19990620 Questions And Answers

 

Lecture Code: 19990620

Question & Answer session By

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja

In NewPanihatti Dham, Atlanta, Georgia

 

vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams ca

  sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam

sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam Kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devam

sri-radha-Kṛṣṇa-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca

 

…

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

Brihaspati came down as Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, but then when he came he was with all the Mayavadis in Nabadwip and he refrained preaching about the Mayavad. Then he went off to Jagannath Puri, he never taught Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when he was the child, a student in Nabadwip. Later when Lord Caitanya took sannyas he went to Jagannath Puri, then he had alteration with Lord Nitayananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu broke his danda in three parts and threw it in the river at the Dandavana. And there are many esoteric explanations about this why he broke the danda, so many may know so many may not know. One of the ideas is that the Lord Chaitanya, why He should have one danda because one danda is for Mayavadis you should have tridandi which is for vaishnavas. They broke the, danda means stick, a sannyasi stab, he broke into three. The other why You should carry a danda? That’s for human beings have to do tapasya. Being the Supreme Lord He doesn’t really have to do all these things. Many things like that, so anyway Lord Caitanya outwardly became very angry, you broke my danda! You have no right to do this!

 

So I’m not going with you! Mahaprabhu He was angry, He ran ahead and they couldn’t catch up with Him. So he got to the Jagannath Puri temple first. When He saw Jagannath He fainted in the temple in ecstasy, went in trance. So the priest thought that maybe He is some crazy guy kick Him and beat Him. But then Sarvabhauma Battacharya seeing His physical signs he recognised that He was not an ordinary person. Also saw that He wasn’t breathing and obviously having any heart beat, so it was quite unusual. So he took Him to his house. Then he tested and found that Lord Caitanya was simply breathing very slightly, held the cotton swap by His nose and saw slightly the fibers were moving. Normally people cannot do that.

 

(aside:) Anyone one of you do that?

 

So, then the devotees found the Lord Caitanya and they said we know how to revive Him, He’d only be revived by chanting, so then they began to chant. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

 

(aside:) You also need paper? You want to write a question?

 

So then Lord Caitanya revived and the Sarvabhauma Battacharya he said ‘I like to teach You.’ That you are a sannyasi in the Shankara line, You took sannyas from Keshava Bharati who was in the Shankara line, since he said I like to teach you, the Vedanta Sutra. So Lord Caitanya said alright, I’ll be happy to learn Vedanta Sutra from you.

 

(aside:) You are early today! (laughing) They were mentioning, they said Maha Guna want a question and answer session and she’s not here to ask the questions. Welcome! Applause! (laughing) (clapping)

 

So then for seven days the Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya minding he is the Brihaspati he is teaching Lord Caitanya the Shankaracharya philosophy of the Vedanta Sutra. He reads the Vedanta Sutra sloka ‘janmādyasya yataḥ’, but then he, which means that everything is coming from the Absolute truth. But then he gives his own indirect interpretation, and the direct interpretation, since everything is coming from the Absolute truth and everything has that varieties and qualities, therefore Absolute truth must also have variety, quality. How can something come from, how can quality come from non quality?

 

So for seven days Lord Caitanya just listened and He didn’t say a word, He didn’t ask a single question. Normally this is a very heavy awaited discussion topic to ask some question, just like it’s already two questions came right! But He had no questions. So after seven days then Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya said, so how was that? You’re just listening and You never have any question! Are you able to understand that what I’m speaking? And he said, I can understand the Vedanta Sutra that you speak but I don’t understand your explanation.

 

So that was like throwing the Government down. And I understand the shastra but your explanation is, you know unintelligible (laughing). So then he said, so then You can explain! So then Lord Caitanya took the Atmarama verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam ‘ātmārāmāś ca munayo’. And He explained that in 64 different ways and gave the essence of the Vedanta Sutra through this one verse of the Srimad Bhagavatam. And it was such erudite explanation that, then Lord Caitanya explained how the teachings of Shankaracharya indirect and the Vedanta Sutra is directly clearly understandable if you just take the direct meaning. And Srimad Bhagavatam there is a natural explanation of the Vedanta Sutra.

 

So in the end Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya he had been then told by his brother-in-law, I believe his brother-in-law Gopinath Acarya that Lord Caitanya was an avatar of Kṛṣṇa come as a bhakta, but he didn’t believe it. But then things started to snap together and then he started to look out that Lord Caitanya was more than what He appeared to be. So he asked Him to reveal who He really was and then Lord Caitanya revealed His from as Kṛṣṇa to Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. And thne He also took the six handed from showing Himself as Kṛṣṇa, Ram and Lord Caitanya combined in one. And then Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya surrendered naturally and after that he became a very enthusiastic devotee. So before he was really stiff up to look kind of very impersonalist. You’re from, you know about this, there is the smarthas, smarthas kind of a brahmanas who are very much conscious about rules and regulations, so he was in that line. So one day Lord Caitanya just to test him, he was late for Mangal Arati, don’t you that it happens to everybody (laughing). So then Lord Caitanya came from the mangal Arati right into the room of, bedroom of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Good Morning! Sunshine! (laughing) Hare Kṛṣṇa!

 

(aside:) How would you like Lord Caitanya would come and ask you if you miss mangala arati? (laughing) Next day be on time right!

 

(devotee:) Ya!

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

(laughing) Lord Caitanya said, look at we got maha prasadam cashews from the mangala arati offering, here’s some prasadam. So he’s still sitting on his bed, he hadn’t brushed his teeth, he hadn’t done his morning duties, taken his bath and all the things we normally do. So smartha would not eat food without having brushed the teeth and all these things. So Lord Caitanya gave him prasadam without having, he had no chance to do any of these things. But then he immediately ate the prasadam. Then Lord Caitanya said how is it being a brahmana you’re eating without having bathed and brushed your teeth? Then he quoted a sloka saying that ‘whenever we get prasadam there are no rules and regulations’. (Haribol!) Prasadam is Kṛṣṇa and we should immediately accept.

 

(aside:) How many of you can follow that principle? (laughing) it’s okay that means you are very very advanced (laughing). We are willing to follow that, than follow this, so Balabhadra prabhu you did not follow this afternoon! (laughing). After they ate so much prasadam, he offered more (laughing). He minded for the one or two prasadam but

 

So like that there's a lot of aspire Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, he is the avatar of the Brihaspati, so he was made into a completely pure devotee by Caitanya Mahaprabhu pastime.

 

(devotee:) (inaudible 10:44)

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami: Pardon

 

(devotee:) (inaudible 10:48)

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami: Chant Narasimha prayer

 

Question: What is the difference between brahmana and vaishnava?

 

Once Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur was invited to speak at a big assembly of brahmanas. He gave a big lecture on all these 12 qualities of the brahmanas, sama, dama, titiksava, being equal, being controlled, being patient, being clean, religious, practicing religiosity, knowing religiosity so on, so he gave all the 12 qualities of the brahmanas. And then all the brahmanas became very satisfied with his explanation. Then afterwards he says that vaishnava includes all these but also the quality of pure devotion to Kṛṣṇa. So brahmana means who knows Brahman, Brahman is the impersonal aspect of the Absolute truth. That means the brahmana should know what is spiritual reality and what is the material reality (laughing), side by side you should know both. But the vaishnava knows Kṛṣṇa which is more.

 

(aside:) That’s the Nathji, ayiye!

 

(devotee:) Everybody knows

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami: Everybody knows whoever is one meter (laughing) (inaudible 12:35 devotee speaking)

 

So vaishnava knows Supreme personality of Godhead, brahmanas may not know fully about Kṛṣṇa.

 

Question: Why we worship deity?

 

(aside:) Anybody can say why we worship deity?

 

(devotee:) So we can develop love for Kṛṣṇa in His actual form, now we can’t see dealing with Him.

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

We cannot see His sat cit ananda form so we worship His deity form or His image.

 

(aside:) Yes! You raised your hand (laughing) Any other reason?

 

It gives us an opportunity to perform various personal services to the Lord and thus develop further personal relationship. Kṛṣṇa comes in His deity, is a avatara, Archa avatara. So by serving the Lord in this Archa avatara form, then we are able to come closer with Him and develop our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It’s one of the nine processes of devotional service, archanam.

 

Question: Even though we may be in another form, how we know it’s Prabhupada when we finally get back to Godhead?

 

(aside:) The things people worry about (laughing) and we’re worrying (laughing).

 

Spiritually we’ll be able to know, recognise him, but reveal the first (laughing)

 

Question: How do we attain the state that you are in now? (laughing) How can I possibly reach to state of being very close to God?

 

Whatever state I’m in (laughing) it’s all by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada (laughing). You can also reach that, you can reach, you can become close to God by getting the mercy of Guru and Kṛṣṇa.

 

Question: What is the difference between material and spiritual humility and tolerance?

 

(aside:) Why do you wanna know the difference between the material and spiritual humility? You ask this question, very nice! (laughing)

 

(devotee:) To understand how it looks like, you know we can be like

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

(aside:) Which way you want to be?

 

(devotee:) Spiritual! But I want to know the difference because I’m staying material

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

(aside:) But isn't it enough to know what is spiritual humility and tolerance? (laughing) What is material and what is spiritual? Yes!

 

(devotee:) The material is made out of (inaudible 16:28)

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

(aside:) So in activity, what makes an activity spiritual or material?

 

(devotee:) Pleasing Kṛṣṇa or not

(devotee:) (inaudible 16:38)

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

So the purpose for which it is done. The purpose for which the activity is done is what makes it

 

(devotee:) (inaudible 17:02)

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

So the things are done for material purpose they are material, the things are done for the,

 

(aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa! You didn’t come last night!

 

So if someone is humble to please Kṛṣṇa then it’s spiritual humility, the tolerance to do that service for Kṛṣṇa. If somebody is very tolerant then no matter how many times the temple president asks him to do some service, they tolerate it, they never do anything (laughing), they are very tolerant (laughing). They never get upset, they never do anything, they just tolerate (laughing). Isn't that tolerance, that’s spiritual tolerance (laughing).

 

(devotee:) Like removing our negligence

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

So tolerance means just like, let's say the scientists they work very hard, they tolerate so many difficulties to make their discoveries.

 

(aside:) Mahaguna works so hard to go to school. So many people go to school here, there is someone in the university.

 

So things are done for some material purpose, it’s material. And if it is done for spiritual purpose just like, so like the devotees, they’re told ‘you are very great!’ they’d be always saying, ‘no, it’s just the mercy of the Guru and Kṛṣṇa.’ They always say personally that I’ve no personal qualification. No matter how many times we ask Prabhupada, what’s your secret for success? He would say I simply tried to carry out the instructions of my spiritual master. So it’s the way.

 

(aside:) Are you satisfied!

 

Question: What is the relationship between Kṛṣṇa and devas?

 

Kṛṣṇa is the original form of Vishnu, Vishnu is the source of all the devas, so all the devas are servitors of Kṛṣṇa, so their relationship is one of master and servant. When the devas get into trouble they pray to Kṛṣṇa for protection, He helps them out, many times it happened.

 

Question: If our body was created by Kṛṣṇa,

 

(aside:) Why ‘if the body was created by Kṛṣṇa?’ Since our body is created by Kṛṣṇa, edit the question (laughing)

 

Question: … and the senses are the bodily constitution, why they are impure?

 

Kṛṣṇa is independent, we are part of Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa is also giving us independence. We can use our independence wisely in His service and then we can be liberated (laughing)

 

(aside:) (inaudible 20:38 devotees speaking) Everybody is comfortable now?

 

(devotee:) Jai! Yes!

 

(aside:) She loves here? Teja Sweet! (laughing) Only thing was attracted to reveal this vase! (laughing)

 

Because our senses are created by Kṛṣṇa, we should use them in Kṛṣṇa’s service ‘Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate’. Devotional service means to use our senses in the service of the master of the senses. When we don’t use our senses in the Kṛṣṇa’s service then the senses becomes a cause of our bondage and it’s considered sinful. The senses are for, since they are made by Kṛṣṇa that’s why we use for Kṛṣṇa. Why the senses in themself are not pure, impure, it’s how we use the senses. If we use the senses in Kṛṣṇa’s service they are purified. If we use them for sense gratification then they become materially conditioned. So we have material senses so their function is to experience, gather knowledge out from the material nature. What we do with that knowledge depending on our conditioning it’s how, depends on what kind of reaction we get for our activities.

 

Question: Do we have to read all the books? (laughing)

 

Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, in this order. It’s recommended by Prabhupada to read Bhagavad Gita first, then Srimad Bhagavatam, then Caitanya Caritamrta. He said Bhagavad Gita is high school course, Srimad Bhagavatam is university undergraduate and Caitanya Caritamrta is post graduate. The same time it’s no hard and fast rule if somebody picks up another book it’s not you’re doing aparadha (laughing). But if you are starting this is recommended way because the philosophy in Bhagavad Gita is even more simple than that which is in Srimad Bhagavatam. When you get to Caitanya Caritamrta you really understand and appreciate what’s going on, you would have to, if you have knowledge on Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

(aside:) You don’t have a sleep? (inaudible 24:20 devotees speaking) this is Mukunda das’s.

 

Question: When someone wants to be a good devotee why Kṛṣṇa or Yogamaya has too much stress in devotee that hard time?

 

(aside:) And you have ever experienced any hard time? (laughing) Has it  made you more determined to get back to Kṛṣṇa?

 

(devotee:) Yes!

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami:

(aside:) So maya is doing a good job! (laughing)

 

If you’re very Kṛṣṇa consciousness then the tests are not so difficult. Tests make us tough! It’s just as the  saying, going gets tough as the tough get going. The Pandavas, it says three reasons why we have, there’s three reasons why we get put into, like you know Why do we get put into difficulties, it’s a very nice explanation Indradhyumna Maharaj researched and he was telling. As Prabhupada explains there are three different situations, when we are loving Kṛṣṇa so that time we are put under a test in order to make us stronger. But sometimes Kṛṣṇa puts a devotee under a test as an example to teach other devotees. It’s like the Pandavas, they were put under test to set an example to everyone. Someone else may be put under test because they have got some weaknesses in order to help them to get purified from that they need to go to some tests. And sometimes the devotees are not listening to the warnings of Kṛṣṇa they make mistake then Kṛṣṇa warns them but they don’t listen and so then He had to put them under His maya, give them some heavier test for that, they can say reality check. So there are various reasons why, if we get through attachment to the material world then we may not want to leave it. So that way also sometimes we were shown this naked truth of the material world, there’re many factors. Many times when we can look back and find personal errors which we made, sometimes we are just getting the tests because of reactions of things you’ve done in the past, that’s another reason.

 

Question:  How should we prepare for Y2K (laughing)

 

(aside:) Further framing Y - Y to love Kṛṣṇa (laughing), let’s say you 2 love something like that, youthful about Kṛṣṇa.

 

And then we should prepare for love of Kṛṣṇa by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, eating Kṛṣṇa prasadam and worshipping a deity. In India they ask us about y2k we have to discuss about battle, what interest in y2k is Pakistan. We have to look in a war weapons they are attacking in Kargil, Kashmir. Everyone has some problem, if we saw the y2k it may also be a rittvik or may be a hurricane or may be something. In New York there was a blackout that time people ban everything. Prabhupada said his father used to purchase food grains for the whole year. He’ll always have a year's stock of grains to movements in other religion groups, not having a short of grains for food. Seems to be a eminicate so that you 2 love Kṛṣṇa or whatever reason.

 

Since we are in the material world and we can’t depend upon supermarkets all the time. That’s why Prabhupada also wanted us to have farm projects at least if logistics broke down in the cities. devotees go to the country and there we can survive. I don’t know how many devotees earned survival in the country. You know that’s not the weakest part of our training Prabhupada stressed. So that was what (inaudible 30:01) when the year 2000 goes over whatever happen doesn’t happen. But then we should, and always there is some problem, may be this or may be that, don’t know how much effect there maybe, or not. (inaudible 30:39) And it will be a good idea that to consider how we can be more self sufficient, how we use the farm project we have and sometime we’ll discuss it. (inaudible 31:06) Maybe we have enough food to survive whatever happens, it will be a wise, wise idea. (inaudible 31:30) So that precaution can be one more reason. Mayapur we have set on the self sufficiency department, we have a group of devotees and we got over one expert on self sufficiency from (inaudible 32:06), 60 year old lady very expert in these things. She was teaching how to make paper, how to do many things we didn’t know how to do. Whatever reason we would be more self sufficient in Mayapur. So we already have our own handloom, we can make our own cloth, mridangas, dhotis, maybe we have to start sarees (laughing).

 

Question: What attitude from the disciple is more pleasing to the spiritual master?

 

(aside:) (inaudible 33:10)

 

Love Kṛṣṇa, if the devotees are developing natural love for Kṛṣṇa, natural enthusiasm to serve Kṛṣṇa, he’s on a natural service attitude, it should be very pleasing to guru and Kṛṣṇa.

 

Question: In the movement of death and when we leave our body how does it look like when we go back to Godhead? (laughing) How does the soul transmigrate to the spiritual world?

 

So how does the soul actually transmigrate in the material world? It’s under daiva netrena, somewhere under higher authorities, like the devas taking from one body to the next. They keep transmigrating from one body to the next in the material world, when we are qualified to go back to the spiritual world then Kṛṣṇa has got this personal tour guys to take us back, they are known as Vishnudutas. And just like we’re coming into an unknown place we see exports, we are exported back to the spiritual world, all the doors are open, you don’t have to worry. Mentioned in the first canto Bhagavatam when Narada Muni left his body he was in a young body and a beautiful body and then he left the body how we transmigrate.

 

(devotee:) (inaudible 34:53)

 

No it was like a big lightning flash, so he looked back and he saw his material body lying down, outer body experience. But there was no pain, no suffering, no trauma or any, he had achieved the sat-cit-ananda form. He himself has expanded to his original spiritual form

 

[Break]

 

Transcribed By: Bhagyavati Subhadra Devi Dasi

Transcribed On: 21 Aug, 2020

 

Proof Reading By: Amrita Padma Devi Dasi

On 14/10/2020

Proof Reading by Medhavini Sakhi Devi Dasi

ON 24th Dec 2020