20190208 Question and Answers Session

Come join us as His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja reads from the new Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book on February 8th, 2019 in Chennai, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghāyate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

I am very happy here in Chennai at the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Jagannātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā, Nitāi Gaura mandir. Today we had the South Indian divisional council meeting. All day long from 10m till 8.30 pm. So I wanted to give questions and answers but by the time we finished it was already 10 pm and all the people had left. So I thought I would just appear on the Facebook to say “Haribol” to all of you! Class will be held tomorrow at a normal time.

This morning I had a brief physical therapy and then all day long and all afternoon we had the SIDC meeting. Tomorrow the Creative Committee of the TOVP Exhibition and Planetarium wing will meet in the morning. I will try to attend and tomorrow we will see different devotees. And then on Sunday we are having an initiation ceremony for the South Indians. Then I will return back to Māyāpur, Kṛṣṇa willing! So this is how the whole day was spent. Bhānu Swami was chairing the meeting and there were maybe 50 or 60 devotees present. 11 outpost got promoted to being an extension center. South India yātrā is growing more and more. But we have much to learn, much to grow, but the people here are very nice and they are very receptive to spiritual things. In fact, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda Ṭhākura, he said that if he had to take birth again in this planet; he would like to take birth in South India, because there the Vedic culture is still very much active.

So thank you very much! I don’t know how many are online now? 144

Jayapatākā Swami: Oh! Is someway, to get their questions?

Akarṣaka Caitanya dāsa: You want?

Jayapatākā Swami: Sure!! There are the Devotees… Shurva Dey Babu, Lokesh Rāmamūrti, Kālindī, Rasa Gopāla dāsa, Lotus Moon, Valarmati Sharma, devotees name read out… Bhānu Swali…

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha! Bhānu Swami?

Sarva Maṅgala Kṛṣṇanāma dāsa: One mātājī Guru Mahārāja! Bhānu Swali.

Jayapatākā Swami: Any question?

Question: How to keep one enthusiastic at all times despite what situation one is in?

—Yaśodā Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: If you associate with enthusiastic devotees you will also be enthusiastic. And knowing how wonderful is Kṛṣṇa, and how when you take one step towards Kṛṣṇa, He takes ten steps towards you. So how can you fail to be enthusiastic?

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Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja! Is the spiritual progress of a person dependent on his material status?

—Swapnil Tikale

Jayapatākā Swami: No! Advancement in spiritual life is not dependent on anything material. If one is born in a rich family, the advantage is that they don’t have to struggle to maintain themselves, but similar some situations which can be helpful, but it is not essential, to make advancement. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā that if someone serves Him and doesn’t finish, they don’t lose, they are either born in a family of rich merchant or devotee, or they take birth in heavenly planets. So there is no loss by doing devotional service even if one doesn’t finish. And one can advance in any situation. Look at Prahlāda Mahārāja, he advanced even he was in the family of demons. Haribol!

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Akarṣaka Caitanya dāsa: 153 [viewers]. One question. It is already 10:35 pm.

Jayapatākā Swami: Last question! Haribol!

Question: Shanti V Sharma:

Jayapatākā Swami: Ah, Śānti hi!

Question: Dear most Guru Mahārāja! If you want to give some input to TOVP from our understanding of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, shall we? Can they give input for TOVP from their understanding? Can they give?

Jayapatākā Swami: I wonder whether you want to give to the Exhibits or the temple? If you want to give for the Exhibits, you can write to Māyāpur to Śrīdāma dāsa or to me, and if you want to give to the temple, then you can write to Ṣaḍbhuja dāsa. See the web page and they will give the address you can send to an email to. Thank you very much all of you. I will see you tomorrow at 8’O clock Indian time. Haribol!

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