Book Distribution Nectar

Tripurari Swami recalls:

Srila Prabhupada asked, "So! What are they saying. What are their arguments for not buying our Krishna consciousness books."

Maharaja replied, "They're saying that we are parasites; that we are simply leaching off the society and not contributing anything to society."

Srila Prabhupada retorted, "So! you tell them: 'Stop giving!... But you can't!'"

Maharaja pondered, "That's all he said but it was very profound.The point was you say we are parasites, well then stop giving.
But someone else is supplying us. This sankirtan movement is going on not because you're supporting us, you're not benefiting us by participating.
The support is coming from above; Krishna is in the background. He's supplying, He's supporting."

Book Distribution Nectar

Gopavrndapala Dasa remembers informing Srila Prabhupada that he encountered one problem while distributing books:

"People say that the only time they see us is when we’re hunting their money or we’re trying to give them some of our books. They don’t know us other than that, in essence."

Srila Prabhupada’s response was typically insightful. With a query-like look on his face, he frowned:

“No! No! They shouldn’t think like this. You should tell them that they can be with you 24hours a day!

Tell them: ‘There’s no reason not to be with me. You can be with me 24hours a day! You come with me and stay with me 24hours a day; come live where I live and see me and in that way you can get to know me. And after 3 days, after 3 days of staying with me like that, you’ll become like me!'”

Gopavrndapala Dasa reflects:
"The lesson we learnt from that is, in essence, our example is just as important as our individual one-on-one preaching on the streets, as well as our book distribution.

Book Distribution Nectar

Tripurari Swami remembers:

Gopavrindapala Dasa approached Srila Prabhupada, suggesting that book distribution should be done in a systematic way. Whilst Srila Prabhupada appreciated his sincerity and concern for making preaching very nice, Srila Prabhupada deliberated:
‘the systematic way he was proposing is a little artificial.'

Srila Prabhupada’s main point was that preaching is a spontaneous affair, and he gave the example,
"Just like our Tripurari Maharaja. Krsna is giving him so many nice things to say within his heart. And he's saying them, and books are selling.
So each devotee will get inspiration from within, from within their heart and in this way Krishna consciousness will be spread.”

Tulasi Skirt

Adya Dasa recalls:

My wife and myself used to love cooking in the kitchen in Manhattan temple.
One day, Srila Prabhupada was arriving next day, and we were told to make Tulasi skirt. My wife didn't know in those days how to sew; we had received an assignment that we couldn't do!

Regardless, we took that assignment, my wise especially, stayed the whole night making that Tulasi skirt for Srila Prabhupada's Tulasi. We come in the morning with the Tulasi skirt. The devotee looks at it and says,
"Oh! This is a terrible job! How could you do like this? Don't you have any sense!"

My wife started crying and crying. And I was hurt!
I didn't know what to do. But we put the Tulasi skirt on anyway. And we are sitting all broken-hearted, thinking, 'what offense we did!'

So time goes by; we're all waiting for Srila Prabhupada to come.
Finally Srila Prabhupada walks into the room and the very first statement he makes is: "What a beautiful Tulasi skirt!"

Three ways to fly!

Suresvara Dasa relates:

It was September 1972.

Srila Prabhupada was flying into Dallas to install SS Radha Kalachandji. He arrives at the airport by American Airlines; we usher him in the VIP room.
As Srila Prabhupada sits on a make-shift dais he immediately starts talking about: 'the three ways to fly!'
He just sits on he's seat and said: "So, there are three ways to fly!"

So the reporters are all present, and immediately noted on their pads: 'three ways to fly!'
I'm standing right next to this woman reporter and I kept looking at her pad.

"Yes", Srila Prabhupada starts, "pigeon... (he didn't say swan, he said pigeon!), mantra and machine!"
"Formerly, people knew the art of training pigeons." They would just get in the pigeons and just fly.
So the woman report notes on her pad: 'pigeon'.

"Then mantra. Simply by vibrating mantra, the yogi knew how to ride on the sound."
So the lady reporter continues to note down: 'mantra'. And all the other reporters are writing it down.
"And then machine!"

By that time, the lady reporter shoots up her hand and asked: "So Swami, if you know all these different ways to fly, then why did you choose to fly American Airlines today?"

Srila Prabhupada replied, with his eyes open wide, "To be one with YOU!"
The lady reported turned to Suresvara Prabhu and said, "I like that man!"

He just remained serious until the last morsel was being finished

This is Joan Suval's concluding narration of Srila Prabhupada's pastimes in New York,1965, at Dr Misra's Ananda Ashrama:

"I guess because he did a lot of travelling on his own, he had become self-sufficient in the kitchen.

He also loved, absolutely loved, to make meals for Guruji (Dr. Misra). He would make a lot of food. So we knew when Swamiji (Srila Prabhupada) was cooking that he could serve about twenty people, although he was cooking mainly for Guruji.

And we would gather around as he was cooking; we wanted to learn from him, what he was doing. So we would ask him questions and he wouldn't answer because he was totally absorbed in his moment to moment activity.

Although we were in a happy mood because we were anticipating a lovely meal, and being with the two of them, he just remained serious until the last morsel was being finished."

He was just one pointed in everything he did!

This is a continuation of Joan Suval's recollection of Srila Prabhupada at the Ananda Ashram of Dr. Misra in New York, 1965:

He was serious only when he was chanting, or talking about Krishna consciousness. But when he was relating to people, and certainly relating to Guruji (Dr. Misra), his face would light up, he had a radiance. Because he was happy! When Swamiji (Srila Prabhupada) was happy it showed...

He was just one pointed in everything he did!
It was felt about him: he was a deeply serious man. Serious about life.

He never talked about his past, his personal life. I did ask him once or twice, a question here and there, and he waved it away: "not important, that's not important" and then I began to feel that it wasn't important. What was important was what he was doing now!

"He lost all sense of time and space, every time he chanted!"

It was 1965, New York. Joan Suval remembers Srila Prabhupada at the Ananda Ashrama of Dr Misra:

After the program of Vedantic reading and chanting, Guruji (Dr Misra) will turn over the latter part of the evening to Swamiji (Srila Prabhupada).

He would try to caution him: "Swamiji!!! Only fifteen minutes remaining, at most 20 minutes Swamiji."

Swamiji would look at him very sincerely: "I know, I know; people need rest, it is late. I will do little bit chanting."

But it was to no avail! Once Swamiji went into that divine chanting, the bhakti chanting, he lost all sense of time and space, every time he chanted!
It was so that it was not less than an hour!

And Guruji knew it! It was his joke with Swami Bhaktivedanta.

"Krishna is unhappy to see that you are suffering"

Srila Prabhupada lectured on the Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.18, in Bombay 27.12.1974:

Krishna is very much anxious because we are suffering and we are sons of Krishna. We are part and parcel of Krishna. He is unhappy to see that you are suffering.

That is natural. If the son is suffering from ailment, the father also suffers: "How the son will be cured?"

The son may not know it, but the father is suffering without having that ailment. Similarly, Krishna is the father of all living entities: aham bija-pradah pita.

Krishna says. It is not my word, but Krishna says: Sarva-yonisu kaunteya [Bg.14.4]
"All different forms of life." Sambhavanti, aham bija-pradah pita.
So Krishna is the father of everyone, and He is very much anxious for us, to get us back.

Therefore He is ordering, "You rascal, why you have created so many 'isms'? Just surrender to Me. I will give you protection. Just surrender."

.

"It is better to study the Vedas, Srimad Bhagavatam"

Balavanta Dasa recalls:

Srila Prabhupada had given a nice lecture and then began to banter with the audience; he picked out Dr Mohanti.The latter was about 40 years old at the time; young enough to be his son. Srila Prabhupada smiled very cordially and was very friendly and loving with Dr Mohanti.

Srila Prabhupada inquired, "What part of India you come from?"

"Orissa", Dr Mohanti replied, a bit proud to be an educated man; he had a PhD in biology.

Srila Prabhupada continued, "So why have you come to the USA?"

Dr Mohanti: "I am a biologist!", as if thinking: 'You have to be proud of me; I'm your countryman, I've succeeded materially. I've got my degree in biology and I am an important man, a professor! See! you have to be proud of me.'

Srila Prabhupada smiled, "Oh!...Poor frogs!"

And the room exploded in laughter.
Dr Mohanti was a nice man, so he responded in a nice way.

"But", he protested, "no no, it is for science, it is for science!"

Srila Prabhupada laughed, "Oh! We'll take YOUR body for science."

And amid the laughter, Dr Mohanti retorted, "Yes yes! I'll do, I'll do!"

Srila Prabhupada concluded, "This enquiry of science is not very important. It is better to study the Vedas, Srimad Bhagavatam!"

Stealing from Krishna

Dayananda Dasa remembers a morning walk in Dallas.

Srila Prabhupada was told that H L Hunt lived across the river to where they were walking; he was one the richest man in the USA at the time.

Srila Prabhupada questioned his disciples, "So, if you see him what will you tell him?"

Somebody replied, "We'll tell him that we have a school here and we're producing first class citizens and..."

(Since Srila Prabhupada had been talking a lot about the Dallas Gurukula, everyone thought that the reply was in context.)

But Srila Prabhupada interrupted him, "No! You will tell him he's a thief! " (...because he is stealing from Krishna)

"YOUR purpose is not strong!"

Suresvara Dasa recalls:

"After the Vyasa puja lecture, Srila Prabhupada took questions from the audience."

Srila Prabhupada had been talking about how strong maya is, so a long-haired man at the back of the room asked: "If the purpose of life is to know God, Krsna, then why is it that Maya is so strong?", as if indicating that there was a defect in Krishna's arrangement.

Without a blink or a wink, or skipping a beat, Srila Prabhupada pointed strongly at the man with vehemence and responded: "YOUR purpose is not strong!!!"

Srila Prabhupada had made this statement with such power and profundity that, not only the fellow was taken aback, but everybody present was completely blown away.

Srila Prabhupada's reply, they felt, was meant for each one of them!

"Just know who is Krishna and that is sufficient."

Balavanta Dasa recalls a Sunday feast given by Srila Prabhupada in Atlanta, which at the time was right in the middle of the Christian belt. Many Christians attended the Sunday Feast.

Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture on Christianity and had declared that Christ is our guru.

There was a fellow in the audience who was very much into the Sikhs; at the end of the class he asked, "What happens to the followers of Guru Nanak Srila Prabhupada?
Srila Prabhupada replied, "The followers of Guru Nanak are indeed fortunate."

Another fellow in the audience named Peter, was one those seekers who had studied a lot of different books. He asked, "Srila Prabhupada, who is Mera Baba?"

Srila Prabhupada retorted, "I do not know. There are so many bogus babas. Just know who is Krishna and that is sufficient.

Balavanta Prabhu remarked that Peter had been very hard to handle so far. The devotees had been preaching to him but he had proved to be very resilient.
But at that very moment, Peter surrendered to Srila Prabhupada. He eventually took initiation and Srila Prabhupada named him Parampara Dasa.

"What the United Nations has failed to do, this movement can do"

"If people are simply induced to chant Hare Krishna mantra... Just see.
Even a child, he is taking part.

It is natural. There is no distinction between black and white, no question of language, nothing. You see practically. There is white child, black child. They do not know how to speak, but they are dancing and chanting.

So this movement is so important. Somehow or other if you can engage them in chanting and dancing, the whole world will be united. What the United Nations has failed to do, this movement can do—if it is not checked by the rascals.
But the rascals are ready to check this movement. That is the difficulty."

(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.18, Bombay 27.12.1974)

"I am the dog of God"

Suresvara Dasa recounts the Vyasa Puja celebration in 1972, New Vrndavana.

Srila Prabhupada talked about the meaning of Vyasa Puja, and how the spiritual master is the humble servant of the previous acaryas and Krishna.

"The spiritual master is not God-almighty despite all the worship offered to him!"

Srila Prabhupada considered himself the dog of God.
He explained, "It is very difficult to please a big man, very difficult to approach him but if you give his dog a 2-cent lozenge then very easily he is pleased.
So I am the dog of God!
It is very difficult to please Krishna, but it's very easy to please me: just chant Hare Krishna!"

"Wife is protection for husband"

Balavanta Dasa recalls going to New York to meet Srila Prabhupada.

Balavanta Prabhu was the Temple President of Atlanta Temple at that time. He noted that in those days, being Temple President meant that one could write to Srila Prabhupada. Previous to that anyone could write to Srila Prabhupada, but then he started to receive more mail that he could respond to.
Therefore it was decided that Temple Presidents would write on behalf of all the devotees under the jurisdiction of their respective temples.

"It was a great competition to become Temple President so we could write to Srila Prabhupada, and you could go wherever Srila Prabhupada was visiting, and go into his room!"

So, Balavanta Prabhu was in Srila Prabhupada's room, with other Temple Presidents.

Suddenly, Srila Prabhupada questioned them: 'Where are your wives?
Wife is protection for husband; when husband goes traveling, wife should also go!"

Srila Prabhupada, the embodiment of humility

Srila Prabhupada had asked Yadurani Dasi to replicate a painting: Lord Nrsimhadeva and Anantadeva seated on an Indian-type rug.

Yadurani Mataji needed a reference for an Indian rug and remembered that there was one in Srila Prabhupada room. It was a print on the wall, hung over the mat that Srila Prabhupada would sit on to work during the day and he would also sleep on it at night.

However, the print was too far away for Mataji to have a close look but she didn't want to step on Srila Prabhupada's mat. So she started to jump up and down to have a closer look at the print on the wall.

Srila Prabhupada took a look at her: "What are you doing?" he asked.

Yadurani replied, "I'm trying to see this picture; it's a reference for my painting, but I didn't want to step on your bed."

Srila Prabhupada's humble response was:
"In Krsna's service, you can step on my head!"

Yadurani Mataji noted how that was Srila Prabhupada's whole frame of being; he was willing to sacrifice everything to help others come to Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada's grand vision

Bhagavata dasa relates a very interesting pastime.

One morning Srila Prabhupada was talking about his vision, about his ambition for his ISKCON movement:

Srila Prabhupada first wanted to buy all the land in Mayapur, and establish a self-sufficient community in which they were completely independent of any needs from outside of the entire island of Mayapur.
Once that was established he would then declare independence from India and make his own country, the country of Mayapur.

Then his temples around the world would become embassies for the country of Mayapur, and the Temple Presidents would be ambassadors.

"And then we would print our own money", envisioned Srila Prabhupada. "I would call them 'Caitanyas': 1 Caitanya, 5 Caitanyas, 10 Caitanyas. We would our own currency. And then we will make devotional items and export them all over the world; that would be our export business!"

Whenever devotees fight...

Yadurani Dasi remembers the first time she met Srila Prabhupada.

It was during that famous kirtan that 'Swamji' had in Tompkins Square Park. It was also the first time she went to the temple, straight after the kirtan.

When she reached the temple on 26 second avenue, she overheard two devotees talking about what Srila Prabhupada had said recently:

"...the swami just said that whenever devotees fight it, should be taken like clouds passing by; when clouds pass by you hardly notice it, or you don't even notice it!
So it should be taken as insignificant."

Jaya Prabhupada!

Bhakta Dasa narrates:

During the preparations for the Ratha Yatra 1970, the devotees were doing a small morning program.

While they were reciting Gurvastakam, Srila Prabhupada paid them a surprise visit. He sat on his Vyasasana and said: "Continue doing what you're doing."

At that point in the prayers, they were reciting: 'the spiritual master is very satisfied when he sees the devotees eating bhagavat prasadam.'

Suddenly Srila Prabhupada leaped from his Vyasasana, stood up with his arms outstretched and exclaimed:
"Yes!!!! That is the best part!!!!

All the devotees exclaimed, "Jaya Prabhupada!!!

The boat of transcendence

Bhagavata Dasa asked Srila Prabhupada a question:

"Throughout your books you say that when you are a devotee you are on the transcendental platform but at the same time you talk about being affected by the mode of material nature.

And although I'm a devotee and I'm practicing the principles of devotional service, and experiencing a certain amount of transcendental pleasure, at the same time I feel affected by the modes of material nature. So how is it that I can be on the transcendental platform and still be affected by the modes of material nature?"

Srila Prabhupada explained, "It is just like being on a boat. When you're on the boat, nobody can say, 'you're not on the boat!' you're on the boat!

But...when you sail on the boat, sometimes very big waves will come and rock the boat. So your position on the boat will not be very steady.
Those waves are the modes of material nature and the boat is the transcendental platform. You're on the transcendental platform but sometimes the waves of material nature will rock the boat and your position is not steady.

So how do you become steady? Then you have to learn from the captain of the boat; that is the spiritual master. How to steer the boat. And if one learns expertly from the captain how to steer the boat then even in the greatest storm, your position on the boat will become steady."

'Wyndham Diwali' at Werribee Park

Below is a report from Radha Venudhari Prabhu:

"This is a brief update on our participation in the Wyndham Diwali event last Saturday (02/11/2013) at Werribee park.

It was an all-day multicultural event and our stall was open for visitors from 10 am to 8.00pm approximately. Turnaround was huge. We held Damodhara yatra and book distribution in our stall.

Hundreds of people offered lamps to the Lord while chanting the Mahamantra and hundreds took the opportunity to sit down with Caru Prabhu for his Bhagavad Gita card readings.

There was a dance and Kirtan programs performed by Bhakta Prahlad children on the main stage in the morning.
We had a display of books and devotional paraphernalia and plentiful of free prasadam-cookies distributed to thousands. We also managed to distribute a good number of books.

A big 'thank you' to Caru Prabhu for leading us all, from the beginning till the end.

Thank you Bhakta Prabhu for your suggestions and guidance along the way."

"You must read my books everyday!"

Srila Prabhupada had just been preaching for 30 minutes to some wealthy life members in front of Tamal Krsna Goswami and Bhagavata Dasa, and now the gentlemen had just left the room.

"Can you quote the verse I just said?" Srila Prabhupada suddenly asked his two disciples.

Tamal Krsna Goswami and Bhagavata Dasa both looked at each other in dismay as neither of them knew the verse.

Srila Prabhupada retorted, "Just see! You are not reading my books!
Everyday you have to study my books; you have to study my books 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. How will you teach these men unless you know my books?

Do you know that everyday, even I read my own books?
He asked them both, sternly, "Do you know why I read my books?"
Once again, they didn't dare to venture any answers. Srila Prabhupada replied himself, "I read my books everyday because even I learn something new when I read my books!

Do you know why I learn something new when I read my books?
Because these are not my books. I do not write these books."

Bhagavata Dasa describes that when Srila Prabhupada started to speak at this moment, it was like something came over him, something so mystical.

Srila Prabhupada continued, "Every morning... when I sit here... to write my books...Krishna comes personally and He dictates to me...what to write.
So I simply take dictation from Krishna.
Therefore, when I read them, even I learn something new."

They say: "This bhakti-marga is slave mentality!"

This the continuation of yesterday's post; the lecture that Srila Prabhupada gave on the Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.23:

Krishna talks about the materially-conditioned souls, Bhagavad Gita 15.7:

Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati, mamaivamsa
"They are My part and parcel. They can live as good as I am, but unfortunately, they are undergoing a struggle for existence on account of this polluted mind."

What is that pollution? Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare.
(The conditioned souls think that it is a) slave mentality.
They say, "This bhakti-marga is slave mentality.
Instead of becoming God, they want to become servant or slave of God. So this is slave mentality."

No, this is not slave mentality. This is actual liberation, because our constitutional position is to remain.
We are servant of Krishna!

(Bombay 01.01.1975)

How did we fall down!

Srila Prabhupada is lecturing on the Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.23:

"How we fell? You can trace out the history, but it is very difficult because anadi karama-phale, nobody can ascertain.

Just like when a man is diseased he goes to doctor. So when he goes to the doctor, the doctor gives him medicine according to the symptoms and the diagnosis. There is no necessity of find out the history, how he fell diseased.
There is history, but that is not possible to trace out.

Therefore it is said, anadi karama-phale...
Adi means the creation. Before creation, I contaminated this desire, iccha-dveña samutthena."
[Bg. 7.27].

Srila Prabhupada explains that we revolted against Krishna's desires:

Krishna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], but we are revolting:
"Why? Why shall I surrender to You? This is too much You are demanding."
This is going on... This is the disease.

And to cure the disease Krishna Himself comes.
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati, tadatmanam srjami [Bg. 4.7].
But we are so stubborn that we won't, do not like to be cured!

(Bombay 01.01.1975)

The Ladies Are At Work For Sri Giriraja's Pleasure

The garland-making workshops are in full steam at Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir.

The heat is on to decorate the Temple altar and Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana, for the occasion of Govardhana Puja tomorrow and Diwali on Sunday!

Come during the weekend to appreciate the outcome of the Matajis' expertise.