20220417 Question and Answer Session

The following is a Question and Answer Session by HH Jayapatākā Swami on April 17th, 2022 in Śrī Māyāpur, India.

Hemāṇga Haladhara dāsa: Gurudeva! I heard pastimes where Śrīla Prabhupāda told you to go on chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Then you asked if you could chant Nārāyaṇa-kavaca because of some problems. I was facing a lot of obstacles in devotional service, serious health issues, not able to sleep peacefully in the night for many years, etc. And it is affecting my quality of chanting in the morning also. So should we chant Narasiṁha-kavaca and pray to Lord Narasiṁhadeva also? Is it a lower form of faith in Kṛṣṇa? Should we just on chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and everything will be alright? What do you suggest Guru Mahārāja?

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. And you can occasionally pray to Lord Prahlāda Narasiṁha, but as a regular practice chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Question: Generally, it is considered that if a husband is always thinking about his wife, his children, it is not very Kṛṣṇa conscious. But if a devotee husband is thinking about his devotee wife, is that considered a deviation?

Jayapatākā Swami: It depends, what the thinking is. We saw in many households the wife is worshiping Deities, cooking bhoga and offering to the Deities. So like that the wife is showing a good example of serving Kṛṣṇa and if that inspires you and helps you to increase your service, then that remembering is good. But if you are simply thinking how you are going to enjoy her, then even though she is a devotee that will be less important.

Lakṣmī Rādhā devī dāsī: How to perceive aparādhās in our devotional service performed as abhideya? How do we atone our correct those?

Jayapatākā Swami: The abhideya is devotional practice of devotional service. And so thinking of practicing devotional service is one thing. But if you are thinking something against devotional service, that is aparādhā. To atone an aparādhā there is no higher atonement than devotional service.

Sivaprasad (Sheltered disciple) [Hyderabad]: How to check one’s connection with guru and Kṛṣṇa at every moment. Could you please enlighten me in this context?

Jayapatākā Swami: Sambandha, abhideya and prayojana are the three things to be remembered. If we are engaged in abhideya in devotional service, then naturally our relationship with guru and Kṛṣṇa is strong. If we are not engaged in devotional service, then there is somewhat distance. So the solution for that is to engage in devotional service.

Purabi Das: How could I develop unalloyed love for Kṛṣṇa as any near material allurement distracting my mind toward it and I am unable to focus my mind on chanting and services, etc.?

Jayapatākā Swami: We should not be attracted by temporary things. Temporary things only last for short time, so we should not be distracted by them. If we are attracted by some temporary things, we should think how to do that in the service of Kṛṣṇa. In this way, we can naturally develop our love for Kṛṣṇa. So, developing love for Kṛṣṇa is a gradual process. And step by step we develop our love for Kṛṣṇa. Just like if we want to have a child, we pray to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious child. We do everything in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will be pleased. And naturally like we were reading how the king and his queen were praying to Kṛṣṇa and then they got a Kṛṣṇa conscious child, they actually got an avatāra, Ṛṣabhadeva as their child who was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sukamala Nityānanda dāsa [Bangladesh]: Lust is always bothering and affecting my mind, and stands as an obstacle from making me a good devotee. But I want to get out of this situation? How can I get out of this situation and how can I, under any situation, keep my mind firmly fixed on the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Jayapatākā Swami: I just said that we should pray to Kṛṣṇa that whatever we do, we do service in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way. Firstly, you have to get married, and then the two should pray that you have Kṛṣṇa conscious children. Hare Kṛṣṇa!