19931225 Ratha yātrā Lecture

Lecture Code: 19931225 

Ratha yātrā Lecture By His Holiness Jayapatākā svāmī Mahārāja In Penang, Malaysia

25/DEC/1993

                       https://archives.Jayapatākāsvāmī.com/courses/306577/lectures/5016103

                                  His Holiness Jayapatākā svāmī Mahārāja

gave Lecture on Ratha yātrā Lecture By

                                                     In Penang, Malaysia

The following is a lecture gien by H.H.Jayapatākā svāmī Mahārāja 25/DEC/1993

in Penang,Malaysia.The lecture was given during the  Ratha yātrā.

Rādhā Kuñjabihārīji ki jai,

Jagannātha Baladev Subhadrā ki Jai,

Sudarśana chakra ki Jai

Jai Bhagavān śrī śrī Kṛṣṇa ( not clear 1: 06) ki Jai

Nitāi śrīla Prabhupāda ki Jai,

śrīla Prabhupāda ki Jai,

Sāmaveth Bhakta vṛnda ki Jai.

His Holinesses śrīla viṣṇu svāmī Mahārāja, and śrīla Bhakti Bringa svāmī Mahārāja all the assembled devotees all the gentle men and gentle ladies present and you have heard we have gathered together on a very important place and an very important occasion it is the 8^th anniversary of the ISKCON Malaysia Rath yātrā festival in Penang this is the historical Rādhā Kuñjabihārī temple which is also special to the devotees of Kṛṣṇa consciousness because śrīla Prabhupāda personally came here and delivered his Bhāgavat lecture and we also heard how this temple has always given us there full cooperation and encouragement for propagating the message of Lord śrī Kṛṣṇa. we also heard how in the CIS countries of the former Soviet Union His Holiness Prabha viṣṇu svāmī Mahārāja is preaching and how the people there the Russians, the Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Ukranians all there are actually taking up Kṛṣṇa consciousness they are taking up Kṛṣṇa bhakti even though it is something foreign to their culture this is the nature of sanātana  dharm however that although superficially something may appear to be foreign that by nature we all devoted we all have love for the supreme Lord at that there is only one supreme God head of everyone by different languages, different names for that supreme Lord have been used. Before the Indians, Chinese their philosophy was handed down in the vedas reincarnation, law of karma, the ātmā, the spiritual self, the yoga meditation all these things are very much connected with the culture is something quite familiar the people can take it up in a distant land like Russia, Azerbaijan etc America, Australia then what will be surprising about Malaysia the Indians and Chinese especially actually … there are 10,000 full time missionary preachers and millions of practicing devotees who are living in their homes but we can see that here in Malaysia we have still a lot to do and it makes us feel embarrassed of course everything is a question of what priority we place. What is the whole purpose of life some people feel that the purpose of life is to have a good place to sleep, to have a lot of good food, to have plenty of fresh life, to be strong to be able to defend yourself from any enemies many people consider that this is the purpose of life, but that purpose of life is not different  then from the purpose of any animal that we see this is the purpose of life because every animal wants the same things that is called Āhāra-nidrā-maithuna, bhaya, the difference in human being is more than an animal because the difference of these four basics the human being has the capacity to realize the spiritual reality, to realize the absolute truth, to realize the supreme personality of God head, the animals don’t have that capacity. So His Divine Grace śrīla AC Bhaktivedanta śrīla Prabhupāda He was very concerned whenever He would see people suffering in this material world because of the lack of understanding of their all eternal spiritual nature, He felt that compassion wherever He went, whether it was England, America, Australia, Russia or Japan especially when He would come back to India or He would go to places where Indian culture where many people are from Indian background like Malaysia he would get specially concerned here people who have got the very great opportunity for spiritual understanding but they are becoming so engrossed in materialism that unnecessarily they are suffering, they have to suffer like this. I was just recently in Middle East and there one rich person who came to me he has accumulated materially millions of dollars well he said that I think that know I have less sleep there is so much anxiety the dollar, the pound, the dinar, the rial everything prices are changing different things are happening, investment of the money, then there are family problems so many anxieties I think at least poor people they can sleep at night but with money you can’t sleep even, he said I want to do something for your Hare Kṛṣṇa movement because I see you are doing a very good work and I also realized that we have to put the money earned to some good use otherwise what is the use of life. Well we need to put our life sanity whether to perform our, whatever form we have our different energies, we need to put it in the active service of Kṛṣṇa and then we actually can achieve the real perfection of the life. Kṛṣṇa is the personal name for the supreme Lord he has unlimited names, someone calls him God or many other names they call, in Sanskrit Kṛṣṇa is used, because Kṛṣṇa means the all attractive that supreme person who has attracted for everyone, who is more famous, who is more rich, who is more powerful, who is more beautiful, who has got more knowledge and who is more detached from everything that is the supreme Lord, well all these things are very attractive to people beauty, wealth, power, opulence, renunciation, knowledge etc so he has all these totally so naturally He is the most attractive for everyone for when we engage in His service what happens is when we serve Him we get more attracted to Him as we get more and more attracted to Him we become less attracted to the temporary things of the material world we get little detached as we get detached from things in the material world, we can do our duty detach fully we can do it without so much anxiety with more cool mind objective and we can experiment or experience spiritual bliss or spiritual happiness on an increasingly more profound level. Of course everything as I mentioned depends on what priority we put to what we do, what is the goal of our life. There is a story about a carpenter he was a young carpenter and he was living in Bengal in India and he thought he could make it rich quick if he could just go to the forest and get some wood because wood is free in the forest so when he gets the wood and makes it into some furniture and sell it, it is 100% profit no overhead except his labor, so he decided to go to the Sunderban forest in the south of Bengal there is the home of the Royal Bengal Tigers(laughter) and porcupines, snakes and many other interesting forms of wild life you wouldn’t like to read on a lonely night, so as he was going on to the forest one very old and wise carpenter saw him and said where are you going? He said I am going to the Sunderban jungle to get wood to become rich, he said where is your weapon? You need to carry some gun or something there are tigers there, there are wild animals it is dangerous and the old carpenter went off and the young carpenter thought what does he know, what does he know I have got my saw, I got my axe what I will do when the tiger comes I will saw a big branch of a tree so when the tiger comes I will just swing the branch around my head and when he sees my ferocious form swinging the big branch he will become frightened and run off. Good idea, ahaah  (devotees laughing )so with that idea he went into the forest and he was cutting down wood there was a baby tiger the big tiger is about 3 meters long even longer I heard up to half ton a baby one only two and a half meters 7 feet and over a long way over the field he started to walk over when he saw the tiger he got his saw and he started cutting off the branch and he was sawing, the tiger started running faster and he was sawing and sawing agh the tiger leaped on him and drank his blood he was killed, he never thought the tigers never give you time to saw off branches from the trees and that tiger gave him plenty of time he could have taken his gun or there was no time to saw a branch out of the tree when the news got back to the village, the old carpenter said I told that foolish young man he should have taken a gun he can’t play around with the tiger so the tiger is actually compared to our senses how we control our senses sometimes when we get so angry we lose control we do things later we regret, when you are so greedy sometimes young people they steal something and they get caught by the police they feel bad about it someone may get tempted they say take drugs they do that and whole life gets ruined these senses are very, very, difficult to control know a yogī he thinks I will control my senses by yogic meditation and when my senses get little agitated I will meditate and control it but that is just like the  carpenter who said I will cut the branch when the tiger comes so when our senses become agitated where is the possibility of sitting and meditating quietly that time is too late that form of yoga is not very effective to control the senses which are sometimes like a wild animal so that same village was one saint came very saintly sādhu he was a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa and he came and he gave lecture on Bhagavad gītā in night and got everyone to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa everyone was very enthused and very clear vision on the purpose of life the sādhu the saintly ….early in the morning just was surprised he left the village and went into the forest when the villagers had realized what had happened they said oh no we did not warn him there are tigers there are wild animals so immediately they grabbed their shot guns and rifles and followed his foot prints to go and protect him in case any animals would come and attack him so there following after when finally they could hear something in a distance some roaring or something so oh no what is happened they went running there they came to the edge to the trees and they say there was some golden fiery There was that sādhu what is he doing he was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare(devotees repeat) he was chanting with many others but there was no other humans there, there were tigers, deer’s, bears and many other creatures of the jungle and they were all chanting with him and all of these villagers with their guns and rifles and mouths were open they were shocked what will we do with our guns he getting the wild animals to their anger and hatred and getting them all to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

This is the process of bhakti yoga by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, by feasting on Kṛṣṇa prasādam, by engaging in the festivals and different types of service to Kṛṣṇa, when we use our senses in the service of Kṛṣṇa they become controlled, the senses which are sometimes like wild animals they become tamed, sometimes we get visitors to our world headquarters in Māyāpur they come there and say I came here for 5 days I forgot about smoking or I forgot about eating meat we are just taking nice vegetarian food we are taking the life here we feel very peaceful. So today when you are pulling the Rath maybe when you are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa it is easy although sometimes the mind may want to go here and there because mind tendency is to be very wild but through a very small effort it is easy to remember Kṛṣṇa and to think about Kṛṣṇa in the association of so many devotees chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa serving Kṛṣṇa pulling the Rath doing chanting dancing whatever the services everyone is doing. So this way by devotional service we can tame these wild senses, train the mind bring it in control that gives us inner peace when we can control our mind and senses engaging them in some practical active meditation then we can start to realize what is the real inner peace and happiness that we are actually hankering for. In material life we get saturated but we don’t get satisfied, but in spiritual life we get actual real satisfaction, what about those villagers with guns what did they get? today is a holy day today is the appearance of Lord Jesus he also did a very great sacrifice to preach the message of God, sacrificed his life what greater sacrifice can there be, like this people of various religions all over the world some of them are very much identified with the material life but they do pious activities, they go to the religious institutions, they are praying, they give charity, they are singing the mantras, in this way they do some kind of pious activity by that pious activity they are trying to counteract the sins that they have done and try to get the people into happiness, material happiness but the most part, very few have actual developed pure love for God those are very elevated souls, great devotees have a very high level love but generally people are in the pious activity level, so that is like people going with the guns they have something to protect themselves but they looking also in fear because that protection is not a total security but the protection of the sādhu that was total why because he has Kṛṣṇa nām in the heart he has God in his heart because of the love in his heart is manifesting he is able to conquer over the senses, the mind and all the obstacles in the spiritual life. So here in this Rath yātrā we find everyone was enjoying, dancing, participating, Lord Chaitanya he also got the animals in the jungle to dance and chant, Prabhupāda said it is not possible for us, at least we can get all the human beings to chant and dance Hare bol! Hare Kṛṣṇa! (devotees repeat)that will be the success.

So all the human beings chant and dance in ecstasy Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare this human life is very short nobody knows exactly average they say 60, 70 some live 80, 90 oldest person was 100 something who passed away here we have at least 90, 100 years old people but then with the car accidents, with the diseases nobody can say whether one would live very long, young people are passing away for any reason that’s why vedic the vedas advise us side by side just like two tracks in a train we should have our material side which we are watching out for we should also prepare for a spiritual life both the sides, both the aspects of life we should be conscious about, we should make life neither one, modern society teaches only the material side we want to have a balance most of the people all here are working people many of them are married, many of them will marry in the future, we want that throughout life one, that this balance of Kṛṣṇa consciousness alongside with performing your regular duties continuously, Lord, our previous ācārya Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākura He is showing this “ na soya jathano thumi thakoho apano kaje” take shelter of the holy names of the Lord very carefully and remain in your own material position stay with your own occupation this is the secret, take shelter of the holy names just like nowadays we have satellite systems all over the world you can call from Malaysia by internet direct dialing to any country practically in the world you just have to know the code you dial in the code and then the country code city code and then the number you are there, you get there any number now Kṛṣṇa has given to us special facility in kaliyuga He knows we are in such distress so much anxiety so much problems due to our past life, the materialistic life He says you can phone me any time and because Kṛṣṇa is the absolute truth we don’t require any apparatus except what He has already gave you the mouth and the ears first you give the code reciting the vedic mantras they begin with “Om”, Om is also a code that is  addressing the supreme Lord but that is a general address, we want a very specific address to his bhakti life, devotional life this is more receptive, reception is very good on the devotional line so we first chant  through his devotees incarnation

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

(audience repeat)

I therefore give the number Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare [devotees repeated] immediately we are connected with Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa and his name are non-different we chant the name with devotion immediately Kṛṣṇa is present and in that presence we feel spiritually rejuvenated, spiritually enlightened someone calls this charging the batteries so you all don’t get physically tired you walked many miles tonight many challenges, dancing so on it is time to rest your bodies to take some maha prasāda feast by this chanting actually all the others are spiritually getting charged up, take this charge, take this blessings that you have got and use that to keep up chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare every day for some time as a regular practice chant Hare Kṛṣṇa read the Bhagavad Gita, śrīmad Bhāgavatam and in the association of devotees do the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa this is a special request of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu if you do this you can cross over all the difficulties that this modern materialistic age offers Hare Kṛṣṇa.

(Audience speaker)

How many are chanting japa here regularly

(Audience Speaks)

how many doing japa? Very good, very good, now start you get the japa here

(Audience speaks)

did the govt realize, the first thing that the Rām temple The Rām temple is also been helping like Rādhā Kuñjabihārīji  which we have mentioned about the Rām temple so the Rām temple every year we start the Rath yātrā with the blessing of Rām with his protection we will get here and then we will get the Rādhā Kuñjabihārī   blessings, śrī śrī Sītā Rāma Lakshman Hanumān ke jai, Rādhā Kuñjabihārīji ke jai

(HH BB Govind svāmī Mahārāja - In response to your question about whether the govt in Russia stand on the mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness last week the reason the govt changed its opinion back in 1989-90 was because they did a very detailed investigation about what is ISKCON, what are the roles of ISKCON, what is the spiritual of ISKCON, how ISKCON can benefit the society, what kind of food do we eat, all the complete detailed investigation they have made after making that investigation they came to the conclusion actually that ISKCON is a very good movement and is very beneficial for the people in general to instill spiritual and moral values into the society to help people to lead a healthy life and in this way they recognized so actually many important people in Russia leaders and govt people they had śrīla Prabhupāda books and they read śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and they very much appreciate the work of the ISKCON devotees that is why ISKCON is internationally operates freely know in those countries not only Russia and Soviet Union but there many other countries initially people or govt were bit alarmed about the rate at which ISKCON was expanding and some people actually tried to stop in several countries there were serious investigation just like Hungary, Poland and some other countries but after the investigation through investigation then the govt could understand that ISKCON is a very good movement, a movement of the people in general so like that actually Prabhupāda He said that once He said in the beginning people may laugh at you then after sometime they may try to stop you but finally He said they will respect you so we should understand that this raising movement this saṅkīrtana movement of the greatest welfare Paramupkara highest welfare work for the benefit of all humanity and once you are convinced about this then you should work hard to help others on distributing this knowledge, even if there is some obstacles there is no obstacle which can’t be crossed Lord Kṛṣṇa said if you become conscious of me you can cross over all obstacles of the material life under my direction so devotees should have faith in the words of Lord Kṛṣṇa and if does you will see all his endeavors will ultimately be successful you will be benefited so many other people will benefit in the world Hare Kṛṣṇa)

(Audience speaks)

The question is what is being arranged for Prabhupāda’s centennial, śrīla Prabhupāda appeared in 1896 so 1996 is being celebrated as the centennial of the year so all over the world different every country they are having different observations like here and some special international areas where it is being focused they are celebrating that centennial we are trying to finish śrīla Prabhupāda Samādhi and as soon as possible so that we can utilize this before the centennial obviously before it comes up, the Samadhi practically is 90, 90 or 98% completed including the mosaic on the big dome this is one of the largest domes in the Eastern India and there are 8 mosiac pastimes panels of  Prabhupāda’s different activities 6 of them are put out the other two are waiting for 3^rd of August. There are a few final finishing touches all the marble is put on Prabhupāda’s temple chamber except for 5 or 10 small pieces key pieces so it is a struggle to get delivery in India marble in Jaipur where the marble comes from few pieces like that will come in place we will open up this Gaura Pūrṇimā if it doesn’t come in place next year for sure we will open it up ,so that is going to be one of the big highlights the whole Samādhi would be functioning we heard actually it is all get balanced when I go back to Māyāpur from Malaysia we are supposed to be having deities, don’t know what we are supposed to be doing for the big festival and we want to build up so that every year it builds up for that year and Lokanāth Mahārāja and his number of BV members they just informed me that they need me as a Chairman or a coordinator of the committee  for the Māyāpur festival of 1996 and they want me to draw all the things we are going to do so there has been lot of different discussions, we are having discussion about having some spiritual modern light show lasers and different exhibitions on Prabhupāda’s pastimes so much feasibility study that in the final stages of the plan out it is going to be a big worldwide exhibition of all the temples throughout the world in the hope that everyone would come and display, request is it is expected to be around 10,000 devotees active practicing devotees from all over the world so you can imagine the big Navadvīpa parikrama’s, the big festivals, there will big stages many different programs going, different events and we are also trying to plan on the logistics will also be required, trying to bring in some very important people also to come for that occasion and to glorify śrīla Prabhupāda against this next I will be able to give more information because actually I just two weeks ago I have been told this that I have to give all work on a detailed plan so it is going to be the centennial of the century and the biggest one of the biggest aspects is going to be the Māyāpur festival devotees would be coming from all over the world to commonerate śrīla Prabhupāda to glorify śrīla Prabhupāda all focus of that festival would be especially śrīla Prabhupāda,

śrīla Prabhupāda ki  Jai                        

Transcribed By: Parmeshwar Prem Das

Transcribed On: 24-Oct-2020

Proof Reading By: Amrita Padma Devi Dasi

On 02/11/2020

Proofread by :Srivani Mataji

Date:3/12/2020