Travel Journal#10.20: New York City Harinam
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol.1 10, No. 20
By Krishna-kripa das
(October 2014, part two)
New York City Harinam
(Sent from Brooklyn, New York, on December 9, 2014)

Where I Went and What I Did

I continued chanting with the New York City Harinamparty organized by Rama Raya Prabhu in Union Square Park, from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. every day. Prahladananda Swami, who plays leadership roles in the Sannyasa Ministry and the Health Ministry, came and chanted on harinama with us one day as well lecturing at our ashram. He also engaged me in proofreading his book, Hope This Meets You in Good Health, about health and spiritual life, which took almost all my extra time. We celebrated Govardhan Puja both at the Harinam Ashram in the morning and Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn in the afternoon. Mijal, a student at New York Film Academy, attended both festivals, filming for a final project, a documentary on Mathura-prana Krishna Das, a New York Harinam Party devotee, and his transition from being an average American youth to a Hare Krishna monk. We also attended a festival at 26 Second Avenue on Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day. Finally, ending the month, on Halloween a few costumed onlookers participated with us by dancing.‘’

I share just a few Prabhupada quotes as I was busy proofreading this month and just a few quotes from the journal of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share interesting points made by Prahladananda Swami in his lectures and remembrances from a ceremony onSrila Prabhupada’s disappearance. The rest is the usual nectar from the dedicated devotees at the Harinam Ashram.

Itinerary

December 10 to 20: New York City Harinam
December 21: Albany, New York, with family
December 22 to 30: San Juan, Puerto Rico
December 31 to April 2015: Florida (Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Tampa)

Union Square Harinamas

As usual I show photos and videos, and tell stories from our chanting party in Union Square.

Like always,kids played the shakers with us.



 So did young adults.


In fact, once a family of four all played shakers.


Isaiah inspired one lady to dance.

We continued offering lamps to Damodar and inviting people to offer prayers. 


Radha Gopinath dd, who was visiting from the Baltics, chants with great intensity.

She inspired devotees and onlookers to dance and people to stop and watch, as you can see in these videos clips (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGerEnGdI0xKU1H-hZWuLoO30o8cnG6Ou):




Occasionally famous people interact with the devotees. Here Alec Baldwin and his family leave after a brief visit. Previously he got a Krishna book from our table. 
 

His wife, Hilaria Thomas, waved to us.

Persons famous within the Hare Krishna movement also visit.

Here Prahladananda Swami shares his transcendental bliss with us.

Satyaraj Prabhu, who has written many books and articles on Krishna consciousness, talks with Braja-raja Dasa at our book table. He comes by several times a month for an hour or so.



On Halloween some costumed people danced with us.

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the attachment between male and female is said to be a cause of bondage to this material world. There is even a phrase “maithunya-agara,” or the shackles of sex life.

Thus when I saw this Halloween costume, I could not help but ask the couple if I could take a picture of them.

As I walked through Union Square Park, a young man asked if I was a spiritual person. I did not want to be so bold as to say I am a “spiritual person” so I just said I was trying to advance spiritually. He asked for some jewels of wisdom. I quoted “trnad api sunicena . . .”, explaining that one who is more humble than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree can chant the holy name of the Lord always. He said with conviction that amazed me, “That is most certainly true.” I gave him a mantra card and encouraged him to try chanting Hare Krishna and experience the purifying effects on his mind.

Uncommon Encounter on Harinama at Jackson Heights

One man who was 65 years old and had some devotion for and faith in the Christian tradition talked with me while I was distributing Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasure on harinama in Jackson Heights. He was aspiring for conjugal love with a woman at that advanced aged. I explained to him that in our tradition the final quarter of life was simply meant for focusing on reviving our relationship with God and experiencing a higher spiritual pleasure. As he was not interested in changing his religion, I suggested he find some Christian monks that were so absorbed in spiritual pursuits that they could transcend the need for male-female relationships and learn from them how they did it. He thought that made a lot of sense and considered it providential that he met me. I spoke to him in that way, as I could not imagine Srila Prabhupada encouraging such an elderly gentleman in pursuing male-female relationships. When Mukunda’s wife had left him, Prabhupada discouraged him from marrying again, although he was quite a bit younger than sixty-five.I do not ever recall Srila Prabhupada advising an older man to get married.

Govardhan Puja

At the Harinam Ashram we had an incredibly lively Govardhan Puja festival in the morning. Natabara Gauranga Prabhu encouraged all the devotees to make sweets for the hill. Rama Raya Prabhu’s Govardhan-sila was the center of attention. I got to polish His silver paraphernalia. The chanting and dancing around the hill reached a level of ecstasy far above our normal daily kirtana. Neighboring devotees, like Michael Collins, came and took part. It kept going till almost 11:00 a.m. but the late breakfast was quite a feast.

Natabara Gauranga shared this photo of the event with the following caption:


“Our Giri Govardan: Orange Cherry Halava mountain (me), Besan Ladoo boulders (Braja-raja Dasa), Mango Sweet Rice Radha and Shyam Kunds (Madhavi), Paneer and Pepper Pakora animals and Green Chutney grass (Bhakta Max), Cookie dirt (Ananta Das Sacasa), Saffron Coconut Burfi (Krishna-kripa Das), Rice, Bean Soup, Mashed Taters, Ginger Mint Tea morning Bhoga offering (Rachel), Gulab Jamun Manasi Ganga kund (me). It’s so nice that in the spirit of Harinam (which means working together to glorify Krsna) the New York Harinam Yatra Dham devotees could all come and work together to put together such a nice offering on this auspicious day.”

During the previous week or so, I invited many people who were attracted to our chanting in Union Square to the Govardhan Puja festival at Radha Govinda Mandir. One hippie couple came and loved the mood and the spiritual food. 


Mijal and her partners on her documentary project also came and got some nice film of the colorful hill of spiritual food and the altar of Radha Govinda, and Their colorfully dressed devotees.

Mijal’s Documentary on the Transition of a Hare Krishna

Seeing the devotees chanting of Union Square, New York Film Academy student, Mijal, enrolled in a course on documentary, decided to make them the topic of two of her projects. 



While interviewing the devotees, Mijal found Mathura-prana Krishna das to have the most fascinating history, and for her final project topic, chose his transition from being a typical American youth to being a Hare Krishna monk. She spent many hours filming and more editing. I hope you enjoy the video (http://youtu.be/oSZvsqUv-jM):


To see the pictures I took but did not include in this blog, click on the link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103872792410945983719/TravelJournal1020?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNLpyreYxq3NwgE&feat=directlink

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

Letter to Rayarama Dasa on March 6, 1969:

“Keep your health on good condition and work very hard for Krishna. That is our motto of life.“

Conversation in New Vrindaban on June 26, 1976:

“You must ask them what they need and provide them. Because they do not say, you’ll also keep silent. That’s not good. Every month they must be asked what they need. Necessities, they must be supplied. We have already discussed this point, the women; they require protection, children, and women.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

from “Poem for October 20” in Viraha Bhavan:

“If we are submissive to guru and Krishna, the possibilities are ‘unlimited.’”

from “Poem for October 30” in Viraha Bhavan:

“I called out to Krishna for His blessing because I am powerless to do japaon my own endeavor.”

from “Poem for October 31” in Viraha Bhavan:

“I pray that Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna accept me as I am or correct me if I am wrong.”

Prahladananda Swami:

Krishna is very balanced. He says positive things and negative things.

We may have so many material perfections, but we still have to die. We are eternal so we do not have to die just to experience another life of miseries.

The government, instead of protecting people, is putting them into fear.

Comparing our small span of life to that of Lord Brahma, we can see that we are on the verge of death.

All people are serving their dead material bodies, and therefore, they are actually the greatest idol worshipers.

We do not feel we need Krishna or need His protection. We are happy enjoying the material world. People wonder when the iPhone 6 will come instead of when they will attain liberation or attain the spiritual world.

In Kali-yuga there are sudras [working class people] who live for sense gratification and vaisyas [businessmen] who live to exploit them. Our leaders are blind because they are illusioned by sense gratification.

Job security is a top priority among workers. If we seek the eternal that is real security.

Our life is like a horror story. It may seem like a romance or a comedy, but ultimately it is a horror story.

By following the instructions of Krishna’s representatives we can attain real security. Realizing that Krishna is our only shelter and goal leads us to perfection.

Because of refusal to accept Krishna as the proprietor we are put into illusion.

Srila Prabhupada said if you are in the mode of goodness and thinking you are happy in this material world, you are in ignorance.

Ghosts are frustrated because they have no gross body and cannot fulfill their desires. Imagine being hungry for hundreds of years!

The more we understand that Krishna is our only shelter the more we will take shelter of Him.

We think that when we get everything we need, then we will get Krishna, instead of thinking if we get Krishna we will get everything.

Q: Is it possible to be inattentive [when chanting] if we have faith in Krishna.
A: No.

A rich man in Dallas had 16 billion dollars back in the 1970s. An interviewer asked him what he wanted, and he replied, “More money.”

We do not see philanthropists dancing in the street. Altruism does not satisfy our loving propensity like loving Krishna. Krishna can perfectly reciprocate our love.

The main austerity to focus our attention on Krishna. If you do that you will experience Krishna’s reciprocation. If we focus our attention on Krishna and sacrifice for Him, His reciprocation will satisfy our loving propensity.

Remembering Krishna means to remember who Krishna actually is, the supreme controller, and not thinking of him like a cartoon character.

Bhagavad-gita10.9 speaks of (1) tusyantiand (2) ramanti.The first is liberation.

First we come to the level of Brahman, but we do that through the process of devotional service.

Because we are infinitesimal spiritual souls we tend to take shelter of something, and conditioned souls take shelter of the body. We must be convinced that we have to take shelter of Krishna. Although it is a bad shelter, people take shelter of the material energy because they know of no other shelter. By knowing Krishna’s glories, we can be inspired to take shelter of Him.

Yasoda has no need to take shelter and thus she does not need to know His glories.

We take shelter of Krishna by surrendering our activities unto Krishna and becoming instruments in His sankirtana movement.

When Srila Prabhupada visited Boston, he said in the presence of his disciple Purusottama, “I pray to Krishna every day to protect me from maya.”

Our little love for Krishna is our endeavor.

At asaktiwe have no other shelter than Krishna.

It is not a matter of binding Krishna or churning butter, but it is an intensity of love that is significant about Mother Yasoda.

There is no faster way than doing your sadhana and preaching to others.

When Krishna sees that we are sincere, He will enlighten us from within.

Other paths are not possible in this age because the material energy is very powerful and we are very susceptible to it.

If we take our spiritual practice seriously, Krishna will help us take it more seriously.

If we desire mercy, Krishna will give us mercy. That anxiousness to get Krishna’s mercy is essential to advancement.

All our acaryas [previous spiritual masters in the lineage] took up the practice of preaching.

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura talks of steadiness of mind, body, and speech, that is, how easy it is to remember Krishna, how easy is avoid engaging the senses in their objects, and how easy it is to avoid talking nonsense.

Abhiram Prabhu:

Jaipur is the most exalted city in the world. There the aristocratic people walk 3 or 4 miles barefoot to the Govindaji temple on their way to work and bow down to Govindaji. Then after work, they stop at the temple and offer obeisances to Govindaji on the way home.

Vishnujana Swami and Tamal Krishna Goswami loved each other like brothers, but they were completely different. Vishnujana was very ecstatic – “Krishna Krishna!”, and Tamal Krishna Goswami was very practical. To see the beauty of their relationship would inspire people to become devotees.

We are proud thinking that we can destroy the earth, but at the end of the age when Kalki kills the degraded rulers and their followers, the planet is restored and in just a few hundred years the golden age is fully manifest.

Our materialistic enjoyment is like the excitement a cockroach feels when he finds a crumb in the darkness, and yet we glorify it and write books about it. This is because we are unaware of the beautiful pastimes of Krishna.

Krishna’s creation of the universe is just like a dream for Him. His pastimes in Vrindavan are what actually absorb Krishna.

If a child leaves home the parents may engage another child in encouraging the wayward
child to return. The guru is like the child sent to bring his wayward brother home.

Sadhana is like an all day prayer.

Mastering is sleep is more difficult than mastering sex as we can see from our ashram life.

The pastimes are not performed to impress us but are the actual activities of the spiritual world where the Lord enjoys these relationships with His devotees.

Krishna creates a situation whereby Mother Yasoda is fully engaged in serving Him in a variety of ways.

Krishna feeds the monkeys who are mischievous like Himselfand who He feels camaraderie with.

We would be fortunate to be cursed to be born in the courtyard of Nanda and be liberated by Krishna.

Dipavali is the day Yasoda bound Krishna in addition to being the day Rama returned to Ayodhya.

There is American Indian creation story in which a tortoise carried the world on its back. Perhaps they heard from sages the story of Kurma.

“Myth” just means a story that is passed down, not a story that is fictional.

In Kerala the carpenters sing songs that describe procedures and measurements in their construction.

Scientists can gather very little knowledge about the world from their sense perception, even when it is extended through microscopes or telescopes. Then when they get a new piece of information in this way, they have to rework all their theories based on the old information.

The real meaning of darsana is to report to the Deity. “This is what little I could do for you. Please accept it.”

Neophytes tend to misunderstand the philosophy and when many neophytes get together they can misunderstand it in big way.

Srila Prabhupada told Tamal Krishna Goswami when he was going to leave this world, “See that Abhiram is not lost. I have spent so much time training him.” So Prabhupada created this siksa relationship with Tamal.

The older devotee who would distribute caranamrita in Vrindavan for years, Vibhu Caitanya Prabhu, when Srila Prabhupada heard him singing in the pujari room said, “that is pure chanting.”

Our formula for Krishna prema[love of God] is trnad api sunicena . . . [to become humble and tolerant, offering all respects to others yet not seeking respect in return].

Jaya Tirtha was a good preacher but never was able to follow the strict discipline of bhakti-yoga. Later he got into other difficulties and eventually went mad before his unfortunate death being decapitated by a disciple. It was this and other incidents in my 45 years as a devotee that inspire to me to follow the path as strictly as I can.

Vishnujana Swami came with a party of seven devotees to my temple in Miami. The next year Tamal Krishna Goswami joined him, and he returned with a party of thirty.

There was wisdom in keeping untrained or unclean people away from the temple worship, but Lord Caitanya through his sankirtana process purified such people, so to not allow Westerners into Hindu temples is an antiquated idea.

Originally the Hare Krishna devotees were not allowed in any temples in India. The Sankaracarya of Srngiri Matha, considered the major center for Hinduism, tested the devotees in their understanding of Hindu philosophy and culture, and he wrote a letter saying they were qualified to perform all Hindu sacrifices.

In Bhagavad-gita, Krishna takes a lot of time to convince Arjuna’s intelligence.

The stone of Govardhan is different from that of the rest of the neighboring areas. The intensely heavy rock which goes deeply into the earth cools the area so it is the hottest region that is continuously inhabited.

Marx’s analysis of the defects of capitalism was correct. You end up with a few people getting rich and many being exploited.

Like a rich man can bring an associate into an exclusive club where he is a member, the spiritual master can bring his disciple to the spiritual world.

The devotees love Krishna and they also love the other devotees, and Krishna loves all the devotees, so that is the spiritual world.

How great Krishna is that He is surrounded by so many great devotees.

Krishna is fully absorbed in interacting with you, and at the same time, He is absorbed in interacting with everyone else.

To understand the Vaishnava is not possible. He is someone who owns Krishna because of his love.

Although Srila Prabhupada was strict about temple standards and would stress them, when someone who had difficulty was at the point of leaving, he felt for them and begged them not do go.

Because the communist Soviet Union tried to oppress the Hare Krishnas more and more, the reaction was that the Hare Krishna movement spread there more and more.

Although the grandfather loves his own children, the grandfather has special affection for his grandchildren. Similarly Srila Prabhupada has special affection for his granddisciples.

Prabhupada made Tamal Krishna Goswami like an extension of his own self. There is no devotee who was able to surrender so much to executing Srila Prabhupada’s will. Whatever he did, he did with full commitment and excellence. One international journal that published Ph.D. theses published three of his papers as an undergraduate.

Time has no meaning to our spirit self because it only effects the atoms in our body.

Yasoda is so pure in heart she can realize who is the most wonderful person in the creation and love Him.

The most powerful force in the world is bhaktibecause it can bind Krishna. The love the bhakti-yogihas for the Lord drags him past all material obstacles.

Bhakti-yogaharnesses our actual nature which is to love, and the practice and the goal are the same.

Krishna’s pastimes are all within the Hare Krishna mantra.

The devotees naturally get together around their natural interest of serving Krishna.

That many people do not want to join us is evidence that we have a long way to go.

We do not aspire to become Mother Yasoda but to glorifyMother Yasoda’s service.

When you see those old broken people, think that there but for the grace of God there go I.

Lord Caitanya flew in the face of Hindu pride by making Haridas Thakura who exemplified the yuga dharma, the chanting of the holy name, take birth in a Muslim family.

A Srila Prabhupada disciple whose name I did not know:

Srila Prabhupada rushed by me at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. saying, “I made a mistake. I forgot my book.” Thus I learned Srila Prabhupada was human, but it endeared me to him even more.

He would say, “Use your common sense, and if you have none ask someone who does.”

Laksmi Nrsimha Prabhu:

As I approach Srila Prabhupada’s age, I am even more impressed with what he was able to accomplish at such an advanced age.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said in this age the advanced devotees show their spontaneous devotional service by engaging many other people in devotional service.

Srila Prabhupada created and maintained a worldwide movement and yet retained the ability to deal personally with all kinds of people in a loving way.

I saw Srila Prabhupada Nov. 1 or Nov. 2 [1977] and he left this world on Nov. 14. He was so weak they had to roll him over to talk to me. I was thinking, “What I am doing here?” He wanted to talk to me because he was interested in loving exchanges and I was managing his temple in Puerto Rico. He asked me about it, and I told him many things. I told him the weather was like Hawaii, and I invited him to come. He said, “I will come to your East Coast Hawaii.” In January of 1978 a crate arrived. We picked it up and brought it to the temple and unpacked it. It was the first Srila Prabhupada murtiin ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada had given permission to a weak devotee who loved him very much to have carved and keep with him.

Srila Prabhupada expressed his desire that we distribute books. And we did it out of love. Not that he forced us.

The acaryas say that the two fingers too short mean one karma and one jnana. Unless one’sdevotion is free of these we cannot grasp Krishna.

One goswami explains that lila and be broken into two syllables “li” and “la”. “Li” means to accept. “La” means to embrace. Krishna accepts the embrace of the gopis.

The devotee is happy to do his spiritual activities anywhere despite the external situation.

One cannot take to any yoga without realizing this world is full of suffering and real pleasure exists elsewhere.

If you act compassionately you will come to feel compassionate.

Bhumipati Prabhu:

We should not think Srila Prabhupada gave anything different thanLord Caitanya gave.

We should take fully advantage of Krishna consciousness because our human life is so short.

Once a person told Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura he was a servant of Rama. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura asked him under whose direction he was serving Rama. He said he was directly serving Rama. Later Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura mentioned that the person had an improper mentality thinking he could serve Rama directly.

Rama Raya Prabhu:

If we are not into seeing the beautiful pastimes of the Lord in Vrindavan, we will become absorbed in seeing the imperfect imitations of thesepastimes in this world in mundane movies, books, dramas, etc.

Krishna said he would wear shoes only if each of His many thousands of cows were also given shoes.

Srila Prabhupada says that Krishna is never described as jnani vatsalaor karmi vatsala [having parental affection for the mental speculators or fruitive workers] but only bhakti vatsala [having parental affection for his devotee].

Srila Prabhupada explained that when he had that heart attack in 1967 that it was his time to leave. Krishna wanted him back thought that he had done enough. Srila Prabhupada instituted the chanting of the Nrsimha prayers and had the devotees pray “our master has not finished his work.”

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakuratells the story of the wise old monkey. The monkey used to perform for the king and were taken care of almost like princes. They were enjoying life. See at http://www.dandavats.com/?p=3534&paged=7

One devotee, who used to travel the carnival circuit before becoming a devotee, wanted to travel all over to do sankirtana, but when he came to New York, he realized so many people are there he did not need to travel anywhere. Being in New York, we are like the python who waits for food to approach his mouth. People from all over the world come here.

The best way to celebrate these festival days is to do harinama sankirtana.

Harinama sankirtana and book distribution nourish each other. Neither should be considered more important. Harinama creates an interest in reading the books. Reading the books creates an appreciation of the value of harinama.

Srila Prabhupada said distribute as many books as you can all over the world and this Krishna consciousness movement will expand automatically.

We must have Krishna in order to give Him. Thus when the guru orders us to give Krishna to others, he is giving Krishna to ourselves.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says the greatest devotional act is to chant the holy name for the benefit of others.

I dream of having 10,000 or 20,000 devotees, 200 or 400 groups of fifty devotees chanting in different places in New York City.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says Lord Caitanya is like a hammer that smashed the mad dog of Kali-yuga.

Srila Prabhupada credited his success to the fact that he just tried to present what his guru had given.

If we are clear enough and intense enough, people will be able to understand.

When we call out to Krishna together, we are inspired by the others and we all come to a higher level.

A good kirtana leader is a leader in pure devotional service not just a good musician.

-----

naca, gao, bhakta-sange kara sankirtana
krishna-nama upadesi’ tara’ sarva-jana

“‘My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing sankirtanain association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting krishna-nama, for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.’” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.92)

Family Day At Sri Jagannatha Mandir, Kuala Lumpur
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY NAVAKISHORA GOPINATH DASA

KUALA LUMPUR - SJMKL Patron Board is pleased to invite all congregation members to a Family Day carnival at Bukit Jalil International Park on Sunday, 14.12.2014 @ 8.30am. Special breakfast and lunch prasadham shall be provided. Bhajans and Group Japa Session will be conducted at Bukit Jalil.
 
Exciting games, lots of fun activities for all!
Let’s see who is the strongest and mightiest of them all – [Tug of war] - … OR
The nimblest of them all – [Futsal] - … OR
The smartest of them all – [Treasure Hunt]... and more excitements await your participation. Games and activities not to be missed out for children too … 
 
So come to SJMKL as usual for Manggala Arathi and after Guru Puja and bhajan we shall adjourn to Bukit Jalil at 8.00am. Change into sports attire, Register yourself / your family and let’s get the ball rolling …

If Krishna’s Name Approaches Your Mouth…
→ The Enquirer

If Krishna’s Name Approaches Your Mouth…

“Oh, it is amazing!” Devahūti exclaimed to Kapila, “If your precious name comes even to the tip of anyone’s tongue, even a barbaric dog-eater, that person becomes the most respectable guru! Those who embrace your beloved name have successfully completed all self-disciplines, sacrificial rituals, sacred baths, and studies of divine wisdom. They have surpassed all the evolutions available in even the most advanced human culture.”

— Śrīmad Bhāgavata 3.33.7

aho bata śva-paco ’to garīyān
 yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam
tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā
 brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te


ISKCON Scarborough devotees attend the 3 day Deity Worship Seminar in New Vrindavan
→ ISKCON Scarborough



Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!


Nine ISKCON Scarborough devotees attended the 3 day Deity worship Seminar in New Vrindavan (West Virginia) from Dec 5th to Dec 7th 2014

ISKCON Scarborough devotees with HG Malati DD and HG Jayananda prabhu



Here is an article from www.planetiskcon.com about the recent Deity Worship Seminar

New Vrindaban Hosts Its Second Deity Worship Seminar
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit


By New Vrndavan, USA ( December 9, 2014 at 6:00 am) · Filed under Uncategorized

Sunday morning, Dec. 7, was the last day of the Deity Worship Seminars here in New Vrindaban. This was the second Deity Worship Seminar taught by His Grace Jayananda prabhu in New Vrindaban. Jayananda explained, “We did a very short seminar last year, but we wanted to increase the depth of this seminar. So this weekend we offered a full 20 hours of study. It was very detailed but it is going well.” ISKCON Deity Worship Minister for North America Jayananda is a disciple of Bhakti-Tirtha Swami, and was trained in Deity Worship at the Mayapur Academy in West Bengal.


The 26 participants, from such places as D.C. and Potomac, MD, and including New Vrindaban’s pujaris, learned about how the Lord is present in His deity form, as well as the goal and proper mood of deity worship, dressing, mantras, mudras and festival abhisheks.





Jayananda prabhu, carefully trained in all aspects of Deity worship, leading the seminar in NV.


One pujari gentleman from the Washington, D.C. area said, “These workshops are reinforcing many things I’ve already learned in deity worship, plus I’m learning so many new things. Plus, I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit New Vrindaban! It’s beautiful here!”


One pujari woman told us, “Jayananda prabhu is very approachable, and easy to understand. He makes these seminars very clear to everyone. I appreciate that. We can even ask him about any Deity issues we have, and he seems happy to help.”


Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban included spiritual education, focused on loving Krsna, as one of the 5 main goals for this community. The association of the devotees, focused around important Krsna conscious themes, such as proper deity worship, is the life of a devotee. New Vrindaban is looking forward to hosting many more such programs in the future.





An attentive crowd listens carefully.





Over 25 devotees attended.

The path of the heart
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 September 2014, Scottburg, South Africa, Youth Programme)

KC_wallpaperIf we walk the path of the heart, the path that we really believe in, then our life is a LIFE! When we walk the path that everyone expects us to walk and that others have thought out for us, we may walk it, but we may never be happy.

Idealism begins there – to walk the path of the heart. That is good. But we are all individuals. I chose a somewhat colorful way of life; others may choose something different. Still, if we choose an ideal, then we take life to another level.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s Disappearance Day — He LIves Forever
Giriraj Swami

Srila_Bhaktisiddhanta_Sarasvati_with_booksToday is the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, our Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master. As Srila Prabhupada explained to us, “Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura came in this world to execute the mission of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So he executed it. And when it was required, he left this place and went to another place to do the same business.

At Radhakund, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta instructed Srila Prabhupada, “I had a desire to print some books. If you ever get money, print books.

And in his dedication to his translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “To Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, my spiritual master. . . . He lives forever by his divine instructions, and the follower lives with him.”

So, they are together eternally, and by their grace, we can also live with them.

—Giriraj Swami

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014
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Santa Clara, Cuba
 
Rough Sleep
 
 
Sleep was rough. Without a fan running at night, mosquitoes harass you like anything yet the propellers brought on a cough that persisted. Secondly, like the cars in Cuba, mattresses haven’t evolved in sixty years. The mattresses are still stuffed with springs that somehow brace one or two of your ribs. Ouch!
 
It was the second consecutive night of sleep discomfort. Room-partner, Sahil, took sick the night before, renouncing all he consumed for the whole day. “Use the toilet to do that, not the sink, please, Sahil!” I really did feel for him.
 
An hour drive took us to Santa Clara after a great two hour walk from Rodas’ precincts into country territory. Common imagery are, once again, horses and now cowboy hats.  Farmers take to the fields of sugar cane, greens, orchards, beans and rice.
 
Our small contingent of Canadian monks were walked to our first venue in Santa Clara for speaking at, “Sol Teatro” off of a pedestrian-friendly street called Boulevard.  Favourable responses came from all. Cubans love kirtan. Sahil, now feeling better, was at his optimum on the drum. Hayagriva mentioned that he was impressed by the youth attendance as well as the repeat presence by people from last year.  Some have taken now to japa chanting and in the kirtan everyone has their moment to dance up a storm in the centre of our formed circle.
 
The final stop for today was at the Theosophical Society centre. This was a mature group of folks. The president, vice-pres., secretary, treasurer and members made it a point to come. Most of the group are familiar with Krishna’s teachings, most appeared to be firm believers in the soul’s transmigration. Chanting came natural to them. The only thing that appeared “new” was having a swami to visit them. I told them I’ll be happy to come again next year.
 
Adios!
 
May the source be with you!
 

10 KM

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014
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Rodas, Cuba
 
More Pretty Than A Car
 
 
A horse is always more pretty than a car. Even if it is a souped-up ‘55 two-tone white and green Chevrolet, our first leg conveyance en route to small town Rodas. Still couldn’t match the beauty of the more dominant horses pulling buggies.
 
Our monastic team took advantage of the beach at Varadero, in ocean-splashing-fun before embarking on our ride to Rodas. There, we indulged in an explosive kirtan followed by a Q & A session.
 
Q: “How do we, in Cuba, develop a strong devotional community?” asked one of the local devotees of Krishna.
 
A: Success in this area will depend on strong relationships. There are four major categories of people that we need to cultivate relations with. The four categories to consider are: 1) Superiors referring to God, guru, elders, parents and mentors. 2) Peers refers to friends, equals in realization or age. 3) Innocents refers to children, students and the inquisitive. 4) The inimical refers to those most uninclined towards spiritual life. They may even have a highly critical nature.
 
I explained how each category be approached in their own unique way. Above all it is highly important to view everyone, from the bigger picture, as an equal spiritually but, for practical reasons, distinctions must be made.
 
More questions ensued, all with insight. Yes, it was a good evening. It was by our calendar, that we were compelled us to honour “Gita Jayanti”, the anniversary of when Krishna spoke the Gita. Today was also an ekadasi, a day to relax the stomach from consuming grains. Finally, we were in relatively quiet Rodas, where horse-drawn carts out-populate autos. Such a place can’t be all bad.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
4 KM

Monday, December 1st, 2014
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Varadero, Cuba

 

We Are Here

 

“Try this mantra which helps to get your mind off of materialistic things,’’ said Hayagriva to the fellow in the car. It was he, the fellow, who was curious when he drove up to where we were ambling along and then who asked what we were all about.

 

‘’If I try this mantra and it doesn't work, I’ll come back to see you then, okay?”

‘’Surely!’’ said Hayagriva reassuringly and with an ounce of humor. The man then took off in a blast of diesel exhaust, as is common enough, even in the more posh resort areas of Cuba.

 

Hayagriva, Brihat and I took a two hour jaunt near the peninsula’s end, on the conventional side-walk parallel to the road which accesses all the resorts frequented by South-Americans, Germans, Russians, British, Canadians, just about everyone to the exception of U.S. Citizens. Double-decker buses whiz by and then retard speed to full stops along the way. I’ve been noticing tourists finding a three-some brigade of monks to be met with inquisitiveness.

 

Of course, we are not just here, in Cuba, to relax. We are in this intriguing country to strike up sparks of interest. Conversation is what we thrive on. Being that it is a day off (no speaking engagement today) we’ve left ourselves to be servants of a world of adventure, discovering that inner contentment is indeed sought after.

 

While the interaction with tourist is not just our prime goal in Cuba, we focus primarily on the sharing of the bhakti path to local residents, and those who have already begun the process previously. We are here to nurture and to be nurtured through the pure act of sharing something most worthwhile.

 

May the Source be with you!

 

9 KM

Sunday, November 30th, 2014
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Habana, Cuba

 

The Way It Is

 

A librarian, Ariel, accepted the name Agni at his initiation today.  There was also Rahul who received the name Ramachandra (via Hridayananda Goswami) and the massage therapist, 23-year old Elvis, took the name Ekanath.

The Krishna community here in Habana was very happy for them.  They could appreciate the achievement.  The joy of community and initiate-recipients was expressed through the dance and mantra after the fire ceremony held in a generous woman’s apartment. 

Not everyone can own a car in Cuba.  At average, 20-30 dollars a month, it’s virtually impossible.  Being that the way it is, a good heap of attendees walked the 5 KM to and fro.  Certainly an event like a (havan) fire ceremony takes on a more traditional flavour when you walk to it.  Another advantage - people are outdoors.  They get to see you and you, them.

I was particularly keen on this response from the public which always gives me a big thrill, especially at our return to Riu resort in Varadero. 

In the relaxed atmosphere, the pop-over and questions didn’t stop.  Just as one curious browser would leave, another would come. Their question period was never long enough to go deep into a subject matter. The best of the bunch was a happy-go-lucky chap from Toronto, perhaps in his late sixties.

“What are you doing here?  I see you at Yonge and Bloor all the time,” he remarks about my frequent walks there in Toronto. He was less interested in my lifestyle in place of his own I guess. This is not as a judgmental remark but he really did brag about the cigars he smokes. 

“Great, but I stay away from the stuff,” I told him. “I don’t and I’m doing pretty good,” the man said in all smiles. 

As I close today’s blog entry I just wanted to reveal a true smile-maker.  Our new initiates and companion-monks from Canada sat together to memorize a verse from the Gita in Sanskrit whose translation goes as follows, “Even if you are habituated to erroneous deeds, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.”  (4.36)  This might even apply to the cigar man.

May the Source be with you!

14 KM

Nandagram and Vrindavan retreat 2014 (Album 150 photos) Srila…
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Nandagram and Vrindavan retreat 2014 (Album 150 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Intelligent men decide to solve all problems by adopting the devotional service of chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart and who is a mine of all auspicious qualities. Such persons are not within Yamaraj’s jurisdiction for punishment. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.26 Purport)
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Material Self Knowledge Vs Spiritual Self Knowledge
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A recent article in the Op-Ed of the Dec 8 New York Times entitled  "Know Thy Self - Really"  by Quassim Cassam, philosophy professor  at the University of Warwick, UK., asks “How do you know you believe you are wearing socks?” and explores the conundrum of many philosophy professors that their work is of no relevance to the human condition.   He continues by stating  that “Knowledge of such beliefs is seen as a form of self-knowledge.”

The noble professor tries to elevate the discussion in saying, “What is missing from this picture is any real sense of the human importance of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge matters to us as human beings, and the self-knowledge which matters to us as human beings is substantial rather than trivial self-knowledge. We assume that on the whole our lives go better with substantial self-knowledge than without it, and what is puzzling is how hard it can be to know ourselves in this sense.”

Professor Cassam, however,  sees the question about the socks as trivial self knowledge rather than substantial self knowledge. But real self knowledge can never be trivial. It’s always substantial, because once we understand ‘self’ we can understand our relationship to every thing around us. It’s all about posing the right questions. The Bhagavad Gita explains that we can’t come to self knowledge if we mistakenly think that our mind or our body is the self. In the Gita, Arjuna asks, “What happens to a philosopher who becomes confused or gives up the path of self knowledge. It seems that such a philosopher will achieve neither spiritual nor material success.” Krishna responds, “A philosopher who asks beneficial questions and is engaged in beneficial activities will not meet with failure, for  one who does good is never overcome by evil.” 

At this point Krishna helps us to distinguish between matter and spirit. He explains that we need full knowledge, both physical and metaphysical to draw proper conclusions. And that which is comprised of earth, water, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego make up the lower, material energies.  And the living being, comprised of life force, is part of the superior, spiritual energies. This distinction is a vital step toward self knowledge. We first have to know who the self is and know what the self is not, otherwise all discussions on the topic will be flawed. If I could I  would like to assure the professor that  self knowledge is not as hard to obtain as one might suspect.

“One who understands this philosophy concerning material nature, the living entity and the interaction of the moods of nature is sure to attain liberation.  He will not take birth here again, regardless of his present position.” Bhagavad Gita 13:24

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Harinama and preaching programs in Miami, USA (Album 116…
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Harinama and preaching programs in Miami, USA (Album 116 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Krishna mantra with offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and again. Papa-ksayas ca bhavati smaratam tam ahar-nisam: one becomes free from all sinful reactions if one chants day and night, following the recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.24 Purport)
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Auspicious Opening of the three new classrooms in Sri Mayapur…
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Auspicious Opening of the three new classrooms in Sri Mayapur International Schoo! (Album 18 photos)
By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra without offenses, one increases his love for Krishna. As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, preme pum-artho mahan: one’s main concern should be to increase one’s attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to increase one’s love for Him.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.24 Purport)
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Harinama in Singatoka, Fiji (Album 40 photos) Srila Prabhupada:…
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Harinama in Singatoka, Fiji (Album 40 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the sastras it is said that if a person only once chants the holy name and completely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord immediately considers him His ward and is always inclined to give him protection. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.49 Purport)
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The Art of Kīrtan, Part 1 – Introduction
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The Art of Kīrtan, Part 1 – Introduction

Kīrtan is the central practice of bhakti-yoga, the spiritual path of devotion. Essentially, bhakti-yoga is anukūlyenānuśilana — an expression of affection.

Kīrtan literally means “celebration.” It is a celebration of affection.

The most important, powerful form of kīrtan is nāma-kīrtan, “celebration of a name.” We celebrate the name of the divine beloved, Śrī Krishna, by glorifying it.

Kīrtan and Art

Music is not necessary for kīrtan, which can just as easily be written or spoken as it can be sung. But music is a particularly powerful way of celebrating something, therefore kīrtan is very throughly associated with music.

One need not be a musician to perform kīrtan, one simply needs to have affection that can be expressed in celebration of the beloved, Śrī Krishna. It is not necessary to be “good” at kīrtan, it is necessary to have love for Krishna.

However, the nature of love is that it is beauty. Love is inherently beautiful. Therefore when one celebrates the name of Krishna, it will automatically be beautiful. To make an effort to increase the beauty of ones celebration of Krishna’s name is itself an act of love.

Imitations of beauty will ring as hollow as high heels in a lonely hallway. Beauty comes naturally to one who has true love. And one with true love naturally wants to be as beautiful as possible for the beloved.

Music of Kīrtan

Therefore it is an act of love to learn a bit about the basics of music, and employ that in one’s nāma-kīrtan. The most sophisticated form of music in human history is Indian music. By comparison, western music, even in its high classical form, is very simple and rudimentary. Indian music, being so sophisticated, allows more freedom of expression and has more emotive power than any other system of music. For this reason, we should prefer to learn Indian music theory to make our Kīrtan more beautiful.

Another reason to prefer Indian music is that it is more sattvika. Because it is so sophisticated and subtle it evokes more clarity and pensivity — the character of sattva. Western music theory, by comparison, is inspiring and stirring — the character of rajas. Items of the sattva nature are more amenable to spiritual application.

Another reason to prefer Indian music is that Krishna reveals his personality through the ancient Indian culture. Therefore the ancient Indian culture has a more direct link to the divine svarūpa than any other form of human culture. Since the whole aim of kīrtan is to become closer with Krishna, it makes sense to evoke the musical culture most closely associated with his dhāma-svarūpa.

Simple Stuff

Although the lyrics of Jayadeva’s Gīta-Govinda and similar outstanding poems have been beautifully set to elaborately sophisticated classical Indian music and dance, for the most part nāma-kīrtan uses “folk” principles, relatively simplified aspects of the classical cannon that everyday people can more easily follow and perform.

I will particularly explain the Gauḍiya approach to kīrtan, which is to say the North East (Bengal-area) approach to it.

Basics of Indian Music

Like all forms of music, Indian music has two primary components: rhythm (tāla) and melody (rāga). In the next set of installments in this series I will explain the basics of tāla. After that I will explain the basics of rāga.

When explaining tāla I will first explain how to clap it. Then I will explain how to express a tāla with cymbals (karatāla), and finally I will show some simple beats to go with the simple tāla on the mṛdāṅga drum.


Tasting and Distributing Krsna Consciousness
Giriraj Swami

Devotee_Distributing_BooksOn December 1, in New Dvaraka, Los Angeles, I gave a talk on tasting and distributing Krsna consciousness, in relation to the December book marathon. A transcript follows. . . .

We have again reached December, that most auspicious time of year when the book-distribution marathon takes place. To honor the occasion we shall read two verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam that embody the devotee’s mood in distributing Krsna consciousness.

naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas
tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah
soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-
maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan

“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies, and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.” (SB 7.9.43)

prayena deva munayah sva-vimukti-kama
maunam caranti vijane na parartha-nisthah
naitan vihaya krpanan vimumuksa eko
nanyam tvad asya saranam bhramato ’nupasye

“My dear Lord Nrsimhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Krsna consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.” (SB 7.9.44)

To distribute Krsna consciousness, we must have Krsna consciousness. These verses are about Prahlada Maharaja, and in a way they are also about Srila Prabhupada, who in his purport expressed his own mood—and about us, how Srila Prabhupada wants us to execute Krsna consciousness. Prahlada Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada were on a very high level of Krsna consciousness, but even on our own level we can experience something of what they experienced, that wherever we are we can get relief from material miseries and anxieties by taking shelter of the holy name. We can joyfully chant in the temple room, in the association of devotees, before the Deities, and in the presence of Tulasi-devi—but one can chant anywhere, even on traveling sankirtana. One can close one’s eyes and chant and hear and no longer be in the material world—actually be with Krsna.

Devotees need that connection with Krsna not just for their own sakes but also for the sake of others. Once, in a meeting with Srila Prabhupada in the Atlanta temple, Svavasa Prabhu asked, “How can we increase our devotion and our desire to distribute more books?” He and the other devotees were eagerly anticipating some special formula to expand their book distribution. Srila Prabhupada didn’t look at them; he looked upward, and they waited in suspense. Finally he said, “If you want to increase book distribution, if you really want, I have only one recommendation. . . . You must chant your rounds uninterrupted. After you begin your chanting, do not stop until you finish.” As Svavasa Prabhu explained, if you win that fight, you will win all day, but if you lose it and allow your mind to carry you to something else, you will have a difficult day.

Svavasa Prabhu still follows that policy. He gets up at two in the morning and chants all his rounds before even coming to the temple for mangala-arati. A while ago I stayed with Vaisesika Prabhu at his home in Burlingame, and his morning program was blissfully intense. He did things that we do every day—and some things that we may do only on occasion—but he did them with so much enthusiasm and so much relish that the practices came to life. I felt, “Wow, that’s what reciting these verses and prayers actually is.” We spoke later about the book he is writing on book distribution, and he said that one of the themes is that the energy to distribute books comes from the overflow of the ecstasy we feel from our spiritual practices, from our own Krsna consciousness.

I’ve also experienced that if you chant your rounds in the morning before going out you will get extra energy and intelligence for your service, and if you don’t, not only may you be a little depleted in your spiritual energy, but you may also be in anxiety about when you’re going to finish your rounds.

So this practice of rising early and chanting all your rounds is very much part of the process of sharing Krsna consciousness with others. In the earlier verse, Prahlada said that he has no anxiety for himself because wherever he is he can merge himself into the nectarean ocean of Krsna consciousness—and that’s true for us as well. Wherever we go we can have that experience of tasting the nectar of Krsna consciousness by chanting the holy names and by reading, studying, and discussing Srila Prabhupada’s books.

So the two—tasting and distributing—go together. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that the best gosthyanandi is a bhajananandi who likes to preach. Gosthyanandi means someone who takes pleasure in preaching and sharing Krsna consciousness with others, and a bhajananandi is someone who takes pleasure in his own bhajana, his own spiritual practices. Prahlada Maharaja exemplifies that principle, because personally he can experience pure bliss anywhere at any time just by chanting and hearing and remembering his Lord. Yet he is not content to go back home, back to Godhead, alone; he wants to bring the krpanan with him.

Krpana is a very significant word. It is discussed by Srila Prabhupada in the Bhagavad-gita, in relation to Arjuna’s admission that he was overcome by miserly weakness.

karpanya-dosopahata-svabhavah
prcchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah
yac chreyah syan niscitam bruhi tan me
sisyas te ’ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” (Bg 2.7)

Krpana means “miser.” But how does it apply? A miser is someone who has an asset but doesn’t use it. He may have a lot of money but not spend it for any good purpose; he will just hoard it. So, we have this human form of life, which is extremely rare and valuable—valuable because it can be used to realize God. And if we don’t use it for that purpose, we are krpanas, misers.

labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante
manusyam artha-dam anityam apiha dhirah
turnam yateta na pated anu-mrtyu yavan
nihsreyasaya visayah khalu sarvatah syat

“After many, many births one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life before his body, which is always subject to death, falls away. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Krsna consciousness is possible only for a human being.” (SB 11.9.29)

And not only do we have this form of life, but we have the knowledge of Krsna consciousness, which is most valuable, and we should not keep that knowledge to ourselves; we should distribute it.

Of course, preaching directly about Krsna can sometimes be an austerity. As Srila Prabhupada said, “If you tell people ‘Give up all your nonsense and just surrender to Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,’ they might not like it. A few might, but most probably won’t.” And the same applies to distributing books. It can be an austerity because people don’t like the message of Krsna consciousness. They came into the material world to be God, and they don’t want to hear that someone else is God and that they have to surrender to Him. But if we can get them to take a book, the book will tell them. Some time ago I was visiting a nice devotee family, and the mother’s mother, who was visiting from India, was a pious lady and was very respectful and appreciative of devotees but expressed some wild, impersonalist ideas. I thought, “What am I going to do?” We were having a nice visit, the fulfillment of a long-cherished desire, and everyone was very happy. If I contradicted her it could have lead to an argument and had a bad effect. But I couldn’t just let the comments stand.

So I prayed to Prabhupada in my heart, and I got the answer: “Just be polite and pleasant, and I’ll preach to her; I’ll correct her.” Without challenging anything the grandmother had said, I asked, “Have you read Srila Prabhupada’s books?” And we concluded that she would begin to study them regularly.

In these verses we find words that Srila Prabhupada uses quite frequently: “fools” and “rascals.” If you take the meaning of krpana to its deepest level, it comes to fool and rascal, and in the earlier verse vimudhan literally means “fool.” In many places Krsna uses these words—avajananti mam mudha, na mam duskrtino mudhah. They are in the scriptures, but it may not work well if we use them with the people we are trying to attract to Krsna consciousness. Again, here’s where the books come in. We don’t have to call people fools and rascals; we give them the books, and the books will call them fools and rascals. And they need to hear it, whether in those terms or not.

His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami used to distribute books at Florida Welcome Centers. People would park and get out of their cars, and in one case the wife went into the welcome center and the husband stayed in the parking lot. Rtadhvaja Swami handed him a Bhagavatam. “What’s this about?” the man asked. “It has ancient teachings on yoga and meditation,” Maharaja replied. “Oh, that sounds interesting.” So, the man opened the book, and the first thing he read was, “persons . . . averse to the nectar of the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead . . . are compared to stool-eating hogs.” He asked Maharaja, “What does this have to do with yoga?” Just then, his wife came out and said, “Honey, what do you have there? What are you talking about?” “Oh, nothing, Honey,” he replied, and then he closed the book, handed Maharaja a donation, and walked away with the book, smiling. Although he didn’t want his wife to know he was being accused of being like a “stool-eating hog,” he wanted to hear it.

Once, Bhurijana Prabhu, knowing how some devotees can be sensitive to strong language, played a short excerpt in which Prabhupada used the word “rascal” seven times. And each time Prabhupada used the word, Bhurijana would say, “First time,” then “Second time,” then “Third time,” all the way through. He was aware of what Prabhupada had been doing, and in that little three- or four-minute excerpt Prabhupada had used the word “rascal” seven times—because pleasant or unpleasant, that’s what we need to hear.

Sometimes readers have noted that there is repetition in Prabhupada’s books. By ordinary literary standards, there shouldn’t be repetition, but Prabhupada himself said, “It is not enough to say that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in one purport; we will say that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every purport.” So, there may be repetition, and there may be strong language, but the books have everything, and if someone is sincere he or she will get what he or she needs from them. The books have made so many devotees, they are making devotees now, and they will continue to make devotees in the future.

So yes, “Distribute books! Distribute books! Distribute books!” And to get the strength to do that, chant and hear and be steady in your spiritual practices—and read the books. As Srila Prabhupada said, “Distributing my books will keep them [the devotees] happy, and reading my books will keep them.” He has given us everything, but we have to take advantage, we have to do what he said, and if we do, we will get the results and everyone will be happy.

—Giriraj Swami

New Vrindaban Hosts Its Second Deity Worship Seminar
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Sunday morning, Dec. 7, was the last day of the Deity Worship Seminars here in New Vrindaban.  This was the second Deity Worship Seminar taught by His Grace Jayananda prabhu in New Vrindaban.  Jayananda explained, “We did a very short seminar last year, but we wanted to increase the depth of this seminar.  So this weekend we offered a full 20 hours of study.  It was very detailed but it is going well.”    ISKCON Deity Worship Minister for North America Jayananda  is a disciple of Bhakti-Tirtha Swami, and was trained in Deity Worship at the Mayapur Academy in West Bengal.

The 26 participants,  from such places as D.C. and Potomac, MD, and including New Vrindaban’s pujaris, learned about how the Lord is present in His deity form, as well as the goal and proper mood of deity worship, dressing, mantras, mudras and festival abhisheks.

Jayananda prabhu, carefully trained in all aspects of Deity worship, leading the seminar in NV.

Jayananda prabhu, carefully trained in all aspects of Deity worship, leading the seminar in NV.

One  pujari gentleman from the Washington, D.C. area said, “These workshops are reinforcing many things I’ve already learned in deity worship, plus I’m learning so many new things. Plus, I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit New Vrindaban! It’s beautiful here!”

One pujari woman told us, “Jayananda prabhu is very approachable, and easy to understand. He makes these seminars very clear to everyone. I appreciate that. We can even ask him about any Deity issues we have, and he seems happy to help.”

Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban included spiritual education, focused on loving Krsna, as one of the 5 main goals for this community.   The association of the devotees, focused around important  Krsna conscious themes, such as proper deity worship, is the life of a devotee.  New Vrindaban is looking forward to hosting many more such programs in the future.

An attentive crowd listens carefully.

An attentive crowd listens carefully.

Over 25 devotees attended.

Over 25 devotees attended.