Question: Even though we may not be fully purified at heart and still have some material desires, if we keep following the given process of chanting our daily rounds and following the regulative principles diligently, will we go back to Godhead ?
Author: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-24
Jayapatākā Swami: Prabhupāda said, if a person follows the process of Kṛṣṇa conscious then they can.
If one wants to take birth again in the material world, no.
How free you are from things like offences, may dictate how high you can go in spiritual world.
Whether we get place in Vaikuntha? Whether we get a place in Goloka Vṛndāvana? How I am will able to go?
Or, I mean if a person, I had one person, approached me in India, he was a real strange character.
He said that, “I have been chanting 32 or 20 or 16 rounds for 26 years.
But never gave up eating fish.”
Neutral position that we were discussing today, he reciprocates with the person so perfectly,
that if someone would do something like that because of their offences to chanting, while chanting the holy name,
but they don’t actually make advancement, towards pure love for Kṛṣṇa.
They are getting some benefit from chanting,
but at the same time they are material heart, their material desires aren’t going due to being absorbed in sense gratification like that.
So I advised him that, you should chant the names of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu,
and by His mercy you may be able to overcome this desire of eating fish.
And sure enough after chanting Lord Caitanya’s names for some period of time, he got some spiritual intelligence, and he could stop eating fish.
Even though for 26 years he was on his weird practice, where although chanting he never tried to avoid breaking that,
you know, stopping breaking that regulative principle.
So if a person, I mean if he is determined, you know, alright, I am going to chant 16 rounds and I am going to follow the four principles,
but if they take things in an attitude that I’m determined not to give up my material attachments,
then that’s anachronism, you know.
From our side it should be not just externals, but it should be internal, that we are trying to follow the process.
We are trying from our part to give up our attachments.
If we have the proper attitude, we are trying to give up our attachments, we are trying to avoid, even if we arenot fully successful.
Prabhupāda said, “There is… That Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, that Lord Caitanya is so merciful,
even though we may not at the point of death have been a hundred percent successful.
We can still get delivered.”
[Aside: How long I should go on ?]
I was in Montreal, and Prabhupāda was giving a lecture, that time we had a vyasāsana for him was very high.
I mean, very, it was like, when we would stand up, we would be facing Prabhupāda eye to eye,
or he would still be even higher than that.
It was a very high vyasāsana, and you have to kind of crawl up, steps going up.
[Aside: It was more like a kind of a culpit.
Culpit or something?
Devotee: Pulpit]
Pulpit, Pulpit.
So he would be up there, he would have a seat there and would even have prasādathere.
On a feast they would bring him a big plate of prasāda, we will all be sitting down,
and he would take Prasad from there and sometimes he would give prasāda out from there.
So one day he was giving his lecture from up there naturally,
and on this point he was just preaching very hard, we have to be a 100% Kṛṣṇa conscious,
we have to try, we have to be 100% Kṛṣṇa conscious, we have to try for that,
we have to become, if we are 100% Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we can get pure love for Kṛṣṇa, then our lives will be completely successful.
He was hammering this point.
The devotees you know thinking, 100%! Their heads gradually started to hanging down and they became very thoughtful,
that 100% was like such an objective that never seem that this ever possible, even you know, to get real close to a 100%.
But Prabhupāda was very emphatic on this point.
The devotees were very thoughtful at that time.
Then Prabhupāda, he ended the class, there was just a heavy silence, there was no question,
he ended the class, said become cent percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.
There was just like a death.
I mean there was a silence so thick you could swim through it.
And Prabhupāda was just sitting there on this, that raised
vyasāsana and said that, even if you are 90% Kṛṣṇa conscious, Kṛṣṇa is so kind that you may still be delivered.
Then he started to get down, and he was about halfway down,
just as he was getting off that vyasāsana, he turned to the devotees, said, “Even 90% you can be delivered.”
He started walking off, then he turned and then his cādara fell off.
I remember that it was such a dramatic, almost like you know what you see in those movies;
Julies Caesar his chaddar just blew like that you know.
“Even 70%”, he took his cādara and threw it over his shoulders, raised his head and walked off…
(laughter)
Śrīla Prabhupāda Ki!
Devotees: Jaya!
Jayapataka Swami: But the purport is that try for the 100%.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Mercy], [Sādhanā]
Related Questions
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know why your mind doesn’t want to think about Kṛṣṇa!
Kṛṣṇa is our shelter.
And we can apologize for feeling some anxiety, that I should not be feeling like this,
so we pray to Kṛṣṇa to give us strength,
so that we don’t succumb to these modes of ignorance and passion.
He is our best friend, right?
From seventh - dāsyam, sakhyam, ātma-nivedanam, eighth He is our friend!
You want to tell your friend, you are feeling some anxiety.
What are friends for? Right?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-18
Jayapatākā Swami: In the eighth canto in the story of Gajendra mokṣa
there is a pastime of Gajendra was fighting with a crocodile.
They were in a lake.
So after a long fight, Someone may be stronger in the renounced order.
Gajendra realized that he was losing.
Because he was a land animal,
and he was stronger in the land.
But the crocodile is a water animal,
he is in the water,
so he is more strong in the water.
So then Gajendra remembered some prayers from his previous life
and he prayed to the Lord.
Anyway, the Lord came and saved him.
So both the crocodile and him were there for different reasons.
One of them was Huhu,
the Gandharva king
and the other was Indradyumna,
the king who was cursed
to become the elephant king and the crocodile king.
Śrīla Prabhupāda in the purport he said that just like the crocodile was in his element, the water,
he was stronger.
So like that, we should be in a position where were are strongest.
Someone may be stronger as a gṛhastha,
with regulated sex life.
Someone may be stronger in the renounced order.
But accordingly, where they are stronger they should try to fight māyā,
they should try to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
It is not that one size fits all!
I could not say something like that in India,
they may not understand, but here I can say right, everybody knows.
So I thought I would give you some American slang!
So like that, we should be determined to fight.
We should be determined to practice our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Maybe the situation may be different for different people.
Śrīla Prabhupāda was giving a lecture in London in 1973
on his Vyāsa-pūjā
and he said how his gurudeva had sent some sannyāsīs
to preach to London
but they failed.
One Lord asked a sannyāsī, “Can you make me a brāhmaṇa?”
He said, “Sure,
you give up illicit sex, gambling, intoxication and meat eating.”
“That is impossible,
that is my life,” he replied.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda said he sent three gṛhasthas couples,
they were successful.
So he was requesting all his gṛhastha followers to be paramahaṁsas.
And he said that Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, was a gṛhastha.
He had produced a son, his gurudeva, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
So we need many such ācāryas to preach.
Produce children like that - ācāryas.
In India many gṛhasthas they come to me and say we have been married for x years we don’t have children,
give a blessing that I should have a child.
But actually, that is not a good blessing.
Just to have a child.
You want to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious long lived, healthy suputra,
maybe an ācārya!
Śrīla Prabhupāda was giving a lecture like that.
In India I am a lone fighter.
I am trying to establish how ladies could be Kṛṣṇa conscious and so on.
But there is a lot of back pedaling from the Indian leaders.
I am Indian.
Anyway, don’t be discouraged.
Be strong
and fight against māyā.
Help in distributing books, help the previous ācāryas and so on.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Harṣavardana Gaurāṅga dāsa
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: We want to take shelter of Nitāi-Gaura.
Also, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
And if we are harassed with memories of our previous mistakes,
we should pray for forgiveness,
and proceed with devotional service.
It is not worth giving attention to these sinful memories.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda always told us we should not try to see Kṛṣṇa but act in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will see us.
It was devastating to lose Śrīla Prabhupāda’s personal association.
But he gave me a lot of different services to perform to him.
So, that kept me busy in serving Śrīla Prabhupāda.
How many of you are disciples of Caitanya Candra Caraṇa dāsa? (Almost all)
How many of you have the Jayapatākā Swami App?
(a few) You can download it.
It is in various languages, and you can choose Russian.
So, there are various programs in the App like offering ārati, like seeing what I do, seeing Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures.
Then you can ask, to put out something about Caitanya Candra Caraṇa dāsa also.
Have you visited any of the holy places around Navadvīpa dhāma?
(Yes, the house of Śrīvāsa Aṅgana.) Śrīvāsa Aṅgana. (Yoga-pīṭha, House of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Jagannātha Mandir, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura samādhi, Viṣṇu-priyā temple, and also TOVP construction site)
Have you seen the TOVP site?
Is there are anyone who is an IT person, we are doing a Museum in the West Wing, we could use help for the Exhibits.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-25
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Navadvīpa we get the same benefit as we get in Vṛndāvana.
A thousand times.
But there is a difference.
In Vṛndāvana for every error you make,
you also get a thousand times the reaction.
If you commit some offence in Vṛndāvana
you get a thousand times the offence.
Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī decided that Vṛndāvana was a bit heavy
because he got multiple offences.
So he walked from Vṛndāvana to Navadvīpa
and here he got a siddha-deha,
that is why he is known as Siddha Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī.
Maybe he would not have got his perfection
so quickly in Vṛndāvana.
Anyway, some aspects are the same
and some aspects are different.
Now Vṛndāvana is known as mādhurya-dhāma
and Navadvīpa is known as audārya-dhāma.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Keyā Rāṇī
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī said in the Upadeśāmṛta
that one should live in a holy place,
so that could be in a dhāma or in a nearby temple.
So, that kind of desire is authorized.
Category: [Karma / Desires], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
An initiated neophyte has vowed to follow the regulative principles, chant daily 16 rounds and to help you and help Śrīla Prabhupāda in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness all around the world. Say, such a neophyte has broken this vow in an attempt to meet the demands of his competitive world due to his past bad karma, how can such a person be attractive and inspiring to the common man plus come back to the spiritual life and resume to his guru’s pleasure?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: You see that is why taking first initiation
it is described as taking a new birth.
Naturally when you are taking birth as a baby,
a toddler,
you may fall down a few times.
Then gradually you learn to walk.
So at your first initiation
it is expected that
there may be a few mistakes.
And one should pick up and continue to practice,
in this way they can progress.
When one takes the second initiation,
they should be more considered like 9 or 12 years old.
If at that time they are sleeping in the lap of the mother
and passing stool or something,
then something is wrong!
A little baby it is expected.
But not in a 9 or 12-year-old boy!
Category: [Anarthās], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Regulative Principles], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-13
Jayapatākā Swami: You see if you are mood is such that you go back to Godhead,
that means you got some mercy from your guru.
I spent so many weeks giving class so that people could get an idea of my mood.
What do you think?
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-13
Jayapatākā Swami: You see if you are mood is such that you go back to Godhead,
that means you got some mercy from your guru.
I spent so many weeks giving class so that people could get an idea of my mood.
What do you think?
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Akhila Bandhu Gopāla dāsa
Date: 2022-08-27
Jayapatākā Swami: That is wishful thinking!
Do you ever find 100% of the people receptive?
There are always a few who are attached to their material things.
This is in our planet, what to speak of other planets?
I mean, in the lower planets they are very much demoniac.
But anyway, that is not a problem.
If you make everybody a devotee, very good! Kṛṣṇa will not complain.
But there will always be some who will not be interested.
You have the animals, the birds, the trees, the fish,
if you can make all of them Kṛṣṇa conscious, very good!
At least Lord Caitanya He had all the animals chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
So if we can at least get the human beings to be Kṛṣṇa conscious that would be a good thing.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: If people get permission from their spiritual master, maybe they can take a bath in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
But one has to know the process.
You should be very respectful.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Purabi Das
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: We should not be attracted by temporary things.
Temporary things only last for short time, so we should not be distracted by them.
If we are attracted by some temporary things, we should think how to do that in the service of Kṛṣṇa.
In this way, we can naturally develop our love for Kṛṣṇa.
So, developing love for Kṛṣṇa is a gradual process.
And step by step we develop our love for Kṛṣṇa. Just like if we want to have a child, we pray to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious child.
We do everything in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will be pleased.
And naturally like we were reading how the king and his queen were praying to Kṛṣṇa and then they got a Kṛṣṇa conscious child, they actually got an avatāra, Ṛṣabhadeva as their child who was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Anarthās / Sinful activities], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-29
Jayapatākā Swami: So a haṁsa is able to separate a mixture of milk and water,
leave the water and drink the milk.
A paramahaṁsa means able to take out the spiritual and leave the material.
So, husband and wife, they should discuss with each other what they should do to please Kṛṣṇa.
Normally, the materialistic couple they discuss how they can enjoy life.
But a paramahaṁsa means they separate the spiritual from material and take to spiritual life.
It is possible if one chants Hare Kṛṣṇa and practices bhakti-yoga.
Category: [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Keya Rani
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: 2. Because the people of Kali-yuga are very fallen,
therefore sometimes it is difficult for them to chant.
But we should understand that by chanting,
we can achieve all perfection.
So, we should chant, and thus become fortunate.
And just take it that, if we find difficulty in chanting,
it is because of our being very fallen.
So, pray for the mercy of the Pañca-tattva,
our gurudeva,
guru-paramparā,
and thus we can achieve the mercy of the Lord,
and chant His holy name.
Haribol!
Category: [Material World / Kali yuga], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Svāmī: Without being married.
Ah, there is no such stipulation that liberation is dependent upon getting married.
But it has been recommended very strongly that women should be married.
But as far as being… What if a girl dies when she is twelve, or something?
It’s not, it’s not lean on the soul that you have to get married to go back to Godhead.
It’s a question of what consciousness you’re in when you leave your body.
If you’re in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you’ll go back to Godhead.
In a general sadhana practice of devotional service,
it’s conducive for women to be married and have a Kṛṣṇa conscious husband.
If the husband is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, then there is a problem.
But actually, the husband should be Kṛṣṇa conscious and the wife should be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
In this way, they give each other association.
I can elaborate.
But we’re on short of time right now.
But it’s not contingent on going back to Godhead, per se.
That is not contingent on any material thing.
It’s contingent on chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, serving the spiritual master, following his instructions.
Hare Krsna.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Women]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-06-10
Absolutely yes.
Specially keep crying for Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-13
Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know if there is a system to take others’ faults.
You can donate some of your merits to others.
That is in the Padma Purāṇa
that one lady she was donating some of her merits to a bull
who was being mistreated and who died.
So the ātmā from the bull took birth as a brāhmaṇa boy
and he remembered that he was a bull from his previous life.
Normally people are very greedy to get more merit, and they don’t give it away.
So he was curious how she was giving away her merit.
So he went to see her,
and said, you don’t know me but I know you.
Remember the bull who would be beaten and you gave some merit to the bull?
So I was that bull and now I took birth as a brāhmaṇa boy
and she revealed that she was reading the Bhagavad-gītā regularly.
Therefore, she gave half of her merit to the bull
and the bull took birth as a brāhmaṇa boy
and he started to read the Bhagavad-gītā also
and he went back to Godhead!
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Mercy]
Can someone who is endeavoring to follow his guru’s instructions sincerely and is making efforts to take his guru’s instructions and his desire as his life and soul, but hasn’t got the chance to take formal initiation, can such a person go back to Godhead and achieve the highest goal of kṛṣṇa-prema in this very life? Can he also achieve his guru’s service eternally?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Since the name of Kṛṣṇa is not different from Kṛṣṇa,
somehow by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa,
one may also achieve the highest perfection.
But a sure way is if possible, is for you to take initiation from the authorized guru-paramparā,
and then in that way serve Kṛṣṇa.
You see Kṛṣṇa gives you the opportunity to take initiation.
If out of false ego you don’t do it,
then it is not really Kṛṣṇa’s fault.
So if He is giving us some help, we should take it.
During this lockdown period
I am also giving initiation on the internet by zoom.
And other gurus are also doing the same thing.
So if one is qualified, they could take initiation.
Don’t have to wait for the guru to physically come there.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Can someone who is endeavoring to follow his guru’s instructions sincerely and is making efforts to take his guru’s instructions and his desire as his life and soul, but hasn’t got the chance to take formal initiation, can such a person go back to Godhead and achieve the highest goal of kṛṣṇa-prema in this very life? Can he also achieve his guru’s service eternally?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Since the name of Kṛṣṇa is not different from Kṛṣṇa,
somehow by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa,
one may also achieve the highest perfection.
But a sure way is if possible, is for you to take initiation from the authorized guru-paramparā,
and then in that way serve Kṛṣṇa.
You see Kṛṣṇa gives you the opportunity to take initiation.
If out of false ego you don’t do it,
then it is not really Kṛṣṇa’s fault.
So if He is giving us some help, we should take it.
During this lockdown period
I am also giving initiation on the internet by zoom.
And other gurus are also doing the same thing.
So if one is qualified, they could take initiation.
Don’t have to wait for the guru to physically come there.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: You see in Guruvayūr the head priest or Nambhūthirī is not told if his close relative has passed away.
So he is not affected.
The questions is: if you are affected, if you are lamenting, then it is not good to go before the Deities.
If you are not affected,
then the aśauca period is considered to be less.
I mean like for the brāhmaṇas something like 11 days and śudras 30 days or something.
Vaiṣṇavas are considered to be detached, considered to be on the brahmanical platform.
That you can see your consciousness, how you feel.
Category: [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Saṁskāras / Antima-saṁskāras]
Questioner: Bhakta Gopī Kṛṣṇan, Trivandrum
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: Why do you say just? Just...
Kṛṣṇa and His holy names are not different.
So it is not a small thing
to chant the holy names.
And certainly, Kṛṣṇa can do anything.
So He can also take you back to His kingdom.
Therefore, we should chant His holy names and engage in His sevā.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Mādhavī Śyāmasundarī devī dāsī
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: All the services to the Deities in this temple or any temple of ISKCON will be very pleasing to me.
So you can ask the temple leaders what service you can do.
Lord Caitanya said, yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa.
Whoever you see, tell them the glories of Kṛṣṇa.
That will make me very happy.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
Questioner: Haridhvani devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: The highest form of prayer is to sing or chant the name of the Lord.
If we pray, it maybe not a very good prayer.
So that is why the saṅkīrtana or chanting of the holy name is recommended
If one chants the name of Narasiṁhadeva 21 times, they can get delivered from various sufferings.
“Śrī Narasiṁha! Jaya Narasiṁha! Jaya jaya jaya Narasiṁha!” 21 times.
Otherwise, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
You can chant 54 times or 108 times.
So, the name of Kṛṣṇa is worth 3000 names of Viṣṇu.
And the name Rāma is worth 1000 names of Viṣṇu.
So, by this Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Rāma mantra,
you get so much spiritual benefit.
And the side benefits are the material suffering is mitigated.
But the real benefit is that one awakens one’s love of Godhead.
Please ask the people to chant one of the mantras,
and since there may be offence in our chanting, one can chant the Pañca-tattva mantra before chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī advaita gadādhara śrīvasādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛndā.
Questioner: Bhakta Yuvan, Russia
Date: 2023-01-27
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that we should not give too many rules and regulations.
We should be very friendly and engage people according to their likes.
So, if they like to do particular things, like they like computer, or they like agriculture, whatever they like, engage them in that.
Make it very interesting and treat them very nicely!
That is what Śrīla Prabhupāda said, that in some letters, how to preach to the intelligent people.
Category: [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, there are five kinds of liberation.
Sāyujya, merging, devotees don’t want that.
Then there is sālokya, sāmīpya, sārṣṭi and sārūpya.
Having similar form like the Lord,
living on the same planet,
having personal service of the Lord,
living close to the Lord.
Devotees accept the other four, if it includes service,
and they ask the Lord for His service.
Generally, we go to the spiritual world to serve the Lord.
But if He wants us to be with Him in the material world, it is alright if He have His service.
So that way, devotees ask for service.
And naturally if we are Kṛṣṇa conscious, then Kṛṣṇa takes us back.
Then we can serve Him eternally.
We don’t mind where we serve Him, here, there or anywhere.
However we serve the Lord, we are very happy.
We see, how Lord Caitanya, He came only 500 years ago.
We have more details.
And how the devotees were serving the Lord,
how He was reciprocating.
Then naturally one if one develops their Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are very inspired
Are you inspired?
Alright!
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Rucika
Date: 2022-10-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Well, Śrīla Prabhupāda said both things.
But more often he said, we fall from the spiritual world,
and that is why our magazine is, Back to Godhead.
So, there is a whole book on this.
At different times, different things were said.
When the question was given to Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura,
if we came from the spiritual world,
why did we decide to come here?
He said, a person falls from the ship
and a lifeboat comes to save him.
Are you going to ask first, before I get into the boat, tell me how did I come here?
Sharks are spinning all around.
First you get on the lifeboat, then you will understand how you fell.
We don’t understand any way.
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Pūjā
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: That is what Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī said
in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa.
He cited some Purāṇas
that say watching the ārati of Lord Kṛṣṇa,
we get the same result as a person who does the ārati.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Jayapataka Swami: I answered this question yesterday.
So many are here on Zoom.
If we have initiation and follow the bona fide guru, then our road to Kṛṣṇa is sure.
If one meets a bona fide guru, but he does not take initiation out of false ego,
then that is an obstacle.
If one does not meet a guru and he reads Śrīla Prabhupāda books, follows,
then there is no problem.
Some people think I don’t need a guru
and if they meet a bona fide guru they don’t take shelter.
So, that could be an obstacle.
There are all kinds of circumstances.
Generally, one should have a bonafide spiritual master
and should take initiation.
In this way, should perform their devotional service following the instructions of their guru.
Haribol!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-09
Jayapatākā Swami: When we say, “Take prasāda, you get human birth”, some people got prasāda and got liberated.
So, in describing the glories of prasāda… The kṛṣṇa-prasāda, you cannot put a limit on it.
Some people by just chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa once, they got liberation like Ajāmila.
Simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, more sins, sinful reactions of karma are eradicated than one can commit.
At the same time someone may chant Hare Kṛṣṇa for a thousand… and then not actually go back to Kṛṣṇa.
How is that possible?
So, the thing is that one is not supposed to doubt that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, this effect has come.
That means potentially it may come for anyone.
But then each person’s situation being different, that a person if he is very offensive, even they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, take prasāda, and they offend devotees, because of those offenses, Kṛṣṇa, He may just withhold His mercy.
An offense being directly con.. An offense and sinful reaction are different – a person may be the most sinful, maybe a murderer, maybe a rapist, may be... but that is all on the material platform.
That is in relation to other people’s material bodies.
It is not in relation to God.
So, the reaction they have to get is also material.
They have to suffer materially for whatever suffering they are committing on their body and to other’s bodies.
But when an offence, means directly in relation to… with God or those who are directly in relation to Him, His pure devotees;
so therefore, what the... the most overpowering thing about everything is Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
That mercy can destroy all the material reactions, and just give one a clean slate, bring one back to Godhead.
But if one is directly opposing God, even that He can forgive, but sometimes if you directly offend His devotees,
then Kṛṣṇa… that’s so disapproved by Him that then He may withhold His mercy to that person till he gets out of the habit of offending His devotees or whatever offense he is committing.
So, in that way, if a person is offense-less, then by taking prasāda, one may even be liberated, one may even achieve Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Depending on the offenses, lack of offenses and so many conditions, one is delivered.
One may be sincerely trying to find the truth or just ordinary material acts, an innocent person, not very inimical to God,
but just trying to enjoy his senses, trying to enjoy the senses and be happy was misled, wandering here and there trying to enjoy in different ways
and not succeeding, gets association with devotees, they give prasāda, they give spiritual advice, he starts to, the person starts to chant and then automatically they feel immediately advancement.
Another person may have, you see... they are very inimical to the devotees.
As a result, the effect may be reduced.
This offense is the most dangerous thing.
Next dangerous is of course bad habits and all that, after we have chanted.
Once one takes up seriously the chanting, one should try to avoid as far as possible unauthorized activities because they would delay one’s progress.
So, by taking prasāda, that ultimately what that person can be guaranteed a human birth.
But there may be an exception if he is exceptionally offensive to devotees.
In general, one would be guaranteed at least a human birth.
And one may even get a greater benefit by taking prasāda.
If he takes prasāda, the person is purified of all reactions.
Says an offense where he takes prasāda, he is purified and then again, the next minute again he takes more, he does more karmas, more work that he has to take the reaction for.
So, because of those reactions they have to take birth at least they get a human birth.
But if after taking prasāda they did not perform any more materialistic activities, then they could go back to Godhead.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Food], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Prasāda and Bhoga]
Questioner: Swapnil Tikale
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: No!
Advancement in spiritual life is not dependent on anything material.
If one is born in a rich family, the advantage is that they don’t have to struggle to maintain themselves,
but similar some situations which can be helpful,
but it is not essential,
to make advancement.
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā that if someone serves Him and doesn’t finish,
they don’t lose,
they are either born in a family of rich merchant
or devotee,
or they take birth in heavenly planets.
So there is no loss by doing devotional service even if one doesn’t finish.
And one can advance in any situation.
Look at Prahlāda Mahārāja, he advanced even he was in the family of demons.
Haribol!
Category: [Material World], [Material World / Guṇas / Modes], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-07-08
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Narasiṁhadeva, you see He wants to fulfill your devotional desire.
We are praying for devotional blessings.
Every prayer we make, it should be connected with Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.
When we pray for our spiritual master’s health, then we say, if it so pleases, if You so desire, my Lord, please make my spiritual master well.
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Dāmodara Dhanañjaya dāsa
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: You see the Lord accompanies us in all our births
and therefore, when we enter, He enters.
When we leave, He leaves.
This is described in the Bhagavad-gītā.
Questioner: IYF Māyāpur
Date: 2022-08-03
Jayapatākā Swami: If you realize that you are weak
in some area,
then you want to pray to Kṛṣṇa and get some strength.
Pray to Lord Caitanya, pray to Lord Nityānanda, pray to Gurudeva.
It is like an athlete.
If you don’t win, what do you do?
Give up or try harder, train more.
You want to get that gold medal for your country.
Like that.
You want to offer something to Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-08
Jayapatākā Swami: No! The point is, say a devotee, tries to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and doesn’t make it; senses take him off; interested into material life again
but whatever time a person spent in doing Kṛṣṇa conscious activity, for that, they get heavenly planet or they get a very good birth in the future.
They don’t lose anything you see.
The sinful reaction doesn’t affect; the sinful life delays your going back to Godhead but doesn’t stop it because that your credit is in like a fixed account.
But what happens is when you do offenses, this is whole different thing.
Offenses are directly...just like you are working for someone, you build up a good credit history and then you steal from him,
then you get fired and that person never wants to see you again, right?
But say that you know, you work for a person, just somehow you go away, you quit, then whatever you do, but with him your relationship, you know, is the same.
This is a little gross kind of material example, it is not fully appropriate.
In a higher sense our relationship with Kṛṣṇa is independent of all the other activities.
But an offense against Him or His devotee directly, you see even He can forgive an offense against Him;
but when you offend His devotee who is just trying in helping people to come to Him that becomes intolerable for Him.
He has a policy that He doesn’t personally forgive anyone for that. If the devotees themselves forgive then He considers a pardon.
So, of all the offenses, the blaspheming of one’s spiritual master who is a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa and is considered to be the worst.
So, the Caitanya-caritāmṛta says that, it takes millions of births before one ever gets a chance to have a guru again.
Why Kṛṣṇa will bring you up to a guru if you are going to blaspheme?
If you are so envious, then you get put in an envious species of life.
So, that way, Śrīla Prabhupāda says that it is much better to fall down from Kṛṣṇa consciousness and just fall into sinful or materialistic activities than to become a blasphemer.
You shouldn’t ever resent the guru.
If you couldn’t make it, why resent the guru, it is not his fault,
you couldn’t make it.
You tried, you got as far as you could, or you have that much determination, you lost faith and you lost.
So, why resent the guru? Guru didn’t do any harm to you.
Guru was trying to help you.
You go to a doctor; you have an incurable disease, or you are hooked on to some kind of drug, the doctor tries to help you to break your habit,
but you can’t take the withdrawal pains, so you just go back in and then you continue taking heroin or something until you OD (overdose) and die.
Why blaspheme the doctor?
It is not his fault; you didn’t have the determination or the patience to get out.
He was going to help you through the whole thing, through your shakes and your problems and everything just to bring you up to a point where you could be a healthy person.
Like that kind of a thing.
Jayapatākā Swami: Oh yeah. Lord Caitanya said that,
yadi vaiṣṇava-aparādha uṭhe hātī mātā
That the offense of blaspheming a devotee is called mad elephant offense.
Because one’s spiritual progress is compared to a creeper, a plant.
So, when you blaspheme pure devotees, that mad elephant can go into a garden, uproot the whole plants, tear apart, you can just demolish the garden.
So, the comparison given that all the other things are like weeds; they don’t actually kill the original plant, they just compete with it.
They stunt its growth by taking away the energy, just stays at whatever level it is.
But it is very hard for the weeds all to completely smother out the original plant unless it just completely overcomes the thing.
But the offenses, those are considered like wild elephants which come in and trrrrp (tearing sound), rip out the thing, put it on the ground and stomp on it.
And then even for a while it may seem that the person is spiritually situated;
they pull out a plant, still the leaves stay green for a few days but then they gradually dry and fall off.
The relationship with the guru is never cut even you fall down; it’s not cut just by material activities;
but if you blaspheme the guru, then it is cut off, it’s like disowning.
Disciple disowns his guru by blaspheming.
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.
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]
Questioner: Atula Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2023-04-13
Jayapatākā Swami: I used to travel 5 or 6 times around the world every year.
I have lifetime-gold-membership in United Airways.
British Airways I have Emerald membership, it is like Gold.
I don’t have to fly, I get every year automatically.
But this was initially Śrīla Prabhupāda said as a sannyāsī, I should travel.
But now I spend more time in Māyāpur.
Śrīla Prabhupāda told me also remain in Māyāpur and do your activities through your assistants.
So, at different times, he told me different things.
So, I think I did my travelling enough.
Now I spend more time in Māyāpur, India.
I only travel once or twice around the year every year!
But that way, I think I used to travel to all the countries, South Africa, Poland, Nigeria, Ghana, etc.
Bhakti Tīrtha Swami had asked me to go to West Africa sometimes.
I went two or three times.
So like that. During the pandemic I stayed all the time in Māyāpur.
That is the thing, I am trying to carry out Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-23
Jayapatākā Swami: Normally, a Vaiṣṇava is not supposed to leave remnants.
But a guru may leave some remnants for disciples.
But there is no hard and fast rule regarding mahā-prasāda.
Śrīla Prabhupāda gave a Gulab jamun to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami.
He kept it on his plate and he was looking at it.
He was very proud and was thinking that I have got Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Gulab jamun wow! Wow! Gulab jamun! Wow!
Someone reached over and ate it!
He said, you took my Gulab jamun!
And Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami was very angry.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, he said, actually there are no rules when it comes to mahā-prasāda.
And even if you take from my plate, what can I do?
But please let me finish!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]
Here Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi understood his mistake when Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma enacted Their punishment pastime. But I commit many offences, and sometimes I cannot even understand my offences. So in such circumstances how am I to ask for forgiveness from you and from Lord Kṛṣṇa so that you may completely forgive me?
Questioner: Bhāgyaśrī devī dāsī
Date: 2023-07-10
Jayapatākā Swami: We should pray to Kṛṣṇa that
I have committed many offences, knowingly or unknowingly,
please forgive me.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-03-15
Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, one way is to ask him! Ha! Ha!
Otherwise by observing him
and hearing his instructions,
you can know what he wants.
And every guru may be different because we are all persons, we may have differences.
But we are united in serving Kṛṣṇa
and serving Śrīla Prabhupāda.
So like that we want all the devotees to be united
in serving guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-08
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Śrīla Prabhupāda, when I was 19, told me practice brahmacarya till you are 25.
And then with your guru make your decision.
So between 25 to 30 you can decide which way to go.
One way of helping the mind, you say, okay, I will not go into the sense attraction till later.
Postpone it
and then you can practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness with your full concentration.
Also by staying busy in devotional service.
There is no time for the sense attractions.
Naturally, the living being is thinking, feeling, willing and doing.
So, we should be so fixed in Kṛṣṇa’s service
that we are always thinking about Kṛṣṇa.
We try that when we are 25 to 30.
And then we can decide which way we will be stronger.
As a gṛhastha or as a brahmacārī.
Questioner: Abhirāma Gopa dāsa
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: The third verse of the Śikṣāṣṭakam
is that, if we practice those principles, we can always chant the holy names.
Amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyā sadā hari
offer respect to others, don’t expect any respect for yourself.
Be more humble than a blade of grass, and more tolerant than a tree,
then you can always chant the holy name
kīrtanīyā sadā hari.
Questioner: Jisu Sen
Date: 2023-12-11
Jayapatākā Swami: That is the original sin,
why we are here in the material world.
For some reason we envied or were jealous of the Lord.
So that is the one thing we cannot dovetail.
We dovetail anger, you can dovetail greed, you can dovetail everything but not envy, mātsarya.
I can be greedy to get more mercy of Kṛṣṇa,
I can be angry of someone who offends Kṛṣṇa,
everything can be dovetailed,
but envy, no!
So we should give up envy.
But how do we do that?
You do that by Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
by being advanced in kṛṣṇa-bhakti,
you think that if I have any good quality it is due to the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.
And if someone is doing better, we are inspired that oh, they have achieved success!
I will follow their example and get the mercy also.
Envy means, oh, that one is ahead, let me trip him up!
I will be ahead of him;
he will be in the dust! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Hai!
I will be the king of the mountains!
You see that keeps us here in the material world!
It is a hellish mentality.
So, we want people to do better, we want to associate with them, we want their mercy,
we want to follow their good example,
we don’t want to envy them
that oh, they got the mercy.
Let me throw mud on them.
You see in Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa went out with Rādhārāṇī,
they left the rāsa dance.
So the other gopīs they thought, this gopī must have had special bhakti to take the Lord away,
and they were happy that at least one gopī had conquered Kṛṣṇa.
So, we want Kṛṣṇa to be happy.
And if we are envious, Kṛṣṇa will not be happy.
That is the worst thing we could do.
So, if one understands this, they can avoid envy
because it is counter-productive.
Thank you very much.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya says, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam.
By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa we clean our consciousness.
So by chanting you should chant and clean your consciousness.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya says, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam.
By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa we clean our consciousness.
So by chanting you should chant and clean your consciousness.
Questioner: Kṛṣṇasevinī Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: The whole practice of bhakti-yoga is to develop our love for guru and Kṛṣṇa.
It is not a different process.
Same process delivers us
and we should perform devotional service
and naturally if you help the spiritual master
then Kṛṣṇa will be very pleased.
Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-04-27
Jayapatākā Swami: Try!
Why cannot you read the books?
Why cannot you preach?
One lady, she brought seven women to take shelter.
Anybody can preach.
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.
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]
Questioner: Sukamala Nityānanda dāsa [Bangladesh]
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: I just said that
we should pray to Kṛṣṇa
that whatever we do, we do service in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way.
Firstly, you have to get married,
and then the two should pray that you have Kṛṣṇa conscious children.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-10
Jayapatākā Swami: That question has been asked to me many times.
And there are like 15 questions that you could ask yourself.
But basically, you pray to Kṛṣṇa, you pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda
to reveal, who you should take shelter of.
And whose preaching you feel more connected with Śrīla Prabhupāda and Kṛṣṇa.
Maybe he is your spiritual master.
Sometimes you feel connected to several people’s preaching,
then you can take more than one as your śikṣā-guru,
as the instructing spiritual master.
Since there is no limit to how many instructing spiritual masters we can have.
And then the one we feel most connected with, we take him as the dīkṣā-guru.
I have an application, the Jayapatākā Swami App.
Maybe I can try to answer the questions.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)]
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.
Questioner: Vijaya Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: While the guru is present,
you shouldn’t feel any doubt.
You can always ask the guru
if your idea is correct or not.
I asked Prabhupāda several times about different things like this
and somethings he said, they are sent by Kṛṣṇa,
somethings not.
To be sure, that is why we have a guru,
because we cannot connect directly with Kṛṣṇa in our conditioned state.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-23
Jayapatākā Swami: Mercy.
Of course, if someone gives you something for which they are not obliged to do that, that’s called mercy.
If you make a business deal with some merchant that, “I’ll work for you, and you pay me thousand rupees per month.”
and he pays you thousand rupees,
and that is the market rate for that job, then this is not a question of mercy, its fair market.
But
if he doesn’t need any employee, and neither he has anybody, he says, “Alright, you stay here and I will give you some money”,
then you can say, “Well he is being merciful.”
That means that it is some kindness.
That he is doing something for which he is not actually necessary to be done.
He is doing it because of some sentiment, or some kindness on his part to help another.
In Kṛṣṇa’s case you see He gives His mercy.
That means that He is not obliged to do so.
See, there’s nothing we can do, there’s nothing that we can do to actually get from Him some particular benediction whereby we are obliged to do that.
That’s why even sometimes if the Lord gives a devotee a material benediction they’ll say, “That’s not merciful.”
Some pure devotee might out of his deep love He may also even criticize that to give a devotee
who is serving to give him some material thing this is not mercy, because that material thing is not so valuable.
That if they can get pure bhakti, that is real mercy, like that.
But these are internal type of sentiments.
Basically, mercy means they are giving something more than what they need to give,
out of their own kindness, out of their own very broad heart they are giving.
Just like the Vāsudeva Datta, he prayed that,
“All living entities in the universe let them be delivered to Kṛṣṇa, let me take their karma.”
They know not that those living entities did anything for Vāsudeva Datta.
Why is he taking? “Let me take their karma.”
Everybody is hungry to get rid of karma.
He is saying, “Give me their karma.
Let them go back to Kṛṣṇa.”
Because that was his mercy.
That was his very kind mood that he thought that, “Somehow I tasted the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s sevā, Kṛṣṇa’s service,
and these people they are all bahir-mukha.
They are just absorbed in material suffering and enjoyment, missing out their real happiness.
So, once I already experience even for a second the happiness of Kṛṣṇa, now my life is already you see fulfilled.
Why should I one person just be happy and everyone suffer?
Better let me suffer and them all go back to Kṛṣṇa.
Let me take their karma and let them go back.
Then I can just suffer.
For one person, if I suffer, what’s the harm, I am insignificant, if so many can be saved?”
This type of mentality, this sacrifice wanting to help others is the nature of a devotee.
There is no cause for that.
You see.
They will be called fools.
Many time, if a person becomes a devotee and starts to preach and distribute books to… to do devotional service
their family members will come and say, “What are you doing with your youth?
You could be enjoying.
You could be having good times.
You could be just enjoying in the world in so many ways.
What are you doing?
You are giving up all this fun, you see.
You could be going to cinemas, and you could be may be dancing, or you could be like this doing so many things.”
They try to, they think that, “really you are, you are missing the good time of your life.”
Like Govinda dāsa prayed,
bhajahū re mana, śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
ei dhana yauvana, putra parijana,
ithe ki āche paratīti re
ei dhana yauvana, putra parijana,
ithe ki āche paratīti re
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala
(ei ache ei nai… jīvana ṭalamala)
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re.
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re.
That, what this ei dhana - this wealth, ei dhana yauvana - so called youth, putras - children, parijana- relatives?
ithe ki āche paratīti re - what is the eternal spiritual value of all these things?
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala - life is just flickering like a drop of water on a lotus leaf.
In one second everything is just topsy-turvy.
In one second, everything can be destroyed.
So better that we give our mind and our thoughts and our actions
and words in the service of Hari, service of Kṛṣṇa.
Bhajahū hari-pada nīti re - this should be our daily activity.
This, let us only take this as our goal, just to serve His lotus feet.
Then we are fearless.
Then we can have the perfection of life.
Otherwise what is the value of these things?
So devotee has got opposite opinion.
Kṛṣṇa also may give the devotee family, may give the devotee fame, may give the devotee material things.
But devotee takes this as inconsequential.
This Kṛṣṇa gives it, “Alright, He gives”, if He doesn’t give it, Kṛṣṇa, they are not worried about that.
That it may come, that’s according to our previous karmas we may get something or not.
You see.
But the devotee already figured it out that this thing is not essential.
It I get it, it’s also Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
He’ll live with it and use that.
But real objective should be how somehow or other get the shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
Because once you get that shelter, then you never lose that.
The material things, they may come, they may go.
Sometimes one may get very good mate.
Then suddenly accident there, and one is made as a widow or widower.
Nobody can say.
So many difficulties, someone may get a very nice child.
But even at an early age sometimes children are dying.
Then they are feeling very bad.
Like King Citraketu got a son, then the son died untimely.
He was very frustrated.
So material happiness means material suffering.
We can’t avoid one, because always a limit is there, always end is there.
So the devotee they become detached.
If suffering or happiness comes, we’ll tolerate.
The real thing that I want is to get the shelter of Kṛṣṇa.
Because that is the real happiness and that never ends.
Material happiness and material suffering that we have to tolerate.
Even you have entered devotional service, that doesn’t mean you won’t get material happiness.
Rather Kṛṣṇa says, “There is no loss.
Whatever happiness you are going to get you are still going to get that.
Only you may be relieved from some suffering.”
So even the devotee they also afraid that, “I don’t want that happiness also.
You promis,e or also help whatever happiness I was going to get, whatever good karma I have I am going to get,
but even that good karma, if it stands in the way of my devotional service, I don’t care for it,
you see.
If it can be used in my devotional service, alright.
I don’t mind.
But if it is going to be a stumbling block, then I also don’t want even my good karma.”
So the materialist they can’t understand, they don’t see that the devotee actually doesn’t lose any happiness.
They get the full happiness.
But they also, they are not deriving satisfaction from that material happiness.
The devotee derives the satisfaction from the pure devotional service.
Questioner: Akhil Verma
Date: 2023-07-07
You can achieve it even in this life,
by getting the mercy of pure devotees,
or you can also take many lives.
Depends, what you want.
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-01
Jayapatākā Swami: If husband and wife, both are devotees then there are many opportunities.
If between the two if one of them is little behind, the other person should be affectionate to him or her and inspire them.
There is no use of using any bad words or being angry, it will simply increase the distance between them.
There are some strategies and techniques where they can get together and read books or chant together.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Cooperation]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: Depends on what gives you faith.
I mean, some people have faith by reading the scripture,
since it tells us that the holy name is Absolute and non-different from Kṛṣṇa.
Some people have faith by realization.
If you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, you may become peaceful and ecstatic.
And that may increase your faith.
Some people commit offences to the holy name.
So they don’t get the full result of chanting.
And you should tell them to be very careful to follow the order of the spiritual master.
I think the third offence to the holy name is to disobey the order of the spiritual master.
We must have a spiritual master and follow his instructions.
There is no question but to accept the spiritual master.
So Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura had everyone in the temple chant 64 rounds.
Those who went for book distribution and preaching, they should chant 16 rounds.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda said that for the Western rounds it would be difficult to chant 64 rounds.
So he had them chant 16 and preach.
So by following Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions, one can advance.
Link: 20221023 Evening Darśana
Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: That is the whole question?
So, we always consider our chanting as not pure.
And we try to improve it, making it more pure.
In this way, we will get the mercy of Kṛṣṇa.
We don’t like to be too proud, oh! my chanting is so pure.
We would rather like to present ourselves as very fallen, we need the mercy of Nitāi Gaura.
In this way, we can get mercy.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: One of the qualifications of the uttama-adhikārī
is that he cannot be understood.
It may not be completely possible for you to understand the mood of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
But in principle you can understand a little bit about his mood
by reading his books.
And those books are available in Spanish,
I see that you are in Bogota, Colombia.
You can read the books and feel and see how Śrīla Prabhupāda
is so much attached to Kṛṣṇa and Lord Gaurāṅga!
Then you can start to be very grateful for all the help he has given to you.
Then naturally, you can advance.
Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]
Questioner: Anādi Akṣaya Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: The gṛhasthas need to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center
and by offering their food to Kṛṣṇa,
by doing regular ārati to the deities,
reading certain amount of śāstra,
all these things help to keep one fixed up in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Husband and wife should help each other
to think of Kṛṣṇa.
And you may have Deities in the house
and do the various devotional services
to keep your self Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Questioner: Anādi Akṣaya Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: The gṛhasthas need to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center
and by offering their food to Kṛṣṇa,
by doing regular ārati to the deities,
reading certain amount of śāstra,
all these things help to keep one fixed up in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Husband and wife should help each other
to think of Kṛṣṇa.
And you may have Deities in the house
and do the various devotional services
to keep your self Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-18
Jayapatākā Swami: The first thing is to desire.
And you seem to have that desire.
Then you get the mercy from other devotees, from the spiritual master,
pray to the Deities
and do any kind of devotional service,
you can do it like chanting, hearing, serving.
There are nine different types of activities you can do,
do whatever you can do.
Category: [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Bhaktin Nivedita
Date: 2022-07-30
Jayapatākā Swami: By spiritual knowledge, we can avoid materialistic things.
kṛṣṇa—sūrya-sama māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra
(Cc Madhya 22.31)
(Cc Madhya 22.31)
Where there is Kṛṣṇa, He is like the sun, there is no darkness.
And material life is like darkness.
In order to eradicate the darkness, we need to bring in the light of Kṛṣṇa.
That will naturally solve the problem.
But for new devotees, it is hard for them to under what is spiritual, what is material.
And that is why they need more knowledge,
so that they can understand the difference.
It is not very difficult,
but it is a new way, we are not used to thinking.
Questioner: Keyā Rāṇī
Date: 2023-12-25
Jayapatākā Swami: You see if you taste the nectar at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet,
and that is received from Lord Caitanya,
so what can be better than that?
So we take Kṛṣṇa and we take a drop of the nectar from His lotus feet,
that is invaluable.
So, we are getting an opportunity to appreciate the wonderful gift of Lord Caitanya,
by tasting the nectar coming from His lotus feet.
Category: [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Vedavit Kṛṣṇa dāsa [Laguna Beach, California, USA]:
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: You see someone may take shelter
of one of Kṛṣṇa’s expansions
and may think, “Oh, this is very nice!”
But the thing is that
we want to take shelter at the same time,
develop our relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
So he may give us some options
to take shelter of Lord Śiva or others
but as a result
we may take birth again and again.
Because these devas they cannot give mukti.
So Kṛṣṇa, He gives the ideal
protection
and also, He brings one back home back to Godhead.
If you read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
then you will have many different pastimes
and can see how the Lord protects His devotees.
He is known as Bhakta-vatsala,
how He protected Prahlāda Mahārāja,
how He protected different devotees.
So by reading the pastimes
one should naturally develop faith.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-29
Jayapatākā Swami: Just like Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said,
kṛṣṇera saṁsāra kara, chāri anācāra,
we want to put Kṛṣṇa in the center of our household life.
We want to just give up the prohibited activities.
Meat eating, intoxication and others.
And if one wakes up with that intention
then naturally, they will try to increase their services of the day.
We want to please guru and Kṛṣṇa.
That is the goal of our life.
The common people, the goal of their life is to have sense pleasure.
But sometimes our senses are pleased and sometimes they suffer.
Just like no one wants fever
but some people get.
Nobody wants the Corona virus,
but some get.
Vrajeśvara Gaura Dāsa, he read to me one quote that
Sarvajaya Mādhava from Dallas had sent,
something that in the Bible,
they said that stay in your house
for a little time
and let the Lord take His vengeance
and then after that it will all pass!
What a coincidence, how great is our God.
The Government arranged the closure on March 26, 2020, in the Bible verse Isaac 26.20 says “Go home My people and close the doors.
Hide a little until the wrath of the Lord has passed.”
They found this verse in the Bible.
Anyway we are trying to do inter-faith preaching.
Not only the Hindus but get the other faiths to preach.
In America they have mostly Christians.
Middle East mostly Muslims.
We respect all the religions
and we want them to just chant the name of God they believe in.
So if we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa in the morning
and every day we do our devotional service,
naturally, that becomes the focus of our life.
We want the husband and wife to work together and cooperate together.
I was so inspired to hear how different gṛhasthas are doing internet preaching!
One gṛhastha said that he was giving four classes a day
in this lockdown period in India
and he had 500 people attending.
One lady was saying how
she had a Japathon
and they were chanting japa,
one person chanted 2 lakhs 11 thousand rounds.
A little child chanted 16 rounds.
Sometimes Japathon, sometimes class,
sometimes Bhakti-vṛkṣa,
different ways they are preaching,
encouraging people to take up to chanting in this time of crisis.
Even in the Supreme Court of India,
they recommended to the Government,
people should do bhajana, kīrtana and namaz.
Questioner: Balavān Śrīnivāsa dāsa
Date: 2022-07-27
You see, asking for blessings for a spiritual goal is not a problem.
That is not something separate from Kṛṣṇa’s service.
If you ask for something material like good health, good husband, then we say to the Lord, if it so pleases You.
But actually, for spiritual blessing, that is alright.
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Ritvik, ISKCON Baroda
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: If the guru is able to help you if you feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda is talking to you through the guru and you are able to cross over māyā,
then that is the right guru for you.
So you also get help from various śikṣā-gurus and Vaiṣṇavas.
I have fifteen questions you should ask yourself,
to help you understand if it is the right guru.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-02
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in the walls here the words ‘Jaya Rādhe’.
So Navadvīpa was made by Rādhārāṇī.
And when Kṛṣṇa went there, He said, “Oh, you have created this beautiful dhāma for Me!
I will bring all the holy places here, so this should be non-different from Vṛndāvana.”
And Kṛṣṇa united with Rādhā and took the heart of Rādhā and Her color.
So He became Gaurāṅga.
With the heart of Rādhārāṇī and He was golden color like Rādhārāṇī.
So how do we know? Because Kṛṣṇa said it is non-different from Vṛndāvana.
Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Keya Rāṇī
Date: 2022-09-16
Jayapatākā Swami: They are skipping over your question because it is not particularly from the verse.
Anyway we should do both together.
We should help ourselves
while we depend on Kṛṣṇa,
not that we just sit and say Kṛṣṇa will do everything.
We do the best we can and we depend on Kṛṣṇa.
There is a story where there is a flood.
And they came by the house and said that,
"Get in!
There is a flood."
He said, "No, No! I am depending on Kṛṣṇa."
Then the water rose
up to the roof.
And he was on the roof.
Boat came and said, "Get on!"
He said, "No on I am depending on God",
and the boat left.
And then helicopter come,
ere grab the rope!"
and he said "No. I am depending on God.",
and he got drowned.
Then he went back to Godhead.
He asked God, "Why did you not save me?"
He said "I sent you a car, a boat, a helicopter
you did not take anything.
So what do you expect?"
So naturally we have to take the mercy of Kṛṣṇa
that may come in any way.
Questioner:
Date: 2023-02-25
Jayapatākā Swami: When the sun appears darkness goes.
There is a saying in śāstra,
kṛṣṇa—sūrya-sama, māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra
(Cc. Madhya 22.31)
That is why we always recommend chanting.
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare
Where did the bad thoughts go?
Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy!
No negative thoughts!
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Link: 20221014 Evening Address
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-06-10
How to develop favourable devotional attitude?
we should accept everything for devotional service and give up everything which is unfavourable.
If we really understand what is our self interest?
What is helping us?
And we understand serving Kṛṣṇa and serving his devotees are our own self interest and then we know what is the favourable for that we accept the favourable things and we avoid the unfavourable automatically we can.
Start to get lined up.
Now what is very important is to develop that is by associating with the devotees already have their attitude.
Not that every devotees is equally developed in his favourable attitude such those who are especially ball pointless those who are in bitter mood they may be advancing but in a slow track.
Those who are seeing good qualities in others enthusiastic cheerful and they don’t hold any grudges on anyone they are in mode of fast track.
So we look for devotees that we can relate with a better situation we are and associating with them and in this way we can progress by the good association and this leads to the next question which is sādhu-saṅga which is one of most if not the most important limbs of devotional principles is offensive be six certain devotee association to avoid others,
So we select the associating just associating of any devotees so we can read the questions super souls.
Lord Caitanya said that there are three kinds of devotees those who are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but they are not following the principles we can help them otherwise we don’t associate with them very intimately but those who are initiated and following very strictly we can accept them in a very we can respect them and offer respect to them and associate with them.
And those who are very advanced who are fully fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness who are in the level of guru we can take shelter from them.
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that we can seek out association with the likely minded devotees.
Of course hopefully the like minded should be a good mind but its all right we may be more intimate with some than the others.
Absolutely yes.
Specially keep crying for Kṛṣṇa.
So in one sentence nothing wrong.
And people surely benefit something by hearing them.
But usually for the initiated devotees prefer to hear singing by someone more spiritually developed.
These are especially songs sung by attracting the new people by music aspect but not spiritual aspect.
In public programs we use these more but for personal purification it is recommended to hear Prabhupāda and some other pure devotee chanting.
But its nothing wrong but that is the guideline.
Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Anonymous
Date: 2022-07-25
Jayapatākā Swami: How does he give special mercy?
So many ways.
Preaches to the devotees.
Explains to them devotional service.
Prays to Kṛṣṇa...
that the devotee.. may be accepted into devotional service.
If a devotee is accepted into devotional service,
that’s special mercy!
And special mercy goes on in so many different ways.
Here, the word… why it’s said, “Special mercy”,
can’t… if you want… I mean since… you know… split hairs about the whole thing.
That special mercy, what is the special mercy?
Means that even the person is not..
following rules and regulations and so many things, wasn’t, you know,
living in the āśrama for… and...
so many things.
He was just uh, he was a king of demons, but he was the grandson of Prahlāda,
so he even in spite of not being otherwise so qualified in terms of..
you know, just, sādhana-bhakti,
still, by some special mercy, that means by the well-wishes of Prahlāda Mahārāja,
just by his wish, just by his favorable...
desire, that alone was enough to lay the groundwork,
so Bali Mahārāja could develop this spontaneous love for Vāmanadeva.
It’s not that the mercy of the spiritual master has to be in a visible way.
That just by his favorable wishes, by his favorable desires,
a person can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
But...
when a person starts to advance,
then one should naturally become more and more responsible,
to repay that special mercy.
One takes that whatever advancement one has achieved is due...
to the mercy of the spiritual master,
in response to one’s desire.
In.. most cases.
And then when there was no desire, then you know it was special mercy.
I had no desire to be a devotee.
Somehow, I came..
to...
deliver the milk,
and the devotees kept giving me cookies..
and.. I can see that by their special mercy, I became a devotee.
That… someone may actually come here, looking for Kṛṣṇa,
cause there’s some.. problem that person has, or he wants to know about something,
or is looking for God,
you see.
Comes here, starts to practice.
So, that you can say that’s ordinary mercy.
And if somebody comes and is just completely,
not the slightest desire at all for spiritual life,
you know, visibly there,
still the devotee goes out of his way to just engage that person,
giving some prasādam or some… whatever.
So, that’s a special mercy.
It’s not that the person really did anything to deserve it... or even desires it much.
So it's just a devotee, out of his own, “Let me help this person.”
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: (Spoken in Hindi – Translated here – Kali-yuga me nāma ke dvāra.
Kalau tad-dhari kīrtanāt.
Nāma ke dvāra bhagavān ko bahut jaldī prāpta ho sakte hain.
Hare Krsna.
Mūrti pūjā dvāpara-yuga me. (The Lord is easily attainable in the Kali-yuga by chanting of the Holy Names)
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-21
Hṛdayānanda Dāsa Goswami: Yes, (laughing)
if he is actually bonafide.
If he is actually bonafide.
You understand?
If someone is not a bonafide spiritual master, someone is only pretending to be a spiritual master,
then how can the relationship be eternal?
So therefore, the disciple has to know the real symptoms.
Just like for example, in the case I was just mentioning, there were some symptoms which were very unusual, that were not the normal symptoms.
So, some of the people in in England they were not, of course the young devotees they didn't know,
but they were not very strict and serious and seeing that the same standard was kept.
Do you understand?
In other words, just like we are… we are always preaching, that is the duty of our disciple to see, to select a bonafide spiritual master.
So, the point is that anyone who joins this movement sincerely will get Kṛṣṇa and will get a bonafide spiritual master.
And the symptom that is getting one that is he will get Kṛṣṇa.
If you are getting a bonafide spiritual master, then you are getting the proper instruction.
Any guru in ISKCON who is presenting Prabhupāda as he is, or presenting the standard program, he is a bonafide guru.
Just like if I tell my disciples, "Read these books."
So, I am giving them the right knowledge, you understand?
Now, if someone is actually a bonafide spiritual master, then that relationship is eternal.
So it’s not that, it’s not that, because one particular person had some difficulty therefore I will become doubtful.
This is also a foolish idea.
Just like in the Gauḍīya Maṭha, all of them deviated except Prabhupāda.
I mean fifty of them or something like that, there were 100 or something, I don’t know how many... do you understand?
And every last one of them, every single one of them, deviated from Bhaktisiddhānta's order.
And out of the movement of hundreds and thousands of people, Prabhupāda was the only one who actually
carried it out exactly as Bhaktisiddhānta wanted, do you understand?
So, it’s not that when we heard about Gauḍīya Maṭha, we begin to doubt our spiritual master.
No, we become more proud of our spiritual master.
So, it’s just like my parents always used to tell me, "You should be glad that your parents don’t drink or smoke…
or… tell me that, some parents beat their children, some parents do this, some parents do that.”
So, in that way Kṛṣṇa has given these historical examples. Kṛṣṇa has given these examples,
so you should be happy if you have a guru who doesn’t drink or smoke. (Laughter)
Yes, actually, we accept that Śrīla Prabhupāda among his godbrothers…
not that all they fell down to sinful activities,
but they deviated from the preaching mission and Prabhupāda told us that, none of them actually really captured the purport completely.
So, it's in the līlāmṛta, all.
Prabhupāda's frustration trying to work with them.
So, does that make us doubt Śrīla Prabhupāda? No, it makes us glorify him more.
That if others have failed, that means it must be very difficult.
Because someone has not… could not do it, that means it must be a very difficult thing.
It must be... So, therefore, it made us more attached to our spiritual master.
So, Prabhupāda said, "If you see, if you try to see the guru without Kṛṣṇa then that’s bad.
If you try to see Kṛṣṇa without the guru, that is also bad.
If we see guru as the representative of Kṛṣṇa,
then we will never be deviated.”
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: Depends what you are thinking!
Generally, I would chant in front of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mūrti.
And I would chant the mantra but I would also be seeing Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Everything connected with Kṛṣṇa is also Kṛṣṇa.
It is not really Kṛṣṇa, but it is not different from Kṛṣṇa.
When we clean the temple, the temple is connected with Kṛṣṇa, therefore we clean our heart.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, in any part of the temple Kṛṣṇa is there.
So guru is connected to Kṛṣṇa
and if you see guru while chanting you will be connected to Kṛṣṇa.
Link: 20221023 Evening Darśana
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-17
In this regard, Śrīla Prabhupāda was quoting Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
that the disciple should take the order of the spiritual master as their life and soul.
If you are not able
to follow the instruction of your spiritual master,
then you can ask him
what to do in that case.
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Just like we say we are not the body.
We also say we are not the mind.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said that we should beat the mind in the morning with shoes 108 times.
In the evening beat with a broomstick 108 times.
Who is the boss here, mind or you?
You are the eternal spirit soul and you are the real person.
Not the mind.
We have to tell the mind, who is the boss!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Just like we say we are not the body.
We also say we are not the mind.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said that we should beat the mind in the morning with shoes 108 times.
In the evening beat with a broomstick 108 times.
Who is the boss here, mind or you?
You are the eternal spirit soul and you are the real person.
Not the mind.
We have to tell the mind, who is the boss!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Medhāvinī Sakhi devī dāsī
Date: 2022-12-22
Jayapatākā Swami: So, every day if we read some śāstra,
that will help us to always remember Kṛṣṇa!
In the morning I listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures,
in the evening I hear or read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
During the day I give classes.
But we are told that we should always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Medhāvinī Sakhi devī dāsī
Date: 2022-12-22
Jayapatākā Swami: So, every day if we read some śāstra,
that will help us to always remember Kṛṣṇa!
In the morning I listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures,
in the evening I hear or read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
During the day I give classes.
But we are told that we should always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Ojasvinī Rādhikā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: We are advised to always remember Kṛṣṇa,
So, in this age, we can always remember Kṛṣṇa’s name and never forget Him.
And whatever we do, we should chant the holy name
and, in this way, you can always remember Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Satyabhāmā Sādhvī devī dasī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: Very glorious question.
We want to always remember guru and Kṛṣṇa.
So if we do everything as an offering to guru and Kṛṣṇa,
then we will be constantly thinking of Guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Like, if you buy a gift for your loved one,
now you may be thinking what does that person like?
And you pick up some gift,
so it maybe that you are thinking about the gift,
but you are thinking in the context what does this person like?
So therefore, you are always thinking about the person.
Even though technically you may not always thinking about him, but all your action is offered to him.
So therefore, your thought process is centered around the person you love.
So if you love Kṛṣṇa, if you love the guru,
it is very easy to think always about guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]
Questioner: Śacīnandana Gauracanda dāsa.
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: We can see, it is not a small thing.
Personally, I don’t we need such a determination.
But we should be determined to chant,
to follow the four regulative principles
and engage one’s self in devotional service,
and eventually achieve pure love for Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa is so wonderful.
Why do you want to serve anyone else?
Kṛṣṇa or His devotees are the only persons we should worship.
You know, Rāvaṇa, Hiraṇyakaśipu, they gave all material desires to their followers.
But they had to reject God and serve them,
then you will get all that you want, materially.
But why do you want to serve a demon?
But the demons would like to serve the demons,
the devotees want to serve the devotees.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: You see that is why we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa!
That changes our consciousness.
And then we see how this material world is a temporary place of suffering.
Lord Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā about this material world, it is – duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam.
So we should engage ourselves in Kṛṣṇa’s service.
Doesn’t matter where we are, material world or spiritual world, we do the same activities, engage in Kṛṣṇa’s service.
And I told the story about the Yamadūtas, we want to give them a vacation.
But if we want to give them service, they are ready to do it.
Also, Lord Caitanya revealed how by doing devotional service we get transcendental bliss.
Animals have āhāra, nidrā, bhaya, maithuna.
Human beings have the same plus devotional service.
So, the secret is to engage in devotional service.
Not to be an animal.
The modern world is just to make animal life more comfortable.
Why do the human beings have better, easier life than animals?
Because they have extra time to do devotional service.
Questioner: Saccidānanda Gauracandra dāsa
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.
Our tendency is just to neglect our spiritual life.
But naturally we know that the human life
is very short
and that is with little opportunity.
And one moment that goes by,
we cannot get back
even for crores of rupees or millions of dollars or pounds.
So naturally, we would like to utilize
all the energy and resources
and be able to achieve success in this life.
If we think how much we are indebted to guru and Kṛṣṇa,
then naturally we would like to repay our debt.
So where is the time for laziness?
Being born in Nepal, this is a great opportunity
to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
You see on the news how they have different coup d’etat in Africa,
in Latin America
and other places.
So you are very fortunate to be in Nepal.
Why take a chance to be born in hellish places?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-02
Jayapatākā Swami: It is like a multiple question.
You can be in Vṛndāvana by being in Vṛndāvana.
And how to please Śrīla Prabhupāda and me? I am very pleased if you are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
If you are studying Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books,
Śrīla Prabhupāda called that tapasyā in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
If you are distributing the mercy out that is also very pleasing.
And if you are doing Kṛṣṇa conscious sevās, there are nine types of sevās,
then that is also pleasing.
How to deal with the vraja-vāsīs?
What is the problem?
How to deal with the vraja-vāsīs in regard to job, work, and association?
She is saying vraja-vāsīs, if she is saying in regard to work she has to work for someone.
You are staying in Vṛndāvana, then you have to live with vraja-vāsīs.
I guess I would just encourage them, they are vraja-vāsīs, they are very fortunate.
That they are in Kṛṣṇa’s land,
so they should be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Otherwise, what is the use of being a vraja-vāsī.
Of course, when I installed the lotus feet this morning,
then afterwards a brāhmaṇa vraja-vāsī said I will help you to worship the Śyāma-kuṇḍa.
Then he took some water, sprinkled it,
tied a thread around my wrist.
And then he said, I am a poor brāhmaṇa, please give me some donation.
So I gave him some.
I saw in Māyāpur, sometimes during the season, the boys come up and say we are having a pūjā program in our pandal for Durgā-pūjā, please give us donation.
So I was thinking we are worshiping Kṛṣṇa every day
but Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “Alright, give them 10 rupees.”
So, they are taught they accept whatever they are given. So to make the long story short, just give them 10 rupees and Haribol!
So like that Śrīla Prabhupāda would sometimes give them something just to make them happy.
Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-29
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya wrote the Śikṣāṣṭaka.
In the third verse of the Śikṣāṣṭaka He said to be humble like a blade of grass and tolerant like a tree.
To offer all respect to others and not to expect any respect for ourselves.
Basically, to be non-envious.
In other words, if you always follow the instructions of Lord Caitanya, you will become non-envious.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Good question!
I know very little Hindi, but I will speak in English.There will be Translation.
So there are eight steps in bhakti-yoga.
First is śraddhā,
then sādhu-saṅga,
bhajana-kriyā,
anartha-nivṛtti,
niṣṭhā,
ruci,
āsakti,
bhāva
and then prema.
So, first one at the stage of bhajana-kriyā one takes initiation.
And then one under the guidance of guru and his assistants, they get rid of their anarthas.
That is called anartha-nivṛtti.
And then one is niṣṭhā or steady in devotional service.
This is a gradual process and if he takes initiation, he goes up to anartha-nivṛtti and then he can become niṣṭhā or fixed.
So I was in the RODC and then in the NRODC in the USA.
The Army and Navy.
Then I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda, “What should I do?”
He said, “Better you join Kṛṣṇa’s Army!”
And now I am in India, I am also an army man!
Questioner: IYF Māyāpur
Date: 2022-08-03
Jayapatākā Swami: Arjuna asked a similar question
and Kṛṣṇa said that by the sword of knowledge
he should cut the knots of illusion.
So there are different ways to overcome –
one is knowledge.
We have to have knowledge.
Like in Gajendra Mokṣa līlā, the elephant king and the crocodile king were fighting with each other
and they were in the water.
So the elephant realized he was a land animal and the crocodile was a water animal and the crocodile was winning.
Then he prayed to Lord Viṣṇu,
he could remember in his previous life he was a human being,
he was saved by Viṣṇu.
But in the purport Śrīla Prabhupāda says that
we should see which place we are stronger to fight māyā.
Even though we may have knowledge and wisdom,
maybe our nature is such that we should be gṛhastha
but if we can control our lust by knowledge and by engaging in service,
keep the mind off from the object of lust,
then maybe that is sufficient.
Questioner: Sadānandinī Yogīnī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-13
Jayapatākā Swami: We should make our goal in life to serve Kṛṣṇa.
Sometimes the senses will give us pleasure, sometimes they will give suffering.
So, we should not be very dependent on the senses,
they are not reliable.
That way, by keeping our mind on Kṛṣṇa, we can advance.
Now, as long as we live in this material world,
we will have senses.
Sometimes the senses will experience pleasure, sometimes suffering.
So, we should not be very much illusioned by this.
This is not the real happiness we are searching for.
Certain amount of pleasure is needed,
to keep us balanced in this material world.
But our goal should be to have the spiritual pleasure, like Lord Caitanya is having.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Akhilabandhu Gopāla dāsa
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapataka Swami: I don’t really understand how favoritism can affect.
Apparently if someone gets some favoritism, still Kṛṣṇa will analyze us as per our situation,
and so, that way we don’t have to worry.
But Kṛṣṇa is seeing all you do in His service
and so if someone gets favoritism how that could be good or not good.
It could be good in the sense if someone gets some facility to do devotional service.
It could be bad in the sense that he gets facilities without much effort.
So, that way he is deprived of certain mercy
from Lord Nitāi-Gaura.
So I wouldn’t worry about it.
You just try to please Nitāi-Gaura, please the Deities
and naturally someone may give you facilities.
You can approach the leaders saying you want more service.
Usually, people who approach like that, they get more service.
Śrīla Prabhupāda gave the example that in a nest, the baby bird that chirps the loudest gets the worm.
Questioner: Premeśvarī Śrī Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-21
Separation from guru and Kṛṣṇa is something that we encounter
and Kṛṣṇa.
So Lord Caitanya said that we can get a closer devotion
by feeling separation.
So if we feel separation that is to the body of the guru,
if we feel separation that is to the instructions of the guru
and just try to follow his instructions.
By following his instructions, we can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Serving the guru personally is vapu-sevā
and serving his instructions is vāṇī-sevā.
So vāṇī-sevā is more important.
Category: [Emotions / Sorrow], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]
Questioner: Ati Sundara Jagannātha dāsa
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: When it is some puja time, say Dīpāvalī or something,
you buy something for your sister, your mother, your loved ones.
So while you are buying that you are thinking what does this person like? What should I get?
Like that, the act of shopping
becomes an act of love.
And so in the same way when you want to do something for the spiritual master,
you think like that, what will be pleasing? What can be used?
And that way, it is an act of love for your spiritual master.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
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.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Be a friend of Kṛṣṇa!
Many are friends in Vṛndāvana, Arjuna was also a friend.
Uddhava was a friend.
So, one can be a friend by following the footsteps of the friend.
Are you ready?
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Bhaktin Ambika
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: Naturally when you are serving guru and Kṛṣṇa,
then you will be connected to guru and Kṛṣṇa
and you can feel that.
So, we try if we can either serve the guru directly
or by following his instructions.
And that way we can feel connected.
Questioner: Antīmā devī dāsī.
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: You see we should have the vision of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura,
seeing the difference from material relationship,
and the spiritual reality.
If we have this knowledge,
naturally we can transcend the suffering and troubles of the material world.
But since we are conditioned, and we lament over things which should not be lamented for,
therefore, say one family member dies,
different varṇas have different times or periods, when we are not supposed to go to the temple.
I think brāhmaṇas have 11 days and śūdras 30 days.
So, the more one has spiritual knowledge,
they may be able to recover.
Now I heard that the head priest of the Guruvāyur temple,
if someone dies in his family,
they wouldn’t tell him.
Because if they told him,
he would have to stop worship for so many days.
So, while he is in the six months as head priest.
He would not hear about any misfortune in his family.
Fixing your mind on guru and Kṛṣṇa, is a matter of spiritual wisdom.
Category: [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Jayapatākā Swami: We could remember Lord Nityānanda,
He was hit in the head by Mādhāi
with a clay pot.
He was caused to bleed,
and He said, “Just because you caused Me to bleed, does that mean I will not give you love of Godhead?”
So, we take everything, ultimately, if someone is doing something to us, we are thinking,
we take it that it is our karma.
That the person is acting as an instrument for our karma.
We don’t take that person responsible.
That they don’t know what they are doing.
So in different ways we remember how the bull and cow were beaten by the personality of Kali
but they did not hold the personality of Kali responsible.
And Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, he was Ajātaśatru,
he did not look at anyone as his enemy.
He was a well-wisher to everyone.
So, even his enemies found that it was better
to be a friend, to follow him because he was a well-wisher to everyone.
Questioner: Sivaprasad (Sheltered)
Date: 2022-09-10
Jayapatākā Swami: Sambandha, abhideya and prayojana are the three things to be remembered.
If we are engaged in abhideya in devotional service, then naturally our relationship with guru and Kṛṣṇa is strong.
If we are not engaged in devotional service, then there is somewhat distance.
So the solution for that is to engage in devotional service.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-04-27
Jayapatākā Swami: As I mentioned, bhakti-yoga is a science.
And it is step by step.
Śravaṇam, kīrtanam, We should hear and then have sādhu-saṅga.
Then bhajana-kriyā.
With bhajana-kriyā comes initiation.
The next stage is anartha-nivṛtti,
getting rid of the bad habits.
So that comes after initiation, that you start working on removing the bad habits.
Then we become fixed, and we have good habits in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and that is called niṣṭhā.
Then we have a taste,
then we get attached to that taste, āsakti.
Then we get bhāva, ecstatic devotional service.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Akshaj, Bhopal
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: Usually, bhajana-kriyā stage is the time we take initiation.
Then after that with the guidance of the guru, we get anartha-nivṛitti.
We may hear from the guru or we may have śikṣā-gurus
who help us to overcome these anarthas.
One book I translated Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s book, Vaiṣṇava Ke?
He prayed to his mind, what kind of Vaiṣṇava are you? By doing solitary bhajana you seek name and fame.
That book, it is a small book. You read that to find out how to control and train the mind.
Also, there is another bhajana by Śrīnivāsa Ācārya
and that helps one to control the mind.
Anarthas are in the mind.
Anartha-nivṛtti means mind is purified.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-22
Jayapatākā Swami: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
I think the secret of getting up early is going to bed early.
Also, not eating too much at night,
eat light food.
If you eat heavy, then you sleep heavy.
So light food like poha or mūḍi
or something light.
And eat early.
I eat my dinner at 6 pm.
And then by the time I take rest it is digested.
So then I can get up for maṅgala-ārati every day.
Getting up at 3.30am is a bit early.
The brāhma-muhūrta starts one and a half hours before sunrise.
It is recommended that we should get up in the brāhma-muhūrta.
And that is a little later maybe. I don’t know what time the sun rises in Gujarat?
(approximately 6 am).
So 4.30am should be alright, take a bath.
Maṅgala-ārati starts at 4.30 am in Māyāpur.
What time does it start in Gujarat.
(4.30 am or something).
Anyway, the process is go to bed early and not eat too heavy.
And chant.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Food], [Day-to-day Life / Health], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Maṅgala-ārati], [Sādhanā / Time Management]
Questioner: Darsh
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: Māyā is stronger than we are
but Kṛṣṇa is stronger than māyā.
If we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa we can cross over māyā.
That is why we try to engage ourselves in Kṛṣṇa’s service.
So there is a competition.
Māyā tests us,
but if we are successful in following Kṛṣṇa,
then māyā will offer her praṇāmas to us.
But if we succumb to her tests,
then we will remain in the material world.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-05
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, I once had a high fever,
and my body was feeling all kinds of pain.
I am just answering spontaneously.
At that time Śrīla Prabhupāda was giving lectures in Vṛndāvana on the Nectar of Devotion,
I was listening to those.
I felt so much happiness,
but my body was on fire!
So I could see that my happiness had nothing to do with the pain,
it was something different.
And Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a science when you reach a stage where there is happiness
you don’t bother about some of the pain that comes.
Category: [Sādhanā], [Vratās (Austerities)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Very critical,
but you have to think how I can make them devotees.
I met a devotee she was an actress.
She knew the Bhagavad-gītā cover to cover!
But she went to her husband and said, “You are very great, you are very intelligent, please help me!
I cannot understand this verse. Can you help me?”
He read it and that is how he got purified!
It says one daughter-in-law or one devotee in the family can liberate the whole family.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Cooperation]
Questioner: 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.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
Questioner: Bhakta dāsa, ISKCON Baroda
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: You see there will always be some tests.
Māyā will test you, are you really sincere?
You want to serve Kṛṣṇa or you are just playing around.
So many devotees here.
I give class every day, more or less every day.
Wherever you are, Bhopal, Vadodara, you can watch the class,
either by Facebook or Zoom.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, bhakti-yoga is a powerful practice.
And if you just say stop something, what do you do? Your mind, your senses do not stop.
So we do yukta-vairāgya.
Everything we do, we do to please Kṛṣṇa.
So just like we have to eat. So instead of eating nonsense, we eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda.
We replace what we are doing materially bad habits with positive kṛṣṇa-sevā.
People may have the bad habit of illicit sex.
But those who want sex they have to be married.
And we bring up our children also in devotional service.
Questioner:
Date: 2023-02-25
Jayapatākā Swami: Think of positive thoughts!
Just like we see the Deities of Rādhā Govinda Aṣṭa Sakhi, Lord Gaurāṅga, we think of Them.
Link: 20221014 Evening Address
Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: Well there are two parts to your question.
One, how do I know if my service is pleasing to guru?
If we are doing something which he has asked us to do,
then it is usually pleasing to him.
If we are doing something which is for our authorities requested us to do
and it doesn’t go in contradiction with anything that guru told us;
and that something that is completely against our nature,
then usually it is very pleasing.
If it is something that is against our nature;
but it is something that is urgently needed;
and sometimes by fulfilling that one gets some special mercy from the guru.
What was the second part?
If our services are not pleasing does it affect our taste in chanting?
If you do not carry out the order of your guru,
then that is the third offence to the holy name
and naturally that will be something that hampers our tastes.
Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-16
Jayapatākā Swami: Saṁbandha is understanding of our relationship that we are the servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Abhideya is engaging in that relationship.
And prayojana is achieving the perfection of life,
pure love of Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: She asked how can I see Kṛṣṇa?
And what can I do to advance in my Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
We should try that Kṛṣṇa can see us.
And in that way, Kṛṣṇa will be very happy to reveal Himself to you. You serve in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will want to see you and this way you will advance in your devotional service.
How you can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is try to do the things which are pleasing to guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, it is good to feel like that.
Rādhārāṇī feels She is not doing enough, as much as She could.
But we think that She is 100% best,
but She is thinking what more I should do?
That is the Kṛṣṇa conscious attitude.
Not that, oh! I am doing everything I can.
Then we won’t try to do more.
If we cannot think of how to increase, you could also always ask what more can I do?
Or if you have some idea, then you can suggest, can I do this, will this be pleasing?
We always should be eager to do something more for Kṛṣṇa.
Parents, your children ever come up and say, mom dad, can I do some service for you? Ha!
You think, what do they want from me! Ha!
But actually if they don’t want anything that would be super!
If you think what more you could do and you want permission, then suggest that.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-13
Jayapatākā Swami: I am trying to convince many of my senior disciples to take up the service of dīkṣā-guru.
And when I do that, then except in some cases I may stop giving initiation except for those who have taken shelter.
So people who have taken shelter I will give them.
Those who took initiation, they have already taken.
As of now, I have not yet stopped.
Still, sometime I may stop.
So, better chant 16 rounds and take shelter.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Indirectly the trees, the cows, they are providing fruits, milk,
but they are not actively doing service.
Kṛṣṇa goes and milks them.
In one sense, okay they are contributing something,
but they are not like Hanumān, who is flying over the ocean and fighting with the demons.
The service of Kṛṣṇa, they really serve Kṛṣṇa.
We are not saying that the animals, the trees, they are not doing anything useful, they are useful.
But it is not that they do a lot of service.
They do their thing.
Produce fruit, produce milk.
I mean, I am sure the deer would go up and lick Kṛṣṇa.
Śānta-rasa means that they appreciate Kṛṣṇa.
One way you can say it is service.
But those who are in dāsya-rasa, they really do a lot of service.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-14
Jayapatākā Swami: Since this verse is about Dhruva Mahārāja
and he was the great grandson of Lord Brahmā.
The grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu.
So Manu was obviously a gṛhastha.
He was grandfather of Dhruva,
he also was the father of the mother of Kapila Muni.
And so it is said that he went back to Godhead.
But he was a gṛhastha
he had children, he had responsibilities,
but he did everything Kṛṣṇa consciously.
When he did his things, he did everything thinking of Kṛṣṇa.
So like that our gṛhasthas sometimes have deities in their house.
They may have Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā, Nitāi-Gaura,
so by doing their daily activities in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way they can balance.
We should always remember that our prime duty is to serve Kṛṣṇa.
But we may have other duties.
Those we do in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way
and that way we always stay under Kṛṣṇa’s shelter.
In the 10th topic of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it says āśraya.
We want to be under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa.
So we pray to the Deities as gṛhasthas, that we want to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious healthy, long lived suputra or putrī.
Only gṛhasthas can have children.
Brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, sannyāsīs no children.
It says if your child becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious and goes back to Godhead, putra or putrī,
then if they go back to Godhead, 14 generations will go, also, minimum,
7 backward and 7 forward.
Kṛṣṇa is very grateful.
I have one family they said we don’t know if we will go or not but please train our son in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so he goes back.
If you think, oh I have a responsibility for my parents who are sick, old,
you think I will help them to remember Kṛṣṇa
or remember Rāma, that is the interest.
In this way our service, our responsibility, is Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Bhakti-yoga is very practical.
We want - everything will be naturally balanced because we do everything in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-08
Jayapatākā Swami: You see this material world is a temporary world, aśāśvatam.
And it is a place of suffering.
You can look up the Al Jazeera or TRT World or any other news stations,
you see all the difficulties.
Some countries there is flood,
some countries hurricanes, cyclone,
some country war,
some pandemic,
rising cases.
There is no old age, disease, birth or death in the spiritual world.
There everyone is related to Kṛṣṇa in a loving relationship.
Naturally, one feels loving ecstasy all the time.
So you have your choice. In this material world there is suffering, there is some lust,
temporarily you will satisfy your lust
and you think that is the goal of life.
But that is not what we are actually looking for.
What we are looking for is the spiritual world.
Free life,
free choice.
Spiritual bliss.
There you serve the Lord out of love.
Here you work for some office
because you make them money
and when you are not making money,
they lay you off,
they fire you!
It is a business relation, there is no love.
So it depends what you want.
If you are attracted by love and freedom of all kinds of suffering,
then that is the spiritual world.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-08
Jayapatākā Swami: You see this material world is a temporary world, aśāśvatam.
And it is a place of suffering.
You can look up the Al Jazeera or TRT World or any other news stations,
you see all the difficulties.
Some countries there is flood,
some countries hurricanes, cyclone,
some country war,
some pandemic,
rising cases.
There is no old age, disease, birth or death in the spiritual world.
There everyone is related to Kṛṣṇa in a loving relationship.
Naturally, one feels loving ecstasy all the time.
So you have your choice. In this material world there is suffering, there is some lust,
temporarily you will satisfy your lust
and you think that is the goal of life.
But that is not what we are actually looking for.
What we are looking for is the spiritual world.
Free life,
free choice.
Spiritual bliss.
There you serve the Lord out of love.
Here you work for some office
because you make them money
and when you are not making money,
they lay you off,
they fire you!
It is a business relation, there is no love.
So it depends what you want.
If you are attracted by love and freedom of all kinds of suffering,
then that is the spiritual world.
Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: In the material world there are always provoking situations.
Therefore, it is said we should take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa,
or taking the shelter of the spiritual master who is Kṛṣṇa’s representative.
If we practice this, then naturally we can become firm.
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.
Questioner: Kinjal Lohia
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: Follow the third verse of the Śikṣāṣṭaka -
offer respect to all others
and don’t expect any respect for yourself.
Seems like you are not offering respect to other Vaiṣṇavas.
And this is something that we should do.
And when we neglect that, naturally we have to suffer.
So we should appreciate what other Vaiṣṇavas are doing.
And that is the secret of success.
Questioner: Phaneśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī, San Diego
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: You can take from any pure devotee.
Because if you take that of a guest or someone and you get sick that is not very auspicious.
But even if we get sick taking from some pure devotee that is glorified.
So, the prasāda or mahā-prasāda can be taken from someone, even if he is not your dīkṣā-guru.
Thank you Phaneśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Prasāda and Bhoga]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-05
Jayapatākā Swami: May be good fortune, I don’t know.
One of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s servants gave me a set of beads to chant on.
I was practicing yoga before that.
So I sat in the ardha-padmāsana and started meditating and chanting
and I chanted six hours nonstop.
I was chanting 32 rounds or something.
And I was feeling so much ecstasy,
I never felt that in the yoga practice.
So I was convinced that Kṛṣṇa consciousness works.
The secretary was waiting for me to come back.
He asked, “Do you still have those beads?”
I said, “Yes!” “Those are Śrīla Prabhupāda’s beads” he said!
But he said he was not supposed to give that to anyone, but I did not know it at that time.
So he took the beads back from me.
Next day was not quite the same!
But I had a glimpse!
Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]
I live in New York now and one thing about New York is lots of people, lots of events, lots of noise, lots of money, and I am 25 years old and one of the things I am thinking about is understanding how to balance living in the materialist world and having accomplishments, and meeting people and networking, but also living a peaceful, spiritual fulfilling life. How do I, at 25 who is ambitious and want to serve my community, but also not be attached to so many things, how do I find that balance?
Questioner: Dr Pandit
Date: 2023-11-09
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya, He told many people that they should keep their heart on Kṛṣṇa,
but they should do their material activities in a very responsible way.
He gave the example that say, a married woman has another lover than her husband.
And so, she does not want to be discovered and does her activities very carefully.
Household activities are very good.
But her mind is always thinking about her lover.
So Lord Caitanya advises keep your mind on Kṛṣṇa,
but do your material activities outwardly in a very responsible way.
That is how He advised to balance the things.
Like, we found that when we first joined Kṛṣṇa consciousness in 1968,
we were chanting on the street,
and we would see people walking by and they would react in different ways.
And we were somehow, we were in a different atmosphere.
And we could see all the mental trips and things that people were going through.
And so, being in New York, you see lots of people, but you can understand what is the real purpose of life?
And while you are in this world, in this life,
you have to do things to make your family work.
But ultimately you want to go back to the spiritual world,
and so that way you keep your mind on Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: It depends for what reason you are not able to attend. You are up late, preaching, you are sick or just lazy?
If you are just doing out of laziness, it is not proper.
Questioner: Dīpadātri Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-04
So, anyway, we would like to see everybody
chant Hare Kṛṣṇa
and engage in devotional service.
Lord Nityānanda is the original guru.
So the spiritual master
is naturally in connection with Lord Nityānanda.
So it is not so difficult to get guru-kṛpā
and if one tries to get guru-kṛpā,
by preaching, by giving Kṛṣṇa
to the conditioned souls,
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā 18th chapter
that those who preach
this message of Mine,
they are the dearest to Me.
So naturally,
we get the kṛpā.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]
Questioner: Dīpadātri Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-04
So, anyway, we would like to see everybody
chant Hare Kṛṣṇa
and engage in devotional service.
Lord Nityānanda is the original guru.
So the spiritual master
is naturally in connection with Lord Nityānanda.
So it is not so difficult to get guru-kṛpā
and if one tries to get guru-kṛpā,
by preaching, by giving Kṛṣṇa
to the conditioned souls,
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā 18th chapter
that those who preach
this message of Mine,
they are the dearest to Me.
So naturally,
we get the kṛpā.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-14
Jayapatākā Swami: Some people, they have some inclination to someone.
If one cannot understand, they can take them as their śikṣā-guru
and amongst the śikṣā-gurus they can decide who will be their dīkṣā-guru.
Otherwise, I have 15 questions and one can ask themselves and thus choose who is their dīkṣā-guru.
So if you have the Jayapatākā Swami App I can send those questions out.
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Will they not chant?
Will they not have kṛṣṇa-prasāda?
Jayapatākā Swami: If they do book distribution all the time then what is the difficulty?
We have to always do some service or the other.
If they distribute books all the time, that is good.
Those who are in Māyāpur they cannot distribute books all the time.
They come and contribute in the ārati, they dance.
This way they do different services.
But if they do book distribution there all the time, what is the difficulty? It is even good.
But we have to always be doing one service or the other.
One cooks, if there is no cooking then we have a problem.
Like soldiers, one cooks, and one goes out. Similarly, our devotees also, someone cooks, and someone does some other service.
One will distribute prasāda.
If they say that we will not do any other service.
Those who distribute books can also do any other service.
But the time allocated for book distribution, they should do that.
But they can also distribute prasāda, and they should have prasāda. During ārati they should participate and do everything.
One service or the other we have to do.
As many books are distributed, it is good.
But all the time we should do one service.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: Nothing can disturb your Kṛṣṇa consciousness
if you don’t let it.
And we may get free from all our sinful actions.
But then if we again commit more,
then that is a new situation.
So not only should we get freed from the previous ones,
but we should also avoid making new sinful reactions.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: Nothing can disturb your Kṛṣṇa consciousness
if you don’t let it.
And we may get free from all our sinful actions.
But then if we again commit more,
then that is a new situation.
So not only should we get freed from the previous ones,
but we should also avoid making new sinful reactions.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-05
Jayapatākā Swami: We take initiation that puts us to the bhajana-kriyā stage.
And the next stage is to get rid of the anarthas,
anartha-nivṛtti.
And you are asking how to get through this stage.
You see, it is very easy!
You learn from your mistakes
and if you keep failing,
you will be tested again and again and again
until you learn
to not succumb to the anarthas.
And if you learn quick,
it is very fast.
Then you can become fixed up.
But if don’t learn
and you keep making the same mistakes again and again,
the it is like in college, if you fail, you have to go and start again,
until you pass the particular course
you have to repeat it.
Anartha-nivṛtti is like that.
So we learn
the hard way
and we get pinched every time we succumb to the anarthas.
But if you learn you don’t get pinched again.
Is it alright?
I am just telling you the truth.
Questioner: Gopati Kṛṣṇa Dāsa and Acala Hari dāsa
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: Nārāyaṇī was a great devotee.
If you are not feeling ecstasy, that is your misfortune.
It is not the fault of the remnants,
it’s your lack of adhikāra,
to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
You should be lamenting, why you don’t feel ecstasy,
even when you take the prasāda remnants of the Deities.
Jayapatākā Swami: The more we practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
advancement increases.
So, by taking the prasāda of Kṛṣṇa, of Gaurāṅga,
our love for Kṛṣṇa can increase.
Just like getting rid of the anarthās,
and becoming fixed or niṣṭhā,
then we advance step by step,
until we have loving ecstasy for Kṛṣṇa,
then taking prasāda can be an impetus for love of Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Sādhanā], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: I was told by someone that when I met Śrīla Prabhupāda, I should offer prayer.
I should humble myself,
I should praise Śrīla Prabhupāda,
and I should ask some benediction.
So I would do this every day.
After a while, since this was a regular sequence,
Śrīla Prabhupāda he would reply sometimes saying surprising things.
I once said, Śrīla Prabhupāda, I am most fallen.
He said, yes! Ha!
Things like that.
I said, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are very merciful!
I am in need of your mercy!
I am very fallen!
I want to serve you, life after life!
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, why do you want me to come back?
You said, life after life, so I have to be here to accept your service!
I thought I was saying the right thing.
So then I said, I want to serve you even life after life.
If you keep me in the material world, then I want to serve you.
Like that.
Anyway, offer prayer I was taught to offer some praise, humble yourself and ask for some benediction.
But you can see what great Vaiṣṇavas have done and you can follow that example.
Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, he offered his prayers,
you can see how he offered.
Category: [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-18
Jayapatākā Swami: You see the spiritual maser is supposed to be very dear to Lord Nityānanda.
And he gives Lord Nityānanda’s mercy.
By Lord Nityānanda Prabhu’s mercy
we get the mercy of Rādhārāṇī.
And Rādhārāṇī is very hard to approach.
But Nitāi-Gaura, They are more easy to approach.
The spiritual master is easier.
Now śrī śrīla and śrīmān.
Śrī, is the goddess of fortune,
we put śrī in front of someone’s name it means someone is very auspicious.
Śrīman is usually used for someone junior,
who is very - sometimes Śrīla Prabhupāda would address with śrīman in the name.
I don’t know the actual dictionary meaning, I am not a Sanskrit scholar.
Just, I have seen it used,
and śrīla is apparently used for someone who is like a guru or a very elevated devotee.
Sometimes the guru is called an ācārya like Śrīla Prabhupāda, He is śrī-śrīmad,
His Divine Grace.
You can ask a Sansrkit scholar, and they can give more of the meaning.
But actually, that is how I see it has been used.
Hare Kṛṣṇa! Thank you very much!
He is saying I should say something about the Dallas congregation and temple.
I think the congregation is very nice!
We saw the devotees at the Ratha-yātrā yesterday, I was very impressed
by their enthusiasm!
Something I did not understand, what DIY mean?
Someone told me oh, it is Do It Yourself!
Anyway, very nice to see the devotees.
I know Bengali if someone wants to speak in Bengali,
I know a little Hindi and I can speak in Hindi with you.
I have been living in India since 1970
and I joined in 1968.
I saw every temple in ISKCON in 1968,
all three!
San Francisco, New York, and Montreal.
After that there are so many temples.
So now it is not possible to see all the temple.
Of course, I have seen quite a few.
I have been given a lifetime Gold by United Star Alliance
and American and from British Airways, lifetime Emerald.
So I visited all the temples around.
But I was thinking I have not seen all of them.There are about 800 or a thousand now,
it not so easy.
But I thought we should call all the temples which were started by by Śrīla Prabhupāda, he did 108, we should call them as śrīpāṭs.
Like Dallas, should be śrīpāṭ Dallas.
These Deities were worshiped by Śrīla Prabhupāda.
They are very special.
This temple was established by Śrīla Prabhupāda.
There may be about a thousand now and in the future, there may be tens of thousands of temples
but there were 108 established by Śrīla Prabhupāda
and this is one of them.
We would like all the devotees to stay as part of Kṛṣṇa consciousness
and take advantage of the mercy of Rādhā-Kālacāndajī and Nitāi-Gaura and Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī]
In Śaraṇāgati-bhajana, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura spoke about the six aspects of surrendering and also mentioned that Kṛṣṇa hears the prayers of those who practice them. But sometimes I feel that I am not able to practice them properly, especially kārpaṇya or humility. In this situation what should I do so that Kṛṣṇa may hear my prayers?
Questioner: Sudevī Jayaśrī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: We like to think that if we are doing good it is by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.
We don’t take any credit for ourselves.
In that way, we stay humble.
If we think we are the doer, then that is also arrogance.
And so we are depending on guru and Kṛṣṇa all the time.
Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-10-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Since He is the Absolute Truth,
so everything is in Him.
But He is bigger than anything else.
So it is not that anyone can contain Kṛṣṇa totally.
He is bigger than everything.
He is the cause of all causes.
And He is without any cause Himself.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]
Questioner: Supriyā Jāhnavā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: It shows that Lord Caitanya is more merciful than Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Although He is Kṛṣṇa, but He has Rādhārāṇī’s heart,
so He is more merciful.
One who is not initiated,
He also said, He does not accept their offence.
So, if you are initiated,
it is a two-edged sword.
If you follow strictly, you get the Lord’s mercy,
if you don’t follow,
then He may take offence.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Mercy], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the spiritual world there are all kinds of relationships.
But Kṛṣṇa is in the center.
And some may be cowherd boys,
gopas, some are parents,
some are gopīs and rāṇīs,
friends of Yaśodā,
and like Vasudeva, he had many wives.
So, Devakī was the mother of Kṛṣṇa,
and the other wives of Vasudeva were stepmothers of Kṛṣṇa.
Just like, King Daśaratha had three wives.
Kauśalyā, was the mother of Rāma
and the other wives were stepmothers.
So we have all kinds of relationships in the spiritual world.
Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that in Vaikuṇṭha we also have the husband wife,
they may kiss each other,
but they are serving Kṛṣṇa
and they are in their Nārāyaṇa form.
But there is no birth, death, old age or disease in the spiritual world.
In the third canto when Brahmājī becomes very pleased with Kardama Muni’s service, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in the purport that the disciple should get the instructions from the master and execute it word by word. I understand that in terms of sādhana chanting, reading, following regulative principles, that needs to be done. So how much devotees should have their own initiative in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because we may or may not have the association of the spiritual master?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: How many people here have the Jayapatākā Swami App?
How many read it regularly?
I put up daily things on the Jayapatākā Swami App.
And that way you can have your association with me as closely as you associate with your mobile phone.
I see people talking on their mobile phones often.
They can see the App rather.
I don’t know.
Also, someone told me that I should ask Śrīla Prabhupāda a question.
I should glorify Śrīla Prabhupāda,
humble myself
and ask a question and blessings.
So I was doing that every day.
And then it became like a ritual.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are all merciful,
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I am very fallen.
I want to serve you eternally,
life after life.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, he said one day, why do you want to make me come back?
I thought I was saying the right thing.
Then I said, I want to serve you even life after life.
If I don’t make it back to Godhead then I want to serve you here.
In the third canto when Brahmājī becomes very pleased with Kardama Muni’s service, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in the purport that the disciple should get the instructions from the master and execute it word by word. I understand that in terms of sādhana chanting, reading, following regulative principles, that needs to be done. So how much devotees should have their own initiative in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because we may or may not have the association of the spiritual master?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: How many people here have the Jayapatākā Swami App?
How many read it regularly?
I put up daily things on the Jayapatākā Swami App.
And that way you can have your association with me as closely as you associate with your mobile phone.
I see people talking on their mobile phones often.
They can see the App rather.
I don’t know.
Also, someone told me that I should ask Śrīla Prabhupāda a question.
I should glorify Śrīla Prabhupāda,
humble myself
and ask a question and blessings.
So I was doing that every day.
And then it became like a ritual.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are all merciful,
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I am very fallen.
I want to serve you eternally,
life after life.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, he said one day, why do you want to make me come back?
I thought I was saying the right thing.
Then I said, I want to serve you even life after life.
If I don’t make it back to Godhead then I want to serve you here.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-12-09
How did I become?!
How did I become?
Well,
material desires are always there,
they are coming in the mind.
I don’t allow any time to address those.
I keep busy.
Who can say that they have no desire comes?
Desires may come in the mind.
So we go back to Kṛṣṇa and we have the material body desire may come,
but that desire we dovetail it in Kṛṣṇa’s service so we reject it.
Even Prabhupāda one time someone said,
"I have no lust,
Srila Prabhupāda,
I have no material desire." So,
Prabhupāda said,
"really!
what’s wrong with you!
(devotees laugh) I have material lust but I have no time to address that.
I have no time for that.
I am too busy in Kṛṣṇa’s service." You see,
the point is that it's already,
nobody can say that in the material world,
even if they were desireless,
they shouldn’t say that.
Because that would give,
even if someone was a nitya-siddha,
they have no desire,
which is very unlikely to find such souls in this world.
But even if that were the case,
they should,
supposed to take the role as a conditioned soul to teach by example others.
Even if one has some desire comes in the mind,
the desire is either dovetailed,
seen if that can be used for any Kṛṣṇa conscious purpose.
If it is totally material,
then it’s rejected with appropriate disgust,
according to the nature of that particular thought.
We stay so occupied in Kṛṣṇa’s service that there is no chance for Māyā to come in.
That is the secret.
Category: [Emotions / Lust], [Emotions / Greed], [Anarthās], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā], [Material World / Kali yuga]
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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]
Questioner: Mādhava Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2022-10-24
Jayapatākā Swami: An initiated devotee should wear minimum two rounds
and maximum five
That's what I've heard.
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-02
Jayapatākā Swami: The point is that, that will, whole thing will depend on how much amount time the person has, theoretically.
Just like when I came here six months ago, then the Hong Kong Dollar was very strong,
but then after the Prime Minister of England went to Beijing [I don’t know Beijing or Beiking whatever they]
and they told so many things like, “Well, if they are all… that the Chinese government said so many things that we may, we may just throw you out, this or that.”
They were exerting some force, for whatever reason.
Now the Hong Kong Dollar uppsh…(gasps).
Like everybody wants to take the money somewhere else, where it is safe.
They are afraid, “What if they do throw us out, then?
We have to have our money somewhere where it, it won’t, it will be safe.”
Because they are thinking that maybe they won’t have so long after all.
Before that they are thinking, it is going get extend, there is no problem.
So, they won’t worry.
But then they became afraid that, “Well, if we don’t have that much time after all, then we better make some arrangement.”
So, it is like that.
People are thinking, “I am young now, so now I should take care of my material things, when I get old, I will take care of the spiritual matters.”
Well, there are two problems there.
The one problem is that, we do not know how long we are going to live.
Of course, in the normal course of events, we will live to old age.
But that is not that everyone lives to old age.
I do not know the percentage of people who die untimely.
But say at least 25% may die.
Actually, I do not know the exact percent, but a good percentage, not an insignificant number, but a good, significant number die at an age which is young.
So that danger is always there, that if we get suddenly evicted from this body then we will have no alter… then we’ll have no hope.
So that would also make us that we should make some preparation even now.
Just like saving money in the bank.
Therefore, showing to put money now in other accounts overseas, just in case, you see.
That is not for sure.
Hong Kong may be able to make some deal later on and stay here, for some time.
But it is for sure that we have to leave the body That’s for sure! There is no definite… I mean, that is definite, sooner or later.
So that’s the one problem we do not know when.
The other problem is that, even say we live till old age, but to do spiritual practices also is not something that can be just done abruptly.
Naturally, we’ve been practiced… it’s not all the sudden.
If someone can do it immediately, that is also a great, good fortune.
It means some great spiritual asset or blessings have been bestowed on that person.
Prahlāda Mahārāja gave the example that his children friends told him also the same thing, “We don’t want to chant, we don’t want to do this yoga, because we want to play now, we are kids.
When we grow old we will do it.”
He told them, “You play like this for the next ten years as children, then after that you will be busy with your school work and other type of play.
Then you are going to be getting into family life, you are going to have children, you will be working hard to make money to maintain your families, to raise your children, in this way you will be all busy with the family life.
Then in your old age, you will be weak and sick, and you won’t have any energy to travel, or to do anything.
And half your life you are spending sleeping anyway.
So where is the time?
Therefore ‘athāto brahma jijñāsā’ you should inquire now, or uh… uh… uh, ‘kaumāra ācaret prājño’ you should start inquiring and preparing yourself even in the kaumāra, even in the childhood.”
Actually, if a person is already 18 or 20 or 25 years old, that means already 18 years was wasted.
That means one quarter of the life is wasted, because we don’t generally live over 80, maximum is 100.
That means 1/4th of the life or more has already been wasted.
How many? Now you want to waste again how many another quarter?
If you waste another quarter, then you will become so engrossed in family affairs that you won’t be able to stop.
That’s why a person has to start practicing yoga either partially or fully from immediate moment.
Take whatever time is already been wasted, you have to make up for that.
If a person starts up at 75 years, that means he has to make up for 75 years of wasted time.
How is that possible? At that time, you are weaker.
At least if you start at 25, that means 25 years were wasted.
So then, At least you have strength enough to try double speed, to make up for lost time.
So generally, we find that you get people either young or old.
Middle age is very hard because they are already so involved in so many material entanglements.
They don’t find any time.
When they are young, they are just in college, or they are out of high school, or they haven’t yet got married, or got deep into the whole family situation, there is a good chance for them to start the good habits of yoga.
Otherwise, at the end of life we get a few, but usually by the end of life they develop so many bad habits even if they want to practice yoga, they don’t… it is too hard for them to learn at an old age.
It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
So, for these two reasons, one is that we don’t know when we are going to die.
Second is that if we keep delaying it, it becomes harder and harder, and we waste more and more time.
For these 2 reasons we should immediately start the practice of yoga, if at all we want to become free from these material problems and achieve spiritual perfection.
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-02
Jayapatākā Swami: The point is that, that will, whole thing will depend on how much amount time the person has, theoretically.
Just like when I came here six months ago, then the Hong Kong Dollar was very strong,
but then after the Prime Minister of England went to Beijing [I don’t know Beijing or Beiking whatever they]
and they told so many things like, “Well, if they are all… that the Chinese government said so many things that we may, we may just throw you out, this or that.”
They were exerting some force, for whatever reason.
Now the Hong Kong Dollar uppsh…(gasps).
Like everybody wants to take the money somewhere else, where it is safe.
They are afraid, “What if they do throw us out, then?
We have to have our money somewhere where it, it won’t, it will be safe.”
Because they are thinking that maybe they won’t have so long after all.
Before that they are thinking, it is going get extend, there is no problem.
So, they won’t worry.
But then they became afraid that, “Well, if we don’t have that much time after all, then we better make some arrangement.”
So, it is like that.
People are thinking, “I am young now, so now I should take care of my material things, when I get old, I will take care of the spiritual matters.”
Well, there are two problems there.
The one problem is that, we do not know how long we are going to live.
Of course, in the normal course of events, we will live to old age.
But that is not that everyone lives to old age.
I do not know the percentage of people who die untimely.
But say at least 25% may die.
Actually, I do not know the exact percent, but a good percentage, not an insignificant number, but a good, significant number die at an age which is young.
So that danger is always there, that if we get suddenly evicted from this body then we will have no alter… then we’ll have no hope.
So that would also make us that we should make some preparation even now.
Just like saving money in the bank.
Therefore, showing to put money now in other accounts overseas, just in case, you see.
That is not for sure.
Hong Kong may be able to make some deal later on and stay here, for some time.
But it is for sure that we have to leave the body That’s for sure! There is no definite… I mean, that is definite, sooner or later.
So that’s the one problem we do not know when.
The other problem is that, even say we live till old age, but to do spiritual practices also is not something that can be just done abruptly.
Naturally, we’ve been practiced… it’s not all the sudden.
If someone can do it immediately, that is also a great, good fortune.
It means some great spiritual asset or blessings have been bestowed on that person.
Prahlāda Mahārāja gave the example that his children friends told him also the same thing, “We don’t want to chant, we don’t want to do this yoga, because we want to play now, we are kids.
When we grow old we will do it.”
He told them, “You play like this for the next ten years as children, then after that you will be busy with your school work and other type of play.
Then you are going to be getting into family life, you are going to have children, you will be working hard to make money to maintain your families, to raise your children, in this way you will be all busy with the family life.
Then in your old age, you will be weak and sick, and you won’t have any energy to travel, or to do anything.
And half your life you are spending sleeping anyway.
So where is the time?
Therefore ‘athāto brahma jijñāsā’ you should inquire now, or uh… uh… uh, ‘kaumāra ācaret prājño’ you should start inquiring and preparing yourself even in the kaumāra, even in the childhood.”
Actually, if a person is already 18 or 20 or 25 years old, that means already 18 years was wasted.
That means one quarter of the life is wasted, because we don’t generally live over 80, maximum is 100.
That means 1/4th of the life or more has already been wasted.
How many? Now you want to waste again how many another quarter?
If you waste another quarter, then you will become so engrossed in family affairs that you won’t be able to stop.
That’s why a person has to start practicing yoga either partially or fully from immediate moment.
Take whatever time is already been wasted, you have to make up for that.
If a person starts up at 75 years, that means he has to make up for 75 years of wasted time.
How is that possible? At that time, you are weaker.
At least if you start at 25, that means 25 years were wasted.
So then, At least you have strength enough to try double speed, to make up for lost time.
So generally, we find that you get people either young or old.
Middle age is very hard because they are already so involved in so many material entanglements.
They don’t find any time.
When they are young, they are just in college, or they are out of high school, or they haven’t yet got married, or got deep into the whole family situation, there is a good chance for them to start the good habits of yoga.
Otherwise, at the end of life we get a few, but usually by the end of life they develop so many bad habits even if they want to practice yoga, they don’t… it is too hard for them to learn at an old age.
It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
So, for these two reasons, one is that we don’t know when we are going to die.
Second is that if we keep delaying it, it becomes harder and harder, and we waste more and more time.
For these 2 reasons we should immediately start the practice of yoga, if at all we want to become free from these material problems and achieve spiritual perfection.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-11
Jayapatākā Swami: There are many ways one remembers Kṛṣṇa.
Ajāmila, remembered his son,
his son’s name was Nārāyaṇa.
So at the time of death, he was chanting the name of his son.
Somehow, he remembered the original Nārāyaṇa.
Like that Kṛṣṇa for His devotee, He also helps.
And if the devotee remembers Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will come
or He may send His devotees.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-05-11
Jayapatākā Swami: There are many ways one remembers Kṛṣṇa.
Ajāmila, remembered his son,
his son’s name was Nārāyaṇa.
So at the time of death, he was chanting the name of his son.
Somehow, he remembered the original Nārāyaṇa.
Like that Kṛṣṇa for His devotee, He also helps.
And if the devotee remembers Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will come
or He may send His devotees.
Questioner: Kaivalya Sundarī devī dāsī
Date: 2023-12-11
Jayapatākā Swami: They are all Absolute,
at least the first four.
They can have unlimited personal relationship
but whether one is qualified,
we want to be the servant of the servant of the Lord,
not to be directly in the service of the Lord.
So, by being the servant of the servant. of the servant of the Lord,
we get to serve the Lord!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-30
Jayapatākā Swami: What Prabhupāda said is that, if a person follows the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness
then he may not have to take birth again in the material world.
Now
how free we are from things like offenses may dictate how I will go up in the spiritual world,
whether we get a place in Vaikuṇṭha, or whether we get a place in Goloka Vṛndāvana, how I am able to go.
Or
I mean, if a person, I had one person who approached me in India, he had a very strange character.
He said, “I have been chanting 32, 20 or 16 rounds for 26 years,
but he never gave up eating fish.” In His neutral position we were discussing today, He simply reciprocates with the person so perfectly.
There is someone who would do something like that because of their offenses while chanting the Holy name,
that they don’t actually make advancement towards pure love for Kṛṣṇa. They are getting some benefit from chanting,
but at the same time, their material desires are not going,
due to being absorbed in sense gratification like that. So I advised him that,
“you should chant the names of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu,
and by His mercy you may be able to overcome this desire of eating fish.”
And sure enough, after chanting Lord Caitanya’s name for some period of time,
he got some spiritual intelligence. He stopped eating fish.
Even though 26 years he was on his weird practice,
where he although chanting he never tried to avoid breaking that, you know, stopping breaking of regulative principle.
So if a person I mean if he is determined, you know although he would have chanted the 16 rounds
and followed the regulative principles, but if they take things in an attitude that I’m determined not to give up my material attachments,
then that is an anachronism. From our side it should be not just externals,
but it should be internal, we are trying to follow the process.
We are trying from our part to give up our attachments.
If we have the proper attitude , we are trying to give up our attachments, we are trying to avoid,
even if we are not fully successful, Prabhupāda said that there is,
that Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, Lord Caitanya is so merciful, even though we may not,
at the point of death, have done it a hundred percent successful,
we can still get delivered.
In fact, I was, (aside - How long should I go on?) I was in Montreal,
and Prabhupāda is giving a lecture. That time we had a Vyasāsana for him, it was very high.
I mean very- it was like when we would stand up we would just be facing Prabhupāda eye to eye,
or he will still be even a little higher than that.
It was a very high Vyasāsana.
You had to kind of crawl up, it had steps going up and it was more or less kind of a pulpit.
So he would be up there, he would sit and he would even take prasāda there.
In a feast, they would bring a big plate of prasāda and we would all be sitting down,
and he would take Prasāda from there, and sometimes he would give prasāda out from there.
So one day he was giving his lecture from up there
actually and at this point he was just preaching very hard,
we have to be a hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.
We have to try; we have to be a hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious. We have to try for that.
We have to become. If we are hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we can get pure love for Kṛṣṇa,
then our life will be completely successful. He was just hammering this point.
Now the devotees were thinking, a hundred percent, you know, their heads gradually started hanging down,
they became very thoughtful.
The hundred percent was like such an objective that it never seemed that is ever possible;
even you know to get very close to a hundred percent.
But Prabhupāda was very emphatic on this point.
The devotees were very thoughtful at that time. Then Prabhupāda, he ended the class.
There was just a heavy silence. No questions. That is it.
He ended the class and said, “Become cent percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.”
It was just like a death place; I mean, just like… He saw silence that he could swim through it.
Now Prabhupāda was sitting there on his raised Vyāsāsana
and said, “Even if you are ninety percent Kṛṣṇa conscious, Kṛṣṇa is so kind,
that you may still be delivered.” Then he started to get down and when he was about half way down,
just as he was getting off the Vyāsāsana he turned to the devotees and said, ”Even ninety percent, you can be delivered.”
He started walking out, then he turned and his chaddar fell off, I remember it was such a dramatic,
almost like you see in those movies Julius Caeser like that, his chaddar flew like that and said, “Even seventy percent.”
He took his chaddar and threw it over his shoulder and raised his head and walked away.
(Devotees laughing)
Śrīla Prabhupāda Ki
Devotees: Jaya!
Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Sādhanā / Regulative Principles], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Karma / Desires]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-30
Jayapatākā Swami: What Prabhupāda said is that, if a person follows the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness
then he may not have to take birth again in the material world.
Now
how free we are from things like offenses may dictate how I will go up in the spiritual world,
whether we get a place in Vaikuṇṭha, or whether we get a place in Goloka Vṛndāvana, how I am able to go.
Or
I mean, if a person, I had one person who approached me in India, he had a very strange character.
He said, “I have been chanting 32, 20 or 16 rounds for 26 years,
but he never gave up eating fish.” In His neutral position we were discussing today, He simply reciprocates with the person so perfectly.
There is someone who would do something like that because of their offenses while chanting the Holy name,
that they don’t actually make advancement towards pure love for Kṛṣṇa. They are getting some benefit from chanting,
but at the same time, their material desires are not going,
due to being absorbed in sense gratification like that. So I advised him that,
“you should chant the names of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu,
and by His mercy you may be able to overcome this desire of eating fish.”
And sure enough, after chanting Lord Caitanya’s name for some period of time,
he got some spiritual intelligence. He stopped eating fish.
Even though 26 years he was on his weird practice,
where he although chanting he never tried to avoid breaking that, you know, stopping breaking of regulative principle.
So if a person I mean if he is determined, you know although he would have chanted the 16 rounds
and followed the regulative principles, but if they take things in an attitude that I’m determined not to give up my material attachments,
then that is an anachronism. From our side it should be not just externals,
but it should be internal, we are trying to follow the process.
We are trying from our part to give up our attachments.
If we have the proper attitude , we are trying to give up our attachments, we are trying to avoid,
even if we are not fully successful, Prabhupāda said that there is,
that Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, Lord Caitanya is so merciful, even though we may not,
at the point of death, have done it a hundred percent successful,
we can still get delivered.
In fact, I was, (aside - How long should I go on?) I was in Montreal,
and Prabhupāda is giving a lecture. That time we had a Vyasāsana for him, it was very high.
I mean very- it was like when we would stand up we would just be facing Prabhupāda eye to eye,
or he will still be even a little higher than that.
It was a very high Vyasāsana.
You had to kind of crawl up, it had steps going up and it was more or less kind of a pulpit.
So he would be up there, he would sit and he would even take prasāda there.
In a feast, they would bring a big plate of prasāda and we would all be sitting down,
and he would take Prasāda from there, and sometimes he would give prasāda out from there.
So one day he was giving his lecture from up there
actually and at this point he was just preaching very hard,
we have to be a hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.
We have to try; we have to be a hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious. We have to try for that.
We have to become. If we are hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we can get pure love for Kṛṣṇa,
then our life will be completely successful. He was just hammering this point.
Now the devotees were thinking, a hundred percent, you know, their heads gradually started hanging down,
they became very thoughtful.
The hundred percent was like such an objective that it never seemed that is ever possible;
even you know to get very close to a hundred percent.
But Prabhupāda was very emphatic on this point.
The devotees were very thoughtful at that time. Then Prabhupāda, he ended the class.
There was just a heavy silence. No questions. That is it.
He ended the class and said, “Become cent percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.”
It was just like a death place; I mean, just like… He saw silence that he could swim through it.
Now Prabhupāda was sitting there on his raised Vyāsāsana
and said, “Even if you are ninety percent Kṛṣṇa conscious, Kṛṣṇa is so kind,
that you may still be delivered.” Then he started to get down and when he was about half way down,
just as he was getting off the Vyāsāsana he turned to the devotees and said, ”Even ninety percent, you can be delivered.”
He started walking out, then he turned and his chaddar fell off, I remember it was such a dramatic,
almost like you see in those movies Julius Caeser like that, his chaddar flew like that and said, “Even seventy percent.”
He took his chaddar and threw it over his shoulder and raised his head and walked away.
(Devotees laughing)
Śrīla Prabhupāda Ki
Devotees: Jaya!
Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Sādhanā / Regulative Principles], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Karma / Desires]
Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-27
Jayapatākā Swami: It is on the border.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Material World / Demigods]
Questioner: Vraja Kṛṣṇa dāsa, Māyāpur
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: It is hard to say,
how is the situation in other Kali-yugas.
Previous Kali-yuga was about 4 million years ago.
So, it is hard to say
and we know in this Kali-yuga,
we chant the holy names
and we go back to Godhead.
Please don’t delay.
The next opportunity,
if it is in Kali-yuga,
it is four million years from now.
Lord Caitanya doesn’t come after every avatāra of Kṛṣṇa.
And Kṛṣṇa only comes once in the day of Brahmā.
And a day of Brahmā is a thousand catur-yugas.
And he has an equally long night.
Then he rests.
So, better to take advantage of this opportunity.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World / Kali yuga], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Rasasindhu Śacīsuta dāsa:
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapataka Swami: As far as benefit of taking initiation directly or virtually,
if you feel initiated you feel connected to the guru, that is what counts.
Śrīla Prabhupāda had initiated many devotees by letter.
And now sometimes due to the pandemic we have initiations virtually.
So, if the spiritual master is accepting you, you are accepting him, then what is the difference?
Link: 20220221 Īśvara Purī Instructs His Disciple Nimāi Paṇḍita to Chant and Preach Kṛṣṇa-Nāma, Part 1
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Technology], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]
Questioner: Svarṇa Gopīkā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-01-05
Jayapatākā Swami: One day I went to the dentist’s office. The dentist said the greatest pain is dying, giving childbirth,
the stone in the kidney
and dental office.
So welcome to your dentist’s office.
But apparently the devotees can leave this world very happily,
because for them they are going home back to Godhead.
We heard that His Holiness Bhakti Cāru Swami
left with a smile on his face.
Haribol!
Category: [Material Sufferings / Death]
Questioner: Śānta Gopī Mātājī
Date: 2022-10-17
Although the Supersoul is in our heart,
we may not be knowing that;
and we are just doing things as if we are the doer.
We don’t understand that the Lord is actually doing things for us.
So having the Lord fixed in our hearts means that we will be constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa.
We should be doing everything as a service to Kṛṣṇa.
So it is a whole change of our subtle body,
in the sense that now we feel connection with Kṛṣṇa always.
That means He is fixed in our heart.
Questioner: Bhaktin Vaiṣṇavī
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Hard to say as the śāstra says one may achieve success just by aspiring.
So, by taking dīkṣā,
one is more guaranteed
but if one is fully
thinking of Kṛṣṇa
at the time of leaving this body,
then he may go back to Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material Sufferings / Death]
Questioner: Bhaktin Vaiṣṇavī
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Hard to say as the śāstra says one may achieve success just by aspiring.
So, by taking dīkṣā,
one is more guaranteed
but if one is fully
thinking of Kṛṣṇa
at the time of leaving this body,
then he may go back to Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material Sufferings / Death]
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.
Just like the dacoits had many troubles like falling in the ditch, and getting bitten by insects, I also have many troubles. So many troubles come but the only feeling I have is to seek out some protection. There is no feeling of love or no feeling of that kind of shelter that you said we should seek out for? What to do?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-05
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, this material world, there is a verse in the Purāṇas, it says padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ (ŚB. 10.14.58),
there is danger at every step.
In the Bhagavad-gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa describes the material world as duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam (Bg. 8.15).
But we are so foolish that we want somehow very nice arrangement in the material world.
So we take birth after birth after birth after birth after birth after birth after birth.
Chewing the chewed.
And if we can only realize how much happiness there is by directly engaging in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
But we are so foolish, it says that Lord Caitanya came to deliver the foolish, the mūrkhas.
We think somehow, we can make some arrangement, and the material world will be a very nice place.
But it is not possible.
If we can engage ourselves in the service of Kṛṣṇa,
then we can taste the real happiness
that we are actually hankering for.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Material Sufferings], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-18
Jayapatākā Swami: There is a poem by Śrīla Narottama dasa Ṭhākura,
where he sings śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu dayā kara more – You have come down to deliver the fallen, Patita-pāvana, there is no one more fallen than me. Please have Your mercy on me!
Then he prays to Lord Nityānanda, hā hā prabhu nityānanda, premānanda sukhī: You are always filled with spiritual bliss of love of Kṛṣṇa,
please have mercy on me I very sad, duḥkhī.
You have Nitāi-Gaura here! You pray to them,
that I need mercy,
I am fallen,
I need your mercy more than anyone!
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Mercy]
Questioner: Phāneśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-11-28
Jayapatākā Swami: Write to me what you think your problem is.
Kuntī Devī, whenever the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī Devī had problems,
Kṛṣṇa came and saved them.
So whenever they had problems Kṛṣṇa came so she said she wanted to have problems all the time
so that Kṛṣṇa will come all the time.
If you are sincere, then Kṛṣṇa will come to us.
When you have problems then you can remember how Kuntī Devī was saved by Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Is that in the verse today?
Questions should be especially on the verses today.
If anyone has any doubt or question on the verses today, otherwise it will just open up to anything.
You have a question on the verse? I chastised you! Ha! Ha!
So I answered your question.
Ha! Ha! How do you feel? Ha! Ha!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Is that in the verse today?
Questions should be especially on the verses today.
If anyone has any doubt or question on the verses today, otherwise it will just open up to anything.
You have a question on the verse? I chastised you! Ha! Ha!
So I answered your question.
Ha! Ha! How do you feel? Ha! Ha!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Wonderful!
No birth, no disease, no old age, no death!
And the body, the form of you is just suitable for your eternal rasa with Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Some have sakhya-rasa, some vātsalya-rasa,
some have mādhurya-rasa.
You may be a man now but you may have another form in the spiritual world.
A woman may be a friend of Kṛṣṇa.
We know we take birth after birth in the material world, and if you think your husband when you leave the body, then you take the next birth as a man, if you think of your wife, then you take birth as a woman.
If you think of Kṛṣṇa, you will go back to the spiritual world.
So we are training devotees, they should think of Kṛṣṇa.
Spouses should also train their loved ones to think of Kṛṣṇa.
How do we look in the spiritual world?
So that depends on your rasa.
Either, you will be a mother, father, friend, servitor, gopī or queen, depends on your rasa.
If you go to Vaikuṇṭha where there is Nārāyaṇa,
then we get a similar form like Nārāyaṇa.
But He has some special symbols,
like the Śrīvatsa mark,
like the Kaustuba-maṇi.
We don’t have that mark.
In the Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛta, Gopa Kumāra was in Vaikuṇṭha. Everyone was looking like Nārāyaṇa
and they were saying, here is Nārāyaṇa, here is Nārāyaṇa.
But they were not Nārāyaṇa, they knew who was the original Nārāyaṇa.
Only Nārāyaṇa has this Śrīvatsa mark.
Whether you are in Vaikuṇṭha or Goloka, depends on your relation. You have a form but that is dormant.
When you are liberated you manifest your original form.
So Gopa Kumāra, he was a cowherd friend of Kṛṣṇa,
but first went to Vaikuṇṭha,
he wanted to embrace Nārāyaṇa.
Oh he is God! Nārāyaṇa! You cannot do that.
Awe and reverence!
But with Kṛṣṇa, you can embrace and wrestle.
So you can read the book.
Very interesting.
Finally, he got to Goloka Vṛndāvana and he got his original position
as a cowherd boyfriend.
So what is your form?
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in Vṛndāvana, you get a 1000 times benefit for any service.
But any offence you do, any materialistic or sinful activity, you also get a 1000 times the bad effect.
So Vṛndāvana is very heavy because we are not pure souls, we may commit some mistake,
so Vṛndāvana is very heavy and to live in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, in a holy place, one has to be very pure.
So it is recommended we go for a few days and then we come back.
But here in Māyāpur, Navadvip, we get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana,
you get a 1000 times credit for any devotional service.
In this month of Dāmodara, we get a 100, that means a 100,000.
A 100 times 1000.
So therefore many ācāryas, they decided to stay in Navadvīpa,
because they get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana, without the negative side.
Here also in this holy place, we have Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
In Ritudvīpa, also here in Caitanya Maṭha.
Tomorrow many people go and bathe in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
It is very important for the devotees to bathe in but you have to do it not with an ordinary bath.
Just like ablution.
You go in and out, with all respect.
So some devotees, they think that oh, it is Rādhā-kuṇḍa, jumping off the sides and it is not like a swimming pool.
You have to be very respectful.
It is the holiest of holy places.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it is for the devotees to bathe in but you do so with the utmost respect.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-25
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa wears black on Amāvasyā day.
Generally black is in the mode of ignorance,
and therefore we don’t usually wear it,
but there may be some exceptions.
I don’t think on Pūrṇimā day Kṛṣṇa wears black!
On Amāvasyā like yesterday, He wore black.
Otherwise, they don’t wear black.
Questioner: Murāri Hari dāsa
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: You see everybody wants to enjoy,
they want to be happy.
But actually, the real happiness is from the spiritual kingdom.
In the material world everything is temporary.
So it is not possible to get permanent happiness,
and to get some happiness we have to get a lot of suffering also.
Like, old age, disease,
studying,
spend so much time to study,
if you are working,
and other people in your workplace may be envious
and they want to screw you,
so they can look good, so then can be the General Manager.
So we find that Quality Control, Operations, Marketing, they are actually trying to create problem for others.
So real happiness that you get is from Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Then you chant and dance.
Sometimes Lord Caitanya said one feels so much bliss
that they cry, laugh.
So like this they feel very happy.
Everyone wants to feel happy.
But māyā eludes us, she kicks us that we be, will be happy in material life.
That if we have lot of sense gratification, we will happy.
But actually, that doesn’t give real happiness.
So one should use this human birth, to be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
So, if you think you are the body, then this deep-rooted desire to enjoy the body will come.
But if you realize that you are not the body, then you will try to enjoy by giving pleasure to Kṛṣṇa.
And by giving Kṛṣṇa pleasure we feel happier.
Category: [Karma / Desires], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-02
Jayapatākā Swami: What would you preach if you don’t read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.
You know, we don’t say that by reading, you do not do any preaching.
But if you don’t read, what do you preach?
Would you speculate something?
It is important to read at least in the beginning.
Śrīla Prabhupāda told me that to get first initiation, I had to read the Bhagavad-gītā ten times.
Then I had these lines marked, one, two, three, four, strike. One, two, three, four, strike.
I read ten times and got my first initiation.
But by reading Bhagavad-gītā ten times I had so much knowledge of the Gītā that I was giving accredited courses in the university.
Although I was a college drop out!
And in the McGill University I gave a course but there was no credit.
So then, Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us a test, I got Bhakti-śāstrī.
Recently I want to encourage my disciples, my followers, devotees in general
to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.
Then the Māyāpur Institute offered me the honorary degrees,
because I had read the books so many times.
But I thought if I get honorary degree,
then that would not encourage the devotees to read.
I said, no, I will take the test.
And now I have finished the 5th canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I got one more canto to go to get my Bhakti-vaibhava.
After that I will go for the Bhakti-vedānta.
Then I am very glad that I am doing that.
It is nice that if you are reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and are getting tested then you read it more carefully.
But it doesn’t mean I don’t preach.
In fact preaching is going on.
Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana
One of the key questions I have is about forgiveness. Maharāja spoke about how Rukmī’s hair was cut and Balarāma almost chastised Kṛṣṇa that this is not how you cut people’s hair. That brings us to the point of forgiveness - how can we build on this quality because it is so important right now to have this mood of forgiveness, because it actually impacts our service.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-21
Jayapatākā Swami: It is interesting
that two days ago was the Putradā Ekādaśī.
So some people want children,
they observe Putradā Ekādaśī.
But in the glories of this Ekādaśī,
it is said that for the
renounced people or people who don’t want children,
they observe this Ekādaśī
to get the child of forgiveness,
because forgiveness is a quality that Vaiṣṇavas need.
We were reading today how,
some foolish student
was criticizing Lord Caitanya
when He was in the mood of a gopī,
a Vraja-vāsī, He was chanting the name, Gopī, gopī!
The foolish student came and told Lord Caitanya, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, why are You chanting gopī, gopī?
They did not understand that Lord Caitanya, at that moment, He was in a different mood.
He was in the mood of Rādhārāṇī,
or some gopī-bhāva.
And they did not understand that.
And they were thinking ill against Him.
They wanted to attack Him, or to take some retribution.
So then Lord Caitanya was thinking,
I came to deliver the most fallen,
but if these people they offend Me,
they don’t pay their obeisances to Me,
they will be deprived of the mercy!
So like that He was thinking how can I get these people to offer their respect to Me, and thus take up bhakti-yoga.
So He had the mood of forgiveness.
So it is very important, that we also adopt this mood.
And somehow, that thing we should practice regularly.
We don’t take the offences of anyone,
as something directly to them.
So we take it that,
we have some karma which is because of something,
we caused suffering for someone else.
And therefore, we are getting the reaction.
Somehow we take it indirectly,
and do not take that persona as responsible, and we forgive them.
And then we go on.
Just like Lord Jesus,
He was crucified, He was innocent,
but He prayed,
please forgive them, they know not what they do.
Similarly, Haridāsa Ṭhākura,
he was beaten in 22 marketplaces.
Normally one would die after 2 or 3,
but he was surviving even after 22 marketplaces.
Because he prayed to Kṛṣṇa,
please forgive these executioners,
they don’t know what they do.
The executioners were very frustrated.
He asked them, why are you so unhappy?
They said, because you are alive.
Because you are alive, the king will punish us.
So he said, if I die, will you be happy?
They said, Oh! So happy! So happy! Please die!
So then he lay down and went into nirvikalpa-samādhi.
Then they thought he was dead.
Then they told the king, ok, he is dead.
So how these great souls,
they have forgiveness.
Like Lord Jesus was saying,
one who is sinless throw the first stone.
So naturally, we all have committed various offences.
So rather than wishing ill on anyone,
we rather forgive them.
That is the special qualify of a Vaiṣṇava,
that quality Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa, They had.
Category: [Mercy], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-25
You
try do that and by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
always praying to the spiritual master, previous ācāryas, Kṛṣṇa,
to be able to do that, that is the principal desire in one’s life,
well by their mercy the impossible can be possible.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, the extent to which Lord Caitanya was experiencing these eight ecstatic symptoms
is not normal.
I mean it is very special.
But, to some extent, you can experience some of these ecstasies.
Experiencing all at the same time is highly unusual,
but Lord Caitanya was doing that.
Maybe Rādhārāṇī does that.
But some of these, definitely eventually you can realize.
Usually one realizes some ecstasies, then another kind, then another kind, like that.
You know, like laughing uncontrollably,
crying, your voice choked up,
it is possible that someone realizes these.
We have seen like Śrīla Prabhupāda, on several occasions he would get some ecstasy.
And since people imitate that,
that it is our custom - we try to hide it.
But sometimes, Śrīla Prabhupāda could not hide it.
And he became very ecstatic.
But it is possible to realize some of these ecstasies.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa.
So naturally, I was asked by one paṇḍita in Purī,
we hear that devotees of Lord Caitanya have devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
So where are you situated? Lord Caitanya or Lord Kṛṣṇa?
Jayapatākā Swami: You see devotees of Lord Caitanya simultaneously are in Śvetadvīpa and Goloka.
So that is a special facility of being a devotee of Lord Caitanya.
Like Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, he was simultaneously Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and also Satyabhāmā in Dvārakā.
Sanātana Gosvāmī is a mañjarī and at the same time he is Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Rādhā Kṛṣṇa and the aṣṭa-sakhis,
Rūpa Gosvāmī is the 9th sakhi.
So, he is simultaneously in caitanya-līlā and kṛṣṇa-līlā.
Gadādhara Prabhu is Rādhārāṇī.
So in caitanya-līlā he is Gadādhara and in kṛṣṇa-līlā he is Rādhārāṇī.
So there is no loss in being devoted to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu,
and we understand that Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa in the mood of being His devotee.
Actually, we cannot be God.
But if we are a devotee of the Lord, Vaiṣṇava or Vaiṣṇavī, that is actually a wonderful position.
So that is being demonstrated by Lord Caitanya and His followers.
Regarding the dust of the lotus feet of the pure devotee, often we are encouraged to touch the feet of the pure devotee, especially our Gurudeva’s, but then we see that when Guru Mahārāja goes to public places it is not encouraged to let other people touch the lotus feet of Guru Mahārāja, so could you give a bit of an insight into why this distinction is there? Or should we also should be careful?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: When someone touches your feet, they give their karma to you.
And we see that - Śrīla Prabhupāda, actually once the home minister of Bengal, who is in charge of the Police and things,
he went and put his head on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s lotus feet,
Brahmānanda wanted to punch him!
Śrīla Prabhupāda stopped him, said it is their culture.
Would have been a big mess to punch the Home Minister!
There are different circumstances.
And we see that some people, they want to touch the feet of the guru.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, when they would touch the feet, he would touch them on the head,
like giving them back the karma ha!
but also they were taking the blessing.
Sometimes the way devotees they prohibit people may be too much.
You have to see the situation.
I saw that in South India and different places, the ladies would pour the water and the husband would touch the lotus feet,
that ladies should not touch a sannyāsīs,
but they are allowed to pour the water.
That was the system that was apparently practiced when Lord Caitanya visited South India.
That the wife would pour the water and the husband would massage it.
So it is very late now.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]
Questioner: Ānandavihārī Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that one doesn’t have to have second initiation.
But no harm in having it.
Then you can do some confidential service to guru and the Deities.
But you go back to Godhead even after the first initiation.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
Questioner: Ānandavihārī Kṛṣṇa dāsa
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that one doesn’t have to have second initiation.
But no harm in having it.
Then you can do some confidential service to guru and the Deities.
But you go back to Godhead even after the first initiation.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-08
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted his disciples to go back to Godhead.
But we want to go back only if there is service we want to go back.
We don’t want to just be there, we want to be there to serve.
So naturally if your desire is to serve, then you will be taken wherever is a place where your service will be.
I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda I wanted to serve him life after life.
Then he replied to me,
why do want to make me come back?
I thought I said the right thing.
I said, I would like to serve you even life after life!
So you can pray like that.
That we want to serve even staying in this material world
but we want to serve.
So in that way if that is the Lord’s desire He will take you back to the spiritual world.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Why not?
Śrīla Prabhupāda said the mercy of Lord Caitanya has no limit!
We cannot put a limit on it.
So it is possible to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya like Jagāi Mādhāi got.
But somehow they got it even though they didn’t ask for it.
But if you ask for it and if you want it, why won’t the Lord give you?
So, the next generation, I often feel that the kind of affection and loyalty and dedication like a sold-out-servant as all of you are, I feel that is greatly lacking in the next generation, Mahārāja. So, we feel in our generation many people, they get initiated officially and after that they do not feel such a great commitment to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission and in expanding the movement the way. I am sure that your expanding the movement has happened because you are strongly rooted in Śrīla Prabhupāda. So how can the grand disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda have such feelings for him and a sense of belonging with him and thereby a sense of love and dedication for his mission?
Questioner: Rādhe Śyāma Dāsa
Date: 2023-12-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda kī jaya!
You see Śrīla Prabhupāda, he gave us the science of bhakti-yoga.
So everyone should read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, attend the Śrīla Prabhupāda daily guru-pūjā.
I mean, what does it take for people to be committed to Śrīla Prabhupāda?
When I first came to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we did not have many books.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda said we could read Professor Sanyal’s Teachings of Lord Caitanya
and there was a section on Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
He said that whenever he would think of anything else, he would chant louder.
So I was a new bhakta
and I had so many thoughts.
So I would end up chanting louder and louder!
All the devotees, they went to Śrīla Prabhupāda and said, “This Bhakta Jay, he shouts so loudly while chanting
and we cannot concentrate!”
Śrīla Prabhupāda called me
and he asked me, “Why you chant so loud?”
I told him,
he said, “Hmmm, that is not bad,
but you are disturbing all the other devotees.
So I give you permission to chant in the park.”
That was the pre joggers’ period, now we have many joggers.
I saw birds, and squirrels.
They all heard the holy name when I was shouting!
Anyway, by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy devotional service is so nice
that we start experiencing some bliss
and I don’t think that is a big secret.
Anyone who does Kṛṣṇa consciousness sincerely,
they can also experience bliss!
I have seen some new people
coming and they are very blissful and very happy.
We should be you know, grateful
that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us such a nice process
that works.
It is not a theory or just a faith, it works!
If you do it then you will not regret
it and then you feel grateful
that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us such a wonderful thing.
If he hadn’t come, he hadn’t preached, where would we be today!
I wrote a song yadi prabhupāda nā haita, tabe kī haita.
If there was no Śrīla Prabhupāda, what would there be today?
It is something terrifying,
to think back,
what I was
and what I am today,
what bliss I am experiencing by following Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions.
I think everybody should realize
that what they have
is all due to ultimately Śrīla Prabhupāda starting this movement.
Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]
Questioner: Mitravindā Mamatāmayī devī dāsī
Date: 2022-08-04
Jayapatākā Swami: If it is really connected with Kṛṣṇa
then it is not prajalpa.
But if it has nothing to do with Kṛṣṇa or service,
then it is prajalpa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.
We don’t want to be a kṛpaṇa – a miser.
You are saying how you understand the guru is doing so much for you!
But you don’t feel grateful!
Is that the way to feel?
If someone saves you from a car accident, should you feel grateful?
If someone is saving you from repeated birth and death, should you feel grateful?
If you don’t feel grateful, definitely you should be crying.
If you are not crying, Śrīla Prabhupāda said, you should cry that you are not crying!
And if you are not crying that you are not crying, then you should crying, that you are not crying for crying!
It goes on like that!
Category: [Anarthās], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.
We don’t want to be a kṛpaṇa – a miser.
You are saying how you understand the guru is doing so much for you!
But you don’t feel grateful!
Is that the way to feel?
If someone saves you from a car accident, should you feel grateful?
If someone is saving you from repeated birth and death, should you feel grateful?
If you don’t feel grateful, definitely you should be crying.
If you are not crying, Śrīla Prabhupāda said, you should cry that you are not crying!
And if you are not crying that you are not crying, then you should crying, that you are not crying for crying!
It goes on like that!
Category: [Anarthās], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]
Questioner: Akshas Sukhla
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: By reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
by getting the degrees,
that would be very pleasing to Śrīla Prabhupāda
and be very fixed up in your Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Akshas Sukhla
Date: 2022-12-02
Jayapatākā Swami: By reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
by getting the degrees,
that would be very pleasing to Śrīla Prabhupāda
and be very fixed up in your Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Śrīla Gurumahārāja! We understand that this is a mercy movement, and we also talk about that people are unqualified and they progress with the help of mercy. At the same time, we have certain standards for initiation and there are other standards. So sometimes devotees say that if a devotee is not able to meet the standards, no problem, by the mercy of the spiritual master, he will come to the standard. So sometimes, he should be allowed for initiation. So, how do we strike the balance between meeting the standards at the same time of course, mercy is required.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was telling Lord Nityānanda
in Jagannātha Purī
that We have come down to this material world
and We had promised We would deliver four kinds of people
who are normally not delivered.
He said the mūrkhas,
the nīcas,
the patītas
and the duḥkhitas.
So the foolish who think they are the body,
people who are born in low birth,
Kali-yuga everyone is considered like a śūdra
or even lower.
And then patīta, the fallen,
like one English gentleman requested a sannyāsī that, “I want to be a brāhmaṇa”.
“Yes, we can make you a brāhmaṇa”, the sannyāsī said.
“What do I have to do?”,the gentleman asked.
The sannyāsī said, “Just give up eating meat, fish and egg,
taking intoxication,
gambling
and illicit sex.
Do these four things and you can become a brāhmaṇa.”
“It is impossible,” the gentleman said.
“That is my life!”
So, people in the West they are by nature, patīta.
The Indians they want to follow the Westerners,
so they are also becoming patīta.
As a result, they naturally feel sad.
Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam (Bg. 8.15) – Kṛṣṇa described this material world as a place of suffering.
But it is temporary.
Suffering is temporary, enjoyment is temporary,
everything is temporary.
That is why people in this world are very sad.
Trying to be happy but that produces sadness.
These four kinds of people Lord Caitanya said He came down to deliver.
We find that even like Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura he was a kṣatriya, he was a crown prince, he abdicated his throne
and he took up pure devotional service.
He said, “I am very fallen, I am very patīta,
please have Your mercy on me.”
Actually, he was not fallen,
but he presented himself like that to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
So, we humbly present ourselves as fallen, anyway we are fallen but anyway,
we find that Lord Caitanya’s devotees, they presented themselves in a very humble way.
So if you have someone who is fallen, he can pray to Nitāi Gaura for Their mercy.
Proof that they have this mercy, is to give up these four things.
Śrīla Gurumahārāja! We understand that this is a mercy movement, and we also talk about that people are unqualified and they progress with the help of mercy. At the same time, we have certain standards for initiation and there are other standards. So sometimes devotees say that if a devotee is not able to meet the standards, no problem, by the mercy of the spiritual master, he will come to the standard. So sometimes, he should be allowed for initiation. So, how do we strike the balance between meeting the standards at the same time of course, mercy is required.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was telling Lord Nityānanda
in Jagannātha Purī
that We have come down to this material world
and We had promised We would deliver four kinds of people
who are normally not delivered.
He said the mūrkhas,
the nīcas,
the patītas
and the duḥkhitas.
So the foolish who think they are the body,
people who are born in low birth,
Kali-yuga everyone is considered like a śūdra
or even lower.
And then patīta, the fallen,
like one English gentleman requested a sannyāsī that, “I want to be a brāhmaṇa”.
“Yes, we can make you a brāhmaṇa”, the sannyāsī said.
“What do I have to do?”,the gentleman asked.
The sannyāsī said, “Just give up eating meat, fish and egg,
taking intoxication,
gambling
and illicit sex.
Do these four things and you can become a brāhmaṇa.”
“It is impossible,” the gentleman said.
“That is my life!”
So, people in the West they are by nature, patīta.
The Indians they want to follow the Westerners,
so they are also becoming patīta.
As a result, they naturally feel sad.
Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam (Bg. 8.15) – Kṛṣṇa described this material world as a place of suffering.
But it is temporary.
Suffering is temporary, enjoyment is temporary,
everything is temporary.
That is why people in this world are very sad.
Trying to be happy but that produces sadness.
These four kinds of people Lord Caitanya said He came down to deliver.
We find that even like Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura he was a kṣatriya, he was a crown prince, he abdicated his throne
and he took up pure devotional service.
He said, “I am very fallen, I am very patīta,
please have Your mercy on me.”
Actually, he was not fallen,
but he presented himself like that to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
So, we humbly present ourselves as fallen, anyway we are fallen but anyway,
we find that Lord Caitanya’s devotees, they presented themselves in a very humble way.
So if you have someone who is fallen, he can pray to Nitāi Gaura for Their mercy.
Proof that they have this mercy, is to give up these four things.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said to publish the Caitanya-caritāmṛta in two months.
Then Rāmeśvara Prabhu said, that is impossible.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said impossible is a word in the fool’s dictionary.
They had a marathon and published all the volumes of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta in two months.
Some devotees went to Śrīla Prabhupāda and said I distributed so many books – say ten thousand!
Śrīla Prabhupāda would say, very good!
Now double it next year!
So, if you want to do a little more you can double it.
We should try to do as best we can do.
A little better!
So, we were distributing for Bhādra Pūrṇimā previously 6,000 sets.
In 2020 we did 25,000 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets.
in 2021 we did 35,000.
So Vaiśeṣika Prabhu said that by 2026 we should distribute 100,000 sets.
That means every year increasing by 23%.
This year we should distribute at least 43,000 sets of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Every year we should increase minimum 23%.
So if you can give me how many sets of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītās you can distribute. Each person.
You may not know Bengali but just by being friendly you can capture their heart!
Ladies can embrace the other ladies!
Wow! They will never forget! I was embraced by a Russian lady!
Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā], [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Emotions / Enthusiasm]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-02
Jayapatākā Swami: As I said, any offence is multiplied a thousand times in Vṛndāvana.
In Māyāpur Śrīla Prabhupāda said it is especially good for gṛhasthas.
The material world is designed in such a way that even if you don’t want to, you are obliged to commit some offences, some sins.
So that is why we recommend that people stay a short time in Vṛndāvana and then go out.
In the short time they can be very careful.
But if they stay here permanently,
then they may commit some sinful activities.
That is just the fact.
Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: First we should read all the translations and purports of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
They are what inspires me.
And what I know, is simply by the mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-03-13
Jayapatākā Swami: To the guru you should pay respectful obeisances and to other godbrothers and godsisters pay humble obeisances. So, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is quite simple. But you have to practice it very sincerely. That way, a slight deviation may be very significant. That is why he says that it is like a knife edge.
Questioner: Prakash
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: We know from Bhagavad-gītā
that there is a subtle body
and a gross body.
The subtle body is mind, intelligence and false ego.
So the DNA is external.
That may make our bodies similar to our parents’ bodies.
But
we are not the body.
And so, we develop our consciousness
separate from the body.
And that way,
you can develop your spiritual life.
So your life is transcendental
and by remembering Kṛṣṇa,
you achieve your spiritual identity.
That is not dependent on DNA.
Category: [Material Sufferings / Death]
Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa
Date: 2022-09-08
Category: [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vigraha Āradhana (Deity Worship)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya told Lord Nityānanda that We have descended to deliver four kinds of people
who normally don’t get delivered –
one of those was those who are suffering.
You can preach to them how Lord Caitanya has come to take them all back to Godhead.
To give them ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, which will end their suffering.
Category: [Material Sufferings], [Mercy]
Questioner: Pūjā
Date: 2022-08-01
Jayapataka Swami: Regarding Jainism,
there is mentioned a bit in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
The first Tīrthāṅkara is Ṛṣabhadeva.
And He is an avatāra of Kṛṣṇa.
But the modern Jains have become atheists.
And they follow like Buddhism.
If you encourage them to read the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, what was the original teaching of Ṛṣabhadeva,
they can be benefitted.
They all accept that Ṛṣabhadeva was the first Tīrthāṇkara.
But they don’t know much about Him.
He was a theistic.
He was Himself Bhagavān!
He was the father of Bhārata.
This country is named as Bhārata-varṣa.
And He was the son of Ṛṣabhadeva.
So they should study about Ṛṣabhadeva.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-29
Jayapatākā Swami: There are four parts of Goloka Vṛndāvana,
Vraja dhāma,
Mathurā,
Dvārakā
and Śvetadvīpa.
Lord Caitanya is in Śvetadvīpa.
And Lord Kṛṣṇa is in the other three dhāmas
In the Bṛhad-bhāgavātamṛta it says the Lord Jagannātha is in Dvārakā but He is very close to Vṛndāvana dhāma.
How many have read Bṛhad-bhāgavātamṛta?
So the other question was, is it important for us to study?
Śrīla Prabhupāda said that if we don’t study, then we may get doubts that may be answered in the books we don’t study, and we may fall down.
I am very grateful to Anukula Keśava dāsa for organizing the Bhakti-śāstri, Bhakti-vaibhava course in the temple.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-25
Jayapatākā Swami: The spiritual master has to accept your karma
and Lord Caitanya’s mercy is such that past karma can be mitigated.
And how He wants to do that is up to Him.
But after you have taken initiation, if you are again breaking the principles or do illicit activities,
then you are responsible for that.
Guru is also responsible.
So one should cease to do any sinful activities after taking initiation.
And if one suffers, we take it that Kṛṣṇa is directly giving mercy,
so that we can directly experience how the material world is a place of suffering.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-18
Jayapatākā Swami: I mean, at the time of initiation, we usually have someone give a class on the ten offences to the holy name
That is very important.
The other offences he does not consider so much and He usually forgives someone.
There was this Cāpāla Gopāla he had put lot of things, blood and things outside the house of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.
So, he got leprosy.
And at that time he was staying outside the city of Navadvīpa.
Lord Caitanya with His kīrtana party happened to go there.
He fell at Lord Caitanya’s feet and said, “Please have mercy on me!”
He said, “No you cannot have any mercy.
I will not give any mercy, you have offended My devotee.”
So the devotees went to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and said, “You have to forgive this Cāpāla Gopāla.
Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura said, “How can I be offended?I am lower than the stool!
I am lowest of the low.”
They said, “Listen Śrīvāsa, you want someone to suffer because of you?”
“No, no, no, no!
No one should suffer because of me.”
“Whether you think you are a devotee or not, you have to forgive Cāpāla Gopāla.
Otherwise, his destiny is very bad.”
“Alright, then I will do that.”
So then Śrīvāsa went
and then Cāpāla Gopāla pleaded, “Please forgive me for my offences.”
Then Śrīvāsa said, “Yes, I forgive you.”
As soon as he said, Lord Caitanya appeared out of nowhere
and He embraced Cāpāla Gopāla. Haribol! Haribol!
So we have to be careful
of offending devotees.
But Lord Caitanya is very merciful. If we get forgiven by the devotee, He will forgive you.
He told Mother Śacī that since she had offended Advaita Gosāñī she will not get love of Godhead.
Devotees, were like, “Mother Śacī, she is Your mother, how she cannot love of Kṛṣṇa?”
Lord Caitanya said, “When My brother took sannyāsa she said, maybe because of Advaita Ācārya’s preaching.
So, in this way she had offended Him.”
So He took Mother Śacī over to Advaita Ācārya and Advaita Ācārya asked, “What are all these devotees here about?”
“Śacīmātā has offended You and You have to forgive her.”
“She cannot offend Me, she is a very good devotee!” He started glorifying Śacīmātā
and He became so ecstatic glorifying Śacīmātā
that He fainted.
Lord Caitanya told Śacīmātā, “He is never going to forgive you.
He did not think that you can offend Him.
You take the dust from His lotus feet
and that way you will be forgiven.”
So Śacīmātā took the dust
from Advaita Ācārya’s lotus feet
and put it on her head
and she was forgiven!
And after that she got love of Godhead!
Any other question.
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-25
Jayapatākā Swami: You see in nava-vidha-bhakti the first two are śravaṇam and kīrtanam – hearing and chanting.
You can chant the holy names you and listen.
The other sevā is pāda-sevanam.
If you can give some of the fruits of your work to serve the Lord.
This way, you remember the Lord – smaraṇam.
When you worship the Deities, that is arcanam.
When you pay obeisances, that is vandanam.
So, Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, he did all the nine practices of devotion that is ātma-nivedanam.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
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 know that Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to give this love of Godhead mainly when we chant the holy names and when we spread the holy names. So, we see around us many leaders, those who are engaged in missionary activities, and they are assisting in spreading the holy name, but when it comes to taking deeply shelter of the holy name, we do not get much inspiration from them because of their being so much engaged in their service. They may be serving so extensively but when it comes to personal sādhana, it may not be so inspiring for us. How do we understand this? Just because they are engaged in the mission will Lord Caitanya give them love of Godhead or they have to work hard to attain śuddha-nāma?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-08-16
Jayapatākā Swami: We do not worry about others.
Kṛṣṇa will judge.
And we try to engage ourselves completely in devotional service.
Just like, I was attending two meetings,
GBC meeting
and then the MOVP meeting,
Museum of the Vedic Planetarium.
During that time, I was chanting on the pedal.
I was hearing and chanting
and at the end of four hours, I chanted 1,924 mantras.
My right hand is not paralyzed but paresis,
don’t have any feeling.
Anyway, while exercise I chant
Somehow or other I always chant.
In this way, I see that one can chant at all times.
Questioner: Rasapriyā Gopīkā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-17
Jayapatākā Swami: We don’t think we are worthy of the Lord’s mercy,
that’s why it’s causeless mercy.
We don’t see ourselves as the cause.
Rather we have no such qualities,
and the Lord, if He gives us His mercy,
that is His blessing.
One disciple at the Kumbha-melā asked Śrīla Prabhupāda,
you said that one gets devotional service,
if they have done all these spiritual practices.
But in my life when I look back, I don’t see any such qualifications,
how did I get devotional service?
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “I made your good fortune for you”.
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!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-23
So dīkṣā means…
Once they surrender to Kṛṣṇa and say, “Kṛṣṇa my life is Yours.
I want to serve You eternally.”
The way that one does that is through Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee.
One has to surrender to a devotee of Kṛṣṇa as a spiritual master,
and accept initiation, and serve that spiritual master following his instruction as being the absolute representative of Kṛṣṇa.
So, initiation we give normally after a devotee is in the temple for six months.
A devotee can cook, means he can prepare the thing like cutting vegetables, rolling the chapāti, or making the batter and things like that.
But actually, fire work the putting the thing on the fire, and the final action that should be done by people who are initiated,
when you are offering it to the Deities.
Because this is the [pañca-tantrika] pañcarātrika ruling is there that the someone who is initiated they are able to serve Kṛṣṇa.
They are… there Kṛṣṇa says, “I accept someone who is initiated on My same spiritual level.”
We can’t approach Kṛṣṇa.
We are born human being.
Human being means that’s a material position.
Kṛṣṇa is not human.
He is on transcendental platform.
When we accept dīkṣā that means we accept a new birth, dvijatva.
Second birth means that mother is śāstra, and father is guru.
You see.
Then Kṛṣṇa accepts us that now you are on a spiritual platform.
That time we accept that we are not the body, we are the soul.
Body is only our vehicle, and we are serving in this way.
So all these thing are many implications for dīkṣā.
Dīkṣā also means to become a śiṣya.
Śiṣya means to follow the discipline of the guru.
Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]
Questioner: Golokapriya Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: Since the guru is a pure devotee, always thinking of his guru and Kṛṣṇa,
therefore by thinking of the spiritual master,
one can also achieve Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Golokapriya Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī
Date: 2023-07-07
Jayapatākā Swami: Since the guru is a pure devotee, always thinking of his guru and Kṛṣṇa,
therefore by thinking of the spiritual master,
one can also achieve Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Kackulī Rāṇī
Date: 2022-09-21
Jayapatākā Swami: It depends on how bad he is
and if he is slightly offensive or fully offensive.
We don’t want liberation by the impersonal method,
and that is something we reject.
I don’t know what type of liberation that person gets.
So the guru is giving instructions to help us
so that we can achieve the spiritual perfection
and we should appreciate what the spiritual master tells us.
Questioner: IYF Māyāpur
Date: 2022-08-03
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, devotees always depend on Kṛṣṇa.
When we face some challenge,
we have to learn how to depend on Kṛṣṇa.
He is in our heart
and He knows what we are facing.
So if we say, Kṛṣṇa, what should I do in this case?
He can give us intelligence,
how to face the problem.
And He mentioned that in the Bhagavad-gītā.
For His devotees, He gives the intelligence by which to serve Him.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: What is real compassion?
You know, the mercy given out
which actually regenerates the relationship with Kṛṣṇa,
that is really the highest compassion.
Because we read how different Purāṇas,
someone does some particular sacrifice
(isn’t tomorrow Ekādaśī?)
Pāpamocani Ekādaśī.
So by observing Ekādaśī, by doing some penance,
one may get freed of all the sinful reactions.
So, if someone they worship some devas,
they go to svarga
but for a devotee
svarga is like a ghoḍa-dīm – horse’s egg.
Horse doesn’t produce egg!!
So a kind of an ākāśa-puṣpa,
a flower in the sky
that one is in the heavenly planet for some years
and then one comes down.
So that is not kind of permanent benediction.
So the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
tells us about the permanent relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
And that allows us to have an eternal life.
And what pleases me the most?
I am most pleased
when devotees develop pure love for Kṛṣṇa.
Haribol!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-22
Jayapatākā Swami: What is real compassion?
You know, the mercy given out
which actually regenerates the relationship with Kṛṣṇa,
that is really the highest compassion.
Because we read how different Purāṇas,
someone does some particular sacrifice
(isn’t tomorrow Ekādaśī?)
Pāpamocani Ekādaśī.
So by observing Ekādaśī, by doing some penance,
one may get freed of all the sinful reactions.
So, if someone they worship some devas,
they go to svarga
but for a devotee
svarga is like a ghoḍa-dīm – horse’s egg.
Horse doesn’t produce egg!!
So a kind of an ākāśa-puṣpa,
a flower in the sky
that one is in the heavenly planet for some years
and then one comes down.
So that is not kind of permanent benediction.
So the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
tells us about the permanent relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
And that allows us to have an eternal life.
And what pleases me the most?
I am most pleased
when devotees develop pure love for Kṛṣṇa.
Haribol!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-06-10
How to develop favourable devotional attitude?
we should accept everything for devotional service and give up everything which is unfavourable.
If we really understand what is our self interest?
What is helping us?
And we understand serving Kṛṣṇa and serving his devotees are our own self interest and then we know what is the favourable for that we accept the favourable things and we avoid the unfavourable automatically we can.
Start to get lined up.
Now what is very important is to develop that is by associating with the devotees already have their attitude.
Not that every devotees is equally developed in his favourable attitude such those who are especially ball pointless those who are in bitter mood they may be advancing but in a slow track.
Those who are seeing good qualities in others enthusiastic cheerful and they don’t hold any grudges on anyone they are in mode of fast track.
So we look for devotees that we can relate with a better situation we are and associating with them and in this way we can progress by the good association and this leads to the next question which is sādhu-saṅga which is one of most if not the most important limbs of devotional principles is offensive be six certain devotee association to avoid others,
So we select the associating just associating of any devotees so we can read the questions super souls.
Lord Caitanya said that there are three kinds of devotees those who are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but they are not following the principles we can help them otherwise we don’t associate with them very intimately but those who are initiated and following very strictly we can accept them in a very we can respect them and offer respect to them and associate with them.
And those who are very advanced who are fully fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness who are in the level of guru we can take shelter from them.
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that we can seek out association with the likely minded devotees.
Of course hopefully the like minded should be a good mind but its all right we may be more intimate with some than the others.
Lord Kṛṣṇa He has said that He is the higher of all living entities and so he is the higher of the devas and he is the one who fixes people’s faith on different devas.
When a person fully takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa then they need to see Kṛṣṇa in everything including the devas.
If they can see devas then there is no problem but the Kṛṣṇa the devas they got confused about how that two relate with each other then its obstacle.
So that’s why the devotees should understand that the devas are all great devotees of God.
His expansion in the Vedas what we call it as sahasra śīrṣāḥ puruṣaḥ What that mantra called?
In the puruṣa śūkta how all the devas are different parts of the body of the lord in the Viśvarūpa also mentions that so that devas are the arms representing so we understand that the devas are the devotees of the lord and we offer them respect as devotees then that is no problem.
If we go to the devas and asks If we go to the devas and asks the devas a blessing to be a better devotee of Kṛṣṇa then there is no problem.
But if we go to the devas and asks the same thing that the devas asking from Kṛṣṇa then Kṛṣṇa asks who do you really take shelter me or him?
If you want to take from him then all right no need to take from me.
But the devas they can give us the ticket back to Kṛṣṇa they can help us in many ways.
I was just reading this morning in Bhāgavatam when Kṛṣṇa had disappeared from Dvāraka when he was looking for the Śyāmantaka jewel all the residents of Dvāraka went to durgā and they prayed to durga please bring Kṛṣṇa back to us we want Kṛṣṇa back.
So out of love for Kṛṣṇa they prayed to the divine mother to bring Kṛṣṇa back.
So in someways that devotees of Kṛṣṇa ven prayed like that the gopīs prayed to Kātyāyinī to Pārvatī her name is Katyāyinī to get Kṛṣṇa as her husband so such things are all right for devotees.
Everytime I go to deva temple I always pray to deva for blessing to be Kṛṣṇa consciousness and to spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya because I know that because this is what they all want.
If we read in the Purāṇas
the devas are fighting with the demons you know how much they want us to spread us this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
That’s really what they want?
When a person dies the soul leaves the body three or ones if we pick this one we can lack again.
what is the best method?
Bhakti-yoga.
Kṛṣṇa said bhaktyā mām abhijānāti – except for my devotee no one else can know me.
If you want to come to me you want to come by surrendering unto me.
Question:
But have to becoming a devotee means still one has a same suffering and problems as non-devotee.
Even after taking of devotional service one still has the propensity to be envious and causing anxiety to others.
There is nothing wrong in the process of devotional life why does devotees come under māyā’s attack?
Answer:
There are so many process of purification.
You come to bhakti means this is the supreme process there is no other process after this.
And there is no need of doing any lower processes but still we have to learn how to do bhakti-yoga to do properly.
As we do bhakti-yoga we will find many dirt will come in our hearts.
It’s a cleaning process,
if we clean the house dust comes out.
We have to be very careful to move the dirt.
We have to be learned to be tolerant.
We have to learn to be humble.
These are part of the devotional process.
Now side by side by chanting and performing the activities we have to also do cleaning.
We have to be always analyzing and seeing wherever we have defects and systematically try to move that.
Then in this material world time is immemorial.
Millions of millions of birth even after few days,
months,
weeks or years of devotional service its not likely some of the contaminations are still there in our hearts.
But if we absorb ourselves fully in devotional service and we take the shelter of the spiritual master properly then we can burn out these accumulated contaminations very quickly.
So the reason why the process of devotional service is to get different attacks the contamination is there as I mentioned in the class we are getting devotional service very easy from Lord Caitanya we are making mmediately they are close on us.
They will take away the curve.
We have to make a proper we have to be patient we are not fully qualified for devotional service we are getting it on a special concession like the government sometimes give the poor people the low cost housing.
They don’t get afford to get a house but they can buy it by low credit just to get the people out of the slums.
So Lord Caitanya want us to get out from this horrible material world.
He is giving us a special credit plan.
Because we are not fully qualified we have to work it becoming qualified.
You are coming to this process very quickly.
But if we stick to it within a short period of time we can get rid out of this bad qualities and we become properly situated.
So we need the patience and determination and the conviction.
We need the associate properly with devotees.
We need to avoid the different kind of negative activities and we have to be very open hearted and straight forward.
These are the six things that Rūpa Gosvāmi recommends us and help us
to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
So in one sentence nothing wrong.
And people surely benefit something by hearing them.
But usually for the initiated devotees prefer to hear singing by someone more spiritually developed.
These are especially songs sung by attracting the new people by music aspect but not spiritual aspect.
In public programs we use these more but for personal purification it is recommended to hear Prabhupāda and some other pure devotee chanting.
But its nothing wrong but that is the guideline.
In Kali-yuga for different this is very funny the four varṇāśramas.
So four āśramas we don’t.
I understand its meaning.
Question is addressing the āśramas.
It’s a mistake to go through the varṇas.
So the āśramas it depends also so some people just go through marriage the only āśrama they have to go through.
For spiritual life someone joins the movement he is a gṛhastha we don’t say he has to go to brahmacārī.
But later on the gṛhasthas are good to taken vānaprastha husband and wife together.
It is not essential that people must take sannyāsa.
If they are initiated wife and husband prepare themselves for this also.
This all voluntarily.
One doesn’t have to go through different āśramas but its something that one has to consult with one’s own guru.
What is best for each individual?
To which āśrama that one should go through?
Some brahmacārīs go straight to sannyāsa and some brahmacārīs to gṛhastha and vānaprastha.
So this all different scenarios.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-06-10
How to develop favourable devotional attitude?
we should accept everything for devotional service and give up everything which is unfavourable.
If we really understand what is our self interest?
What is helping us?
And we understand serving Kṛṣṇa and serving his devotees are our own self interest and then we know what is the favourable for that we accept the favourable things and we avoid the unfavourable automatically we can.
Start to get lined up.
Now what is very important is to develop that is by associating with the devotees already have their attitude.
Not that every devotees is equally developed in his favourable attitude such those who are especially ball pointless those who are in bitter mood they may be advancing but in a slow track.
Those who are seeing good qualities in others enthusiastic cheerful and they don’t hold any grudges on anyone they are in mode of fast track.
So we look for devotees that we can relate with a better situation we are and associating with them and in this way we can progress by the good association and this leads to the next question which is sādhu-saṅga which is one of most if not the most important limbs of devotional principles is offensive be six certain devotee association to avoid others,
So we select the associating just associating of any devotees so we can read the questions super souls.
Lord Caitanya said that there are three kinds of devotees those who are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but they are not following the principles we can help them otherwise we don’t associate with them very intimately but those who are initiated and following very strictly we can accept them in a very we can respect them and offer respect to them and associate with them.
And those who are very advanced who are fully fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness who are in the level of guru we can take shelter from them.
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that we can seek out association with the likely minded devotees.
Of course hopefully the like minded should be a good mind but its all right we may be more intimate with some than the others.
Lord Kṛṣṇa He has said that He is the higher of all living entities and so he is the higher of the devas and he is the one who fixes people’s faith on different devas.
When a person fully takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa then they need to see Kṛṣṇa in everything including the devas.
If they can see devas then there is no problem but the Kṛṣṇa the devas they got confused about how that two relate with each other then its obstacle.
So that’s why the devotees should understand that the devas are all great devotees of God.
His expansion in the Vedas what we call it as sahasra śīrṣāḥ puruṣaḥ What that mantra called?
In the puruṣa śūkta how all the devas are different parts of the body of the lord in the Viśvarūpa also mentions that so that devas are the arms representing so we understand that the devas are the devotees of the lord and we offer them respect as devotees then that is no problem.
If we go to the devas and asks If we go to the devas and asks the devas a blessing to be a better devotee of Kṛṣṇa then there is no problem.
But if we go to the devas and asks the same thing that the devas asking from Kṛṣṇa then Kṛṣṇa asks who do you really take shelter me or him?
If you want to take from him then all right no need to take from me.
But the devas they can give us the ticket back to Kṛṣṇa they can help us in many ways.
I was just reading this morning in Bhāgavatam when Kṛṣṇa had disappeared from Dvāraka when he was looking for the Śyāmantaka jewel all the residents of Dvāraka went to durgā and they prayed to durga please bring Kṛṣṇa back to us we want Kṛṣṇa back.
So out of love for Kṛṣṇa they prayed to the divine mother to bring Kṛṣṇa back.
So in someways that devotees of Kṛṣṇa ven prayed like that the gopīs prayed to Kātyāyinī to Pārvatī her name is Katyāyinī to get Kṛṣṇa as her husband so such things are all right for devotees.
Everytime I go to deva temple I always pray to deva for blessing to be Kṛṣṇa consciousness and to spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya because I know that because this is what they all want.
If we read in the Purāṇas
the devas are fighting with the demons you know how much they want us to spread us this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
That’s really what they want?
When a person dies the soul leaves the body three or ones if we pick this one we can lack again.
what is the best method?
Bhakti-yoga.
Kṛṣṇa said bhaktyā mām abhijānāti – except for my devotee no one else can know me.
If you want to come to me you want to come by surrendering unto me.
Every time is good 24 hours a day but the best time to start your meditation is called brahma-muhūrta which is an hour and a half before sunrise.
But if we can’t do that time do any time we can do.
That’s the best time according to sastras.
So we should do all the time.
Question:
But have to becoming a devotee means still one has a same suffering and problems as non-devotee.
Even after taking of devotional service one still has the propensity to be envious and causing anxiety to others.
There is nothing wrong in the process of devotional life why does devotees come under māyā’s attack?
Answer:
There are so many process of purification.
You come to bhakti means this is the supreme process there is no other process after this.
And there is no need of doing any lower processes but still we have to learn how to do bhakti-yoga to do properly.
As we do bhakti-yoga we will find many dirt will come in our hearts.
It’s a cleaning process,
if we clean the house dust comes out.
We have to be very careful to move the dirt.
We have to be learned to be tolerant.
We have to learn to be humble.
These are part of the devotional process.
Now side by side by chanting and performing the activities we have to also do cleaning.
We have to be always analyzing and seeing wherever we have defects and systematically try to move that.
Then in this material world time is immemorial.
Millions of millions of birth even after few days,
months,
weeks or years of devotional service its not likely some of the contaminations are still there in our hearts.
But if we absorb ourselves fully in devotional service and we take the shelter of the spiritual master properly then we can burn out these accumulated contaminations very quickly.
So the reason why the process of devotional service is to get different attacks the contamination is there as I mentioned in the class we are getting devotional service very easy from Lord Caitanya we are making mmediately they are close on us.
They will take away the curve.
We have to make a proper we have to be patient we are not fully qualified for devotional service we are getting it on a special concession like the government sometimes give the poor people the low cost housing.
They don’t get afford to get a house but they can buy it by low credit just to get the people out of the slums.
So Lord Caitanya want us to get out from this horrible material world.
He is giving us a special credit plan.
Because we are not fully qualified we have to work it becoming qualified.
You are coming to this process very quickly.
But if we stick to it within a short period of time we can get rid out of this bad qualities and we become properly situated.
So we need the patience and determination and the conviction.
We need the associate properly with devotees.
We need to avoid the different kind of negative activities and we have to be very open hearted and straight forward.
These are the six things that Rūpa Gosvāmi recommends us and help us
to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
So in one sentence nothing wrong.
And people surely benefit something by hearing them.
But usually for the initiated devotees prefer to hear singing by someone more spiritually developed.
These are especially songs sung by attracting the new people by music aspect but not spiritual aspect.
In public programs we use these more but for personal purification it is recommended to hear Prabhupāda and some other pure devotee chanting.
But its nothing wrong but that is the guideline.
In Kali-yuga for different this is very funny the four varṇāśramas.
So four āśramas we don’t.
I understand its meaning.
Question is addressing the āśramas.
It’s a mistake to go through the varṇas.
So the āśramas it depends also so some people just go through marriage the only āśrama they have to go through.
For spiritual life someone joins the movement he is a gṛhastha we don’t say he has to go to brahmacārī.
But later on the gṛhasthas are good to taken vānaprastha husband and wife together.
It is not essential that people must take sannyāsa.
If they are initiated wife and husband prepare themselves for this also.
This all voluntarily.
One doesn’t have to go through different āśramas but its something that one has to consult with one’s own guru.
What is best for each individual?
To which āśrama that one should go through?
Some brahmacārīs go straight to sannyāsa and some brahmacārīs to gṛhastha and vānaprastha.
So this all different scenarios.
Questioner: Pūja mātājī
Date: 2022-07-30
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, material separation is due to identifying with the body.
Say we have a body, it came from a mother or father.
But from the same father and mother came brothers and sisters.
Like that, if we feel separation due to some bodily relationship,
that is something material.
Because in every birth we have different mother and father, different brother and sister,
sometimes we would be born in a lady’s body, sometime in a man’s body,
and we also may be born in some other species.
Indra was once offensive to his guru.
The guru cursed him be a pig,
and then he was in this planet as a pig.
He had many wives, many piglets, and he was lying in his mud.
The guru came to take him back,
but he did not want to go.
He was feeling separation from the piggy wives and piglets.
Then the guru gave him the memory of who he was.
He was thinking, ah! how I am in this horrible place?
So that is material separation.
And spiritual separation is where we are connected with the Lord,
it is a spiritual heart to heart, spirit to spirit relationship.
And naturally we feel a kind of separation to guru or Vaiṣṇavas,
that is something transcendental,
and they are not based on the body.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Material Sufferings / Death]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-05
Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting!
We should be very cautious about māyā.
Māyā tries to take us away.
She is very strict.
One devotee when he joined ISKCON, his father offered him a million dollars
to leave Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
He did not leave!
I mean, how many here would be tempted by eight crores?
So, sometimes māyā gives one some incentives,
sometimes māyā gives one suffering,
and so we have to be very cautious.
So we should always keep ourselves surrendered at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
What we should be conscious about is to do everything for the service of Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-07-08
Jayapatākā Swami: We pray that the Lord, if it pleases you, help this devotee to regain his health,
and that devotee, the person can do devotional service.
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Lalitāṅgī Rādhā devī dāsī
Date: 2022-10-04
Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we offer daily guru-pūjā
and on the Vyāsa-pūjā we offer the puṣpāñjali three times.
That way we pray that we may be forgiven for any knowing or unknowing offences.
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
Questioner: Guṇagrāhi Gaurāṅga dāsa
Date: 2023-01-27
Jayapatākā Swami: We may commit mistakes, but we should beg for forgiveness,
and we should continue to do our devotional service, being more and more careful.
If we realize we did a mistake, we can ask for forgiveness.
I saw that even in one of the prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the devotee says,
I have committed innumerable offences, please forgive me and engage me in Your service.
I surrender to Your lotus feet!
So, there are offences we commit knowingly or unknowingly,
but we should be humble, try to correct any mistakes we make and continue to render devotional service.
Haribol!
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!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-24
Jayapatākā Swami: The devotee, when a devotee render pure devotional service,
that’s attractive to the Lord. The conditioned soul, acting in the material world,
independently is that nothing really very attractive about that to the Lord.
In accordance with their desire to serve the Lord, in accordance with their desire to approach the Lord,
it becomes more attractive. It is more glorious when someone wants to do some religious principle.
It is even better if they want to become liberated from the material world.
But he when he realizes the super soul but, the best is when someone is engaging in pure devotional service.
That’s really attractive for the Lord. Just like we have a small child but
when the baby is relating with you, depending on you, there is some attraction there.
Even though one sense insignificant but in another sense and especially
when the baby is trying to say their father’s name, they recognize and say you know,
“da, da” or something, that’s a special.
So, it is a happiness for the mother and father you know, it’s like a little high point there.
So, when the conditioned soul remembers Kṛṣṇa and wants to serve Kṛṣṇa,
that pure devotional service is attractive even to Kṛṣṇa.
Not only attractive, but it can purchase Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa promises to reciprocate although we are insignificant, but if we give our whole self to Kṛṣṇa,
Kṛṣṇa would give His whole self to us. Talk about a business deal. (laughter)
There’s no great king or great person even if some political follower
gives his wife you know for the leader, this leader is not gonna reciprocate
and give everything just for the one little person.
Because he has this one person, he has to see over so many.
But Kṛṣṇa being unlimited, He can individually expand and individually relate to each devotee.
He is not limited like that. So, He can reciprocate, although we are insignificant
but He can, He is so unlimited that He can relate with each insignificant part of Him.
He is not limited.
But like one president, he has got millions or 250 million people,
how can he personally relate with each individual.
It is beyond his capacity. He can only have a cabinet of 20 people and
talk with a few congress committee chairmen.
He can hardly relate to all the representatives in the house of congress.
What to speak of you know in a personal way. It would take his whole time.
He has only 24 hours in a day.
But Kṛṣṇa is unlimited. He is not limited by time also.
In the spiritual world, there is no limitation of time.
So, Kṛṣṇa can expand Himself unlimitedly. He can be having unlimited simultaneous pastimes
going on. So, because of Kṛṣṇa’s grace, although we are so insignificant,
that doesn’t limit Kṛṣṇa because He is so unlimitedly great.
He can relate and He becomes attracted when we approach Him in pure devotional service.
Not only that, They have to purchase. The way to attract even when we do a little devotional service.
He is attracted. Is that clear?
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-03-15
Jayapatākā Swami: What pleases me the most? Pleasing Śrīla Prabhupāda! Ha! Ha!
He asked me to distribute books,
expand the congregation,
to expand Kṛṣṇa consciousness pracāra unlimitedly,
to develop Māyāpur Dhām,
to unite the Saraswat family,
to develop Navadvīpa-dhāma,
to develop Gaura Maṇḍala Bhūmī,
and many other things.
So you can do any of these things,
which one will you do?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Naturally, we should serve the spiritual master as the representative of his guru, the guru-paramparā and Kṛṣṇa.
So, in this way Kṛṣṇa is watching
and how we satisfy our spiritual master
that Kṛṣṇa sees.
He blesses accordingly.
Now how to develop proper attitude.
It happens naturally as we progress in our spiritual life.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-07-08
Jayapatākā Swami: Whatever, we should always pray to the Lord for devotional service.
Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote letters, he always ended the letter, hope this meets you in good health.
So, in good health it will help to serve the Lord.
But these mundane people want good health, so that they can enjoy life.
They want good health to have indriya-tṛpti. Sense gratification.
But devotees they want good health to serve the Lord.
So, we should pray like that.
But we should always engage ourselves in Kṛṣṇa’s sevā.
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Keya Rani
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: 1. We should observe it after that.
And plead to Kṛṣṇa for forgiveness.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Take initiation!
We don’t believe that we deliver ourselves.
We believe that our guru and Kṛṣṇa delivers us!
And we simply try to carry out Their instructions.
If you think you are not able to deliver yourself, that is natural, we should not think we can deliver ourselves.
You are saying it is right to say – I can deliver myself, I don’t need anyone! Is that right?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: Well he gave me many advices.
But the main thing was that I should always engage in serving Kṛṣṇa.
And try to help others to be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
He told me to expand the Nāmahaṭṭa and congregational preaching.
He told me to distribute, I have to distribute at least ten thousand big books, every month and 100 thousand small books, every month.
We were discussing this morning possibility of selling packets of books at discounted price.
He told me to travel and preach.
So I used to travel five or six times around the world in a year.
Now I am not able to do that, you see I am physically challenged.
I only travel around the world twice a year. I need help!
I need the senior devotees to help travel and preach.
Anyway, there are many other questions.
You can see the Jayapatākā Swami App, which you can download on Android or Apple Play where they have listed all the instructions that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me.
I pay all the expenses, you don’t have to pay anything!
* * * *
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Śrīla Prabhupāda called me to LA,
at that time I was in Toronto,
and he told me that he would send me to India
as soon as Acyutānanda had his own place.
I went and opened up the Chicago temple,
along with Bhagavān dāsa.
Then I was called up and Śrīla Prabhupāda told me to go to India.
I flew to London
and then I went to India.
I arrived in Calcutta,
but Acyutānanda did not have his own place.
So for some time, we were staying in the Gauḍīya Maṭha.
And then we found our own place.
Śrīla Prabhupāda flew in from Japan
and he went to that place in South Calcutta.
After a while Śrīla Prabhupāda said he had given sannyāsa to nine devotees in LA.
He asked Acyutānanda and myself, if we wanted to take sannyāsa.
At that time, I thought it was a very glorious thing!
I still think
but I see it is very difficult to be a sannyāsī in the West.
I was fortunate that I was in India!
Where it was not so difficult.
Anyway on Rādhāṣṭamī day Śrīla Prabhupāda gave Acyutānanda and myself sannyāsa.
He said Acyutānanda was the 10th sannyāsī and I was the 11th.
Now I think I am the oldest sannyāsī still alive.
Basically, that is what happened.
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Pulling out the weeds?
Well, just like for instance uh, the first weed is described as niṣiddhācāra - unauthorized behavior.
Say that a person uh, is habituated to uh, eating meat,
but chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, friend of Kṛṣṇa coming, but you know still he eats meat.
So, then the person gradually stops eating meat, that is pulling the weed out, say, in the beginning stage.
But then say something that might even attack an older person that’s in devotional service - kuṭīnāṭī or lābha, pratiṣṭhā, pūjā.
Kuṭīnāṭī means diplomatic behavior.
Just like say a neophyte devotee, not very strong, he is trying to practice devotional service, he is practicing.
But somehow, he got mislead… miss… you know, like waylaid.
Went out, did something wrong, maybe went out, got drunk or something, you know.
Just fall.
Say, met some old friends.
They said, “Come on!” Next thing you know, had a beer can in his hand, whatever; and so, got in trouble.
So, then I met a devotee like that.
That is not a devotee, initiated, but just like a bhakta type person.
And then he had something like that happen.
Then he got picked up for drunken driving.
Very… He was come by and he was apologizing.
He was going to really try to be Kṛṣṇa conscious again.
So, the thing was that if a person… say that a person does something like that,
and some senior person is there to help him, some spiritually advanced person, and then if tries to like lie about it, hide the truth,
so or… that’s one form of kuṭīnāṭī, being devious you know.
Well, if the person was just straight forward, “Yeah, I had this problem, can you help me?”
Then he gets some good advice, and that gives him some more inspiration, some more strength to just stay on the path, you see.
So that lack of being straightforward of you know, confiding in uh, people who are actually there to help you spiritually, that’s one form of kuṭīnāṭī.
There are many others.
Like different have diplomatic behavior.
So if one, one gives up that behavior
and then takes the uh, you know, straight forward path, takes the consequences whatever it may be, you see,
there is no consequences like that in devotional service, no one is going to uh,
put anyone unnecessarily on the spot, rather one is compassionate, trying to help someone if they are having difficulties.
So, that’s how you pull the weed.
It’s just that, when you, you have to isolate, you have to recognize,
“This is the defect, this is a mistake, this is a wrong thing.”
And then you… then you work at uh, not doing it anymore.
That’s how you pull it.
That’s the meaning of pulling it.
Just like you know, some people they show you, “Look at my garden.
Look at my lawn.
It’s so beautiful; everything is green, right?” Before… If I look at the lawn, I’ll think it’s great.
But then if some you know, horticulturist comes, he says, “Well that’s crabgrass, that’s too… this is you know, this is uh, hog… hog… hog grass,
and this is not you know you supposed to have all you know Kentucky blue or something.
You got all this other garbage grass in there.”
You see.
For an ordinary, layman, it’s all grass, you know, who cares?
But you know, if you really get into it, it’s all some kind of grass that are ultimately weeds that don’t help the…
They are going to take over the whole thing and make it very scrubby looking.
But it looks the same, it looks similar, you see.
So, all you do, you pull it out, take it out.
So, you have to isolate it first, what is the weed and what is the real plant?
Weed means it looks like a real plant.
It is not… It is a plant also.
It looks similar.
It is not you know necessarily a lot different, it might be a lot different or might even be similar, it’s a plant anyway.
So, some of the things are just a slight difference, some of them are really different.
Just like an oak tree and a piece of grass, same type of living entity: plant, you see, vegetation.
But it’s not that completely different, may be in the beginning stages it looks similar,
when it’s just like a 3 inches ha… high, but in the end, you know, it becomes completely different.
So how you pull it out in terms of practicality, just you guys stopping doing that particularly,
or at least trying to stop.
First you isolate what it is, then you work at pulling it out.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-09
Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes they come as first body as Brahmā.
Human is the first birth that you get a chance to go back.
Brahma at the end of the universe, can go right back.
Unless he becomes materialistic, then from Brahmā they can work their way down to a bug or one can be as human.
That will depend.
It’s not a… No one can say, it is not any, you will find some different evidences in the Vedas.
Coming as a Brahmā or coming as a human, that is not... that may vary from case to case.
We found that Jaya, Vijaya, they came as demons.
Each person, why they are here, why, no one can say exactly.
Everyone is an individual eternally.
And the only way we will know the exact reason how we got into this material world is when we ultimately again we get our liberation.
This is like a dreaming state.
Right now, we are locked into the dream and the whole endeavor is to get out of the dream, to wake up.
So, once we… It’s just like someone is in a kind of coma.
And in the coma, he is dreaming so many things.
And then in that dream, he is going from one dream and then he jumps out and goes to another dream, until finally he can remember someone comes up and says, “Harry! Harry!” [laughter]
And then he comes out of the dream, “Where am I? Right?
Where was I?”
It’s like once you come out of this material world and you come back to your original Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it will be like, I did all those things! I was an animal, and a man, I forgot, I forgot completely about Kṛṣṇa and about my eternal spiritual nature.
And just like a dream.
You never want to go to sleep again, you don’t ever want to come in the material world again.
The thing is one has to want to wake up.
So that’s why the spiritual master is so kind.
Even a person is sleeping, doesn’t want to wake up, they are calling, jīva jāgo, “Wake up, Wake up!
You are not this body.
You are eternal spirit soul.”
And the soul has heard so many things in its life.
You are an American, you are a Bohemian, you are a hippie, you are a conservative, you are republican, you are a democrat, this that.
And never even, doesn’t even come near to waking up the soul.
It is just different! It’s just trying to change the structure of your dream.
But when that pure devotee says, “No, you are an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, you are not this body”, then immediately the soul starts, it is the first time anything that was said is actually directed at the soul.
It starts to move, it starts to wake up.
Then the soul starts to direct the intelligence, what is that? What is he saying?
It’s shocking that the first time one hears that he is a devotee, it may even come as an intense shock.
The first time the devotee is saying, is going right to the soul.
They don’t even speak to the body and the mind; it is going right to the soul.
Because the soul can exert its influence and can control over the mind and the body.
But it has to be awakened, it is has to actually come from the soul, to act in its original, constitutional position.
So how we fell in this material world exactly?
What we were before? When we wake up, when we realize our original position, then we can remember all these things.
So, it is not always a stereotype.
We may come first time as a Brahmā and work our way down and may come in so many ways.
What we were before we came, what was our relationship with Kṛṣṇa, what was our position, how we fell down, what desire we had? - these are different in every case.
Questioner: Bhaktin Sujatha Kartikeyan
Date: 2022-08-05
Jayapatākā Swami: It is hard for us to understand when we can go to Godhead.
And that time is revealed by Kṛṣṇa.
And we cannot go earlier, so we try to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Then naturally we think about Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Because we don’t know how long we have to live
so we should be ready any time to go back to Kṛṣṇa.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-17
That is our connection with our spiritual master,
to serve him
and carry out his instructions,
the vāṇī-sevā.
It is definitely very difficult
but there is nothing else we can do.
We have to keep our connection with the spiritual master,
by carrying out his instructions, his vāṇī,
and this way we will be connected with our spiritual master.
Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-09-17
That is our connection with our spiritual master,
to serve him
and carry out his instructions,
the vāṇī-sevā.
It is definitely very difficult
but there is nothing else we can do.
We have to keep our connection with the spiritual master,
by carrying out his instructions, his vāṇī,
and this way we will be connected with our spiritual master.
Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Why were you able to read more earlier and not now?
Please try that you do not commit any Vaiṣṇava-aparādhā amongst each other and forgive each other.
You can chant the Pañca-tattva mantra and Nitāi-Gaura names and thus make advancement in spiritual life.
Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-01-20
Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know who your guru is but for my disciples, if they have to, they can use the counting machine.
Since I had a stroke in 2008, my right side doesn’t fully cooperate.
So I have to chant by my left hand.
And Rādhānātha Swami gave me some chanting machine.
Now I do more than 16 rounds.
But I have to like do exercises in the morning and when I exercise, I also chant and keep track of that.
When I walk in the pool, I chant, each step is half a mantra.
So I promised Śrīla Prabhupāda I would chant 16 rounds of 108 mantras each.
That is 1,728.
Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]
Questioner: Rādhikā Premabhakti devī dāsī
Date: 2022-09-02
So, we take it as Kṛṣṇa’s mercy because He doesn’t let anything happen without His permission.
Nothing!
For devotees, they see that their karma is settled at a reduced rate.
Actually, this material world is always problematic.
This material world is duḥkhālaya.
This is already stated by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā.
If you think that this material world is problematic,
that should be an inspiration for you to go back to the spiritual world.
Why do you want to stay in the material world, life after life?
Why don’t you see that this material world is problematic?
And you should try to be Kṛṣṇa conscious?
You have such a nice name.
Rādhikā Premabhakti!
I want that prema-bhakti of Rādhikā!
So we see that this material world is a horrible place, but we try to make best use of a bad bargain.
That is why it is very important that husband and wife, both are devotees.
And they try to become very dear to Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Karma], [Material Sufferings], [Mercy], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-12-22
Jayapatākā Swami: Rādhārāṇī always thinks how I can surrender more unto Kṛṣṇa.
If we think that we are ready to face death, that is not right, then we may get lazy.
But if we have eagerness to understand devotional service all the time
then that will always be beneficial for us.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-12-22
Jayapatākā Swami: Rādhārāṇī always thinks how I can surrender more unto Kṛṣṇa.
If we think that we are ready to face death, that is not right, then we may get lazy.
But if we have eagerness to understand devotional service all the time
then that will always be beneficial for us.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-29
Jayapatākā Swami: Well, if we mentally reside in the temple or holy dhāma,
this way on internet I go different places, but I certainly attend the Māyāpur maṅgala-ārati regularly.
This way, through YouTube, Facebook, through Māyāpur TV you can get darśana of various temples.
we can get that way, mentally you are visiting the holy dhāma.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]
Questioner: Akhila Bandhu Gopāla Dāsa [Indore]
Date: 2022-09-06
Jayapatākā Swami: So your question is being answered by Vidura.
He did not get upset, he saw that, he took it as an opportunity to increase his Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
You should not become morose, maybe by this you get rid of bad karma.
And in the material world there is this kind of false criticism.
That is why we want to transfer you to the spiritual world.
You are coming from Madhya Pradesh.
Nice to hear how people are hearing the class from Madhya Pradesh.
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-04
Jayapatākā Swami: You see Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that we are Kṛṣṇa-bhaktas.
So, on all the viṣṇu-tattvas days – Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī, Gaura Pūrṇimā, we fully fast, we do anukalpa, take Ekādaśī.
But other forms of Viṣṇu, it is optional.
So, every form of Lord Kṛṣṇa has got a particular mood.
We generally, someone wants to pray for the health of guru or some loved one,
we pray to Lord Narasiṁhadeva.
When one wants special mercy to become Kṛṣṇa conscious we pray to Pañca-tattva,
and if we want to have appreciation for the sweetness of Lord Kṛṣṇa then we pray to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa
or Rādhā Kālacāndajī!
So depending on what you want,
you may go to that form of the Lord.
Creation is done by Brahmā, maintenance is done by Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu,
destruction is done by Mahādeva.
But they are all expansions in one way or other of Mahā-Viṣṇu, and then ultimately of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
From Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma come the catur-vyūha, Nārāyaṇa, then the second catur-vyūha,
then comes Mahā-Viṣṇu.
In every universe there is a Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu,
and in every heart, every atom there is Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
So if you pray to Kṛṣṇa, you pray to everybody.
Some people pray to a particular form, they like some form. Some are Rāma-bhaktas, some are Varāha-bhaktas.
But the original form is Kṛṣṇa
and first expansion is Balarāma.
So Lord Caitanya is Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa
and Lord Nityānanda is Balarāma.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Anon
Date: 2022-08-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Attachment.
All off of… Sometimes the stress is external.
Sometimes obstacles are put up by demons.
So that creates a kind of distressful situation,
but if a person by learning to surrender to Kṛṣṇa in those times, by being tolerant, you see...
We have to learn tolerance.
Something that we have forgotten.
Something that can be, tolerance level can be built up, you see.
Just like in the airplane, I was flying over… and... Singapore Airline, there was one person who was very nasty to the steward.
But the steward completely kept his cool and just returned by saying, “Yes, sir,
I will…" The person was completely obnoxious, completely off the wall or something.
But the person just became very cool in reciprocation and just very suavely, you know, replied the person.
I was in Eastern Airways and some person who had drunk a few drinks just said a little something.
An American guy said, “You are not getting any drinks!
You want to stay on the plane?
No drinks! Otherwise, you get off!”
This is the way he dealt, you know.
A person immediately... He could have held it nicer.
“Listen buddy, you had too many.
Take it easy,” you know.
But no, the guy was so much on the air that steward, that as soon as he said, immediately, you know, he got all riled up.
So, you know, it’s a question of training.
Therefore, Singapore Airline gets a number one rating in the world, and Eastern is not within the rating, within America.
They don’t make even the top ten anyway.
But Singapore and Swiss are considered to be the best service in the world in terms of airline just because the stewards there are trained.
So, we can also be trained in tolerance, you see.
Generally, in America, we are trained not to be very tolerant for any kind of austerity.
Rather they go out to no end of creating new inventions - how you can avoid any kind of austerity, you see.
While living in India, one has to always take austerity because there is just no facility for aust… for anything but austerity.
There is no modern facilities like that but... on one level.
Here I find it very austere in the West for other reasons.
Different type of austerities.
Anyway, it is all relative.
But the main thing is we build up our tolerance to accept these different kinds of difficulties that may come up.
And rather than relate with them or start to become body-conscious and mental-conscious unnecessarily -
to become agitated by them, we overcome them by fixing our mind on Kṛṣṇa.
Just like it says in the Nectar of Devotion, “Say that you stub your foot,
at that moment instead of saying ouch or something or whatever some other thing, then you say Kṛṣṇa.
So that you don’t have to take another… just by that alone, you can get liberation.”
So the point is that when you are in distress, then where do you turn to?
You turn to your mind.
You turn to some other shelter.
Where do you take shelter?
When the pressure is on, where do you go for shelter, you know?
I know devotees who chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, but when the going gets rough, when they get agitated, when they have difficulty, you know,
they go out and take a drug on the side.
They bloop, kind of half-bloop, and now they are very weak.
If there is any difficulty, they can’t learn.
They don’t take shelter of Kṛṣṇa.
Instead they go on take drugs.
Therefore, you know, they take a marijuana or something.
Of course, those are people not generally in our temples.
But I know there is people like that.
That as soon as going gets rough, they surrender to māyā, you see.
Instead of chanting more intensely, hearing more carefully, reading the śāstras, absorbing… taking shelter.
My mind is being agitated by something, either my own body or some external cause,
and so at that moment, to actually depend on, take shelter of Kṛṣṇa that is the best training for us.
If we learn to depend on Kṛṣṇa in difficulty, then at time of death,
when it comes the final exam, when that death is facing us, we are not going to turn to something else,
“Oh! I am in big trouble now, give me this, give me no.”
No. Just surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then we go back to Kṛṣṇa.
Death is a very painful thing, painful situation.
So how are we going to face that if we are already completely habituated to facing so many difficulties
and always depending on Kṛṣṇa, if it is a reflex.
Any difficulty comes we learn to depend on Kṛṣṇa.
Then naturally, in death we will depend on Kṛṣṇa.
In every situation, we will depend upon Kṛṣṇa.
Therefore, the devotee is always protected.
But if we learn to depend on any other material thing, then we have to again come back till we learn not to rely on any designation or anything else other than Kṛṣṇa.
He is our only crutch, He is our guide, guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Remember the words of the guru.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2022-08-26
Jayapatākā Swami: Let me take it another stage, you see. Because that’s very easy to answer because,
you see, in the spiritual sky, in the Goloka Vṛndāvana, Lord Caitanya has His own
section of Goloka Vṛndāvana where He along with His associates, it’s described that
associates of Lord Caitanya generally having, of course, separates mothers and other,
they are generally having male forms. While the associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa,
of course, except for the friends, but I mean to say that generally they
are having the female forms like gopīs and that. There a lot of gopīs.
So, simultaneously, in the spiritual world, those who are the devotees of Lord Caitanya,
they’re having their form with Lord Caitanya,
and those who are the devotees of Kṛṣṇa, they are having their forms with Kṛṣṇa.
Those who are having both relationships
like there may be someone exclusively with Lord Caitanya, although this is very rare;
mostly they will have relationships with both, because that was Lord Caitanya’s mood.
So, they’ll have their form simultaneously with Kṛṣṇa and with Lord Caitanya.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-19
Jayapatākā Swami: Yes!
Next question! Ha! Ha!
You will gradually develop this by doing devotional service.
Or you could get special mercy.
Sādhana-siddhi or kṛpa-siddhi.
I don’t know, when I read these pastimes,
and hear about the devotees crying, rolling on the ground,
I feel also like crying!
So maybe this is something that has increased over the years.
So I think you should keep trying and eventually it will be very easy for you
to be feel, to be affected by the emotions of the devotees.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-24
Everyone has a time.
Everyone has an expiry date, like medicine has an expiry date.
I had gone to see my purvāśrama brother in Minnesota.
And there I got to see my brother.
But I had a closer relationship with my devotee disciples.
Anyway, one of my disciples had brought some medicine for my purvāśrama brother. He ate some prasāda and there was some discussion. He went back home.
We remain in this body as long as we are destined to be there.
Generally, we think that if we do this we will be happy.
And as a result after this body we get another body.
Some think that if I am rich, I will be happy.
Some think that if I am a woman, I will be happy.
Some people think if I am a man, I will be happy.
Some think that if I am a pig I will be happy.
This way, again and again, we repeatedly take birth.
And we take on different bodies due to those desires.
But if we think that we will be happy by serving Kṛṣṇa,
then our rebirth comes to an end.
And we shall return to the abode of the Lord, Vaikuṇṭha dhāma.
No death and birth, we have eternal life.
Haribol!
Questioner: Suvra Dev Babu
Date: 2022-10-15
Jayapatākā Swami: In the material world our spiritual body is dormant,
and the soul is just a small cid particle,
one ten thousandth of the tip of the hair.
But in the spiritual world,
our soul expands into a spiritual body,
which is not different from ourselves,
and that is sat-cit-ānanda.
So, we don’t actually have to take a new body,
we regain our original form.
But since the normal situation
in the material world,
is that when we leave the body,
we take a new body,
that is the general principle.
When we go back to the spiritual world,
we manifest our original body,
our original form,
which is sat-cit-ānanda.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: It is recommended that in Kali-yuga that we should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
It doesn’t say that no other name cannot take you back to Godhead.
But we are recommended to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra
and that is the safest thing to do.
But other names could also deliver someone.
Lord Caitanya said to Haridāsa Ṭhākura that He came to deliver all the people –
Lord Caitanya said how would the Islam be delivered?
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, that if they are attacked by a pig,
they say when the pig hits them,
hā rāma, hā rāma,
which in their languages means offence.
But actually they are saying hā rāma
even though they are thinking of something else they get delivered
because hā rāma means in Sanskrit, “O my dear Lord Rāma!”
Questioner: Anonymous
Date: 2022-07-25
J
ayapatākā Swami: Well, it’s not said about Lord Caitanya, but ordinarily Kṛṣṇa doesn’t give special mercy,
so much, you don’t find.
It’s very rare.
How many, you can count.
Kubjā got special mercy.
Bali Mahārāja got special mercy.
The gopīs got special mercy.
Some of the queens in Dvārakā, they got special mercy.
But...
out of so many millions of living entities.. getting that special mercy is rare.
Generally, special mercy is given directly by the Lord, or by His representative,
so they also very rare.
Out of millions and millions of people, you’ll find only one is a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa.
So if they are the only ones giving out special mercy, then isn’t that quite rare?
In any case, special mercy is very valuable.
It is priceless commodity.
So one should always be hankering, Prabhupāda advised us,
for the special mercy of guru and Gaurāṅga.
Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-12-04
Jayapatākā Swami: Because we want the Lord to forgive us for the offences we are doing.
So therefore we want to forgive others
do to others as you would have done to you.
Category: [Mercy]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-06-10
How to develop favourable devotional attitude?
we should accept everything for devotional service and give up everything which is unfavourable.
If we really understand what is our self interest?
What is helping us?
And we understand serving Kṛṣṇa and serving his devotees are our own self interest and then we know what is the favourable for that we accept the favourable things and we avoid the unfavourable automatically we can.
Start to get lined up.
Now what is very important is to develop that is by associating with the devotees already have their attitude.
Not that every devotees is equally developed in his favourable attitude such those who are especially ball pointless those who are in bitter mood they may be advancing but in a slow track.
Those who are seeing good qualities in others enthusiastic cheerful and they don’t hold any grudges on anyone they are in mode of fast track.
So we look for devotees that we can relate with a better situation we are and associating with them and in this way we can progress by the good association and this leads to the next question which is sādhu-saṅga which is one of most if not the most important limbs of devotional principles is offensive be six certain devotee association to avoid others,
So we select the associating just associating of any devotees so we can read the questions super souls.
Lord Caitanya said that there are three kinds of devotees those who are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but they are not following the principles we can help them otherwise we don’t associate with them very intimately but those who are initiated and following very strictly we can accept them in a very we can respect them and offer respect to them and associate with them.
And those who are very advanced who are fully fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness who are in the level of guru we can take shelter from them.
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that we can seek out association with the likely minded devotees.
Of course hopefully the like minded should be a good mind but its all right we may be more intimate with some than the others.
Everyone was born in this world so that we can start to go closer and closer to Kṛṣṇa especially being born as a human being.
We have given the chance this human form of life to go back to Kṛṣṇa.
If we miss out it’s a big loss.
Human life among the eighty four lakh species of life eight million four hundred thousand species
the species which has given the chance to go back to godhead.
What is the meaning of life?
Well Kṛṣṇa has given us the freedom to try to work out the material desires and at the same time he has given the opportunity to go back to him.
So all the other species of life they are working out their karmas and at last they come to the human form of life and then they go back to Kṛṣṇa.
We made it.
Haribol!
We are human beings but we don’t engage in Kṛṣṇa service we may blew it and loose out.
So therefore what is the advice?
The advice is what Kṛṣṇa said in Bhagavad-gītā think of him,
“man-manā bhava mad-bhakto” become his devotees mad-yājī mām namaskuru – bow down to him and worship him,
always think of him,
be his devotee,
bow down to him,
worship him,
engage in his devotional service,
take shelter of his representative the spiritual master who guide you how to serve Kṛṣṇa and in this way in this life time you can reach Kṛṣṇa.
So initially we chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa because it is the easiest way to worship him and to remember him.
By chanting,
Very nice questions.
For person who is new in Kṛṣṇa consciousness how does he know for sure that scriptures were not adulterated and the one was translated by Prabhupāda because one might have the tendency to think that the Prabhupāda is another ordinary human being looking for fame and name.
Well its a good objective question and people should ask such questions to clear away their doubts normally you ask this someone could they really study Prabhupāda's character.
you see you have a nature someone have the tendency to think that the Prabhupāda is another ordinary human being looking for fame and name.
Well its a good objective question and people should ask such questions to clear away their doubts normally you ask this someone could they really study Prabhupāda's character.
you see you have a nature someone is after name and fame.
There are so many spiritual movements who was named after the Guru.
This bābā and this swami movement and so on and so far.
I dont want to mention any name since i respect all of them but we are not seeing this Prabhupāda for his part im not saying others did it for the reason but i'm saying Prabhupāda he didn't use even his name if he was after name and fame he would have his own name he didn't input his name.
He called it as "International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness" Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.
All around the world everyone knows hare Kṛṣṇa but many people don't know who is the founder of hare Kṛṣṇa is?
They don't know the founder His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.
Not only he was serve place nor after name and fame but he was coming in this sucession of devotional masters and he gave up a very comfortable situation in a holy place in India.
To bring this message to the west and many people said to follow up to change your principle but he never changes his principle.
He said i don't want that kind of followers.
Let me have less followers but i want followers who are serious about knowing the science of Kṛṣṇa.
He never compromise his principle and what he said is exactly following in the you see whatever Prabhupāda said is if you want to go and see you can see what the previous gurus have said.
If there is any contradiction and which great scholars even in India none of them of all the people so many people have written appreciation with Prabhupāda words nobody ever accused him of changing the view of Kṛṣṇa.
Everyone is saying that he is giving out clearly what is the message of Gita and Bhāgavata are presenting?
Then another point this also Prabhupāda put here the sanskrit and the word to word you can see you can ask any Sanskrit scholar is it correct translation may be many translations were nobody said it is equal.
This translation this regional Sanskrit everything is there so any objective persons they can understand what is the message given in the śāstra?
Then according to that realization standard down from previous guru sequence isn’t it?
He is a bona fide representative of his disciplic succession he has the credentials.
Someone can go doubting but the other proved those who followed him the medicine is working.
When you go to a doctor how do you know that the doctor is good?
The patient get cured so he is good.
Everyone who took the medicine that Prabhupāda gave they are getting cured.
Swamiji stick to the poses scientifically how does one know about the existence of the soul?
Because the existence of the soul is mentioned in the Vedas.
Scientists can always go back to the lab and prove that his conclusions were based on his experiments.
How does one go back to the Vedas and questions the Vedas because one should have faith in the Vedas.
For scientists Vedas are just books which can be proven wrong without experiments.
Similarly how does one prove the existence of Kṛṣṇa?
According to them he is just a fairy tale.
Of course this is a big question.
He gave in all lectures listen where we have some intellectuals here Śrīla Prabhupāda gave a class.
One form of gathering knowledge which the scientists are using what is called empirical.
It is called deductive and inductive.
It is called deductive.
Just like here we have 100 to 80 people 200 people everybody here we have one head,
two arms and two legs so based on the sampling of the people here it is said all people have one head,
two arms and two legs.
But sometime there might be someone born with born with one arm or three arm or two heads then the whole theory would go out.
The deduction means it's based on here experiments like I got a medicine today and the medicine said we don’t know how this works?
But based on clinical tests they works and based on so far so many thousand people tested it doesn’t done anybody any harm except some people get allergic and some people get diseased something they got the itching medicine so they don’t know you know may be that 1% so allergic to this medicine and die.
But based on the tests only 10 people got sick and 20 people got allergy and ten thousand nothing happens so this is okay its all right so this is deductive knowledge.
By deductive knowledge you can never know anything for sure.
This cycle has a theory,
okay swans in Germany are white.
There are thousands of swans are there and so someone comes with the theory all swans are white then someone go to Australia there they have a unique black swan.
So the whole theory that the swans are white have gone out.
One black swan shows up so these are just very crude examples.
So you can come up with the idea like this what is life?
Just like every year the full theory is like what is the process of creation?
What is matter?
And
eventually a scientist talks the physical law could explain everything I don’t know this seem like a scientific personal he didn’t put his name.
But nowadays our science has got a lot of changes and we had a meeting in 1986 called “the synthesis of science and religion” Nobel prize laureate he has admitted we would never have been sitting with religionists,
the swamis,
the gurus and the people 20 years ago but now because of the quantum mechanic research in physics we find that sub atomic particles are quantum mechanics does not act according to normal physical law.
Therefore we want to know from these great wise people whether they have any information that can help us.
That one Nobel laureate right on the Vedas on the books of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and he said that there is valuable scientific information to be gotten from these books.
So the other form of knowledge is called inductive were we are getting from Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa knows what He is?
He knows how he created the universe?
He knows what the ātmās are?
And he is handed down this knowledge.
By deductive means it is impossible to know what existed before creation?
Or before this existence or everything that exists.
How can you know that?
There will be no evidence.
In the Vedas Kṛṣṇa said only I existed.
This material world did not exists,
Śiva did not exists,
Brahmā did not exists only I exists its in the Ṛg Veda.
So what to know what to exists before existence?
And the material world we can only know from Kṛṣṇa.
You can study the Vedas from this that point of view.
Then this got called He is giving the explanation what is existence?
And see if it works.
You will find I’m a science student I was a science student now I’m a Vedic student.
And I found that the Vedas are incredibly scientific.
And many many very intelligent people PhD's are taken up Kṛṣṇa consciousness based upon the scientific nature of this Vedas.
So there are a lot of practical reasons why this soul exists?
And why we can’t understand its existence?
(aside):
But I’ve to go on other questions.
Lord Kṛṣṇa He has said that He is the higher of all living entities and so he is the higher of the devas and he is the one who fixes people’s faith on different devas.
When a person fully takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa then they need to see Kṛṣṇa in everything including the devas.
If they can see devas then there is no problem but the Kṛṣṇa the devas they got confused about how that two relate with each other then its obstacle.
So that’s why the devotees should understand that the devas are all great devotees of God.
His expansion in the Vedas what we call it as sahasra śīrṣāḥ puruṣaḥ What that mantra called?
In the puruṣa śūkta how all the devas are different parts of the body of the lord in the Viśvarūpa also mentions that so that devas are the arms representing so we understand that the devas are the devotees of the lord and we offer them respect as devotees then that is no problem.
If we go to the devas and asks If we go to the devas and asks the devas a blessing to be a better devotee of Kṛṣṇa then there is no problem.
But if we go to the devas and asks the same thing that the devas asking from Kṛṣṇa then Kṛṣṇa asks who do you really take shelter me or him?
If you want to take from him then all right no need to take from me.
But the devas they can give us the ticket back to Kṛṣṇa they can help us in many ways.
I was just reading this morning in Bhāgavatam when Kṛṣṇa had disappeared from Dvāraka when he was looking for the Śyāmantaka jewel all the residents of Dvāraka went to durgā and they prayed to durga please bring Kṛṣṇa back to us we want Kṛṣṇa back.
So out of love for Kṛṣṇa they prayed to the divine mother to bring Kṛṣṇa back.
So in someways that devotees of Kṛṣṇa ven prayed like that the gopīs prayed to Kātyāyinī to Pārvatī her name is Katyāyinī to get Kṛṣṇa as her husband so such things are all right for devotees.
Everytime I go to deva temple I always pray to deva for blessing to be Kṛṣṇa consciousness and to spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya because I know that because this is what they all want.
If we read in the Purāṇas
the devas are fighting with the demons you know how much they want us to spread us this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
That’s really what they want?
When a person dies the soul leaves the body three or ones if we pick this one we can lack again.
what is the best method?
Bhakti-yoga.
Kṛṣṇa said bhaktyā mām abhijānāti – except for my devotee no one else can know me.
If you want to come to me you want to come by surrendering unto me.
Every time is good 24 hours a day but the best time to start your meditation is called brahma-muhūrta which is an hour and a half before sunrise.
But if we can’t do that time do any time we can do.
That’s the best time according to sastras.
So we should do all the time.
Well,
very good good very good
if you are simply thinking about Kṛṣṇa in a possible way and you feel tears coming that means you are getting some mercy from Lord Caitanya.
Of course some times people think of other things and cry so I’m hoping that you are thinking about Kṛṣṇa and crying so that’s good.
If you are feeling attachment for Kṛṣṇa this is a very good sign things like this are more for individual talking to the guru because how can I say by somebody is crying but it could be that it is devotional crying.
If one does experience special symptoms in spiritual life that is a good reason to interviewed with guru and conclude up with the advanced devotee and then they can see whether everything is going all right and how to advice you?
It’s not something to talk about in public.
Question:
But have to becoming a devotee means still one has a same suffering and problems as non-devotee.
Even after taking of devotional service one still has the propensity to be envious and causing anxiety to others.
There is nothing wrong in the process of devotional life why does devotees come under māyā’s attack?
Answer:
There are so many process of purification.
You come to bhakti means this is the supreme process there is no other process after this.
And there is no need of doing any lower processes but still we have to learn how to do bhakti-yoga to do properly.
As we do bhakti-yoga we will find many dirt will come in our hearts.
It’s a cleaning process,
if we clean the house dust comes out.
We have to be very careful to move the dirt.
We have to be learned to be tolerant.
We have to learn to be humble.
These are part of the devotional process.
Now side by side by chanting and performing the activities we have to also do cleaning.
We have to be always analyzing and seeing wherever we have defects and systematically try to move that.
Then in this material world time is immemorial.
Millions of millions of birth even after few days,
months,
weeks or years of devotional service its not likely some of the contaminations are still there in our hearts.
But if we absorb ourselves fully in devotional service and we take the shelter of the spiritual master properly then we can burn out these accumulated contaminations very quickly.
So the reason why the process of devotional service is to get different attacks the contamination is there as I mentioned in the class we are getting devotional service very easy from Lord Caitanya we are making mmediately they are close on us.
They will take away the curve.
We have to make a proper we have to be patient we are not fully qualified for devotional service we are getting it on a special concession like the government sometimes give the poor people the low cost housing.
They don’t get afford to get a house but they can buy it by low credit just to get the people out of the slums.
So Lord Caitanya want us to get out from this horrible material world.
He is giving us a special credit plan.
Because we are not fully qualified we have to work it becoming qualified.
You are coming to this process very quickly.
But if we stick to it within a short period of time we can get rid out of this bad qualities and we become properly situated.
So we need the patience and determination and the conviction.
We need the associate properly with devotees.
We need to avoid the different kind of negative activities and we have to be very open hearted and straight forward.
These are the six things that Rūpa Gosvāmi recommends us and help us
to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
So in one sentence nothing wrong.
And people surely benefit something by hearing them.
But usually for the initiated devotees prefer to hear singing by someone more spiritually developed.
These are especially songs sung by attracting the new people by music aspect but not spiritual aspect.
In public programs we use these more but for personal purification it is recommended to hear Prabhupāda and some other pure devotee chanting.
But its nothing wrong but that is the guideline.
In Kali-yuga for different this is very funny the four varṇāśramas.
So four āśramas we don’t.
I understand its meaning.
Question is addressing the āśramas.
It’s a mistake to go through the varṇas.
So the āśramas it depends also so some people just go through marriage the only āśrama they have to go through.
For spiritual life someone joins the movement he is a gṛhastha we don’t say he has to go to brahmacārī.
But later on the gṛhasthas are good to taken vānaprastha husband and wife together.
It is not essential that people must take sannyāsa.
If they are initiated wife and husband prepare themselves for this also.
This all voluntarily.
One doesn’t have to go through different āśramas but its something that one has to consult with one’s own guru.
What is best for each individual?
To which āśrama that one should go through?
Some brahmacārīs go straight to sannyāsa and some brahmacārīs to gṛhastha and vānaprastha.
So this all different scenarios.
Questioner: Akhila Bandhu Gopāla dāsa
Date: 2022-08-27
Jayapatākā Swami: So, there is only one God.
Different religions may think that they worship different Gods.
But from a Kṛṣṇa conscious point of view we understand that there is only one God.
The Mohammadans worship as Allah, and the Christians worship as God.
So, the real thing is whether you have developed love for the Supreme Person.
If you are just praying to the Supreme Lord, to give you bread, to give you good wife, good husband, something like that, then that means you are only attached to material things, not to Him.
We want that people should develop their love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
So, what Lord Jesus said was the Kingdom of God we say Vaikuṇṭha, it is the same thing.
The question is that to what extent they actually develop love of Godhead, then we have no objection.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Other philosophies / Christianity], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Yesterday we saw while you were reading the Caitanya-caritāmṛta you were experiencing extreme such separation even while reading, from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa. We could tell from just what was going on. In addition to that you were experiencing extreme physical pain and today in the medical meeting you mentioned that you are missing Gaura, Kṛṣṇa and that you are also missing Śrīla Prabhupāda. How are you able to handle such seeming diametric feelings, all at once?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-10-25
Jayapatākā Swami: Just like when the lady climbed on Lord Caitanya’s shoulder holding the Garuḍa-stambha,
then Lord Caitanya said that Lord Jagannātha has not blessed Me with such eagerness.
So, He was praying that this lady would give Him blessing
so He would have so much eagerness to see the Lord.
I don’t have so much intense separation,
that I am surviving
is due to my lack of intense love for Kṛṣṇa.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
I will try to take lunch early and come for my evening class earlier
so that everybody can take rest early!
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-10
Jayapatākā Swami: You see having a material body includes having disease and old age.
And I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda once, should we desire to live for a long time?
He said why do you want to live old age
because old age means lot of trouble.
I have many disciples.
So I have to take their karma.
So, although the doctors said that I had zero chance of survival,
I am still here!
And unfortunately, not every disciple follows all the rules that they vow to follow.
So, I have the opportunity to serve my spiritual master,
I am very happy with that.
And since the stroke and since the other diseases,
I also have a liver and a kidney transplant,
I got cancer
although that was cured.
So I am still in the war.
I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda, “What I should do.
My father wanted to turn me down to the Vietnam war draft.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “Better than serving the American army, serve in Kṛṣṇa’s Army!”
And I came to India, he told me to be an Indian citizen.
So I have been an Indian citizen since 1978.
So that is going on.
So we all have to die,
eventually that happens to everybody.
I want to take as many people as possible back to the spiritual world!
Haribol!
I need your help!
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2024-02-20
Jayapatākā Swami: This is Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mercy that I am living in Māyāpur dhāma.
And I had a lot of service to Kṛṣṇa.
I engrossed myself totally in that service.
I had no time to think of Māyā.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said, I am giving you the spiritual world, now develop it.
That is why I had a lot of service.
If we have service, then that helps.
Most of the people will become gṛhasthas.
You have to be in one place
then with family, children, you have to give them association.
But Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me sannyāsa at a young age. He told me that being a sannyāsī I have to travel.
I was in Māyāpur and then I toured the world.
Some years I travelled around the world 5 or 6 times in one year.
This way the British Airways and United Airways gave me Life Gold card.
So I can go by plane.
But this is for Kṛṣṇa’s service.
As I had so much service, there was no time for Māyā for me.
Those who work and stay in a place, they should get married to a devotee girl.
Those who stay as a brahmacārī in the temple and do there then they can stay that way.
It depends on their service.
And their nature.
Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me so much service that I have no time for anything else.
How will I accomplish these services that is my worry.
Śrīla Prabhupāda had told me that I should distribute 10,000 Mahā-big books and 100,000 small books every month.
Now I have to see how many books were distributed in all my zones.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said that the Sārasvata family should be united.
And develop the Navadvīpa dhāma parikramā, he said.
And develop the Gaura-maṇḍala Bhūmi he said.
Lots of service.Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me so much service that I don’t have time for anything else.
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Varṇāśrama / Sannyāsī]
You have dedicated your life to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and Śrīla Prabhupāda. 74 years. From 19 to 74 now, you have dedicated your tan, mana, dhana.
For us we are gṛhasthas, you are our role model and if we want to take even 0.01 per cent of you, as a gṛhastha, you have dedicated your life. What we are doing only is a fraction of maybe what you have dedicated to Śrīla Prabhupāda. You have lot of wealth but we have dedicated a little wealth, you have a lot of time but we have dedicated very little time, but you have given 100% maybe more than 100%. Rūpa Gosvāmī said for gṛhasthas we should give 50% to Kṛṣṇa, 25% for family, how we can dedicate like you? What percentage we should dedicate? You have given 100% 1000% Guru Mahārāja, but percentage wise, how much like funds, energy, our talent, etc. Please bless us and guide us how you want all of us to surrender?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-02
Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, these questions are answered in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.
That as a sannyāsī, I have to give 100% if I give 99% I am fallen. As a gṛhastha 50%, you are doing great!
But sometimes as we were discussing, even if the gṛhasthas, they give 5% or 10% that would be so much.
Anyway, the point is actually I have seen like some gṛhasthas, we were hearing this from the Hospital Manager this morning,
she wants to serve the GBC.
Be a coordinator for all the ministries
and all the standing committees.
So she is saying in the hospital we have like 34 or 35 specialties.
So I want to see each ministry, see what their purpose is and try to help them to do that.
She has two kids, one 8 and one 11,
she has a job.
Naturally she has a husband,
but she wants to serve.
And she is a disciple of His Holiness Kadamba Kānana Swami Mahārāja, who recently passed away.
And he was instructing her how ISKCON should be managed.
With the husband’s support she thinks she can do it.
It is very impressive. you don’t have to be a sannyāsī in fact a sannyāsī may not have the proper qualifications.
So she has the vision how to serve ISKCON.
Also, she is chanting her 16 rounds and following the principles.
So that is the kind of people we need.
People who are very dedicated who want to serve ISKCON.
We heard that Kālacāndajī restaurant is the best in Dallas, something like that.
Sanātana Kṛṣṇa said not just in Dallas, in the whole world.
So, there are different – His Grace Nityānanda Prabhu’s wife she had a team and helped in cooking,
she says she doesn’t cook anymore but she does the original menu for it.
Like that, don’t hesitate, I am not a sannyāsī, I am not anything, whatever you can do, do it!
Haribol!
In Detroit they have cow cuddling program.
So many people come to cuddle the cows, and they don’t know what to do.
But there is special, particular way if they touch the cow, they are happy.
The people sign up they say they will never eat cow again.
So you can serve Kṛṣṇa, not stereotype, different ways.
Some people may give money in dollars, some may cook nice preparations.
Some may cuddle cows, or some may do home ārati.
Everyone should have this service attitude.
If Kṛṣṇa is pleased, guru and Kṛṣṇa are pleased, that is our purpose in life. Haribol!
You have mentioned just now about the glories of Navadvīpa-dhāma and residence in Navadvīpa-dhāma is beneficial and profitable. We are in Bangladesh constantly facing opposition and we are in such an unfavorable situation trying to carry out preaching but practically we are on war front with certain groups. How can we remain in Navadvīpa-dhāma consciousness and get the benefits of Navadvīpa-dhāma while we are in our preaching fields under these circumstances?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-04-10
Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.
Of course, we should understand that if we face a lot of inconvenience or unfavorable situations for the sake of Kṛṣṇa, for the service of Kṛṣṇa, then we should know that Kṛṣṇa is very grateful to us.
We can serve in Navadvīpa-dhāma in separation.
Just like, whether you get more credit if you stay in Navadvīpa-dhāma or if you go out on saṅkīrtana preaching.
When we preach and spread the glories of Māyāpur-dhāma, then our Founder-Ācārya, our previous ācāryas, they are very pleased.
So the śāstra says about Navadvīpa-dhāma, about Vṛndāvana dhāma, how much benefit we get.
But when one goes out to preach, the amount of benefit that one gets, that is incalculable.
I was going out from Māyāpur and distributing books.
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not tell me, oh, you stay in Māyāpur, you will get more credit.
He told me to distribute 10,000 big books and 100,000 small books in a month.
So then when I was sick, he told me, maybe you are working too hard, remain in Māyāpur and work through your assistants.
So, in this verse, it mentions sevā-bhāva.
And we want to do that service which is most pleasing to our Founder-Ācārya.
Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Preaching]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, we have to desire to be there.
We also have to do favorable devotional service.
The two things together, I mean it is Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy
that there is nothing we can do that will deserve that.
But if we desire and engage in devotional service then Kṛṣṇa, if He pleases will give His mercy.
Sometimes Śrīla Prabhupāda said that Rādhārāṇī would say to Kṛṣṇa, this is a very nice devotee.
If Rādhārāṇī indicates that Kṛṣṇa should give His mercy,
then He will do it.
So that is why we say it is causeless mercy.
There is nothing we can do that actually we would deserve it.
We try and if Kṛṣṇa gives us the causeless mercy, we can have it.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-01
Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, we have to desire to be there.
We also have to do favorable devotional service.
The two things together, I mean it is Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy
that there is nothing we can do that will deserve that.
But if we desire and engage in devotional service then Kṛṣṇa, if He pleases will give His mercy.
Sometimes Śrīla Prabhupāda said that Rādhārāṇī would say to Kṛṣṇa, this is a very nice devotee.
If Rādhārāṇī indicates that Kṛṣṇa should give His mercy,
then He will do it.
So that is why we say it is causeless mercy.
There is nothing we can do that actually we would deserve it.
We try and if Kṛṣṇa gives us the causeless mercy, we can have it.
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Questioner: Neha
Date: 2022-12-06
Jayapatākā Swami: Normally we visit the holy dhāma just for a few days.
That time we are very careful not to commit any offence.
And if we stay longer for some parikramā or something,
then we try to hear from the devotees.
Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya told Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa not to marry.
In the purport he was explaining how generally gṛhasthas were usually involved in their family affairs
in sense gratification,
so they don’t make much advancement or very slow.
But actually, if the husband wife, if they actually worship together to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
how to make the children, facilitate the children to be Kṛṣṇa conscious,
how to - just like we have some gṛhasthas they head Bhakti-vṛkṣa groups.
Some gṛhasthas they manage the temple,
some gṛhasthas are working in maintaining the temple.
The point is that if we concentrate on Kṛṣṇa, and we try to work as gṛhasthas to please Kṛṣṇa,
it is not normal. Normally the gṛhasthas, they do not think much about Kṛṣṇa.
That is why a Vaiṣṇava gṛhastha is much different from an ordinary gṛhastha.
They are trying to do things for Kṛṣṇa, they cook for Kṛṣṇa, they offer to Kṛṣṇa, they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Just like, I saw in Chennai, some of the children, were doing a drama.
Two were Yamadūtas and one was playing Yamarāja.
A girl was playing Yamarāja and she had a mustache on.
So the Yamadūtas were complaining that these devotee, the gṛhasthas, they are worshiping the Deities in their homes.
They are offering their food to Kṛṣṇa,
they are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa,
they are read Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
they are preaching.
We cannot arrest them, we cannot take them to hell!
If everyone does like this, what will we do?
So I thought that was a very nice drama.
So I asked the gṛhastha, who would like to have mercy on the Yamadūtas?
Give them some work to do!
No one raised their hands!
So I said, who would like to give them a vacation?
So anyway, paramahaṁsa, is not very difficult, it just means that together, to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center.
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-06
Jayapataka Swami: In due course of time, this thing is revealed to you.
And sometimes, Śrīla Prabhupāda would tell different disciples what rasa they were experiencing.
These things are revealed at some point.
If you are attracted by the pastimes of Lord Caitanya that is one thing, or Lord Nityananda that is another thing.
Like that different symptoms for different rasas.
But first of all we need to develop our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Service is common to all.
And as you go up, the different rasas, like conjugal has all the other rasas included.
Friendship includes dāsya and śānta.
And paternal includes all the others except mādhurya.
So like that. First of all, we need to develop our service attitude to Kṛṣṇa.
Last night someone was saying how we can ask Kṛṣṇa for service, not asking for some material benediction.
I was explaining how we don’t want to do business with Kṛṣṇa,
that I serve You, and You give me something back material.
We are serving and we want to continue serving.
Like HH Kadamba Kānana Swami before he passed away, I saw him virtually
and he said in my lifetime I have been doing service to Kṛṣṇa,
and when I leave the body, I will just have another service.
A devotee always wants to engage in service.
Like that, they build up different rasas
but service is common to all.
Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-04-10
Jayapatākā Swami: You see in Māyāpur in Dāmodara you get 100, in Ekādaśī you get another hundred and near the Ganges you get a thousand or a lac times, so in this way its mentioned. But Kolkata is part of Gaura-maṇḍala Bhūmi.
I think that Śrīla Prabhupāda, he said something.
He said he couldn’t stay in Kolkata, but those who stay in his birthplace they will get special mercy.
So, I don’t remember how many times but Śrīla Prabhupāda said something.
I will look it up.
You were saying how all these great devotees of the Lord are helping Lord Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya in preaching. So do you have any general answer to devotees who ask you like, Guru Mahārāja, I don’t know, you have not given me any instruction, please tell me an instruction. Is there a general answer that you would give to devotees, if they don’t have any specific service given?
Questioner: Devotee
Date: 2023-09-05
Jayapatākā Swami: You see, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda he gave me many instructions. I mean, at least 30 things to do, at least. And maybe more. And what I have done in my Jayapatākā Swami App, I have listed all of those. And of course, some of those things are instructions that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave to everybody, and some things he gave specifically to me, or to a few others. I asked any disciples, śikṣā disciples, well-wishers if they can you help me to fulfill these instructions. And you may help in one or help in five or many more.
So I gave all these instructions that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me and requested the people to help me.
So, I give them a free will to choose from any of those instructions.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Sevā]
- Anarthās
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- Yet To Categories
- Youth