“Do You Know Why I Read My books?”
Giriraj Swami

Bhagavat das: Prabhupada said, “Can you quote this verse?” The two of us looked at each other, and I thought, “Tamal Krishna Goswami will quote the verse,” but Tamal Krishna Goswami thought I was going to do it. Neither of us knew the verse. Prabhupada said, “Just see. You are not reading my books. Every day you have to read, study, and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books. You must know everything, chapter and verse. If you do not know, how will you preach? Unless you know my books, how will you teach these men? Do you know that every day even I read my own books? Do you know why I read my books?” We didn’t want to venture any answer. Prabhupada said, “I read my books every day because even I learn something new when I read my books. These are not my books. I do not write these books.” It seemed as if something mystical came over him at this point. He said, “Every morning, when I sit here to write my books, Krishna comes personally and dictates to me what to write. I simply take dictation from Krishna to write these books. Therefore, when I read them, even I learn something.” The way he said it was so dramatic that we felt the weight of his words. I was thinking, “I’m speaking with a person who’s speaking with God, who’s right next to God. I’m only one person removed from God. He’s so close.” Yet I knew how far away I actually was, because of the state of my own consciousness. But by some grace, I was being placed right next to God by being with Prabhupada. It was amazing.

Don’t Criticize Devotees
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Devotee means he is able to tolerate all kinds of discomfort and whims of the material nature, and because he is too much absorbed in serving Krsna he takes no time to become angry or take offense with others or find out some fault. No. Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone, always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life. SP letter to Hamsaduta (December 10, 1972)


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NASN August 2022 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of August 2022. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5 Continue reading "NASN August 2022 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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Wednesday, September 21, 2022
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Toronto, Ontario

IT IS DUE TO SALLY

 

It was in two thousand fifteen

That Sally was happy to be seen

By those who admired her

At New Vrindavan it did occur

Known to be the special agent

The one so absolutely patient

In signing the fateful papers

For Swamiji to reach those skyscrapers

To New York all the way from Bharat

To tell us what we had forgot

I sat with her for an hour or so

When her pleasant words began to flow

When she put her name to submit

"I didn't think much would come of it

His picture looked quite intimidating"

But signing meant Gopal saw her participating

Sally felt Swamiji was so far away

But then he came to the door one day

Presenting an "oceanic smile"

From the 'Y' he walked daily for less than a mile

To cook lunch with pots on three tiers

Despite meat in the fridge he'd persevere

He was amazed to see clean frozen produce

Vacuum cleaner–a marvellous introduce

Acquainting himself with American culture

With a vision for improved future

With books, temples, and people

And blessed food, a weapon so lethal

A global conquest with humble beginnings

A challenge that will see an actual winning

It was Sally who opened that door

In gratitude for this alone, we underscore

-          Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

 

May the Source be with you!

4 km


 

Tuesday, September 20, 2022
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Wasaga Beach, Ontario

Last Day

It was the last day of summer and our intent was to squeeze in the few remaining hours by taking advantage of sun, water and sand with members of the Bhakti Academy. Our first destination for this outdoor bonding was in Wasaga where a kind Vaishnava, Jiva Mukta, lent us his beach house for the day. Thank you!

From this location our group of eleven drove south to Caledon, to a farm where ahimsa-milk is produced. Vishal and Yasomati own and run the place. Their son, Radesh, 16, took us around their state-of-the-art farm; a highly mechanized facility for tending to lovable bulls, cows and calves of the gir species. We listened and watched how when one has the funds and smarts an efficient job can be done to protect these giving animals. The family of five, with three generations on site, are an amazing workforce taking up this vital service. I am feeling an incredible reverence towards them.

Along with the Academy to accompany us was a new pujari priest, Durgan, and a new temple assistant, Giridhari Lila, from the Ukraine, we all indulged in the study of the Gita, chapter 3, text 27 and what we could consider to be a perfect definition of what is maya. This Sanskrit word, used amply by practitioners of bhakti-yogaculture, identifies the action of the ego and the three modes of nature. The idea, though, is to confront them.

May the Source be with you!

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Monday, September 19, 2022
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Cleveland, Ohio

The Storm and After

Just as the sun was to greet us for the morning, Kaustubha and I could see clear over the horizon a mess of black coming our way. It was menacing in appearance though a regular stunt of nature. We were simply on a walkway by the lake when I felt cold drops from the sky strike my neck. Then polkadots appeared on the white cement surface; more and more came until it became a solid mass of wet.

Kaustubha and I darted for the Kiwanis’ Pavilion, a shelter. It became a hard rain and then seventy-three-year-old Mr. Patel joined us and shared his breakfast things with us. He became our new friend. And for a good while K and I paced back-and-forth chanting on our beads.

The rain subsided. K pointed to a bird, “There’s an American bald eagle.” And indeed the massive bird soared along to reach the peak of a tree. No longer than a minute later K pointed to a family of associates. “There are his buddies, the Canadian geese.” They had just landed now in the freshness of air.

These are some of my last impressions in Cleveland before taking the flight back to Canada.

Actually, it was with great joy that in these last days that I felt strongly the play of rhythm; whether through the waves of water lapping on the beach, the movement of clouds and, of course, walking, but most definitely the movement of warmth emanating from the devotees at the gatherings with kirtan.

May the Source be with you!

4 km



 

Sunday, September 18, 2022
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Cleveland, Ohio

The Times They Are A Changin’

As I’ve noticed, more and more Americans and Canadians upon greeting are offering pranams with their palms together in a slight bow. It seems to me that we Westerners are touching more on being Vedic/Hindu/Buddhist. The crossover of East meets West is taking hold and it’s interesting.

On one of the streets that I walked, near a red light, a vehicle with two fellows as passengers stopped and, as they did so, the driver looked towards me and offered a “Namaste.” This was not an Indian person, in fact, judging by his attire, demeanor and car, he was an unlikely individual to offer such a gesture. Pranams also came from our way when two older local males saw Kaustubha and I on a bench. And at Edgewater a woman apologized to me after she and companion came out of the beach water in training talking it up somewhat loudly. “I’m sorry we disturbed you. You look rather peaceful sitting there.”

“Think nothing of it.” I was just chanting japa and, as always, the robes gave it away that I’m some kind of ascetic.

Folded palms and “Hare Krishna” came natural when I attended the program at “Grand Power,” the location of the weekly Hare Krishna Sunday program in Cleveland. Though here everyone did much more than bow heads. We chanted and dance to a blissful end of the afternoon. Oh, it was so much delight after dwelling on verse 10.9, which is all about the joy of devotional practice. Bhakti is moving.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


 

 

Saturday, September 17, 2022
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Cleveland, Ohio

Kiss Your Face

“Let the sun kiss your face,” suggested Madhavananda, as we were in the water for a second day. The sun was bright. The water clean. Temperature perfect. We were catching that vitamin D from Surya (sun). Receiving a pat from Vayu (wind) — a soft one. Varuna (water) was circulating our blood and toning our muscles. All this at a place called Edgewater Park.

The real recreation, however, came from devotee-bonding in the form of a picnic. All the stalwarts of Cleveland that I know appeared on the scene under a designated tree with the best food that outdoors has ever seen. The seagulls were envious over the savories in the form of potato pakora, the famous nuggets from Agnihotra, and various salads.

More important was the kirtanto follow. Once fueled you have to discharge and do it right, so the drumming went on by Boris and others. I asked Dayal to take the lead in singing. After all he is the well-known Don Foose of straight-edge music. The whole group of us participated and it was a diverse one of Afro, Euro, and Indie background. So attractive. People came to stop, watch and join in. We were a community that drew the other recreationists toward us.

I had the blessing of talking to the group about Prabhupada’s significance to the world and, in particular, to the American people who were the first takers to Krishna Consciousness. Even for the talk some came to hear our message from a nearby picnic table. We all finally dispersed before the moon had a chance to kiss our face.

May the Source be with you!

3 km




 

Friday, September 16, 2022
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Port Clinton, Ohio

The Ship Docked

To commemorate the anniversary of the docking of our guru (Prabhupada) on American soil, I delivered a class, basically a reading of this event at Boston harbor in September, 1965. A group from the Harmony collective came to hear of this milestone. Seven years ago, I began my US walk at the pier and I followed, as best as possible, the old Lincoln Highway leading me to San Francisco. The theme of the track was “Walking for our Teachers.” For me, it was just a token of gratitude. Thank you Prabhupada for leading me on the safe path.

The prayer that he wrote “Markine Bhagavat” on the ship, Jaladuta, before disembarking is precious; carrying the spirit of dependence on Krishna. He had never been to the sea before, let alone gone anywhere over-seas. His mission was to teach a new perspective on life. In the prayer he appeals to Krishna to empower him to be able to convey the message of the Gita in a way that the American public can understand.

I would suggest that all those on the bhakti path ask for the blessings to empower us to make the philosophy appealing to others.

So, on this day, we meditated on the ship, the water and its passenger. So far as water is concerned, Madhavananda took me to the beach in the small community. Now this is not the salt water of the Atlantic but the freshwater of a great lake. I can’t consider the hour-long swim in this body of water as an act of sense gratification. I’m simply taking care of my machinery with it’s relaxing of the muscles and loosening of the joints before the long winter sets in. My body, after all, is a vessel used in God’s service.

May the Source be with you!

7 km


 

Thursday, September 15, 2022
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Ypsilanti, Michigan

A Day at Harmony Collective

Back to Lakewood Park, Kaustubha and I went for the sunrise. Unfortunately, from our viewpoint, the sun was peeking out behind the Cleveland skyline and not from the lake itself. All the same, it was a beautiful morning. Other admirers were doing as we were, and out of the lot three young “party animals” were curious about my sun-toned clothes.

“Would you be a monk?” said one, and my response was, “Yes, and you can be one too, for a day, a weekend, or a month. Or fifty years, like myself.” That little piece of information was a sequel to more words of encouragement on the path of progressive spiritualism.

A lovely couple from Cleveland drove me to Michigan, to the college town of Ypsilanti. Within the district is a farm with cows, bulls and greenhouses of hydroponic, vertical farming. The young people involved are very enlightened in the field of alternative agriculture. So inspiring!

The last of the evening became a presentation on “Tales from the Trails” followed by kirtan and dance. This was most engaging. Everyone was off the floor and on the floor. It became a joyful finish to a perfect day. Dance was legwork and not much happened in the way of walking which, as usual, I will try to make up for the lack of tomorrow.

May the Source be with you!

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