During the night Srila Gurudeva woke up several times but he managed to resume his sleep each time. By 5 a.m., he started chanting on the beads of the new candidates for initiation. Srila Gurudeva commented that there were many small beads for the devotees in the Labhasa yatra. Viswanatha Prabhu said that the devotees in Labhasa only wanted small beads. Gurudeva did not accept the answer and continued chanting. Then Srila Gurudeva decided to go for a walk in front of Rupa Vilas’s house. There were few other devotees who had joined Srila Gurudeva. Srila Gurudeva put his cap on and went down the main street. But after sometime, he wanted to walk in a better environment and so the devotees suggested the FSC hill. In two cars everyone hopped in left for the hill. The long winding roads and gentle slopes there provided Srila Gurudeva the exercise he needed. Srila Gurudeva strode quickly and many devotees were gasping to catch up with him. While walking he asked Rupa Vilas about the property and who owned it.

At one point a couple of dogs came and barked wildly, but left the group as they went away. But when we returned by the same road to get into our vehicles, the dogs came back to bark. They were very angry and were snarling and growling, but as soon as the devotees got in the cars, the dogs kept quiet! Gurudeva said, ‘Now why don’t you bark?’ He smiled and said they know their territory and that’s that!

We came back and Srila Gurudeva continued chanting on more beads. Again he asked about the small beads for the Labhasa devotees and Visvanatha Prabhu again said that is what they wanted. Then Gurudeva asked all the devotees seated what they thought and everyone said they would prefer a bigger set of beads. Srila Gurudeva said that Viswanath is stubborn like his father Jai Rama Prabhu! Everyone laughed. Gurudeva then spoke with Jivanath Prabhu, Sadasiva, Bhaja Govinda, Parasurama and Hrishikesha Prabhus on many things.

At 8:15 a.m. breakfast was served. During the breakfast Srila Gurudeva told everyone that Hrishikesh would call him in UK at all times of the day just to talk to him. He asked how much does it cost to make a call to UK and Hrishikesh said about $2.45 Fijian a minute! Srila Gurudeva finished quickly and took a half-hour rest. When he got up he said he had a deep sleep and felt very refreshed. He said the walk really helped him to relax a bit. Then Srila Gurudeva picked new names for the initiates. He also asked Viswanath Prabhu to look for his toothpick box, which was in his room and now was apparently missing. A little while later Srila Gurudeva told us he found it on his table. Then by 10:15 a.m., Srila Gurudeva was ready to go to the temple for the initiation ceremony. He had completed all his email for the day.

The initiation ceremony was held at the prasadam hall below the temple. Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govinda were brought down to preside over the yajna. While the devotees were getting seated and the yajna pit was completed, there was a constant bleating of a goat just across from the hall in property next door. The owner had tied it to a tree. They were waiting for Christmas day to slaughter the poor thing! When Srila Gurudeva heard the bleating, he felt great pain and compassion for the goat and immediately told the devotees to give it prasadam. When this was carried out the goat became silent. But that only lasted a little while and the braying started all over again. This time Srila Gurudeva told the devotees to take a lot more prasadam and feed and watch over it for a little while.

There were twenty devotees who were taking initiation today. Some were taking first and others second. When he was ready Srila Gurudeva began to give a lecture.

Rasa Bihari gave a tour upon our arrival of the center. Srila Gurudeva was so overwhelmed by the devotion Rasa Bihari had put into this project. He was very pleased with his disciples preaching mood. Rasa Bihari was also overwhelmed upon seeing his Guru Maharaja. After the tour, Srila Gurudeva asked Rasa Bihari if he had anything to ask and he said he did. So Srila Gurudeva and Rasa Bihari went into the cottage where Gurudeva was staying for a short meeting.

Srila Gurudeva then called upon Rasa Bihari Prabhu to say who had helped. Rasa Bihari was simply overwhelmed and from the very beginning could not speak well. He thanked Srila Gurudeva for his blessings and mercy by which he had accomplished all that was visible to see. Then as he was trying to praise Srila Gurudeva he choked and tears ran down his cheeks. Everyone became silent. It seemed like forever. As we waited, we could hear the crickets making noise outside. And at a distant far away we could hear the beautiful singing of Christmas carols by the native Fijians. It was Christmas Eve.

Somehow, Rasa Bihari Prabhu regained control of himself and blurted out, saying that all the villagers helped him as well as the boys who played soccer with him. He then named them. He was so proud of them and told Srila Gurudeva that some of them were already chanting and that a few will be ready to take initiation the next time Srila Gurudeva comes to Labhasa.

Then Srila Gurudeva asked if the neighbours complained while they were constructing. Rasa Bihari Prabhu said they were very nice. Gurudeva was very encouraged by this and asked Rasa Bihari if the boys at all played soccer or simply helped out in the construction. Rasa Bihari laughed and said they won the soccer championship!

Gurudeva then commented that the building was beautiful, spacious and attractive. He liked the high ceiling and the location of the building. He especially liked the two domes. He also said that the design was also very attractive. He then said that Lord Nityananda must certainly be coming to the hall regularly to do His kirtan! Then Srila Gurudeva started his lecture:

"We once went with Srila Prabhupada to a program and the Gaura aratik was being done. Srila Prabhupada commented that Lord Nityananda and the whole Panca Tattva were there dancing and chanting with us! So I think the same is true here. The mercy of Lord Nityananda is very great. As you probably know Caitanya Mahaprabhu depended upon Lord Nityananda for propagating Krishna consciousness throughout Bengal after He took sannyasa. Nityananda was so compassionate and merciful. In the early times when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was still living in Navadvipa, Nityananda Prabhu and Haridas Thakur would go out together for preaching. And they did not consider who was fit or unfit, but they requested every one to please chant the Hare Krishna mantra.

And this is the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. It is the greatest mercy extended to the most fallen souls. Nityananda Prabhu is non-different from Balarama. Balarama is the elder brother of Lord Krishna. Lord Balarama we know is the original Spiritual Master of all the living entities. So Lord Nityananda is that Adi-guru. He is the source of Maha Vishnu, Garbodakasayi Vishnu and the Paramatma, Ksirodakasayi Vishnu. He is the maintainer of all the jives and as the Paramatma, He is the caitya-guru – the guru within the heart.

You can say the mercy of the guru is the extension of Nityananda Prabhu’s sakti. The guru can bestow mercy because of the energy or mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Sometimes we wonder: does our spiritual master hear our prayers or is our spiritual master accepting our offerings? And the answer is ‘Yes!’ Why, or how? Nityananda Prabhu enables the guru to be present for the disciple whenever the disciple prays to the guru. Sometimes Nityananda appears to be quite like a madman. He is in ecstasy. In that ecstatic state, He used to do many wonderful pastimes. Nityananda and Caitanya Mahaprabhu are always present together. So wherever Nityananda Prabhu would do kirtan and dance, Caitanya Mahaprabhu would appear. So although this is Nityananda Hall, we can understand that this is the hall where Caitanya Mahaprabhu is being worshiped.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu is worshiped by the performance of harinama sankirtana. So I was especially attracted to see all of you dancing. I think the ladies even surpassed the men in dancing today. Again it is the sign of Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy. In Bhagavad-gita Krishna says striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te’pi yanti param gatim—that this mercy of Krishna is extended to everyone: striya, vaisya or sudra—in other words, to all types of persons. In this age everyone is kalau sudra sambavah. Everybody is born like a sudra or less. So we are all in the same category or fallen condition but for all of us the possibility of Krishna’s mercy is available by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.

How do we get the mercy of Sri Nityananda? Nityananda’s mercy comes through the mercy of the devotees. So just like we see that Hamsa Avatara and his family are trying to preach very nicely and because of their efforts so many others are now taking to Krishna consciousness. Preaching is not difficult. It is very simple. Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakur to just request everyone to chant. But this requires that we ourselves keep ourselves spiritually fit so that when we ask people to do this our requests have some potency. If we ourselves are enlivened in Krishna consciousness then we can naturally spread Krishna consciousness to others. It is like an infectious disease that is spread from one person to others. So our desire really is to see that there should be so many Nityananda Halls opening all over Fiji. Just like we see in Fiji there so many churches all over the country because of the enthusiasm of the followers of Christ.

I think that each one of you can be similarly empowered if you so desire. It is not some exclusive exchange between Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila Prabhupada. It is there for each and every one of us, if we so desire. But you have to be willing to give up sense gratification. You have to be willing to make sacrifices. If you are not willing to make sacrifices then this type of activity is difficult to achieve. Just like Rasa Bihari got the co-operation of his brother, father and so many of his friends and neighbors and workers that he was able to practically utilize his entire pay check month after month to construct everything. He could have used that money to build himself a house. To buy a beautiful car or so many other personal items. But he thought "No. Let me do something that will benefit others." This is what human life means: to give benefit to others instead of just trying to benefit our own temporary bodily pleasures. So to the extent to which we make such sacrifices, we will be blessed by Nityananda Prabhu and attract the attention of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Our goal when we worship is not only Radha Krishna seva, but also the seva of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. Don’t think that we are approaching Gaura Nitai in order to get Radha Krishna—and [that] when we get Radha Krishna we are no longer interested in Gaura Nitai. That is not the case.

In the center of Goloka Dhama where Krishna and Radha and all Their associates reside, in the very center of that place is Navadvipa Dhama. And the Panca Tattva are there eternally being served. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur has explained that (those who are woshipers of Gaura Nitai) just as one worships Radha Krishna, one may gain a particular eternal form wherein one can serve Radha Krishna eternally. Similarly if one is attached to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai one can also gain a body, an eternal form, wherein one can eternally serve Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. And if you have equal attachment to Gaura Nitai and Radha Krishna, you can get the two bodies and serve each of Them eternally. Now you may wonder how is that possible that I can get two separate bodies. But Krishna can make such an arrangement. It is very difficult for us to imagine this. But if your attachment is equal to Gaura Nitai and Radha Krishna, then you will get both of Them. Service to both of Them in Goloka Dhama. So we should never minimize in anyway the worship of Gaura Nitai, thinking that it is only a means to an end. It is the means and the end itself.

‘If we say that Nityananda and Caitanya Mahaprabhu are present – that is in theory, but we don’t feel it. How do we feel it?’ You have to increase the intensity of the chanting. Just like Prabhupada says actually we are with Krishna right now but we don’t realize it. There was never a time when we are not with Krishna. But due to Maya we feel separated from Krishna. So the same is true with Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu. We are always with Them. They are here but because of the lack of Krishna consciousness we don’t realize. So you have to increase the intensity of your Krishna consciousness. Then They will be realized. It is a question of consciousness. And it requires faith. Obviously Krishna consciousness begins with faith. And really it is faith from the beginning until the end. But the faith becomes thickened or intensified more and more. And as it gets intensified we [call] it by different names. We see from adau sraddha, tatha sadhu, bhajana kriya and gradually through anarta nivritti and nistha and then ruci, asakti, bhava and prema. These are different degrees of intensified faith leading to love of Godhead. Another question?

The acaryas have described the meaning of the maha mantra, giving each one of the names a specific meaning. Each of them has given a slightly different meaning. [Like] O Krishna – addressing Krishna and Radha to their eternal service. The whole maha mantra is the exchange of loving affairs between Radha Krishna. And as a devotee becomes purified, then he or she can understand the loving affairs of Radha Krishna through the Maha mantra’s different syllables. That is a simple answer. (end of lecture)

Thereafter Srila Gurudeva led a roaring kirtan. The devotees all got into it and we enthusiastically dancing and singing to their hearts content in Nityananda Hall. When the kirtan ended, Srila Gurudeva was led to Hamsavatara’s home and there he took some light prasadam and spoke to the family and devotees. Thereafter, Srila Gurudeva went to the small cottage (Guru Nivasa) and took rest. It was close to 11:30pm.

Srila Gurudeva got up at 5:30 a.m. Rasa Bihari Prabhu had organized breakfast, at 8:30 a.m. at Asutosh Prabhu’s house. It was a little way down the gentle slopes of the village. Knowing that Srila Gurudeva will not be back till next year, the family of Asutosh cooked over twenty preparations and had invited the entire village over for the feast. Indeed, there were many devotees and friends waiting for Srila Gurudeva to start. After breakfast, Srila Gurudeva spent some time with Asutosh’s family and at 9:50 a.m., got into Rupa Vilas’s car to be driven to the airport. As the car made its way down the sloping hill to the paved road, it scrapped the ground several times. Srila Gurudeva made fun of Rupa Vilas’s car by saying that it could not take so many people and he needed to change the car, etc. It was fun to look at Rupa Vilas’s expressions as his Guru Maharaja was joking with him!

At the airport the send off was tremendous, as hundreds of devotees crowded and chanted and danced for almost an hour before we left for Suva.

At about 11.45 a.m. Srila Gurudeva landed in Nausori Airport, much to the delight of the Suva devotees. As soon as the plane came into view kirtan heightened with ecstasy. Garlands and smiles amidst tears greeted Srila Gurudeva. This reception then continued on to Jai Ram Prabhu’s (Temple President of Suva) residence. There was as feet-bathing ceremony followed by Guru-puja.

"It is very humbling to arrive in ISKCON-Suva: so much guru-sraddha. I never thought during the years that I served Srila Prabhupada, that one day I would become a guru. Now I understand; by the order of Srila Prabhupada I accept this responsibility. Regarding Fiji, Vasudeva Prabhu invited me in late 1970, after Srila Prabhupada departed. At that time Fiji was a simple yatra, but a beautiful temple was built already. I always think my relationship with my disciples is that I am their servant. I sit here accepting garlands and devotion, thinking how to pass the love and devotion via disciplic succession to Krishna. I know that it is not for me to enjoy; we see Guru as Krishna’s emissary. From within heart Krishna guides us. From without He appears as the spiritual master. Caitaniya Mahaprabhu has said that the Guru is the supreme personality of servitor Godhead. The Guru shows us how to serve nicely.

One of the outstanding characteristics of Srila Prabhupada is the unconditional attitude of service to his Guru Maharaja, where he was prepared to do whatever necessary to serve [his] spiritual master… Of Krishna’s associates we glorify the gopis – their willingness to sacrifice everything for Krishna—in their case reputation, family, beauty, youth: to give satisfaction to Krishna.

If we get the fortune to also sacrifice everything to give pleasure to Krishna, we will be most fortunate. Srila Prabhupada said that we were more fortunate. "It took me so long to come out of my responsibility to family to come to West and preach Krishna consciousness. But you are so young, dedicating everything."

Whatever fortune we had was made by Srila Prabhupada’s coming to the west. Preaching to us and guiding us made us fortunate. Engaging in Krishna’s service makes one free from cycle of repeated births and deaths. We learnt from Guru how to do service. This is why we worship and respect Guru. Because what more would one want to learn more than what is most dear to Krishna? Guru is Krishna-presthaya. Guru teaches us what is most important. And Guru is very dear to Krishna.

People ask me "Why do you go to the university? You’re a guru, you’re a sannyasi, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, what more can you learn at the university?" But I think it’s the university that needs to learn about Srila Prabhupada. Unless someone is willing to enter and speak their language and follow their rules they won’t learn about Srila Prabhupada. My purpose is to teach scholars and students. The best caliber students in the world go to university. Getting a Ph.D. is secondary. Most important is to write a book about Srila Prabhupada’s contribution to the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya. That is the subject of my Ph.D. Srila Prabhupada kept our brahmacari name when he gave us sannyasa [and] so did Caitaniya Mahaprabhu’s Guru. Actually our sannyasa is different than followers of Shankara. When they take sannyasa there are no more obligations to anyone. But in our sampradaya, sannyasa means exclusive seva to Guru. For instance when we were in Bombay fighting for Hare Krishna land we had to go to court in Bombay every day. All the lawyers in Bombay used to recognize me. We were doing this for Krishna.

(Gurudeva related incidents while preaching in Bhopal years ago, when a movie theater owner, when requested to be a life member, made unreasonable requests of the devotees on the condition he would become a member)

One of them [an unreasonable request] was to pour soft drinks on our head and we did it [so that he would agree to be a life member]. While a sannyasi is normally respected in Kali Yuga, people don’t know [the etiquette] and make foolish requests. For example, at the age of 70, Srila Prabhupada’s health was not good and on the boat he had two heart attacks. The steam ship owner Sumati Morarji told him not to go. But Srila Prabhupada’s Guru Maharaja told him to go. From ages 70 to 81, Prabhupada traveled around the world 16 times. In India Srila Prabhupada used to hold six or seven programs [in a day], and at that time he was 75 years of age. How can he do so much preaching? This was by determination and devotion. Faith in Guru is the powerful ingredient. For one who has full faith in Guru and Krishna, all knowledge comes to them easily.

My nurse Kirtida [who has since left her body but was still living at the time of this lecture] is a powerful devotee—she nursed me back to health for six months at the risk of her own health. She has now been diagnosed with cancer. The cancer may be able to be removed from her body but I request all of you to pray for her. She is in perfect consciousness and hears Srimad Bhagavatam five to six hours a day. She does not sleep [much] but chants all day. I would like her to get her health back and to come to Fiji one day."

(Gurudeva will be speaking on Brihad Bhagavatamrta in Suva and assured the devotees that they did not miss anything, as he did not speak it in Labhasa. Srila Gurudeva said that the Fiji weather was very unpredictable—sunny one hour, then rain another—but this was better than no rain and that it was a pious place—since sankirtan was done here there was a lot of rain. He gave a brief description of Nityananda Hall in Labhasa made by Rasabihari and family. He praised that it was a very good temple and that the Labhasa yatra was going very nicely. Gurudeva said that Krishna consciousness does not depend on any circumstances. In fact, the biggest preaching done in India is in Chowpatti, in an old hall where 1000-2000 devotees gather and they all are qualified people. The main thing is the sankirtan movement. The dharma for this age is harinam sankirtan, to chant sincerely and purely without offence and then you will relish Krishna’s name and realize his form, quality and Lila. And this is our goal under any situation, no matter how opulent or humble it may be).

"This chapter is titled ‘Priyatama’ – ‘one who is most dear.’ This is chapter six and I jumped here so Fiji devotees can hear this. Now the question is: does Krishna really feel separation from His devotees or is He perceptive? Rukmini and Satyabhama have heard Krishna reciting names of Radha, while others say this is all part of a show, [and] actually He does not miss them at all. Krishna finally comes out of the bedroom crying. In this discussion Udhava is speaking when Krishna was in Mathura. Nanda Maharaja was given some jewelry upon his return to Vrndavana. The residents of Vrandavan said "O how painful! Krishna thinks we want presents from Him." The ladies said, "They should have left the jewelry behind: we want Krishna."

Nanda Maharaja then pacified the Vrajabasis. Nanda said this jewelry is a token of love and Krishna will come back as soon as He does his duties in Mathura. Krishna remains Nanda’s son regardless of Vasudeva’s claims, and he believed in Krishna’s honesty. Krishna is delayed in Mathura for obligations such as removing threats of Jarasanda, who attacked eighteen times and then will come back. The residents are all simple hearted and accept His words. They put jewelry on their bodies to please Krishna. They only take it because they think Krishna will be pleased seeing them take prasadam. Entirely free from personal desires to enjoy. It is not in their nature to doubt Krishna’s motives; just to please Krishna they feigned happiness in the greatest of misery. I spoke to Kirtida today and I told her about the reception [in Fiji}. Actually I wanted to stay back because she was so ill but she sounded so happy for the Fiji devotees.

Uddhava says to Krishna "But You never came: You sent me instead. When they heard the message You sent they nearly died from disappointment. You wrote, ‘Now you should be satisfied with meditating on Krishna as the all-pervading supersoul.’ This was nothing less than but deception." From the 10^th to 47^th chapter of the Srimad Bhagvatam this is explained in the 10^th canto. This shattered the hope of the Vrajbasis of Krishna’s returning. Uddhava continued, "Seeing them so despondent I made every effort to keep them alive by promising that You would return. Things there were disheveled, not cleaned. Yasoda’s hair was not combed and was speaking incoherently; the gopis were living in the woods in intense separation as if they had become mad.

"We’re separated from Krishna and yet we live in nice houses, we don’t live in the forest. We must learn to make sacrifice, otherwise we will continue to live in nice house—life after life. We must get higher taste and this is a gradual process. Harinam and Krishna katha, regularly, will make us remember Krishna. After the residents heard philosophy from Uddhava they knew Krishna had no intention of coming back. Uddhava said, "Even if you doubt my words surely you’ll believe Baladeva." Krishna, shaken by Uddhava’s words was unable to speak. [Being] softhearted [and] incapable of making devotees suffer, He therefore was unable to leave Dwarka. Krishna gestured for pen and paper. To strengthen faith in the devotees in Vraja and He wrote a letter to Vrajabasis that He would finish His duties and would return. Uddhava, who is the minister for Krishna, looks after Krishna’s well being and those dear to Krishna. He addressed Krishna again, "Unless Your two lotus feet make the journey to Vraja there is no way to assure that they will survive a mere letter. This will not save the Vrajabasis from destruction. They want You! They don’t care for Vishnu, Narayana or Paramatma!"

Padmavati laughed and shouted "Aha! Foolish Devaki! Now I understand everything." She started humming and saying "humu humu," as if thinking deeply. Padmavati is fearful that something will happen to her kingdom and that the Vrajabasis will steal her kingdom. She accuses the Vrajabasis of controlling Uddhava by giving him milk sweets and presents. And with the help of Uddhava tried to steal Krishna away from them. "And the only reason to get Krishna back is that they can’t tend their own cows and [they] want Krishna to do so in that dangerous forest." Uddhava stayed longer in Vrindavan than he was supposed to and this was grounds for suspicion, as he stayed many months dispelling the gopis’ sorrow. Padmavati says that they use "our" boy to do their work.

Rohini couldn’t tolerate her insults. She addressed Padmavati as ‘virtuous lady,’ which is sarcastic because she was not virtuous. Indeed if the Vrajabasis don’t see Him they can’t survive a single moment. The Vrajabasis want to see Him all day and when He leaves for the forest, time passes very slowly and painfully. In fact the gopis blame Brahma for eyelids because Krishna disappears from their vision [for what] seems like ages. The Vrjabasis look at the sun and see the time Krishna will return. They see the dust raised from the calves and they hear the distant tune of his flute, driven by insanity that Krishna won’t be returning for hours. Krishna goes in the forest to enjoy ever-fresh pastimes. In those forests there are lake lotuses, and in the forests flows Yamuna, the daughter of Kalindi.

The whole of Vrnadavan offers arati to Krishna in the play Venu Gita. Yamuna is described like a beautiful maid whose waves - in circling motions - offer lotuses flowers to Krishna. Rohini rememberd these pastimes: Yamuna’s soft scent, banks, newly grown grass, [and how the] charming animals and birds put their natural enmity aside. So much for Padmavati’s harsh description of Vrndavana as a terrible place! This is all nonsense, fabricated from Padmavati’s mind. When Krishna plays his flute peacocks dance and throw feathers in appreciation of the flute playing.

In Brahmaji’s prayers he describes that the greatest fortune he can have is to receive the dust from the lotus feet of the Vrajabasis on his head. "My greatest fortune is to take birth in whichever form in the forests of Gokula." This is our fervent desire. If one’s mind is absorbed in this way we should be able to take birth in Gokula Dhama. A Vaishnava following in Caitanya Mahaprabu’s line remembers Krishna in connection with intimate devotees. In this way in the next life one takes birth growing up in the same village as Krishna wherever Krishna appears in the universe. Before going back to Godhead in the spiritual sky, one birth is required wherever Krishna is and to associate with eternal associates who will guide us to serve Krishna properly. Now Brahma, who is the creator, desires a particle of dust from the lotus feet of any of the residents. This is the mood that you have to be in when you go to Vrndavana. Gradually we [will] get opportunity to go. We should pray to the dust in Vrndavana, pay obeisances to the dust in Vrndavana, which has touched the feet of many exalted devotees.

"Padmavati says the only reason why the Vrjabasis want Krishna is [because] they want to make Him to do their work. [She thinks] ‘The Vrajabasi’s have no shame: Krishna was doing all the work for so many years and they owe a lot of wages. Gargamuni can calculate all the expenses, all the food Krishna ate there and His maintenance and we will double the cost.’ This is all ridiculous. Rohini says that Vrndavana is free from violence and theft (surely this is not the case now. Now when you go to Vrndavana there are more dacoits there than in the whole of Fiji).

Once when Srila Prabhupada was in Vrndavana one of his disciples said that Vrndavana was not very clean. Srila Prabhupada chastised him and said, ‘You are not seeing Vrndavana. Bhaktivinoda Thakur said there is a covering of maya to protect the Dhama. The protector of Dhama is Lord Shiva and his consort Maya puts a bewildering covering, so that unqualified persons can see only the material and not spiritual side. How to see the Dhama is shown by Srila Prabhupada himself. He reports that when he went to Vrndavana in 1932 to meet his Guru Maharaja he expected to see Krishna come from behind the trees at every moment. The goswamis prayed like this. They pray, "O Krishna, O Radha, O Lalita, O Vishaka, where are you?" The mood is one of love in separation. They don’t say ‘I have seen Krishna.’ They feel as if they are broken hearted for not being able to see Krishna.

This should gradually be our mood. We should learn to feel intensely. We should learn to cry for Krishna as a baby cries for his mother. (I was going to say as a goat cries on Christmas Day. I was in Labhasa and a goat was crying like a baby). So we should cry with such feeling, as if our life depended on it. So all areas of Vrndavana were free from violence and theft. Bhaktivinoda Thakur says, ‘Krishna you are my only shelter, my only protector’- so where is fear when Krishna is there, and Rama is there? How can anything go wrong? Devotees have so much faith.

Anyway, Krishna had many cows and buffaloes also. Buffalo milk is rich in fat and Krishna carries a buffalo horn tending the cows; and the labor of herding was just play. (And there were goats also. So they must have gotten goat milk and goat cheese). Work becomes play in the spiritual world. Everything is there, as it is here also. Varna - ashram: Krishna’s father is a vaisya and he tends the cows. All tend to give pleasure to Krishna: there are [also] brahmanas, like Krishna’s funny friend Madhumangala. He recites prayers to ensure that Krishna can meet Radha and tries to stop Jatila from interfering.

Radha’s worshipable deity is Suryadeva. Everyday she goes to Suriya kund and must have the help of a pundit. Krishna dresses up as a brahmin boy and recites prayers and Jatila cannot recognize [Him]. Radha offers prayers: "I am giving everything to You, I am offering everything to You." All these mantras apply to Krishna [and not to the sun god, as Jatila thinks]. Jatila wants to give Krishna a gift. But Krishna says, ‘I can’t accept a gift from a woman - I am a brahmacari.’ But Madhumangala says, "I have not taken such a vow," and he takes it.

In this way there are brahmins, ksyatrias, vaisyas, all for lilas and not for working out karma - just for the pleasure of Krishna. Sanatana Goswami quotes each verse. Good preachers quote shastras appropriately, [in fact] Srila Prabhupada says that as a lawyer knows his law books, so a preacher should recite appropriate verses to demonstrate his or her point.

The demigods protect the Dhama. The village of Nanda Maharaja is protected by Lord Shiva in a form of Nandishvara. Shiva prayed for the benediction to have the darshan of Krishna and Balaram, [and then] took birth as a hill – Nandishvara. On that form of a hill Nanda Maharaja’s palace was built. Look at the seva of Lord Shiva. He is considered the topmost Vaishnava. When demons used to come, all the residents became fearful. When Yashoda saw Krishna lifted up by Trnavarta, the whirlwind demon, she fainted. When Putana, eight miles long was lying dead, with Krishna playing on her chest, she recited mantras for His protection. They don’t know that He is the Supreme Narayana, greater than Narayana. [They] have so much spontaneous attraction. Knowledge of Krishna is enlightened by Krishna’s hladini shakti, which is personified by Srimati Radhika. So it is by Her mercy that knowledge of Krishna is transformed into love - then can one serve Krishna as a resident of Vrndavana. Therefore in Vrndavana, everyone prays, ‘Jaya Radhe.’ Please give us you mercy. [But] now we are in Fiji, not Vrndavana. Jiva Goswami says however, that if we are not physically living in Vrndavana, then at least in the mind we should do so. So you should see this hill and think, ‘We are at Nandabhavan.’

Gurudeva points to Nandarani and says smilingly, "Here is Nandarani: that is why we should give places and people spiritual names. Srila Prabhupada named cities New Dwarka and New Vrndavana so the residents can feel that they are in Vrndavana. In Dallas all the grhastas name their houses, e.g. Radha Kund, Govardhan, etc. So in this way devotees can bring remembrance of Krishna into their life. Padmavati said, ‘If the calves are free to do everything then why are they dying? Is there no one to herd them?’ It is not because of material neglect that they are dying but of vipralambha bhava. The cows of Vraja appear in danger of dying, but this is not death: [it is] the highest perfection of life - vipralambha bhava.

Krishna is now very worried about the Vrajabasis He glances at the face of Baladeva, since He was a constant witness to all the events and a sober judge of facts. And He saw that it was covered with tears. That means Baladeva was saying that all this was true. Seeing Baladeva’s face, Krishna’s own anxiety increased and He started crying without control.

One of the things that make Brihad Bhagavatamrta special is the emotions: we don’t see the emotions in Srimad Bhagavatam. Sanatana Goswami is giving us inner meaning - he is reading between the text. He is the foremost goswami and senior disciple of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is the first book the goswamis wrote: after this other books were written. So their inspirations and ideas [influenced] how he did this book. Therefore, Rupa says Sanatana is his Guru. Every living entity in Vrndavana is friend of Krishna. The Kadamba flowers represent Radharani, the Tamal tree represents Krishna, the creepers embrace the trees - just as Radha embraces Krishna. The goswamis describe how parrots speak together when morning comes and Radha and Krishna wake up from their being together. The parrots say, "Wake up! Time to go home." Even the snakes did [something which] the manjaris and the gopis could not do, [they] made Radharani jump into Krishna’s arms! So everything is favorable to Them.

The grass, the creepers, cuckoo birds, Govardhan hill, cows, bulls and calves are all wasting away. Everything is emaciated. Krishna knew each cow’s name. Each knew their names when they heard the note. When he played his flute each gopi or gopa heard their names. Krishna had japa beads and he would count the names of his cows. Govardhan is the best of servants; all the lilas are happening on the lap of Govardhan. He supplies so much pleasure to Krishna and now is feeling so much separation from Krishna. Baladeva says don’t ask anymore, no news is good news, if you ask more it is going to get worse. In the drama Lalita Madhava it’s written that when the residents of Vrndavana couldn’t be with Krishna some of them gave up their lives. The queens of Dwarka are expansions of the gopis of Vrndavana: the origin is Radha - everyone is gradual expansion. After leaving their bodies, everyone in their own swarup went to join Krishna in Dwarka and took birth as queens. Rupa Goswami explains this. Without the goswamis’ explanation we cannot know this. They are such confidential servants.

Baladeva continued "I can only tell you if you don’t show your kindness to them, then Yamaraja will soon show them his." Sanatana Goswami explains that the Vrajabasis would consider quick death a merciful release from their distress. [But] there was no poisonous lake. [since] Krishna has sent Kaliya to Fiji, they cannot commit suicide. Yamuna has turned into a mere trickle, so drowning is no longer possible. Govardhan, the site of many of Krishna’s lilas, once rose high into the sky has shrunk in separation - so [they] can’t jump off Govardhan.

Having heard this, Krishna cried with loud sobs. This was not false show; He held onto the neck of Lord Balaram and began to cry like a person whose life is in ruins. Both brothers started rolling on the ground and crying. All the residents sobbed again and again, feeling deep pain. All the Yadus began to cry. Such unhappiness in Krishna’s palace was unheard of….

Hare Krishna