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

Link: 20200911 Zoom Session with Bangladesh National Youth Gathering

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

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

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-08-29

Why not?

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

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

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

you can attend and to associate with devotees.

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

listen to my classes.

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

you can attend them.

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

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

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

So we should take the good and leave the bad.

Link: 20211218 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.29

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

Even while doing service, mind says that the current service is not good, do sādhana. And while doing sādhana, mind tells us to do some service. Kindly guide me how to overcome this?

Questioner: IYF Māyāpur

Date: 2022-08-03

Jayapatākā Swami: I was chanting 32 rounds a day.

I felt very proud.

I thought I was doing sādhana.

Śrīla Prabhupāda asked me, “What are you doing?”

I said, “I am chanting 32 rounds!”

I thought Śrīla Prabhupāda would be very happy.

He said, “If you stay here all day and chant rounds,

who will go out and preach?

Chant 16 rounds and go out and preach!”

So we have a dedicated time every day

for chanting.

2 hours a day.

22 hours we can spend in preaching, little time in sleeping and eating.

Link: 20201018 Zoom Session with Mayapur IYF Youths

Category: [Emotions], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-20

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

That is your enemy.

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

Doing this you will become strong.

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

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

Maybe more also.

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

I cannot!

He does exercise every day.

You are trying, that is good.

You should not feel disappointed.

Just keep going.

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Before you read chant your praṇāmas

to guru and Śrīla Prabhupāda.

In that way read the book with full attention.

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

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-10-29

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa and His name are not different.

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

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

Kṛṣṇa helps us.

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

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

He is everywhere, Prahlāda Mahārāja said.

Then Hiraṇyakaśipu kicked the column.

There was a sound ohh….

Hiraṇyakaśipu was looking where is that sound coming from.

Then Narasiṁhadeva came out from the column.

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

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

So Prahlāda was not trying to purposely trouble his father.

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

Link: 20220618 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Anon

Date: 2022-08-01

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

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

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

Link: 20201011 Zoom Session With Singapore Bengali Devotees

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

How can 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 counsel somebody who is depressed, without getting carried away by their problems ourselves?

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: Some people are more sentimental, and they get carried away by other people’s problems.

But actually, as Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā,

we should not lament for the living or the dead.

So by reading the Bhagavad-gītā,

Kṛṣṇa advices how one can

give the teachings of Kṛṣṇa, but avoid being affected by the problems.

Thank you.

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

How can we keep ourselves unaffected by the non-devotees people around us especially at school?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Preach to them,

don’t let them preach to you!

Think how you can help them on the path to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Thank you for – you remember Prahlāda Mahārāja, he was in a school with all demon children,

but he preached to them

and he got them to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

They said we are kids, we want to play, we don’t want to chant.

He said, you spend half your life sleeping, playing,

Link: 20230420 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Anarthās / Bad association], [Day-to-day Life], [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

How do I balance material and spiritual study? Is not material study a hindrance to spiritual preaching?

Questioner: Jagatbandu Pal

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: So we should do our study as a service to Kṛṣṇa.

By this education we will be able to reach out more effectively to many people.

Like Jīva Gosvāmī, he went to university first.

So that he could serve his gurudeva more effectively.

So if you see your education as part of service to Kṛṣṇa and guru,

then it should not be a hindrance,

for your spiritual advancement.

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

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Education], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Youth]

How should a mother deal with a growing son who is in his teen-age?

Questioner: Rahita Sivalingam

Date: 2023-01-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Cāṇakya Paṇḍita, he said that for the first five years, you should let the kids do whatever they want, more or less.

From 6 to 15 be very strict with the children.

And 16 up, be like a friend and try to convince them the right thing to do.

But as a friend.

That is what Cāṇakya Paṇḍita said.

But you can talk to the Youth-Minister in Māyāpur,

he may have more experience, you can talk to him, Manorāma dāsa.

Link: 20200217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Day-to-day Life / Children], [Day-to-day Life / Parents]

How to be certain that the messages we receive from within are from the mind or from Kṛṣṇa ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-08

Jayapatākā Swami: In the beginning the only way to be 100% sure is by asking the spiritual master.

One can check with other devotees, senior devotee, especially the spiritual master, then one can be fully sure.

Just like we would sometimes get an idea and we would ask Śrīla Prabhupāda and he would say that idea was inspired by the Supersoul.

Sometimes, someone would give an idea and he would say that idea is inspired by māyā.

(devotees laughing)

Of course, by hearing, by reading, we have to only get an idea, we have to learn to analyze it, that, just like we pray, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, I mean… how does it go?

cittete kariyā aikya - “May the consciousness be made one with your instructions, with your orders.”

Whatever the word of the spiritual master is, our consciousness we want that to be filled with those words and to be one with, in harmony with those words.

So, we do something, we have an idea, we want to have it confirmed.

This is the system of paramparā – whatever a person does; does it only if it’s authorized;

directly you can see that, guru has said, Kṛṣṇa has said in the śāstra.

And the śāstras are so vast, the Vedas, that one does not have to leave anything for speculation even if one knows in his heart that this is Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Also one trace out the effort; immediately also, Kṛṣṇa gives the example, there is this example in the Vedas or this devotee, or this situation.

There are so many millions of examples that have been given on these even in the Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā that most of all the situations have already been covered, if one has the eyes to see.

So, the spiritual master has the eyes to see, therefore we take his advice.

There also symptom that over endeavor is usually a symptom of a māyā idea.

Just like a person gets an idea to do something for Kṛṣṇa and it happens very easily or it happens, it seems to be just going on.

But when we have an idea when we do this for Kṛṣṇa, but the number of steps of the material activities one has to do before it finally gets around to being something which is directed at Kṛṣṇa are so many

and so rot with difficulties, that is a symptom of over endeavor, an over endeavor for an unproportionate result.

If one has to do something, an over endeavor, they may be attached to Kṛṣṇa and think, let me do this for Kṛṣṇa, I want to build a house for Kṛṣṇa, whatever, something, it is very hard to say any particular thing.

Maybe one wants to make an aeroplane.

The same thing might be Kṛṣṇa conscious in another situation, so it is not the particular thing, but in that particular situation, there were other easier ways of using time.

Kṛṣṇa preferred you do in a different way so that particular way, He keeps, māyā keeps giving so many obstacles so that one will take the other way.

But if one is so fixed on that particular idea due to some kind of preconceived idea that in spite of every obstacle, they go on trying, and so at every step they meet difficulty.

Lot of practical examples I can think of.

They always involve devotees; I don’t want to embarrass them.

There was one older devotee in our movement who was doing nice service but then he got an idea… someone turned him on… turned him… gave him some rubies

and they got into a whole thing that he started mining rubies, he bought a ruby mine and he started going there.

He just became overwhelmed by these rubies and jewels, like kind of a gold fever. He got a ruby fever, a gem fever.

Prabhupāda kept telling him that it is an over endeavor, it is unnecessary, just preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa will provide, this, that.

“No, no, I want to make money for Kṛṣṇa.”

and even Pra… you know, even his guru told him don’t do it, he said, “No, no.”

And so of course whatever money he did make didn’t go to Kṛṣṇa, he just re-invested it in his business again and again; what usually happens.

And then finally he just became farther and farther and removed from Kṛṣṇa and more and more in māyā.

Now he is, for the past many years he is completely out of touch.

You see him sometimes.

Still going to make it one day.

So, it’s like over endeavors, misdirected.

So, of course, ultimately the guru is the custodian of one’s spiritual progress, you have to take his advice and as one advances more and more, then, one can tell when one makes a wrong decision, Kṛṣṇa usually smashes it.

As you become more advanced in devotional service the slightest mistake will create an immediate result.

You see karma might take hundred births.

When you surrender to Kṛṣṇa you make a mistake you may get the reaction, “pshew!” five seconds or five minutes or five hours.

There was a devotee riding in a taxi cab in Calcutta, who started to criticize Śrīla Prabhupāda and different devotees for God knows what reason, must have gone mad or something.

And another devotee who was with him, immediately he stopped the car and got out and said, “I am not going to hear any offense of pure devotees.”

That person went on and within one hour, went to the railway station, missed the train, got into a fight with one of the coolies there, one of the porters, they call them coolies in India,

that is the official name, hey coolie! They don’t mind being called coolies.

So then, there was a whole riot and about a 150 of the coolies came out of their walls with bricks and sticks and they stripped the so-called devotee completely down naked

and only he had on was the brāhmaṇa thread and they beat the pulp out and he was running down the street naked and finally jumped into a moving bus.

You know, the whole bus emptied out, they couldn't believe it.

(His Holiness Jayapatākā Swāmī and devotees laughing)

And all this happened within one or two hours after he blasphemed the devotees.

He was in the hospital.

He’s a blooped devotee, wasn't… that criticizing others always.

After that he came by and bowed down hundreds of times in the temple and personally went to each devotee, begging for forgiveness.

So that way he was able to learn.

Sometimes we are repeatedly told to be cautious in a particular way or to avoid some kind of activity; we don’t listen, we don’t listen, we don’t listen and then finally Kṛṣṇa says, “Well, “Let what be happen!” and māyā takes over.

Kṛṣṇa lifts up, He doesn’t personally do it; He just lifts up some of the shelter, and lets māyā move in, otherwise the devotees are always under the yoga-māyā shelter.

But if we neglect Kṛṣṇa, if we neglect the guru, or we blaspheme, then that shelter is removed, and then we are at the mercy of māyā.

See, she’s already upset that we are trying to get out of her clutches, so she puts her full load on us, you know.

Link: 19820914 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.8.22-23

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-03-15

Jayapatākā Swami: Devotional service is a somewhat gradual process.

After taking initiation,

there is the stage of anartha-nivṛtti,

where the mind is somewhat fluctuating.

Gradually we rise above that,

to become fixed on the level of niṣṭhā.

From there we develop a taste.

Then when you are recognizing your mind is fluctuating,

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

In that way you can advance in your devotional service.

Just like, there is a prayer to the mind,

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

Vaiṣṇava Ke?,

I wrote some commentary on that.

Who is a Vaiṣṇava?

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

It is a very heavy prayer

because he chastises his mind.

And Śrīnivāsa Ācārya wrote a book, Manaḥ Śikṣā,

Teaching the Mind.

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

That is the position of bhakti-yoga.

We don’t let the mind wander,

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

Link: 20200424 Zoom Session to Kanhaiyādeśa

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

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

Questioner: —Sundara Nitāi dāsa, Ujjain.

Date: 2022-10-15

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

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

they should read all of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books –

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

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

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

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

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

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

How to manage bhakti and family relationships at the same time, when they are not devotees?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-01-20

Jayapatākā Swami: Very critical,

but you have to think how I can make them devotees.

I met a devotee she was an actress.

She knew the Bhagavad-gītā cover to cover!

But she went to her husband and said, “You are very great, you are very intelligent, please help me!

I cannot understand this verse. Can you help me?”

He read it and that is how he got purified!

It says one daughter-in-law or one devotee in the family can liberate the whole family.

Link: 20220822 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Cooperation]

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

Questioner: Paramapuruṣa Mādhava dāsa

Date: 2022-01-05

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

How to read Śrīla Prabhupāda books regularly without failure?

You say you are skipping frequently from reading.

So we would like you to get the different degrees –

Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava,

Bhakti-vedānta, Bhakti-Sārvabhauma.

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

So making a system to regularly read,

that needs to be done.

And initially maybe you don’t have a taste.

But after sometime, you develop a taste

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

So much nectar!

In the first canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

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

When he heard that Kṛṣṇa had left the world,

had gone back home back to Godhead,

all the Vṛṣnis also went back,

then immediately he enthroned his grandson Parīkṣit

and then he went giving up his crown, belt

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

Link: 20201109 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

I am bereft of devotee association and am somehow trying to keep my bhakti alive. Due to a demanding schedule, it is hard to find time for book reading and other devotional services. I can barely just finish my 16 rounds. In such situation what should I do to stay fixed at your lotus feet?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: Ladies, they have to do a lot of housework.

They ask me similar questions.

But you see to be working plus have to do the housework.

So, the thing is that now we have the Bhagavad-gītā and different books that only association was face to face, now we can contact each other virtually.

You can have an iPod

and listen to the audio, Gītā and other audio śāstras.

So in this way while doing your work like washing and cooking,

you can hear the śāstra.

But also you can download the classes from the internet,

there is my Jayapatākā Swami App.

That gives access to the different JPS Archives and different programs

so you can hear the classes.

Many other things are there like SoundCloud.

You can also attend my daily classes which I give at 7pm.

And so there are different ways where you can hear classes, you can associate,

on Facebook,

YouTube.

You can download and you could also associate with different devotees,

virtually.

So there must be also classes of the IYF which you can attend.

So this way you can get some devotee association.

Actually, as I said,

I don’t have much personal contact with the devotees.

But all day long, I am meeting devotees.

And I don’t even feel that I am not meeting them.

I feel contact with them,

as I feel contact with you!

It used to be that only association was face to face, now we can contact each other

virtually.

Link: 20201117 Zoom Session with ISKCON IYF Kolkata

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)]

I am divided in my desire to surrender completely to Mahāprabhu. Sometimes, there is a desire for name and fame. Also there are the expected responsibilities of married and working individuals. What should I do ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-14

Jayapatākā Swami: Since this verse is about Dhruva Mahārāja

and he was the great grandson of Lord Brahmā.

The grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu.

So Manu was obviously a gṛhastha.

He was grandfather of Dhruva,

he also was the father of the mother of Kapila Muni.

And so it is said that he went back to Godhead.

But he was a gṛhastha

he had children, he had responsibilities,

but he did everything Kṛṣṇa consciously.

When he did his things, he did everything thinking of Kṛṣṇa.

So like that our gṛhasthas sometimes have deities in their house.

They may have Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā, Nitāi-Gaura,

so by doing their daily activities in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way they can balance.

We should always remember that our prime duty is to serve Kṛṣṇa.

But we may have other duties.

Those we do in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way

and that way we always stay under Kṛṣṇa’s shelter.

In the 10th topic of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it says āśraya.

We want to be under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa.

So we pray to the Deities as gṛhasthas, that we want to have a Kṛṣṇa conscious healthy, long lived suputra or putrī.

Only gṛhasthas can have children.

Brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, sannyāsīs no children.

It says if your child becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious and goes back to Godhead, putra or putrī,

then if they go back to Godhead, 14 generations will go, also, minimum,

7 backward and 7 forward.

Kṛṣṇa is very grateful.

I have one family they said we don’t know if we will go or not but please train our son in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so he goes back.

If you think, oh I have a responsibility for my parents who are sick, old,

you think I will help them to remember Kṛṣṇa

or remember Rāma, that is the interest.

In this way our service, our responsibility, is Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Bhakti-yoga is very practical.

We want - everything will be naturally balanced because we do everything in a Kṛṣṇa conscious way.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20220502 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.17

Category: [Sādhanā / Sevā], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā], [Karma / Desires], [Emotions / Pride], [Emotions / Confusion]

I am doing good sādhanā and have good service in ISKCON. But I do not have that much real joy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, what can I do to feel the bliss in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

Question: I am doing good sādhanā and have good service in ISKCON.

But I do not have that much real joy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

what can I do to feel the bliss in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Happiness]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-04-27

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

But you should still read.

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

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

Now, I read every day.

And it is very blissful!

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

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

How many of you have the Bhakti-śāstrī?

So, Bhakti-śāstrī is mainly Bhagavad-gītā.

And everybody should read that and get the degree.

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

And Bhakti-vedānta is the last six cantos.

Bhakti-Sārvabhauma is Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

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

it sticks with you.

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

I fear that if I convey a harsh truth to a dear one, it could strain the relationship. Please guide me what to do?

Questioner: Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-27

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why we only tell the palatable truth.

We don’t tell things that we know which would disturb the people.

Link: 20211204 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.16

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Vaiṣṇava-qualities]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-15

Jayapatākā Swami: This is due to the time factor.

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

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

But by Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they became rejuvenated.

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

Anyway, we have a limited time to live.

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

We should avoid offences.

Link: 20220910 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.40

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

I 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 heard pastime of Śārabha, a form of Śiva fighting with Lord Narasiṁhadeva and other versions mentioned in various tāmasika and rājasika Purāṇas, I feel very painful, it disturbed me a lot. I felt I should not have read or heard. What should be the proper understanding of this pastime? Why such different versions? How a devotee of Lord Narasiṁhadeva understand these versions?

Questioner: Murāri Mādhava dāsa

Date: 2023-07-08

Jayapatākā Swami: Different Narasiṁhadevas have come in different kalpas.

But we should hear commentaries of Vaiṣṇavas.

We don’t know if non-vaiṣṇavas will give proper explanation.

So actually there should be no conflict if it is properly explained.

I don’t particularly know the Purāṇa, pastime, you are referring to.

We know in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, there is a demon of Bāṇāsura who had the blessings of Lord Śiva.

And the ultimate weapon of Lord Śiva met the ultimate weapon of Lord Nārāyaṇa.

And Śiva’s weapon was defeated.

And Sudarśana cakra cut off the thousands of Bāṇāsura and left four arms.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-02

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

my eyesight is a little poor.

So I can read when the fonts are very big.

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

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

Draviḍa Prabhu and other devotees in California,

they have produced audio Bhagavad-gītā.

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

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

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

Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (Bg. 2.20).

Link: 20221024 Evening Darśana

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

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

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

You can read a little bit

and say that

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

So then you can read again,

refresh your mind

and use it.

If you don’t use it, you lose it.

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

Do you take cow’s milk?

Link: 20201118 Zoom Prabhupāda Kathā

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

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

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

You can read a little bit

and say that

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

So then you can read again,

refresh your mind

and use it.

If you don’t use it, you lose it.

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

Do you take cow’s milk?

Link: 20201118 Zoom Prabhupāda Kathā

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

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

Questioner: Liz Valero

Date: 2022-10-05

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

Understand the teachings, at least the basic books.

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

You can have the questions in advance, no secret.

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

So any way don’t feel anxiety.

We want you to pass your test.

And if you don’t pass it first time,

you can ask for the answers.

Next time you pass.

I think they are not so difficult.

Why do you believe that Kṛṣṇa is God?

Questions like that, they are very simple.

More complicated for second initiation.

They have to pass Bhakti-śāstri.

For first initiation, they are very simple.

Okay? No anxiety! Be calm!

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

If a brahmacārī is faces many challenges in the āśrama from inside and the agitated mind is making bhakti distressful for him, should he change the āśrama?

Questioner: Seva Pālaka Nitāi dasa

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: In New York someone asked such a question and

Śrīla Prabhupāda once said that

if one is thinking

should I be a brahmacārī or should I take gṛhastha-āśrama,

then in that case, he should take gṛhastha-āśrama.

But being a brahmacārī, he takes a firm commitment

and if one is feeling what should I do, this or that,

then they don’t have enough determination

to be a brahmacārī.

Link: 20220217 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Varṇāśrama], [Varṇāśrama / Changing Āśrama], [Day-to-day Life / Married life], [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Sorrow]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-22

Jayapatākā Swami: Any of the books are good.

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

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

Send me the library name.

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

Link: 20220915 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.20

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

If your immediate family like brother or sister are eating nonveg at their home, are we allowed to go to their home and eat there or not eat at their place at all?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: My purvāśrama mother wanted to cook for me

but I would not allow that.

She would guide someone with her recipe,

and they would cook.

I don’t know how you do it? I could do that with my purvāśrama mother.

So, if they are children, you can tell them you cook for me all the time, I would like to cook for you.

Oh, very nice!

But if they are not vegetarian then you could just be honest and say you eat only prasāda, you follow the rules.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion]

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

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

In the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa says that He is equal to everybody, being neither averse to nor particularly attached. But it is also said that for those who worship Him with devotion, He offers Himself to them. How to reconcile these seemingly contradictory statements ?

Questioner: Mathuralīleśvarī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-09-21

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa, He always remains neutral.

But He reciprocates with devotees as they approach Him.

When someone approaches Him with devotion, He reciprocates with devotion.

If someone approaches Him neglectfully then He reciprocates like that.

Link: 20220305 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Happiness], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

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.

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

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

Questioner: Vraja Kīrtana dāsa

Date: 2022-10-14

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

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

And someone came and talked to him.

He looked away; he was listening to the devotee.

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

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

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

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

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

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-09-16

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

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

But Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam you should read every day.

Bhagavad-gītā is necessary for preaching,

the Bhāgavatam takes you to sambanda, abhideya and prayojana.

Link: 20220506 Question and Answer Session

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

Jayapatākā Swami: Oṁ tat sat!

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

People make all kinds of excuses.

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

So I will read and no need to chant.

But we should read, we should chant.

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

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

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

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

The purports included the tikas, of different purvācāryas

and also Śrīla Prabhupāda’s own realizations.

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

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

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

Link: 20220517 Cowherd Obtains the Blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Kṛṣṇa is neither friend nor enemy, but we know in many places Kṛṣṇa says I am friend to all and in kṛṣṇa-līlā He acts as a friend to many. Recently, also the plastic surgeon, you told Kṛṣṇa is not a friend nor is He an enemy. And next sentence you said Kṛṣṇa is everybody’s friend. How should we understand this?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-04

Jayapatākā Swami: You see in that verse, bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati. (Bg. 5.29)

That suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ – Kṛṣṇa is the friend of all living entities.

So Pūtanā, she wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa

but Kṛṣṇa reciprocated her and killed her.

But because she gave Kṛṣṇa her breast because she thought that if I have a child, I want like this.

Too bad I have to kill Him.

So Kṛṣṇa reciprocated with her and she wanted to kill Him He killed her.

Because she desired that if I had a child, I want one like this. She gave her breast milk to Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa gave her the position as one of His mothers in the spiritual world.

So, He does not hold any grudges.

At the same time, He reciprocates with how a person approaches Him.

And today we were reading how Kṛṣṇa saved Gajendra the elephant and killed the crocodile.

But the crocodile, he actually got free from a curse.

He was previously Huhu,

the king of the Gandharvas

and he was enjoying in a lake with many female Gandharvas.

Somehow in his dark humor or whatever, he pulled the leg of a devaṛṣi who happened to be in the same lake

and the ṛṣi got angry and cursed him to be a crocodile.

Then he begged please forgive me.

The ṛṣi said okay, when Kṛṣṇa saves Gajendra, He will also free you from the curse.

That way, Kṛṣṇa, anything He does, is actually is a blessing.

Haribol!

Link: 20230418 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

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

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

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

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

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

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

you get a 1000 times credit for any devotional service.

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

A 100 times 1000.

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

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

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

In Ritudvīpa, also here in Caitanya Maṭha.

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

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

Just like ablution.

You go in and out, with all respect.

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

You have to be very respectful.

It is the holiest of holy places.

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

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

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

My daughter wanted me to ask you a question. When you discourage devotees from wearing black dress, is there any reason why we should not wear black?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa wears black on Amāvasyā day.

Generally black is in the mode of ignorance,

and therefore we don’t usually wear it,

but there may be some exceptions.

I don’t think on Pūrṇimā day Kṛṣṇa wears black!

On Amāvasyā like yesterday, He wore black.

Otherwise, they don’t wear black.

Link: 20230421 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Sādhanā], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

People invite we don’t know what they are eating or not, but even if they cook vegetarian food, we are not allowed to eat as initiated devotees?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-01

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda would go to some peoples’ house if they became a life member,

and he would tell them what standards to cook for him like no onion garlic,

but those things we always got sick very often.

But Śrīla Prabhupāda, he was an ideal guest.

One time they told Śrīla Prabhupāda here they have put onions,

but he took the onions out and did not eat the onions,

but did not say anything.

He did not want to offend the people.

So how you do the things, you have to use some discretion.

I know that some businessmen, they have to take their clients out to wine and dine, at least dine.

So here they just eat the salad,

but the guests may eat all kinds of nonsense.

That is the downside of marketing.

Link: 20230523 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Prasāda and Bhoga], [Sādhanā / Diet]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-12-19

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

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

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

But that is in the Padma Purāṇa and other Purāṇas.

Slightly mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,

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

So to encourage people to engage in devotional service.

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

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

Have them chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Have them discussing in the holy month of Dāmodara.

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

In this way, one may get a tastes.

Don’t be attached to the result.

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

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

and by their association, that person might get changed.

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

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

They bring the people to the sellers of the goods.

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

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

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

But don’t be discouraged.

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

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

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

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

I was in one TV show in Montreal, Canada,

and they paid me at that time 45 dollars,

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

It was not difficult for me.

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

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

Which I discussed.

Alright, my father said, this acting father,

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

That was the whole thing.

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

So naturally there was scope for advertisement.

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

I don’t believe in anything.

That was his off the record comment.

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

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

That was an eye opener for me.

Link: 20191021 Śrī Krishna Caitanya Book

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

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

Questioner: Hemāṅga Haladhara dāsa

Date: 2022-01-05

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

[A-side: from Bengaluru Guru Mahārāja.]

Bengaluru is famous for intense traffic jams.

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

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

So that also counts for the reading time.

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

or Bhagavad-gītā in audio.

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

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

If you don’t repeat what you read,

you may forget it.

So preaching is also part of reading.

It helps you to absorb the teachings.

Link: 20201104 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Scripture says that on hearing these pastimes we will be freed from distress. I see that I am still much distressed. Is it because I am not hearing the pastimes with proper attitude and mood?

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā Devī Dāsī

Date: 2022-10-24

Maybe shes not hearing? Well I can't say.

She is thinking of her problems, not listening.

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Stress/Anxiety], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-02-22

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

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

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

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

This is our opportunity to associate with Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Thank you very much!

All glories to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam!

Link: 20220915 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.20

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Some devotees are taking the association of devotees and start to do chanting and enjoying the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But when their relatives or parents say something negative about ISKCON immediately they leave without informing. It is painful for me how I missed the soul to serve. How to understand the situation? How to overcome and guide them? Please guide me.

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: Part of preaching is to help the people

to tolerate the different obstacles.

They may encounter obstacles from their relatives,

or internet,

somehow, I don’t know,

some ṛtvik sites they say I murdered a devotee!

I don’t know who that is! I don’t even kill a fly, what to talk about killing a devotee!

So, who knows what people say, what they see?

So we have to be ready to answer any questions that come up

or prepare the people to endure any kind of obstacles.

There was one devotee who was kidnapped by the deprogrammers.

Exactly a few days before she was kidnapped

I called her and encouraged her.

Just generally.

When she was kidnapped, they tore the Bhagavad-gītā up, they jumped up on the Bhagavad-gītā and did all kinds of offensive things.

But she remembered that I was kind to her

and she went through some difficult times

and she escaped from that place

and came back to the devotees.

So, we don’t know at least if we do our part,

be positive, give them good association

and if someone turns away,

the fact that we are there to help, that we ask them what happened, you used to come?

Like that try to find out what are the things they heard.

Like that we try to help them.

Not easy to make a devotee.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it takes buckets of blood!

Kṛṣṇe matir astu blessings!

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Day-to-day Life / Relatives], [Emotions / Confusion]

Sometimes atheists complain that God is narcissistic. As a result, He dislikes criticism and thus tries to kill and curse the atheists. Kindly clear this misconception.

Questioner: Shuvra Dev Babu

Date: 2022-10-17

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord doesn’t personally take a part, except if His devotee is being threatened.

But we all owe everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

and this is the reality.

We cannot live without sunlight;

you don’t provide it.

Kṛṣṇa provides it.

Similarly, He sees to the maintenance of everyone.

Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān - one person maintains everyone else.

So, the atheists are very envious, they think the Lord is preoccupied

in admiration of Himself.

But He is the source of everything.

And if someone commits blasphemy or offences to Him,

He doesn’t personally take a role in that.

He has agents, that give people their pious, their impious results.

And so, if one is envious of the Lord, they get punished.

He doesn’t want that; He would rather have the people be uplifted.

But to teach them, people are punished according to their activities.

So, since they steal from others, cheat others,

then they get the reaction for their bad karmas.

If they give charity, if they help others,

they get good karma.

If they engage in devotional service,

they get delivered from this material world.

If they engage in persecuting devotees,

and if they are envious of the Lord,

then they stay in this material world

life after life.

That is what they want, they don’t want to be where the Lord is.

I don’t know why you accuse the Lord of being a narcissist?

Link: 20200601 The reaction of the Atheists and Devotees After Seeing the Saṅkīrtana

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Sometimes I feel so low that I am not up to the mark. It is so overwhelming that I cannot remain enthusiastic anymore. And to endeavor to render better service. How do I deal with this conspiracy of the mind?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: If we think I am very qualified to do devotional service,

if we are very proud,

that is not according to the instructions of Lord Caitanya.

You should be humble, very tolerant,

offer respect to others

and don’t expect respect for one’s self.

I don’t understand if you say, I feel I am not qualified,

so therefore I lose my enthusiasm.

We see great devotees like Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura,

they pray to Lord Gaurāṅga that Your avatāra is to deliver the most fallen.

There is no one more fallen than me.

If you are feeling yourself very unqualified,

very fallen,

then there is more chance you will get the mercy of Lord Caitanya,

since He is the deliverer of the most fallen.

But you should not lose your enthusiasm

since Lord Caitanya has come to deliver the most fallen.

Therefore, you have a good qualification.

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

Category: [Anarthās / Māyā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Material World / Mind / Intelligence]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-02

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

Bhakti-Sārvabhauma,

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

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

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

And then the second six cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Then the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Link: 20230421 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

Sometimes we are born in a family who are surrendered to many gurus or Mahārājas, right! Like we are born in families where they have kula-gurus and we have been raised and brought up praying to many devatas like Durgā Mā, Gaṇesajī, Kṛṣṇa, etc. We also feel that God is one, ultimately one energy. But I feel that God is above all this, right? How do we surrender, what is the best way to surrender?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: You see that in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it states vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva, Maheśa, is the greatest of all the Vaiṣṇavas. and similarly, we have Kārttikeya, we have Gaṇeśa, they are great Vaiṣṇavas. Durgā is known as Bhagavatī, Vaiṣṇavī. We should know that Kṛṣṇa, He is the ultimate Personality of Godhead.

But Kṛṣṇa has unlimited forms,

ananta-rūpam.

So, every form is equal.

That doesn’t mean that we are equal.

We are very small.

Lord Brahmā, Lord Maheśa are greater.

But they are still depending on Kṛṣṇa

and Kṛṣṇa they are all equal, simultaneously one and different for Kṛṣṇa.

The father of Vyāsadeva, Parāsara Muni analyzed,

he found that 50 of the qualities are in Lord Brahmā,

Five more with Lord Śiva, he had 55.

Lord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa had five more than Lord Śiva. He had 60.

And then Kṛṣṇa, He had four more even than Lord Nārāyaṇa. He had 64.

Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are both considered viṣṇu-tattva

and they are all the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Other devas, either Maheśa or Brahmā, they are not as great.

So the kula-gurus sometimes they say everybody is the same, that means they are impersonalists.

Because it says, if one thinks Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā are the same they are pāṣaṇḍīs.

So we find Hiraṇyakaśipu, in this day of Brahmā līlā, he worship Lord Brahmā receive powers.

He asked Brahmā first to give him immortality.

Brahmā said, “I am not immortal,

how can I give something which I don’t have?”

So then he said, “I should not be killed in day or night, in the house or out of the house, and all those conditions.

Not man, or animal, or a demon or deva.”

Narasiṁhadeva came, half man and half lion!

Hiraṇyakaśipu was confused, “Is He a man or an animal?”

So Lord Śiva, in some yugas, in some days of Brahmā when Hiraṇyakaśipu comes he gets the blessing from Lord Śiva.

Śiva, he has his weapon, śiva-jvara,

it produces the maximum heat!

But Lord Kṛṣṇa has the nārāyaṇa-jvara,

it produced unlimited cold.

Hardly you can survive in a cold day, you need a jacket and other things.

Any śiva-jvara produced heat and nārāyaṇa-jvara came and sucked up all the heat and created unlimited cold,

and then śiva-jvara surrendered.

So Śiva is greater than jīvas,

we are jīvas.

He is very great.

But still he is not as great as Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa.

So we worship Śiva, Durgā, Gaṇeśa, Kārttikeya, all the Vaiṣṇavas as Vaiṣṇavas.

And if in your house you worship Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa first offer bhoga to Them and then Their prasāda to the devas.

In South India like in Mahābalipuram,

that is one of the Divya-deśams,

they worship the Nārāyaṇa form first

and then they take the prasāda and offer to Śiva

and Durgā and others.

If the kula-guru gives you transcendental knowledge, it is very nice.

But if he is not able to give transcendental knowledge, he is just like a vyavahāri-guru, he acts like a guru but he cannot give transcendental knowledge,

then the śāstra says it is alright if we take a sad-guru,

someone who gives transcendental knowledge.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Link: 20230413 Question and Answer Session

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

Sometimes we need to talk about something with the devotees which is not Kṛṣṇa-related such as some management issues. But how to identify if we are doing prajalpa?

Questioner: Mitravindā Mamatāmayī devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: If it is really connected with Kṛṣṇa

then it is not prajalpa.

But if it has nothing to do with Kṛṣṇa or service,

then it is prajalpa.

Link: 20220219 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā], [Emotions / Confusion], [Anarthās]

Sometimes we want to help someone but do not for various reasons. But we know that they require help. So how could we could not help and in the same time to help them too?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2024-02-19

Jayapatākā Swami: There are many reasons why we may not be able to help someone.

Just like a father, he doesn’t like to hear instructions from his daughter.

For various circumstances

the relationship may be such that we cannot really instruct a person who is senior to you

or who thinks he or she is senior.

So, in such a situation,

you have to help the person using some tactic.

Either by asking question,

like I look to you, you are a very advanced person, you are very senior.

But I have a question.

I see that sometime, you go behind the bathroom and smoke a cigarette.

Is it something I should do as well?

So you can ask – of course this is a ridiculous example - but you can ask.

Maybe you cannot help the person

then you think who can

and arrange that that person does what he or she can to help the person.

Link: 20200903 Question and Answer Session on Zoom

Category: [Emotions / Confusion]

Sometimes, even after giving all the love and philosophical teachings, the children still do not take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. What is to be done?

Questioner: Bhagavān Dāmodara Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

Category: [Anarthās], [Anarthās / Bad association], [Day-to-day Life / Children], [Day-to-day Life / Parents], [Emotions / Confusion]

Śrīla Prabhupāda said in one of his letters to his disciples, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action. But at the same time the culture and teachings encourages, and expects its practioners to surrender and to be obedient to senior devotees, guru and Gaurāṅga. How can I be independently thoughtful and be obedient at the same time, especially when dealing with senior devotees?

Questioner: Ekleśvarī Mādhavī devī dāsī

Date: 2023-03-13

Jayapatākā Swami: It seems that you are facing some contradiction.

That you want to be submissive,

at the same time independently thoughtful.

So, independently thoughtful, we decide what we are going to do.

Not that we just do something blindly, but

if we decide that we are following some more experienced devotee,

that should be helpful.

So you can do well by following an experienced devotee,

at the same time be independently thoughtful.

Doesn’t mean you just blindly follow any devotee,

but you pick up some particular activity, because it is something that sits nicely with you

and it is in the śāstra.

Link: 20221029 Śrīla Prabhupāda Disappearance Day Question and Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings]

The demigods, being Kṛṣṇa’s representatives, help the Vaiṣṇavas progress in kṛṣṇa-bhakti. But here (in Dhruva-līlā) we see them creating many obstacles. How can we reconcile this?

Questioner: Rasapriya Gopikā devī dāsī, Māyāpur.

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: The devas, the demigods are sakāma devotees.

They have some material desires.

Because they are afraid that

Dhruva would take over their posts,

therefore they gave him different obstacles –

in one way they were testing him.

So if you don’t want a position in the heavenly planets,

you have to declare that to them.

Give them kṛṣṇa-prasādam.

They should not cause you trouble.

Because Dhruva was performing austerities for position,

they were afraid that he would take their position.

Category: [Anarthās], [Emotions / Confusion], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Material World / Demigods]

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

Questioner: Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dāsa

Date: 2022-09-08

Link: 20211003 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.28

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: The writer.

One who wrote it down!

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

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

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

Link: 20230411 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

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

In Kali-yuga, śravaṇam kīrtanam is most important.

Reading books is one form of śravaṇam.

There are nine practices of devotional service

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

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

But we should chant, hear remember,

pay obeisances, offer prayers

and do the arcanam,

and do pāda-sevanam, do some service,

considering oneself as the servant of the Lord,

considering the Lord as one’s friend

and offering everything to the Lord,

ātma-nivedenam.

These are the nine practices of devotional service.

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

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

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-08-16

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

In Kali-yuga, śravaṇam kīrtanam is most important.

Reading books is one form of śravaṇam.

There are nine practices of devotional service

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

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

But we should chant, hear remember,

pay obeisances, offer prayers

and do the arcanam,

and do pāda-sevanam, do some service,

considering oneself as the servant of the Lord,

considering the Lord as one’s friend

and offering everything to the Lord,

ātma-nivedenam.

These are the nine practices of devotional service.

Link: 20200915 Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu Enters the Forest After Accepting Sannyāsa

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

What book should I read, which chapter in the Dāmodara month?

Questioner: Rūpaśrī Vasudhā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-01-05

Jayapatākā Swami: In the Kṛṣṇa Book, the chapter on the Dāmodara-līlā is there,

that can be read.

Link: 20201103 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

What is the most effective way to make people realize right away that we need to take Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously as many people understand the concepts but do not develop the faith ?

Questioner: Indulekhā Karuṇa devī dāsī

Date: 2022-08-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Everyone is taking up Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

everyone is an individual

and what thing impresses one person,

may not impress another.

So you have to hear a bit what the person likes.

The thing is that in the material world

people naturally turn to things they like,

but if they understand that these things often may lead them astray,

then they may be less inclined to do that.

And so in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is kevala ānanda kāṇḍa, it is a very blissful process.

So if can somehow engage people in chanting, hearing, dancing, serving,

then they will get a taste.

And you know, I met one person,

he was an impersonalist.

But then Śrīla Prabhupāda said that there is no use to talk philosophy

because in their brain some short circuit is there.

But if they like to do sevā, engage them in sevā.

By doing sevā

they get purified

and their whole idea changes.

After several years, that person told me

that, now I understand

about devotional service,

because he was practically doing it.

Otherwise, philosophically he was off.

He got purified by serving Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20220218 Question and Answer Session

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

What is your take on veganism?

Questioner: Kackuly Rani

Date: 2022-10-13

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda has said that

taking cow milk develops the finer intelligence

will be able to understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

At the same time, we like to protect the cows.

And so, where possible we try to eat milk from protected cows.

The vegans, they say since the cows are mistreated,

better not to take any milk.

But Śrīla Prabhupāda knew that this difficulty was there.

He thought it was important to offer the milk to Kṛṣṇa,

and then we can take it.

So, we only take milk as prasāda.

Category: [Sādhanā / Diet], [Other philosophies], [Emotions / Confusion], [Day-to-day Life / Food]

What should be our mood and prayer to Lord Narasiṁhadeva today? Also, the purport says that it is very easy to please Lord Nārayaṇa, but I find it very difficult and struggle to keep my sādhanā and sevā going on steadily every day. How to understand this if guru and Kṛṣṇa are pleased with me or not, and where am I going wrong?

Questioner: Harshita Sharma

Date: 2023-07-08

Jayapatākā Swami: Certainly, by your trying to be Kṛṣṇa conscious you are pleasing the Lord.

If you keep on trying, then gradually, as they say, practice makes perfect.

So we hope that gradually you will be able to achieve the perfect stage.

But just the fact that you are trying, that means a lot.

So definitely you will be protected from the greatest danger.

Link: 20210525 Question And Answer Session

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

What should we do to bring Kṛṣṇa in the chariot of our lives?

Questioner: Sucarita Jāhnavā devī dāsī

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: If we circumambulate Kṛṣṇa,

naturally, He will be in our lives.

So it is very important that we do everything with the idea of pleasing Kṛṣṇa, serving Kṛṣṇa.

If we cook, we offer that to the deities,

therefore it is Kṛṣṇa prasāda we are taking.

Everything we do, we do in yukta-vairāgya,

and we offer the results to Kṛṣṇa.

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

What to do when my idea for a certain project is conflicting with superior authority ?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-10-15

Jayapatākā Swami: You see it may be different it may be the same.

If you have a vision that you want to serve Kṛṣṇa,

you want to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement,

maybe some individual differences.

But if your reason is Kṛṣṇa conscious then it doesn’t matter.

Link: 20220515 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life / Workplace], [Emotions / Confusion], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings], [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Etiquette / Sadācāra]

What to do when we cannot reach you for some important decision making and guidance? At the same time whatever guidance we receive from the seniors are not satisfactory and not solving the issues?

Questioner: Nitāi Līleśvara dāsa

Date: 2022-08-04

Jayapatākā Swami: I hear different emails every day

and I have certain corresponding secretaries.

Like Rādhāramaṇa Sevaka dāsa and others.

So you write to me and don’t get a reply in a week,

then you could write a WhatsApp message to my corresponding secretary

that why you are not getting a reply.

And usually, you will get a reply.

But at least you will be told why you are not getting a reply.

And right now, we also have the Jayapatākā Swami Disciples’ e-Care

and you can write to them also.

So I am trying to make myself available

and I don’t know who is the śikṣā-guru you have faith in.

You can ask or suggest a śikṣā-guru

and get some authorization.

Otherwise, try to contact me as I mentioned.

Link: 20220220 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Vaiṣṇava Dealings / Association (Sādhu-saṅga)], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Śikṣā-guru], [Guru (Spiritual Master) / Guru Disciple Relationship], [Emotions / Confusion]

When I read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books I feel very connected to him. But due to lack of time I am unable to read as much and thus feel guilty. What should I do?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-08-27

Whether there is any time to do books

during your study,

that you have to analyze

and like, housewives when they are cooking, they can listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s class, or his books audio version.

I don’t know specifically what your schedule is that you can give any time in the day for reading.

Sometimes there is so much service to do for your studies,

when there is no time for māyā,

that is good.

Link: 20201118 Zoom Prabhupāda Kathā

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

When one’s material life is too problematic, should we take it as Kṛṣṇa’s special mercy or settlement of karma?

Questioner: Rādhikā Premabhakti devī dāsī

Date: 2022-09-02

So, we take it as Kṛṣṇa’s mercy because He doesn’t let anything happen without His permission.

Nothing!

For devotees, they see that their karma is settled at a reduced rate.

Actually, this material world is always problematic.

This material world is duḥkhālaya.

This is already stated by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā.

If you think that this material world is problematic,

that should be an inspiration for you to go back to the spiritual world.

Why do you want to stay in the material world, life after life?

Why don’t you see that this material world is problematic?

And you should try to be Kṛṣṇa conscious?

You have such a nice name.

Rādhikā Premabhakti!

I want that prema-bhakti of Rādhikā!

So we see that this material world is a horrible place, but we try to make best use of a bad bargain.

That is why it is very important that husband and wife, both are devotees.

And they try to become very dear to Kṛṣṇa.

Link: 20201121 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Day-to-day Life], [Karma], [Material Sufferings], [Mercy], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions]

Which one do you recommend first – Caitanya-bhāgavata or Caitanya-caritāmṛta?

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2023-09-05

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Caitanya-caritāmṛta has the purports of Śrīla Prabhupāda, it would be better to read its purports first.

Although in my compilation, I have going chronologically about the life of Lord Caitanya.

So, the Caitanya-bhāgavata comes first

because that is dealing with His early life.

And then there are other books

and then the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

But this is at the end of the book and here we have some of the pastimes of Lord Nityānanda and His associates.

This book, I am not putting in the Bengali, I am just telling the translation and purport.

Like the Kṛṣṇa Book.

Link: 20230413 Question and Answer Session

Category: [Sādhanā / Reading / Śāstra]

While preaching about celibacy to the youth, they are sometimes seen to justify lust by referring to the divine rāsa-līlā of the Lord. How can we handle such a situation?

Questioner: Rakshita Varadarajan

Date: 2022-10-04

Jayapatākā Swami: One can be in whichever āśrama they want to.

Whichever they feel more comfortable.

If they feel that gṛhastha-āśrama is more appropriate for you,

that allows certain license for sex life.

Kṛṣṇa has made machines –

male and female form.

So they can reproduce each other.

So the scientists they are not able to make a machine

that could reproduce itself.

Ha! We shouldn’t think that Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes

with the queens or the gopīs, are material.

He is transcendental.

And in Vṛndāvana,

His pastimes are understood by the liberated souls.

One has to read all the previous nine cantos,

then you can understand how the position of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental.

Once when I was a new devotee,

I asked a question about Rādhārāṇī.

Śrīla Prabhupāda chastised me.

Who are you to ask about Rādhārāṇī?

Since I was a new devotee,

I didn’t understand much, so I accepted that.

Category: [Emotions / Confusion], [Emotions / Lust], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead)], [Kṛṣṇa (Godhead) / Pastimes], [Sādhanā / Philosophical questions], [Sādhanā / Preaching], [Youth]

Who is Swami Nārāyaṇa? (projected as the Supreme source by the BAPS temple in Gujarat)

Questioner: Devotee

Date: 2022-10-05

Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know about such predictions.

If you have those you can send the copy to me.

I read the book where Swami Nārāyaṇa said he was a devotee.

But later on, his followers made him an avatāra.

So Śrīla Prabhupāda requested that his status as a jīva never be changed.

Because many spiritual movements after the founder leaves,

they declare their founder as God.

So, I don’t see any reason why, Swami Nārāyaṇa claims to be God.

If you read his book, he doesn’t claim it.

It is only claimed by his followers.

That is as much as I know.

I went to their center in Ahmedabad and other places.

Some of their Swami came to see me.

When they heard that I have been a Swami for like 50 years,

they paid their daṇḍavats!

You know generally, they are favorable.