It is said that if someone donates Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on Bhādra Pūrṇimā, they go back to Goloka. Would one who has already passed away also attain the same benefit if somebody donated a set on their behalf? | Questions and answers

Link: 20200911 Zoom Session with Bangladesh National Youth Gathering

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Do we need to have initiation and surrender to go back to Godhead?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-06

Jayapataka Swami: I answered this question yesterday.

So many are here on Zoom.

If we have initiation and follow the bona fide guru, then our road to Kṛṣṇa is sure.

If one meets a bona fide guru, but he does not take initiation out of false ego,

then that is an obstacle.

If one does not meet a guru and he reads Śrīla Prabhupāda books, follows,

then there is no problem.

Some people think I don’t need a guru

and if they meet a bona fide guru they don’t take shelter.

So, that could be an obstacle.

There are all kinds of circumstances.

Generally, one should have a bonafide spiritual master

and should take initiation.

In this way, should perform their devotional service following the instructions of their guru.

Haribol!

Link: 20230510 Question And Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

Does reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books regularly and listening to your classes also qualify as association ?

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-08-29

Why not?

Of course, all these things are very helpful in your spiritual life.

But we have to avoid also the association of non-devotees.

And that is why it would be good if there is some temple nearby

you can attend and to associate with devotees.

But if there are no devotees and you have Śrīla Prabhupāda books,

listen to my classes.

We see now by internet we have various Jayapatākā Swami Śiṣya Samūha [JSSS] programs,

you can attend them.

Actually, on the internet, we see YouTube I visit various temples every day.

So, now the internet we can associate with different devotees.

Via internet we can have good association, satsaṅga but we can also get into bad association.

So we should take the good and leave the bad.

Link: 20211218 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.29

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

Does taking prasādam guarantee returning back to Godhead for anyone?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-09

Jayapatākā Swami: When we say, “Take prasāda, you get human birth”, some people got prasāda and got liberated.

So, in describing the glories of prasāda… The kṛṣṇa-prasāda, you cannot put a limit on it.

Some people by just chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa once, they got liberation like Ajāmila.

Simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, more sins, sinful reactions of karma are eradicated than one can commit.

At the same time someone may chant Hare Kṛṣṇa for a thousand… and then not actually go back to Kṛṣṇa.

How is that possible?

So, the thing is that one is not supposed to doubt that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, this effect has come.

That means potentially it may come for anyone.

But then each person’s situation being different, that a person if he is very offensive, even they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, take prasāda, and they offend devotees, because of those offenses, Kṛṣṇa, He may just withhold His mercy.

An offense being directly con.. An offense and sinful reaction are different – a person may be the most sinful, maybe a murderer, maybe a rapist, may be... but that is all on the material platform.

That is in relation to other people’s material bodies.

It is not in relation to God.

So, the reaction they have to get is also material.

They have to suffer materially for whatever suffering they are committing on their body and to other’s bodies.

But when an offence, means directly in relation to… with God or those who are directly in relation to Him, His pure devotees;

so therefore, what the... the most overpowering thing about everything is Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.

That mercy can destroy all the material reactions, and just give one a clean slate, bring one back to Godhead.

But if one is directly opposing God, even that He can forgive, but sometimes if you directly offend His devotees,

then Kṛṣṇa… that’s so disapproved by Him that then He may withhold His mercy to that person till he gets out of the habit of offending His devotees or whatever offense he is committing.

So, in that way, if a person is offense-less, then by taking prasāda, one may even be liberated, one may even achieve Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Depending on the offenses, lack of offenses and so many conditions, one is delivered.

One may be sincerely trying to find the truth or just ordinary material acts, an innocent person, not very inimical to God,

but just trying to enjoy his senses, trying to enjoy the senses and be happy was misled, wandering here and there trying to enjoy in different ways

and not succeeding, gets association with devotees, they give prasāda, they give spiritual advice, he starts to, the person starts to chant and then automatically they feel immediately advancement.

Another person may have, you see... they are very inimical to the devotees.

As a result, the effect may be reduced.

This offense is the most dangerous thing.

Next dangerous is of course bad habits and all that, after we have chanted.

Once one takes up seriously the chanting, one should try to avoid as far as possible unauthorized activities because they would delay one’s progress.

So, by taking prasāda, that ultimately what that person can be guaranteed a human birth.

But there may be an exception if he is exceptionally offensive to devotees.

In general, one would be guaranteed at least a human birth.

And one may even get a greater benefit by taking prasāda.

If he takes prasāda, the person is purified of all reactions.

Says an offense where he takes prasāda, he is purified and then again, the next minute again he takes more, he does more karmas, more work that he has to take the reaction for.

So, because of those reactions they have to take birth at least they get a human birth.

But if after taking prasāda they did not perform any more materialistic activities, then they could go back to Godhead.

Link: 19820903 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.8.42

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Food], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Prasāda and Bhoga]

Even though we may not be fully purified at heart and still have some material desires, if we keep following the given process of chanting our daily rounds and following the regulative principles diligently, will we go back to Godhead ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-24

Jayapatākā Swami: Prabhupāda said, if a person follows the process of Kṛṣṇa conscious then they can.

If one wants to take birth again in the material world, no.

How free you are from things like offences, may dictate how high you can go in spiritual world.

Whether we get place in Vaikuntha? Whether we get a place in Goloka Vṛndāvana? How I am will able to go?

Or, I mean if a person, I had one person, approached me in India, he was a real strange character.

He said that, “I have been chanting 32 or 20 or 16 rounds for 26 years.

But never gave up eating fish.”

Neutral position that we were discussing today, he reciprocates with the person so perfectly,

that if someone would do something like that because of their offences to chanting, while chanting the holy name,

but they don’t actually make advancement, towards pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

They are getting some benefit from chanting,

but at the same time they are material heart, their material desires aren’t going due to being absorbed in sense gratification like that.

So I advised him that, you should chant the names of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu,

and by His mercy you may be able to overcome this desire of eating fish.

And sure enough after chanting Lord Caitanya’s names for some period of time, he got some spiritual intelligence, and he could stop eating fish.

Even though for 26 years he was on his weird practice, where although chanting he never tried to avoid breaking that,

you know, stopping breaking that regulative principle.

So if a person, I mean if he is determined, you know, alright, I am going to chant 16 rounds and I am going to follow the four principles,

but if they take things in an attitude that I’m determined not to give up my material attachments,

then that’s anachronism, you know.

From our side it should be not just externals, but it should be internal, that we are trying to follow the process.

We are trying from our part to give up our attachments.

If we have the proper attitude, we are trying to give up our attachments, we are trying to avoid, even if we arenot fully successful.

Prabhupāda said, “There is… That Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, that Lord Caitanya is so merciful,

even though we may not at the point of death have been a hundred percent successful.

We can still get delivered.”

[Aside: How long I should go on ?]

I was in Montreal, and Prabhupāda was giving a lecture, that time we had a vyasāsana for him was very high.

I mean, very, it was like, when we would stand up, we would be facing Prabhupāda eye to eye,

or he would still be even higher than that.

It was a very high vyasāsana, and you have to kind of crawl up, steps going up.

[Aside: It was more like a kind of a culpit.

Culpit or something?

Devotee: Pulpit]

Pulpit, Pulpit.

So he would be up there, he would have a seat there and would even have prasādathere.

On a feast they would bring him a big plate of prasāda, we will all be sitting down,

and he would take Prasad from there and sometimes he would give prasāda out from there.

So one day he was giving his lecture from up there naturally,

and on this point he was just preaching very hard, we have to be a 100% Kṛṣṇa conscious,

we have to try, we have to be 100% Kṛṣṇa conscious, we have to try for that,

we have to become, if we are 100% Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we can get pure love for Kṛṣṇa, then our lives will be completely successful.

He was hammering this point.

The devotees you know thinking, 100%! Their heads gradually started to hanging down and they became very thoughtful,

that 100% was like such an objective that never seem that this ever possible, even you know, to get real close to a 100%.

But Prabhupāda was very emphatic on this point.

The devotees were very thoughtful at that time.

Then Prabhupāda, he ended the class, there was just a heavy silence, there was no question,

he ended the class, said become cent percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.

There was just like a death.

I mean there was a silence so thick you could swim through it.

And Prabhupāda was just sitting there on this, that raised

vyasāsana and said that, even if you are 90% Kṛṣṇa conscious, Kṛṣṇa is so kind that you may still be delivered.

Then he started to get down, and he was about halfway down,

just as he was getting off that vyasāsana, he turned to the devotees, said, “Even 90% you can be delivered.”

He started walking off, then he turned and then his cādara fell off.

I remember that it was such a dramatic, almost like you know what you see in those movies;

Julies Caesar his chaddar just blew like that you know.

“Even 70%”, he took his cādara and threw it over his shoulders, raised his head and walked off…

(laughter)

Śrīla Prabhupāda Ki!

Devotees: Jaya!

Jayapataka Swami: But the purport is that try for the 100%.

Link: 19850110 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.1.3

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Mercy], [Sādhanā]

Every day I make a resolve that I will do so many rounds of chanting, this much reading of scriptures and then do my studies. But I am not able to keep this program steadily.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Why you are not able to keep the program? What is it that your mind gets attracted to and does not let you do your daily routine properly?

That is your enemy.

You have to hear from the senior devotees about which is the obstacle that stops you.With the weapon of knowledge, you have to cut that.

Doing this you will become strong.

Doing exercise, in one day suddenly you cannot lift 100 kilos!

Slowly 20, 30, 40, 60, and finally in the future you can life 100 kilos.

Maybe more also.

Now His Holiness Bhānu Swami can lift a lot of weight!

I cannot!

He does exercise every day.

You are trying, that is good.

You should not feel disappointed.

Just keep going.

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can I increase my taste in reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Before you read chant your praṇāmas

to guru and Śrīla Prabhupāda.

In that way read the book with full attention.

And then gradually by reading every day your taste will increase.

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can I increase the dependence on holy name and Bhāgavatam?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa and His name are not different.

And the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

So if we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, if there is any anxiety or danger,

Kṛṣṇa helps us.

We have great devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja, he always took shelter of the holy name and His teachings.

But the demon father Hiraṇyakaśipu asked is your God in this column?

He is everywhere, Prahlāda Mahārāja said.

Then Hiraṇyakaśipu kicked the column.

There was a sound ohh….

Hiraṇyakaśipu was looking where is that sound coming from.

Then Narasiṁhadeva came out from the column.

So, you put your faith in Kṛṣṇa, His holy name, the śāstras, He will never let you down.

Prahlāda Mahārāja was an innocent boy, but his father was a demon.

So Prahlāda was not trying to purposely trouble his father.

So if you read the history of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam then that will strengthen your faith.

Link: 20220618 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can I make advancement in devotional life? I try to chant 16 rounds, but I don’t get time to read books. How can I improve in all aspects of spiritual life?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

If you fix a specific time to read books daily then your reading habit will grow

and if two persons can sit and read, that way your reading habit will increase.

There are some books which are in audio version which you can hear while cooking or doing some work.

Link: 20201011 Zoom Session With Singapore Bengali Devotees

Category: [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How can young gṛhastha couples practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a way that they can serve and assist you in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission and perfect themselves in one lifetime?

Questioner: Anādi Akṣaya Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: The gṛhasthas need to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center

and by offering their food to Kṛṣṇa,

by doing regular ārati to the deities,

reading certain amount of śāstra,

all these things help to keep one fixed up in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Husband and wife should help each other

to think of Kṛṣṇa.

And you may have Deities in the house

and do the various devotional services

to keep your self Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā]

How do we understand that Navadvīpa-dhāma and Vṛndāvana-dhāma are non-different?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in the walls here the words ‘Jaya Rādhe’.

So Navadvīpa was made by Rādhārāṇī.

And when Kṛṣṇa went there, He said, “Oh, you have created this beautiful dhāma for Me!

I will bring all the holy places here, so this should be non-different from Vṛndāvana.”

And Kṛṣṇa united with Rādhā and took the heart of Rādhā and Her color.

So He became Gaurāṅga.

With the heart of Rādhārāṇī and He was golden color like Rādhārāṇī.

So how do we know? Because Kṛṣṇa said it is non-different from Vṛndāvana.

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

How to be in Vṛndāvana and please you and Śrīla Prabhupāda and how to deal with the vraja-vāsīs?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: It is like a multiple question.

You can be in Vṛndāvana by being in Vṛndāvana.

And how to please Śrīla Prabhupāda and me? I am very pleased if you are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

If you are studying Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books,

Śrīla Prabhupāda called that tapasyā in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

If you are distributing the mercy out that is also very pleasing.

And if you are doing Kṛṣṇa conscious sevās, there are nine types of sevās,

then that is also pleasing.

How to deal with the vraja-vāsīs?

What is the problem?

How to deal with the vraja-vāsīs in regard to job, work, and association?

She is saying vraja-vāsīs, if she is saying in regard to work she has to work for someone.

You are staying in Vṛndāvana, then you have to live with vraja-vāsīs.

I guess I would just encourage them, they are vraja-vāsīs, they are very fortunate.

That they are in Kṛṣṇa’s land,

so they should be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Otherwise, what is the use of being a vraja-vāsī.

Of course, when I installed the lotus feet this morning,

then afterwards a brāhmaṇa vraja-vāsī said I will help you to worship the Śyāma-kuṇḍa.

Then he took some water, sprinkled it,

tied a thread around my wrist.

And then he said, I am a poor brāhmaṇa, please give me some donation.

So I gave him some.

I saw in Māyāpur, sometimes during the season, the boys come up and say we are having a pūjā program in our pandal for Durgā-pūjā, please give us donation.

So I was thinking we are worshiping Kṛṣṇa every day

but Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “Alright, give them 10 rupees.”

So, they are taught they accept whatever they are given. So to make the long story short, just give them 10 rupees and Haribol!

So like that Śrīla Prabhupāda would sometimes give them something just to make them happy.

Link: 20240201 Evening Darśana and Question-and-answer session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

How to concentrate only on Kṛṣṇa as our mind is not stable. Am reading Bhagavad-Gītā and Bhāgavatam, and doing japa but not able to focus mind on Kṛṣṇa?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Devotional service is a somewhat gradual process.

After taking initiation,

there is the stage of anartha-nivṛtti,

where the mind is somewhat fluctuating.

Gradually we rise above that,

to become fixed on the level of niṣṭhā.

From there we develop a taste.

Then when you are recognizing your mind is fluctuating,

again and again you have to bring it back to Kṛṣṇa.

In that way you can advance in your devotional service.

Just like, there is a prayer to the mind,

like, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, he wrote a book,

Vaiṣṇava Ke?,

I wrote some commentary on that.

Who is a Vaiṣṇava?

He is praying to his mind, what kind of a Vaiṣṇava are you?

It is a very heavy prayer

because he chastises his mind.

And Śrīnivāsa Ācārya wrote a book, Manaḥ Śikṣā,

Teaching the Mind.

So somehow we have to bring the mind under our control.

That is the position of bhakti-yoga.

We don’t let the mind wander,

we keep it engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all the time.

Link: 20200424 Zoom Session to Kanhaiyādeśa

Category: [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How to develop a taste for reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books?

Questioner: —Sundara Nitāi dāsa, Ujjain.

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Sundara Nitāi dāsa, If you read the books every day, your taste will increase.

And I was reading last night, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that those who are somehow in connection with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement,

they should read all of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books –

Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and others.

Otherwise, one may fall down and leave Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of inadequate knowledge.

So you can pray to Kṛṣṇa that you can read the books without offence.

And by regularly reading, then you will gradually increase your taste.

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How to do sakhyam?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: Be a friend of Kṛṣṇa!

Many are friends in Vṛndāvana, Arjuna was also a friend.

Uddhava was a friend.

So, one can be a friend by following the footsteps of the friend.

Are you ready?

Link: 20231008 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]

How to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books regularly without failure? I am skipping frequently from reading.

Questioner: Paramapuruṣa Mādhava dāsa

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Paramapuruṣa Mādhava dāsa, what can I say?

How to read Śrīla Prabhupāda books regularly without failure?

You say you are skipping frequently from reading.

So we would like you to get the different degrees –

Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava,

Bhakti-vedānta, Bhakti-Sārvabhauma.

So naturally to get those degrees you have to read those books.

So making a system to regularly read,

that needs to be done.

And initially maybe you don’t have a taste.

But after sometime, you develop a taste

and then you will be thinking how to get more time to read.

So much nectar!

In the first canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

we are reading how Yudhiṣṭhira was the emperor of the world.

When he heard that Kṛṣṇa had left the world,

had gone back home back to Godhead,

all the Vṛṣnis also went back,

then immediately he enthroned his grandson Parīkṣit

and then he went giving up his crown, belt

and then he prepared himself to go back home back to Godhead.

Link: 20201109 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

How to understand sambandha, abhideya and prayojana properly?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Saṁbandha is understanding of our relationship that we are the servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Abhideya is engaging in that relationship.

And prayojana is achieving the perfection of life,

pure love of Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20220506 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

I am confused why the animals in Vṛndāvana are in śānta-rasa because the cows give milk, or the parrots wake up Kṛṣṇa, isn’t this service?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: Indirectly the trees, the cows, they are providing fruits, milk,

but they are not actively doing service.

Kṛṣṇa goes and milks them.

In one sense, okay they are contributing something,

but they are not like Hanumān, who is flying over the ocean and fighting with the demons.

The service of Kṛṣṇa, they really serve Kṛṣṇa.

We are not saying that the animals, the trees, they are not doing anything useful, they are useful.

But it is not that they do a lot of service.

They do their thing.

Produce fruit, produce milk.

I mean, I am sure the deer would go up and lick Kṛṣṇa.

Śānta-rasa means that they appreciate Kṛṣṇa.

One way you can say it is service.

But those who are in dāsya-rasa, they really do a lot of service.

Link: 20230516 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

I am facing difficulty in practically applying the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. Even though I have read a particular verse, when it comes to applying it in a situation, I forget it. Need your guidance?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

We read something, we want to apply it,it stays with us.

You say at the time you forget.

What should I do?

I used to go out, I would preach and sometimes I would forget.

And I would tell people, ok I will see you tomorrow.

Then I would think there was an answer but what is the answer.

So I would talk to some senior devotee

and I would be ready to face them.

Next time I had the answer.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I am not able to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. How to increase the taste to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

Jayapatākā Swami: At first you might not have a taste for reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

But you should still read.

I must have read the books maybe five or ten times.

At first, it was not so much taste, but I knew it was medicine, I had to read it.

Now, I read every day.

And it is very blissful!

So, I got my Bhakti-vaibhava degree, by studying.

And now on the 12th canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to get my Bhakti-vedānta degree!

How many of you have the Bhakti-śāstrī?

So, Bhakti-śāstrī is mainly Bhagavad-gītā.

And everybody should read that and get the degree.

Bhakti-vaibhava is six cantos of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

And Bhakti-vedānta is the last six cantos.

Bhakti-Sārvabhauma is Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Read, read, read. Read and put it to practice,

it sticks with you.

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I am not attracted to the spiritual world; I don’t know why, it is amazing. Please tell me about the spiritual world and what should I do to be attracted so that I can take up sādhanā and regulative principles and bhakti seriously?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-08

Jayapatākā Swami: You see this material world is a temporary world, aśāśvatam.

And it is a place of suffering.

You can look up the Al Jazeera or TRT World or any other news stations,

you see all the difficulties.

Some countries there is flood,

some countries hurricanes, cyclone,

some country war,

some pandemic,

rising cases.

There is no old age, disease, birth or death in the spiritual world.

There everyone is related to Kṛṣṇa in a loving relationship.

Naturally, one feels loving ecstasy all the time.

So you have your choice. In this material world there is suffering, there is some lust,

temporarily you will satisfy your lust

and you think that is the goal of life.

But that is not what we are actually looking for.

What we are looking for is the spiritual world.

Free life,

free choice.

Spiritual bliss.

There you serve the Lord out of love.

Here you work for some office

because you make them money

and when you are not making money,

they lay you off,

they fire you!

It is a business relation, there is no love.

So it depends what you want.

If you are attracted by love and freedom of all kinds of suffering,

then that is the spiritual world.

Link: 20200919 Zoom Session for South India Youth Boys

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā]

I have been distributing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and also worship them, but now I have become invalid and disabled. What could be the reason for this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-15

Jayapatākā Swami: This is due to the time factor.

And bhakti, vairāgya, jñāna, they are eternal tattvas.

But jñāna, vairāgya they became old in Kali-yuga.

But by Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they became rejuvenated.

If you think that because of distributing books you will remain in this material world forever?

Anyway, we have a limited time to live.

And by your distributing books, after this life we hope you will not have to take birth again!

We should avoid offences.

Link: 20220910 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.40

Category: [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I heard sometimes people of Vṛndāvana, they have a special relationship with Kṛṣṇa, can’t understand… they say we can’t understand but when is it that they go back to Godhead, after this life, when their soul’s in Vṛndāvana?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-10-24

Jayapatākā Swami: The Vrajavāsīs who understand their eternal servitude, relationship with Kṛṣṇa are above ordinary devotees,

because… even sometimes they may not be as strict… or say, as a… as a… under sādhana-bhaktas,

but because they’ve got some intimate relationship in terms of their being Vrajavāsīs, they… a lot of them can see themselves as servant of Kṛṣṇa.

They’re very connected, that way.

So, that way if a neophyte comes and starts to criticize them, then it can be an offense.

They may not be able to actually understand,

and it’s not so much the neophyte devotees,

but it’s the karmīs, they might not understand what’s special about… a very neophyte or karmī.

They may not understand and they may criticize.

Now, even the criticism might be to some extent just in some cases if it’s not their position,

and then they’re not able to see actually what is the good… the good quality of the person,

the person may… very very attached to Kṛṣṇa, but just due to the Kali-yuga is not , following everything perfectly,

but at the same time, in the ultimate issue, is very much connected with Kṛṣṇa.

So, that way, Prabhupāda said that generally one is supposed to go to the holy-dhāma three days,

because after three days, the glitter wears off, then you start finding fault with the dhāma-vasīs,

and that can be detrimental to one’s advancement.

I think that’s probably the rule that you were referring to.

Devotee: What was Prabhupāda saying there... that persons… people that go to Vṛndāvana,

they’re caught up by māyā and they can’t escape, in this life? There’s some mention of that.

Jayapatākā Swami: Who can’t escape?

What I just said, here?

Yeah… there, I said…

This is different.

These are the people that go to Vṛndāvana,

and imitate the six gosvāmīs,

imitating liberated souls who are not actually on that level.

Bhaktisiddhanta Ṭhākura put it another way… said that Mādhavendra Purī was no doubt a great devotee,

but he didn’t put on any of his emotions.

He wasn’t putting on any show, rather he was trying to avoid it, public attention, but it was coming anyway.

But, if someone tries to… He never cheated, to put on any false show, or even…

someone else puts on some kind of show, imitating Mādhavendra Purī,

it’s not only you know, bad taste, it’s very offensive actually.

So, that’s the thing that’s being criticized.

Not people… in this particular sense, people that imitate the pure devotees,

not someone who’s just a neophyte person who sits down and criticizes people born in the dhāma, or the dhāma, itself.

Prabhupāda didn’t say they’re not devotees, just kaniṣṭha-adhikārīs.

Kaniṣṭha-adhikārī normally doesn’t get liberation.

Have to (indistinct)… preach for our maximum purification.

Is that alright?

Link: 19821017 Arrival Address

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

I read Bhagavad-gītā but I don’t remember. I listen to Bhagavad-gītā and I remember. So should I stop reading?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, since I had a stroke in 2008,

my eyesight is a little poor.

So I can read when the fonts are very big.

But now I found that either I can have people read to me or I have audio books.

So, if you are better equipped to hear class, you can hear the Bhagavad-gītā with the purports.

Draviḍa Prabhu and other devotees in California,

they have produced audio Bhagavad-gītā.

There may be audio gītās in different websites, I don’t know.

But usually if you read gītā and use what you read, you can remember it.

Like you read it something and that day you think I can use it – when you talk to someone you say, oh, I read this verse in the Bhagavad-gītā today.

Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (Bg. 2.20).

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I read the Bhagavad-gītā and other books but when I go to preach, it does not stay in my mind. What should I do ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: If you read, it should stay in your mind.

So, I don’t know why it doesn’t stay in your mind.

You can read a little bit

and say that

if something that doesn’t stay in your mind, you can tell them that you will read and tell them later.

So then you can read again,

refresh your mind

and use it.

If you don’t use it, you lose it.

If you use it, then naturally you can keep it.

Do you take cow’s milk?

Link: 20201118 Zoom Prabhupāda Kathā

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I want to know what is the right mood to take the initiation test?

Questioner: Liz Valero

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: You have to listen to and read the books.

Understand the teachings, at least the basic books.

If you read the books, the questions are fairly simple. For instance, what is the difference between the body and soul.

You can have the questions in advance, no secret.

So if you want the questions, we can send you.

So any way don’t feel anxiety.

We want you to pass your test.

And if you don’t pass it first time,

you can ask for the answers.

Next time you pass.

I think they are not so difficult.

Why do you believe that Kṛṣṇa is God?

Questions like that, they are very simple.

More complicated for second initiation.

They have to pass Bhakti-śāstri.

For first initiation, they are very simple.

Okay? No anxiety! Be calm!

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

If someone is unable to purchase the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam due to high price can we give him Caitanya-caritāmṛta?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Any of the books are good.

But if one wants to read the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam then I think there is a way of reading it, even if one does not buy it.

If you have a library near your home, then I can donate a set to that library.

Send me the library name.

Otherwise, talk to the Nāmahaṭṭa and we can see who we can arrange.

Link: 20220915 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.20

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

If someone only does book distribution and no other devotional service, will they still go back to Godhead?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

Jayapatākā Swami: Will they not chant?

Will they not have kṛṣṇa-prasāda?

Jayapatākā Swami: If they do book distribution all the time then what is the difficulty?

We have to always do some service or the other.

If they distribute books all the time, that is good.

Those who are in Māyāpur they cannot distribute books all the time.

They come and contribute in the ārati, they dance.

This way they do different services.

But if they do book distribution there all the time, what is the difficulty? It is even good.

But we have to always be doing one service or the other.

One cooks, if there is no cooking then we have a problem.

Like soldiers, one cooks, and one goes out. Similarly, our devotees also, someone cooks, and someone does some other service.

One will distribute prasāda.

If they say that we will not do any other service.

Those who distribute books can also do any other service.

But the time allocated for book distribution, they should do that.

But they can also distribute prasāda, and they should have prasāda. During ārati they should participate and do everything.

One service or the other we have to do.

As many books are distributed, it is good.

But all the time we should do one service.

Link: 20201007 Zoom Address to Bangladesh Book Distribution

Category: [Sādhanā / Book distribution], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.5), Kṛṣṇa says that all beings are in Him but He is not in them. Could you elaborate?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Since He is the Absolute Truth,

so everything is in Him.

But He is bigger than anything else.

So it is not that anyone can contain Kṛṣṇa totally.

He is bigger than everything.

He is the cause of all causes.

And He is without any cause Himself.

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.5), Kṛṣṇa says that all beings are in Him but He is not in them. Could you elaborate?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Since He is the Absolute Truth,

so everything is in Him.

But He is bigger than anything else.

So it is not that anyone can contain Kṛṣṇa totally.

He is bigger than everything.

He is the cause of all causes.

And He is without any cause Himself.

Link: 20200909 Although Being in a Predicament, the Barber Receives a Boon of Residence in Goloka (Part 2)

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

In the material world we have different relationships like brother, sister, father mother, spiritual master, disciple. What kind of relationships are there in the spiritual world?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the spiritual world there are all kinds of relationships.

But Kṛṣṇa is in the center.

And some may be cowherd boys,

gopas, some are parents,

some are gopīs and rāṇīs,

friends of Yaśodā,

and like Vasudeva, he had many wives.

So, Devakī was the mother of Kṛṣṇa,

and the other wives of Vasudeva were stepmothers of Kṛṣṇa.

Just like, King Daśaratha had three wives.

Kauśalyā, was the mother of Rāma

and the other wives were stepmothers.

So we have all kinds of relationships in the spiritual world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that in Vaikuṇṭha we also have the husband wife,

they may kiss each other,

but they are serving Kṛṣṇa

and they are in their Nārāyaṇa form.

But there is no birth, death, old age or disease in the spiritual world.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

Is it an offense to not be attentive while reading/hearing ?

Questioner: Vraja Kīrtana dāsa

Date: 2022-10-14

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was sitting in the class of his Gurudeva. And someone came and talked to him. He looked away; he was listening to the devotee. And the guru said, “You no need to hear?” So, he thought that as a great blessing, because the guru noticed them. So definitely we want to give our full concentration while class is going on. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was sitting in the class of his Gurudeva.

And someone came and talked to him.

He looked away; he was listening to the devotee.

And the guru said, “You no need to hear?”

So, he thought that as a great blessing, because the guru noticed them.

So definitely we want to give our full concentration while class is going on.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Category: [Anarthās], [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

Is it possible if someone at the time of death cannot or is not able to remember Kṛṣṇa, can he still go back to Godhead?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-05-11

Jayapatākā Swami: There are many ways one remembers Kṛṣṇa.

Ajāmila, remembered his son,

his son’s name was Nārāyaṇa.

So at the time of death, he was chanting the name of his son.

Somehow, he remembered the original Nārāyaṇa.

Like that Kṛṣṇa for His devotee, He also helps.

And if the devotee remembers Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will come

or He may send His devotees.

Link: 20240205 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material Sufferings / Death]

Is it possible to have a personal relationship with each of the Pañca-tattva by praying to Them sincerely?

Questioner: Kaivalya Sundarī devī dāsī

Date: 2023-12-11

Jayapatākā Swami: They are all Absolute,

at least the first four.

They can have unlimited personal relationship

but whether one is qualified,

we want to be the servant of the servant of the Lord,

not to be directly in the service of the Lord.

So, by being the servant of the servant. of the servant of the Lord,

we get to serve the Lord!

Link: 20190204 Lord's Abhiṣeka by Devotees (Part-3)

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]

Is it true that if we follow the process that Prabhupāda has laid out (rounds, regulatives ,association) then at the time of death, even though there may be a tinge of material desire in our consciousness, the Lord will deliver us ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-30

Jayapatākā Swami: What Prabhupāda said is that, if a person follows the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness

then he may not have to take birth again in the material world.

Now

how free we are from things like offenses may dictate how I will go up in the spiritual world,

whether we get a place in Vaikuṇṭha, or whether we get a place in Goloka Vṛndāvana, how I am able to go.

Or

I mean, if a person, I had one person who approached me in India, he had a very strange character.

He said, “I have been chanting 32, 20 or 16 rounds for 26 years,

but he never gave up eating fish.” In His neutral position we were discussing today, He simply reciprocates with the person so perfectly.

There is someone who would do something like that because of their offenses while chanting the Holy name,

that they don’t actually make advancement towards pure love for Kṛṣṇa. They are getting some benefit from chanting,

but at the same time, their material desires are not going,

due to being absorbed in sense gratification like that. So I advised him that,

“you should chant the names of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu,

and by His mercy you may be able to overcome this desire of eating fish.”

And sure enough, after chanting Lord Caitanya’s name for some period of time,

he got some spiritual intelligence. He stopped eating fish.

Even though 26 years he was on his weird practice,

where he although chanting he never tried to avoid breaking that, you know, stopping breaking of regulative principle.

So if a person I mean if he is determined, you know although he would have chanted the 16 rounds

and followed the regulative principles, but if they take things in an attitude that I’m determined not to give up my material attachments,

then that is an anachronism. From our side it should be not just externals,

but it should be internal, we are trying to follow the process.

We are trying from our part to give up our attachments.

If we have the proper attitude , we are trying to give up our attachments, we are trying to avoid,

even if we are not fully successful, Prabhupāda said that there is,

that Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, Lord Caitanya is so merciful, even though we may not,

at the point of death, have done it a hundred percent successful,

we can still get delivered.

In fact, I was, (aside - How long should I go on?) I was in Montreal,

and Prabhupāda is giving a lecture. That time we had a Vyasāsana for him, it was very high.

I mean very- it was like when we would stand up we would just be facing Prabhupāda eye to eye,

or he will still be even a little higher than that.

It was a very high Vyasāsana.

You had to kind of crawl up, it had steps going up and it was more or less kind of a pulpit.

So he would be up there, he would sit and he would even take prasāda there.

In a feast, they would bring a big plate of prasāda and we would all be sitting down,

and he would take Prasāda from there, and sometimes he would give prasāda out from there.

So one day he was giving his lecture from up there

actually and at this point he was just preaching very hard,

we have to be a hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.

We have to try; we have to be a hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious. We have to try for that.

We have to become. If we are hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we can get pure love for Kṛṣṇa,

then our life will be completely successful. He was just hammering this point.

Now the devotees were thinking, a hundred percent, you know, their heads gradually started hanging down,

they became very thoughtful.

The hundred percent was like such an objective that it never seemed that is ever possible;

even you know to get very close to a hundred percent.

But Prabhupāda was very emphatic on this point.

The devotees were very thoughtful at that time. Then Prabhupāda, he ended the class.

There was just a heavy silence. No questions. That is it.

He ended the class and said, “Become cent percent Kṛṣṇa conscious.”

It was just like a death place; I mean, just like… He saw silence that he could swim through it.

Now Prabhupāda was sitting there on his raised Vyāsāsana

and said, “Even if you are ninety percent Kṛṣṇa conscious, Kṛṣṇa is so kind,

that you may still be delivered.” Then he started to get down and when he was about half way down,

just as he was getting off the Vyāsāsana he turned to the devotees and said, ”Even ninety percent, you can be delivered.”

He started walking out, then he turned and his chaddar fell off, I remember it was such a dramatic,

almost like you see in those movies Julius Caeser like that, his chaddar flew like that and said, “Even seventy percent.”

He took his chaddar and threw it over his shoulder and raised his head and walked away.

(Devotees laughing)

Śrīla Prabhupāda Ki

Devotees: Jaya!

Link: 19851001 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.1.3

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Sādhanā / Regulative Principles], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Karma / Desires]

Is Maheśa dhāma a part of the spiritual world or material world?

Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: It is on the border.

Link: 20211204 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.16

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Material World / Demigods]

Is the special benediction of going back to Godhead simply by chanting the holy names applicable to every Kali-yuga or only the one where Lord Caitanya appears?

Questioner: Vraja Kṛṣṇa dāsa, Māyāpur

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: It is hard to say,

how is the situation in other Kali-yugas.

Previous Kali-yuga was about 4 million years ago.

So, it is hard to say

and we know in this Kali-yuga,

we chant the holy names

and we go back to Godhead.

Please don’t delay.

The next opportunity,

if it is in Kali-yuga,

it is four million years from now.

Lord Caitanya doesn’t come after every avatāra of Kṛṣṇa.

And Kṛṣṇa only comes once in the day of Brahmā.

And a day of Brahmā is a thousand catur-yugas.

And he has an equally long night.

Then he rests.

So, better to take advantage of this opportunity.

Link: 20200814 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World / Kali yuga], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

It is said nityam-bhāgavata-sevayā - does it mean that we should specifically read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily or reading other books of Śrīla Prabhupāda works too?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-16

Jayapatākā Swami: You should read all of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books

but having read, you may read other books one time.

But Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam you should read every day.

Bhagavad-gītā is necessary for preaching,

the Bhāgavatam takes you to sambanda, abhideya and prayojana.

Link: 20220506 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

It is said that if a person wants to go back to Godhead he or she needs to take dīkṣā. What if a person dies before taking initiation? Which destination will the soul reach?

Questioner: Bhaktin Vaiṣṇavī

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Hard to say as the śāstra says one may achieve success just by aspiring.

So, by taking dīkṣā,

one is more guaranteed

but if one is fully

thinking of Kṛṣṇa

at the time of leaving this body,

then he may go back to Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material Sufferings / Death]

It is said that vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau (Brahma-saṁhitā 5.33). So that means just by reading one cannot please Kṛṣṇa, one can only please Kṛṣṇa by devotion. But then we also say that one should read books. Some people say, why not just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, why to read?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Oṁ tat sat!

I met a devotee, he said I am reading, there is no need to chant.

People make all kinds of excuses.

So one can say, we can only chant, no need to read.

So I will read and no need to chant.

But we should read, we should chant.

Now Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was giving his purports, which are a way to associate with Śrīla Prabhupāda.

So, I had a lot of personal association with Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Even then, to read what Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote is also very important.

Because he gave his own purports to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ślokas.

The purports included the tikas, of different purvācāryas

and also Śrīla Prabhupāda’s own realizations.

That is why it is important to read to have the association of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

And we should chant, by chanting, it purifies the heart.

By reading, when the heart is purified by chanting, then the topics go into the heart.

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Like you mentioned we are the soul we are not the body. When we leave this body and if we go to the spiritual world, soul is sat-cit-ānanda, but what kind of form we have in the spiritual world? How do we look in the spiritual world?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Wonderful!

No birth, no disease, no old age, no death!

And the body, the form of you is just suitable for your eternal rasa with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Some have sakhya-rasa, some vātsalya-rasa,

some have mādhurya-rasa.

You may be a man now but you may have another form in the spiritual world.

A woman may be a friend of Kṛṣṇa.

We know we take birth after birth in the material world, and if you think your husband when you leave the body, then you take the next birth as a man, if you think of your wife, then you take birth as a woman.

If you think of Kṛṣṇa, you will go back to the spiritual world.

So we are training devotees, they should think of Kṛṣṇa.

Spouses should also train their loved ones to think of Kṛṣṇa.

How do we look in the spiritual world?

So that depends on your rasa.

Either, you will be a mother, father, friend, servitor, gopī or queen, depends on your rasa.

If you go to Vaikuṇṭha where there is Nārāyaṇa,

then we get a similar form like Nārāyaṇa.

But He has some special symbols,

like the Śrīvatsa mark,

like the Kaustuba-maṇi.

We don’t have that mark.

In the Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛta, Gopa Kumāra was in Vaikuṇṭha. Everyone was looking like Nārāyaṇa

and they were saying, here is Nārāyaṇa, here is Nārāyaṇa.

But they were not Nārāyaṇa, they knew who was the original Nārāyaṇa.

Only Nārāyaṇa has this Śrīvatsa mark.

Whether you are in Vaikuṇṭha or Goloka, depends on your relation. You have a form but that is dormant.

When you are liberated you manifest your original form.

So Gopa Kumāra, he was a cowherd friend of Kṛṣṇa,

but first went to Vaikuṇṭha,

he wanted to embrace Nārāyaṇa.

Oh he is God! Nārāyaṇa! You cannot do that.

Awe and reverence!

But with Kṛṣṇa, you can embrace and wrestle.

So you can read the book.

Very interesting.

Finally, he got to Goloka Vṛndāvana and he got his original position

as a cowherd boyfriend.

So what is your form?

Link: 20230424 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

Many devotees they want to live in Rādhā-kuṇḍa and do their bhajana, considering that it is the supreme abode the supremely holy place. But we see that all our ācāryas left Vṛndāvana and came to Navadvīpa to perform their bhajana. How to understand?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in Vṛndāvana, you get a 1000 times benefit for any service.

But any offence you do, any materialistic or sinful activity, you also get a 1000 times the bad effect.

So Vṛndāvana is very heavy because we are not pure souls, we may commit some mistake,

so Vṛndāvana is very heavy and to live in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, in a holy place, one has to be very pure.

So it is recommended we go for a few days and then we come back.

But here in Māyāpur, Navadvip, we get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana,

you get a 1000 times credit for any devotional service.

In this month of Dāmodara, we get a 100, that means a 100,000.

A 100 times 1000.

So therefore many ācāryas, they decided to stay in Navadvīpa,

because they get the same benefit as Vṛndāvana, without the negative side.

Here also in this holy place, we have Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

In Ritudvīpa, also here in Caitanya Maṭha.

Tomorrow many people go and bathe in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

It is very important for the devotees to bathe in but you have to do it not with an ordinary bath.

Just like ablution.

You go in and out, with all respect.

So some devotees, they think that oh, it is Rādhā-kuṇḍa, jumping off the sides and it is not like a swimming pool.

You have to be very respectful.

It is the holiest of holy places.

So Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it is for the devotees to bathe in but you do so with the utmost respect.

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

My material desires overpower my spiritual desires. How do I increase my desire for service?

Questioner: Murāri Hari dāsa

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: You see everybody wants to enjoy,

they want to be happy.

But actually, the real happiness is from the spiritual kingdom.

In the material world everything is temporary.

So it is not possible to get permanent happiness,

and to get some happiness we have to get a lot of suffering also.

Like, old age, disease,

studying,

spend so much time to study,

if you are working,

and other people in your workplace may be envious

and they want to screw you,

so they can look good, so then can be the General Manager.

So we find that Quality Control, Operations, Marketing, they are actually trying to create problem for others.

So real happiness that you get is from Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Then you chant and dance.

Sometimes Lord Caitanya said one feels so much bliss

that they cry, laugh.

So like this they feel very happy.

Everyone wants to feel happy.

But māyā eludes us, she kicks us that we be, will be happy in material life.

That if we have lot of sense gratification, we will happy.

But actually, that doesn’t give real happiness.

So one should use this human birth, to be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

So, if you think you are the body, then this deep-rooted desire to enjoy the body will come.

But if you realize that you are not the body, then you will try to enjoy by giving pleasure to Kṛṣṇa.

And by giving Kṛṣṇa pleasure we feel happier.

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Karma / Desires], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Material World], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

Please tell people the greatness in the month of Dāmodara from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: So you want to give synopsis of the question.

Basically she is saying that how do we tell people the greatness, in the month of Dāmodara from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

So through the different Vedic literatures, the greatness of the month of Dāmodara is mentioned.

But that is in the Padma Purāṇa and other Purāṇas.

Slightly mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,

but the most important thing is to engage in devotional service and then during these special months and special days we get multiple benefits.

So to encourage people to engage in devotional service.

We mentioned how Jagāi and Mādhāi, by receiving the mercy of Nitāi-Gaura, they were able to achieve perfection in their lives.

So have them take up the service of Nitāi-Gaura.

Have them chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Have them discussing in the holy month of Dāmodara.

Engage them in offering a lamp to Kṛṣṇa, chanting His holy names and doing some services to the devotees of the Lord and the Lord.

In this way, one may get a tastes.

Don’t be attached to the result.

If the persons accepts or maybe the person does not accept.

We don’t have the potency yet, then bring the person to someone who is more advanced

and by their association, that person might get changed.

In the market of the holy name described by Bhakti Vinoda Ṭhākura,

he said how some people sell the goods and some people act as brokers.

They bring the people to the sellers of the goods.

If you have the goods to sell, if you have the personal capacity to give Kṛṣṇa, then you give.

If you don’t have the capacity, you give Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books or bring them to someone who is more advanced

and then that person can hopefully be able to influence the person.

But don’t be discouraged.

Do as far as you can and sometimes may overtly show some disregard but later they change.

But this question said, he or she really believes in what she says and therefore the person remembers.

So the person may outwardly show disdain but inwardly he may be affected,

that how this devotee, how Priyanka is so sincere, I don’t believe in anything.

I was in one TV show in Montreal, Canada,

and they paid me at that time 45 dollars,

I had to play the part of a devotee. And ha! Ha!

It was not difficult for me.

My parents in the show they were trying to tell this kind of personal court.

I was wondering if I got some tips from my father, how I would use it in the service of Kṛṣṇa.

Which I discussed.

Alright, my father said, this acting father,

if I give a gift I want my son use it, not give it to the organization to use it for Kṛṣṇa.

That was the whole thing.

Then the judge, the personal judge was supposed to give his order.

So naturally there was scope for advertisement.

So during the stop the actor said, he really believes in what he is saying!

I don’t believe in anything.

That was his off the record comment.

So the judge he found that I was right, ha! Ha!

But it is a fact that most people don’t believe anything.

That was an eye opener for me.

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vratās (Austerities)], [Vratās (Austerities) / Kārtika-māsa-vratā]

Reading books for two hours minimum daily. Can you kindly clarify Guru Mahārāja. As a brahmacārī, two hours daily is possible, but as a working devotee can I also read two hours Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and preaching whatever time permits? Or just focus on preaching service with maybe 45 minutes of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books since many times we need absorption?

Questioner: Hemāṅga Haladhara dāsa

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know where you are based?

[A-side: from Bengaluru Guru Mahārāja.]

Bengaluru is famous for intense traffic jams.

So one could listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda books on the earphone.

Or if one is driving in the car use the loudspeaker system.

So that also counts for the reading time.

So when a lady is cooking she can play Śrīla Prabhupāda’s recorded lectures

or Bhagavad-gītā in audio.

So, see how much time you have, apart from your work,

and how much time can you spend reading and how much time in preaching.

If you don’t repeat what you read,

you may forget it.

So preaching is also part of reading.

It helps you to absorb the teachings.

Link: 20201104 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Reading these passages, knowing that these are something I will never experience. I am assuming that these manifestations are not a requirement to go back with you to the spiritual world – is that correct?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-06

Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, the extent to which Lord Caitanya was experiencing these eight ecstatic symptoms

is not normal.

I mean it is very special.

But, to some extent, you can experience some of these ecstasies.

Experiencing all at the same time is highly unusual,

but Lord Caitanya was doing that.

Maybe Rādhārāṇī does that.

But some of these, definitely eventually you can realize.

Usually one realizes some ecstasies, then another kind, then another kind, like that.

You know, like laughing uncontrollably,

crying, your voice choked up,

it is possible that someone realizes these.

We have seen like Śrīla Prabhupāda, on several occasions he would get some ecstasy.

And since people imitate that,

that it is our custom - we try to hide it.

But sometimes, Śrīla Prabhupāda could not hide it.

And he became very ecstatic.

But it is possible to realize some of these ecstasies.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20230507 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

Should I go for second initiation? Could we go back to Godhead with first initiation by following the regulative principles and by chanting and by getting your mercy or second initiation is necessary? Haribol!

Questioner: Ānandavihārī Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Date: 2022-12-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that one doesn’t have to have second initiation.

But no harm in having it.

Then you can do some confidential service to guru and the Deities.

But you go back to Godhead even after the first initiation.

Link: 20220715 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

Should we aim to go back to Godhead or stay here to serve Guru Mahārāja in fulfilling Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-08

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted his disciples to go back to Godhead.

But we want to go back only if there is service we want to go back.

We don’t want to just be there, we want to be there to serve.

So naturally if your desire is to serve, then you will be taken wherever is a place where your service will be.

I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda I wanted to serve him life after life.

Then he replied to me,

why do want to make me come back?

I thought I said the right thing.

I said, I would like to serve you even life after life!

So you can pray like that.

That we want to serve even staying in this material world

but we want to serve.

So in that way if that is the Lord’s desire He will take you back to the spiritual world.

Link: 20200913 Zoom Session with Melbourne Devotees

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

Should we encourage devotees to follow festivals or Kṛṣṇa consciousness every day is a festival? Please kindly help us.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Why not?

You tell them to observe festivals,

tell them to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness every day,

do both.

Haribol!

Category: [Festivals]

Should we follow a routine as in the place and time when it comes to reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Tapan Miśra, the minister of education has recently published a book about how to read.

So he describes that if we make a habit of reading then it is very good.

And in the beginning, you may read for less time,

but by doing it regularly every day you can gradual increase the capacity.

This is our opportunity to associate with Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Thank you very much!

All glories to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam!

Link: 20220915 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.20

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Sometimes it happens that different people tell me to read different books, this book or that book. Could you please tell me the right order of books that should be read?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Just like we have the Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedānta,

Bhakti-Sārvabhauma,

so first book is Bhagavad-gītā, Īśopaniṣad, Nectar of Instruction, first part of Nectar of Devotion.

And of course, with that some of the small books.

Then there are the first six cantos of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

And then the second six cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Then the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Link: 20230421 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wants to deliver all the fallen souls through His representatives. What attempt can we make from our side to get delivered?

Questioner: Akshas Sukhla

Date: 2022-12-02

Jayapatākā Swami: By reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,

by getting the degrees,

that would be very pleasing to Śrīla Prabhupāda

and be very fixed up in your Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy.

Link: 20220715 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma], [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Śrīla Prabhupāda said that young, married couples should not stay in Vṛndāvana and you also carry the same mood. But some Śrīla Prabhupāda disciples say we can stay in Vṛndāvana, how to understand this and serve Vṛndāvana offenselessly?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: As I said, any offence is multiplied a thousand times in Vṛndāvana.

In Māyāpur Śrīla Prabhupāda said it is especially good for gṛhasthas.

The material world is designed in such a way that even if you don’t want to, you are obliged to commit some offences, some sins.

So that is why we recommend that people stay a short time in Vṛndāvana and then go out.

In the short time they can be very careful.

But if they stay here permanently,

then they may commit some sinful activities.

That is just the fact.

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

There are many activities in spiritual life such as chanting, reading, deity service, Vaiṣṇava-seva and so on. Which one is to be given more importance ?

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

Category: [Sādhanā], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vigraha Āradhana (Deity Worship)]

Those who worship Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu or Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa go to Goloka Vṛndāvana. Where does the soul go who worships Lord Jagannātha?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: There are four parts of Goloka Vṛndāvana,

Vraja dhāma,

Mathurā,

Dvārakā

and Śvetadvīpa.

Lord Caitanya is in Śvetadvīpa.

And Lord Kṛṣṇa is in the other three dhāmas

In the Bṛhad-bhāgavātamṛta it says the Lord Jagannātha is in Dvārakā but He is very close to Vṛndāvana dhāma.

How many have read Bṛhad-bhāgavātamṛta?

So the other question was, is it important for us to study?

Śrīla Prabhupāda said that if we don’t study, then we may get doubts that may be answered in the books we don’t study, and we may fall down.

I am very grateful to Anukula Keśava dāsa for organizing the Bhakti-śāstri, Bhakti-vaibhava course in the temple.

Link: 20220618 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Spiritual World / Dhāma]

We are reading that all these Svarūpas are mentioned in the Gauḍa-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, who has revealed all these in the dīpikā?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: The writer.

One who wrote it down!

One of the associates of Lord Nityānanda, He analyzed the different pastimes.

Kavi Karṇapura we went to his temple he has Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā in a village called Maheśa.

Just by hearing the names of the associates we can every easily get love of Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20230411 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

We have so many varieties of devotional service, like chanting, reading Śrīla Prabhupāda, Deity worship and visiting holy dhāmas. Sometimes we see that when we are more attracted to one method the other methods are getting less importance and we are not able to do them. So whether more reading or more of chanting, or more of Deity worship or more of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books reading, which one is more important?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: In every yuga, there is a particular, which is most important.

In Kali-yuga, śravaṇam kīrtanam is most important.

Reading books is one form of śravaṇam.

There are nine practices of devotional service

and by practicing any one then also it is possible to be delivered.

But in Kali-yuga it is especially recommended that we chant and hear.

But we should chant, hear remember,

pay obeisances, offer prayers

and do the arcanam,

and do pāda-sevanam, do some service,

considering oneself as the servant of the Lord,

considering the Lord as one’s friend

and offering everything to the Lord,

ātma-nivedenam.

These are the nine practices of devotional service.