20230319 Question and Answer Session with Youths of ISKCON Patna Temple

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami: You are all nicely serving the Deities here of Gaura Nitāi, Bāṅke-bihārī, Lalitā Viśākhā, and Sītā Rāma Lakṣmaṇa Hanumān. Many youths are coming to the temple. Now, we have to try and see that they take up to devotional service. There are two types of devotees – bhajanānandīs and goṣṭhy-ānandīs. We are goṣṭhy-ānandīs. We want that all become devotees and go back to Godhead. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Any questions?

Question: At times we get lethargic in devotional service, especially when we are not in good association, when we are going out. How do we maintain?

Jayapatākā Swami: Is the Paramātmā, Supersoul, in your heart? Is Kṛṣṇa there? What service do you do?

Devotee: Youth preaching.

Jayapatākā Swami: For whom do you do?

Devotee: For guru and Bhagavān.

Jayapatākā Swami: Then why are you lethargic?

Rukmiṇī Mohana Dāsa: He says there is no outcome, so he feels demotivated.

Jayapatākā Swami: Outcome?

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: No result in preaching.

Jayapatākā Swami: How many youths are here?

Rukmiṇī Mohana Dāsa: This is combined result, not only his.

Jayapatākā Swami: Where is your tilaka? That is why you are lethargic. In the Bhagavad-gītā Lord Kṛṣṇa says that we should only do our duty and not desire for the result. We do service just for the pleasure of Kṛṣṇa. When we get the result; we are proud (ahaṅgāra) and declare that I did this service. And if we do not get the result then we are crestfallen and think nothing is happening. Kṛṣṇa is in your heart, and He sees everything, your efforts.

Question: To practice pure devotional service throughout the life on what aspects should we focus?

Jayapatākā Swami: What do you mean, what aspects?

Devotee: There are nine practices of devotional service, on which to focus more? And what sort of attitude or outlook should we have?

Jayapatākā Swami: In the Kali-yuga, śravaṇam and kīrtanam are the main focus. All the time we do one service. We do more of Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana, śravaṇam and kīrtanam, and besides we should do some service. Pāda-sevanam, some service. Smaraṇam – think of Kṛṣṇa all the time. Arcanam – attend or see maṅgala-ārati, sandhyā-ārati and others. More of śravaṇam and kīrtanam and the rest the way I said above.

Question: When in distress we are not able to focus and chant, for that matter, even think about the Lord. In the presence of lust, anger, and greed he is not able to focus on chanting or on the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: How long have you been serving?

Devotee: One year.

Jayapatākā Swami: Now we have many books - Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Caitanya-caritāmṛta. In 1968 when I became a devotee there were not many books. Only Bhagavad-gītā and Teachings of Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Prabhupāda said, I had to read the Bhagavad-gītā ten times. And the Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said about the glories of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Haridāsa Ṭhākura said when other thoughts disturb the mind, then loudly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. I was a new devotee then, so had more disturbing thoughts in the mind. Therefore, I was loudly chanting the mahā-mantra. All the devotees went to Śrīla Prabhupāda and complained that this Bhakta Jay is loudly chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa! We cannot hear anything else! Śrīla Prabhupāda called me over and told me that the other devotees are complaining to me that you are chanting very loudly. I said, quoting Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s example that he said that when there are disturbing thoughts then chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra loudly. I said that there are many worries in my mind; so I chant loudly. Śrīla Prabhupāda said, this is not wrong, but other devotees are complaining. You go out and chant alone. So then I went to the park and chanted. There was a park near the temple, Montreal Park. Śrīla Prabhupāda was very practical. When other thoughts disturb your mind, then chant loudly. Haribol! HARIBOL! HARIBOL! See, all other thoughts disappeared.

That time His Holiness Gopāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja was also with me. He used to wear suit and tie and chant. He worked with Pepsi Cola. You know Pepsi Cola right? Śrīla Prabhupāda entrusted the Māyāpur Vṛndāvana Trust under him. After that he took sannyāsa and then he went to Delhi and Mumbai. He is my very dear friend. Who of you are disciples of Gopāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja?

Māyāpur Śaśi Dāsa: Earlier I was a shelter disciple of Mahārāja and now I am your disciple Guru Mahārāja!

Jayapatākā Swami: Did you take permission from him?

Māyāpur Śaśi Dāsa: Yes!

Jayapatākā Swami: He worships every day so many śālagrāma-śilās, Deities. Now he is a little sick.

Blessings! This is Lord Jagannātha’s toothbrush.