Contents Notes from the Editor LETTERS Appreciation for Priti-laksanamÑTeresa ESSAYS The Second to Last Snare of MayaÑManasa Ganga dasi NY CentennialÑDayananda dasa No see-em/No hear'emÑRupacandra dasi Krsna Consciousness Boring?ÑGadi dasa Prabhupada MeditationsÑThakor Topiwala No Person is Always the SameÑRadha Madana Mohana dasi The Nectar of Discrimination, A ReviewÑKurma Rupa dasa My Special Gift from KrsnaÑPuja dasi IN RESPONSE TO ARTICLES IN PREVIOUS ISSUES Quotes from Srila PrabhupadaÑMahalaksmi dasi New York Centennial Group 5111 Crossfield Court #11 Rockville, MD 20852 Dayananda dasa and Nandimukhi devi dasi This is our second letter about New York City's Prabhupada Centennial. The past two months we've successfully contacted a number of devotees and made important headway in several projects. We're excited that every event is now picking up momentum. The vision of several large cultural and spiritual events is becoming a reality. The following are quotes from Prabhupada on preaching: "It is the ambition of the spiritual master to see his disciples not only chant, dance and follow the principles, but also preach the sankirtana movement . . . " " . . . all classes of devotees should combine to distribute the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without consideration of the time, place or situation." "Even if one does not have money, he can preach the Hare Krsna mantra to everyone . . . " We take "all classes of devotees" to mean ourselves. We can and should preach the glories of the holy mane, and of His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada. To do this, we need little preparation other than to chant Hare Krsna. ISKCON Pilgrimage to N.Y.C.: July 10Ð17, 1996, is the week to visit New York. Ramabhadra and Dayananda have just mailed a letter of invitation to 350 temples throughout the world. We expect hundreds of devotees to attend. Guests will be housed in dormitory facilities (possibly at a school or camp), motel rooms, and area temples. We estimate the cost for lodging, prasadam, and local transportation to be about $500 (private) and $250 (dormitory) for the week. Sridhara Maharaja is publicizing this event on his world travels. We're also scheduled to make a presentation at the GBC and temple presidents meetings in Mayapur to promote world pilgrimage to New York during this week. July 13, 1996, which is the thirtieth anniversary of the incorporation of ISKCON, is the date of the Rathayatra. A marathon of book distribution is scheduled for the entire month of July. We are determined to break records! Rock Concert: On Sunday, December 11 we had our first meeting with Laksmi Nrsimha, Badarayana, Rasaraja, Bhakta Gus, Lokaguru, Bindu Madhava, Agnideva, Dayananda, and Nandimukhi. Our committee has decided that the theme of the concert will be "Prabhupada: He built a house in which the whole world can live." We listed a number of celebrity performers who are favorable to Krsna consciousness, and devotees who can contact them. We're now writing a prospectus to be used when contacting performers. Since the meeting, we've also communicated with Gurudasa, Kulasekara, Raghunatha, Nayanabhiram, and Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja who have all befriended famous people. Indian Concert: Nikhil Trivedi has been named committee chairman for this event. The concert will feature religious discourse, devotional dance, and music by top-notch performers. We're writing an invitation to Murari Bapu, the famous orator, to speak on Bhagavatam. Ambarisa said that he and his wife would like to attend a fund-raising dinner to kick-off the Indian concert. Academic Conference: The San Francisco BI held a successful conference on the Study of Consciousness Within Science in 1990. Our conference in New York will be on this same topic, a hot item in academic circles. We're working under the expert guidance of Svarupa Damodara Maharaja and Rasaraja. Garuda and Satyaraja are also giving important advice. Thus far, committee members are Dayananda and Rama Tulasi. Souvenir Magazine: We are helping to design and produce a magazine about Prabhupada, his teachings, and his movement that can be used to promote the various Centennial events. This high-quality publication will include a calendar and description of Centennial events. We are in contact with BTG, BBT, and ISKCON Foundation about the logistics of the magazine's publication. Book Exhibition: Pradyumna, as acting curator of the exhibit, has defined the exhibit's focus as Caitanya Vaisnavism. Prabhupada's books in numerous translations will be displayed amid medieval and modern Bhagavad-gitas, Srimad Bhagavatams, and Caitanya-caritamrtas. The exhibit will feature relevant works borrowed from important collections, maps, and illustrations from the texts. Nandimukhi is in contact with several scholars and librarians. Vrnda devi has recently agreed to assist in the design of the exhibit. Sesa has also shown interest and is offering us managerial advice. Painting Exhibition: Hari Kirtana, Nandimukhi, and Saradiya are contacting curators and artists and researching contacts with the art world. Prasadam Distribution: Dayananda met with Priyavrata, International Director of Food for Life, to discuss the importance of prasadam distribution to the success of the Centennial events. Sunanda and Brhat Sloka, both of whom are expert in prasadam distribution, have pledged to help. Also, Jerry Abrahms, who sells prasadam in the Wall Street area, plans to increase his number of carts from two to five by 1996. Photo Display: Tosana Krsna and Madhava Priya are researching archival newspapers, magazines and photo collections to identify photographs, articles and cartoons featuring Hare Krsna's in New York. The material will be incorporated into an exhibit to be displayed in public locations in New York during 1996. We are talking to several devotees about the construction of the exhibit. Advertisement/Public Relations: Have you seen the latest issue of ISKCON World Review with a cover picture of Nelson Mandela standing with Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja? Look for the New York Centennial article on page 12. Also, Priti-laksanam has printed our newsletter in its current issue. Word is getting out. Prabhupada Memorial: Dayananda is gathering documentation of the Movement's beginnings in Tompkins Square Park to present to city officials. We are hoping to enlist prominent members of the community to help us lobby for the memorial. If you wish to help, please let us know. Serving Together: We've made progress since we last contacted you, but it is increasingly clear that we need your dedication and commitment to make these events happen. Krsna will reciprocate with our desire to glorify Srila Prabhupada, but our desire must be strong enough to attract Krsna's attention. Please, therefore, combine your desire to glorify Prabhupada with ours, making our collective desire strong enough to attract Krsna's mercy. We invite you to engage your heart and your intelligence in one of the New York Centennial events. If you cannot contribute your time, please make a donation. "No see-em/ No hear-em" Rupacandra dasi Bonners Ferry, ID A frequent comment we hear in America regarding the 'Hare Krsna's' is "no see-em/no hear-em for quite awhile now." My hopes were high that the padayatra program and emphasis on making celebrations profound in AmericaÑto exemplify fulfillment of Bhaktivedanta Swami's life purposeÑwould alleviate that. Thus my distress that Back to Godhead made no mention of all this, nor of a centennial office in Alachua. ISKCON received an overwhelming (global) response and willingness to help strengthen, rectify, edify, and unite ISKCON North America., and BTG gave subscribers a contact address and phone in New Delhi. HA! I would have thought BTG's rightful place would be in the heart of the Centennial Lotus disseminating up-to-date coverage of happenings. If ISKCON better utilized its existing publications (BTG, IWR, Pl) for centennial news, the need for duplicative newsletters would be eliminated and tens of thousands of dollars (and energy) saved that could go toward Nprth American Rathayatras, padayatra supplies, and centennial office. Like with Indian projects, why not raise funds for America's special needs? Maybe if all this is mentioned in BTG, leaders fear it could be too overwhelming and that laksmi needed for grandiose Indian projects would divert to America, but we must have faith that if our purpose/desire is pure, Sri Sri Laksmi Narayana will be there to serve us. When we satisfy Srila Prabhupada, and thereby Krsna, then and only then will we feel satisfaction. To interpolate a synopsis of the moratorium issue, I'd like to report a contention put forth by one leader, who said, "while some might be pacified by the moratorium on initiations, numerous others would be thrown into great despair knowing their need for a physically present guru." The well-being of our WHOLE society takes priority over individual desires, if you ask me. My hope is that the Bhakta (in) would see this as an austerity performed out of love, and for the satisfaction of all gurus in the line of Sriman MahaprabhuÑunderstanding that at this momentous time, the seriousness of the situation compels this stringent mandate. (An American padayatra party, by the way, could be a real fun way to get fixed up. How about sannyasis bringing men to America, as with India?) But most importantly, we can show Srila Prabhupada how much we love him by making the effort, and give us time to heal and regroup for a 'Glory Days Renaissance'. In juxtaposition the above are good examples of how the centennial agenda profoundly affects us all. By including the Strengthening Management Petal on the Centennial Lotus we are ensured leaders want to hear the concerns, needs, and consensus of the congregation, and act in accordance with it, as long as it is in compliance with Vaisnava tenantsÑwhich is where the rtvik issue comes in. We really have no choice but to get along (or grieve Srila Prabhupada); we must do whatever it takes. So if leaders have a better idea, great! All of us agree on one thing: years have a way of zipping by. In closing, I'd like to ask followers who first heard of Sriman Mahaprabhu in America: how long since you've performed hari -nama sankirtana on American streets? Krsna Consciousness Boring? Gadi dasa When we get bored with Krsna consciousness . . . Well, not since it's not really Krsna consciousness we're getting bored with. It's the attitude toward Krsna consciousness that's actually causing the boredom. By cultivating a loving attitude toward Srila Prabhupada and Krsna and giving our best to them, we can never be bored, but always hankering for more Krsna consciousness. Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasure and the source of all relationships. Krsna is our real self-interest. If we are actually, genuinely thinking of how to please Krsna, there can be no boredom. Krsna consciousness is the only real happiness. But that happiness lies just on the other side of the austerity line. When difficulty is accepted to satisfy Krsna the happiness derived from that determination can completely detach one from the bonds of so-called happiness of this world. It will automatically overlap on all sides, influencing others and making sweet all relationships . . . for you'll be envious of no one, compassionate toward all and in want of nothing, although properly executing ones duties as dictated by ones life and circumstances. So what's wrong? Why so many separnecities? (New word definition: That which seems necessary but is actually separate from that which is really necessary.) New age this, psycho babble that, pow wow this, village jibber jabber that. . . . Krsna consciousness is so easy, but so hard. . . . It requires only one attitude for success. (that makes it easy), we must want what Krsna wants. What does Krsna want? He wants us to tell others about Him, help them chant, read about, serve and ultimately love Krsna. The hard part is peculiar, we have somehow come to believe that Krsna exists for our pleasure, that ISKCON, who is composed of other struggling conditioned souls is supposed to entertain us, create excitement, etc. village ongoings to congregate at and tell each other what each other is doing. This indeed creates boredom because as conditioned souls we have very shallow borders and can only create the tiniest amount on entertainment for each other. The Name--Krsna makes everything all right. . . . or does it? The type of Krsna consciousness that frees us from that boredom, and from everything else in this temporary universe is experienced by taking Krsna to others. There is no other happiness like that happiness. We personally must practice our regulations etc., but we if we want to end our boredom, Krsna's task is always at hand. Just take that step and cross that line again or for the first time. There is no happiness without giving to othersÑperiod. There is nothing that can compare with giving the gift of Krsna consciousness to others. It cures the blues. It takes us to the happiest place, a place where worrying about our own happiness is conspicuous by its absence. Our lives are basically boring, our desires are boring, and refusal to take that step and remain in boredom is unexplainable. I'm going back to preach at the Plaza of the Americas where I began, to chant, speak with, and distribute prasada with Sri Daru Brahman. I'm dedicating the rest of my life to this place. The magic is still there, always has been, and always will be. The trees are 24 years older that's all. A Review of Kundali Dasa's The Nectar of Discrimination, A Treatise on the Three Modes of Material Nature by Kurma Rupa dasa Hardbound, five illustrations, 220 pages. Available from Eye of the Bird Books, Krsna-Balarama Mandir, Vrndavana, Mathura Dist. U.P., India Be honest. Will your heart be satisfied by having others think you spiritually advanced over your actually being so? Will your mind rest while juggling to maintain popularity among many superficial friends over having a few open-hearted genuine relationships? Would you rather devotees offer you empty courtesy over genuine appreciation? If you are inclined to the latter in each case, then you will relish reading The Nectar of Discrimination. This lucid, fast-reading book is a refreshing, concentrated dose of Krsna consciousness that teaches the practical application of knowledge of the modes of natureÑhow to discriminate. This ability is one of the symptoms of the mode of goodness. It encourages us to act decisively to cultivate sattva-guna as a means to making tangible spiritual progress. It urges us to become more responsible and self-reliant, to avoid pretense, and to develop integrity within the framework of Krsna consciousness. The short-run outcome of reading this books is introspection and improved devotee relationships because of the love and trust that results from the development of integrity. As such, it is a practical remedy for ISKCON's ailments. Just by reading the Introduction you will get your money's worth. The brave author, who has published over forty BTG articles, writes:"Vulnerability is part and parcel of being a man of integrity. A devotee is vulnerable, open, and therefore surrendered to and dependent on the Lord. This is a feeling a Vaisnava can never have too much of. . . . A devotee should seek ways to experience this sense of utter dependency, which leads to fearlessness, which is a far cry from the I-got-it-all-together bravado of the rugged individualist, which is ego-centered even if it has taken on Vaisnava dress. I believe that practicing openness or vulnerability is a way, a very good way, to increase one's dependency on Krsna. "With this conviction, I want to set the pace for all my readers by doing a full on confession thus making myself vulnerable to all. I want to lay my life open before the world and by so doing unburden myself of any residual feelings of guilt and so on. This is important because when one is encumbered with guilt he has to do things, even unconsciously, to expiate it and salve his conscience. This becomes an encumbrance to his spiritual life and to his preaching. The best countermeasure is the practice of vulnerability." How's that for a start? Kundali's stark honesty and concern for ISKCON's good health prevails throughout. At times the book is humorous, yet in urging us to improve ourselves it is a dead-serious move to improve our society. And it is all couched in a fresh presentation of Krsna's instructions to Arjuna and Uddhava on the modes of nature. It includes an eye-opening discussion of Lord Kapila's description of bhakti mixed with the modes. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is a worn subject you have already mastered. Krsna called it the "supreme wisdom" (Bg.14.1) and in the purport Srila Prabhupada stressed the importance of understanding the modes of nature, "The knowledge explained in this chapter is proclaimed by the Supreme Lord to be superior to the knowledge given so far in other chapters. By understanding this knowledge, various great sages attained perfection and transferred to the spiritual world. . . . This knowledge is far, far superior to all other processes of knowledge thus far explained. . . . Thus it is expected that one who understands this Fourteenth Chapter will attain perfection." Knowledge related to devotional service expands as one puts it into practice. Take a short-cut to understanding the modes of nature by hearing this experienced devotee's realizations. Kundali's approach is alive, profound, encouraging, and sparks inspiration to kick off artificiality and take up the work of spiritual advancement. It expresses the welcome theme of helping others. He writes, "What I ultimately want to encourage is that you look after more than yourself. . . . The ultimate secret to this life of Krsna consciousness lies in doing good to others. It brings immediate happiness. We always translate this into preaching and it does mean that, but where many of us often fail is in our limited concept of preaching. We don't realize this idea of doing good for others, this concept of being a preacher of Krsna consciousness, extends to all spheres of our existence. . . . "When you inspire a devotee to surrender or to do a particular service, or instill confidence in him about his spiritual life, or when you give him facility to serve or any kind of assistanceÑthat is doing good for others. When you train people to stand on their own two legs in Krsna consciousness that is doing good for others. . . . "One who is a preacher, one who has centered his energies on doing good for others, one who has made an irreversible decision to bring out the best in othersÑfor KrsnaÑis on the job twenty-four hours a day. He's always preaching. And according to Krsna, preaching to the devotees is topmost." He concludes the book with this image: "When you help row someone across the material ocean, you also end up on the other side." Without doubt The Nectar of Discrimination is an important contribution to the literature intended for the devotee community. Serious, unpretentious devotees will feel solace. If, however, you want to hide your frailties for the sake of keeping up appearances, if you like using Vaisnava etiquette to deflect constructive criticism, if you like molding the Krsna conscious philosophy to suit your purpose, if you prefer surrounding yourself only with those who reinforce your worldview, then this candid book that looks at the ISKCON experience in a cold light is definitely not for you. My Special Gift From Krsna Puja dasi Three Rivers, California On Thursday, December 29, 1994, I experienced the greatest grief and loss in my life. My father, whom I very much loved and adored, left his body. However, my grief and sorrow was lessened by the wonderful gift that Krsna and Srila Prabhupada gave me. The incredible kindness that Krsna bestowed upon me, was that at my father's passing, I was chanting the Hare Krsna mantra into his ear, he was wearing Tulasi neck beads, and I had put holy water from four auspicious rivers and bathing ghatas on his body. I flew to Denver as my father was very ill and in a comatose state. On December 20th, when I went to the hospital, he had awakened and he sang Hare Krsna with me several times. (In Denver some years ago, if a devotee would approach him on sankirtana, not knowing he was my father, he'd say "O.K. I'll give you a donation if you chant Hare Krsna with me first!" So, the devotee would sing Hare Krsna with my father.) At one point that day he kept saying, "It's going to be a new life" and I asked "Daddy, are you going to chant Hare Krsna in your new life?" He answered "Yes, I am going to chant Hare Krsna in my new life." As he was unable to swallow, one time two speech pathologists came in to see if he was able to swallow again, by feeding him a couple bites of sherbet, which I secretly offered. Although his speech wasn't always very clear, he clearly said to my Mom, "You know what's going to happen some day?" She answered, "What's going to happen some day?" He said "I am going to go through the whole ritual of . . . " She said, "You're going to go through the whole ritual of . . . " "Hare Krsna," he said. My Mom just thought it was a cute or sweet thing to say. She explained to the hospital workers that I was a Hare Krsna devotee, but as for myself, I was in complete ecstasy! A day or so before my Dad's passing, he was totally upset and miserable and kept saying, "I can't take it anymore, what can I do?" At that point, I too, was very upset and crying and said, "Daddy, just say 'Krsna, please help me.' And he yelled out, "Krsna, please help me." The very last words my Dad spoke to me were the evening before his death, as my Mom and I left his hospital room. He said "Hare Krsna, Sweetheart." The next day when he left his body and I was able to chant to him and Tulasi beads were around his neck, I felt this surely must be the greatest gift Krsna has ever given me. I got to repay my father for all of the love and kindness he gave me in a way that will eternally benefit him. At 4:30 the morning he left, I called the Denver temple, and Nidra did a puja for my father on the altar. Generally people donate $108 to have this puja done in theirs or someone else's honor. For some reason, she so kindly performed the puja for the next three days also. I certainly couldn't say that in his last days, my father was in total Krsna consciousness, but Krsna was definitely in his consciousness some of the time. One day I was chanting Hare Krsna to him and I said, "Isn't chanting Hare Krsna so soothing to our hearts?" And he shook his head yes. Then he looked at me in a puzzled way and asked, "Where is Krsna's grandmother?" I'll admit I was rather confused and I couldn't even remember who Krsna's grandmother was. I did say that if she was that connected to Krsna, she must be in the spiritual world where nobody has to grow old, get diseased or die. My Dad agreed that would be a wonderful place to be. After 21 years of chanting "Hare Krsna," I feel any austerity I have performed was totally rewarded by Krsna allowing me to be present at my father's passing and chanting to him during his final breaths. I was even able to put more holy water on his body the next day at the mortuary and chant "Hare Krsna" one last time. My parents had chosen cremation, so my father was cremated wearing Tulasi beads. The greatest gift Krsna has given all of us is the association of His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, and the chanting of His Holy Name! Jai, all glories to Lord Krsna and all glories to Srila Prabhupada! Before I flew to Denver, my dear friend Jagajjanani consoled me with s song she made up to the tune of "Hush Little Baby." It goes: Hush my Puja, don't you cry Krsna will help you when your Daddy does die. He's not his body, he's spirit soul In his next life Krsna will be his goal. I also made up a song to the same tune, which I didn't actually sing to my Dad, but which helped me along: Hush my Daddy, don't you cry Everyone of us must die. You have chanted the Holy Name That is to your eternal gain. I would also like to mention and thank my very dear friend, Anuradha. While I was in Denver, she was incredibly supportive and helpful to me as I usually called her once or twice a day. She helped me get through this most difficult time of my life by her strong faith in Srila Prabhupada and the Krsna conscious process. To have a friend like her is another great gift Krsna has given me.