20220618 Question and Answer Session

Question: If we are not so advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness how can we preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness to others?

Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question. That is why we want you to read Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta. I heard that one lady was principal of a college, she took the Bhakti-śāstri degree. Anyway, if you repeat what you heard in the class, you distribute books, by reading your books you can understand. Even new devotees, they distribute books. So this is how one can preach even if they are not particularly knowledgeable.

Question: You said that how we should become a dog of a pure devotee. So how can we become the dog of a pure devotee?

Jayapatākā Swami: Woof! Woof! The dog is very loyal. There was one dog in Japan, he followed his owner to the subway station every day. He would wait for the owner to come back and then would follow him home. One day the owner died at work. And the dog waited at the station for days on days. So the dog is very faithful.

Question: To advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness or bhakti is being literate very important or can even an illiterate understand the philosophy and how?

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī was not very literate. But he memorized the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. And he followed his spiritual master. In South Indian there was a brāhmaṇa, all the ladies, the educated people were spitting on him and making fun of him. Lord Caitanya asked him why all these people are harassing you? Why are you crying? He said, I am not very educated. My guru told me to read Bhagavad-gītā every day. And then I am not able to pronounce the Sanskrit very correctly that is why these children, these people are making fun of me. But when I see the picture of Kṛṣṇa driving the chariot of Arjuna, I cannot but help cry! How Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yet He drives the chariot for His friend! Lord Caitanya embraced him and said you are the real paṇḍita of the Bhagavad-gītā! Haribol!

Question: I am chanting from last four years. Somehow or other I cannot chant attentively, I feel sleepy and other thoughts come in. Kindly help me.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, my Parama-guru and Śrīla Prabhupāda’s guru, he would always walk and chant. He was a very active person. He could not just sit and chant. So, some people sit, some people walk, we should just chant well any way and hear our chant as well.

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

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.

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

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa and His name are not different. And the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. So if we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, if there is any anxiety or danger, Kṛṣṇa helps us. We have great devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja, he always took shelter of the holy name and His teachings. But the demon father Hiraṇyakaśipu asked is your God in this column? He is everywhere, Prahlāda Mahārāja said. Then Hiraṇyakaśipu kicked the column. There was a sound ohh…. Hiraṇyakaśipu was looking where is that sound coming from. Then Narasiṁhadeva came out from the column. So, you put your faith in Kṛṣṇa, His holy name, the śāstras, He will never let you down. Prahlāda Mahārāja was an innocent boy, but his father was a demon. So Prahlāda was not trying to purposely trouble his father. So if you read the history of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam then that will strengthen your faith. So we have a big festival tomorrow. So I will end the class now.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!