Where I Went and What I Did
The forty-eighth week of 2025, I lived at ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn. I chanted Hare Krishna in public with the NYC Harinam party of Rama Raya Prabhu from Monday to Saturday. I was planning to go upstate and serve my Guru Maharaja Sunday and Monday, but because I got sick I stayed in New York City. Instead of chanting in public on Sunday, I rested so I would be able to get well enough to go out the other days. We always chant in the subway stations now because of the cold weather. On Wednesday, we chanted at a station we hadn’t done much for a while, and you could see people were happy to hear us again.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita and The Nectar of Devotion. I share notes on lectures by Jayadvaita Swami, and Arcita, Rama Raya, and Harilila Prabhus.
Many thanks to Yashoda Dulal Prabhu for his kind donation. Thanks to Rama Raya Prabhu for the black seed oil and the oregano oil and to Urugaya Prabhu for the hot tea to help treat my sickness. I did recover.
Itinerary
November 23–January 9, 2026?: NYC Harinam
– December 6: Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Vyasa-puja / Hudson Winter Walk harinama
– January 3: Bhagavad-gita class at 26 Second Avenue
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
Radhika chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/BLCXNAuvQzQ?feature=share):
Narayana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/CuG6GDM_I3o):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and a passerby dances with devotees (https://youtube.com/shorts/6s33CmY7qy4?feature=share):
We hadn’t chanted at this station much for quite some time. I was the first singer. While singing I was noticing how many people were taking photos or videos of our party, and I was amazed to see that in the first 9 minutes of our kirtan 5 people filmed it!
Srikar chants Hare Krishna at Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/jGCvX8RU-k8?feature=share):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/YH8nSM5r9zc?feature=share):
I recall feeling thankful on Thanksgiving that I had some friends to chant with in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/WXGhfS997x8):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtube.com/shorts/DNoSMTsi9Lk):
Ananda Bihari Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/As-YjnbHyMk?feature=share):
Thanksgiving Day is the beginning of the Christmas season, so Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna at Times Square Station to the “Jingle Bells” tune (https://youtube.com/shorts/c7mH-vexHX8?feature=share):
Between the NYC Harinam and the Bhakti Center Thursday Kirtan, Kana Gopal Prabhu and I met this man who had been to (https://youtube.com/shorts/joZiMf3F4Rk?feature=share):
After telling his story he said, “Jaya Prabhupada!” and then departed.
Ananda Govinda Prabhu and friends chant Hare Krishna at the Bhakti Center Thursday Night Kirtan on Thanksgiving (https://youtu.be/g455aqbGHvY):
Some years I’d have a Thanksgiving dinner at Krishna House, other times at ISKCON Alachua, and sometimes at ISKCON NYC. Sometimes someone would invite the NYC Harinam party to a feast. This year Cinmayi Radha Devi Dasi brought us some samosas, which was nice.
I still felt incomplete until I cut out of the Bhakti Center kirtan half an hour early, and the head pujari, Vasudeva Prabhu, gave me this whole plate of Radha Murlidhar maha-prasadam. I was so enthusiastic I finished it all in the three stops on the “F” train to York St.!
I chanted Hare Krishna the next day in Manhattan, and the devotees really got into dancing (https://youtube.com/shorts/Iz3e38XKaEo?feature=share):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtube.com/shorts/y0B_64o-K6Q?feature=share):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtu.be/-M7egoO_NdY):
Varsana Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtu.be/jM_bvLajwJc):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan on Saturday (https://youtu.be/Sn_Ha0Yp_2E):
I watched mangala-arati online because I was sick and planned to the same with the Sunday feast kirtan, but they don’t put it online so I watched it from the balcony, where you get a whole different perspective on it (https://youtu.be/oDefE3KGTSU):
I’ve always loved the Sunday feast kirtan. There is so much joy in it. In 1987 I would drive an hour from Allentown to Philadelphia every week to attend it.
Madhurya Rasa Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and Robert dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/za_RQ4MPhJw?feature=share):
Here is a landscape film of that kirtan (https://youtu.be/GdT79mFuqmA):
I had seen Robert dancing on harinama before at Columbus Circle, but I never talked to him. Apparently he lives in Westchester, and he met the devotees in Boston. He has an M.A. degree in chemistry. He impressed me by saying he likes the walking harinamas better than the sitting down ones, and he was happy to be added to our “Walking Harinama” WhatsApp group to learn about upcoming ones. I also connected him with the Bhaktivedanta Institute devotees who do science and Krishna consciousness. Beyond that I shared with him my YouTube channel, and he loved it.
Amrita Sagar Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtu.be/016uXU0RO-U):
Photo
Palak paneer was definitely the favorite Indian dish of my mother, Pat Beetle.
Whenever I attain it, I offer some to her photo. I also included some maha pera in a cup. One of the great things about our tradition, is that you can offer food that has been offered to Krishna to departed relatives to improve the quality of their next life, wherever they are.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.35, purport:
“If sometimes Brahma is seen to be bewildered, as in the Tenth Canto he is bewildered by seeing the action of the internal potency, that is for his further advancement in knowledge and transcendental service. Arjuna is found to be similarly bewildered. All such bewilderment of the pure devotees of the Lord is specifically meant for their further advancement in knowledge of the Lord.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.37, purport:
“The Personality of Godhead can be experienced only by His causeless mercy, not by mental speculation or with the help of the material senses. Material senses cannot approach the transcendental understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He can be appreciated only by submissive devotional service when He reveals Himself before the devotee. Only by love of Godhead can one know God, and not otherwise. The Personality of Godhead cannot be seen with the material eyes, but He can be seen from within by spiritual eyes opened by the ointment of love of Godhead. As long as one’s spiritual eyes are closed due to the dirty covering of matter, one cannot see the Lord. But when the dirt is removed by the process of devotional service, one can see the Lord, without a doubt.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.38, purport:
“Spiritual perfection is not limited by material qualifications but is developed by dint of one’s sincere endeavor to render transcendental service. Voluntary endeavor is the only qualification for spiritual perfection. Material acquisitions of wealth or education are not considered.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.41:
“It is the opinion of expert transcendentalists that the ultimate goal of performing all traditional good works, penances, sacrifices, charity, mystic activities, meditation in trance, etc., is to invoke My satisfaction.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.42:
“I am the Supersoul of every individual soul, the supreme director and the dearest of the dear. People are wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies, but they should be attached to Me only.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.42, purport:
“The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, is the dearest of the dear for both the conditioned and the liberated souls. A person who does not know that the Lord is the dearmost object is in the conditioned state of life, and one who knows perfectly well that the Lord is the dearmost object is considered to be liberated.”
“Even the body of the most dear son is no longer attractive as soon as the real living entity is out of the body. Therefore the living spark, or eternal part of the Supreme, is the real basis of affection, and not the body. Because the living entities are also parts of the whole living entity, that supreme living entity is the factual basis of affection for all.”
“In all circumstances one should try to develop love of Godhead, and that will solve all contending problems.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.10.6, purport:
“By advanced knowledge in science and transcendental realization, one can try to control the material energy, which works against our endeavors, and in the modern age advanced material scientific knowledge and penance have played very wonderful roles in controlling the powers of the material energy. Such control of the material energy, however, can be most successfully carried out if one is a soul surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and carries out His order in the spirit of loving transcendental service.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 4.108, purport:
“Those under the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand that His mode of worship of the Supreme Lord Krishna in separation is the real worship of the Lord. When the feelings of separation become very intense, one attains the stage of meeting Sri Krishna.
“So-called devotees like the sahajiyas cheaply imagine they are meeting Krishna in Vrindavan. Such thinking may be useful, but actually meeting Krishna is possible through the attitude of separation taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 37:
“The symptom of ecstatic affection with reverence felt by Bali Maharaja was expressed as follows: ‘My dear Lord, You have simultaneously punished me and showed me Your causeless mercy. My conclusion is that when I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet I shall never be disturbed in any condition of life. Whether You give me the opportunity to enjoy all the yogic perfections or You put me into the most abominable condition of hellish life, I shall never be disturbed.’”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Introduction:
“The real question is, How can we remain unpolluted by material contamination while in the material world? Srila Rūpa Gosvami explains that we can remain uncontaminated while in the world if we simply make it our ambition to serve Krishna. One may then justifiably ask, ‘How can I serve?’ It is not simply a matter of meditation, which is just an activity of the mind, but of performing practical work for Krishna. In such work, we should leave no resource unused. Whatever is there, whatever we have, should be used for Krishna. We can use everything — typewriters, automobiles, airplanes, missiles. If we simply speak to people about Krishna consciousness, we are also rendering service. If our mind, senses, speech, money and energies are thus engaged in the service of Krishna, then we are no longer in material nature. By virtue of spiritual consciousness, or Krishna consciousness, we transcend the platform of material nature. It is a fact that Krishna, His expansions and His devotees — that is, those who work for Him — are not in material nature, although people with a poor fund of knowledge think that they are.”
“There are different stages of devotional service and God realization. Strictly speaking, anyone who accepts the existence of God is situated in devotional service. To acknowledge that God is great is something, but not much. Lord Caitanya, preaching as an acarya, a great teacher, taught that we can enter into a relationship with God and actually become God’s friend, parent or lover.”
“However, Lord Caitanya’s greatest gift was His teaching that Krishna can be treated as one’s lover. In this relationship the Lord becomes so much attached to His devotee that He expresses His inability to reciprocate. Krishna was so obliged to the gopis, the cowherd girls of Vrindavan, that He felt unable to return their love. ‘I cannot repay your love,’ He told them. ‘I have no more assets to give.’ Devotional service on this highest, most excellent platform of lover and beloved, which had never been given by any previous incarnation or acarya, was given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
“We have often heard the phrase ‘love of Godhead.’ How far this love of Godhead can actually be developed can be learned from the Vaishnava philosophy. Theoretical knowledge of love of God can be found in many places and in many scriptures, but what that love of Godhead actually is and how it is developed can be found in the Vaishnava literatures. It is the unique and highest development of love of God that is given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
“Our real love is continuous and unending, but because that love is reflected pervertedly in this material world, it lacks continuity and is inebriating. If we want real, transcendental love, we have to transfer our love to the supreme lovable object — Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the basic principle of Krishna consciousness.”
“Taking the part of Srimati Radharani, Caitanya Mahaprabhu tried to love Krishna as Radharani loved Him. Krishna was always amazed by Radharani’s love. ‘How does Radharani give Me such pleasure?’ He would ask. In order to study Radharani, Krishna lived in Her role and tried to understand Himself. This is the secret of Lord Caitanya’s incarnation. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna, but He has taken the mood and role of Radharani to show us how to love Krishna.”
Jayadvaita Swami:
There are so many movements for equality on the material plane which reflect the desire to see all equally, but because there are genuine material differences they are fooling themselves and others. Only on the platform of the spiritual soul is there actual equality.
One becomes purified by associating with Krishna by chanting Hare Krishna and serving Krishna.
Muci is not just an ISKCON slang term for unclean. It refers to a shoe maker who has to skin animals to make shoes, which is not a very clean activity.
Even the local tough guy at Union Square could see the devotees were doing good for everyone and so was inclined to protect them.
Just to become the friend of the devotees is so fortunate. By becoming the friend of the devotees one becomes a devotee.
By seeing all as servants of Krishna, we automatically see everyone with equal vision.
The same people who want racial and sexual equality want to kill the embryo in the womb because they are not seeing with equal vision.
Vedic culture does not try for equality but inclusivity. The brahmana and the sudra have different roles but both are required.
We can go to all the rallies and promote true equality on the platform of chanting Hare Krishna and distributing spiritual literature.
We strive for the second class platform of devotional service. The first class platform is attained by mercy.
The idea of zero tolerance is not Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is: “Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination. He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” (Bhagavad-gita 9.30–31)
We want to please Krishna not the public.
Arcita Prabhu:
Krishna comes to protect the saints and to chastise the demonic. We have to decide which we want to be.
One who has knowledge knows that he has nothing to renounce.
What do devotees do when they go to hell? They make other devotees.
In Kali-yuga the whole planet is like a bad neighborhood, and thus the demigods do not come here anymore.
Q (by me): How can we feel separation from Krishna if we have never met Krishna?
A: We are part and parcel of Krishna, so the connection is always there. We have just forgotten. In the practice of devotional service, we feel the connection more and more, and thus the possibility of feeling separation becomes a reality.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
At the last Gaura Purinima festival in the Gaudiya Math in 1936 during the presence of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura he looked at the disciples in front of him, focused on Abhaya Caranaravinda and said, “I am making a prediction that one of you, no matter how long in the future, will cross the sea and bring back the world world.”
To figure how to speak to benefit new people is not so difficult, but trying to encourage people who have been devotees many years requires subtlety because these people are special being very dear to Krishna from their long practice.
Harilila Prabhu:
Lord Caitanya liked the Dhruva and Prahlada pastimes because they show how merciful Krishna is and that even a child can achieve His mercy.
Envy prolongs material life.
The Fourth Canto deals only with devotees. There are no demons in the Fourth Canto.
Daksa is a devotee in the mode of ignorance and that envy is removed by heavy punishment.
Dhruva is a devotee in the mode of passion and his envy is removed by austerities under the direction of his spiritual master.
Prithu is a devotee in the mode of goodness, and his little envy of Indra was removed by good instruction.
There are many lessons in the Dhruva pastime.
The first is a lesson in parenting. A parent must be impartial. Suruci suffered because of her partiality.
The next is that you should to go to Narayana for the satisfaction of your desire, and no one else.
Narayana will protect you.
Dhruva was honest, determined, and straightforward.
Narada told Dhruva to do four things: Worship the deity, chant the holy name, perform the yoga system, and meditate on the pastimes of the Lord.
If we are sincere, Krishna will send us the people we need to progress spiritually.
Prabhupada said we cannot do the same austerities of Dhruva, but if we chant sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna, follow the four prohibitions, and strickly accept only prasadam, then we will be successful.
The most important lesson of the Dhruva pastime is to be careful what you desire because you may get it, and then you will have to lament for a long time.
When Dhruva returned from his austerities, he had no envy toward his brother or his stepmother.
Another lesson is that it is important to respectful to everyone because if we offend someone who later becomes a devotee, we will have to suffer for offending a devotee, as did Dhruva’s brother and Dhruva’s stepmother.
Haridaspur, about 30 km from Mayapur, is the place where Haridasa Thakura enlightened the prostitute.
Q (Kana Gopal Prabhu): What is the difference between criticism and correction?
A: Correction is done by one who is an actual authority for the benefit of the person. Criticism is done by one who is not an authority with the envious motivation of showing oneself superior to another. One can ignore criticism or use it as an opportunity to improve oneself.
Doing the needful is the mood of Goloka therefore we should always do the needful.
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I memorized this verse ages ago, but I did not practice it enough and thus forgot it. Now I am rememorizing it. It is the first of a pair of Bhagavatam verses, the first of which deprecates mundane literature and the second of which praises transcendental literature. The second verse is more famous, and I did not forget it. This verse reminds us that spiritually elevated persons shun mundane literature because they have a higher spiritual taste.
na yad vacas citra-padam harer yaso
tad vayasam tirtham usanti manasa
na yatra hamsa niramanty usik-ksayah
“Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.10)
