20230615 Address to JSSS Meeting Devotees

The following is an address given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June 15th,2023 at Bhaktivedanta Manor, London. The address was given at the JSSS meeting.

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

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Jayapatākā Swami: So I heard you are having a JSSS meeting. Of course, in ISKCON, we have different parallel lines of management, and parallel lines of authority. So, we want to respect all the temple management and other lines that are there. And we have a multi-guru society. We want to see that all gurus are respected. At the same time, we want to be sure that everybody is advancing nicely in their Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And I have a responsibility to see that all the disciples – dīkṣā, śikṣā, aspiring, etc. get back to Godhead in this lifetime. And if you can help to spread Śrīla Prabhupāda’s message, that will be very beneficial. Since we are a personal movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda, he said that we believe in the Supreme Person. And it is also mentioned that we are hyper personal. So people, it is natural that they have some personal relationship with guru. And that in this environment maybe it is good to know what the guru is doing. And be in connection with different devotees who are dealing with the guru. We have the Jayapatākā Swami App. Does everybody have a copy of that? If you don’t, then you can download it on Apple and Google Play. We try to give different experiences that we are having, so that devotees can understand what we are doing. We want everybody to be very Kṛṣṇa conscious.

I was in the Sādhu-saṅga function in the USA in Dallas. I was invited for the first time. This is the 10th year anniversary. His Holiness Sacinandana Mahārāja, he asked me in front of everybody, about 3000 devotees, “How are you?” [laughter] So, I mentioned my different physical challenges. But I said I am very happy to be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness! So we were discussing last night with Śyāma-sundara Prabhu how he started along with other devotees, the campaign in London. And how by Lord Caitanya’s and Lord Nityānanda’s mercy, they overcame all kinds of obstacles. And we were very inspired to see how the UK Yātrā has expanded. But anyway, I am very happy that you are all assembled here. I hope that you have had a pleasant evening. And we want that, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s message of Nitāi-Gaura is practiced and spread everywhere. Nitāi-Gaura had a message and that was brought to the West by Śrīla Prabhupāda. So I am very happy to see all of you devotees. Hare Kṛṣṇa!