20200501 Zoom Session with Sanātana dhāma Devotees

The following is a zoom session given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 1st,2020 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India. The Session was given to the Sanātanadeśa Devotees.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-gurun dina tāriṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Jayapatākā Swami: I am very happy to see so many devotees in Sanātana Dhāma. On this Friday morning, I will try to see the devotees after a short talk first. Firstly, I think that in Sanātana Dhāma there is a lockdown like most parts of the world? Alright. So, at the present time there is no known treatment or vaccine available. So, the best way is to avoid getting it. Even if one gets, only about 3% maximum people die. In India 3% and in America 10%. But since the virus stays alive on a hard surface for up to 3 days, therefore, taking off your shoes outside the house is recommended as you may have walked over the virus, or it maybe on your hand. That is why they recommend washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water. Wear mask. Observe social distancing. These are the standard recommendations. We heard that there are some methods of holistic cure from Russia, China, we are trying those out. If you need those cures, Dr. Vinay Gauracandra, he can tell you how to do that.

You should be using this lockdown time to advance in your Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By practicing bhakti-yoga you can advance. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa japa, and also reading the Bhagavad-gītā, Bhāgavatam. Taking prasāda, offered to the Deities. And then to the people you know, spread the message that they could chant the holy name of God. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to encourage the people in Sanātana Dhāma to chant. Although there are 99 holy names of Allah in the Quran. At least we can encourage the followers of the Vedas to chant the names in Sanskrit. In the Kali-Santaraṇa Upaniṣad these 16 names of Kṛṣṇa are given. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare! iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ, these 16 names, kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ, they destroy all the evil effects of Kali-yuga.

The present pandemic is also part of the kali kalmaṣa. So chanting the name of God is not different than associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, we are trying to encourage everyone to chant. We see that in the lockdown period, the families are spending a lot of time together. And some places of the world afterwards they wanted to separate. We hope that all the husbands and wives will cooperate each other and treat each very nice. And encourage each other in their service to Kṛṣṇa. The bhakti-yoga is the process of yoga recommended for this age. So, we hope that all of you in your house can practice bhakti-yoga. And get a taste for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.

In this way, normally you would have to be out working. But they are asking you to stay in the house. You can stay in your house and chant the holy name and read the holy books. If you know someone talk to them and encourage them to take shelter of the Lord’s holy names.

I read just a few days ago, I give every evening a class at 6 pm IST. There Lord Caitanya said He would deliver anyone no matter how fallen, how sinful they are. The only exception is that He is not inclined to deliver offenders of the devotees. So we should be very careful to avoid any kind of vaiṣṇava-nindā, vaiṣṇava-aparādha. I met some of you in Balarāmadeśa when I was there. So, I am very happy that today many people are online. So I did not meet many people in Balarāmadeśa, only a few. Here I see there are many devotees. There are many types of yoga, many types of practices, sacrifices, pious activities. Being wealthy. But these things cannot attract Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is attracted by our pure desire to love and serve Him. He doesn’t say that we have to do great austerities to achieve Him. He says, simply by serving Him and serving His devotees, one can achieve Him. And if we awaken our dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, that is the ideal thing.

So, I am very happy that you are all practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By practicing bhakti-yoga you can cross over all the obstacles of life. Haribol!