20200430 Zoom Session with Assam Devotees

The following is an address given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 30th,2020 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India. The address was given to the Assam Devotees via zoom.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

This is my first visit to Assam by Zoom. And I will give a brief summary of COVID-19. We want you all to remain healthy. Because the doctors say there is no treatment or cure for the virus. And no vaccine as yet. Therefore, they say maintain social distancing, especially when you go out of your house. Since the virus may stay alive for up to three days on a hard surface. So if you touch anything that has the virus, it may be on your hand. That is why they say to frequently wash the hands with hot water and soap. To wear mask when you go out. So that if you cough, you don’t give the virus to anyone else.If they cough it stays in the air and if you wear the mask you would don’t get it. That is how to keep your health. At the same time, this is a good opportunity to chant. This is a good opportunity to read, to concentrate on your spiritual life. And also, to do preaching. Because using internet and phone you can contact the people you know. And encourage them to chant. We know that this pandemic is because people have broken the laws of nature. So we want to encourage the people to do the recommended sacrifice for the age of Kali. By chanting the name of Hari, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, in the Kali Santaraṇa Upaniṣad, it states that iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ. These 16 names destroy the evil effects of Kali yuga. Please chant

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare,
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare!

So this virus comes from the animals. And because we eat animals, people eat animals, it came from the animals to the human beings. I was told that in Trivandrum they organized a class for the beginners of Bhagavad-Gītā. So,they expected 40 or 50 people to join, but 500 joined!! There is a big interest now in spiritual life. They know that the doctors, the scientists, the government, can only do so much. They have a limit to what they can do. So therefore, we need the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. And there are many verses that state, we can be saved from suffering if we chant the name of Hari. Bhagavad-Gītā says that four kinds of people come to the Lord. Those who are in need, and those who are suffering, those who are inquisitive, those who have knowledge. So these four people if they are pious, they naturally want to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa. Just as Śankaradeva said, eko sevā, eko deha, eko bina nahi keo. So we should all take shelter of Kṛṣṇa and depend on Him at this time of crisis. Every day at six o clock, I give class on Caitanya-līlā. Lord Caitanya, He taught we should avoid nāma-aparādha. He told the glories of bhakti-yoga. Just by hearing this glories of Caitanya Mahāprabhu it says that one can get the results of all sacrifices. They can have all their sins and bad karma absolved. And they can have pure bhakti. So, bhakti given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda is so special. So I am very happy to address the devotees of Assam. I heard Assam is one of the least affected states! But you can still take advantage of Kṛṣṇa-bhakti. Try to encourage the people to chant. Today I heard a nice suggestion. One girl told me that she contacted her friends and relatives and told them to chant. She said, please send me all your message how you are chanting. This way she wanted to ensure they were chanting. That is a nice system. I want to see your houses, I want to visit you, and I look forward to that. I will be taken around by Śrījīva Dāsa.