Krsnarcana devi dasi
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Srila Romapada Swami,
Srila Prabhupada writes: “Narayana Hari, the Personality of Godhead is beyond the material creation. His form and attributes are not material. The topmost transcendentalists or the liberated souls realize Him by advanced experience of transcendental knowledge and therefore they take pleasure in the discussion of the transcendental qualities of the Lord’s pastimes.” (Purport Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.7) Srila Romapada Swami you explain that “it is the characteristic of one who is in the steady stage of pure devotion that they are not swayed by any material influences or circumstances – this was exemplified by Srila Prabhupada’s life.” (As evidenced by his constant speaking on Krsna consciousness)
In considering the well-researched classes that one can hear that you give morning and evening moving from one city to another it is interesting hearing your analysis of piecing information together. “There is not so much information on the chronology of Krsna’s pastimes but piecing something from here and something from there.…So initially it is like information gathering but that is not an indication of absorption in Krsna consciousness; It can lead to absorption in Krsna consciousness. I can tell you my thoughts in the morning hours before I get busy doing everything, my absorption is in Krsna’s pastimes. This pastime, that pastime: that is Krsna consciousness, just thinking of Krsna – His form at different stages. That is the essence of Krsna not just man-mana. It is not just information – it should stay in relationship with Krsna so that the attitude is pleasing towards Krsna. That is the measure of evaluating our absorption in Krsna consciousness.” (Lecture August 2021). In reading Srila Prabhupada’s words on Bhagavad-gita 9.34
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
Thinking of Krsna in devotional love and cultivating knowledge of Krsna continuously. Is the life of one who has completely dedicated his life in Krsna’s service. Srila Jagadananda Pandita (Prema Vivarta page 28) refers to meditation “on the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna in the shady bowers of Vrndavana day and night” as the duty of a renunciant. The echo of the teachings of
Srila Prabhupada of the most confidential knowledge being practiced by you Srila Romapada Swami is evidence of the dedication of your life.
Srila Jagadananda Pandita (Prema Vivarta) writes: “The wise devotee spends his days remembering and meditating on Lord Krsna’s pastimes” One day, (Sept 22, 2020) there is that pleasure in the discussion of the Lord’s transcendental qualities. “First the cowherd boys then the calves following the cowherd boys. ‘This may be a big serpent trying to harm us but you know Krsna will take care of us.’ And raising their arms and singing they went inside the mouth of the giant serpent. And the calves raising their tails were happy following the cowherd boys and off they went into the mouth of the serpent. And Krsna is watching all this and the verse reads Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.27
Krsna giver of fearlessness to all beings saw that all the cowherd boys who did not know anyone but Him as their shelter had now escaped and were helpless. They were now suffering like straws to be burnt by the fire of the abdomen of Aghasura who was death personified. Bewildered by affection He was astonished by what had been arranged by His appointed sakti. (His sakti is lilamaya, yogamaya.) [Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.27]
After reading Srila Jiva Gosvami’s commentary you say: “Astonishment as we have been discussing is a secondary rasa. The secondary rasa nourishes the primary rasa. In this case the primary rasa is sakhya – friendship between the cowherd boys. Astonishment nourishes that rasa.”
I am deeply appreciative of this philanthropic work of travelling on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead such that I can hear your thinking in devotion to Lord Krsna and your continuous cultivation of knowledge of Lord Krsna.
Your servant,
Krsnarcana devi dasi