19810622 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.4.14 (Part 2)

The following is a class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June 22, 1981 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [Part II]

Jayapatākā Swami (continued...): Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura, he was serving for some long time, Lokanātha Gosvāmī. And Lokanātha had taken an oath (that) he wouldn’t initiate anyone. But by his service, he was able to finally get initiated by Lokanātha. Lokanātha said, “I wont initiate anyone.” For three years or so. So a long period he was serving. Cleaning up the place where he would go and evacuate in the morning. And by this service attitude; one time Lokanatha, he was hidden, “Who is cleaning up my place?” and he saw there was Narottama. He said, “Hes doing this for so many years!” He called him and said, “You have won. I am defeated. I must give you initiation and take responsibility to deliver you to Kṛṣṇa, because of your sincere service.” Even though he took an oath, he saw that how sincere he was serving. He had to give him his desire of initiation. That this was Krsnas desire that he do that.

So in this way, Narottama, Srinivasa and Syamananda, they were all contemporaries. Actually, Śyāmānanda, when he arrived in Rādhā-kuṇḍa and then he came to Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmīs bhajana-kuṭīra and again and again offered his obeisances. Raghunatha Dasa told him, “You should go to Vṛndāvana and theres Jīva Gosvāmi who youre looking for. And he will teach you.”, and sent him with someone to Jīva Gosvami. And before, he was Duḥkhī Kṛṣṇa Dāsa, and when Jīva Gosvami saw very short time he became expert in the śāstras and he saw that a deep affection and love for Rādhā Śyāmasundara had grown in his heart, so then he gave him the name Śyāmānanda – one who gets pleasure from Śyāmasundara.

So in this way, these three devotees (they were, of course, to be ācāryas) were like in their brahmacārī life. They were together and they were circumbulating Govardhana, going to Rādhā-kuṇḍa, studying with Jīva Gosvāmī, going and bowing down to Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī, Dvija Haridāsa, all the different great associates of Lord Caitanya. Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja who were in Vṛndāvana and Rādhākuṇḍa, Govardhana. In this way, although they were disciples of different spiritual masters, they were just like the life and soul of each other. There was a complete co-operation. And that time, all the different branches of Lord Caitanya's tree, they worked simply as one family; there was no distinction that although Jīva Gosvāmi was the… they were not his disciples by initiation but he very liberally instructed everyone, just dear, like his own younger brothers, or even like his sons, like that.

Similarly Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and other senior Vaiṣṇavas, Lokanātha Gosvāmī, they treated each of them with great affection. And in this way, the whole movement of Lord Caitanya was one very big family. And if anyone wanted to do something, they would always discuss with the senior Vaiṣṇavas. No one had the slightest idea to be independent. Although each was doing his particular service to Lord Caitanya. But in any type of decision which was far reaching or would affect others, they would always discuss. There was that type of communication, and mutual respect, and devotion. So they'd have iṣṭa-goṣṭhīs all the time. Iṣṭa-goṣṭhīs means that association… discussing the topics about the Lord. So about this time, you see, the deities in Vṛndāvana; you know that there is Madanamohana, Govinda and Gopīnatha. These are the three deities very dear to the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇavas. They give their mercy to the followers of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madanamohana is the sambandha deity, and Govindajī is the abhideya deity and Gopinātha is the prayojana-vigraha. You know sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. But this is a very high topic. But basically, sambandha means to establish the relationship. Abidheya means to actually practice that devotional service in a pure way and prayojana means the complete perfection of life. So by worshipping Madanamohana, the materialistic person realizes the relationship between him and Kṛṣṇa that was lost. And by worshipping Rādhā-Govinda, then, apart from realizing a relationship, then there's acting within the relationship. I may know that I am your friend but then if I act as your friend, that is next stage. I may know that you are my relation but then when I act in that relationship, then that is the next stage. And the highest stage is pure love. When that relationship is further increased into pure love, that is Rādhā-Gopīnatha. At that time, Madanamohana and Govindajī, they didn’t have any Rādhārāṇī with them. Gopinatha, already Rādhārāṇī had become manifested. So Govindaji and Madanamohana, they wanted that Rādhārāṇī should come. And so the son of Prataparudra, the king of Orissa, who was a great devotee; by this time Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already disappeared. Nityānanda, Advaita disappeared. They all disappeared, as I mentioned). And this time only the 3 of the 6 gosvāmīs were still present. 3 or 4. And like that, so many devotees were already gone and there still some remaining. Few.

So Pratāparudra, I believe that, at that time, he was either… already disappeared or in any case he was out of commission. Atleast… he was simply feeling separation; he had already given up kingship and all that. And probably he had already disappeared in separation of Lord Caitanya. So his son was one… Jagannāthajana or Puruṣottamajana. He was a son of Pratāparudra. He had a dream. He heard about, actually that… Govindajī and Madanamohana needed Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa deities. So he sent two deities that were there, beautiful deities of Rādhārāṇī for Govindajī and Madanamohana.

When the deities were brought to Vṛndāvana, of course there was a big festival. Everyone was rejoicing that there was going to be installation ceremony. But that time, the deity of Madanamohana, He revealed to the devotees in a dream, "Actually, this is not two Rādhās. This is one Rādhā and one Lalitā. The smaller one is Rādhā; she should be put on my left side and Lalitā on my right side." So, in this way, then they installed according to Madanamohana's instructions. Rādhā and Lalitā were both Madanamohana.

Govindajī still didn’t have any Rādhārāṇī. So, when Puruṣottamajana heard, (of course, he was very happy that he sent deities and in this way there were some pastime already; that was very encouraging to him) he was wondering where he could get Rādhārāṇī for Govindajī. That time Śrīmati Rādhārāṅī appeared to him in a dream and told him that, “I am in a particular village, in Belgaun, or something like that. One village. And there they know me as Lakṣmī Mahārāṇī, the great queen Lakṣmī. But actually I am Rādhārāṇī. Nobody knows! I’ve been here for a long time. So you please have me transferred to Vṛndāvana, to Govindajī. So then when He woke up, he was startled. He immediately went to that village in his kingdom and there he saw that there was a deity everyone was worshiping as Lakṣmī. He was wondering, “What was the history of this? How did Rādhārāṇī come here to Orissa?” So then there was one South Indian paṇḍita, a brāhmaṇa, who was there for long time, and he told the story. That actually, long time ago, there was one devotee (that devotee’s name is out of my mind). One devotee was there and he had a mood as Rādhārāṇī's father. And so he was worshipping Rādhārāṇī as a daughter and feeding her, clothing and just worshipping, but he had a parental relationship with Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, he was worshiping Rādhārāṇī there for a long time. Then finally he disappeared. And one king from Orissa there, saw the beautiful deity. That time the Deity was in Rādhānagara, and from Rādhānagara, the deity was moved to this present village and the people were calling as Mahālakṣmī, which is true in one sense.... that’s not a lie. Its satya, truth. Because Rādhārāṇī is the full Lakṣmī. Lakṣmī is the expansion of Rādhārāṇī. So she is the full Laxmi. Since that time, Rādhārāṇī has been worshiped there. So then, after knowing all these things, Jagannāthajana (Purshottamajana), had Rādhārāṇī taken by this brāhmaṇa to Vṛndāvana and there was a big festival of installing the Rādhārāṇī with Govindajī. She was already installed, but to establish there with Govindajī. This way, there were so many pastimes going on.

Sometimes, Śrīnivāsa Ācārya was meditating on Lord Caitanya’s pastimes. And at that time, he would do worship Lord Caitanya in his mind. So he was daily making garlands and offering to Lord Caitanya. And in this way, one day he was making garlands in his mind, doing that meditation worship. And, all of a sudden, he was garlanding Lord Caitanya with the garland. Then actually, in his meditation, Lord Caitanya appeared! And there Lord Caitanya is dancing with His associates. And he accepts the garland from Śrīnivāsa, and he took off one garland, and gave to an associate and said, "Give this to Śrīnivāsa." And that garland.. when Lord Caitanya wears a garland, theyre filled, this… bees and bumble bees are flying and trying to get the nectar. There is so much nectar on his garlands! They are flying everywhere. And so when they put that garland around Śrīnivāsa, he is being surrounded by all these bees who are trying to get the nectar from the garland. As soon as the garland touched him, he broke out of his meditation and he was amazed! And when he broke out of his meditation, he looked and the garland was still there! And the bees are flying around. He look around and he was in Vṛndāvana. And he became very afraid, thinking, "What am I going to say? What if someone asks where I got this garland?” (laughter) “How am I going to explain?" He didn't want anyone to give him any type of false prestige or something. He was afraid he would get proud or something. He became very afraid that someone was going to come up see. Anyone could see that this garland wasn't an ordinary garland; nowhere in the three worlds you could one find any garland like that with the bumble bees and just by smelling it, he was practically crying and going unconscious. And then immediately the garland disappeared of its own accord. So like that, they were having different… Narottama was having… and different types of things like that… they were finding deities and having darśana. In this way they were just immersed in the nectar of Vṛndāvana. Finally, they were ordered that by Govindajī, “You have to take all the books to Bengal.” And they were crying [because of having] to leave Vṛndāvana. Really crying! But they know that… and also Rupa and Sanātana wanted Śrīnivāsa with Narottama and Śyāmananda to take the books. That's a whole other pastime – how they took those transcendental literatures. Like that Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays that, Lord Nityānanda – who of course, blessed Jīva Gosvāmī – how Nityānanda had established the Namahatta, the market place of the holy name, the great meeting place, where everyone can come and the take holy name. So many devotees… they are like huge markets, they are giving unlimited living entities the nectar of Lord Caitanya’s mercy.

Just like… although they were together then, serving with their god-brothers and other devotees, some with their masters and some not. When they came back to Bengal, Narottama went to Eastern Bengal, Śrīnivāsa… he became the rāja-guru in Visnupur, of Raja Vidambida Mahārāja, known as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Dasa, after initiation. And Śyāmānanda went to Orissa and was preaching there, around Remuna and other places in Orissa. Still today you’ll find many disciples in the Śyāmānanda-sampradāya. It's a branch that came. And sometimes they'd come together on Gaura Pūrṇimā and different occasions, and have big festivals jointly; at other times they would go preaching independently. They were always sending to each other letters. When Śyāmānanda was in Vṛndāvana, hed be writing to Hṛdaya Caitanya letters, ‘How his studies were going on? How his service was going?’ Keeping communication. In this way, the whole movement of Lord Caitanya that time was very much one, very big family. Whenever there was a festival somewhere, everyone would know about it. Whenever there was any type of success in preaching in one area, then everyone in other place they became very happy. When there was any misfortune in one place, everyone became very upset. When they lost the books (at one point they lost those books), devotees in Vṛndāvana were almost dead, feeling that all these literatures had been lost. And the devotees who lost them they were almost dead, thinking that they have lost the books; but Śrinivāsa Ācārya was able to regain them, by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, by Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy.

Similarly, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura meditated upon all these devotees, upon Lord Nityānanda, Jahnavā Devī, the holy dhāma of Navadvīpa. So he reestablished this type of preaching that… trying to unite all the Vaiṣṇavas with his Nāmahatta organization. In every town and village, He had different people meeting together in someone’s house which he called āśrama, a faithful āśrama, prapannāśrama, bhakti-kuṭhī (a little hut of faith). And they would, out of devotion, come together and chant in kīrtana, go out in the morning in street kīrtana also, and study Bhāgavatam and lead a devotional life. In this way, he had so many hundreds of (may be over 500) He established different Nāmahaṭṭa centers. Even one or two we find in some remote villages are still going on. Although now it's over 150 years, 130 years, it's a bit.... So now we have restarted this program in more or less the similar way that Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura did it in India. That in each village there should be one Nāmahaṭṭa centre or more. And they should meet together in the morning and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and in evenings. If not everyday, at least once in a week. And the members should read from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. So, this way, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Nāmahaṭṭa, describes that he had so many Nāmahaṭṭa āśramas or groups. And groups over a certain number was considered a circle. Over one circle of groups, there was a senāpati or commander. And then over so many circles there was a district commander. Then over so many districts, there was a state commander. And over this whole thing (all the groups) he had chief commander, Senāpati. The Cakra-senāpati, Zilla-senāpati, Pradeśa-senāpati and Mukhya-senāpati. Different types of commanders or generals. In this way he was supervising this whole organization. He took the position of a sweeper, his duty was simply to sweep and keep everything clean from all the māyās that accumulate; all the dirts that come. He has to sweep to keep it clean. All the apasampradāya. So over that whole Nāmahaṭṭa, he had a 10-man committee. Different senāpatīs and devotees, commanders, and they would meet together occasionally and that was called the Panchayat or the governing body. They'd meet together and he described in his founding chapter that, whatever they decide should be considered as not different from Nityānanda’s will, as the order of Nityānanda. This way Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, he had established his organization but he predicted that in the future a great soul would come and organize worldwide the movement of Lord Caitanya.

Devotees: Jaya!

He predicted. And there would be worldwide organization which will be spreading the vāṇī of Caitanya Mahāprabhu and established by one particular devotee. 

So Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s son, and grand-disciple Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Ṭhākura also preached. And he instructed his disciples to co-operate together, trying to re-establish the original mood that was present when Lord Caitanya’s movement was there. And so he said, "Work together cooperatively, make a governing board." But they didn’t follow his instructions. Instead they fought and then they artificially appointed one person to be the overall ācārya, even though Bhaktisiddhānta never wanted that; he wanted that there should be a cooperative spirit, not just that one person would independently work. And so in this way, the whole mission, as we know today, is still fighting in the court after 40 years! They court appointed one guru, by court order. Prabhupāda said, "How can a court appoint a guru? Guru is appointed by a guru. By a previous ācārya, by Kṛṣṇa; not by court. You can't… order of Supreme Court and you are a guru. How is that? Supreme court is materialistic and. Can only be appointed by ones previous ācārya and by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, not by some materialistic function.

These things are all there in our Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Prabhupāda described how so many difficulties came up, and how he tried humbly to carry out the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu through his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. So Śrīla Prabhupāda, he established the movement all over the world, and we can see that he is the fulfillment of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s prediction.

Devotees: Jaya!

And of course, Śrīla Prabhupāda tried to establish worldwide. He did establish the worldwide movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He always wanted that everyone should cooperate with each other. There should be a mood of love and trust throughout the society. But sometimes, he complained that, at least in the presence of Bhaktisiddhānta, there was no disagreement. But sometimes, my disciples they disagree even in my presence. This is very bad. So, he formed Governing Body and said, “You try to cooperate together; each of you have different responsibilities and areas but you should come together once a year and review how you are progressing, how everything is going, and the purity of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is maintained worldwide. In this way, try to cooperate together. The proof of how much you love me is how much you will cooperate in my absence. How much you work together in my absence.” At one point he said that if anyone leaves Kṛṣṇa conscious movement or thinks independently he can go on without any of the god-brothers or any of the others, then he is hallucinating. Some people of course did leave. Many of Prabhupāda’s disciples left. He predicted that, "When I leave, so many will go; who are not sincere. Who are not actually devoted to me. They are simply sentimentally attached to me, but they don’t have the pure, deep devotion.”

In this way, our Kṛṣṇa conscious movement we can see how it is representing the branch of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. How although there are today different spiritual masters and different disciples, how cooperatively as one world-movement, everyone is working together. Sometimes, if there's any… amongst god-brothers, of course there's a different relationship. I remember that although this type of relationship was there when Prabhupāda was establishing Kṛṣṇa consciousness worldwide. Sometimes his god-brothers were not following Bhaktisiddhānta’s exact same standard, but he would sometimes protect us by saying , "You should know not to do these things." But then if we to go and say that, "Well, yes, your god-brothers are not very good." or something like that, Prabhupāda would smash us and say, "You never criticize my god-brothers. They are my god brothers!"

Just like Subala… Haridāsa Paṇḍita had a relationship with Lord Caitanya’s friend. But that was a unique thing. God-brothers… even spiritual masters and his god brothers, they are friends. They have that brotherly relationship, but disciple always looks to the spiritual master as Kṛṣṇa’s representative, as a spiritual father. So amongs the father and his brothers, there may be so many relationships, but the spiritual master may advice one how to act for one’s own benefit. But the son never criticizes the brothers of the father. That is very dangerous.

So Prabhupāda, he would smash us if we would just… (because that mood would be there); he'd be saying this and that. ‘Beware, watch out.’ They’re fighting in the courts, doing this, doing that, how this is not correct. And if we said, "Oh they are not good.” or something like that, then he would say, "Never!! They are my god-brothers, they’re not your god-brothers. You cannot say anything against them. I am saying this simply for your education. You just listen. You don’t say anything. They are also trying to serve the spiritual master. They just made a few mistakes, but they are also sincere. They are trying to do. You cannot criticize. And this I am telling you for your… so you don’t do the same mistakes amongst yourselves. You don’t fight amongst yourselves and have these mistakes. You cooperate together. That’s why I am telling you. "

So this would be most pleasing to Lord Caitanya, if we can maintain as we are today. This very friendly and cooperative spirit that was there amongst Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīnivāsa Ācārya and Śyāmānanda Paṇḍita. Now as we travel all over the world, we see that how here in Malaysia the preaching is going on. In Philippines, in America, in Mexico, in Latin America, in Europe and Africa, everywhere throughout the world… in Australia, preaching is expanding. Devotees are being made; books are being distributed. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is growing day-by-day, because everyone is a part of this one world-movement which is fulfilling the desire of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Bhaktisiddhānta, Lord Caitanya. We have to fulfill the desires of our previous ācāryas. That is the secret for success. We have to please our own spiritual master and also the previous spiritual masters and the Vaiṣṇavas. The more we can please Kṛṣṇa and his devotees and the more we can satisfy all the desires of the previous ācāryas, the more that our mission will be successful.

This is a great opportunity, to be in this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement. This is one of the pastimes of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This Kṛṣṇa conscious movement preaching all over the world. We should be very proud that our spiritual masters, our previous ācāryas, they have so many great qualities. And that although we are very insignificant and fallen souls, by the causeless mercy they have lifted us up and given us this opportunity to associate with Vaiṣṇavas, to serve in this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement, to be part of this Kṛṣṇa conscious family.

Different devotees, they may develop faith in different ways. Just like Narottama, he developed faith through Lokanātha Gosvāmī. Wanted to have him as guru. But he also had faith in Jīva Gosvāmī and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. It is not that they were his initiating spiritual masters, but he had faith and respect. Offered all type of respect to them also and wanted to hear from them about Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Like this, there was that type of a mood. So a person would develop such a faith to accept as, “I want to take initiation from him.” But still there was still the general, overall faith and enthusiasm. Just one big family. There wasn't any type of distinction. Everyone was very kind and affectionate to all.

Finally, when Śrinivāsa Ācārya and Narottama, they were leaving with the books, all the residents of Vṛndāvana, all those great Gosvamis, they all came and accompanied them. Even the old Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja and even Raghunātha Dāsa. Everyone. They came from Rādhā-kuṇḍa, Gorvardhana. It was such a momentous occasion. They accompanied the book distributors who were going out for the first time. And they accompanied them out to the border of Vṛndāvana, but they wouldn’t go any further than that, except Jīva Gosvāmi and just one or two others who went with him to Mathura. And then they gave their blessings, saying , "Go out and distribute these books, go on and preach the message of Gaurāṇga Mahāprabhu." And they went off to the east with these treasures of bhakti, to preach to preach the message of Gaurāṇga Mahāprabhu.

So like that, you all are taking the responsibility of delivering these books of Kṛṣṇa consciousness out to the fallen souls, to spread to every person Kṛṣṇa consciousness. May all the blessings of the previous ācāryas and Vaiṣṇavas be upon you, so that you can go on preaching this movement with greater enthusiasm and greater inspiration and realization. Remain pure and stay away from māyā’s attraction, by always remaining pure and humble, fearful of māyā’s contamination. And very carefully chanting, following the principles and preaching, and hankering for the mercy of the previous ācāryas. And thus may your lives be blessed.

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Thank you.

Any questions?

Question: How do we get into this mood of co-operation among devotees? 

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, that comes by appreciating the good qualities of other Vaisnavas. Different Vaiṣṇavas may have different ideas about serving. Just like one devotee might like to offer Kṛṣṇa a Rose garland, and one might like to offer Gardenia. And so some may say, "Rose is better than Gardenia.”, and, "No gardenia is better than rose." Its like that type of a situation. But one should see that the motive is in both cases, to serve Kṛṣṇa. So, in such a case, there is some mutual type of respect; there is no need to argue over something like that. The purpose is, of course, they offer two garlands so that each can do their service. When both the motive and the service is authorized, then there is a type of mutual respect; so this type of love or trust or respect for the other person’s motive… that when the overall motive of a devotee is good, then naturally there will be respect.

When Lord Caitanya was asked by the gṛhasthas in Bengal, "Who is a Vaiṣṇava?" He said, "Anyone who chants Hare Kṛṣṇa is a Vaiṣṇava." You should respect anyone who chants Hare Kṛṣṇa. Then, of course, then they say, "Well, some people chant but they are not pure." And Lord Caitanya says, "Yes, so there are three types of chanters.” One type are those who chant but don’t follow strictly. They break principles. Just like we may have people come here and chant, but they may still be eating meat and still doing some nonsense. Still they are coming and chanting. So Lord Caitanya said even if they chant, then we still should respect them as devotees. We offer them our respect in our heart and either we preach to them if we can, otherwise we don’t intimately associate with them just like on an equal level. We keep a little bit distance for our own protection, unless we are preaching to them. But in our heart we offer them respect that somehow, they are chanting. That means they are very fortunate people. And those who are initiated, who are following purely, initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and following purely, we offer obeisances to them and call them prabhu (master). And those who are pure devotees, who have got special mercy or somehow having extraordinary qualities of devotion, whom we consider mahā-bhāgavata - spontaneously situated devotees; then we respect them as… if we meet them, then immediately we offer our full daṇḍavats to them and we accept their words as the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And if we are uninitiated, then also we hanker to be initiated by such people, such a status of devotee, who is on level of a spiritual master. In this way, Lord Caitanya described three different levels more or less like kaniṣṭha, madhyama and uttama. That type of level or basic devotee who is not initiated and not so pure, a devotee who is initiated and following; and one devotee who is even more advanced on level of the spiritual master, who is taking so much responsibility for delivering other souls. So in this way, if one can see that everyone however is connected with Lord Caitanya, then that type of cooperative spirit.

Our goal is not like some type of materialistic football team where we want to get the big score. Each person has got his service they’re trying to do and that is also a type of competition "Who can serve Kṛṣṇa the most?" But the overall intention is Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure. So if someone else is successful in preaching, that’s also our joy. If someone else is unsuccessful or has difficulties, that is our sadness. Because we know this is going to make Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, previous ācāryas, Śrīla Prabhupāda, happy. Or its going to make them also feel some discomfort. So because we are all serving the same ultimate master, the same previous ācāryas, so in this way, automatically a type of cooperative spirit grows. Even if some misunderstanding comes up, then that’s temporary and by discussion, by association of Vaiṣṇavas, by iṣṭa-goṣṭhi, that can also be destroyed. That is just some temporary… type of superficial issue, due to lack of such type of clear communication and understanding.

This Kṛṣṇa conscious movement has got so many wonderful devotees. As I travel around, not only the ācāryas and GBCs members who are of course private secretaries and associates of Prabhupāda, but temple presidents, book distributors, pujārīs, and so many devotees around the movement, they are very wonderful, sincere devotees who are very attached to serving Kṛṣṇa and the previous ācāryas. And one sees that this movement is actually an ocean of very great souls who are dedicated to doing welfare work for the whole human society, for the whole universe. So they are very dear to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So when one gradually sees that how, it is not that only in our temple there are some good devotees but there are good devotees in every temple, and that theyre very sincere devotees, we can see that actually they are very dear to Caitanya Mahāprabhu and if we can encourage them in their service to Lord Caitanya, in the service to their spiritual master, that this would be pleasing to Lord Caitanya-Nityānanda. Then that’s the whole type of co-operative spirit - how can we can encourage everyone in their devotional service.

So when somehow, somebodys discouraged, that’s of course very sad. And so then we try to make a program that a person may again be encouraged. Its just basically communication known as iṣṭa-goṣṭhī and consideration and appreciation of the good qualities of other Vaiṣṇavas. And this creates a type of cooperative spirit. If we lose sight… that our spiritual master is the servant of Prabhupāda, or Bhaktisiddhānta, and then one sees that how there is the whole chain of spiritual masters, that there’s a whole family. So two things equal to the same thing, are equal to each other. As long as everyone is trying to serve Lord Caitanya sincerely, so that means they’re all equal. Because they’re equal with Caitanya’s mission, therefore they’re equal with each other. And this way then, the cooperative spirit is there. So of course each person pushes on with his own service and appreciates that others are also, in this way, a total outpoured push to give everything back to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, to His credit.

And just like when the 10000 brothers, the Pracetās, they were all worshipping underwater for so many thousands of years. Then Viṣṇu appeared and said, “Because you cooperate together, this has given Me special satisfaction. Therefore I’m personally appearing before you.” There is something that Lord Caitanya likes very much, when so many devotees cooperate together. There was a big festival and all the devotees came about 50 years after Lord Caitanya left, and had a big saṅkīrtana and had an abhiṣeka of the deities at Gaura Pūrṇimā. This is in a village called Kheturi. Jahnavā Devī, the wife of Nityānanda, she was present. Acyutānanda, the son of Advaita. There were so many who were there. Narottama, Śrīnivāsa, Śyāmānanda, they were all present. In the middle of a kīrtana led by Narottama, Lord Caitanya appeared with Nityānanda, with all the associates, although they had all disappeared maybe 50 years ago. So they all reappeared and they were praising the devotees who were…. Everyone was seeing Lord Caitanya. Advaita grabbed Acytuānanda's hand and He was dancing. There was a big reunion. Even disciples of disciples who hadn’t been born even, when Lord Caitanya was there, they were able to see personally Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing. Because He was so pleased that they’ve all come together and worshiping Him in this way, co-operatively, He personally appeared amongst them. And then again He disappeared and (everyone) drowned in separation.

We can even open that sometime we may be able to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, see Prabhupāda, even if they didn’t have that opportunity upto now. Even though He is gone, He is not material, He may also appear before us. And of course, He is present in our temples, in our worship, in our service; the Lord is there. But we may even see Him, you see, with divine eyes by His mercy. That also is not impossible. Nothing is impossible. We will see Him of course, if not sooner, atleast when we leave this body. We will see Him only as serving our whole life. That is guaranteed. So we understand all this. We have a broad vision. Its only when our vision becomes narrow, due to so many considerations which are only temporary, then we start to see things in a different way. But if we see in a very broad… Prabhupāda once told me, “You have to BROADEN your vision. BROADEN! WIDE!” Just said it in such a way that I felt, “Oh, I’m just looking with a tunnel vision.” You see, Prabhupāda is seeing so broad. That no matter how much I try to broaden, still it is only a tunnel compared to what Prabhupāda is seeing. The whole broad vision, that every man, woman and child - the whole world. Every town and village. They all can becomes devotees of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They can all be engaged in different ways, through prasādam, through kīrtana, through book distribution. We connect it with Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even if they don’t go back in this life; when they’re reborn, they’ll be closer and closer to Caitanya’s movement.

So gradually we pray that our vision can be broadened. We become mahātmās. To realize our insignificant part in Lord Caitanyas movement has got, in its own right, so much significance. So much importance. For ourselves and for others, who we are preaching to. Just so that we can be an instrument in the hand of Mahāprabhu. So this cooperative spirit comes as we become more mature in our outlook, and we see things in that type of viewpoint.

Question: We generally see that if a devotee doesn’t really bring out what he has to stay, then they go back (leave).

Jayapatākā Swami: Yes, so what happens is that… its like if we have a rotten apple. Right? And you keep it in the basket, then it rots the other apples. You have a bad thought, or you have some doubt, you keep it inside without bringing it out, then it starts to pollute the consciousness. So that’s why devotees… one of the six things is follow the footsteps of the previous ācāryas to be straightforward. One should open up and reveal - atleast to the spiritual master, to such very advanced devotees, to whom one can trust – to give a scriptural answer. And in this way, these difficulties can be brought out. If one keeps it inside, then it will remain as a type of festering sore. I know that Śrīla Hansadūta, he was always very straightforward. Whatever’s on his mind, he says it. Very sincere in that way, you see.

So, this way, we should follow the footsteps of great devotees. If we have something in our mind, then we can say that and that can be purified. Because of lack of such communication, then one doubts and mistrusts others and creates a whole type of different mood which is not conducive to devotional service. So that’s why some people, they advance faster. And those who are more complex, they’re not so simple devotees, that may take some longer. Like some people come here but they say... they’re always, “Well I think…”, I think. They try to put to many 'I'-deas. So you know they’re not making much advancement. They’re not listening. It doesn’t enter the brain. They’re already thinking so many things. They hear something, then they speculate on it, make some other proposal. So although they’re coming, it’s like very slow. And someone who is hearing, and actually opening and letting it come in their heart and they’re trying to understand it; if there’s still some doubt they ask a question and get it cleared it. In this way gradually they may train more and more and they’re making advancement. So that’s the way of actually understanding. Not by just challenging mood. There is some idea that I want to understand and if there is something I can’t accept or I cant fully understand why that should be, then we again ask question. But those you can see, who are not so simple, that even though they’re coming, it’s really slow. Right?

(Questioner: Yes.) 

So that’s there amongst Indian people, that they tend to sometimes have that. Probably because by nature they’re very simple, and sometimes if you open up to someone, they exploit you. They exploit. So one has to have that faith. Of course within class, or within ista-goṣṭhī, they shouldn’t worry about that.

(Questioner: Sometimes they do open up but then…. with the wrong kind of people they might open up.)

Yeah. That’s dangerous. That’s why iṣṭa-goṣṭhī has to be kept among Kṛṣṇa conscious, more advanced people.

Questioner: Amongst the devotees there’s a fear that its possible they can exploit you?

Shouldn’t be. That’s all materialistic type of attachment.

Questioner: Could we ask neophytes for their opinions?

We might. Might not. But if that person is an authority, might do so for different reasons. Might do so just to find out what he is thinking. Might also do so if it’s a practical kind of thing. So if the question you’re trying to ask, “How to fix a vehicle?”, he may be a mechanic. You might ask his opinion. Or it might be about preaching in a particular place, you don’t know that place.