Can someone who is endeavoring to follow his guru’s instructions sincerely and is making efforts to take his guru’s instructions and his desire as his life and soul, but hasn’t got the chance to take formal initiation, can such a person go back to Godhead | Questions and answers

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

Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]

How can I follow your orders properly? I am not able to do that properly now.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Try!

Why cannot you read the books?

Why cannot you preach?

One lady, she brought seven women to take shelter.

Anybody can preach.

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

How can I know who is my spiritual master?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-10

Jayapatākā Swami: That question has been asked to me many times.

And there are like 15 questions that you could ask yourself.

But basically, you pray to Kṛṣṇa, you pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda

to reveal, who you should take shelter of.

And whose preaching you feel more connected with Śrīla Prabhupāda and Kṛṣṇa.

Maybe he is your spiritual master.

Sometimes you feel connected to several people’s preaching,

then you can take more than one as your śikṣā-guru,

as the instructing spiritual master.

Since there is no limit to how many instructing spiritual masters we can have.

And then the one we feel most connected with, we take him as the dīkṣā-guru.

I have an application, the Jayapatākā Swami App.

Maybe I can try to answer the questions.

Link: 20200917 Zoom Session with Utkarsa Youth Boys Program

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

How can we be sure if it is Kṛṣṇa or the devotees guiding us from within or just the mind?

Questioner: Vijaya Rādhā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: While the guru is present,

you shouldn’t feel any doubt.

You can always ask the guru

if your idea is correct or not.

I asked Prabhupāda several times about different things like this

and somethings he said, they are sent by Kṛṣṇa,

somethings not.

To be sure, that is why we have a guru,

because we cannot connect directly with Kṛṣṇa in our conditioned state.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20190127 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

How can we increase our faith in chanting the holy names and the order of the spiritual master?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-03-13

Jayapatākā Swami: Depends on what gives you faith.

I mean, some people have faith by reading the scripture,

since it tells us that the holy name is Absolute and non-different from Kṛṣṇa.

Some people have faith by realization.

If you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, you may become peaceful and ecstatic.

And that may increase your faith.

Some people commit offences to the holy name.

So they don’t get the full result of chanting.

And you should tell them to be very careful to follow the order of the spiritual master.

I think the third offence to the holy name is to disobey the order of the spiritual master.

We must have a spiritual master and follow his instructions.

There is no question but to accept the spiritual master.

So Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura had everyone in the temple chant 64 rounds.

Those who went for book distribution and preaching, they should chant 16 rounds.

So Śrīla Prabhupāda said that for the Western rounds it would be difficult to chant 64 rounds.

So he had them chant 16 and preach.

So by following Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions, one can advance.

Link: 20221023 Evening Darśana

Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

How can we understand the mood of Śrīla Prabhupāda to improve our relationship with him and in the same way with you?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: One of the qualifications of the uttama-adhikārī

is that he cannot be understood.

It may not be completely possible for you to understand the mood of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

But in principle you can understand a little bit about his mood

by reading his books.

And those books are available in Spanish,

I see that you are in Bogota, Colombia.

You can read the books and feel and see how Śrīla Prabhupāda

is so much attached to Kṛṣṇa and Lord Gaurāṅga!

Then you can start to be very grateful for all the help he has given to you.

Then naturally, you can advance.

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]

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.

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

How do we select the right guru?

Questioner: Ritvik, ISKCON Baroda

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: If the guru is able to help you if you feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda is talking to you through the guru and you are able to cross over māyā,

then that is the right guru for you.

So you also get help from various śikṣā-gurus and Vaiṣṇavas.

I have fifteen questions you should ask yourself,

to help you understand if it is the right guru.

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru]

How do we select the right guru?

Questioner: Ritvik, ISKCON Baroda

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: If the guru is able to help you if you feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda is talking to you through the guru and you are able to cross over māyā,

then that is the right guru for you.

So you also get help from various śikṣā-gurus and Vaiṣṇavas.

I have fifteen questions you should ask yourself,

to help you understand if it is the right guru.

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru]

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 is the relationship between a spiritual master and disciple considered eternal ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-21

Hṛdayānanda Dāsa Goswami: Yes, (laughing)

if he is actually bonafide.

If he is actually bonafide.

You understand?

If someone is not a bonafide spiritual master, someone is only pretending to be a spiritual master,

then how can the relationship be eternal?

So therefore, the disciple has to know the real symptoms.

Just like for example, in the case I was just mentioning, there were some symptoms which were very unusual, that were not the normal symptoms.

So, some of the people in in England they were not, of course the young devotees they didn't know,

but they were not very strict and serious and seeing that the same standard was kept.

Do you understand?

In other words, just like we are… we are always preaching, that is the duty of our disciple to see, to select a bonafide spiritual master.

So, the point is that anyone who joins this movement sincerely will get Kṛṣṇa and will get a bonafide spiritual master.

And the symptom that is getting one that is he will get Kṛṣṇa.

If you are getting a bonafide spiritual master, then you are getting the proper instruction.

Any guru in ISKCON who is presenting Prabhupāda as he is, or presenting the standard program, he is a bonafide guru.

Just like if I tell my disciples, "Read these books."

So, I am giving them the right knowledge, you understand?

Now, if someone is actually a bonafide spiritual master, then that relationship is eternal.

So it’s not that, it’s not that, because one particular person had some difficulty therefore I will become doubtful.

This is also a foolish idea.

Just like in the Gauḍīya Maṭha, all of them deviated except Prabhupāda.

I mean fifty of them or something like that, there were 100 or something, I don’t know how many... do you understand?

And every last one of them, every single one of them, deviated from Bhaktisiddhānta's order.

And out of the movement of hundreds and thousands of people, Prabhupāda was the only one who actually

carried it out exactly as Bhaktisiddhānta wanted, do you understand?

So, it’s not that when we heard about Gauḍīya Maṭha, we begin to doubt our spiritual master.

No, we become more proud of our spiritual master.

So, it’s just like my parents always used to tell me, "You should be glad that your parents don’t drink or smoke…

or… tell me that, some parents beat their children, some parents do this, some parents do that.”

So, in that way Kṛṣṇa has given these historical examples. Kṛṣṇa has given these examples,

so you should be happy if you have a guru who doesn’t drink or smoke. (Laughter)

Yes, actually, we accept that Śrīla Prabhupāda among his godbrothers…

not that all they fell down to sinful activities,

but they deviated from the preaching mission and Prabhupāda told us that, none of them actually really captured the purport completely.

So, it's in the līlāmṛta, all.

Prabhupāda's frustration trying to work with them.

So, does that make us doubt Śrīla Prabhupāda? No, it makes us glorify him more.

That if others have failed, that means it must be very difficult.

Because someone has not… could not do it, that means it must be a very difficult thing.

It must be... So, therefore, it made us more attached to our spiritual master.

So, Prabhupāda said, "If you see, if you try to see the guru without Kṛṣṇa then that’s bad.

If you try to see Kṛṣṇa without the guru, that is also bad.

If we see guru as the representative of Kṛṣṇa,

then we will never be deviated.”

Link: 19830624 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.2.5

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

How ok or not so ok is to think about one’s spiritual master while chanting?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-03-13

Jayapatākā Swami: Depends what you are thinking!

Generally, I would chant in front of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mūrti.

And I would chant the mantra but I would also be seeing Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Everything connected with Kṛṣṇa is also Kṛṣṇa.

It is not really Kṛṣṇa, but it is not different from Kṛṣṇa.

When we clean the temple, the temple is connected with Kṛṣṇa, therefore we clean our heart.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, in any part of the temple Kṛṣṇa is there.

So guru is connected to Kṛṣṇa

and if you see guru while chanting you will be connected to Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20221023 Evening Darśana

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

How seriously should the disciple take the instruction received from the guru?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-17

In this regard, Śrīla Prabhupāda was quoting Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura

that the disciple should take the order of the spiritual master as their life and soul.

If you are not able

to follow the instruction of your spiritual master,

then you can ask him

what to do in that case.

Link: 20210607 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

How should one fully surrender to guru and Kṛṣṇa? Our mind is so obstinate that at times it does not want to accept authority.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Just like we say we are not the body.

We also say we are not the mind.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said that we should beat the mind in the morning with shoes 108 times.

In the evening beat with a broomstick 108 times.

Who is the boss here, mind or you?

You are the eternal spirit soul and you are the real person.

Not the mind.

We have to tell the mind, who is the boss!

Link: 20230424 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā]

How to always remember guru ?

Questioner: Satyabhāmā Sādhvī devī dasī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Very glorious question.

We want to always remember guru and Kṛṣṇa.

So if we do everything as an offering to guru and Kṛṣṇa,

then we will be constantly thinking of Guru and Kṛṣṇa.

Like, if you buy a gift for your loved one,

now you may be thinking what does that person like?

And you pick up some gift,

so it maybe that you are thinking about the gift,

but you are thinking in the context what does this person like?

So therefore, you are always thinking about the person.

Even though technically you may not always thinking about him, but all your action is offered to him.

So therefore, your thought process is centered around the person you love.

So if you love Kṛṣṇa, if you love the guru,

it is very easy to think always about guru and Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20190201 Question and Answers Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

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: 20200615 Lord Gaurahari Performs saṅkīrtana in Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s Courtyard; the Death of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s Son.

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

How to deal with the feelings of separation from the spiritual master?

Questioner: Premeśvarī Śrī Rādhā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-09-21

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.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Sorrow], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

How to dedicate my life for your service?

Questioner: Ati Sundara Jagannātha dāsa

Date: 2023-12-19

Jayapatākā Swami: When it is some puja time, say Dīpāvalī or something,

you buy something for your sister, your mother, your loved ones.

So while you are buying that you are thinking what does this person like? What should I get?

Like that, the act of shopping

becomes an act of love.

And so in the same way when you want to do something for the spiritual master,

you think like that, what will be pleasing? What can be used?

And that way, it is an act of love for your spiritual master.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20231008 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

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 feel that we are always connected to your lotus feet and you are always with us?

Questioner: Bhaktin Ambika

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Naturally when you are serving guru and Kṛṣṇa,

then you will be connected to guru and Kṛṣṇa

and you can feel that.

So, we try if we can either serve the guru directly

or by following his instructions.

And that way we can feel connected.

Link: 20220219 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

How to fix our mind on guru and Kṛṣṇa even in trying situations, when it difficult to keep calm on account of mental anxiety ?

Questioner: Antīmā devī dāsī.

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: You see we should have the vision of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura,

seeing the difference from material relationship,

and the spiritual reality.

If we have this knowledge,

naturally we can transcend the suffering and troubles of the material world.

But since we are conditioned, and we lament over things which should not be lamented for,

therefore, say one family member dies,

different varṇas have different times or periods, when we are not supposed to go to the temple.

I think brāhmaṇas have 11 days and śūdras 30 days.

So, the more one has spiritual knowledge,

they may be able to recover.

Now I heard that the head priest of the Guruvāyur temple,

if someone dies in his family,

they wouldn’t tell him.

Because if they told him,

he would have to stop worship for so many days.

So, while he is in the six months as head priest.

He would not hear about any misfortune in his family.

Fixing your mind on guru and Kṛṣṇa, is a matter of spiritual wisdom.

Category: [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

How to gauge the strength of one’s connection with guru and Kṛṣṇa?

Questioner: Sivaprasad (Sheltered)

Date: 2022-09-10

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.

Link: 20220417 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

How to prepare our consciousness for dīkṣā?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: You see the point when you take dīkṣā, is to accept your guru as the spiritual doctor,

and whatever he says, you are supposed to follow that.

If you have any doubt, then very respectfully you should present your doubt

and have your question answered.

We have stages like aspiring, shelter, when a person can test his faith, test the guru’s ability to answer the questions.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

When you are ready to take the guru, you should be able to follow his instructions.

Link: 20240213 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

How to tell if guru and Gaurāṅga are pleased with our services and would it affect our taste in chanting if they are not?

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: Well there are two parts to your question.

One, how do I know if my service is pleasing to guru?

If we are doing something which he has asked us to do,

then it is usually pleasing to him.

If we are doing something which is for our authorities requested us to do

and it doesn’t go in contradiction with anything that guru told us;

and that something that is completely against our nature,

then usually it is very pleasing.

If it is something that is against our nature;

but it is something that is urgently needed;

and sometimes by fulfilling that one gets some special mercy from the guru.

What was the second part?

If our services are not pleasing does it affect our taste in chanting?

If you do not carry out the order of your guru,

then that is the third offence to the holy name

and naturally that will be something that hampers our tastes.

Link: 20190114 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Chanting (Japa)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Gaurāṇga], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

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 always feel I am not able to serve you enough. So what to do about that?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, it is good to feel like that.

Rādhārāṇī feels She is not doing enough, as much as She could.

But we think that She is 100% best,

but She is thinking what more I should do?

That is the Kṛṣṇa conscious attitude.

Not that, oh! I am doing everything I can.

Then we won’t try to do more.

If we cannot think of how to increase, you could also always ask what more can I do?

Or if you have some idea, then you can suggest, can I do this, will this be pleasing?

We always should be eager to do something more for Kṛṣṇa.

Parents, your children ever come up and say, mom dad, can I do some service for you? Ha!

You think, what do they want from me! Ha!

But actually if they don’t want anything that would be super!

If you think what more you could do and you want permission, then suggest that.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20230425 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

I am a new devotee. And I want to serve you and want to become your disciple. But I heard that you are going to stop giving initiation. Is it true?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-05-13

Jayapatākā Swami: I am trying to convince many of my senior disciples to take up the service of dīkṣā-guru.

And when I do that, then except in some cases I may stop giving initiation except for those who have taken shelter.

So people who have taken shelter I will give them.

Those who took initiation, they have already taken.

As of now, I have not yet stopped.

Still, sometime I may stop.

So, better chant 16 rounds and take shelter.

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

I am a new devotee. And I want to serve you and want to become your disciple. But I heard that you are going to stop giving initiation. Is it true?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-05-13

Jayapatākā Swami: I am trying to convince many of my senior disciples to take up the service of dīkṣā-guru.

And when I do that, then except in some cases I may stop giving initiation except for those who have taken shelter.

So people who have taken shelter I will give them.

Those who took initiation, they have already taken.

As of now, I have not yet stopped.

Still, sometime I may stop.

So, better chant 16 rounds and take shelter.

Link: 20240213 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

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 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 in ISKCON for the past 6-7 years chanting 16 rounds and following regulative principles for 5 or 6 years. I want to go back to Godhead. I want to follow the orders of Śrīla Prabhupāda and want to surrender my life to Lord Kṛṣṇa. I want to choose a guru, but I am very confused. ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Many people ask this question.

This is one thing that every disciple, every devotee has to choose.

After some time, I will stop initiating.

But at the present time I am still taking.

But who you will choose, is truly up to you.

Who you think Kṛṣṇa is speaking thru to you.

And many gurus, they can be your śikṣā-gurus.

You have to choose one as your dīkṣā-guru.

So, dīkṣā-guru has the responsibility to take care of your karma.

And you can pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda, you can pray to the Deities,

to reveal to you who your guru is.

Link: 20240209 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

I have been in ISKCON for the past 6-7 years chanting 16 rounds and following regulative principles for 5 or 6 years. I want to go back to Godhead. I want to follow the orders of Śrīla Prabhupāda and want to surrender my life to Lord Kṛṣṇa. I want to choose a guru, but I am very confused. ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Many people ask this question.

This is one thing that every disciple, every devotee has to choose.

After some time, I will stop initiating.

But at the present time I am still taking.

But who you will choose, is truly up to you.

Who you think Kṛṣṇa is speaking thru to you.

And many gurus, they can be your śikṣā-gurus.

You have to choose one as your dīkṣā-guru.

So, dīkṣā-guru has the responsibility to take care of your karma.

And you can pray to Śrīla Prabhupāda, you can pray to the Deities,

to reveal to you who your guru is.

Link: 20240209 Evening Address | Question-and-Answer session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

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 heard that we, as disciples of Guru Mahārāja should take his mahā-mahā-prasāda. Should this only be taken by his disciples or can others take it too? In the same way should we only take mahā-mahā-prasāda of our gurus or we can take that from other gurus in our sampradāya?

Questioner: Phaneśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī, San Diego

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: You can take from any pure devotee.

Because if you take that of a guest or someone and you get sick that is not very auspicious.

But even if we get sick taking from some pure devotee that is glorified.

So, the prasāda or mahā-prasāda can be taken from someone, even if he is not your dīkṣā-guru.

Thank you Phaneśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Prasāda and Bhoga]

I heard when a devotee asked your inspiration to continue Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you said that you got infection from Śrīla Prabhupāda. How can we get a glimpse of that infection?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-05

Jayapatākā Swami: May be good fortune, I don’t know.

One of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s servants gave me a set of beads to chant on.

I was practicing yoga before that.

So I sat in the ardha-padmāsana and started meditating and chanting

and I chanted six hours nonstop.

I was chanting 32 rounds or something.

And I was feeling so much ecstasy,

I never felt that in the yoga practice.

So I was convinced that Kṛṣṇa consciousness works.

The secretary was waiting for me to come back.

He asked, “Do you still have those beads?”

I said, “Yes!” “Those are Śrīla Prabhupāda’s beads” he said!

But he said he was not supposed to give that to anyone, but I did not know it at that time.

So he took the beads back from me.

Next day was not quite the same!

But I had a glimpse!

Link: 20230717 Question And Answer Session With IYF Devotees

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]

I want to aspire for initiation, but I am unable to choose out of so many initiating spiritual masters. Whenever I listen to some exalted personalities, I tend to take inspiration from them. Please guide me so that I can choose someone.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-24

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Śrīla Prabhupāda, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is our Founder-Ācārya

and he had a special mellow with Nitāi Gaura.

So, if your spiritual master find preaching brings you closer to Śrīla Prabhupāda,

then you if feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda is speaking through this spiritual master,

or if you are somehow are able to feel closer to Kṛṣṇa through this spiritual master,

or if you are feeling a faith by following a particular spiritual master,

I have a list that is of 15 names, you can see whether any person can be your spiritual master.

If you want, I can bring that tomorrow.

You want?

Link: 20230622 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru]

I've heard that to get Lord Nityānanda’s kṛpā we need to get guru-kṛpā. How can we get and be qualified to get guru-kṛpā?

Questioner: Dīpadātri Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-04

So, anyway, we would like to see everybody

chant Hare Kṛṣṇa

and engage in devotional service.

Lord Nityānanda is the original guru.

So the spiritual master

is naturally in connection with Lord Nityānanda.

So it is not so difficult to get guru-kṛpā

and if one tries to get guru-kṛpā,

by preaching, by giving Kṛṣṇa

to the conditioned souls,

Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā 18th chapter

that those who preach

this message of Mine,

they are the dearest to Me.

So naturally,

we get the kṛpā.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]

If a devotee wants to take initiation what is the parameter for choosing dīkṣā-guru and how will I realize that he is my guru?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-14

Jayapatākā Swami: Some people, they have some inclination to someone.

If one cannot understand, they can take them as their śikṣā-guru

and amongst the śikṣā-gurus they can decide who will be their dīkṣā-guru.

Otherwise, I have 15 questions and one can ask themselves and thus choose who is their dīkṣā-guru.

So if you have the Jayapatākā Swami App I can send those questions out.

Link: 20201108 Sunday Feast Lecture to ISKCON Chennai

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru]

If a devotee wants to take initiation what is the parameter for choosing dīkṣā-guru and how will I realize that he is my guru?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-14

Jayapatākā Swami: Some people, they have some inclination to someone.

If one cannot understand, they can take them as their śikṣā-guru

and amongst the śikṣā-gurus they can decide who will be their dīkṣā-guru.

Otherwise, I have 15 questions and one can ask themselves and thus choose who is their dīkṣā-guru.

So if you have the Jayapatākā Swami App I can send those questions out.

Link: 20201108 Sunday Feast Lecture to ISKCON Chennai

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Dīkṣā-guru]

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 our Gauḍīya-sampradāya, I am not sure if Lord Nityānanda or Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī would be our original guru? Who would be our original guru?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-18

Jayapatākā Swami: You see the spiritual maser is supposed to be very dear to Lord Nityānanda.

And he gives Lord Nityānanda’s mercy.

By Lord Nityānanda Prabhu’s mercy

we get the mercy of Rādhārāṇī.

And Rādhārāṇī is very hard to approach.

But Nitāi-Gaura, They are more easy to approach.

The spiritual master is easier.

Now śrī śrīla and śrīmān.

Śrī, is the goddess of fortune,

we put śrī in front of someone’s name it means someone is very auspicious.

Śrīman is usually used for someone junior,

who is very - sometimes Śrīla Prabhupāda would address with śrīman in the name.

I don’t know the actual dictionary meaning, I am not a Sanskrit scholar.

Just, I have seen it used,

and śrīla is apparently used for someone who is like a guru or a very elevated devotee.

Sometimes the guru is called an ācārya like Śrīla Prabhupāda, He is śrī-śrīmad,

His Divine Grace.

You can ask a Sansrkit scholar, and they can give more of the meaning.

But actually, that is how I see it has been used.

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Thank you very much!

He is saying I should say something about the Dallas congregation and temple.

I think the congregation is very nice!

We saw the devotees at the Ratha-yātrā yesterday, I was very impressed

by their enthusiasm!

Something I did not understand, what DIY mean?

Someone told me oh, it is Do It Yourself!

Anyway, very nice to see the devotees.

I know Bengali if someone wants to speak in Bengali,

I know a little Hindi and I can speak in Hindi with you.

I have been living in India since 1970

and I joined in 1968.

I saw every temple in ISKCON in 1968,

all three!

San Francisco, New York, and Montreal.

After that there are so many temples.

So now it is not possible to see all the temple.

Of course, I have seen quite a few.

I have been given a lifetime Gold by United Star Alliance

and American and from British Airways, lifetime Emerald.

So I visited all the temples around.

But I was thinking I have not seen all of them.There are about 800 or a thousand now,

it not so easy.

But I thought we should call all the temples which were started by by Śrīla Prabhupāda, he did 108, we should call them as śrīpāṭs.

Like Dallas, should be śrīpāṭ Dallas.

These Deities were worshiped by Śrīla Prabhupāda.

They are very special.

This temple was established by Śrīla Prabhupāda.

There may be about a thousand now and in the future, there may be tens of thousands of temples

but there were 108 established by Śrīla Prabhupāda

and this is one of them.

We would like all the devotees to stay as part of Kṛṣṇa consciousness

and take advantage of the mercy of Rādhā-Kālacāndajī and Nitāi-Gaura and Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā.

Link: 20230416 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī]

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: 20200818 Question and Answer Session

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

In the class, Lord Kṛṣṇa mentioned that He would not give His mercy to the non-initiated. Which initiation does He refer to and how do we reconcile this statement with Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda giving out Their mercy unconditionally?

Questioner: Supriyā Jāhnavā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-09-22

Jayapatākā Swami: It shows that Lord Caitanya is more merciful than Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Although He is Kṛṣṇa, but He has Rādhārāṇī’s heart,

so He is more merciful.

One who is not initiated,

He also said, He does not accept their offence.

So, if you are initiated,

it is a two-edged sword.

If you follow strictly, you get the Lord’s mercy,

if you don’t follow,

then He may take offence.

Link: 20200817 Kṛṣṇa Benedicts Dhruva – Viśvambhara’s Narration to Śacī-devī

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Mercy], [Śrī Caitanya-līlā / Lord Caitanya]

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]

In the third canto when Brahmājī becomes very pleased with Kardama Muni’s service, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in the purport that the disciple should get the instructions from the master and execute it word by word. I understand that in terms of sādhana chanting, reading, following regulative principles, that needs to be done. So how much devotees should have their own initiative in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because we may or may not have the association of the spiritual master?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: How many people here have the Jayapatākā Swami App?

How many read it regularly?

I put up daily things on the Jayapatākā Swami App.

And that way you can have your association with me as closely as you associate with your mobile phone.

I see people talking on their mobile phones often.

They can see the App rather.

I don’t know.

Also, someone told me that I should ask Śrīla Prabhupāda a question.

I should glorify Śrīla Prabhupāda,

humble myself

and ask a question and blessings.

So I was doing that every day.

And then it became like a ritual.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are all merciful,

Śrīla Prabhupāda, I am very fallen.

I want to serve you eternally,

life after life.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, he said one day, why do you want to make me come back?

I thought I was saying the right thing.

Then I said, I want to serve you even life after life.

If I don’t make it back to Godhead then I want to serve you here.

Link: 20230322 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

Is getting initiated important in going to Kṛṣṇa?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-06

Link: 20230509 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

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 that if a devotee dies without being initiated he doesn't get liberation no matter what? I've heard that unless one gets dīkṣā he can't go to Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa says whoever dies remembering Him, goes to Him. Could you please explain?

Questioner: Fernando Dias

Generally in order to be assured of getting back to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa one needs to take initiation. However,the holy name and objects connected with Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are so powerful that they can also deliver conditioned souls as a special mercy. One should now avoid taking initiation if the oppurtunity arises due to these other special cases. However, if one somehow fails to get initiated in spite of ones desires and leaves the body thinking of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa or being connected with the Lord's Holy name, dhāma, devotees, Ganges, etc. then one may also be delivered. I hope this finds you blissful and healthy in Krishna consciousness. Your well wisher, Jayapatākā Swami (25-Apr-98 - Text PAMHO:1276910)

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

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]

Is there really any difference between taking the divine initiation from our Śrīla Gurudeva directly or virtually?

Questioner: Rasasindhu Śacīsuta dāsa:

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapataka Swami: As far as benefit of taking initiation directly or virtually,

if you feel initiated you feel connected to the guru, that is what counts.

Śrīla Prabhupāda had initiated many devotees by letter.

And now sometimes due to the pandemic we have initiations virtually.

So, if the spiritual master is accepting you, you are accepting him, then what is the difference?

Link: 20220221 Īśvara Purī Instructs His Disciple Nimāi Paṇḍita to Chant and Preach Kṛṣṇa-Nāma, Part 1

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Technology], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]

Is there really any difference between taking the divine initiation from our Śrīla Gurudeva directly or virtually?

Questioner: Rasasindhu Śacīsuta dāsa:

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapataka Swami: As far as benefit of taking initiation directly or virtually,

if you feel initiated you feel connected to the guru, that is what counts.

Śrīla Prabhupāda had initiated many devotees by letter.

And now sometimes due to the pandemic we have initiations virtually.

So, if the spiritual master is accepting you, you are accepting him, then what is the difference?

Link: 20220221 Īśvara Purī Instructs His Disciple Nimāi Paṇḍita to Chant and Preach Kṛṣṇa-Nāma, Part 1

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Technology], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]

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.

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

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.

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

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?

Questioner: Vijaya Gaura Kṛṣṇa dāsa.

Date: 2022-10-12

Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.

So, we know that people offer piṇḍa at the Gayā temple.

And we have heard, how people can offer the effect of Ekādaśī.

We can offer the fruit to someone else.

So it would seem that one could offer the fruit of the donation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

I don’t have on hand the direct verse saying that.

But a son who helps the father from the hellish condition is called the putra.

Pu is a hell.

And tra means in short, to deliver.

Putra means one who delivers the parent from hell.

Putrī is the female of the same.

So, it certainly cannot hurt a person, to give such a donation.

We hope that they would go to Goloka.

Certainly, he would be blessed in many ways.

Link: 20200822 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.23

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

It is said that post initiation, the guru takes away the karma of the disciple. Then why is the disciple sometimes seen to suffer ?

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-02

Jayapatākā Swami: The guru takes responsibility for their karma.

And depending upon how the disciple surrenders then that karma is either taken away directly by Kṛṣṇa withdrawing it,

or by giving the disciple some tokens, to help the disciple to come to the proper frame of mind, which will allow all the karma to be removed.

The total responsibility is taken away by the spiritual master, and therefore the karma is not given to the disciple at face value.

But some momentum from the previous uh… from the previous activities is there, some desires are there.

And also, even after taking initiation sometimes devotees, they are also performing sinful activities against their oath, so for various reasons the person is put into difficulty.

One time, Srila Prabhupāda cut his finger, and one drop of blood came out.

He said that, “I should have had my head cut off, but instead Kṛṣṇa has just given me this token, just to remind me and I was released from such a big sinful reaction.”

So, once we surrender to the spiritual master then we’re under the care of Kṛṣṇa; once we take initiation.

But then we have to also practically practice devotional service and then more and more for relieve from all these reactions.

Just after initiation, we come into what is called the clearing stage where all these reactions are cleared away.

It is not that just immediately everything is gone, unless we can immediately completely fix our mind, every thought word and deed completely, without any material attachment,

we can completely absorb ourselves in the service of guru, then we are completely free.

But just after initiation, it is not that people suddenly forget their parents and forget their everything material.

They may get a different, may become more detached, they may become, still there may be some slight attachments there.

So how to get free from those?

Whatever attachments we have those are linked with reactions.

As detached as we become that is as free as we become from the reactions.

These two things are told today.

The 3 modes are there and their reactions, these are linked.

As we have attachments within the 3 modes of nature those attachments are linked with reactions.

As we get rid of the reactions of fruitive activities, we get rid of these attachments also.

Just like a person is very attached to getting a $1,000,000.

Once they get $1,000,000 they are not so attached any more, then either they want $2,000,000 or they want something else.

Just like in Hong Kong, in Japan, people they get very attached to material things.

They want to get a brand-new tape recorder.

They get the tape recorder.

After a while they get tired of the it, they just throw.

A perfectly good tape recorder, they throw it away in the garbage.

Just fed up, that’s the mood they are in.

They just throw it away.

You can find good tape recorders lying in the garbage, you see.

When you get the thing, that means that now your desire is fulfilled.

That is one way of getting your material fruitive action is you get what you want.

That’s one, that’s called the reaction for pious activities.

That also makes you detached, in some cases.

You get tired of it, you want something else.

And another way of getting rid of attachment is by suffering.

When that thing you want causes some pain you become detached.

So, both these reactions, pain as well as pleasure the devotee becomes detached to.

Because now, both of them simply cause material attachment.

They want spiritual ecstasy, spiritual bliss.

So, already the plug has been pulled out, you are not creating any more karmas, you’ve been freed.

And Kṛṣṇa promises that, “According to how you surrender that is how you will be rewarded.”

So, already you are free from any direct reaction of karma.

If any karma is given it means that you still have some attachments, and this is to help you become more and more advanced.

And you are only getting a small token of what you deserve.

Link: 19821027 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.6.28

Category: [Material Sufferings], [Karma], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

Last week your quotation of the day on May 18 said, actually to get chastised by your spiritual master is a higher blessing than getting a praise. Praise actually is not so good. Could you please share a little more on this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: Is that in the verse today?

Questions should be especially on the verses today.

If anyone has any doubt or question on the verses today, otherwise it will just open up to anything.

You have a question on the verse? I chastised you! Ha! Ha!

So I answered your question.

Ha! Ha! How do you feel? Ha! Ha!

Link: 20230522 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Mercy]

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]

Many of your disciples are far away in different countries, how can we serve you?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-25

Link: 20230505 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

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.

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

Now we are focusing a lot reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and also doing courses like Bhakti-vaibhava. Now we when we do these courses, it needs a good amount of time. So our preaching has reduced a bit. What will please you more?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Jayapatākā Swami: What would you preach if you don’t read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

You know, we don’t say that by reading, you do not do any preaching.

But if you don’t read, what do you preach?

Would you speculate something?

It is important to read at least in the beginning.

Śrīla Prabhupāda told me that to get first initiation, I had to read the Bhagavad-gītā ten times.

Then I had these lines marked, one, two, three, four, strike. One, two, three, four, strike.

I read ten times and got my first initiation.

But by reading Bhagavad-gītā ten times I had so much knowledge of the Gītā that I was giving accredited courses in the university.

Although I was a college drop out!

And in the McGill University I gave a course but there was no credit.

So then, Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us a test, I got Bhakti-śāstrī.

Recently I want to encourage my disciples, my followers, devotees in general

to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

Then the Māyāpur Institute offered me the honorary degrees,

because I had read the books so many times.

But I thought if I get honorary degree,

then that would not encourage the devotees to read.

I said, no, I will take the test.

And now I have finished the 5th canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I got one more canto to go to get my Bhakti-vaibhava.

After that I will go for the Bhakti-vedānta.

Then I am very glad that I am doing that.

It is nice that if you are reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and are getting tested then you read it more carefully.

But it doesn’t mean I don’t preach.

In fact preaching is going on.

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

Prabhupāda said that we must serve the spiritual master to his exact desire. So how can develop the unalloyed service mood ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-25

You

try do that and by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

always praying to the spiritual master, previous ācāryas, Kṛṣṇa,

to be able to do that, that is the principal desire in one’s life,

well by their mercy the impossible can be possible.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 19850307 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.27.10 - Gaura Purnima

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

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]

Regarding first initiation.. apart from following four regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds, reading Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto 1 etc, do we also need to develop any Vaiṣṇava qualities to be eligible?

Questioner: Bhaktin Śrīdevī

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: By reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā,

one should naturally obtain spiritual qualities.

And so by reading naturally one gets association with different spiritual personalities,

so we try to obtain these qualities.

And eventually we can achieve many things.

The other qualities that one should have like patience, tolerance,

usually that automatically comes through reading.

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Sādhanā / Technicalities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

Regarding the dust of the lotus feet of the pure devotee, often we are encouraged to touch the feet of the pure devotee, especially our Gurudeva’s, but then we see that when Guru Mahārāja goes to public places it is not encouraged to let other people touch the lotus feet of Guru Mahārāja, so could you give a bit of an insight into why this distinction is there? Or should we also should be careful?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: When someone touches your feet, they give their karma to you.

And we see that - Śrīla Prabhupāda, actually once the home minister of Bengal, who is in charge of the Police and things,

he went and put his head on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s lotus feet,

Brahmānanda wanted to punch him!

Śrīla Prabhupāda stopped him, said it is their culture.

Would have been a big mess to punch the Home Minister!

There are different circumstances.

And we see that some people, they want to touch the feet of the guru.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, when they would touch the feet, he would touch them on the head,

like giving them back the karma ha!

but also they were taking the blessing.

Sometimes the way devotees they prohibit people may be too much.

You have to see the situation.

I saw that in South India and different places, the ladies would pour the water and the husband would touch the lotus feet,

that ladies should not touch a sannyāsīs,

but they are allowed to pour the water.

That was the system that was apparently practiced when Lord Caitanya visited South India.

That the wife would pour the water and the husband would massage it.

So it is very late now.

Link: 20230522 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

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.

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

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: 20230717 Question And Answer Session With IYF Devotees

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]

So, the next generation, I often feel that the kind of affection and loyalty and dedication like a sold-out-servant as all of you are, I feel that is greatly lacking in the next generation, Mahārāja. So, we feel in our generation many people, they get initiated officially and after that they do not feel such a great commitment to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission and in expanding the movement the way. I am sure that your expanding the movement has happened because you are strongly rooted in Śrīla Prabhupāda. So how can the grand disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda have such feelings for him and a sense of belonging with him and thereby a sense of love and dedication for his mission?

Questioner: Rādhe Śyāma Dāsa

Date: 2023-12-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda kī jaya!

You see Śrīla Prabhupāda, he gave us the science of bhakti-yoga.

So everyone should read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, attend the Śrīla Prabhupāda daily guru-pūjā.

I mean, what does it take for people to be committed to Śrīla Prabhupāda?

When I first came to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we did not have many books.

So Śrīla Prabhupāda said we could read Professor Sanyal’s Teachings of Lord Caitanya

and there was a section on Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

He said that whenever he would think of anything else, he would chant louder.

So I was a new bhakta

and I had so many thoughts.

So I would end up chanting louder and louder!

All the devotees, they went to Śrīla Prabhupāda and said, “This Bhakta Jay, he shouts so loudly while chanting

and we cannot concentrate!”

Śrīla Prabhupāda called me

and he asked me, “Why you chant so loud?”

I told him,

he said, “Hmmm, that is not bad,

but you are disturbing all the other devotees.

So I give you permission to chant in the park.”

That was the pre joggers’ period, now we have many joggers.

I saw birds, and squirrels.

They all heard the holy name when I was shouting!

Anyway, by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy devotional service is so nice

that we start experiencing some bliss

and I don’t think that is a big secret.

Anyone who does Kṛṣṇa consciousness sincerely,

they can also experience bliss!

I have seen some new people

coming and they are very blissful and very happy.

We should be you know, grateful

that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us such a nice process

that works.

It is not a theory or just a faith, it works!

If you do it then you will not regret

it and then you feel grateful

that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us such a wonderful thing.

If he hadn’t come, he hadn’t preached, where would we be today!

I wrote a song yadi prabhupāda nā haita, tabe kī haita.

If there was no Śrīla Prabhupāda, what would there be today?

It is something terrifying,

to think back,

what I was

and what I am today,

what bliss I am experiencing by following Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions.

I think everybody should realize

that what they have

is all due to ultimately Śrīla Prabhupāda starting this movement.

Category: [Emotions / Faith], [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

Spiritual master does so much for us, he is so merciful, but my heart is so contaminated. I am stonehearted, I don’t feel anything for him. What should I do to increase my love and devotion to him, dear Mahārāja. Please enlighten me.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-01-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question.

We don’t want to be a kṛpaṇa – a miser.

You are saying how you understand the guru is doing so much for you!

But you don’t feel grateful!

Is that the way to feel?

If someone saves you from a car accident, should you feel grateful?

If someone is saving you from repeated birth and death, should you feel grateful?

If you don’t feel grateful, definitely you should be crying.

If you are not crying, Śrīla Prabhupāda said, you should cry that you are not crying!

And if you are not crying that you are not crying, then you should crying, that you are not crying for crying!

It goes on like that!

Link: 20220822 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Anarthās], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]

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.

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]

Śrīla Prabhupāda says that his purport are his ecstasies. Where to find the best of Jayapatākā Swami?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-07-07

Jayapatākā Swami: First we should read all the translations and purports of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

They are what inspires me.

And what I know, is simply by the mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Link: 20210518 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Gauḍīya History / Śrīla Prabhupāda], [Guru (Spiritual Master)]

There are 12 qualities required to qualify as a brāhmaṇa. If cannot even acquire even one of them, can I become a brāhmaṇa?

Questioner: Sukamala Nityānanda dāsa

Date: 2022-08-24

We should try to achieve all the 12 qualities.

And if we have difficulty in anyone, we can contact our senior godbrother or godsister or guru.

Taking initiation is like taking a new birth.

After birth there are other things by practicing you can develop.

It is not that just from birth you will have all the qualities you have to practice and acquire them.

Link: 20211120 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.12.35-36

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

Those who had first initiation from Prabhupāda, and second from the present ācāryas, are they considered to be Prabhupāda disciple or their disciple?

Questioner: Anonymous

Date: 2022-07-25

Jayapatākā Swami: When Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami asked Prabhupāda that,

“What about those disciples of yours who have taken first initiation,

but you have not yet given them second.

And,

if they take initiation from one of your disciples then what will be their position?”

Then Prabhupāda said,

“They are my disciples.

They are my disciples then.”

So it is just like,

when Ṛṣabhadeva left,

He told all the hundred sons that, “You look at Bharata just like me.

You follow him as your head.”

You see.

So, if someone takes second initiation, that means,

they have to just see that their initiating,

this second initiator,

just like the such a senior brother that directly Prabhupāda is working through that person.

Still their direct relationship is there with Prabhupāda.

Just like, say a person is born, and just then the mother and father died.

And he is brought up by their son.

Then what is his situation?

Still it is not that he is the father.

But still the relationship is not just the same as brother,

twin brother or something, it’s not going to be the same, different type of relationship.

Hare Kṛṣṇa.

That means that Prabhupāda is considering they are his sons.

But definitely there is some responsibility there for the second initiating gurus, so that should be some deep respect.

Link: 19821213 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.37

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

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]

What does 'dīkṣā' mean?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-23

So dīkṣā means…

Once they surrender to Kṛṣṇa and say, “Kṛṣṇa my life is Yours.

I want to serve You eternally.”

The way that one does that is through Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee.

One has to surrender to a devotee of Kṛṣṇa as a spiritual master,

and accept initiation, and serve that spiritual master following his instruction as being the absolute representative of Kṛṣṇa.

So, initiation we give normally after a devotee is in the temple for six months.

A devotee can cook, means he can prepare the thing like cutting vegetables, rolling the chapāti, or making the batter and things like that.

But actually, fire work the putting the thing on the fire, and the final action that should be done by people who are initiated,

when you are offering it to the Deities.

Because this is the [pañca-tantrika] pañcarātrika ruling is there that the someone who is initiated they are able to serve Kṛṣṇa.

They are… there Kṛṣṇa says, “I accept someone who is initiated on My same spiritual level.”

We can’t approach Kṛṣṇa.

We are born human being.

Human being means that’s a material position.

Kṛṣṇa is not human.

He is on transcendental platform.

When we accept dīkṣā that means we accept a new birth, dvijatva.

Second birth means that mother is śāstra, and father is guru.

You see.

Then Kṛṣṇa accepts us that now you are on a spiritual platform.

That time we accept that we are not the body, we are the soul.

Body is only our vehicle, and we are serving in this way.

So all these thing are many implications for dīkṣā.

Dīkṣā also means to become a śiṣya.

Śiṣya means to follow the discipline of the guru.

Link: 19840720 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.7

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]

What does 'dīkṣā' mean?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-23

So dīkṣā means…

Once they surrender to Kṛṣṇa and say, “Kṛṣṇa my life is Yours.

I want to serve You eternally.”

The way that one does that is through Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee.

One has to surrender to a devotee of Kṛṣṇa as a spiritual master,

and accept initiation, and serve that spiritual master following his instruction as being the absolute representative of Kṛṣṇa.

So, initiation we give normally after a devotee is in the temple for six months.

A devotee can cook, means he can prepare the thing like cutting vegetables, rolling the chapāti, or making the batter and things like that.

But actually, fire work the putting the thing on the fire, and the final action that should be done by people who are initiated,

when you are offering it to the Deities.

Because this is the [pañca-tantrika] pañcarātrika ruling is there that the someone who is initiated they are able to serve Kṛṣṇa.

They are… there Kṛṣṇa says, “I accept someone who is initiated on My same spiritual level.”

We can’t approach Kṛṣṇa.

We are born human being.

Human being means that’s a material position.

Kṛṣṇa is not human.

He is on transcendental platform.

When we accept dīkṣā that means we accept a new birth, dvijatva.

Second birth means that mother is śāstra, and father is guru.

You see.

Then Kṛṣṇa accepts us that now you are on a spiritual platform.

That time we accept that we are not the body, we are the soul.

Body is only our vehicle, and we are serving in this way.

So all these thing are many implications for dīkṣā.

Dīkṣā also means to become a śiṣya.

Śiṣya means to follow the discipline of the guru.

Link: 19840720 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.7

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]

What happens to one who leaves his body thinking of the spiritual master?

Questioner: Golokapriya Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī

Date: 2023-07-07

Jayapatākā Swami: Since the guru is a pure devotee, always thinking of his guru and Kṛṣṇa,

therefore by thinking of the spiritual master,

one can also achieve Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20210518 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Material Sufferings / Death], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

What happens when a devotee is not attached to their spiritual master’s instructions?

Questioner: Kackulī Rāṇī

Date: 2022-09-21

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.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Aparādha (Offenses) / Vaiṣṇava-aparādha], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship]

What is real compassion? What pleases you the most?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-22

Jayapatākā Swami: What is real compassion?

You know, the mercy given out

which actually regenerates the relationship with Kṛṣṇa,

that is really the highest compassion.

Because we read how different Purāṇas,

someone does some particular sacrifice

(isn’t tomorrow Ekādaśī?)

Pāpamocani Ekādaśī.

So by observing Ekādaśī, by doing some penance,

one may get freed of all the sinful reactions.

So, if someone they worship some devas,

they go to svarga

but for a devotee

svarga is like a ghoḍa-dīm – horse’s egg.

Horse doesn’t produce egg!!

So a kind of an ākāśa-puṣpa,

a flower in the sky

that one is in the heavenly planet for some years

and then one comes down.

So that is not kind of permanent benediction.

So the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

tells us about the permanent relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

And that allows us to have an eternal life.

And what pleases me the most?

I am most pleased

when devotees develop pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

Haribol!

Link: 20220327 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Mercy]

What is the best way to honor the spiritual name that we have received?

Questioner: Līlāmayī Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: What is the best way to honor the spiritual name? Hmmm.

Interesting question!

I think that using it is one way to honor it.

Like, understanding what it means,

Līlāmayī

Gaurāṅgī.

Līlāmāyī means

fully absorbed in the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa,

Līlāmayī.

So in this world the service to Kṛṣṇa is also His pastime.

Anyway, Līlāmayī Gaurāṅgī,

Gaurāṅgī is the name of Rādhārāṇī.

She is golden in color.

Today is the day of the appearance of Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

So you are Līlāmayī Gaurāṅgī devī dāsī –

Rādhārāṇī who is absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes,

devī

you are Her dāsī,

you are Her servitor.

Haribol!

Link: 20201109 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

What is the process of atonement when a disciple commits an offense towards guru? Also, how to rid ourselves of such offenses?

Questioner: Lalitāṅgī Rādhā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we offer daily guru-pūjā

and on the Vyāsa-pūjā we offer the puṣpāñjali three times.

That way we pray that we may be forgiven for any knowing or unknowing offences.

Link: 20200814 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Aparādha (Offenses)], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Sādhanā / Technicalities]

What keeps you motivated to preach despite of all impediments ?

Questioner: Akshay, Vadodara

Date: 2022-10-15

I feel very grateful for all that Śrīla Prabhupāda did for me

and so to repay him I try to preach.

And in 2008 I had a stroke.

And the right side of my body is not paralyzed fully but paresis, partially paralyzed.

And the left side of my face.

But the teachings of Lord Caitanya are very blissful.

It says that normal people if they eat grains and milk, you get strong,

but for devotees even if you have one drop of nectar

then you feel so much energy.

Lord Caitanya gives this nectar.

We hope that your visit to Māyāpur was very nice.

This is known as audārya-dhāma,

the merciful dhāma.

Vṛndāvana is mādhurya-dhāma, very sweet.

Jagannātha Purī and Dvārakā are aiśvarya-dhāmas,

very opulent.

This is the place to have mercy

and Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa but He is in the mood of devotee, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

So that is why it is the special mercy we get

and we want to serve Lord Caitanya and Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Category: [Emotions / Enthusiasm], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Preaching]

What pleases you the most?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-15

Jayapatākā Swami: What pleases me the most? Pleasing Śrīla Prabhupāda! Ha! Ha!

He asked me to distribute books,

expand the congregation,

to expand Kṛṣṇa consciousness pracāra unlimitedly,

to develop Māyāpur Dhām,

to unite the Saraswat family,

to develop Navadvīpa-dhāma,

to develop Gaura Maṇḍala Bhūmī,

and many other things.

So you can do any of these things,

which one will you do?

Link: 20200424 Zoom Session to Kanhaiyādeśa

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

What qualifications other than Bhakti-śāstrī you want us to develop to take brāhmaṇa initiation?

Questioner: Hari-Hara Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-08-24

Basically, you have to read some Śrīla Prabhupāda books.

You have to be regular in chanting and attending programs.

If there is anything you did not complete before the first initiation checklist, that should be completed before second initiation.

And also, other things, you can talk to the JPS Office.

Link: 20211120 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.12.35-36

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities], [Dīkṣā (Initiation)]

What should be our mood while serving you, my dear spiritual master? How should we develop feeling of gratitude and humility?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: Naturally, we should serve the spiritual master as the representative of his guru, the guru-paramparā and Kṛṣṇa.

So, in this way Kṛṣṇa is watching

and how we satisfy our spiritual master

that Kṛṣṇa sees.

He blesses accordingly.

Now how to develop proper attitude.

It happens naturally as we progress in our spiritual life.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

Category: [Emotions / Humility], [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Sādhanā / Sevā]

What were the events leading to your sannyāsa?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Śrīla Prabhupāda called me to LA,

at that time I was in Toronto,

and he told me that he would send me to India

as soon as Acyutānanda had his own place.

I went and opened up the Chicago temple,

along with Bhagavān dāsa.

Then I was called up and Śrīla Prabhupāda told me to go to India.

I flew to London

and then I went to India.

I arrived in Calcutta,

but Acyutānanda did not have his own place.

So for some time, we were staying in the Gauḍīya Maṭha.

And then we found our own place.

Śrīla Prabhupāda flew in from Japan

and he went to that place in South Calcutta.

After a while Śrīla Prabhupāda said he had given sannyāsa to nine devotees in LA.

He asked Acyutānanda and myself, if we wanted to take sannyāsa.

At that time, I thought it was a very glorious thing!

I still think

but I see it is very difficult to be a sannyāsī in the West.

I was fortunate that I was in India!

Where it was not so difficult.

Anyway on Rādhāṣṭamī day Śrīla Prabhupāda gave Acyutānanda and myself sannyāsa.

He said Acyutānanda was the 10th sannyāsī and I was the 11th.

Now I think I am the oldest sannyāsī still alive.

Basically, that is what happened.

Link: 20200912 Zoom Session with Houston Devotees

Category: [Guru (Spiritual Master)], [Varṇāśrama / Sannyāsī]

When a living entity falls from the spiritual world, is his first body human?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-09

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes they come as first body as Brahmā.

Human is the first birth that you get a chance to go back.

Brahma at the end of the universe, can go right back.

Unless he becomes materialistic, then from Brahmā they can work their way down to a bug or one can be as human.

That will depend.

It’s not a… No one can say, it is not any, you will find some different evidences in the Vedas.

Coming as a Brahmā or coming as a human, that is not... that may vary from case to case.

We found that Jaya, Vijaya, they came as demons.

Each person, why they are here, why, no one can say exactly.

Everyone is an individual eternally.

And the only way we will know the exact reason how we got into this material world is when we ultimately again we get our liberation.

This is like a dreaming state.

Right now, we are locked into the dream and the whole endeavor is to get out of the dream, to wake up.

So, once we… It’s just like someone is in a kind of coma.

And in the coma, he is dreaming so many things.

And then in that dream, he is going from one dream and then he jumps out and goes to another dream, until finally he can remember someone comes up and says, “Harry! Harry!” [laughter]

And then he comes out of the dream, “Where am I? Right?

Where was I?”

It’s like once you come out of this material world and you come back to your original Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it will be like, I did all those things! I was an animal, and a man, I forgot, I forgot completely about Kṛṣṇa and about my eternal spiritual nature.

And just like a dream.

You never want to go to sleep again, you don’t ever want to come in the material world again.

The thing is one has to want to wake up.

So that’s why the spiritual master is so kind.

Even a person is sleeping, doesn’t want to wake up, they are calling, jīva jāgo, “Wake up, Wake up!

You are not this body.

You are eternal spirit soul.”

And the soul has heard so many things in its life.

You are an American, you are a Bohemian, you are a hippie, you are a conservative, you are republican, you are a democrat, this that.

And never even, doesn’t even come near to waking up the soul.

It is just different! It’s just trying to change the structure of your dream.

But when that pure devotee says, “No, you are an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, you are not this body”, then immediately the soul starts, it is the first time anything that was said is actually directed at the soul.

It starts to move, it starts to wake up.

Then the soul starts to direct the intelligence, what is that? What is he saying?

It’s shocking that the first time one hears that he is a devotee, it may even come as an intense shock.

The first time the devotee is saying, is going right to the soul.

They don’t even speak to the body and the mind; it is going right to the soul.

Because the soul can exert its influence and can control over the mind and the body.

But it has to be awakened, it is has to actually come from the soul, to act in its original, constitutional position.

So how we fell in this material world exactly?

What we were before? When we wake up, when we realize our original position, then we can remember all these things.

So, it is not always a stereotype.

We may come first time as a Brahmā and work our way down and may come in so many ways.

What we were before we came, what was our relationship with Kṛṣṇa, what was our position, how we fell down, what desire we had? - these are different in every case.

Link: 19820903 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.8.42

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

When do we become completely free from māyā and go back to Godhead.

Questioner: Bhaktin Sujatha Kartikeyan

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: It is hard for us to understand when we can go to Godhead.

And that time is revealed by Kṛṣṇa.

And we cannot go earlier, so we try to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Then naturally we think about Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Because we don’t know how long we have to live

so we should be ready any time to go back to Kṛṣṇa.