Question: How to be certain that the messages we receive from within are from the mind or from Kṛṣṇa ?
Author: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-08
Jayapatākā Swami: In the beginning the only way to be 100% sure is by asking the spiritual master.
One can check with other devotees, senior devotee, especially the spiritual master, then one can be fully sure.
Just like we would sometimes get an idea and we would ask Śrīla Prabhupāda and he would say that idea was inspired by the Supersoul.
Sometimes, someone would give an idea and he would say that idea is inspired by māyā.
(devotees laughing)
Of course, by hearing, by reading, we have to only get an idea, we have to learn to analyze it, that, just like we pray, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, I mean… how does it go?
cittete kariyā aikya - “May the consciousness be made one with your instructions, with your orders.”
Whatever the word of the spiritual master is, our consciousness we want that to be filled with those words and to be one with, in harmony with those words.
So, we do something, we have an idea, we want to have it confirmed.
This is the system of paramparā – whatever a person does; does it only if it’s authorized;
directly you can see that, guru has said, Kṛṣṇa has said in the śāstra.
And the śāstras are so vast, the Vedas, that one does not have to leave anything for speculation even if one knows in his heart that this is Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Also one trace out the effort; immediately also, Kṛṣṇa gives the example, there is this example in the Vedas or this devotee, or this situation.
There are so many millions of examples that have been given on these even in the Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā that most of all the situations have already been covered, if one has the eyes to see.
So, the spiritual master has the eyes to see, therefore we take his advice.
There also symptom that over endeavor is usually a symptom of a māyā idea.
Just like a person gets an idea to do something for Kṛṣṇa and it happens very easily or it happens, it seems to be just going on.
But when we have an idea when we do this for Kṛṣṇa, but the number of steps of the material activities one has to do before it finally gets around to being something which is directed at Kṛṣṇa are so many
and so rot with difficulties, that is a symptom of over endeavor, an over endeavor for an unproportionate result.
If one has to do something, an over endeavor, they may be attached to Kṛṣṇa and think, let me do this for Kṛṣṇa, I want to build a house for Kṛṣṇa, whatever, something, it is very hard to say any particular thing.
Maybe one wants to make an aeroplane.
The same thing might be Kṛṣṇa conscious in another situation, so it is not the particular thing, but in that particular situation, there were other easier ways of using time.
Kṛṣṇa preferred you do in a different way so that particular way, He keeps, māyā keeps giving so many obstacles so that one will take the other way.
But if one is so fixed on that particular idea due to some kind of preconceived idea that in spite of every obstacle, they go on trying, and so at every step they meet difficulty.
Lot of practical examples I can think of.
They always involve devotees; I don’t want to embarrass them.
There was one older devotee in our movement who was doing nice service but then he got an idea… someone turned him on… turned him… gave him some rubies
and they got into a whole thing that he started mining rubies, he bought a ruby mine and he started going there.
He just became overwhelmed by these rubies and jewels, like kind of a gold fever. He got a ruby fever, a gem fever.
Prabhupāda kept telling him that it is an over endeavor, it is unnecessary, just preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa will provide, this, that.
“No, no, I want to make money for Kṛṣṇa.”
and even Pra… you know, even his guru told him don’t do it, he said, “No, no.”
And so of course whatever money he did make didn’t go to Kṛṣṇa, he just re-invested it in his business again and again; what usually happens.
And then finally he just became farther and farther and removed from Kṛṣṇa and more and more in māyā.
Now he is, for the past many years he is completely out of touch.
You see him sometimes.
Still going to make it one day.
So, it’s like over endeavors, misdirected.
So, of course, ultimately the guru is the custodian of one’s spiritual progress, you have to take his advice and as one advances more and more, then, one can tell when one makes a wrong decision, Kṛṣṇa usually smashes it.
As you become more advanced in devotional service the slightest mistake will create an immediate result.
You see karma might take hundred births.
When you surrender to Kṛṣṇa you make a mistake you may get the reaction, “pshew!” five seconds or five minutes or five hours.
There was a devotee riding in a taxi cab in Calcutta, who started to criticize Śrīla Prabhupāda and different devotees for God knows what reason, must have gone mad or something.
And another devotee who was with him, immediately he stopped the car and got out and said, “I am not going to hear any offense of pure devotees.”
That person went on and within one hour, went to the railway station, missed the train, got into a fight with one of the coolies there, one of the porters, they call them coolies in India,
that is the official name, hey coolie! They don’t mind being called coolies.
So then, there was a whole riot and about a 150 of the coolies came out of their walls with bricks and sticks and they stripped the so-called devotee completely down naked
and only he had on was the brāhmaṇa thread and they beat the pulp out and he was running down the street naked and finally jumped into a moving bus.
You know, the whole bus emptied out, they couldn't believe it.
(His Holiness Jayapatākā Swāmī and devotees laughing)
And all this happened within one or two hours after he blasphemed the devotees.
He was in the hospital.
He’s a blooped devotee, wasn't… that criticizing others always.
After that he came by and bowed down hundreds of times in the temple and personally went to each devotee, begging for forgiveness.
So that way he was able to learn.
Sometimes we are repeatedly told to be cautious in a particular way or to avoid some kind of activity; we don’t listen, we don’t listen, we don’t listen and then finally Kṛṣṇa says, “Well, “Let what be happen!” and māyā takes over.
Kṛṣṇa lifts up, He doesn’t personally do it; He just lifts up some of the shelter, and lets māyā move in, otherwise the devotees are always under the yoga-māyā shelter.
But if we neglect Kṛṣṇa, if we neglect the guru, or we blaspheme, then that shelter is removed, and then we are at the mercy of māyā.
See, she’s already upset that we are trying to get out of her clutches, so she puts her full load on us, you know.
Related Questions
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know why your mind doesn’t want to think about Kṛṣṇa!
Kṛṣṇa is our shelter.
And we can apologize for feeling some anxiety, that I should not be feeling like this,
so we pray to Kṛṣṇa to give us strength,
so that we don’t succumb to these modes of ignorance and passion.
He is our best friend, right?
From seventh - dāsyam, sakhyam, ātma-nivedanam, eighth He is our friend!
You want to tell your friend, you are feeling some anxiety.
What are friends for? Right?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know why your mind doesn’t want to think about Kṛṣṇa!
Kṛṣṇa is our shelter.
And we can apologize for feeling some anxiety, that I should not be feeling like this,
so we pray to Kṛṣṇa to give us strength,
so that we don’t succumb to these modes of ignorance and passion.
He is our best friend, right?
From seventh - dāsyam, sakhyam, ātma-nivedanam, eighth He is our friend!
You want to tell your friend, you are feeling some anxiety.
What are friends for? Right?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that if someone thought whether I should be a gṛhastha or a brahmacārī,
being a brahmacārī is a difficult proposition.
If they think that let me try being a brahmacārī for some time that is one thing.
But now when you are studying to think immediately after studies should I be a brahmacārī or a gṛhastha, how is that possible?
Śrīla Prabhupāda said that you need to be determined and firm to become a brahmacārī.
This is called bṛhad-vrata.
I see some devotees stay as a brahmacārī for five years and after that discuss with the guru what should I do.
When I joined the movement, I was only 19 years. The temple president’s wife in the temple I was in told me that if you want to go back to Godhead, you should become a gṛhastha.
Then I went to Śrīla Prabhupāda and asked him, “What should I do?” I did not think that at this age I want to be a gṛhastha.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “You be a brahmacārī for 25 years and after that discuss with your guru and he will decide.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me sannyāsa when I was 21 years old.
Now I have completed 50 years of sannyāsa.
Anyway, from 25 to 30 one should think,
if they think that which āśrama they will be stronger in. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is the Gajendra-mokṣa episode
where Gajendra is the king of elephants.
He was fighting with the king of crocodiles in the water.
The fight went on for many days.
Because elephant is a land animal
and crocodile is a water animal
and is in the water,
the crocodile is having some more strength.
Gajendra understood that I am slowly getting weak.
In the purport Śrīla Prabhupāda said we should see in which situation will we be stronger to serve Kṛṣṇa.
Being a gṛhastha or a brahmacārī, we have to think.
But why should you do it right now?
You have to make up your mind that some days I will be a brahmacārī and then will think.
But if someone thinks that I will be stronger as a gṛhastha,
the purpose is that we should do service to Kṛṣṇa.
Then it is advisable to get married to a Kṛṣṇa conscious girl.
Many non-devotee girls will say, “I will eat veg.”
There was a case in Māyāpur.
The devotee after discussion with me, married a non-devotee.
They had a child
and then the girl started eating nonveg.
The devotee said, “You promised that you will not eat nonveg.”
The girl said, “You know what family I come from,
I was trying
but I cannot.
I will eat chicken.”
One thing is that I will not be a brahmacārī, I will be a gṛhastha. And then being a gṛhastha, you have to be in such a situation that you can be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
If you get married to a non-devotee, then there will be lot of inconvenience.
Anyway, stay a brahmacārī till the age of about 25 and then after that decide.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Harṣavardana Gaurāṅga dāsa
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: We want to take shelter of Nitāi-Gaura.
Also, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
And if we are harassed with memories of our previous mistakes,
we should pray for forgiveness,
and proceed with devotional service.
It is not worth giving attention to these sinful memories.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-13
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara yugas,
any thought you have you are responsible.
In Kali-yuga you are responsible for what you do.
Not what you think.
But if you think bad things again and again, you may have a tendency to do that.
Just like we saw in the drama today.
Remember Nitāi-Gaura, keep Them in your mind.
Haribol!
Questioner: Purabi Das
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: We should not be attracted by temporary things.
Temporary things only last for short time, so we should not be distracted by them.
If we are attracted by some temporary things, we should think how to do that in the service of Kṛṣṇa.
In this way, we can naturally develop our love for Kṛṣṇa.
So, developing love for Kṛṣṇa is a gradual process.
And step by step we develop our love for Kṛṣṇa. Just like if we want to have a child, we pray to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious child.
We do everything in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will be pleased.
And naturally like we were reading how the king and his queen were praying to Kṛṣṇa and then they got a Kṛṣṇa conscious child, they actually got an avatāra, Ṛṣabhadeva as their child who was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Anarthās / Sinful activities], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Purabi Das
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: We should not be attracted by temporary things.
Temporary things only last for short time, so we should not be distracted by them.
If we are attracted by some temporary things, we should think how to do that in the service of Kṛṣṇa.
In this way, we can naturally develop our love for Kṛṣṇa.
So, developing love for Kṛṣṇa is a gradual process.
And step by step we develop our love for Kṛṣṇa. Just like if we want to have a child, we pray to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious child.
We do everything in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will be pleased.
And naturally like we were reading how the king and his queen were praying to Kṛṣṇa and then they got a Kṛṣṇa conscious child, they actually got an avatāra, Ṛṣabhadeva as their child who was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Anarthās / Sinful activities], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-03
Jayapatākā Swami: Prabhupāda gave me a service of building Māyāpur and then at that time day and night we had two shifts of construction we were working - 600 people working under us - three devotees.
So then I went up to Prabhupāda and said I just want to take out two hours a day for reading books, because I am not getting any chance to read, so I want to take out.
Prabhupāda got angry at me and said, "You think there is a difference between serving and building my project and reading my books?
You see any difference?" (laughter)
"No."
"Then? Then?"
"Hare Kṛṣṇa"
That’s it.
Of course, the point is that while somehow or other I still managed to squeeze out half hour here there something.
It takes some desire.
This idea that we have to stop our service to read… actually, if we really go through our schedule, cut down, or even… you know, cut down on all the little times that we were wasting our…whatever.
If we really go through the schedule we can squeeze out some time every day.
And if there is really so much service that uh, needs to be done, well, that is also a shelter.
That protects us.
We have to see, if that much emergency service we have to do.
There was a big emergency in Māyāpur.
Of course, Prabhupāda generally tells everyone we should read for an hour a day.
But if we attend two classes that is also reading.
If we are hearing a class that is also reading, it is not that one is not reading.
We are hearing the Bhāgavatam every day.
In addition to that we can get time for reading, we have to just really economize.
That way if we have a desire that we want to do our service so quickly and so perfectly so that we can get little time for reading,
not little more time for sleeping or little more time for gossip… as soon as there’s a little time, we all start to gossip, or we do something else.
We have more taste sometimes for prajalpa, for other things, but if we actually tried to squeeze out the time then when we have a little time we immediately sit down and read.
So that is very good, we don't want to have a lot of spare time.
How much can we read anyway?
We can only read as much as we serve.
Service creates in us an appetite for reading.
So that way if you are competing with your time to do as much service then even do it more efficiently by which you can fit in a little more time for reading, you see.
Then it will be difficult for māyā to catch you.
In the spiritual world there is sevya, sevā and sevaka.
There is the served, the service and the servitor.
The process, the person… Everything is the, the person served, the process of service and the servant these three items are completely spiritual therefore the spiritual world is called Absolute.
There is no tinge of material contamination there.
We just have to see if our… if we can keep our consciousness in the service then there is no problem.
If our consciousness is becoming agitated we need some special instructions, then we have to discuss with authorities.
As long as the consciousness is good, one doesn’t have to think that well, just by serving you are not going to get where you want to go, because actually this service is completely pure.
Rather, just like Pra… I don't chant more than 16 rounds.
First, I will chant 16 rounds then I will read.
Then after I complete what I consider enough reading then I will chant more than 16 rounds, you see.
My priority is, first finish my rounds then read.
Sometimes devotees chant 20 rounds, 30 rounds.
Not always, but sometimes they chant more rounds.
My next priority after rounds is reading.
Then after that then more rounds sometimes if I have more time.
So, in this way, somehow or another we have to adjust everything without actually reducing.
We should not reduce, we should think how to further increase.
If there is so much service that you have no time for reading and if… if… if you are so expert that you are also not giving any time for māyā in your day, well then you are still safe.
And of course, you are attending class, so some reading is there, that is also reading.
Not that Prabhupāda did not think this was reading.
Then you can further become expert or arrange to engage other devotees who may not be as fully engaged and squeeze out a little time for reading.
Our goal is not to reduce service, but somehow fit everything in, increasing, as far as possible.
And if that can’t be done with one's own service then you try to train some other people to take up more responsibility.
Make more devotees, train them up, is that alright?
Devotee: Yes.
Questioner: Anonymous
Date: 2022-07-28
Jayapatākā Swami: Yes. Māyā in the holy dhāma, she covers the dhāma with a thin karpanāya, with a thin coating.
And the non-devotees who live in the dhāma but have not accepted their relationship with Lord Caitanya, they are not living actually in the dhāma.
So why not in the temple?
If someone is in the temple but one’s mind is always outside the temple
or if one has not accepted in his heart the spiritual master and Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then actually that person will be covered by māyā.
But this is very rare.
But one therefore should not be proud; one has to be always humble.
Just because someone is living in the temple does not mean that one is Kṛṣṇa conscious.
One is Kṛṣṇa consciousness if one is living in the temple physically, mentally and spiritually.
So that is possible by being humble, by respecting other Vaiṣṇavas and not wanting respect for one’s self,
by being hay, humble like more than a straw in the street and being more tolerant than the tree, you see.
Someone gets their brāhmaṇa underwear stolen and he thinks, “Oh, all the Vaiṣṇavas are dogs!” Or something like that, you know. Said some offend.
Just because of… He may even have misplaced it, you know.
But then immediately he will criticize.
And even if someone took, all right, so what? Get another one, get a box, lock it up, something.
Someone is serving, may have a bad habit.
There is a story about one time, there was so many saints, you probably heard this, so many devotees in the temple.
And they’d wake up and every day they would find all their bedding mixed-up.
And then they said, “How is this?
And so, one time one devotee said, “I was actually a night house-breaker before I became a devotee, a robber.
So, this is my habit, in the night to steal something.
So, if I don’t steal something I can’t sleep.
So, I take all your things and move them from here to there very secretly without waking you up and this is able to, you see get rid of my habit.”
You see.
So sometimes someone may have even a bad habit,
but still we shouldn’t condemn if they are trying to serve Kṛṣṇa, you see.
So that means we have to be tolerant.
One has to be tolerant.
Of course, one should not try, that doesn’t give excuse, “I had a bad habit before, so let me do it in the temple.”
That of course is a temporary status which should be eradicated.
But there might be some bad habit, but that should be avoided and if someone sees, we should try to help that person.
Or they should just, if they are not in a position to help the person, then they at least should not themselves become agitated or disgusted with devotional service.
They should be disgusted with māyā, that māyā is so strong that if one by being in this material world, even coming to the temple, there might still be some trace.
Therefore, one has to be determined to get rid of the māyā, to become pure.
So, in living in the temple, one has to also bring in the mind, bring in the consciousness and put those in the temple, then one gets the full benefit.
One has to accept the relationship, “I am servant of guru and Gaurāṅga”.
With that relationship one lives in the temple, one lives in the dhāma, gets the full effect.
Questioner: Rucika
Date: 2022-10-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Well, Śrīla Prabhupāda said both things.
But more often he said, we fall from the spiritual world,
and that is why our magazine is, Back to Godhead.
So, there is a whole book on this.
At different times, different things were said.
When the question was given to Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura,
if we came from the spiritual world,
why did we decide to come here?
He said, a person falls from the ship
and a lifeboat comes to save him.
Are you going to ask first, before I get into the boat, tell me how did I come here?
Sharks are spinning all around.
First you get on the lifeboat, then you will understand how you fell.
We don’t understand any way.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-26
Jayapatākā Swami: Hm. I know that Lord Caitanya only comes after Lord Kṛṣṇa. But I don’t know
for certain that He comes every time after Lord Kṛṣṇa comes.
Not certain about that. I heard that, on contrary, that Lord Caitanya’s
coming is more rare than Lord Kṛṣṇa’s coming, but
I haven’t seen it actually or directly heard it from Prabhupāda.
Except that I heard directly that He only comes after Lord Kṛṣṇa comes.
But you can see Lord Caitanya now, if He reveals Himself to the devotee. But then in, you know,
proclaimed way, everyone can see Him, He only comes after Lord Kṛṣṇa comes.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: IYF Māyāpur
Date: 2022-08-03
Jayapatākā Swami: I was chanting 32 rounds a day.
I felt very proud.
I thought I was doing sādhana.
Śrīla Prabhupāda asked me, “What are you doing?”
I said, “I am chanting 32 rounds!”
I thought Śrīla Prabhupāda would be very happy.
He said, “If you stay here all day and chant rounds,
who will go out and preach?
Chant 16 rounds and go out and preach!”
So we have a dedicated time every day
for chanting.
2 hours a day.
22 hours we can spend in preaching, little time in sleeping and eating.
Few days ago in your class you explained about the different separation ecstasies of Lord Caitanya for Kṛṣṇa. Can we experience these eight transcendental symptoms of separation from Lord Gaurāṅga as He is the Supreme Lord, or only in love of directly from Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, can these moods of symptoms be experienced? Please enlighten us.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-23
Jayapatākā Swami: One can also experience separation from Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda, etc.
And even you can experience separation from devotees.
Separation is possible.
When Śrīla Prabhupāda would leave, some devotees would feel separation at Śrīla Prabhupāda’s departure
and others would be chanting and smiling.
Later when Śrīla Prabhupāda saw the video he pointed out that devotees who were laughing at the departure of Śrīla Prabhupāda,
they were not as advanced as those who were experiencing separation.
Category: [Emotions / Happiness], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Siddhāntamaṇi Prabhupāda dāsa
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: If one is initiated and breaks the principles,
they are guilty of one of the offences to the holy name
disrespecting the order of the spiritual master.
So there is no higher atonement than devotional service.
So in that case one should repent for their misdeed
and then again take up the practice of devotional service,
as sincerely as possible, and gradually they can regain their status.
But, of course they have ceased their progress for some time, but they can start again
and there is no other way recommended by the śāstras.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Bad association], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Emotions / Enthusiasm]
Questioner: Kṛṣṇasevinī Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: The whole practice of bhakti-yoga is to develop our love for guru and Kṛṣṇa.
It is not a different process.
Same process delivers us
and we should perform devotional service
and naturally if you help the spiritual master
then Kṛṣṇa will be very pleased.
Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]
Questioner: Sukamala Nityānanda dāsa [Bangladesh]
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: I just said that
we should pray to Kṛṣṇa
that whatever we do, we do service in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way.
Firstly, you have to get married,
and then the two should pray that you have Kṛṣṇa conscious children.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Vijaya Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: While the guru is present,
you shouldn’t feel any doubt.
You can always ask the guru
if your idea is correct or not.
I asked Prabhupāda several times about different things like this
and somethings he said, they are sent by Kṛṣṇa,
somethings not.
To be sure, that is why we have a guru,
because we cannot connect directly with Kṛṣṇa in our conditioned state.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Vijaya Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: While the guru is present,
you shouldn’t feel any doubt.
You can always ask the guru
if your idea is correct or not.
I asked Prabhupāda several times about different things like this
and somethings he said, they are sent by Kṛṣṇa,
somethings not.
To be sure, that is why we have a guru,
because we cannot connect directly with Kṛṣṇa in our conditioned state.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: Some people are more sentimental, and they get carried away by other people’s problems.
But actually, as Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā,
we should not lament for the living or the dead.
So by reading the Bhagavad-gītā,
Kṛṣṇa advices how one can
give the teachings of Kṛṣṇa, but avoid being affected by the problems.
Thank you.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-10-14
Jayapatākā Swami: Story of Ramāyāṇa?
You know how when Marīci came and the golden you know, multicolor rainbow deer and then Ram went to on the request of Sītā to catch it.
And put Sītā under the protection of Lakṣmaṇa but then there was a whole heavy situation developed,
that Marīci made the voice of Ram come out.
So Sītā said you go and protect Ram.
He said Ram doesn’t need protection, nobody can get near him.
She was very concerned, so then Lakṣman made a circle.
He said, don’t leave this mystic protective circle, can’t enter in.
So Rāvaṇa came dressed as a sādhū, he tried to enter in.
She went in to get some food and he went in [Guru Mahārāja and devotees laughing] and “I can’t get through”.
So, then she said come on in because he was an enemy so couldn’t enter.
So, he said, no no I cannot go there, I am very tired you just come out here.
So, because he was dressed as a saint, as a sannyāsī or like some kind of a sādhū,
so, she was Sītā was always serving devotees.
So, in this way he cheated her.
And of course, the real Sītā-devī didn’t come out, but the plain Māyā-Sītā came out.
But this mystical circle,
you can use in many definitions but one of the things you can is like that she was protected but shouldn't leave it.
Like that this is a mystic circle --
you follow the orders of the guru and māyā cannot get you
but when we deviate, when we neglect instructions of the spiritual master,
when we offend a Vaiṣṇava, we do make offenses to the Holy name.
We have to do things which (doesn’t) take us out of that protective circle.
Otherwise, we're protected.
Māyā is waiting there, she's waiting at the doorstep.
But devotees, how they can be Kṛṣṇa conscious, it's not an ordinary thing.
To be Kṛṣṇa conscious you have to have the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.
So only the devotee, it says the devotee can never fall down.
We've heard that so many times.
What does that mean?
Because Kṛṣṇa protects the devotee.
Then how do devotees fall down?
Because they stop acting like devotees for some time.
So, because of you know, virtually not acting as a devotee, then they fall down.
That's why says you have to cling to the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitāi.
We have to stay within that protective shelter.
Facing difficulty, what is the use?
One time one devotee was like in anxiety and Prabhupāda said “Why are you in anxiety?
Your guru is present on this planet, you can ask him questions, you can get your doubts taken”.
Having guru means that all your problems will be solved, if you have a bona fide guru.
(audio not clear) we can submit to our spiritual, what do you advise?
What is your instruction?
We carry that out.
So, we're protected.
But when we don't consult with the spiritual master, we don't consult with the Vaiṣṇavas, we don't follow the scripture, we go out of that protective circle, in whatever form she wants to take.
Māyā is there waiting.
That's why we say Kṛṣṇa is like the sun.
Where there's Kṛṣṇa, there's no māyā.
So, we have to always look to Kṛṣṇa.
You look away from Kṛṣṇa, you look away from the sun, what do you find behind you?
Your shadow.
Māyā is like the shadow, she's right behind you, you don't have to look for her.
You look away from Kṛṣṇa, she'll be there.
So, then what's the purport?
When should we look away from Kṛṣṇa?
So, we have to keep our focus to Kṛṣṇa, mukha...
kṛṣṇa bhuli’ sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha
ataeva māyā tāre deya saṁsāra-duḥkha
(Cc. Madhya 20.117)
That, you know that verse?
Kṛṣṇa, when we turn our face. Bahirmukha, bahirmukha literally means turn your face away or turn it to the outside.
And what it actually is this can be translated to by turning your face to sense gratification.
Devotional service is the attitude --
I do everything to the pleasure of Kṛṣṇa, reject what's unfavorable to Kṛṣṇa.
So, when we turn our face away from the service attitude, and instead we look to enjoy bhoga whimsically desire to have bhoga to have sense gratification.
Then what happens?
We get samsāra ādi duḥkha.
Then we suffer material suffering.
All the suffering, I'm suffering so much.
All this suffering is because we desire sense gratification.
If we just keep our face to Kṛṣṇa, if we just desire to serve Kṛṣṇa, there's no suffering.
Suffering begins when we desire.
The moment we desire to enjoy something, there's suffering.
Lamentation, hankering and enxiety, fear.
There's another verse like that.
[Not Clear - 01:08:09]
kṛṣṇa bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare
pāśate māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare
pāśate māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare
You turn your face away from Kṛṣṇa, very similar verse.
Very like parallel.
You turn your face away from Kṛṣṇa, desiring sense gratification, māyā nikaṭastha ache,
māyā comes right up to you.
japaṭīya dhare and just like your football tackles.
She's got you.
Māyā, you can also think in Australian Football system you know.
Lot of tackling is there, right?
You can just imagine they got a whole team all around just waiting one wrong move and they can jump forward.
As long as you're moving forward, eyes on Kṛṣṇa, they can't do a thing.
As soon as you look around for sense gratification, suddenly you're in the middle of the scrum.
For those who know rugby.
Māyā, she’s there but you say how we can be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
That's why it's said, be like a little child, simply depending on your parents, simply depending on Guru and Kṛṣṇa, simply you know I'm so weak, I don't have any ability to be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
I'm not a big paṇḍita, I'm not a big devotee, I'm just a very insignificant fallen soul.
I can only be Kṛṣṇa conscious by really following the mercy of Lord Caitanya, of His pure representative in disciplic succession.
And this way, I have to be very because that is the secret of success.
That's how you can become successful.
If you think I'm a big paṇḍita, I can do this, a little that.
I'm a great devotee, it doesn't matter.
I'm an old devotee.
It's alright, if I go little māyā I won't be affected, haha!
[Devotees: laughing]
Don't kid yourself.
Māyā is more strong than you are.
Inspite remaining always in the humble position.
Why great ācāryas have praying?
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu doyā koro more
tomā binā ke doyālu jagat-saḿsāre
patita-pāvana-hetu tava avatāra
mo sama patita prabhu nā pāibe āra
You won't find anyone more sinful than me.
pāpī -- Nobody more sinful than I am.
Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura, the purest devotee, he's saying I'm more sinful than all the conditioned souls.
Bhakta this one, or Bhaktin that one or whoever it may be.
But they're saying I'm the most sinful, more sinful than anybody.
This is this position he's taking, therefore you're the most merciful, you're the deliverer of all the fallen souls.
I'm the most fallen soul therefore I should get delivered first.
If we think that my humble attitude, that dependence on the mercy of guru and Gaurāṅga, then māyā may be ready to get you.
She's not getting the chance.
Tough luck.
You want to give her a chance she'll take it.
Don't give her a chance.
This is how devotees feel.
Be humble.
Know that I need their mercy all the time.
Why great ācāryas are praying like that?
They're not praying "I'm an old devotee, I'm an ācārya, I don't have to strictly follow, I don't have to. I can go over a bit".
You don't hear Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura say, you only hear some 7-year-old or 10- or 12-year devotee in ISKCON say, I'm an old devotee.
Where we are coming from, in this age of Kali.
Hardly anybody was a Vaiṣṇava.
Everybody was coming from Māyāvada or smārta or at the best.
Prabhupāda grabbed up the people.
You know, some people they're claiming to be born in Vaiṣṇava family.
We know that Prabhupāda grabbed them up from Māyāvada.
That doesn't matter.
Once you become in pure devotional service that's what counts.
It says that this, what a person was before he's in pure devotional service that's not proper logic.
It says that once my mother was naked -- logic.
She was once a little girl she was naked but she's not naked anymore.
Now she's a mother, she's a respectable lady.
So, what a person was before and what they are now, that doesn't have any immediate bearing.
Prabhupāda said that if you're born of devotee parents then that's a good sign.
The point is that right now we have to deal with the present, we should be fixed in our devotional service, we should keep that humble attitude.
Lord Caitanya, he gave a promise to Advaita, two things.
Then Advaita said, "One thing is anybody who thinks they're ready, spiritually advanced, who thinks he's a advanced devotee, don't give him your mercy.
Anyone who is very proud of their position of some birth, or some any kind of material position, you don't give them your mercy.
Those who are hopeless, who are spiritually, they are the most needy, they need your mercy more than anyone.
Those who are normally the hard cases, the tough nuts, the ones that will never have a hope, let them get your mercy, priority basis.
Karuṇāvatāra, for all those who would never get a chance in other yugas.
Questioner: Jagatbandu Pal
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: So we should do our study as a service to Kṛṣṇa.
By this education we will be able to reach out more effectively to many people.
Like Jīva Gosvāmī, he went to university first.
So that he could serve his gurudeva more effectively.
So if you see your education as part of service to Kṛṣṇa and guru,
then it should not be a hindrance,
for your spiritual advancement.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Youth]
Questioner: Anonymous
Date: 2022-07-30
Jayapatākā Swami: The senses are controlled by the material energy.
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate
(
Bg
3.27)
Then one is actually being dragged by impulses of material nature only.
That means māyā.
So, when one is free from impulses of the material nature, that is mukta.
So how to get free?
There are two basic paths.
The one path is not recommended for Kali-yuga, but that was there in the past.
People would simply go in secluded place and meditate.
In this way, they would control their senses by prāṇāyama and by dhyāna.
The other system is to control the senses by active engagement, in activities which are not material.
Just as in Gītā it says, “One is offering yajña; the yajña itself is transcendental.
The yajña-patiḥ is transcendental, the offering is being offered is transcendental.
Everything becomes on the param-satya platform.”
So, when one is offering one’s senses, one’s body, one’s mind, one’s words as an offering to the lord, just like I am speaking, you are hearing; you are offering your senses and your mind.
I am offering– I am not speaking only for your benefit, I am speaking for my benefit.
By my speaking, my senses are being engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service.
Only by being engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service, can I remain in the transcendental platform.
And by my speaking only about Kṛṣṇa, only according to the authorized guru-paramparā siddhānta,
or conclusion of the scripture, whoever is listening, their consciousness is also uplifted to what extent they can understand or they are fully listening with concentration.
So, in this way, when our senses are fully engaged in activities, which have nothing to do with material activities, that is mukta.
Anything to do with Kṛṣṇa, with Viṣṇu is transcendental.
Therefore, by engaging our senses in Viṣṇu-related activities, “jīvan-mukta sa ucyate - then our life becomes liberated, because those actions produce no reaction.”
Whatever action we do in material life, that produces a karma reaction, which is binding us.
If I give in charity to an ordinary person, I get in a next life, same amount back.
If I give to a brāhmaṇa, who is half-educated, I get double.
If I give to a qualified brāhmaṇa, who knows how to do, ah, who is just an ordinary brāhmaṇa with no special qualification, I get ten times back;
then if he is qualified in performing sacrifices, then I get 100 times back.
If he is a Veda-jñā, that means he knows the Vedānta-jñā, he knows the conclusion of the Vedānta, then I get, you see, crores of times back.
And if he is a pure devotee, who is a completely transcendentally situated, I get unlimited.
So, as I am giving charity, that means I have to take even another birth to reap the result of the charity.
That’s why in Gītā, Kṛṣṇa says, “Whatever you give in charity, whatever you do in tapasya, whatever you do as an offering, everything you should do only on My behalf.”
Because whatever we do on Kṛṣṇa’s behalf, He accepts the karmas.
But what we do on our behalf, good or bad, we have to accept the karma.
Even the good karma means we have to take birth.
Birth means again death.
Whoever is born must die.
Whoever dies, must again be born.
This is the law of material world.
We are born to die, we die to be born.
And birth means old age, disease, and other types of problems.
So māyā means when we are acting in illusion that, “I am this body, I am this mind, I am a product of the material energy.”
And mukta means, “I am a nitya-jīva, I am a bhagavān-aṁśa, and I’m the part of the Lord, I have nothing to with this material energy and we act in that knowledge.”
Then we’re liberated, we are mukta.
So māyā means illusion - To act as we are not.
We are not this body.
We have to leave this body in no time, but we are working day and night, as if we are the body.
That’s māyā.
And when we act, “I am the possessor of the body, this body is a vehicle;
I’m the nitya-jīva, I am the spirit soul, pure spirit soul, then, that’s liberated.
Questioner: Ānandinī Sītā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-29
Although we have to associate with non-devotees we should not intimately associate with them.
And if we try to give them the holy name, try to give them Bhagavad-gītā, that will be very effective.
We don’t take their association; we give them our association.
Vidura did not go to Dhṛtarāṣṭra to get his satsaṅga.
He went to give his satsaṅga
We should when we meet non-devotees we should think how to bring the person closer to Kṛṣṇa.
Not to engage in prajalpa with them.
Thank you Ānandini Sītā for your question.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Bad association], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Material World], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]
Questioner: Vedavit Kṛṣṇa dāsa [Laguna Beach, California, USA]:
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: You see someone may take shelter
of one of Kṛṣṇa’s expansions
and may think, “Oh, this is very nice!”
But the thing is that
we want to take shelter at the same time,
develop our relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
So he may give us some options
to take shelter of Lord Śiva or others
but as a result
we may take birth again and again.
Because these devas they cannot give mukti.
So Kṛṣṇa, He gives the ideal
protection
and also, He brings one back home back to Godhead.
If you read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
then you will have many different pastimes
and can see how the Lord protects His devotees.
He is known as Bhakta-vatsala,
how He protected Prahlāda Mahārāja,
how He protected different devotees.
So by reading the pastimes
one should naturally develop faith.
Questioner: Rāsaraṅginī Rādhikā devī dāsī
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, you can use Rādhārāṇī’s method
and how do you know that you love Kṛṣṇa enough
So Rādhārāṇī no matter how much She loves Kṛṣṇa,
She thinks I don’t love Kṛṣṇa enough.
So why should you think that I love Kṛṣṇa enough?
We should never feel that what we are doing, what we love is enough.
By trying to serve Kṛṣṇa better, trying to love Kṛṣṇa more,
that way you can always increase your bhakti.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]
Questioner:
Date: 2023-02-25
Jayapatākā Swami: When the sun appears darkness goes.
There is a saying in śāstra,
kṛṣṇa—sūrya-sama, māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra
(Cc. Madhya 22.31)
That is why we always recommend chanting.
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare
Where did the bad thoughts go?
Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy!
No negative thoughts!
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Link: 20221014 Evening Address
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: (Spoken in Hindi – Translated here – Kali-yuga me nāma ke dvāra.
Kalau tad-dhari kīrtanāt.
Nāma ke dvāra bhagavān ko bahut jaldī prāpta ho sakte hain.
Hare Krsna.
Mūrti pūjā dvāpara-yuga me. (The Lord is easily attainable in the Kali-yuga by chanting of the Holy Names)
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Just like we say we are not the body.
We also say we are not the mind.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said that we should beat the mind in the morning with shoes 108 times.
In the evening beat with a broomstick 108 times.
Who is the boss here, mind or you?
You are the eternal spirit soul and you are the real person.
Not the mind.
We have to tell the mind, who is the boss!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Medhāvinī Sakhi devī dāsī
Date: 2022-12-22
Jayapatākā Swami: So, every day if we read some śāstra,
that will help us to always remember Kṛṣṇa!
In the morning I listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures,
in the evening I hear or read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
During the day I give classes.
But we are told that we should always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-10
Jayapatākā Swami: How to be always humble?
If we think that we are the doer then we tend to be puffed up.
If we think that by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa
I am able to understand something,
that means we are humble.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-13
Jayapatākā Swami: When we do anything right, we don’t want to take the credit.
So, we take it as Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
We are small jīva-śakti.
When we desire something, that is done through Kṛṣṇa and His energy.
So we want to do devotional service by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]
Questioner: Sadānandinī Yogīnī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-13
Jayapatākā Swami: We should make our goal in life to serve Kṛṣṇa.
Sometimes the senses will give us pleasure, sometimes they will give suffering.
So, we should not be very dependent on the senses,
they are not reliable.
That way, by keeping our mind on Kṛṣṇa, we can advance.
Now, as long as we live in this material world,
we will have senses.
Sometimes the senses will experience pleasure, sometimes suffering.
So, we should not be very much illusioned by this.
This is not the real happiness we are searching for.
Certain amount of pleasure is needed,
to keep us balanced in this material world.
But our goal should be to have the spiritual pleasure, like Lord Caitanya is having.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-29
Jayapatākā Swami: This ‘how to’ questions are very difficult.
So, what is the ‘how to’ question? Depend on Kṛṣṇa!
That is why Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a gradual process.
When one practices how you gradually depend on Kṛṣṇa, you then depend on Kṛṣṇa.
And how to avoid aparādha?
Don’t do any!
Anyway, you see all the good qualities in others.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Be a friend of Kṛṣṇa!
Many are friends in Vṛndāvana, Arjuna was also a friend.
Uddhava was a friend.
So, one can be a friend by following the footsteps of the friend.
Are you ready?
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Antīmā devī dāsī.
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: You see we should have the vision of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura,
seeing the difference from material relationship,
and the spiritual reality.
If we have this knowledge,
naturally we can transcend the suffering and troubles of the material world.
But since we are conditioned, and we lament over things which should not be lamented for,
therefore, say one family member dies,
different varṇas have different times or periods, when we are not supposed to go to the temple.
I think brāhmaṇas have 11 days and śūdras 30 days.
So, the more one has spiritual knowledge,
they may be able to recover.
Now I heard that the head priest of the Guruvāyur temple,
if someone dies in his family,
they wouldn’t tell him.
Because if they told him,
he would have to stop worship for so many days.
So, while he is in the six months as head priest.
He would not hear about any misfortune in his family.
Fixing your mind on guru and Kṛṣṇa, is a matter of spiritual wisdom.
Category: [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Sivaprasad (Sheltered)
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: Sambandha, abhideya and prayojana are the three things to be remembered.
If we are engaged in abhideya in devotional service, then naturally our relationship with guru and Kṛṣṇa is strong.
If we are not engaged in devotional service, then there is somewhat distance.
So the solution for that is to engage in devotional service.
Questioner: Darsh
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: Māyā is stronger than we are
but Kṛṣṇa is stronger than māyā.
If we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa we can cross over māyā.
That is why we try to engage ourselves in Kṛṣṇa’s service.
So there is a competition.
Māyā tests us,
but if we are successful in following Kṛṣṇa,
then māyā will offer her praṇāmas to us.
But if we succumb to her tests,
then we will remain in the material world.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Very critical,
but you have to think how I can make them devotees.
I met a devotee she was an actress.
She knew the Bhagavad-gītā cover to cover!
But she went to her husband and said, “You are very great, you are very intelligent, please help me!
I cannot understand this verse. Can you help me?”
He read it and that is how he got purified!
It says one daughter-in-law or one devotee in the family can liberate the whole family.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Cooperation]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-16
Jayapatākā Swami: Saṁbandha is understanding of our relationship that we are the servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Abhideya is engaging in that relationship.
And prayojana is achieving the perfection of life,
pure love of Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
How to understand that we are facing our own karma or it is Kṛṣṇa’s arrangement in our life. Is it true that when we start doing bhakti our karma diminishes and we act according to Kṛṣṇa’s will and arrangement. But for that we have to be a pure devotee even a sādhaka’s karma diminishes completely when they start bhakti. Then again why we face difficulties?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: You see if you are 25% surrendered
then Kṛṣṇa protects you 25%,
if you are 50% then 50%.
If you are 100% then He will fully protect you.
Like Prahlāda Mahārāja
he was fully protected by the Lord.
But maybe we want some material sense gratification,
and we also want to do some service.
So finally, Kṛṣṇa will protect us some and māyā will control the other.
We should think that we are suffering much less than we should be
by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: She asked how can I see Kṛṣṇa?
And what can I do to advance in my Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
We should try that Kṛṣṇa can see us.
And in that way, Kṛṣṇa will be very happy to reveal Himself to you. You serve in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will want to see you and this way you will advance in your devotional service.
How you can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is try to do the things which are pleasing to guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-27
Jayapatākā Swami: Ladies, they have to do a lot of housework.
They ask me similar questions.
But you see to be working plus have to do the housework.
So, the thing is that now we have the Bhagavad-gītā and different books that only association was face to face, now we can contact each other virtually.
You can have an iPod
and listen to the audio, Gītā and other audio śāstras.
So in this way while doing your work like washing and cooking,
you can hear the śāstra.
But also you can download the classes from the internet,
there is my Jayapatākā Swami App.
That gives access to the different JPS Archives and different programs
so you can hear the classes.
Many other things are there like SoundCloud.
You can also attend my daily classes which I give at 7pm.
And so there are different ways where you can hear classes, you can associate,
on Facebook,
YouTube.
You can download and you could also associate with different devotees,
virtually.
So there must be also classes of the IYF which you can attend.
So this way you can get some devotee association.
Actually, as I said,
I don’t have much personal contact with the devotees.
But all day long, I am meeting devotees.
And I don’t even feel that I am not meeting them.
I feel contact with them,
as I feel contact with you!
It used to be that only association was face to face, now we can contact each other
virtually.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was watching some video of his departure,
and all the devotees, most of the devotees were feeling you know, very separated.
One devotee came in front of the camera and started chanting, clapping, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, he is not very advanced.
It is natural that you feel separation from the guru, naturally devotees felt separation when Śrīla Prabhupāda left.
Śrīla Prabhupāda appreciated
that that kind of intense feeling is a sign of spiritual advancement
and there are emotions that devotees feel.
And some circumstances are suitable for chanting, dancing in happiness.
But when the spiritual master is departing,
most of the devotees are feeling heavy hearted.
If some devotes smiling, laughing, Haribol!
Śrīla Prabhupāda he did not appreciate that.
So they were not really conscious what was happening.
Not conscious of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
In the same way, to see Kṛṣṇa, multiply that, and there is nothing you can explain,
that words will not do justice.
If we hear what Lord Caitanya was experiencing, to whatever extent that touches our heart,
that by this feeling, by this meditation on Lord Caitanya’s ecstasy at that time,
we get the shelter of Kṛṣṇa.
So, someone was saying that the greatest separation in the world is to be separated from a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-14
Jayapatākā Swami: Since this verse is about Dhruva Mahārāja
and he was the great grandson of Lord Brahmā.
The grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu.
So Manu was obviously a gṛhastha.
He was grandfather of Dhruva,
he also was the father of the mother of Kapila Muni.
And so it is said that he went back to Godhead.
But he was a gṛhastha
he had children, he had responsibilities,
but he did everything Kṛṣṇa consciously.
When he did his things, he did everything thinking of Kṛṣṇa.
So like that our gṛhasthas sometimes have deities in their house.
They may have Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā, Nitāi-Gaura,
so by doing their daily activities in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way they can balance.
We should always remember that our prime duty is to serve Kṛṣṇa.
But we may have other duties.
Those we do in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way
and that way we always stay under Kṛṣṇa’s shelter.
In the 10th topic of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it says āśraya.
We want to be under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa.
So we pray to the Deities as gṛhasthas, that we want to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious healthy, long lived suputra or putrī.
Only gṛhasthas can have children.
Brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, sannyāsīs no children.
It says if your child becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious and goes back to Godhead, putra or putrī,
then if they go back to Godhead, 14 generations will go, also, minimum,
7 backward and 7 forward.
Kṛṣṇa is very grateful.
I have one family they said we don’t know if we will go or not but please train our son in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so he goes back.
If you think, oh I have a responsibility for my parents who are sick, old,
you think I will help them to remember Kṛṣṇa
or remember Rāma, that is the interest.
In this way our service, our responsibility, is Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Bhakti-yoga is very practical.
We want - everything will be naturally balanced because we do everything in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-02
Question: I am doing good sādhanā and have good service in ISKCON.
But I do not have that much real joy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
what can I do to feel the bliss in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana
Questioner: IYF Māyāpur
Date: 2022-08-03
We read something, we want to apply it,it stays with us.
You say at the time you forget.
What should I do?
I used to go out, I would preach and sometimes I would forget.
And I would tell people, ok I will see you tomorrow.
Then I would think there was an answer but what is the answer.
So I would talk to some senior devotee
and I would be ready to face them.
Next time I had the answer.
Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-27
Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we only tell the palatable truth.
We don’t tell things that we know which would disturb the people.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]
Questioner: Śrīdhara
Date: 2022-10-13
Jayapatākā Swami: Just that when we do office work,
we dedicate the work to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Certain percentage of the income, we may give to Kṛṣṇa.
So even though we may not always be able to think about Kṛṣṇa while we are working,
since the activity is offered to Kṛṣṇa, that will suffice.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-04-27
Jayapatākā Swami: Many people ask this question.
This is one thing that every disciple, every devotee has to choose.
After some time, I will stop initiating.
But at the present time I am still taking.
But who you will choose, is truly up to you.
Who you think Kṛṣṇa is speaking thru to you.
And many gurus, they can be your śikṣā-gurus.
You have to choose one as your dīkṣā-guru.
So, dīkṣā-guru has the responsibility to take care of your karma.
And you can pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda, you can pray to the Deities,
to reveal to you who your guru is.
I have heard pastime of Śārabha, a form of Śiva fighting with Lord Narasiṁhadeva and other versions mentioned in various tāmasika and rājasika Purāṇas, I feel very painful, it disturbed me a lot. I felt I should not have read or heard. What should be the proper understanding of this pastime? Why such different versions? How a devotee of Lord Narasiṁhadeva understand these versions?
Questioner: Murāri Mādhava dāsa
Date: 2023-07-08
Jayapatākā Swami: Different Narasiṁhadevas have come in different kalpas.
But we should hear commentaries of Vaiṣṇavas.
We don’t know if non-vaiṣṇavas will give proper explanation.
So actually there should be no conflict if it is properly explained.
I don’t particularly know the Purāṇa, pastime, you are referring to.
We know in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, there is a demon of Bāṇāsura who had the blessings of Lord Śiva.
And the ultimate weapon of Lord Śiva met the ultimate weapon of Lord Nārāyaṇa.
And Śiva’s weapon was defeated.
And Sudarśana cakra cut off the thousands of Bāṇāsura and left four arms.
Questioner: Soundarya Rādhikā devī dāsī, New Rājāpur Dhāma, Bengaluru
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You seem to have realized that when you don’t follow
the advice of the senior devotees,
you get attacked by māyā.
So that should convince you
that to avoid being attacked by māyā,
follow the more advanced devotees’ advice.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-27
Jayapatākā Swami: If you read, it should stay in your mind.
So, I don’t know why it doesn’t stay in your mind.
You can read a little bit
and say that
if something that doesn’t stay in your mind, you can tell them that you will read and tell them later.
So then you can read again,
refresh your mind
and use it.
If you don’t use it, you lose it.
If you use it, then naturally you can keep it.
Do you take cow’s milk?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-24
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Śrīla Prabhupāda, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is our Founder-Ācārya
and he had a special mellow with Nitāi Gaura.
So, if your spiritual master find preaching brings you closer to Śrīla Prabhupāda,
then you if feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda is speaking through this spiritual master,
or if you are somehow are able to feel closer to Kṛṣṇa through this spiritual master,
or if you are feeling a faith by following a particular spiritual master,
I have a list that is of 15 names, you can see whether any person can be your spiritual master.
If you want, I can bring that tomorrow.
You want?
Questioner: Milan, ISKCON Youth Forum, Baroda
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: You see Lord Caitanya, He taught that you can achieve perfection whether you are a vairāgī or a householder.
So, if you are a householder you should try to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center.
I saw one drama from the Chennai youths.
One girl and one boy were playing Yamadūtas and one lady, girl was playing Yamarāja.
She painted her mustache as Yamarāja.
The Yamadūtas they were complaining. Yamarāja! What do we do? These Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees have deities in the houses, they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, they read Bhagavad-gītā, what do we do?
We cannot take them to hell!
Maybe need a way to find another chākrī, another job!
So it was very interesting to see the Yamadūtas complaining.
Actually, one family in Kolkata, the mother, children, were all initiated.
Everyone but the father.
He was dead against.
But then he was diagnosed with cancer.
He was in bed ,
and he saw two hairy people with leather ropes, walk through the wall.
He said, “No, no, no, no! No, no!”
Somehow they left.
He called his wife, “I want the neck bead.
I want the Bhagavad-gītā, I want the japa-mālā.”
What we were trying so long, the Yamadūtas in few minutes they changed him.
So he became very Kṛṣṇa conscious after that.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Karma / Desires], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Seva Pālaka Nitāi dasa
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: In New York someone asked such a question and
Śrīla Prabhupāda once said that
if one is thinking
should I be a brahmacārī or should I take gṛhastha-āśrama,
then in that case, he should take gṛhastha-āśrama.
But being a brahmacārī, he takes a firm commitment
and if one is feeling what should I do, this or that,
then they don’t have enough determination
to be a brahmacārī.
Category: [Varṇāśrama], [Varṇāśrama / Changing Āśrama], [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Sorrow]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: My purvāśrama mother wanted to cook for me
but I would not allow that.
She would guide someone with her recipe,
and they would cook.
I don’t know how you do it? I could do that with my purvāśrama mother.
So, if they are children, you can tell them you cook for me all the time, I would like to cook for you.
Oh, very nice!
But if they are not vegetarian then you could just be honest and say you eat only prasāda, you follow the rules.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-03-15
Jayapatākā Swami: If you want to go back to Kṛṣṇa,
if you want to please Kṛṣṇa,
if you want to have the spiritual bliss,
then material suffering should just be an incentive that this material world is not a good place.
Just like now we have the pandemic. The material world is a very dangerous place.
The Bhāgavatam says, padam padam yat vipadām.
One should use it well and understand that this material world is not a place for us to stay.
Bhagavad-gītā says that four kinds of people think about Kṛṣṇa –
those who are in need,
those who are miserable,
those who are inquisitive
and those who are in knowledge.
So these four types of people think of Kṛṣṇa.
If you are facing difficulty, then you should think of Kṛṣṇa.
There are four kinds of people who do not think about Kṛṣṇa –
narādhama,
asura,
this type.
Pious people think of Kṛṣṇa when they are in distress.
Now I will visit your houses as much as possible.
We want to thank everyone for your offerings and receiving me.
Please send your realizations to Madhavakānta or to Vrajeśvara Gaura Dāsa.
Hope you are all preaching using internet.
The scope is unlimited,
people are more receptive.
Because the hospital and doctors can only do so much.
So we are all on the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
In Śaraṇāgati-bhajana, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura spoke about the six aspects of surrendering and also mentioned that Kṛṣṇa hears the prayers of those who practice them. But sometimes I feel that I am not able to practice them properly, especially kārpaṇya or humility. In this situation what should I do so that Kṛṣṇa may hear my prayers?
Questioner: Sudevī Jayaśrī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: We like to think that if we are doing good it is by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.
We don’t take any credit for ourselves.
In that way, we stay humble.
If we think we are the doer, then that is also arrogance.
And so we are depending on guru and Kṛṣṇa all the time.
Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-10-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Since He is the Absolute Truth,
so everything is in Him.
But He is bigger than anything else.
So it is not that anyone can contain Kṛṣṇa totally.
He is bigger than everything.
He is the cause of all causes.
And He is without any cause Himself.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]
Questioner: Mathuralīleśvarī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa, He always remains neutral.
But He reciprocates with devotees as they approach Him.
When someone approaches Him with devotion, He reciprocates with devotion.
If someone approaches Him neglectfully then He reciprocates like that.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Happiness], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Mathuralīleśvarī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa, He always remains neutral.
But He reciprocates with devotees as they approach Him.
When someone approaches Him with devotion, He reciprocates with devotion.
If someone approaches Him neglectfully then He reciprocates like that.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Happiness], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Supriyā Jāhnavā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: It shows that Lord Caitanya is more merciful than Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Although He is Kṛṣṇa, but He has Rādhārāṇī’s heart,
so He is more merciful.
One who is not initiated,
He also said, He does not accept their offence.
So, if you are initiated,
it is a two-edged sword.
If you follow strictly, you get the Lord’s mercy,
if you don’t follow,
then He may take offence.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Mercy], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Supriyā Jāhnavā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: It shows that Lord Caitanya is more merciful than Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Although He is Kṛṣṇa, but He has Rādhārāṇī’s heart,
so He is more merciful.
One who is not initiated,
He also said, He does not accept their offence.
So, if you are initiated,
it is a two-edged sword.
If you follow strictly, you get the Lord’s mercy,
if you don’t follow,
then He may take offence.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Mercy], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-04-27
Jayapatākā Swami: You see being in the spiritual world they feel very attached to Kṛṣṇa
and Kṛṣṇa is unlimited!
When He would take lunch with His friends, every friend was thinking, Kṛṣṇa is looking at me.
When He was dancing with the gopīs,
He expanded Himself into as many gopīs, that each gopī has one Kṛṣṇa.
And Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 queens.
He multiplied Himself into 16,108 Kṛṣṇas and one Kṛṣṇa went into each queen’s palace.
Why should you feel jealous?
Kṛṣṇa is unlimited.
He means to satisfy each devotee.
In the past classes you had said that one should not make sense gratification as the ultimate goal of life. While following this particular principle, sometimes when we face fluctuation and are swayed away by māyā, and because of our unlimited desires, we get engaged in any kind of sense gratification. How should we avoid and control ourselves not being swayed away by māyā and get determined in the service of guru and Kṛṣṇa? Please enlighten me
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: While we have senses in the material world,
so naturally the senses need a certain amount of satisfaction.
That depends on each individual.
But that should not be the ultimate goal.
In the material world
we see that people, they make as their goal that their senses should be happy.
But the senses are a source of happiness and a source of suffering.
So, although there may be some happiness
and some suffering,
we should tolerate that,
but we should make our ultimate goal to serve Kṛṣṇa.
So, certain very simple things we should avoid.
Like eating meat, fish, onion, garlic,
like gambling,
like taking intoxication
and having out of marriage illicit sex.
If you are a married person
it is natural there will be some material pleasure.
But there will also be some suffering.
Just like to conceive a child there is some happiness
but to have a child is also pain –
labor pain.
So, that should not be our ultimate goal.
You may have certain desires,
but the ultimate desire should be to serve and love Lord Kṛṣṇa.
In the sādhaka state at least philosophically we understand that the gift Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is giving is very precious viz. mādhurya-bhakti. But when we hear about the affairs between Lord Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs, we cannot relish that, rather we tend to be disturbed by lusty thoughts. In such condition if we still desire to obtain mādhurya-bhakti, is our desire valid? And how can we come to the platform where we can relish those pastimes?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-11-28
Jayapatākā Swami: So, if we get agitated by hearing the esoteric pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa or Lord Caitanya,
then one should not read,
you are not ready yet.
But eventually you will be ready
and then you can appreciate Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
Initially you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and taste the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra
and that way you can taste Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
In this pastime we see Indra committed an offence against Lord Kṛṣṇa. And then he realized that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But later in Kṛṣṇa līlā, he gain starts fighting with Lord Kṛṣṇa when he was provoked by his wife. I want to know why this type of situation happened and how do we overcome this? And in case of Dakṣa Prajāpatī we see he offended Lord Śiva, then he offended Nārada Muni. How do we not do such things and avoid such things?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-03-02
Jayapatākā Swami: We understand from this that if we get married, it is very important to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious wife!
If the wife is not Kṛṣṇa conscious then she may have you fight with Kṛṣṇa!
This reminds me Śrīla Prabhupāda, in a lecture he was giving in London,
observing his Vyāsa-pūjā.
He said he wanted all his gṛhastha followers to be paramahaṁsas.
And he said how Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was a gṛhastha had many children.
One was Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda.
And Śrīla Prabhupāda said we need many personalities like this.
So the gṛhasthas should have such pure devotee children.
Although Lord Indra in the caitanya-līlā pastime, he joined in the kīrtana.
By then he seemed to have learned his lesson!
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]
Questioner: Śānta Gopī Mātājī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya comes after Kṛṣṇa, sometimes.
And Kṛṣṇa comes once in a day of Brahmā,
in the 27th Dvāpara-yuga,
and sometimes Lord Caitanya comes after Him in the next Kali-yuga.
So the four yugas are 4 million 320 thousand years
and Satya-yuga, Tretā-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga, Kali-yuga are 4, 3, 2, 1 [in that ratio].
So Kali-yuga is one tenth of the other yugas.
So that that is why Kali-yuga is 432,000 years
and we have already been through 5,000 years
and now we have 427,000 years left.
What is the yuga-dharma of the next yuga,
that will be revealed in the various śāstras.
But even if it is Harināma,
some other avatāra of the Lord will initiate this.
In Satya-yuga there was meditation, Tretā-yuga there was yajña and in Dvāpara-yuga there is temple worship.
So that is still 4 million years to the next Kali-yuga.
So you can tell me what is the next yuga-dharma.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Material World / Kali yuga], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Śānta Gopī Mātājī
Date: 2022-10-17
Although the Supersoul is in our heart,
we may not be knowing that;
and we are just doing things as if we are the doer.
We don’t understand that the Lord is actually doing things for us.
So having the Lord fixed in our hearts means that we will be constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa.
We should be doing everything as a service to Kṛṣṇa.
So it is a whole change of our subtle body,
in the sense that now we feel connection with Kṛṣṇa always.
That means He is fixed in our heart.
Kṛṣṇa is neither friend nor enemy, but we know in many places Kṛṣṇa says I am friend to all and in kṛṣṇa-līlā He acts as a friend to many. Recently, also the plastic surgeon, you told Kṛṣṇa is not a friend nor is He an enemy. And next sentence you said Kṛṣṇa is everybody’s friend. How should we understand this?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You see in that verse, bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati. (Bg. 5.29)
That suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ – Kṛṣṇa is the friend of all living entities.
So Pūtanā, she wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa
but Kṛṣṇa reciprocated her and killed her.
But because she gave Kṛṣṇa her breast because she thought that if I have a child, I want like this.
Too bad I have to kill Him.
So Kṛṣṇa reciprocated with her and she wanted to kill Him He killed her.
Because she desired that if I had a child, I want one like this. She gave her breast milk to Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa gave her the position as one of His mothers in the spiritual world.
So, He does not hold any grudges.
At the same time, He reciprocates with how a person approaches Him.
And today we were reading how Kṛṣṇa saved Gajendra the elephant and killed the crocodile.
But the crocodile, he actually got free from a curse.
He was previously Huhu,
the king of the Gandharvas
and he was enjoying in a lake with many female Gandharvas.
Somehow in his dark humor or whatever, he pulled the leg of a devaṛṣi who happened to be in the same lake
and the ṛṣi got angry and cursed him to be a crocodile.
Then he begged please forgive me.
The ṛṣi said okay, when Kṛṣṇa saves Gajendra, He will also free you from the curse.
That way, Kṛṣṇa, anything He does, is actually is a blessing.
Haribol!
Kṛṣṇa is neither friend nor enemy, but we know in many places Kṛṣṇa says I am friend to all and in kṛṣṇa-līlā He acts as a friend to many. Recently, also the plastic surgeon, you told Kṛṣṇa is not a friend nor is He an enemy. And next sentence you said Kṛṣṇa is everybody’s friend. How should we understand this?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You see in that verse, bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati. (Bg. 5.29)
That suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ – Kṛṣṇa is the friend of all living entities.
So Pūtanā, she wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa
but Kṛṣṇa reciprocated her and killed her.
But because she gave Kṛṣṇa her breast because she thought that if I have a child, I want like this.
Too bad I have to kill Him.
So Kṛṣṇa reciprocated with her and she wanted to kill Him He killed her.
Because she desired that if I had a child, I want one like this. She gave her breast milk to Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa gave her the position as one of His mothers in the spiritual world.
So, He does not hold any grudges.
At the same time, He reciprocates with how a person approaches Him.
And today we were reading how Kṛṣṇa saved Gajendra the elephant and killed the crocodile.
But the crocodile, he actually got free from a curse.
He was previously Huhu,
the king of the Gandharvas
and he was enjoying in a lake with many female Gandharvas.
Somehow in his dark humor or whatever, he pulled the leg of a devaṛṣi who happened to be in the same lake
and the ṛṣi got angry and cursed him to be a crocodile.
Then he begged please forgive me.
The ṛṣi said okay, when Kṛṣṇa saves Gajendra, He will also free you from the curse.
That way, Kṛṣṇa, anything He does, is actually is a blessing.
Haribol!
Questioner: Phāneśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-11-28
Jayapatākā Swami: Write to me what you think your problem is.
Kuntī Devī, whenever the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī Devī had problems,
Kṛṣṇa came and saved them.
So whenever they had problems Kṛṣṇa came so she said she wanted to have problems all the time
so that Kṛṣṇa will come all the time.
If you are sincere, then Kṛṣṇa will come to us.
When you have problems then you can remember how Kuntī Devī was saved by Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in Vṛndāvana, you get a 1000 times benefit for any service.
But any offence you do, any materialistic or sinful activity, you also get a 1000 times the bad effect.
So Vṛndāvana is very heavy because we are not pure souls, we may commit some mistake,
so Vṛndāvana is very heavy and to live in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, in a holy place, one has to be very pure.
So it is recommended we go for a few days and then we come back.
But here in Māyāpur, Navadvip, we get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana,
you get a 1000 times credit for any devotional service.
In this month of Dāmodara, we get a 100, that means a 100,000.
A 100 times 1000.
So therefore many ācāryas, they decided to stay in Navadvīpa,
because they get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana, without the negative side.
Here also in this holy place, we have Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
In Ritudvīpa, also here in Caitanya Maṭha.
Tomorrow many people go and bathe in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
It is very important for the devotees to bathe in but you have to do it not with an ordinary bath.
Just like ablution.
You go in and out, with all respect.
So some devotees, they think that oh, it is Rādhā-kuṇḍa, jumping off the sides and it is not like a swimming pool.
You have to be very respectful.
It is the holiest of holy places.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it is for the devotees to bathe in but you do so with the utmost respect.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-24
Jayapatākā Swami: You should win, not lose!
Anyway, that is why Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Śrīla Prabhupāda said is a gradual process.
When you are a little baby, you will fall down a few times
but as you grow up you should not fall down.
A three-year-old child will fall
but if you are a 12-year-old child you should not fall.
As you advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness you get stronger.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-01-10
Jayapatākā Swami: We read in one of the verses ahead where it said if we are attacked by Māyā,
if our desire for sense gratification is growing,
then we should just take shelter of Lord Caitanya. Gaurāṅga!
By His mercy the desire for sense gratification will go away.
My question is from yesterday's class. You mentioned that the gopis and creepers of Vrndavana are always in the fire of separation, they always feel that separation from Krsna. Although, they are always associating with Krsna because they are always remembering Him, still they feel that separation. But we are in reality, in actuality, we are the ones who are separated from Krsna, but we never realize that separation. So how do we realize this at every moment that we are separated from Krsna?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-23
Jayapatākā Swami: The they thing is that Lord Caitanya is teaching us how we can love Krsna in separation,
and if we develop the desire, I asked how we want to develop love of Krsna,
everybody raised their hand.
But if you desire very intensely, we want it strongly,
we could achieve that.
But we have to do everything.
And gradually we will awaken that spontaneous love.
In the beginning of the Nectar of Devotion, the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu,
it explains how we start devotional service following certain rules.
And gradually practicing devotional service becomes like a spontaneous, like a ritual thing.
From there one actually starts to develop a taste and becomes very attached
and becomes every ecstatic,
and then they start to manifest ecstatic symptoms
and then that becomes pure and they start to achieve Kṛṣṇa-prema.
So, these are the steps, it is a gradual process.
Eight steps to the bhāva
and prema and then eight steps of prema.
We may not get all the way to the top of prema, but anywhere in prema, even bhāva is very nice.
Category: [Emotions], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda would go to some peoples’ house if they became a life member,
and he would tell them what standards to cook for him like no onion garlic,
but those things we always got sick very often.
But Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was an ideal guest.
One time they told Śrīla Prabhupāda here they have put onions,
but he took the onions out and did not eat the onions,
but did not say anything.
He did not want to offend the people.
So how you do the things, you have to use some discretion.
I know that some businessmen, they have to take their clients out to wine and dine, at least dine.
So here they just eat the salad,
but the guests may eat all kinds of nonsense.
That is the downside of marketing.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Lalitā sakhi is a left-handed gopī,
there are two sides, left and right.
Left side are argumentative, they chastise Kṛṣṇa,
the right side are very submissive.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa.
So naturally, I was asked by one paṇḍita in Purī,
we hear that devotees of Lord Caitanya have devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
So where are you situated? Lord Caitanya or Lord Kṛṣṇa?
Jayapatākā Swami: You see devotees of Lord Caitanya simultaneously are in Śvetadvīpa and Goloka.
So that is a special facility of being a devotee of Lord Caitanya.
Like Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, he was simultaneously Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and also Satyabhāmā in Dvārakā.
Sanātana Gosvāmī is a mañjarī and at the same time he is Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Rādhā Kṛṣṇa and the aṣṭa-sakhis,
Rūpa Gosvāmī is the 9th sakhi.
So, he is simultaneously in caitanya-līlā and kṛṣṇa-līlā.
Gadādhara Prabhu is Rādhārāṇī.
So in caitanya-līlā he is Gadādhara and in kṛṣṇa-līlā he is Rādhārāṇī.
So there is no loss in being devoted to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu,
and we understand that Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa in the mood of being His devotee.
Actually, we cannot be God.
But if we are a devotee of the Lord, Vaiṣṇava or Vaiṣṇavī, that is actually a wonderful position.
So that is being demonstrated by Lord Caitanya and His followers.
Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā Devī Dāsī
Date: 2022-10-24
Maybe shes not hearing? Well I can't say.
She is thinking of her problems, not listening.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Gita Bhagat
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: You say, I do not know still if I have some trouble or need something?
Should I pray to the Lord for the same?
I don’t understand the question.
You first say, I don’t know if I need anything,
should I pray to Kṛṣṇa for that?
If you don’t know, how do you pray?
and Lakṣmī said, anyway even if you knew, since Kṛṣṇa is the Supersoul, He knows everything, about what we want, what we need.
So, we don’t have to bother Him, telling Him we need this and that.
He can naturally fulfill what we need,
but if you don’t know what you need,
how can you ask anyway?
But even if you knew or think you know, Kṛṣṇa knows better than you, what you need.
There is an example where one may say, I want ten thousand rupees.
He gets it and ‘it’s not enough’. Then he says, “I want a lakh of rupees”.
Sure enough.
But he cannot buy a car.
“I want a crore of rupees”.
So, he goes again and again to Kṛṣṇa.
He sees that this person needs 3 crores,
if I give him 3 crores now,
he will get detoured.
So first of all, “I will purify him and build him up.
Then give him the three crores!”
So that is the difference between Kṛṣṇa and other devas.
Devas might give whatever we ask.
But that may not be enough.
Then we go again and again to bother.
But Kṛṣṇa knows what we need,
we don’t have to ask for anything.
We rather try to please Him,
and he will give us what we need,
better not to want anything material.
Some devotees are taking the association of devotees and start to do chanting and enjoying the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But when their relatives or parents say something negative about ISKCON immediately they leave without informing. It is painful for me how I missed the soul to serve. How to understand the situation? How to overcome and guide them? Please guide me.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Part of preaching is to help the people
to tolerate the different obstacles.
They may encounter obstacles from their relatives,
or internet,
somehow, I don’t know,
some ṛtvik sites they say I murdered a devotee!
I don’t know who that is! I don’t even kill a fly, what to talk about killing a devotee!
So, who knows what people say, what they see?
So we have to be ready to answer any questions that come up
or prepare the people to endure any kind of obstacles.
There was one devotee who was kidnapped by the deprogrammers.
Exactly a few days before she was kidnapped
I called her and encouraged her.
Just generally.
When she was kidnapped, they tore the Bhagavad-gītā up, they jumped up on the Bhagavad-gītā and did all kinds of offensive things.
But she remembered that I was kind to her
and she went through some difficult times
and she escaped from that place
and came back to the devotees.
So, we don’t know at least if we do our part,
be positive, give them good association
and if someone turns away,
the fact that we are there to help, that we ask them what happened, you used to come?
Like that try to find out what are the things they heard.
Like that we try to help them.
Not easy to make a devotee.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it takes buckets of blood!
Kṛṣṇe matir astu blessings!
Some devotees are taking the association of devotees and start to do chanting and enjoying the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But when their relatives or parents say something negative about ISKCON immediately they leave without informing. It is painful for me how I missed the soul to serve. How to understand the situation? How to overcome and guide them? Please guide me.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Part of preaching is to help the people
to tolerate the different obstacles.
They may encounter obstacles from their relatives,
or internet,
somehow, I don’t know,
some ṛtvik sites they say I murdered a devotee!
I don’t know who that is! I don’t even kill a fly, what to talk about killing a devotee!
So, who knows what people say, what they see?
So we have to be ready to answer any questions that come up
or prepare the people to endure any kind of obstacles.
There was one devotee who was kidnapped by the deprogrammers.
Exactly a few days before she was kidnapped
I called her and encouraged her.
Just generally.
When she was kidnapped, they tore the Bhagavad-gītā up, they jumped up on the Bhagavad-gītā and did all kinds of offensive things.
But she remembered that I was kind to her
and she went through some difficult times
and she escaped from that place
and came back to the devotees.
So, we don’t know at least if we do our part,
be positive, give them good association
and if someone turns away,
the fact that we are there to help, that we ask them what happened, you used to come?
Like that try to find out what are the things they heard.
Like that we try to help them.
Not easy to make a devotee.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it takes buckets of blood!
Kṛṣṇe matir astu blessings!
Questioner: Shuvra Dev Babu
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord doesn’t personally take a part, except if His devotee is being threatened.
But we all owe everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
and this is the reality.
We cannot live without sunlight;
you don’t provide it.
Kṛṣṇa provides it.
Similarly, He sees to the maintenance of everyone.
Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān - one person maintains everyone else.
So, the atheists are very envious, they think the Lord is preoccupied
in admiration of Himself.
But He is the source of everything.
And if someone commits blasphemy or offences to Him,
He doesn’t personally take a role in that.
He has agents, that give people their pious, their impious results.
And so, if one is envious of the Lord, they get punished.
He doesn’t want that; He would rather have the people be uplifted.
But to teach them, people are punished according to their activities.
So, since they steal from others, cheat others,
then they get the reaction for their bad karmas.
If they give charity, if they help others,
they get good karma.
If they engage in devotional service,
they get delivered from this material world.
If they engage in persecuting devotees,
and if they are envious of the Lord,
then they stay in this material world
life after life.
That is what they want, they don’t want to be where the Lord is.
I don’t know why you accuse the Lord of being a narcissist?
Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Shuvra Dev Babu
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord doesn’t personally take a part, except if His devotee is being threatened.
But we all owe everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
and this is the reality.
We cannot live without sunlight;
you don’t provide it.
Kṛṣṇa provides it.
Similarly, He sees to the maintenance of everyone.
Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān - one person maintains everyone else.
So, the atheists are very envious, they think the Lord is preoccupied
in admiration of Himself.
But He is the source of everything.
And if someone commits blasphemy or offences to Him,
He doesn’t personally take a role in that.
He has agents, that give people their pious, their impious results.
And so, if one is envious of the Lord, they get punished.
He doesn’t want that; He would rather have the people be uplifted.
But to teach them, people are punished according to their activities.
So, since they steal from others, cheat others,
then they get the reaction for their bad karmas.
If they give charity, if they help others,
they get good karma.
If they engage in devotional service,
they get delivered from this material world.
If they engage in persecuting devotees,
and if they are envious of the Lord,
then they stay in this material world
life after life.
That is what they want, they don’t want to be where the Lord is.
I don’t know why you accuse the Lord of being a narcissist?
Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Shuvra Dev Babu
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord doesn’t personally take a part, except if His devotee is being threatened.
But we all owe everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
and this is the reality.
We cannot live without sunlight;
you don’t provide it.
Kṛṣṇa provides it.
Similarly, He sees to the maintenance of everyone.
Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān - one person maintains everyone else.
So, the atheists are very envious, they think the Lord is preoccupied
in admiration of Himself.
But He is the source of everything.
And if someone commits blasphemy or offences to Him,
He doesn’t personally take a role in that.
He has agents, that give people their pious, their impious results.
And so, if one is envious of the Lord, they get punished.
He doesn’t want that; He would rather have the people be uplifted.
But to teach them, people are punished according to their activities.
So, since they steal from others, cheat others,
then they get the reaction for their bad karmas.
If they give charity, if they help others,
they get good karma.
If they engage in devotional service,
they get delivered from this material world.
If they engage in persecuting devotees,
and if they are envious of the Lord,
then they stay in this material world
life after life.
That is what they want, they don’t want to be where the Lord is.
I don’t know why you accuse the Lord of being a narcissist?
Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: If we think I am very qualified to do devotional service,
if we are very proud,
that is not according to the instructions of Lord Caitanya.
You should be humble, very tolerant,
offer respect to others
and don’t expect respect for one’s self.
I don’t understand if you say, I feel I am not qualified,
so therefore I lose my enthusiasm.
We see great devotees like Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura,
they pray to Lord Gaurāṅga that Your avatāra is to deliver the most fallen.
There is no one more fallen than me.
If you are feeling yourself very unqualified,
very fallen,
then there is more chance you will get the mercy of Lord Caitanya,
since He is the deliverer of the most fallen.
But you should not lose your enthusiasm
since Lord Caitanya has come to deliver the most fallen.
Therefore, you have a good qualification.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: If we think I am very qualified to do devotional service,
if we are very proud,
that is not according to the instructions of Lord Caitanya.
You should be humble, very tolerant,
offer respect to others
and don’t expect respect for one’s self.
I don’t understand if you say, I feel I am not qualified,
so therefore I lose my enthusiasm.
We see great devotees like Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura,
they pray to Lord Gaurāṅga that Your avatāra is to deliver the most fallen.
There is no one more fallen than me.
If you are feeling yourself very unqualified,
very fallen,
then there is more chance you will get the mercy of Lord Caitanya,
since He is the deliverer of the most fallen.
But you should not lose your enthusiasm
since Lord Caitanya has come to deliver the most fallen.
Therefore, you have a good qualification.
Sometimes we are born in a family who are surrendered to many gurus or Mahārājas, right! Like we are born in families where they have kula-gurus and we have been raised and brought up praying to many devatas like Durgā Mā, Gaṇesajī, Kṛṣṇa, etc. We also feel that God is one, ultimately one energy. But I feel that God is above all this, right? How do we surrender, what is the best way to surrender?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-05
Jayapatākā Swami: You see that in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it states vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva, Maheśa, is the greatest of all the Vaiṣṇavas. and similarly, we have Kārttikeya, we have Gaṇeśa, they are great Vaiṣṇavas. Durgā is known as Bhagavatī, Vaiṣṇavī. We should know that Kṛṣṇa, He is the ultimate Personality of Godhead.
But Kṛṣṇa has unlimited forms,
ananta-rūpam.
So, every form is equal.
That doesn’t mean that we are equal.
We are very small.
Lord Brahmā, Lord Maheśa are greater.
But they are still depending on Kṛṣṇa
and Kṛṣṇa they are all equal, simultaneously one and different for Kṛṣṇa.
The father of Vyāsadeva, Parāsara Muni analyzed,
he found that 50 of the qualities are in Lord Brahmā,
Five more with Lord Śiva, he had 55.
Lord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa had five more than Lord Śiva. He had 60.
And then Kṛṣṇa, He had four more even than Lord Nārāyaṇa. He had 64.
Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are both considered viṣṇu-tattva
and they are all the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Other devas, either Maheśa or Brahmā, they are not as great.
So the kula-gurus sometimes they say everybody is the same, that means they are impersonalists.
Because it says, if one thinks Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā are the same they are pāṣaṇḍīs.
So we find Hiraṇyakaśipu, in this day of Brahmā līlā, he worship Lord Brahmā receive powers.
He asked Brahmā first to give him immortality.
Brahmā said, “I am not immortal,
how can I give something which I don’t have?”
So then he said, “I should not be killed in day or night, in the house or out of the house, and all those conditions.
Not man, or animal, or a demon or deva.”
Narasiṁhadeva came, half man and half lion!
Hiraṇyakaśipu was confused, “Is He a man or an animal?”
So Lord Śiva, in some yugas, in some days of Brahmā when Hiraṇyakaśipu comes he gets the blessing from Lord Śiva.
Śiva, he has his weapon, śiva-jvara,
it produces the maximum heat!
But Lord Kṛṣṇa has the nārāyaṇa-jvara,
it produced unlimited cold.
Hardly you can survive in a cold day, you need a jacket and other things.
Any śiva-jvara produced heat and nārāyaṇa-jvara came and sucked up all the heat and created unlimited cold,
and then śiva-jvara surrendered.
So Śiva is greater than jīvas,
we are jīvas.
He is very great.
But still he is not as great as Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa.
So we worship Śiva, Durgā, Gaṇeśa, Kārttikeya, all the Vaiṣṇavas as Vaiṣṇavas.
And if in your house you worship Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa first offer bhoga to Them and then Their prasāda to the devas.
In South India like in Mahābalipuram,
that is one of the Divya-deśams,
they worship the Nārāyaṇa form first
and then they take the prasāda and offer to Śiva
and Durgā and others.
If the kula-guru gives you transcendental knowledge, it is very nice.
But if he is not able to give transcendental knowledge, he is just like a vyavahāri-guru, he acts like a guru but he cannot give transcendental knowledge,
then the śāstra says it is alright if we take a sad-guru,
someone who gives transcendental knowledge.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Sometimes we are born in a family who are surrendered to many gurus or Mahārājas, right! Like we are born in families where they have kula-gurus and we have been raised and brought up praying to many devatas like Durgā Mā, Gaṇesajī, Kṛṣṇa, etc. We also feel that God is one, ultimately one energy. But I feel that God is above all this, right? How do we surrender, what is the best way to surrender?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-05
Jayapatākā Swami: You see that in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it states vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva, Maheśa, is the greatest of all the Vaiṣṇavas. and similarly, we have Kārttikeya, we have Gaṇeśa, they are great Vaiṣṇavas. Durgā is known as Bhagavatī, Vaiṣṇavī. We should know that Kṛṣṇa, He is the ultimate Personality of Godhead.
But Kṛṣṇa has unlimited forms,
ananta-rūpam.
So, every form is equal.
That doesn’t mean that we are equal.
We are very small.
Lord Brahmā, Lord Maheśa are greater.
But they are still depending on Kṛṣṇa
and Kṛṣṇa they are all equal, simultaneously one and different for Kṛṣṇa.
The father of Vyāsadeva, Parāsara Muni analyzed,
he found that 50 of the qualities are in Lord Brahmā,
Five more with Lord Śiva, he had 55.
Lord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa had five more than Lord Śiva. He had 60.
And then Kṛṣṇa, He had four more even than Lord Nārāyaṇa. He had 64.
Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are both considered viṣṇu-tattva
and they are all the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Other devas, either Maheśa or Brahmā, they are not as great.
So the kula-gurus sometimes they say everybody is the same, that means they are impersonalists.
Because it says, if one thinks Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā are the same they are pāṣaṇḍīs.
So we find Hiraṇyakaśipu, in this day of Brahmā līlā, he worship Lord Brahmā receive powers.
He asked Brahmā first to give him immortality.
Brahmā said, “I am not immortal,
how can I give something which I don’t have?”
So then he said, “I should not be killed in day or night, in the house or out of the house, and all those conditions.
Not man, or animal, or a demon or deva.”
Narasiṁhadeva came, half man and half lion!
Hiraṇyakaśipu was confused, “Is He a man or an animal?”
So Lord Śiva, in some yugas, in some days of Brahmā when Hiraṇyakaśipu comes he gets the blessing from Lord Śiva.
Śiva, he has his weapon, śiva-jvara,
it produces the maximum heat!
But Lord Kṛṣṇa has the nārāyaṇa-jvara,
it produced unlimited cold.
Hardly you can survive in a cold day, you need a jacket and other things.
Any śiva-jvara produced heat and nārāyaṇa-jvara came and sucked up all the heat and created unlimited cold,
and then śiva-jvara surrendered.
So Śiva is greater than jīvas,
we are jīvas.
He is very great.
But still he is not as great as Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa.
So we worship Śiva, Durgā, Gaṇeśa, Kārttikeya, all the Vaiṣṇavas as Vaiṣṇavas.
And if in your house you worship Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa first offer bhoga to Them and then Their prasāda to the devas.
In South India like in Mahābalipuram,
that is one of the Divya-deśams,
they worship the Nārāyaṇa form first
and then they take the prasāda and offer to Śiva
and Durgā and others.
If the kula-guru gives you transcendental knowledge, it is very nice.
But if he is not able to give transcendental knowledge, he is just like a vyavahāri-guru, he acts like a guru but he cannot give transcendental knowledge,
then the śāstra says it is alright if we take a sad-guru,
someone who gives transcendental knowledge.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Mitravindā Mamatāmayī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: If it is really connected with Kṛṣṇa
then it is not prajalpa.
But if it has nothing to do with Kṛṣṇa or service,
then it is prajalpa.
Questioner: Gauracandra Bhagavān dāsa
Date: 2022-08-24
That reminds me of an example,
there was a flood, and police came by and said to a person, “We came to evacuate you from the flood.”
“I am depending on Kṛṣṇa” he said.
Then more water came.
A boat came to take him, and he again said, “I am depending on Kṛṣṇa!”
And then the water rose higher, and he went on the roof.
Then a helicopter came and said, “Come on, come with me!”
But he said, ‘No, I am depending on Kṛṣṇa.”
Then the flood rose higher, and he died.
He went to Vaikuṇṭha
and he asked Kṛṣṇa “why didn’t You save me?”
“I sent the police, I sent the boat, I sent the helicopter,
you didn’t take anything!”
So, you see depending on Kṛṣṇa, we take whatever help He sends.
How Kṛṣṇa works, He works in unique ways!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: There are many reasons why we may not be able to help someone.
Just like a father, he doesn’t like to hear instructions from his daughter.
For various circumstances
the relationship may be such that we cannot really instruct a person who is senior to you
or who thinks he or she is senior.
So, in such a situation,
you have to help the person using some tactic.
Either by asking question,
like I look to you, you are a very advanced person, you are very senior.
But I have a question.
I see that sometime, you go behind the bathroom and smoke a cigarette.
Is it something I should do as well?
So you can ask – of course this is a ridiculous example - but you can ask.
Maybe you cannot help the person
then you think who can
and arrange that that person does what he or she can to help the person.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: One time, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said that he would indulge a 100-times in sex life if he knew that every time, he was guaranteed to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious child.
So therefore, every times your child will become a devotee, that is not guaranteed.
That is why we try
from the beginning we want a Kṛṣṇa conscious potential child.
So we pray to the Deities, we get the blessing of guru.
We do the garbhadāna-saṁskāra.
Then we also have to bring up the child with love and affection.
It is not an accident that they become a devotee.
They may get some special association of a pure devotee.
The parents naturally feel that they are very successful if the child becomes a devotee.
There is no śāstra that says if a child is not a devotee, that somehow affects the parents.
But the first five years of the child life, if they commit some sinful activities, then the parents have to take responsibility.
This was a curse given by a ṛṣi to Yamarāja so this thing was done in the universe.
Because when he was a little child, he poked an insect with a grass.
Questioner: Bhagavān Dāmodara Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2022-09-08
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Bad association], [Day-to-day Life / Children], [Day-to-day Life / Parents], [Emotions / Confusion]
Śrīla Prabhupāda said in one of his letters to his disciples, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action. But at the same time the culture and teachings encourages, and expects its practioners to surrender and to be obedient to senior devotees, guru and Gaurāṅga. How can I be independently thoughtful and be obedient at the same time, especially when dealing with senior devotees?
Questioner: Ekleśvarī Mādhavī devī dāsī
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: It seems that you are facing some contradiction.
That you want to be submissive,
at the same time independently thoughtful.
So, independently thoughtful, we decide what we are going to do.
Not that we just do something blindly, but
if we decide that we are following some more experienced devotee,
that should be helpful.
So you can do well by following an experienced devotee,
at the same time be independently thoughtful.
Doesn’t mean you just blindly follow any devotee,
but you pick up some particular activity, because it is something that sits nicely with you
and it is in the śāstra.
Questioner: Satyamedha Gaurāṅga dāsa
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: Satyamedha Gaurāṅga dāsa!
Haribol!
Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that if we had a strong desire
then Kṛṣṇa consciousness would manifest suddenly.
Just like a baby is crying,
if the baby is like half-crying,
the mother may ignore
but if the baby really cries,
aaaaahhhh, the mother will run, what happened?
If we desire to be Kṛṣṇa conscious very intensely,
then Kṛṣṇa will help you to become Kṛṣṇa conscious in a minute.
Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur.
Date: 2022-10-05
Jayapatākā Swami: The devas, the demigods are sakāma devotees.
They have some material desires.
Because they are afraid that
Dhruva would take over their posts,
therefore they gave him different obstacles –
in one way they were testing him.
So if you don’t want a position in the heavenly planets,
you have to declare that to them.
Give them kṛṣṇa-prasādam.
They should not cause you trouble.
Because Dhruva was performing austerities for position,
they were afraid that he would take their position.
Category: [Anarthās], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Material World / Demigods]
Questioner: Subāhu Śacī Sūta dāsa
Date: 2022-08-29
Jayapatākā Swami: The type of tests that Haridāsa Ṭhākura had to go through, we usually don’t have to face such tests.
He was beaten in 22-marketplaces.
There was a prostitute tried to make him fall down.
I heard that Durgā devī even she came to test him.
We don’t have to face such gigantic tests.
If we pray to Kṛṣṇa to help us, Kṛṣṇa usually helps us.
We get very minor tests and even those we fail.
But we can get over these tests if we have the sincere desire.
If we depend on Kṛṣṇa, then we will overcome all the tests.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Bad association], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-24
Jayapatākā Swami: This is a story told but I don’t know if it is in any śāstra.
Generally, the queens of Dvāraka are devotees.
But there is parakīya and svakīya-rasa. The svakīya-rasa has wives they don’t want to put their feet dust on their husband.
But the gopīs, they are ready to go to hell for Kṛṣṇa’s headache.
I don’t know if this is a true story or not.
But we do know that the gopīs’ love for Kṛṣṇa is higher than that of the queens of Dvāraka.
And so, that is what we want to show by this example.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-29
Jayapatākā Swami: There are four parts of Goloka Vṛndāvana,
Vraja dhāma,
Mathurā,
Dvārakā
and Śvetadvīpa.
Lord Caitanya is in Śvetadvīpa.
And Lord Kṛṣṇa is in the other three dhāmas
In the Bṛhad-bhāgavātamṛta it says the Lord Jagannātha is in Dvārakā but He is very close to Vṛndāvana dhāma.
How many have read Bṛhad-bhāgavātamṛta?
So the other question was, is it important for us to study?
Śrīla Prabhupāda said that if we don’t study, then we may get doubts that may be answered in the books we don’t study, and we may fall down.
I am very grateful to Anukula Keśava dāsa for organizing the Bhakti-śāstri, Bhakti-vaibhava course in the temple.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
To become a devotee means to have gone through all purification process such as knowledge of all the Vedas and such. But have to becoming a devotee means still one has a same suffering and problems as non-devotee. Even after taking of devotional service one still has the propensity to be envious and causing anxiety to others. There is nothing wrong in the process of devotional life why does devotees come under māyā’s attack?m
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-06-10
How to develop favourable devotional attitude?
we should accept everything for devotional service and give up everything which is unfavourable.
If we really understand what is our self interest?
What is helping us?
And we understand serving Kṛṣṇa and serving his devotees are our own self interest and then we know what is the favourable for that we accept the favourable things and we avoid the unfavourable automatically we can.
Start to get lined up.
Now what is very important is to develop that is by associating with the devotees already have their attitude.
Not that every devotees is equally developed in his favourable attitude such those who are especially ball pointless those who are in bitter mood they may be advancing but in a slow track.
Those who are seeing good qualities in others enthusiastic cheerful and they don’t hold any grudges on anyone they are in mode of fast track.
So we look for devotees that we can relate with a better situation we are and associating with them and in this way we can progress by the good association and this leads to the next question which is sādhu-saṅga which is one of most if not the most important limbs of devotional principles is offensive be six certain devotee association to avoid others,
So we select the associating just associating of any devotees so we can read the questions super souls.
Lord Caitanya said that there are three kinds of devotees those who are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but they are not following the principles we can help them otherwise we don’t associate with them very intimately but those who are initiated and following very strictly we can accept them in a very we can respect them and offer respect to them and associate with them.
And those who are very advanced who are fully fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness who are in the level of guru we can take shelter from them.
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that we can seek out association with the likely minded devotees.
Of course hopefully the like minded should be a good mind but its all right we may be more intimate with some than the others.
Question:
But have to becoming a devotee means still one has a same suffering and problems as non-devotee.
Even after taking of devotional service one still has the propensity to be envious and causing anxiety to others.
There is nothing wrong in the process of devotional life why does devotees come under māyā’s attack?
Answer:
There are so many process of purification.
You come to bhakti means this is the supreme process there is no other process after this.
And there is no need of doing any lower processes but still we have to learn how to do bhakti-yoga to do properly.
As we do bhakti-yoga we will find many dirt will come in our hearts.
It’s a cleaning process,
if we clean the house dust comes out.
We have to be very careful to move the dirt.
We have to be learned to be tolerant.
We have to learn to be humble.
These are part of the devotional process.
Now side by side by chanting and performing the activities we have to also do cleaning.
We have to be always analyzing and seeing wherever we have defects and systematically try to move that.
Then in this material world time is immemorial.
Millions of millions of birth even after few days,
months,
weeks or years of devotional service its not likely some of the contaminations are still there in our hearts.
But if we absorb ourselves fully in devotional service and we take the shelter of the spiritual master properly then we can burn out these accumulated contaminations very quickly.
So the reason why the process of devotional service is to get different attacks the contamination is there as I mentioned in the class we are getting devotional service very easy from Lord Caitanya we are making mmediately they are close on us.
They will take away the curve.
We have to make a proper we have to be patient we are not fully qualified for devotional service we are getting it on a special concession like the government sometimes give the poor people the low cost housing.
They don’t get afford to get a house but they can buy it by low credit just to get the people out of the slums.
So Lord Caitanya want us to get out from this horrible material world.
He is giving us a special credit plan.
Because we are not fully qualified we have to work it becoming qualified.
You are coming to this process very quickly.
But if we stick to it within a short period of time we can get rid out of this bad qualities and we become properly situated.
So we need the patience and determination and the conviction.
We need the associate properly with devotees.
We need to avoid the different kind of negative activities and we have to be very open hearted and straight forward.
These are the six things that Rūpa Gosvāmi recommends us and help us
to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
So in one sentence nothing wrong.
And people surely benefit something by hearing them.
But usually for the initiated devotees prefer to hear singing by someone more spiritually developed.
These are especially songs sung by attracting the new people by music aspect but not spiritual aspect.
In public programs we use these more but for personal purification it is recommended to hear Prabhupāda and some other pure devotee chanting.
But its nothing wrong but that is the guideline.
In Kali-yuga for different this is very funny the four varṇāśramas.
So four āśramas we don’t.
I understand its meaning.
Question is addressing the āśramas.
It’s a mistake to go through the varṇas.
So the āśramas it depends also so some people just go through marriage the only āśrama they have to go through.
For spiritual life someone joins the movement he is a gṛhastha we don’t say he has to go to brahmacārī.
But later on the gṛhasthas are good to taken vānaprastha husband and wife together.
It is not essential that people must take sannyāsa.
If they are initiated wife and husband prepare themselves for this also.
This all voluntarily.
One doesn’t have to go through different āśramas but its something that one has to consult with one’s own guru.
What is best for each individual?
To which āśrama that one should go through?
Some brahmacārīs go straight to sannyāsa and some brahmacārīs to gṛhastha and vānaprastha.
So this all different scenarios.
We have heard through Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, how Kṛṣṇa appears, how He has curly hair, manda manda muskaan (gentle smile), how He walks, but I have always been curious how His voice sounds like? How He speaks? I have never come across how Kṛṣṇa, how His voice feels like? Can you give me an idea Guru Mahārāja, how that is?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-11-09
Jayapatākā Swami: It says only the most fortunate can hear. Ha! Ha!
Jayapatākā Swami: In other words, we should be so fortunate that we can hear Kṛṣṇa’s voice, His song, His flute, His ornaments.
Think how fortunate the vraja-vāsīs were! They could hear Kṛṣṇa talking and singing,
His ankle bells,
His flute playing!
If even for a minute, we think wow! I would like to hear that,
that one desire then can lead us back to the spiritual world.
Unfortunately, people are thinking other things.
And we take birth after birth after birth
in this material world,
thinking that this other thing will make me happy.
Then that doesn’t make me happy, then we think of something else.
I heard that for some kind of quantity, I don’t know how much, they will freeze your body,
then when the scientists find how to bring the dead back to life,
they will do it.
It is all like Post-dated checks.
Actually, the Vedas tell us life comes from life.
That as long as the life is in the body, the body is beautiful to look at,
because of the living force,
the ātmā.
It is not some material thing you can adjust.
All these rich people, the scientists, they don’t know the basic ABCs of spiritual life.
The body is a machine,
we need doctors to correct the machine,
but the doctors cannot put life back into a dead body.
They are saying give me your money we will freeze your body and when the doctors figure out, we will unfreeze you!
So this is a bluff!
Śrīla Prabhupāda was in one village in India. And he was giving a simple example.
He said say, somebody’s grandfather dies.
His wife is crying, my husband has left.
His sons and daughters are crying my father has left.
The grand-daughter or grandchildren they are crying, my grandfather has gone
and in the village everyone according to their relationship,
they are lamenting he has gone! He has gone!
Śrīla Prabhupāda asked them, who has gone?
Same body is same hair is there, same hands,
so, who has gone?
Everyone is lamenting that he is gone,
but who has gone?
It is actually the ātmā, the soul has gone.
And that if the soul is there the body is alive,
the soul is not there, the body is dead.
So, that is the unfortunate thing.
People don’t know these basic things of spiritual life.
My purvāśrama mother, she visited India
and she came to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
She gave him roses every day.
I was surprise that, Śrīla Prabhupāda was speaking to her about the living force!
In such a simple language,
the living force,
I never heard Śrīla Prabhupāda say that usually we hear ātmā,
he was saying the living force, you are the living force in the body.
When you leave the body, the living force leaves the body, then it is dead.
I heard that Disney or somebody, they have their body frozen,
then their heirs started fighting who is going to inherit from him?
Maybe he will come back to life!
So a big fight and someone pulled the cord!
He was rotting and then alright!
So then they could take his money!
We have kṛṣṇa-prema, nāma-prema and gaura-prema. All these three are in a very transcendental platform. But gaura-prema is so juicy, nectarean and overwhelming. So will we get the same feeling with the other two premas also and what is that we need to do that we are not able to distinguish between the three and get to the highest, gaura-prema?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: This is the first time I heard the difference between gaura-prema and kṛṣṇa-prema!
Lord Caitanya, He is Kṛṣṇa.
If you love Lord Caitanya, then naturally you love Lord Kṛṣṇa.
But Lord Caitanya, He gives love very freely.
As far as I understood, He gave out kṛṣṇa-prema.
If you love Lord Caitanya, then you love Lord Kṛṣṇa.
And Kṛṣṇa and His name are non-different.
If you love His name, then you love Kṛṣṇa.
Link: 20221023 Evening Darśana
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
We have so many varieties of devotional service, like chanting, reading Śrīla Prabhupāda, Deity worship and visiting holy dhāmas. Sometimes we see that when we are more attracted to one method the other methods are getting less importance and we are not able to do them. So whether more reading or more of chanting, or more of Deity worship or more of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books reading, which one is more important?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: In every yuga, there is a particular, which is most important.
In Kali-yuga, śravaṇam kīrtanam is most important.
Reading books is one form of śravaṇam.
There are nine practices of devotional service
and by practicing any one then also it is possible to be delivered.
But in Kali-yuga it is especially recommended that we chant and hear.
But we should chant, hear remember,
pay obeisances, offer prayers
and do the arcanam,
and do pāda-sevanam, do some service,
considering oneself as the servant of the Lord,
considering the Lord as one’s friend
and offering everything to the Lord,
ātma-nivedenam.
These are the nine practices of devotional service.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vigraha Āradhana (Deity Worship)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-23
Jayapatākā Swami: I mentioned there are five kinds of relationships.
Two and a half are very formal and respectful
and two and a half are very intimate and loving.
You cannot think of yourself as the father or mother of the Supreme Lord.
Just like a rich person, he would like to be loved as a person, not for his richness.
I mean it must be very difficult for someone like Elon Musk,
who are just behaving with him because he is rich.
But in the spiritual world Kṛṣṇa uses yoga-māyā to make devotees forget that He is the Supreme Lord.
Like He went to Mathurā and He liberated the demon Kaṁsa
and then Devakī and Vasudeva His parents, they were awestruck, because he was such a powerful demon and he was neutralized by Kṛṣṇa.
And when the Lord kills someone, they automatically get liberation.
Vasudeva and Devakī were offering their praṇāmas and very respectful.
But Kṛṣṇa did not want that.
He wanted them to act like His parents.
But to do that, they just saw Him kill the demon who had been suppressing them for so long!
So obviously, He is very powerful,
and they remembered how He appeared as the Supreme Lord.
Then he sprinkled some līlā-dust over them!
And then, “Oh, my dear son!”
That is what He wanted.
The Supreme Lord can do things like that.
But He can make people forget who He is,
just love Him as a son or as a friend. Like that.
In Vṛndāvana, people love Kṛṣṇa,
they don’t think of Him as God.
Even like Nanda Mahārāja, he was arrested by, in English we call it Neptune, by the servant of Varuṇa,
and then they saw that Varuṇa the angel of God of the water,
he was respecting Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
They said, just see, how Varuṇa, how Neptune, how he appreciates my son.
Oh, He is such a nice son.
He never thinks that why is this angel in-charge of the oceans,
why is he bowing down and offering respect to Kṛṣṇa.
He just sees this in his relationship as father.
So, Kṛṣṇa likes some places where people just love Him
not because of His position
not for some material reason.
They love Him for what He is, His qualities.
To develop to this stage, it is nice to know that there is such a stage.
But naturally to reach that stage is no joke!
I mean, it is a very big thing!
And first we bow down, we pray,
we do different things, we chant the holy names.
We have to get purified.
Unless we serve the Lord, very faithfully,
at some point He can bless us,
He can accept us and we can realize our original position,
be friends with Kṛṣṇa or parent or lover.
Those things are revealed in due course.
Not just chuk! We jump up to that position.
For some people it may take many, many births.
Born, die,
normally people, they try to have happiness just in the material world.
They think that oh, if I was rich, I would be happy.
Next birth they may be rich,
then they think oh! I would be happy if I was a great football player,
next birth they are great at football.
Some people, I heard Śrīla Prabhupāda say that Ravi Shankar, he was a musician for sevens births.
In his seventh birth he became world famous, guru of the Beatles and all that.
Generally, we take birth after birth after birth, depending on our material desires.
But if we actually, develop our desire to serve Kṛṣṇa, to serve the Lord,
then we go back to the Kingdom of God,
we are released from this prison house of material life.
But to do that, first we go through vidhi-mārga, then as we develop our love of Godhead it turns into spontaneous love.
First the rules and regulation, do that and then it becomes like second nature.
Then we actually develop our spontaneous love for the Lord
in different levels.
Eight levels.
We go to love and then there are eight levels of love.
So it is a science.
And we also – have faith, we listen,
then we have some association with then enlightened souls,
called sādhu-saṅga.
Then we start to practice ourselves
called bhajana-kriyā,
then we start to get rid of the unwanted habits and things,
called anartha-nivṛtti,
we become very fixed in spiritual practices,
that is called niṣṭhā,
then we develop a taste for serving the Lord,
called rucī,
then we become attached to that spiritual tastes called āsakti,
then we develop ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, called bhāva,
then we have pure love for Kṛṣṇa, that is called prema.
But prema has eight levels.
What are we talking about here is the mahā-bhāva,
the highest level.
Practically Lord Caitanya is mad after Lord Kṛṣṇa.
We have a long way to go!
So it is nice to hear that such a level exists.
We understood that there is expansion of Advaita Ācārya further into Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. So we see that always the Lord is accompanied by His associates. So when the Lord is in our heart does He come with His associates and dhāma? Also, how is the Lord Paramātmā in the heart?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You see Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu,
He has His own planet
and there He has many associates, Lakṣmīs etc.
But as His expansion He is in the heart of every living entity,
and He is simultaneously in the heart and in His planet.
So it doesn’t say that the associates are with Him in the heart,
but simultaneously in His transcendental abode, He has many associates.
Questioner: Mariya, Perm
Date: 2022-10-17
So, if we please Kṛṣṇa, we can eventually feel blissful,
but if we are not able to understand,
then if we please the spiritual master,
and we should understand that we pleased Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa accepts our service,
if we offer it with devotion and love.
If one is very proud, then Kṛṣṇa is not obliged to accept that service,
that way we know that if I offer to my guru and he accepts,
then he will offer to his guru, and he will accept,
and in this way it goes back to Kṛṣṇa.
So, the guru-paramparā system is such,
that we know that our service is being accepted by Kṛṣṇa,
if it is accepted by the spiritual master
Questioner: Indulekhā Karuṇa devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Everyone is taking up Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
everyone is an individual
and what thing impresses one person,
may not impress another.
So you have to hear a bit what the person likes.
The thing is that in the material world
people naturally turn to things they like,
but if they understand that these things often may lead them astray,
then they may be less inclined to do that.
And so in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is kevala ānanda kāṇḍa, it is a very blissful process.
So if can somehow engage people in chanting, hearing, dancing, serving,
then they will get a taste.
And you know, I met one person,
he was an impersonalist.
But then Śrīla Prabhupāda said that there is no use to talk philosophy
because in their brain some short circuit is there.
But if they like to do sevā, engage them in sevā.
By doing sevā
they get purified
and their whole idea changes.
After several years, that person told me
that, now I understand
about devotional service,
because he was practically doing it.
Otherwise, philosophically he was off.
He got purified by serving Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Kackuly Rani
Date: 2022-10-13
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda has said that
taking cow milk develops the finer intelligence
will be able to understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
At the same time, we like to protect the cows.
And so, where possible we try to eat milk from protected cows.
The vegans, they say since the cows are mistreated,
better not to take any milk.
But Śrīla Prabhupāda knew that this difficulty was there.
He thought it was important to offer the milk to Kṛṣṇa,
and then we can take it.
So, we only take milk as prasāda.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-24
Jayapatākā Swami: The devotee, when a devotee render pure devotional service,
that’s attractive to the Lord. The conditioned soul, acting in the material world,
independently is that nothing really very attractive about that to the Lord.
In accordance with their desire to serve the Lord, in accordance with their desire to approach the Lord,
it becomes more attractive. It is more glorious when someone wants to do some religious principle.
It is even better if they want to become liberated from the material world.
But he when he realizes the super soul but, the best is when someone is engaging in pure devotional service.
That’s really attractive for the Lord. Just like we have a small child but
when the baby is relating with you, depending on you, there is some attraction there.
Even though one sense insignificant but in another sense and especially
when the baby is trying to say their father’s name, they recognize and say you know,
“da, da” or something, that’s a special.
So, it is a happiness for the mother and father you know, it’s like a little high point there.
So, when the conditioned soul remembers Kṛṣṇa and wants to serve Kṛṣṇa,
that pure devotional service is attractive even to Kṛṣṇa.
Not only attractive, but it can purchase Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa promises to reciprocate although we are insignificant, but if we give our whole self to Kṛṣṇa,
Kṛṣṇa would give His whole self to us. Talk about a business deal. (laughter)
There’s no great king or great person even if some political follower
gives his wife you know for the leader, this leader is not gonna reciprocate
and give everything just for the one little person.
Because he has this one person, he has to see over so many.
But Kṛṣṇa being unlimited, He can individually expand and individually relate to each devotee.
He is not limited like that. So, He can reciprocate, although we are insignificant
but He can, He is so unlimited that He can relate with each insignificant part of Him.
He is not limited.
But like one president, he has got millions or 250 million people,
how can he personally relate with each individual.
It is beyond his capacity. He can only have a cabinet of 20 people and
talk with a few congress committee chairmen.
He can hardly relate to all the representatives in the house of congress.
What to speak of you know in a personal way. It would take his whole time.
He has only 24 hours in a day.
But Kṛṣṇa is unlimited. He is not limited by time also.
In the spiritual world, there is no limitation of time.
So, Kṛṣṇa can expand Himself unlimitedly. He can be having unlimited simultaneous pastimes
going on. So, because of Kṛṣṇa’s grace, although we are so insignificant,
that doesn’t limit Kṛṣṇa because He is so unlimitedly great.
He can relate and He becomes attracted when we approach Him in pure devotional service.
Not only that, They have to purchase. The way to attract even when we do a little devotional service.
He is attracted. Is that clear?
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]
What should be our mood and prayer to Lord Narasiṁhadeva today? Also, the purport says that it is very easy to please Lord Nārayaṇa, but I find it very difficult and struggle to keep my sādhanā and sevā going on steadily every day. How to understand this if guru and Kṛṣṇa are pleased with me or not, and where am I going wrong?
Questioner: Harshita Sharma
Date: 2023-07-08
Jayapatākā Swami: Certainly, by your trying to be Kṛṣṇa conscious you are pleasing the Lord.
If you keep on trying, then gradually, as they say, practice makes perfect.
So we hope that gradually you will be able to achieve the perfect stage.
But just the fact that you are trying, that means a lot.
So definitely you will be protected from the greatest danger.
Questioner: Sucarita Jāhnavā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: If we circumambulate Kṛṣṇa,
naturally, He will be in our lives.
So it is very important that we do everything with the idea of pleasing Kṛṣṇa, serving Kṛṣṇa.
If we cook, we offer that to the deities,
therefore it is Kṛṣṇa prasāda we are taking.
Everything we do, we do in yukta-vairāgya,
and we offer the results to Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: You see it may be different it may be the same.
If you have a vision that you want to serve Kṛṣṇa,
you want to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement,
maybe some individual differences.
But if your reason is Kṛṣṇa conscious then it doesn’t matter.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Emotions / Confusion], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]
Questioner: Nitāi Līleśvara dāsa
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: I hear different emails every day
and I have certain corresponding secretaries.
Like Rādhāramaṇa Sevaka dāsa and others.
So you write to me and don’t get a reply in a week,
then you could write a WhatsApp message to my corresponding secretary
that why you are not getting a reply.
And usually, you will get a reply.
But at least you will be told why you are not getting a reply.
And right now, we also have the Jayapatākā Swami Disciples’ e-Care
and you can write to them also.
So I am trying to make myself available
and I don’t know who is the śikṣā-guru you have faith in.
You can ask or suggest a śikṣā-guru
and get some authorization.
Otherwise, try to contact me as I mentioned.
Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Emotions / Confusion]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: Advaita Gosāñi was the first to figure it out.
After some time of this, joined the saṅkīrtana movement.
First Advaita then Śrīvāsa, then after that everyone.
Apart from some rare instances with different people, different devotees realized.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Bhaktin Sujatha Kartikeyan
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: It is hard for us to understand when we can go to Godhead.
And that time is revealed by Kṛṣṇa.
And we cannot go earlier, so we try to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Then naturally we think about Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Because we don’t know how long we have to live
so we should be ready any time to go back to Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said we should hear the mantra.
And if we chant thinking of Kṛṣṇa’s mantra that is also alright.
If while chanting you remember the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, that is alright.
But you don’t have to try to remember the pastimes, you try to listen while chanting.
While listening, if the pastimes come to your mind, it is alright.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You see Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that we are Kṛṣṇa-bhaktas.
So, on all the viṣṇu-tattvas days – Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī, Gaura Pūrṇimā, we fully fast, we do anukalpa, take Ekādaśī.
But other forms of Viṣṇu, it is optional.
So, every form of Lord Kṛṣṇa has got a particular mood.
We generally, someone wants to pray for the health of guru or some loved one,
we pray to Lord Narasiṁhadeva.
When one wants special mercy to become Kṛṣṇa conscious we pray to Pañca-tattva,
and if we want to have appreciation for the sweetness of Lord Kṛṣṇa then we pray to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa
or Rādhā Kālacāndajī!
So depending on what you want,
you may go to that form of the Lord.
Creation is done by Brahmā, maintenance is done by Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu,
destruction is done by Mahādeva.
But they are all expansions in one way or other of Mahā-Viṣṇu, and then ultimately of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
From Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma come the catur-vyūha, Nārāyaṇa, then the second catur-vyūha,
then comes Mahā-Viṣṇu.
In every universe there is a Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu,
and in every heart, every atom there is Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
So if you pray to Kṛṣṇa, you pray to everybody.
Some people pray to a particular form, they like some form. Some are Rāma-bhaktas, some are Varāha-bhaktas.
But the original form is Kṛṣṇa
and first expansion is Balarāma.
So Lord Caitanya is Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa
and Lord Nityānanda is Balarāma.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-26
Jayapatākā Swami: Let me take it another stage, you see. Because that’s very easy to answer because,
you see, in the spiritual sky, in the Goloka Vṛndāvana, Lord Caitanya has His own
section of Goloka Vṛndāvana where He along with His associates, it’s described that
associates of Lord Caitanya generally having, of course, separates mothers and other,
they are generally having male forms. While the associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa,
of course, except for the friends, but I mean to say that generally they
are having the female forms like gopīs and that. There a lot of gopīs.
So, simultaneously, in the spiritual world, those who are the devotees of Lord Caitanya,
they’re having their form with Lord Caitanya,
and those who are the devotees of Kṛṣṇa, they are having their forms with Kṛṣṇa.
Those who are having both relationships
like there may be someone exclusively with Lord Caitanya, although this is very rare;
mostly they will have relationships with both, because that was Lord Caitanya’s mood.
So, they’ll have their form simultaneously with Kṛṣṇa and with Lord Caitanya.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Rakshita Varadarajan
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: One can be in whichever āśrama they want to.
Whichever they feel more comfortable.
If they feel that gṛhastha-āśrama is more appropriate for you,
that allows certain license for sex life.
Kṛṣṇa has made machines –
male and female form.
So they can reproduce each other.
So the scientists they are not able to make a machine
that could reproduce itself.
Ha! We shouldn’t think that Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes
with the queens or the gopīs, are material.
He is transcendental.
And in Vṛndāvana,
His pastimes are understood by the liberated souls.
One has to read all the previous nine cantos,
then you can understand how the position of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental.
Once when I was a new devotee,
I asked a question about Rādhārāṇī.
Śrīla Prabhupāda chastised me.
Who are you to ask about Rādhārāṇī?
Since I was a new devotee,
I didn’t understand much, so I accepted that.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Lust], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Youth]
Questioner: Rakshita Varadarajan
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: One can be in whichever āśrama they want to.
Whichever they feel more comfortable.
If they feel that gṛhastha-āśrama is more appropriate for you,
that allows certain license for sex life.
Kṛṣṇa has made machines –
male and female form.
So they can reproduce each other.
So the scientists they are not able to make a machine
that could reproduce itself.
Ha! We shouldn’t think that Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes
with the queens or the gopīs, are material.
He is transcendental.
And in Vṛndāvana,
His pastimes are understood by the liberated souls.
One has to read all the previous nine cantos,
then you can understand how the position of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental.
Once when I was a new devotee,
I asked a question about Rādhārāṇī.
Śrīla Prabhupāda chastised me.
Who are you to ask about Rādhārāṇī?
Since I was a new devotee,
I didn’t understand much, so I accepted that.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Lust], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Youth]
While reading the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa verse 6.105 there is the explanation of the demigods drinking milk from Mother Devakī got transcendental knowledge. What took so long for Mother Devakī to get the transcendental knowledge? The sons got transcendental knowledge. But Mother Devakī even after having Lord Kṛṣṇa, still had attachment for the six dead sons?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You know, she had not asked before.
But when she heard that the dead son of Sāndīpani Muni was brought back to life by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma,
then that reminded her that her six sons were killed by Kaṁsa.
And then she asked Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, that can you give me the six sons back?
And because her breast milk was kṛṣṇa-prasāda,
we can see the value of kṛṣṇa-prasāda.
And so when they had the kṛṣṇa-prasāda, they got back remembrance of their spiritual position.
And so they were told by the Supreme Lord that they should offer their prostrate obeisances to Lord Brahmā and beg for his forgiveness.
Now, they were so exalted, they were the grandsons of Lord Brahmā.
We cannot see Lord Brahmā, we are insignificant.
These are very great souls,
but because they laughed, they criticized Lord Brahmā, they had to suffer so much.
So if they had to suffer so much, what to speak of us!
We are not so significant
so we will have to suffer a lot.
So we have to be very careful, to always respect Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavīs.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-10-05
Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know about such predictions.
If you have those you can send the copy to me.
I read the book where Swami Nārāyaṇa said he was a devotee.
But later on, his followers made him an avatāra.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda requested that his status as a jīva never be changed.
Because many spiritual movements after the founder leaves,
they declare their founder as God.
So, I don’t see any reason why, Swami Nārāyaṇa claims to be God.
If you read his book, he doesn’t claim it.
It is only claimed by his followers.
That is as much as I know.
I went to their center in Ahmedabad and other places.
Some of their Swami came to see me.
When they heard that I have been a Swami for like 50 years,
they paid their daṇḍavats!
You know generally, they are favorable.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-23
Jayapatākā Swami: In the fourth chap of the Bhagavad-gītā,
if we understand the Lord’s appearance and His activities are transcendental,
you can go back to Godhead.
You have one of those five which is your relationship -
the trees, the cows, other things they are śānta.
Hanumān, and other active servitors of Kṛṣṇa, or Nārāyaṇa, they are in the dāsya.
Like Yudhiṣṭhira, he was respectful to Kṛṣṇa but he was like a friend.
That is like friendly with respect.
Śrīdāma, Subala, Sudāma, they were all cowherd boyfriends,
they were intimate friends of Kṛṣṇa.
So what your relationship, you may be a man now but you have a relation as a mother or wife.
You may be a woman but you are a servant or friend of Kṛṣṇa.
Actually, the ātmā, the spirit soul, the living force is who we really are.
If you think of your wife when you die you become a woman in your next life,
if the wife thinks of her husband, she becomes a man.
What you think at the time of death that will lead to the next birth.
What body you have now does not indicate what your spiritual relationship is with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
So you don’t have to go through the five. Just if you develop your service to Kṛṣṇa, your understanding of the Supreme Person,
then you go to the spiritual world.
If you just appreciate the Lord in an impersonal way, you may land up in an impersonal realization.
As I said, most people they don’t think of God so much, if they do, they pray that He may them what they want materially.
Out of millions of those ordinary people, one, he wants to know his actual spiritual, who he is.
One of the millions is a jñānī,
who is trying to actually understand.
Out of millions of those one is a mukta.
He or she is actually liberated.
And then out of millions of muktas, one may be a devotee.
Where they are awakening their relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
That all of you are present, is a very special thing.
Lord Caitanya, He is giving out this love of Godhead very freely,
without considering who is qualified, who is unqualified.
So He is considered the most merciful incarnation of the Lord.
Otherwise, it would be very difficult.
But He made it very easy at this time!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Last night, someone asked this question in the temple.
And were you there?
There are different ways we can answer this.
You see Rādhārāṇī created Navadvīpa dhāma
and She played on the flute.
Lord Kṛṣṇa thought who was playing on the flute so beautifully!
Who, who is that? Who is that?
He came and He saw it was Rādhārāṇī,
and She had made a beautiful holy dhāma of nine islands.
And then Lord Kṛṣṇa combined with Rādhārāṇī,
took Rādhārāṇī’s heart
and He took Her complexion.
And thus He became the united form of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa of Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu!
And He is the form of Kṛṣṇa who is most merciful!
We asked Śrīla Prabhupāda, Kṛṣṇa makes us fast till midnight, but on Rādhāṣṭamī we fast only till midday.
Why is that?
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, Rādhārāṇī is very merciful.
So it is very hard to get Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
Normally He gives love of Kṛṣṇa to those who fully surrender to Him.
But Lord Caitanya He would give out mercy without considering who is qualified, who is not qualified.
If ask it, you get it.
Even some people they did not want it but they got it! Ha!
So if one understands that Kṛṣṇa’s most merciful form is Lord Caitanya, then actually they naturally they want to have love for Lord Caitanya.
In Mumbai, they have Nitāi-Gaura, they have Śrī Rādhā-Rāsabihārī, Lalitā Viśākhā, and they have Sītā-Rāma Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān,
as worshipable Deities.
Of course, as dioramas, they have Tukārāma, Viṭṭala and many others,
Narasiṁhadeva, but the worshipable Deities are those three altars.
Many people crowd around Rādhā-Rāsabihārī and Sītā-Rāma.
But not so many around Nitāi-Gaura.
I was explaining in the class that by the mercy of Nitāi-Gaura we get the mercy of Rādhā-Rāsabihārī and Sītā-Rāma.
So we should all be praying to Lord Caitanya to get the mercy of all other Deities.
If you don’t, it is very hard to get Their mercy.
But if you do, it is very easy to get Their mercy.
So I was telling earlier today, how Lord Caitanya came down especially in the Golden Age which is supposed to start 5000 years after the beginning of Kali-yuga,
this is mentioned in the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa.
The Golden Age lasts for ten thousand years.
I was reading also recently, at the end of 9th canto and the beginning of the 10th canto how Lord Kṛṣṇa He would have the demoniac forces got puffed up and fight with each other and kill each other.
So it seems that for no reason all over the world war is going on.
So, all these things are diminishing the demoniac forces
and then naturally Lord Caitanya is giving out His mercy freely.
So we should naturally, if you are appreciating what Lord Caitanya does, then how can you not help but love him.
Haribol Gaurāṅga! Gaurāṅga! Gaurāṅga! Gaurāṅga!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Jayapataka Swami: In due course of time, this thing is revealed to you.
And sometimes, Śrīla Prabhupāda would tell different disciples what rasa they were experiencing.
These things are revealed at some point.
If you are attracted by the pastimes of Lord Caitanya that is one thing, or Lord Nityananda that is another thing.
Like that different symptoms for different rasas.
But first of all we need to develop our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Service is common to all.
And as you go up, the different rasas, like conjugal has all the other rasas included.
Friendship includes dāsya and śānta.
And paternal includes all the others except mādhurya.
So like that. First of all, we need to develop our service attitude to Kṛṣṇa.
Last night someone was saying how we can ask Kṛṣṇa for service, not asking for some material benediction.
I was explaining how we don’t want to do business with Kṛṣṇa,
that I serve You, and You give me something back material.
We are serving and we want to continue serving.
Like HH Kadamba Kānana Swami before he passed away, I saw him virtually
and he said in my lifetime I have been doing service to Kṛṣṇa,
and when I leave the body, I will just have another service.
A devotee always wants to engage in service.
Like that, they build up different rasas
but service is common to all.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-10
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, if we take one step to Kṛṣṇa,
He takes ten steps to us.
He is more eager to get us out of this material world.
Then we are to go.
Actually, if you have loving parents, that is also a blessing of Kṛṣṇa.
But being in this material world is due to our misuse of our free will.
Now you have human birth and are born in India.
If you really care about your parents,
if you go back to Godhead,
then eleven generations back and forward
they get a free ticket.
You care about your parents?
You really love them?
Then be a devotee.
That is the way to help them.
Otherwise, what is the use if they have to take birth again and again and again!
Now you are a human being, born in India.
There is no guarantee what your next birth is.
So we are trying to help you
and to help your parents
and help everyone.
Questioner: Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahārāja
Date: 2023-03-02
Jayapatākā Swami: We understand from this that if we get married, it is very important to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious wife!
If the wife is not Kṛṣṇa conscious then she may have you fight with Kṛṣṇa!
This reminds me Śrīla Prabhupāda, in a lecture he was giving in London,
observing his Vyāsa-pūjā.
He said he wanted all his gṛhastha followers to be paramahaṁsas.
And he said how Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was a gṛhastha had many children.
One was Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda.
And Śrīla Prabhupāda said we need many personalities like this.
So the gṛhasthas should have such pure devotee children.
Although Lord Indra in the caitanya-līlā pastime, he joined in the kīrtana.
By then he seemed to have learned his lesson!
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