20220305 Question and Answer Session

The following is a Question & Answer Session by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami on March 5th, 2022 in Śrī Māyāpur, India.

paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

So because today I was resting for very long we can have questions and answers. We will have a few questions and call it a day

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa dearest Gurumahārāja. Please accept my most respectful humble obeisances. In Śaraṇāgati-bhajana Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura spoke about the six-fold practices of surrender and also mentioned that Śrī Nanda-kumāra Kṛṣṇa hears the prayers of those who practice these. But sometimes I feel that I am not able to practice this properly especially kārpaṇya or humility. In this situation how and what should I pray to Lord Kṛṣṇa so that He may hear my prayers?

—Trying to be your servant, Sudevī Jayaśrī devī dāsī, Bhubaneswar, India

Jayapatākā Swami: We like to think that if we are doing good it is by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa. We don’t take any credit for ourselves. In that way, we stay humble. If we think we are the doer, then that is also arrogance. And so we are depending on guru and Kṛṣṇa all the time.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa dearest Gurumahārāja please accept my heartfelt and respectful obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet. When a devotee is not attached to their spiritual master’s instructions, will that person get mukti? Will that person be a guru-drohi to his or her spiritual master?

—Your fallen daughter, Kackulī Rāṇī, Dāmodardeśa

Jayapatākā Swami: It depends on how bad he is and if he is slightly offensive or fully offensive. We don’t want liberation by the impersonal method, and that is something we reject. I don’t know what type of liberation that person gets. So the guru is giving instructions to help us so that we can achieve the spiritual perfection and we should appreciate what the spiritual master tells us.

—Your insignificant spiritual daughter, Premeśvarī Śrī Rādhā devī dāsī

Jayapatākā Swami: Good question. Separation from guru and Kṛṣṇa is something that we encounter and Kṛṣṇa. So Lord Caitanya said that we can get a closer devotion by feeling separation. So if we feel separation that is to the body of the guru, if we feel separation that is to the instructions of the guru and just try to follow his instructions. By following his instructions, we can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Serving the guru personally is vapu-sevā and serving his instructions is vāṇī-sevā. So vāṇī-sevā is more important.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Gurumahārāja, please accept my respectful obeisances. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā that He is equal to all and does not consider anyone to be an object of aversion or affection. At the same time, it is also said that for those who worship Him with devotion, He offers Himself to them and they offer themselves to Him. Can you kindly explain how Kṛṣṇa is partial and impartial at the same time?

—Your daughter, Mathuralīleśvarī devī dāsī

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa, He always remains neutral. But He reciprocates with devotees as they approach Him. When someone approaches Him with devotion, He reciprocates with devotion. If someone approaches Him neglectfully then He reciprocates like that.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa dear Gurudeva, please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda and to you. It is said that we should be happy to serve wherever Rādhārāṇī wants us to be. But despite knowing this what if we desire to be in dhāma physically and serve there? Is it a selfish desire or this can be considered as viraha-bhāva too? Please kindly explain us.

—Your most insignificant daughter, Keyā Rāṇī

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī said in the Upadeśāmṛta that one should live in a holy place, so that could be in a dhāma or in a nearby temple. So, that kind of desire is authorized.