Part 1 : The setting

Probably will go down in the history of my insignificant life as the best weekend I have ever had. It was fantastic ! While many of my friends and work mates decided to stay at home to enjoy the long weekend break (Monday was a public holiday here) and also to avoid the harsh weather reported (rain, heavy cold winds) , I decided to venture out. I would be spending 3 days with 120 odd Melbourne devotees, His Grace Bhurijana prabhu and HG Jagattarini mataji at the New Nandagram farm of ISKCON Melbourne temple. This would be my first set of classes with these 2 exalted devotees. I had heard so much about the pair, that I immediately decided to go when I first heard about it few months ago. Luckily, I got a place before it ran out.

The centre of focus at the farm

The New Nandagram Farm is about 60 miles and took us about 2 hours to get there. All devotees had arranged their own cars and rides from the city. The farm, as I had written before in previous posts last year, is calm and beautiful. One good reason to have classes here is that there are no distractions. Once you are here, you are basically locked in for a few days. No mobile phones, no Internet, no outside world. It’s just trees, grass, fresh clean air, devotees, gurus, prasad, Gaura Nitai and Sri Radha Krishna. The farm has their own cows, accommodation facilities as well as a nice and small temple. As devotees, what more could we ask for.

Green, clean and peaceful

It had already drizzled on Friday night. And perhaps, few days in the past as well. On arrival one could see the fresh grass making its way out of the ground, the smell of fresh soil was there and the wind was getting a bit cold. But still as far as the eyes and nose were concerned, it was tranquility everywhere. And everyone looked absolutely happy to be there. Happiness begets happiness. Some devotees went for a walk, others started to set the rooms up and I decided to look around.

The only flowers

Not sure why or perhaps I didn’t explore enough, but these were the only two flowers I could find to photograph at the farm. There were plenty of trees, bush and grass all around but couldn’t find many wild flowers. As I took the photo, I was thinking to myself, “2 yellow flowers, like Gaurasundara and Nityananda“. And these flowers were just outside the temple room. Speaking about our dear Gaura Nitai, even they decided to attend in full force. They came in many numbers !

The Farm temple deities

jagannathramdas.wordpress.com's Gaura Nitai

Another devotee's Gaura Nitai deities

Braving the cold too - another devotee's Gaura Nitai

 WoW, I say ! There were another 2 but I forgot to take Their pictures. Like me, many others were surprised and delighted to see many Gaura Nitai’s all over the altar. People gazed for a long time from one deity set to another. I was also inspired to have one for myself. One day, I shall. But that “one day” is a long way away from me now. Lot’s to improve in my devotional service. That’s one of the things you learn from such weekend getaways with devotees. You get to see the depth of their devotion and the progress each one has made. Truly inspiring.

Our ever well-wisher !

Srila Prabhupad was there too, looking all wrapped up in wollens, warm and cozy. He looked the most motivated, happiest and raring to go ahead with the 3 days of program !

The altar set-up

I love altar set-ups. And this new one at the farm was thrilling. It was big and draped in beautiful blue, violet and burgundy silk cloth. Nice choice of colors. Although it was bright, it really went well with all the Gaura Nitai deities and candles. Beautiful flower garlands and petals were there as well along with fragrant incense.

The entire setting outside and inside the farm house was perfect. Everyone appreciated all the efforts put in. We were ready. May the class, prayers and honouring prasadam begin !

I am busy, very busy and tired, very tired, which is why I am not giving more detail about what is going on in my garden which is both exciting and frustrating with successes and failures.

We had some dry weather leading up to Memorial Day so I made a push to get some ground worked up.  I used adrenaline to drive myself for 4 straight days. Of course, I still didn’t get up to full time work, but was having some 8 hour days, fairly physical.

I worked hard Memorial day morning up to 2 in the afternoon then went to a cookout and consumed about 10,000 calories and sat up for the rest of the day.

For the next two days I couldn’t get off the couch, had to lay down the whole time which was a reminder to myself why I pace myself normally and don’t push, because if I do push hard I end up too wasted to do anything and it all averages out anyway.

I usually spend a few hours on the couch in the afternoon, one reason for which is if I don’t my ankles swell up, even if I just sit up all day, I need the feet up time. Now I have realization that I also need the rest.

The third day I was able to sit up but it was the fourth before I was able to go out again.

I also had my monthly blood work results come back showing all 3 liver enzyme results as being high, the first time that has happened since my liver transplant 3 years ago. I don’t know if that is a cause for my seemingly increased fatigue or if the overexertion was the cause of the high enzymes.

I may have hit my peak and now be on the downside of energy levels again. I had been feeling better this spring than since 2004, hopefully I can get back up to at least that level.

Anyway, I keep picking away at the garden using all the available energy I do have and am not too far behind. So the busy is relative to energy, not time. Hopefully I can provide more details on the garden later.

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University.

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephants foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing killing him instantly.

Probably wasn’t the same elephant.

From ISKCON News by Hare Krishna dd

“In my last birth I was born in the family of cowherd men, and I gave protection to the calves and cows. Because of such pious activities, I have now become the son of a brahmana.” – Lord Chaitanya (Chaitanya-charitamrta, Adi Lila 7.111)

Throughout history many traditional societies have centered on a particular animal, and the relations the people develop with that animal influence the values of the whole society. We think of the role of buffalo in shaping the lives and values of the Native Americans of the Plains. Similarly, we think of the Laplanders and their reindeer, or even the New England whaling villagers and the whales.

In each case, without a particular animal the culture of the people would be entirely different. Because of relations to that animal, whether by shooting, herding, or sailing after it, the society encourages attributes such as toughness, bravery, gentleness, or respect for nature.

Vedic culture centers on the cow. In fact, without cows there can be no true Vedic culture. Veda means “knowledge” – in the highest sense, spiritual knowledge. And as Srila Prabhupada explains, cow protection and brahminical culture are “the two pillars of spiritual advancement.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.20)

Now, it is easy for even an outsider to understand why brahminical culture is considered indispensable for spiritual advancement. After all, brahmanas are the disseminators of spiritual knowledge and the exemplary maintainers of spiritual standards, just like the priestly class in any society.

But what about cows? What do cows have to do with spiritual advancement? And why cows? Why not sheep or goats or horses?

In his purport to Lord Chaitanya’s statement above, Srila Prabhupada gives us the clue. “The words of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the greatest authority, herein clearly indicate that one becomes pious simply by keeping cows and protecting them.” How can that be? One reason is that cows are emblems of the mode of goodness.

In Vedic teachings different animals are associated with different material qualities. For example, monkeys, because of their extraordinary sex drive, belong to the mode of ignorance. Lions are said to be in the mode of passion, and cows in the mode of goodness. When humans ally themselves with an animal in the mode of goodness, they themselves gradually rise to goodness, which is favourable to spiritual advancement.

In the opening quote of this article, Lord Chaitanya was teasing an astrologer who had determined that the Lord, in His past life, had appeared as an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To have some fun with the astrologer, Lord Chaitanya ostensibly denied that He was the Supreme Lord, saying that in His past life He had been merely a cowherd boy, and that only by His pious activities had He now become a brahmana…

Read full article here

“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”-Rumi

Part 6 – The eating !
(The final article on this topic)

The guests looked visibly happy. The food was made. They did it ! They all seemed proud and by now Chef Kurma was like their best friend. One group quickly began to gather plates, bowls and cutlery for the table. A few others helped in transferring the food into large utensils. Below are pics of what we made along with some comments from Kurma’s notes.

Moghul-style Cumin-flavoured Rice

This quick to prepare, aromatic rice dish inspired by India’s Moghul cuisine is flavoured with both whole and ground cumin, and is made even more aromatic with the addition of cloves and cinnamon. The sweet addition of raisins in a savoury dish is typical of Moghul taste.

Mixed Veg in Creamy Gujarati-style Karhi Sauce

Karhi is an excellent source of vegetarian protein – yogurt, a complete protein combines with the chickpea flour – an incomplete protein that becomes complete in conjunction with yogurt. Karhi is delicious, light and easy to digest, and good for you – what more could you ask !

Punjabi-style Tomatoes, Peas and Home-made Curd Cheese

This dish originates in Punjab, northern India. However, its is well known all over India and there are hundreds of variations of the same dish. Here’s a delicious version that can be served with any meal, anytime. It especially lends itself to special feasts and dinners and can be kept warm for some time, actually improving the flavour of the dish.

Hot, Sweet, Spicy and Sour Eggplant Pickles

This tender and delicious pickle from Maharastra is simultaneously hot, sweet and sour. Select firm fresh eggplants for best results.

Sweet and Sour Toor Dal Soup with Vegetables

This creamy, smooth dal soup with its pleasant lemony taste and chunks of butter-soft vegetables is ideal as a tasty accompaniment to either a simple or elaborate menu.

Gujarati Fenugreek-Scented Pumpkin Curry

This dish proves just how delicious pumpkin can be if teamed up with the correct flavour partners. Succulent Gujarati Pumpkin is excellent served with farm flatbreads.

Green Salad

The salad is a welcome addition and gives it a different feel to a table full of Indian dishes. People enjoyed mixing the salad with their poories and rice. The most popular dish in both the classes went to the eggplant pickle ! And that includes me too !

My plate

And that’s my plate there with a serving of everything. I had 3 of these ! And for 2 days !

The "Bundoora" suburb guests

The "Bendigo" city guests

What an experience ! From zero guests to almost 30 guests ! If you put your efforts with determination and confidence in yourself, your seniors and the beautiful Lord, it’s bound to go well. My special thanks to all the above strangers who enabled me to carry out this service. The fact that they are enjoying delicious food prepared by our cherished and senior devotee Chef Kurma Das, tells me that these are special people. In fact, anyone who takes the effort to honor food prepared by exalted vaishnavas are indeed special.

The cookbooks

More and more people need to get these books on vegetarian cooking. They need to know that such cooking is not always about eating cold sandwiches and cold salads. Not only is it fun to cook delicious vegetarian preparations but it also brings with it fond memories for the entire family.

In the forewords of one of the above cookbooks, the President of the International Vegetarian Union, Mr. Howard F. Lyman writes, ” Kurma has provided a great way to start the rest of your life. It is not about being perfect. It is about doing better tomorrow than you did today. This book will enable you to be part of the solution and less part of the problem. Read, prepare, and enjoy great food with Kurma’s help. And, remember, starting with fresh organically-grown produce from local family farmers is always the first step toward recovery for both you and the planet.” 

And what message did Kurma prabhu give me? Well, he presented me with one of his cook books, “Cooking with Kurma – More Great Vegetarian Dishes” and on the first page he wrote :

“Manoj,
Chant, Cook, Take Prasad and Be Happy
Your Humble Servant
KURMA”

Dear Kurma prabhu,
Thank you so much for all the efforts and patience you put in over the 2 days with me and the guests. Your excitement was contagious and I am sure their life has been affected. You worked so hard for us.

Results have already started to show. The 2 cafes are looking at introducing recipes from your book to their customers, once a week. I hope this falls in place soon. Once it’s in place, this will be a great achievement where hundreds will be introduced to your cooking and methods. Another 2 guests have formed a vegetarian club and they held a veg day which attracted 400 odd curious diners, I am told ! Another guest is busy inviting guests to his home to taste his apple chutney and much much more !

I have made more friends from these classes and my friends who attended are respecting me more for the veg choices I have made. I have learnt the importance of seeing cooking as an art and a holy activity. It has made me more organized, aware and more devotional.

And I will never forget the advise you gave me last year when I was finding it tough to get everything organized for a class – “…so do not worry. We have to be very professional as you already have been, we have to fill in all the details, work hard, as you have been, and the result, is always in Guara Nityanand’s loving hands. If you meditate on Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda, even the most difficult task becomes easy”.

I, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you have done over the last so many years for so many people. And spending such valuable time with me too. I shall try my best not to let you down and endeavour to chant, cook, take prasad and to be happy as long as I can. And for sure, will get others to do the same.

Your humble servant as well,
Manoj

Nobody ever seems to be especially neutral on the topic of vegan health. Most are convinced that a vegan diet is either completely dangerous or a magic bullet cure-all. The myths about vegan eating spring from both sides of the argument and are sometimes completely contradictory. Here are a few of the most common ones.
Myth: Vegans are at risk for iron deficiency.

Truth: Actually, vegans are less likely to get iron deficiency than lacto-ovo vegetarians. Vegans consume more iron and tend to replace milk (which contains no iron and also inhibits iron absorption) with iron-rich foods. Iron from plant foods is absorbed at a lower rate than from meat, but iron deficiency anemia is no more common among vegans than any other group.

Myth: Vegan diets are okay for adults, but not for children.

Truth: Studies show that vegan kids sometimes fall short on a few nutrients compared to omnivore children, but that they have better intakes of other nutrients. All types of diets for children require careful planning. Vegan diets can provide adequate nutrition for children at all stages.

Myth: Dairy foods cause osteoporosis because they are high in protein, so vegans—who don’t drink milk—have lower calcium needs than omnivores.

Truth: Two myths in one! Unfortunately, there isn’t a shred of evidence that dairy foods cause osteoporosis. And the idea that vegans need less calcium than omnivores because of differing protein intakes is debatable. The research on this one is all over the place, with lots of conflicting studies. For now, it’s wise and responsible for vegans to meet standard recommendations for calcium.

Myth: Since vegans don’t drink milk, they can’t get enough calcium without supplements.

Truth: There are a number of plant foods that are good sources of well-absorbed calcium. While vegans can get adequate calcium from natural sources, most don’t meet calcium needs without using fortified foods or supplements. And guess what? Neither do most omnivores.

Myth: Organically-grown plants provide vitamin B12.

Truth: There is no evidence that plants grown in organic soil can provide adequate B12 for vegans. Vegans need to include fortified foods or B12 supplements in their diet. There is absolutely no debate among this among responsible vegan nutritionists.

Myth: Vegans need to consume combinations of plant foods to meet protein needs.

Truth: This myth is definitely a golden oldie. It’s been around since at least the early 1970s—and even though it was refuted in the 1990s, most of the world hasn’t caught up. Sadly, this includes many health professionals and journalists. Here is what the American Dietetic Association along with all vegan nutrition experts say: When vegans get adequate calories and eat a variety of whole foods throughout the day, they get plenty of protein. Protein is not an issue for vegans.

Myth: Vegan diets cause eating disorders in teen girls.

Truth: Some teen girls who already have eating disorders choose vegan or vegetarian diet as a way to control intake. A vegan diet will not cause an eating disorder and is not a sign of an eating disorder.

Myth: Vegan diets are fattening because they are so high in carbohydrates.

Truth: Some vegans are fat and some are skinny. As a group, though, vegans tend to be slimmer than meat eaters. Whole plant foods are high in good carbs and rich in fiber and are good choices for weight control.

Myth: You will automatically lose weight on a vegan diet because it’s so low in fat.

Truth: Most vegan diets are not low in fat. Eating a low fat diet does not guarantee weight loss and eating a vegan diet does not guarantee weight loss. A vegan diet is a healthful way to lose weight, but you still have to use up more calories than you consume.

Myth: Our ancestors ate meat, so vegan diets aren’t natural.

Truth: Our ancestors gnawed raw meat off the bones of animals and scavenged for wild greens. Today’s omnivore diet is completely “unnatural,” because it includes foods like grains and dairy that played no part in the meals of early humans. Vegan diets support health and eliminate animal cruelty. That sounds better than “natural!”

Taken From: http://www.examiner.com/x-5670-Seattle-Vegan-Examiner~y2009m6d3-Myths-and-truths-about-vegan-diet

by Jim Motavalli

June is National Dairy Month, but to a vegan, dairy as a food is not always something to celebrate.

Some people say that milk is a completely natural food for humans, and that it is a natural by-product that comes from cows. Some people even think that cows need to be milked for their own health. Something about “milk poisoning”, among other silly reasons I’ve heard. However, cow’s milk is not natural for humans to drink, nor for any other animal aside from its own offspring, and it is usually not a natural process when the cows produce it for us.

The fact is that the dairy industry is a business, as is any other farm. In order to supply the milk, farmers impregnate cows so they lactate. Just like humans, cows need to be pregnant to produce milk. With billions of ‘farmed’ cows in the world, there is no way those cows can be impregnated naturally by a bull at the same time and ready to produce milk. From this you can surmise for yourself that farmers must artificially inseminate cows so they can secrete that creamy fluid you use for your coffee and cereal. The thing that got me was when someone called it “pus” and I could never envision myself drinking it again. Even organic and family farmed milk has this downside.

These facts are necessary to know for those vegetarians who say they “could not live without cheese”, or people like me, who used to have a long-term relationship with ice cream. There are so many options available, it is hard to remember what my life was like when I was eating dairy. Soy milk, rice milk and almond milk satisfy my cookies and milk cravings and go great in cereal. There are many soy cheeses, rice cheeses and almond cheese options that melt and taste just like cow’s milk cheese. There is even margarine, cream cheese and ice cream that is non-dairy!

My favorite non-dairy milks:

Kikkoman Pearl (even available in green tea flavor!)

Westsoy (creamy like real milk)

My favorite non-dairy cheeses:

nutritional yeast (tastes like cheese, strangely enough)

Tofutti for cream cheese

Rice slices

My favorite non-dairy yogurt:

Whole Soy & Co.

My favorite non-dairy ice cream:

Soy delicious- fruit-sweetened and a lot less calories than regular ice cream.

As for the calcium, amino acids and vitamins A and D found in milk, you can get all of them from plant sources. Fact.

My personal dairy story: I was vegetarian for about two years before becoming vegan, only giving up meat because of the literal connection to animal flesh and because I wanted to lose weight. When I went on a diet, it was because I felt unhealthy on my omnivorous diet. I never expected to be launched into the super-health-food land of veganism. I still ate yogurt, cheese and ice cream. Oh man, do I love ice cream!

Then I became lactose intolerant, and the condition got steadily worse over the next year. Little did I know that at the time my yearning for ice cream would fade, to be replaced with alternatives made from plants that tasted even better than the original! I think I was cosmically inclined to become vegan. It is not just the fact that I get nauseous when eating dairy. If I were completely tolerant of lactose I now realize that dairy is just as unnecessary and as harmful as meat.

What vegans are asking: that you consider the possibility of including less animal products in the average American diet and remain open to change. Even if you accuse these facts of being wrong, it is always necessary to question your surroundings and follow your heart when it comes to what you put in your belly.

When surveyed, the majority of consumers are not comfortable eating genetically engineered foods, but most people can’t really explain specifically why they have concerns. Watch this in depth look at the history of the GE debate. This web movie covers every aspect of the issue, from health impacts, to pesticide use, to biotech industry cover-ups.

Watch

The OCA has called for a boycott of bogus organic dairy brands such as Horizon and Aurora (suppliers to Wal-Mart, Safeway and other giant chains), who have inundated the market with misleadingly labeled “organic” milk produced on factory farms. Recently, the situation has worsened as organic feed prices have increased and recession-pummeled consumers have cut back on the amount of organic milk they are purchasing. The result is a surplus of organic milk, depressed milk prices, and an increasing number of organic dairy farmers across the U.S. being driven into bankruptcy. Consumers can support ethical organic dairy farmers and preserve organic integrity by boycotting Horizon and Aurora products and instead supporting local organic farmers and dairy cooperatives like Organic Valley and others.

Learn More

[Editor's Note: Take action on this issue here: Tell HP Hood Not to Cut Family Farmers' Contracts!]

Taken From: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18096.cfm

The process of of making your own flour is a lot easier than most people imagine. Before the advent of the modern flour mill, grinding wheat or corn into flour was a laborious task. For that reason, most Americans still assume flour is made with some sort of magical machinery in a factory somewhere. In actuality, wheat is one of the easiest crops to grow, even if you have limited space. Once you’ve grown it, you just need to cut an arm-full, flail it a bit to remove the grain, blow the chaff off the grain, and use a device like your blender to make the flour. From there, the cookie, bread, pasta or pancake recipe you use is up to you!

Learn more

Monsanto and the biotech bullies are once again moving to tighten their grip on the world’s food supply. Genetically engineered (GE) varieties now account for 70-90% of all conventional (non-organic) corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola grown in the U.S. Joining the growing menu of unlabeled and untested gene-spliced Frankenfoods, genetically engineered sugar (derived from GE sugar beets) hit store shelves in 2008. Now it appears that the most controversial crop of them all, Monsanto’s GE wheat, is not far behind, at least if industry gets its way. Given that wheat is such a major global crop and essential ingredient in bread, breakfast cereals, pasta and other everyday foods, the force-feeding of unlabeled GE wheat on the public would represent a major conquest for Monsanto and the biotech industry.

Although Monsanto withdrew their applications to the U.S. and Canadian governments for approval of genetically engineered wheat in 2004 because of tremendous pressure from the OCA and hundreds of our allied public interest groups and farmers (as well as pressure from large food companies such as General Mills), it looks like we’re in for another round of battle.

Wheat industry groups in the United States, Canada and Australia announced on May 14, 2009, they would work toward the objective of “synchronized commercialization of biotech traits in the wheat crop.” For the sake of the Earth and public health, we must stop them.

Learn more and Take Action

June 15, 2008
Laguna Beach, California

We have gathered at the lotus feet of the Panca-tattva on this most
auspicious occasion of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s cida-dadhi festival. The
background to this incident can be found in the early life of Srila
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. His uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana
Majumadara, were wealthy landlords in Bengal–almost like kings–and had a
huge, opulent riverside palace, with boats that plied the river. Hiranya and
Govardhana were generous and devoted to brahminical culture, and they
practically maintained the entire brahmana community of Nadia with their
charity. Raghunatha dasa was their only son, so naturally they put all their
hopes in him to carry on the family dynasty. But Raghunatha, from a young
age, was attracted to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Majumadara’s spiritual
master was Yadunandana Acarya, a disciple of Advaita Acarya (of the
Panca-tattva) and an intimate student of Vasudeva Datta. And the family’s
priest was Balarama Acarya, a dear associate of Haridasa Thakura and close
friend of Yadunandana Acarya. Balarama Acarya and Yadunandana Acarya used to
host Haridasa Thakura, and when Haridasa stayed in their village, Raghunatha
visited him daily and received his mercy. Balarama Acarya also invited
Haridasa Thakura to speak in the Majumadaras’ assembly about the glories of
the holy name. Thus Raghunatha dasa had the association of these great
souls, followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who would tell him about Mahaprabhu
and encourage him to chant.

Once, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu, after taking sannyasa, visited Santipura,
Raghunatha dasa went to meet Him. In pure love, he fell at Lord Caitanya’s
lotus feet, and the Lord, out of His mercy, blessed him with the touch of
His feet. Raghunatha served the Lord for a week, and after he returned home
he was mad with ecstatic love. He wanted to join Mahaprabhu in Puri, but his
family would not allow him. Time and again he would run away from home to go
to Puri, and every time his father would catch him and bring him back. His
father even kept five watchmen to guard him day and night, four servants to
see to his comforts, and two brahmanas to cook for him. Thus eleven people
were engaged to make sure he did not go to Puri. Finally, Raghunatha begged
his father, “Please allow me to see the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Otherwise, my life will not remain in my body.” So his father allowed him to
go to Santipura, sending many servants to accompany him. For seven days
Raghunatha stayed in the Lord’s association, constantly thinking, “How will
I get free from the watchmen? How will I be able to go with Mahaprabhu to
Puri?” The Lord, being omniscient, could understand Raghunatha’s mind, and
He reassured him with some important statements. These instructions form the
background of the Panihati festival, and we shall read them, as they are
recorded in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Sixteen: “The
Lord’s Attempt to go to Vrndavana.”

TEXT 237

“sthira hana ghare yao, na hao vatula
krame krame paya loka bhava-sindhu-kula

TRANSLATION

[Lord Caitanya told Raghunatha dasa:] “Be patient and return home. Don’t be
a crazy fellow. By and by you will be able to cross the ocean of material
existence.

TEXT 238

“markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja’ anasakta hana

TRANSLATION

“You should not make yourself a showbottle devotee and become a false
renunciant. For the time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way
and do not become attached to it.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The word markata-vairagya, indicating false renunciation, is very important
in this verse. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in commenting on
this word, points out that monkeys make an external show of renunciation by
not accepting clothing and by living naked in the forest. In this way they
consider themselves renunciants, but actually they are very busy enjoying
sense gratification with dozens of female monkeys. Such renunciation is
called markata-vairagya–the renunciation of a monkey. One cannot become
really renounced until one actually becomes disgusted with material activity
and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual advancement. Renunciation
should not be phalgu, temporary, but should exist throughout one’s life.
Temporary renunciation, or monkey renunciation, is like the renunciation one
feels at a cremation ground. When a man takes a dead body to the
crematorium, he sometimes thinks, “This is the final end of the body. Why am
I working so hard day and night?” Such sentiments naturally arise in the
mind of any man who goes to a crematorial ghata. However, as soon as he
returns from the cremation grounds, he again engages in material activity
for sense enjoyment. This is called smasana-vairagya, or markata-vairagya.

In order to render service to the Lord, one may accept necessary things. If
one lives in this way, he may actually become renounced. In the
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.108), it is said:

yavata syat sva-nirvahah
svi-kuryat tavad artha-vit
adhikye nyunatayam ca
cyavate paramarthatah

“The bare necessities of life must be accepted, but one should not
superfluously increase his necessities. Nor should they be unnecessarily
decreased. One should simply accept what is necessary to help one advance
spiritually.”

In his Durgama-sangamani, Sri Jiva Gosvami comments that the word
sva-nirvahah actually means sva-sva-bhakti-nirvahah. The experienced devotee
will accept only those material things that will help him render service to
the Lord. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.256), markata-vairagya, or
phalgu-vairagya, is explained as follows:

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

“When persons eager to achieve liberation renounce things related to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, thinking them to be material, their
renunciation is called incomplete.” Whatever is favorable for the rendering
of service to the Lord should be accepted and should not be rejected as a
material thing. Yukta-vairagya, or befitting renunciation, is thus
explained:

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

“Things should be accepted for the Lord’s service and not for one’s personal
sense gratification. If one accepts something without attachment and accepts
it because it is related to Krsna, one’s renunciation is called
yukta-vairagya.” Since Krsna is the Absolute Truth, whatever is accepted for
His service is also the Absolute Truth.

COMMENT

In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami enumerates sixty-four
items of devotional service, beginning with guru-padasraya, taking shelter
of a spiritual master; krsna-diksadi-siksanam, taking initiation and
instruction from him; visrambhena guroh seva, serving him with respect; and
sad-dharma-prccha, inquiring about one’s eternal duties. And at the end of
the list he discusses certain items that he has not included but which one
might think could have or should have been included. One such item is the
cultivation of vairagya (detachment), and Rupa Gosvami explains why he has
not included it. He says that bhakti by nature makes the heart soft. The
primary activities of bhakti, hearing and chanting about Krsna and
remembering Him, make the heart soft, whereas the cultivation of speculative
knowledge and performance of artificial austerities tend to make the heart
hard–the exact opposite of bhakti.

The question then arises, “If we do not cultivate detachment from material
things, are we meant to be attached to them?” The answer, of course, is no.
Sastra says that a person absorbed in material enjoyment is far from being
absorbed in Krsna. Then how do we resolve this dilemma–that we do not want
to be attached to material things yet do not want to cultivate detachment
from them? In reply, Rupa Gosvami says that a taste for devotional service
itself will destroy one’s material attachments, without the hardness of
heart caused by the practice of vairagya. And in this important verse he
explains what kind of vairagya is suitable for bhakti:

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

Anasaktasya means “without being attached,” and visayan means “material
sense objects.” Without being attached, when one engages (upayunjatah)
material sense objects in appropriate ways (yatharham) in relation to Krsna
(krsna-sambandhe)–in devotional service–that is called proper renunciation
(yuktam vairagyam ucyate).

Srila Prabhupada used to cite the example of a famous monk in India who was
supposed to be so renounced that if anyone offered him money, his hand would
curl and turn away. Srila Prabhupada said, “But if anyone offers us money,
we will immediately take it and use it in Krsna’s service.”

The impersonalists, who have no idea of Krsna–the beauty of Krsna–or of
the actual identity of the living entity as the eternal servant of Krsna,
may pose as being renounced, but actually they are not. So in contrast to
yukta-vairagya, Rupa Gosvami has composed a verse that describes
phalgu-vairagya. The Phalgu is a river in Bihar that has the peculiar
quality of appearing like dry land. On the surface is sand, but underneath
is water–a real river, with a strong current. The renunciation of
impersonalists who reject the world–who reject material things as maya
(illusion) even when related to the Lord–is called phalgu. On the surface
they appear to be renounced, but underneath is a strong current of material
desire.

In the beginning of his discussion of bhakti, Rupa Gosvami poses the
question of what makes one eligible–what is the adhikara–for bhakti, and
he quotes a verse from the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam:

yadrcchaya mat-kathadau
jata-sraddhas tu yah puman
na nirvinno nati-sakto
bhakti-yogo ’sya siddhi-dah

First, one should have faith (adau sraddha)–faith in and attraction for the
messages of Krsna (mat-kathadau). And na nirvinno nati-sakto: one should not
be too attached or too detached. This might also seem odd, but the
Bhagavatam explains that if one is too attached to material life, he or she
will be unable to take to bhakti but will be inclined to fruitive activities
(karma), and if one is too averse, too negative, he or she will take to
jnana, impersonal speculation. For bhakti, one should be neither too
attached nor too detached, too disgusted with material life.

yadrcchaya mat-kathadau
jata-sraddhas tu yah puman
na nirvinno nati-sakto
bhakti-yogo ’sya siddhi-dah

“If somehow or other by good fortune one develops faith in hearing and
chanting My glories, such a person, being neither very disgusted with nor
attached to material life, should achieve perfection through the path of
loving devotion to Me.” (SB 11.20.8) In other words, one should be in the
middle. Then the heart will be open to bhakti. Both sense gratification and
artificial renunciation make the heart hard.

So, what did Lord Caitanya tell Raghunatha dasa? First He said, “Don’t be a
crazy fellow. Don’t be a monkey renunciant.” That is what Raghunatha should
not do. Now, what should he do?

TEXT 239

“antare nistha kara, bahye loka-vyavahara
acirat krsna tomaya karibe uddhara

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, “Within your heart you should keep
yourself very faithful, but externally you may behave like an ordinary man.
Thus Krsna will soon be very pleased and deliver you from the clutches of
maya.

TEXT 240

“vrndavana dekhi’ yabe asiba nilacale
tabe tumi ama-pasa asiha kona chale

“You may see Me at Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri, when I return after visiting
Vrndavana. By that time you can think of some trick to escape.

TEXT 241

“se chala se-kale krsna sphurabe tomare
krsna-krpa yanre, tare ke rakhite pare”

“What kind of means you will have to use at that time will be revealed by
Krsna. If one has Krsna’s mercy, no one can check him.”

TEXTS 242-243

In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to Raghunatha dasa, who
returned home and did exactly what the Lord told him.

After returning home, Raghunatha dasa gave up all craziness and external
pseudo renunciation and engaged in his household duties without attachment.

COMMENT

For one year Raghunatha dasa remained at home, acting exactly as advised by
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

bhitare vairagya, bahire kare sarva-karma
dekhiya ta’ mata-pitara anandita mana

“Raghunatha dasa was inwardly completely renounced, even in family life, but
he did not express his renunciation externally. Instead, he acted just like
an ordinary businessman. Seeing this, his father and mother were satisfied.”
(Cc Antya 6.15)

Raghunatha dasa expertly handled a serious legal implication that could have
led to his uncle’s arrest, thus saving his family from a very difficult
situation with the Muslim government. And because he was acting like a
proper materialist, his family members were happy and relaxed their guard.

As a relatively new devotee, I really liked the image of Raghunatha dasa
Gosvami in Vrndavana, although I did not know what his internal
consciousness actually was. And I wanted to be like him–a gosvami in
Vrndavana, staying one night under one tree and another night under another
tree. I never said anything to Srila Prabhupada, but because he was
empowered by the Lord, he could understand my mind–just as Lord Caitanya
could understand Raghunatha’s mind. One day I was sitting before Prabhupada
in his room in Juhu–I hadn’t said anything–and he just looked at me and
said, “First you manage your father’s property like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami,
then you go to Vrndavana and be a gosvami.” [laughter] At the time, Srila
Prabhupada was very concerned about the Juhu project.

Finally, although Raghunatha dasa was still being watched by guards, he got
the idea to meet Nityananda Prabhu in nearby Panihati. He thought, “Let me
see Nityananda Prabhu, even if the guards come with me. At least let me see
Lord Nityananda.”

Now we shall read from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, Chapter Six:
“Lord Caitanya Meets Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.”

TEXTS 35-41

In this way Raghunatha dasa passed one year exactly like a first-class
business manager, but the next year he again decided to leave home.

He got up alone one night and left, but his father caught him in a distant
place and brought him back.

This became almost a daily affair. Raghunatha would run away from home, and
his father would again bring him back. Then Raghunatha dasa’s mother spoke
to his father as follows.

“Our son has become mad,” she said. “Just keep him by binding him with
ropes.” His father, being very unhappy, replied to her as follows.

“Raghunatha dasa, our son, has opulences like Indra, the heavenly king, and
his wife is as beautiful as an angel. Yet all this could not tie down his
mind.

“How then could we keep this boy home by binding him with ropes? It is not
possible even for one’s father to nullify the reactions of one’s past
activities.

“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on him. Who can
keep home such a madman of Caitanyacandra?”

COMMENT

Sometimes the parents of Prabhupada’s disciples also thought that their
children had become mad. Once, two brothers, Bruce and Greg Scharf (later
initiated as Brahmananda and Gargamuni), joined Srila Prabhupada’s movement,
and their mother came to Prabhupada and complained that her boys had become
crazy. After speaking with her for some time, he invited her to join him in
the temple room, and there he gave a class: “Who is Crazy?” He said, “What
is the definition of ‘crazy’? A crazy person is someone who doesn’t know who
he is.” For example, if I think I am Napoleon Bonaparte or Theodore
Roosevelt or Mahatma Gandhi–if I don’t know who I am–that means I am
crazy. Srila Prabhupada concluded, “So anyone who thinks he is the body is
crazy, because he doesn’t know who he is. So who is crazy? Are these boys
crazy–these devotees–or are you crazy?”

TEXTS 42-44

Then Raghunatha dasa considered something in his mind, and the next day he
went to Nityananda Gosani.

In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with
Nityananda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants,
and others.

Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityananda
seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of rising suns.

COMMENT

Narottama dasa Thakura sings, nitai-pada-kamala koti-candra-susitala: the
lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are as cooling as hundreds of thousands of
moons.” And here He is described “as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of
rising suns.” He Himself is like the sun and the moon.

TEXTS 45-47

Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of
Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa was astonished.

Raghunatha dasa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant
place, and the servant of Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, “There is
Raghunatha dasa, offering You obeisances.”

Hearing this, Lord Nityananda Prabhu said, “You are a thief. Now you have
come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!”

COMMENT

Out of humility, Raghunatha dasa had offered obeisances from a distance, but
Lord Nityananda, in a humorous mood, said that he was like a thief–one who
hides in the shadows in the outskirts. At this time Raghunatha dasa was a
young man, only about twenty-two years old.

TEXTS 48-51

The Lord called him, but Raghunatha dasa did not go near the Lord. Then the
Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa’s
head.

Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He
spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows.

“You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a
distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you.

“Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.”
Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.

COMMENT

This was a very humorous request, because Raghunatha dasa was practically a
prince and chipped rice is a most simple food. It would be as if Mukesh
Ambani, now the richest man in the world, came to the temple and said, “I
want to do some service” and Tukarama Prabhu, the temple president, replied,
“Okay, buy puffed rice for all the devotees.” That would be a joke. Now,
imagine: Raghunatha dasa is living in unlimited opulence, like Indra, the
king of heaven, and Nityananda Prabhu says, “Oh, I am going to punish you!
You have to serve chipped rice and yogurt to all My associates.”

TEXTS 52-54

Raghunatha dasa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all
kinds of eatables and bring them back.

Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar,
bananas, and other eatables and placed them all around.

As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of
brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive . . .

COMMENT

Just like here, you all heard that there was a festival, and so you came.

TEXT 54 (continued)

Thus there were innumerable people.

TEXTS 55-60

Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables
from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round
earthen pots.

He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these
pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord
Nityananda.

In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots.
Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar, and bananas.

The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana
known as canpa-kala. Then sugar, clarified butter, and camphor were added.

After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a
raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.

On that platform, all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda
Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the
Lord.

COMMENT

Next, the author lists various great associates of Nityananda Prabhu who
were present. Nityananda Prabhu is the incarnation of Balarama, just as Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the incarnation of Krsna, and Balarama is always
associated with His cowherd boyfriends. Many of Lord Balarama’s cowherd
boyfriends in krsna-lila descended on earth at the time of gaura-lila and
took birth in brahmana and other families. Many of them became associates of
Lord Nityananda, and one of them, Uddharana Datta Thakura, who was also with
Him at Panihati, appeared in a family that was related to the family in
which Srila Prabhupada later appeared.

TEXTS 64-66

Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas, and
priests went there. Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on
the raised platform with Him.

Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with
condensed milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt.

All the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count
how many people there were.

COMMENT

Each person was supplied two pots, one with chipped rice and yogurt and one
with chipped rice and condensed milk. Raghunatha dasa kept purchasing more
chipped rice, more milk and yogurt, more bananas and other fruits, and more
sweets. Not only did brahmanas hear about the festival and come to partake,
but merchants heard too and came to sell their goods. Raghunatha dasa would
buy their chipped rice and yogurt and sweets and bananas, and then he would
feed them the very same food. The multitude of people eventually occupied
all the space on the land, and when there was no more place to sit, people
started to stand on the bank of the Ganges and eat. And when all the space
on the bank was taken, people began to stand in the water of the Ganges and
eat their chipped rice and yogurt.

Toward the end of the feast, Nityananda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Lord
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to see the fun. Lord Nityananda stood up and walked
with Him amidst all the eaters. As a joke, He took a morsel of rice from
each pot and put it in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mouth, and Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu took a morsel from each pot and put it in Nityananda Prabhu’s
mouth, laughing as He made Him eat it. But nobody could understand what
Nityananda Prabhu was doing. Only some rare, fortunate souls could see that
Lord Caitanya was also present.

The entire pastime is very nice, but time does not allow us to read or
describe it all in detail. Suffice to say, in the words of Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 6.90, 89, 88):

sri-ramadasadi gopa premavista haila
ganga-tire ‘yamuna-pulina’ jnana kaila

“All the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Sri
Ramadasa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the
Ganges to be the bank of the Yamuna.”

nityananda-prabhava-krpa janibe kon jana?
mahaprabhu ani’ karaya pulina-bhojana

“Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? He is
so powerful that He induced Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to come eat chipped
rice on the bank of the Ganges.”

nityananda mahaprabhu-krpalu, udara
raghunathera bhagye eta kaila angikara

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are extremely merciful
and liberal. It was Raghunatha dasa’s good fortune that They accepted all
these dealings.”

Another great devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu was
Raghava Pandita, who lived nearby in Panihati. During the festival he came
and invited Nityananda Prabhu to his house for prasada, and Nityananda
replied, “I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and I generally have many
cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we picnic like this by the bank
of a river. So let Me eat this food here now, and in the evening I shall eat
at your home.”

That evening, as promised, Nityananda Prabhu came to Raghava Pandita’s
house. He performed sankirtana in Raghava’s temple and inspired all the
devotees to dance. Then He Himself began to dance, thus inundating the world
with ecstatic love. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally came to see
Nityananda Prabhu’s sweet, ecstatic dancing, but only Lord Nityananda could
see Him. Thereafter Raghava Pandita served Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda,
and Their associates a sumptuous feast, and after everyone was satisfied, he
gave Raghunatha dasa the remnants of food left by Gaura and Nitai on Their
plates.

kahila,–”caitanya gosani kariyachena bhojana
tanra sesa paile, tomara khandila bandhana

He said to Raghunatha dasa, “Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has eaten this
food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of
your family.” (Cc Antya 6.123)

As stated in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Raghava Pandita would always prepare a
plate for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and every day Caitanya Mahaprabhu would
come and eat at Raghava Pandita’s house, sometimes allowing Raghava Pandita
to see Him. On this occasion, Raghava Pandita was pleased to see that
Caitanya Mahaprabhu had come to honor the prasada at the place he had set
for Him next to Nityananda Prabhu. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami
explains,

bhakta-citte bhakta-grhe sada avasthana
kabhu gupta, kabhu vyakta, svatantra bhagavan

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in
the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest,
for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent.

sarvatra ‘vyapaka’ prabhura sada sarvatra vasa
ihate samsaya yara, sei yaya nasa

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive, and therefore He
resides everywhere. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated.” (Cc Antya
6.124-125)

The next morning, when it was time for Raghunatha dasa to return home, out
of humility he did not approach Nityananda Prabhu directly but submitted his
appeal through Raghava Pandita. After having taken His bath in the Ganges,
Nityananda Prabhu was sitting with His associates beneath the same tree
under which they had sat the previous day. Raghunatha dasa approached Him
there and worshiped His lotus feet. Then, through Raghava Pandita, he
submitted his desire:

TEXT 128

“adhama, pamara mui hina jivadhama!
mora iccha haya–pana caitanya-carana

TRANSLATION

“I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen, and condemned.
Nevertheless, I desire to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.

TEXTS 129-133

“Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times,
but I have never been successful.

“Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father
and mother unfortunately kept me bound.

“No one can attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without Your
mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at
His lotus feet.

“Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless
request You, Sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter
at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

“Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve
the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this
benediction.”

COMMENT

This is an important point: Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, no one
can attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And Nityananda Prabhu
agreed to be merciful; He placed His lotus feet on Raghunatha dasa’s head,
and He praised him to the other devotees, saying that although Raghunatha’s
standard of material happiness was equal to that of Indra, the king of
heaven, by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu he had no attachment to it at
all. Then Nityananda asked all the devotees to bless Raghunatha dasa that he
would soon attain shelter at Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet. And He
said to Raghunatha,

TEXTS 139-143

“My dear Raghunatha dasa, since you arranged the feast on the bank of the
Ganges, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here just to show you His mercy.

“By His causeless mercy He ate the chipped rice and milk. Then, after seeing
the dancing of the devotees at night, He took His supper.

“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaurahari, came here personally to deliver
you. Now rest assured that all the impediments meant for your bondage are
gone.

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will accept you and place you under the charge of
His secretary, Svarupa Damodara. You will thus become one of the most
confidential internal servants and will attain shelter at the lotus feet of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

“Being assured of all this, return to your own home. Very soon, without
impediments, you will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.”

COMMENT

After consulting with Raghava Pandita, Raghunatha dasa privately delivered
one hundred gold coins and some gold to Nityananda Prabhu’s treasurer,
telling him not to mention the presentation to Lord Nityananda until He
returned home. Then, to honor Lord Nityananda’s associates–great devotees
and servants and subservants–Raghunatha left another hundred gold coins and
some gold with Raghava Pandita, who, in accordance with Raghunatha dasa’s
instructions, prepared a list of how much would be given to each and every
devotee. Then Raghunatha dasa took leave of Raghava Pandita and, filled with
gratitude to Lord Nityananda for His mercy, returned home.

At home, Raghunatha dasa no longer went into the interior section of the
palace but slept on the Durga-mandapa outside. Then one night it happened,
as Lord Nityananda had predicted, that Raghunatha dasa got an opportunity to
escape. The Majumadaras’ and Raghunatha’s guru, Yadunandana Acarya, came at
the end of the night and told Raghunatha that one of the other disciples,
who had been engaged in worshiping the Deity, had left that service, and
Yadunandana wanted Raghunatha to induce that brahmana to take up his service
again, as there was no other brahmana to do it.

All the guards were asleep, and in any case Yadunandana Acarya was a trusted
well-wisher of the family. So Raghunatha dasa left with Yadunandana Acarya,
and after walking some distance he submitted to his spiritual master, “There
is no need for you to accompany me. You may proceed to your home, and I will
meet that brahmana and persuade him to resume his service.” So Yadunandana
Acarya went to his place, and Raghunatha dasa sent the brahmana–and then
left for Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri.

Because he knew that his family would search for him, Raghunatha took the
inner route and for twelve days walked through jungles and remote villages,
always thinking of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda
Prabhu. On most days he did not eat anything, but because he was fixed in
his determination, he did not mind. He managed with whatever little he could
get, and eventually he attained the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in
Puri, as Nityananda Prabhu had predicted.

This gives us a clue as to how we can become free from material attachments.
All the scriptures say that to achieve Krsna–to achieve love for Krsna–one
must be free from material attachments, but cultivating detachment is not
the process. Then, what is the process? The process is service, specifically
service that will please Nityananda Prabhu, because if we please Nityananda
Prabhu, by His mercy we will become detached from all that is material.

ara kabe nitai-candera karuna haibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuccha ha’be

“When will Lord Nityananda bestow His mercy upon me so that my desire for
material enjoyment will become very insignificant?” (Prarthana)

Now, becoming free from material attachments does not necessarily mean that
one must leave home, like Raghunatha dasa did. He is one example, but there
are other examples of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s associates who did not leave
home. Lord Caitanya did not ask them to leave home, and in some cases He
actually instructed them to remain at home. This is another mystery–how one
can serve the Lord in either a position of renunciation or a position of
opulence.

Once, Srila Prabhupada asked his guru maharaja about this very question. He
began by saying that Rupa Gosvami left everything for the service of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu–his lucrative service, his post as minister–tyaga. And
Ramananda Raya, who was a governor and a householder, lived in great
material opulence–bhoga. Both were accepted equally by Lord Caitanya. “So
what is the difference?” he asked. “Both were devotees of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.” Thus he raised the question of bhoga and tyaga–enjoyment and
renunciation.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave a striking answer. He invoked
the term prosita-bhartrka, which refers to a wife when her husband is away.
In Vedic culture, when the husband was away, the wife would wear very plain
clothes. She wouldn’t decorate herself or comb her hair. She would lie down
and sleep on the floor, and she would live in a very austere and renounced
way. And the same woman, when her husband was home, would bathe twice daily,
apply oil to her body, wear beautiful clothing, and decorate herself in a
very attractive way. But in both cases the central point is the husband.
When the husband is away she lives in that renounced way, and when the
husband is present she acts in that more spirited way, but in both
situations the central point is the husband–to please the husband–and so
there is no difference. Thus Srila Bhaktisiddhanta explained that as
devotees we are interested neither in bhoga nor in tyaga. We are interested
only in Krsna and Krsna’s service. For Krsna’s service we can give up
everything, like the Gosvamis. And for the sake of Krsna’s service we can
accept any opulent position, like that of Ramananda Raya, who was the
governor. And either–or both–will please Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So becoming free from material attachments doesn’t necessarily mean that the
son will leave the parents or that the husband will leave the wife or that
the wife will leave the husband. It means that one is free from material
bondage and acts to please the Lord. When Lord Caitanya was discussing with
Ramananda Raya what is the perfection of life (sadhya), the first answer
that Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted was that one can remain in one’s position
(sthane sthitah) and chant and hear the glories of the Lord in the
association of pure devotees. As stated in the Tenth Canto of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, one should completely give up the process of mental
speculation and just become submissive. You can remain in your position
(sthane sthitah). If you are a grhastha, you can remain a grhastha. If you
are a brahmacari, you can remain a brahmacari. Whatever you are, you can
remain in your position, but hear the messages of Krsna from the mouths of
pure devotees. That is the real principle of devotional service, as accepted
by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva
jivanti san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam
sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir
ye prayaso ‘jita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyam

[Lord Brahma said to Krsna:] “Those who, even while remaining situated in
their established social positions, throw away the process of speculative
knowledge and with their body, words, and mind offer all respects to
descriptions of Your personality and activities, dedicating their lives to
these narrations, which are vibrated by You personally and by Your pure
devotees, certainly conquer Your Lordship, although You are otherwise
unconquerable by anyone within the three worlds.” (SB 10.14.3)

Why, then, should one leave one’s family at all? One may do so only to
expand one’s service to the Lord and humanity. As Srila Prabhupada explains,
“A pure devotee cuts off the limited ties of affection for his family and
widens his activities of devotional service for all forgotten souls. The
typical example is the band of Six Gosvamis, who followed the path of Lord
Caitanya. All of them belonged to the most enlightened and cultured rich
families of the higher castes, but for the benefit of the mass of population
they left their comfortable homes and became mendicants. To cut off all
family affection means to broaden the field of activities. Without doing
this, no one can be qualified as a brahmana, a king, a public leader, or a
devotee of the Lord.” (SB 1.8.41 purport)

Many of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s intimate associates were householders. In the
Panca-tattva, Advaita Acarya was the ideal householder. But at a certain
stage it may become favorable for someone to leave his family and engage
fully in the mission of the Lord. Either way, we depend on the mercy of Lord
Nityananda. Whether we are with family or not doesn’t really matter. What
really matters is increasing our attachment to Krsna and Krsna’s service.
When one is attached to Krsna, one naturally becomes detached from maya. At
the same time, if one is too preoccupied with maya, it will be hard to
develop attachment to Krsna. So we should keep our lives simple. If our
lives are too complicated, we will be distracted. We will have too many
things on our minds to really chant and hear properly.

And the main process, as we know, is to chant the holy names of the Lord:

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha

“One should chant the holy names, chant the holy names, chant the holy names
of Hari [Krsna]. There is no other way, no other way, no other way for
success in the present age of Kali.” (Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126) And to
get the full benefit, one must chant with attention. If our mind is
wandering while we are chanting, we will not really get the full benefit. In
fact, it is an offense (nama-aparadha) to be inattentive while chanting. It
is said that all the other offenses follow from inattention but that if one
chants with attention–if one actually hears the holy names–then all the
other offenses will be destroyed. So it is very important to chant with
attention. But if we are too preoccupied with material affairs, then even
while we are chanting on our beads, our minds may be thinking of other
things–how much money we have in the bank, whether we have enough to pay
the bills, or whatever.

So we want to keep our lives simple. Although it is hard in Kali-yuga, we
want to keep our lives as clear as possible. And we should keep the time
when we chant exclusively for Krsna. That is our time with Krsna, with the
holy name. We shouldn’t think about other things. Of course, we do have to
consider other matters, but not when we are chanting and hearing about
Krsna.

What also pleases Krsna–and especially Lord Nityananda–is sharing Krsna
consciousness with others. At the end of the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna says,
“Of all of My servants, he who preaches My message is most dear to Me. There
will never be one as dear to Me as he, and in the end it is guaranteed that
he will come to Me.” He will go back home, back to Godhead.

ya idam paramam guhyam
mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati
bhaktim mayi param krtva
mam evaisyaty asamsayah

“For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional
service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.

na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
bhavita na ca me tasmad
anyah priyataro bhuvi

“There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there
ever be one more dear.” (Bg 18.68-69)

In a talk in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada paraphrased many of the
principles that we have just discussed. He said that in order to approach
Radha and Krsna, one must get the mercy of Lord Caitanya, and that in order
to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya, one must get the mercy of Lord
Nityananda, and that in order to get the mercy of Lord Nityananda, one must
approach people like Jagai and Madhai.

Jagai and Madhai were sinful people. Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura
approached them and requested them to chant the holy names, but they were so
fallen that they began to blaspheme Nityananda and Haridasa. Eventually
Madhai hurled a pot at Nityananda Prabhu and hit Him on the forehead, and
blood started to come. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard, He rushed to the
spot, ready to kill the offenders, Jagai and Madhai, but Nityananda Prabhu
intervened. He said, “My Lord, we are in Kali-yuga. In previous ages You
came to kill the demons, but in Kali-yuga You have come to deliver them. If
You kill people like Jagai and Madhai in Kali-yuga, You will have to kill
everyone, because everyone will be like Jagai and Madhai–eating meat,
drinking wine, and exploiting women.” He said, “In Kali-yuga, We don’t kill
the demons physically. We kill their demonic mentalities.” Under the threat
of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sudarsana cakra, and touched by Nityananda Prabhu’s
mercy, Jagai and Madhai accepted Lord Nityananda’s mercy, surrendered to
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and took up the chanting of the holy name.

brajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta hoilo sei,
balarama hoilo nitai
dina-hina yata chilo, hari-name uddharilo,
tara saksi jagai madhai

“Lord Krsna, the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Saci, and
Balarama became Nitai. The holy name delivered all those souls who were
lowly and wretched. The two sinners Jagai and Madhai are evidence of this.”
(Prarthana) Jagai and Madhai gave up their sinful activities, and thereafter
Caitanya Mahaprabhu never referred to their sinful pasts.

So, Srila Prabhupada instructed, “To get the mercy of Lord Nityananda, we
have to approach people like Jagai and Madhai.” That means the people on the
street, people everywhere; we have to approach the people. Following Lord
Nityananda, who was ordered by Lord Caitanya, we should beseech people,
prabhura ajnay, bhai, magi ei bhiksa/ bolo ‘krsna,’ bhajo krsna, koro
krsna-siksa: “By the order of Lord Gauranga, O brothers, I beg this one
request: Chant ‘Krsna!’ worship Krsna, and follow Krsna’s instructions.”
Very simple. Srila Prabhupada also quoted Caitanya Mahaprabhu, yare dekha,
tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa, amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa: “Wherever
you go, whomever you meet, just repeat the instructions of Krsna. In this
way, on My order, become a guru and try to deliver everyone in this land.”
So it is not very difficult. We just repeat. Krsna says, “Surrender to Me,”
and the guru says, “Surrender to Krsna.” The guru doesn’t say, “Surrender to
me”–he says, “Surrender to Krsna.” It is very easy.

Srila Prabhupada’s secretary Syamasundara and his wife, Malati, had a little
girl named Sarasvati, who from the age of three or four would approach
people and ask, “Do you know who is Krsna?” Our first temple in Bombay was
an apartment on Warden Road, a prestigious place near the sea. Many
respectable gentlemen would come, and Sarasvati would approach them and ask,
“Do you know who is Krsna?” And then she would answer, “Krsna is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.” And Srila Prabhupada remarked, “She is preaching.
What she says is perfect, because she is repeating what she has heard.” We
just repeat what we have heard from authorities. Anyone can do it. We don’t
have to be very intellectual or imaginative or creative. We just repeat. And
in that way we get the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu–through Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada is the representative of Nityananda Prabhu, and everything
that we can achieve through the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu can be achieved
by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, who has taken up the mission of Nityananda
Prabhu and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the mission of the Panca-tattva. The
spiritual master engages the disciples in such a way that they get the mercy
of the Lord. And Srila Prabhupada has done that for us through ISKCON. He
has created ISKCON in such a way that by practicing and preaching Krsna
consciousness– by holding festivals like we are having today and have every
Sunday and holy day–we get the mercy of the Lord.

But to have the potency to preach we must practice. And the most essential
practice is to chant sixteen rounds with attention. One teacher commented
that devotees have become very expert with their left hands, because that
way, with their right hands in their bead bags, with their left hands they
can dust the house or type on the keyboard of the computer. They become very
expert with their left hands. But we do not want to chant like that. We want
to chant sixteen good, attentive rounds, follow the four principles, and
work to spread the sankirtana movement. If we chant sixteen good,
offenseless rounds, follow the regulative principles, and work to our
capacity to spread the sankirtana movement, Srila Prabhupada has assured us
that we will go back home, back to Godhead, and serve Sri Sri Radha and
Krsna and Their associates.

Srila Prabhupada has given us everything. We just have to take it. It is so
simple. We just have to take it. Sometimes Srila Prabhupada would cite a
cartoon in a newspaper, which depicted an old lady sitting across from her
husband. The lady was requesting her husband, “Chant. Chant. Chant.” And the
husband was replying, “Can’t. Can’t. Can’t.” That is our misfortune in
Kali-yuga. With the same effort that it takes to refuse to chant, we could
chant. That is our misfortune.

Still, devotees work tirelessly to induce people to chant. And it may be
difficult to convince them. Srila Prabhupada raised the question: “Who is
crazy?” People now are mad with material desires:

nunam pramattah kurute vikarma
yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti
na sadhu manye yata atmano ‘yam
asann api klesada asa dehah

“People are mad after sense gratification, and they do not know that this
present body, which is full of miseries, is a result of one’s fruitive
activities in the past. Although this body is temporary, it is always giving
one trouble in many ways. Therefore, to act for sense gratification is not
good.” (SB 5.5.4)

It is very hard to make a crazy person sane. Thus, Srila Prabhupada compared
our work to that of a psychiatrist in a madhouse. He is trying to help the
patients, but the patients may not appreciate his efforts; in fact, they may
turn against him. Still, he continues to endeavor to help them.

Of course, I am very happy with all of you here today. But you are just a
small fraction of the population. Most people are out enjoying–or trying to
enjoy–what they call material happiness. And because it is so hard to bring
people to Krsna consciousness, the mercy one gets for making that effort is
very great. And so we try our best–depending on the mercy of Srila
Prabhupada and Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Sri Nityananda Prabhu ki jaya!
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami ki jaya!
Nitai-gaura-premanande hari-haribol!