20210701 Question and Answer Session

Lakṣmī devī Rādhā devī dāsī: If a devotee is unwilling to forgive another devotee and cooperate in the Lord’s service what should he do?

Jayapatākā Swami: this happened with Śacī Mata committing an offense at Advaita Ācārya’s lotus feet. Advaita Ācārya did not consider that He could be offended by Śacī mata. Then He started glorifying Śacī mata and then He fell unconscious. And then Lord Caitanya told Śacī mata to take the dust from Advaita Ācārya’s lotus feet. And that way to be forgiven. But if a Vaiṣṇava will not forgive you, somehow or other get his or her foot dust.

Umā devī: If some Vaiṣṇava talks something wrong about some other devotee with us, even if we don’t want to hear, will it be an offence to a Vaiṣṇava?

Jayapatākā Swami: That is why if someone is talking about a Vaiṣṇava critically, then we should leave that place or object. Please don’t talk blasphemy. And if you cannot leave or object, then later we can get forgiveness from that Vaiṣṇava.

Antima Prabhu: We sometimes associate with some people who are critical for both devotees and non-devotees. They may be our friends, neighbor, family members, relatives. How to associate with these people and how to encourage them in Kṛṣṇa consciousness? Please enlighten us.

Jayapatākā Swami: If they start to blaspheme a Vaiṣṇava, you can tell them the aspects of this pastime, how it is very dangerous it is to blaspheme a devotee, since they are very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, you should object to their speaking criticism or blasphemy of a Vaiṣṇava.

Akhil, Indore, India: As you have mentioned that Vaiṣṇava offence is very dangerous and we get rid after asking forgiveness and serving that Vaiṣṇava, what to do if we don’t know unto whom we have committed the Vaiṣṇava offence?

Jayapatākā Swami: That happened to Rūpa Gosvāmī. That they were reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and laughing in ecstasy. Meanwhile, a crippled devotee walked by and he thought they were laughing at him. He was being laughed at. Then Rūpa’s ecstasy stopped at that time. So he wondered how, whom did he offend? So Sanātana Gosvāmī advised Rūpa. Sanātana Gosvāmī said you have a big feast and invite all the Vaiṣṇavas, and the Vaiṣṇava that does not arrive, then you must know that he was offended. So I don’t know it is a valid question. And I saw that some devotees take the dust of various shoes left outside the temple. I guess that way they want to take all the dust of the lotus feet of devotees.

Lalitāṅgī Rādhā devī dāsī, Canada: What is the line that differentiates just disagreeing with a devotee and criticizing and offending?

Jayapatākā Swami: If your discussion is about which way is more pleasing to Kṛṣṇa, then that is alright. We should not get into ad hominem (means to attack or blaspheme a person).

Question in Bengali: Many times we land up committing offence at the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava. But for whatever reason we are not able to ask for forgiveness from that Vaiṣṇava. But we regret that a lot. In this situation, what is the way we can get atonement for the offence committed?

Jayapatākā Swami: Just imagine, you committed a Vaiṣṇava offence, you have to ask for forgiveness from the Vaiṣṇava, then you will be absolved of the offence. You should say, knowingly or unknowingly, I have committed an offence, I don’t know, therefore please forgive me. Someone came to see Śrīla Prabhupāda sometime in his last phase of life, one of his god brothers, and asked him for forgiveness. I had told you a lot about prasāda earlier, but now you should forgive me.