By Krishna Kripa Das
(Week 36: September 3–9, 2025)
Where I Went and What I Did
The thirty-sixth week of 2025, I participated in NYC Harinam for four hours in the afternoon and evening, as I usually do when I am in New York. Sunday I did a walking harinama around Brooklyn with Arjunananda Prabhu and his Gita Life devotees for about two hours. Monday and Tuesday I was engaged in cooking the evening offerings. I discovered that if I cook the first offering extra early, I could come on 2:23 hours of harinama before returning to the temple to do the transfer and cook the second offering. Then on Tuesday I chanted at Atlantic Avenue / Barclay’s Center for 1:15 hours to bring my average up to 3 hours for the two days. There three people took “On Chanting Hare Krishna” and invitations to our temple programs.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam and Second Chance. I share quotes from Sri Caitanya-bhagavata by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura and its commentary by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I share quotes from the writings of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures by Janardana Swami and Hansarupa, Rama Raya, Shadbhuj Gauranga, Vraja Mohan (of India), and Mathuranatha Prabhus. I share a realization from Bhakta Larry.
Many, many thanks to Atmanivedanta Prabhu for his generous donation. Thanks to Ahaituki Prema Prabhu for the videos and photos of me on NYC Harinam.
Itinerary
September 12–October ??: serve Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
– September 25–26: Philadelphia harinama?
– September 27: Philadelphia Ratha-yatra?
October ??–December 31: NYC Harinam
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York
Piu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/MPODF3ZF1OY):
Keshava Madhava Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/tmXIOU2IgLk):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtu.be/dE1UbUDAiKY):
I also chanted Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtube.com/shorts/CIiSbPC704k):
Here I chant Hare Krishna the next day at Union Square (https://youtube.com/shorts/Szj5KzHxkyw?feature=share):
Sevika Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Union Square (https://youtu.be/cG3tsWBsar0):
Janardana Swami chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/E6iVddEOB_4):
A man dances with two dogs as Janardana Swami chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/QHxpI9_4YRY):
Nakula Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/mAWinrXvDUM):
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/dEfIHJ7dl0Y):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square (https://youtu.be/xiqOcsoil2E):
Mathuranatha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle, and an attender at our programs dances (https://youtu.be/GHjlBRBHBmU):
I also chanted Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle (https://youtube.com/shorts/vUxYy8XuBcM?feature=share):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle, and a passerby plays accordion (https://youtu.be/jm64IabmdwU):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Columbus Circle, and two young women from North Georgia dance as does a local guy (https://youtu.be/wML6ArgjGF0):
Later the young women from North Georgia also began to chant and really seemed to like it (https://youtube.com/shorts/PmM8wPSK2ZQ?feature=share):
The two Georgians met us at Washington Square Park the next day to participate again, but fortunately we had to pack up early because of rain. We invited them to join us at Times Square subway station, but they did not make it.
Mathuranatha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/mRo2sCn8eqo):
Tulsi Rani Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Times Square subway station (https://youtu.be/hvXBo2UyN58):
Michael of Trinidad, now living in Staten Island, has been practicing Krishna consciousness for about a year. Although he knew of temples in Trinidad, he first visited 26 Second Avenue. Why? He said he wanted the first temple he visited to be the temple where it all began!
Michael had the abridged Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita in his hand, so I told him I was meeting the author on Friday. I asked him for a few words about the book, and he replied, “Tell him it is great, and thank him for being alive!”
When I told Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami on Friday, he smiled and laughed, happy to hear it.
Janardana Swami chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON NYC Guru Puja Kirtan (https://youtu.be/Z3wu7N2kigg):
Arjunananda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna with Gita Life devotees on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn (https://youtu.be/CRwy5aFlwXA):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at the ISKCON NYC Sunday evening kirtan (https://youtu.be/6LfIxVrU054):
Hadai Prana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna during Sandhya Arati at ISKCON NYC Sunday feast program (https://youtu.be/DjvPPFMlPIE):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Union Square Park (https://youtu.be/n10TXKESGtE):
Kissen chants Hare Krishna there too (https://youtu.be/9lZVrzmfFKs):
Hadai Prana Prabhu also chants Hare Krishna there (https://youtu.be/trPSI3z179c):
I also chanted at Union Square (https://youtube.com/shorts/M4SSbZ5Me30?feature=share):
Ananya, who studies at the New School in NYC, has Bhagavad-gita and knows of ISKCON from growing up in Dubai. I smiled when I heard her name, and I showed her Bhagavad-gita 11.54 and Bhagavad-gita 8.22, where Krishna uses the adjective “ananya” to describe the unalloyed devotion required to attain Him. She was happy to learn her name appears in the Gita and to find out about the programs we have at ISKCON in Brooklyn and 26 Second Avenue.
Sevika Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Union Square, and a father and kid watch (https://youtu.be/BckTe3exiTo):
Photos
We are excited to have two prasadam options at ISKCON NYC.
I do not like cooking during the time of the harinamas,
but I do like cooking, and this date-cashew halava came out great.
One way to begin to get rid of useless processions,
is to throw out expired health care products.
Especially those over ten years past their expiration date!
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.66, purport:
“Although it is misconceived that formerly the monarchial government was autocratic, from the description of this verse it appears that not only was King Uttanapada a rajarsi, but before installing his beloved son Dhruva on the throne of the empire of the world, he consulted his ministerial officers, considered the opinion of the public, and also personally examined Dhruva’s character. Then the King installed him on the throne to take charge of the affairs of the world.
“When a Vaishnava king like Dhruva Maharaja is the head of the government of the entire world, the world is so happy that it is not possible to imagine or describe. Even now, if people would all become Krishna conscious, the democratic government of the present day would be exactly like the kingdom of heaven. If all people became Krishna conscious they would vote for persons of the category of Dhruva Maharaja. If the post of chief executive were occupied by such a Vaishnava, all the problems of satanic government would be solved. The youthful generation of the present day is very enthusiastic in trying to overthrow the government in different parts of the world. But unless people are Krishna conscious like Dhruva Maharaja, there will be no appreciable changes in government because people who hanker to attain political position by hook or by crook cannot think of the welfare of the people. They are only busy to keep their position of prestige and monetary gain. They have very little time to think of the welfare of the citizens.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.67, purport:
“Modern politicians are not as great as kings like Maharaja Uttanapada, but because they get some political power for some days, they become so much attached to their positions that they never retire unless they are removed from their posts by cruel death or killed by some opposing political party. It is within our experience that the politicians in India do not quit their positions until death.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.31:
[The residents of Hiranmaya-varsa prayed to the Supreme Lord in His form as Kurma:] “Except for a devotee in transcendental consciousness, no one can perceive Your actual form.”
From Second Chance, Chapter 10:
“Due to repeated birth and death in so many material bodies, we have all forgotten that we are part and parcel of God, that we have an intimate relationship with Him, and that somehow or other we have fallen into this material world. It is very difficult to exactly pinpoint the origin of this forgetfulness. But even though we have forgotten Him since time immemorial, Krishna is so merciful that to remind us of our spiritual identity and our oneness with Him as His parts, He comes personally and teaches us what we have forgotten. And when He departs He leaves behind the scripture, especially the Bhagavad-gita, where He requests, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: ‘Please give up all your nonsense and surrender unto Me. I shall give you all protection.’ (Bhagavad-gita 18.66)
“Krishna is the father of all living entities. He is not happy that all these souls in the material world are rotting like hogs. Therefore He sends His representatives. In the case of Lord Jesus Christ, Krishna sent His son. Lord Jesus claimed to be the son of God. Everyone is a son of God, but this son was an especially favorite son, and he was sent to a particular place to reclaim the conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead.
But if the conditioned souls insist on staying here, what can Krishna or His servant do? They allow us to go on with our materialistic activities, because the first condition for getting out of the material prison house is that we must desire to get out. When we finally become disgusted with our predicament, we pray, ‘My dear Lord, I have served lust, anger, and greed for so long, but they are still unsatisfied, and now I have become disgusted with serving them. Now, my dear Lord Krishna, my intelligence is awakened, and I have come to You. Please engage me in Your service.’
“The living entity is the marginal energy (tatastha-sakti) of the Lord, which means he can choose to be controlled by Krishna’s inferior, material energy or His superior, spiritual energy. We devotees have chosen to come to Krishna consciousness. In other words, we have agreed to surrender to Krishna and submit to the protection of His internal, spiritual energy. Surrender to Krishna begins with chanting the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The word Hare indicates the devotional energy of Krishna, Krishna means ‘the all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead,’ and Rama means ‘the Supreme Enjoyer.’”
“But there are many who will not come, because they do not agree to come under the control of Krishna's spiritual energy. But Krishna does not interfere. He says, ‘You may remain in the material world or come to Me—whatever you like.’ We have been given minute independence and the intelligence to discriminate between what to do and what not to do.”
From Second Chance, Chapter 11:
“For example, if one is struggling in the ocean, he must swim through it alone. Although many other men and aquatics are swimming in the ocean, he must take care of himself, because no one else will help him. Therefore this verse indicates that the seventeenth item, the soul, must work alone. Although he tries to create society, friendship, and love, ultimately no one can help him but Krishna, the Supreme Lord. Therefore his only concern should be how to satisfy Krishna—how to surrender to Him and evoke His mercy. That is also what Krishna wants.”
Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
Quoted in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita:
“The religion preached by [Chaitanya] Mahaprabhu is universal and not exclusive. … The principle of kirtan as the future church of the world invites all classes of men, without distinction of caste or clan, to the highest cultivation of the spirit. This church, it appears, will extend all over the world and take the place of all sectarian churches, which exclude outsiders from the precincts of the mosque, church, or temple.
“Lord Chaitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men of India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the Eternal Religion. Lord Chaitanya says in the Chaitanya Bhagwat: “In every town, country, and village, My name will be sung.” There is no doubt that this unquestionable order will come to pass. … Although there is still no pure society of Vaishnavas to be had, yet Lord Chaitanya’s prophetic words will in a few days come true, I am sure. Why not? Nothing is absolutely pure in the beginning. From imperfection, purity will come about.
“Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mridangas, and kartals and raise kirtan through their streets and towns. When will that day come?”
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura:
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.219:
“If one understands the superficial quarrels between Nityananda and Advaita, he will attain supreme happiness.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.251:
[The expression “thumbs up” appears to originate in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya in the mock argument between Advaita and Nityananda.]
“Lord Gauranga laughed on seeing the characteristics of Advaita. Nityananda laughed and displayed His two thumbs pointing up.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 20.39:
“I openly reveal to you that I am eternal, My servants are eternal, and the servants of My servants are eternal.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.214, commentary:
“One who chants the names of Krishna while remaining aloof from attributing false faults in the course of talking about others becomes free from the bondage of material existence. Blaspheming the devotees of Krishna earns one the qualification to enjoy the threefold miseries of material existence.
“When a living entity becomes free from blasphemy of Vaishnavas he attains liberation. The three classes of materialistic people—Mayavadis, karmis, and gross materialists—are blasphemers of Vaishnavas. It is impossible for them to chant the names of Krishna.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.255, commentary:
“Prabhu Nityananda and Prabhu Advaita are the right and left hands of Gaurasundara. Therefore there is factually no possibility of any bad feelings or misunderstanding between Them. Both are intoxicated with love of God.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.259, commentary:
“By the mercy of Sri Baladeva, the teachings of Sri Caitanya are established on the tongues of those who engage in kirtana. Only those who have vowed to serve their spiritual master with awe and reverence are able to glorify the pastimes of Krishna. Suddha Sarasvati, the goddess of transcendental knowledge, dances on their tongues and releases waves of Krishna’s glories.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 20.37, commentary:
“Those who are intoxicated with pride for their own gross or subtle bodies think that the source of all forms is formless.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 20.41, commentary:
“By hearing the qualities, names, and glories of the Supreme Lord, the course of people’s material thought is destroyed.”
From Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 20.53, commentary:
“Having received the mercy of Mahaprabhu, Murari Gupta returned home. Gaura-Nityananda remained present within his heart. The statement, ‘Krishna always resides in the hearts of His devotees,’ is thus confirmed.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Among Friends, Volume 1:
“I am about to give another lecture on ‘Prabhupada Appreciation.’ I see it as Purification. I’m forced to praise he who saved me, he who has never failed me. By giving this class I am uplifted. The rain will beat hard on the tin roof, but we won’t talk about weather. We’ll concentrate on Prabhupada, and that will put us beyond time—praising Lord Krishna by praising His pure devotee.”
“A devotee can feel God’s love, and can sense the Transcendence even as he walks amid groves, hears the streams, and celebrates with the bird songs and spring blossoms.”
“Haridasa Thakura compares the power of the holy name to the sunshine. Before the sunrise takes place, the light of dawn destroys the fear of the dangers of the night. ‘Similarly, even before one’s chanting of the holy name is pure, one is freed from all sinful reactions and when he chants purely he becomes a lover of Krishna.’ Don’t resent even the loveless and mechanical utterances of the holy name. Cry for more, but worship the holy name now, with thanks. Be grateful that the dangers of the night have been replaced by the first glimpse of the holy name.”
“Once one lives in Krishna consciousness, it’s never the same without it. There are many reasons and circumstances which drive a devotee, at least temporarily, away from his basic spiritual practices, and we shouldn’t think that it couldn’t happen to us. Let me sympathize with those who are separated from the Krishna conscious river, and thank Lord Krishna that He has allowed me daily sadhana.”
Janardana Swami:
Srila Prabhupada explains that Krishna does not forget because He does not change His transcendental body.
Some study says one has 22,000 desires each day, but we should have one desire – to please Krishna.
In the spiritual world, even their village talk (gramya-katha) is all about Krishna.
By engaging in sankirtana, by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, we can taste a drop of the hladini, spiritual bliss, that Radharani enjoys at every moment.
Human life is meant to educate us so we go back to the spiritual world where we should eternally be.
If a devotee is always criticizing others, he is performing bhakti in the mode of ignorance.
If a devotee is always concerned to see that he is respected, he is performing bhakti in the mode of passion.
We should perform our bhakti without expectation of material results.
In Vrindavan the people do not care whether Krishna is God or not. They just want to increase their love for Krishna.
We would travel all over the East Coast doing book distribution, and we would always pray to Paramatma, “Please inspire this person to take a book.”
Srila Prabhupada would always encourage devotees to come above the kanistha (neophye) platform to the madhyama platform, because if we come to the madhyama platform it is just a matter of time before we attain the uttama or topmost platform.
Worshiping the deities and guru-seva help us come to the madhyama platform.
Gopal Krishna Goswami said you can tell your spiritual advancement by how many books you have distributed and how many devotees you have made.
Every day you should have harinama, book distribution, and prasadam distribution.
There is no other solution but to continue the process.
There are people who like kirtan but do not chant japa. They may chant very melodiously and attract many people, but it will take those who hear them longer to attain devotional service because of their lack of absorption.
We should beg to chant the holy name purely for the benefit of the people.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would choose the people who were most sincere to lead the kirtan not the most melodious.
If you have material desires, you cannot go out every day.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
If you can surrender to the spiritual master, your life is 100% successful.
What can you do? But if you surrender to the order of the spiritual master, everything is possible.
The highest happiness is the internal satisfaction one attains by devotional service to guru and Krishna. It is not based on external things.
We can practically tell anyone that material life is a complete waste of time.
You are not getting a higher taste because you are still attached to something different from Krishna.
If you have not established that higher taste, that lacking will cause you to go away because the material taste is still fresh in your mind.
If you keep yourself separate from the devotees, maya can easily target you.
If you do not have a close friend in the ashram, you have not taken advantage the opportunity.
We think that maya is in the form of a woman, but she is a shape-shifter, and she has many ways in which she can attract us.
There is a saying “fool around and find out.” We should be beyond that stage.
Srila Prabhupada was from an aristocratic family, and it was rare for people from such families to take sannyasa.
The only way maya can bewilder us is if we let her.
This movement is spreading because it is Lord Caitanya’s desire. We simply have to be sincere and serious.
Srila Prabhupada’s program was that if you miss mangala-arati you fast that day.
Not getting up early may happen occasionally, but it should never become a habit.
Comment by me:
Krishna gives his definition of sannyasa and renunciation at the request of Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita, verse 18.2: “The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call the renounced order of life [sannyasa]. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation [tyaga].”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Two of Srila Prabhupada’s friendliest godbrothers, Sridhara Maharaja and Keshava Maharaja, stayed away from the fighting factions of the Gaudiya Math and created their own spiritual organization in Calcutta and did some preaching together.
Shadbhuj Gauranga Prabhu:
Uttanapada also contributed to Dhruva wanting to go to the forest because he did not protect Dhruva from strong words of Suruci, his wife and the stepmother of Dhruva, as he should have.
It is significant that Uttanapada wanted to make sure that Dhruva was qualified before installing him as the next king.
There is training for doctors and lawyers, but unfortunately there is no training for public leaders, thus whoever who is most ambitious attains positions in government.
The ministers in a Vedic monarchy were familiar with the revealed literature.
In Ramayana Dasaratha asked his ministers if they wanted to Rama to be the next king, and they unanimously agreed to the idea.
If the people are Krishna consciousness they will automatically do whatever is expected of them.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura had to deal with other religious systems unlike earlier saints.
It is said it took Bhaktivinoda Thakura 10 or 15 years to find a copy of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote over 100 books.
Vraja Mohan Prabhu from India:
There is a verse saying that one who sees Lord Vamana on His chariot does not take birth again. Because Lord Vamana did not ride on a chariot that verse is understood to refer to Lord Jagannatha. Of course, all avatars are understood to ride in the body of Lord Krishna, who is Jagannatha.
Often the son does not acquire the qualities of the father, but the grandson does. So it was with Bali Maharaja, who acquired the characteristics of Prahlada Maharaja.
Like Lord Krishna, Lord Vamana appeared with four arms, yellow dress, ornaments, and a crown.
If you do not feel happiness seeing the deity, that means your mind is still very much materially affected. By chanting Hare Krishna that can be rectified.
Although Vamana gave the heavenly kingdom to Indra, He gave Bali Maharaja both Sutala-loka and His personal association.
Although Krishna takes away all the devotee’s possessions, He gives the devotee His personal self.
At Benares there is an entire room dedicated to the books of Jiva Goswami.
Jiva Goswami documented all the holy places in Vrindavan.
A devotee recognizes his mistakes, repents for his mistakes, and rectifies his mistakes.
Mathuranatha Prabhu:
Krishna gives different options to encourage a variety of people in self-realization.
If sense enjoyment is available for hogs and dogs, if we are striving only for sense enjoyment, how are we any better than them?
Every society degrades itself by pursuing sense gratification.
If we are attracted by Krishna, we will not be attracted by Cupid.
By doing dharma, we get economic development, but the difficulty is that once we are economically well situated, we forget about dharma.
Before coming to Krishna consciousness, I tried practicing austerities in the forest to realize my spiritual identity. I found when I had to take care of my body it broke my meditation. I tried to avoid eating as far as possible, but I became weak.
When I encountered prasadam I found I could eat but not fall away from my meditation and lose my spiritual focus.
Comment by me:
Srila Prabhupada also left home before all his children were married as did Dhruva Maharaja’s father. King Anga also left his home and kingdom before his son, Vena, got married.
Krishna says to give up all other dharmas except surrender to Him.
You can have blind faith in God, and you can have blind faith that there is no God, but is better to have realized knowledge of God.
Even on a bus in London some official teaching a new driver his route said to me that people imagine they are going to conquer over nature but in reality they are becoming more entangled.
Bhakta Larry:
From a conversation at the Sunday feast program:
When I give people the temple card, I tell them, “I am not trying to change your religion. I am inviting you to an educational, spiritual experience. Everyone is looking for something. Only you can tell if it is what you are looking for.”
-----
The verse from the final chapter of Bhagavad-gita stresses the importance of taking Krishna’s instructions very seriously and also hearing Krishna’s name very attentively.
mac-cittah sarva-durgani
mat-prasadat tarisyasi
atha cet tvam ahankaran
na srosyasi vinanksyasi
“If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.” (Bhagavad-gita 18.58).
Trav
