Appearing as the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, Sri Jiva Goswami displayed all the charming features of a mahapurusa. He had lotus eyes, a high nose and forehead, broad chest, long arms, and a radiant golden body.
In his boyhood he made a Deity of Krishna-Balarama. Expressing his pure devotion, he would often cry while worshiping Them. After offering clothes, candana, flowers, ornaments, and tasty sweets to Krishna-Balarama he would take some and give maha-prasadam to his playmates. From the beginning Jiva showed his kindness to other jivas. Jiva was so much attached to Krishna-Balarama that at bedtime he would embrace his Deities and fall asleep. His parents thought he was only playing. But the villagers rejoiced to see Jiva’s love for Krishna-Balarama.
In school he quickly mastered Sanskrit grammar, poetry, logic, philosophy. Srimad Bhagavatam gave life to his life. Knshna-katha filled him with happiness. No one dared to speak to him about anything but Krishna. He toured Navadvipa-dhama with Sri Nityananda Prabhu, studied Sanskrit in Benares, and then resided in Vrndavana. After humbly serving Sri Rupa Gosvami by washing his feet, preparing his manuscripts, and editing his books he received diksa.
After the disappearance of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana Gos-vamis, Sri Jiva Gosvami became the Gaudiya Sampradayacarya to guide all Vaisnavas in Navadvipa, Vrndavana, Jagannatha Puri. Although he was the undisputed leader, he always acted as a humble servant of all the jivas. Whenever Bengali Vaisnavas visited Vrndavana he would lovingly receive them, arrange for prasadam and comfortable rooms, an even guide them on Vraja mandala parikrama.
A superexcellent Sanskrit scholar, Sri Jiva Gosvami would compose Sanskrit verses in his mind and write them down without changing anything. Write them down means he used a metal stylus to permanently etch them in palm leaves. This inscription method left no room for erasing, editing, rewriting, or running a spell-check. Yet, each verse was a priceless gem of perfect meter, rhythm, poetry, and meaning. He was the greatest philosopher in all of Indian history. Contemporary Sankritists call him the greatest scholar who ever lived.
At the request of Acaryarani Jahnava Devi Thakurani, Sri Jiva Gosvami had Srinivasa Acarya, Narottama Dasa Thakura, Syamananda Prabhu take the Gosvami’s writings from Vrndavana to Bengal. They translated them into Bengali and distributed them throughout Bengal and Orissa.
They also preached extensively and initiated hundreds of devotees. In 1542, Sri Jiva Gosvami established the worship Sri-Sri Radha-Damodara in Seva Kunja, Vrndavana. His samadhi stands in the temple compound. Sri Jiva Gosvami is Vilasa-manjari in Radha-Damodara’s nitya Vrndavana lila.
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 17, No. 1 By Krishna Kripa Das (January 2021, part one) New York City and Orlando (Sent from Orlando on January 16, 2021)
Where I Went and What I Did
I continued staying at Radha Govinda Temple in New York City and assisting Rama Raya Prabhu with his NYC Harinam party, chanting several hours of Hare Krishna in public every day once I recovered my health on January 3. Then on January 13, I traveled to Orlando, where I joined a party of Krishna House devotees, many I knew from before, who are doing outreach at University of Central Florida.
I share many amazing quotes from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Isopanisad. I share a quote by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share excerpts from the writings of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures at ISKCON NYC by Candrasekhara Swami, Hansarupa Prabhu, Rama Raya Prabhu, Hari Vilasa Prabhu, and Ananda Kirtan Prabhu. Thanks to Janardana Prabhu for the slogan that he shared on Facebook that has a nice Krishna conscious purport.
Thanks to Hansarupa Prabhu and his staff for facilitating my stay in ISKCON New York City. Thanks to Rama Raya Prabhu for allowing me to spend four months on his NYC Harinam party. Thanks to Lila Manjari Devi Dasi for her kind donation. Thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu for taking the videos and photos in New York with me in them. Thanks to Amrita for taking the videos at UCF. Thanks to Alex for the lift to JFK and to Jeremiah for the lift from Orlando International Airport to ISKCON Orlando.
Itinerary
January 13–January 26: Orlando harinamas and college outreach January 26–February ?: Gainesville harinama and Bhaktivedanta Institute work February ?–April 5: Tallahasseeharinamas and college outreach
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
I would lead the kirtan for half an hour or forty-five minutes usually, and the rest of the time I would distribute “On Chanting Hare Krishna” and often dance.
Ananta Vallabha Prabhu, visiting from Krishna House in Gainesville, chants Hare Krishna in Downtown Manhattan (https://youtu.be/KQPddGA6Kwg):
Ananda Kirtan Prabhu, visiting from Los Angeles, chants Hare Krishna in Downtown Manhattan (https://youtu.be/X1lWhTkSEqc):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Midtown Manhattan, a lady dances, and another lady takes an “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlet (https://youtu.be/E4uTDoPGh4s):
Ananta Vallabha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Queens, and people play instruments, dance, and take videos (https://youtu.be/rf89_0bF7Bs):
Ananda Kirtan Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Midtown Manhattan, and two guys becoming interested in Krishna consciousness who have come around for several months joined us, sitting in back (https://youtu.be/gplYLXJA43U):
Kaliya Krishna Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Midtown Manhattan, and passersby are attracted to sit and listen and to dance (https://youtu.be/IJ22pz7RvZQ):
Later as Kaliya Krishna Prabhu continued chanting Hare Krishna, a little girl delighted in dancing and playing the shakers, and then a man did his own little dance, also inspired by the chanting. I followed that man through the turnstile to give him an “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlet (https://youtu.be/q2pG-PEEbBM):
Krishna Kripa Das chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and Ananda Kirtan Prabhu distributes literature. [Video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu.](https://youtu.be/6WR5iGIBqko):
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, and a man who became attracted to Krishna consciousness from the Wisdom of the Sages podcast of Raghunath Cappo and Kaustubha Das, participated along his two children, who played shakers and later distributed pamphlets. [Video by Kaliya Krishna Prabhu.](https://youtu.be/uCHHxGpraQA):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Brooklyn, joined by ISKCON NYC Temple President Hansarupa Prabhu (https://youtu.be/a1JELQSRnA8):
Chanting Hare Krishna in Orlando
The day I flew into Orlando I chanted Hare Krishna at Blanchard Park in the afternoon for three hours. The next two days, I was able to assist Krishna House devotees who are doing outreach at University of Central Florida by chanting three hours with them at the University each day.
Mitra Prabhu, Prabhupada disciple and musician, who is visiting for a week or so from North Carolina also joined us, increasing the ecstasy. Here he chants Hare Krishna and plays guitar in front of the University of Central Florida Student Union (https://youtu.be/U-FO1YxcZPE):
Here Joao, a Brazilian UCF student, enjoys chanting Hare Krishna with Mitra Prabhu, Jeremiah, Amrita and myself (https://youtu.be/xp0_l552MZU):
Mitra Prabhu ultimately taught him two beats on the drum. Joao also promised to come to our program for students and to help out, in addition to buying several books.
I am impressed by the sincerity of the Krishna House devotees in distributing books, chanting Hare Krishna, and talking to the students and inviting them to the semi-weekly programs which they are beginning at the Orlando temple.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 1.56, purport:
“One should try to purchase a ticket to go back home, back to Godhead. The price of such a ticket is one’s intense desire for it, which is not easily awakened, even if one continuously performs pious activities for thousands of lives. All mundane relationships are sure to be broken in the course of time, but once one establishes a relationship with the Personality of Godhead in a particular rasa, it is never to be broken, even after the annihilation of the material world.
“One should understand, through the transparent medium of the spiritual master, that the Supreme Lord exists everywhere in His transcendental spiritual nature and that the living entities’ relationships with the Lord are directly and indirectly existing everywhere, even in this material world. In the spiritual world there are five kinds of relationships with the Supreme Lord — santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. The perverted reflections of these rasas are found in the material world. Land, home, furniture and other inert material objects are related in santa, or the neutral and silent sense, whereas servants work in the dasya relationship. The reciprocation between friends is called sakhya, the affection of a parent for a child is known as vatsalya, and the affairs of conjugal love constitute madhurya. These five relationships in the material world are distorted reflections of the original, pure sentiments, which should be understood and perfected in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. In the material world the perverted rasas bring frustration. If these rasas are reestablished with Lord Krishna, the result is eternal, blissful life.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 24.353:
“By reading these instructions, a pure devotee can understand love of Krishna, the mellows of devotional service and the conclusion of devotional service. Everyone can understand all these things to their ultimate end by studying these instructions.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.21:
“As soon as people received instructions from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they began to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Thus everyone laughed, chanted and danced with the Lord.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.30:
“In this Age of Kali, one cannot attain liberation without taking to the devotional service of the Lord. In this age, even if one chants the holy name of Krishna imperfectly, he still attains liberation very easily.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.36:
“‘O supreme one, the transcendental form I am now seeing is full of transcendental bliss. It is not contaminated by the external energy. It is full of effulgence. My Lord, there is no better understanding of You than this. You are the Supreme Soul and the creator of this material world, but You are not connected with this material world. You are completely different from created form and variety. I sincerely take shelter of that form of Yours which I am now seeing. This form is the original source of all living beings and their senses.’” [Brahma speaking to Krishna in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.3.]
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.128:
“‘Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who destroys everything inauspicious for His devotees, does not leave the hearts of His devotees even if they remember Him and chant about Him inattentively. This is because the rope of love always binds the Lord within the devotees’ hearts. Such devotees should be accepted as most elevated.’” [From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.55]
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.131:
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, ‘Thus one’s relationship with the Lord, activities in devotional service, and the attainment of the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, are the subject matters of Srimad-Bhagavatam.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.140:
“‘Pure devotees manifest spiritual bodily symptoms of ecstatic love simply by remembering and reminding others of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who takes away everything inauspicious from the devotee. This position is attained by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles and then rising to the platform of spontaneous love.’” [From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.31.]
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.193, purport:
“From early histories it appears that the entire earth was under one culture, Vedic culture, but gradually, due to religious and cultural divisions, the rule fragmented into many subdivisions. Now the earth is divided into many countries, religions and political parties. Despite these political and religious divisions, we advocate that everyone should unite again under one culture — Krishna consciousness. People should accept one God, Krishna; one scripture, the Bhagavad-gita; and one activity, devotional service to the Lord. Thus people may live happily upon this earth and combine to produce sufficient food. In such a society, there would be no question of scarcity, famine or cultural or religious degradation. So-called caste systems and national divisions are artificial. According to our Vaishnava philosophy, these are all external bodily designations. The Krishna consciousness movement is not based upon bodily designations. It is a transcendental movement on the platform of spiritual understanding. If the people of the world understood that the basic principle of life is spiritual identification, they would understand that the business of the spirit soul is to serve the Supreme Spirit, Krishna. As Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (15.7), mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah: “The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts.” All living entities in different life forms are sons of Krishna. Therefore they are all meant to serve Krishna, the original supreme father. If this philosophy is accepted, the failure of the United Nations to unite all nations will be sufficiently compensated all over the world by a great Krishna consciousness movement. Recently we had talks with Christian leaders in Australia, including the Catholic Bishop of Melbourne, and everyone there was pleased with our philosophy of oneness in religious consciousness.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 25.270, purport:
“It is very difficult to understand Krishna, but if one tries to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam through Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s bhakti cult, one will undoubtedly understand Krishna very easily. If somehow or other one understands Krishna, his life is successful.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.2:
“My path is very difficult. I am blind, and my feet are slipping again and again. Therefore, may the saints help me by granting me the stick of their mercy as my support.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.101:
“One has to learn about the beauty and transcendental position of the holy name of the Lord by hearing the revealed scriptures from the mouths of devotees. Nowhere else can we hear of the sweetness of the Lord’s holy name.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.101, purport:
“As far as possible, therefore, the devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement gather to chant the holy name of Krishna in public so that both the chanters and the listeners may benefit.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.117, purport:
“The special function of Srila Rupa Gosvami is to establish the feelings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These feelings are His desires that His special mercy be spread throughout the world in this Kali-yuga.
“prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
“The desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is that all over the world everyone, in every village and every town, know of Him and His sankirtana movement. These are the inner feelings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.177:
“‘The moonlike Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of mother Saci, has now appeared on earth to spread devotional love of Himself. He is the emperor of the brahmana community. He can drive away all the darkness of ignorance and control the mind of everyone in the world. May that rising moon bestow upon us all good fortune.’” [Lalita-madhava 1.3]
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 1.197, purport:
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed His special favor upon Srila Rupa Gosvami because Rupa Gosvami wanted to serve the Lord to the best of his ability. Such is the reciprocation between the devotee and the Lord in the discharge of devotional duties.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.19:
“We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes at every moment.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.22, purport:
“This age is very difficult for those who want to utilize this life for self-realization. The people are so busy with sense gratification that they completely forget about self-realization. Out of madness they frankly say that there is no need for self-realization because they do not realize that this brief life is but a moment on our great journey towards self-realization.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.5, purport:
“Krishna is our most intimate master, friend, father or son and object of conjugal love.”
“Forgetting Krishna, we have created so many objects of questions and answers, but none of them are able to give us complete satisfaction. All things — but Krishna — give temporary satisfaction only, so if we are to have complete satisfaction we must take to the questions and answers about Krishna. We cannot live for a moment without being questioned or without giving answers. Because the Srimad-Bhagavatam deals with questions and answers that are related to Krishna, we can derive the highest satisfaction only by reading and hearing this transcendental literature. One should learn the Srimad-Bhagavatam and make an all-around solution to all problems pertaining to social, political or religious matters. Srimad-Bhagavatam and Krishna are the sum total of all things.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.8, purport:
“The need of the spirit soul is that he wants to get out of the limited sphere of material bondage and fulfill his desire for complete freedom. He wants to get out of the covered walls of the greater universe. He wants to see the free light and the spirit. That complete freedom is achieved when he meets the complete spirit, the Personality of Godhead. There is a dormant affection for God within everyone; spiritual existence is manifested through the gross body and mind in the form of perverted affection for gross and subtle matter. Therefore we have to engage ourselves in occupational engagements that will evoke our divine consciousness. This is possible only by hearing and chanting the divine activities of the Supreme Lord, and any occupational activity which does not help one to achieve attachment for hearing and chanting the transcendental message of Godhead is said herein to be simply a waste of time.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.10:
“Life’s desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s works.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.19, purport:
“The most important thing about the spiritual world is that there is no envy among the devotees there. This is true even among the flowers, which are all conscious of the greatness of tulasi. In the Vaikuntha world entered by the four Kumaras, even the birds and flowers are conscious of service to the Lord.”
From Sri Isopanisad 7, purport:
“The spiritual entities are meant for enjoyment, as stated in the Vedanta-sutra (1.1.12): ananda-mayo ’bhyasat. By nature and constitution, every living being—including the Supreme Lord and each of His parts and parcels—is meant for eternal enjoyment. The living beings who are encaged in the material tabernacle are constantly seeking enjoyment, but they are seeking it on the wrong platform. Apart from the material platform is the spiritual platform, where the Supreme Being enjoys Himself with His innumerable associates. On that platform there is no trace of material qualities, and therefore that platform is called nirguna. On the nirguna platform there is never a clash over the object of enjoyment. Here in the material world there is always a clash between different individual beings because here the proper center of enjoyment is missed. The real center of enjoyment is the Supreme Lord, who is the center of the sublime and spiritual rasa dance. We are all meant to join Him and enjoy life with one transcendental interest and without any clash. That is the highest platform of spiritual interest, and as soon as one realizes this perfect form of oneness, there can be no question of illusion (moha) or lamentation (soka).”
From Sri Isopanisad 10, purport:
“One should always remember that as long as he has a material body he must face the miseries of repeated birth, old age, disease and death. There is no use in making plans to get rid of these miseries of the material body. The best course is to find out the means by which one may regain his spiritual identity.”
“One should develop a liking for residence in a secluded place with a calm and quiet atmosphere favorable for spiritual culture.”
“One should become a scientist or philosopher and conduct research into spiritual knowledge, recognizing that spiritual knowledge is permanent whereas material knowledge ends with the death of the body.”
“More than fifty percent of a nation’s energy is devoted to defense measures and thus spoiled. No one cares for the cultivation of real knowledge, yet people are falsely proud of being advanced in both material and spiritual knowledge.”
From Sri Isopanisad 11, purport:
“From His kingdom the Personality of Godhead sends His bona fide servants to propagate this message by which one can return to Godhead, and sometimes the Lord comes Himself to do this work. Since all living beings are His beloved sons, His parts and parcels, God is more sorry than we ourselves to see the sufferings we are constantly undergoing in this material condition. The miseries of this material world serve to indirectly remind us of our incompatibility with dead matter. Intelligent living entities generally take note of these reminders and engage themselves in the culture of vidya, or transcendental knowledge. Human life is the best opportunity for the culture of spiritual knowledge, and a human being who does not take advantage of this opportunity is called a naradhama, the lowest of human beings.”
From Sri Isopanisad 13, purport:
“When one attains brahminical qualifications, he becomes happy and enthusiastic to render devotional service to the Lord. Automatically the science of God is unveiled before him. By knowing the science of God, one gradually becomes freed from material attachments, and one’s doubtful mind becomes crystal clear by the grace of the Lord. One who attains this stage is a liberated soul and can see the Lord in every step of life. This is the perfection of sambhava, as described in this mantra of Sri Isopanisad.”
From Sri Isopanisad 14, purport:
“By its so-called advancement of knowledge, human civilization has created many material things, including spaceships and atomic energy. Yet it has failed to create a situation in which people need not die, take birth again, become old or suffer from disease. Whenever an intelligent man raises the question of these miseries before a so-called scientist, the scientist very cleverly replies that material science is progressing and that ultimately it will be possible to render man deathless, ageless and diseaseless. Such answers prove the scientists’ gross ignorance of material nature. In material nature, everyone is under the stringent laws of matter and must pass through six stages of existence: birth, growth, maintenance, production of by-products, deterioration and finally death. No one in contact with material nature can be beyond these six laws of transformation; therefore no one—whether demigod, man, animal or plant—can survive forever in the material world.”
“Material scientists and politicians are trying to make this place deathless because they have no information of the deathless spiritual nature. This is due to their ignorance of the Vedic literature, which contains full knowledge confirmed by mature transcendental experience. Unfortunately, modern man is averse to receiving knowledge from the Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures.”
“We must therefore save ourselves and our fellow man in the right way. There is no question of liking or disliking the truth. It is there. If we want to be saved from repeated birth and death, we must take to the devotional service of the Lord. There can be no compromise, for this is a matter of necessity.”
From Sri Isopanisad 15, purport:
“In His village of Vrindavan He enjoyed Himself with His mother, brother and friends, and when He played the role of a naughty butter thief, all His associates enjoyed celestial bliss by His stealing. The Lord’s fame as a butter thief is not reproachable, for by stealing butter the Lord gave pleasure to His pure devotees. Everything the Lord did in Vrindavan was for the pleasure of His associates there. The Lord created these pastimes to attract the dry speculators and the acrobats of the so-called hatha-yoga system who wish to find the Absolute Truth.”
“Thus the Lord is always engaged in transcendental loving activities with His spiritual associates in the various relationships of santa (neutrality), dasya (servitorship), sakhya (friendship), vatsalya (parental affection) and madhurya (conjugal love).”
"This brahma-jyotir effulgence is described in detail in several mantras of the Mundaka Upanisad (2.2.10–12):
‘In the spiritual realm, beyond the material covering, is the unlimited Brahman effulgence, which is free from material contamination. That effulgent white light is understood by transcendentalists to be the light of all lights. In that realm there is no need of sunshine, moonshine, fire or electricity for illumination. Indeed, whatever illumination appears in the material world is only a reflection of that supreme illumination. That Brahman is in front and in back, in the north, south, east and west, and also overhead and below. In other words, that supreme Brahman effulgence spreads throughout both the material and spiritual skies.’”
“Srila Vyasadeva never states that the Supreme Truth is a jiva, an ordinary living entity. The living entity should never be considered the all-powerful Supreme Truth. If he were the Supreme, he would not need to pray to the Lord to remove His dazzling cover so that the living entity could see His real face.”
“In summary, a philosopher is better than a laboring man, a mystic is superior to a philosopher, and of all the mystic yogis, he who follows bhakti-yoga, constantly engaging in the service of the Lord, is the highest. Sri Isopanisad directs us toward this perfection.”
From Sri Isopanisad 16, purport:
“The brahma-jyotir is described in the Brahma-samhita as the rays emanating from that supreme spiritual planet, Goloka Vrindavan, just as the sun’s rays emanate from the sun globe. Until one surpasses the glare of the brahma-jyotir, one cannot receive information of the land of the Lord. The impersonalist philosophers, blinded as they are by the dazzling brahma-jyotir, can realize neither the factual abode of the Lord nor His transcendental form. Limited by their poor fund of knowledge, such impersonalist thinkers cannot understand the all-blissful transcendental form of Lord Krishna. In this prayer, therefore, Sri Isopanisad petitions the Lord to remove the effulgent rays of the brahma-jyotir so that the pure devotee can see His all-blissful transcendental form.”
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.5 in Delhi:
We are opening so many branches just to give people the chance to hear about God.
If you hear Bhagavad-gita, you will learn everything about God. And that is our only duty.
Our only business is to get out of the matter.
I am not matter. I am spirit soul, part and parcel of God.
God is always cheerful. We can also always be cheerful if we go back to God.
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.2 in London on August 15, 1971:
As soon as we enter this material world, we are conditioned. Just like as soon as I come to America I am conditioned by the immigration department.
“Why they have become conditioned? The reason is they revolted against Krishna. They wanted to imitate Krishna. That is the mentality everywhere. You know, everyone says, ‘Oh, I don’t care for God. I don’t care for anything. I am at liberty to do anything.’”
The difference between the human bodies and others bodies is that the human can ask, “Why am I conditioned?”
“So if a swan is provided with all the necessities of life, why I shall not be? I am so much developed human being. Why I am so much busy in economic development? This is called illusion. But one who is advanced in knowledge, he knows that ‘If the swan is already provided with all the necessities of life, then I shall also be provided with all the necessities of life. There is no need of endeavoring for it.’ That is a fact. That is the fact.”
“So Krishna has provided everything for you. Don’t worry. Therefore our main business should be how to develop Krishna consciousness.”
“So first thing is religion, to learn how to become God conscious. This is the first business of human society. But they have rejected religion. They have become secular. Secular..., what does it mean, ‘secular’? It means don’t care for any kind of religion; just work very hard for economic development day and night. This is the modern civilization. No. That is misleading.”
If you have heard nicely about Krishna, then naturally you will preach.
“Everyone should know what he is, what is his constitutional position, why he is under so many conditions of life, how to get liberation. These are the questions. . . . These questions are called brahma-jijñasa. That is the beginning of Vedanta. Vedanta. Veda means knowledge; anta means end.”
“People are gradually trying to understand the gravity of this movement, but at least you should know the gravity of this movement. It is not ordinary movement. It is not a sentimental. It is most scientific, authorized movement, how to make people happy in this world and in the next.”
Comment by Mitrasena Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada wrote the essay “Who Is Crazy?” Imagine a bald-headed monk comes up to you and hands you a pamphlet entitled “Who Is Crazy?”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From “108 Essential Instructions”:
“93. Just because mundane thoughts appear in the mind while we chant the holy name does not mean we should slacken our chanting. The useless thoughts will gradually disappear as the irrevocable fruits of chanting the holy names. Do not be in a hurry.”
From “Jagannatha Bliss” in Passing Places, Eternal Truths:
“O Lord Jagannatha, please save me, please keep me, take me home. Keep me traveling. Keep me sick. Make me well. Whatever You want. Keep Your name on my mind.”
From Memories:
“Without looking at our memories, how can we feel gratitude, repentance, even happiness or sadness?”
From Every Day, Just Write, Volume 2: Search for the Authentic Self:
“I want to improve. I’m desperate, or like Thoreau said, living a life of ‘quiet desperation.’ I’m quietly desperate because I don’t know by what method I’ll make radical progress during the remainder of my life. I already have an expert guru, perfect scriptures, disciples, Godbrothers, a spiritual movement, a preaching field, and God in my heart. If still I don’t cross the ocean of birth and death—I don’t know what to say. Where else can I expect help to come from? As I grow older I’m less bold, less capable of making big changes in my way of thinking. Aging makes you complacent and in want of peace and quiet to heal your wounds and nurse your aching body. They say we should grow old gracefully. Does that mean seeking a niche in ISKCON? Is that what it means?”
From The Wild Garden:
“‘If we ignore Vrindavan, which is flooded with the nectar of Radha’s lotus feet and filled with the bliss of love for Lord Hari’s feet, then what are the other things we will talk about?’ (Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 4.85).
“Well said, good friend and great sadhu, Prabodhananda Sarasvati. Why talk of other things? Why ever forget Vrindavan? Even these rolling choruses of bird calls and chirping and peacocks’ ‘kee-kaw’ are part of Vrindavan. And the trees dripping in the rain. Who can complain about dark morning monsoon clouds in Vrindavan? Not me. But the symptoms of inattentive japa mean I have a hard heart filled with unredeemed aparadhas. I say I live with it. Others are worse than I am, I say. I look for encouragement in that fact and find it. Then I shake that off and turn to the sadhu:
“‘Srimati Radhika’s forest is the perfect atonement of sins, the ultimate shelter from offenses to great souls, the crest jewel of all principles of religion, and the crest jewel of all goals of life’ (Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 4.88).
“Note: It is Radhika’s forest, and that is what makes it so glorious. Just by living here . . . it doesn’t mean you can misbehave here, but you can admit, ‘I am helpless to overcome my bad habits in prayer. I feel no love. Please, I don’t like this condition.’
“I sat in the darkness of my room. There was a little light from a high, barred window, but that light was really more of a lighter shade of darkness. It was similar to my mental conception of a dungeon. From my mat on the floor I chanted, and I heard the japa of my two devotee friends in the other part of the house.
“Later, I paced on the rain-soaked roof in the Vrindavan quiet—tenth round, eleventh . . . where was my heart? Where was my feeling for Hare, Krishna, and Rama? I ask why this has to be so.
“I can articulate better in writing, so here, on this page, on behalf of my japa-sadhana, I ask the Lord of Vrindavan to please help me. You make all arrangements in Vrindavan. I approach You through Your representatives, Vrnda-devi (who awards desires), Bhakti-devi, and Yogamaya. You have already given us so much mercy on this visit—this house to live in, permission to study and write, time to chant in peace. But if we cannot use it to love You, then what use is it? Please give me a clue as to how to find the essence.
“‘The fortunate bow down before a person who, always seeing the eternal and sweet spiritual forms of Vrindavan’s grass, bushes, and other living entities, and bowing down before them with great devotion, resides here in Vrindavan.’ (Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 4.90)”
From The Wild Garden:
“I remember the shock I felt when I heard Prabhupada was going to San Francisco for the first time. We never thought Krishna consciousness would go beyond the Lower East Side. Of course, that wasn’t meant to be.
“I still think fondly of Prabhupada’s days with us in New York City. I felt like we were living in a small family. We wanted to preach for him, but we had no vision beyond New York.
“In those days I had my job at the welfare department and I also had my own apartment a few blocks from the storefront. My apartment soon became an annex to the storefront. We did everything under his direction—Sundays in Tompkins Square Park, making a record, Sunday Love Feasts—at least a few devotees had joined. He began to teach us Caitanya-caritamrta in the morning, because ‘now you are a little mature.’ We were disappointed to hear that he was going to San Francisco.
“I was among those who thought it wasn’t a good idea. I remember discussing it with Raya Rama. How could we let our Swamiji go to San Francisco just because someone had arranged for a ‘mantra rock dance’? Our Swamiji shouldn’t be treated like that—it’s not respectful. And anyway, Back to Godhead magazine is in New York.
“I dared suggest to Prabhupada that he shouldn’t go, but I could tell immediately that he wasn’t even open to hearing my suggestion. He was determined to preach and to spread Krishna consciousness. But he didn’t abandon us. He left us with something special: his instructions and the mood of service in separation.
“He wrote us a letter from San Francisco explaining that serving the guru’s order was more important than serving his physical presence. I remember feeling excited to carry on in Krishna consciousness, even though his room was empty and I felt such an ache of emptiness. We knew we had something even the San Francisco devotees didn’t have: service in separation.”
From The Wild Garden:
“Srila Prabhupada, I think I saw your footprints in the sand at Juhu beach. You must have been wearing those canvas shoes this morning when you took your walk. I imagine that you were perspiring. Your strides were long, and we must have been struggling to keep up with you. You wore no kurta, so we didn’t either. We hoped to overcome any reluctance we might have been feeling in our services. The opportunity to become better disciples is ongoing.
“In my mind, I can hear the prayers your disciples made, silently, fervently, as they walked with you this morning. Please allow us to get close to you. Please call us to serve you. Please help us be sincere, serious, dedicated, honest. Please forgive us for praying without enough sincerity. We are trying to improve.”
From Passing Places, Eternal Truths:
“ . . . I said that last night’s meeting fulfilled the purpose of our travel to Italy, but tonight’s meeting was even better. I spoke my old memories of coming to Srila Prabhupada in 1966. I worried beforehand that it would be too much the same old thing and that I wouldn’t be able to speak from my heart. But I did. Having to pause for the translator helped. The audience laughed at the humor of the stories. As I told each story—the time I gave 600 dollars and then Prabhupada looked at me as if to say, ‘You haven’t surrendered yet,’ the time I didn’t get initiated and Swamiji said, ‘If you love me, then I’ll love you’—I recreated them and lived in them as I spoke them. Although the devotees may have had fun tonight, I was the one who benefited the most because I was able to feel those happy days again and my simple love for and surrender to Prabhupada. And to be able to joke about my own foolish self and to tell how he dragged me to his lotus feet was relishable.
“Afterwards, someone asked, ‘What is it that brings out the love of the disciple for the spiritual master?’ It is the loving force of the guru pulling the disciple forward.
“I had a bit of a headache at the beginning of the meeting, but I sailed through and the headache left during the ecstasy of talking. Now I’m back on the ground with less than an hour before I have to take rest. We leave in the morning. This is the reason to travel: to find new audiences and to tell the same old stories of Prabhupada’s saving me and my coming to love him in 1966.”
From Karttika Flame and Shadow:
“Krishna science will save us, I hope. It can as long you hold on through the worst things that start happening. Krishna won’t abandon you as long as you don’t abandon Him.”
From Remembering Srila Prabhupada: A Free-Verse Rendition of the Life and Teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
“COLLEGE DAYS”
“Why should a nitya-siddha go to school? Why not? Must he walk without touching the ground? ‘By the order of the Supreme he remains within the material world like an ordinary man, but his only business is to broadcast the glories of the Lord.’
Throughout his life he sometimes told how at Scottish Church College he learned worldly knowledge: Shakespeare. Dickens, economist Marshall, psychology, chemistry, history. It neither baffled nor appealed to his soul.
Though the college was Christian, he remained pure Vaishnava. They gave him a new Bible and collegiate academics. ‘What are you thinking?’ asked a friend ‘I don’t like these things,’ Abhay replied.
When a professor disparaged transmigration of the soul— ‘How could a person be judged without a witness?’— Abhay rejected the flimsy logic: This is their Christian philosophy? Don’t they know there is a witness? Don’t they know the Lord is in the heart? As a lily on water remains dry, you remained unaffected.
“ . . . . Traveling alone to Puri to see Lord Jagannath, reading Srimad-Bhagavatam —he had no other plans. Yet just to live in Calcutta was the greatest preparation: his eternal spiritual master was waiting there, and the time drew near for them to meet.
“Krishna took over after Gour Mohan De had brought him as far as he could. Marriage and a job at Dr. Bose’s lab—a grhastha’s way. Minimizing but retaining worldly duties, he focused on Krishna as Supreme.
But when Krishna took over, Abhay was ready. He remained uncaught by the national passion, surging like a tide behind the figure of Gandhi. Abhay wore protestor’s khadi, but his heart was not in it. And Krishna took over.”
From Why Not Fiction?:
“And I thought about my own way of seeing. How do we gain access to that? Does it make a good enough story? Is it the truest story or just the same old thing? I answered that for myself. It’s not the same old thing. It’s new and fresh and changing. We have to see it clearly and stand up for it, our own little life, our life attached to Krishna. We who have nothing to do with this town, we have to see things in our own Krishna conscious way as we walk through it.”
From Progresso: A Ten-Day Book Seeking Krishna Consciousness:
“Those who seek relief from the vices of this age will take shelter in this Bhagavata Purana. What I write is not Purana, but I can still give the bhagavata on this page. I’m an authorized receiver and distributor of the philosophy of bhakti.”
Candrasekhara Swami:
One thing we can actually give Krishna is our attention, and to do to that we have to remove our attention from other things. That is not just a one time thing. We have to keep doing it. We have to always try to be connected with Krishna.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
At the gosala in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada allowed grhasthas to live together. At the guesthouse and other places on the temple compound they had to live separately.
We see with purified mind and intelligence, not these eyes.
This jail of the material world has no bars, but it is impossible to escape from without higher knowledge.
For Srila Prabhupada to translate the books or to travel around the world giving lectures was not difficult. What was difficult was to get an immature bunch of young Westerners to cooperate.
Some people think the GBC is irrelevant, but actually those people are irrelevant.
Without humility it is not possible to understand God.
The more we are in touch with the pure knowledge the more we become free from illusion.
Man is not inherently evil. All evil results from forgetfulness of God.
The greatest evil is to keep people from getting knowledge of the Absolute Truth.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
One disciple wanted to study astrology and make charts for the devotees. Srila Prabhupada said his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, was the greatest astrologer of all times, but he gave it up to preach pure devotional service. Then he explained the pure devotee’s thoughts about the future: “Whatever will be will be. We will simply chant Hare Krishna.”
Radhanath Swami recalls when he first met Srila Prabhupada at the Bombay pandal program. Srila Prabhupada sent Brahmananda up into the seats to invite him to sit on the stage with Srila Prabhupada. While he was sitting on the stage, Sarasvati, the daughter of Malati and Shyamasundar, who was only a child, said to him, “Guess what? Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Srila Prabhupada liked Sarasvati doing this very much.
During Vedic times, because there were competent government leaders there was no need for all this mundane charity because people were properly taken care of it.
Harinama-sankirtana is like a rainfall that causes everything to flourish.
Hari Vilasa Prabhu:
Many animals are ready to go, to move around, and to eat the day after they are born, while a human child is practically helpless. Yet by education a human can be completely transformed, much more so than an animal.
Chhatrapati Shivaji was famous for keeping the Moguls out of Mumbai. How did he learn how to rule? His mother read Mahabharata to him every day as a kid.
Bharata Muni makes the point that if a playwright portrays sinful people as successful he will suffer a sinful reaction for that because of misleading people.
People cannot make the connection that the content of what they watch is the cause of their miserable lives.
The Bhagavatam uses very strong language to deprecate the hearing of mundane subject matter because it is so detrimental to one’s spiritual life.
The Lord incarnates in this world and enacts dramas to give human society some spiritually positive content to absorb their minds in to elevate them.
If you lapse into absorbing your mind in the mundane, bring it back to the Bhagavatam as soon as you can, and purify your mind.
We need big devotional production companies to produce devotional material to purify people’s minds.
We follow the four principles because if we do not then our lives will become so chaotic from the sinful reactions that we will not be able to endeavor for transcendence.
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that the association of devotees is that pious activity referred to in Bhagavad-gita 7.28 as being required to be fixed in devotional service.
Ananda Kirtan Prabhu:
“Radhanath Maharaja was invited to a pandal program with Sri Vaishnavas. Maharaja sat on the end of the assembly somewhere in the crowd, while one of the head leaders of the sampradaya was speaking. Many sannyasis were in the front row, there must have been a hundred or more dandas. The speaker was glorifying the Sri Vaishnava sannyasis, explaining how austere, learned and strict they were. He explained how for many, many generations not onesannyasi has fallen from his vows. Then he said if you take all the sannyasis present in this assembly and all of them many generations back and put them together, they don’t equal one grain of dust on the lotus feet of one of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s disciples who are traveling the world preaching the glories and teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. [Please note I am paraphrasing. I may be missing a detail or two, but this is what I can remember from Siddhanta Prabhus videos of Prabhupada Memories. I’ve seen this particular video two or three times a few years ago. I’m not sure what volume of Prabhupada Memories the video clip is on, but Siddhanta Prabhu knows off the top of his head because he told me one time the exact volume to find it on but I forgot.”
Janardana Prabhu:
From a Facebook post:
“Teamwork makes the dream work.” [This reminds me that Srila Prabhupada told his followers that their love for him would be shown by their working together to maintain his mission after his disappearance.]
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This verse makes an important point. We should not endeavor for material happiness but for spiritual gain. The argument is that we obtain distress without endeavoring, and we can achieve happiness in the same way. Thus we should endeavor spiritually for then our benefit will be eternal rather than endeavoring for material gain, which is always coming and going, and thus will never satisfy us.
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
“Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Patala]. As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.18)
He is in the process of leaving this world. Those of you who have known him may want to offer prayers, good thoughts, or whatever you feel is appropriate.
Navadwipa Mandala Parikrama was initiated some 470 year ago with Lord Nityananda taking Srila Jiva Gosvami on a parikrama of the holy dham. Nityananda Prabhu said to Jiva, “Although in the eyes of common people, Visvambhara took sannyasa and left Navadvipa to go elsewhere, actually My Gauranga never gives up Mayapur or Navadvipa. The devotees […]
The aesthetic sense of the Lord is manifested in the artistic, colorful creation of varieties of birds like the peacock, parrot and cuckoo. The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas and Vidyādharas, can sing wonderfully and can entice even the minds of the heavenly demigods. Their musical rhythm represents the musical sense of the Lord. How then can He be impersonal? His musical taste, artistic sense and standard intelligence, which is never fallible, are different signs of His supreme personality.
Lord Krishna explains in the sacred text, Bhagavad-Gita, “Whatever action a great man performs, others will follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” On January 6th, 2021, in Washington, D.C., we saw the painful truth of this statement.”… “Each day, each moment, we have the power to choose kind […]
Lord Krishna explains in the sacred text, Bhagavad-Gita, “Whatever action a great man performs, others will follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” On January 6th, 2021, in Washington, D.C., we saw the painful truth of this statement."... "Each day, each moment, we have the power to choose kind or hurtful words. We have the power to be examples of light or darkness to our children. We have the power to say that the hate, the spiteful words, the selfish acts, the abuse, and the anger must stop."
Krishna CARES, which delivers hot vegetarian meals to the vulnerable, the elderly, and others in need in Gainesville, Florida, delivered sixty meals to the Ronald McDonald House this past Christmas Day. Parents stay for free at the non-profit family and children’s charity, located near Shands Hospital in Gainesville, while their children go through long-term hospital […]
Krishna CARES delivered sixty meals to the Ronald McDonald House charity in Gainesville, Florida this past Christmas Day. The special Christmas meals consisted of creamy Gauranga potatoes, quinoa, butternut squash soup, and salad with dressing.
2008 saw the opening of the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school when the landmark Krishna Avanti Primary School in Harrow opened its doors. 12 years later, the Trust educates more than 4,000 students across 10 schools up and down the country, with many more in the pipeline. From its inception, Avanti’s ethos has been inspired […]
2008 saw the opening of the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school when the landmark Krishna Avanti Primary School in Harrow opened its doors. 12 years later, the Trust educates more than 4,000 students across 10 schools up and down the country, with many more in the pipeline.
January 6th, 2021, marked the start of the All-India Padayatra’s (pilgrimage) seventh grand march around India, including the char dham yatra. Beginning in Dwarka on Radhastami, September 2, 1984, the padayatra has continued nonstop for thirty-six years, covering all of India and completing its sixth round in Dwarka on this New Year’s Day. The Padayatra […]
Ambarisa Das, Chairman of the under-construction Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, India, has released the following 2020 review and 2021 message regarding the TOVP: Dear TOVP Supporters, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna! The year 2020 has been one of the most unusual and difficult years in the […]
We had to reschedule the Grand Opening to 2023 and postpone the installation of the new Prabhupada murti to October, 2021. We pray there will be no further delays, and leave everything in the hands of Lord Sri Krishna.
It’s a cold rain on this cold morning Raining cats and dogs they say Why not raining birds and bees Or better yet let it rain love and kindness Drops of sweet water to change our thinking To wash away fear and loneliness Let it rain invitations to reach out And share our lives […]
"It’s a cold rain on this cold morning / Raining cats and dogs they say / Why not raining birds and bees / Or better yet let it rain love and kindness."
Mumbai’s iconic Mumbai Central Railways Station, which has earned name of one of the finest architecture and heavy footfall railway terminal in India, witnessed history in making when the first ISKCON book shop namely the ‘Hare Krsna Books’ was inaugurated on 7 January 2021. The permanent book store is strategically placed at the Mumbai Central […]
The permanent book store is strategically placed at the Mumbai Central Railway Station on Platform No. 1 and 2 which is largely reserved for trains with high priority preference.
The Global Devotee Care Directorate is pleased to invite you all to a facebook live conversation with HH Bhanu Swami on Shastric Perspectives on Devotee care. A video by the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team.
The Global Devotee Care Directorate is pleased to invite you all to a facebook live conversation with HH Bhanu Swami on Shastric Perspectives on Devotee care. A video by the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team.
Mangal-arti Dasi is well known for her dedication to book distribution and the care she takes in following through with people she connects to. We will hear inspiring stories from her years of going out as well as some key principles on taking care of the people we meet so they may stay inspired to […]
Mangal-arti Dasi is well known for her dedication to book distribution and the care she takes in following through with people she connects to. We will hear inspiring stories from her years of going out as well as some key principles on taking care of the people we meet so they may stay inspired to associate with devotees and serve Krishna. A video by the GBC Strategic Planning Team.
We would like to update devotees worldwide, and especially disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja, regarding the construction and completion of his samadhi in Sridham Mayapur.
As many of you may already know, the design and style of the samadhi was selected to match that of Srila Sanatana Goswami’s samadhi in Vrindaban. A very special, super-white marble called Chausira from the city of Makrana was chosen for this purpose and has been obtained after much searching. Its unique, fine crystal quality facilitates exquisite carving potential. C.V. Singh, the marble designer for the ISKCON Ujjain temple will take the responsibility to cut and process the marble.
The marble was purchased on January 6th and carving will commence on January 20th. After one month when complete, the marble will be transferred to Mayapur for erection of the samadhi. Braja Vilasa, who is managing every detail from start to finish under the guidance of Ambarisa prabhu, will personally oversee the construction of the structure.
Notwithstanding any delays due to the corona virus, completion is scheduled for Nrsimha Caturdasi, May 25th, and a soft-opening is scheduled at that time. The Grand Opening will take place at the next opportune time when the GBC and all ISKCON leaders are present in Mayapur.
We wish to thank the Bhakti Charu Maharaja Disciples Committee and especially Prema Manjari devi dasi for supporting our efforts and allowing us to be of service to one of the TOVP’s greatest well-wishers and enthusiasts, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja. We pray that our service to Maharaja is satisfying to all the devotees, and that his loving memory may be immortalized through the building of this samadhi. The plans for the samadhi design can be viewed HERE.
Every job has its perks. The higher the position, the more perks are available. Most often the perks are simple things, designed to both honor one’s status and facilitate one’s work. Simon Sinek, author and inspirational speaker, tells a story about perks which is not just instructive but imparts an essential truth about honor […]
There is a quid pro quo built into every relationship, every institution. Honor and tradition, the results of quid pro quo, are unifying principles which transform a group of individuals into a society of peoples. Recent events in Washington DC have shown how veering away from quid pro quo by denigrating political institutions can weaken the fabric of a nation, any nation, even the United States of America.
The Plight of Lonely Men. Today we discuss the silent pandemic of loneliness and its effects on us all. Srila Prabhupada brings to the West a salutary reminder that our highly activistic and one-sided culture is faced with a crisis that may end in self-destruction because it lacks the inner depth of an authentic metaphysical consciousness. Continue reading "All the lonely people, where do they all come from? (video) → Dandavats"
Anyone who is a bona fide preacher of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must be respectful to the real devotees of Lord Caitanya; one should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, therefore, offers equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. Continue reading "Disappearance day of Jiva Goswami and jagadisa Pandit (video) → Dandavats"
Another story fabricated to defame Srila Jiva Gosvami states that when Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami showed him the newly-completed manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Jiva Gosvami thought that it would hamper his reputation as a big scholar and therefore threw it in a well. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was greatly shocked, according to this story, and he died immediately. Fortunately a copy of the manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta had been kept by a person named Mukunda, and therefore later it was possible to publish the book. This story is another ignominious example of blasphemy against a guru and Vaisnava. Such a story should never be accepted as authoritative. Continue reading "Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Disappearance Day → Dandavats"
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten describes the branches of the tree named Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 1
sri-caitanya-padambhoja- madhupebhyo namo namah kathancid asrayad yesam svapi tad-gandha-bhag bhavet
TRANSLATION
Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If even a doggish nondevotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.
PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada
The example of a dog is very significant in this connection. A dog naturally does not become a devotee at any time. But still it is sometimes found that a dog of a devotee gradually becomes a devotee also. We have actually seen that a dog has no respect even for the tulasi plant. Indeed, a dog is especially inclined to pass urine on the tulasi plant. Therefore the dog is the number one nondevotee. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement is so strong that even a doglike nondevotee can gradually become a devotee by the association of a devotee of Lord Caitanya. Srila Sivananda Sena, a great householder devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, attracted a dog on the street while going to Jagannatha Puri. The dog began to follow him and ultimately went to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was liberated. Similarly, cats and dogs in the household of Srivasa Thakura were also liberated. Cats and dogs and other animals are not expected to become devotees, but in the association of a pure devotee they are also delivered.
All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaita Prabhu, and all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya, headed by Srivasa!
ei malira-ei vrksera akathya kathana ebe suna mukhya-sakhara nama-vivarana
The description of Lord Caitanya as the gardener and the tree is inconceivable. Now hear with attention about the branches of this tree.
caitanya-gosanira yata parisada-caya guru-laghu-bhava tanra na haya niscaya
The associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were many, but none of them should be considered lower or higher. This cannot be ascertained.
yata yata mahanta kaila tan-sabara ganana keha karibare nare jyestha-laghu-krama
All the great personalities in the line of Lord Caitanya enumerated these devotees, but they could not distinguish between the greater and the lesser.
ataeva tan-sabare kari’ namaskara nama-matra kari, dosa na labe amara
I offer my obeisances unto them as a token of respect. I request them not to consider my offenses.
I offer my respectful obeisances to all the dear devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the eternal tree of love of Godhead. I offer my respects to all the branches of the tree, the devotees of the Lord who distribute the fruit of love of Krsna.
PURPORT
Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami sets the example of offering obeisances to all the preacher devotees of Lord Caitanya, without distinction as to higher and lower. Unfortunately, at present there are many foolish so-called devotees of Lord Caitanya who make such distinctions. For example, the title “Prabhupada” is offered to a spiritual master, especially to a distinguished spiritual master such as Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhupada, or Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada. When our disciples similarly wanted to address their spiritual master as Prabhupada, some foolish people became envious. Not considering the propaganda work of the Hare Krsna movement, simply because these disciples addressed their spiritual master as Prabhupada, they became so envious that they formed a faction with other such envious persons just to minimize the value of the Krsna consciousness movement. To chastise such fools, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami very frankly says, keha karibare nare jyestha-laghu-krama. Anyone who is a bona fide preacher of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must be respectful to the real devotees of Lord Caitanya; one should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami therefore offers equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. ISKCON is one of these branches, and it should therefore be respected by all sincere devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
COMMENT by Giriraj Swami
Even among Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we must be careful to avoid offenses. We must respect and recognize the service of all Vaishnavas. As Srila Prabhupada once said, if we do not give credit where credit is due, we will become envious.
Among these branches, Rupa and Sanatana were principal. Anupama, Jiva Gosvami and others, headed by Rajendra, were their sub-branches.
PURPORT
In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (195) it is said that Srila Jiva Gosvami was formerly Vilasa-manjari gopi. From his very childhood Jiva Gosvami was greatly fond of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He later came to Navadvipa to study Sanskrit, and, following in the footsteps of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he circumambulated the entire Navadvipa-dhama.
COMMENT
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described Jiva Gosvami’s Navadvipa parikrama, and this parikrama of Nityananda Prabhu and Jiva Gosvami forms the basis of the Navadvipa parikrama we perform now, under the guidance of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
PURPORT
After visiting Navadvipa-dhama he went to Benares to study Sanskrit under Madhusudana Vacaspati, and after finishing his studies in Benares he went to Vrndavana and took shelter of his uncles, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana. This is described in Bhakti-ratnakara. As far as our information goes, Srila Jiva Gosvami composed and edited at least twenty-five books. They are all very celebrated, and they are listed as follows: (1) Hari-namamrta-vyakarana, (2) Sutra-malika, (3) Dhatu-sangraha, (4) Krsnarca-dipika, (5) Gopala-virudavali, (6) Rasamrta-sesa, (7) Sri Madhava-mahotsava, (8) Sri Sankalpa-kalpavrksa, (9) Bhavartha-sucaka-campu, (10) Gopala-tapani-tika, (11) a commentary on the Brahma-samhita, (12) a commentary on the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, (13) a commentary on the Ujjvala-nilamani, (14) a commentary on the Yogasara-stava, (15) a commentary on the Gayatri-mantra, as described in the Agni Purana, (16) a description derived from the Padma Purana of the lotus feet of the Lord, (17) a description of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, (18) Gopala-campu (in two parts), and (19–25) seven sandharbhas: the Krama-, Tattva-, Bhagavat-, Paramatma-, Krsna-, Bhakti-, and Priti-sandharba. After the disappearance of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami in Vrndavana, Srila Jiva Gosvami became the acarya of all the Vaisnavas in Bengal, Orissa, and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them in devotional service. In Vrndavana he established the Radha-Damodara temple, where, after retirement, we had the opportunity to live from 1962 until 1965, when we decided to come to the United States of America. When Jiva Gosvami was still present, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami compiled his famous Caitanya-caritamrta. Later, Srila Jiva Gosvami inspired Srinivasa Acarya, Narottama dasa Thakura, and Duhkhi Krsnadasa to preach Krsna consciousness in Bengal. Jiva Gosvami was informed that all the manuscripts that had been collected from Vrndavana and sent to Bengal for preaching purposes were plundered near Visnupura in Bengal, but later he received the information that the books had been recovered. Sri Jiva Gosvami awarded the designation Kaviraja to Ramacandra Sena, a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya’s, and to Ramacandra’s younger brother Govinda. While Jiva Gosvami was alive, Srimati Jahnavi-devi, the pleasure potency of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, went to Vrndavana with a few devotees. Jiva Gosvami was very kind to the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, the Vaisnavas from Bengal. Whoever went to Vrndavana, he provided with a residence and prasada. His disciple Krsnadasa Adhikari listed all the books of the Gosvamis in his diary.
The sahajiyas level three accusations against Srila Jiva Gosvami. This is certainly not congenial for the execution of devotional service. The first accusation concerns a materialist who was very proud of his reputation as a great Sanskrit scholar and approached Sri Rupa and Sanatana to argue with them about the revealed scriptures. Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, not wanting to waste their time, gave him a written statement that he had defeated them in a debate on the revealed scriptures. Taking this paper, the scholar approached Jiva Gosvami for a similar certificate of defeat but Jiva Gosvami did not agree to give him one. On the contrary, he argued with him regarding the scriptures and defeated him. Certainly it was right for Jiva Gosvami to stop such a dishonest scholar from advertising that he had defeated Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, but due to their illiteracy the sahijiya class referred to this incident to accuse Srila Jiva Gosvami of deviating from the principle of humility. They do not know, however, that humility and meekness are appropriate when one’s own honor is insulted but not when Lord Visnu or the acaryas are blasphemed. In such cases one should not be humble and meek but must act. One should follow the example given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya says in His Siksastaka (3):
trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina mana-dena kirtaniyah sada hari
“One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” Nevertheless, when the Lord was informed that Nityananda Prabhu was injured by Jagai and Madhai, He immediately went to the spot, angry like fire, wanting to kill them. Thus Lord Caitanya has explained His verse by the example of His own behavior. One should tolerate insults against oneself, but when there is blasphemy committed against superiors such as other Vaisnavas, one should be neither humble nor meek: one must take proper steps to counteract such blasphemy. This is the duty of the servant of a guru and Vaisnavas. Anyone who understands the principle of eternal servitude to the guru and Vaisnavas will appreciate the action of Sri Jiva Gosvami in connection with the so-called scholar’s victory over his gurus, Srila Rupa and Srila Sanatana Gosvami.
COMMENT
In the olden days in India, Sanskrit scholars used to try to show their proficiency by traveling and challenging other scholars and learned persons to debate, and if one was successful, he would be the champion. And if the person could actually go throughout India and defeat all of the other scholars, he was digvijaya, the greatest champion in Sanskrit knowledge or in scriptural arguments. Just like today there is competition among the cricket teams: they go all over the world and face rival cricket teams, and there is fierce competition to win the match. So, in the olden days, there used to be competition to win debates about Sanskrit and shastra.
But Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami were pure devotees of the Lord. They had no desire to waste time arguing and debating, to gain name and fame. So when the scholar came to debate, Rupa and Sanatana said, “You want to claim that you have defeated us? All right, you can tell people.” And they each gave him a certificate: “You have defeated me.” But when the same scholar came to Jiva Gosvami, Jiva Gosvami did not like the fact that the scholar was falsely advertising that he had defeated Rupa and Sanatana. Therefore, to uphold their honor, Jiva Gosvami engaged in debate with the scholar and defeated him.
Sahajiyas disrespect genuine acharyas. Generally, sahajiyas lack knowledge of scriptures. They think that study of scripture and discussion of siddhanta are for lower–class Vaishnavas. They want to hear krsna-lila, talks of the pastimes of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan, not philosophy. Once, when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura visited Radha-kunda, the babajis became excited because they thought that, as an acharya, he would speak about krsna-lila. But to curb the sahajiyas’ pride, he spoke on the Isopanisad—not even the Bhagavad-gita—to establish the fact that the sahajiyas should first learn the basic knowledge of the revealed scriptures.
Some sahajiyas think that initiating disciples is another form of materialism. And they blaspheme genuine acharyas for having many disciples. They cannot understand that the discussion of shastra and the training of disciples are transcendental, and so they blaspheme bona fide spiritual masters like Srila Jiva Gosvami. When Jiva Gosvami defeated the scholar, the sahajiyas thought that he was being proud and wanted to show that he knew more than others. They could not understand his real motives—to defend the names of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami and to curb the false prestige and false propaganda of the scholar. One of the basic principles of devotional service is that one should not tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or a devotee. Sahajiyas think that being humble means to tolerate all sorts of insults. And personally we should tolerate insult. But when there is insult to the spiritual master or the Vaishnavas or Krishna, we should not tolerate. If we are able, we should defeat the opposing party. The sahajiyas like the verse trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna/ amanina mana-dena kirtaniyah sada harih. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the author of the verse, Himself showed the example that although for one’s own sake one can be meek and humble and tolerate all sorts of insults, in relation to the spiritual master and the devotees one should not tolerate. Therefore, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to the place where Jagai and Madhai had insulted Nityananda Prabhu ready to kill Jagai and Madhai. And thus He showed the real meaning of trnad api su-nicena.
PURPORT (continued)
Another story fabricated to defame Srila Jiva Gosvami states that when Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami showed him the newly-completed manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Jiva Gosvami thought that it would hamper his reputation as a big scholar and therefore threw it in a well. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was greatly shocked, according to this story, and he died immediately. Fortunately a copy of the manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta had been kept by a person named Mukunda, and therefore later it was possible to publish the book. This story is another ignominious example of blasphemy against a guru and Vaisnava. Such a story should never be accepted as authoritative.
COMMENT
Mundane people are so envious that they do not hesitate to criticize such a great personality as Srila Jiva Gosvami. They even manufacture stories. Here the story is that Jiva Gosvami was afraid that Sri Caitanya-caritamrta would diminish his reputation as a devotee and scholar and therefore out of envy he threw the manuscript in a well so that the book would be lost. Indirectly, they charge that Jiva Gosvami was responsible for the death of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Such a claim is absurd—and offensive.
PURPORT (continued)
According to another accusation, Srila Jiva Gosvami did not approve of the principles of the parakiya-rasa of Vraja-dhama and therefore supported svakiya-rasa, showing that Radha and Krsna are eternally married.
COMMENT
Svakiya-rasa means relationship with one’s own wife. And parakiya-rasa means relationship with someone who is not one’s wife, who is either not married at all and thus is under the protection of her parents, or who is married to someone else and thus is under the protection of her husband.
PURPORT (continued)
Actually, when Jiva Gosvami was alive, some of his followers disliked the parakiya-rasa of the gopis. Therefore Srila Jiva Gosvami, for their spiritual benefit, supported svakiya-rasa, for he could understand that sahajiyas would otherwise exploit the parakiya-rasa, as they are actually doing at the present time. Unfortunately, in Vrndavana and Navadvipa it has become fashionable among sahajiyas, in their debauchery, to find an unmarried sexual partner to live with to execute so-called devotional service in parakiya-rasa. Foreseeing this, Srila Jiva Gosvami supported svakiya-rasa, and later all the Vaisnava acaryas also approved of it.
COMMENT
Once, a man asked Srila Prabhupada, “Krishna enjoyed with the wives of others, so did He not commit adultery?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Everyone and everything is the property of Krishna. Your wife is also Krishna’s property. So who is committing adultery?” Because all souls belong to Krishna, Krishna’s relationship with them is svakiya.
PURPORT (concluded)
Srila Jiva Gosvami was never opposed to the transcendental parakiya-rasa, nor has any other Vaisnava disapproved of it. Srila Jiva Gosvami strictly followed his predecessor gurus and Vaisnavas, Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, and Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami accepted him as one of his instructor gurus.
COMMENT
If Jiva Gosvami had actually deviated from the line of Rupa and Sanatana, how could Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, who elaborately described radha-krsna-lila in parakiya-rasa, especially in Sri Govinda-lilamrta, have accepted him as siksa-guru? All the acharyas in the line following Rupa Gosvami accept the transcendental parakiya-rasa, and they also accept Srila Jiva Gosvami as siksa-guru. When they accept Srila Jiva Gosvami as siksa-guru, there cannot be any fault or deviation in him. He argued in favor of svakiya-rasa simply to pacify some ignorant disciples who could not appreciate the transcendental parakiya-rasa, and to curb the sahajiyas, who would falsely try to imitate parakiya-rasa and thus go to hell. Jiva Gosvami is faultless, and bona fide followers of Sri Jiva, or of any acharya, will defend the acharya from false accusations. Jiva Gosvami did it for his gurus, Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, and here Srila Prabhupada is doing it for Srila Jiva Gosvami.
We too should follow this principle. We should not tolerate blasphemy of the acharyas and pure Vaishnavas; we should defend them to the best of our ability. And if we are not able to defeat the criticism, then at least we should not hear it. We should leave the place.
Hare Krishna.
Are there any questions or comments?
Devotee: [inaudible]
Giriraj Swami: The spiritual master may not protest, because he is following the principle of humility, but the disciples can. When Sisupala blasphemed Krishna, none of the Pandavas could tolerate the insults, and they were ready to kill him. But Krishna said, “No!” He tolerated. Then finally He Himself killed Sisupala and delivered him. But the Pandavas were bound to become upset, and they were bound to take action.
Devotee: [inaudible]
Giriraj Swami: The associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are in the highest grade. Among devotees in the highest grade we shouldn’t distinguish between big and small in a material way, just as we shouldn’t distinguish between the leaves of the tulasi tree—“That one is big, so it is better” or “This one is small, so it is lesser.” All are the same because they are parts of the tulasi plant. We may distinguish between a tulasi leaf and another type of leaf, which is not sacred like tulasi, but among the tulasi leaves we should not distinguish.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Gaura-premanande hari-haribol!
[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Srila Jiva Gosvami’s disappearance day, January 14, 1994, Mauritius]
While its doors remain closed to the public due to COVID-19, the brand new Portland Bhakti Center, located in the hip and trendy Hawthorne neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, has launched and is serving COVID-safe Krishna Friday Feasts to-go for all. The new center will work cooperatively with the already existing ISKCON Portland temple, located in […]
While its doors remain closed to the public due to COVID-19, the brand new Portland Bhakti Center has launched and is serving COVID-safe Krishna Friday Feasts to-go for all.
By Bodhaka
By Rohini Suta Das
By Giriraj Swami
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten describes the branches of the tree named Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
