PLEASE NOTE, THIS DOCUMENT IS AT DRAFT (NOT PERFECT) STAGE. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO READ WITH GM’S VIDEO IN BACKGROUND.
DUE TO POOR AUDIO QUALITY THERE MAY BE SOME OMISSIONS OR ERRORS AND I BEG YOU TO FORGIVE ME FOR THAT.
Mukham karoti vacalam pangum langayate girim
Yat kripa tam aham vande sri gurum dina tarinam
Paramananda Madhavam Sri Caitanya Isvaram
Here we are broadcasting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Today I had a series of meetings and have another meeting, but I know that many devotees are waiting for me to make a short broadcast on Facebook Live. So that is why, with the mercy of Srila Prabhupada I want to answer a few of your questions and have my consciousness … on outreach and Krsna consciousness. So everything in kali yuga is trying to distract us from our real business of serving Krsna. So it is very important that we try to extend our service attitude to K. Being godaasa or servant of the senses or to be goswami or controller of the senses. In this way, we can taste spiritual bliss all of the time. Whereas the senses are sources of pleasure and suffering, more suffering. If you have any question, you can ask them now as I will be here only for a short time. Are there any questions?
Question: Bhaktin Abhirami. How can the youths preach effectively so that people can understand us and take us seriously too? What are the limits on what we should do and we shouldn’t do, so that we can contribute more to Srila Prabhupada’s mission and his movement?
Guru maharaj: Bhaktin Abhirami, from where? Somewhere in the world! Well, Srila Prabhupada said he was an elderly Indian and could get away with chastising people, since he was elderly. Young people cannot imitate Srila Prabhupada. But they can show by their enthusiasm, by their happiness, that Krsna consciousness works. Usually youths are interested in enjoying the senses, only. But if the youth is interested in spiritual life, that is very, very, impressive and motivating for the adults. So if they see that the youths are Krsna conscious, then they think, what am I doing? I am not doing anything for my spiritual consciousness. Hare Krsna! Also the youths are the pillars, the youths should engage in kirtan, dramas and things that they will like, so in the future they can become leaders of the Krsna consciousness movement.
Question: Ashwini Agarwal: Guru maharaj, why do we not celebrate Lord Laksmana’s appearance day? But we celebrate Lord Balarama and Lord Nityananda’s appearance days. Your servant, Aswasena Govinda das, Washington DC
Guru maharaj: Nothing that prohibits us from celebrating Laksmana’s appearance day, especially when we have Sita Rama Laksmana Hanuman. People can observe appearance day of Laksmana, there is nothing against it. It is not clear when Lord Laksmana’s appearance was. So that has to be ascertained. It is not on our regular calendar. The Balarama Purnima is there, as well as Nityananda Trayodasi. When did Laksmana appear, if we have that date, then we can observe Since Washington DC has Sita Rama Laksmana Hanuman deities, we could observe it. Do we observe Sita’s appearance? And Hanuman’s appearance. Since you have Sita, Rama, Laksmana and Hanuman deities, observe all the festivals. Next question.
Question: Today is Srivas Thakur’s appearance day. Can you tell us what prayers we can offer to Srivas Thakur today? Rasapriya Gopika devi dasi
Guru maharaj: Well, we observe Panca Tattva, Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri Advaita Gadadhara Srivas adi Gaura Vrnda. So Srivas, he is incarnation of Narada muni, and he is very dear to Lord Caitanya. So we could pray that he shower us with his mercy so that we can also have pure devotion for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srivas Thakur had many pastimes with Lord Caitanya in his house, in his garden. So we could also pray to Srivas that we may have that devotion to Lord Caitanya. We may also dance in our hearts, when He danced in Srivas Prabhu’s garden. Haribol!
Question: Suvinayaka Nityananda das: What can be the reason for not having success in Bhakti Vrksa preaching in spite of trying?
Guru maharaj: Well we are going to come out with a series of videos, from the most experienced and expert bhakti vrksa preachers. So this should be an inspiration. Sometimes people don’t actually do bhakti vrksa, but they call it bhakti vrksa. I don’t know, if what you are doing is exactly according to the book, bhakti vrksa. Some people come, but then the next week, they don’t come. So it doesn’t hurt for you to call them up and ask, are you alright? You missed coming today so I was wondering if you are sick or something. Even if they are not sick, the fact that you expressed care for them, interest in them, may make them feel more obliged to come the next week. During the bhakti vrksa meetings, some people are not interested in being so active. They would rather sit down and just listen. So the younger people, the more active people, they like the interactive nature of the bhakti vrksa. But some people, they are not so inclined. So I don’t know if you are preaching to the right people. So if you have the people participate, if they also speak up during the bhakti vrksa discussion, then they just may like it, and come back for more.
Question: Suvradev Babu, Bangladesh: Sometimes I don’t get taste and feel tired at the time of chanting but not able to find out the reason for this condition. So what process should I follow to get interest in chanting with taste again and again?
Guru maharaj: Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur, he would chant his japa walking up and down. So he was a very active person. He got his taste and chant walking. Some people chant sitting down, some people pace, there is no hard and fast rule. If you don’t find the chanting sitting down and you get tired or sleepy, try walking. Sometimes if you chant Panca Tattva mantra Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri Advaita Gadadhar Srivas Adi Gaura bhakta vrnda, then you also chant Hare Krsna more enthusiastically. Hare Krsna!
Question: Madhuri Mamatamayi devi dasi: What is the attitude that a devotee should maintain while engaged in serving his or her spiritual master? Either his vani or vapu?
Guru maharaj: Follow the mood of the Siksastakam, especially the third verse. The third verse tells the mood we should be in – humble, tolerant, offering all respect to others and not expecting respect for ourselves. One devotee had cleaned Srila Prabhupada’s room and was waiting for Srila Prabhupada to shower her with praise. Srila Prabhupada looked around and looked everywhere. She got nervous, that her spiritual master was not praising her. Then he tried to open the window and the window was painted shut! So then he said, why is this not opening? So she broke down and started crying. So we learn that we should not expect appreciation from anyone, what to speak of from the guru. But rather we should always think, I could have done better. Because she was proud and Srila Prabhupada, her spiritual master found out a defect in her service. Last question. Thank you Madhuri Mamatamayi!
Question: Satyameda Gauranga das. When we read Srila Prabhupada’s books, how do we get connected with Srila Prabhupada?
Guru maharaj: Srila Prabhupada wrote down his realizations from his heart. Krsna was speaking through him. So when we read Srila Prabhupada’s books, we should also be thinking of how Srila Prabhupada wrote these books. He is there in his instructions, in his vani. So therefore we should naturally should feel connected with Srila Prabhupada. Haribol! Thank you very much Satyameda Gauranga das. Please give my blessings to your better half. Haribol!
Transcribed by Jayaraseshwari devi dasi
28 June 2019