Brief Updates from TheHareKrishnaMovement.wordpress.com

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 07:24 AM PDT

Living in the Material World

Salvation from the Material World
By Sriman Padmapani Prabhu

On November 2nd, 1974, ex-Beatle George Harrison launched his North American tour in Vancouver, Canada. Since George was a follower of Krishna consciousness, the Vancouver devotees were eager to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books and magazines to local fans attending the concert. George was expected to play a number of hits from his latest record (“Living in the Material World”), which contained many songs of devotion to the Lord:

“I’m living in the material world
Living in the material world
I hope to get out of this place
By the Lord Sri Krishna’s grace
My salvation from the material world.”

As we entered the Pacific Coliseum, Mahesh Prabhu and I headed for the floor, our saffron bags filled with books, magazines and incense. The crowd was obviously excited as we gradually walked to the front of the stage, distributing our spiritual goods along the way. “Hare Krishna” people shouted. Many of George’s fans knew that he had an affinity towards our movement, so they were very friendly and supportive. When the concert began, George appeared onstage wearing a number of buttons containing spiritual pictures and “om” signs. His neck was adorned with tulasi beads.

Mahesh Prabhu pulled out a large hardbound edition of Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna Book, which had been published with the help of a kind donation by George Harrison himself. When Mahesh got to the front row, he held the Krishna Book high in the air so that George could possibly see it from the stage. As he made his way towards Mahesh, George in fact noticed Srila Prabhupada’s book. His eyes lit up and a large smile beamed across his face as he bowed his head in respect. Since Mahesh was a big fan of the Beatles before joining ISKCON, he was thrilled to have this simple transcendental exchange with one of his old heroes. What an auspicious start to George Harrison’s 1974 tour.

However, not all efforts to preach to rock stars were successful. In 1975, the devotees at the Montreal temple learned that Frank Zappa — the avante-garde maestro of rock music — would be appearing at the Montreal Forum along with his band “The Mothers of Invention.” Devotees made plans for a large hari-nama party outside the building. Despite the anticipated security, I was hoping to give Mr. Zappa one of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thinking that he might find it intriguing, I chose a copy of the Seventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam with a picture of Lord Nrsimhadeva on the front cover. Also included was an invitation to the temple, a Hare Krishna mantra card and a copy of Back to Godhead magazine.

On the day of the concert, the devotees turned up in full force outside the Montreal Forum. As the chanting of Hare Krishna is intensified when there are more participants, the kirtan was especially sweet and powerful. Midway through the hari-nama, I made a move towards the back of the building. There I discovered a doorway crowded with fans and security guards. I tried to get permission to enter the door, but was refused. After a few attempts, I finally decided to return to the hari-nama party out front. Just then, a man dressed in a business suit walked by. He seemed important, so I inquired about his identity from one of the security guards. “That’s Zappa’s manager,” he replied. Here was my chance. “Excuse me sir,” I shouted in his direction as he walked briskly towards what I assumed was the rock star’s dressing room. “I’d like to give this book and invitation to Frank Zappa.” He paused for a second and then replied, “Well, I can’t take you in, but I can give him the book.” That was good enough for me. As he left with a copy of Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam in hand, I assumed that the matter was over and done with. So I was quite surprised when a few minutes later the man reappeared and called out, “Frank wants to see you.” The crowd parted and I was ushered backstage like a V.I.P.

When I reached the dressing room, Frank Zappa was sitting on a chair strumming his guitar. His hair was tied in a ponytail and he wore purple leotards. The room was small and messy, with plates of food scattered here and there. “Hare Krishna,” I said with folded palms and smiling face. I assumed that he must have been interested in Prabhupada’s book, since he had made the effort to call me backstage only fifteen minutes before his concert was about to begin.

“I just wanted to tell you that I don’t want this book,” he announced. Taken aback, I realized that I’d have to try hard to convince him that it might provide some value or interest for him. “This book was originally compiled in Sanskrit over 5,000 years ago,” I began. “No it wasn’t,” he shot back. “It was actually 4,999 and a half years ago.” I could see that this wasn’t going to be easy. We conversed for over half an hour, but he challenged and refuted everything I said. I tried to be extra polite and not argue with his sharp comebacks, but after some time, it was obvious that he had already made up his mind. He wasn’t interested in Krishna. He wouldn’t even budge when I requested that he please consider the book as a humble gift from me to him. He picked up the invitation and said, “But I’ll keep this.” Although Frank Zappa didn’t accept Srila Prabhupada’s book or visit the temple, the kirtan outside his concert that night was especially ecstatic, despite the cold winter weather. Still the fans really enjoyed the chanting and many joined in.

The next popular musician to visit Montreal was Bob Dylan on December 12th, 1975. He was traveling with a large entourage of musicians, artists and poets (including Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Allen Ginsberg and others) in what was billed as the “Rolling Thunder Revue.” Again, I somehow managed to get backstage. Many of the performers were already hurrying to climb the stairs for their performance, so I had to act fast. Luckily, I spotted Canadian folk singer, Joni Mitchell. “Joni,” I called. She turned in my direction and I said, “Hare Krishna,” handing her a Back to Godhead magazine and a large bunch of red carnations offered to the Deities. She accepted them graciously and then bounded for the stage. As the curtains opened and the music began, I was delighted to see a number of famous artists holding red carnations in their hands. A roar of approval swept through the front rows of the audience as the performers onstage began throwing Krishna’s flowers to their adoring fans.

The next day, Satyahit Prabhu and I decided to try and meet Bob Dylan in his hotel room downtown. Somehow or other, we managed to convince the hotel receptionist that Dylan would like to meet a couple of Hare Krishna devotees. So he rang upstairs and spoke to Dylan’s manager, who told him to send us right up. When we arrived at his room, he greeted us warmly. “Bob’s out shooting a movie right now,” he said, “but I’m sure that he’d like to meet you when he returns.” Meanwhile he was interested in Krishna consciousness, so we spoke in length with this friendly and receptive man. After a few hours, it was getting late and Dylan still hadn’t returned. So we finally begged permission to go, but not without leaving behind a basket of fruits and sweets, along with an invitation for Dylan and his friends to attend the Sunday Love Feast program and a few small books and Back to Godhead magazines. Although they never visited the Montreal temple, he and his friends had contacted Krishna in the form of His transcendental prasadam and literature. By Prabhupada’s grace, there is no limit as to who can receive — or distribute — the mercy of Krishna consciousness.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Living in the Material World

Pasted from; http://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/CauselessMercy8.html

Disappearance Day of Narottama das Thakur

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 06:55 AM PDT

Srila Narottama das Thakura

Today we honor the disappearance day of Narottama Das Thakur, who is well know as the composer of many Vaisnava Songs. So we post one of his well known songs along with a purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Doya Koro More

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu doyā koro more
tomā binā ke doyālu jagat-saḿsāre

My dear Lord Caitanya, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds?

patita-pāvana-hetu tava avatāra
mo sama patita prabhu nā pāibe āra

Your incarnation is just to reclaim the conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure You that You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore, my claim is first.

hā hā prabhu nityānanda, premānanda sukhī
kṛpābalokana koro āmi boro duḥkhī

My dear Lord Nityananda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You always appear very happy, I have come to You because I am most unhappy. If You kindly put Your glance over me, then I may also become happy.

doyā koro sītā-pati adwaita gosāi
tava kṛpā-bale pāi caitanya-nitāi

O Svarupa Damodara, personal secretary of Lord Caitanya, O six Gosvamis O Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami! O Lokanatha Gosvami, my beloved spiritual master! Narottama dasa also prays for your mercy.

doyā koro śrī-ācārya prabhu śrīnivāsa
rāmacandra-sańga māge narottama-dāsa

O Srinivasa Acarya, successor to the six Gosvamis! Please be merciful to me. Narottama dasa always desires the company of Ramacandra Cakravarti.

Purport
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This is a song composed by Narottama Dasa Thakura. He prays to Lord Caitanya “My dear Lord, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds?” Actually, this is a fact. Not only Narottama Dasa Thakura but Rupa Gosvami also prayed to Lord Caitanya in this way. At the time of the first meeting of Lord Caitanya and Rupa Gosvami at Prayaga (Allahabad), Srila Rupa Gosvami said, “My dear Lord, You are the most munificent of all incarnations, because You are distributing love of Krsna, Krsna consciousness.” When Krsna was personally present He simply asked us to surrender, but He did not distribute Himself so easily. He made conditions–”First of all you surrender.” But this incarnation, Lord Caitanya, although Krsna Himself, makes no such condition. He simply distributes: “Take love of Krsna.” Therefore Lord Caitanya is approved as the most munificent incarnation. Narottama Dasa Thakura says, “Please be merciful to me. You are so magnanimous, because You have seen the fallen souls of this age, and You are very much compassionate to them, but You should know also that I am the most fallen. No one is more greatly fallen than me.” Patita-pavana-hetu tava avatara. “Your incarnation is just to reclaim the conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure You that You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore, my claim is first.”

Then he prays to Lord Nityananda. He says, ha ha prabhu, nityananda premananda-sukhi: “My dear Lord Nityananda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You always appear very happy, I have come to You because I am most unhappy. If You kindly put Your glance over me, I may also become happy.” Then he prays to Advaita Prabhu. Doya koro sita-pati adwaita gosai. Advaita Prabhu’s wife’s name was Sita. Therefore He is sometimes addressed as sita-pati. Thus Narottama Dasa Thakura prays, “My dear Advaita Prabhu, husband of Sita, You are so kind. Please be kind to me. If You are kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityananda will also be kind to me.” Actually, Advaita Prabhu invited Lord Caitanya to come down. When Advaita Prabhu saw that the fallen souls were all engaged simply in sense gratificatory processes, not understanding Krsna consciousness, He felt very much compassionate toward the fallen souls, and He also felt Himself incapable of claiming them all. He therefore prayed to Lord Krsna, “Please come Yourself. Without Your personal presence it is not possible to deliver these fallen souls.” Thus by His invitation Lord Caitanya appeared. Naturally, Narottama Dasa Thakura prays to Advaita Prabhu, "If You will be kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityananda also will be kind to me.”

Then he prays to the Gosvamis. "Ha ha swarup, sanatana, rupa, raghunatha." Swarup refers to Svarupa Damodara, the personal secretary of Lord Caitanya. He was always with Caitanya Mahaprabhu and immediately arranged for whatever Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted. Two personal attendants, Svarupa Damodara and Govinda, were always constantly with Lord Caitanya. Therefore, Narottama Dasa Thakura also prays to Svarupa Damodara and then to the six Gosvamis, the next disciples of Lord Caitanya–Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Bhatta Raghunatha Gosvami, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami. These six Gosvamis were directly instructed by Lord Caitanya to spread this movement of Krsna consciousness. Narottama Dasa Thakura also prays for their mercy.

After the six Gosvamis, the next acarya was Srinivasa Acarya. Actually, Narottama Dasa Thakura was in the disciplic succession after Srinivasa Acarya and was almost his contemporary, and Narottama Dasa’s personal friend was Ramacandra Cakravarti. Therefore he prays, “I always desire the company of Ramacandra.” He desires a devotee’s company. The whole process is that we should always pray for the mercy of the superior acaryas and keep company with pure devotees. Then it will be easier for us to advance in Krsna consciousness and receive the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Krsna. This is the sum and substance of this song sung by Narottama Dasa Thakura.

Thanks to http://kksongs.org/songs/s/srikrsnacaitanyaprabhu.html for the Bengali, translation and purport