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

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

Even though the Bhagavad-gītā says that a devotee will attain birth in heavenly planets or a nice material situation in the afterlife, does this statement hold true for one who has blasphemed a devotee or the spiritual master ?

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.

Link: 19820914 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.8.22-23

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: I was chanting 32 rounds a day.

I felt very proud.

I thought I was doing sādhana.

Śrīla Prabhupāda asked me, “What are you doing?”

I said, “I am chanting 32 rounds!”

I thought Śrīla Prabhupāda would be very happy.

He said, “If you stay here all day and chant rounds,

who will go out and preach?

Chant 16 rounds and go out and preach!”

So we have a dedicated time every day

for chanting.

2 hours a day.

22 hours we can spend in preaching, little time in sleeping and eating.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

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

For mahā-prasāda, like Kālīdāsa, he had mahā-prasāda of all the Vaiṣṇavas, and then he got the mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is it okay for us to also have the mahā-prasāda of all the Vaiṣṇavas?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: There are no hard and fast rules.

Once, someone was taking all the mahā-prasāda from all the guests.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, you said take from the devotees.

If you take from new people and you get sick, it is not auspicious.

Be a little selective!

Link: 20230522 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

From this Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi līlā, we have to learn that even a little enviousness towards any Vaiṣṇava is very dangerous. I find it very difficult to overcome enviousness. Please help.

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-09-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, we can try to learn from this līlā,

and it is like say in some countries, if you steal, they cut off your hands.

And people are afraid to steal because they will lose their hand.

So, if we understand how serious it is

to be envious against the devotees,

then you will avoid that like anything.

Link: 20210604 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Emotions / Envy], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

From this Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi līlā, we have to learn that even a little enviousness towards any Vaiṣṇava is very dangerous. I find it very difficult to overcome enviousness. Please help.

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-09-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, we can try to learn from this līlā,

and it is like say in some countries, if you steal, they cut off your hands.

And people are afraid to steal because they will lose their hand.

So, if we understand how serious it is

to be envious against the devotees,

then you will avoid that like anything.

Link: 20210604 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Emotions / Envy], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Generally, we are godbrothers, we don’t know how to deal amongst godbrothers, especially when we don’t get personal, direct instructions from you. We get very less personal association or direct contact with you especially being in Vṛndāvana. Sometimes we don’t know how to connect with our godbrothers and godsisters and don’t know how to deal with them.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: How many here have mobile phones?

How many of you have the Jayapatākā Swami App?

How many don’t have?

There are various things – what I do every day.

There is also a “Ask Jayapatākā Swami”.

And Śrīla Prabhupāda had given me various instructions.

Those are written down, which one you want to volunteer?

And then there are connections to the social media, with the āratis, many things.

I was looking at my app, there are many things.

So we are looking for volunteers in the UK, they are saying for Amala Mañjarī devī dāsī to be the local care coordinator.

She doesn’t know yet.

But the local care coordinators – we can use one or two in Vṛndāvana.

So they can connect with me through various means.

How to deal with godbrothers or godsisters?

I mean, do you have any brothers?

How do you deal with them?

How do you deal with your godbrothers? Like your brothers?

(He is more close to his godbrothers than his own brothers)

Very nice!

Of course, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that our temples are like hospitals.

So many devotees are at different stages of being a patient.

Some are very advanced devotees like śikṣā-gurus.

So, just saying godbrothers, there are senior godbrothers and new godbrothers.

Treat them respectfully, nicely and humbly.

And I will be very happy.

Try to encourage them to engage in devotional service properly.

But then you have to hear them first

and some of them are a little strange.

Some of them are very critical.

I did not know that at first.

But most of them are very nice.

My disciples, men and women, are very nice.

But sometimes there are so much things.

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Generally, we are godbrothers, we don’t know how to deal amongst godbrothers, especially when we don’t get personal, direct instructions from you. We get very less personal association or direct contact with you especially being in Vṛndāvana. Sometimes we don’t know how to connect with our godbrothers and godsisters and don’t know how to deal with them.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: How many here have mobile phones?

How many of you have the Jayapatākā Swami App?

How many don’t have?

There are various things – what I do every day.

There is also a “Ask Jayapatākā Swami”.

And Śrīla Prabhupāda had given me various instructions.

Those are written down, which one you want to volunteer?

And then there are connections to the social media, with the āratis, many things.

I was looking at my app, there are many things.

So we are looking for volunteers in the UK, they are saying for Amala Mañjarī devī dāsī to be the local care coordinator.

She doesn’t know yet.

But the local care coordinators – we can use one or two in Vṛndāvana.

So they can connect with me through various means.

How to deal with godbrothers or godsisters?

I mean, do you have any brothers?

How do you deal with them?

How do you deal with your godbrothers? Like your brothers?

(He is more close to his godbrothers than his own brothers)

Very nice!

Of course, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that our temples are like hospitals.

So many devotees are at different stages of being a patient.

Some are very advanced devotees like śikṣā-gurus.

So, just saying godbrothers, there are senior godbrothers and new godbrothers.

Treat them respectfully, nicely and humbly.

And I will be very happy.

Try to encourage them to engage in devotional service properly.

But then you have to hear them first

and some of them are a little strange.

Some of them are very critical.

I did not know that at first.

But most of them are very nice.

My disciples, men and women, are very nice.

But sometimes there are so much things.

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

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja. Please accept my respectful obeisances. You were talking about the remnants, is only a disciple allowed to take guru’s remnants or everybody is allowed?

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!

Link: 20230518 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja. Please accept my respectful obeisances. You were talking about the remnants, is only a disciple allowed to take guru’s remnants or everybody is allowed?

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!

Link: 20230518 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How a woman convince herself to bond with someone when she knows that all material relations are temporary and the only eternal bond is with Kṛṣṇa ?

Questioner: Purnima

Date: 2022-10-22

Jayapatākā Swami: You see,

if one

worships Kṛṣṇa,

chants Hare Kṛṣṇa,

reads Bhāgavatam, Gītā

and other Kṛṣṇa conscious things,

you can make use of this

temporary relationship

*repetitition*

to

be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

To help others be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

and some people have certain desires

so you can regulate these desires

and

cross over all the obstacles.

Although

things are temporary,

they can last for this life.

If you have a Kṛṣṇa conscious husband

then you can practice your Kṛṣṇa consciousness

very peacefully.

So it is important

that a man finds a woman

and a woman finds a man who is krsna consciousness or atleast favorable.

at least favorable.

Maybe you can make him a devotee.

I know some women

who have overestimation of their ability

to make people devotees. (Laughing)

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Women]

How a woman convince herself to bond with someone when she knows that all material relations are temporary and the only eternal bond is with Kṛṣṇa ?

Questioner: Purnima

Date: 2022-10-22

Jayapatākā Swami: You see,

if one

worships Kṛṣṇa,

chants Hare Kṛṣṇa,

reads Bhāgavatam, Gītā

and other Kṛṣṇa conscious things,

you can make use of this

temporary relationship

*repetitition*

to

be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

To help others be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

and some people have certain desires

so you can regulate these desires

and

cross over all the obstacles.

Although

things are temporary,

they can last for this life.

If you have a Kṛṣṇa conscious husband

then you can practice your Kṛṣṇa consciousness

very peacefully.

So it is important

that a man finds a woman

and a woman finds a man who is krsna consciousness or atleast favorable.

at least favorable.

Maybe you can make him a devotee.

I know some women

who have overestimation of their ability

to make people devotees. (Laughing)

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

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Women]

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

Questioner: Vijaya Rādhā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: While the guru is present,

you shouldn’t feel any doubt.

You can always ask the guru

if your idea is correct or not.

I asked Prabhupāda several times about different things like this

and somethings he said, they are sent by Kṛṣṇa,

somethings not.

To be sure, that is why we have a guru,

because we cannot connect directly with Kṛṣṇa in our conditioned state.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

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

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

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Some people are more sentimental, and they get carried away by other people’s problems.

But actually, as Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā,

we should not lament for the living or the dead.

So by reading the Bhagavad-gītā,

Kṛṣṇa advices how one can

give the teachings of Kṛṣṇa, but avoid being affected by the problems.

Thank you.

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

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

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Some people are more sentimental, and they get carried away by other people’s problems.

But actually, as Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā,

we should not lament for the living or the dead.

So by reading the Bhagavad-gītā,

Kṛṣṇa advices how one can

give the teachings of Kṛṣṇa, but avoid being affected by the problems.

Thank you.

Link: 20201105 Zoom Session with ISKCON Youth India Conference

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

How did Śrīla Prabhupāda instill a very strong sambandha-jñāna in you and his other disciples? We see a strong sense of identity which Śrīla Prabhupāda had with Kṛṣṇa. What was so different in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s preaching that is so rare to come across nowadays. How you all feel such a strong sense of belonging to Śrīla Prabhupāda and to Kṛṣṇa?

Questioner: Rādhe Śyāma Dāsa

Date: 2022-08-24

Jayapatākā Swami: As I said, I was looking what is the purpose of life

and a visiting professor from Harvard

had told, about the life of Lord Buddha.

And that inspired me, he told, about reincarnation and so many things.

Being in the West, we had no access to.

I don’t know how much Indian students have.

But it lit a spark in me, to find a guru, to find a teacher.

Of course, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that in my previous life I was a devotee.

Maybe there are some people who were devotees in their previous life, I don’t know,

and some people may be coming new.

So one has to be ready for different kinds of situations.

Now when I came to the temple nobody had any time for me.

They were all busy.

And then I was sent to Jayānanda Prabhu.

He was building a ratha cart.

He asked me if I knew how to hold a nail.

I held it.

Then he got it into the wood, and I took my hand away.

He said, very good!

Because that is the whole trick, how you hold the nail!

You should leave space so that you don’t get your thumb smashed.

And he said, “Do you know how to hit a nail?”

“Sure”

I said, because my uncle had a wood shop in his basement.

And then I hammered some nails,

and he said, “Okay!”, I passed the preliminary exam

and then he engaged me in service.

That service was something I liked to do, it was nice.

So, I think that is the trick for the youth. Whether it is prasāda distribution or something but engage them in something.

And with doing service, they hear from more senior devotees

and that way they get purified.

I was engaged in a lot of different services.

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

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

Questioner: Jagatbandu Pal

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: So we should do our study as a service to Kṛṣṇa.

By this education we will be able to reach out more effectively to many people.

Like Jīva Gosvāmī, he went to university first.

So that he could serve his gurudeva more effectively.

So if you see your education as part of service to Kṛṣṇa and guru,

then it should not be a hindrance,

for your spiritual advancement.

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

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

How do we avoid feeling envious of other devotees and their service ?

Questioner: Puja

Date: 2022-10-14

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in the material world, people, they are competing with others in a race,

thinking I will be the first.

But in service to Kṛṣṇa, it is not that we are competing with others.

Rather, Kṛṣṇa is more pleased if they help others.

We shouldn’t be thinking that by somehow by impeding others,

or somehow if someone else excels,

somehow that is detrimental to us - it is not the case.

Everyone has a personal relationship with Kṛṣṇa,

rather the envy of others is a great impediment

- you will never be the number one!

When I said to Śrīla Prabhupāda, I am the most fallen,

he said you are not the most anything!

So that should be our mood.

There will always be some devotee who is better than us,

but we should not envy that person.

Rather we should associate and try to improve our own service.

Category: [Anarthās], [Emotions / Envy], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

How do we avoid feeling envious of other devotees and their service ?

Questioner: Puja

Date: 2022-10-14

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in the material world, people, they are competing with others in a race,

thinking I will be the first.

But in service to Kṛṣṇa, it is not that we are competing with others.

Rather, Kṛṣṇa is more pleased if they help others.

We shouldn’t be thinking that by somehow by impeding others,

or somehow if someone else excels,

somehow that is detrimental to us - it is not the case.

Everyone has a personal relationship with Kṛṣṇa,

rather the envy of others is a great impediment

- you will never be the number one!

When I said to Śrīla Prabhupāda, I am the most fallen,

he said you are not the most anything!

So that should be our mood.

There will always be some devotee who is better than us,

but we should not envy that person.

Rather we should associate and try to improve our own service.

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

Category: [Anarthās], [Emotions / Envy], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

How do we draw the line between constructive criticism and fault finding?

Questioner: Mathurā Lileśvarī devī dāsī, Gītā Nagarī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: It means… Frist of all constructive means that you are telling the person, how they can improve.

But just telling the person how they are wrong it is not constructive.

The rule of thumb is that we don’t tender any advice constructive, otherwise to the senior devotees.

Rather [to a] senior devotee, we ask a question.

But we always have a right to ask a question;

and you can get your point across, even though it is put as a question.

Say that somebody is a senior devotee, is not behaving the way what you think is correct,

and we say that, “Prabhu, I look to you as an example to follow

and you have always told us we should do like this.

But I saw that you are doing like that.

So there must be some reason why you are doing, so can you illuminate me?”

And if the person illuminates you or if they don’t that means you caught them doing something wrong.

And if they are broadminded, then they will apologize

and say that, that activity is not something to follow.

Prabhupāda once went to see Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda Ṭhākura’s brother,

and since he was the brother of his guru, he accepted him as a senior devotee,

and had the good fortune of being with him at that time.

He had previously discussed about developing the birthplace of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

But this time he refused.

So Prabhupāda asked a question,

“Isn’t it sinful,

if somebody cannot develop the birthplace of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

and someone who can, is not given a chance?

Isn’t it sinful?”

So technically that is a question,

“Isn’t it sinful?”

But he got the idea across.

So technically even he may not have liked it,

it was not an offence

because he asked it as a question.

So that is the principle, we should ask as a question,

if someone who is senior to us.

If someone is under our care, then we can offer them constructive criticism

or someone is a peer, equal, depending on your relationship, you can offer a constructive criticism or you could ask a question.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

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

How do we draw the line between constructive criticism and fault finding?

Questioner: Mathurā Lileśvarī devī dāsī, Gītā Nagarī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: It means… Frist of all constructive means that you are telling the person, how they can improve.

But just telling the person how they are wrong it is not constructive.

The rule of thumb is that we don’t tender any advice constructive, otherwise to the senior devotees.

Rather [to a] senior devotee, we ask a question.

But we always have a right to ask a question;

and you can get your point across, even though it is put as a question.

Say that somebody is a senior devotee, is not behaving the way what you think is correct,

and we say that, “Prabhu, I look to you as an example to follow

and you have always told us we should do like this.

But I saw that you are doing like that.

So there must be some reason why you are doing, so can you illuminate me?”

And if the person illuminates you or if they don’t that means you caught them doing something wrong.

And if they are broadminded, then they will apologize

and say that, that activity is not something to follow.

Prabhupāda once went to see Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda Ṭhākura’s brother,

and since he was the brother of his guru, he accepted him as a senior devotee,

and had the good fortune of being with him at that time.

He had previously discussed about developing the birthplace of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

But this time he refused.

So Prabhupāda asked a question,

“Isn’t it sinful,

if somebody cannot develop the birthplace of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

and someone who can, is not given a chance?

Isn’t it sinful?”

So technically that is a question,

“Isn’t it sinful?”

But he got the idea across.

So technically even he may not have liked it,

it was not an offence

because he asked it as a question.

So that is the principle, we should ask as a question,

if someone who is senior to us.

If someone is under our care, then we can offer them constructive criticism

or someone is a peer, equal, depending on your relationship, you can offer a constructive criticism or you could ask a question.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

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

How do we get complete faith that Kṛṣṇa is the only protector and maintainer as part of śaraṇāgati (surrender), especially as a working individual ?

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.

Link: 20220327 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā]

How do we give up our false ego, particularly in difficult or challenging situations with other devotees?

Questioner: Nandapriyā Premā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: The false ego is [inaudible word] identify our self as the body.

If someone tells us, “Oh, you are ugly!”

We are affected

that is false ego.

If someone tells, “Oh, you are beautiful!”

and we are affected—that is false ego.

So people can say different things,

but we don’t take it so serious.

Because we know that, it is temporary.

And we want to realize our real ego which is as a servitor of Kṛṣṇa.

So false ego is a very subtle thing that ties us to this material world.

So Kṛṣṇa, He gives certain instructions to Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā;

so that he can overcome the false ego,

and by dovetailing our ego in the service of Kṛṣṇa,

that is a positive situation

for instance, Arjuna was a father,

he was a householder, he was a prince,

he was a general, in charge of the army.

So Kṛṣṇa did not tell him that you should give up everything and be a sannyāsī,

rather He said, you should carry out your duties as what you are;

but you should do so as an offering to Me.

So Lord Caitanya also said, “gṛhe thāko vane thāko sadā hari bole ḍāko”

Whether you are gṛhastha or a mendicant,

you should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa

loudly and stay fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Link: 20190114 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Emotions / Pride], [Anarthās]

How do we give up our false ego, particularly in difficult or challenging situations with other devotees?

Questioner: Nandapriyā Premā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: The false ego is [inaudible word] identify our self as the body.

If someone tells us, “Oh, you are ugly!”

We are affected

that is false ego.

If someone tells, “Oh, you are beautiful!”

and we are affected—that is false ego.

So people can say different things,

but we don’t take it so serious.

Because we know that, it is temporary.

And we want to realize our real ego which is as a servitor of Kṛṣṇa.

So false ego is a very subtle thing that ties us to this material world.

So Kṛṣṇa, He gives certain instructions to Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā;

so that he can overcome the false ego,

and by dovetailing our ego in the service of Kṛṣṇa,

that is a positive situation

for instance, Arjuna was a father,

he was a householder, he was a prince,

he was a general, in charge of the army.

So Kṛṣṇa did not tell him that you should give up everything and be a sannyāsī,

rather He said, you should carry out your duties as what you are;

but you should do so as an offering to Me.

So Lord Caitanya also said, “gṛhe thāko vane thāko sadā hari bole ḍāko”

Whether you are gṛhastha or a mendicant,

you should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa

loudly and stay fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Link: 20190114 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Emotions / Pride], [Anarthās]

How do we reconcile difference amongst senior devotees and if there are contradictory instructions?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we have a spiritual master.

He is the final authority.

And we take his opinion.

When there are different opinions, then we take the opinion of our spiritual master, the opinion of the śāstras.

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How do we reconcile difference amongst senior devotees and if there are contradictory instructions?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we have a spiritual master.

He is the final authority.

And we take his opinion.

When there are different opinions, then we take the opinion of our spiritual master, the opinion of the śāstras.

Link: 20200829 The Devotees Forget about the Sannyāsa during Saṅkīrtana with the Lord (Part 3)

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How do you continue to please Śrīla Prabhupāda so well even in his post-manifest līlā?

Questioner: Keśava Kṛpā Sindhu dāsa

Date: 2022-09-27

Jayapatākā Swami: I know that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda,

what he told me to do.

So trying to execute his instructions,

I have to make various decisions.

But I always keep in my mind, pleasing Śrīla Prabhupāda.

So, this has always served me well.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said that in one case,

I did what he would have done.

I don’t know

if everything I do is pleasing to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

But I am trying to do that.

And I know that that itself is pleasing to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

But we may make some mistakes on the way.

But then we can also correct. that.

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

How the devotees from Russia and Ukraine should stay united and not slide down in this political fighting between the two countries?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-03-13

Jayapatākā Swami: When I was in Canada, I told my pūrvāśrama parents that I had joined Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

And my father said, I should come back immediately and be in the American Army and fight in Vietnam.

So I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda what should I do?

He told me, better you serve in Kṛṣṇa’s army.

So I have been in Kṛṣṇa’s army ever since.

And I am very happy to have visited Russia.

And I also went to Siberia, and I think I went to Omsk.

I also went to Vladivostok, to the Urals,

then to Yekaterinburg and various places.

But now I stay mostly in India, but I travel a little bit.

I think that devotees, they are above these designations of nations.

So, we try to help the devotees from both Russia and Ukraine.

They are all part of Kṛṣṇa’s family.

This war is very superficial.

We hope that people will take up Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Rather than trying to kill each other!

Haribol!

Link: 20221028 Addressing International Travelling Russian Preaching Party

Category: [Devotee Care], [Material Sufferings], [Material World], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

How to always remember guru ?

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.

Link: 20190201 Question and Answers Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

How to avoid frivolous conversations?

Questioner: Nikhil Raj, Bhopal

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: We have some very serious devotees in Māyāpur.

You can ask the residents of Māyāpur and they will confirm. One is Jananivāsa Prabhu.

Whenever he would come and talk Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

but if the discussion became a bit different,

he would leave.

You turn around he is gone.

As long as you are Kṛṣṇa conscious he will be there.

Loose talk and he is gone.

Also, some people they are able to change the topic.

If someone is talking loose talk,

they know how to change the topic.

And bring them around to serious talk.

Then if people are very addicted to loose talk they won’t like to stay around you.

Question: How to remain enthusiastic despite challenges we face in serving Kṛṣṇa?

—Bhakta dāsa, ISKCON Baroda

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.

Question: How to overcome the enjoyment mentality?

Jayapatākā Swami: We maintain our enthusiasm

when we have a taste for spiritual life.

Like in different stages of devotional service like bhajana-kriyā, anartha-nivṛtti, niṣṭhā, ruci,

ruci means taste.

You have a taste, you want to do more and more service.

And one time, in Montreal, mother and father came to see the son. Put their arm around him talked to him nicely.

But when they got to the doorway, they grabbed him and told him to go home.

Then he held on the door

and they were pulling his feet and Śrīla Prabhupāda when he heard he said he is attached.

After ruci comes āsakti, attachment.

You have to be attached to resist your parents like that.

So anyway, by devotional service we gradually get taste, we get attached

and in this way we desire to render devotional service more and more.

♦ ♦ ♦

I was discussing with a devotee today.

He told me that for every sevā or preaching project we are engaged in we must have a vision for that.

Guru Mahārāja, my question is..

Question: if I am serving under the authority, can I have a vision for the project?

What if our authority has different ways or visions?

—Amṛteśa Gaura dāsa, Bhubaneswar

Jayapatākā Swami: You see it may be different it may be the same.

If you have a vision that you want to serve Kṛṣṇa,

you want to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement,

maybe some individual differences.

But if your reason is Kṛṣṇa conscious then it doesn’t matter.

♦ ♦ ♦

So thank you for asking so many questions

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-08

Jayapatākā Swami: In the beginning the only way to be 100% sure is by asking the spiritual master.

One can check with other devotees, senior devotee, especially the spiritual master, then one can be fully sure.

Just like we would sometimes get an idea and we would ask Śrīla Prabhupāda and he would say that idea was inspired by the Supersoul.

Sometimes, someone would give an idea and he would say that idea is inspired by māyā.

(devotees laughing)

Of course, by hearing, by reading, we have to only get an idea, we have to learn to analyze it, that, just like we pray, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, I mean… how does it go?

cittete kariyā aikya - “May the consciousness be made one with your instructions, with your orders.”

Whatever the word of the spiritual master is, our consciousness we want that to be filled with those words and to be one with, in harmony with those words.

So, we do something, we have an idea, we want to have it confirmed.

This is the system of paramparā – whatever a person does; does it only if it’s authorized;

directly you can see that, guru has said, Kṛṣṇa has said in the śāstra.

And the śāstras are so vast, the Vedas, that one does not have to leave anything for speculation even if one knows in his heart that this is Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Also one trace out the effort; immediately also, Kṛṣṇa gives the example, there is this example in the Vedas or this devotee, or this situation.

There are so many millions of examples that have been given on these even in the Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā that most of all the situations have already been covered, if one has the eyes to see.

So, the spiritual master has the eyes to see, therefore we take his advice.

There also symptom that over endeavor is usually a symptom of a māyā idea.

Just like a person gets an idea to do something for Kṛṣṇa and it happens very easily or it happens, it seems to be just going on.

But when we have an idea when we do this for Kṛṣṇa, but the number of steps of the material activities one has to do before it finally gets around to being something which is directed at Kṛṣṇa are so many

and so rot with difficulties, that is a symptom of over endeavor, an over endeavor for an unproportionate result.

If one has to do something, an over endeavor, they may be attached to Kṛṣṇa and think, let me do this for Kṛṣṇa, I want to build a house for Kṛṣṇa, whatever, something, it is very hard to say any particular thing.

Maybe one wants to make an aeroplane.

The same thing might be Kṛṣṇa conscious in another situation, so it is not the particular thing, but in that particular situation, there were other easier ways of using time.

Kṛṣṇa preferred you do in a different way so that particular way, He keeps, māyā keeps giving so many obstacles so that one will take the other way.

But if one is so fixed on that particular idea due to some kind of preconceived idea that in spite of every obstacle, they go on trying, and so at every step they meet difficulty.

Lot of practical examples I can think of.

They always involve devotees; I don’t want to embarrass them.

There was one older devotee in our movement who was doing nice service but then he got an idea… someone turned him on… turned him… gave him some rubies

and they got into a whole thing that he started mining rubies, he bought a ruby mine and he started going there.

He just became overwhelmed by these rubies and jewels, like kind of a gold fever. He got a ruby fever, a gem fever.

Prabhupāda kept telling him that it is an over endeavor, it is unnecessary, just preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa will provide, this, that.

“No, no, I want to make money for Kṛṣṇa.”

and even Pra… you know, even his guru told him don’t do it, he said, “No, no.”

And so of course whatever money he did make didn’t go to Kṛṣṇa, he just re-invested it in his business again and again; what usually happens.

And then finally he just became farther and farther and removed from Kṛṣṇa and more and more in māyā.

Now he is, for the past many years he is completely out of touch.

You see him sometimes.

Still going to make it one day.

So, it’s like over endeavors, misdirected.

So, of course, ultimately the guru is the custodian of one’s spiritual progress, you have to take his advice and as one advances more and more, then, one can tell when one makes a wrong decision, Kṛṣṇa usually smashes it.

As you become more advanced in devotional service the slightest mistake will create an immediate result.

You see karma might take hundred births.

When you surrender to Kṛṣṇa you make a mistake you may get the reaction, “pshew!” five seconds or five minutes or five hours.

There was a devotee riding in a taxi cab in Calcutta, who started to criticize Śrīla Prabhupāda and different devotees for God knows what reason, must have gone mad or something.

And another devotee who was with him, immediately he stopped the car and got out and said, “I am not going to hear any offense of pure devotees.”

That person went on and within one hour, went to the railway station, missed the train, got into a fight with one of the coolies there, one of the porters, they call them coolies in India,

that is the official name, hey coolie! They don’t mind being called coolies.

So then, there was a whole riot and about a 150 of the coolies came out of their walls with bricks and sticks and they stripped the so-called devotee completely down naked

and only he had on was the brāhmaṇa thread and they beat the pulp out and he was running down the street naked and finally jumped into a moving bus.

You know, the whole bus emptied out, they couldn't believe it.

(His Holiness Jayapatākā Swāmī and devotees laughing)

And all this happened within one or two hours after he blasphemed the devotees.

He was in the hospital.

He’s a blooped devotee, wasn't… that criticizing others always.

After that he came by and bowed down hundreds of times in the temple and personally went to each devotee, begging for forgiveness.

So that way he was able to learn.

Sometimes we are repeatedly told to be cautious in a particular way or to avoid some kind of activity; we don’t listen, we don’t listen, we don’t listen and then finally Kṛṣṇa says, “Well, “Let what be happen!” and māyā takes over.

Kṛṣṇa lifts up, He doesn’t personally do it; He just lifts up some of the shelter, and lets māyā move in, otherwise the devotees are always under the yoga-māyā shelter.

But if we neglect Kṛṣṇa, if we neglect the guru, or we blaspheme, then that shelter is removed, and then we are at the mercy of māyā.

See, she’s already upset that we are trying to get out of her clutches, so she puts her full load on us, you know.

Link: 19820914 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.8.22-23

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

How to be in Vṛndāvana and please you and Śrīla Prabhupāda and how to deal with the vraja-vāsīs?

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.

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to be in Vṛndāvana and please you and Śrīla Prabhupāda and how to deal with the vraja-vāsīs?

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.

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to deal with older devotees who are moody and ultimately cause fear in new people or community instead of motivation to serve?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-11-28

Jayapatākā Swami: Good question.

So it is important if they are senior devotees talk to them privately.

Speak to them how you tried to enthuse these new people but if the older devotees express their doubts to the younger devotees that creates a bad taste.

Explain to him how his negative comments are influencing the younger people badly.

If it is not comments, he only has a bad mood, then talk to me, I can help him, I don’t have a bad mood.

Link: 20220711 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to deal with older devotees who are moody and ultimately cause fear in new people or community instead of motivation to serve?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-11-28

Jayapatākā Swami: Good question.

So it is important if they are senior devotees talk to them privately.

Speak to them how you tried to enthuse these new people but if the older devotees express their doubts to the younger devotees that creates a bad taste.

Explain to him how his negative comments are influencing the younger people badly.

If it is not comments, he only has a bad mood, then talk to me, I can help him, I don’t have a bad mood.

Link: 20220711 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to deal with the feelings of separation from the spiritual master?

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.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Sorrow], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

How to develop good relationships with devotees ?

Questioner: Everlyne Geraldo

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: It is not very difficult to develop favorable relationships with devotees.

?

In the third verse of the Śikṣāṣṭaka

it says offer respect to others and don’t expect respect for, yourself.

So if you follow this system then you will make many friends.

And people are always looking for someone to appreciate them.

So if you appreciate others,

then naturally they will appreciate you.

So, I am very happy to receive your question.

And I am speaking English so everybody else can hear the answer.

And because my translator can do better

if I speak in English.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Cooperation], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to develop submissive mood, keeping aside false ego while carrying out services under authorities?

Questioner: Śaraṇāgati Gaura dāsa

Date: 2023-01-27

Jayapatākā Swami: You have a nice name, śaraṇāgati, means surrender.

Just apply your name!

Lord Caitanya said in the third verse of the Śikṣāṣṭakam which they chant here every morning –

tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ.

Be more humble than a blade of grass.

Śrīla Prabhupāda described – you step on grass, it bends over, it is humble.

When you walk away from the grass, the grass comes back up.

So, in that way, we should be humble and at the same time be resilient.

Go upright in due course of time.

Be more tolerant than a tree.

A tree stands there in a rain, in heat, in a wind and people cut branches from the tree and make toothbrushes.

One devotee, Śrīla Prabhupāda said, he wanted a neem tree.

There was a neem tree outside his window.

He hung out of the window to get a neem branch.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, don’t do that!

He said, don’t worry Prabhupāda, I did that many times!

Maybe, but don’t do in front of me, Śrīla Prabhupāda said.

Śrīla Prabhupāda was afraid for the devotee, maybe he will fall!

That way a tree is very tolerant, so we should be tolerant and we should offer respect to others

but not expect any appreciation or respect for ourselves.

In that way we can always chant the Holy Name.

So śaraṇāgati is the actual mood we should have surrender

and whether our authority treats us very nice with a smile, or he treats us harsh,

we are not doing it for the authority.

As such, we are doing it to please Kṛṣṇa.

And if the authority gives us a service we can do, we should appreciate it, thank you for giving me the service!

Link: 20200217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to develop submissive mood, keeping aside false ego while carrying out services under authorities?

Questioner: Śaraṇāgati Gaura dāsa

Date: 2023-01-27

Jayapatākā Swami: You have a nice name, śaraṇāgati, means surrender.

Just apply your name!

Lord Caitanya said in the third verse of the Śikṣāṣṭakam which they chant here every morning –

tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ.

Be more humble than a blade of grass.

Śrīla Prabhupāda described – you step on grass, it bends over, it is humble.

When you walk away from the grass, the grass comes back up.

So, in that way, we should be humble and at the same time be resilient.

Go upright in due course of time.

Be more tolerant than a tree.

A tree stands there in a rain, in heat, in a wind and people cut branches from the tree and make toothbrushes.

One devotee, Śrīla Prabhupāda said, he wanted a neem tree.

There was a neem tree outside his window.

He hung out of the window to get a neem branch.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, don’t do that!

He said, don’t worry Prabhupāda, I did that many times!

Maybe, but don’t do in front of me, Śrīla Prabhupāda said.

Śrīla Prabhupāda was afraid for the devotee, maybe he will fall!

That way a tree is very tolerant, so we should be tolerant and we should offer respect to others

but not expect any appreciation or respect for ourselves.

In that way we can always chant the Holy Name.

So śaraṇāgati is the actual mood we should have surrender

and whether our authority treats us very nice with a smile, or he treats us harsh,

we are not doing it for the authority.

As such, we are doing it to please Kṛṣṇa.

And if the authority gives us a service we can do, we should appreciate it, thank you for giving me the service!

Link: 20200217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-01-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Very critical,

but you have to think how I can make them devotees.

I met a devotee she was an actress.

She knew the Bhagavad-gītā cover to cover!

But she went to her husband and said, “You are very great, you are very intelligent, please help me!

I cannot understand this verse. Can you help me?”

He read it and that is how he got purified!

It says one daughter-in-law or one devotee in the family can liberate the whole family.

Link: 20220822 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Harshita Sharma

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: While balancing all these things,

there is not much time for māyā.

So that is very good,

and you need two hours or so at one point

every day to chant your 16 rounds.

With some experience you can do a little faster.

Then you have to read every day something,

of Śrīla Prabhupāda books.

The other activities,

the material activities

and cultivating the Bhakti-vṛkṣa members,

that will keep you out of māyā.

And so it is a very nice activity,

that you are taking so much responsibilities.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

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

How to recognize a real Vaiṣṇava?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-15

In Bhagavad-Gītā I think Arjuna asked this question.

In the Bhāgavatam this question is asked

and the answer is given.

So generally, you see the anubhāvas are something that people cannot imitate.

The bhāvas, some people may cry,

that could be imitated.

But the anubhāvas, like losing something material

and being unaffected,

being always fixed in devotional service,

in spite of many difficulties.

All these are anubhāvas.

They cannot be easily imitated.

So there are 11 anubhāvas

and you can read about them.

So those who have these anubhāvas,

you can know them to be Vaiṣṇavas.

Link: 20200424 Zoom Session to Kanhaiyādeśa

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Ladies, they have to do a lot of housework.

They ask me similar questions.

But you see to be working plus have to do the housework.

So, the thing is that now we have the Bhagavad-gītā and different books that only association was face to face, now we can contact each other virtually.

You can have an iPod

and listen to the audio, Gītā and other audio śāstras.

So in this way while doing your work like washing and cooking,

you can hear the śāstra.

But also you can download the classes from the internet,

there is my Jayapatākā Swami App.

That gives access to the different JPS Archives and different programs

so you can hear the classes.

Many other things are there like SoundCloud.

You can also attend my daily classes which I give at 7pm.

And so there are different ways where you can hear classes, you can associate,

on Facebook,

YouTube.

You can download and you could also associate with different devotees,

virtually.

So there must be also classes of the IYF which you can attend.

So this way you can get some devotee association.

Actually, as I said,

I don’t have much personal contact with the devotees.

But all day long, I am meeting devotees.

And I don’t even feel that I am not meeting them.

I feel contact with them,

as I feel contact with you!

It used to be that only association was face to face, now we can contact each other

virtually.

Link: 20201117 Zoom Session with ISKCON IYF Kolkata

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-14

Jayapatākā Swami: Since this verse is about Dhruva Mahārāja

and he was the great grandson of Lord Brahmā.

The grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu.

So Manu was obviously a gṛhastha.

He was grandfather of Dhruva,

he also was the father of the mother of Kapila Muni.

And so it is said that he went back to Godhead.

But he was a gṛhastha

he had children, he had responsibilities,

but he did everything Kṛṣṇa consciously.

When he did his things, he did everything thinking of Kṛṣṇa.

So like that our gṛhasthas sometimes have deities in their house.

They may have Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā, Nitāi-Gaura,

so by doing their daily activities in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way they can balance.

We should always remember that our prime duty is to serve Kṛṣṇa.

But we may have other duties.

Those we do in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way

and that way we always stay under Kṛṣṇa’s shelter.

In the 10th topic of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it says āśraya.

We want to be under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa.

So we pray to the Deities as gṛhasthas, that we want to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious healthy, long lived suputra or putrī.

Only gṛhasthas can have children.

Brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, sannyāsīs no children.

It says if your child becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious and goes back to Godhead, putra or putrī,

then if they go back to Godhead, 14 generations will go, also, minimum,

7 backward and 7 forward.

Kṛṣṇa is very grateful.

I have one family they said we don’t know if we will go or not but please train our son in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so he goes back.

If you think, oh I have a responsibility for my parents who are sick, old,

you think I will help them to remember Kṛṣṇa

or remember Rāma, that is the interest.

In this way our service, our responsibility, is Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Bhakti-yoga is very practical.

We want - everything will be naturally balanced because we do everything in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20220502 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.17

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

I am doing good sādhanā and have good service in ISKCON. But I do not have that much real joy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, what can I do to feel the bliss in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Question: I am doing good sādhanā and have good service in ISKCON.

But I do not have that much real joy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

what can I do to feel the bliss in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

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

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

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

We read something, we want to apply it,it stays with us.

You say at the time you forget.

What should I do?

I used to go out, I would preach and sometimes I would forget.

And I would tell people, ok I will see you tomorrow.

Then I would think there was an answer but what is the answer.

So I would talk to some senior devotee

and I would be ready to face them.

Next time I had the answer.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

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

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

Questioner: Purabi Das

Date: 2022-08-04

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

then that may compromise our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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

So maybe in this situation, you take two bottles.

One for the staff

and one for yourself.

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

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

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

Questioner: Purabi Das

Date: 2022-08-04

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

then that may compromise our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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

So maybe in this situation, you take two bottles.

One for the staff

and one for yourself.

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

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

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

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

Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we only tell the palatable truth.

We don’t tell things that we know which would disturb the people.

Link: 20211204 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.16

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

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

Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we only tell the palatable truth.

We don’t tell things that we know which would disturb the people.

Link: 20211204 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.16

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

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

Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we only tell the palatable truth.

We don’t tell things that we know which would disturb the people.

Link: 20211204 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.16

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

I find it difficult to remember Kṛṣṇa while in office. Kindly help?

Questioner: Śrīdhara

Date: 2022-10-13

Jayapatākā Swami: Just that when we do office work,

we dedicate the work to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Certain percentage of the income, we may give to Kṛṣṇa.

So even though we may not always be able to think about Kṛṣṇa while we are working,

since the activity is offered to Kṛṣṇa, that will suffice.

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

I have a question based on my profession. I am an advocate in Delhi High Court. I also write pages in newspaper on Hinduism and way of life how we can promote it.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Every job has got some defect.

Even a brāhmaṇa, a Purohit he has to do some sacrifice for materialists.

So the advocate, naturally they have to represent sometime people who are guilty.

But the advocate still has to defend him.

So everything we do has some defect.

In the present society everybody has a right to defense.

If the advocate is very expert he may save a person.

But that person may be actually guilty!

But by the advocate being expert, they may be saved.

So, the thing is that one could try to be selective

but that may not be possible.

The other thing is that what we earn, we give a certain percentage to Kṛṣṇa,

in that way, you are doing your job for the pleasure of Kṛṣṇa.

And you are not responsible ultimately for the person who you are defending.

The thing is that each person, if you do your service

as an offering to Kṛṣṇa

and you try to be expert.

So you said that you also write articles in the newspapers.

So we hope that you get education in the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

And be able to represent Sanātana Dharma in a proper way.

Because you are an advocate in the High Court

naturally you have a certain respect in the society.

So use that for Kṛṣṇa.

In that way, you can balance your material and spiritual life.

I am very happy to meet you.

You said you are the niece of Ajīta Gopinātha das.

Link: 20200505 Zoom Session with IYF Chennai

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Many people ask this question.

This is one thing that every disciple, every devotee has to choose.

After some time, I will stop initiating.

But at the present time I am still taking.

But who you will choose, is truly up to you.

Who you think Kṛṣṇa is speaking thru to you.

And many gurus, they can be your śikṣā-gurus.

You have to choose one as your dīkṣā-guru.

So, dīkṣā-guru has the responsibility to take care of your karma.

And you can pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda, you can pray to the Deities,

to reveal to you who your guru is.

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

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

I have heard pastime of Śārabha, a form of Śiva fighting with Lord Narasiṁhadeva and other versions mentioned in various tāmasika and rājasika Purāṇas, I feel very painful, it disturbed me a lot. I felt I should not have read or heard. What should be the proper understanding of this pastime? Why such different versions? How a devotee of Lord Narasiṁhadeva understand these versions?

Questioner: Murāri Mādhava dāsa

Date: 2023-07-08

Jayapatākā Swami: Different Narasiṁhadevas have come in different kalpas.

But we should hear commentaries of Vaiṣṇavas.

We don’t know if non-vaiṣṇavas will give proper explanation.

So actually there should be no conflict if it is properly explained.

I don’t particularly know the Purāṇa, pastime, you are referring to.

We know in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, there is a demon of Bāṇāsura who had the blessings of Lord Śiva.

And the ultimate weapon of Lord Śiva met the ultimate weapon of Lord Nārāyaṇa.

And Śiva’s weapon was defeated.

And Sudarśana cakra cut off the thousands of Bāṇāsura and left four arms.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

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

I know that being under the loving guidance of my seniors keeps me safe and also pleases guru and Gaurāṅga. But sometimes, due to māyā, I grow neglectful of them. How do I sharpen my faith?

Questioner: Soundarya Rādhikā devī dāsī, New Rājāpur Dhāma, Bengaluru

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: You seem to have realized that when you don’t follow

the advice of the senior devotees,

you get attacked by māyā.

So that should convince you

that to avoid being attacked by māyā,

follow the more advanced devotees’ advice.

Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Māyā], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: If you read, it should stay in your mind.

So, I don’t know why it doesn’t stay in your mind.

You can read a little bit

and say that

if something that doesn’t stay in your mind, you can tell them that you will read and tell them later.

So then you can read again,

refresh your mind

and use it.

If you don’t use it, you lose it.

If you use it, then naturally you can keep it.

Do you take cow’s milk?

Link: 20201118 Zoom Prabhupāda Kathā

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-24

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Śrīla Prabhupāda, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is our Founder-Ācārya

and he had a special mellow with Nitāi Gaura.

So, if your spiritual master find preaching brings you closer to Śrīla Prabhupāda,

then you if feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda is speaking through this spiritual master,

or if you are somehow are able to feel closer to Kṛṣṇa through this spiritual master,

or if you are feeling a faith by following a particular spiritual master,

I have a list that is of 15 names, you can see whether any person can be your spiritual master.

If you want, I can bring that tomorrow.

You want?

Link: 20230622 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Seva Pālaka Nitāi dasa

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: In New York someone asked such a question and

Śrīla Prabhupāda once said that

if one is thinking

should I be a brahmacārī or should I take gṛhastha-āśrama,

then in that case, he should take gṛhastha-āśrama.

But being a brahmacārī, he takes a firm commitment

and if one is feeling what should I do, this or that,

then they don’t have enough determination

to be a brahmacārī.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

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

If a person eats non veg but does service to the society and is greatly devoted to the Lord, what do you have to say about them? Is it better than having sāttvika food and being a hypocrite ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-09

Jayapatākā Swami: You see here someone eats non veg.

Non veg is sinful.

You are killing animals, causing them suffering and you are eating their flesh.

Some are doing selfless service to society, they are helping other people, they may be doing some, of course selfless service to society.

But we have to see what the Vedas say.

Whether that service is puṇya or pāpa.

Like someone may do selfless service and make a new abattoir, means a new slaughter house for society.

He thinks I am doing selfless service.

But according to the Vedas, he is also doing pāpa, he is doing sinful activity.

Someone may be doing selfless service of distributing free tea or whisky to all the people, I am not considering those kinds of selfless service.

I am saying like he is feeding the poor, he is making hospital, such service where the people are getting material benefit in a sāttvika sense, that is called puṅya.

So according to Vedas we get two accounts in the material world.

We get a puṅya account and a pāpa account.

And we are putting deposit in both.

Because someone does puṇya, it does not cross out the pāpa.

Some people think that ok, I will do many pious activities and I will do little sin and the pious will cross out the sin.

It doesn’t work that way.

Both you get.

That is why even if you find someone very rich, have a big car, big house, lot of money, but the wife got breast cancer.

But the son ran away with someone and married out of caste and the whole family is suffering.

So many things happen.

Income tax is raiding.

I am feeding the poor, I am giving so much to charity, why I am not –

because both the accounts are there – pāpa and puṇya. If you do pāpa you have to suffer, you do puṇya you have to enjoy. Material activities, you know they are not free, you have to take all the reactions. Usually the puṇya you get first and the pāpa you get later. But there is some mixing going on. Now the other thing is that he is greatly devoted to the Lord. Now that devotion to the Lord, the Lord is beyond the material world. He is saying mām ca avyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate, sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhuyāya kalpate. (Bg 14.26) That those who do my bhakti-yoga, their activities are beyond the three guṇas. So if someone does bhakti that can clear out the path. But it is dangerous to tell this to people. Because if you tell to people who are not devoted, they will say, very good, I will pray in the temple, then I will do more pāpa. And then Kṛṣṇa takes that as an offence, you are trying to cheat Me. So He doesn’t save them. That is why we don’t tell people about this glory of the Lord that if you worship the Lord it takes away your sin very much. Of course we have to tell but we try to tell them. They should not think I can do more sin, that they shouldn’t do. What people should do is come and pray and chant the name of Kṛṣṇa and try to avoid sin. They may do some sin but they should try to reduce it, try to avoid it. They should not think that by doing my Kṛṣṇa conscious activity, I can do more sin. Whatever sin I am doing, I have to suffer. But let me chant, let me worship, some day I can get free from this. Then it is ok. So if they are devoted to the Lord, they should try to do what the Lord wants. What is the meaning of I am devoted to the Lord, the Lord is saying don’t do these things. I am devoted to the Lord, what does that mean? Lord, I want to please You. If I am Your servant, I want to do what You want me to do. Like if you have a servant in the house, you tell the servant, clean the floor. He says no, I won’t clean the floor, I want to clean the wall. But I want you to clean the floor first. You can clean the wall later. He says, no, I want to clean the wall and then the floor. How would that servant keep the job? If you have a servant and you tell him, cook me breakfast. And he says no, I want to cook you lunch. I want you to cook me vegetarian and he says no I want to cook you non veg! Then you wont keep such a servant, servant, who is this servant! So if we are already devoted to the Lord, we should do what the Lord wants us to do. And the Lord is telling us don’t do these things. Don’t take intoxication, don’t eat non veg, don’t do gambling and don’t do illicit sex. Don’t go to prostitutes. Don’t leave your good wife or husband, and do extra marital sex. So when we are devoted to the Lord we should do what the Lord wants. We are devoted to the Lord, we come and pray and then we go. That is called hāthī-snāna. Like the elephant is having a bath and coming out and throwing the dirt. So we should not worry what others are doing. Someone says he is vegetarian but he is cheating.

If you do pāpa you have to suffer, you do puṅya you have to enjoy.

Material activities, you know they are not free, you have to take all the reactions.

Usually the puṇya you get first and the pāpa you get later.

But there is some mixing going on.

Now the other thing is that he is greatly devoted to the Lord.

So therefore I can be nonveg and I won’t cheat.

Not much, little bit.

We should avoid everything like that.

Don’t settle for that.

Don’t judge.

It is just like if you want to judge gold, you want to judge it with pure gold.

You don’t judge it with some mixed gold, my gold is better than that gold.

What is that?

That is 10 carat mine is 4 carat.

You judge gold by 24 carat.

This is not a good decision that I am better than that so it is okay.

That person is going to hell no. 5 and you are going no. 4.

So what is the difference?

?

We want to go back to Kṛṣṇa.

So therefore what is the standard paramahaṁsa?

We see what gurudeva, what the pure devotee is doing.

We try to lead our life and follow the Mahājanas.

Mahājana yena gatā sa panthā.

We follow the great souls or Mahājanas, like Prahlāda, Nārada, Śiva, Brahma.

All the devas, Svāyambhuva Manu, all the great souls, we follow in their footsteps.

Not that we are following some ordinary person and we are saying oh that person, he is not so great.

I am not so bad.

This is all mental concoction.

He is not so great, I am not so bad.

So I can live with my sin.

Yamarāja doesn’t pick all these things.

What your neighbor was doing.

What you did he has all the account here.

You did this, this is your karma.

Now you enjoy, now you suffer.

If you see the animatronic works you can see the Yamadūtas and the Viṣṇudutas.

You can decide who you want to be the customer for.

Link: 19970601 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.10

Category: [Anarthās / Sinful activities], [Day-to-day Life / Food], [Emotions / Hypocrisy], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

If one has some suggestion to make to a senior devotee, how would one do so in an attractive manner ?

Questioner: Anonymous

Date: 2022-07-30

Jayapatākā Swami: It is a situation that I wouldn’t envy.

Actually, one should avoid giving advice to senior Vaiṣṇavas as far as possible.

But of course, sometimes if a situation comes up, generally we consider that we are not really in a position to offer someone advice unless we are at an equal or greater level of service.

You see.

At least, I couldn’t off hand just imagine, what type of situation might come up, where the person was in an inferior position of service and wanted to offer advice.

But without going into all these ramifications, if somehow or other one finds one’s self in the position of giving some kind of instruction to a senior Vaiṣṇava,

then one would have to offer that in the most humble way, and you know, very apologetic that there is like some doubt,

you see something which is agitating your mind or which is making you feel that possibly it is not correct.

And so just to alleviate the doubt as a senior Vaiṣṇava you are requesting that he would please explain,

whether his activities actually bona fide Kṛṣṇa consciousness, because you are looking up to him for example,

and it’s creating a doubt in your mind, because from what you have been taught, it doesn’t seem to be correct.

In this way in some indirect polite way if one could ask like that, then it is very hard for a senior Vaiṣṇava to really feel offended.

But if you just come and say, “Well listen, you appear to be in māyā, you are doing this…” Of course, your life will get smashed.

But if you ask in that way, of course then, maintaining your relationship, that you are seeing him as a senior Vaiṣṇava

but you are not seeing his activities to be exemplary of that, and it’s creating… then naturally he will more than likely to be, to feel… if he is in fact wrongly situated,

then he will feel somewhat responsible to show a good example and will see that you are not saying out of some kind of enviousness,

but that you are actually more concerned for your own spiritual life and for his spiritual life as well.

It is a type of a sticky situation.

Lord Caitanya would maintain this type of formal relationship with different Vaiṣṇavas.

Sometimes… of course He was ultimately the Supreme Lord, so sometimes He would do other things too.

But generally, He would try to maintain that type of activity.

In that way sometimes, you would find like with Dāmodara Paṇḍita, He would say, “Well, Dāmodara is My senior, I can’t say anything with Him.”

and this and that.

Of course, sometimes indirectly it was like a criticism because although he was a senior Vaiṣṇava, of course Lord Caitanya was the guru of everyone.

So that requires a lot of intelligence to be able to present something in a palatable way, when the subject matter is unpalatable for someone.

No one wants to hear, how they are in māyā.

Of course, the spiritual master, he directly just tells the disciple in many different ways, how they are need to be corrected.

But when you are dealing with equals or with even superiors, sometimes a junior devotee is put as responsible for senior devotees,

but actually the person is more, more responsible maybe.

So, it requires a lot of Vaiṣṇava vision to actually be able to see that.

The Gauḍīya mission in many ways, they lost that type of perspective.

So, what happened was like the disciple of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Bhakti-Pradīpa Tīrtha, he is different than Bhakti-Vilāsa Tirtha.

He was Bhakti-Pradīpa Tīrtha disciple of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

But he could accept, he could understand that actually my grand disciple Bhaktisiddhānta, my nephew Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is actually completely empowered, pure devotee.

And so, he accepted Bhaktisiddhānta either as a sannyāsa-guru or as a śikṣa-guru, I forget exactly.

But he respected him like a spiritual master.

Even though there may be some formal thing, but he was actually a junior.

But because he had exhibited so many exalted Vaiṣṇava qualities, he wanted his spiritual association on that level.

This may happen in the future.

Of course, now, nothing like that is exactly happened where disciples of the present-day guru have really shown that much advancement yet.

But say in subsequent generations one great ācārya may appear as someone’s disciple.

And then Prabhupāda said like that the cream will rise to the top.

And if they actually become so dynamic in preaching then even if someone may be senior by years or by relationship

but if someone shows such a great quality of devotional service,

that may come that there will be a test whether they can recognize that person by quality or just by other external aspects.

So, Bhakti-Pradīpa Tīrtha, he accepted Bhaktisiddhānta in that way but after Bhaktisiddhānta Prabhupāda left,

actually the most qualified person was Bhakti-Pradīpa Tīrtha.

But then some of the disciples of Bhaktisiddhānta were saying that, “He is not technically our god brother.”

Even though he was much more senior and much more learned, they tried to do a little politics.

So, Bhakti-Pradīpa Tīrtha saw that, “Well, if it’s like that…you know.”

He just went off and did his own devotional service and did not want to get involved in politic politics.

So, this happens in Vaiṣṇava, the whole material world is Kali-yuga and we have to be careful that we avoid this type of mistake.

Prabhupāda would explain these things to us, so we would not do that thing.

Of course, by having a GBC body, this one way we get protected, because we work under committee and not under individual.

Because there is always a tendency to resent one person, there may be some personality differences,

but to work under this committee, this was started by Bhaktivinoda in his Nāmahaṭṭa.

He had a ten-man pañcāyat and then Bhaktisiddhānta said to do it.

They started but they did not really carry it forward.

So Prabhupāda was always commenting that, “They never followed Bhaktisiddhānta’s order.

He never said to have one ācārya, he always said to have a Governing Body Commission.

You manage everything by Governing Body Commission.” you see.

One person may even be misled or one person may have difficulty, the unity of the movement has to be preserved by working under the system of Governing Body Commission.

So that way in the Governing Body Commission you have different type of devotees,

but they are all there because somehow or other they have done some personal service for Śrīla Prabhupāda,

they know Prabhupāda’s desires, or they have excelled in some preaching field.

So, in this way they have a understanding of responsibility for the society.

Even there may be other, very advanced in or equally advanced devotees outside, still in principle that they are, know what Prabhupāda wanted.

We follow under this basic system that the previous ācāryas wanted rather than a single ācārya system, which is more vulnerable.

This helps us to take that humble attitude in a society wide basis.

Link: 19810610 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.20

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

If one listens to criticism of a devotee by another devotee, is that an offence on the part of the speaker or listener?

Questioner: Mādhurī Mamatāmayī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: It can be an offence.

If it is presented in such a way that we respectfully say that this particular thing should not be followed,

the devotee is otherwise is very good, but this particular habit is something that we do not follow.

It is presented in a very constructive way

like Prabhupāda in the 12th chapter of Ādi-līlā Cc. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta) has given the details of the Gauḍīya Maṭhas

break up,

and failure to maintain the instructions of the founder.

So Prabhupāda gave those details to warn us, that we should not do the same thing.

So some of the Gauḍīya Maṭha leaders asked us to take out the 12th chapter.

But we said that we don’t have the right to take out Prabhupāda’s writings.

So depending on how you do it,

if it is to warn someone,

not to follow this example;

then it maybe alright.

You see Prabhupāda was talking about his godbrothers.

If one is a junior devotee is talking about someone who is very advanced or more senior;

it maybe, what you call mariyāda-laṅgana, the transgression of seniority.

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

If one listens to criticism of a devotee by another devotee, is that an offence on the part of the speaker or listener?

Questioner: Mādhurī Mamatāmayī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: It can be an offence.

If it is presented in such a way that we respectfully say that this particular thing should not be followed,

the devotee is otherwise is very good, but this particular habit is something that we do not follow.

It is presented in a very constructive way

like Prabhupāda in the 12th chapter of Ādi-līlā Cc. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta) has given the details of the Gauḍīya Maṭhas

break up,

and failure to maintain the instructions of the founder.

So Prabhupāda gave those details to warn us, that we should not do the same thing.

So some of the Gauḍīya Maṭha leaders asked us to take out the 12th chapter.

But we said that we don’t have the right to take out Prabhupāda’s writings.

So depending on how you do it,

if it is to warn someone,

not to follow this example;

then it maybe alright.

You see Prabhupāda was talking about his godbrothers.

If one is a junior devotee is talking about someone who is very advanced or more senior;

it maybe, what you call mariyāda-laṅgana, the transgression of seniority.

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

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: My purvāśrama mother wanted to cook for me

but I would not allow that.

She would guide someone with her recipe,

and they would cook.

I don’t know how you do it? I could do that with my purvāśrama mother.

So, if they are children, you can tell them you cook for me all the time, I would like to cook for you.

Oh, very nice!

But if they are not vegetarian then you could just be honest and say you eat only prasāda, you follow the rules.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

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

In 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.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: Mathuralīleśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-09-21

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa, He always remains neutral.

But He reciprocates with devotees as they approach Him.

When someone approaches Him with devotion, He reciprocates with devotion.

If someone approaches Him neglectfully then He reciprocates like that.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Supriyā Jāhnavā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-09-22

Jayapatākā Swami: It shows that Lord Caitanya is more merciful than Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Although He is Kṛṣṇa, but He has Rādhārāṇī’s heart,

so He is more merciful.

One who is not initiated,

He also said, He does not accept their offence.

So, if you are initiated,

it is a two-edged sword.

If you follow strictly, you get the Lord’s mercy,

if you don’t follow,

then He may take offence.

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Mercy], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]

Is it appropriate to use the terms 'appearance' and 'disappearance' for Vaiṣṇavas other than Śrīla Prabhupāda and the previous ācāryas ?

Questioner: Gaurāṅgī Gopī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Why not?

A devotee never dies, he appears and disappears.

The word jayantī is reserved for Kṛṣṇa’s appearance,

because His appearance is very special.

But everyone else appears and disappears.

Of course, for the great saintly devotees, we celebrate their appearance and disappearance.

So rather than saying happy birthday, you can say happy appearance day! Haribol!!

Category: [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Is it appropriate to use the terms 'appearance' and 'disappearance' for Vaiṣṇavas other than Śrīla Prabhupāda and the previous ācāryas ?

Questioner: Gaurāṅgī Gopī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Why not?

A devotee never dies, he appears and disappears.

The word jayantī is reserved for Kṛṣṇa’s appearance,

because His appearance is very special.

But everyone else appears and disappears.

Of course, for the great saintly devotees, we celebrate their appearance and disappearance.

So rather than saying happy birthday, you can say happy appearance day! Haribol!!

Link: 20200801 Addressing Balarāma Pūrṇimā Festival Eve to ISKCON Toronto

Category: [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Kindly distinguish sentimental bhakti from ecstatic love of Godhead.

Questioner: Karuṇāpati Keśava dāsa

Date: 2022-09-22

Link: 20200819 Viśvambhara Somewhat Pacifies Śacī devī

Category: [Anarthās], [Emotions / Hypocrisy], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Kṛṣṇa is neither friend nor enemy, but we know in many places Kṛṣṇa says I am friend to all and in kṛṣṇa-līlā He acts as a friend to many. Recently, also the plastic surgeon, you told Kṛṣṇa is not a friend nor is He an enemy. And next sentence you said Kṛṣṇa is everybody’s friend. How should we understand this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-04

Jayapatākā Swami: You see in that verse, bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati. (Bg. 5.29)

That suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ – Kṛṣṇa is the friend of all living entities.

So Pūtanā, she wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa

but Kṛṣṇa reciprocated her and killed her.

But because she gave Kṛṣṇa her breast because she thought that if I have a child, I want like this.

Too bad I have to kill Him.

So Kṛṣṇa reciprocated with her and she wanted to kill Him He killed her.

Because she desired that if I had a child, I want one like this. She gave her breast milk to Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa gave her the position as one of His mothers in the spiritual world.

So, He does not hold any grudges.

At the same time, He reciprocates with how a person approaches Him.

And today we were reading how Kṛṣṇa saved Gajendra the elephant and killed the crocodile.

But the crocodile, he actually got free from a curse.

He was previously Huhu,

the king of the Gandharvas

and he was enjoying in a lake with many female Gandharvas.

Somehow in his dark humor or whatever, he pulled the leg of a devaṛṣi who happened to be in the same lake

and the ṛṣi got angry and cursed him to be a crocodile.

Then he begged please forgive me.

The ṛṣi said okay, when Kṛṣṇa saves Gajendra, He will also free you from the curse.

That way, Kṛṣṇa, anything He does, is actually is a blessing.

Haribol!

Link: 20230418 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in Vṛndāvana, you get a 1000 times benefit for any service.

But any offence you do, any materialistic or sinful activity, you also get a 1000 times the bad effect.

So Vṛndāvana is very heavy because we are not pure souls, we may commit some mistake,

so Vṛndāvana is very heavy and to live in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, in a holy place, one has to be very pure.

So it is recommended we go for a few days and then we come back.

But here in Māyāpur, Navadvip, we get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana,

you get a 1000 times credit for any devotional service.

In this month of Dāmodara, we get a 100, that means a 100,000.

A 100 times 1000.

So therefore many ācāryas, they decided to stay in Navadvīpa,

because they get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana, without the negative side.

Here also in this holy place, we have Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

In Ritudvīpa, also here in Caitanya Maṭha.

Tomorrow many people go and bathe in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

It is very important for the devotees to bathe in but you have to do it not with an ordinary bath.

Just like ablution.

You go in and out, with all respect.

So some devotees, they think that oh, it is Rādhā-kuṇḍa, jumping off the sides and it is not like a swimming pool.

You have to be very respectful.

It is the holiest of holy places.

So Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it is for the devotees to bathe in but you do so with the utmost respect.

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

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

My daughter wanted me to ask you a question. When you discourage devotees from wearing black dress, is there any reason why we should not wear black?

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.

Link: 20230421 Question and Answer Session

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

Normally we tend to remain calm, but when provoked, our undesirable qualities manifest and we get implicated in offenses. How to avoid this?

Questioner: Tattvavit Nimāi das

Date: 2022-10-12

Jayapatākā Swami: A devotee can stay very calm in an undisturbed situation.

Kaṁsa was very calm and serene, driving the chariot of his sister on her wedding.

Then this voice came from the sky, your sister’s eight son will kill you.

Immediately he became disturbed, he grabbed his sister by the hair and wanted to kill her.

So, we should not be like Kaṁsa.

There will be some disturbing situations.

These are tests.

If we are like Kaṁsa, we will get disturbed.

If we are devotees, we control ourselves, like Vasudeva.

He tried to convince Kaṁsa, that it is not good to kill your sister on her wedding day.

It is said, you should take decisions when you have a cool head.

So that was a very disturbing situation, his wife is being killed!

But he tried to pacify Kaṁsa.

So like that we should try to control ourselves, if we are agitated.

Everything is calm, no trouble to be calm.

The test is when things get disturbed.

At that time if we can control our emotions and think very deeply,

and do things that are most pleasing to guru and Kṛṣṇa.

And pass the test.

Haribol!

Link: 20200822 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.23

Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Emotions / Anger], [Emotions / Envy], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Normally we tend to remain calm, but when provoked, our undesirable qualities manifest and we get implicated in offenses. How to avoid this?

Questioner: Tattvavit Nimāi das

Date: 2022-10-12

Jayapatākā Swami: A devotee can stay very calm in an undisturbed situation.

Kaṁsa was very calm and serene, driving the chariot of his sister on her wedding.

Then this voice came from the sky, your sister’s eight son will kill you.

Immediately he became disturbed, he grabbed his sister by the hair and wanted to kill her.

So, we should not be like Kaṁsa.

There will be some disturbing situations.

These are tests.

If we are like Kaṁsa, we will get disturbed.

If we are devotees, we control ourselves, like Vasudeva.

He tried to convince Kaṁsa, that it is not good to kill your sister on her wedding day.

It is said, you should take decisions when you have a cool head.

So that was a very disturbing situation, his wife is being killed!

But he tried to pacify Kaṁsa.

So like that we should try to control ourselves, if we are agitated.

Everything is calm, no trouble to be calm.

The test is when things get disturbed.

At that time if we can control our emotions and think very deeply,

and do things that are most pleasing to guru and Kṛṣṇa.

And pass the test.

Haribol!

Link: 20200822 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.23

Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Emotions / Anger], [Emotions / Envy], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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]

One of the qualities we develop is humbleness and tolerance. Sometimes this results in others taking advantage of us. For example, at work. What should we do to avoid this?

Questioner: Śyāmavallabhā Gopī devī dāsī

Date: 2023-01-27

Jayapatākā Swami: If they are right, you know that you are able to do.

If someone is asking you to do something you think that, is not correct or which is beyond your scope, then you can say, I am sorry, but be very polite.

Humility doesn’t mean you do everything that everybody tells you!

Link: 20200217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda would go to some peoples’ house if they became a life member,

and he would tell them what standards to cook for him like no onion garlic,

but those things we always got sick very often.

But Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was an ideal guest.

One time they told Śrīla Prabhupāda here they have put onions,

but he took the onions out and did not eat the onions,

but did not say anything.

He did not want to offend the people.

So how you do the things, you have to use some discretion.

I know that some businessmen, they have to take their clients out to wine and dine, at least dine.

So here they just eat the salad,

but the guests may eat all kinds of nonsense.

That is the downside of marketing.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

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

Regarding first initiation.. apart from following four regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds, reading Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto 1 etc, do we also need to develop any Vaiṣṇava qualities to be eligible?

Questioner: Bhaktin Śrīdevī

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: By reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā,

one should naturally obtain spiritual qualities.

And so by reading naturally one gets association with different spiritual personalities,

so we try to obtain these qualities.

And eventually we can achieve many things.

The other qualities that one should have like patience, tolerance,

usually that automatically comes through reading.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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.

Link: 20230522 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

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

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā Devī Dāsī

Date: 2022-10-24

Maybe shes not hearing? Well I can't say.

She is thinking of her problems, not listening.

Link: 20220517 Cowherd Obtains the Blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema

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

Since we are fallen souls, is it suitable for us to observe birthdays?

Questioner: Caturā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Any opportunity we can give out prasāda,

that is good.

And normally people observe birthdays for other reasons.

If you can invite people over and give them prasāda,

that is something auspicious.

You have to think how to take advent of birthdays and different celebrations.

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

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

Some devotees are taking the association of devotees and start to do chanting and enjoying the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But when their relatives or parents say something negative about ISKCON immediately they leave without informing. It is painful for me how I missed the soul to serve. How to understand the situation? How to overcome and guide them? Please guide me.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: Part of preaching is to help the people

to tolerate the different obstacles.

They may encounter obstacles from their relatives,

or internet,

somehow, I don’t know,

some ṛtvik sites they say I murdered a devotee!

I don’t know who that is! I don’t even kill a fly, what to talk about killing a devotee!

So, who knows what people say, what they see?

So we have to be ready to answer any questions that come up

or prepare the people to endure any kind of obstacles.

There was one devotee who was kidnapped by the deprogrammers.

Exactly a few days before she was kidnapped

I called her and encouraged her.

Just generally.

When she was kidnapped, they tore the Bhagavad-gītā up, they jumped up on the Bhagavad-gītā and did all kinds of offensive things.

But she remembered that I was kind to her

and she went through some difficult times

and she escaped from that place

and came back to the devotees.

So, we don’t know at least if we do our part,

be positive, give them good association

and if someone turns away,

the fact that we are there to help, that we ask them what happened, you used to come?

Like that try to find out what are the things they heard.

Like that we try to help them.

Not easy to make a devotee.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it takes buckets of blood!

Kṛṣṇe matir astu blessings!

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

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

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

Questioner: Shuvra Dev Babu

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord doesn’t personally take a part, except if His devotee is being threatened.

But we all owe everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

and this is the reality.

We cannot live without sunlight;

you don’t provide it.

Kṛṣṇa provides it.

Similarly, He sees to the maintenance of everyone.

Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān - one person maintains everyone else.

So, the atheists are very envious, they think the Lord is preoccupied

in admiration of Himself.

But He is the source of everything.

And if someone commits blasphemy or offences to Him,

He doesn’t personally take a role in that.

He has agents, that give people their pious, their impious results.

And so, if one is envious of the Lord, they get punished.

He doesn’t want that; He would rather have the people be uplifted.

But to teach them, people are punished according to their activities.

So, since they steal from others, cheat others,

then they get the reaction for their bad karmas.

If they give charity, if they help others,

they get good karma.

If they engage in devotional service,

they get delivered from this material world.

If they engage in persecuting devotees,

and if they are envious of the Lord,

then they stay in this material world

life after life.

That is what they want, they don’t want to be where the Lord is.

I don’t know why you accuse the Lord of being a narcissist?

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: If we think I am very qualified to do devotional service,

if we are very proud,

that is not according to the instructions of Lord Caitanya.

You should be humble, very tolerant,

offer respect to others

and don’t expect respect for one’s self.

I don’t understand if you say, I feel I am not qualified,

so therefore I lose my enthusiasm.

We see great devotees like Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura,

they pray to Lord Gaurāṅga that Your avatāra is to deliver the most fallen.

There is no one more fallen than me.

If you are feeling yourself very unqualified,

very fallen,

then there is more chance you will get the mercy of Lord Caitanya,

since He is the deliverer of the most fallen.

But you should not lose your enthusiasm

since Lord Caitanya has come to deliver the most fallen.

Therefore, you have a good qualification.

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

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

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

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

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

That you don’t have to do intense work.

But any way, in the office environment,

as you move up the ladder,

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

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

they could delegate different jobs

and do all their required work in a few hours

and have more time for preaching and other services.

It is hard to understand

what the particular job is.

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

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

And so sometimes it is a different situation.

And some people they make them work

but they don’t actually have to do much.

So they have set up some program on their computer

that shows that they are working,

but they are actually chanting their japa

and the computer automatically types.

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

we had to take different jobs.

Although I was from a very rich family,

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

I had to work in many menial jobs.

Some plastic factory,

paint factory,

all kinds of jobs.

Finally, I got a printing job.

So when I was at work I would chant Hare Kṛṣṇa

but I can understand that there is a problem working.

So try to do the best you can.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

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

Sometimes we are born in a family who are surrendered to many gurus or Mahārājas, right! Like we are born in families where they have kula-gurus and we have been raised and brought up praying to many devatas like Durgā Mā, Gaṇesajī, Kṛṣṇa, etc. We also feel that God is one, ultimately one energy. But I feel that God is above all this, right? How do we surrender, what is the best way to surrender?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: You see that in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it states vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva, Maheśa, is the greatest of all the Vaiṣṇavas. and similarly, we have Kārttikeya, we have Gaṇeśa, they are great Vaiṣṇavas. Durgā is known as Bhagavatī, Vaiṣṇavī. We should know that Kṛṣṇa, He is the ultimate Personality of Godhead.

But Kṛṣṇa has unlimited forms,

ananta-rūpam.

So, every form is equal.

That doesn’t mean that we are equal.

We are very small.

Lord Brahmā, Lord Maheśa are greater.

But they are still depending on Kṛṣṇa

and Kṛṣṇa they are all equal, simultaneously one and different for Kṛṣṇa.

The father of Vyāsadeva, Parāsara Muni analyzed,

he found that 50 of the qualities are in Lord Brahmā,

Five more with Lord Śiva, he had 55.

Lord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa had five more than Lord Śiva. He had 60.

And then Kṛṣṇa, He had four more even than Lord Nārāyaṇa. He had 64.

Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are both considered viṣṇu-tattva

and they are all the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Other devas, either Maheśa or Brahmā, they are not as great.

So the kula-gurus sometimes they say everybody is the same, that means they are impersonalists.

Because it says, if one thinks Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā are the same they are pāṣaṇḍīs.

So we find Hiraṇyakaśipu, in this day of Brahmā līlā, he worship Lord Brahmā receive powers.

He asked Brahmā first to give him immortality.

Brahmā said, “I am not immortal,

how can I give something which I don’t have?”

So then he said, “I should not be killed in day or night, in the house or out of the house, and all those conditions.

Not man, or animal, or a demon or deva.”

Narasiṁhadeva came, half man and half lion!

Hiraṇyakaśipu was confused, “Is He a man or an animal?”

So Lord Śiva, in some yugas, in some days of Brahmā when Hiraṇyakaśipu comes he gets the blessing from Lord Śiva.

Śiva, he has his weapon, śiva-jvara,

it produces the maximum heat!

But Lord Kṛṣṇa has the nārāyaṇa-jvara,

it produced unlimited cold.

Hardly you can survive in a cold day, you need a jacket and other things.

Any śiva-jvara produced heat and nārāyaṇa-jvara came and sucked up all the heat and created unlimited cold,

and then śiva-jvara surrendered.

So Śiva is greater than jīvas,

we are jīvas.

He is very great.

But still he is not as great as Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa.

So we worship Śiva, Durgā, Gaṇeśa, Kārttikeya, all the Vaiṣṇavas as Vaiṣṇavas.

And if in your house you worship Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa first offer bhoga to Them and then Their prasāda to the devas.

In South India like in Mahābalipuram,

that is one of the Divya-deśams,

they worship the Nārāyaṇa form first

and then they take the prasāda and offer to Śiva

and Durgā and others.

If the kula-guru gives you transcendental knowledge, it is very nice.

But if he is not able to give transcendental knowledge, he is just like a vyavahāri-guru, he acts like a guru but he cannot give transcendental knowledge,

then the śāstra says it is alright if we take a sad-guru,

someone who gives transcendental knowledge.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20230413 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Mitravindā Mamatāmayī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: If it is really connected with Kṛṣṇa

then it is not prajalpa.

But if it has nothing to do with Kṛṣṇa or service,

then it is prajalpa.

Link: 20220219 Question and Answer Session

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

Sometimes we see some devotees forcefully take prasāda from our plate or want to touch our feet forcefully. How much appropriate is this attitude? What should we do in such a situation?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-23

Jayapatākā Swami: You see in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya’s associates,

that sometimes Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī would try to touch each other’s lotus feet.

And they would have a face off and have some competition trying to touch each other’s lotus feet.

So, being great devotees they would not let the other touch their feet.

But the other was trying to get the foot dust,

so this seems to be a transcendental competition.

Now, it hasn’t been accepted as an Olympic sport yet -

maybe in the future,

when the whole world becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious!!

And Śrīla Prabhupāda, said that there are no hard and fast rules for mahā-prasāda.

He said if you wanted, you can even steal from my plant while I am eating,

but please let me finish prasāda!

So if someone wants to take mahā-prasāda,

appeal to them in the mood of Śrīla Prabhupāda, to have mercy on you, so you could finish your meal!

Let them allow you to finish your meal!

Link: 20230525 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Sometimes we see some devotees forcefully take prasāda from our plate or want to touch our feet forcefully. How much appropriate is this attitude? What should we do in such a situation?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-23

Jayapatākā Swami: You see in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya’s associates,

that sometimes Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī would try to touch each other’s lotus feet.

And they would have a face off and have some competition trying to touch each other’s lotus feet.

So, being great devotees they would not let the other touch their feet.

But the other was trying to get the foot dust,

so this seems to be a transcendental competition.

Now, it hasn’t been accepted as an Olympic sport yet -

maybe in the future,

when the whole world becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious!!

And Śrīla Prabhupāda, said that there are no hard and fast rules for mahā-prasāda.

He said if you wanted, you can even steal from my plant while I am eating,

but please let me finish prasāda!

So if someone wants to take mahā-prasāda,

appeal to them in the mood of Śrīla Prabhupāda, to have mercy on you, so you could finish your meal!

Let them allow you to finish your meal!

Link: 20230525 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: There are many reasons why we may not be able to help someone.

Just like a father, he doesn’t like to hear instructions from his daughter.

For various circumstances

the relationship may be such that we cannot really instruct a person who is senior to you

or who thinks he or she is senior.

So, in such a situation,

you have to help the person using some tactic.

Either by asking question,

like I look to you, you are a very advanced person, you are very senior.

But I have a question.

I see that sometime, you go behind the bathroom and smoke a cigarette.

Is it something I should do as well?

So you can ask – of course this is a ridiculous example - but you can ask.

Maybe you cannot help the person

then you think who can

and arrange that that person does what he or she can to help the person.

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

Category: [Emotions / Confusion]

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

Questioner: Bhagavān Dāmodara Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Bad association], [Day-to-day Life / Children], [Day-to-day Life / Parents], [Emotions / Confusion]

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu never forgave vaiṣṇava-aparādha unless he is forgiven by that Vaiṣṇava. But also, in the pastime with Choṭa Haridāsa, we see Mahāprabhu did not forgive him. So what lesson can we get as men and women when we deal with the opposite sex.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-24

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya forgave Choṭa Haridāsa

but He did that later.

In the meantime, Choṭa Haridāsa left his body at Prayāga.

Lord Caitanya at that time officially, He did not know and asked where is Choṭa Haridāsa.

Lord Caitanya knew that being a sannyāsī knew that he would have wrong dealings with women.

As Choṭa Haridāsa’s mentality was wrong Lord Caitanya was displeased with him

and therefore He said, He will not see him again.

Later, He wanted to see Choṭa Haridāsa.

So we understand that He forgave him but it was much later.

Actually, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura he wrote, how one should choose a spouse.

Spouse means wife for husband and husband for wife.

So He said one should choose a spouse who is more advanced spiritually.

Who is very beautiful, that is not the question.

Who is strong armed is not the question?

Who is spiritually advanced that is what matters.

Just like I was saying today that a husband and wife should discuss how they should please Lord Caitanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20230622 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu never forgave vaiṣṇava-aparādha unless he is forgiven by that Vaiṣṇava. But also, in the pastime with Choṭa Haridāsa, we see Mahāprabhu did not forgive him. So what lesson can we get as men and women when we deal with the opposite sex.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-24

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya forgave Choṭa Haridāsa

but He did that later.

In the meantime, Choṭa Haridāsa left his body at Prayāga.

Lord Caitanya at that time officially, He did not know and asked where is Choṭa Haridāsa.

Lord Caitanya knew that being a sannyāsī knew that he would have wrong dealings with women.

As Choṭa Haridāsa’s mentality was wrong Lord Caitanya was displeased with him

and therefore He said, He will not see him again.

Later, He wanted to see Choṭa Haridāsa.

So we understand that He forgave him but it was much later.

Actually, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura he wrote, how one should choose a spouse.

Spouse means wife for husband and husband for wife.

So He said one should choose a spouse who is more advanced spiritually.

Who is very beautiful, that is not the question.

Who is strong armed is not the question?

Who is spiritually advanced that is what matters.

Just like I was saying today that a husband and wife should discuss how they should please Lord Caitanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20230622 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Śrīla Prabhupāda said in one of his letters to his disciples, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action. But at the same time the culture and teachings encourages, and expects its practioners to surrender and to be obedient to senior devotees, guru and Gaurāṅga. How can I be independently thoughtful and be obedient at the same time, especially when dealing with senior devotees?

Questioner: Ekleśvarī Mādhavī devī dāsī

Date: 2023-03-13

Jayapatākā Swami: It seems that you are facing some contradiction.

That you want to be submissive,

at the same time independently thoughtful.

So, independently thoughtful, we decide what we are going to do.

Not that we just do something blindly, but

if we decide that we are following some more experienced devotee,

that should be helpful.

So you can do well by following an experienced devotee,

at the same time be independently thoughtful.

Doesn’t mean you just blindly follow any devotee,

but you pick up some particular activity, because it is something that sits nicely with you

and it is in the śāstra.

Link: 20221029 Śrīla Prabhupāda Disappearance Day Question and Answer Session

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

Śrīla Prabhupāda said in one of his letters to his disciples, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action. But at the same time the culture and teachings encourages, and expects its practioners to surrender and to be obedient to senior devotees, guru and Gaurāṅga. How can I be independently thoughtful and be obedient at the same time, especially when dealing with senior devotees?

Questioner: Ekleśvarī Mādhavī devī dāsī

Date: 2023-03-13

Jayapatākā Swami: It seems that you are facing some contradiction.

That you want to be submissive,

at the same time independently thoughtful.

So, independently thoughtful, we decide what we are going to do.

Not that we just do something blindly, but

if we decide that we are following some more experienced devotee,

that should be helpful.

So you can do well by following an experienced devotee,

at the same time be independently thoughtful.

Doesn’t mean you just blindly follow any devotee,

but you pick up some particular activity, because it is something that sits nicely with you

and it is in the śāstra.

Link: 20221029 Śrīla Prabhupāda Disappearance Day Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur.

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: The devas, the demigods are sakāma devotees.

They have some material desires.

Because they are afraid that

Dhruva would take over their posts,

therefore they gave him different obstacles –

in one way they were testing him.

So if you don’t want a position in the heavenly planets,

you have to declare that to them.

Give them kṛṣṇa-prasādam.

They should not cause you trouble.

Because Dhruva was performing austerities for position,

they were afraid that he would take their position.

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

There are 12 qualities required to qualify as a brāhmaṇa. If cannot even acquire even one of them, can I become a brāhmaṇa?

Questioner: Sukamala Nityānanda dāsa

Date: 2022-08-24

We should try to achieve all the 12 qualities.

And if we have difficulty in anyone, we can contact our senior godbrother or godsister or guru.

Taking initiation is like taking a new birth.

After birth there are other things by practicing you can develop.

It is not that just from birth you will have all the qualities you have to practice and acquire them.

Link: 20211120 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.12.35-36

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

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

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

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

We always talk about serving the senior devotees. How should we, as Mātājīs, serve the senior devotees besides serving prasāda?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Just like, I request my disciples to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and get their degrees such as Bhakti-śāstrī,

Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedānta.

So, there is one devotee in her 20s, she already has her Bhakti-vedānta degree.

We haven’t given much attention to that.

We find that there are many doctors, politicians, lawyers of the female gender.

It would be nice to have devotees who actually know the scriptures and can properly explain it.

People like to hear from Mātājīs and children.

Normally, they don’t speak philosophical things.

But if they do, people like it!

That is one thing that can be done.

I mean, I have been invited to go to Tucson, Arizona and Phoenix also.

Both those temples have females as Temple Presidents.

So in some countries of the world, not every country, there are no limitations like that.

In the 9th canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there is the Apsarā, Urvaśī, she criticizes a bit how ladies are not reliable.

But in the purport Śrīla Prabhupāda said this is for the materialistic ladies.

Anyone who is Kṛṣṇa conscious, man or woman, they are all equal.

So, I mean, I don’t see such a limitation.

We saw that in the Dallas Ratha-yātrā, ladies were doing many services.

Link: 20230420 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

We are doing business, while doing business we are not doing other devotional practices other than chanting which we are able to do. Which is the important aspect of nava-vidha-bhakti to practice as a businessman?

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.

Link: 20220825 Arrival Address to Guntur Congregation

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

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

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

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

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

In different situations we have to act differently.

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

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

Link: 20211211 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.23

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

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

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

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

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

In different situations we have to act differently.

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

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

Link: 20211211 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.23

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

We have so many varieties of devotional service, like chanting, reading Śrīla Prabhupāda, Deity worship and visiting holy dhāmas. Sometimes we see that when we are more attracted to one method the other methods are getting less importance and we are not able to do them. So whether more reading or more of chanting, or more of Deity worship or more of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books reading, which one is more important?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: In every yuga, there is a particular, which is most important.

In Kali-yuga, śravaṇam kīrtanam is most important.

Reading books is one form of śravaṇam.

There are nine practices of devotional service

and by practicing any one then also it is possible to be delivered.

But in Kali-yuga it is especially recommended that we chant and hear.

But we should chant, hear remember,

pay obeisances, offer prayers

and do the arcanam,

and do pāda-sevanam, do some service,

considering oneself as the servant of the Lord,

considering the Lord as one’s friend

and offering everything to the Lord,

ātma-nivedenam.

These are the nine practices of devotional service.

Link: 20230322 Question and Answer Session

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

We know your mood is to bless everybody unconditionally, even a difficult person who is troubling you. We serve see devotees and when we see devotees troubling other devotees or being rude, are we doing vaiṣṇava-aparādhā to that other devotee? At the same time, we have to make sure he is not troubling others. So how do we handle these delicate situations?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-04

Jayapatākā Swami: I mean, one thing is that you don’t talk to the person in front of other people.

Then it gets their ego offended.

Take them aside and talk to them.

But I mean, ladies, they are, you know, sometimes it is better to have the husbands talk to them.

But we like to, there is a saying in India, where you train your daughter-in-law by chastising your daughter.

Jayapatākā Swami: You have to tell them that I am just using you as an example.

Because I love you and you love me.

But daughter-in-law is a different relationship.

Anyway, one thing is that

you have to develop these people skills,

it is not something, just there is saying one time a horse, he swallowed a watermelon or something.

The doctor hit the horse on the neck,

to break up the melon,

and then one student said, “I know how to cure a thousand horses.”

He hit every horse on the neck

and then they died!

The doctor, teacher told him, “You are a fool, this horse had swallowed a melon which was in his neck,

not every swollen neck is a melon!” .

Each person is an individual,

If I did the same thing and hit them on the neck it won’t work.

But you have to be sensitive to their feelings,

and sometimes like we are told to use the sandwich system.

So, glorify and give the message.

Link: 20230415 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

We know your mood is to bless everybody unconditionally, even a difficult person who is troubling you. We serve see devotees and when we see devotees troubling other devotees or being rude, are we doing vaiṣṇava-aparādhā to that other devotee? At the same time, we have to make sure he is not troubling others. So how do we handle these delicate situations?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-04

Jayapatākā Swami: I mean, one thing is that you don’t talk to the person in front of other people.

Then it gets their ego offended.

Take them aside and talk to them.

But I mean, ladies, they are, you know, sometimes it is better to have the husbands talk to them.

But we like to, there is a saying in India, where you train your daughter-in-law by chastising your daughter.

Jayapatākā Swami: You have to tell them that I am just using you as an example.

Because I love you and you love me.

But daughter-in-law is a different relationship.

Anyway, one thing is that

you have to develop these people skills,

it is not something, just there is saying one time a horse, he swallowed a watermelon or something.

The doctor hit the horse on the neck,

to break up the melon,

and then one student said, “I know how to cure a thousand horses.”

He hit every horse on the neck

and then they died!

The doctor, teacher told him, “You are a fool, this horse had swallowed a melon which was in his neck,

not every swollen neck is a melon!” .

Each person is an individual,

If I did the same thing and hit them on the neck it won’t work.

But you have to be sensitive to their feelings,

and sometimes like we are told to use the sandwich system.

So, glorify and give the message.

Link: 20230415 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

What can we, as parents, do to make our children determined devotees like Dhruva Mahārāja?

Questioner: Ratikeli Rādhikā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Teach them by your example

and encourage them that anything they do in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Just like Śrīla Prabhupāda, his father gave him Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa small Deities to practice pūjā.

And also gave him a Jagannātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā ratha.

So he was happy to have this Kṛṣṇa conscious play.

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Children], [Day-to-day Life / Parents], [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

What is the difference between a Vaiṣṇava and a pure Vaiṣṇava?

Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-01

Jayapataka Swami: Anyone who chants one time, Hare Kṛṣṇa, is a Vaiṣṇava.

But a pure Vaiṣṇava is, that you are not doing karma-miśra-bhakti, devotion mixed with fruitive activities.

I am not saying aśuddha, I am saying karma-miśra or jñāna-miśra-bhakti.

How can a Vaiṣṇava be aśuddha?

But we want pure devotion.

That gives love of Kṛṣṇa.

And karma-miśra-bhakti may give, like heavenly planets or some fruitive benefits.

Jñāna-mixed-bhakti may give like, impersonal liberation.

We want pure bhakti.

Link: 20201010 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.10

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

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

Questioner: Indulekhā Karuṇa devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Everyone is taking up Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

everyone is an individual

and what thing impresses one person,

may not impress another.

So you have to hear a bit what the person likes.

The thing is that in the material world

people naturally turn to things they like,

but if they understand that these things often may lead them astray,

then they may be less inclined to do that.

And so in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is kevala ānanda kāṇḍa, it is a very blissful process.

So if can somehow engage people in chanting, hearing, dancing, serving,

then they will get a taste.

And you know, I met one person,

he was an impersonalist.

But then Śrīla Prabhupāda said that there is no use to talk philosophy

because in their brain some short circuit is there.

But if they like to do sevā, engage them in sevā.

By doing sevā

they get purified

and their whole idea changes.

After several years, that person told me

that, now I understand

about devotional service,

because he was practically doing it.

Otherwise, philosophically he was off.

He got purified by serving Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

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

What is the right mood to accept our own glorification from other devotees ?

Questioner: Harṣavardana Gaurāṅga dāsa

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: We think how we are able to do some service by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.

And thus we stay humble.

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

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Emotions / Pride], [Emotions / Humility]

What is your take on veganism?

Questioner: Kackuly Rani

Date: 2022-10-13

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda has said that

taking cow milk develops the finer intelligence

will be able to understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

At the same time, we like to protect the cows.

And so, where possible we try to eat milk from protected cows.

The vegans, they say since the cows are mistreated,

better not to take any milk.

But Śrīla Prabhupāda knew that this difficulty was there.

He thought it was important to offer the milk to Kṛṣṇa,

and then we can take it.

So, we only take milk as prasāda.

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

What particular quality is in the devotee, is it that really attracts the Lord?

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?

Link: 19901102 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.63

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

What should be our mood and prayer to Lord Narasiṁhadeva today? Also, the purport says that it is very easy to please Lord Nārayaṇa, but I find it very difficult and struggle to keep my sādhanā and sevā going on steadily every day. How to understand this if guru and Kṛṣṇa are pleased with me or not, and where am I going wrong?

Questioner: Harshita Sharma

Date: 2023-07-08

Jayapatākā Swami: Certainly, by your trying to be Kṛṣṇa conscious you are pleasing the Lord.

If you keep on trying, then gradually, as they say, practice makes perfect.

So we hope that gradually you will be able to achieve the perfect stage.

But just the fact that you are trying, that means a lot.

So definitely you will be protected from the greatest danger.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

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

What should be the mood of a gṛhastha who is serving in the temple and has to accept Lakṣmī for maintaining his family? Could the service also be selfless ?

Questioner: Śrījīva Gosvāmī dāsa

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: If they are taking minimal amount,

what they need for maintaining their family,

so if the temple thinks it is worthwhile,

then one should do that.

And that would be considered as selfless service.

Of course, if one is taking a huge amount and saving a lot,

then he may consider if it is selfless.

Link: 20200725 Jumping in Ganga to Counteract the Sinful Activity (Part 1)

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Varṇāśrama / Gṛhastha]

What should I do if someone deliberately touches my feet and I fail to avoid it?

Questioner: Ānandinī Śacīmātā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, you can either jump into the Ganges,

or you can touch that person’s feet back.

We found that Lord Nityānanda and

Lord Caitanya, were dancing in such a way, They tried to touch each other’s feet.

They were so expert at dancing

that They avoided.

So, sometimes the associates of Lord Caitanya would do this type of

transcendental competition,

to touch each other’s feet.

If someone touches your feet, you touch their feet.

Category: [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

What should I do if someone deliberately touches my feet and I fail to avoid it?

Questioner: Ānandinī Śacīmātā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, you can either jump into the Ganges,

or you can touch that person’s feet back.

We found that Lord Nityānanda and

Lord Caitanya, were dancing in such a way, They tried to touch each other’s feet.

They were so expert at dancing

that They avoided.

So, sometimes the associates of Lord Caitanya would do this type of

transcendental competition,

to touch each other’s feet.

If someone touches your feet, you touch their feet.

Link: 20200725 Jumping in Ganga to Counteract the Sinful Activity (Part 1)

Category: [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: Nitāi Līleśvara dāsa

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: I hear different emails every day

and I have certain corresponding secretaries.

Like Rādhāramaṇa Sevaka dāsa and others.

So you write to me and don’t get a reply in a week,

then you could write a WhatsApp message to my corresponding secretary

that why you are not getting a reply.

And usually, you will get a reply.

But at least you will be told why you are not getting a reply.

And right now, we also have the Jayapatākā Swami Disciples’ e-Care

and you can write to them also.

So I am trying to make myself available

and I don’t know who is the śikṣā-guru you have faith in.

You can ask or suggest a śikṣā-guru

and get some authorization.

Otherwise, try to contact me as I mentioned.

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

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

Whatever offences we have committed how can we absolve of them and not commit them in the future as well?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-05-11

Jayapatākā Swami: Firstly, we should avoid doing aparādhas.

At the time of initiation, you read the ten offences of the holy name.

This is the system so that we don’t break the regulative principles.

First, if we commit an offence to someone knowingly,

then we can pray for forgiveness.

In Māyāpur, there is a place where specially we go we get freed from Vaiṣṇava aparādha.

Aparādha-bhañjanera-kuliyā-pāḍa

And if you did some aparādhā it can get forgiven by touching the feet of the devotee you offended.

And I have seen many shoes outside. I see devotees touching those shoes.

You should try to avoid committing offences.

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

What’s the practical example of pulling out the weeds? (to guard the creeper of devotion)

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.

Link: 19821226 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.23

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Sādhanā], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Anarthās]

When I am able to understand that I am not able to do devotional service like before, for example, I cannot read books now as I was doing before, what should I do in such a situation? Maybe I have offended a Vaiṣṇava?

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.

Link: 20201011 Zoom Session With Singapore Bengali Devotees

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

When I cannot chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra on mālā due to some busy schedule of work, in such case how can I complete that gap?

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.

Link: 20220822 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

When Mahāprabhu showed the universal form, Advaita Gosāñi cried with intense ecstasy and begged humbly with a straw between His teeth for devotional service. Do pure, humble devotees actually do that?

Questioner: Mālinī Sundarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Advaita Ācārya is considered a topmost devotee.

And what He is doing is an example for all to follow.

Everyone who is on the level of a topmost devotee, will also be begging from the Lord for service.

In the material world, one wants to control to enjoy

the material nature;

but in spiritual life, one wants to be enjoyed by the Lord.

One wants to please the Lord.

And one wants to serve the Lord.

So the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means. “Oh Lord! Oh energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service.”

So as we engage in the Lord’s service, in devotees service, our taste for Kṛṣṇa consciousness increases.

So the Lord is enjoying His pastimes.

He is always happy

and the devotees who are participating with His pastimes,

they are also happy.

Who wants to be happy?

[Haribol!]

The real happiness is to please Kṛṣṇa.

We are part of Kṛṣṇa.

When He is pleased, we are all automatically pleased.

When He is happy, we are also happy.

Link: 20190201 Question and Answers Session

Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

When Mahāprabhu showed the universal form, Advaita Gosāñi cried with intense ecstasy and begged humbly with a straw between His teeth for devotional service. Do pure, humble devotees actually do that?

Questioner: Mālinī Sundarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Advaita Ācārya is considered a topmost devotee.

And what He is doing is an example for all to follow.

Everyone who is on the level of a topmost devotee, will also be begging from the Lord for service.

In the material world, one wants to control to enjoy

the material nature;

but in spiritual life, one wants to be enjoyed by the Lord.

One wants to please the Lord.

And one wants to serve the Lord.

So the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means. “Oh Lord! Oh energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service.”

So as we engage in the Lord’s service, in devotees service, our taste for Kṛṣṇa consciousness increases.

So the Lord is enjoying His pastimes.

He is always happy

and the devotees who are participating with His pastimes,

they are also happy.

Who wants to be happy?

[Haribol!]

The real happiness is to please Kṛṣṇa.

We are part of Kṛṣṇa.

When He is pleased, we are all automatically pleased.

When He is happy, we are also happy.

Link: 20190201 Question and Answers Session

Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

When we are doing guru-pūjā if some guest comes to us at that time, what should we do as our first priority – to finish the worship of our spiritual master or to receive that devotee?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: It depends, who that devotee is.

If the devotee is a godbrother of the spiritual master, or peer of the spiritual master,

of if he is the guru of the spiritual master,

then one should offer him respect.

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

When we are doing guru-pūjā if some guest comes to us at that time, what should we do as our first priority – to finish the worship of our spiritual master or to receive that devotee?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: It depends, who that devotee is.

If the devotee is a godbrother of the spiritual master, or peer of the spiritual master,

of if he is the guru of the spiritual master,

then one should offer him respect.

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

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

Questioner: Rakshita Varadarajan

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: One can be in whichever āśrama they want to.

Whichever they feel more comfortable.

If they feel that gṛhastha-āśrama is more appropriate for you,

that allows certain license for sex life.

Kṛṣṇa has made machines –

male and female form.

So they can reproduce each other.

So the scientists they are not able to make a machine

that could reproduce itself.

Ha! We shouldn’t think that Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes

with the queens or the gopīs, are material.

He is transcendental.

And in Vṛndāvana,

His pastimes are understood by the liberated souls.

One has to read all the previous nine cantos,

then you can understand how the position of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental.

Once when I was a new devotee,

I asked a question about Rādhārāṇī.

Śrīla Prabhupāda chastised me.

Who are you to ask about Rādhārāṇī?

Since I was a new devotee,

I didn’t understand much, so I accepted that.

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know about such predictions.

If you have those you can send the copy to me.

I read the book where Swami Nārāyaṇa said he was a devotee.

But later on, his followers made him an avatāra.

So Śrīla Prabhupāda requested that his status as a jīva never be changed.

Because many spiritual movements after the founder leaves,

they declare their founder as God.

So, I don’t see any reason why, Swami Nārāyaṇa claims to be God.

If you read his book, he doesn’t claim it.

It is only claimed by his followers.

That is as much as I know.

I went to their center in Ahmedabad and other places.

Some of their Swami came to see me.

When they heard that I have been a Swami for like 50 years,

they paid their daṇḍavats!

You know generally, they are favorable.