March 9 4:08 A.M. I fell behind a little and so sped up. I was alert and had no pain. Everyone else is also up in the house chanting. We have a good men’s asrama where people are performing their sadhana strictly. It is good to live in this atmosphere. No late sleepers. Everyone up chanting. This is what Prabhupada wants. Everyone should be up early chanting the maha-mantra in their own space.... from #370 read more →
March 8 Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada calls these examples “nature studies”. By observing the behavior of nature one can learn many of the truths of the Vedas. The material world can function as a kind of dictionary for spiritual truths when rightly guided by guru and God.... from #369 read more →
March 7 But for ourselves, as neophytes, how much we have to strive and be sincere, and not bluff that we are seeing Krishna in the woods or in the surf. He is there but we can’t see Him with our imperfect vision.... from #368 read more →
March 6 4:09 A.M. I began my chanting wide awake and rapidly with a clear head. I paid attention to the syllables of the holy names. I have started reading Bhurijana Prabhu’s book called Japa – nine keys from the Siksastakam to improve your japa. He has one main new contribution to chanting which is dynamic and provocative.... from #367 read more →
March 5 4:30 A.M. So far I’ve only chanted nine. I talked some with him but quickly got into my rounds, too quickly. I chanted them rapidly in my mind and was wide awake, but not thoughtful or contemplative.... from #366 read more →
March 4 3:58 A.M. I slept peacefully and woke up at 2:30 A.M. I spoke with Narayana for awhile and then got down to my chanting.... from #365 read more →
March 3 4:06 A.M. The material world is not a fit place for a gentleman or lady. It’s full of suffering. I took medicine at ten o clock and went back to sleep. I woke up at 2.30 and began my chanting.... from #364 read more →
March 2 3:56 A.M. I have chanted all my sixteen rounds and I’m grateful for that. It’s so comforting to finish your quota at an early hour. While I was chanting I thought a little bit about the poem I’ll write this morning but I don’t consider that a major distraction.... from #363 read more →
March 1 4:06 A.M. I slept alright last night but woke up at 1:30. I was glad to begin the chanting early. But I fear I chanted on the surface even though I have completed fourteen rounds. Yesterday in the book Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava ... from #362 read more →
February 28 In New York I could set myself up with a painting studio and just try and see if I still have it in me. It was a wonderful period to go through. I did so many paintings of Radha and Krishna and Prabhupada and of sadhus and of sankirtana dancers.... from #361 read more →
February 27 4:10 A.M. I woke up at 2:30 and began my chanting and talking with Narayana Kavaca. I am feeling a little depressed in my life due to my lack of youthful vigor and my long standing lack of ecstasy in chanting. But from reading the sastras I understand a devotee should not think that his chanting is at a high level and in fact he should not even ... from #360 read more →
February 26 4:07 A.M. You wish you always had days like this when chanting is smooth and swift, it’s better than eating when hungry, it’s better than ... from #359 read more →
February 25 4:14 A.M. I woke up frequently during the night. I finally got up from bed at 3 am. It was nice welcoming Narayana Kavaca back.... from #358 read more →
February 24 4:04 A.M. Lamenting is part of dainya, or feelings of unworthiness and is a center piece or humble Krishna consciousness. I can’t remove the dainya but I should not be overwhelmed by feelings of inferiority and let myself get materially depressed. Chant your rounds everyday in a grateful spirit thanking Krishna for the gift and keep on truckin’... from #357 read more →
February 23 3:58 A.M. We are chanting on behalf of world peace, chanting under Prabhupada’s orders and with full faith in his words and the sastra’s words that the chanting is the only means for God realization in this age. And without God realization all is chaos and corruption. We don’t chant with ordinary logic but with faith in the words of Lord Caitanya... from #356 read more →
February 22 Prabhupada lectures every day on a consecutive verse. Sometimes when moving from one temple to another he begins a new chapter of the book. There are no hard and fast rules... .... from #355 read more →
February 21 Prabhupada Samaranam: ...You could say the mouth-opened picture shows more expressive bhava, sharing his emotions with the devotees. The mouth-closed photo is Prabhupada in a more internal state of mind. Both are equally pleasing.... from #354 read more →
February 20 Life membership wasn’t well organized. They were promised they could stay free in an ISKCON center anywhere in the world, but when they showed up in say, Denver, Colorado, there was no guestroom for them. He looks small but he is big. He controls all his “big” disciples. They do what he says, as best they can. But they quarrel with one another.... from #353 read more →
February 19 Anyway, these things should not concern me. I should be concerned with my own Krishna conscious sadhana and the spread of Krishna consciousness in the world.... from #352 read more →
February 18 4:07 A.M. He pointed out that my anxiety about my japa is a high standard of anxiety worthy of an advanced devotee. I was pleased to hear him say this..... from #351 read more →
February 17 Prabhupada Samaranam: ...As you can see, the devotees are completely “over the moon” in greeting Srila Prabhupada. The police came over and told us “cool it!”, but the devotees couldn’t contain themselves. As the temple president, I tried ... from #350 read more →
February 16 Prabhupada Samaranam: ...In Los Angeles he was speaking how pure devotees serve Krishna without any reward. He said “Just like the gopis…” and then he fell silent for a long time absorbed in ecstasy.... from #349 read more →
Greetings from Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Hare Krishna!
We have started posting new episodes of The Yellow Submarine every day instead of once every two days. We thought this would make the entries more accessible by making them shorter and more up-to-date, like a daily newspaper. So for those of you who like to read The Yellow Submarine, be sure to visit every day.
-- Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
My Dear Lord Krishna - Readings and Q&A Video 2010-03-06
Dear Sky - Letters from a Sannyasi Readings Video 2010-03-02
2009-12-18 Bhagavatam Lecture Tennessee
2009-12-05 VP Lecture
Philladelphia
At the Yamuna shore. Photo by Bhurijana Prabhu.
Questions&answers:
Q: In facing difficulty and adversity what is it that sustains you most and gives you so much courage?
A: In facing adversity I try to accept that what happens is the arrangement of providence. Somehow there is something good to learn in the adverse situation. At least we have the opportunity not to despair but to depend on
Who is Satsvarupa dasa Goswami:
While laboring as a social welfare worker in New York City's Lower East Side, Steve (soon to be initiated as Satsvarupa dasa) met his teacher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (later known as Srila Prabhupada), a modern day saint from India. Srila Prabhupada was giving classes in a humble storefront on 2nd Avenue that he passed by every day on his way home from work. Entering that storefront changed his life forever. more →
Anecdotes and Poems of a Patient
at a Private Health Care Unit
Those who want to stay in this place separated from Him and from the gopis practice horrible rites, they never tried. They reason it doesn’t matter. I’m going to let Govinda find me early and take shelter there. All the gopis galloped into the dance. One suddenly left the dance to seek herbs and met a swan, asked her if he could find one to cure Radha. read more - chapter 9 →