A: Use your innovation to promote higher consciousness. Be fair, respectful, and kind. Be a little sociable. Be out there. Give people a chance. Don’t be a zombie, taken by this pop culture. Stand out against those things not supportive of higher consciousness.
Q: How to see Krishna in others?
A: See whatever ability they have as Krishna. Anything that is significant or prominent is Krishna.
We are at an advantage if we take take shelter of a person who not only understands the spiritual philosophy but can bring it into the field of action.
Diversity gives us more experience and adds to our character.
Diversity is the spice of life.
I encourage people to go for a forest walk for it clears the mind.
Even when we are treated in a negative way we can use that to become humble.
The guru guides and encourages in executing the important functions in life.
Animals have a father and a mother, but in addition, humans have God and a guru.
The guru brings God, and God brings the guru.
The guru reminds us the human life has a higher purpose.
Kids do not have a problem understanding God. They are accustomed to experience that protection and provisions come from a person greater than themselves.
We do not say that one person does it all for you. We have many gurus. Vyasadeva, who wrote the Vedic literature, is a guru. As I grew up, I learned so much from nature.
Sometimes when people ask me why I walk I say, “So I can see the world and learn from it.”
I heard from one man, “Never let school get in the way of your education.”
People learn more from your behavior than what you say.
You can serve the guru by serving the mission, and our mission is to share the knowledge of Krishna consciousness we have received. Srila Prabhupada has given seven purposes for ISKCON, and we can see from reading them that we are meant to teach.
Actually siksa-guru is more important than diksa-guru. Krishna was not the diksa-guru of Arjuna nor was Sukadeva Goswami the diksa-guru of Maharaja Pariksit. We should adjust our culture to have more respect for the siksa-guru.
It is good for parents to encourage children to have faith in the spiritual heros of the Vedic literature, who will never disappoint them, and not those manufactured by human society.
When talking with people on my marathon walks, the most important thing on people’s minds was relationships.
If you do not take the time to cultivate a relationship with God, then you will not have that in your next life.
Ego brings us here, and bashing of the ego gets us out of here.
We have to learn to love love and to hate hate.
Life is hard, and if people are not being given the real coping mechanisms, people can fall apart.
Our society is more individualist and self-centered. This ego-based focus is killing us.
I keep my eyes open, and I see a lot of unhappy people out there. They are making so many plans for happiness, but they are not becoming happy. I see Srila Prabhupada has scooped me up and given me a better life, so I want to share that.
Enthusiasm comes from keeping busy in Krishna’s service.
I think I was too fanatical in the beginning, in terms of renunciation, which is natural, but now I do realize that we do have maintain relationships with others, like family members.
Becoming resentful about how someone treated in you in the past is the mode of ignorance. Forgiveness is the mode of goodness. We should go there.
Comments by me:
I have read the Krishna book for the last three Karttikas, and it was a wonderful experience.
The crime article is in Science of Self-Realization, page 174 of the soft edition.
Sometimes I describe the Hare Krishna mantra as protecting us from the materialism that surrounds us. I have got good responses to that.
The devotees of Lord Caitanya see the entire universe as full of happiness: visvam purna-sukhayate.
Sruti Sagara Prabhu:
Radhanath Swami says that Lord Caitanya is in anxiety that people are suffering and wants to distribute love of Godhead. If we take on that anxiety of Lord Caitanya, then He will free us from our tiny anxieties.
Radhanath Swami says that the Rupa and Sanatana Goswami gave up immense wealth, but they got the even greater wealth of Lord Caitanya’s instructions.
Rasika Siromani Prabhu:
As neophytes we are trying to come to a point when we continually experience the taste of bhakti-rasa.
We cannot be partly in Krishna consciousness and a partly in maya. At each moment, we are either in Krishna consciousness or in maya.
Bhakti-yoga lifts you out of the law of karma.
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When we learn how many people were killed in the Battle of Kurukshetra, we may lament, but Bhismadeva explains there is no reason to because those who saw Krishna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra attained their original spiritual forms, which they never would have otherwise.
bhagavati ratir astu me mumurshor
