20091129 Morning Class

The following is a morning class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami on 29^th November 2009 at Hong Kong, China.

Gurumahārāja: So, today we are celebrating the Bhagavad-gītā’s appearance. Actually, Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā on the Ekādaśī, right? So, I want to give a longer class in the afternoon. There is a little self-word now… but I will speak a little bit now. You see, actually the Bhagavad-gītā is a… is one of the most important books. Bhagavad-gītā means it is the son of God. It is sung by Kṛṣṇa Himself. So, Lord Caitanya, he ordered his followers that they should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, worship Kṛṣṇa, and read the teachings of Kṛṣṇa. Bolo kṛṣṇa, bhajo kṛṣṇa, karo kṛṣṇa śikṣā – this was the order of Lord Caitanya. So, Prabhupāda explained that there are two kinds of Kṛṣṇa śikṣā: one is by Kṛṣṇa, and one is about Kṛṣṇa. Like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is about Kṛṣṇa, and Bhagavad-gītā is by Kṛṣṇa. Usually the Bhagavad-gītā appearance falls in December, but this year everything is a little early, but must be that the next year is the leap year, where there is thirteen months. I don’t know for sure, but someone can confirm that. December – in Asia where Christianity is not the… in the West Kṛṣṇa was the cause for the marathon, but in India the main cause is the appearance of the Bhagavad-gītā. India, Asia. In India it is very common to give calendars, to give gifts in Diwali or at the time of the end of the year. So, now they are also giving Bhagavad-gītā, and in some of the places like Delhi and Bombay… Delhi, during the… the students gave out 200,000 Bhagavad-gītā’s in one month. 

Haribol

So, yesterday was actually the day of the anniversary of the speaking of the Bhagavad-gītā. It is rare thing to have the actual words spoken by Kṛṣṇa, and there is no dispute, except the one or two versions, everybody agrees that all the versions are alright. Like there are so many versions of the Bible. Of course, there are many commentaries on the Bhagavad-gītā, but the root versions are the same. So, I hope that all of you are regularly reading the Bhagavad-gītā. I asked the Spanish disciples, they should try to read the Bhagavad-gītā at least twice before they take initiation. I don’t know if we are following it very strictly with the Chinese, but generally, this is one of the rulers. But the Bhagavad-gītā is very, very important. In the Padma Purāṇa there is the glories of the Gītā given by Śiva to Pārvatī, chapter by chapter. So, maybe tonight I can tell some of those glories. I was thinking what to say, not getting ideas. Also, next year, 2010 is the five hundredth anniversary of Lord Caitanya’s taking sannyāsa. I don’t know if they can fix something along with that. But.. that the festival this year, because of this 500th anniversary of Lord Caitanya’s sannyāsa… someone says that it is like… So, also, the anniversary of Śrīla Prabhupad is coming. I will like to be …??12.15, maybe his sannyāsa too. In any case it is very crowded, and if you haven’t booked your rooms, good luck, because… but… so, that’s… we are also… this are excavations through Katwa, the place where Lord Caitanya took sannyāsa. There also is the samādhi through Lord Caitanya’s hair. Of course, many devotees objected when he was cutting his hair, and the līlā with the barber is something that is very moving. There is also the samādhi to Keśava Bhāratī; he is sannyāsa-guru, and then there is the samādhi of the barber who cut Lord Caitanya’s hair….Who cut the hair of Lord Caitanya. And there is a Deity of Lord Caitanya who is five hundred years old. It was established by one of the associates of Lord Caitanya. And in a separate place there is also the samādhīs to Jagāi and Mādhāi. Apparently, they went to then Katwa after they were delivered. And they used to chant everyday Hare Kṛṣṇa because they were initiated… they had taken initiation from Lord Nityānanda. So, they used to sing and dance on the way to the Ganges, crying in ecstasy, “Haribol, Haribol, Haribol…. (repeated by devotees)”

Gaurāṅga!

(laughter)

Gaurāṅga ! Gaurāṅga ! So, it’s also a… one of the places of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes which this year gets a lot of focus because of the five… next year rather because of the five hundredth anniversary of Lord Caitanya’s taking sannyāsa. So, I am very glad to see all these devotees who have taken great trouble to come here to see me from China. Also, happy to see the devotees from Hong Kong. So, may Kṛṣṇa give you all the strength to continue on with your Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Wherever I go now, I broadcast on internet. So, you can usually see me in jpslive.com or jpsoffice.com

Devotee: Write it down for them Mahārāja… address..

Gurumahārāja: Otherwise, like in Māyāpur or in Los Angeles, they have some temple or website. Say if I am giving class in the temple, then it is broadcast on the temple website, but usually we try to mention at the jpsvani or…. You can also send in questions. We give priority to the internet questions. Are you having internet now? [Yes]

How many are watching? Devotee: Few people, because it is too early there. It is like two in the morning.

Gurumahārāja: You see, the classes are in the morning or in the night. So, in the west, it is in the office, but now, because it is 1 o clock here, it is like early in the morning in America. But now it is a good time in India and Asia, but how they did advertise that were… we don’t know what the program is. So, they probably they didn’t advertise it. Today they are having initiations in Argentina in about twelve hours. So, six devotees are taking initiation over the internet. Our Chandrasekhar recommends somebody from Beijing, some elderly lady. So, during this time of my time of my treatment, I am giving a donation… initiation, either in Māyāpur or in internet, or wherever I happen to be. So, the deductor?24.25 said I should …very long flights, and take … flights. So, one of my hubs is Hongkong. And so, next stop will be Honolulu, and then to Los Angeles. I arrived in Hawai before I leave the plane. This is the case of international dateline. I need a ….. in the morning, the same day. I heard that Jāhnavā and Ekachakra have found out my doctor. They tell that they found one very good acupressure person in Beijing… they didn’t talk to me, they talk to him, but he is not entertaining any new treatments until I go through the American treatments. Anyway, Chinese is always on my mind, also treatment and for the devotees. Priyānandī promised to take care. I didn’t hear anything from her. So, anyway, I talked to her a much longer than I should have. I want to again welcome all of you and thank you. I will be here for two days. Two more… today and tomorrow, and then next day I have to go on.

Devotees: I am just telling them that you are coming to the temple tonight for the program, and then tomorrow at eleven o’ clock also in the temple, and then again something in the evening. 

Gurumahārāja: How many will be there? {all devotees raise their hand}

Wow! Wow! So, we are very enthused to see all of you.

Think of your questions ahead of time… if you have any questions.