I read the Bhagavad-gītā and other books but when I go to preach, it does not stay in my mind. What should I do ? | Questions and answers

Link: 20200911 Zoom Session with Bangladesh National Youth Gathering

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Do we also accept some of the karma of the non-devotees when we distribute books?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-26

This is a very interesting question.

Now selling books is an economic issue that you are giving some money for the book.

If you use the money for your own sense gratification, but then selling the books,

well, some kind of reciprocation may be there. If you give out a book freely then,

the person takes the book and throws it, you are responsible.

If the person bought the book and then he throws it or whatever he does,

that is not your responsibility, that is his, he has bought the book.

So at the same time, like devotees if they are working under some system

like the management tells them, you deposit the money, you can take so much per cent

or if are working under a system authorized by the temple,

and then it is considered that they are working for Kṛṣṇa and then Kṛṣṇa takes the responsibility.

So if the saṅkīrtana devotees have some agreement with the temple,

so as such they should not be responsible. They are considered to be working directly under Kṛṣṇa.

Of course, if they just try to buy and sell,

because they are selling the books it is not so much an issue of karma, I mean as I mentioned earlier,

at the same time something may be there. Because they are doing on their own behalf.

But if they are doing on behalf of the temple

and the temple says you can draw your maintenance or take some percent

then it is considered working under Kṛṣṇa directly. So if they are working for themselves i.e. buying and selling,

then it is a issue that we have to look into.

Generally selling things is not bring karma; any way it shouldn’t be a problem.

If you are working for Kṛṣṇa, you are doing it as a devotional service, so it is not an issue at all.

If you are doing it for your own for making money it is not also an issue because

selling things usually does not attract karma; except the karma

if it is some meat or drug or [such thing], then obviously there is karma.

But for selling books there is no karma. So that is transcendental books,

rather they will get the good reaction. So I don’t see in either case as a karma

except if you give out books free and you don’t know [inaudible word] the people,

if they misuse the book, then you may have to accept some karma.

On the other hand, if they… Just like Prabhupāda was saying that

we shouldn’t give out japa mālās for free. We should… Some ladies, some people

in India, like to give out japa mālā. But in doing so, as a guru, we give to our disciples;

we are taking their karma anyway. So if someone gives out japa-mālā and they

commit some offense on that mālā, then you have to take the karma.

So we get some token little donation, something sell it for even one cent or

it doesn’t matter. Just in fact they took for some price and then

then we are not responsible for their karma. In the same way Prabhupāda said

if you give a tulasī seed there is no karma.

Whether they plant the seed and then.... But if you give a plant

and they mistreat the [tulasī] plant, then you are responsible.

So, I don’t know if you particularly ask about books except if the book is given free,

I heard that question. So, I don’t think you have to worry about karma

rather you are doing it as a service to Kṛṣṇa, this is Lord Caitanya’s order,

so you carrying out His order. Why would you be responsible for their karma?

It is Lord Caitanya’s order. In the same way we chant also Pañca-tattva mantra

before we chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. So, you are working on behalf of Lord Caitanya.

He said to distribute the teaching of Kṛṣṇa, so that is what you are doing?

Link: 20100420 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Karma], [Sādhanā / Book distribution], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

Does reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books regularly and listening to your classes also qualify as association ?

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-08-29

Why not?

Of course, all these things are very helpful in your spiritual life.

But we have to avoid also the association of non-devotees.

And that is why it would be good if there is some temple nearby

you can attend and to associate with devotees.

But if there are no devotees and you have Śrīla Prabhupāda books,

listen to my classes.

We see now by internet we have various Jayapatākā Swami Śiṣya Samūha [JSSS] programs,

you can attend them.

Actually, on the internet, we see YouTube I visit various temples every day.

So, now the internet we can associate with different devotees.

Via internet we can have good association, satsaṅga but we can also get into bad association.

So we should take the good and leave the bad.

Link: 20211218 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.29

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

Even while doing service, mind says that the current service is not good, do sādhana. And while doing sādhana, mind tells us to do some service. Kindly guide me how to overcome this?

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.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Emotions], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā]

Every day I make a resolve that I will do so many rounds of chanting, this much reading of scriptures and then do my studies. But I am not able to keep this program steadily.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Why you are not able to keep the program? What is it that your mind gets attracted to and does not let you do your daily routine properly?

That is your enemy.

You have to hear from the senior devotees about which is the obstacle that stops you.With the weapon of knowledge, you have to cut that.

Doing this you will become strong.

Doing exercise, in one day suddenly you cannot lift 100 kilos!

Slowly 20, 30, 40, 60, and finally in the future you can life 100 kilos.

Maybe more also.

Now His Holiness Bhānu Swami can lift a lot of weight!

I cannot!

He does exercise every day.

You are trying, that is good.

You should not feel disappointed.

Just keep going.

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can I increase my taste in reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Before you read chant your praṇāmas

to guru and Śrīla Prabhupāda.

In that way read the book with full attention.

And then gradually by reading every day your taste will increase.

Link: 20240205 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can I increase the dependence on holy name and Bhāgavatam?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa and His name are not different.

And the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

So if we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, if there is any anxiety or danger,

Kṛṣṇa helps us.

We have great devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja, he always took shelter of the holy name and His teachings.

But the demon father Hiraṇyakaśipu asked is your God in this column?

He is everywhere, Prahlāda Mahārāja said.

Then Hiraṇyakaśipu kicked the column.

There was a sound ohh….

Hiraṇyakaśipu was looking where is that sound coming from.

Then Narasiṁhadeva came out from the column.

So, you put your faith in Kṛṣṇa, His holy name, the śāstras, He will never let you down.

Prahlāda Mahārāja was an innocent boy, but his father was a demon.

So Prahlāda was not trying to purposely trouble his father.

So if you read the history of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam then that will strengthen your faith.

Link: 20220618 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can I make advancement in devotional life? I try to chant 16 rounds, but I don’t get time to read books. How can I improve in all aspects of spiritual life?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

If you fix a specific time to read books daily then your reading habit will grow

and if two persons can sit and read, that way your reading habit will increase.

There are some books which are in audio version which you can hear while cooking or doing some work.

Link: 20201011 Zoom Session With Singapore Bengali Devotees

Category: [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can one be a serious preacher ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-23

Jayapatākā Swami: A serious preacher, well a person can become a serious preacher in different ways.

When one is a serious devotee, one becomes a serious, one can be a serious preacher.

If a person is very serious about carrying out the order of guru, Vaiṣṇava, Kṛṣṇa, that naturally becomes also a serious,

whatever he does, including preaching.

If a preacher becomes very concerned about helping the people,

awaken from their animalistic consciousness and come into their actual spiritual heritage,

in that case they become very serious preachers,

by developing their compassion, by actually seeing philosophically how people both those who appear to be happy,

and those who appear to be suffering are all in a very precarious unfortunate condition,

and they need to be helped to become Kṛṣṇa conscious,

to become God conscious, to get out of this entire material entanglement.

In material life, happiness is the stepping stone to misery, and misery is the stepping stone to happiness.

sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ.

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ -

Happiness and sadness is always changing just like the changing of the seasons,

spring to summer, summer to fall, fall to winter, winter to spring, spring to summer, like that.

So, if someone is happy, it doesn’t mean anything,

it just means that within no time he going to be sad, even if someone is suffering that doesn’t mean

that much because after some time things will change and he will become happy.

So, to simply try to help all the people who are materially unfortunate, become materially fortunate,

is alright in the material platform, but in the overall spiritual sense that falls short.

That… that for us we want to help everyone.

Of course, those who are suffering materially, obviously it’s hard for them to concentrate on spiritual life.

So many of the Kṛṣṇa conscious services like giving out prasāda, also do have the material side effect.

Like feeding their hunger.

But the purpose is not to stop there, but to actually give them spiritual happiness.

Even rich people, even so called successful people or happy people, their situation is also uh one that deserves some sympathy,

some compassion, some mercy that they could actually become spiritually situated, because their situation is very unstable.

Very soon they will also be put into material suffering if they are not already in it.

But devotee becomes very compassionate to the fallen soul, wants to see them become spiritually happy,

wants to see them in their suffering, this is one way of becoming a very serious preacher.

Or one in general takes up the mood of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa and wants to carry out their instruction but also be very serious.

Link: 19840531 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.8.10

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

How can understand that our preaching activities are going in the right direction or not?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-05-11

Jayapatākā Swami: If people are answering and accepting your preaching, and becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious,

then we think our preaching is going well.

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How can we be sure if it is Kṛṣṇa or the devotees guiding us from within or just the mind?

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!

Link: 20190127 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

How can we counsel somebody who is depressed, without getting carried away by their problems ourselves?

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.

Link: 20220516 Bidding Farewell to the Residents of Kāśī, Part 2

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

How can we inspire more people to chant and dance, as instructed by Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Questioner: Yamuneśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, if you chant and dance,

that in itself would be very inspiring.

Gaurāṇgī Gandharvikā, she sent me a video

of how they were chanting and dancing…

very nice!

And I think..

the way to inspire more people to chant

is to chant yourself.

Naturally by having a group, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa

and inspiring other people to join in.

I saw in New Orleans,

before the Mardi Gras,

Mardi Gras.

Christians

went.. and they had signs...

"TURN OR BURN!".

Such were the signs.

"Accept Jesus or burn in hell!".

I did not see anyone joining in.

But when we went with our kīrtana,

people were buying roses and throwing at our feet

Some people

joined with the kīrtana.

So they see, they like..

how we were performing, singing and dancing.

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

How can we make Kṛṣṇa consciousness accessible to all including those with learning difficulties and special educational needs?

Questioner: Māyāpureśvarī Lakṣmīpriyā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: First of all, we want to reach all the people,

and how all the people with learning difficulties

can access,

that is something which people will ascertain.

We have seen that

some children with Down’s syndrome,

they have become very Kṛṣṇa conscious.

And I cannot particularly speak for all those with learning difficulties.

But those who have some experience,

they can say.

Of course, there are many people

without any difficulties,

and how to help them

to take up Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

that is our priority in one sense.

But then, they also have special learning difficulties,

how they could be taken out

is a separate thing.

Mahā Varāha dāsa: There is one mātājī, Anuttama mātājī, in Chennai who preaches to the deaf people.

There are a group of devotees in Chennai and Mumbai who are preaching.

They use sign language and preach to these people who have such difficulties.

We will share her contact with you and you can communicate with her.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Technology], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How can we preach to our relatives and neighbors who generally think that earning money and caring for the bodily maintenance is the goal of life and that chanting, following spiritual principles, etc. is a waste of time?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: That is what we are doing.

At least they are your relatives, they listen to you.

And you could see what works.

Flattery

or heart to heart talk.

This time there is a pandemic in the world,

people are dying,

people are getting sick.

Maybe you have some relative who got sick.

So it is an opportunity to explain

that while we do our material work,

we have to do some sacrifice for Kṛṣṇa.

Because if we don’t

that is why all this pandemic is there.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Material Sufferings], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How can we serve as a full-time in a temple if the temple is not carrying your mood of preaching and they are absorbed in the management of the temple and not encouraging preaching?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: As far as I know, all the temples in Bengaluru are into preaching.

They seem to be expanding the preaching in various ways.

I don’t know particularly, maybe some temple need particular devotees to do particular service.

But frees other devotees to do a lot of preaching.

I don’t know if you talked to your local president.

Ask how you could at least some time be engage in preaching.

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How did Śrīla Prabhupāda want us to preach to the college youth? How to make them serious students of Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: By not making them do a lot of sacrifice.

Let them do what they like to do

for Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How do I balance material and spiritual study? Is not material study a hindrance to spiritual preaching?

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.

Link: 20220516 Bidding Farewell to the Residents of Kāśī, Part 2

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Youth]

How should we make sure we don't offend new people while preaching ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-10-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Offense.. is a spiritual thing.

While preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness why would you offend new people ?

We should not refer to anyone

depending on their gender, race.. or color,

anything material.

but encourage people to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy.

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

How to avoid hesitation in encouraging and convincing others to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: See, we are not attached to winning or losing.

Rather, our system is that we offer respect to others

and we don’t expect any respect for ourselves.

So, like one of Lord Caitanya’s associates, he spoke to a Kazi, a Muslim magistrate.

He said, “You are very handsome, you are very powerful, rich, intelligent.”

Like that.

“I just want to ask you one thing?

Is it alright?”

He said, “Go ahead!”

He said, “Please forget all this

because when you die all this is gone.

Just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa!”

The Kazi said, “I will chant Hare Kṛṣṇa tomorrow.”

That associate said, “Haribol! Haribol!

You just said it!

Don’t stop now!

Haribol! Haribol!”

If you try, you can figure out what is the best way of doing it.

And that you are trying Kṛṣṇa will be very pleased that this devotee is trying.

So we want to say things that are favorable,

which will help the person to listen.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Emotions / Enthusiasm]

How to be certain that the messages we receive from within are from the mind or from Kṛṣṇa ?

Questioner: 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.

Link: 19820914 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.8.22-23

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]

How to concentrate only on Kṛṣṇa as our mind is not stable. Am reading Bhagavad-Gītā and Bhāgavatam, and doing japa but not able to focus mind on Kṛṣṇa?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Devotional service is a somewhat gradual process.

After taking initiation,

there is the stage of anartha-nivṛtti,

where the mind is somewhat fluctuating.

Gradually we rise above that,

to become fixed on the level of niṣṭhā.

From there we develop a taste.

Then when you are recognizing your mind is fluctuating,

again and again you have to bring it back to Kṛṣṇa.

In that way you can advance in your devotional service.

Just like, there is a prayer to the mind,

like, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, he wrote a book,

Vaiṣṇava Ke?,

I wrote some commentary on that.

Who is a Vaiṣṇava?

He is praying to his mind, what kind of a Vaiṣṇava are you?

It is a very heavy prayer

because he chastises his mind.

And Śrīnivāsa Ācārya wrote a book, Manaḥ Śikṣā,

Teaching the Mind.

So somehow we have to bring the mind under our control.

That is the position of bhakti-yoga.

We don’t let the mind wander,

we keep it engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all the time.

Link: 20200424 Zoom Session to Kanhaiyādeśa

Category: [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How to cultivate the missionary attitude?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said prāṇa haite jāra, sei hetu pracāra.

So if your spiritual life is there, then you will be automatically cultivating your spiritual life.

Link: 20230625 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How to develop a taste for reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books?

Questioner: —Sundara Nitāi dāsa, Ujjain.

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Sundara Nitāi dāsa, If you read the books every day, your taste will increase.

And I was reading last night, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that those who are somehow in connection with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement,

they should read all of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books –

Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and others.

Otherwise, one may fall down and leave Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of inadequate knowledge.

So you can pray to Kṛṣṇa that you can read the books without offence.

And by regularly reading, then you will gradually increase your taste.

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How to manage bhakti and family relationships at the same time, when they are not devotees?

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.

Link: 20220822 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Cooperation]

How to preach and convince people in a short duration of time like in the temple, train, or marketplace?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: In the time, place and circumstance,

what is your goal?

In the marketplace, what do you want to do?

If you can get people to buy a book,

then they will read it for hours and hours.

Then they will have some understanding.

What will you speak in the market?

Some place you may want to distribute the books.

You have to see the circumstance, what is the best way of preaching.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

How to preach without expectations, only for the service and pleasure of guru?

Questioner: —Susevinī Guru Gaurāṅga devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa is in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul, or Paramātmā,

the Christians know as the Holy Ghost.

So, one is actually talking through the Paramātmā in the heart of the living entity and to the Spirit Soul.

So with the help of the Paramātmā we want to help the jīva to get out his illusion.

The word preaching has kind of a negative connotation.

The word in Sanskrit or Bengali is pracāra,

pracāra means to glorify the Lord and the process of His devotional service.

It means how to encourage someone to take up devotional service.

Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda Ṭhākura said that there is no scarcity in the material world,

only scarcity is devotional service.

Everywhere you see this scarcity.

People work so hard to win some athletic competition,

they work so hard to get some academic degree,

they work very hard to get a raise.

But actually even if a little effort they give to serve Kṛṣṇa,

they would actually be able to perfect their lives.

Who remembers the one athletic event five years ago?

And some people leave and some people break their bones and die,

but if we render some devotional service we never lose the result,

it stays with us life after life.

But all the things we achieve in this material world, the material things we achieve this life we leave behind us.

Say we earn millions of dollars;

we cannot take one paisa to the next birth or one cent.

But any devotional service you do,it stays to your credit.

If you have enough credit, you leave this material world

and go back to the spiritual world where you can serve the Lord constantly,

where there is no birth, death, old age or disease. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20190219 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

How to prioritize and manage our time between our own sādhana, material duties and giving time every day to Bhakti-vṛkṣa members?

Questioner: Harshita Sharma

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: While balancing all these things,

there is not much time for māyā.

So that is very good,

and you need two hours or so at one point

every day to chant your 16 rounds.

With some experience you can do a little faster.

Then you have to read every day something,

of Śrīla Prabhupāda books.

The other activities,

the material activities

and cultivating the Bhakti-vṛkṣa members,

that will keep you out of māyā.

And so it is a very nice activity,

that you are taking so much responsibilities.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

How to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books regularly without failure? I am skipping frequently from reading.

Questioner: Paramapuruṣa Mādhava dāsa

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Paramapuruṣa Mādhava dāsa, what can I say?

How to read Śrīla Prabhupāda books regularly without failure?

You say you are skipping frequently from reading.

So we would like you to get the different degrees –

Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava,

Bhakti-vedānta, Bhakti-Sārvabhauma.

So naturally to get those degrees you have to read those books.

So making a system to regularly read,

that needs to be done.

And initially maybe you don’t have a taste.

But after sometime, you develop a taste

and then you will be thinking how to get more time to read.

So much nectar!

In the first canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

we are reading how Yudhiṣṭhira was the emperor of the world.

When he heard that Kṛṣṇa had left the world,

had gone back home back to Godhead,

all the Vṛṣnis also went back,

then immediately he enthroned his grandson Parīkṣit

and then he went giving up his crown, belt

and then he prepared himself to go back home back to Godhead.

Link: 20201109 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How will we educate people about Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

Jayapatākā Swami: They all know Kṛṣṇa, they know Rāma.

Then speak about Kṛṣṇa and Rāma.

Lord Caitanya said that all the time chant and worship Kṛṣṇa.

I met a person who said that he was chanting for the past 26 years the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra but do not get any happiness.

Then I asked him do you chant the name of Lord Caitanya?

He said no, I am from another sampradāya.

Then I gave him the Pañca-tattva mantra—

śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

wrote it down for him.

I told him chant this mantra first and then chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

If you chant this way, you will get good result.

After three months I went there and saw him.

He saw me from far and came running to me.

He fell down flat and paid obeisances.

“What mantra did you give me!” he said. “I am so happy now! What mantra did you give me?”

If you live in Lucknow they don’t know anything but you have this knowledge,

then preach the names of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma to them.

And teach them the significance of Nitāi-Gaura.

Lord Gaurāṅga had come to Vṛndāvana, to Banaras.

And how so easily He distributed the holy names of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma.

Nitāi Gaurāṅga!

Link: 20201007 Zoom Address to Bangladesh Book Distribution

Category: [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Kṛṣṇa's Incarnations]

I am an assistant professor of psychology and a counseling psychologist. In this lockdown period I have been attending classes by Sukṛtī mātājī and Amarendra prabhu. And I have also started taking classes for a bunch of middle aged people older than me. Request you Guru Mahārāja to kindly bless me so that they also feel inspired to take up Kṛṣṇa consciousness and I can also do more preaching services and progress in my Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-20

Jayapatākā Swami: So you are an assistant professor, you have a Master’s degree or PhD.

The Supreme Court was saying that more people may die from the fear of the corona virus.

So psychologists are very important.

For counseling they said, they should do bhajana, kīrtana and namaz

and have counseling.

So you could help us also.

Link: 20200505 Zoom Session with IYF Chennai

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

I am bereft of devotee association and am somehow trying to keep my bhakti alive. Due to a demanding schedule, it is hard to find time for book reading and other devotional services. I can barely just finish my 16 rounds. In such situation what should I do to stay fixed at your lotus feet?

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.

Link: 20201117 Zoom Session with ISKCON IYF Kolkata

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

I am divided in my desire to surrender completely to Mahāprabhu. Sometimes, there is a desire for name and fame. Also there are the expected responsibilities of married and working individuals. What should I do ?

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!

Link: 20220502 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.17

Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā], [Karma / Desires], [Emotions / Pride], [Emotions / Confusion]

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?

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

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Happiness]

I am facing difficulty in practically applying the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. Even though I have read a particular verse, when it comes to applying it in a situation, I forget it. Need your guidance?

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.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I am facing difficulty in practically applying the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. Even though I have read a particular verse, when it comes to applying it in a situation, I forget it. Need your guidance?

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.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I am from Punjab in North India, there is a culture and tradition like there are events like doing Rāmāyaṇa-paṭha, invite devotees and host a Bhāgavatam, invite someone who translates Bhāgavatam and do it for seven days, do the Bhāgavata-saptāha. For Rāmāyaṇa it is the Rāmacarita-manasa, these kinds of events are very popular. Is it okay for me to promote such cultural events here as a Bhakti-vṛkṣa leader?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-06

Jayapatākā Swami: In India, we don’t do Bhāgavata-saptāha,

we call it Bhāgavata-kathā or something else.

Usually Bhāgavata-saptāha, some professional does it.

Actually, I mean Parīkṣit Mahārāja he heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam all twelve cantos day and night without eating or sleeping.

And so, we listen for an hour or two, usually they talk about rasa-līlā or something,

but we may take any part of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

If you do it in that way, it is alright.

Call it Bhāgavata-kathā or something.

That may last seven days.

So we have different devotees who are expert at speaking.

The Rāmacarita-manasa, some of the verses are somewhat impersonal.

The Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa is better.

And one devotee is translating the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Vidvāna Gaurāṅga dāsa.

So the original Rāmāyaṇa done by Vālmīki is authorized.

Link: 20230503 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

I am not able to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. How to increase the taste to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

Jayapatākā Swami: At first you might not have a taste for reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

But you should still read.

I must have read the books maybe five or ten times.

At first, it was not so much taste, but I knew it was medicine, I had to read it.

Now, I read every day.

And it is very blissful!

So, I got my Bhakti-vaibhava degree, by studying.

And now on the 12th canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to get my Bhakti-vedānta degree!

How many of you have the Bhakti-śāstrī?

So, Bhakti-śāstrī is mainly Bhagavad-gītā.

And everybody should read that and get the degree.

Bhakti-vaibhava is six cantos of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

And Bhakti-vedānta is the last six cantos.

Bhakti-Sārvabhauma is Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Read, read, read. Read and put it to practice,

it sticks with you.

Link: 20240201 Evening Darśana and Question-and-answer session

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I am preaching to a few of my non-devotee friends and I was wondering at what stage should I bring them into the temple because I don’t want them to fall in like making offences or something like that.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-06

Link: 20230509 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

I am working in a place where other staff are non-devotees and sometimes they drink from the same bottle as I do. Should I allow this? Please guide me as to how I can preach and be Kṛṣṇa conscious in this situation.

Questioner: Purabi Das

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, if we take water used by non-devotees,

then that may compromise our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

At the same time, if people and devotees take water from us, which we offer to Kṛṣṇa, they get blessings.

So maybe in this situation, you take two bottles.

One for the staff

and one for yourself.

And we would like to give non-devotees kṛṣṇa-prasāda.

Link: 20220220 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Day-to-day Life / Workplace]

I fear that if I convey a harsh truth to a dear one, it could strain the relationship. Please guide me what to do?

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.

Link: 20211204 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.16

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

I have a doubt. I am practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness for the past two years under Rādhe Śyāma Prabhu. And I have a desire to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But at the same time, it is an offence to preach beyond our realization. In just two years I have very much less realization.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-10

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, the point we should only say what we have understood or heard.

We don’t speculate.

For instance, if someone asks a question,

we don’t know the answer,

we speculate and say something.

That is the not the way.

Better to say, I will find out the answer.

You can ask Rādhe Śyāma or read the book.

Then you will know the answer, you will go and say, I am ready now! I am ready! I AM READY! Let them come and ask any question!

I was distributing books and people would ask me questions.

Sometimes I did not know the answers.

So I told them, wait, I will tell you tomorrow.

I would ask Śrīla Prabhupāda or some senior devotee

and then I would go back and say I am ready.

You said, you are being guided by Rādhe Śyāma so that is very good!

The point is that it is not that you should not preach.But you should not speculate.

You should say what you have heard.

Link: 20200917 Zoom Session with Utkarsa Youth Boys Program

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

I have been distributing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and also worship them, but now I have become invalid and disabled. What could be the reason for this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-15

Jayapatākā Swami: This is due to the time factor.

And bhakti, vairāgya, jñāna, they are eternal tattvas.

But jñāna, vairāgya they became old in Kali-yuga.

But by Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they became rejuvenated.

If you think that because of distributing books you will remain in this material world forever?

Anyway, we have a limited time to live.

And by your distributing books, after this life we hope you will not have to take birth again!

We should avoid offences.

Link: 20220910 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.40

Category: [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I have been in ISKCON for the past 6-7 years chanting 16 rounds and following regulative principles for 5 or 6 years. I want to go back to Godhead. I want to follow the orders of Śrīla Prabhupāda and want to surrender my life to Lord Kṛṣṇa. I want to choose a guru, but I am very confused. ?

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.

Link: 20240209 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

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.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]

I read Bhagavad-gītā but I don’t remember. I listen to Bhagavad-gītā and I remember. So should I stop reading?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, since I had a stroke in 2008,

my eyesight is a little poor.

So I can read when the fonts are very big.

But now I found that either I can have people read to me or I have audio books.

So, if you are better equipped to hear class, you can hear the Bhagavad-gītā with the purports.

Draviḍa Prabhu and other devotees in California,

they have produced audio Bhagavad-gītā.

There may be audio gītās in different websites, I don’t know.

But usually if you read gītā and use what you read, you can remember it.

Like you read it something and that day you think I can use it – when you talk to someone you say, oh, I read this verse in the Bhagavad-gītā today.

Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (Bg. 2.20).

Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I want to aspire for initiation, but I am unable to choose out of so many initiating spiritual masters. Whenever I listen to some exalted personalities, I tend to take inspiration from them. Please guide me so that I can choose someone.

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?

Link: 20230622 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru]

I want to distribute books and do that but in between lose enthusiasm. What should I do?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

Jayapatākā Swami: Even if you lose interest in between, you should not stop and still continue.

And that way your enthusiasm will return.

This is called anartha. There will be anartha-nivṛtti, then ruci which is taste, then āsakti – attachment and then slowly more and more attached to the holy name.

Link: 20201007 Zoom Address to Bangladesh Book Distribution

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Book distribution], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

I want to know what is the right mood to take the initiation test?

Questioner: Liz Valero

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: You have to listen to and read the books.

Understand the teachings, at least the basic books.

If you read the books, the questions are fairly simple. For instance, what is the difference between the body and soul.

You can have the questions in advance, no secret.

So if you want the questions, we can send you.

So any way don’t feel anxiety.

We want you to pass your test.

And if you don’t pass it first time,

you can ask for the answers.

Next time you pass.

I think they are not so difficult.

Why do you believe that Kṛṣṇa is God?

Questions like that, they are very simple.

More complicated for second initiation.

They have to pass Bhakti-śāstri.

For first initiation, they are very simple.

Okay? No anxiety! Be calm!

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

I wanted to understand some of the tactics to engage the people in devotional service. We just received the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets during the pandemic time. But our temple is closed down and we cannot invite people to visit the temple. So what are some other ways we can help them to connect to Kṛṣṇa?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: You see since people are restricted from coming to the temple,

we have been finding that using the internet is a very good way!

At present time, there is a three-day Nāmahaṭṭa sammelan

and I heard that yesterday morning 18,000 links were accessed in the morning

and in the evening it was 25,000.

Each link may have many people.

Similarly, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, they had the Bhagavad-gītā Made Easy class –

18 days, 18 chapters.

9,000 people joined up.

I told this to Mangaluru

and they also started a program.

They did not have money to buy the Zoom account.

They got from Microsoft Meeting

25 free programs,

each one has about 275 capacities.

Like that they had 10 to 11 thousand people each time.

And they have done it three times.

By using Zoom, internet,

it is possible to reach out to many people.

People seem to be more eager for spiritual life now than ever before!

There are experts, you can ask the SPT GBCs some ideas about this.

We have Śabda Hari dāsa in Chennai, he is an expert on social media

and he gives classes

over the internet,

how to use this social media platform for preaching.

I think that Houston could definitely do a lot of preaching.

I don’t know if you are on Māyāpur TV or not.

But in that way you will be accessible all over the world.

Link: 20200912 Zoom Session with Houston Devotees

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

If a brahmacārī is faces many challenges in the āśrama from inside and the agitated mind is making bhakti distressful for him, should he change the āśrama?

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.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Varṇāśrama], [Varṇāśrama / Changing Āśrama], [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Sorrow]

If someone is unable to purchase the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam due to high price can we give him Caitanya-caritāmṛta?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Any of the books are good.

But if one wants to read the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam then I think there is a way of reading it, even if one does not buy it.

If you have a library near your home, then I can donate a set to that library.

Send me the library name.

Otherwise, talk to the Nāmahaṭṭa and we can see who we can arrange.

Link: 20220915 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.20

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

If we are not so advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness how can we preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness to others?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.

That is why we want you to read Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

I heard that one lady was principal of a college, she took the Bhakti-śāstri degree.

Anyway, if you repeat what you heard in the class,

you distribute books, by reading your books you can understand.

Even new devotees, they distribute books.

So this is how one can preach even if they are not particularly knowledgeable.

Link: 20220618 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

If your immediate family like brother or sister are eating nonveg at their home, are we allowed to go to their home and eat there or not eat at their place at all?

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.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion]

In certain places where we have ISKCON temples, there would be another group of devotees having their own centers. Even if the ISKCON temple is very close by, what is your opinion on this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: You see when I was a new devotee,

I visited every temple in ISKCON.

San Francisco, New York and Montreal!

Three!

And there were no other devotees in these temples, nearby.

But right now, we have about 800 temples, more or less.

And there is this one temple I know, mostly there are no other devotees.

In India, we have one place we have a few temples

but in other countries you don’t see.

Of course, in some places, there is the Gauḍīya Maṭha and other devotees.

It is alright.

They are making devotees around the world is good.

But it is very rare, most they are ISKCON devotees.

Link: 20231006 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Gauḍīya History / ISKCON], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

In SSR I recently read a paragraph where Śrīla Prabhupāda writes how Prahlāda Mahārāja, he doesn’t feel anxious for himself. He feels anxious for other people in general. But how will we get that mood because even when we preach we are sometimes scared for ourselves?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Since we understand that everyone is a part of Kṛṣṇa,

then if we love Kṛṣṇa

naturally all the parts of Kṛṣṇa you love.

Say, you love your father,

you love his fingers, everything.

You don’t want him to lose his finger.

Similarly, all the living entities are part of Kṛṣṇa

but those who are not devotees, they are like diseased parts.

They don’t really work just like my right hand

since my stroke by right hand is not paralyzed but paresis.

It doesn’t really do what I want to do.

Shakes around!

So, like that, the conditioned souls of non-devotees are like diseased limbs.

But they are also suffering.

The Vaisṇavas are para-duḥkha-duḥkhī.

We feel sad to see others suffering.

We know that they could be happy if they become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Naturally, Prahlāda Mahārāja was very compassionate, he was thinking about all the others.

He was not asking for himself.

Actually, Kṛṣṇa gives His devotees everything he needs.

But the devotee cares that the fallen souls should also be delivered.

So, now we are on the eve of Nṛsiṁha Caturdaśī,

that is tomorrow.

Because Prahlāda Mahārāja was always remembering Kṛṣṇa,

therefore he was always protected by Kṛṣṇa.

Haridāsa Ṭhākura was praying,

that I am not able to remember Kṛṣṇa always,

so please have mercy on me that I can always remember You.

The devotee wants to have the mercy of the Lord.

And also feels, like actually, Haridāsa Ṭhākura said he cannot remember Kṛṣṇa,

but no one believes that!

He chants 300,000 rounds a day!

What we chant in one year, he chants in one month!

So, he would be beaten in 22 market places

and he was praying for the executioners

who were beating him

that they may be forgiven.

They don’t know what they do.

So Kṛṣṇa Caitanya said that he came down with His Sudarśana Cakra

to kill them,

but then Haridāsa Ṭhākura was praying for them!

So He could not kill them.

What did He do?

He took all the hits on His own back

to protect His devotee!

So the more we know about how Lord Caitanya is how merciful the great devotees are,

we would also like to follow their footsteps.

Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he prayed if I can ask for one blessing,

Lord Caitanya said anything, anything you can ask.

ANYTHING!

What would you do if you could ask the Lord ANYTHING?

And what was the thing that Haridāsa Ṭhākura asked?

I want the remnants of Vaiṣṇavas! Ha! Ha!

Could you believe this! He asked for the remnants of the Vaiṣṇavas! Ha! Ha!

Because Kṛṣṇa said, the dust of the devotees’ feet,

the water that washes the devotees’ feet

and the remnants of their prasāda

are very powerful to give love of Kṛṣṇa.

So Haridāsa Ṭhākura asked for the remnants of the Vaiṣṇavas.

How great is Haridāsa Ṭhākura!

That the Lord embraced him!

Link: 20200505 Zoom Session with IYF Chennai

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.5), Kṛṣṇa says that all beings are in Him but He is not in them. Could you elaborate?

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.

Link: 20200817 Kṛṣṇa Benedicts Dhruva – Viśvambhara’s Narration to Śacī-devī

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

In the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa says that He is equal to everybody, being neither averse to nor particularly attached. But it is also said that for those who worship Him with devotion, He offers Himself to them. How to reconcile these seemingly contradictory statements ?

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.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Happiness], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

In the class, Lord Kṛṣṇa mentioned that He would not give His mercy to the non-initiated. Which initiation does He refer to and how do we reconcile this statement with Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda giving out Their mercy unconditionally?

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]

Is it an offense to not be attentive while reading/hearing ?

Questioner: Vraja Kīrtana dāsa

Date: 2022-10-14

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was sitting in the class of his Gurudeva. And someone came and talked to him. He looked away; he was listening to the devotee. And the guru said, “You no need to hear?” So, he thought that as a great blessing, because the guru noticed them. So definitely we want to give our full concentration while class is going on. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was sitting in the class of his Gurudeva.

And someone came and talked to him.

He looked away; he was listening to the devotee.

And the guru said, “You no need to hear?”

So, he thought that as a great blessing, because the guru noticed them.

So definitely we want to give our full concentration while class is going on.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20200909 Although Being in a Predicament, the Barber Receives a Boon of Residence in Goloka (Part 2)

Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

Is it due to lack of hearing that one doesn’t have enthusiasm to go out and distribute books? And by going out, does one become enthusiastic?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-11-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Lack of understanding.

Uttarā, why she was enthusiastic to protect her child?

She knew that this was her responsibility.

She saw the connection between her and the child.

The child was given to her by the husband.

It was her ward, she had responsible.

Because a devotee is not focused on the responsibility given by the spiritual master, is somehow absorbed in some kind of selfish materialistic consciousness or just due to ignorance, has become put in the type of a selfish consciousness.

Selfish means not the real self-interest, but the interest of simply the body and mind due to some misplaced sentiments.

It won't actually seize the connection.

The spiritual master has given us these fallen souls to deliver.

He’s given them.

They’re our ward; otherwise we could simply go with the spiritual master or if the spiritual master is not present, we could commit suicide and leave our body.

Why live in this world without our spiritual master?

Or why be somewhere without him?

We can just go wherever he is, you see.

We have another responsibility and we should see that these fallen souls are dependent upon us.

If we have that compassion, if we see that connection, then how can we help with being enthusiastic to go out, and preach up to our full capacity?

We don't see that connection.

If you want liberation, if you want mystic power, if you want sense gratification to go to heavenly planets, then why work so hard?

We just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, do some service, somehow or another, if we can simply stick it out, till we leave this body, then we are guaranteed to get either heavenly planets or to get Vaikuṇṭha, get some liberation.

Somehow or another we can stick it out, we will get back to Godhead.

So instead of actually taking up the responsibility given by the spiritual master, we are just so, more or less waiting for some liberation from the present miserable condition.

Therefore, that resolute determination, that pure devotion is not coming.

That’s why liberation has been said to be an obstacle in the path of devotional service.

This desire for liberation, if we simply desire to serve Kṛṣṇa, to serve our spiritual master, then how the determination to distribute His mercy cannot come?

It must come.

Its only when our desires are not focused properly, when we are becoming distracted by bhukti-mukti-spṛhā and therefore we become, disturbed in our mind.

Kṛṣṇa-bhakta-niṣkāma, ataeva 'sānta - because a devotee doesn’t have, the Kṛṣṇa devotee doesn’t have any ulterior lust, he is simply trying to give out the mercy, taking the responsibility that was given by Caitanya Mahāprabhu through the guru-paramparā, therefore, he is peaceful.

But the others, those desiring muktibhukti-siddhi-kāmī - liberation, sense gratification or mystic power– they are all unhappy, they all disturbed in their mind.

And a disturbed person, it’s very difficult for him to preach.

For a short time, one can do it.

So, the solution is to purify our consciousness, to become situated in the mood of pure devotion.

That will attract Kṛṣṇa, that will bring us to the goal.

Could you follow?

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa,
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Nitāi Gaura Guru Gaurāṅgadeva kī

Link: 19810912 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.9

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Book distribution], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

It is said nityam-bhāgavata-sevayā - does it mean that we should specifically read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily or reading other books of Śrīla Prabhupāda works too?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-16

Jayapatākā Swami: You should read all of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books

but having read, you may read other books one time.

But Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam you should read every day.

Bhagavad-gītā is necessary for preaching,

the Bhāgavatam takes you to sambanda, abhideya and prayojana.

Link: 20220506 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

It is said that if someone donates Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on Bhādra Pūrṇimā, they go back to Goloka. Would one who has already passed away also attain the same benefit if somebody donated a set on their behalf?

Questioner: Vijaya Gaura Kṛṣṇa dāsa.

Date: 2022-10-12

Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.

So, we know that people offer piṇḍa at the Gayā temple.

And we have heard, how people can offer the effect of Ekādaśī.

We can offer the fruit to someone else.

So it would seem that one could offer the fruit of the donation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

I don’t have on hand the direct verse saying that.

But a son who helps the father from the hellish condition is called the putra.

Pu is a hell.

And tra means in short, to deliver.

Putra means one who delivers the parent from hell.

Putrī is the female of the same.

So, it certainly cannot hurt a person, to give such a donation.

We hope that they would go to Goloka.

Certainly, he would be blessed in many ways.

Link: 20200822 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.23

Category: [Festivals], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

It is said that vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau (Brahma-saṁhitā 5.33). So that means just by reading one cannot please Kṛṣṇa, one can only please Kṛṣṇa by devotion. But then we also say that one should read books. Some people say, why not just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, why to read?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Oṁ tat sat!

I met a devotee, he said I am reading, there is no need to chant.

People make all kinds of excuses.

So one can say, we can only chant, no need to read.

So I will read and no need to chant.

But we should read, we should chant.

Now Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was giving his purports, which are a way to associate with Śrīla Prabhupāda.

So, I had a lot of personal association with Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Even then, to read what Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote is also very important.

Because he gave his own purports to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ślokas.

The purports included the tikas, of different purvācāryas

and also Śrīla Prabhupāda’s own realizations.

That is why it is important to read to have the association of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

And we should chant, by chanting, it purifies the heart.

By reading, when the heart is purified by chanting, then the topics go into the heart.

Link: 20201105 Zoom Session with ISKCON Youth India Conference

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the topmost yoga system. What kind of service can we be engaged in where we can present our philosophy very scientifically to the inquisitive?

Questioner: Sumitra Gauracandra Dāsa

Date: 2022-09-06

Jayapatākā Swami: The TOVP, the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is trying to destroy the false

understanding or wrong understanding about the universe and things like this

and therefore they are trying to establish the proper science as per the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Vedas.

Now if you wish you could get in touch with the Bhaktivedanta Institute or you can also contact the TOVP

and be engaged in this service as they are doing the same activity.

Link: 20211127 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.9

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Other philosophies / Western Science / Western Philosophy], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

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!

Link: 20230418 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]

Many devotees they want to live in Rādhā-kuṇḍa and do their bhajana, considering that it is the supreme abode the supremely holy place. But we see that all our ācāryas left Vṛndāvana and came to Navadvīpa to perform their bhajana. How to understand?

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.

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

One of the challenges we face while going to the college youth is getting the suitable time between the preacher and the student. The preachers are ready to give instruction but the students seem to have less time. And getting them to the center is also becoming challenging. So how do we make our association impactful given the shortage of time?

Questioner: Rādhe Śyāma Dāsa

Date: 2022-08-24

Jayapatākā Swami: Caitanya Avatārī dāsa in Bengaluru is working on this.

Instead of having discovery and reading of some verse,

he is putting the verse in the video format,

like a 3-minute short video,

snippet.

Then he shows that

and have people go directly to the understanding.

What are the two or three most important points?

And then have people discuss,

go around the room,

and how you apply this knowledge in daily life.

Like six different ways it could be applied.

So, in this way, you don’t need to read eight pages, one page is enough.

We have more knowledge than they can absorb.

So, this aspect of discussion could be completed in 45 minutes’ time.

Maybe less, I don’t know,

I did not try but also like in the beginning some kind of icebreaker may be good.

Something less philosophical, some variety of ice breakers.

What do you like to eat or something, there is a whole book on icebreakers.

So that will let them loosen up in the classroom

So a ten-minute icebreaker, five minutes chanting

and half hour discussion.

A full Bhakti-vṛkṣa takes about two hours.

But they have also like they call mañjarīs

which takes like an hour.

If you can see how much time they can tolerate.

Whether we should have a mañjarī or a Bhakti-vṛkṣa.

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Sādhanā / Time Management], [Youth]

People invite we don’t know what they are eating or not, but even if they cook vegetarian food, we are not allowed to eat as initiated devotees?

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.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Sādhanā / Diet]

Please tell people the greatness in the month of Dāmodara from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: So you want to give synopsis of the question.

Basically she is saying that how do we tell people the greatness, in the month of Dāmodara from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

So through the different Vedic literatures, the greatness of the month of Dāmodara is mentioned.

But that is in the Padma Purāṇa and other Purāṇas.

Slightly mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,

but the most important thing is to engage in devotional service and then during these special months and special days we get multiple benefits.

So to encourage people to engage in devotional service.

We mentioned how Jagāi and Mādhāi, by receiving the mercy of Nitāi-Gaura, they were able to achieve perfection in their lives.

So have them take up the service of Nitāi-Gaura.

Have them chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Have them discussing in the holy month of Dāmodara.

Engage them in offering a lamp to Kṛṣṇa, chanting His holy names and doing some services to the devotees of the Lord and the Lord.

In this way, one may get a tastes.

Don’t be attached to the result.

If the persons accepts or maybe the person does not accept.

We don’t have the potency yet, then bring the person to someone who is more advanced

and by their association, that person might get changed.

In the market of the holy name described by Bhakti Vinoda Ṭhākura,

he said how some people sell the goods and some people act as brokers.

They bring the people to the sellers of the goods.

If you have the goods to sell, if you have the personal capacity to give Kṛṣṇa, then you give.

If you don’t have the capacity, you give Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books or bring them to someone who is more advanced

and then that person can hopefully be able to influence the person.

But don’t be discouraged.

Do as far as you can and sometimes may overtly show some disregard but later they change.

But this question said, he or she really believes in what she says and therefore the person remembers.

So the person may outwardly show disdain but inwardly he may be affected,

that how this devotee, how Priyanka is so sincere, I don’t believe in anything.

I was in one TV show in Montreal, Canada,

and they paid me at that time 45 dollars,

I had to play the part of a devotee. And ha! Ha!

It was not difficult for me.

My parents in the show they were trying to tell this kind of personal court.

I was wondering if I got some tips from my father, how I would use it in the service of Kṛṣṇa.

Which I discussed.

Alright, my father said, this acting father,

if I give a gift I want my son use it, not give it to the organization to use it for Kṛṣṇa.

That was the whole thing.

Then the judge, the personal judge was supposed to give his order.

So naturally there was scope for advertisement.

So during the stop the actor said, he really believes in what he is saying!

I don’t believe in anything.

That was his off the record comment.

So the judge he found that I was right, ha! Ha!

But it is a fact that most people don’t believe anything.

That was an eye opener for me.

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vratās (Austerities)], [Vratās (Austerities) / Kārtika-māsa-vratā]

Prabhupāda said that utility is the principle. I wish to understand this and how does it apply in preaching ?

Questioner: Anonymous

Date: 2022-07-30

Answer: Don’t put a beehive under the window of your guru.

(laugh)

The common sense is the easiest thing,

but it is the hardest thing to come cross.

Most people don’t have common sense

and they do things very impractically.

So, you can ask your guru or śikṣā-guru or senior devotees,

What could be the best thing that you can do? Under the circumstances,

and accordingly you can act.

So utility is the principle means something may not be very useful.

And we just do them and we don’t get the desired result.

So utility is the principle we should see,

what will bring that out, proper results.

Link: 20150301 Evening Darśana

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

Reading books for two hours minimum daily. Can you kindly clarify Guru Mahārāja. As a brahmacārī, two hours daily is possible, but as a working devotee can I also read two hours Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and preaching whatever time permits? Or just focus on preaching service with maybe 45 minutes of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books since many times we need absorption?

Questioner: Hemāṅga Haladhara dāsa

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know where you are based?

[A-side: from Bengaluru Guru Mahārāja.]

Bengaluru is famous for intense traffic jams.

So one could listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda books on the earphone.

Or if one is driving in the car use the loudspeaker system.

So that also counts for the reading time.

So when a lady is cooking she can play Śrīla Prabhupāda’s recorded lectures

or Bhagavad-gītā in audio.

So, see how much time you have, apart from your work,

and how much time can you spend reading and how much time in preaching.

If you don’t repeat what you read,

you may forget it.

So preaching is also part of reading.

It helps you to absorb the teachings.

Link: 20201104 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Scripture says that on hearing these pastimes we will be freed from distress. I see that I am still much distressed. Is it because I am not hearing the pastimes with proper attitude and mood?

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.

Link: 20220517 Cowherd Obtains the Blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Should one try to make more devotees or try to absorb oneself in other devotional activities such as chanting, reading and serving Deities?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

So, the point is that there are two devotees, the bhajanānandīs and the goṣṭhyānandīs.

So, the bhajanānandīs want to see their own personal liberation.

The goṣṭhyānandīs want to take many devotees with them

back home back to Godhead.

So, our disciplic succession is goṣṭhyānandī.

We practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness, at the same time we try to expand the number of devotees.

So, our business is practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness and we also try to outreach.

Link: 20211211 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.23

Category: [Gauḍīya History], [Gauḍīya History / ISKCON], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

Should priority be given to training the new devotees or encouraging and giving time to the existing devotees?

Questioner: Keśava-kṛpā Sindhu dāsa

Date: 2022-09-22

Link: 20200819 Viśvambhara Somewhat Pacifies Śacī devī

Category: [Devotee Care], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

Should we follow a routine as in the place and time when it comes to reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Tapan Miśra, the minister of education has recently published a book about how to read.

So he describes that if we make a habit of reading then it is very good.

And in the beginning, you may read for less time,

but by doing it regularly every day you can gradual increase the capacity.

This is our opportunity to associate with Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Thank you very much!

All glories to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam!

Link: 20220915 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.20

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

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!

Link: 20200601 The reaction of the Atheists and Devotees After Seeing the Saṅkīrtana

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion]

Sometimes atheists complain that God is narcissistic. As a result, He dislikes criticism and thus tries to kill and curse the atheists. Kindly clear this misconception.

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]

Sometimes I feel so low that I am not up to the mark. It is so overwhelming that I cannot remain enthusiastic anymore. And to endeavor to render better service. How do I deal with this conspiracy of the mind?

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.

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence]

Sometimes it happens that different people tell me to read different books, this book or that book. Could you please tell me the right order of books that should be read?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Just like we have the Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedānta,

Bhakti-Sārvabhauma,

so first book is Bhagavad-gītā, Īśopaniṣad, Nectar of Instruction, first part of Nectar of Devotion.

And of course, with that some of the small books.

Then there are the first six cantos of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

And then the second six cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Then the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Link: 20230421 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Sometimes it is happening that due to more office workload, we are not able to do our prescribed service for Kṛṣṇa like preaching. What to do in these cases? Can we think that Kṛṣṇa wants us to leave the current office?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the advantage maybe of being a brahmacārī.

That you don’t have to do intense work.

But any way, in the office environment,

as you move up the ladder,

sometimes you get less time, sometimes you get more time.

I have some disciples, they said that they got a job as a director in a company,

they could delegate different jobs

and do all their required work in a few hours

and have more time for preaching and other services.

It is hard to understand

what the particular job is.

It is kind of a disadvantage of working in a place –

I heard that sometimes the IT professionals, they make them work more than 8 hours, like 12 hours.

And so sometimes it is a different situation.

And some people they make them work

but they don’t actually have to do much.

So they have set up some program on their computer

that shows that they are working,

but they are actually chanting their japa

and the computer automatically types.

So I don’t know, when I first came to ISKCON in 1968 we did not have many books,

we had to take different jobs.

Although I was from a very rich family,

since I was looking for some temporary jobs just to pay for Śrīla Prabhupāda’s rent,

I had to work in many menial jobs.

Some plastic factory,

paint factory,

all kinds of jobs.

Finally, I got a printing job.

So when I was at work I would chant Hare Kṛṣṇa

but I can understand that there is a problem working.

So try to do the best you can.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

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!

Link: 20230413 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Sometimes we need to talk about something with the devotees which is not Kṛṣṇa-related such as some management issues. But how to identify if we are doing prajalpa?

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.

Link: 20220219 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Anarthās]

Sometimes we want to help someone but do not for various reasons. But we know that they require help. So how could we could not help and in the same time to help them too?

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.

Link: 20221029 Śrīla Prabhupāda Disappearance Day Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion]

Sometimes when we are inspiring a new person, they chant for some days but after that they give up gradually, despite follow up. How to convince them?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: We know that kāla, deśa, patra,

time place and circumstance.

The person also.

Why that person is stopping chanting?

You may talk to him.

Find out what his hesitation is.

And encourage him and you will know his reason.

Most people are just lazy in spiritual life.

And if you find the person chanting a little bit, then you could be appreciative.

People say, I asked how many round they are chanting,

they are very shy, they say only 4 rounds!

4 rounds! Wow! 2.5 million names of Kṛṣṇa in a year!

So like that, I try to encourage people and they chant even one round and I try to encourage them and they feel oh wow! He is so happy, and they say I will try to chant 8 rounds.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

Sometimes, even after giving all the love and philosophical teachings, the children still do not take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. What is to be done?

Questioner: Bhagavān Dāmodara Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

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.

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

Śrīla Prabhupāda said that in order to preach one must have life. Can you please explain this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura he said

prāṇa āche jāra sei hetu pracāra.

If someone has spiritual life, he can preach.

The mistake we make in accepting the impersonalism

actually kills our spiritual life.

And therefore, we are not able to preach.

But if we understand the actual substance of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is

and then we can easily preach.

That is why we want people to study Bhagavad-gītā As It Is,

study the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

and study the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

So how Lord Caitanya convinced these Māyāvādī sannyāsīs

is very important,

for us to understand.

We pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda the

way that he explains the philosophy to the voidists and the impersonalists.

So similarly, we should understand

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings

and we are able to understand the impersonalist idea.

Link: 20220401 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

The demigods, being Kṛṣṇa’s representatives, help the Vaiṣṇavas progress in kṛṣṇa-bhakti. But here (in Dhruva-līlā) we see them creating many obstacles. How can we reconcile this?

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.

Link: 20201105 Zoom Session with ISKCON Youth India Conference

Category: [Anarthās], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Material World / Demigods]

The youth are seen to be indulging in various undesirable activities and thus are not capable of appreciating the Kṛṣṇa conscious philosophy. However, when using bridge-level preaching tactics (such as anger/stress management etc.), there is a feeling that the teachings of paramparā may be compromised. How then do we strike the balance ?

Questioner: IYF

Date: 2022-08-24

Jayapatākā Swami: I mean somehow, there was a presentation how to be happy.

That was very interesting because

I was not happy.

I had sense gratification

but it wasn’t satisfying.

So somehow if we want to tell those people that

by practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness

they can become happy.

The bridging programs can somehow bring them to Kṛṣṇa consciousness

then that would be ideal.

If anger management can include some aspect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

some practices that they could do.

Some ways they can control their anger

by dovetailing it.

So bridge is to take us over the bridge to the other side of the river.

That means, take us to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

So at the end of the bridge there should be something Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Although the attraction is okay, anger management for instance,

we learn that we can practice, we can control anger through bhakti-yoga.

So the bridge program actually does that, it bridges us to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

At least to some extent.

Like you are saying people have many lusty desires and bad habits,

I saw today on the Tv

that in some states 3 or 5 states in the USA,

they do a referendum and made marijuana smoking for recreation legal.

It was previously legal for medicinal use.

But now it is legal for recreation in some states.

So, all kinds of bad habits people have –

not only drinking, smoking,

illicit sex.

Actually, we know that none of these things give one satisfaction.

But we cannot directly attack these things.

Rather, we try to present the positive thing of chanting, meditation,

and then when they are more ready,

when they ask appropriate questions,

we may reveal that bad habits should be controlled.

That is a gradual process.

That is what Śrīla Prabhupāda said that it takes buckets of blood,

not easy to make a devotee.

Do you think only people now are addicted to bad habits?

Ha! I think before I was 12-I had already broken all the regulative principles!!

Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Sinful activities], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Youth]

The youth of today are looking for recreational activities such as meditation, yoga and so on and if we try to provide them with those, they entertain themselves with the same and leave, never to come back. Also one of the pressing problems of the youth is that they come with a lot of lusty propensities and thus face a lot of challenges in dealing with the opposite sex.

Questioner: Rādhe Śyāma Dāsa

Date: 2022-08-24

Jayapatākā Swami: As far as light activities, the thing is that chanting, singing is very light.

Actually, that is much more effective and much more purifying than these breathing exercises.

Art of Living all that, they promote this breathing exercise.

But if we get the people to chant and sign,

dance,

that can loosen them up.

That way, they actually get more purified

and because people are seeing themselves as the body,

they think that the body, the senses have to be satisfied.

Therefore, lusty desires are very prominent.

And so how to engage their energy

in such a way that their energy would be better utilized.

That is why we see that many people they may not be interested in being brahmacārīs.

And like in the West, somehow the ladies they are actively preaching

and therefore many men are attracted.

And if the men are preaching, the ladies are attracted.

Now, I heard that in the Indian universities it is quite open.

Maybe more than the West.

So it could be a big challenge.

Link: 20201105 Zoom Session with ISKCON Youth India Conference

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Youth]

There are many activities in spiritual life such as chanting, reading, deity service, Vaiṣṇava-seva and so on. Which one is to be given more importance ?

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

Category: [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vigraha Āradhana (Deity Worship)]

We are doing Bhakti-vṛkṣa and there are some standards for new devotees who come. Is there any hard and fast rules because some Bhakti-vṛkṣas are giving opportunity for new devotees also and they later become devotees. So is there any hard and fast rule or we can just sense it and feel it, ok this devotee we can give chance to cook even they are not chanting 4 rounds or 8 or 16 rounds yet.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: You see if they cook under your supervision, it is alright.

You are seeing what they do is proper.

But if they are cooking in their house we don’t know if they are eating it and whether they have a cat or dog in their house.

So if you have new people and they are not cooking under your supervision then we ask them to bring uncooked stuff like salad, fruits.

But otherwise have them cook under your supervision and Śrīla Prabhupāda said that is alright.

You see that they are following all the rules.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching]

We are generally advised to speak palatable truth. However, we also see that Vidura preached the unpalatable truth to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. How do we adjust our preaching as the situation demands ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: To do this, one should use his common sense.

Like he went to the Pāṇḍavas and he did not want to make them unhappy and tell them that Lord Kṛṣṇa had already departed.

But with Dhṛtarāṣṭra it was another situation. Therefore, he comes and speaks harshly to Dhṛtarāṣṭra so that he is encouraged to take up devotional service.

So, preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness takes a lot of common sense.

In different situations we have to act differently.

I guess, this may be frustrating but there is no easy formula I can tell you.

That is why, we hear the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam where we find that Vidura according to different situations, he behaves differently.

Link: 20211211 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.23

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

We are reading that all these Svarūpas are mentioned in the Gauḍa-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, who has revealed all these in the dīpikā?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: The writer.

One who wrote it down!

One of the associates of Lord Nityānanda, He analyzed the different pastimes.

Kavi Karṇapura we went to his temple he has Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā in a village called Maheśa.

Just by hearing the names of the associates we can every easily get love of Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20230411 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

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)]

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.

Link: 20200915 Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu Enters the Forest After Accepting Sannyāsa

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vigraha Āradhana (Deity Worship)]

We see so many amazing orators in ISKCON, doing preaching service. Everyone wants mercy. And Lord Caitanya can give us mercy easily if we preach. So I also want the mercy but I see that my voice is not empowered. So could you please tell that how can we preach so that it penetrates the hearts of people?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-03-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Acintya Caitanya dāsa here was telling me

how when he visited Kethuri-grāma

and heard how Lord Caitanya left love for Godhead in the Padmā river for Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura,

and Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura bathed in the Padmā, he came out changed.

But then he said Lord Caitanya had left His ecstasy in the Padmā river.

But Śrīla Prabhupāda said that his books are his personal ecstasies,

so if you read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books,

we can get love for Kṛṣṇa.

And naturally if you read Śrīla Prabhupāda books and then you just be sincere to repeat what you have heard in your own words -

I pray for the mercy of guru, Lord Caitanya and Lord Kṛṣṇa before giving every class

and by Their mercy I give what I give.

But these two things - reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and praying for Their mercy,

that is what I know.

Don’t be self-conscious.

Think of Kṛṣṇa,

and try to say Kṛṣṇa’s message.

Kṛṣṇa ordered everybody yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa upadeśa - that is the secret.

One time in this Kārtika month, we had a function in the town hall in South America, Ecuador, in Cuenca.

There one civil contractor, he was a labor contractor (from Delhi?), he was not very educated.

But he spoke, he was so sincere.

Everybody was moved! Everybody there they were Christians, and they came and offered candles to Yaśoda and Kṛṣṇa.

Haribol!

If you are sincere, that is what changes peoples’ hearts!

Link: 20221022 Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.25.1

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Mercy], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

What book should I read, which chapter in the Dāmodara month?

Questioner: Rūpaśrī Vasudhā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: In the Kṛṣṇa Book, the chapter on the Dāmodara-līlā is there,

that can be read.

Link: 20201103 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

What is required for book distribution?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

Jayapatākā Swami: The desire to serve the Lord.

Mercy on the conditioned souls.

When you distribute books to someone, pray to the Lord that He bestows His mercy on them.

This way the Lord if He bestows His mercy on that person, they may take the books.

One devotee in New Orleans airport, was trying to distribute books the whole day but no one took any.

Then he prayed to the Lord requesting that someone come and take some book.

At that time a plane landed, and many passengers alighted and left.

He went up to one such passenger and showed him a book and asked him to take it.

He said that today was my worst day! Worst day!

I will not see anything.

The devotee said, sir, when one has the worst day, I have come to help such a person.

Why was it the worst day for you?

He said, “Why did I study, why did I go to university?

Why did I get married?

Why did I take up a job?

Everything for pleasing my mother.

And today my mother died! My worst day!”

The devotee said, “Sir, your mother did not die.

Here is the Bhagavad-gītā, it says that the soul is eternal, and body dies.

Soul does not die.

Your mother is still there.”

The man said, “She is?

Can I take this book?”

“Sure”, the devotee said.

He said, “I only have 20 dollars, is that okay?”

The devotee said, “That is okay, give whatever you have.”

This way, if we pray to the Lord, what can not happen?

Link: 20201007 Zoom Address to Bangladesh Book Distribution

Category: [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Book distribution], [Emotions / Enthusiasm]

What is the best way to preach and is it offensive to preach to the faithless, so how do you preach then?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-04

Jayapatākā Swami: You see we don’t tell the glories of the holy name to a faithless person.

If you say, oh, you chant the holy name it will destroy all your sins.

He is a faithless person he does not believe in sin.

You just tell them chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy,

not going through all the glories of the holy name.

Just tell them chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy!

Eat this prasāda, bhel-purī!

It was very nice Gujarati prasāda today.

Link: 20230419 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

What is the most effective way to make people realize right away that we need to take Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously as many people understand the concepts but do not develop the faith ?

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.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

What is the most effective way to make people realize right away that we need to take Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously as many people understand the concepts but do not develop the faith ?

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.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

What is your take on veganism?

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.

Category: [Sādhanā / Diet], [Other philosophies], [Emotions / Confusion], [Day-to-day Life / Food]

What keeps you motivated to preach despite of all impediments ?

Questioner: Akshay, Vadodara

Date: 2022-10-15

I feel very grateful for all that Śrīla Prabhupāda did for me

and so to repay him I try to preach.

And in 2008 I had a stroke.

And the right side of my body is not paralyzed fully but paresis, partially paralyzed.

And the left side of my face.

But the teachings of Lord Caitanya are very blissful.

It says that normal people if they eat grains and milk, you get strong,

but for devotees even if you have one drop of nectar

then you feel so much energy.

Lord Caitanya gives this nectar.

We hope that your visit to Māyāpur was very nice.

This is known as audārya-dhāma,

the merciful dhāma.

Vṛndāvana is mādhurya-dhāma, very sweet.

Jagannātha Purī and Dvārakā are aiśvarya-dhāmas,

very opulent.

This is the place to have mercy

and Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa but He is in the mood of devotee, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

So that is why it is the special mercy we get

and we want to serve Lord Caitanya and Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

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.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

What to do when my idea for a certain project is conflicting with superior authority ?

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.

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Emotions / Confusion], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

What to do when we cannot reach you for some important decision making and guidance? At the same time whatever guidance we receive from the seniors are not satisfactory and not solving the issues?

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.

Link: 20220220 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Emotions / Confusion]

What we should do when envious people blaspheme or complain or tell us to stop singing the holy names on the streets?

Questioner: Rukmiṇī Rāmana dāsa

Date: 2023-12-11

Jayapatākā Swami: Someone asked Prabhupāda once what to do when people cover their ears when they walked by the kīrtana,

Prabhupāda said, “Pull their hands away for hearing!!” Ha!

Of course, that may be not legal,

but the point is that we want people to hear.

Unless there is some law about chanting,

we shouldn’t have to listen to anybody.

We go on chanting!

If there is some law that is not permitted or something,

you need to get the permit.

Link: 20190110 The Raving of Envious People on Hearing the Kṛṣṇa-nāma-kīrtana

Category: [Emotions / Envy], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

When I read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books I feel very connected to him. But due to lack of time I am unable to read as much and thus feel guilty. What should I do?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Whether there is any time to do books

during your study,

that you have to analyze

and like, housewives when they are cooking, they can listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s class, or his books audio version.

I don’t know specifically what your schedule is that you can give any time in the day for reading.

Sometimes there is so much service to do for your studies,

when there is no time for māyā,

that is good.

Link: 20201118 Zoom Prabhupāda Kathā

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Time Management]

When we go to university to study, I do bhakti but my fellow students do not do bhakti. I want to preach to them as I don’t feel good about this. How do I make them understand?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that the path of devotional service happens gradually.

First, you have to say something easy for them.

Chant the name of Kṛṣṇa once and you will be happy.

If someone is interested in doing service to Kṛṣṇa, give them that.

From 17th September to 23rd September the ‘World Holy Name Week’ is being celebrated.

That is why they want many people to get together and chant the holy name.

Those who have smart phone,

make a video in which one time you say that I am from Bangladesh and I am chanting for world peace and happiness and chant:

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

And send this.

If you chant these names, you will get love for Kṛṣṇa.

There is no need to give much details.

Just say you will be fortunate, just chant the holy name.

We will send the video to America.

Fortunatepeople.com

Link: 20200911 Zoom Session with Bangladesh National Youth Gathering

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

Which one do you recommend first – Caitanya-bhāgavata or Caitanya-caritāmṛta?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Caitanya-caritāmṛta has the purports of Śrīla Prabhupāda, it would be better to read its purports first.

Although in my compilation, I have going chronologically about the life of Lord Caitanya.

So, the Caitanya-bhāgavata comes first

because that is dealing with His early life.

And then there are other books

and then the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

But this is at the end of the book and here we have some of the pastimes of Lord Nityānanda and His associates.

This book, I am not putting in the Bengali, I am just telling the translation and purport.

Like the Kṛṣṇa Book.

Link: 20230413 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

While preaching about celibacy to the youth, they are sometimes seen to justify lust by referring to the divine rāsa-līlā of the Lord. How can we handle such a situation?

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 preaching about celibacy to the youth, they are sometimes seen to justify lust by referring to the divine rāsa-līlā of the Lord. How can we handle such a situation?

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.

Link: 20200909 Although Being in a Predicament, the Barber Receives a Boon of Residence in Goloka (Part 2)

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Lust], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Youth]

While preaching to some tough nuts, we need to go in karmī dress, then it becomes difficult to be always thinking of Kṛṣṇa and little challenging. How can we follow Prahlāda Mahārāja in such situations as Prahlāda Mahārāja was so bold and steady, while preaching, even in such hostile conditions. How can we also be bold and steady while preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Questioner: Nitāi Candra Nimāi dāsaPr

Date: 2023-07-08

Jayapatākā Swami: You see Prahlāda had to go to the school of the demons.

So, he was smart!

He did not speak in front of the demoniac teachers.

When they gave time for the kids to have recreation,

then he would preach to the children.

So he would be waiting for the chance when the teachers would go out, and then he would preach to the students.

Like that we can take good example from Prahlāda to use whatever possible, to preach.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

While preaching, how do we help those who have a little faith but seem to be struggling ?

Questioner: Amāni Gauracandra dāsa

Date: 2022-10-14

Jayapatākā Swami: The more one has faith, the more they can obtain devotional service.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said

that the coins, money, to purchase the holy name, is faith.

So, how to increase someone’s faith?

The so-called obstacles of family, friends, they can’t actually stop one from having faith.

But if one’s faith is weak,

then they would create disturbance.

So, you should try to help people obtain more faith

in Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya, to glorify the Lord,

how He i

s so merciful

and then try to increase their faith. Haribol!

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

Who is Swami Nārāyaṇa? (projected as the Supreme source by the BAPS temple in Gujarat)

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.