From 2000 to 2003 Dada worked in Europe, mostly in Germany and Italy. Then he went to Australia, where he took a three-year course in Gestalt Psychology. He had a real talent for explaining deep spiritual concepts in simple language. Perhaps his greatest contribution to spiritual culture was the "heart circle", a psycho-spiritual exercise where the participants sit in a circle and mentally direct the loving kiirtan they sing at one or more people meditating in the center. Thousands of people continue to enjoy this blissful process, and sometimes people have even had samadhi experiences as a result.
In 2009 he moved to New York City. He participated daily in the Occupy Wall Street Movement when it started in September 2011. He wore an orange vest that said, "People who profit from the suffering of others are immoral!"
On October 1, 2011, Dada joined 700 members of Occupy Wall Street when they marched across the Brooklyn Bridge. In the center of the bridge the crowd was stopped and the police move up vans to arrest all the marchers. Dada said, "I thought to myself, 'What would be the best way that I, as a meditating monk, should respond to this?' I decided the best way would be to sit down and meditate." So he walked in front of the crowd a couple of meters and sat in meditation until the police carried him away. He was the first person arrested that day. See his interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH7y4jxJT1I
A series of 15 short video interviews with Dada begins here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09nP2FH3yiM
Dada was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in early 2012. He moved to the home of Vishala and Vishvajita in New Haven, Connecticut where they cared for him and helped him undergo cancer treatments. In the first days of November he finally chose to stop all treatment and be transferred to a beautiful hospice to spend his last days.
Dada Pranakrsnananda sent this message to all: deep devotional practice and experience and studying the ideology and sharing it honors how he lived his life.
Remembering Dada Prana Krs’n’a’nanda Ji
ReplyDeleteNov 19, 2012.
Last night something started unsettling me suddenly, prompting me to silence, as I engaged in a caller’s phone conversation that had just begun. I struggled to finish hastily. I pondered, it was Sunday night and we had finished Dharma Cakra a while ago. So this was it.
In passing away of Dada Prana Krs’na’nanda Ji Baba reminds me, yet again, that we will all get an excuse when the time is up for transition.
It was a pleasant surprise for me to see him at a recent Ananda Kanan conference. We had a chance to see each other and chat after over two decades. No wonder, he doubted my views on many issues that we had covered, but I assured him of what my struggles were. He kept staring at me wondering if what I had just said to him were still valid and true in the void that Baba left behind for us all to cope with. We agreed to talk again. But situations changed fast around us locally here in the sector, and we couldn’t meet or talk again.
I knew him as a truly Selfless Soul with a mind without complex, always smiling, cool and humorous. He was true to his words for Baba. I met him the first time in 1986 when he was posted in Manila sector. Later, in mid-90’s, I came across hundreds of his initiates in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and elsewhere in the sector, all good ones, still ideologically tuned. After the very first meeting, I had accepted him as an elder in the ascetics’ community that Baba created for caressing the Planet.
Once again, I could not but admire his great strides evident in his famous photo at the Brooklyn Bridge published last year. I can still vividly recollect some of those WRDS gatherings where Baba used to accept his presentations with gestures so sweet and Blissful. Today, many may have liked to walk in his shoes….
May his soul rest in Baba’s loving shelter at the end of this earthly sojourn!!
Prayers,
At His Lotus Feet,
Ac. Vimalananda Avadhuta.
Corona, New York City
R.I.P. Missed to see you again.
ReplyDeleteDevendra
I first met Dada Prana Krsnananda at the Ananda Marga River School in Maleny in 2004. There I learnt some Meditation techniques and Yoga. In 2005 I moved to Brisbane. Between 2006 and 2008 Dada Prana and myself kept in contact while he was doing the course in Gestalt Psychology at Lismore. I also attended the Heart Circles he held in Brisbane.
ReplyDeleteIn all the time I knew him he made no attempt to convert me to Ananda Marga. On one occasion I asked him if it was necessary to become a vegetarian. He replied, "No, you do not need to become a vegetarian. Just continue with Meditation and at some stage you may find it helpful to go further with your Meditation by becoming a vegetarian".
This was a very difficult time for me, and he saw me about every 3 to 4 weeks. During this time he helped me to make some very difficult decisions, and gave me very helpful advice.
What really impressed me was that he was open to all topics of conversations and his wonderful sense of humour.
I found it amazing that he travelled so widely with all his possessions in one bag.
When he left Brisbane to return to the US, I drove him to the airport.
I feel privileged to have known such a man.
David Nicholls, Brisbane, Australia
I first met Dada Prana Krsnananda at the Ananda Marga River School in Maleny in 2004. There I learnt some Meditation techniques and Yoga. In 2005 I moved to Brisbane. Between 2006 and 2008 Dada Prana and myself kept in contact while he was doing the course in Gestalt Psychology at Lismore. I also attended the Heart Circles he held in Brisbane.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very difficult time for me, and he saw me about every 3 to 4 weeks. During this time he helped me to make some very difficult decisions, and gave me very helpful advice.
What really impressed me was that he was open to all topics of conversations and his wonderful sense of humour.
I found it amazing that he travelled so widely with all his possessions in one bag.
When he left Brisbane to return to the US, I drove him to the airport.
I feel privileged to have known such a man.
David Nicholls, Brisbane, Australia
Namaskar!
ReplyDeleteFrom 2001 to 2004 I had a lot to do with Ananda Marga, I learned a lot about my-self and met a lot of great people. One of them was Dada Pranakrsnananda. For some reason today I felt like looking at websites and pictures related to Ananda Marga, yes, and I also came to this site. I saw "Dada Prana" very often during "my time", I perceived him as "incredibly funny" and in a certain way as a "free soul". I will probably never forget his "Margerine story", his whole appearance was a great joy. It touched me when I saw today when and how he left. Even if around 10 years have passed since his death, you never forget such people.
With love and gratitude,
- a soul of truth -
Namaskar!
ReplyDeleteFrom 2001 to 2004 I had a lot to do with Ananda Marga, I learned a lot and met a lot of great people. One of them was Dada Pranakrsnananda. For some reason today I felt like looking at websites and pictures related to Ananda Marga, yes, and I also came to this site. I saw "Dada Prana" very often in "my time", I perceived him as incredibly funny and in a certain way as a "free soul". I will probably never forget his "Margerine story", his whole appearance was a great joy. It touched me when I saw today when and how he left. Even if 10 years have passed since his death, you never forget such people.
With love and gratitude,
- a soul of truth -