20211001 Question and Answers

Dvijanātha Gaurāṅga dāsa, Sylhet, Bangladesh: Bengali: We know that Lord Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvana and goes outside. Then why is it that the gopīs were crying in separation from Him, if Lord Kṛṣṇa was always in Vṛndāvana?

Jayapatākā Swami: When Akrūra saw Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma in the river, it seemed that the Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma who went from there, were not the same Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. But as far as the gopīs are concerned, Kṛṣṇa left. He was there, invisible. So they were feeling separation, that is because of their pure love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. Although Kṛṣṇa does not leave Vṛnda He is there unseen. But they were used to seeing Him in Vṛndāvana.

Keya Rāṇī: Why did the gopīs have to go through this great feeling of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa since Lord Kṛṣṇa always reciprocates with His devotees’ loving service?

Jayapatākā Swami: Here we find that the love we feel for guru and Kṛṣṇa in separation is greater than the love we feel in union. So Kṛṣṇa, by disappearing for some time, He is putting the gopīs in very intense loving sentiments. So, actually in the spiritual world, He only goes for two weeks. But here Rādhārāṇī was cursed and so Kṛṣṇa stayed a little longer. So we can, by following Lord Caitanya, we can also serve in separation. And that would be a more intense way of loving Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Kackuly Rāṇī, Dāmodardeśa: As you mentioned in one question answer session to take the dust from the lotus feet of all devotees if we have committed any offence. What if we take the dust of someone who is lower than us in age and not following the four regulative principles? What effect will fall on us?

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, according to their third verse of the Śīkṣaṣṭaka we should be lower than a blade of grass. And Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, he prayed that there is no one more lower than me. So I would not worry about that. You take a humble position, then you will always get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.

Spanish: How can we consider the sentiments of the devotees and not commit any offences?

Jayapatākā Swami: If you can understand their sentiments, then naturally you will avoid committing offences. And if you cannot understand their sentiments, then you should just avoid committing any offences.

Anyone who dies thinking about Lord Kṛṣṇa, naturally gets liberation. There are five types of liberation. Demons get the type of merging into the impersonal brahma-jyoti. But devotees do not accept it. They want always to be engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa. You can accept the other four liberations, if it includes service to Kṛṣṇa.